Good morning {{First name}}!

It seemed like a pretty good few weeks for seeing whales. I haven’t seen any this year—though last year, I saw several—but many others have. August was a banner month for sightings in our area, and we’ve got the receipts in our first story.

— Mark

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes.

Today: 🌥️ 18 / 12

Tomorrow: 🌦️ 21 / 13

Sunday: 🌦️ 18 / 13

7-day forecast

The team at the Orca Behavior Institute (OBI) was expecting to see a large number of Bigg's orcas in the Strait of Georgia last month, but the Washington-based researchers weren't counting on it being the highest monthly number of Bigg's sightings on record.

Monika Wieland Shields, OBI director, said in a social media post the number of sightings blew their "all-time monthly record out of the water (no pun intended)."

Wieland Shields said that in August in the Salish Sea, there were 320 Bigg’s sightings—"defined as a unique group seen on a unique day"—making it the first month to exceed 300 sightings.

Among whale-viewing hotspots, according to OBI, were the Victoria region and the nearby San Juan Islands. Since Feb. 22, Bigg's orcas have been seen every day in the Salish Sea.

Wieland Shields said she had a feeling it would be a good month for whale watching. It was one of the predictions she made in her last social media update. She also correctly predicted the absence of A42s, a group of Northern Resident orcas, from the Strait of Georgia.

But one thing she said she was happily wrong about was her forecast that Southern Resident killer whales would be missing from the Salish Sea.

"I'm happy to report that my reverse psychology worked and K-Pod showed up on Aug. 2 to break the streak of over six weeks without Southern Residents," Wieland Shields said.

"In fact, throughout the course of August, all members of all three [Southern Resident] pods paid a visit at one point or another."

The Southern Residents were seen on 11 different days—the highest August total since 2019.

Wieland Shields said she won't be making projections for September, as it's often an unpredictable month.

Saanich extended road closure:
Rutledge between Scotia and Tolmie through Sept. 25, 8am-4pm.

Cook Construction: Possible traffic delays and pedestrian detours on Cook between Bay and Tolmie through Sept. 18.

Langford single-lane traffic: 
Goldstream between Leigh and Carlow through Sept. 30.
Goldstream between Shelby Pl. and Leigh through Sept. 30.

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

On the water today? Check the tide times for Victoria.

In what the city is calling “a major win for outdoor recreation, conservation, and community access,” Langford has secured permanent public access to more than 40 acres (16 ha) of trails and greenspace at the Gravity Zone & Nature Trails and Lakepoint Park. The land will remain protected and publicly accessible in perpetuity, the city said.

“As the community continues to grow, protecting these lands means residents will continue to have equitable and accessible opportunities to connect with nature, enjoy outdoor recreation, and experience the natural beauty that surrounds us,” said Langford Mayor Scott Goodmanson.

The dedication represents a significant expansion of Langford’s parks and trails network and advances the goals of the city’s Parks and Trails Master Plan. 

In a release, the City of Langford said the inclusion of three acres (1.2 ha) of property on the shores of Langford Lake contributes valuable lakefront parkland to the public inventory. The acquisition creates lasting community access to the lake, a swimming platform, and an important connecting section of the Ed Nixon Trail. 

As part of rezoning requirements, developer Westhills constructed several park amenities, including:

The area is also a critical habitat for the endangered western painted turtle. Langford said it made considerable ecological design and habitat enhancement upgrades to create and protect nesting and basking areas.

According to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, 38% of small business owners say they can't absorb current tariff costs for more than a year. In British Columbia, an estimated 13.7% of exports to the United States are affected by tariffs—the highest overall in Canada.

For employers, navigating uncertainty takes more than responding to immediate pressures; they need leaders who can adapt and stay focused.

"In my experience, the leaders who navigate uncertainty well move quickly, but they stay grounded in their core purpose and values,” shares Jo-Anne Clarke, dean of Continuing Studies at UVic.

As BC’s economy grows, now is the time to invest in the skills that help people adapt, communicate effectively, or move their careers and organizations forward.

📚 Little Free Library Award winners to be announced Sunday at Oswald Park, 3-7pm.

📚 Big Free Library has a new website. [GVPL]

⛰️ One becomes four: The smallest, most remote Vancouver Island marmot colony—boasting only one member—gets three new friends. [Marmot Recovery Foundation] 

🎞️ The Victoria International Jewish Film Festival is Oct. 10-15.

🏡 Adult children of Seniors are helping their parents decide whether to age in place. This free guide helps everyone figure it out together.*

🦫 Women of the Fur Trade, Frances Koncan’s wildly funny and razor-sharp remix of Indigenous and Canadian history, starts tonight.*

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Saanich Police watched voyeur for weeks before making arrest
For more than a month, Saanich Police didn’t intervene while Yin Yeung Derek Chan frequented businesses like Value Village and Fitness World, potentially looking for future voyeurism victims, according to court records obtained by the CBC. Chan pleaded guilty in October 2025 and in May 2026 was sentenced to four and a half years in prison in what police called the most voluminous case of voyeurism ever reported in Canada—where at least 652 women and girls in Greater Victoria were unwittingly filmed. Saanich Police said the department took a trauma-informed approach to avoid “actions that could contribute to further victimization." [CBC]

30th Juan de Fuca fishing tourney raises $80K for salmon conservation
More than 560 anglers from the South Vancouver Island Anglers Coalition (SVIAC) gathered at the Pedder Bay Marina on Sept. 6 and raised the money to support salmon enhancement, conservation, recreational fisheries advocacy and community projects. Brian Stewart pulled in a Chinook salmon weighing 28.88 pounds to win this year’s title. SVIAC is also teaming up with the Sidney Anglers Association on a $50K investment in coded-wire tagging equipment for the Cowichan River Hatchery Chinook program. [SVIAC]

Pandora playground reopens with new equipment months after fire
The playground in Stadacona Park officially reopened yesterday after a seven-month closure, prompted by a March fire that caused extensive damage, including a melted slide. A 22-year-old man was arrested and, on April 21, charged with two counts of arson. The City of Victoria spent $350K to replace the playground, funded through contingency reserves. It installed a new play structure, surface, and slide, along with new features for climbing and spinning. [CHEK]

🪙 Victoria Coin Show: Fourteen tables offering coins, banknotes, tokens, medals and free coin evaluation. St. Matthias Church Hall. Today. 8:30am-3:30pm. [Info]

🍖 Esquimalt Ribfest: This epic celebration of flavour and fun supports local charities. Bullen Park. Today through Sunday. [Info]

🎶 Sara Carbone: The singer and her band bring their signature blend of emotive storytelling and folk-pop sound to The Coda tonight. 6:30pm. [Info]

🎵 Liam Hockley: The Canadian clarinetist performed experimental music and live electronics at Open Space Arts Society tonight. 7:30pm. [Info] 

🕺 Aftershock: Join Victoria's biggest back-to-school dance party at Capital Ballroom tonight. 9pm. 19+ [Info] 

🍂 Little Fernwood Harvest Fun Fair: Kick off the fall season with games, baking contests, and music in Fernwood Square. Tomorrow. 11am-4pm. [Info]

🏈 Westshore Rebels host Prince George Kodiaks in BC Football Conference action tomorrow at Starlight Stadium at 4pm. [Info]

🏮 Autumn Lantern Festival: The annual Saanich festival returns with lanterns, costumes, food, and community at Gordon Head Rec Centre and Lambrick Park tomorrow. 5-8:30pm. [Info]

🎷 An Evening With Astrocolor: The experimental jazz band will perform at this sold-out show at The Coda tomorrow. 9pm. [Info] 

Thursday’s headlines: Victoria taxi company must pay $12K for refusing woman in wheelchair; Victoria Book Prize finalists announced; Downtown parkade could be replaced with new highrise. [Sept. 10]

2 drivers fined $368 for passing Saanich school bus with stop sign out. [Times Colonist]

Bring Robert Bateman’s work to the National Gallery of Canada, says Elizabeth May. [CHEK] 

BC Thanksgiving Food Drive: Volunteers will drop off grocery bags starting Sept. 14th, with donation pick-up/drop-off scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 19. [Info]

Canada’s Great Kitchen Party is at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel on Sept. 29.

Skerryvore: Scotland’s popular act performs at the McPherson Playhouse on Oct. 6.

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