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Don't pack away your summer clothes just yet—this week's forecast is showing a streak of warm weather. If you've been kicking yourself for not getting outside enough this summer, the sunshine expected on Thursday and Friday could be your chance to make up for it.

— Robyn

Today’s approx. read time: 6 minutes

Today: ☀ 19 / 11

Tomorrow: ☀ 22 / 10

Day after: ☀️ 18 / 11

7-day forecast

Up to 7K Esquimalt residents are expected to soon be connected to essential primary care, thanks to the opening of a new health-care clinic.

The Terra Nova Medical Clinic has opened its doors at the corner of Esquimalt and Head in the new Pacific House, a mixed-use building that went up this year.

The 2K-square-foot facility has six fully equipped examination rooms and six nurse practitioners on staff—and they’re currently accepting patients who have signed up for BC’s Health Connect Registry. 

“Our model addresses the real challenges faced by outpatient health care in British Columbia today and focuses on supporting clinicians so they can concentrate on delivering exceptional patient care,” said Dr. Julie Wilson, the facility’s medical director and CEO. 

Terra Nova—which will run the clinic, not the province—was created by doctors 11 years ago and says it now has 25 clinics served by 150 clinicians across BC.

“Since 2015, we have been committed to the belief that every British Columbian deserves access to primary care,” Wilson said.

Esquimalt’s Community Health Needs Assessment identified access to health care as a serious need, Mayor Barb Desjardins said. “Feedback from residents was clear: they are looking for increased access to health care.”

View Royal to fund new clinic

Esquimalt isn't the only local municipality getting a boost in medical care—days after the township announced the opening of the Terra Nova Clinic, View Royal said it will soon have one of its own. The municipality has partnered with Aroga Lifestyle Medicine to connect View Royal residents without a family doctor or nurse practitioner to ongoing primary care.

The clinic—expected to open in Eagle Creek Village later this year—will offer both in-person and virtual appointments, with extended weekday hours and Saturday availability. Once patients are attached to the clinic, they can also access Aroga's other health and wellness professionals. The clinic will serve up to 750 people in its first year, increasing to 1,600 by the end of its second year.

View Royal Mayor Sid Tobias said that while "health care may not traditionally be a municipal responsibility," too many residents are without access to primary care.

The town said it will make a one-time payment of $225K toward leasehold improvements, equipment, diagnostics, and initial recruitment, and an annual payment of $125K for the next 10 years to support clinic operations.

With the partnership solidified, Aroga will now begin recruiting family physicians and nurse practitioners for the clinic.

Missing person: Axis, 26, was last seen on Aug. 31 and is known to spend time in downtown Victoria, says Saanich Police.

Wanted man: Brett Harris, 49. Do not approach. [VicPD]

What to know when voting in the Victoria general election on Oct. 17. [Details]

New red-light cameras are replacing old ones at Shelbourne and Hillside & TCH and Tillicum.

Coastal travellers shouldn’t see any emergency fare hikes or increased fuel surcharges in the immediate future after the BC Ferries commissioner approved using surplus summer revenue to pay off its fuel bill. 

Comm. Eva Hage approved the ferry company’s request to apply its price cap balance as of Sept. 30 to its fuel deferral account to offset the increased amount the company had to pay for fuel.

BC Ferries collected more money than it was allowed during a busy summer as more passengers paid full fare. By transferring some of that revenue to pay for the fuel, BC Ferries resets its books and doesn’t have to increase the fuel charge to cover that debt.

Nor does it need to increase the price of tickets. 

Read the full story here.

Bees connect entire ecosystems, and the same can be said for today’s leaders. As the use of AI becomes more common in Canadian workplaces, employers face the challenge of helping people navigate change.

“Leaders are uniquely positioned to see across the organization,” says Jo-Anne Clarke, dean of Continuing Studies at UVic.

Clarke believes leaders must act as connectors outside the hive by building meaningful relationships with external partners, communities and industries. “While technology is transforming how we work, people and relationships remain at the core of effective leadership.”

The organizations that stay relevant in the long-term are more likely to invest in both technology and the people who lead it, which is why training teams with the right skills now can help them confidently adapt.

🚣 Crew Girl: The new Island-filmed Netflix series highlights Greater Victoria landmarks, including Hatley Castle and Elk/Beaver Lake. [Trailer]

🐳 Grey whales seen hunting near the shores of Sombrio Beach last Saturday. [Facebook video]

⛵ Mexican naval training ship ARM Cuauhtémoc in port at the Canadian Coast Guard base on Huron: [Free tours today] 

🩳 Victoria Kids Consignment seasonal pop-up sale is this Friday through Sunday in Langford. [Details]

🗑️ International Coastal Cleanup Day is Saturday at 11am at Clover Point.

Two weeks to go until the 2026 Under Armour Eastside 10K!  

The PHS Run Team is 43% of the way to its $30,000 fundraising goal.  

Your donation supports their Vancouver Food Program, providing more than 3,900 meals daily for marginalized people.  

Donate to the PHS Run Team Today! 

Esquimalt councillor resigns, moves to police board
Coun. Ken Amour has officially resigned his council seat, opting not to run in the upcoming election. Last month, Amour was appointed to a one-year term on the Victoria and Esquimalt Police Board as a community representative. His exit marks the first council shift ahead of fall elections, which will also see a new mayor replace Barb Desjardins, who chose not to seek re-election. [Black Press]

BC Ferries crews rescue 2 people near Tsawwassen
Two people were saved from a sinking fishing boat Sunday afternoon, with crews from BC Ferries vessels Spirit of British Columbia and Coastal Renaissance launching rescue boats. The pair were brought ashore, where they were met by paramedics and police. The rescue caused delays of up to 40 minutes on several sailings between Tsawwassen and Swartz Bay that evening. [Times Colonist]

Municipal Election 2026: What you need to know about voting
The first thing you need to know is that the elections take place on Saturday, Oct. 17, with polls open from 8am to 8pm. There is advance voting on Oct. 7, 13, 14, and 15, and mail-in ballots can be obtained if you want to vote early. To arrange that, you have to fill out an online form or call 250-361-0571 before 4pm on Friday, Oct. 9. If you are listed on the provincial voters list, you should be on the City's voter list. [CTV] 

🚵 BMX Canada Local Race: Riders of all ages can compete in various heats (racers under age 13 require a legal guardian) at the Victoria BMX Association track at West Shore Parks & Rec tonight. Race at 5:40pm. [Info]

🇲🇽 Mexican Independence Fiesta: Join this evening of Mexican music, karaoke, dancing, traditional foods, and lots of fiesta at The Coda tonight. 8pm. [Info]

🎶 Lyle Lovett: The country music icon will take the stage at Royal Theatre tomorrow. 7pm. [Info]

😂 Jimmy Carr: The British comedy star performs at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre tomorrow. 8pm. [Info]

📖 Book Release: Celebrate the release of Listening Once Again to Our Great Mother: The Fairy Creek Blockades and the Life Story of Pacheedaht Elder Bill Jones at Russell Books. Thursday. 7pm. [Info]

🎸 Bahamas: The Canadian indie favourite returns to Victoria to perform at the Royal Theatre. Friday. 8pm. [Info]

🌭 SoundBite: The food truck and music festival is back for a fifth year—this time in a new location at Danbrook Park—featuring live bands and 15 food trucks. Friday & Saturday. [Info]

Sunday’s headlines: For the first time, Victoria firefighters' union will pick sides in city elections; Weekly roundup; New climate-change exhibit at RBCM. [Sept. 13]

VicPD seeks dashcam video: Alleged assault in Bay/Blanshard parking lot at 10:15pm on Sept. 4.

Slow start to Island salmon run raising concerns. [CHEK]

2026 UBCM: DRIPA and NDAs to be discussed as municipal and provincial politicians meet in Vancouver. [CBC] 

All-Candidates Meet & Greet: Sept. 24, 6-8pm at The Atrium.

The beautiful birds of Port Alberni. [Facebook photos] 

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