Good morning {{First name}}!
If you’re a Crystal Pool patron, this week is your last chance to do some laps under its iconic dome. The facility will be shutting its doors at 3:30pm on Friday, and pool users will need to find a new place to swim for the next four or five years.
For those feeling nostalgic, you can sign the memory wall in the lobby or check out some of the special programming happening this week.
— Robyn
Today’s approx. read time: 6 minutes
🌡 Weather Forecast
NEWS
Senior-care facility among options for vacant
Oak Bay Lodge site
The former Oak Bay Lodge lot has sat vacant for six years. Photo: Google Maps
Senior care could return to the long-empty Oak Bay Lodge lot, with Island Health and Capital Regional Hospital District (CRHD) signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to explore development of the property at 2251 Cadboro Bay.
Oak Bay Lodge, a seniors’ facility, closed in 2020 after it was determined the building had reached the end of its lifespan. Most residents transferred to The Summit at Quadra Village, and the Lodge was eventually demolished.
The property was transferred to the CRHD that year, with a public-good covenant registered on title.
Over the years, Island Health and the CRHD consulted with the community to determine priorities for the site's future use. In 2025, they jointly commissioned an economic feasibility study to explore services a new facility could provide, including seniors' care, hospice, long-term care or assisted living, and primary care.
The MOU was signed after meetings last week between the provincial government, the District of Oak Bay, Island Health, and CRHD.
Under the agreement, Island Health and the CRHD will continue to collaborate for the next two years to explore potential uses for the site. The MOU does not give approval or guarantee funding for any one project; any redevelopment plans would need funding approvals and provincial endorsement.
Diana Gibson, MLA for Oak Bay–Gordon Head, signalled that endorsement, at least on her end. She called the site's future a "top priority" for her and said the MOU was a "meaningful step for Oak Bay Lodge."
“I look forward to seeing the planning work continue and to explore options that could bring care and services closer to where people live, while supporting the needs of our growing and aging population,” she said.
Oak Bay Mayor Kevin Murdoch, who also chairs the CRHD board, said the agreement for two more years of planning ensures "due diligence is completed and that any future decisions are grounded in a clear understanding of recognized community needs.”
⚠ Capital Bulletin
Belleville closed today: Oswego to Quebec, all day. [City of Victoria]
Esquimalt All-Candidates Meeting/Debate is Oct. 5 at Esquimalt United Church.
Provincewide Survey: Should healthcare assistants be regulated in BC?
Saanich Road closure: Wascana between Obed and Maddock West, now through Oct. 16, 9am-3:30pm.
NEWS
1st police training academy on Island
opens at VicPD HQ
SIPA, a new police academy serving the Victoria, Oak Bay, Saanich, and Central Saanich police departments, has opened within VicPD’s headquarters on Caledonia. Photo: VicPD
Most police recruits in BC are trained at the Justice Institute of British Columbia (JIBC) in New Westminster, but this past March, two new training sites—one in Victoria, the other in Vancouver—were announced to run independently.
BC’s Solicitor General Nina Krieger said, traditionally, cadets have to go where the training is. Opening academies in the two cities will make it easier to attract talent “who grew up here, who are raising families here, [and] can build a policing career here too,” she said.
Krieger called the opening of the South Island Police Academy (SIPA), which is located at VicPD’s command post on Caledonia, “an important step toward meeting the growing demand for new officers.”
SIPA will train 60 recruits to serve the Victoria, Saanich, Central Saanich and Oak Bay police departments. The two-year pilot project is divided into 39-week programs, with the first expected to produce 17 recruits—16 for VicPD and one new officer for Oak Bay.
VicPD Chief Fiona Wilson said SIPA’s opening marks an important milestone for policing on the Island.
“For the first time, recruits will be able to complete their training here at home, closer to the communities they will serve.”
SIPA and the Vancouver Police Training Academy will both operate independently of the JIBC, and both will be self-funded, VicPD said. Each program meets provincial police training standards and expectations under BC’s Police Act.
SPONSORED BY DANCE VICTORIA
IGNITE! Dance Victoria's 30th Anniversary Season
Kick off Dance Victoria’s 30th Anniversary Season in style with IGNITE! on October 2 at the Esquimalt Gorge Pavilion. Enjoy an intimate dance performance, signature cocktails and wines by the Courtney Room, delicious bites by local artisans, fabulous auction prizes, all-vinyl DJ sets, and the company of fellow dance lovers.
⭐️ Capital Picks
🖍️ Mayor for the Day Colouring Contest: Kids 12 and under can enter their art to be displayed in Victoria City Hall. Three participants will be chosen to serve as Mayor for the Day next year. Entries due Nov. 27.
🌿 Join Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary for the Great Canadian Bioblitz! Take part in free and low-cost workshops and learn how to contribute to community science.*
💻 Victoria Tech Week 2026 runs through Friday. [Events]
📋 Seniors and their families are using this readiness organizer to help keep daily life going when someone needs to step in at short notice.*
💜 Cool Aid Health + Homecoming Gala: Saturday at Hotel Grand Pacific.
*Sponsored Listing
SPONSORED BY PHS COMMUNITY SERVICES SOCIETY
Less than 7 days to go! Please help PHS reach their $30,000 goal
Less than seven days until the 2026 Under Armour Eastside 10K!
The PHS Run Team is over 50% 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.
🗞 In Other News
Findlay resigns as BC Conservative leader amid party infighting
Kerry-Lynne Findlay announced Sunday she would step down from her role hours after another Conservative MLA announced they were leaving caucus, marking the 10th voluntary departure since August. Three other MLAs were kicked out of caucus by Findlay on Friday, though they say she did not have the authority to remove them. MLA Lorne Doerkson has been appointed interim Conservative leader. Findlay said she would still be contesting the Abbotsford-Mission riding byelection for the Conservative Party on Sept. 26. Her decision to step down comes on the heels of a possible snap BC election announcement. [Vancouver Sun]
UVic students can have unregulated drugs checked on campus
Pop-up booths to analyze drugs and determine safety will be appearing several times this school year, the university said—and a drop box where students can anonymously leave substances for same-day testing will be available all year at the Student Wellness Centre. It’s part of a pilot project in tandem with Island Health and Substance, which provides discreet drug checking on Cook. The university will also collect data to support potential permanent drug-checking services. The pilot was prompted by the 2024 on-campus death of UVic student Sidney McIntyre-Starko after she ingested street drugs laced with fentanyl. [Times Colonist]
Saanich Police spot robbery suspect using new drone technology
Saanich Police deployed its remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS) after someone allegedly discharged bear spray inside a business in the 4400 block of West Saanich Road Saturday afternoon. Police were called there after an incident between a loss prevention officer and a person suspected of shoplifting. The suspect had fled before officers arrived, but an officer operating a drone spotted them a short distance from the store. The suspect, who has since been charged with robbery, was quickly taken into police custody. [Saanich Police]
🗓 Things To Do
🔓 Invisible Barriers, Visible Opportunities: Join this free event helping immigrant women navigate workplace challenges at the Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria today. 1-4pm. [Info]
😆 Josh Thomas: The Australian comedian and star of Please Like Me will perform standup at the McPherson Playhouse tonight. 7pm. [Info]
🎹 A Well-Tempered Journey: Concert pianist Minsoo Sohn plays J.S. Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I at Phillip T. Young Recital Hall, UVic tonight. 7:30-9:30pm. [Info]
🌳 National Tree Day: Join a free tree tour with City of Victoria arborists at Beacon Hill Park, Pioneer Square, and Ross Bay Cemetery tomorrow. 12pm-1pm. [Registration]
🎤 Goldfinch Open Mic: An inspiring night of live music, talent, and community spirit in the heart of the Westshore at Goldfinch Arts Centre tomorrow. 6:30-8:30pm. [Info]
🎸 Band Fun(d)!: Ten bands play 10 minutes of original material each and win prizes at The Open Studios tomorrow. 7-9:45pm. [Info]
🤠 The Alan Jackson Experience: See this tribute to the country music legend at McPherson Playhouse. Friday. 7:30pm. [Info]
🍺 Oktoberfest in Oaklands: Eat, drink, and be merry at this German beerfest at the Oaklands Community Centre. Oct. 3. 5:30-10pm. [Info]
👀 In Case You Missed It
Sunday's headlines: Victoria organization helping new immigrants connect to the arts; Weekly roundup; No word yet on snap election. [Sept. 20]
Three out-of-control wildfires discovered on South Island. [CHEK]
Rustad invited back to feuding BC Conservative caucus after being expelled Friday. [CBC]
Victoria archives: See photos of downtown in the early 20th century—do you recognize any of these landmarks? [Facebook photos]
Running Wild: Return to the River has opened at RBCM IMAX.
Baby orca gets official name: J63, a one-year-old Southern Resident calf, has been named Ts'ele7álhse (pronounced tsuh-luh-alth-suh), meaning “the heart of the Salish Sea." [Details]
BC Ferries in the 1970s: See what the cafeterias used to look like. [Facebook photo]
COAST Ocean Tech Live Demo Day is tomorrow at Ship Point.
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