Good morning {{First name}}!

The Mount Jack Wildfire continues to grow near Sooke, but more slowly than the fast-moving burn seen Tuesday—as of 10pm yesterday, the blaze had reached 276 ha. As is often the case, the fire is suspected to be human-caused. Sigh.

One thing I love about fall is the wrapping up of wildfire season. Here's hoping the rain in today's forecast is heavy in Sooke.

— Robyn

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

Today: 🌧 16 / 11

Tomorrow: 🌧 14 / 11

Day after: 🌧 14 / 10

7-day forecast

When it opened in 1971, Crystal Pool was the only 50-metre, competition-ready pool in the region. Fifty-five years later, it closes as the last pool near downtown.  

Throughout that time, the Crystal Pool & Fitness Centre hosted tens of thousands of swimmers and welcomed countless families and solo fitness lovers to plunge, lift weights, do cardio, or hit the steam or sauna.

Its closure tomorrow afternoon will leave swimmers scrambling for a new place to swim—who knew how hard that could be on an island?

The city is shifting much of its recreation programs and services to its interim rec centre, the old YMCA-YWCA at 851 Broughton, although there’s a snag: early this summer, a water main leak flooded the place, so there’s still a lot of construction work going on at Victoria Recreation Centre, as it will be named. The city says it expects the interim rec centre to open early in the new year.

It’s “interim” because the Crystal Pool is to be knocked down—sometime next year—and replaced—in about five or six years—with a $209M facility on its footprint.

Until then, some Crystal Pool users will head to Oak Bay, Esquimalt, and Commonwealth in Saanich. Some will try the new downtown YMCA-YWCA in the Bay Centre for cardio and strength training. The downtown Y doesn’t have a pool, racquet courts, or a gymnasium.

Water restrictions: Saanich Peninsula residents and businesses are asked to reduce non-essential water use today as CRD repairs a water main. 

Park and trail closures in Sooke due to Mount Jack wildfire: Galloping Goose Regional Trail at km 52 and Kapoor Regional Park. [CRD]

Victoria All-Candidates Meet & Greet tonight, 6-8pm at The Atrium.

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

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

Support local journalism by supporting Capital Daily. Become a Capital Daily Insider member today and help bring local stories to life.

The fall season has just begun, but the city’s trees are already starting to shift to a more colourful palette.

As the weeks progress, a walk outdoors will get you an idyllic view of all the red, yellow, orange, and brown dotting the treetops. While you can catch these changes in all CRD neighbourhoods, there are some key spots around town where you can fully immerse yourself in nature’s eye-catching show.  

From PKOLs and the Galloping Goose to university campuses, there are some seriously beautiful spots to explore

Check out our full list of autumnal walking spots here.

Build relevant skills. See results. Sharpen your experience through online professional development programs with Continuing Studies at UVic and learn from experts in your field.

🍄 Fun-guy: Recent fall rain is bringing out Island mushrooms and fungi on forest floors in Nanaimo. [Facebook photos]

💃 IGNITE! Dance Victoria's milestone 30th Anniversary Season on Oct. 2 at the Esquimalt Gorge Pavilion. Enjoy live dance, complimentary drinks & appetizers, and auction prizes!*

💖 Souper Bowls of Hope is Oct. 29 at The Union Club.

🌿 New from Mateína: A zero-sugar, organic yerba mate that delivers clean energy — no crash, no weird ingredients. Just plant-powered fuel that works.*

📸 Victoria Day 1980: See photos of the parade and collectible car showcase 46 years ago. [Facebook photos]

🏡 Planning beats reacting. Seniors and their families are using this free Aging in Place Home Walkthrough guide to screen a home for the long run.*

*Sponsored Listing

City says Colwood councillor broke code of conduct
Coun. Kim Jordison will be formally reprimanded for breaching the city's code of conduct after a report found she contacted a developer while interested in buying property in a proposed development under consideration by council. The report by a hired “fairness adviser” found Jordison made casual comments to the company about getting a "better deal" because she was a councillor. The adviser said Jordison should have recused herself while the property was before council. Jordison refutes the report's claim. [Times Colonist]

School bus route returns to Prospect Lake Road 
The route was cancelled in the spring following a May 11 motor vehicle incident at Petworth Drive. Parents complained that the cancellation forced their children to walk up to 40 minutes along the side of the rural road to get to the next stop. SD63 struck an agreement with nearby Power to Be to allow buses to use the non-profit's property to turn around, reducing the risk of collisions. [CHEK]

Andrew Weaver is back, and he’s not Green
Weaver was the first Green member elected in BC history, and 13 years later, the former Green Party leader is running for his old riding of Oak Bay-Gordon Head. He’s doing it as a member of CentreBC. Weaver announced his candidacy yesterday, praising his new party leader, Elenore Sturko, and slamming Premier David Eby for calling for “an election nobody wants.” [CTV]

📕 Book Reading with Truth and Reconciliation Talk: Elder Bill Jones and co-author Karen Moe discuss their book, Listening Once Again to Our Great Mother at First Peoples’ House, UVic today. 1:30pm-4pm. [Info]

🎉 Veterans Memorial Park Grand Reopening: Celebrate the park's expansion with live music, hot dogs, cake, games, and more today. 1-4pm. [Info]

🎶 Isabella and The Sprouts: The BC band will perform with support from Dawson Gool at The Coda tomorrow. 6:30pm. [Info]

🤠 The Alan Jackson Experience: See this tribute to the country music legend at McPherson Playhouse tomorrow. 7:30pm. [Info]

💃 Culture Days Festival: The Issamba Centre is celebrating a range of cultures, with traditional dances, food, clothing, and more on display in Ship Point. Saturday & Sunday. 11am-7pm. [Info]

🎵 Nick Cave Tribute: A line-up of Victoria musicians will take on the decades-long catalogue of Nick Cave's music at the Coda. Saturday. 9:30pm. [Info]

👐 Parkade Concert: The Meating: The jazz-liminal duo project will perform in the CARSA parkade. Sunday. 7:15pm. [Info]

Wednesday’s headlines: Snap election called for one week after municipal vote; Sooke clinic moves closer to a reality; Sooke wildfire grows. [Sept. 23] 

Victoria man honoured with Carnegie Hero Medal for electrifying cliff rescue of hang glider. [Times Colonist]

2 new sea spider species discovered in BC waters. [CHEK]

BC Conservatives say they are united and ready for the NDP in the Oct. 24 provincial election. [CTV]

Cooler Condos Town Hall to be held Sept. 29, 6-8pm at Cedar Hill Golf Course.

Galloping Goose detour near Cecelia Ravine Park until next spring. 

Temporary Trail Closure: Lake Shore Trail in Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park through tomorrow. 

American Crown Circus at Mayfair through Sunday.

If you found something useful, consider forwarding this newsletter to a fellow Victorian.

And before you go, let us know: