Okay, “constant” anxiety might be an exaggeration…but it is on my mind.
I know that rent is expensive for businesses (it’s expensive for regular renters too) and costs are high. I’m just always so paranoid about closures and often local faves do permanently close.
I still yearn for Lotus Pond.
Is there any way, in addition to visiting and spending money, to support them and ensure long-term stability? Is anyone running on ‘supports for small local businesses’ campaigns? What would that even look like? I’m guessing this is just how it is and how it will be.
I’m so bummed about Thunderbird Chicken. Just yesterday I was going to order from them but decided to be “healthy” and “financially responsible”.
Idiot.

Is it that bad? I don’t hear much about it. I have a teen attending next week and they are convinced it’s rampant with drug use and knife and bear spray attacks.

edit.- looking for recent experiences. I also went to high school 25 years ago. Not exactly relevant now.

1. I would run on a platform of installing sidewalks on all the streets in Gordon Head.

2. The wand wash in Shelbourne and Hillside would have a maximum bay usage time of 15 mins, no drying your car with a shammy, no reloading. Each additional minute spent in the want wash bay would result in 1 hour of community service.

3. I will spend whatever it take to make all lakes in the Greater Victoria area swim worthy during the Summer. If I have to drain the lake and turn it into a big swimming pool, I will do it!

Hi - apparently through previous posts police do not take lost cell phones. I’m posting here as someone left a cell phone at my front door (likely because they found it and assumed it belonged to someone in our house.)

Located in Burnside area. I will try facebook lost and found as well.

No emergency contacts and “Siri call mom” doesn’t work.

Assuming it’s a teenager/ young adult from Home Screen.

Glad to see someone actually running against Kevin Murdoch in Oak Bay!

I'm appalled how much distracted driving or absent minded driving there is. Within seconds today there were 2 incidents. One driver ran a red light, not on a phone. It was a pedestrian controlled signal. So pedestrians are able to cross first while drivers have to wait for the green. Driver went on a red. Wasn't on a phone just not paying attention.

Other driver was turning right on a red. Was so focused on traffic coming from the left did not see us crossing the street with the pedestrian sign crossing.

What will it take for drivers to wake up? A fatality? I'm a driver but walk a lot. I'm so vigilant when I walk but youth may not be ? Everyday I see or experience a near hit

Hey Victoria, the traffic lights are out at the major intersection at Shelburne at McKenzie. Just a friendly reminder, when traffic lights go out, it becomes a FOUR 👏 WAY 👏 STOP 👏. You DON’T get to drive through the intersection with the person in front of you. Apparently most drivers don’t know this. Learn to drive. This has been a PSA.

For what it's worth, I've put together a long blog post on Victoria's new bike share. There seems to be a lot of confusion about what bike shares are, how this one works, how the selection process was managed, etc. So… I spent several days researching all of that, and made a blog post.

I've included references and tried to separate my opinions (well run bike-shares are really useful and a great fit for Victoria) from facts (pricing, links to council meetings, etc.).

I hope people find it useful. My only request is to, please, keep the responses civil.

https://www.boomin-in-victoria.ca/2026/08/jim-takes-bike-share.html

I’m in the Victoria area and wondering if anyone has actually done the Victoria–Nanaimo commute 5 days a week. Was it manageable for a few months, or did you find it too much? I won't be able to take the Brentwood Bay ferry.

I am worried about on my body and my car, though it is only 4 months.

I’d especially love to hear from people who have actually done this commute even if for just a few months.

Update: Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences! I really appreciate all the input. I think I have enough information now to make my decision (sounds brutal!).

ETA: I am not the owner, just sharing.

Text: It's with a very heavy heart, an extremely tired brain and a very empty bank account that I have made the decision to close the shop. I will be open for the next month or so, selling everything for a large discount to help pay the debt that has accrued in my life since breast cancer.

I am so incredibly thankful for everyone that came and saw what I was trying to do in this world of Amazon packages and Costcos. Your support, friendships and ongoing cheerleading has been noted.

I am not a fighter. I am a gentle empath. And fighting every day to keep my doors open has depleted me.

This city and all of its beauty deserves better ~ and now it's up to you stronger, healthier, younger ones to bring the magic back.
I love Victoria, but man, you have broken my heart.

I'm an adult beginner and looking for some help with the basics. Does anybody have a recommendation for a cello teacher in the Victoria area?

I have a few caveats-- I have a chronic pain issue and a lot of the time I will go buy a regular size 13 sock and it feels like it's too tight and my whole leg will be in pain.

I need something bigger/wider than what Mark's Workwearhouse currently sells and perhaps better quality.

Thanks!

Friendly neighbourhood autistic weather nerd here! I warned people about the big rainstorms last winter on here when we had the serious flooding (and got mocked by a bunch of folks beforehand too).

Fall fun is back, kids!

You should be prepared for a bigger rain wallop than is currently being forecasted for Victoria, as it looks like the rain-shadow will fail and we could be in for 24 hours straight of rain, at times VERY heavy.

I don't think it would normally be a big problem — except we have had very little rain since March, the ground is very hard and there will be a lot of run-off instead of ground absorption.

THAT could be a problem on some properties, especially if there's a creek nearby. Also, another heavy rain comes this weekend.

So, just get your seasonal "omigod the rain is coming" prep done tonight, just in case your property is typically vulnerable.

Rain starts tomorrow morning.

I'm looking forward to it.

Just announced online. Anyone know much about him?

Sure feels like Autumn out there.

This morning I had to run a gauntlet of six male deer hanging out at the golf course. They were play fighting on the green and then came up on the trail to forage. They seemed super-uninterested in me.

Terrible video I know.

Anyone got a photo of the poster of the Saanich Fall Fair? I saw one in an elevator that highlighted what was going to be going on there. I cannot seem to find the same one on the Internet if anyone had a screen that or something