How U.S. Tariffs Could Reshape Tourism in Canada – A Boon or a Bust?

A Canadian Coast Guard ship out of Victoria and its crew are among those credited with continuing the nation’s global commitment to protect fish stocks, marine ecosystems and sustainable fisheries through two months of joint surveillance, inspections and enforcement efforts in the North Pacific. Illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing is a serious problem around the world, posing a significant threat to fish populations and damaging marine environments. It also jeopardizes the incomes of law-abiding harvesters and fishing industries while putting food supplies at risk, according to Fisheries and Oceans Canada. The DFO’s third patrol under the annual, multi-national high seas operation included representatives from four nations onboard a single patrol vessel. The Canadian patrol included representatives from Japan, the Republic of Korea and the United States.   “The thousands of hours that our fishery officers spend patrolling the North Pacific Ocean each year, by air and sea, detecting and deterring illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, is a strong demonstration that Canada backs its support for international laws with concrete action. The ongoing success of Operation North Pacific Guard attests to the continued need for Canada to be a leader in securing marine species and ecosystems at home and abroad in support of both our conservation and economic objectives,” Minister of Fisheries Joanne Thompson said in a news release. Fishery officers and support personnel patrolled 17,773 km while onboard the Canadian Coast Guard vessel CCGS Sir Wilfrid Laurier, a high-endurance, multi-purpose vessel that is also a light icebreaker and is biofuel capable. Over the course of two months, the crew aboard the Victoria-based ship monitored several hundred fishing vessels, conducted 41 high-seas inspections and interacted with more than 1,000 crew members onboard vessels. Canada also deployed one of the DFO’s long-range Fisheries Aerial Surveillance and Enforcement aircraft, which is normally based in Campbell River, to Hokkaido, Japan, where daily patrols monitored fishing activity in the Northwest Pacific. Over the operation, 366 fishing vessels were inspected by air, discovering 51 potential violations related to shark finning, pollution, salmon retention, and marking requirements. High-seas inspections uncovered 39 potential violations of international fisheries requirements, including shark finning, the illegal harvest of dolphins, misreporting or inaccurate reporting of catch and bycatch, as well as obstruction and the destruction of evidence. North Pacific Guard Operation, which included Canadian Coast Guard and RCMP members, is among those working to protect both international waters and the resources they hold with an annual, multi-national high seas operation in the North Pacific. During this year’s mission, CCGS Sir Wilfrid Laurier made a special port visit in Osaka, Japan, while the World Expo was underway. Thousands of members of the public learned about Canada’s role in fighting illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing through tours of the vessel and engagement with Canadian Coast Guard crew and fishery officers at the Expo’s Canada Pavilion. Laurier also stopped in Hakodate, Japan, further strengthening relations. Find behind-the-scenes action online at https://ow.ly/TrMo50WGagL [https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fow.ly%2FTrMo50WGagL%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExSzR5RnFPbkg4Zjc2YXc0cgEeK6t8_N_Oev3cPlF-GmBnqp9BM6GNUGdwO-xX4NIj3OWWitatiK9q9qgNinY_aem_os0dCztDjkMB4yp9HE5OkQ&h=AT1RSpMN9Sc655W0FV13apb3yfmW4Em0XBCWdAjF9caaHt5PMaIyh1-8TN7viamWRloLBmL3th4JXSx5GEzLGxAI_ziLElzeT7BV542vPgrYeDuI64GqXtlFd6Lu86NHrw4Zu3DIMV2d-mHeidOxqg&__tn__=-UK-R&c%5B0%5D=AT09YccjcTuIlgOk5dqtUGSuLH6SZFmYLFlor9GlNnsGGfNMrLWD9Dw-wLsPwaBvDqOTZs4KStnkl9PFxBjocafpi6nzVL2uG9MzE0YpzEgbpAsoNPiL5jQUSxdDxiXTcVpxacsKrOnSp51HHQtAU7MusjlKU6a90L8n0mA_gL681iFJt01IEb8QnAB1ULSZj6ExSAmlZ7_T0BnCF_xt7RP3874QW7tSvseqMg].

The world-class sand sculptures in the Parksville Community Park will come down this week, after a successful five-and-a-half-week festival. This year’s Quality Foods Sand Sculpting Exhibition welcomed 119,092 visitors, up three per cent from last summer, according to the Parksville Beach Festival Society. “Strong visitor attendance is due to a fabulous exhibition, excellent weather, and our new location in the park,” said Cheryl Dill, society president, in a news release. “The encouragement from both residents and visitors is so uplifting for our hard-working volunteers and staff.” The event relocated to a section of the kite field in Parksville Community Park, next to the beach volleyball courts, after approval from council earlier in the year. The new, larger site is meant to allow for more spectators and improved mobility access, as well as reduced congestion at main beach access locations. While it’s always bittersweet to watch the sculptures fade back into sand, there’s plenty to celebrate — such as entertainment highlights like Chilliwack’s Farewell to Friends Tour, the lively Tim Hortons Summer Concert Series, Party City Buskers, Art in the Park and the Beachfest ROCKS! Music Festival. The Sculpture Light-Up added some extra magic on the final weekend, which also saw the Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy close out the festival on the outdoor stage. More than 102,000 people voted for the People’s Choice Awards and crowned Manuel Campos, from Columbia for "Role Reversal" and Sue McGrew (USA) and Dmitry Klimenko (Russia) for "Peace Amid the Storm" in the singles and doubles categories, respectively. The festival is dedicated to giving back and since 1999, it has donated more than $1.2 million to local non-profits and community projects, including the Parksville Outdoor Theatre. In 2025, proceeds will again support 24 not-for-profit organizations and community initiatives. Before the sculptures are taken down, the Parksville Beach Festival Society is welcoming a group with visual impairments to experience the creations through touch, part of their ongoing commitment to improving accessibility. "The Parksville Beach Festival Society is proud to host a family-friendly, community-driven event that brings joy to thousands, supports local groups, and showcases incredible talent," the release said. For more information about Parksville Beach Festival visit parksvillebeachfest.ca [http://www.parksvillebeachfest.ca.].

Market-style tables with ribbons, resources, a memory tree and naloxone training will be hosted by Island Health at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital to mark International Overdose Awareness Day. International Overdose Awareness Day takes place on Aug. 31, with this year's theme 'one big family' representing that everyone is connected and through compassion and awareness people can honour the lives lost and support those impacted by the toxic drug poisoning crisis.  Starting Monday, Aug. 25, purple chairs will be stationed at 18 Island Health locations as a memorial exhibit for those who have died during the toxic drug crisis. Each location will include information and resources, purple ribbon pins and an interactive memory board. On Aug. 29, Nanaimo will host an open event with naloxone training from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tracey Thompson, Island Health harm reduction coordinator, told the News Bulletin that learning about and carrying naloxone is one way the general public can participate in reducing overdose deaths in the region. According to the B.C. Coroners Service, Nanaimo lost 94 lives in 2024 due to unregulated drugs. As of June 30 of this year, Nanaimo had 32 recorded unregulated drug deaths. "It's important for community members to know what resources are available to support them and if people are engaged in substance use and wanting some support, to understand what services are available," Thompson said. "That could be in the community through community agencies or through their physician, or through Island Health." She said it can sometimes be difficult for people to understand what motivates substance use and some may have preconceived ideas. "It's really important for us to try to reduce the stigma and think about how we can support people to get the help they might be looking for, rather than focusing on criminalizing or being punitive." In a press release, Dr. Réka Gustafson, Island Health's chief medical health officer, said preventing overdose deaths requires "actions beyond health services including investment in the social determinants of health, like housing, income, education and social connection, which shape people’s vulnerability to substance use." “These deaths are preventable,” Gustafson said. “Remembering those we have lost honours them and keeps them in the centre of the dialogue about a meaningful response to the crisis from the entire community.” Other events marking the day will be held in Port Alberni, Campbell River, Duncan, Gabriola Island, Crofton, Parksville, Sooke, Campbell River and Victoria.  In addition to in-person memorial stations, Island Health is hosting an online memory wall [https://app.mural.co/t/islandhealth6899/m/islandhealth6899/1747869109631/439e504eb6be0a4da5dfcf71e7c940e300813c0f], available until Sept. 20. People can visit the website to share memories, special words and photos at app.mural.co/t/islandhealth6899/m/islandhealth6899/1747869109631/439e504eb6be0a4da5dfcf71e7c940e300813c0f [http://app.mural.co/t/islandhealth6899/m/islandhealth6899/1747869109631/439e504eb6be0a4da5dfcf71e7c940e300813c0f]. Island Health advises that residents may call 1-888-885-8824 [tel:1-888-885-8824] to learn about supports that best meet their needs, and if someone is experiencing a crisis, they can contact the Vancouver Island Crisis Line, available 24/7, at 1-888-494-3888 [tel:1-888-494-3888]. Additionally, mental health and substance use services can be viewed at Island Health's mental health and substance use services page [http://www.islandhealth.ca/our-services/mental-health-substance-use-services] at http://www.islandhealth.ca/our-services/mental-health-substance-use-services [https://www.islandhealth.ca/our-services/mental-health-substance-use-services]. To sign up for toxic drug health alerts via text message, text 'join' to 253787.

Five distinct one-person plays will bring a mixture of comedy, drama and LGBTQ programming to an upcoming Gabriola Island performing arts festival.  The plays, part of the Gabriola Theatre Festival, will showcase talents from Vancouver, Victoria, Edmonton, Toronto, England and the Gulf island itself.   Associate festival producer, Dibs Barisic Sprem, said the selection committee whittled the original 18 applicants to the selected five, and focused on productions that could inspire, uplift and challenge audiences.  The festival is also planning for an opening night party and a closing night party. First to the stage will be an autobiographical story by Frank Moher called Boy Player on Tuesday, Aug. 26 and Aug. 30. Boy Player tells of Moher's experience as a child suddenly orphaned and transplanted from Edmonton to New York City.  The following production, The Heterosexuals by Jonnie McNamara Walker, will be staged on Tuesday, Aug. 26 and Aug. 27. Walker's performance will take a tongue-in-cheek 'deep-dive' into the shocking world of heterosexuality. "As a queer person, I love material that flips the script on cultural norms," Sprem said. "Johnnie McNamara Walker has been receiving rave reviews after having sold-out shows in Hamilton, Montreal, Orlando, Edmonton, and an off-Broadway run in NYC."  Next up will be Jem Rolls: Adventures in Canadian Parking Lots on Wednesday, Aug. 27 and Aug. 30. Rolls, who has "done more Fringe Festivals than anyone on earth this century," is a high-energy English performance poet who will feature "dumb comedy, smart comedy and dark tales" in his new show. How I Met My Mother by Jon Paterson will show on Aug. 28 and Aug. 29 and follow a bachelor as he answers the call to care for his ailing mother.  "This gives me the impression that it's going to be one of those shows where people might shed a tear," Sprem said. "Paterson has described his show as cathartic … this is the first show that he has written for himself." Katie-Ellen Humphries joins the festival with her show No Worries If Not, which shows on Aug. 28 and Aug. 29, and will deliver a "funny and surprising tale of love, lying and laundry." "No Worries is a show that speaks to me, as a recovering people-pleaser myself," the associate festival producer said. "Katie-Ellen has a very sharp way of writing jokes and connecting to audience members with relatable, observational humour."  All productions can be caught at the Gabriola Theatre Centre, 1475 Peterson Rd., from Aug. 26-30 with performances at 5 p.m. or 7 p.m. Each production will have two stagings. Ticket information can be found online at www.gabriolatheatrecentre.ca [https://www.gabriolatheatrecentre.ca/].

A few Gabriola Island residents might just catch a glimpse of themselves in an art show this week.  Opening on Thursday, Aug. 21, artist Nic Cooper will present 'I Was Drawn To You' at the Nova Boutique and Gallery as an interpretive "portrait of a place." The show will feature a collection of drawings made on the spot at different social settings, including the Surf Lodge and Pub, Ground Up Café and Catering, and several beaches.  Cooper said the show emanated from their intuitive drive to always be drawing. "The idea is that it's kind of a diary for me. But also a portrait of the island and of its inhabitants and environments," they said. "It sort of shows the trace of the seasons as well." Their technique involves no pencils or erasers, just straight marker ink to paper. As part of picking a good scene, the artist will seek out an interesting angle with one or more subjects and a compelling vantage point to see what they're drawn to, figuratively and literally. And then they'll start drawing. Quickly and covertly, to interpret the fleeting moment.  While it's important to capture the feeling of a place, Cooper said, the 20-year practice is more about decompression and mindfulness.  "If I look back on drawings from 10 years ago, I'll have a clear memory of what croissant I ate, the cappuccino I had, where I was in the world, the time of day."  However, shortly after moving to Gabriola, they noticed their whimsically representational drawings emerged as a sort of story of the island as a whole, rather than lone, isolated scenes.  I Was Drawn To You is the first show Cooper will exhibit drawings that depict a portrait of a place, as their previous off-island showings have been paintings concerning queer history.  Cooper moved to Gabriola last summer and works as a learning and engagement coordinator at the Nanaimo Art Gallery. They attended the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design for an undergrad, then completed a master's degree at the University of Ottawa in visual arts. They have taught at various institutions, including the National Gallery of Canada.  There will be an opening party for I Was Drawn To You on Aug. 21 at 7 p.m. and will remain up at the Nova Boutique and Gallery until Sept. 7.

Born out of a love-hate relationship with the teaching profession, Bored Teachers, The Struggle is Real Comedy Tour, is stopping in Victoria this fall with all-new material. The "funniest teacher comedians" in the world will be at the McPherson Theatre on Sunday, Oct. 19. Bored Teachers delivers comedy that anyone who has ever been in a classroom can relate to. Since starting in 2022, they've filled over 200,000 seats and sold out more than 100 major theatres across Canada and the U.S. Founded by James and Marilou Tarantino, the comedians share stories from all over the world about their struggles and frustrations. The duo began Bored Teachers on social media, where they posted skits, memes and articles born from real experiences and honest feelings about how "complex and undervalued" teachers everywhere are. From there, Bored Teachers was expanded and took on more writers, content creators and comedians, garnishing tens of millions of views. "I think the response just shows you how much teachers need this time together to laugh," one of the comedians said about the show. Tickets are on sale now and are available through the Bored Teachers Comedy Tour [https://www.boredteachers.com/comedy-tour]website.

Symphony Splash returns this weekend for the first time in five years, expanding into a two-day celebration to mark Victoria Symphony’s 85th anniversary. The free outdoor concerts take place this weekend (Aug. 2 and 3) at the Inner Harbour, with performances held on the iconic barge stage in front of the B.C. Legislature. Festivities will begin Saturday at 3:30 p.m. with Indigenous singer-songwriters Celeigh Cardinal and Shawnee Kish joining the National Youth Orchestra of Canada. That same evening, the Victoria Symphony is set to perform alongside percussionist Sal Ferreras, his Latin Jazz Sextet, and Cuban vocalist Adonis Puentes at 7:30 p.m. Sunday opens with another youth orchestra performance at 3:30 p.m., followed by the signature Symphony Splash concert featuring the Victoria Symphony and young piano soloist Patrick Cao. The night concludes with Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, Amazing Grace, and a fireworks display. “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to bring back an expanded Symphony SPLASH! over the B.C. Day long weekend,” said Matthew White, CEO of Victoria Symphony. “We’re looking forward to welcoming locals and visitors alike to enjoy a varied program, from orchestral masterworks to contemporary compositions.” Beyond the music, the Inner Harbour will feature a family zone, local artist showcases on community stages, and food vendors.  A limited number of grandstand seats are available for $5 to $88. All other programming is free. For tickets, the full schedule, and more information about the event, visit victoriasymphony.ca [http://victoriasymphony.ca].  

A sandy, bikini-clad pachyderm prone atop a beach towel graces a popular international seaside sand sculpture competition up Island. The feeling of life and gesture in the “truly sculptural” display earned kudos from both judges and peers for View Royal artist Damon Langlois in the Parksville sandcastle competition. Langlois captured third from the judges, and Sculptor’s Choice in the solo category for his work T.G.I.F., which stood out for its life-like expression and humour, resonating strongly among fellow master sculptors. “As an artist that always feels good to get positive feedback from your peers for sure,” he told the Goldstream Gazette. Langlois, an industrial product designer, started his first job here in Victoria, working alongside a sand sculpture artist a generation ago. That coworker was on a team called Freddy and the Sandblasters – which included former Greater Victoria artist Fred Dobbs, who now lives on Mayne Island. The former coworker had just started their own team and had a hole they invited Langlois to fill. “I said, ‘Sure, why not,’ and then we went and competed at Harrison Hot Springs,” he said. That Fraser Valley beach that hosted world championships for a decade up to 2009. The team finished second. “I was hooked.” He spent the next seven years working with a team at Harrison that generally did well. “When I started in the ’90s it was much easier with these large teams, more amateur with a lower bar. Now … the bar is so high, it’s definitely more intimidating,” he said. “The scene was a lot more amateur, with more fun on the beach, now it’s a high-level, high-calibre art form.” Still clearly drawn to the ephemeral art three decades later, Langlois credits both the medium itself and the community. His work as an industrial designer has a permanence, where the sand is temporary and subject to the elements – affording some spontaneity. “It’s a less rigid creative process,” he said. “You’re also at this challenge of gravity and the elements, and with this medium, you can’t just do whatever you want with it. You get into this strange mode, becoming one with the sand because you have to read it.” And the community has cultivated a subculture with its own language, stories and legends like Ted Siebert and the late Joe Maize. The Pacific Coast was the jam, with White Rock then Harrison bringing sculptors together and sharing knowledge long before the internet. The west was big, the east coast was all about busking. Maize was among the original busking sculptors, leading the crowd as he worked. But in those days, bigger teams included diggers alongside artists and more time for things like leading the public. And everyone travelled competition to competition and exhibition to exhibition full time. “They used to joke and call it joining the circus, because they’re always travelling,” Langlois said. “It really bonds you. You’re having these adventures that are outside the real world in a sense. You end up having these stories and legends that you share with each other.” It’s still required, with little work that will pay the bills outside of places like California where promotional work is big. Now, most events, aside from a handful of amateur U.S. events, are invite-only, and you have to prove your mettle to get one. Parksville remains “pretty precious” and is widely recognized internationally as one that top artists want to attend. “Right now, I think it’s the only competition in Canada.” Dobbs also earned accolades at the annual Quality Foods Sand Sculpting Competition, July 11 to 13. Teamed up with Jakub Zimacek of the Czech Republic, their work, The  Acrobats – with a daring structural design at nearly 14-feet tall with a central hole – clinched first place and Sculptors’ Choice in the doubles division. Parksville Beachfest continues, with the finished sculptures on display through Aug. 17 from 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. daily and visitors voting for the People’s Choice Award.

It would be a shame to let summer pass by without reading at least one good book. Below, Bolen Books in Victoria has offered their top picks for page-turners.  Emperor of Gladness, Ocean Vuong Nineteen‑year‑old Hai, a Vietnamese‑American living in the decaying town of East Gladness, Connecticut, stands on a bridge ready to end his life, until an elderly widow with dementia, Grazina, calls him back. He becomes her live‑in caretaker, scraping by at a fast‑casual restaurant where he finds a loving found‑family. Over nine months, Hai learns to care, survive substance withdrawal, and forge unlikely connections – slowly discovering that meaning and redemption can emerge in moments of quiet, fragile empathy.  So Far Gone, Jess Walter Former journalist Rhys Kinnick exiles himself to a reclusive, remote cabin after a turbulent Thanksgiving where he punched his daughters' belligerent new husband. Seven years later, when his grandchildren show up on his doorstep, Kinnick barely recognizes them. They seek a safer place to stay since their father joined a Christian Nationalist militia, but things quickly escalate when the militia shows up and kidnaps them. Kinnick's journey to save his grandchildren sets him on a journey across an America splintered by intolerance and fractured institutions in a thrilling work of fiction. Say You'll Remember Me, Abby Jimenez Samantha reluctantly takes an escape‑room date with veterinarian Xavier amid heavy responsibilities caring for her mother with dementia. Romance blossoms and fear lingers: Samantha knows her mother may forget her at any moment. Xavier’s own past burdens him. As they fall together in a long-distance love story, they wrestle with identity, memory, and sacrifice. Jimenez balances heartbreak with humour, mixing soul‑numbing grief and resilience with laugh‑out‑loud moments, holding up a mirror to what it means to be seen and remembered. Broken Country,  Clare Leslie Hall Set in the 1950s–60s, Beth lives on an isolated sheep farm until reconnecting with her first love Gabriel – a reunion that drags up buried secrets, old betrayals, and judicial reckonings. The novel blends courtroom drama, romance, and psychological tension as Beth must choose between the safety of her past and the risks of reclaimed love.  There are Rivers in the Sky, Elif Shafak Elif Shafak spins a magical realist tapestry tracing a raindrop’s journey from ancient Mesopotamia through Victorian London and into modern day: intersecting with an Assyrian king, a mudlark child, a Yazidi healer grandmother with her granddaughter by the Tigris, and a contemporary hydrologist who wonders whether water carries memory. The novel illuminates themes of colonialism, identity, ecological crisis, and the humanity of displaced peoples, including a moving portrayal of a 10-year-old girl suffering from a rare disorder while living under the rising presence of ISIS. Don't Let Him In, Lisa Jewell In this kaleidoscopic thriller, three women are connected by one man. The novel begins with Nina Swann, intrigued when she receives a condolence card from an old friend of her late husband, looking to connect. While she is quickly swooned, Nina's adult daughter, Ash, thinks he is too polished, too good to be true. Digging into Nick Radcliffe's past behind her mother's back, she discovers something more than unsettling. Atmosphere,  Taylor Jenkins Reid Joan Goodwin, an astronomy professor, joins NASA’s early 1980s space shuttle program as one of the first women scientists admitted. She navigates training, sexism, and familial obligations – including stepping in to help raise her niece, Frances – while falling in secret love with engineer Vanessa Ford. Then, in December of 1984, on mission STS-LR9, everything changes in an instant. Killer on the First Page,  Ian Ferguson The Happy Rock bookstore, I Only Read Murder, is holding a murder mystery festival with six of crime fiction's biggest names. Rivalries, egos and grudges quickly raise tensions, which escalate when a mysterious posthumous manuscript is delivered to the bookstore. Things go from bad to worse when one of the authors turns up dead in a locked room with no windows. Former TV star and novel protagonist Miranda Abbott will stop at nothing to solve the murder, which soon turns into three seemingly impossible cases to crack. The Summer Pact, Emily Giffin Four college freshmen – Lainey (California drama queen), Tyson (D.C. scholar), Summer (Midwest athlete), and Hannah (quiet southerner) – forge deep bonds, until tragedy strikes: Summer dies by suicide. In grief, the friends vow a “Summer Pact”: to always answer in crisis. Ten years later, when Hannah’s fiancé cheats on her, Lainey and Tyson drop everything to support her. Then they embark on a dismantled yet transformative journey across Texas, Capri, and Paris – finding forgiveness, self‑acceptance, and unexpected love within scars.  Here One Moment,  Liane Moriarty On a flight from Hobart to Sydney, a quiet woman named Cherry mysteriously boards and begins predicting passengers’ deaths. Told in first person, the novel unfolds not through supernatural horror but psychological exploration: Cherry reveals her own tragic past, and survivors are forced to reckon with predestined fate versus free will.

Ray St. Denis has taken on a series of books, called the Shakarri Series, with his first book available now - set in the Comox Valley.  The first book in the series, Lethal Tattoos, follows the main character of Kelly who, while caving, finds himself in a new world. In this foreign place, Kelly finds a world that intertwines magic, prophecy, cybernetic technology and multiverse war. While Kelly doesn’t have much of a backstory, other than the fact that he lost his wife in an accident and found himself moving to the Comox Valley to explore caves that no human had been in before, we learn about his sense of adventure in the unknown. “He’s a bit insane, because he crawls through (caves) that nobody would go through. I set the tone of ‘what’s going to happen to this guy, how is he going to unwind,’ and eventually he gets to this new planet, kind of freaks out and then decides he better get (himself) together,” shared Ray St. Denis, the author. The book takes the reader through Kelly’s lack of will to survive and into his decision that he must survive to help the tigers he encounters upon landing on this new planet. “He’s almost trying to die, at least that’s the impression that we get and then on the other hand, he wants to survive. He’s looking for a reason to survive. He meets the tigers on his first day and he thinks ‘Oh my God, this is not going to end up very well,’ so he goes through the process of trying to survive.” This process of learning to survive with a war happening and to protect the tigers that have Kelly in awe is not an easy feat.  “I try to unfold the story so that there is an understanding that everything is brand new for them, and they have to not only discover what it is, but they have to actually get good at making it work, make it happen. That they can do better if they can work together.” The reader is introduced to a family that Kelly becomes immersed in and feels the need to protect in this war, as he feels a connection to them. “After his experience with the massacre at the shores, when they went to their main encampment, he realized that there is no way to talk to (the enemy).”  St. Denis did a deep dive to gather the knowledge to put together this book series. He had no experience as a caver and stuck his nose into one and had a look. He knew the experience wasn’t for him, but it was intriguing.  He also wanted to be hands-on with the weaponry that the various groups would be using in his book.  “I met a fellow at the Filberg Festival who was offering courses on how to make bows, so I made my bow. I took advantage of whatever was local to put in the book.” St. Denis is not originally from the Valley, having made the move in retirement after spending all his vacation time here since 1998 and falling in love with the area. He and his wife decided that the Valley was where they needed to be. Due to this, he felt it was important to have his book start in the Comox Valley with Kelly caving in Strathcona Park.  While St. Denis had to learn about various topics, such as caving, for the book, he also drew on personal experience. “What I’ve discovered in writing is that you don’t really stray that far away from who you are. I’m an adventurous person, although… when it comes to caving, not that adventurous. But throughout my life, from the time I was 13, I have always been very active.” St. Denis has included a glossary of terms in the book so that the reader can understand the new terms that he uses to describe the world.   For more information on the Shakarri Series, Lethal Tattoos and about St. Denis, visit: restdenis.ca [http://restdenis.ca].  

A sea of people filled Victoria's Inner Harbour on Sunday night (Aug. 3) as the long-awaited Symphony Splash returned with an evening of classical music and fireworks. Canoes, kayaks, and paddle boards clustered before the floating stage, while tens of thousands of spectators gathered on the Legislature lawn and surrounding streets to enjoy the concert, which began shortly after 7:30 p.m. Held for the first time in five years, the event featured its very own orchestra performing from a barge under the direction of conductor Sean O’Loughlin.  The night’s program included highlights from past Symphony Splash events, with pieces such as Shostakovich’s Festival Overture, Holst’s Jupiter from The Planets, selections from Star Wars, Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture and Amazing Grace. Victoria Symphony CEO Matthew White, who experienced his first-ever Symphony Splash, qualified the celebration as an “internationally recognized, iconic event.”  “It’s just one of the best opportunities to go hear a world-class orchestra in an incredibly beautiful central setting for free,” he said. “It's a joyous, beloved civic tradition. “There's no other event like it anywhere else.” While the event was out for a five-year hiatus, caused by COVID and financial challenges, it was atop White’s priority list to revive this unique tradition that returned for a 30th year after the inaugural concert in 1990. “From the moment I got here, people were telling me, ‘As soon as this whole pandemic mess is over, you need to make sure that you get Symphony Splash back on the water because it's become a calling card for arts and culture on Vancouver Island,’” he said. While working to get the festivities back on track, White discovered that Symphony Splash’s DNA was deeply rooted in the community and a celebration of local talent. “Symphony Splash… was designed as a community engagement event to remind the city that we had these professional musicians at the core of the Victoria Symphony that we should treasure,” he said. “And it grew year after year after year into something that became more than just a local event.” After trials and tribulations, the festival was reborn from its ashes, stronger than ever,  delivering its biggest event yet. Thanks in large part to a grant from the City of Victoria, Symphony Splash evolved into a two-day festival, featuring dozens of local and international musicians performing across four stages throughout the downtown core.  In addition to the symphony’s traditional performance, the event included concerts by the National Youth Orchestra of Canada, Juno-nominated Indigenous artists Celeigh Cardinal and Shawnee Kish, renowned percussionist Sal Ferreras and his Latin jazz septet, among others. As the weekend event came to a close, White emphasized that the iconic celebration stands as a testament to Victoria’s vibrant arts and culture scene. And for those who missed it, White extends an open invitation to the next event.

A big voice is coming to Victoria to sing the blues. Shemekia Copeland is set to take centre stage as the headliner of the Harbour Blues 'n Roots Festival in Victoria. “Copeland possesses one of the most instantly recognizable and deeply soulful roots music voices of our time,” writes Alligator Records in a news release. The label says Copeland is beloved worldwide for the “fearlessness, honesty and humour of her revelatory songs, as well as for her winning, engaging personality.” Copeland’s work was recognized by the Recording Academy as recently as last year, when her album Blame It On Eve was nominated for Best Contemporary Blues Album. “There’s serious business on the album,” Copeland says. “But there are a lot of smiles here too, a lot of joyous moments. It’s my blues for sure, but it’s the brighter side. Issues are always important to me, but so is rocking, dancing and just having fun. And that’s something we all can agree on.” Aside from her Grammy accolades, Copeland has won four Living Blues awards, including Blues Artist of the Year, Album of the Year for Blame It On Eve, and Most Outstanding Blues Singer (Female). The album’s producer and musician also won the 2025 Blues Music Award for Album of the Year, bringing Copeland’s all-time Blues Music Award total to 16. Copeland will take the stage at the Harbour Blues 'n Roots Festival on Saturday, Aug. 23 at Ship Point. Tickets start at $42 and can be purchased at jazzvictoria.ca [https://jazzvictoria.ca/].     

The much-anticipated return of Symphony Splash presented by the Victoria Symphony on the August long weekend was nothing short of magical, maestro Sean O'Loughlin said. "Seeing music connect the community in such a transcendent way was inspiring, both on land and on water!" The two-day concert series, on Aug. 2 and 3, took place on a floating barge in the Inner Harbour, making it the only event of its kind in North America. This year, the festival drew an estimated 60,000+ spectators. Two sets of music filled the Inner Harbour each day, with a lineup featuring 91 members of the National Youth Orchestra of Canada, Juno Award-winning and nominated Indigenous artists Celeigh Cardinal and Shawnee Kish, B.C. Hall of Fame percussionist Sal Ferreras, Cuban vocalist Adonis Puentes, a Latin jazz sextet and the Victoria Symphony. Three hundred and forty-five volunteers poured effort and a total of 1,464 hours into the event. Island Savings sponsored the Symphony Splash Volunteer Program. Victoria Symphony CEO Matthew White highlighted in a press release the feat that Symphony Splash is produced entirely by the symphony.  "Getting it back on the barge has been a multi-year effort, which for a local not-for-profit arts organization is a monumental task. Without our volunteers, this event simply wouldn’t happen.” Victoria Symphony partnered with the Victoria Native Friendship Centre on a new initiative, In Harmony, with all donations collected during Splash! split equally between the two organizations to support youth programming and music education. Also new this year were Community Stage performances around the harbour, sponsored by Peninsula Co-op and the Royal BC Museum. National Youth Orchestra's participation in the event marked the end of its 65th anniversary tour. CEO Christie Gray said the moment was a momentous one for the musical group. "Performing from a floating stage, surrounded by water and thousands of people gathered around the harbour, created an energy you simply can't find anywhere else,” she said in a press release.

Few things capture the rhythm of a Victoria summer quite like the thump of basslines drifting down Government Street, the sun dipping over the Inner Harbour, and the Phillips Backyard Festival lighting up the city’s core. What started as a modest brewery lot party in 2013 has grown into one of Victoria’s biggest music events. Now split across two weekends, the festival returns with Reverb Weekend – running Aug. 8 to 10 – following the Tilt Weekend opener in July. With headliners like Peach Pit (Aug. 8), The Roots (Aug. 10), Phantogram (Aug. 9), BØRNS (Aug.9) and Ruby Waters (Aug. 10), this year’s Reverb lineup leans big and bold. Originally set to feature Sombr, Friday’s schedule now includes Ruby Waters after a last-minute cancellation. “Due to circumstances beyond anyone’s control, Sombr will no longer be performing at Phillips Backyard Music Festival – Reverb Weekend on Aug. 8,” organizers said in a statement. “We apologize for any inconvenience and are thrilled to welcome Ruby Waters.” >   >   >   >   > https://www.instagram.com/p/DMljVFcBdNF/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading > View this post on Instagram > [https://www.instagram.com/p/DMljVFcBdNF/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading] >   >   >   >   >   >   >   >   >   >   >   > > A post shared by Phillips Backyard (@phillips.backyard) > [https://www.instagram.com/p/DMljVFcBdNF/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading] The lineup cements Phillips Backyard as a serious contender in the city’s live music scene, shoulder to shoulder with Rifflandia in terms of crowd size and cultural weight. This weekend marks the third post-COVID edition of the festival, and organizers have made a few key changes including raising the main stage by two feet, giving audiences a better view and helping performers connect with fans across the packed lot. Alongside the marquee names, the festival also spotlights emerging talent through the Music BC Stage. On Sunday evening, Whistler-based singer ZADA will step into that spotlight. “I am so stoked,” ZADA told Victoria News. “I tried to get into it last year and didn’t make it – then this time it just happened out of nowhere. I was like, what?!” ZADA has been building momentum with her genre-blending sound – a mix of alternative R&B, jazz, folk, electronic and global influences. She credits Music BC for helping open doors as an independent artist, and said performing in Victoria last fall left a lasting impression. “It seems really supportive from what I experienced,” she said. “I don’t always get to play to a Black audience or a crowd as diverse as I’d like to – and in Victoria, everybody showed up. It was amazing.” Her Sunday set will feature her latest singles, including Breath Away – which she calls a “warm hug in the summertime” – and Access Denied, a track about setting boundaries and reclaiming space. “My best friends and I talk a lot about growing up in a world where women are asked to be a certain way,” she said. “That song is about saying no and protecting your peace.” Though she’s playing a show in Vancouver the night before, ZADA plans to soak in some of the Reverb energy while she’s here. “The lineup is insane," ZADA said. "I’d be honoured to collaborate with any of them.” Reverb Weekend runs Aug. 8-10 in the backyard of Phillips Brewing.

The bass thumped through downtown Victoria on Sunday night, spilling out from the back lot of Phillips Brewing and into the warm August air. In the glow of the setting sun, friends leaned on each other’s shoulders, plastic cups in hand, as the crowd pressed closer to the stage. It was the final night of Phillips Backyard’s “Reverb” festival – three days of sunshine, sweat and songs that have turned a brewery’s parking lot into one of the city’s biggest summer rituals. From Friday to Sunday, 24 acts filled two stages – 15 on the main stage and nine more on the Music BC stage, which spotlighted up-and-coming artists from across the province. This year’s lineup had something for every ear: Peach Pit, Ruby Waters, Mac Sabbath, Phantogram, BØRNS, Danielle Ponder, and the weekend’s closing headliners, The Roots. What started as a modest lot party back in 2013 has grown into a full-scale production. The main stage, now two feet higher, gave fans a better view over the sea of heads that stretched to the limits of the Phillips Backyard.  For Saanich resident Nolan Sams, the festival has become a summer staple. He’s been every year since COVID restrictions lifted, but seeing The Roots live carried a special weight. “I mean look around and tell me that live music isn’t back,” Sams said. “Growing up, music was something that my dad and I could always bond over, and The Roots were one of those bands. This is going to be a core memory.” A few feet away, Victoria local Caroline Henderson was soaking in her first Phillips Backyard experience.  “There wasn’t just one particular act I was looking forward to, more so just getting the chance to see live music and spend a good weekend with my friends,” Henderson said. “Sometimes I forget how much fun live music is, and seeing so many people here proves how important it really is to so many people.” Victoria’s next big festival is just around the corner – Rifflandia, a local staple since 2008, returns to Rock Bay from Sept. 11-14.