Victoria's year in photos

We asked our favourite photographer, James MacDonald, to bring us some of his best shots of the year. From capturing scenes on the city streets to glimpses of natural beauty, MacDonald has had a busy year.

January

A busy January day on the water as the OOCL Oakland passes through the Strait of Juan de Fuca. To keep on top of the comings and goings on the water, check out The Westshore’s ongoing Who’s Offshore feature.

February

As the Chinese New Year approaches, decorations appear in Chinatown. Chinese-owned businesses were among those hardest hit by alleged non-payment from the Tutti delivery app, a story we broke this past summer.

‍

April

Cruise ships return with the spring, as a guest enjoys the balcony. We reported on new research into the waste disposal of cruise ships, with environmental groups tracking the waste that’s being dumped off BC’s coast.

May

A protest took place on the legislature lawn against the critical shortage of doctors in BC. Zoë Ducklow broke the story of Dr. Perpetua Nwosu, a Victoria doctor who was preparing to charge a high subscription fee to patients, a practice regulators are looking closely at.

June

Saanich was rocked by unprecedented violence when a bank robbery turned into a shootout in broad daylight on June 28. “I think the one image that sums the robbery and shooting the best. The violence, and toll, all in a single frame,” writes photographer James MacDonald, who was on the scene for Capital Daily.

Capital Daily visited the Trial Island lighthouse to get a sense of the historic place’s changing role in Victoria’s coastal life.

September

The death of Queen Elizabeth was felt especially potently in Victoria, with its strong, ongoing British ties.

The Songhees Nation's first community powwow in 20 years was held on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Royal Athletic Park.

The Westshore Speedway held its last race, a sign of the changing times in the Westshore—a month before incumbent mayor Stew Young was ousted by newcomer Scott Goodmanson.

October

As the usual summer drought bled into Victoria’s normally wet fall, a small forest fire was sparked on the Finlayson Arm.

Long-running Victoria comedy mainstay Atomic Vaudeville held its Halloween show. We went behind the scenes to document the chaotic process of building a brand new show twice a year.

November

The first snow of the year reached for the waterline in Active Pass.

December

A harbour seal hunted off Dallas Road.

A Christmas snowstorm paralyzed the city, while bringing peaceful moments elsewhere—like here, in the Inner Harbour, where ice formed on the water’s surface.