Holiday Monday's big event(s)

Victoria’s longest-running parade will feature floats, marching bands, and performances in its 124th edition, which begins at 9am. Pre-pandemic, the parade drew as many as 80,000 people. Here’s what to know about holiday Monday’s events:

Getting around 

Douglas itself will be closed up to Tolmie (along with one block on the streets attached to it) but reopened in phases as the parade passes. Douglas bus stops will be located along Blanshard instead today. Parking in City parkades and metered spots is free, and the bike valet will run 8:30am to 5pm.

Or watch from home 

CHEK’s livestream will air here beginning at 9am.

The Douglas Mile

This run / walk will proceed ahead of the full parade; it is collecting donations for the Parkinson Wellness Centre.

World Cultural Festival

Centennial Square will host performances from 11am to 4pm including bhangra, salsa, Philippine folk dancing, Tae Kwon Do, and much more. Vendors, artisans, and a bouncy castle will also be in the square.

Canvas Family Fest on the Westshore

Family Fest is a free family-friendly event coming to Veterans Memorial Park from 11am to 3pm. Game and prize stations, art booths, an inflatable castle, food, live music, and more. 

The central municipality has been feeling “that we’ve taken on too much,” in the words of Coun. Jeremy Caradonna. The city has looked at billing the province for street- and shelter-related support funding it allocates, and now councillors are turning to neighboring municipalities.

Caradonna argues that a more contemporary model for support services would have them spread out rather than concentrated downtown. Colwood Mayor Doug Kobayashi says this spreading-out of services would make sense—if the province also spreads some funding around to make it happen.

Of the 832 supportive housing units in the capital region, 680 are in Victoria and currently, while there are no shelters in Langford, Colwood or Sooke on BC Housing’s list.

But that doesn’t mean homelessness hasn’t reached the western communities. Danbrook Park, Langford’s only overnight-shelter park, there is often an encampment, while reports last year said squatters had taken up residence in abandoned homes on Sunderland.

Read the full story at The Westshore. 

It’s starting to look like summer more and more, which means it's also looking like ice cream season more and more. With sun today and cooler clouds later this week, the holiday may be your best day for a waffle cone stacked high with locally made craft ice cream.

Tasting Victoria compiled a selection of some of the best ice cream spots to grab a cone on the way back from the beach or to pick up a pint to enjoy at home. From scoops and bars to ice cream sandwiches and milkshakes, here is what’s available from (and to) locals.