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This week's Greater Victoria celebrates Earth Day with pedal-powered music and speed dating opportunities. There's also a 420 festival dedicated to something hazy, a show that combines champagne with cake, and a street sweeper making a celebrity appearance. Plus, upcoming previews of what pet lovers and outdoor adventurers need to know.
Kids can meet brilliantly coloured frogs debuting at a tropical conservatory (Pro-D Day!), discover where birds build their homes with a naturalist guide, or participate in bike obstacle courses at one of several Earth Day celebrations. Meanwhile, two surveys want your input on headlight glare and public safety—details inside.
30+ events this week. [Subscribe for free] and don’t miss the good stuff happening across the 13 municipalities of Greater Victoria.
Active & Outdoors
Greater Victoria: Pathfinders Walking Club – Walks this week: Saanich-Pearkes (April 15), Colwood-Juan de Fuca (April 18), View Royal-Thetis Lake (April 19) Metchosin (April 20)
Metchosin: Road Trip to Wildflowers (Guided Walk) – All Ages April 18 (Sat) @Devonian Regional Park 9:30am-1pm
Saanich: The Best Nest (Guided Walk) – 5 years and under April 19 (Sat) @Francis/King Regional Park 11am-12pm
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Arts & Entertainment
Victoria: Queer Open Stage Vic April 15 (Wed) @722 Cormorant St 6:30-8:30pm
+ Newsies: The Musical April 17-25 @McPherson Playhouse
+ Blind Dates Live! w/Alex Forman April 18 (Sat) @The Mint 1414 Douglas St
+ Matt Wright – Comedy April 18 (Sat) @Hecklers 123 Gorge Rd East
+ Speed Dating Ages 40+ April 19 (Sun) @Swans Pub 11:45am-3pm
Metchosin: Metchosin Bandwagon April 17 (Fri) @4100 Metchosin Rd 7-10pm
Sidney: 420 Haze Fest April 17-20 (Fri-Mon) @Small Gods Brewing, 9835 Third St
+ Opera? Are You Kidding Me? April 20 (Mon) @Mary Winspear Centre 7pm
+ 20th Annual LEGO Brick Exhibit Until April 26 @Sidney Museum
Langford: King of the Baggers-Road Atlanta April 18 (Sat) @2940 Ed Nixon Ter 10am-4pm
Sooke: Mallory Chipman – Folk Music Society April 18 (Sat) @1962 Murray Rd 6:30-9:30pm
Explore Peru with purpose
See Peru through the eyes of the women who call it home on Intrepid’s new Women’s Expedition. Travel with an expert female leader and a small group of like-minded women - trek the Andes, take part in a traditional textile workshop and join a female shaman’s spiritual practice on this immersive 8-day adventure.
Family Fun: Our Top 3 Picks
Three unique family experiences we're excited about this week
Apr 18 (Sat), 11am-3pm @770 Vernon Ave, Saanich
Live music powered by pedal bikes, a kids' bike obstacle course, and Curby the street sweeper making an appearance. This year's theme celebrates reusing, sharing, and repairing to keep stuff out of landfills. Browse vendors, grab food truck lunch, and let kids loose on Capital Bike's obstacle course while you enjoy local musicians on a stage powered by riders cycling for Island Kids Cancer Association. Poetry readings, interactive elements, and proof that sustainability can be fun. Free.
Apr 19 (Sun), 11am-12pm @Francis/King Regional Park, Saanich
Spring means birds are busy building! Your little ones (5 and under) can discover where hummingbirds and robins make homes with a CRD naturalist guide. Storytime brings bird life to kid-level, then you ramble the accessible Elsie King Trail—800 meters of boardwalk and compact gravel perfect for strollers. Meet at the Nature Centre off Munn Road. Wheelchair and stroller friendly, accessible washrooms, benches along the way. Free.
Apr 20 (Mon - Pro-D Day), 11am-2pm @Victoria Butterfly Gardens, Central Saanich
Nearly 40 poison dart frogs across five species debut at the Butterfly Gardens—meet them before they're released into the conservatory. The care team explains why they're brilliantly colored, how they accumulate toxins in the wild but aren't poisonous in captivity, and what makes Cobalt, Azure, and Orange Banded varieties different. Learn the life cycle from tadpole to adult. Included with garden admission. Perfect Pro-D Day activity.
News Bites
📋 Two Surveys Want Your Input: Headlight Glare & Victoria Policing
Transport Canada and Victoria Police are both asking for your opinions this week. The federal government wants to know if modern LED headlights are making night driving harder—those bluer, brighter beams that feel like they're burning your retinas. The survey (open until April 20) covers everything from glare intensity to whether you've changed your driving habits to avoid it. Meanwhile, VicPD launched a community survey asking Victoria and Esquimalt residents about public safety priorities, police interactions, and how safe you feel downtown at different times. Takes 10 minutes, closes April 15. Both surveys are anonymous.
[Survey links - Transport Canada / VicPD]
🏋️ Downtown Y Reopens at Bay Centre with Fresh Upgrades
The YMCA-YWCA's new downtown location opened April 9th on the top floor of the Bay Centre after leaving its Broughton Street home of 60 years. The 20,000-square-foot space brings cardio equipment, strength machines, updated change rooms, child minding, and secure bike parking—plus two hours of free parkade access for members. What's missing? The pool, gym, and racquet courts from the old location, though most programs continue. Staff say the renovated space maintains that familiar Y feel with upgraded sound systems and bright welcoming studios. The Y has been downtown for 150 years and isn't going anywhere.
[More info: Chek News]
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Community & Creative
Esquimalt: Earth Day Celebration April 15 (Wed) @Highrock Cairn Park, 10am-2pm
+ Esquimalt Farmers Market April 16 (Thur) @1200 Esquimalt Rd 4:30-7:30pm
Central Saanich: W̱SÁNEĆ Community Gathering April 16-18 (Thur-Sat) @Saanich Fairgrounds 8:30am-8:30pm
Saanich: Saanich Earth Day Festival April 18 (Sat) @770 Vernon Ave 11am-3pm
+ Orchard Market April 19 (Sun) @273 Prospect Lake Rd 12-6pm
Sooke: Sookarama 2026 April 18 (Sat) @Seaparc Arena, 2169 Phillips Rd 10am-3pm
Victoria: Quadra Village Yard Sale April 18 (Sat) @901 Kings Rd 11am-3pm
Colwood: Pokemon & Collectibles Card Show April 18 (Sat) @1767 Island Hwy 10am-3pm
+ Champagne & Cake Show 2026 April 19 (Sun) @Hatley Castle 12-4pm
🌅 On the Horizon
Planning ahead? Here are a few events worth noting:
Colwood: Victoria Outdoor Adventure Show April 26-28 @1767 Island Hwy
Saanich: Victoria Pet Expo May 2-3 @Pearkes Rec Centre
Langford: Mother’s Day Market May 9 @The Langford Station
Have a great week Greater Victoria! 💙
