B.C. travellers coming to Vancouver Island as wildfires sweep mainland
As of Wednesday morning, there are nearly 300 wildfires burning throughout B.C. That caused Ilyas Sahib to rethink his family's summer travel plans and come to Victoria.
“We were looking at the Okanagan, we were looking at the Central Interior, and with the fires, unfortunately, and the availability of the rooms, we kind of started looking elsewhere,” said Sahib.
Others who were already on the island have decided to extend their stay.
“So far by a couple of days, but if the fires continue and the smoke is bad we’ll extend as long as we can,” said Jenn Barge.
The Barge family is here from Calgary, AB, which is currently under a thick blanket of smoke.
“(We're staying) as long as possible to enjoy the fresh air and avoid being stuck inside, basically,” said Mike Barge. “The smoke in Alberta hasn’t been fun.”
With the interior of B.C. expecting a continued stretch of warm, dry weather, and with night winds ahead, B.C.’s premier is asking all travellers to do their research.
“For those people who have reservations, check with your accommodations and see what the people on the ground are telling you and then make your decisions,” said Premier John Horgan.
“I expect people may have to change their plans and find other places in the province to stay and hopefully Victoria is one of those,” said Bill Lewis, chair of the Hotel Association of Greater Victoria. “We certainly feel for our colleagues in the Okanagan.”
Currently, overall hotel occupancy in Victoria is sitting at around 50 per cent.
“Victoria is open for business and there’s lots of rooms here in Victoria,” said Lewis.
The always-popular Tofino is a different story.
“We are essentially more or less 100 per cent full for the months of certainly July and August, and I would say most of September as well,” said Charles McDiarmid, managing director with the Wickaninnish Inn.
Tofino's popularity gives other destinations on Vancouver Island an opportunity of getting some of that much-needed tourism business.
“We’re just soaking in the sights and sounds of our capital and, you know, just enjoying some family time,” said Ilyas. “It’s not so bad.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
'We have laws': Premier Smith says police action justified in Calgary
The actions, including the decision to use non-lethal force, to disperse pro-Palestinian protesters from the University of Calgary campus were justified, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Friday.