'Just astounding': Orca swims through Victoria Inner Harbour
An exciting visit from an orca delighted onlookers near Victoria's Inner Harbour on Monday.
For Steve Sinclair, it was an experience he’ll never forget and it could be a sign that the harbour is healthier than it has been in a century.
"There he is there," said Sinclair, who is the director of operations at the Victoria International Marina.
"I’m pretty sure that was a seal right in front of him," he said while watching security footage of the transient orca feeding on a harbour seal.
"He had an appetizer on the way into the harbour."
He was in his office on Monday afternoon when he heard there was an orca in the Inner Harbour, so he headed down to the dock.
"Then all of a sudden, boom, a killer whale came around the corner of our dock," said Sinclair.
That orca was on the hunt for a second course. Sinclair pulled out his phone to capture the moment.
"It was pretty exciting," said the island resident.
Over the past few years, it's become more frequent to see orcas making their way into Victoria’s Inner Harbour. Locals say that's a good sign.
"This was a boom yard for a number of wood-based operations, including a barrel company," said Craig Norris, CEO of the Victoria International Marina.
Victoria International Marina is shown. Dec. 7, 2022 (CTV News)The seabed where the marina is now located was covered in around two to three metres of bark mulch, preventing any life from thriving in the area.
"We did have to remove all of that to get back to native marine clays," said Norris.
That’s when the marina installed four artificial reef balls on the ocean floor, providing habitat for sea creatures.
An artificial reef ball is shown being placed on the seabed of the Victoria International Marina. May 17, 2018. It appears, that work has paid off.
"We saw things come back so quickly in the marina in general," said Norris.
It began with crabs, then fish arrived along with more birds. Seals began showing up in droves to feed on the fish, and now those on the top of the food chain are coming in to feed on those seals.
"We had the blessing of T49A1," said Brett Soberg, co-owner of Eagle Wing Whale Watching Tours. "A large adult male in his prime, at 21 years young."
When Soberg saw the videos of the orca in the harbour, he recognized him right away.
He says sightings like this shows efforts to clean up the harbour are working.
"So what’s nice to see, when you see the big predators coming in, is it speaks to a level of comfort but also a return to perhaps a slightly healthier ecosystem," said Soberg.
On Dec. 14, a First Nation welcome pole will be installed at the marina. At the base of the pole will be an orca.
"We just brought the pole in at the beginning of this week and the first time I have ever seen such a thing, an orca shows up at our docks," said Norris.
"Just a day after. So I thought that was just astounding and really neat," he said.
It's a coincidence that many onlookers won't forget soon.
The First Nation welcome pole that will be erected on the site of the Victoria International Marina on Dec. 14, 2022, is shown. (CTV News)
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6978649.1722015109!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Missing 3-year-old boy found dead in creek in Mississauga, Ont.: police
A three-year-old boy has been found dead a day after he went missing in a park in Mississauga, Ont., Peel police say.
Celine Dion delivers stirring comeback performance at Paris Olympics opening ceremony
Against the rainy Paris night sky, Celine Dion staged the comeback of her career with a powerful performance from the Eiffel Tower to open the Olympic Games.
Jasper wildfire: 'Several weeks' before residents can return, premier says
Premier Danielle Smith said Friday afternoon in Hinton while weather conditions are cooler, the Jasper fire is still considered out of control and that Jasper residents can expect to be away from their homes 'for several weeks.'
Irish museum pulls Sinead O'Connor waxwork after just one day due to backlash
An Irish museum will withdraw a waxwork of singer-songwriter Sinéad O'Connor just one day after installing it, following a backlash from her family and the public, it told CNN in a statement on Friday.
Winnipeg senior's account overdrawn for $146,000 water bill
A Winnipeg senior is getting soaked with a six-figure water bill.
FBI says Trump was indeed struck by bullet during assassination attempt
Nearly two weeks after Donald Trump's near assassination, the FBI confirmed Friday that it was indeed a bullet that struck the former president's ear, moving to clear up conflicting accounts about what caused the former president's injuries after a gunman opened fire at a Pennsylvania rally.
Driver charged after flashing high beams at approaching police
Orillia OPP arrested and charged a driver with impaired driving after flashing their high beams.
Powerful cartel leader 'El Mayo' Zambada was lured onto airplane before arrest in U.S., AP source says
A powerful Mexican drug cartel leader who eluded authorities for decades was duped into flying into the U.S., where he was arrested alongside a son of Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, according to a U.S. law enforcement official familiar with the matter.
Turpel-Lafond won't sue CBC over Cree heritage report that took 'heavy toll': lawyer
The lawyer for a former judge whose claims to be Cree were questioned in a CBC investigation says his client is not considering legal action against the broadcaster after the Law Society of British Columbia this week backed her claims of Indigenous heritage.