I've noticed the 'Buy Canadian' discussion kind of die down lately and was wondering where fellow Victorians are at with their efforts to avoid American-made products while the topic isn't dominating the news headlines.

I certainly acknowledge that I'm less feisty about and dedicated to avoiding US-made products (because I'm a poor) but I do feel like I have a permanent instinct and habit to buy non-US products anywhere I have an obvious choice, which is most of the time. It's especially fun to try and prioritize BC/island/locally grown and support businesses that make that easy.

So yeah just curious where all my friends and neighbours are at with that?

So we see the name of the candidates and sometimes a photo. In 2026 there has got to be a better way of informing the public of a simple list of candidates, besides plastering the city with single-use plastic signage.

With respect, WTF. After 2 hrs of techno thumping, we left. Does anyone know what their deal is? Birthday party? Or just a Saturday afternoon for them. Maybe I’m getting old but man, I just want to relax on the beach, not listen to rave music

It's been a few years since this bullshit was unleashed on us. I've fallen prety to it too, but I'm getting fed up of being guilt-shamed into Tip: 20% 22% 25% for over-the-counter service.

My question: how many of you are tipping; how many have stopped participating in being set-up?

Kidding but not kidding.

Was this weekend an example of typical springtime weather? I understand it’s expensive, I understand it’s grey in the winter, but my god it was such a breath of fresh air from the Calgary concrete, stroads and terrible urban planning.

Everyone was super friendly during our visit and the pedestrian friendly infrastructure made everything so easy and pleasant to do. Reminded me a lot of my time living in the plateau in Montreal.

So what’s the catch, what am I missing? Burst my bubble here because otherwise I’m moving here tomorrow.

i've been riding the same bus to work every day since i got this job a year ago, and i love seeing the bus regulars who also ride this bus every morning, all in our unofficially assigned seats. it brings a lil sparkly feeling to my heart. whats something like this that you really enjoy about victoria ?

Had to go to the ER last night at Royal Jubilee Hospital, and I’m honestly struggling to understand how this level of dysfunction has been normalized.

When I arrived in the evening, the wait was already around 7 hours—which, I was told, is actually considered good. Most nights apparently exceed 12 hours. That alone is hard to wrap your head around.

People were moving through slowly at first, but then around 10–11pm things basically ground to a halt. A nurse explained that they drop down to one doctor overnight—so if any trauma cases come in, that one doctor is tied up.

The result? A packed waiting room that barely moved for hours. People sitting there suffering, waiting, with no real sense of when they’d be seen.

And it raises an obvious question; what happens if more than one trauma comes in at the same time? How is that handled with a single doctor?

Can anyone explain why a major hospital is staffed like a skeleton crew overnight? One doctor covering the ER is hard to wrap my head around. Is this a funding issue? A staffing shortage? Something else entirely?

To be clear, the staff at the hospital were excellent, extremely patient, even with a few people expressing their frustration.

What actually needs to happen to fix this? Because right now, it’s completely unacceptable.

I have a genuine, non-judgmental question to ask at the end of this. I’m mixed race for context.

I’m assuming it was a dad, since he had two kids on the back of his bike with him. I was just walking on the sidewalk home from work, and he yelled out “sup ni***” at me for no reason. We didn’t cross paths or anything, he was just passing by and I guess… decided to take the opportunity to teach his kids new words. I’ve experienced this in the past, that’s life (not my attempt to shrug it off, I’m actually pretty sad).

I’m still new to the city, I’ve been here for about 9 months now. My question is - how racist is Victoria towards black people? And poc people in general? How frequently would you say this sort of thing happens? Anyone can answer, but people with personal experience would of course be extra helpful. I’d just like to know what to expect, and what to mentally prepare myself for. Not trying to say the city is terribly racist or anything, I just want to know what I’m in for culturally.

I’m from Ontario and have had a few encounters like this there. I was actually living in a conservative place in the states for the last 7 years, and didn’t actually have that kind of thing happen at all. There’s far more black people there which I guess is why. Bit ironic since we often pride ourselves on being more progressive here, but I guess that’s beside the point. I still don’t know what the vibe is like here yet, beyond it being a lot more white population wise.

Edit: Okay! Considering the amount of people trying to find an excuse to defend the guy, or say my experience is unbelievable, I have my answer. Thanks!

The people in this apartment unit above Curious Comics routinely throw their full household garbage bags out of their window and into the streets. I have seen them do this about 6 times in the last year.

Today I saw the full trash bag almost hit an elderly woman. Who fucking raised you? I am about one more observation of this behaviour away from returning these bozos their garbage ten fold, and in the rudest way possible…

Too may entitled clowns like this in this town…

Has anyone else witnessed this?

I do not own a vehicle and commute solely by bike. Im on the roads and our lovely goose/lochside/e&n trails

Why is NO BODY using their bell or saying "On your left!" when passing me? Like seriously.

Month of August, had only 3 people use their bell to pass. I must be an annoying ring a ling ding dong out here.

Maybe more of a rant then a question but im curious for you fellow bikers why you've given up on this common courtesy?

Post idea borrowed from: https://www.reddit.com/r/askvan/comments/1luev93/whats_your_vancouver_hot_take_that_will_get_you/

For me, I don't understand the hype of Blue Fox. Yes, it's tasty but not wait in a long lineup kind of tasty.

Genuinely curious

Almost daily now. Sometimes a couple or a few times a day. I can smell weed in traffic. Even on the highway. I guess there's a chance it's just people on the streets but I often drive behind a few cars for a while and you can clearly smell the weed and sometimes see the smoke coming from a car. And I know what you're going to say. "I drive better when I'm stoned." No you don't. It's illegal. God forbid you get into a bad accident becauseif you do and they do blood tests you're going to prison. So please don't smoke and drive.

Every time I come outside they are always burning something whether it is daytime or night time and the smoke is always really dark.

Isn't this polluting the air? Why do they need to do it so often?

I was just doing about 50-55km/h in a 40 zone and the car behind me was following maybe 2 feet behind me (he was close enough that if I had to slam on my breaks for whatever reason he definitely would have rear ended me). So guess what buddy? Now we’re going exactly 40km/h (btw this was a windy road where I can’t really turn off or pull over to let him pass otherwise I would have).
When we reached a spot where he could pass he just flew right past me, like where are you going that you have to dramatically tailgate me for 10 minutes and then zoom away? Tailgating can be so dangerous and it especially stresses me out when I’m in my small car.

Anyway was just wondering if there is any reason people here are always in a rush and if this has happened to others? Cause this was definitely not the first time something like this has happened to me

Edit: first time getting hate, kinda nervous 🤭🤭

If homes and cars (and, uh, the census) are any indication, this city has so many people with so much money. I have a deep desire to just go door knocking in Oak Bay and Gonzales and ask people how they got to where they are but I know the response rate would be like 1% while the door-slamming and hounds-unleashing rate would be in the 90s.

With the benefit of anonymity here on ol' Reddit though, how about it? How'd you get so rich, rich people of Victoria? (I'll also accept surrogate answers from people who know other people's stories.)

EDIT: I'm not asking how "people" get rich. Not looking for advice either. I'm curious how these specific people, in this city, made/received their money!

After the attack at Beacon Hill the other night I’ve been hearing a lot of people mention a gang called “the Arabs” and that it was them who initiated the attack.

Is this gang a real thing? Since when? I’ve never heard about them before this weekend. What’s the deal with them?

Recently moved back to Vic after being away for years. Absolutely love it here. I try and get out and walk around this beautiful city as much as possible. A couple weeks ago when on a walk in Vic West I noticed movement along a row of townhomes. I looked over to see the most freakishly large rat I have ever seen in my life. It was terrifying. I though it must be some freak of nature or maybe I found the rat king. Yesterday while walking back from Cook Street village I spotted a second rat...just as big. I was stunned. Are all rats in Victoria of the giant size? Why are they so frigging huge here? I moved back to Victoria from another port city where rats are common as well, but were only half the size or less.

How was your night?

Almost every single time I walk past Jam Cafe to go thrifting, there's a significant line outside of people waiting for a seat. Is it that much better than the 20 other cafes within walking distance? Is it really worth it to stand around waiting for a seat?

No hate, genuinely just want to know why there is always a line! They seem to have lots of seating, is it a really slow turnover of tables combined with hype?

Edit: I guess specifically I'm curious how it compares to the cafes around Jam. Union Pacific, Torch Song, Been Around The World, I love all these places, they have better reviews, and rarely have any lines.

is it this spider? learned end of august-early september is their breeding season. jus curious! would never kill bro i know hes tryna find a mate. i like the feelers that look like lil boots lol

I'm staying at the Fairmont Empress for a work conference, what are some of the BEST restaurants to eat at on the company dime?

Hey guys, I don't know how many $30-40 transactions I have left in me.

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I want to hear your best tips, like the $10 Wednesday all you can eat at elements casino.

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Fast food, sit down, food trucks, whatever it is I want to hear it

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Pet friendly is hard to find but this place seems to want an extra $300 a month for me to have a cat? Is this allowed? Am I tired and not reading correctly? Says $300/mth & pet deposit so seems like the $300 isn’t the deposit

Just curious what everyone’s average is!