The annual salmon run has begun at Goldstream Provincial Park.
The run, which lasts about nine weeks, sees an average of 30,000 salmon returning to spawn. Last year parks staff estimated more than 42,000 fish returned to the stream where they hatched to start the cycle of life once more.
Most of the fish that spawn in the Goldstream River are four-year-old chum, coho, chinook salmon and a few steelhead trout.
The return of the salmon also attracts other creatures. Cutthroat trout, seagulls and other small birds feast on the newly laid eggs. Once the throngs of people have gone, mink, raccoon, otter and bears come for an easy meal. At the end of the cycle, eagles join the feast, gorging on the dead and dying fish.
“We are seeing 300 to 400 fish in the river right now,” said Bre Robinson, a park naturalist.
“The peak of the run is usually around Remembrance Day. People hoping to see eagles should come in early December.”
She calls the salmon run “a rite of passage in Victoria.”
Visitors should not wear bright-coloured clothing, and should stay out of the water. Dogs must be on a leash.
Admission is by donation ($2 adult, $1 child suggested) to the nature house. The house is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. For details, go to goldstreampark.com.
• The season unofficially opens Saturday with the five-kilometre Salmon Run Run. The fun run’s slogan is: Salmon run … so should you. Proceeds support environmental education programs and the park’s nature house. Registration is $10. The run, which begins and ends at the nature house, starts at 9 a.m. For more information, go to raceonline.ca.
• For the first time, the park operator is also offering a 14-seat shuttle to the park from downtown Victoria. The trial run takes place three times a day Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays between Oct. 25 and Dec. 8. Tickets are $10 each way and the first bus leaves at 9 a.m. from Tourism Victoria, 812 Wharf St. Last bus from Goldstream Park leaves at 2:30 p.m. For more information, call 250-478-9414 or email goldstream@naturehouse.ca.
Victoria goes all out for spooky holiday
People attending the annual two-week Ghosts of Victoria Festival are sure to be haunted with the memory of a “spirited” time in Victoria.
Organizers of the festival, one of many spooky events around town over the next two weekends, boast that the city is the most haunted place in B.C. — and not just at Halloween.
But as Halloween approaches, the ghostly theme takes centre stage in Victoria with the festival’s two weeks of haunted activities.
Participating groups include Ghostly Walks, Ghost Bus-tours, Haunted Trolley Tours, Ross Bay Cemetery Ghost Tour, Voices from the Past at St. Ann’s Academy, a spooky play at Craigdarroch Castle, Maritime Museum Ghost Tours, Pumpkin Art in Oak Bay and the Festival of Fear at Galey Farms.
Admission, tour times and venues vary. For more information, go to discoverthepast.com/
ghostly-walks/ghosts-of-victoria-festival.
Meanwhile, Heritage Acres in Central Saanich will be transformed into a Halloween wonderland for the next two weeks with attractions such as the Gross-ery Store, Haunted Bookcase, Ghosts of the Pioneers, Through the Looking Glass, Eye Spy in the General Store and a Mexican-themed Day of the Dead display.
There will be train rides, a decorated trick-or-treat trail, specially carved pumpkins, handcrafted lanterns and illuminated giant puppets.
Net proceeds from the event will benefit the Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island, which support children’s health and special needs.
Admission is $15 adults, $10 youth and seniors and $40 for family (two adults and two youth). The event runs 5 to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday at Heritage Acres, home to the Saanich Historical Artifacts Society, 7321 Lochside Dr., Central Saanich.
There is no parking at the event site. Parking is in a secure, covered parking lot at Gateway Park on Keating Cross Road. There are free shuttles between the parking area and the site every few minutes. Wheelchair parking available on site.
For more details, go to enchantedhalloween.com.
Other Halloween Events:
Pumpkinfest at Galey Farms, every Saturday and Sunday to Oct. 27 at 4150 Blenkinsop Rd., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. A kid-friendly ghost town, hayrides to pumpkin patch, train rides, petting zoo and lot more. Spookier fun starts every night to Oct. 31, 6-10 p.m. Cost: $10/$7. Other venues $5. Tel. 250-477-5713 or galeyfarms.net
Ghostly Walks: Four tours every night to Nov. 2 at 6:30, 7:30, 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. Meet in lobby of Bedford Regency Hotel, 1140 Government St. Cost: $14/$12. Reservation not needed. Tel. 250-384-6698; discoverthepast.com.
Meet captain and crew of Greenpeace’s Rainbow Warrior
The Rainbow Warrior, the flagship of the Greenpeace organization, will be in Victoria and open to the public Saturday and Sunday.
According to the environmental organization, the sailboat, the third to carry the name, is one of the most environmentally friendly ships ever built.
Free tours include a close-up look at the purpose-built vessel, including a revolutionary mast system.
There will also be opportunities to meet the ship’s captain and crew. Organizers have children’s activities planned as well.
Free tours run 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at Ship Point on the Inner Harbour. For more information, go to greenpeace.org/canada.
Drop, cover and hold on with millions worldwide
At 10:17 a.m. today, millions of people worldwide will practise how to drop, cover and hold on.
ShakeOut B.C., part of an international earthquake drill, helps people prepare to survive a severe earthquake at work, school, home or while travelling. More than 670,000 participants have signed up in B.C. and more than 24 million worldwide.
Participants can choose to perform up to four levels of drills, from simple to advanced.
Organizers suggest people who miss the official time of the exercise perform the drill at any time in the next two weeks.
For more information, go to shakeoutbc.ca.
Women’s event presents Paralympic medallist
The Ignite Women’s Conference is an one-day event meant to inspire women to discover their passion and live their potential.
The Saturday event features several well-known speakers, such as MLA and Paralympic gold medallist Michelle Stilwell speaking on Living Your Passion. Panel speakers include Wendy Welch, founder and director of the Vancouver Island School of Art.
Tickets are $125, which includes lunch. The event runs 8:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Victoria Conference Centre, 720 Douglas St. For more details, go to ignitewomensconferencesvictoria.eventbrite.ca or call 250-888-5541.