B.C. Day long weekend forecast: Hot weather, busy roads, Splash
Break out the sunscreen but be prepared for clouds and be careful driving on busy roads during the B.C. Day long weekend.
Environment Canada tells us temperatures are likely to reach 21 C but be mainly cloudy today. Sunday and Monday should be in the mid-20s, with both days having a mix of sun and clouds.
If you are planning to attend the annual Symphony Splash in Victoria’s Inner Harbour on Sunday, B.C. Transit is putting on eight buses to help with overloads.
Entertainment kicks off at noon on the steps of the legislature. By the time the Victoria Symphony begins its performance at 7:30 p.m. on a floating barge, up to 40,000 people are expected to be at the event.
Splash wraps up about 10 p.m. with Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture plus cannons and fireworks.
“We recognize it will be busy downtown for the event, and ask customers to please be patient while we work hard to get them home safely,” a B.C. Transit statement said.
B.C. Transit is offering regular Saturday service today.
Service on holiday Monday will be the same as the usual Sunday service.
The ferries are expected to be busiest through late morning today with traffic from Vancouver to Vancouver Island and from Horsehoe Bay to the Sunshine Coast.
Monday and Tuesday runs are also expected to be busy. B.C. Ferries recommends making a reservation.
Increased traffic on the roads every long weekend has prompted B.C.’s Ministry of Transportation to remind drivers to be extra cautious and keep an eye out for motorcycles.
Tips for driving safely near motorcycles: • Leave space, by allowing at least three to four seconds of following distance when behind a motorcycle and plenty of lane space when passing. • Be ready to yield: motorcycles are often closer than they seem. Since it can be difficult to tell how fast motorcycles are moving, be prepared to yield. • Stay alert, leave your phone alone and avoid other distractions.
For those on motorcycles: • Be seen: dress to be seen and protected. Wear reflective clothing, bright colours, and an approved helmet and riding gear. • Target open spaces: Leave yourself as much space as possible between your motorcycle and other vehicles. • Avoid centre of lane: when traffic slows, keep to the left or right of your lane, to allow yourself an exit strategy in case a vehicle behind you fails to stop in time.
Travellers are being urged to watch for wildlife that may have been forced onto highways and roads, and stay up to date on the condition of their route by checking DriveBC at drivebc.ca.
The Canada Border Services Agency is urging travellers to be prepared at the border and offers some tips: • Have travel documents, proper identification for all persons in the vehicle, and receipts from purchases outside Canada ready to present to the border services officer. • Be ready to declare all goods bought or received outside Canada. • When it comes to travelling with children, know that border services officers watch for missing children, and might ask detailed questions about any minors with you. For more information, go to the travel tips section on the agency’s website or visit travel.gc.ca. • As for cannabis, don’t bring it in and don’t take it out. Even though it will become legal and regulated in Canada shortly, it will still be illegal to take it across Canada’s national borders.