Warmer, longer days, and the appearance of blossoms are all signs that spring has arrived in Greater Victoria! Some of the best things about the city were recognized in a recently published list that ranked Victoria as the second coolest city in Canada. You can read more about the criteria and rankings here.
Skyscanner also just named Victoria as one of the ten most walkable cities in the world for vacationers. Some of the criteria considered for this honour are: distance between attractions, the number of walking trails, air quality and crime rates. Victoria’s air quality was ranked the best of all the 10 cities surveyed! The editors praise the city's 457 walkable trails.
Image: Walking along the ocean at Ogden Point
Celebrating Greater Victoria
Accolades
Macaloney's Distillery
President and Master Whiskymaker Graeme Macaloney, stated that it was a "tremendous honour" that Macaloney's Distillery won four more Gold Medals at the 2025 World Whiskies Awards. This brings their total to 17 gold medals since 2020. Only three other distilleries worldwide have won more golds. These awards show that craft Canadian whisky is outstanding
This year's awards were earned for the following whiskies:
Best Canadian Pot Still Whisky – Peated Kildara Best Canadian Small Batch Single Malt – Peat Project Sugar Kelp Peat, Red Wine Barrique Best Canadian Single Cask Single Malt – Peat Project, Washington Peat, ex-Bourbon Cask Category Best Single Malt Gold – Peat Project, Islay Peat, ex-Bourbon Cask
Trip Advisor Top 20 Hotels
Three local hotels made Trip Advisor's Top 20 Hotels in Canada list. Abigail's Hotel took the number one spot! The Magnolia Hotel & Spa also made the Parkside Hotel & Spa all made the list, which you can view in full here.
Announcements
Porter Airlines
Porter Airlines service continues to grow with the addition of a new nonstop route between Ottawa and Victoria. On May 15, 2025, new service between Ottawa International Airport (YOW) and Victoria International Airport (YYJ) began operating for the summer season with up to seven weekly roundtrip flights.
Travellers to and from Victoria can now enjoy a new level of comfort with direct flights between Ottawa and Victoria on Porter’s spacious 132-seat Embraer E195-E2 aircraft. Each flight is designed for an elevated economy experience—no middle seats, complimentary high-speed WiFi, and free beer, wine, and snacks for every guest. For those seeking a truly all-inclusive journey, the PorterReserve fare offers fresh, nutritious meals, extra legroom, dedicated check-in, and two checked bags, ensuring a seamless and comfortable travel experience from Ottawa to Victoria.
Opening in July 2025, Rosemead House was originally built in 1906 and designed by renowned architect Samuel Maclure. The property has undergone a meticulous restoration led by Aragon Properties and design architect Paul Merrick. It is a design-forward boutique hotel set within a fully restored Edwardian estate in the Saxe Point neighbourhood of Esquimalt, British Columbia.
Rosemead House's interiors are curated to showcase a collection of hundred of antiques and artworks from over 50 estate auctions across the UK. The designers pay homage to British heritage while also while introducing a fresh design narrative. The hotel is also home to Janevca Kitchen and Lounge, the widely acclaimed woodfired restaurant that opened in November 2024.
Image: Rosemead House
Oak Bay Beach Hotel Stargazing Sauna
Gaze at the stars while you take a sauna at Oak Bay Beach Hotel's custom Stargazing Sauna, custom built by WildWood Saunas. The sauna has 180-degree views of the Salish Sea and a glass ceiling made for cloud or star gazing.
The sauna is already open and in May, the full hydrotherapy circuit opens with two cold plunge pools as well as the renovated Boathouse Spa.
The Magnolia Hotel & Spa
The 100% locally owned and operated Magnolia Hotel & Spa launched its Locals Know package. The Locals Know Package also includes the favourite local businesses, shops, and artisans of hotel staff through a curated trail map of the region showcasing Vancouver Island's local producers and the best of the island.
For more information, please see the official press release.
The Parkside Hotel & Spa and the Sierra Club of BC Partnership
For the month of April, the Parkside Hotel partnered with the Sierra Club of BC in an ongoing effort to highlight local ecosystems that are walkable, bikeable, and a day-trips drive to explore. The Parkside Hotel & Spa also donated $1 of the Eco-Fee for each guest's night stay and it collected to donate to the Sierra Club for the month of April, Earth month.
For more information about The Parkside Hotel & Spa's ongoing environmental initiatives, visit their Sustainability Practices page.
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Destination Greater Victoria, 600-765 Broughton St., Victoria, British Columbia V8W1E2, Canada
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