08/14/2026
This month in history…
On August 6, 2006, our very own Willows Beach was swarmed by upwards of 30,000 people. If you’re doing the math, you’ll notice two things: yes, 2006 was indeed 20 years ago (how the time flies!), and yes, 30,000 people is a lot of people. What gives?
The District of Oak Bay was formally established in 1906 by then-Lieutenant Governor James Dunsmuir. Just a little more of that quick thinking will reveal that 2006 was Oak Bay’s 100th anniversary and that those 30,000 people were there to watch the Canadian Snowbirds take part in the centennial celebrations!
Members of Oak Bay Volunteer Services were among the crowd and even had a direct hand in some centennial activities, such as the Grade 4 children’s art awards held the month prior, in July. When Oak Bay was celebrating its 100th anniversary, OBVS was celebrating our 29th!
In 2026, Victoria was once again visited by the Canadian Snowbirds as part of the David Foster and Friends 40th Anniversary Concert, held on August 8.
