The Thrifty Foods Victoria Day Parade won event of the year at the 2026 Canadian Event Awards. This recognition comes despite the parade’s significantly smaller budget of $160,000 compared to some competing groups that spent up to $250,000 on single events.
The Greater Victoria Festival Society organizes the parade. The 2026 event will follow a new downtown route established by the City of Victoria. The length of the parade has been reduced from four kilometers to 1.6 kilometers, which may help streamline the event.
In 2025, there were 98 entries in the parade. For 2026, organizers expect about 75 entries. Kelly Kurta, a representative from the festival society, expressed her emotional reaction to the award: “I just cried.”
Meanwhile, the Keremeos Rodeo is celebrating its 85th anniversary in 2026. The rodeo parade starts at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, May 18. Kim Tomas remarked on the rodeo’s significance: “This valley was built on the backs of cowboys, and this is a part of our valley.”
During the Victoria Day long weekend, the UFVRD RCMP will increase police presence around popular areas. Cst. Hannah Sutton emphasized safety: “Police encourage everyone to enjoy the region’s picturesque landscapes safely, responsibly, and respectfully.” This weekend traditionally marks the beginning of the busy summer season in Canada.
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