End of an Era for Victoria’s Beloved Weather Network
For more than two decades, a unique weather project in Victoria has been quietly shaping the way people, schools, and even local governments experience and understand their environment. But now, after 23 years of service, this beloved weather website and its network of school-based stations are set to shut down at the end of September.
The project began back in 2002, when climate scientist and former BC Green leader Andrew Weaver teamed up with his colleague Ed Wiebe. What started as a single weather station at the University of Victoria blossomed into a network of 167 stations spread across schools throughout Vancouver Island. These stations weren’t just recording data—they were making it available in real time, free for everyone to access. Teachers used the data to enrich lessons, students used it for science projects, gardeners checked it before planting, cyclists relied on it before heading out, and broadcasters pulled from it for their reports. In short, it became a trusted community tool.
Unfortunately, the project is coming to an end because there just aren’t enough resources to keep it going. A message posted on the site explains that the work has been rewarding, but maintaining the equipment—often requiring climbs onto school rooftops—has become too demanding. Weaver and Wiebe had hoped that institutions like UVic or the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions (PICS), which has a large endowment, might step in. But consistent, long-term support never materialized.
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Funding in the early years came through grants that helped pay for staffing, but that support dwindled over time. By 2017, Weaver had managed to secure temporary help from the University of Victoria, but it gradually faded, particularly during the pandemic. Despite offers from the public, Weaver refused to accept community donations or corporate sponsorships, as he wanted to preserve the project’s independence and avoid commercial influence in education.
The announcement has sparked disappointment across social media. Many Victorians have been sharing stories about how they used the data in their daily lives and how valuable the network has been for the community. For Weaver, the closure carries mixed emotions. He takes pride in knowing that countless children learned science by observing weather patterns from their own schoolyards, but he feels let down by the lack of institutional backing.
He has also pointed out that while UVic may not have prioritized the project, other institutions—like Royal Roads, Vancouver Island University, or Camosun College—could step in if there’s a will to keep it alive. But if not, Weaver says he accepts that some initiatives simply run their course.
As he put it, “Things come and go all the time. People will remember what they wish to remember. I would prefer it to keep going.”
For now, Victorians will say goodbye to a project that connected them to the skies above in a way that was both educational and deeply personal.
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