Join our community of SUBSCRIBERS and be part of the conversation.
To subscribe, simply enter your email address on our website or click the subscribe button below. Don't worry, we respect your privacy and won't spam your inbox. Your information is safe with us.
Start your engines and grab your earplugs—there’s a monstrously cool and loud motorsport event coming to Victoria this weekend!
Back by popular demand, this event has been dubbed the Motorsports Spectacular, and will be invading the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre from Friday, January 5th to 6th.
There will be a total of three shows to choose from, and you’ll be joined by a collection of motorsport enthusiasts cheering nearly as loudly as the engines’ collected roar!
Featured in the lineup are bone-crunching monster truck racing, a wheelie contest, high-flying freestyle motocross action, and more thrill-a-minute, death-defying stunts.
If you’ve had the pleasure of witnessing this event before, you’ll be excited to welcome back the impressive monster truck lineup including Rockstar, Power Up, California Kid, Spitfire, and Identity Theft.
All these massive trucks generate up to 15,000 horsepower and weigh up to 12,000 pounds!
There will be a mix of evening and matinee shows available, and tickets are still available.
Prices start at $15 for kids and $30 for adults!
Did you know that it takes a crew of 30 people, 36 hours, and 600 TONS of dirt to bring this event to life?
It’s that season again where almost everything in the city has a little twinkle or sparkle to it as holiday decorations line the homes and businesses of Greater Victoria!
Santa and his elves will be on their merry way soon, along with Frosty, Rudolph and Jack Frost nipping at your nose.
Yes, it’s one of the most wonderful times of the year when Victoria is going to be transformed into a literal winter wonderland—and we don’t want to miss one bit of it!
If you’re planning on decorating your home (or already have!) to kick off the most festive season of the year, submit your address to our 9th annual interactive Christmas Lights Tour Map.
Our map will feature all the best home light displays from across the city and will even be optimized for mobile—so your favourite co-pilot can guide you along any of the routes you choose to take!
If the entire street is lit up, please include in the message block.
To add your home or business to the map, send the address, community you’re located in (Saanich for example), and a photo or two that we can show our readers—also feel free to include a message to lightmap@victoriabuzz.com.
Or, you can add any homes or businesses where you see twinkling holiday displays to help people around the region get into the holiday spirit.
Grab hot chocolates for the family, hop in the car, tune into 98.5 The Ocean and crank up the Christmas music, as you head out on the Christmas trail!
With so many light displays around the capital region, we wanted to narrow down some of the best spots to catch the lights around town.
We put together three routes that take you past some of those big and beautiful displays. Keep checking back as we will continue to add more. If you would like us to add your house or see a home that should be on the list, please send in using our online form.
The map is optimized for mobile, so your trusty navigator can guide you along any of the routes as you go.
Take a Virtual Tour
Can’t make it out to see the lights? Not a problem. Victoria Buzz photographer, Colin Smith, has been buzzing around town capturing photos of many of the lit up homes so you can enjoy from the comfort of your home, or, you can add them to your must-see locations!
On Wednesday, April 24th the Brewers Association announced all the winners from this year’s World Beer Cup held in Las Vegas, Nevada.
This organization and awards ceremony is meant to uplift small and independent craft brewers with 110 categories covering 172 different beer styles.
Once the 2,060 breweries submitted a grand total of 9,300 beer entries, a judges panel comprised of experts from 37 countries came to their conclusions over two weeks and the winners were decided.
Of all those breweries, 13 of the winners were Canadian and in total, 17 awards were given to them.
Only four BC breweries brought home an award and of those only one winner hails from Vancouver Island and that would be Phillips Brewing & Malting Co.
Phillips won gold in “Best American-Style Sour Ale” for one of their core beers, the Dinosour Stone Fruit Sour.
“We are very excited to add this prestige award to our trophy case for one of our most enjoyed beers and give a hearty ‘CONGRATS’ to everyone on our team here at Phillips who all make this beer possible,” Jim Lister, President Phillips Brewing & Malting Co.
The other BC breweries to win were Shaketown Brewing Co. from North Vancouver for their American-style pilsner, Whistler Brewing Co. from Whistler for their chocolate beer and Jackknife Brewing from Kelowna for their “Historical Beer.”
In an effort to aid police in addressing public safety, the BC government is seeking federal permission to ban substance use in all public spaces.
The Province says this is being done in an effort to have substance users find support and treatment while using drugs at safe consumption sites rather than on the streets.
“Keeping people safe is our highest priority,” said Premier David Eby.
“While we are caring and compassionate for those struggling with addiction, we do not accept street disorder that makes communities feel unsafe.”
He continued by saying the government is working at expanding treatment options while simultaneously providing police with more resources to keep streets safe.
Specifically, police would have the power to enforce against drug use in all public places, including hospitals, restaurants, transit, parks and beaches.
Drug use in several of these areas was already explicitly illegal.
According to this new legislation, when police are called to a scene in which they determine people are using illicit drugs dangerously, they will have the power to tell the person to leave the area, seize the drugs or arrest the person.
Since January 31st, 2023, the Province had successfully decriminalized possession of small amounts of drugs in a harm reduction-informed effort to destigmatize those who use substances.
Since that time, BC has subsequently been putting into place new legislation that bans the use of drugs in public spaces—this being the latest.
Despite these efforts to control where and how substance users consume illicit drugs, the toxic drug crisis and the deaths that stem from it continue.
According to data from the BC Coroners Service, most people who die of illicit drug use die while using alone and isolated from the public.
Since April 2016, when the public health emergency was activated in BC because of the crisis, over 14,208 British Columbians have lost their lives to toxic drugs.
The Province specifically noted in their announcement that this new legislation will not recriminalize drug possession while in a private residence, legal shelter, overdose prevention sites or drug testing location.
Substance use in hospitals
In the past few weeks there has been a lot of attention paid to drug usage in hospitals and whether or not it is condoned.
This all stemmed from a controversial memo that Island Health reportedly distributed to nurses which instructed them to not stop open use of illicit substances within the hospital.
Now, the government has made it clear that hospitals are not places in which people should be allowed to use substances not provided to them from hospital medical staff.
The new legislation also includes a prohibition on possession of any illicit drugs while inside a hospital.
The Province says this is in an effort to push substance users toward seeking treatment.
Additionally, the BC government says that patients with addictions will receive support and oversight by hospital staff to ensure they receive personalized care if experiencing withdrawal symptoms while their medical issues are being treated.
“Today, we are taking immediate action to make hospitals safer and ensuring policies are consistent and strictly enforced through additional security, public communication and staff supports,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health.
“The action plan launching today will improve how patients with addictions are supported while they need hospital care, while preventing others from being exposed to the second-hand effects of illicit drug use.”
New addictions treatment initiatives
In addition to this new legislation on where substances can and cannot be used, the Province says they will also be expanding access to addictions treatment.
Specifically, BC will be:
Increasing availability and accessibility of opioid-agonist treatment (OAT) via a provincewide virtual system. This is a medication-assisted treatment for opioid-use disorder
Integrating addictions services with health care, housing and related services
Working with experts to track prescribed alternatives with the aim of preventing diversion
“People across the country are dying from poisoned drugs and B.C. is no exception,” said Jennifer Whiteside, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions.
“Addiction is a health-care issue, not a criminal one, and we’re going to keep doing everything we can to save lives and connect people to treatment.”
The Innovation Centre in Vancouver’s downtown eastside will also be the recipient of $25 million in funding as they provide intensive care services to a significant number of people with highly complex medical and psychosocial needs.
(BC Children's Choices Lottery - Sooke Grand Prize home)
BC Children’s Hospital has officially announced the winner of their grand prize!
Victoria resident A. Naylor is the lucky recipient of this year’s BC Children’s Hospital Choices Lottery.
They now get to pick from ten multi-million dollar Grand Prize options—including a selection of marvelous prize homes worth upward of $2.7 million or $2.3 million in cash!
If you’re curious, you can take a look at two of the homes included in the Choices Lottery, both of which are on Vancouver Island—one in Sooke and the other in Courtenay.
At the heart of the Choices Lottery lies a noble cause: to accelerate medical discoveries and advancements that directly benefit the young patients at BC Children’s Hospital.
Proceeds from every ticket purchased goes towards the foundation and the wonderful work they do to help the kids of BC!
From groundbreaking treatments to cutting-edge technologies, every dollar raised pushes us closer to a future where every child can thrive.
In fact, BC Children’s is the only hospital in the province devoted exclusively to children and is one of the world’s leading pediatric hospitals, confronting many pressing health challenges these kids face, including cancer, heart disease, brain health and more.
Their dedicated Research Institute has over 1,500 research members working to understand the origins of these illnesses and develop treatments with the hope of moving closer to cures.
It’s unclear what the winner will choose for their prize, but what would you take? Let us know in the comment section below!
Smiles were pasted on the faces of children at the Victoria General Hospital (VGH) this week as a handful of their favourite superheroes gave them a nice surprise in the paediatric ward.
This inspiring surprise came about because of a new official partnership made in January between Island Health and Superheroes of Victoria Volunteer Society (SOVVS).
SOVVS is comprised of volunteers who have access to high-quality costumes in order to bring childrens’ favourite comic book and movie characters to life.
The organization visits VGH at least once a month.
“It’s about more than just the excitement,” said Mercedes Elizabeth Howard
“It’s also a lesson in bravery and courage, showing our children that they can face their challenges head-on, just like their heroes.”
Another child’s mother, Kim McCoy Coleman, says she notices a significant emotional change for the good whenever these superheroes visit the paediatric ward.
“The superheroes managed to perk her up in a way I haven’t seen in over a week, maybe even two. It’s as if, amidst the challenges of being in the hospital, she’s found a way to be herself again,” said Coleman.
It isn’t just for the children either. Island Health’s Volunteer Resources and Engagement Manager, Jennifer Doyle, says that whenever she catches a glimpse of a parent who sees the smile on their child’s face, that joy is just as well received as the joy that is intended for the children.
Doyle also says that all superheroes are screened and trained for their roles prior to being involved with any children. They take computer modules and learn about confidentiality, cultural safety, diversity, equity and inclusion.
They are also trained in how to respond to emergencies, infection control practices, wheelchair assistance techniques, among others.
Volunteers say that they get to experience a type of pure joy as well, just the same as the children they are there to cheer up as well as their parents—though they know who the real heroes are.
“It means more than I think any of us can really say to be able to partner with organizations like Island Health doing this work,” said Greg Foster, SOVVS Volunteer Director.
“The hospital staff are the real heroes. We just put on costumes.”
Currently this endeavour only takes place in VGH, but Island Health say they have plans to expand the experience throughout their jurisdiction.
Another day, another dollar…and now it’s time to unwind. Unless you plan on running this year’s incredible TC10K run, then your time to relax will be after!
Enjoy your last weekend of April (we know!) with the wonderful selection of activities happening around Victoria, and bring your loved ones along with you.
Catch Paw Patrol live in action, check out Mayfair Shopping Centre’s spring fair, pick from an expansive selection of other live performances, visit a market or two and much more!
Without further delay, here’s 13 things to do in and around Victoria this weekend—April 27th and 28th:
From April 23rd to May 19th, Tony Award-winning play, The Lehman Trilogy, will be taking over the stage in a flurry of intoxicating adventure.
The story takes place in 1844 and follows Heyam, a young man from Bavaria, as he stands on a New York dockside dreaming of a new life.
He is soon joined by Mendel and Mayer, and the Lehman brothers’ journey begins—together navigating the Civil War, the Great Depression, and generations of ethical dilemmas.
Tickets are sold in a pay-what-you-can fashion, starting at $17.85. They’re expected to sell out quickly, so don’t wait too long to snag yours!
In case you missed it, Nickelodeon and VStar Entertainment Group will be bringing PAW Patrol Live! “Heroes Unite” to Victoria this month.
Coming to Victoria’s Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre on Saturday, April 27th to 28th, this is your chance to join the pack in four action-packed shows.
This brand-new production is an interactive live stage show where members of the audience become unleashed heroes, aiding the pups as honourary pack members while they embark on a global adventure to return to Adventure Bay just in time.
Ticket prices vary depending on package, but they start at $34 and can be purchased here.
(Paw Patrol Live!)
Where: Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre, 1925 Blanshard Street
The annual West Coast Amusement fair has returned to Mayfair Shopping Centre for its third consecutive year, and is providing entertainment for young thrill seekers and families alike!
This family-friendly outing kicked off on Thursday, April 25th and will run until Sunday, April 28th.
If you’re only looking to explore the fair, you’re in luck—the fair is free to enter with fees only charged for the use of the Midway rides, food and games!
The ‘unlimited ride’ wristband is $47 per person and can be purchased here, just remember that the wristband cost does not include food or games.
Beloved local musician Daniel Lapp is bringing his annual Joy of Life Concerts back to Alix Goolden Performance Hall at the Victoria Conservatory of Music (VCM) this weekend!
The first concert kicked off on Friday, April 26th and the second concert will take place this Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
The wondrous Joy of Life Concerts have been celebrating life and all of the wonders it brings us for over 20 years, each year bringing a renewed sense of inspiration, dedication and love for each other and nature.
As described, Lapp is bringing together a delightful mix of performers, including the young fiddlers of the BC Fiddle Orchestra and the Old-time Danceband.
Tickets are just under $33 for adult general admission and just under $22 for youth admission.
(Daniel Lapp’s Joy of Life Concerts / VCM)
Where: VCM’s Alix Goolden Performance Hall, 900 Johnson Street
When: Saturday, April 27th at 7:30 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.)
Celebrate local theatre production company, Atomic Vaudeville, during their 20 year celebration!
Marking this monumental occasion, they’re hosting their 87th cabaret titled, Spring Cabaret: Hope SpringsInferno, held at the Victoria Event Centre (VEC)—which kicked off on April 24th and ends on April 27th.
Hope SpringsInferno will present your hosts Hope and Death as they lead an all-star cast on a journey described as a “pop-culture worm ride through spicy dunes, idyllic children’s forests and the mean streets of mob-era Fernwood.”
Standard show tickets are $33—both can be purchased online.
For lovers of classic tales and theatre, the Canadian College of Performing Arts (CCPA) is bringing L.M. Montgomery’s timeless piece, Anne of Green Gables to the McPherson Playhouse stage.
It started on Friday, April 19th and will present its final shows on Saturday, this adaptation of the longest-running Canadian musical is sure to captivate audiences and bring a renewed love for the story.
This will be the CCPA’s first production of Anne of Green Gables, and will mark the finale of their 25th anniversary season and has a significant number of CCPA alumni on the creative team.
If you’re a nature enthusiast with a passion for birdwatching, prepare to spread your wings and join fellow birders at Trailside at the Lake to celebrate National Go Birding Day!
This open house event is a great way to meet like-minded people and swap tips and stories about bird watching.
All attendees get to take home a free bird feeder and seed, as well as be entered in to win some wicked birding gear!
Check out their event page on how to enter to win.
(National Go Birding Day, Trailside at the Lake / Facebook)
Where: Trailside at the Lake, 1361 Goldstream Avenue
This Sunday marks the 35th annual TC10K and they’re making this year extra special to mark the occasion!
They’re bringing it back to the 90s, so lace up those kicks, dust off your brightest neon gear, and get ready to time-warp to an era when mixtapes set the mood and pop culture icons ruled the world.
Visit their website for registration and pricing—prices will depend on whether you’re running as an individual or a team.
If you’re looking for their full schedule, you can access that from their website as well.
Khalsa Day celebrations, organized by Gurdwara Singh Sabha, will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, April 28th, which includes a Nagar Kirtan, Sikh Procession.
The parade will start at Cecelia Road and proceed to Burnside Road via Alpha Street, Douglas Street, Finlayson Street, and Jutland Road before returning to Cecelia Road.
It will pause for 20 minutes for performances on Finlayson Street between Douglas Street and Burnside Road. The parade will end at 1:30 p.m., and the festival will carry on at the Gurdwara Singh Sabha on Cecelia Road.
(Photo by Beth Rand Photography)
Where: Parade starts at Cecelia Road
When: Sunday, April 28th from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
RCMP have located suspect vehicle involved in fatal hit-and-run of teenage girl near Duncan last week.
The incident occurred on Thursday, April 18th at around 9:50 p.m. on the stretch of Highway 1 between Green Road and Beverly Street.
Police say the woman who was struck by a vehicle was confirmed dead at the scene by the BC Coroners Service after paramedics attempted to save her life unsuccessfully.
While police are only identify the victim as a young woman, family have identified her on social media as 17-year-old Leeann Joe.
The suspect vehicle left the scene before emergency officials arrived; however, over a week later, North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP confirmed they located the suspect vehicle and conducted a forensic examination.
“The North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP would like to thank the public with their assistance with the investigation so far,” said RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Brett Urano.
North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP are requesting motorists who were driving in that area between 9 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. last night to check their dashcam video for any relevant information.
Anyone who has information on this incident should contact North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP at (250) 748-5522.
In May 2023, School District 61 (SD61) officially ended the school police liaison officer (SPLO) program.
At the end of February of this year, VicPD made an arrest in which they alleged the suspect had been recruiting for local gang activity at a SD61 secondary school. Since this time, public concern about youth gang recruitment has skyrocketed in the region because of VicPD’s public comments on the matter.
Then, in a city council meeting on April 11th, the City of Victoria opted to write a letter to SD61 to request the program be reinstated.
On April 19th, SD61 announced they did not intend on reinstating the program and a few days later, VicPD Chief Del Manak expressed his disappointment in a letter of his own.
On Thursday, April 25th, the President of the Greater Victoria Teachers’ Association (GVTA), Ilda Turcotte, provided a report to the city council on how SD61 came to the decision to end the program as the district has come under mass scrutiny regarding their methodology.
Though Turcotte wrote the report, a presentation was given by the Secondary Vice President of the GVTA, Cindy Romphf.
“The position on SPLOs by the GVTA, and subsequently by the Board of Trustees, was taken after a lengthy and challenging review process which included a review of research on SPLO programs, and voices from marginalized community members,” read Turcotte’s report.
“It is the teachers’ position that programs formerly provided by SPLOs are more appropriately provided by educators, social workers, and public health workers with extensive and specialized training for working with children and youth.”
The report noted that the GVTA recognizes that gangs and gang recruitment have been of significant public concern.
However, VicPD have not been able to provide historical data from any of these types of occurrences in schools making it impossible to determine whether there has genuinely been an increase in this activity in SD61 schools, or if any increase has been related to the removal of SPLOs.
To support their findings, because some have accused SD61 of basing their decision purely on ideology rather than facts such as evidence-based research, credible sources and the voices of marginalized staff and students, Turcotte also provided the city council with supporting materials which are just some of what guided their decision making process.
These items include:
A report from the BC Civil Liberties Association on racial profiling
Creating and sustaining a positive social environment that surrounds them
Promoting social, economic and cultural policies and programs that support positive development
One thing that Chief Manak brought up in his response was that in 2018 VicPD pulled SPLOs from schools to help bolster the number of officers patrolling the streets and at the time, SD61 requested that the program be reinstated.
To this, Turcotte wrote that in 2018 when the SPLOs were pulled, it wound up saving the City of Victoria around $400,000.
She suggests in her report the City invest those funds elsewhere going forward and provided suggestions such as enhancing grants for after-school programming, creating arts and sports grants for youths, funding a district-based “teacher-counsellor”, funding a district-based public health nurse and enhancing funding for family counselling services.
“These are the kinds of programs that research shows are protective of vulnerable youth, without being accompanied by the documented harms that are associated with SPLOs,” Turcotte explained.
Turcotte concluded her report with a request that if a matter of this importance comes before council, that the GVTA be notified so they can provide the City with appropriate evidence and research that inform SD61’s decisions.
(Still from, Crimson Cruising / HUMP! Film Festival 2023)
Festival founder Dan Savage announced some sad news for all the HUMP! Film Festival fans in Victoria.
Described as ‘The World’s Best Amatuer Porn Film Festival,’ Savage’s HUMP! Film Festival is a lovingly curated festival of short erotic films made by real people for real people.
Set to come back for its 19th year on May 25th, the show’s fate took a turn this week when Consumer Protection BC suddenly required “Adult Licensing” for the upcoming HUMP! screenings in Victoria.
Because it was so soon before the showing, they had no choice but to cancel HUMP! and are unable to screen anywhere else in the region…for now.
This announcement came shortly after Consumer Protection BC ordered them to pull one of the films, The Reward, out of the Vancouver screening’s lineup just hours before the show.
According to a media release, the provincial regulatory agency overseeing ticket sales decided adults in their jurisdiction wouldn’t be able to handle the clip due to its subject matter, labeled ‘bondage in a sexual context.’
“Bondage? In a…sexual context? Excuse us while we grasp our pearls!” the release reads.
Luckily, the Vancouver showing was able to go forward without The Reward, but it was completely canceled in Victoria due to the new licensing requirements.
Savage did, however, leave fans on a positive note, saying that if BC residents aren’t able to catch HUMP! in theatres, they’ll be able to stream Part One online—which will include the pulled film, The Reward.
“We encourage everyone to contact Consumer Protection BC at classadmin@consumerprotectionbc.ca to respectfully voice your comments and concerns about censorship,” the release reads.
“It takes a village to create a public space for fun, all-inclusive, ‘by the people for the people’ adult entertainment, and we appreciate the support we receive from every single one of you.”
From the dawn of its creation by Savage in 2005, the festival has embraced and welcomed an open-minded approach—wanting to show as much diversity and break as many conventions as possible.
They offer a mix of themes, including hot and steamy vignettes to imaginative and kinky fantasies that are sure to capture your attention (and possibly tickle your intrigue)!
Whatever you desire, their films feature a cornucopia of body types, ages, colors, sexualities, genders, kinks, and fetishes—all said to be united by a shared spirit of sex-positivity.
Savage is also the creator of the Savage Love sex advice column, the popular Savage Lovecast podcast, and the It Gets Better Project.
If you want to submit your own film for the 2025 HUMP! Film Festival, you can do so here—be sure to check rules and requirements before submitting.
On Thursday, April 25th, Island Health issued a warning that there has been an uptick in overdoses caused by a toxic drug supply in Greater Victoria, the West Shore and Sooke.
The latest numbers from the Province show that in January and February alone, nearly 400 British Columbians died as a result of toxic drug use.
In 2023, at least 2,539 people died due to the crisis, 475 of whom were Vancouver Islanders.
Because of the higher than normal instances of overdose in the past week, Island Health is trying to put the word out that there is an influx of toxic drugs in the area.
This is in an effort to try to avoid unnecessary drug deaths by informing substance-users of ways they can safely use drugs.
The Ehattesaht First Nation has finally been able to deliver good news that the orca has escaped after being orphaned and trapped in the lagoon where her mother was beached and died.
After just over a month in the lagoon where her mother died on March 23rd, kwiisaḥiʔis, or Brave Little Hunter swam past the sandbar which was blocking her in during high tide.
According to the Ehattesaht Nation, the water was glass calm and the night’s sky was star-filled during her journey out of the lagoon, past the bridge and down the Espinosa Inlet.
They say that kwiisaḥiʔis had been playing and breaching all night near the causeway and sandbar which trapped her in.
“After most everyone had left to get some sleep the small group who remained stood as witnesses to watch her swim under the bridge and down the inlet,” wrote the Ehattesaht Nation in a press release.
“The team later found her in Espinosa Inlet and followed her from a distance as she [moved] toward Esperanza Inlet proper.”
During the morning of Friday, April 26th, the Nation says they will try to coax her out of the inlet and out into the open ocean.
Further, the team which has been aiding in her escape from the lagoon will be taking measures to ensure she is not bothered by boats or people as she now needs to focus on finding her familial pod.
“With this part of the [challenge] solved by kwiisaḥiʔis herself every opportunity needs to be afforded to have her back with her family with as little human interaction as possible,” say the Ehattesaht Nation.
They continued by saying that this situation will continue to be of utmost significance for generations to come, as it demonstrates the deep connection between the spirit world and the animal world to them.
The next provincial election will be taking place this October and it is the first in which Premier David Eby will be running to reclaim his position after he took over from John Horgan when the former premier stepped down.
Eby is up against Kevin Falcon, leader of the BC United Party; Sonia Furstenau, leader of the BC Green Party; and John Rustad, leader of the Conservative Party of BC.
2020 is the first time since 1996 that the BC NDPs won the most seats, not including the 2017 election in which the Liberals won 43 seats, the BC NDPs won 41 and the BC Greens won 3, allowing the two parties to team up against the Liberals.
In a recent survey done by BC-based Research Co., it appears that most British Columbians still have faith in the BC NDPs and intend on voting Premier David Eby and his government back into office.
Here is the survey’s results for how people would vote if the election were to happen right away and their approval rates for the parties leaders:
BC NDP – 40%
David Eby – 51% approval
Conservative Party of BC – 24%
Jon Rustad – 35% approval
BC United Party – 13%
Kevin Falcon – 36% approval
BC Green Party – 10%
Sonia Furstenau – 37% approval
Since the BC United changed their party’s name from BC Liberal, the number of people willing to vote for them has decreased markedly, according to this survey. Even since January, they have dropped by two points, meanwhile the BC Greens have risen by one.
When asked what the issues are that mean the most to British Columbians, the top five were: housing, poverty and homelessness at 37%, healthcare at 21%, the economy and jobs at 18%, the environment at 6% and public safety at 5%.
Interestingly, the Conservative Party of BC appears to be much better off than it has in the past according to the Research Co. survey. They have not won a seat in the BC legislature since 1975 but now show more promising approvals than even the BC United Party.
The Research Co. survey asked respondents if they would like to see BC United and the Conservative Party of BC merge before the next election.
The pollees responded by saying 10% would “definitely” like them to merge, 29% would “probably” like to merge, 20% would “probably not” like to see them merge, 22% would “definitely not” like them to merge and 20% weren’t sure.
This puts positive reactions toward the merger at 39% whereas negative reactions remain higher at 42%, but the results of this question were close.
What do you think will happen in the next election come October? Let us know in the comments.
It’s time to start mapping out all of your indoor Friday plans, so we’ve compiled a list of fun, high-energy and/or wholesome activities to keep the blues away.
Fully plunge into your emotional side at Lucky Bar’s Emo Night, catch live theatre performances or attend a wondrous Daniel Lapp concert that celebrates life!
Don’t forget about the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibit on at the Royal BC Museum!
Here’s 5 things to do in and around Victoria on Friday, April 26th:
Beloved local musician Daniel Lapp is bringing his annual Joy of Life Concerts back to Alix Goolden Performance Hall at the Victoria Conservatory of Music (VCM) this weekend!
The first concert kicks off this Friday and the second concert will take place this Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
The wondrous Joy of Life Concerts have been celebrating life and all of the wonders it brings us for over 20 years, each year bringing a renewed sense of inspiration, dedication and love for each other and nature.
As described, Lapp is bringing together a delightful mix of performers, including the young fiddlers of the BC Fiddle Orchestra and the Old-time Danceband.
Tickets are just under $33 for adult general admission and just under $22 for youth admission.
Where: VCM’s Alix Goolden Performance Hall, 900 Johnson Street
When: Friday, April 26th at 7:30 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.)
Don’t miss out on the last day to celebrate local theatre production company, Atomic Vaudeville, during their 20 year celebration!
Marking this monumental occasion, they’re hosting their 87th cabaret titled, Spring Cabaret: Hope SpringsInferno, held at the Victoria Event Centre (VEC)—which kicked off on April 24th and ends with two shows this Saturday.
Hope SpringsInferno will present your hosts Hope and Death as they lead an all-star cast on a journey described as a “pop-culture worm ride through spicy dunes, idyllic children’s forests and the mean streets of mob-era Fernwood.”
Standard show tickets are $33—both can be purchased online.
Where: VEC, 1415 Broad Street
When: Wednesday, April 24th to Saturday, April 27th
Looking for a night of pure emo energy? Lucky Bar invites you to join for their Emo Night, where all the hits from the bands that defined the genre will be played.
From Fall Out Boy and My Chemical Romance to Jimmy Eat World and The Used, they’ve got your emo favourites covered.
Grab your black eyeliner and their favourite band tee, and join them for a night of nostalgia, catharsis, and unapologetically emotional music.
Community favourite exhibition, Wildlife Photographer of the Year will be returning to the Royal BC Museum this Friday!
This exhibit uses the power of photography to raise awareness around animal advocacy and environmental conservation while showcasing some of the world’s best nature photography.
Grab your family and friends and see what was worthy of display this year up!
If you can’t make it on Friday, it’ll be around until June 2nd.
So far this week, two non-profit organizations have announced that the Princess Royal, Princess Anne will be visiting their facilities while on a quick three day trip to BC.
Now, the Office of the Lieutenant Governor of BC has revealed everything she will be doing while in town.
This royal visit marks the first time a member of the Royal Family has visited Victoria on official business since the passing of Princess Anne’s late mother, Queen Elizabeth II.
The Princess Royal will be in Victoria between May 3rd and 5th and will be spending time in Esquimalt, Victoria, Saanich and the Saanich Peninsula.
She will be accompanied by her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence.
While in Greater Victoria, Princess Anne will be attending many community events and organizations.
Below is everything she will be doing while on this official royal visit:
The Princess Royal will attend the commissioning ceremony for His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Max Bernays and sail overnight in the ship to Esquimalt
When HMCS Max Bernays enters Esquimalt Harbour, The Princess Royal will receive a 21-Gun Salute from the Black Rock naval battery
The Princess Royal will visit the Military Family Resource Centre and meet with staff, board members and service members and their families
The Princess Royal will pay respects and lay a wreath at the God’s Acre Veteran’s Cemetery
The Princess Royal will visit the archives and collections space of the Maritime Museum of British Columbia, which was founded with an initial donation by Her Royal Highness’s late father, Prince Philip
The Princess Royal will visit the FED Urban Agriculture project to learn about local sustainable food practices
The Princess Royal will attend the Battle of the Atlantic Commemorative Service at the British Columbia Legislature and lay a wreath
The Princess Royal will visit the Royal Victoria Yacht Club and present prizes at the Spring Dinghies Regatta
The Princess Royal will visit the Victoria Therapeutic Riding Association and meet with staff, board members, clients, and their families. The Princess Royal will also tour the stables and present prizes
The Princess Royal will meet with Lieutenant Governor Janet Austin and various British Columbia community leaders
According to the BC government, the Princess Royal was given the title of Honorary Commodore-in-Chief of the Canadian Fleet Pacific back in 2015.
The visit by Princess Anne is being hosted by the Royal Canadian Navy.
Specific dates and times have not been provided by the Office of the Lieutenant Governor for safety reasons and so the Princess Royal can attend all her commitments while in town.
If you’ve ever struggled with bus-tracking services, you’re not alone!
BC Transit has announced the completion of their NextRide real-time bus tracking system replacement.
The replacement will allow for increased certainty, convenience and bus predictability for transit users across Victoria.
The new Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) hardware was installed on all of the city buses, so riders can continue to use tracking services on both mobile and desktop devices and get better real-time updates and information.
This includes more accurate real-time location along its route and predicted arrival time at an identified stop.
Riders will also benefit from the new digital full-colour passenger information display onboard all full-size and double-decker buses—including upcoming stops, current route and service alerts.
AVL will also send push notifications on the occasion of an accident, detour or any other delays.
For the most current route information, it is recommended that customers use:
Transit App (mobile only)
Google Maps (desktop and mobile)
BC Transit Website
Umo Mobility App (mobile only)
Their own favorite trip planning app
Refer to the rider’s guide
The entire cost for this project was around $16.8 million dollars, funded through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program and the Government of Canada.
The Capital Regional District (CRD) have just announced that Sooke will be getting a new skatepark in the coming years, but first they need to know what the community wants from it.
This new skatepark will be a part of Sooke and Electoral Area Parks and Recreation Commission’s (SEAPARC) amenities and has not been updated since its construction in 1997.
“I am proud to support the skate park renewal project,” said Al Beddows, SEAPARC’s Board Chair.
“The skate park is an integral part of Sooke’s recreation amenities, and these improvements further our commitment to supporting sport and recreation for all members of our community.“
Since its construction by the Rotary Club of Sooke 27 years ago, the skatepark in Sooke has been much loved and well used according to the CRD.
Because of how avidly it is used, it has been determined a replacement is in order to improve the now dated park.
“The skate park renewal project is key to ensuring the longevity of this much loved community asset that is in significant need of repair,” said Sooke’s Mayor Maja Tait.
“Anytime we can plan and support outdoor spaces like these, particularly ones that are a recreational hub for our youth, it is a great investment.”
Radius Skateparks has been contracted by SEAPARC and will lead the design process. They were chosen because they have over 18 years of experience in building skateparks and are known for their unique and dynamic results.
Radius has constructed skateparks in Alert Bay, on Gabriola Island and in Duncan. Their projects also extend across Canada and internationally.
According to the CRD, there will be an interactive design workshop for the new skatepark on Monday, May 6th, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at SEAPARC Recreation Centre.
There will be an online survey available on the CRD’s website beginning May 7th and ending on May 21st.
Additionally, more information is available online through the CRD here.
In celebration of Adopt-a-Shelter-Pet-Day on April 30th, the BC SPCA is offering 50% off adoption fees from Thursday, April 25th to Sunday, May 5th.
BC SPCA animal centres will also be hosting open houses on Saturday, April 27th—so, you can have a wander and maybe even find your best furry friend!
“The open houses are an opportunity for the public to learn more about what the BC SPCA does and see all of the ways we care for animals in our community,” says Adrienne McBride, the BC SPCA’s senior director at the community animal centres.
“It also gives us a chance to shine a light on some of the amazing animals in our centres who have been patiently waiting for their forever home.”
For example, the Victoria BC SPCA is currently housing an adorable Bullmastiff/Rottweiler dog named Teddy!
Teddy is three-years-old and has been living at the shelter for over 160 days, waiting for his forever home—which would include confident pet owners who are okay with continuing obedience training.
He’s a big softy that doesn’t quite understand how large he is, so younger children might not be suitable but older children are fine, and he loves other dogs too!
(Teddy / BC SPCA)
Another long-term resident looking for her forever home, is the cuddly cat, Sophia!
She is a six-year-old domestic shorthair and needs to be the queen of her castle—this means no other animals in the house so she can hog all of your love and attention.
Sophia also needs attentive parents as she has unfortunately had on and off diarrhea for a large portion of her life and this will likely continue.
The SPCA believes it is a dietary/bacterial issue, so she’ll need to be on a hydrolyzed protein/allergenic diet her whole life.
This has caused infrequent accidents where she doesn’t quite make it to the litter box, although this isn’t super common.
(Sophia / BC SPCA)
To view other lovely and cute animals ready for adoption, visit the BC SPCA’s website and filter to your location!
Happy searching and we hope you find your newest family member.
Things are going to be busy in downtown Victoria this weekend with the celebration of Vaisakhi and the annual Times Colonist 10k (TC10K).
Road closures will be in place on Sunday, April 28th, as the City of Victoria hosts the TC10K and the Khalsa Day Parade.
Khalsa Day celebrations, organized by Gurdwara Singh Sabha, will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, April 28th, which includes a Nagar Kirtan, Sikh Procession.
Traffic from the parade and carnival is expected to cause delays around Mayfair Mall during this time, with road closures on Burnside Road East and Douglas Street, from Finlayson to Tolmie.
The parade will start at Cecelia Road and proceed to Burnside Road via Alpha Street, Douglas Street, Finlayson Street, and Jutland Road before returning to Cecelia Road.
It will pause for 20 minutes for performances on Finlayson Street between Douglas Street and Burnside Road. The parade will end at 1:30 p.m., and the festival will carry on at the Gurdwara Singh Sabha on Cecelia Road.
City officials suggest that if you’re traveling into or out of downtown, please consider using Blanshard as an alternative route.
BC Transit routes will not be impacted.
The Gurdwara Singh Sabha Victoria has been organizing this event for many years, and each year it has seen the attendee numbers grow.
TC10K
Initial road closures for the TC10k run begin on Saturday, April 27th at 12 p.m. on Belleville Street between Government and Menzies streets as crews prepare the area for the run happening the following day.
On Sunday, Belleville Street between Menzies and Oswego streets, Government Street between Belleville and Superior streets, and Menzies Street between Belleville and Quebec streets will also be closed.
These closures will be in effect from 3 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“Some roads in the area will be opened earlier in the day as officers and race organizers work to limit traffic disruptions as much as possible while keeping participants and spectators safe,” VicPD said in a release.
(VicPD)
As per all major public events, VicPD confirmed they will be deploying temporary CCTV cameras.
Nanaimo Soroptimist Club volunteers, circa 1960 (Nanaimo Archives)
People around the world know the name Nanaimo because of the dessert bar which bears the city’s name, but some university students have put the area’s culinary scene under a microscope to determine the rest of what makes their food scene special.
The exhibit is called Beyond the Bar.
Vancouver Island University’s (VIU) History of Vancouver Island and Public History classes have taken on the task of uncovering the secrets behind the city’s food and their efforts have resulted in a new exhibit at the Nanaimo Museum.
The students did everything to create Beyond the Bar, including creating its design, revising research reports, organizing the layout and developing a publicity plan to bring people in and show them what the VIU class has uncovered.
“As a lifelong Nanaimo resident and food lover, researching the city’s historical gastronomy has been a real treat,” said student Samadhi Sukadana.
“I hope guests join in our culinary curiosity and find something in the exhibit to chew on.”
The two classes’ instructors, Dr. Chelsea Horton and Dr. Katharine Rollwagen, collaborated on this effort and this isn’t the first time that the university has partnered with the Nanaimo Museum.
In the past, students have created similar exhibits on the Spanish flu and the history of Nanaimo’s unique road names.
“Students learn a lot about communicating and working collaboratively through the process of researching and designing an exhibit, while also discovering the histories of this place,” said Dr. Rollwagen.
“We are fortunate to have such generous partners to work with at the Nanaimo Museum and Nanaimo Community Archives.”
According to VIU, Beyond the Bar will feature original artwork titled “Moths Dancing Around the Moon” by Snuneymuxw artist Eliot White-Hill, Kwulasultun.
This piece features four Coast Salish moths flying around a moon and is meant to speak to people’s impact on the environment.
This art is relevant to the exhibit because the VIU students say they hope that the area’s history and the food and cultures involved will be highlighted.
Beyond the Bar will run from April 20th until June 26th in the Nanaimo Museum’s Community Gallery.
This is a free and accessible part of the museum in the foyer between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., Tuesday to Saturday.
(Fold Architecture, Chamberlain /
Photo by James Jones)
Design enthusiasts or curious onlookers, consider marking this in your planner!
After last year’s smashing success, Design Victoria will be returning to the city from May 9th to 12th and will be even bigger than last year.
This four-day festival celebrates the city’s growing design community including interior, architecture, urban, landscape, graphic, illustration, fashion, product, lighting, furniture, software, ceramic design and more!
Last year, Design Victoria’s free events attracted over 3,000 visitors to areas in the downtown core and in other select spots across the city.
For this year, designers and design businesses will be creating special installations, exhibitions, events, open houses, tours and workshops.
Visitors will be able to access creative studios that aren’t normally open to the public—this is intended to share more about the stories behind familiar businesses and get inspired by their creativity!
Organizers are anticipating the attendance to double in size, with over 30 free events and some ticketed events, as well as a newly added Downtown Design Trail—which will guide visitors around downtown retail locations to peep window exhibitions by independent and emerging designers.
The trail will also include a feature talk on landscape design in Gabriel Ross’ stunning downtown showroom.
(Gabriel Ross)
Overall, Design Victoria’s vision is to fill the city with wonderfully inspiring and accessible ways to learn about design from architecture and fashion to public spaces.
It establishes Victoria as a destination for world-class design and creates opportunities for collaboration across the industries on top of furthering the public’s understanding of the value of design in their daily lives.
“This year’s festival will introduce audiences to the people and ideas that are defining the city’s design identity and shaping its future,” said Carla Sorrell, Director of Design Victoria
“The design community has come together to give you a sense of the growing cultural sector.”
Don’t miss their launch party on Thursday, May 9th from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.—tickets are $99 for general admission, $149 for VIP and $75 for students.
(Design Victoria launch party / Photo by Michelle Proctor)
If you wish to learn more about specific events, you can visit their website.
The Uptown-Douglas Plan was passed unanimously by Saanich council in 2022 and now that plan is taking the next steps in a long journey to completion.
The ultimate goal of this plan is to establish a downtown core in the District of Saanich along Douglas Street over the next several years through redevelopment and reimagining what the area could offer.
The Uptown-Douglas Plan is to be implemented over approximately 20 to 30 years, according to Saanich.
This week, at the committee of the whole meeting on Monday, April 22nd, the council heard a report from District staff which called on them to approve the “pre-zoning” of the area designated to be Saanich’s reimagined downtown core.
The point of this was to have the zoning in the area consistent with the goals of their Uptown-Douglas Plan.
(District of Saanich)
The plan would see a portion of Douglas Street rezoned to be a “core” area while the adjacent streets would become “urban mixed-use” and “mixed employment.”
The core sections on the map along Douglas Street will one day be meant for high-rise mixed-use commercial buildings which will allow for either businesses or homes to be built above the ground floor which will be meant for commercial applications.
The urban mixed-use section, east of Douglas Street, will be meant for mid to high-rise buildings meant for live-work spaces, commercial opportunities and residential housing.
Finally, the mixed-employment section, west of Douglas Street, will be for industrial and commercial opportunities with possibilities of residential housing.
In addition to all these building rezoning amendments, the plan will create more opportunities for cyclists, transit-users and pedestrians in some areas, including Audley Street.
Following these being presented to council and being greenlit, work will begin on amending the language in all bylaws that correspond with this plan and this will come back before council before the end of 2024.
Sidney RCMP have confirmed two bodies discovered off of San Juan Island to be that two kayakers reported missing on Saturday.
The two men, 36-year-old Daniel MacAlpine and 26-year-old Nicolas West, went missing while kayaking between Island View Beach and the Gulf Islands on April 20th.
American authorities recovered the bodies of two deceased individuals on Tuesday and the San Juan County Coroners service later confirmed the deceased to be MacAlpine and West.
“Sidney/North Saanich RCMP would like to thank all the agencies that were involved in this search and subsequent recovery efforts. Our thoughts are with the families at this time,” said Staff Sergeant Wayne Conley of the Sidney/North Saanich RCMP.
Nanaimo RCMP have arrested a man for possession of multiple weapons which included a sawed-off shotgun he allegedly had in his backpack.
According to police, at around 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 23rd, bike patrol officers received a call that a man was loitering outside the 7-11 on Fifth Street.
The officers say that when they got there, they found three individuals sitting in a parking stall.
One of these individuals they reportedly knew as 29-year-old Roddy Weidman and they were aware he had court ordered prohibition of possessing any kind of “break-in tool.”
Police say they saw a large axe and a backpack beside Weidman they knew, so they arrested him for possessing a break-in tool.
In his backpack, the officers reportedly found several knives, a small axe and a sawed-off shotgun which was loaded.
“Alarmingly, officers are finding more and more of these modified firearms, replica firearms (airsoft), bear spray and assortment of knives and weapons on a daily basis,” said R/Cst Gary O’Brien of the Nanaimo RCMP.
“This patrol, while seemingly routine, was not and is a testament to the diligence of the Bike Patrol and other front-line officers on keeping the criminal element in check and our community safe.”
Police say they added the possession of these weapons to the charges they were laying against Weidan.
Weidman appeared in court on Wednesday, April 24th for the charges to be laid and will remain in police custody until his next court appearance on April 30th.
Anne, the Princess Royal will be coming to Victoria in early May for a short visit to Canada, marking the first official royal visit to Canada since the death of her mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II.
The Princess Royal has scheduled a Canadian visit between May 3rd and 5th—although what she will be doing and where she will be remains vague.
In the Royal Diary, all that she has on her itinerary reads, “will visit Canada.”
However, two non-profit organizations based in Greater Victoria have since reached out to Victoria Buzz saying that she will be visiting them during this quick three day trip, meaning that the Princess Royal will be spending at least a portion of her time on the island.
Museum tour in Victoria
The first organization who have announced that the Princess Royal will be coming to their facility is the Maritime Museum of BC.
In a media release, they announced that Princess Anne and her husband, Sir Tim Laurence, would have a chance to see the current exhibits as well as the museum’s collections and archives.
The two royals will also have the opportunity to meet the museum’s Board of Directors, staff, and volunteers to discuss ongoing projects and connect this royal visit to the coastal maritime life, exemplified by some of the objects in their collections.
The Maritime Museum of BC says that without Princess Anne’s father, Prince Phillip, their organization would not exist.
“During their 1951 visit to Victoria, Queen Elizabeth II (then Princess) and Prince Phillip toured the navy base in Esquimalt–very fitting for Prince Phillip with his naval background. He inquired about a naval museum on this coast. When told there was none, he set about to change that,” said Brittany Vis, Executive Director of the Maritime Museum of BC.
“When he got home to England he contacted the Greenwich Museum and asked them to send some objects to BC to start a new naval museum. These objects, along with objects from local individuals, started our organization as a naval museum on Signal Hill just outside the gates of the HMC Dockyard in Esquimalt.”
The museum says that they will make sure Princess Anne gets to see these first artifacts they garnered because of her father as well as many others they’ve collected through the years.
The Princess Royal will be at the Maritime Museum of BC on Saturday, May 4th.
Horseback riding on the Saanich Peninsula
The second organization to announce the royals would be visiting them is the Victoria Therapeutic Riding Association (VTRA).
The VTRA says that Princess Anne and Sir Tim Laurence will visit their riding facility on the last day of her royal visit, Sunday, May 5th.
They are a non-profit charitable organization who use horseback riding as a method of therapeutic aid for children and adults of diverse abilities.
For this occasion, VTRA staff, volunteers, and students will share highlights of their programs and many successes with The Princess Royal.
Princess Anne is a known and avid lover of horses and some of the students of the VTRA will get to demonstrate their riding abilities to her on this occasion.
“I see the smiles, the joy, the calm within the riders and their families and I just want to be able to share this with the world,” said Annie Brothwell, VTRA Board Chair.
“Her Royal Highness is a keen and successful equestrian, and she understands the connection between the rider and the horse.”
The Princess Royal will likely be making a handful of other appearances around Greater Victoria while in town, but for now, the Royal Family are remaining tight-lipped about what exactly she will be doing while in town.
A hiker has been rescued and is in critical condition after falling near Trent River Falls in Comox.
On Tuesday, April 23rd at around 1:47 p.m., Comox Valley RCMP received a 911 call reporting that a hiker had just fallen over 150 feet at Trent River, and was in need of immediate medical assistance.
Emergency officials, including search and rescue services, quickly got to work to ensure a quick rescue.
According to police, two emergency responders were working in the area at the time and were able to immediately attend the scene, rappelling down to assess the victim’s condition.
During that time, police were facilitating a landing site for the BCEHS Air Ambulance.
“Our Emergency Response Team members undergo extensive training to handle high risk and diverse emergency situations such as…various rescue techniques, including rope rescue,” said Cst. Monika Terragni, Media Relations Officer, Comox Valley RCMP.
“Their diverse skill set and dedication were crucial in accessing the injured hiker in the challenging terrain yesterday.”
BCEHS were able to airlift the hiker out of the woods and transport him to the hospital, where he remains in critical condition.
The Inland Island Highway was closed during the rescue effort.
Exciting news for fellow Pride attendees as well as those looking to learn more!
Celebrating love in all forms, Victoria-based activist and award-winning author Robin Stevenson has released a board book version of her starred-reviewed book, Pride Puppy!
It’s a rhyming alphabet book that tells a lively and amusing story of a young child and their family as they search for their lost dog at a Pride parade.
This affirming and inclusive book offers a joyful glimpse into the vibrancy of Pride and the community that celebrates it each year.
“I had done a book called Pride Colors that followed the colours of the Pride flag, and I wanted to do something similar,” Stevenson said.
“It took quite a while to come up with the idea, because I wanted it to be both a fun rhyming alphabet book and to tell a story.”
She shared that Victoria’s Big Gay Dog Walk is actually a huge source of inspiration for Pride Puppy! And she was so excited to bring that to life with the help of a talented illustrator, Julie McLaughlin.
Stevenson praised McLaughlin for her spot-on depictions of her vision and breathing such life and joy into the story.
“The illustrations capture such a beautiful glimpse of the community out celebrating Pride and the diversity there.”
Which is one of Stevenson’s favourite aspects of Pride, who’s been going to celebrations for over 30 years with family and friends—all there to continue representing the need for equal rights and cheer on all forms of love together.
When asked why writing about human rights is important to Stevenson, she highlighted the importance of using writing as a way to make change and talk about things that are important to her and others.
“Lots of families have said how important it’s been for them to see families that look like their family in the book and to see parents that look like their parents,” she said.
“So, I know that that really matters…[Pride Puppy!] has played a role in helping people learn and helping kids see the world around them—both to see families like their family and to see people that are different from them.”
Stevenson mentioned that her work has been challenged several times over the years by book banning groups, but that doesn’t deter her from bringing attention to issues of human rights and developing stories to address them.
“When I was a kid, I went to school during the 70s and 80s, and we didn’t have [LGBTQ+] representation at all.”
“We’re seeing more and more diversity in books and I think that’s such a wonderful thing. I hope it continues to grow.”
Although it’s frustrating, she wanted to underline the overwhelming amount of support for diverse books that are there to counter these challengers.
Many people—primarily spearheaded by librarians and other literary leaders—join hands and fight to keep the books on the shelves and remain accessible for youth.
Stevenson said that at the end of the day, progress is being made and that’s something to celebrate.
(Queer History A to Z by Robin Stevenson / Instagram)
Stevenson is an award-winning author of more than thirty books of fiction and non-fiction for kids and teens—including the Silver Birch Award, the Sheila A. Egoff Children’s Literature Prize, a Stonewall Honor, the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Literary Excellence and more.
She has penned books on queer history and community, abortion and reproductive rights, and on young activists, among others.
Now on the move, she is currently on a country-wide tour to give panel discussions on censorship and tour libraries. She’s hoping to get something together for Victoria, so stay tuned!
A double carjacking suspect was arrested for the third consecutive day after he was caught breaking into an occupied home on Tuesday.
The incident occurred just after 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 23, at a residence in the North Jubilee area.
Police responded to a report of a break and enter in progress and discovered that the suspect, later identified as Seth Packer, had entered a home and stolen a wallet.
While fleeing the scene, Packer attempted to enter an idling, occupied vehicle parked in the 1800-block of Fort Street, but the driver blocked his entry.
He was arrested in the 1900-block of Richardson Street after being followed by the homeowner.
This marks the third consecutive day police have arrested Packer for similar incidents.
On Sunday April 21nd, VicPD arrested Packer for attempting to steal an occupied vehicle on Shelbourne Street. He was arrested again on April 22nd for pushing a woman and stealing her car on Johnson Street.
During this incident, Packer caused two motor vehicle collisions and fled on foot before attempting to steal another vehicle—bystanders held him down until police arrived.
“After the same individual caused two motor vehicle collisions, attempted to steal several vehicles and was successful on one of the attempts, and is now entering into peoples’ homes without consent, all in a matter of days, it is a miracle that no one has been seriously hurt or injured,” said VicPD Chief Del Manak.
While Packer was held in custody on April 22nd, he was released after a court appearance on April 23rd.
He faces charges including attempted theft of a motor vehicle, two counts of robbery, theft of a motor vehicle, failing to stop at the scene of an accident, and failing to comply with conditions from the April 21st and 22nd incidents.
Additional charges of break and enter, attempted robbery, and attempted theft of a motor vehicle were sworn against him from last night’s incident.
“Repeat offenders like this put a significant strain on our resources and pose a risk to community safety. We will continue to work within our means to prevent further harm to the public, which includes advocating for Mr. Packer to remain in custody. Ultimately, that decision is up to the courts.”
On Tuesday, VicPD explained that he was released the day prior due to Bill C-75, which requires police to release an accused person as soon as possible while considering factors such as the likelihood of the person appearing in court, the immediacy of the risk to public safety, and the impact on public confidence in the criminal justice system.
Last week, on Friday, April 19th, the Board of Education for School District 61 (SD61) released a statement in which they stood by their decision to cancel the school police liaison officer (SPLO) program.
The board says that the decision they came to in May 2023 was the result of a two and a half year process in which they engaged with all members of the learning community and the public.
They say they spoke with trustees, police liaison officers, GVTA representatives, union representatives, principals and vice principals, students from each secondary school, Songhees, Esquimalt and Metis Nation representatives, an Urban Indigenous representative, and a Resilience BC representative as part of this process.
“The Board of Education’s decision reflects the evolving needs of students and the importance of safeguarding the rights’ of students,” said SD61 regarding their decision to cancel the SPLO program.
“Out of respect for the rights of students the Board of Education must ensure we have appropriate levels of clarity and oversight over the delivery of services to students while they are in our care.”
The board says that the decision was made in order to make sure that police officers weren’t being shoehorned into the role of providing student services that they aren’t trained to give.
Following the decision to cancel the program, the board says they met with all involved police departments to discuss plans for student safety should an issue arise.
“We continue to rely on policing services to communicate potential safety concerns which may have an impact on our schools,” said the board.
“We want to re-emphasize that our existing protocols for lockdowns (hold and secure), critical incidents, and violent threat risk assessments continue to be in effect.”
School staff will still monitor students and if any safety concern comes up, they will call police in to aid in dealing with the situation when necessary, according to SD61.
The decision to cancel the SPLO program has come back into the spotlight since VicPD arrested a man who was allegedly recruiting secondary school students into a gang through selling them vape products.
Since that arrest, many parents along with both Victoria and Saanich’s councils have written to SD61 to request the program be reinstated.
VicPD’s response to SD61’s statement
Following the statement released by SD61, VicPD Chief Del Manak has released a statement of his own.
Manak says that he is disappointed in the SD61 decision to not comply with the requests to bring the program back.
He added that he believes that SD61 is intentionally underplaying the role that police liaisons once held in the school systems.
“The documents speak to the need for trained, certified and regulated adults to deliver a program with clearly defined goals and activities, with Board oversight,” said Manak.
“I have been clear that I am open to a revised model for the SPLO program, but I must ask whether the District does not recognize the provincial training and certification of the Justice Institute of BC, the additional training that is provided to officers throughout their careers, the levels of civilian oversight that currently exist, the careful selection process for our SPLOs, or that our officers have, at their heart, the best interests of students in mind during every school interaction.”
His argument is that children should have access to trusted adults who include mental health workers, councillors and social workers, but those people cannot fill the role of the police officers who once worked in the schools.
Manak also noted that by trying to get officers back in schools, he is not vying for additional funding for the VicPD.
He says his concern lies in the safety of students.
“Since the decision to remove School Police Liaison Officers in May 2023, the safety and wellbeing of students has become an area of significant concern in SD61 schools,” Manak explained.
Manak says he wants to form a sub-committee to address the issue which was a massive part of why the program was cancelled in the first place—many students don’t feel safe around police officers.
“If a program designed to protect children has immense benefits, but is imperfect, instead of removing it altogether let us work to address those concerns head-on and improve it with an eye to building trust and mutual understanding,” he said.
Despite this intent by Manak and VicPD, the two and a half year engagement process which SD61 conducted has proven to the board that it is for the students’ benefit to not have police officers in the schools on a regular basis, but rather just when an incident arises.
The original decision to cancel the SPLO program
The initial decision to remove SPLO from schools came after several students, staff and administration shared concerns that having police officers in schools made certain marginalized groups feel uncomfortable and unsafe, according to their report on the matter.
“Police are being asked to fill in gaps in student support and to take on roles that should be filled by individuals with specialized expertise, such as youth and family counsellors and social workers,” Nicole Duncan, Education Chair for SD61, said at the time the program was cut in May 2023.
“Further funding is required for this specialized support, and the Board has committed to advocating for this funding from the provincial government.”
Following the decision to cut the program, the Support Network for Indigenous Women and Women of Color (SNIWWOC) commended the decision based on the following evidence based findings:
Many BIPOC students graduate highschool with first and second hand trauma experiences at the hands of police
The 2021 Greater Victoria Local Immigration Partnership Network Survey revealed that 30% of BIPOC Victorians have experienced racism from local police
A police officer isn’t bound by the same physical contact and restraint policies that other school staff are
VicPD reports from 2016 to 2021 show them disproportionately policing BIPOC youth — Around 19% of people VicPD labeled as “youth suspects” were Indigenous when they comprise only 5% of Victoria’s population
A disproportionate amount of incident reports have stemmed from Esquimalt High School, a school with a largely BIPOC student body
Canada’s House of Commons determined that systemic racism is present in all police organizations and work must be put in across the country to make positive changes in this regard
The decision to cut the program was also based on a BC Human Rights Commissioner recommendation.
Former member of the Oak Bay Police Board and former MLA for the Oak Bay-Gordon Head electoral district, Andrew Weaver, is critical of these statistics and has accused SD61 of guiding their decision based on ideology rather than statistics.
Weaver wrote a blog entry in February 2024 in which he attempted to debunk the information that SD61 used to inform their decision making process.
Included in this blog post are highlights of a survey conducted by SD61 which say that 45% of students say they’ve had positive interactions with SPLOs, 40% say they have not interacted with them and 5% say they have had negative reactions.
However, when asked if they were comfortable around the officers, 16% said they were not and 15% said they would like to see the SPLO program shut down.
When considering these statistics, it is important to note that SD61’s student body is predominantly Caucasian.
Following the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor in 2020 at the hands of police, BIPOC student’s trust in police has plummeted.
Just because it’s raining doesn’t mean we can’t have fun!
Dive into an exciting Thursday with an exceptional lineup of entertainment and ideas to keep yourself occupied.
Give yourself a night of socializing at a creative meetup, dance at Wicket Hall or learn something new at the Our Living Languages exhibit at the Sidney Museum.
Or, if you’re one to brave the rain, the Thursday night Esquimalt Farmers Market will be running!
For all of this and more, here’s 5 things to do in and around Victoria on Thursday, April 25th:
The Sidney Museum has opened a travelling exhibition, Our Living Languages: First Peoples’ Voices in BC, which opened on April 15th and runs until July 24th.
In Our Living Languages, you will learn what communities across the province are doing to actively ensure the survival of 34 different Indigenous languages and the importance of keeping them alive and thriving.
In turn, you will also expand your own vocabulary and appreciation for these languages, as they are a vital part of culture, identity and connection.
Where: Sidney Museum, 2423 Beacon Avenue L-3
When: Runs from April 14th to July 24th—exhibition open during museum hours
State + Story and Sarah Reid invites everyone over to Herald Street Brew Works for a night of mingling!
This event is for creative folks specifically, and there will be a mix of designers, engineers, photographers, scientists, artists and much more to meet.
Bring your creative self (and perhaps some creative pals) and enjoy some good company and great beer!
Where: Herald Street Brew Works, 506 Herald Street
Head downtown to Wicket Hall and catch what is being referred to as a must-see heavy psych-pop/garage-rock band, Pack a.d. with special guests, The Poubelles!
As described, Pack a.d. Singer/guitarist Becky Black and drummer Maya Miller have made a sound so gigantic, so fierce and raw and empowering, that it’s easy to forget there are just two people behind this brilliant, carefully constructed havoc.
Two allegedly intoxicated individuals in Nanaimo seem to have a peculiar fixation with business signs.
In the early hours of April 8th, NYLA Fresh Thread of Nanaimo captured a scene on their store security camera that looked more like a sketch comedy show than a crime in progress.
The footage features two men who appeared to have indulged in a few too many drinks and were on a quest to acquire a new home decor item: the store’s business sign.
The video begins with the two merry men zeroing in on the storefront’s sign as if it were the holy grail.
With an ambitious yet wobbly plan, one of them hoists his friend up onto his shoulders, aiming to unfasten the hefty sign.
After a few valiant attempts and plenty of swaying, the sign comes loose.
But gravity has other plans, and the unexpected weight of the sign sent one of the men crashing to the ground causing him to kiss the sign as he hit the pavement.
As the dust settles, the two sit for a moment, likely pondering whether this adventure was a good idea. They quickly collect themselves and take off down Bastion Street with their prize, running like two cartoon characters who just realized they’ve taken a wrong turn.
The Nanaimo Port Authority eventually located the stolen sign and returned it to the grateful business owner.
Though slightly damaged, it still has plenty of stories to tell.
As for the two unnamed sign bandits, their whereabouts remain a mystery, though one can imagine they probably woke up the next morning with sore heads and bruised egos.
The business owner opted not to involve the police in the matter, choosing instead to enjoy a good laugh at the antics of the two accidental comedians.
The BC government has released the next round of communities they have determined to have the greatest need for accelerated housing development.
Eight of the 20 communities on this list are on Vancouver Island.
These communities include Central Saanich, Colwood, Esquimalt, Nanaimo, North Cowichan, North Saanich, Sidney and View Royal.
They have been named because they are not building housing fast enough, according to criteria set out by the Province.
Going forward, they will be assigned housing targets from the BC government over the next five years and pressure will be put on them to reach them, or else the Province will step in and take action in their stead.
“We are addressing the housing crisis with our municipal partners so thousands more affordable homes can be built for people who need them,” said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Housing.
“Our goal for the next 20 communities is to build on the work they are already doing, while they continue to implement the recent provincial legislative changes. This group includes communities that are doing well on housing and some that need to do more.”
This initiative is a result of the Province passing the Housing Supply Act in 2023. In total, 30 BC communities have now been named and given housing targets they are expected to reach.
The remaining 12 communities also named by the Province are:
Chilliwack
Kelowna
City of Langley
Maple Ridge
Mission
New Westminster
City of North Vancouver
Port Coquitlam
Prince George
Surrey
West Kelowna
White Rock
The housing targets these 20 communities must reach over the next five years will be announced this summer.
Developer’s take on the newly named communities
In response to the newly named communities who the Province has outed, Garry Fawley, CEO of Denciti Development Corp. has released a statement on Esquimalt’s inclusion and some of their initiatives in that municipality.
“Esquimalt’s inclusion on the housing target list recognizes both the need and the potential we see there,” said Fawley.
“We already see a commitment to Esquimalt’s growth plans, demonstrated by the forward-thinking city council that has shown leadership in providing housing to their community.”
At the moment, Denciti has 260 new homes for Esquimalt in development at Esquimalt Terrace, which is currently under construction, as well as an upcoming project that will be located at 1000 Craigflower Road; that project was just recently approved by Esquimalt on April 22nd.
“To meet targets in all the listed municipalities, there needs to be a collaborative effort from all levels of government and the private sector,” Fawley explained.
“While these targets are one piece of the puzzle, the focus must include practical strategies for achieving them.”
He continued by saying that zoning bylaws must be modernized and approval processes must be streamlined in order to bolster the construction sector.
For festival lovers and those looking to spruce up their summer!
The historic Filberg Park in Comox is gearing up to host the 40th annual Filberg Festival from Friday, August 2nd to Saturday, 4th.
Excitement continues to build as the first wave of musicians and artisans is unveiled!
(Filberg Festival)
“We look forward to welcoming our community and visitors to the Park for Filberg Festival’s 40th Anniversary,” said Linda Thomas, Executive Director of the Filberg Heritage Lodge and Park Association.
“The festival has continued to grow and we are excited to showcase so many loved artisans and musicians, creating a memorable weekend for all those in attendance.”
Similar to previous years, the festival will continue to showcase the finest Canadian and international talent alongside a curated selection of 120 artisans and makers that will present mediums such as fine art, metalwork, woodwork, glass and more.
(Filberg Festival)
Featured performances include artists such as Joel Plaskett with Mo Kenny, Blue Moon Marquee, Black Belt Eagle Scout, Kim Churchill, Martin Kerr and plenty of others ready to provide rhythm and glee.
The music will leap across genres such as folk, blues, indie and roots—a fantastic musical experience for all attendees to enjoy while you shop the array of vendors, surrounded by beautiful gardens and heritage buildings.
Not only will they be dazzling guests with music and goodies, the Filberg Festival also provides a mix of culinary delights to choose from as well!
If you’re feeling thirsty after all that wandering and dancing, you’ll also find Vancouver Island’s best beer, wines and ciders throughout the site.
If you wish to purchase day-passes, you can do so for just under $27, but if you’d rather invest in a weekend pass, those are priced at just under $49!
Climber Matthew Beatty of Bartlett Tree Experts makes his way up the trunk of the largest spruce tree in the Carmanah Valley in Ditidaht territory on Vancouver Island, BC (AFA/TJ Watt)
In recognition of Earth Month in April, a group of environmental conservation advocates decided they would showcase one of Vancouver Island’s largest old-growth giants by climbing, measuring and capturing drone footage of the process.
Members of the Ancient Forest Alliance (AFA) sought out the Carmanah Valley’s largest Sitka spruce trees which stretches approximately 21 storeys into the sky in an effort to highlight the importance of conserving and protecting old-growth forests.
According to the AFA, this Sitka in particular has a mammoth trunk which forks into multiple stems, reminiscent of the multi-headed hydra of Greek mythology.
They noted that this tree is protected, as it grows within the Carmanah-Walbran Provincial Park in Ditidaht territory.
“This giant is by far the most spectacular Sitka spruce tree that we’ve come across during our decades-long search for big trees in BC,” said TJ Watt, AFA campaigner and photographer.
“We had been big tree hunting in the valley for two days as part of my work as a National Geographic Explorer, when, just before dark, a massive crown caught our eye in the distance. Right away, we knew we had found something special.”
The tree is 12.9 feet (3.89 metres) wide near its base, 233 feet (71 metres) tall and has an average crown spread of 72 feet (22 metres).
BC’s Big Tree Registry marks this as the largest tree in the Carmanah Valley, despite the “Carmanah Giant” being taller, and the fourth-largest Sitka spruce on record in BC.
The AFA says that two blue whales laid end-to-end would still not be as tall as this tree which has been dubbed the “Hydra Spruce.”
“Most Sitkas are tall and straight like a Roman pillar, but this one had an enormous trunk that forked into five major stems, creating a sprawling canopy like the head of a hydra,” Watt explained.
“Near the base, it would have taken seven or eight of us to wrap our arms around the trunk. Seeing it from the ground was one thing, but we knew that to truly highlight the tree’s grandeur, we would need to climb to the top.”
To climb this giant, the AFA partnered with Bartlett Tree Experts, a group of professional arborists, who shot an enormous slingshot loaded with a line up unto the canopy.
They used ropes to climb so they would not damage the tree and were able to get to within a few metres of the top of the tree’s canopy.
“I’ve climbed thousands of trees in my life, but this one was like none other,” said Matthew Beatty, Arborist and Climber with Bartlett Tree Experts.
“Even within the Carmanah Valley, where we have climbed numerous trees for scientific research projects, this is a giant among giants.”
He continued by saying he hopes that the footage and images captured during this climb inspire people to protect and advocate for old-growth groves.
The BC government continues to develop and roll out their Old-Growth Strategy which aims to protect 30% of BC’s ancient forests by 2030.
Through these protections being put in place, the AFA continues to advocate for proper implementation that will ensure protection for sites that hold BC’s oldest, largest and most at-risk trees.
(Black Pearl and her calf/ Photo by Brooke McKinley, Outer Island Excursions, PWWA)
Whale watchers and nature lovers of the island, this is for you!
The Pacific Whale Watch Association (PWWA) announced that the first humpback calf of the 2024 whale watching season has arrived in the Salish Sea.
The calf, said to be three to four-months old, and its mother, BCX1460 “Black Pearl,” were first spotted in Haro Strait on Thursday, April 18th by PWWA member company Eagle Wing Tours of Victoria.
Since then, the pair has been spotted several times!
“It’s always fun to see which mom and calf will make it back first,” said PWWA executive director Erin Gless.
“Black Pearl tends to spend her summers near north Vancouver Island. This year we were lucky enough to spot her in the Salish Sea.”
Although the humpback calves aren’t born in BC waters, they travel from their birthplace near Hawaii, Mexico and Central America to cooler feeding grounds, such as the Salish Sea!
Black Pearl is well known to migrate to the Hawaiian Islands in the winter—there are quite a few photographs of her off the coast of Maui.
According to the PWWA, she has had at least three previous calves! Including a male born in 2022, nicknamed “Kraken.”
Did you know that industrialized whaling had removed humpback whales from the Salish Sea by the early 1900s?
PWWA highlighted that more than 30,000 humpbacks were killed in the North Pacific during this era, and scientists estimate as few as 1,000 remained by the time BC’s last whaling station, Coal Harbour on north Vancouver Island, closed in 1967.
“For decades after whaling stopped, there were virtually no sightings in inland BC waters,” Gless said.
“But that all changed when Big Mama made her first appearance in 1997. She’s been returning to the Salish Sea ever since, and now hundreds of humpback whales visit each year.”
Big Mama is a local celebrity and has been reportedly spotted by the PWWA this year as well, along with a handful of others sighted by whale watchers in the past week.
This beloved humpback has given birth to seven calves, including her first, “Divot” born in 2003, and most recently, “Moresby” was born in 2022.
She is also a part of the population that travels to the Hawaiian Islands during the winter months!
Over the coming weeks, many more humpback whales will be returning to the area to feed on small fish and crustaceans throughout the fall!
The BC Hotel Association Awards of Excellence have officially announced their list of finalists within each category and two of Victoria’s very own hotels are on it.
Every year, this awards ceremony is held at the annual BCHA Summit and recognizes exceptional individuals who lead the standard of excellence for hospitality across the province.
Here are the following Victoria hotels and their categories:
Accommodation of the Year: Magnolia Hotel & Spa
Housekeeping Excellence: Magnolia Hotel & Spa
Sustainability Champion: Huntingdon Manor Hotel & Pendray Inn Tea House
Accommodation of the Year is given to a hotel with outstanding leadership with proven commitment to offering the highest quality of customer service and employee satisfaction.
The Housekeeping Excellence award celebrates the housekeeping team that demonstrates exceptional service, upholds high standards of cleanliness and is committed to both team and guest satisfaction.
Last but not least, the Sustainability Champion is a hotel that shows dedication to sustainability, reducing their carbon footprint, and promoting eco-friendly practices.
In addition to the above, Sarah Webb, General Manager of Victoria’s Oswego Hotel was also listed as a finalist for Hotelier of the Year.
So, if you’re looking for a staycation, you’ve got at least two wonderful hotels to choose from!
If you’d like to see the full list, you can access it here.
Canadian rock band Arkells announced they will be making a stop in Victoria later this year as part of their cross-Canada tour announced today.
Known for their energetic stage presence and infectious music, the band will be stopping in various cities from coast to coast as part of The BIG FEELINGS tour.
One notable stop on the tour will be at Victoria’s Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre, where fans can expect a memorable night filled with the band’s classic hits and new releases.
The Arkells have built a reputation for their dynamic shows, and their performances are known for engaging the audience and creating a lively atmosphere.
Presented by Live Nation, special guests across the tour include: POOLSIDE, Joel Plaskett Emergency, K.Flay and Valley.
“Our band has always been about the sing-a-longs at the show, and we plan to make them louder than ever,” said frontman Max Kerman. “You might even need to learn the words to a new one… It’s the BIG FEELINGS Tour for all the big feelings we need to let out.”
We’re bringing the BIG FEELINGS tour to you this fall, so get ready to let them all out together. Pre-sale starts TODAY at 12 noon local, general on-sale Friday at 10 am local. Let’s goooo 💐!https://t.co/A9qCztzbIa for 🎟️ pic.twitter.com/FTkZ1s8oVk
Arkells have partnered with PLUS1 so that $1 per ticket sold will go to supporting organizations working towards health access for traditionally marginalized and vulnerable communities. www.plus1.org.
Tickets for the BIG FEELINGS tour will go on-sale at 10 a.m. onFriday April 26th, with fan pre-sales commencing today, Tuesday April 23rd.
Head over to Caffe Fantastico this Wednesday to celebrate Paulo da Costa’s new book, Trust the Bluer Skies: Meditations on Fatherhood.
Described as evocative and heartwarming, Trust the Bluer Skies is a literary time capsule—a father’s vivid account of his son’s early years, a sensory-rich journey through rural Portugal, and a poignant exploration of masculinities that is positive, compassionate, and nurturing.
This event is free to attend and there will be a book signing following the reading!
Atomic Vaudeville, a beloved local theatre production company, is thrilled to be celebrating 20 years of creating live art!
Marking this monumental occasion will be their 87th cabaret titled, Spring Cabaret: Hope SpringsInferno, held at the Victoria Event Centre (VEC) from April 24th to 27th.
Hope SpringsInferno will present your hosts Hope and Death as they lead an all-star cast on a journey described as a “pop-culture worm ride through spicy dunes, idyllic children’s forests and the mean streets of mob-era Fernwood.”
Preview tickets are $27 and standard show tickets are $33—both can be purchased online.
Where: VEC, 1415 Broad Street
When: Wednesday, April 24th to Saturday, April 27th
Let’s Hear It (LHI) is back in Victoria with an evening of music discovery, featuring three BC artists, such as JAXXEE, Mikey Jose and The Bankes Brothers!
Tickets are just under $12 and you can purchase them here. They’re going fast, so don’t wait too long to grab yours.
Where: The Duke Saloon, 502 Discovery Street
When: Wednesday, April 24th at 7 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.)
A suspect arrested for carjacking on Monday was also arrested for a similar incident the day before.
On Monday, April 22nd, VicPD arrested a man following a carjacking and a series of vehicle collisions in Victoria.
The incident began at approximately 11:50 a.m. when VicPD received a call from a woman who reported being pushed while entering her black Tesla in the 1000-block of Johnson Street.
The suspect, Seth Packer, then drove away in her vehicle.
As Packer fled the scene, he struck another vehicle at the intersection of Cedar Hill Road and Doncaster Drive in Saanich.
Samantha Jeffers Agar wrote on social media, saying, “The black Tesla that caused the collision almost killed my husband a few minutes before at the Shelbourne and Hillside intersection, where it went through a red light at top speed. My husband said if he hadn’t stopped when he did (he was waiting to turn left), he would be dead.”
After that close call, Packer continued southbound, causing another collision shortly after, before abandoning the vehicle at the intersection of Cook Street and Finlayson Street.
The people involved in the collisions sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
Packer then attempted to steal another vehicle nearby. He was confronted by bystanders who heard a neighbour cry out for help and saw Packer sitting in the driver’s seat of the neighbour’s vehicle.
The bystanders were able to detain him until police arrived and arrested him.
According to VicPD, Packer was arrested the day before, on Sunday, April 21st, for attempting to steal an occupied vehicle in the 2900-block of Shelbourne Street.
He was charged with attempted theft of a motor vehicle and released with conditions.
Packer now faces multiple charges, including two counts of robbery, one count of theft of a motor vehicle, one count of failing to stop at the scene of an accident, and one count of failing to comply with conditions.
He is currently in custody pending a future court appearance.
VicPD explained that he was released the day prior due to Bill C-75, which requires police to release an accused person as soon as possible while considering factors such as the likelihood of the person appearing in court, the immediacy of the risk to public safety, and the impact on public confidence in the criminal justice system.
If you’re looking for game day eats, Domino’s has you covered! Whether it’s pre-game fuel or post-game celebrations, you can easily order online today and score 25% off on delicious pizza, wings, and more. Enjoy the game with Domino’s!
Although the Vancouver Canucks started the playoffs strong with a fiery performance in their first game, their situation may become more challenging now that their star goaltender has been ruled out of Game 2 due to injury.
Thatcher Demko’s status for the rest of the series against the Nashville Predators is uncertain, as reported by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman on Tuesday.
Head coach Rick Tocchet confirmed that Demko is considered “day-to-day” and will be reevaluated later today.
"Thatcher Demko isn't gonna play tonight and I've been told that he's questionable for the rest of the series..
If you haven’t already, it’s time to start preparing your stomachs and allowing your BBQ fantasies to run wild!
Last year, the Langford Bacon Beer and Bourbon Festival succeeded in capturing the hearts and stomachs of visitors and residents alike, so much so that they decided to bring it back.
The festival will be returning to the Starlight Stadium on Saturday, June 22nd and everyone will be greeted with a Red Barn bacon bite upon entry this year!
This southern-inspired festival promises an even bigger and bolder celebration of the best seasonal beers, batch bourbon cocktails, and pork-forward chef creations while maintaining that warm, backyard-celebration feel.
This will include even more reserved space at the stadium, including a turf section, to bring attendees more room for activities!
They’ve expanded their games section for a more extensive backyard experience.
There will now be whiskies included in their official batch cocktail program, which means more vendors for you to check out.
Also being introduced this year is a new chefs’ section, which will bring all of the food together in one area and present opportunities for a big ol’ cook-off!
VIP ticket holders are given access to the grounds an hour early for an all-inclusive session, plus they’ll get to enjoy exclusive access to a special lounge.
Here they’ll be spoiled with a delicious pig roast from South Fire, as well as a selection of bourbons and beers not offered to general ticket holders.
All ticket holders, general and VIP, will be given a welcome drink and welcome bite.
If you haven’t grabbed your tickets yet, you can do so here! General admission is $49.99 and VIP is priced at $150.
Sad news is developing out of San Juan Islands of Washington state Tuesday.
According to RCMP, two bodies located by authorities in Washington state are believed to be of two kayakers reported missing off Vancouver Island.
Earlier, RCMP spokesman Cpl. James Grandy confirmed that a body has been discovered in an area being searched by US authorities; however, they have not yet identified the person as one of the missing kayakers.
(Sidney RCMP handout)
A massive search began on Sunday for two men, 36-year-old Daniel MacAlpine and 26-year-old Nicolas West, who were reported missing after failing to return from a kayaking trip on Saturday.
In a release Monday, RCMP said search efforts were being concentrated further down toward San Juan Island, Lopez Island (USA), and through the Haro Straight.
(Richard Catinus)
The West Coast Marine focused their search efforts more north of Coal Island into the upper Gulf Islands.
Authorities in the United States have also been engaged in search efforts after the kayak was located on Henry Island in San Juan County on Sunday.
The two men were in a teal blue, fiberglass, two-person kayak.
RCMP, Central Saanich Police, PEMO Search and Rescue, the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre, and the Canadian Coast Guard are involved in the search efforts.
If you’re like us and love to peep at the unbelievable scale of these cruise ships and dream about the relaxation aboard, you’re in luck.
According to the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority (GVHA), there are seven cruise ships expected to dock in Victoria this week.
This means over 16,000 eager and excited passengers ready to explore the area—yes, over 16,000!
To start us off with a bang, the Radiance of the Seas cruise ship will dock at around 12 p.m. on Thursday, April 25th, containing around 2,500 people.
Friday, April 26th brings three cruise ships to the island—Koningsdam, Zaandam and Norwegian Bliss. They’ll be docking at 12 p.m., 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., respectively.
The number of passengers expected for Friday’s ship blitz will reach over 8,000.
To finish off the weeknd, Nieuw Amsterdam will arrive at 9 a.m. and Norwegian Encore at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 27th will bring over 6,000 passengers.
Head down to the cruise terminal at Ogden Point to see them for yourself!
A West Shore RCMP officer has been cleared of any wrongdoing after being involved in a collision with a cyclist in Langford last month.
The Independent Investigations Office BC (IIO) was called in to investigate the incident that occurred around 2:55 p.m. in the 2500 block of Millstream Road on March 19th.
The officer, who was off-duty at the time, was driving southbound in an unmarked police vehicle when a male cyclist exiting a steep, downward-sloped driveway collided with the police vehicle.
The cyclist fell off his bicycle and sustained injuries as a result of the collision. The officer called for an ambulance, and both the officer and a bystander provided assistance while waiting for medical help to arrive.
According to the IIO, analysis of the scene revealed that the view of Millstream Road from the driveway was restricted due to high rock outcroppings on either side.
Evidence indicated that the cyclist crossed the sidewalk and one traffic lane before colliding with the driver’s side door of the police vehicle.
The steep sides of the driveway also obstructed the officer’s view of the cyclist, making the collision difficult, if not impossible, to avoid.
After reviewing the evidence, including a civilian witness statement and scene analysis, the IIO Chief Civilian Director concluded that there were no reasonable grounds to believe the officer committed an offence.
The IIO deemed the incident an unfortunate accident and has since closed the investigation.
As described on their website, Little Thai Place has built a strong reputation for bringing the authentic and exotic taste of Thai cuisine to Victoria.
They first opened in 2003 in the Shelbourne Plaza, and have since been voted ‘Best of the City’ and expanded into three separate locations.
It’s owned and operated by a local family from Bangkok, Thailand!
Where:
3613 Shelbourne Street
1839 Cook Street
4480 West Saanich Road #110
When: Open seven days a week from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Lemongrass is located in Cadboro Bay and has been a popular hotspot ever since they first opened their doors in 2012, and for good reason!
They have a highly trained team of Thai Chefs that were trained in Thailand and take great pleasure in cooking culinary delicates from all regions of the country.
To note, they’re currently closed for spring break, but will re-open on Friday, May 3rd!
Where: 3838 Cadboro Bay Road
When: Regular hours once their back from spring break
This local, family-run restaurant is a vibrant and low-key Thai restaurant with beautifully crafted, authentic dishes—including vegan and vegetarian options!
On top of meals, they offer homemade sauces available for purchase, so you can enjoy the goodness of Thai food from home.
If you’re looking for a quick to-go option, they’ve paired with multiple local grocers around Victoria that stock meals for you to eat nice and fresh.
The Sirimalalak family opened Sabhai Thai Restaurant in 2006 and has since been voted #1 Ethnic Food restaurant in Sidney every year since!
They now have two locations, their original in Sydney and another in Langford.
As described, the Sabhai menu is made from scratch, using traditional Thai recipes and ingredients. There are a variety of dishes to choose from for everyone, including meat, vegetarian, and vegan meals.
A renowned and Emmy Award-winning underwater cinematographer from Vancouver Island, Maxwel Hohn and a local expert on octopi, Krystal Janicki have collaborated to unveil some of the Secrets of the Octopus to the world.
Secrets of the Octopus is an entire National Geographic series which is dedicated to octopi all over the world.
Hohn and Janicki focussed solely on the world’s largest octopus that lives just off the shores of Vancouver Island—the Giant Pacific Octopus.
“Octopus are cautious animals that spend a lot of their time living in dens,” said Hohn. “They’re so powerful they can actually move boulders to help protect themselves from predators, like hungry sea lions.”
“Giant Pacific Octopus are masters of camouflage, they can change not just their skin colour, but also their texture – they blend into their environment very effectively. It became a real challenge for us to find our hero character.”
According to Hohn, adult Giant Pacific Octopus can weigh up to 33 pounds and have a arm span of up to 14 feet. But despite their size they can be hard to locate and are rarely seen because they live in intertidal zones of depths as great as 6500 feet.
“Krystal and I spent hours underwater looking for the right octopus,” Hohn explained.
“We were starting to become discouraged until we saw an arm reaching out of a rocky den. We kept our distance, but as the octopus became more aware we weren’t a threat, she became interested in us too, and eventually came out of her den completely.”
Janicki is a commercial and residential painter from Black Creek, just north of Courtenay.
She was chosen as the human character for the Giant Pacific Octopus story because of her ability to make bonds with them and is known by locals as the ‘octopus whisperer.’
“I knew nothing about GPOs when I started diving, except they were often seen as ‘villains,’” said Janicki.
“They were slimy, ominous creatures. But when I finally saw one below the surface, I forgot everything I thought I knew about them and became fascinated. I now know they are curious, gentle, and beautiful.”
“Some of these encounters have made my eyes well up, and I’ve even had goosebumps under my drysuit,” she continued. “I feel they are letting me into their space and their world. It’s such an honour and so very humbling.”
This Disney+ series, which is now streaming, also features Paul Rudd doing narration and was produced by James Cameron.
The suspect vehicle left the scene before emergency crews arrived.
The Trans-Canada Highway was closed for several hours while forensic evidence was gathered evidence.
The woman has not yet been identified.
In an updated media release, RCMP said they believe a driver in a 2011-2013 grey Hyundai Elantra was responsible and is asking for the public’s help in finding the person.
“The vehicle likely has significant damage to the front driver’s side,” said BC RCMP spokesperson Cpl. James Grandy.
Anyone who has information on this incident should contact North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP at (250) 748-5522.
The City of Victoria has announced that the next addition to their all ages and abilities (AAA) cycling network will have construction kicking off this spring.
Along Gorge Road, from Blanshard Street to Harriet Road will be getting protected bike lanes among other road and safety improvements.
The other improvements coming to this corridor include road paving, bus stop and accessibility upgrades, new and upgraded crosswalks, traffic signal upgrades, right turn slip lane removal, landscaping, fiber optic cable upgrades and an underground water main replacement.
(City of Victoria)
According to the City, this will expand the regional AAA cycling network by over two kilometres in a high traffic corridor and it will connect the Galloping Goose Regional Trail, the Government Street protected bike lanes and the Kings and Haultain cycling routes.
It will also set Victoria up for future connections between Victoria, Saanich and Esquimalt.
The improvements will only extend to Harriet Road because it is the dividing line between the City of Victoria and the District of Saanich. Any road improvements to be made north of Harriet Road will be Saanich’s duty.
The City says that people who commute along Gorge Road should expect machinery, excavation, noise, safety equipment and temporary traffic controls around active work sites.
Road work will reportedly take place between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
Advance notice will be provided if any additional weekend, holiday or night work is required that will be disruptive to traffic flow or cause significant noise, according to Victoria.
The project is slated to be completed by spring of 2025.
Happy Tuesday, Victoria—it’s looking like it’s going to be nice outside!
Plenty of fantastic events happening as we ease into the workweek, including a play opening at The Belfry Theatre, a career fair and trivia.
In case you forgot, hip-hop icon and actor Ice Cube will be gracing the stage at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre this Tuesday and it’s not too late to buy tickets!
Here’s 5 things to do in and around Victoria on Tuesday, April 23rd:
From April 23rd to May 19th, Tony Award-winning play, The Lehman Trilogy, will be taking over the stage in a flurry of intoxicating adventure.
The story takes place in 1844 and follows Heyam, a young man from Bavaria, as he stands on a New York dockside dreaming of a new life.
He is soon joined by Mendel and Mayer, and the Lehman brothers’ journey begins—together navigating the Civil War, the Great Depression, and generations of ethical dilemmas.
Tickets are sold in a pay-what-you-can fashion, starting at $17.85. They’re expected to sell out quickly, so don’t wait too long to snag yours!
Hip-hop icon Ice Cube is bringing his legendary presence to Victoria as part of the second leg of his highly anticipated “Straight Into Canada” tour.
Following the immense success of the first leg, which saw sold-out shows across the country, Ice Cube is set to deliver an electrifying performance at the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre this Tuesday!
Joining him as direct support for this epic night of hip hop are BC’s very own Merkules as well as Peter Jackson.
Visit selectyourtickets.com to purchase your tickets and secure your spot for what promises to be an epic night of hip hop’s finest.
Where: Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre, 1925 Blanshard Street
The beauty of another full moon is upon us, and this one has such a sweet name to signify spring!
According to NASA, April’s moon is commonly known as the ‘Pink Moon’ in North America, and although it’s not actually pink, it is associated with specific spring blooms—the herb moss pink, also known as creeping phlox, moss phlox or mountain phlox.
Indigenous tribes living across the northeastern side of the US named the Pink Moon after this moss.
It will reach its peak on Tuesday, April 23rd—set to rise at 8:28 p.m. according to Time and Date Victoria.
Widely popular and always worth the trip, Maude’s returns for another Tuesday of epic trivia!
Bring your team and get ready to crank out some wild facts, play along to win prizes, and treat yourself to some of Maude’s delicious beer-battered fries and beer on tap.
Trivia starts at 8 p.m. but make sure to come early — especially if you have a larger table, otherwise you’ll have to come back next week!
Victoria and Vancouver Island have a lot of musical talent, and Victoria Buzz wants to highlight some of the best and brightest local artists and bands.
Every Monday, there will be a fresh ‘New Music Monday’ article to help people find and support local artists and bands that are up-and-coming, well established or hidden gems!
For this endeavour, Victoria Buzz has partnered with our good friends at CFUV 101.9 FM, UVic’s campus radio station, to find and select the musicians and bands for this regular column.
This week, Sue Decker is the New Music Monday highlight!
Sue Decker is a musician who began her journey in her 30s blending the sounds of roots, blues, country and Americana on a slide guitar.
She started playing while living in Edmonton at a local bluegrass jam and has since been nurturing her tablets for writing and playing a mix of guitar and lap steel and has called Victoria home for the past 10 years.
Decker recently released her second studio album, Keeping Time, which she recorded down in Nashville last summer.
Keeping Time is an ode to Decker’s roots and her love for blues, but it is infused with Americana that she says has been compared to the likes of the iconic Lucinda Williams.
Since 2019, when her first album Outskirts came out, she says the main difference was in how she went about recording the songs.
“The first one was done in sort of small bits over a period of probably a year,” Decker told Victoria Buzz.
“Every song got a very bespoke set of instrumentation and we took a lot of time with the pre-production and that was a really great learning experience.”
Comparatively, on Keeping Time, she said her producer insisted she play the songs live off the floor during her recording sessions and she got the whole album done in three days because of that.
In addition to the difference in the recording process, Decker said many of the songs off Keeping Time are older songs of hers which she wanted to reinvigorate and bring to life more than she was able to when she first wrote them.
“I used some of what I learned from that first album to polish up those songs, so I feel like that is represented,” Decker explained.
“There were a couple that I wrote in the year or two before recording it, but there’s quite a few that came from the vaults.”
When asked to highlight one song that was special to her from the album, Decker says that “Love Made for a Lifetime” is particularly significant because of what it’s about.
“It was inspired by my neighbours in Edmonton who were an older couple and he ended up developing dementia,” said Decker.
“I was kind of this witness to the side of watching that process unfold and how it was for his wife. They’re just such a lovely couple.”
She added that her hired studio musicians in Nashville liked the fact that she was tackling some harder topics such as this on the record.
“It is definitely a tearjerker, but I feel like it helps people to know they’re not alone in dealing with that experience,” she explained.
Decker has a couple shows coming up on Vancouver Island before she hits the road to tour the album out in Alberta.
She will be playing a set as a duo with her partner Gavin Hodgins accompanying her for a Victoria Folk Music Society show at the Norway House on Sunday, April 28th.
Decker will also be playing a show up in Port Alberni with a full band at Char’s Landing on Saturday, May 4th.
CFUVis a non-profit campus and community radio station that plays a ton of local music of all kinds across Vancouver Island. If you like to support local music they are an amazing resource with a plethora of new local tunes in their arsenal.
“I make the kind of music that doesn’t get played on commercial radio and to have it go out on the airwaves, especially locally, means a lot,” Decker said.
“I really appreciate the time that it takes for volunteer hosts to put in to get music out there…It’s just for the love of it and it’s for the soul.”
The beauty of another full moon is upon us, and this one has such a sweet name to signify spring!
According to NASA, April’s moon is commonly known as the ‘Pink Moon’ in North America, and although it’s not actually pink, it is associated with specific spring blooms.
The blooms in question grow from the herb moss pink, also known as creeping phlox, moss phlox or mountain phlox—it’s a plant native to the eastern US and is one of the earliest widespread flowers of spring.
Indigenous tribes living across the northeastern side of the US named the Pink Moon after this moss.
It will reach its peak on Tuesday, April 23rd—set to rise at 8:28 p.m. according to Time and Date Victoria.
The April full moon is also known as the Sprouting Grass Moon, Egg Moon, Fish Moon, the Pesach or Passover Moon, the Hanuman Jayanti Festival Moon, and Bak Poya.
Passover begins at sundown on Monday, April 22nd and ends at nightfall on April 30th.
The Hanuman Jayanti festival marks the celebration of the birth of Lord Hanuman.
Bak Poya is important for Buddhists, especially in Sri Lanka, and commemorates when the Buddha visited Sri Lanka and settled a dispute between chiefs, avoiding a war.
Whichever name you prefer, it is the perfect opportunity to honour the lengthening days and warming weather as we dive into a new season!
If you’re looking for places to view the full moon tomorrow night, consider taking a look at one of our past viewing-point articles!
The Vancouver Canucks kicked off their playoff run with a thrilling 4-2 win over the Nashville Predators in Game 1 of their first-round series on Sunday.
Dakota Joshua led the charge with two goals and an assist, and the Canucks were able to come back from a 2-1 deficit in the third period with a pair of goals just 12 seconds apart.
Game 2 is set for Tuesday night in Vancouver, and if you want to experience the excitement with fellow fans in Victoria, there are plenty of great places to watch the game.
“Them taking a lead two different times, we continued to stick with our game. We didn’t panic. Shows a lot of about our group. Have faith in the process."
🗣 Brock Boeser on the team sticking to their structure and playing calm during yesterday's opening game against Nashville. pic.twitter.com/QqpycVWVW0
Here are 12 popular spots in and around Victoria where you can catch the playoff action and cheer on the Canucks:
Prairie Inn Pub
A popular spot on the Saanich Peninsula for watching sports, including the Vancouver Canucks playoffs. Known for its laid-back atmosphere and friendly service, the pub offers a range of beers on tap and a diverse menu of classic pub fare.
With multiple screens throughout the venue, you’ll have a great view of the game no matter where you sit. Whether you’re stopping by with friends or enjoying a night out, the Prairie Inn Pub is a welcoming place to cheer on the Canucks and soak up the playoff excitement.
Where: 7806 E Saanich Road
Canadian Brewhouse Pub
The Canadian Brewhouse Pub in Victoria is a lively spot to watch the Vancouver Canucks playoffs. With multiple large screens and a wide selection of food and drinks, you can enjoy the game with friends or solo in a welcoming atmosphere.
Where: 3500 Uptown Blvd #117
Browns Crafthouse Vic West
A stylish and modern eatery perfect for watching the Vancouver Canucks playoffs. The restaurant features multiple screens for great views of the game and a menu with a variety of delicious dishes and drinks. Its welcoming atmosphere and friendly service make it a popular spot for catching the action with friends.
Where: 184 Wilson St #100
The Games Room – Strathcona Hotel
The Games Room at the Strathcona Hotel in Victoria is a top spot to catch playoff hockey. With numerous screens and a fun, energetic atmosphere, it’s a great place to watch the game. Enjoy a range of pub fare and drinks while cheering on the Canucks with fellow fans.
Where: 919 Douglas Street
Christie’s Carriage House Pub
This cozy and welcoming spot in Oak Bay to watch the Canucks play. With multiple TVs and a selection of food and drinks, it’s a great place to enjoy the game in a relaxed atmosphere. The pub has a comfortable setting make it a popular choice for local sports fans.
Where: 1739 Fort Street
Bartholomew’s Pub
This lively spot features five TVs placed around the venue, you can enjoy great views of the game from any angle. The pub offers a variety of food and drinks, creating a friendly atmosphere for cheering on the Canucks with fellow fans.
Where: 777 Douglas Street
Bard and Banker
A popular British-style pub in Victoria that’s perfect for watching the Canucks tackle playoff hockey. The pub offers a cozy atmosphere with multiple TVs for great views of the game. Enjoy a wide selection of drinks and hearty pub fare while cheering on the Canucks in this historic and charming venue.
Where: 1022 Government Street
Bucky’s Taphouse
Located in Langford, Bucky’s is an excellent place to cheer on the Canucks during their playoff run. The taphouse features multiple screens for optimal viewing and offers a selection of drinks and food. One of the standout aspects is that they stay open until the game is over, ensuring you don’t miss a moment of the action.
Where: 2668 Sooke Road
Did we miss your favourite spot? Let us know in the comment section below!
