A new look is coming to Wendy’s but we’re not sure it’ll help with the long drive-thru line up (you know what we’re saying)!

On Wednesday, the US-based food chain announced a new global restaurant design standard Wednesday, a new sleek and modern design with optimized layout with an emphasis on convenience, speed and accuracy. 

The new design, dubbed Global Next Gen, will include delivery pick-up windows, dedicated mobile order pickup, reimagined kitchens, next generation technology and optimized infrastructure: 

“To accelerate our business and expand our footprint across the globe, we must consistently meet the needs of our customers however they choose to engage with Wendy’s, whether that’s through a digital platform or in the drive-thru,” said Wendy’s President and CEO Todd Penegor. 

“Global Next Gen enhances the customer experience across ordering channels and streamlines operations for our crew, all while creating better returns for franchisees.”

Wendy’s plans to open the first Global Next Gen restaurant in New Albany, Ohio in Spring 2023.

“As the first restaurant brand to offer a modern pick-up window more than 50 years ago, Wendy’s continues its legacy of design and innovation with Global Next Gen,” said Penegor. 

“Our new global restaurant standard unlocks opportunities at the intersection of innovative design and technology, bringing us one step closer to our vision of becoming the world’s most thriving and beloved restaurant brand.”

It’s unclear which Canadian locations will be the first to update. 

You can see some photos of the new designs below: 

Get your bellies ready, Langford.

A new eatery is coming to town and there’s nothing like it in the region.

Opening across from Winners / HomeSense in at Westshore Town Centre, Totchos will be serving up loaded tater tots, hand-helds (fancy tacos), snacks and soft serve ice cream, with lots of vegan, low-carb and no sugar options as well.

“⁠We are thrilled to announce the arrival of a brand-new retailer opening at Westshore Town Centre this Fall,” Marketing Manager Kelly McClure⁠⁠ Marketing said in an email to Victoria Buzz.

Totchos is locally owned and while no specific opening date was announced, it is slated to open this fall.

“The owners are very excited to be opening this first-of-its-kind restaurant at Westshore Town Centre and to serve up delicious food and fun to the Westshore community,” said McClure.

Even better, each table at the restaurant will be equipped with a built-in retro video gaming system for loads of family fun!⁠

Westshore Town Centre also hinted at more announcements to come on new tenants coming to the shopping centre.

A man wanted on a Canada-wide warrant is in police custody after being arrested in Victoria’s Fernwood community Tuesday evening.

Cameron Gamble, 33, is serving a more than two-year federal sentence for firearms-related offenses.

When he failed to return to his community-based residential facility in Victoria, an arrest warrant was issued.

On Tuesday, just before 7 p.m., the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team located and arrested Gamble outside the Fernwood Manor near the intersection of Begbie Street and Gladstone Avenue.

Photos from the scene show heavily armed officers taking Gamble into custody without incident.

Police spotted Gamble walking in the area. No other details were released.

Canadians rejoice!

The iconic department store Zellers is planning to make a comeback next year.

Hudson’s Bay Company said Zellers will debut a new e-commerce website and expand its brick-and-mortar footprint within select Hudson’s Bay department stores across the country in early 2023.

In a media release, the company said the relaunched Zellers will offer “a digital-first shopping journey that taps into the nostalgia of the brand.”

The Zellers website is live with a short message to Canadians confirming the news.

A message on the website read “Yep, it’s true. See you soon!”

Early offerings will span home décor, furniture, small appliances, toys and pet accessories. Stock will expand over the course of the year to eventually include apparel.

“Zellers is a brand deeply rooted in the Canadian experience. Spanning generations, people hold distinct connections to Zellers through shared experiences with family and friends, and we look forward to building on that in the future,” said Adam Powell, Zellers’ Chief Business Officer.

“‘Where the lowest price is the law’ was a calling card, which has helped Zellers establish itself as more than a retail destination, but a place to build and support community,” he said.

Most Zellers locations closed about a decade ago when Walmart became the go-to discount brand in Canada. Target replaced many of the locations but had a very short life span.

Zellers was founded by Walter Zeller in 1931 and was acquired by Hudson’s Bay in 1978. In its heydays in the ’90s, there were more than 300 stores across Canada.

The Zellers relaunch is expected to happen across Canada within existing Hudson’s Bay stores in early 2023.

Esquimalt council has unanimously voted to not renew its agreement with Victoria and the Victoria Police Department.

The two communities are currently under a 10-year agreement that sees the two jurisdictions share an amalgamated police force, which is up for renewal at the end of this year.

Following the vote, Esquimalt confirmed it would not renew the agreement and will instead pursue a new policing model.

In a statement, Mayor Barbara Desjardins said council did not make this decision lightly and said this was not a sudden or new problem.

“Esquimalt has been burdened by this model for many years. Council is looking at all options with safety, costs and fairness in mind,” Desjardins said.

“This issue represents a significant amount of Esquimalt taxpayer’s money that could be used on a variety of projects of benefit to the community.”

Shortly after the announcement was made, Chief Del Manak released a statement calling Esquimalt’s decision not to renew an agreement disappointing.

“Our officers have provided an excellent level of police service and have developed strong community connections,” said Manak.

“We know how much Esquimalt residents value these connections, from the positive interactions we have with residents every day, and the feedback we receive on our annual community survey. This decision is a cost-saving measure and no reflection on the excellent police service provided by VicPD officers.”

Manak said that he is hopeful that when it comes time for the province to review the decision, it will be “viewed through the lens of the recommendations from the Special Committee on Reforming the Police Act, specific to a regional approach to a fragmented policing structure.”

Esquimalt and Victoria have been sharing policing resources since 2003.

Esquimalt’s share of the police budget was just under 14% ($8.4 million) in 2022. The City of Victoria pays the remainder of the budget.

The Township of Esquimalt has asked the province for $150,000 in funding to prepare the proposal.

While it’s still not clear how Esquimalt will move forward, a recent report released by the municipality in June shows the community would be qualified to bring in RCMP.

Esquimalt has a population of just under 18,000—any municipality with a population of over 15,000 who wishes to go the route of enlisting RCMP would see 90% of policing costs covered, with the federal government paying the remaining 10%.

Rental prices in Victoria continue to grow, with the city breaking records in the latest rental reports. 

According to a new report by Rentals.ca, which analyzes monthly, quarterly and annual rates and trends in the rental market for 35 cities across the country, Victoria finished fifth highest for monthly average rent prices for a one-bedroom home.

According to the report, the average monthly rent in July for a one-bedroom home in Victoria was $2,107, a 20% difference from the same month last year. 

Victoria also ranked fourth highest for the average monthly rent for a two bedroom, up 34.8% to $2,836.

On a list of 18 cities, Victoria average rents had the highest year-over-year increase of  27% for all property types in July.

Vancouver once again topped the list of 35 cities for average monthly rent, with an average monthly rent for one bedroom peaking at $2,500 and two bedroom for $3,630. 

Five of the top six cities on the list of 35 were in British Columbia.

“The 2.6 per cent monthly increase in average rents in Canada is the second highest monthly jump in three years, topped only by the 3.8 per cent rise in May 2022.” said  Ben Myers, president of Bullpen Research & Consulting.

“Rents were boosted by rent growth of 20 per cent and higher in several major municipalities in Canada, and double-digit growth in a number of the most affordable rental markets, such as Red Deer and Saskatoon.” 

You can see the full report here.

BC has hit another grim milestone in the overdose crisis.

According to the BC Coroners Service, the province has surpassed 10,000 deaths since declaring a public health emergency over toxic illicit drugs more than six years ago.

Since 2016, the province has repeatedly seen a record number of people dying from toxic drugs.

Between January and June of this year, 1,095 British Columbians have succumbed to the toxic drug supply in the province, according to preliminary data from the BC Coroners Service.

“Deaths due to toxic drugs in the first half of 2022 have surpassed the number of deaths experienced in the same period in 2021, putting our province, once again, on track for a record loss of life,” said BC’s Chief Coroner, Lisa Lapointe.

“These were men, women and youth from all walks of life. They lived in our neighbourhoods, worked in our workplaces and played on our sports teams. Some lived ordinary lives, while others faced enormous challenges. All of them fell prey to the lethal supply of illicit drugs that is omnipresent,” added Lapointe.

More than three quarters (78%) of the lives lost in 2022 were men and nearly the same percentage (73%) were between the ages of 30-59. On average, more than six lives are lost to illicit drugs every day this year.

The highest number of deaths due to illicit drug overdoses were recorded in the Fraser Health region (352) followed by Vancouver Coastal Health (297), making up 59% of all such deaths in the first six months of 2022.

In Victoria, 80 people have died between January and the end of June this year making it the third-highest death toll in the province, behind only Vancouver and Surrey.

The current numbers are outpacing the number of fatalities from previous years. Illicit drug toxicity is the leading cause of unnatural death in BC and is second only to cancers in terms of years of life lost.

There have been 187 deaths due to toxic drugs in the Island Health region overall.

“My heart goes out to everyone who is grieving. No words can replace these losses,” said BC’s Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Sheila Malcolmson.

Victoria’s own Community Fridge has had a successful first year, but now, volunteers are seeking assistance as the fridge is in need of repair or replacement.

The Community Fridge, which opened in June 2021 by a group of local volunteers, operates on a “take what you need, leave what you can” basis with a goal to make food free and accessible to everyone who needs it. 

Visitors to the community fridge and pantry are asked to keep the fridge clean and organized during their visit and be mindful, taking only what they require to be considerate of others hoping to benefit from the project. 

See more: Victoria’s first Community Fridge opens in Rock Bay

It is predicted that, over the first year of operation, the Community Fridge is visited by over a hundred people everyday.

Now, after a successful first year, the Community Fridge is in need of repair or replacement. 

According to volunteers, heavy use of the fridge’s door over the last year has resulted in the door being broken. The fridge has been turned off until the issue can be resolved. 

A GoFundMe has been organized, to offset the cost of repairs, a potential new fridge, removal of the fridge and stocking the pantry with increased dry goods with additional funds to be used for future repairs, food purchasing, a second fridge for the new location (when they locate an appropriate, donated space).

At this time, volunteers are seeking ideas and information for other fridges across the city that may be able to take some pressure off the fridge in Rock Bay. 

You can visit the GoFundMe page here.

At the time of publication, the GoFundMe had exceeded their goal of $3,000.

Victoria Community Fridge

• Where: 2725 Rock Bay Avenue
• When: The Community Fridge is open 24/7

On Friday, the BC General Employees’ Union (BCGEU), which represents about 33,000 public service workers across the province, issued a strike notice which began yesterday.

On Monday, picket lines went up outside BC Liquor Distribution Branch centres in Delta, Richmond and Kamloops, as well as the wholesale customer centre here in Victoria.

Retail liquor and cannabis stores will not be part of this phase of job action.

In a statement, BCGEU president Stephanie Smith said wage protection is the workers’ top concern amid high inflation.

The union is the province’s largest public sector union representing employees in an array of fields including wildfire fighters, social workers, sheriffs and correctional officers.

The most recent collective agreement between the union and Public Service Agency (PSA) expired on April 1st and while discussions began earlier this year, talks stalled in July.

In June, 95% of the union members voted in favour of job action.

BCGEU are asking for a 5% pay boost each year for two years or a raise to match the cost of living, whichever is higher.

The PSA sent an offer directly to members last month, a deal that included a nearly 11 per cent increase over three years, plus a $2,500-per-member signing bonus.

A prolonged strike at the liquor distribution sites would impact the flow of imported beer, wine and spirits, since bars and restaurants can only buy directly from wineries and craft breweries in BC.

According to the BC Restaurant and Food Services Association, the province’s 670 private liquor stores and 8,000 pubs, bars and restaurants will begin to see shortages if the strike action hits three days.

“Targeting the liquor distribution centres is unfair to restaurants already struggling to get back on their feet after the pandemic,” the association said in a statement.

“Business owners will start to feel the pressure by the end of the week if a strike lasts.”

The BCGEU would not reveal what its next step in job action would be if the picket lines do not prove to be effective.

Mount Douglas Park will undergo a name restoration in 2023, as the District of Saanich continues its commitment to reconciliation and strengthening its relationship with neighbouring First Nations.

At an August 15th meeting, Saanich Council approved a request from the W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council (WLC) to move forward with a name restoration for PKOLS (Mount Douglas Park).

PKOLS is the name of Mount Douglas in SENĆOŦEN and is an important place for the W̱SÁNEĆ people.

“PKOLS is an extremely important location in the history of the W̱SÁNEĆ Nation,” said Eric Pelkey, Community Engagement Coordinator for the W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council and Elder from the Tsawout First Nation. 

“It was created by XÁLS as the border between us and the Lekwungen people, and it was where we met with James Douglas in 1852 to discuss what became known as the Douglas Treaty. For these reasons, we, as W̱SÁNEĆ people, have a special relationship with PKOLS.”

The renaming of the park was outlined in the Council’s 2019-2023 Strategic Plan, recognizing the sacred significance of the location to the W̱SÁNEĆ people.

Saanich Council has the authority to name or rename a municipal park under its Park Naming Policy.

According to the district, Saanich staff will work with WLC staff to develop an appropriate protocol to honour the name restoration, with an information event to take place in 2023 and be shared on the District of Saanich website when available.

Celebrating a century old!

A Victoria-area family are receiving a rare award from the province for operating their farm on Vancouver Island for more than 100 years.

The Pollock Family Farm, located in View Royal, have been quietly producing agricultural products for the community since 1921.

To recgonize their long history and contribution to the island, the province awarded them with a Century Farm Award earlier this month.

“The Pollock Family Farm is a story of commitment to family and community,” said Lana Popham, Minister of Agriculture and Food.

Brothers Malcolm and Neil Pollock purchased 24 acres of land near the Six Mile Pub in View Royal from the Hudson Bay Company.

After buying the property, the brother cleared the land using horses, built four glass houses and started to work the land.

They were featured in a 1927 article in Farm and Home, a BC farm journal, for their innovative work using glass houses to grow crops.

At the time, Neil told the reporter he was proud of the technology they used in their glass houses, including a cooling system that provided “good clean oxygen that helps with the flavour of the tomatoes.”

The glass houses were so successful they remained in operation until the 1970s, when they had to be taken down due to their age and damage sustained in several windstorms.

In the 1930s, a farmhouse, barn and milk house were added to the property, and the farm was in full operation during the war years and the Great Depression.

Malcolm’s son, Earl, ran the farm from 1939 to 1990.

In 1970, Earl sold the property the greenhouses were on, then moved the majority of the farming activities to the farm’s current location on Atkins Road.

Earl would operate the farm until 1990, at which point his son, David, and his wife, Ingelise, were added to the deed and helped bring in apple and berry crops to the farm’s operation.

They also produced hay and beef and grew a market garden.

David fully took over the farm in 2003, and he continues to operate it today.

“Although being in the spotlight makes us apprehensive, our family appreciates receiving the Century Farm Award as it’s a once-in-a-lifetime event,” said owner David Pollock.

“Our family has taken care to preserve both the historic features of our property and its viability as a farm, and I hope to one day hand it down to the next generation.”

The Century Farm Awards honour pioneers whose farms, ranches or agricultural organizations have been active in BC for 100 years or more.

“Family farms are at the heart of our communities, and I want to thank the Pollock family for providing homegrown food to the Victoria area for over a century,” said Popham.

If you’re planning to head up island today, you may want to delay those travels by a few hours.

The northbound lanes of the Trans Canada Highway at West Shore Parkway in Langford are expected to be closed for at least one hour following a crash involving a double-axle dump truck.

In a tweet, West Shore RCMP estimated anywhere from 60-90 minutes.

The cause of the crash in unknown, however, witnesses tell Victoria Buzz the truck avoided a rear ender by crashing into a rock wall before ending up in the ditch.

According to Emcon Services, the company responsible for highway maintenance, the lanes are being closed so crews can recover the vehicle

More to come.

A North Saanich restaurant has made Air Canada enRoute’s list of top new restaurants in Canada!

Since 2002, Air Canada enRoute has embarked on a mission to put Canada’s best new restaurants on the map. 

The annual search starts with a national panel of experts, who nominate notable openings in their regions.

Then, one undercover writer flies coast to coast in search of the new restaurants, meeting chefs and other employees along the way.

Any food establishment that fully opened between late spring 2021 and May 31st, 2022 was up for consideration.

And this year, North Saanich’s very own Fox and Monocle made the top 30 list. 

Fox and Monocle, created by chef Ross Bowles and pastry chef Tracie Zahavich, was chosen for its delicious, fresh food and simplistic decor. 

A bakery by day and restaurant by night, the new location is sure to be delicious.

You can see the full list here.

Fox & Monocle Cafe

• Location: 2300 Canoe Cove Road #3, North Saanich
• Hours: The bakery is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday to Monday. The restaurant is open 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., Thursday to Monday.

VicPD say that they’re investigating a “sudden death”  in downtown Victoria this morning.

Officers were first notified of the incident shortly after 5 a.m. Saturday.

The death occurred in a parking lot in the 800-block of Fisgard Street.

Officers attended, along with paramedics, and the man was confirmed to be deceased on scene.

Detectives with VicPD’s Investigative Services Division and officers from VicPD’s Forensic Identification Services are continuing the investigation.

The BC Coroners Service is also continuing an independent investigation to determine all of the facts surrounding the death.

Anyone with information is asked to call VicPD at (250) 995-7654. To report what you know anonymously, call Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.  

RCMP are issuing a warning that ‘sextortionists’ are increasingly targeting young men in the Campbell River area, after more than a dozen people were targeted.

Young people are increasingly being targeted by internet blackmailers who are tricking them into sending sexually explicit photos and videos and then extorting them.

According to Campbell River RCMP, there were no sextortion cases reported in 2021, however, so far, 2022 has seen 16 reports of sextortion with most of the victims being male between the ages of 16 to 30.

Often called sextortion, the social media scam starts when suspects initiate and lure their targets into a fake online relationship, convincing them to send intimate photos or videos of themselves.

The suspect then states they will distribute the sensitive materials to the victim’s family, friends, and co-workers unless they are paid in money or online gift card credits.

Campbell River RCMP are asking families to educate themselves on the disturbing act in order to protect themselves from harm.

“We know that these conversations can be hard, however these targeted behaviours appear to be increasing and we need to have these conversations to ensure we protect ourselves and our loved ones,” said Campbell River RCMP’s Sgt. Chris Voller.

RCMP are urging people to avoid sending intimate photos to people on the internet, especially when they don’t know or have just met them.

“We live in an age where social media platforms are abundant and since Covid I think we can safely say this social media presence has increased even more.”

RCMP provided several tips including being wary of friend requests from unknown people and use privacy settings and filters to limit what information they post on social media.

Anyone who received a sextortion threat should stop communicating with the suspect immediately and not comply with demands for money or additional images.

The incident should also be reported to local law enforcement.

For more information on how to protect yourself from cyber crimes, visit Cybertip.ca.

A tourist visiting Vancouver Island crossed paths with a dangerous driver this week, posting their dashcam footage to YouTube.

In the video, a Cadillac ATS is seen speeding up behind the driver near the intersection of 

Sooke Road and University Drive, swerving to the right toward the edge of the road in an attempt to overtake the vehicle. 

When they realize they can’t make it around, the driver of the Cadillac swerves into the left lane, around the vehicle and cuts them off before taking the exit.

The poster of the video, a visitor to BC from Washington state, said they spent four days but this was the only bad driver they came across. 

“Obviously there’s a mismatch between MPH/KPH,” the poster wrote. 

“But dude must’ve been doing 60+MPH on what’s essentially a 30MPH road.”

You can see the video below:

Nanaimo RCMP are investigating the discovery of a body found in a south end home that was destroyed by fire Thursday evening.

The fire was reported at around 5 p.m. on August 11th at a home on Athletic Street.

City of Nanaimo fire crews were first on scene after black smoke was reported billowing from windows in the home.

The fire was contained to the residence and within forty minutes, the blaze was extinguished.

Fire crews then entered the home and located a deceased adult male.

The discovery of the body is deemed suspicious and has been turned over to the Nanaimo RCMP Serious Crime Section for investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Nanaimo RCMP non-emergency line at 250-754-2345.

There’s a brand new craft brewery in Sidney, and it is ready for you to enjoy!

Small Gods Brewing Co., a family-owned and operated brewery, opened its doors on August 5th, welcoming guests to enjoy the new literary-themed space.

The brewery is designed to fit into the surrounding community, providing a family-friendly atmosphere where everyone can enjoy a beer, sandwiches, charcuterie boards and a good book. 

“We are extremely proud to bring Small Gods Brewing to the town of Sidney, and become a member of the ever-growing Island beer scene,” says Chris Bjerrisgaard, Small Gods co-owner and Head of Commercialization. 

“Our intention is to add to that scene by providing a premium experience to our customers, and the best possible beer we can produce, with no expense spared on our raw materials.”

Small Gods Brewing Co., is offering craft beers, local wines, cider and other non-alcoholic beverages. 

Guests can quench their thirst and enjoy some tasty treats on the 60-seat patio or inside the 80-seat brewery lounge.

They can also grab a 4-pack or sandwich to enjoy amongst the beautiful nature of Sidney. 

“What makes our beer program unique is our efforts to provide top-notch examples of contemporary styles like hazy IPAs and fruited sours, while still making sure to have offerings like our lagers and malt-driven amber ales to satisfy customers who want a more traditional product,” says Jonny Kostiuk, co-owner and head brewer of Small Gods Brewing Co. 

“In short, we designed our beer list so anyone can come and enjoy Small Gods despite our lean towards the cutting edge of the industry.” 

Small Gods Brewing Co. 

• Location: 9835 Third St. at Sidney Avenue
• Hours: Limited hours, Thursday to Monday throughout August. In September, the brewery will be open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday to Thursday and Sunday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday

A VicPD canine handler has been cleared of wrongdoing after a robbery suspect was bitten by a police dog in a downtown Victoria in late January.

The incident occurred at around 11:40 p.m. on January 29th, when officers were called to a report of a robbery at a convenience store at the intersection of Yates and Quadra Streets.

Two officers, who were not subjects of the investigation, found a man matching the description near the intersection of Quadra Street and Pandora Avenue.

Both officers said he matched the suspect description and was carrying the steel baton.

According to the IIO report, the two officers struggled to apprehend the man as he resisted complying with them, and a third officer—who is the subject of the investigation—released the police dog which bit the man in the head and then upper leg area near the buttock.

According to IIO, the man admitted to being impaired by an intoxicant and had been feeling “high”, and couldn’t remember exactly what happened—but said he believed that the police dog was deployed as he lay handcuffed on the ground.

Through officer and witness testimony as well as witness video, IIO investigators determined that the police dog was neither deployed for an extended period or while the the suspect was handcuffed.

The man was treated on scene before being transported to hospital, receiving 32 sutures for lacerations caused by the dog bites.

In the report, IIO chief civilian director Ronald MacDonald went on to speak on whether the use of force by the canine officer was necessary, and cited several factors on why it was not unreasonable for the two responding officers to request assistance from the canine handler and police dog.

While it was determined that the suspect reaching under his body while resisting arrest wasn’t sufficient reason to deploy the dog, other factors in the incident supported the cause for the canine to be released; such as the suspect already using a weapon during the robbery as well as refusing to drop the weapon when officers ordered him to (an officer kicked it out of his hand).

It was later determined he had a utility knife in his possession.

“Likewise, it was not unreasonable for [the canine officer] to conclude that [the suspect], who was now uncontrolled and reaching into a pocket, potentially for another weapon, posed a real risk of bodily harm to an officer,” McDonald wrote in his report.

“In those circumstances, deployment of the PSD to bite, while at the upper end of the range, was within the reasonable range of force options available to [the officer].”

Based on those details, McDonald said there were no reasonable grounds to believe the officer committed an offence and the matter would not be referred to Crown for possible charges.

The full report can be read here.

Multiple Victoria restaurants have taken to social media to express their frustration with local-based food delivery service Tutti.

According to several restaurateurs, Tutti has failed to provide them with payments owed from food order transactions—some alleged upwards of ten months of non-payment.

During the pandemic, many restaurant owners turned to the Victoria-based delivery service, with the idea of supporting a local delivery company rather than an international one.

Tutti, which is owned by Kavl Technology, competes with services like Skip the Dishes, Uber Eats, and DoorDash.

In an Instagram post, Agrius, who also owns Fol Epi, wrote that they have been dealing with Tutti for a couple months trying to collect overdue payments and are claiming the company don’t intend to pay the late fees.

According to Agrius, they’re owed $4,000.  The social media post appears to have created a chain reaction with other companies claiming they’re owed funds upwards of $20,000.

Cold Comfort Ice Cream also took to social media claiming they are also owed $4,000.

“When you always root for the underdog, every so often you end up getting bit. Their technology sucked, there were glitches in the system, the customer experience was annoying, but we stuck with them anyway…,” Cold Comfort Ice Cream said in their post.

One restaurant, J&J Wonton Noodle House said they have filed a civil claim against Kavl Technology, claiming they’re owed thousands of dollars.

Delivery drivers are also claiming they have not received payments for their work.

Matt Kelly, who was a part-time driver for the company, told Victoria Buzz he has worked for Tutti for about a year. He said the company still owes him $150 for work from July 1st to the 15th.

Kelly said he contacted Tutti and was told multiple time “they’re switching bank accounts.”

“…but they haven’t paid anyone, not even the people answering the phones,” Kelly claimed.

“The most frustrating thing about it, besides losing $4,000 at a time when margins are next to disappearing due to increased costs, is that the app is still active and they are still collecting money for food that local businesses are producing and trusting they will be paid for,” the owner of Cold Comfort said.

Victoria Buzz reached out to Tutti for comment but did not hear back prior to publication.

More to come.