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UPDATE: An Amber Alert has been deactivated after Dawn Bellamy and her two children were found safe by police in Ontario.
The Amber Alert was issued at 12:15 p.m. on March 26th, after Fort St John RCMP believed that Jason Dalrymple took Bellamy and her two children against their will and that they may be in danger while in his presence.
Indications were that the suspect was heading east, possibly to Ontario.
At around 3:30 p.m. PT (6:30 p.m. ET) today, the Ontario Provincial Police confirmed that they had located the vehicle and the four individuals in Kenora, Ontario, just east of Manitoba.
The man who is the father of the children was taken into custody and charges are pending.
The mother and her two children are safe and receiving support.
— original:
RCMP in northern BC have issued an Amber Alert for two children believed to have been abducted in Fort St. John.
The alert, which was issued just after 12 p.m. Saturday, stated that 4-year-old Liam Bellamy and 10-month-old Myra Bellamy were allegedly abducted from 8919 91st Street in the northeastern BC city around 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 24th.
The suspect is the children’s father, 36-year-old Jason Dalrymple.
According to the alert, the children may be travelling with the suspect and their mother, Dawn Bellamy, in a 2004 olive green Jeep Grand Cherokee with BC licence plate number HT184A.
In a release, RCMP say they have grounds to believe that the suspect has taken the two children and their mother against their will, and say that they could be in danger while in his presence.
Liam is described as having short, dark brown hair with brown eyes, while his baby sister Myra has very light hair with blue-hazel eyes.
Police say their father is balding and often wears hats or toques, and he has a moustache or goatee that’s light brown and reddish in colour.
The children’s 23-year-old mother is described as being Indigenous with dark brown hair, brown eyes and potentially wearing blue glasses.
The amber alert was issued across BC, including Vancouver Island.
Anyone who sees the vehicle or the family is advised not to approach, but instead to call 911.
Staff at a Nanaimo coffee shop are still reeling from a tragedy, but they’re eager to get back to serving their community.
This Saturday, March 26th, Buzz Coffee House in Nanaimo is set to reopen after a homicide closed the Rutherford Road café for weeks.
“We’re doing okay. It’s been over a month now, so we need to start moving around again,” Buzz Coffee House co-owner Phil Baker told Victoria Buzz.
It was back on February 12th when Baker’s grandfather, 79-year-old Eric Kutzner, was working a shift at the café. That morning, Nanaimo RCMP were called to do a well-being check on him.
Officers arrived around 9 a.m. and found Kutzner deceased.
“This was a random incident with a tragic outcome,” said police.
RCMP issued a statement on behalf of Kutzner’s family, who said he volunteered and advocated for people with disabilities. He’s being remembered as a vibrant member of society.
“My grandpa was (working) with us for probably the last three years,” recalled Baker.
Baker’s now thanking the community for helping the Buzz Coffee House family pull through difficult times, though there’s still a ways to go.
“It’s really heartwarming and touching to have our community come together and support us when we needed it most,” he said.
“It’s a really good reminder as to why we do this—and it’s the people. We wouldn’t have been in this game for as long as we have been if we didn’t have such wonderful people supporting us in their day-to-day.”
According to Baker, the family-owned business is heading into its 7th year.
A GoFundMe campaign, Support for Buzz Family through Tragedy, was launched just days after the incident by café supervisor Kyah Hands, who sums up the community support in just one word—incredible.
“We’ve kind of all been taking it at our own speed,” noted Hands.
“It’s definitely been a lot of hurdles for everyone. The community’s been really helpful, so that’s been really helpful for sure. They’ve offered a lot of resources for us, which we’ve all really appreciated.”
So far, the GoFundMe has raked in over $17,500. Initial funds raised aimed to support the business through the closure and subsequent steps forward.
“I was absolutely flabbergasted to see everyone come together. We were not expecting anything like that. It was really, really amazing,” said Hands.
Come Saturday, Buzz Coffee House returns to its regular hours.
Hands adds that customers will notice some familiar faces working behind the counter mixed in with a bunch of fresh new faces as well.
“And we’ve got a couple of people from way back that have returned for moral support—so everyone’s coming together for a new team.”
The University Heights Shopping Centre in Saanich may be under new ownership, but it’s still full steam ahead for the planned redevelopment.
According to a Friday announcement, Wesbild Holdings has transferred ownership of the existing 1980s-era shopping centre to South Carolina-based real estate developer Greystar.
But the transfer isn’t expected to change the project details, scope, or timelines, with construction eyed to begin this spring.
Developers say the project proposes to re-develop the McKenzie Avenue and Shelbourne Street mall into a “mixed-use community” offering both market and affordable residential rental housing.
It also proposes new commercial space, up to 11,000 sq. ft of daycare space, cycling infrastructure, a public plaza and community spaces, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and a BC Transit hub.
According to developers, the $230 million redevelopment plan is scheduled to undergo fourth reading and bylaw adoption at the District of Saanich later this month.
“We have worked closely with the District of Saanich on the need for more residential rental homes. With their support and subject to project approval, over 590 rental apartments will be constructed, including 60 homes designated as affordable,” said Wesbild president Kevin Layden.
“We believe that Greystar will be an excellent developer of the site, and we will do everything we can to ensure a smooth handoff.”
Developers say the project will have a “significant positive economic impact” on the region, creating more than 300 construction jobs and 200 permanent positions.
The on-site Home Depot—which will be expanded following project approval—is expected to remain in operation throughout construction.
“We are thrilled to have this as our first major investment in Canada,” added John Wilbeck, the Vancouver-based managing director at Greystar.
“This isn’t just a project for us—it is the development of a true, thriving community.”
The BC Ministry of Health reported 218 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, March 25th.
There have been 355,092 cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began.
New cases were reported in these health regions:
Vancouver Coastal Health: 28
Fraser Health: 45
Island Health: 47
Interior Health: 80
Northern Health: 18
Resident outside Canada: zero
There are now a total of 260 people in hospital with COVID-19, 50 of whom are in critical care — ICU or acute care units.
In the past 24 hours, two new deaths have been reported, for an overall total of 2,983.
Outbreaks
There have been three new healthcare facility outbreaks at Amica Douglas House, Acacia Ty Mawr and Sunridge Place Seniors (Island Health).
There are a total of seven ongoing healthcare outbreaks in the province, including five in Island Health at The Heights at Mt. View, Selkirk Seniors Village, Amica Douglas House, Acacia Ty Mawr and Sunridge Place Seniors.
Vaccinations
As of Friday, March 25th:
11,468,257 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in BC.
93.4% of eligible people 12 and older in BC have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, and 91.0% have received their second dose.
93.8% of all eligible adults in BC have received their first dose, and 91.4% have received their second dose.
Tickets for many highly-anticipated events are already on sale. To stay up to date, check out a list here.
When it comes to this weekend, you can check out a Royals Game, enjoy coffee and thrifting with friends and take a tour of Greater Victoria’s Free Little Libraries.
Here are 14 things to do in and around Victoria this weekend, March 25th-27th:
Across Vancouver Island, many are looking for ways to support Ukraine.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24th, Victorians have been showing their support for Ukrainians in the form of rallies, fundraising and donating.
Vibes and Verses is a celebration of BC Black performance and art, blending music, art and culture to create good times.
The event will take place at the Victoria International Marina on Sunday, with General Admission and VIP access!
General Admission will get you access to all performances and the art exhibition. VIP tickets will also include the Sip N’ Paint, a complimentary glass of wine and preferred seating.
There will also be giveaways!
Where: 1 Cooperage Place, Victoria International Marina
After being closed for nearly two years, Hecklers is back to fulfill your comedy needs. Every Saturday night, enjoy a comedian followed by Comedy Here Often?’s The Late show.
Where: 123 Gorge Road East, Hecklers Bar and Grill
When: John Cullen: 7 p.m., Saturday, Comedy Here Often? The Late Show: 10 p.m., Saturday, March 26th
Tickets: $20. Tickets can be purchased online here.
(Sidney Hurst (right) and Steven Hurst (left). Photo credit: Sarah Nguyen.)
With hundreds of Little Free Libraries in the Greater Victoria area, the highest documented density of LFLs in Canada, these take-a-book, leave-a-book miniature libraries are hard to miss!
Over the weekend, grade 12 Oak Bay High School student Sidney Hurst installed her very own LFL, marking the 600th in the region.
‘Bowker Creek Books’ was installed as part of Hurst’s final year self-directed Capstone Project, a requirement at Oak Bay High school.
Vancouver Island’s professional soccer club is looking for an enthusiastic performer to join their team, as Stewie the Starfish.
According to the organization’s social media, they are looking for an energetic team member who will be available for all home games and community outreach events throughout Vancouver Island.
As the season kicks off on April 10th for the Pacific FC’s home opener, the successful candidate would start immediately and perform as the team mascot year-round.
Rescued by Ruby, released to the streaming platform last Thursday, March 17th, was filmed right here in BC’s capital including at a local animal shelter.
Based on a true story and starring Grant Gustin, Scott Wolf and Kaylah Zander, the film transformed the CRD Animal Shelter near Elk Lake into a movie set.
IMDb says Rescued by Ruby was filmed between June 2nd and July 15th 2021.
The playground at Hamsterly Beach in Elk/Beaver Regional Park has been replaced with a new nature playground which includes accessible play elements, zones for different ages and natural structures for differing abilities.
According to the CRD, the playground was built using the existing landscape, local timbers and green infrastructure, providing a sustainable connection to the lake ecosystem.
The aim of the nature playground is to provide a safe, unstructured play place that fits into the natural environment surrounding it.
The nature park is now open for families to enjoy!
As crew shortages plague BC Ferries, the organization is now warning its customers to brace for more delays and altered sailing schedules into the peak summer season.
Hiring challenges are fueled by vaccination policies, troubles recruiting international candidates due to COVID-19, and a shortage of professional mariners, according to BC Ferries.
But the organization isn’t alone, noting other ferry services in BC’s interior and the states of Washington and Alaska also face similar issues.
Earlier this month, the Town of Sidney said the Sidney-Anacortes ferry route would not be operating this spring due to a crew shortage, with service unlikely to be restored for summer.
Currently, BC Ferries is gearing up for more traffic than usual as COVID-19 restrictions ease and warmer weather rolls in, with travellers eager to explore the province.
To avoid sailing waits, customers are encouraged to book in advance, travel at less busy times and as a foot passenger, arrive early, and ‘know before you go’—by checking BCFerries.com to view the status of routes.
BC Ferries says it’s working to minimize any impact to the travelling public, implementing extra initiatives including internal training investments and a significant recruitment push via career fairs and WorkBC.
According to the organization, these tactics have supported filling 600 positions required for the summer. It says some potential service interruptions may be “predictable” and “mitigated” by changing sailing times.
“However, isolated sailing cancellations may be experienced due to factors like crew illness,” it said.
“BC Ferries’ goal is to avoid service disruptions wherever it can, to communicate service disruptions as soon as they become known, and to minimize the impact these disruptions have on the travelling public.”
Over the years, BC Ferries says it’s built up “robust systems” to mitigate the shortage of mariners, including staffing pools, cross-training employees, and overtime pay for employees who cover gaps.
“Despite these mitigations, many industries are facing very significant shifts in the employment market,” it added.
A Nanaimo woman in her 20s managed to fight off a stranger who assaulted her then attempted to force her into his vehicle as she walked home Thursday night.
The incident occurred at around 7 p.m. on Thursday March 24th in the 6900 block of Dickinson Road, near Max Bennett Pioneer Park.
Police said the woman told investigators that she was walking along Dickinson Road after being dropped off by an RDN transit bus when she noticed an SUV making strange turns.
The woman described the vehicle as a newer model silver-grey Mitsubishi Outlander SUV with an Alberta licence plate.
Seconds later, the vehicle approached the and a man unknown to the woman got out and asked her for directions. While looking the directions up on her phone, the man swung a blunt object at her, striking her in the head.
Despite the unexpected assault, the woman managed to fight off the suspect and ran to a nearby home where the residents of the home called 911.
Police said the suspect followed her on foot for a short distance, then got back in his vehicle and drove northbound on Dickinson Crossing.
“Police attended and spoke with the woman who had injuries to her upper body consistent with being assaulted,” said RCMP Const. Gary O’Brien in a statement Friday.
The woman was treated at the hospital for non-life threatening injuries.
Police canvassed the area but were unable to locate the suspect or his vehicle.
The suspect is described as a white man, approximately 50 to 60 years old, with an average height and weight. He is described as having a scruffy face with grey or dark-brown hair.
Police say the Mitsubishi Outlander’s front bumper was hanging off as the sides were not attached to the vehicle. The SUV also had an electronic display screen inside.
“The woman is to be commended for her actions and removing herself from a dangerous situation. Her recall was also excellent and it will greatly assist in furthering the investigation,” said O’Brien.
Investigators are asking anyone who was in the area at that time or resides nearby and has security footage or dashcam video, to contact the Nanaimo RCMP non-emergency line at 250-754-2345, and quote file # 2022-9974.
Reports of an armed man prompted Westshore Town Centre to lock down on Monday, with West Shore RCMP responding to the “high-risk situation.”
Just after 5 p.m. on March 21st, RCMP received a report from a witness stating a man had allegedly shown him a handgun near the shopping centre in Langford.
Responding officers located and arrested a man matching the description provided by the witness inside the mall.
The mall was locked down to the public while RCMP and police dogs conducted a search for the reported handgun.
During the search, a Glock 19 replica BB gun was located near where the suspect was arrested.
“The Glock was all black and did not display an orange tip, it could have easily been mistaken for its real counterpart,” said Constable Zane Shelby of the West Shore RCMP.
After arresting the suspect, RCMP learned he was already on a probation order that included conditions not to possess a weapon, including BB/pellet guns.
Witnesses who were at the mall at the time of the incident said security officers were ushering shoppers out of the building as police blocked all exits of the centre.
The order came after a conviction in November 2021 where the suspect was arrested for assault with a weapon, theft and possession of property obtained in a crime. He was sentenced to 60 days in jail for that incident.
The suspect, 32-year-old John Crawford of Esquimalt, was convicted on March 22nd for possession of a weapon for dangerous purpose and was sentenced to 90 days in jail.
“It is unknown as to why the suspect brought the BB gun with them to a mall and what their intentions were,” said Cst Meghan Groulx, spokesperson for the West Shore RCMP.
“Thank you to the frontline officers for having the situation under control in minutes and thank you to the public for your cooperation in exiting the mall, allowing space for the officers to continue their investigation.”
University of Victoria (UVic) faculty, staff and students shouldn’t toss their face masks just yet.
The school’s senate recently passed a motion, meaning its members will now recommend to UVic’s president and board of governors that the recently scrapped mask mandate be reinstated on campus immediately.
On Thursday, a special meeting saw 19 senate members opposed, while 23 favoured the mandate being brought back and extended past the April exam period.
Motion passed @UVic Senate today: “That Senate recommend to the President and the Board of Governors that the mask mandate at UVic that was dropped on March 11, 2022 be reinstated immediately and kept in place through the April exam period.” Thx to all who supported this motion!
Effective March 11th, mask use for most areas on campus shifted from “required” to “strongly encouraged” when close to others in indoor public spaces. Healthcare locations on campus continue to require masks under a separate health order.
At the time, Henry indicated that the decision to change the mandate was made in the context of declining illness rates and hospitalizations due to COVID-19.
However, the motion presented by UVic’s senate argues, “the university has not tried functioning without masks in the context of a variant as infectious as Omicron, so there is no way of knowing what the impact of removing masks will be.”
The motion says dropping the mask mandate in mid-March “fundamentally altered” the learning and working environment overnight for immunocompromised students, staff, faculty and librarians. It says it left them no time to seek accommodations or make alternative educational plans.
“It increases the risk for such community members to be on campus, without providing time for them to arrange viable alternatives,” states the motion.
“It also increases the chance of significant absences of faculty, staff and students leading up to and during the exam period, with the attendant disruptions to teaching and exams.”
While mask use is no longer required on campus, UVic says people do have a choice of what type and quality of mask to use and where they wish to use them.
According to UVic, only two BC post-secondary institutions—the University of British Columbia and Kwantlen Polytechnic University—have indicated that masks are required.
Amid record-high gas prices, the BC government plans to issue a one-time relief rebate this spring to help ease any financial burden.
Premier John Horgan and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth announced the move Friday, saying most ICBC customers who had a basic auto insurance policy in February will be eligible for a $110 rebate.
Meanwhile, most commercial customers will receive a rebate of $165. That’s because they generally incur higher expenses, according to the province.
Eligible drivers can expect to receive their rebate in May if they are registered for direct deposit with ICBC or as a refund to their credit card, with all other customers receiving cheques in June.
Officials say high prices at the pumps come in the midst of international supply chain disruptions brought on by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“People are facing increased costs through no fault of their own, but as a chain reaction that started with (President Vladimir) Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine,” said Horgan.
On Friday morning, the average price at the pumps in Greater Victoria was 197.8 cents per litre, according to the Canadian Automobile Association. That’s up from a week ago when the average price was 196.4 cents per litre.
But earlier this month, prices were even higher.
On March 10th, a gas station in Central Saanich was charging 214.9 cents per litre—prompting some locals to opt for e-bikes and public transit as prices soared.
“This rebate is going to help a lot of people in this province,” added Farnworth.
“This is another opportunity to put money back in the pockets of the hardworking people who make this province a great place to live.”
The relief rebate is expected to cost the government $395 million. It follows two COVID-19 rebates issued by ICBC last year, which provided drivers with a combined average of $300.
An alleged machete assault within Beacon Hill Park has left a man in hospital with severe, potentially “life-altering” injuries, VicPD says.
On Thursday, just after 6 a.m., police were called to Royal Jubilee Hospital after a man was rushed in suffering injuries to his arm.
An investigation quickly ensued, leading officers to find a crime scene not far from the Beacon Hill Children’s Farm.
That’s when investigators learned that a person known to the victim had struck him with a machete—before driving him to Royal Jubilee.
The suspect then returned to the hospital and was arrested, according to VicPD. They currently remain in custody and have been moved to a holding cell.
At this time, the investigation into the assault is ongoing, and police note that the victim is undergoing treatment for his injuries.
The Integrated Canine Service and VicPD’s Investigative Services Division have been called in to help, with investigators remaining at the crime scene Thursday afternoon.
Anyone with information about this incident who has not yet spoken to officers is asked to call VicPD at (250) 995-7654.
Thirteen more child care sites on Vancouver Island will soon be added into the $10/day child care program, according to a release from the province Thursday.
At these sites, families will pay no more than $200 per month per child for full-time enrolment during regular business hours.
“These affordable $10 a Day child care spaces will make an incredible difference in the lives of families in Victoria,” said Grace Lore, MLA for Victoria-Beacon Hill.
“When parents in Victoria can afford child care, they can focus on pursuing career or educational opportunities and the entire community and its economy benefit.”
The $10 a day child care program began in 2018 with 2,500 spaces available for families. Today, there are over 6,500 spaces across the province.
In Budget 2021, the province committed to expanding the number of $10 a Day spaces in BC by converting 3,750 licensed child care spaces into low-cost spaces for families.
Now, 13 more child care sites across Vancouver Island will follow suit, resulting in 757 new $10 a day spaces.
“I know there couldn’t be a better time for families to hear that their child care centre is becoming a $10 a Day site,” said Katrina Chen, Minister of State for Child Care.
“We’ve heard from families that having access to $10 a Day child care is life changing, and when our ChildCareBC plan is fully implemented, no family will pay more than $10 a day for licensed child care. As we work toward that goal, tens of thousands of parents are already benefiting by saving up to $1,600 a month on child care. Through Budget 2022, more savings are on the way for all types of child care.”
In addition to $10/dayay child care investments, Budget 2022 builds on existing funding toward the Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative and the Affordable Child Care Benefit.
This funding helps thousands of families pay less for childcare, saving as much as $1,600 a month per child.
The province said the number of spaces in the program will more than double to 12,500 by December 2022, through partnerships with the Government of Canada through the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement.
For more information on the $10 a Day ChildCareBC sites, visit their website here.
The BC Ministry of Health reported 271 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, March 24th.
There have been 354,874 cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began.
New cases were reported in these health regions:
Vancouver Coastal Health: 30
Fraser Health: 54
Island Health: 60
Interior Health: 96
Northern Health: 31
Resident outside Canada: zero
There are now a total of 255 people in hospital with COVID-19, 52 of whom are in critical care — ICU or acute care units.
In the past 24 hours, six new deaths have been reported, for an overall total of 2,981.
Outbreaks
There have been no new healthcare facility outbreaks in the province, and the outbreak at Yucalta Lodge (Island Health) has been declared over.
There are a total of four ongoing healthcare outbreaks in the province, including two in Island Health at The Heights at Mt. View and Selkirk Seniors Village.
Vaccinations
As of Thursday, March 24th:
11,462,806 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in BC
93.4% of eligible people 12 and older in BC have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, and 91.0% have received their second dose.
93.8% of all eligible adults in BC have received their first dose, and 91.4% have received their second dose.
Michael Dunahee with photo rendering of what he might look like today.
Today marks 31 years since Michael Dunahee disappeared.
On March 24th, 1991, at around 12:30 p.m., 4-year-old Michael vanished from a playground outside the now-closed Blanshard Elementary School in Victoria.
The preschooler was just a short distance away from his family and a nearby crowd of spectators who were watching a touch football game.
An extensive search for Michael quickly ensued, which involved hundreds of volunteers and police from multiple agencies, according to VicPD.
But over three decades later, the search has so far proved unsuccessful—though tens of thousands of tips have been received by police.
“Some presume that Michael was abducted,” states a post on MichaelDunahee.ca.
Today, Michael’s disappearance remains one of Canada’s largest missing person investigations and has spawned widespread media coverage.
Recently, the case was the topic of the podcast Island Crime, which sees podcaster Laura Palmer dive into a Vancouver Island crime story each season.
With 10 episodes, ‘Season 3: Missing Michael’ features interviews with Michael’s family and friends and several detectives.
“What happened to little Michael? Who is responsible for his disappearance? Could he still be alive, more than three decades later?” states the podcast’s synopsis.
In 2021, investigators launched a new online tip portal to aid in the search for Michael and it’s since ushered in hundreds of tips, VicPD says.
That same year, BC RCMP forensic sketch artist Cpl. Virginia Bernier created an age-enhanced sketch of Michael. It shows what he may look like at 34-years-old.
“We have always kept our hope alive,” said Crystal Dunahee, Michael’s mother.
“It is our hope that this new sketch, which shows what Michael may look like today, as a grown man, will help bring us the answers we need.”
Crystal has started and is president of Child Find, a not-for-profit charitable organization dedicated to the personal safety of all children. She also worked to develop the Amber Alert system Canadians see today.
‘Michael Dunahee Keep The Hope Alive Run’ set for Sunday
Turning their tragedy into a grassroots effort to protect other families, Michael’s family has hosted the ‘Michael Dunahee Keep The Hope Alive Run’ for the past 31 years.
“Please join us once again for this family event from wherever you wish to participate,” organizers say.
This year’s virtual event is set for Sunday, March 27th, as families run or walk to mark Michael’s disappearance and highlight the ongoing search. All funds raised go to Child Find BC.
VicPD Chief Del Manak plans to participate in this year’s run and says VicPD remains committed to solving Michael’s disappearance.
“Our investigators truly appreciate all of the information and support we are receiving from our community,” added Manak.
Police ask anyone with information about Michael’s disappearance to visit this website or call VicPD’s dedicated Michael Dunahee tip line at (250) 995-7444.
A 47-year-old Nanaimo man was arrested Wednesday, after stealing a vehicle from a mall parking lot.
Just after 1 p.m. on March 23rd, a truck was stolen from the parking lot of the North Town Centre Mall.
The owner of the truck, who works at the mall, was looking out into the parking lot when he saw his own pick up being driven away.
The man immediately called 911 with several officers driving patrol and unmarked vehicles responding.
Less than ten minutes later, the red pick up with a canopy was spotted by officers driving southbound on Highway 19A, near the Departure Bay intersection.
Officers kept a close eye on the vehicle until the driver parked in a parking lot on Larch Street, unaware of their presence due to their unmarked vehicles.
When the driver began to walk away from the vehicle, several police vehicles approached.
The suspect was taken into custody without incident.
47-year-old David McCauley was held in police custody overnight to appear in court on Thursday, March 24th.
McCauley faces charges of Possession of Stolen Property over $5000 and Possession of Break in Tools.
You know things are returning to normal when the city’s largest parade returns.
The 122nd Victoria Day Parade will officially happen after the event had to be cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic—marking the first time in its decades-long history.
Subsequently, the event was cancelled in 2021 with COVID-19 numbers still surging across BC and the rest of the world. Events at the time were also still limited.
In March 2020, the Greater Victoria Festival Society (GVFS) said the financial impact of cancelling the Victoria Day Parade was substantial, as this event normally brings millions of dollars to the city’s tourism sector.
To replace the in-person parade, the organization created a ‘Virtual Parade’, asking Canadian and American bands, performers, floats, and walking groups that usually take part in the event to send in videos or pictures of their most recent performances.
As in the past, this year’s parade will take place on Victoria Day, Monday, May 23rd.
“The Greater Victoria Festival Society will host a world class event showcasing our diverse cultures and celebrating our Frontline workers from various business and nonprofit organizations,” organizers said on its website.
“We are thrilled to be back and we dedicate 2022 to all of YOU!”
The parade begins at Mayfair Mall and continues along Douglas Street finishing at the intersection of Douglas and Humboldt Street.
According to the GVFS, hundreds of floats and cultural performances will take place along the parade route.
In a statement, the City of Victoria announced it’s supporting 41 festivals this year with $321,200 in Festival Investment Grant funding and up to $129,500 of in-kind contributions to usher in the return to festival season in Victoria.
The GVFS received $16,000 in funding that will go towards the Victoria Day Parade and Santa Light Parade.
“Grab your sun hat and festival chair, after the long pandemic hiatus it’s going to be a great summer for arts and culture events in Victoria,” said Mayor Lisa Helps.
“I am thrilled to see the exciting line up of culturally-diverse, family-friendly events, from dance and theatre to music and community performances. There is something new to attend every week.”
After an alarming number of complaints relating to bullying and harassment in 2021, WorkSafeBC is focusing on new initiatives to strengthen employers’ responses to bullying and provide healthier workplaces in 2022.
In 2021, the agency received more than 3,400 enquiries related to bullying and harassment, responding to 931.
According to WorkSafeBC, bullying and harassment in the workplace can include verbal aggression, personal attacks, and other intimidating or humiliating behaviours and is not limited to interactions between coworkers.
Bullying and harassment of workers can also occur between workers and management, by customers, clients, and other members of the public.
“Workplace bullying and harassment can have far-reaching impacts on a worker’s psychological health and safety — it can lead to anxiety, depression, absenteeism, and lower productivity,” said Al Johnson, Head of Prevention Services with WorkSafeBC.
“No one should be subject to bullying and harassment at work.”
Of the inquiries last year, 17% came from the health care sector; 10% from hospitality; 8% from construction; and 8% from the retail industry.
As a result, WorkSafeBC is focusing on new initiatives in 2022.
“The goal of our initiative is simple — we want to ensure that employers meet their obligations to keep workers healthy and safe and free from bullying and harassment in the workplace,” said Johnson.
“We are also focused on providing employers and workers with information on how to appropriately respond to harassment in the workplace.”
Focuses include:
Promoting employer compliance to prevent and minimize bullying and harassment, including employers having effective policies, procedures, and training in place.
Providing prompt responses to complaints of prohibited action, in which an employer penalizes a worker for raising a health and safety issue at work.
Ensuring employer responses to workplace harassment are fair and impartial (including investigating and implementing preventative and corrective measures.)
Responding to complaints of inadequate harassment procedures or inadequate responses to harassment by employers.
Conducting targeted outreach and inspections for employers in the hospitality, retail, and small business sectors. In addition, WorkSafeBC will look at harassment prevention in the health care, construction, and agricultural sectors.
WorkSafeBC said they work to ensure employers have the proper policies, procedures, and training in place to address bullying and harassment, and that complaints are investigated and addressed.
A Vancouver Island man now faces a slew of criminal charges following an over 12-hour crime spree that stretched from Nanaimo to Greater Victoria.
It all started at around 9 p.m. on March 11th, when Nanaimo RCMP was made aware that a man with a dog had stolen a white Subaru SUV.
But things quickly escalated the next morning, according to police.
Just before 4 a.m. on March 12th, Saanich Police were called to a break-and-enter at a gas station in the 300-block of Burnside Road.
While the suspect was unsuccessful in opening the store’s cash register, he caused an estimated $10,000 in damage, police say.
He had fled before officers arrived but was caught on security cam ramming the store’s front doors with a white Subaru SUV—the same one reported stolen from Nanaimo the night before.
Shortly after, at around 6 a.m., multiple West Shore RCMP officers responded to a gas station robbery in the 2000-block of West Shore Parkway in Langford.
“An employee said a man entered the business and allegedly brandished an edged weapon while demanding and stealing cash before fleeing in a vehicle,” RCMP said in a Thursday media release.
“West Shore RCMP officers reviewed the video surveillance and noted a description of the suspect and vehicle—a white Subaru SUV.”
Two hours later, the same vehicle was spotted engulfed in flames on the Trans Canada Highway in Ladysmith. However, the suspect was nowhere to be seen.
“A witness reported seeing a man with a dog fleeing from the vehicle just before it went up in flames,” police said, noting both the RCMP Forensic Identification Section and Police Dog Services were called to help in the investigation.
After 10 a.m., a man walking nearby with a dog along the Trans Canada Highway matching the suspect description was found and arrested by RCMP.
The 26-year-old man of Nanaimo was charged with mischief, break-and-enter, arson, possession of stolen property and two counts of robbery, police say. He’s currently in custody with a date in court on April 21st.
“The prompt, detailed information received from the public assisted the police in quickly locating and arresting the suspect,” added West Shore Cst. Meghan Groulx.
“Thankfully, no one was injured during this short-lived crime spree.”
As the COVID-19 crisis continues, many healthcare workers on Vancouver Island and across BC are exhausted and at a breaking point, the Hospital Employees’ Union (HEU) says.
One out of three healthcare workers in the province are looking to leave the profession altogether, as per a new HEU poll that surveyed hundreds of its members over a week span.
“And we should all be very concerned about what that means for our healthcare system going forward,” said HEU secretary-business manager Meena Brisard.
The random phone survey of 802 healthcare workers, carried out by Viewpoints Research, took place between February 22nd and March 2nd.
According to the union, findings paint an “alarming picture” of the pressures facing those on the frontlines and BC’s ability to keep and recruit healthcare workers.
That’s because three-quarters of those polled have experienced pandemic-related burnout, while one in three do not believe there are adequate workplace mental health supports.
Nearly two-thirds say their workloads have gotten worse over the last two years, as a quarter report that their employer rarely backfills positions left vacant by illness or vacation.
The survey also found that some healthcare workers are having difficulty keeping up with rising costs, with more than a quarter concerned that their housing is currently at risk.
“Now is the time to recognize these workers with a wage and compensation package that puts them ahead and not behind,” said Brisard.
Reviewing survey data, Brisard’s concerned about the future of BC’s healthcare system and its ability to survive public health emergencies, climate disasters and growing populations.
It’s prompting the HEU to lead negotiations on behalf of a multi-union bargaining association with public health employers for a new collective agreement covering 58,000 workers in the facilities subsector.
“We must act boldly to retain today’s skilled and experienced health care workforce, and to attract the next generation of healthcare workers,” she added.
BC Nurses’ Union (BCNU) president Aman Grewal praised the investment, saying it’s a promising step towards “addressing the staffing crisis that is currently crippling our healthcare system.”
Grewal’s also pointing to Budget 2022, which will see $3.2 billion in healthcare spending over the next three years, according to the BC government.
However, she’s “cautiously optimistic” that this commitment will ensure immediate relief for nurses struggling to provide patient care “in a healthcare system that’s in the throes of a staffing shortage.”
Earlier in February, the BCNU called for solutions for BC’s healthcare system—a plea following a survey that polled 3,500 of its members.
Its findings were on par with the HEU survey and found a staggering 51% of healthcare workers in Emergency Rooms or Intensive Care Units were ready to quit.
“On a daily basis, nurses are facing an unmanageable number of patients who need care, and despite all of their very best efforts, they’re watching their patients suffer,” added Grewal.
“As a result of this pressure, nurses are burnt out.”
Heads up oyster lovers: Health Canada has issued a recall on certain packages of Stellar Bay Shellfish due to possible norovirus contamination, that were harvested off the coast of Vancouver Island.
The recalled products were sold in British Columbia and may have been distributed in other provinces and territories.
Other recalled items include:
Kusshi oysters, harvested and processed on March 7th, 10th and 14th
Large Kusshi oysters, harvested and processed on March 7th, 8th and 14th
Stellar Bay Gold oysters, harvested and processed on March 7th
On Friday, March 18th, Vancouver Coastal Health issued a bulletin stating that more than 50 people had gotten sick with norovirus associated with consumption of raw BC oysters over a four day period.
Consumers should not consume, and retailers, hotels, restaurants and institutions should not sell, serve or use the recalled products described below.
Symptoms includes tingling and numbness of the lips, tongue, hands and feet, and difficulty swallowing. In severe situations, this can lead to difficulty walking, muscle paralysis, respiratory paralysis and death.
Recalled products should be thrown out or returned to the location where they were purchased.
Picketing at libraries across Vancouver Island is expected to escalate today, after the British Columbia General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) rejected the latest offer from Vancouver Island Regional Library (VIRL).
On March 9th, members of the BC General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) working as librarians for the VIRL began picketing at VIRL’s Cowichan branch, seeking a deal that aligned their compensation with other libraries in the province.
In a release March 24th, VIRL announced their most recent offer put forward to the BCGEU has been rejected by their bargaining committee.
As a result, service-impacting strikes have escalated, closing the following branches on March 24th:
Campbell River
Courtenay
Cowichan (Duncan)
Nanaimo North
Sidney/North Saanich
Sooke
According to the VIRL, the offer remains on the table at this time.
The ongoing picketing postponed the grand opening of the newest branch addition to the VIRL network, set to take place this Saturday, March 26th.
The VIRL and BCGEU have been bargaining over the BCGEU Collective agreement since September 2021. In December 2021, the agreement expired.
Although BCwill still be the first province in Canada to welcome spring, it is expected that the progression into the new season will be slower than we often see, especially during the second half of the season.
Township of Esquimalt council has voted down an additional 2022 budget request from VicPD, ushering in dismay from the area’s top cop and policing union.
With the exception of funding for restorative justice, the township said on Tuesday that it had declined a request from VicPD to fund six additional officers and four additional civilian employees.
While Victoria city council had recently approved VicPD’s presented budget, Esquimalt council is also required to give two thumbs-up.
That’s because both communities are in a policing partnership, first established in 2003 by then-BC Solicitor General Rich Coleman.
“From an operational perspective, I am disappointed that VicPD’s budget was not approved in its entirety,” said Chief Del Manak.
“Our police board, over an exhaustive budget process spanning several months, arrived at this budget based on the best available information relating to resource demands, operational requirements, and public safety trends.”
The department had requested a 2022 budget of $63.4 million, up 7.05% from 2021’s $59.2 million. The salaries of the 10 new positions together totalled $1.08 million.
Manak says it was the “minimum budget” required to offer adequate policing, noting staff shortages continue to plague VicPD’s ability to provide the level of service expected by locals.
But Esquimalt is pointing to the Ministry of Public Safety’s 2020 review of policing costs, which found the township was overpaying for these services as the area’s crime rate declined.
“We made further budget decisions this year—including the supplemental requests—that we believe are more in line with our use of resources from VicPD,” said Barbara Desjardins, Esquimalt mayor and Victoria and Esquimalt Police Board co-chair.
“For instance, we know that overtime and other costs are increasing due to the number of protests we’re seeing downtown,” she continued.
“While police presence is important for these types of events, Esquimalt should not be the only municipality in the region contributing to these costs simply because VicPD provides policing in our township.”
In 2021, Esquimalt paid $8.4 million for policing, or approximately $479 per capita. However, recommendations from the ministry’s report led council to reduce this year’s policing budget from 14.7% to 13.67%.
“Public safety is top of mind, as is appropriate spending for our services. Our goal is to be adequately policed while fiscally responsible to our residents and businesses,” added Desjardins.
VicPD resources running short
“The ten additional positions for 2022 were not a supplemental request,” said VicPD Chief Manak, echoing concerns from the Victoria City Police Union.
The union says Esquimalt’s decision to decline VicPD’s budget request will further hamper and only combat efforts to enhance staffing levels.
“Although the Victoria Police Department is the largest agency in the region, we are a department in crisis,” said union president Len Hollingsworth on Wednesday.
“The staffing allotted to our department cannot sustain policing the increasing number of protests, extensive shelter beds and numerous other issues that the region has left Victoria to struggle with alone.”
The union, which represents 250 plus members, says it’s disappointed in the township and finds council’s vote is “a blow to the morale” of the many officers dedicated to both communities.
Esquimalt’s decision comes as the current Police Framework Agreement, which governs the Victoria and Esquimalt amalgamated service delivery, nears its expiry with a July renewal deadline.
Township staff say they’ll be reaching out to locals over the next few months to gauge their satisfaction with the current combined policing model.
The Victoria Police Union also asks the provincial government to take responsibility for the situation they created in 2003 and establish a sustainable long-term policing solution.
“We urge the residents of Victoria, Esquimalt, and the greater community to speak out to their MLAs and demand action that will ensure public safety and a healthy community for years to come,” added Hollingsworth.
A Victoria family experienced an unwanted guest Tuesday afternoon, after a man dropped a loaded handgun fleeing police and broke into their townhome.
Just after 1:30 p.m. on March 22nd, VicPD officers observed a group standing outside a series of townhomes in the 2600-block of Dowler Place.
Upon spotting the officers, one man in the group turned and started to walk away, dropping a handgun to the ground as he fled towards the townhouses while being chased by the officers.
Police said the suspect ran into a nearby townhome occupied by a mother, father and two young children who did not know the suspect.
A man fled from Patrol officers – into a family's home – after dropping a loaded handgun. Officers arrested the suspect – who went to hospital w non-life-threatening injuries after being confronted by the family's father. #yyj | https://t.co/8QUIBNtUvkpic.twitter.com/D0QGDbHXNd
When the suspect entered the home, he allegedly first encountered the mother in the front hallway and pushed her out of the way.
Next, he came into contact with the father in the kitchen, who confronted him.
VicPD said the mother recovered herself, grabbed her youngest child and leaped out a first floor window to safety.
While the father fought with the suspect, the mother handed the child off before re-entering the home to rescue her other child who was in an upstairs bedroom.
The suspect was thrown out the back door into the backyard by the father before he leapt the fence into a neighbouring yard.
Additional VicPD officers were quickly on scene, entering the backyard where they met the father.
The father was briefly held at gunpoint as officers worked to locate and identify the suspect.
The suspect was located and taken into custody at gunpoint. He was transported to hospital for non-life threatening injuries received during his fight with the father.
The father, mother and two children were not physically injured.
Officers recovered the handgun and discovered it was loaded when dropped by the suspect.
Anyone with information regarding this incident who has not yet spoken with police is asked to contact the VicPD at (250) 995-7654.
The BC Ministry of Health reported 269 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, March 23rd.
There have been 354,603 cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began.
New cases were reported in these health regions:
Vancouver Coastal Health: 51
Fraser Health: 49
Island Health: 53
Interior Health: 73
Northern Health: 43
Resident outside Canada: 0
There are now a total of 258 people in hospital with COVID-19, 49 of whom are in critical care — ICU or acute care units.
1 new person has died from COVID-related causes, making the provincial death toll 2,975.
Outbreaks
There have been no new health-care facility outbreaks in the province.
There are a total of 5 ongoing health care outbreaks in the province.
There are currently 3 health care outbreaks in the Island Health region.
Vaccinations
As of Wednesday, March 23rd:
11,458,133 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in BC
90.8% (4,526,085) of eligible people five and older in B.C. have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine and 87.1% (4,341,506) have received their second dose.
93.4% (4,330,184) of eligible people 12 and older in B.C. have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, 91.0% (4,217,679) received their second dose and 57.1% (2,648,785) have received a third dose.
93.8% (4,055,277) of all eligible adults in B.C. have received their first dose, 91.4% (3,953,391) received their second dose and 58.9% (2,549,120) have received a third dose.
Just days after announcing people 30 and over were eligible to pick up their free rapid COVID-19 test kits, the province has now made them available to anyone over 18.
Starting Wednesday, March 23rd, more adults in Greater Victoria and across the province are able to pick up free COVID-19 rapid antigen test kits at local community pharmacies.
According to the BC government, those aged 18 years and older are eligible to receive one kit containing five tests every 28 days at participating pharmacies.
In February, no-cost rapid antigen test kits were first distributed to British Columbians, starting with those 70 yearsand up.
In March, it was announced residents aged 40 years and up were able to pick up the tests and a week later the eligibility requirements lowered to 30 and over.
Now, residents aged 18 and over are eligible to pick up the rapid antigen tests from their local pharmacies.
It’s noted that a personal health number must be presented when picking up a rapid antigen test kit. If picking up a kit on someone’s behalf, a name, personal health number and date of birth must also be supplied.
Officials urge people only to pick up a test kit when symptom-free, instead saving it to use at a future time when symptoms may arise.
BC is expecting to receive 4.4 million tests from the federal government in March and early April.
We all know we’re lucky to call such a beautiful place home.
In Victoria, we are steps away from the ocean and delicious food at any given moment and tourists from around the world come to visit and explore our city.
So how does Victoria rank against some of Canada’s other cities?
At the beginning of 2022, Tourism Sentiment Index used the power of artificial intelligence to create the Tourism Sentiment Score, a ranking of the 50 most loved destinations in Canada.
The index finds and analyzes conversations on the internet from around the world. This year, the study included 1.6 billion online conversations and content pieces publicly available about approximately 21,330 global destinations.
Once this was completed, a list was created specifically for Canada, with each location given a ‘top driver, the most commonly referenced draw when it comes to each location.
According to the ranking, Victoria came in 49th place on the national list, with ‘architecture’ as its top driver.
Tofino topped the list of Vancouver Island locations, coming in 8th with ‘beaches’ as its top driver.
Vancouver Island as a whole was also on the list, coming in at 23rd with ‘beaches’ as its top driver.
Other Vancouver Island cities on the list include:
Multi-platinum alt-rock band Our Lady Peace will kick off their national tour in Victoria at the Royal Theatre on June 6th.
The Wonderful Future Theatrical Experience will be a first-of-its-kind sit down show that combines decades of Our Lady Peace music with a one-on-one HoloPresence, a real-time holographic conversation with futurist Ray Kurzweil.
Our Lady Peace is a Canadian rock band formed in Toronto, Ontario in 1992. Led by lead vocalist Raine Maida since its formation, the band currently also features Duncan Coutts on bass, Steve Mazur on guitars, and Jason Pierce on drums.
The band has sold several million albums worldwide, won four Juno Awards, and won ten MuchMusic Video Awards—the most MMVAs ever awarded to any group, and the second-most awarded to any artist after Justin Bieber.
Nineteen of their singles have reached the Top 10 on one of Canada’s singles charts.
Starting at $57.25 (plus charges), tickets to the all-ages show at the Royal Theatre go on sale 10 a.m. Friday, available through rmts.bc.ca or by phone from 250-386-6121.
VIP tickets go on sale 10 a.m. Tuesday, the “Ultimate OLP VIP Package” running $203.00, plus service charges.
Tickets also unlock exclusive NFT offers, music, merchandise, and live concert video in real time at each event.
The City of Victoria and the District of Saanich are forking out hundreds of thousands of dollars to explore potential amalgamation between the two communities.
Victoria mayor Lisa Helps, Saanich mayor Fred Haynes and BC’s Municipal Affairs Minister Nathan Cullen released a joint statement Wednesday, highlighting plans to investigate the possible merger.
The trio agreed to each pay $250,000—for a total of $750,000—toward the cost of a citizens’ assembly and to research the outcomes, costs, benefits and disadvantages of combining Victoria and Saanich.
Helps, Haynes and Cullen say they’re committed to exploring citizens’ views and note that the investigation will also help people better understand what amalgamation may involve.
“We recognize there are strong opinions regarding amalgamation, and we want to ensure people have an opportunity to provide input in an open forum and a subsequent decision is well-informed and evidence-based,” read the statement.
According to officials, the launch of the citizens’ assembly isn’t anticipated until after the upcoming general local elections wrap up in October.
The City of Victoria has a population of around 94,000, while the District of Saanich has a population of about 119,000.
If the two were to merge, it could prompt a name change—Vaanich? Saantoria? Victorich?
A Nanaimo man is devastated after someone broken-in to his garage last weekend stealing his prized guitar and other sound equipment.
The items were stolen in the early morning hours on Saturday March 19th, in the 500 block of Old Victoria Road.
A home security camera captured a poor image of a suspect wearing a black jacket with a grey hoodie underneath—the thief pried a deadbolt open securing a detached garage.
The homeowner has checked out multiple pawn shops throughout the city but has had no success.
The stolen guitar is a Fender Stratocaster Seymour Duncan SH-4 double humbucker pick up, with upgraded electronics.
Collin Middleton, the owner, told police he purchased the guitar 25 years ago while on a road trip with his family to Los Angeles.
“I remember stenciling the Canadian flag on the frame and playing it while touring with a band I was later part of. It holds many good memories for me and I just hope to be able to get it back,” said Middleton.
Thieves also made off with several other notable items, including a yellow 4-string Yamaha guitar, green portable generator, Harmon-Kardon AVR2600 power amp and speaker, and two Behringer amplifiers.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of this equipment, is asked to call the Nanaimo RCMP non-emergency line at 250-754-2345, and quote file # 2022-9303.
There’s a brand new face in the massage therapy field of Victoria, and she’s offering a unique take on the world of biodynamic massage.
Sloan Biodynamic Massage is located on Cook Street, and focuses on Myofascial Release, Neuromuscular Therapy, Craniosacral Therapy, and Visceral Treatments.
Registered Massage Therapist Kristine Sloan also has 15 years experience in physiotherapy rehabilitation clinical background.
Krisitne is now accepting new clients at the Cook Street location, and appointments are available Monday to Friday—also offering direct billing.
If you’re interested in trying out biodynamic massage for yourself, you’re in luck—we’ve partnered with Sloan Biodynamic Massage to give away two free treatments, and you’ll find those contest details below!
https://www.instagram.com/p/CXeIsaRp3WY/
What is biodynamic massage?
The term ‘Biodynamic’ relates to life and the movement of force.
With relation to Registered Massage Therapy, biodynamic treatments are centered around the alignment and adjustment of the natural forces which are generated within the body.
Biodynamic massage centers around a therapeutic based model which focuses on muscular, physiological, and emotional imbalances. Registered Massage Therapy (RMT) uses a variety of treatments designed to achieve results in:
Neuromuscular Therapy
Swedish Relaxation
Prenatal Massage
Joint Rehabilitation & Mobilization
Trigger Point Therapy
Visceral Massage
Reducing Myofascial Adhesions
Improved Range of Motion
The Improvement of Systemic Circulation
Craniosacral Alignment
Biodynamic Myofascial Mobilization Therapy is a form of fascial mobilization performed using a 3-dimensional technique. It is applied to the soft structures of the body that have a connective tissue component like muscle, tendon, bone, ligaments as well as the structures inside of joints.
You can check out Kristine’s full list of available treatments here, and can book by calling (250) 718-0765 or emailing kristinesloanrmt@gmail.com.
CONTEST
For your chance to win two free treatments from Sloan Biodynamic Massage (a $230 value!), please do one or more of the following:
FOLLOW Sloan Biodynamic Massage on Instagram and comment below to let us know you have. (1 entry)
SHARE this article on Facebook and/or Twitter and comment below to let us know you have. (1 entry)
Contest entries will be accepted from the time and date of publishing until 11:59 p.m. on March 29th. One winner will be chosen at random and contacted through the platform they used to enter. Make sure to register when commenting below.
A Lodestar is a star used to guide you to your chosen destination, and in this case it’s straight to Sherwood!
Sherwood’s chosen featured cocktail, The Lodestar is a homage to the company, using many of the hallmark ingredients they started with.
The drink is a blend of bitter and herbal liqueurs, rhubarb shrub and a home-made sour that uses Earth’s Herbal tea. The drink is finished with Bella Sparkling wine and a twist of lemon.
The fun, sparkly cocktail is modelled after the French 75, balancing sweet, sour and bitter with refreshing BC Wine.
Location: 710 Pandora Avenue
Hours: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Tuesday to Thursday, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sunday
The goal of Collective Wine Bar and Kitchen’s featured cocktail Spill the Tea was to go back to basics and replicate the classic cup of Earl Grey in a cocktail. And a lot of work goes into it!
To begin, loose leaf tea is infused in gin for four hours to create the drink’s base.
Next, a homemade floral lavender syrup, which helps brighten and draw out the bergamot in the tea is added.
The drink is then finished off with a few dashes of cardamom bitters and served on a vintage cup and saucer with a piece of shortbread on the side.
Spill the Tea is a little sweet, a little citrusy and a little floral, all working together to create an Earl Grey tea cocktail.
Location: #107 230 Cook Street
Hours: 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., Tuesday to Thursday, 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday
Wind Cries Mary’s featured cocktail, Black and Yellow, has proved to be one of the restaurant’s most popular cocktails to date, keeping true to the restaurant’s goal to represent all things local, seasonal and delicious.
Black & Yellow features local Stillhead distillery blackberry gin, local honey, juiced organic ginger and fresh lemon.
The drink is refreshing, simple and definitively Vancouver Island.
For those looking for an adventurous cocktail, Citrus and Cane has you covered.
The cocktail bar’s Oooh, dat’s SPICY! is a mix of fresh mint, Hornitos plata tequila, Sons of Vancouver’s chili vodka, pineapple, lemon, orange bitters and house made orgeat.
Orgeat is a sugar syrup made from organic Almond mylk, rose water and orange blossom water, providing a slightly floral and nutty flavour profile, a staple in tropical cocktails.
The spice in Oooh, dat’s SPICY! is well balanced by the mint, pineapple and orgeat and is sure to put a pep in your step!
Location: 1900 Douglas Street
Hours: 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., Monday, 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., Thursday, 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. Friday and Saturday, 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., Sunday
Did you know Clarke and Co. has the largest collection of bitters and whiskies in all of Victoria?
Along with its large collection, the popular stop encourages visitors to try something new and let their bartenders come up with a drink just for you, making it a perfect stop for National Cocktail Day.
Back by popular demand, Clarke and Co’s feature cocktail the Okurrr, Henny is made with Hennessy VS, Peppermint, Jasmine, Lemon, Lime, Honey and Ginger Beer.
The Okurrr, Henny was a popular feature at Clarke and Co. in the summer of 2021, and is sure to be well loved once again.
Booms are now floating along a popular creek in Esquimalt, as crews work to clear up an oil spill and contain any contamination.
On Tuesday afternoon, a local spotted what appeared to be oil near an outfall in Gorge Creek by Craigflower Road, according to the township.
Crews are currently investigating the area’s drain network but say it’s too early to pinpoint the source of the oil.
Still, Esquimalt officials are sending out reminders to locals, urging them to keep harmful materials out of stormwater drains.
“The material eventually enters aquatic environments and can have negative effects on plants, wildlife and pets. Paints, oils and other hazardous materials need to be disposed of properly,” states a media release.
The township requests the public’s patience as crews work to identify and mitigate the oil spill. It’s also asking people to provide crews with space as they complete their work.
A big thanks to the keen-eyed folks who alerted staff to some suspected oil on the Gorge.
Anyone who spots a spill or notices the risk of one occurring should call the province’s environmental emergency line at 1 (800) 663-3456. This is known as the initial report or Dangerous Goods Incident Report, the province explains.
(Sidney Hurst (right) and Steven Hurst (left). Photo credit: Sarah Nguyen.)
If you have driven or strolled around the Greater Victoria area, you’ve most likely noticed a few Little Free Libraries (LFLs) along your route.
With hundreds of LFLs in the Greater Victoria area, the highest documented density of LFLs in Canada, these take-a-book, leave-a-book miniature libraries are hard to miss!
Over the weekend, grade 12 Oak Bay High School student Sidney Hurst installed her very own LFL, marking the 600th in the region.
‘Bowker Creek Books’ was installed as part of Hurst’s final year, self-directed Capstone Project, a requirement at Oak Bay High school.
These projects can involve research, developing a new skill, or assembling a portfolio.
“For my capstone I wanted to do something to not only share my passion for reading, but also give back to the community,” said Hurst.
“I think little free libraries are such a cool concept not only because of how they provide books and benefit communities, but also how they promote sustainability, and those aspects combined inspired me to build a little free library as my final project.”
Hurst’s LFL can be found along the Bowker Creek Walkway, between the Tennis Bubble at the Oak Bay Recreation Centre and the running track.
“Embracing the concept of placemaking within the school community was a really great experience for me, and I tried to keep that top of mind when designing and installing the little free library,” said Hurst.
“The location along the restored section of Bowker creek was perfect for this, as it has become such a vibrant and accessible green space for the school and the broader community, and I hope my project will serve to further enhance that community space.”
Jesse and Violet Bennett (North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP)
An arrest warrant has been issued for a Vancouver Island dad wanted for abducting his young daughter, North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP say.
Jesse Bennett, the father of 7-year-old Violet Bennett, is now facing an abduction charge after failing to return Violet to her mother roughly two months ago, as ordered by Victoria Family Courts.
According to police, Jesse and Violet were first reported missing on January 24th and haven’t been seen or heard from since.
As the search continues, police say investigators have gathered “sufficient evidence” to recommend a criminal charge against Jesse, leading a Provincial Court to issue a warrant for his arrest on Tuesday.
“Investigators continue to liaise with Jesse’s family in hopes to further this investigation and ensure Violet’s well-being,” said North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP.
“Jesse could be anywhere in Canada at this point.”
In an interview, Roget recalled October 7th, 2021. That’s the day Jesse sent her a message, saying Violet wouldn’t be returned to her because she was wearing a face mask to school.
“The only option he gave me to get her back was to take her out of school to be homeschooled—something I refused to do,” Roget explained, “as Violet has resources set up at school that I believed she needed, something I was unable to provide for her.”
“So I took him to court.”
According to Roget, the January 20th court date was the last day she heard from Jesse—the same day the courts ordered him to return Violet into her custody.
But Jesse didn’t follow through.
“Please just bring her back,” Roget said, pleading to Jesse. “If Jesse could just give me a sign she’s alive and that she’s safe, it would put my mind at ease.”
Described as a Caucasian man, 36-year-old Jesse stands at 5’10” and weighs 160 pounds with blue eyes and brown hair (possibly shaved head or wearing a hat). He also has a beard.
Violet is described as a Caucasian girl, standing about 4′ tall and weighing 50-60 pounds. She has blue eyes and big natural curly hair.
Anyone with any information about Jesse or Violet’s whereabouts is urged to call their local police detachment or the North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP at (250) 748-5522.
A grassroots organization is requesting the BC government keep its mandatory mask mandate for K-12 schools in place, instead of repealing it.
On March 10th, BC health officials announced that face masks would no longer be required for staff and students at K-12 schools after spring break.
At the time, BC Health Minister Adrian Dix cited high vaccination levels against COVID-19 for the lifting of mandates.
But Safe Schools Coalition BC is opposed and calling for action.
“Nova Scotia has now extended their school mask mandate; BC can too,” the coalition wrote in an open letter to BC education stakeholders.
On Monday, the advocacy group, made up of teachers and parents striving for improved COVID-19 safety protocols, said scrapping the mandatory mask mandate for the remainder of the school year would “put children and families at risk.”
It’s also “breaking a basic tenet of public schools—that ALL children have the right to access an education,” the group wrote.
“Public schools are NOT a place where families and children can ‘manage their own risk’. It is not the same as choosing to dine indoors at a restaurant or go to a movie theatre with unmasked people. Children must attend school.”
Without masks in schools, the group says “an impossible situation for higher risk families” will likely emerge, especially for those immunocompromised or who live in multi-generational homes.
The letter also points to a March 10th study by the National Institutes of Health—claiming schools with mandatory masking during the Delta surge had around 72% fewer cases of in-school transmission when compared to schools with optional masking policies.
“With more transmissible variants circulating, universal masking will also help keep schools open by ensuring adequate staffing levels,” Safe Schools Coalition BC added.
“If rules can be set for peanut-free schools so that those with severe peanut allergies can avoid exposure, then the same needs to be done for students who themselves or whose families face higher risk from catching this virus.”
Latest data from the BC Centre for Disease Control shows 56% of children aged 5 to 11 have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, while 35% have received their second dose.
Safe School Coalition BC’s full letter can be found here.
The official grand opening of Sooke’s newest library has been put on hold this week, due to ongoing strikes by Vancouver Island Regional Library (VIRL) librarians.
The new branch, located on Wadams Way, was completed in February with a budget of $7.5 million dollars.
Although the library has been open to the public since late February, the official grand opening ceremony was set to take place this Saturday, March 26th to celebrate the new addition to Sooke.
On March 9th, members of the BC General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) working as librarians for the VIRL began picketing at VIRL’s Cowichan branch, seeking a deal that aligned their compensation with other libraries in the province.
The strike came after BCGEU filed a notice to Vancouver Island Regional Library (VIRL), when its members voted 95% in favour of a strike mandate.
The VIRL and BCGEU have been bargaining over the BCGEU Collective agreement since September 2021. In December 2021, the agreement expired.
The new Sooke library is a 13,500 square foot circular building with a final collection size of around 35,000, four electric vehicle charging stations, high-capacity underground bicycle parking and a roof designed to capture rainwater.
It also features increased staffing and longer hours, a children’s area, fireplace lounge, laptop bar, study space, bookable rooms and a 3D printer.
The branch has seen a surge in card registration since it opened its doors.
In total there have been:
Total card registrations: 597 (Approximately 25 a day!)
The BC Ministry of Health reported 259 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, March 22nd.
There have been 354,343 cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began.
New cases were reported in these health regions:
Vancouver Coastal Health: 63
Fraser Health: 47
Island Health: 50
Interior Health: 76
Northern Health: 23
Resident outside Canada: zero
There are now a total of 254 people in hospital with COVID-19, 48 of whom are in critical care — ICU or acute care units.
There were no reports of deaths from COVID-related causes, making the provincial death toll at 2,974.
Outbreaks
There have been no new healthcare facility outbreaks in the province.
The outbreaks at Ponderosa (Interior Health), Berwick House Gordon Head and Luther Court (Island Health) have been declared over.
There are a total of five ongoing healthcare outbreaks in the province, including three in Island Health at The Heights at Mt. View, Yucalta Lodge and Selkirk Seniors Village.
Vaccinations
As of Tuesday, March 22nd.
11,453,778 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in BC.
93.4% of eligible people 12 and older in BC have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, and 91.0% have received their second dose.
93.8% of all eligible adults in BC have received their first dose, and 91.4% have received their second dose.
Support for Ukraine keeps pouring in from across BC, as two major retailers combined see customers raise over half a million dollars for the war-stricken country.
By March 17th, shoppers at BC Liquor (BCL) and BC Cannabis stores (BCCS) had donated $538,074 at the tills to support the Canadian Red Cross’s Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal.
That’s less than three weeks after the appeal first launched on February 28th, according to the BC government.
BC’s Minister of Finance Selina Robinson calls the response “remarkable,” saying it’s clear the Ukraine crisis “has touched people across the province.”
“Seeing BC Liquor and BC Cannabis store employees’ support for this campaign and the customers’ compassion and generosity really shows how willing people in BC are to step up and support their local and international communities when it is needed most,” said Robinson.
The Red Cross provides support through emergency preparedness, immediate and ongoing relief efforts, long-term recovery, resiliency and other critical humanitarian activities as needs arise.
Officials say money raised through BCL and BCCS will aid both Ukraine and surrounding countries, including supporting populations displaced by the conflict.
“As an organization, I am very proud that our customers and employees continue to demonstrate such incredible commitment and generosity when it comes to supporting those most in need,” added LDB CEO Blain Lawson.
On February 25th, the federal government pledged to match every donation made by Canadians to the Canadian Red Cross between February 24th and March 18th, up to $10 million.
That’s the same day BC Solicitor General Mike Farnworth said the province would be contributing $1 million to the Red Cross to support the people of Ukraine.
“We join the Prime Minister and allied nations in deploring Russia’s invasion of Ukraine,” said Farnworth. “Our province stands with those who understand Europe’s peace following two world wars depends on respecting international law.”
Are you an enthusiastic performer? Do you love interacting with fans and encouraging spontaneous crowd-interaction?
If you answered yes to these questions, Pacific Football Club is looking for you!
Vancouver Island’s professional soccer club is looking for an enthusiastic performer to join their team, as Stewie the Starfish.
According to the organization’s social media, they are looking for an energetic team member who will be available for all home games and community outreach events throughout Vancouver Island.
Stewie the Starfish became PFC’s new mascot in 2019 when the team kicked off their inaugural year in Langford.
As the season kicks off on April 10th for the Pacific FC’s home opener, the successful candidate would start immediately and perform as the team mascot year-round.
According to the job posting, some experience is preferred but not required. The successful candidate will be outgoing and creative with a willingness and desire to have fun!
People with complex mental-health and substance-use challenges are often left homeless or risking eviction, according to BC’s Mental Health Minister.
But Sheila Malcolmson announced Tuesday that the province is looking to combat that, bringing excess complex-care housing spaces to Greater Victoria.
Through Budget 2022, the BC government says it’s investing $164 million over the next three years to open new complex-care housing for as many as 500 vulnerable people province-wide, including 100 spaces locally.
The province says this housing will be delivered in the Capital Region by Island Health, in partnership with BC Housing and non-profit service providers.
According to officials, the spaces will be spread among several housing locations across the region and are expected to be operational by 2023.
Complex-care housing offers enhanced support, including nurses, peer workers, social workers and other healthcare professionals, as well as connections to treatment and other specialized services.
First launched this past January, there are already four complex-care sites located in Vancouver, Abbotsford and Surrey, the province says.
Minister Malcolmson calls it a “groundbreaking approach” for people with overlapping mental-health and substance-use challenges, or traumatic and acquired brain injury.
“Often left homeless or risking eviction, people who access complex-care housing will get supports where they live from social workers, nurses, peer workers and other health professionals,” said Malcolmson.
Victoria mayor Lisa Helps says she’s pleased the province has taken the initiative to implement complex-care housing in BC’s communities.
“Complex-care housing will make a real difference in the lives of our communities’ most vulnerable people by offering enhanced supports and services so urgently needed to increase their health and well-being,” added Helps.
Meanwhile, construction is well underway on Victoria’s newest supportive housing site, which will shelter many of the area’s vulnerable population once operational.
BC Housing says the first modular units are now being installed at 1176 Yates Street. It’s a project that will eventually see around 40 homes for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
Festival-goers can expect some big names and great tunes at this year’s Laketown Shakedown music festival!
This year’s star-studded lineup features headlining musical acts such as Wu-Tang Clan, Sugar Ray, Lights and more.
The event is a three day, all-ages music festival set on the expansive Laketown Ranch in Lake Cowichan and kicks off Thursday, June 30th with Arkells, Lights and Felix Cartal.
The party continues with Wu-Tang Clan, Sugar Ray and Goldfish on Friday and The Glorious Sons, Big Boi, The Halluci Nation on Saturday.
Festival goers can camp on site and bring their own food and alcohol, with showers, beverage gardens, and ample water stations available.
The 2022 Laketown Shakedown starts June 30th and runs until July 2nd. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 25th. You can stay up to date here.
Here is the full lineup for Laketown Shakedown 2022:
Grab the popcorn! Victoria is back on the big screen in a new Netflix film.
Rescued by Ruby, released to the streaming platform last Thursday, March 17th, was filmed right here in BC’s capital including at a local animal shelter.
Based on a true story and starring Grant Gustin, Scott Wolf and Kaylah Zander, the film transformed the CRD Animal Shelter near Elk Lake into a movie set.
“An amazing experience for our staff, and we can’t say enough good things about the production crew, actors and everyone involved,” the shelter said.
Gustin stars as a state trooper named Dan, who has been unsuccessful in joining an elite K-9 unit until he befriends a shelter dog named Ruby.
IMDb saysRescued by Ruby was filmed between June 2nd and July 15th, 2021.
That’s a few months before the cast and crew of the new Syfy series Reginald the Vampirestarted filming locally.
The series starring Spider-Man: No Way Home’s Jacob Batalon began production last November, renovating an old auto service garage in Saanich into an elaborate fast food eatery movie set.
Need a family movie night? Check out Rescued by Ruby, an amazing true story filmed in the CRD and featuring our very own…
The bloom doesn’t last much past March, so if you want to see the delight before your own eyes, we have compiled a list of our top cherry blossom-viewing spots in and around Victoria here.
More adults in Greater Victoria and across the province can now pick up free COVID-19 rapid antigen test kits at local community pharmacies.
According to the BC government, starting March 21st, those aged 30 years and older are eligible to receive one kit containing five tests every 28 days at participating pharmacies.
In February, no-cost rapid antigen test kits were first distributed to British Columbians, starting with those 70 yearsand up.
On March 15th, it was announced the age requirements had changed, with residents40 years and upable to pick up the tests.
Now, residents aged 30 and over are eligible to pick up the rapid antigen tests from their local pharmacies.
It’s noted that a personal health number must be presented when picking up a rapid antigen test kit. If picking up a kit on someone’s behalf, a name, personal health number and date of birth must also be supplied.
Officials urge people only to pick up a test kit when symptom-free, instead saving it to use at a future time when symptoms may arise.
BC is expecting to receive more than 2.5 million tests from the federal government in the next few weeks.
Construction is well underway on Victoria’s newest supportive housing site, which will shelter many of the area’s vulnerable population once operational.
BC Housing says the first modular units are now being installed at 1176 Yates Street. It’s a project that will eventually see around 40 homes for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
Crews are currently busily involved in the “craning” process—where modular sections of the building are moved into place with a crane, BC Housing said on Monday.
This work started last Monday, March 14th, and was anticipated to last for a week. Drivers are warned of traffic delays along Yates Street in the Fernwood neighbourhood, as crews hold and direct traffic.
The BC government provided around $1.8 million through the Building BC: Supportive Housing Fund to purchase the property, in an effort to help build housing solutions for those in need, according to BC Housing.
It says the site, to be operated by PHS Community Services Society, will see each unit in the building include self-contained studio homes with a private bathroom and kitchen.
Residents will also have access to 24/7 on-site staff and support services, including programs, life and employment skills training, and health and wellness support services.
When the Yates Street project was first announced, Victoria-Beacon Hill MLA Carole James said it was “the next step” in ongoing work to ensure vulnerable people in Victoria have a place to call home.
“We know supportive housing makes a real difference for the residents and for communities, and we will continue to work with our partners to move people into the homes they deserve,” said James.
Working with the City of Victoria, BC Housing adds that this new project is one of six that will deliver hundreds of permanent supportive homes for people across the Capital Region.
As ‘Freedom Convoy’ protesters descend onto BC’s Capital, Victoria police continue to block off the James Bay and BC Legislature areas on Monday to ‘protest-related’ vehicles.
While crossing “controlled access points” by foot, bicycle or public transit is allowed, that’s not enough for one protester. So much so, it prompted them to attempt to rent a local address.
“I am looking to change my address to one in James Bay to become qualified to enter the red zone,” read a since removed ad on Craigslist.
“I need one or two 31 foot parking spaces to store my ‘freedom motorhome’ and ‘freedom department services vehicle’. I am looking from Friday, March 25th to April 8th, but my stay might last for over two years based off of our two weeks to flatten the curve.”
On Saturday, VicPD announced that officers would be blocking off the area to vehicles involved in the convoy, with local traffic, including people accessing businesses or services, still allowed through.
While access points were an unexpected move, the increased police response keeps people safe and facilitates a peaceful and lawful protest environment, according to VicPD.
“Eight weeks of continuous disruptions involving vehicles, ‘slow-roll’ blockades and the use of horns, including modified air train and ship horns, has had a significant and unlawful impact on residents and businesses in James Bay and the BC Legislature area,” read a Saturday police statement.
“Related protest events in other cities have seen a recent escalation in events, including confrontations between protest groups and confrontations with police.”
Local vehicle access only points remain in place in the James Bay & @BCLegislature area. #yyjtraffic continues to flow, with 1-5min delays in the area. Thank you for your continued patience, #yyj! pic.twitter.com/Kxg5AMb3oL
Though these access points have appeared effective, turning away around 150 protest-related vehicles over the weekend—at least one managed to nearly cruise through.
A Saturday tweet by one Victoria resident shows a photo of what appears to be one of the ‘Freedom Convoy’ protesters, with their Canadian-flag-bearing truck stuck in a muddy grass area of Beacon Hill Park.
“It was towed and impounded, the license plates seized, and the fines for the ‘level one’ Notice and Order is $600—plus the impound and the tow costs,” VicPD spokesperson Bowen Osoko told Victoria Buzz.
Osoko says the driver, who originally claimed to have lived in James Bay, was turned away earlier in the day after attempting to cross the Dallas Road at Cook Street access point.
The driver was given “level one” notice from police the week prior, ordering their vehicle be removed from the road immediately until it was fixed in compliance with the Motor Vehicle Act, according to Osoko.
Earlier this month, VicPD Chief Del Manak said that officers had been conducting enforcement and writing tickets for excessive noise and other infractions.
“As soon as they are infringing upon the rights of others and are in violation of the Motor Vehicle Act, then we will look at every single case,” said Manak.
He was also hopeful the convoy’s momentum would dissipate “given the latest revision and changes to the provincial health orders that have been relaxed.”
On March 11th, BC health officials repealed many remaining mandates, including the face mask requirement. By April 8th, the BC Vaccine Card requirement is also set to come to an end.
Video shows ‘Freedom Convoy’ protester being towed out of Beacon Hill Park Saturday after their vehicle got stuck in a muddy grass area of the park. The protester was attempting to get around police check points in James Bay. More: https://t.co/vOsggOdqbe#yyj#victoriabuzzpic.twitter.com/5syLR0mN2U
British Columbians love camping and they know how quickly those spots can book up.
On Monday morning, BC Parks launched their brand new online reservation service and within two hours the site had nearly 16,000 new bookings over the next two months.
The online booking system was upgraded to make the process of booking a camping spot easier for British Columbians and to keep up with growing demand.
The website launched last week, giving users a chance to create their accounts and save booking preferences to ensure a smooth booking experience when reservations opened at 7 a.m. on Monday, March 21st.
Feedback on the new booking system was overall positive, with users excited to get confirmation of future camping trips.
According to BC Parks, they recommend those who were not able to get a reservation to explore a new park, travel a bit further and consider mid-week or non-holiday weekend travel.
You can view a detailed list of campground operating dates and reservable dates on the BC Parks website.
The BC Ministry of Health reported 506 new cases of COVID-19 for a three-day period on Monday, March 21st.
There have been 354,084 cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began.
Day-to-Day Breakdown:
Friday-Saturday: 200
Saturday-Sunday: 170
Sunday-Monday: 136
New cases were reported in these health regions:
Vancouver Coastal Health: 74
Fraser Health: 114
Island Health: 98
Interior Health: 168
Northern Health: 52
Resident outside Canada: 0
There are now a total of 271 people in hospital with COVID-19, 49 of whom are in critical care — ICU or acute care units.
8 new people have died from COVID-related causes, making the provincial death toll 2,974.
Outbreaks
There has been one new health-care facility outbreaks in the province: Selkirk Seniors Village (Island Health).
There are a total of 8 ongoing health care outbreaks in the province.
There are currently 5 health care outbreaks in the Island Health region.
Vaccinations
As of Monday, March 21st:
BC has administered 11,449,892 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Pfizer Pediatric COVID-19 vaccines.
90.8% (4,525,281) of eligible people five and older in B.C. have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine and 87.0% (4,338,756) have received their second dose.
93.4% (4,329,544) of eligible people 12 and older in B.C. have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, 91.0% (4,216,654) received their second dose and 57.0% (2,644,222) have received a third dose.
93.7% (4,054,680) of all eligible adults in B.C. have received their first dose, 91.4% (3,952,512) received their second dose and 58.9% (2,545,653) have received a third dose
