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Island Health has issued a drug poisoning and overdose advisory for Greater Victoria after seeing a spike in drug overdose cases as of late.
The news prompted the organization to take to Twitter and remind the public of safer drug use, and recommended overdose prevention practices.
According to Island Health, overdoses are increasing in the city and friends, family and community members using opioids and stimulants currently face increased risk from both injection and inhalation.
The BC Ministry of Health issued a statement Thursday saying hospitals and other provincial healthcare facilities across British Columbia will see the reinstatement of pay parking starting on March 4th.
Parking fees have been waived at hospitals and other treatment centres since April 1st, 2020, as an early pandemic-time response measure.
But the ministry said the decision to reinstate pay parking is a measure to ensure parking stalls are available for patients, staff, volunteers, and visitors after people started abusing the system.
“Maintaining across-the-board free hospital parking is making it hard for patients, staff, volunteers and visitors to find a spot, as non-hospital users are taking advantage of the situation to park for free while conducting business that’s not hospital related,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health.
“These hospital parking spots must be available for those who need them most.”
According to the province, waiving the pay parking fees has cost the government $78 million in lost revenue for the provincial healthcare system.
The free parking program will continue for patients receiving dialysis treatment or undergoing cancer treatment in acute-care programs, and for parents or caregivers of children staying in the hospital overnight, the ministry said.
Volunteers will still be able to park for free, and financial hardship provisions will continue to be managed on a case-by-case basis by health authorities.
While pay parking is returning, the rate freeze that first began over four years ago will continue, according to the province.
The BC Ministry of Health reported 2,150 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, January 20th, with 354 of those cases being reported in the Island Health region.
The new cases were reported in these health regions:
Vancouver Coastal Health: 454
Fraser Health: 576
Island Health: 354
Interior Health: 563
Northern Health: 203
Resident outside Canada: 0
There are currently 34,835 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, 2,104 of those are in the Island Health region.
305,715 cases of COVID-19 recorded in BC since the pandemic began.
There are now a total of 891 people in hospital due with COVID-19, 119 of whom are in critical care — ICU or acute care units.
In the past 24 hours, there were 15 new deaths from COVID-related causes, bringing the provincial death toll to 2,520 since the pandemic began.
4 of today’s reported deaths were in the Island Health region.
There are
Outbreaks
There have been 8 new outbreaks declared, including 3 on Vancouver Island, bringing the total of ongoing health care outbreaks in the province to 58.
The new outbreaks in the Island Health region are at the Parkwood Court long-term care home and the Summit long-term care home in Victoria, and the third is at the Fir Park Village long-term care home in Port Alberni.
There are currently 21 health care outbreaks in the Island Health region.
Vaccinations
As of Thursday, January 20th:
10,276,540 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in BC
89.4% (4,455,046) of eligible people five and older in BC have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine and 83.5% (4,161,148) have received their second dose.
92.5% (4,286,419) of eligible people 12 and older in BC have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, 89.8% (4,160,597) have received their second dose and 36.7% (1,700,206) have received a third dose.
92.8% (4,015,411) of all eligible adults in BC have received their first dose, 90.2% (3,902,659) have received their second dose and 39.3% (1,698,882) have received a third dose.
From January 12th to 18th, people not fully vaccinated accounted for 27.0% of cases.
From January 5th to 18th, they accounted for 31.0% of hospitalizations.
During today’s council meeting, the City of Victoria confirmed that this year’s Canada Day will be different but will include fireworks.
This year’s festivities will see several changes and will reflect the Lekwungen territory the events are taking place on, Mayor Lisa Helps said in a verbal update to council.
As of now, Canada Day plans for July 1st, will include a multicultural street festival downtown beginning at noon, a musical main stage entertainment at 4 p.m. at Ship Point and then fireworks in the evening.
Last year, festivities across the country, including Victoria, were nixed after the discovery of unmarked burial sites at a former Indian residential school in Kamloops.
The City of Victoria cancelled a scheduled one-hour television special for Canada Day in 2021 after the Lekwungen Traditional Dancers declined to participate, as they usually do, while they grieved the Kamloops discovery.
In recognition of the Lekwungen territory this year, the city are planning to blend Lekwungen music while the fireworks are taking place, rather than the usual national anthem.
While a formal invitation has yet to be sent, Helps said she would like to see Lekwungen dancers take part in the Canada Day fireworks as they’re going off.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and time it takes to organize, the living flag event that takes place on the legislature lawns has been cancelled. Other options are being looked at for ways the community can participate.
The City of Victoria chose to move the main stage celebrations from the grounds of legislature lawns to Ship Point because of anticipated protests.
This year will be the first time in-person Canada Day celebrations take place in Victoria since the pandemic began.
VicPD is continuing to ask for the public’s help as they work to locate a high-risk missing man who was last seen this past Monday.
Ian Indridson is described as a 54-year-old Caucasian man standing 5’11”, with a slim build.
He has short salt and pepper hair, and is believed to be wearing black sweatpants and rubber boots—he also may be wearing a dark Eddie Bauer sweatshirt as pictured in the updated photo VicPD provided, which is below.
Indridson was last seen on the morning of Monday, January 10th, and police believe he may have gone to an area near the ocean.
Authorities have reported that it’s out of character for him to have gone missing, and because of this, he is considered to be a high-risk missing person—meaning they believe his health or wellbeing may be in immediate danger.
Additionally, ‘missing’ posters circulating the city are asking for help in locating Indridson, stating that he has bad stress and sleep deprivation issues; they also go on to say that he is currently on medication for insomnia that may have compromised his mental capacity.
Family and friends have been circulating posters of high-risk missing man Ian Indridson, who was last seen the morning of Monday, January 10th.
VicPD continue to work to locate him and are seeking the public’s help.
Police are asking anyone who sees Indridson to call 911.
Anyone with information on his possible whereabouts are asked to call the VicPD at (250) 995-7654. To report what you know anonymously, call Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
It’s always a good day when we hear there’s a new hot spot for baked goods in the city.
Even better when we hear they’re good for you, too!
Frickin’ Delights Donuts, originally from Alberta, confirmed on social media that they’re officially on the way to YYJ—and they’ve secured a sweet little spot on Yates Street.
The confectionary company, founded in 2013 by a husband and wife duo, began selling from a converted laundry room in Devon, Alberta. In 2017, they opened a brick and mortar location which saw people driving from all over just to get their hands on the delicious baked goods.
Frickin’ Delights donuts not only look delicious, they’re also 100% vegan, made fresh daily, and come in a large variety of different flavours.
They use ingredients like local wholegrain flour, applesauce, soft brown sugar, sea salt and coconut milk, and their donuts are dairy free and egg free—meaning they’re safe for those with those allergies.
Though the donut shop confirmed on Facebook they’ve taken possession of their new spot at 632 Yates Street, they have yet to announce an official opening date, just that it’s slated for February; so make sure to keep an eye on their social media!
“We would like to thank the people of Lekwungen Territory/Victoria for taking in a couple of married donut makers,” reads the Facebook post.
“It has been our dream to call this city home. We are proud to bring to you what we love doing and look forward to learning, creating and growing in this community. We have been welcomed with kindness, enthusiasm and tremendous support, which we are beyond grateful for.”
With flavours like Chocolate Earl Grey, Coffee Crisp and Apple Cider, we can’t wait to check them out for ourselves—which flavour are you most excited to try?!
We’ve decided that 2022 is all about self-care—and one local business wants to give you the gift of just that—and then some!
To celebrate the launch of their newest downtown location, we’ve partnered with Kharma Salons to give away one massive prize package from them and some of their new neighbours so you can treat yourself all the way from your head to your toes (quite literally).
The incredible giveaway is valued at over $800 and it’s all about pampering—you can check out the contest details below!
Kharma features three salons in Greater Victoria, with a fourth opening soon, each with a wide range of services and products to suit any style – their beauty experts get that everyone is unique and aim to get to know every person that sits in their chair.
Seven local businesses have come together to offer the absolute ultimate in pampering for one lucky winner, so if you’re ready to strut into 2022 the best version of yourself, this giveaway is for you!
2. FOLLOW all businesses above on Instagram (yes, we will be checking!)️
3. Tag as many friends as you’d like in separate comments on this post. Each one counts as an entry!
4. EXTRA bonus entry if you SHARE this post in your Instagram stories (Don’t forget to tag @kharmasalons-each time is an entry!)
Contest is open until midnight on January 30th; must be 19 years of age and a Greater Victoria resident to enter. At no point will credit card info be asked of you-please do not give out your information. Winner will be announced on Kharma Salons Instagram account only. Prizes can be redeemed for up to a year.
It’s just about time to drop those drawers for a good cause.
We’re talking about WildPlay’s annual Naked Bungy Jump event, of course, which returns this March for its 16th year.
On March 5th and 6th, nearly 200 people will strip down to nothing and bungy jump from the 150-foot bridge at WildPlay Nanaimo—and it’s in support of Vancouver Island’s Mental Health Recovery Partners.
Since the popular event was born, over 2,200 adults have taken part in the Naked Bungy Jump, raising over $300,000 to enable mental health support for over 33,000 people and be a voice against stigma.
Last year alone, this event raised over $40,000 in registration fees, donations, and pledges. The awareness and funds generated help lessen the stigma of mental illness and support over 4,000 people directly impacted by schizophrenia through MHRP’s programs.
This March, they hope to repeat their success—and they’re taking registrations now!
“We are excited to be hosting the Naked Bungy Event for the 16th year and working with MHRP to break down the stigma around mental illness” says Tom Benson, CEO of WildPlay.
“WildPlay’s goal is to promote self-confidence by providing opportunities to step outside of your comfort zone and dissolve self-perceived barriers, which is why we find this to be such a suitable occasion. This is a great event that allows us to have fun while bringing awareness to an important cause and create positive change”.
It all goes down at WildPlay Element Parks in Nanaimo, where the 150-foot Bungy Jump bridge opens early to welcome the especially-brave group of participants.
Space is limited to people aged 18 years and over, and participants can jump naked at a pre-registered rate of $55, OR jump for free, as long as they raise over $200!
Greater Victoria’s major recycling facility has halted large-scale recycling this week due to an equipment breakdown.
In a media statement Wednesday, the Capital Regional District (CRD) said it will not be picking up recycling loads from commercial and residential sources, such as multi-family housing facilities.
Cascades Recovery on Bridge Street—the region’s primary sorting facility for recyclable materials— is unable to receive loads from all residential and commercial sources until further notice due to an equipment breakdown.
According to the CRD, curbside residential paper and package recycling will continue at this time. However, the regional district warns that delays due to staffing shortages and equipment challenges continue for residential pickups.
The CRD is encouraging commercial collectors in the region to consider short-term storage or delayed collection options with their customers where possible over the coming week.
Hartland Landfill will not be rejecting loads containing recyclable materials during this time, however, loads that do contain recyclable materials will be subject to fines under CRD Bylaw No. 3881.
“This temporary suspension is the latest in a series of disruptions and challenges that BC’s recycling industry has faced since November 2021 due to severe weather and the ongoing transportation, labour shortage and supply chain issues that have impacted many other sectors in the province,” the CRD said in its statement.
Residents and businesses are being asked to try and reduce the amount of packaging they use and to reuse what they can to cut back on the amount of materials going into the system.
The Victoria Royals are showing everyone it’s okay not to be okay, and will keep trucking along as they look to get back in the win column this weekend.
They’ll host their division rival Friday, the Vancouver Giants, who sit one leg up on them in the conference standings in 7th place, and get a litmus test against the Everett Silvertips Saturday, the top the team in the west.
The Royals were making a serious charge throughout December, racking up 9 wins from 12 games that month. Unfortunately, a pause in the season due to covid from January 8th-12th hacked away their momentum.
Victoria will be happy to start off a four game home-stand after a challenging road swing to Kelowna and Prince George that saw them drop all four contests.
Puck drop for both games will be at 7:05 p.m. at Save-On-Foods Memorial Arena.
Gannon Laroque is stuffin’ the scoresheet and crushin’ opponents
Gannon Laroque has continued his impressive season from the blueline thus far, and is showing everyone why the San Jose Sharks made him their 4th round selection, 103rd overall in last year’s 2021 NHL draft.
After posting a modest 7 points in last year’s shortened 21 game season, Laroque has become one of the best offensive defensemen in the WHL with 31 points through 34 games. That puts the 6’2 defender in a three way tie for 3rd in the league among defensemen, an impressive ascension for a player who’s name was skipped over on WHL draft day.
The Royals also boast the 10th best power play in the league, clicking along at 22%. Laroque is a massive part of that. He facilitates the play from the blue line effectively and is currently tied for 2nd in the league in powerplay assists, with 16.
But for all of his attacking virtues, Laroque doesn’t just impact the scoresheet. He uses all 202 pounds of his frame with regularity and is a complete nuisance to play against, as his 46 penalty minutes would suggest, putting him 12th in the league.
The Edmonton native has been in fine form of late, tallying 13 points over his last 10 games. He’ll look to keep the ball rollin’ this weekend in Victoria.
Support mental health Friday with Bell Let’s Talk and wear your best summer outfit for Saturday’s Halfway to Summer Jam
For Friday’s game, the Victoria Royals, along with Bell Let’s Talk, are doing their part in helping end the stigma of mental health. Everyone faces the challenges of being human and, if you are having a hard time, know that there are support lines and people who are willing to help. It’s always valuable to be able to get your thoughts out in a non-judgmental environment.
On Saturday, the Royals are feelin’ optimistic about the summer, with their Halfway to Summer Jam event. Forget about the winter rain by dressin’ up with your pals in your favourite summer outfit (you’ll probably still want to wear a jacket to the game..) and collect special wristbands around the arena.
Fans can also take advantage of Molson Coors Original cans for $6.
Supporting the Royals for Halfway to Summer Jam are Rise Together and 1000×5.
Rise Together connects with local organizations doing vital work for the community and offers their support to help reach organizational goals. 1000×5 is a children’s literacy recycling project dedicated to early literacy development. By donating a used book or by making a charitable donation, attendees can collect the “Marty VIP” wristband to add to their collection.
The BC Ministry of Health reported 2,387 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, January 19th, with 275 of those cases being reported in the Island Health region.
The new cases were reported in these health regions:
Vancouver Coastal Health: 487
Fraser Health: 814
Island Health: 275
Interior Health: 550
Northern Health: 260
Resident outside Canada: 0
There are currently 35,770 active cases of COVID-19 in the province. 303,565 cases of COVID-19 recorded in BC since the pandemic began.
There are now a total of 895 people in hospital due with COVID-19, 115 of whom are in critical care — ICU or acute care units.
In the past 24 hours, there were 13 new deaths from COVID-related causes, bringing the provincial death toll to 2,505 since the pandemic began. Two of today’s reported deaths were in the Island Health region.
Outbreaks
There have been 5 new outbreaks declared bringing the total of ongoing health care outbreaks in the province to 56.
There are currently 18 health care outbreaks in the Island Health region.
Island Health has declared two outbreaks over at:
Selkirk Seniors Village long-term care home in Victoria – In total, one resident case was attributed to this outbreak. The outbreak remained limited to the third floor of the home.
Selkirk Seniors Village assisted living in Victoria – In total, one resident case was attributed to this outbreak. The outbreak remained limited to the sixth floor of the home.
Despite two outbreaks being deemed over, three more long-term care homes were added to the active outbreak list, they’re at:
Veterans Memorial Lodge long-term care home in Victoria – Four resident cases have been identified related to this outbreak. The outbreak declaration is limited to units B3 and A2 at this time.
Sunset Lodge long-term care home in Victoria – Eleven resident cases have been identified related to this outbreak. The outbreak declaration is limited to the third floor of the home at this time.
Sidney Care Home long-term care home in Sidney – One resident case has been identified related to this outbreak.
10,217,498 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in BC
89.3% (4,451,945) of eligible people five and older in BC have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine and 83.4% (4,159,043) have received their second dose.
92.4% (4,284,575) of eligible people 12 and older in BC have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, 89.7% (4,158,515) have received their second dose and 35.5% (1,646,143) have received a third dose.
92.8% (4,013,713) of all eligible adults in BC have received their first dose, 90.2% (3,900,710) have received their second dose and 38% (1,644,855) have received a third dose.
From January 11th to 17th, people not fully vaccinated accounted for 25.9% of cases and from January 4th to 17th, they accounted for 31.8% of hospitalizations.
Moody weather got you feeling in the mood to binge watch a good series? Honestly, us too.
Luckily, Netflix Canada has given us a full list of new and returning shows, movies and documentaries to snuggle up with this cozy season.
A few fan favourites have hit the list, including new seasons of the iconic Ozark and popular Wentworth, so grab your favourite person and suitable snacks and hit the couch this January.
To be fair, this is actually the perfect time of year to Netflix and chill, right?
Here’s what’s coming to Netflix Canada this January:
January 19th
El marginal: Season 4
Heavenly Bites: Mexico
Juanpis González – The Series
Midnight in the Switchgrass
The Puppet Master: Hunting the Ultimate Conman
Too Hot to Handle: Season 3
January 20th
Midnight Asia: Eat · Dance · Dream
The Royal Treatment
January 21st
Munich – The Edge of War
My Father’s Violin
Ozark: Season 4 Part 1
Summer Heat
That Girl Lay Lay
January 24th
Three Songs for Benazir
January 25th
Ada Twist, Scientist: Season 2
Neymar: The Perfect Chaos
Snowpiercer: Season 3
January 27th
Blumhouse’s Fantasy Island
Framed! A Sicilian Murder Mystery
Wentworth: Season 8
January 28th
Angry Birds: Summer Madness
Every Breath You Take
Feria: The Darkest Light
Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness
Home Team
In From the Cold
The Woman in the House Across the Street From the Girl in the Window
January 31st
Horrible Bosses 2
There are also a few titles that have left or are leaving Netflix Canada this month, including:
Save-On Foods grocery stores across BC are moving to 50% capacity limit to help curb the spread of COVID-19.
The grocery chain confirmed the move in a statement Wednesday, and said the limit will remain in place “until further notice.”
“This is all part of our efforts to reinforce that physical distancing is required whenever possible for the safety of both team members and customers,” the grocery chain said in its statement.
In addition to the capacity restrictions, other COVID-19 safety measures that have been implemented since the pandemic began, include:
Increased frequency of disinfecting and sanitizing of all areas of the store
Providing sanitization stations and hand sanitizer for customers and employees
Implemented a symptom checker for all employees, suppliers or business partners prior to entering the building
Added signage at the front of every store asking customers not to enter if they have any symptoms of COVID-19
Installed protective plexiglass barriers throughout the store
“We have posted the occupancy count with signage at the front of each store and the teams are working to increase signage in areas that typically see congestion, such as at the front end or in service departments like our deli or bakery,” the statement read.
New signage will be installed at all stores reminding customers to not enter if they’re experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19. The signage will also include an ongoing customer tally at the front of the store.
As of this publication, there are 37,224 active COVID-19 cases in BC. BC Health officials announced 2,032 new cases yesterday with 237 of those cases coming from the Island Health region.
Drink up, Victoria, because your fridge could be full of a lot more moo-la than usual.
Starting February 1st, British Columbians will be able to return their ready-to-drink milk and plant-based beverage containers for a 10 cent deposit refund at local Return-It centres.
Containers must be clean and empty, and can include those such as dairy milk, and plant-based beverages such as soy, almond, coconut and oat.
The new refund program is due to a change in the provincial government’s Recycling Regulation Plan which now allows the above containers to be returned for cash.
Return-It notes that the following beverage containers will not be eligible for refund:
Infant formula
Meal replacements or dietary supplements
“Concentrates” e.g. frozen or unfrozen juice concentrates, etc. that require one or more additives to transform it into a ready-to-serve drink
Liquids that are primarily used for other purposes or are not meant primarily as a ready-to-serve drink (e.g. coffee cream and other coffee additives, whipping cream, buttermilk, broth, etc.)
Liquids that are not typically considered to be milk or milk substitutes, but rather are modified, milk-derived or similar products, such as drinkable yogurt, kefir, etc. (typically consumed as a yogurt substitute).
Greater Victoria currently is home to 8 Return-It locations, and you can check out the full list here.
RCMP have issued a warrant for a 32-year-old man after he failed to appear in Nanaimo Provincial Court following a home invasion.
Dayton Anderson is facing two charges from an incident dating back to October 8th, in which Anderson allegedly entered the home of a 52-year-old man and then assaulted him.
The victim told police he first saw the suspect walking through his home and when he went confronted him, the victim was punched in the face.
“The victim was standing on his sun deck when he was assaulted, and the force of the punch caused him to lose his balance and tumble off of his deck,” said Cst. Gary O’Brien.
“While left shaken by the ordeal and sporting a split lip, he did not require medical treatment,” added O’Brien.
Before the suspect fled, the victim managed to take several pictures of the individual.
Investigators circulated the photos to the local Block Watch program and within minutes, the unknown person was positively identified, O’Brien said.
Anderson was located the following day and arrested by police.
Police described him as a Caucasian man, standing 5′ 10″ tall and weighs about 175 pounds. He has brown hair and blue eyes.
O’Brien warned that Anderson should be considered violent and if seen, do not approach him and call 911, or the Nanaimo RCMP non-emergency line at 250-754-2345.
Nanaimo RCMP are seeking the public’s help in locating a missing man who they say has a significant hearing and speech impediment.
74-year-old Perry Blois was last heard from on Monday, January 17th, at around 2:30 p.m. when multiple 911 calls were made from his cell phone.
Police were able to trace the calls to the area of downtown Nanaimo but were unable to locate him.
According to authorities, Blois was recently living in Victoria, but did reside in Nanaimo as of two years ago—he has no known friends or family in the immediate area.
Blois is described as a Caucasian man, standing 6’1″, and weighing 180 pounds, with grey hair and hazel eyes.
Police say that the picture above is believed to be Blois, but it has not been confirmed.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Blois is urged to contact Nanaimo RCMP at 250-754-2345.
Five old-growth logging protestors were arrested Wednesday morning after blocking a Douglas Street intersection Wednesday morning.
This is the second week in a row police have arrested demonstrators who are part of a new environmental group called Save Old Growth.
The group who are aiming to halt old-growth logging first blocked the intersection of Douglas Street and Burnside Road East on January 10th for several hours—it was part of a larger protest where individuals targeted sections of the Trans-Canada Highway in Nanaimo, Victoria, Vancouver and communities near Revelstoke where the highway passes through.
VicPD allowed the protest to go for several hours before arresting seven demonstrators, six of whom were adults and one who was 17.
In a media release over the weekend, protestors said they would continue those actions throughout this week and increase actions as the month progresses.
In today’s blockade, police officers from Saanich and Victoria responded to the intersection of Douglas Street and Tolmie Avenue shortly after 7 a.m., when the group began gathering with the intention of blocking traffic.
VicPD said the group were informed that blocking traffic is a criminal offence and that doing so would make them subject to arrest.
Despite the warning, five of the protestor went ahead with blocking rush hour traffic and were taken into custody without incident.
Other members of the group who did not block traffic, but stood at the roadside, remained on scene.
UPDATE: Traffic is no longer disrupted and both lanes of Douglas St are open. Protesters remain in the area but are not blocking traffic. #yyjtraffichttps://t.co/OvHCO7NmnJ
Organizers warned of increased protests for sections of the Trans-Canada Highway for the rest of January, or until the government stops logging old-growth forests.
Double the relief could be on the way for eligible businesses in BC who have recently had to close due to COVID-19 restrictions.
The provincial government announced on Wednesday that not only are they extending the COVID-19 Closure Relief Grant, they’re those doubling supports for eligible businesses that have been ordered closed.
And the news comes in good time, as Dr. Bonnie Henry announced just yesterday that the COVID-19 restrictions surrounding events, bars and nightclubs would be extended until at least February 16th.
BC businesses that were ordered to remain closed due to the above orders will now be eligible for up to $20,000 in total funding—this will be based on staffing levels at the time of closure.
Eligible businesses include:
bars, nightclubs and lounges that do not serve full meals; and
event venues that had to close due to cancellations
Fitness facilities that were ordered closed on December 22nd are allowed to reopen as of January 20th, but will be eligible to receive the original four-week temporary-closure grant of up to $10,000.
Businesses that have applied for the COVID-19 Closure Relief Grant do not need to reapply, and applications are available online.
The $4 million extension of the original $10 million grant program is in addition to current government programs, including the Local Lockdown Program and the Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit.
Following a year long investigation, BC’s anti-gang enforcement unit revealed the initial results into the alleged drug trafficking activities of a crime group operating on Vancouver Island.
In a media release, the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of British Columbia (CFSEU-BC) said the investigation, which began back in January 2021, has resulted in several arrests and seizures of guns, drugs and cash.
“This complex investigation has resulted in the arrest of several people, the execution of numerous search warrants, and the seizure of illegal drugs and firearms,” said CFSEU-BC in the media release.
Also seized was a large Hells Angels British Columbia crest.
CFSEU-BC said they began a complex investigation into an alleged organized drug trafficking network with ties to members of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club.
The year long examination resulted in four search warrants being executed in the Comox Valley and in Campbell River—with six people being arrested on January 13th.
These searches resulted in CFSEU-BC seizing:
Approximately 3.5 kg of suspected cocaine
Approximately $160,000 in Canadian cash
Several firearms including a handgun, semi-automatic gun, sawed-off shotguns, long
guns and ammunition
1 vehicle as offence related property
Hells Angels paraphernalia
“The illegal firearms and illicit drugs have been removed from these communities and will no longer pose a threat to public safety. The drugs will be sent to the lab to be analyzed, and the firearms will be sent to the provincial forensic firearms lab,” CFSEU said in their media release.
Of the six people arrested linked to this alleged organized drug trafficking network, two resided in the Greater Victoria area; a 32-year-old man from Sooke and a 29-year-old Victoria woman.
The other four included a 43-year-old Campbell River man, a 57-year-old Comox man, a 39-year-old Cumberland man, and a 46-year-old woman from Comox.
All six were arrested and released, pending the approval of charges.
“We know small communities and areas outside the Lower Mainland are not immune to the negative effects of gangs and organized crime. These groups prey upon the most vulnerable through the sale of often deadly drugs and using fear and intimidation in order to advance their illicit enterprises,” said Superintendent Duncan Pound, Deputy Operations Officer for the CFSEU-BC.
“Working with our partners on Vancouver Island in a collaborative and coordinated effort is critical to ensuring that those who seek to put us and our communities at risk are held accountable.”
Items seized in an investigation into an alleged organized drug trafficking network with ties to members of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club:
A recent social media challenge swept across the internet on Monday, and a wave of positivity and donations to a great cause came along with it.
The #BettyWhiteChallenge kicked off on January 17th in honour of the late actress’ 100th birthday—a movement of people donating to an animal shelter or organization in her name.
The BC SPCA and its dozens of locations across the province joined in on the fun, posting to their social media that they would indeed be accepting donations in honour of the prolific animal lover’s special day.
In total, $405,439 was donated to the BC SPCA from around the province.
Wild ARC BC, who works to rehabilitate wild animals, also received an abundance of love, taking to Facebook to announce that they collected over $6,000 on Monday, and adding that every donation in Betty’s honour would go a long way.
“We wish we could describe to you just how awe struck everyone at the BC SPCA is by this INCREDIBLE outpouring of love for animals,” reads the Facebook post.
Wild ARC went on to add that they went as far as to get in touch with Betty White’s team to let them know “the huge impact” the donations had, and posted that they replied saying, “She would be very happy and so proud that she could be of help.”
Wild ARC – the Wild Animal Rehabilitation Centre is operated by the BC SPCA and is the only wildlife rehabilitation centre on southern Vancouver Island, treating 3,000 wild animals annually.
The centre is open 365 days a year to help sick, injured, and orphaned wild animals, and depend on the support and donations of compassionate animal-lovers.
“It is moments like these that bring a lot of tears and relief around to our staff, knowing that we don’t have to struggle with any hard decisions in the near future,” said Wild ARC in response to the many donations received on Monday.
“Thank you and thank you, Betty, wherever you are.”
Wild ARC accepts donations year round, and you can donate here.
The BC Ministry of Health reported 2,032 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, January 18th.
There have been 301,178 cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began.
New cases were reported in these health regions:
Vancouver Coastal Health: 503
Fraser Health: 731
Island Health: 175
Interior Health: 478
Northern Health: 88
Resident outside Canada: 0
There are currently 37,224 active cases of COVID-19 in the province.
258,417 people who tested positive have recovered.
There are now a total of 854 people in hospital due with COVID-19, 112 of whom are in critical care — ICU or acute care units.
2 new people have died from COVID-related causes, making the provincial death toll 2,492.
Island Health
Island Health has confirmed that they have discontinued updating their dashboard, which contained breakdowns of active cases by region on Vancouver Island.
Outbreaks
There have been 9 new health-care facility outbreaks in the province: CareLife Fleetwood, Menno Hospital, Buchanan Lodge, St. Michael’s Centre, Eden Care Centre (Fraser Health); Village at Smith Creek (Interior Health); Veterans Memorial Lodge, Sunset Lodge and Sidney Care Home (Island Health).
The outbreaks at Eagle Ridge Hospital, The Oxford Senior Care Home, Chartwell Crescent Gardens, AgeCare Harmony Court (Fraser Health), Selkirk Seniors Village and Selkirk Village Assisted Living (Island Health) have been declared over.
There are a total of 53 ongoing health care outbreaks in the province.
There are currently 17 health care outbreaks in the Island Health region.
Vaccinations
As of Tuesday, January 18th:
10,158,329 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in BC
89.3% (4,448,921) of eligible people five and older in B.C. have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine and 83.4% (4,157,150) have received their second dose.
92.4% (4,282,675) of eligible people 12 and older in B.C. have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, 89.7% (4,156,635) have received their second dose and 34.3% (1,591,505) have received a third dose.
92.8% (4,011,947) of all eligible adults in B.C. have received their first dose, 90.1% (3,898,949) have received their second dose and 36.8% (1,590,246) have received a third dose.
Teachers at schools across the province will now be required to disclose their COVID-19 vaccination status, as a result of a new public health order issued on Monday.
As of Monday, January 17th, all staff of BC’s public, independent and francophone schools must share information such as how many doses of vaccine an employee has received, and when they were vaccinated.
The new order, put into place by Dr. Bonnie Henry, outlined how COVID-19 transmission among school staff members “can contribute to clusters of infection and lead to the isolation of a large number of children who are identified as close contacts.”
“Unvaccinated staff members pose a health hazard to students and other staff members due to the higher risk that they can transmit SARS-CoV-2 to others,” reads the order.
The order states that school administrators will be able to mitigate risk and respond to school exposures, cases, clusters and outbreaks much better with the required reporting of vaccination status of school staff members.
Various options for establishing vaccine status, including in paper and online format, will be accepted, says Henry.
“An employer must request proof of vaccination from each staff member and must keep a record of each staff member’s vaccination status,” the order states.
The order currently has no expiry date, and failure to comply with the order would be considered an offence under BC’s Public Health Act.
While gyms and fitness facilities have been given the green light to reopen in BC this week, other COVID-19 restrictions have been extended until at least February 16th.
During a live press conference today, Dr. Bonnie Henry first apologized for the confusion an updated public health order caused on Monday.
Restrictions were set to expire at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, so Henry said the orders were extended to give officials time to speak on the changes at today’s conference.
“Today I’m taking the cautious step of reopening gyms and exercise facilities,” said Henry.
The original provincial health order which was put in place on December 22nd will remain in place until February 16th, which include the following:
Indoor personal gatherings, including in rental and vacation properties are now limited to one household plus 10 other individuals, or one additional household, but only if all in attendance fully vaccinated. Unvaccinated people should not be permitted
The province requires all events of any size to scan BC Vaccine Card – the QR code must be scanned at all events
As in the past, movement between tables at food establishments like restaurants will be restricted and masks wearing when not seated must be enforced
Large events and concerts with over 1,000 people in attendance, such as Victoria Royals games, will operate at 50% capacity.
All sports tournaments in BC are to be suspended
In addition, bars, lounges and nightclubs must remain closed.
“I will be extending the current restrictions on events and gatherings, through to February 16th,” added Henry.
Henry said those restriction will be reevaluated on whether or not to keep those measures in place.
A sigh of relief could be heard across the province as BC health officials announced that gyms and fitness centres will be able to reopen on January 20th.
In a live press conference Tuesday, BC Health officials announced new guidelines surrounding the re-opening of gyms and individual and group fitness classes across the province.
In December 2021, all indoor gyms and fitness facilities in the province were ordered to close due to the potential they created for the spread of the Omicron.
These orders were meant to curb transmission of the virus throughout the holidays and were set to remain in effect throughout the month of January.
Now, gyms and fitness studios across the province will re-open with capacity limits and continued use of the BC Vaccine card on January 20th.
According to the new guidelines outlined by Dr. Bonnie Henry, 7 square metres of space must be made between those exercising, both in the gym and in fitness classes.
Masks are required when entering/leaving gyms and fitness studios as well as while moving between equipment.
Although masks are not required while actively working out, it is strongly encouraged.
Gyms and fitness studios will continue to enforce strict cleaning measures and look at methods of pre-booking and increased time between classes.
After a series of eleven break and enters at UVic dating back to June 2021, Saanich Police announced they have made an arrest in connection with the incidents.
According to Saanich PD, nine of the eleven break and enters occurred in the last month and a half, with the suspect stealing property such as generators, tools, electronics, and other items.
At approximately 4:30 a.m. on January 12th, the suspect triggered an alarm at the UVic Bookstore.
UVic campus security officers arrived on scene where they located a man coming out of the store.
The man fled the area and was unable to be located when police arrived.
Evidence obtained from this incident and several others pointed investigators to a suspect with a history of property related crimes.
On January 16th, officers located and arrested a 38-year-old man they believe was responsible for several of the on-campus break ins.
The investigation is ongoing, with officers working to locate the stolen property from previous incidents.
The man was released with conditions and a court date for criminal charges of Break and Enter.
The Omicron variant continues to impact Canada’s transportation industry, with WestJet announcing they will be cutting back on their flights due to uncertainties surrounding travel, weather and government restrictions.
In a release Tuesday, WestJet announced they would be consolidating 20% of its scheduled flights from February 1st through February 28th, as the Omicron variant and impact of government barriers had continued to affect their schedule and staffing levels.
These reductions are in addition to WestJet’s January flight consolidation announcement made in December, where Omicron and prolonged frigid temperatures made it difficult to properly staff and operate their scheduled flights. As a result, WestJet announced they were consolidating 15% of their flights until the end of January.
“As we continue to navigate the unpredictability of the Omicron variant on our staffing levels along with the ongoing barriers to international travel, we are making every effort to proactively manage our schedule in order to minimize disruption to our guests’ travel plans,” said Harry Taylor, Interim WestJet Group, President & CEO.
“To our guests impacted by these additional consolidations, we sincerely apologize for the disruption and appreciate your continued understanding and patience.”
According to the release, travellers impacted by this additional flight consolidation will be notified of changes to their itineraries by email.
Prior to calling, travellers are encouraged to utilize self-service options. Currently, a notice on the WestJet website indicates they are experiencing high call wait times and to only call if you are within 72 hours of your expected flight time.
“We continue to advocate for the elimination of cumbersome travel rules that are unnecessarily impacting Canadians and prolonging the recovery of the travel and tourism sector,” said Taylor.
“Canada remains one of the only countries in the world requiring multiple molecular tests for fully-vaccinated travelers — these testing resources should be redeployed to our communities.”
Flexible change and cancel guidelines and schedule change refund policies remain in place.
WestJet isn’t the only company within the transportation sector experiencing the impacts of Omicron and staffing shortages.
Last week, BC Ferries announced they were anticipating additional unplanned service disruptions on all routes over the coming months.
In the past few weeks, BC Ferries has seen a significant number of sailings delayed or cancelled due to winter weather conditions, high winds and crew shortages.
BC Ferries hopes to avoid service disruptions wherever it can and effectively communicate them when they do arise. They are also looking into other ways to minimize the impact the disruptions of sailings have on customers.
A Nanaimo woman was left shaken and unable to call police for several hours after coming face-to-face with an unknown person who broke into her apartment last month.
In a media release, Nanaimo RCMP said the incident occurred around 6:10 a.m. on Tuesday December 14th, at an apartment located in the 100 block of Prideaux Street.
The suspect, unknown to the tenant of the residence, pried open a window in a bedroom before entering the suite.
The victim told police that she had been sleeping on the couch in her living room when she heard noises coming from her bedroom.
Police said she went to investigate and came face-to-face with the break and enter suspect who demanded she give him money.
The woman gave the suspect a small amount cash and then watched as he ran out the front door of her apartment.
Cst. Gary O’Brien said before the suspect left the residence, he turned to the woman and said he was sorry.
The incident left the woman shaken by the experience and was unable to call police for several hours afterwards, O’Brien said.
When police officers arrived, they were directed to the bedroom, where they found a window that had been forced open.
The suspect is described as a man, 5′ 5″ tall with a slight build and a youthful voice. He was wearing a black parka pulled up tight over his face, black pants, and mittens on his hands at the time of the crime.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Nanaimo RCMP at 250-754-2345.
Victoria residents will have another location to pick-up a free COVID-19 rapid-antigen test kit starting today — though an appointment with Island Health will be required.
In a media release, the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority (GVHA) announced that the Breakwater District at Ogden Point will be used by Island Health as a pickup location.
The pickup location will be located at the north end of the property near Helijet and there will be signage and health authority staff to provide directions.
“I am excited that our space will help to ensure the COVID-19 tests get into the hands of residents,” said Ian Robertson, CEO, Greater Victoria Harbour Authority.
“As I have stated over the past two years, the health and safety of Victorians is our top priority. When we faced the reality of a second full cruise season being cancelled, I informed our colleagues at Island Health that The Breakwater District would be available as a potential site for their efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.”
Appointments are required to pickup a COVID-19 test, which may be booked by contacting Island Health’s call centre at 1-844-901-8442.
Take-home rapid tests will be available for pickup at the Breakwater District at Ogden Point between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on weekdays.
The GVHA said they will not be involved with appointment bookings.
From January 20th through February 6th, locals can enjoy Dine Around and Stay in Town Victoria by dining at participating restaurants. This year, 46 restaurants have created three course meal experiences, varying from $20 to $60 a person.
“Dine Around & Stay in Town Victoria is a great way to promote our community’s amazing food scene,” said Peter de Bruyn, Chair of BC Restaurant and Food Services Association’s Victoria Chapter.
“This festival has become the premier culinary program in Greater Victoria. It highlights our talented chefs and restaurateurs, as well as attracting countless customers to their favourite restaurants.”
Under current provincial health orders, a maximum of 6 people will be permitted per table in restaurants. No mingling between tables is permitted.
Now, more than ever, it’s important to support local businesses and restaurants, so here’s a list of 33 locally owned eateries to check out during this year’s Dine Around Victoria:
Ferris Grill and Garden Patio is offering a $30 menu for Dine Around 2022.
Location: 536 Yates Street
Hours: 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., Monday and Tuesday, 12 p.m. to 9 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday, 12 p.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday
Fire + Water is offering a $50 menu for Dine Around 2022.
Location: 728 Humboldt Street
Hours: 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 am, 3 p.m. to 10 p.m., Monday to Wednesday, 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., Thursday, 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 am, 3 p.m. to 10 p.m., Friday, 7 a.m. to 12 p.m., 3 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday and Sunday
Pendray Inn and Tea House is offering a $50 menu for Dine Around 2022.
Location: 309 Belleville Street
Hours: 7 a.m. to 10 a.m., Monday and Tuesday, 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday and Sunday
Sherwood is offering a $40 menu for Dine Around 2022.
Location: 710 Pandora Avenue
Hours: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday, 8 a.m. to 9p.m., Tuesday to Thursday, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sunday.
The Pacific Restaurant is offering a $40 and $50 menu for Dine Around 2022.
Location: 463 Belleville Street
Hours: 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., Monday to Thursday, 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, 7 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday
Update: VicPD have confirmed Daniel Semple has been located and is safe.
— original:
VicPD are seeking the public’s help in locating a missing 40-year-old man last seen in late August, 2021.
In a media release, police said the family of Daniel Semple reported him missing today and say it is out of character for him to be out of contact for this long.
VicPD said the circumstances under which Semple has been reported missing are considered to be high-risk.
Police described him as a Caucasian man standing 5’10” tall, with a slim build and has blue eyes. He had a shaved head when he was last seen, but has dirty blonde hair. He was most recently seen clean shaven, but has worn a long, dirty blonde beard in the past.
If you see Semple, call 911.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call VicPD (250) 995-7654. To report what you know anonymously, call Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
The BC Ministry of Health reported 5,625 new cases of COVID-19 for a three-day period on Monday, January 17th.
There have been 299,146 cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began.
Day-to-Day Breakdown:
Friday-Saturday: 2,383
Saturday-Sunday: 1,733
Sunday-Monday: 1,509
New cases were reported in these health regions:
Vancouver Coastal Health: 1,155
Fraser Health: 1,884
Island Health: 681
Interior Health: 1,345
Northern Health: 556
Resident outside Canada: 4
There are currently 35,985 active cases of COVID-19 in the province.
257,677 people who tested positive have recovered.
There are now a total of 819 people in hospital due to COVID-19, 99 of whom are in critical care — ICU or acute care units.
22 new people have died from COVID-related causes, making the provincial death toll 2,490.
Outbreaks
There have been 8 new health-care facility outbreaks in the province: Mayfair Senior Living + Care, MSA Manor (Fraser Health), Heritage Square (Interior Health), Salvation Army Sunset Lodge, James Bay Care Centre, The Heights at Mt. View, Luther Court and Selkirk Village Assisted Living (Island Health).
The outbreaks at Royal Columbian Hospital, The Waverly Seniors Village, Glenwood Seniors Community (Fraser Health) and German Canadian Benevolent Society Home (Vancouver Coastal Health) have been declared over.
There are a total of 50 ongoing health care outbreaks in the province.
There are currently 16 health care outbreaks in the Island Health region.
Island Health
Island Health has confirmed that they have discontinued updating their dashboard, which contained breakdowns of active cases by region on Vancouver Island.
Vaccinations
As of Monday, January 17th:
10,108,113 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in BC
89.2% (4,447,145) of eligible people five and older in B.C. have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine and 83.4% (4,155,929) have received their second dose.
92.4% (4,281,923) of eligible people 12 and older in B.C. have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, 89.6% (4,155,444) received their second dose and 33.3% (1,544,191) have received a third dose.
92.7% (4,011,270) of all eligible adults in B.C. have received their first dose, 90.1% (3,897,871) have received their second dose and 35.7% (1,542,958) have received a third dose.
BC residents will have to put up with COVID-19 restrictions a little longer.
On Monday, January 17th, BC Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry quietly issued a new order stating that due to the ongoing threat posed by COVID-19 and the burden currently faced by the health-care system, the current restrictions will remain in place indefinitely.
Indoor personal gatherings, including in rental and vacation properties are now limited to one household plus 10 other individuals, or one additional household, but only if all in attendance fully vaccinated. Unvaccinated people should not be permitted
The province is now requiring all events of any size to scan BC Vaccine Card – the QR code must be scanned at all events
As in the past, movement between tables at food establishments like restaurants will be restricted and masks wearing when not seated must be enforced
Large events and concerts with over 1,000 people in attendance, such as Victoria Royals games, will operate at 50% capacity.
All sports tournaments in BC are to be suspended
In addition, the following businesses must remain closed:
gyms, fitness and adult dance centres
bars, lounges and nightclubs
event venues that can no longer hold events
In the original order on December 22nd, the province urged BC residents to limit indoor gatherings to those who are fully vaccinated, to ensure proper ventilation indoors, and to avoid all travel if not fully vaccinated.
Religious services must follow the following orders:
A faith community may use up to 100% of the seated capacity of a place for a worship
service if the officiant and all participants over the age of 11 years are vaccinated
A faith community may use up to 50% of the seated capacity of a place for a worship
service if the officiant or any of the participants over the age of 11 years is not
vaccinated
Adrian Dix responded to this new information stating that the public will be updated on the PHO order tomorrow during the government’s scheduled conference, and that the updated order was made to ensure it remained in place until then.
The previous December 22nd orders had end dates of 12:01 am, Tuesday, January 18. Dr. Henry will be providing an update on the new orders on Tuesday, January 18 – this updated order was made to ensure the order remained in place until Dr. Henry spoke about them on Tuesday.
Though many awoke on Saturday morning to alerts of a tsunami advisory, another environmental—though less impactful—advisory rolled across Greater Victoria this past weekend.
The fog blanketed the city on both Saturday and Sunday, creating a serene and slightly spooky filter on top of the city’s already picturesque scenery.
Though the mist was gone almost as quickly as it arrived, there was still time for the people of Victoria to snap some fabulous shots of the eerie weather event.
Without further ado, here are 14 shots of the fabulous fog across Greater Victoria this past weekend:
Thousands of locals will be left without a family physician as another Vancouver Island walk-in clinic shuts down operation.
In an update titled Closure Announcement, posted to the Eagle Creek Medical Clinic’s website, it was announced that the walk-in clinic will be closing effective April 15th.
According to the posting, two of the clinic’s physicians, Dr. George Zabakolas and Dr. Chelsie Velikovsky, have decided to stop practicing family medicine in Victoria. They will be moving to working primarily out of the United States and via local private “online-only” clinics.
This also affects the walk-in clinic at the same location.
In total, the closure affects 3,000 people and 5,000 on the waiting list for a family physician.
According to the notice, local physician shortages have affected the clinic’s ability to function effectively. The clinic also cannot handle the influx of the 3,000 newly orphaned patients.
After April 15th, the clinic will be switching to an in-house “doctor of the day” program.
“This is not good news for our community and the management team of Eagle Creek Medical Clinic (ECMC) feels terribly that this is happening,” the release said.
“We did explore any/all possible options to find a replacement provider for affected patients, however the other non-PCN clinicians in the clinic are already at or beyond capacity right now.”
According to the team, job postings have been made locally and internationally to replace the current physicians, however it is not anticipated that new doctors will be available to fill these two practices.
The posting caught the attention of locals when it was shared on a Victoria Reddit thread. One user noted the Reddit thread was the first they had seen the announcement, and the first they had heard of losing their family doctor.
According to the website, a letter was sent out to patients of the two doctors on January 10th informing them of the impending closure.
According to the clinic, there are currently more than 100,000 patients in Greater Victoria without a family doctor because of the severe shortage of community-based, longitudinal doctors in the Capital Regional District (CRD).
Therefore, clients will not be transferred to new providers.
Over the next three months, prior to the doctors’ departure, patients should book an ‘exit appointment’ with Dr. Zabakolas, Dr. Velikovsky or the Walk-in Clinic (if it is your ‘medical home’) as soon as possible.
“To all affected patients: we are sorry and we sincerely wish there was more we could do to offer better options for you.”
Transporting syringes of COVID-19 vaccines around BC has gotten a lot safer thanks to a new specially-designed foam tray.
The applied research department at Camosun College – Camosun Innovates – have designed and manufactured 200 foam trays for the BC Centre for Disease Control to distribute to various health authorities.
Once a COVID-19 vaccine vial is punctured it cannot be transported except in a syringe, and the new specially designed foam trays stop the doses from rolling around or the accidental depression of the plunger.
“Typically, the trays will be used to get the COVID-19 vaccine to facilities where smaller quantities, or one-off doses, are needed in people’s homes,” said Matt Zeleny, Applied Research Technologist.
“Specially designed and manufactured foam trays keep syringes containing the vaccine absolutely stable and protected,” adds Zeleny.
The foam trays are manufactured using a commercial-grade laser cutter located in the Babcock Interaction Lab on the college’s Interurban Campus
Camosun Innovates said the material is a chemically-resistant polyethylene closed-cell foam with each tray holding seven pre-drawn syringes. Each of the trays is designed to fit inside the standard portable cooler used by public health.
Other recent Camosun Innovates projects have included medical-grade face shields and portable decontamination devices to support front-line health care professionals during the pandemic.
VicPD are seeking the public’s help in identifying a suspect after he robbed a store and assaulted an employee upon fleeing.
Just after 5 p.m. on Thursday, January 13th, officers were called to a store inside Mayfair Shopping Centre after reports of a robbery and assault.
According to the staff, a man entered the store at approximately 4:50 p.m., picked up two large Lego sets and moved toward the exit.
A staff member approached the man, directing him to the cashier. While attempting to prevent the robbery, the suspect assaulted the employee and fled.
The employee received non-life-threatening injuries in the assault and did not require medical attention.
The suspect was last seen crossing the 700-block of Finlayson Street. He is described as Caucasian, standing 5’7” tall with a medium build, short dark beard and a mustache.
At the time of the robbery and assault, he was wearing a dark green or grey winter hat with black fur ear flaps and an army-green khaki style winter jacket.
According to reports, the suspect has distinctive lines or marks on his face and walks hunched over.
Anyone with information regarding the identity of the suspect is asked to call VicPD at 250 995 7654.
Binge-watching your favourite shows is about to get a bit more expensive.
According to Netflix, as of January 14th, the prices of two tiers on their Canadian streaming service were raised.
Netflix currently offers three tiers: Basic, Standard and Premium.
Each plan differs on price, video quality and number of screens you can watch on the streaming service at the same time. All tiers allow for unlimited streaming of movies and TV shows from your laptop, phone or tablet.
The Basic plan allows for one screen to watch at a time. For Canadians, this price won’t be changing, remaining at $9.99 per month.
However, the Standard and Premium rates are going up.
The Standard tier, which allows for two screens at a time, has increased from $14.99 to $16.49.
The Premium tier, which allows for up to 4 screens at a time and offers the option of streaming in Ultra HD, has been raised from $18.99 to $20.99.
Netflix launched their Canadian streaming service in September 2010. At the time of launch, their membership cost $7.99 per month. In twelve years, this tier’s Basic tier price has only been raised by $2!
Currently, Disney plus in Canada is $11.99 per month or $119.99 per year. Amazon Prime Video is $7.99 per month or $79 per year with options to add additional channels within Prime for an extra cost.
New Netflix members who are signing up will already see the new subscription costs reflected on Netflix Canada’s website.
Existing members will see the update roll out over the coming weeks. They will be notified by email, and within the Netflix app, 30 days before the new prices are set to be applied to their accounts, depending on their billing cycle.
Canadians will soon be able to take a prescription pill to mitigate COVID-19 systems, now that Health Canada has approved Pfizer’s oral antiviral pill, Paxlovid.
The medication has been authorized for use by adults with mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms who are at high risk of developing serious disease.
According to a press release from Health Canada, the active ingredient nirmatrelvir in Paxlovid works by stopping the virus from replicating.
The treatment is the first COVID-19 therapy that can be taken at home. Prior to this, authorized medications for the virus had to be taken in a hospital or healthcare setting.
The drug is intended for use as soon as possible after diagnosis of COVID-19 and within five days of the start of symptoms, according to Health Canada.
The treatment consists of two tablets of nirmatrelvir and one tablet of ritonavir taken together by mouth twice per day for five days.
Paxlovid becomes the first COVID-19 antiviral therapeutic drug in Canada.
Health Canada said they received the submission request from Pfizer on December 1st. Laboratory tests indicate that the oral antiviral pills are effective against the Omicron variant.
“The benefits of Paxlovid outweigh the risks, but the antiviral pills could have interactions with other drugs. Canada signed a contract with Pfizer to initially purchase one million doses of the oral antiviral pills,” the press release read.
Nanaimo RCMP along with search and rescue members are conducting a massive land and water search for a missing 32-year-old man.
According to police, the man’s vehicle was located in the parking lot next to the Nanaimo River bridge at approximately 8:30 a.m. on Friday, January 14th.
The individual’s cell phone, wallet and keys were found inside the vehicle.
Based on information gathered to date, Cst. Gary O’Brien said in a media release that the missing person’s family members are extremely worried for his safety and well-being.
Shortly after locating the vehicle, Nanaimo Search and Rescue (NSAR) and the RCMP K-9 unit were contacted and began searching the area, including the Nanaimo River.
This morning, on Saturday January 15th, search and rescue crews from nearby jurisdictions joined in the search bringing the number of search and rescue volunteers to approximately 70.
Additionally, two helicopters, a fast response vessel from the Cedar Volunteer Fire Hall and a SAR canine unit were brought in to assist.
Police describe the missing man as caucasian, 5’10” tall with a thin build. He was last seen wearing a forest green sweater, tan pants and dark shoes.
The family have requested a picture and name not be released.
“There is roughly 11 kilometers of shoreline and water which makes up the Nanaimo River. The sheer size of the river compounded with the water levels and the current speed of the water, is making for challenging search conditions,” said O’Brien.
Anyone with information that may assist in the search efforts are asked to call the Nanaimo RCMP non-emergency line at 250-754-2345.
UPDATE: As of 3 p.m., the Tsunami advisory for the BC coast has ended.
— original:
A Tsunami advisory has been issued for Vancouver Island this morning after a volcanic eruption near the Tonga Islands.
The alert was triggered was at around 5 a.m. Saturday morning.
A #Tsunami Advisory means: a dangerous wave is on the way. Strong and unusual currents are expected along the coast, and in bays, marinas, and harbors. Move to high ground and away from the shore. More at https://t.co/npoUHxEZLS. pic.twitter.com/MCLDdN9qPp
The alert includes the west coast of Vancouver Island spanning from Greater Victoria to Cape Scott and includes the Saanich Peninsula.
No significant inundation of water is expected, but low lying coastal areas and beaches may be at risk.
This advisory is expected to remain in place for several hours. The CRD are advising people to stay away from the water until the “all clear” announcement has been made.
An Emerg Ops Centre is being stood up in the Alberni Valley to evaluate the risk and take action as necessary after a volcanic eruption may have produced a tsunami. NO ACTION REQ at this time for PA. Download https://t.co/emP6qid56o if you haven’t already. #tsunamipic.twitter.com/fzCp44y9SY
The BC Ministry of Health reported 2,275 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, January 14th.
There have been 293,521 cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began.
New cases were reported in these health regions:
Vancouver Coastal Health: 523
Fraser Health: 813
Island Health: 297
Interior Health: 412
Northern Health: 227
Resident outside Canada: 3
There are currently 35,943 active cases of COVID-19 in the province.
251,846 people who tested positive have recovered.
There are now a total of 646 people in hospital with COVID-19, 95 of whom are in critical care — ICU or acute care units.
Note that the source of “Currently in Hospital” figures has been changed to bed census data. Currently, in Hospital figures are reported by the hospital in which the patient is hospitalized, rather than the patient’s residence. There are 18 patients in Provincial Health Services Authority who are included in total hospitalizations.
6 new people have died from COVID-related causes, making the provincial death toll 2,468.
Island Health
Island Health has confirmed that they have discontinued updating their dashboard, which contained breakdowns of active cases by region on Vancouver Island.
Outbreaks
There has been 1 new health-care facility outbreak in the province: Royal Jubilee Hospital (Island Health).
The outbreak at Czorny Alzheimer Centre, Fort Langley Seniors Community, The Residence in Mission, Dania Home, White Rock Seniors Village (Fraser Health), Fraserview Retirement Community, Lakeview Care Centre and Crofton Manor (Vancouver Coastal Health) have been declared over.
There are a total of 46 ongoing health care outbreaks in the province.
There are currently 11 health care outbreaks in the Island Health region.
Vaccinations
As of Friday, January 14th:
9,962,096 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in BC
89.0% (4,436,446) of eligible people five and older in B.C. have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine and 83.3% (4,152,386) have received their second dose.
92.3% (4,278,594) of eligible people 12 and older in B.C. have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, 89.6% (4,151,964) have received their second dose and 30.5% (1,412,008) have received a third dose.
92.7% (4,008,308) of all eligible adults in B.C. have received their first dose, 90.0% (3,894,687) received their second dose and 32.6% (1,410,852) have received a third dose.
It was a case of some seriously sticky fingers at an Oak Bay liquor store, when one booze bandit took it upon herself to grab $1000 worth of spirits—without paying for them.
The Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers took to social media on Thursday with hopes the public could help identify the woman who stole a large amount of alcohol from an Oak Bay liquor store.
According to the organization, the suspect entered a liquor store in the 1600 block of Fort Street, bagged several bottles of liquor totalling approximately $1000 before leaving the store.
Although the suspect has yet to be identified, security camera footage provided a very clear photo of the suspect.
Crime Stoppers hopes it will be enough to help identify the woman.
Anyone who knows who the suspect is can contact Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or message their Facebook page.
I’ve determined that 2022 is going to be a landmark year for me. Literally.
It’ll be the third year of my moving to Victoria, and while I’ve learned a lot about the city, I feel like I still have a long way to go.
Part of this is down to the fact that we’re living in the midst of a doom plague, which has made moving about a tad difficult, especially for someone who doesn’t own a car. But I think Victoria — Greater Victoria, to be clear — is a city which can encourage bubbling.
“Bubbling,” in this case, refers to the behaviour we hoomans sometimes have isolating into little bubble communities. We’re creatures of habit. We like routine. Easy access to what we need. Familiar surroundings.
The problem is, with 13 municipalities crammed into the southeast tip of Vancouver Island, it can sometimes feel like we’re being pushed apart. I’m sometimes baffled by the fierce loyalty we feel to being “Oak Bay,” to “Langford,” to “Sidney,” etc. etc. etc.
Sure it may give us a sense of identity, but I worry we’re also making some pretty negative assumptions about the people around us — people who are, let’s face it, part of one larger whole city.
I’m as guilty as anyone on this. If I were to map out my current impressions of what Greater Victoria is, it would look something like this:
(map Public Domain provided by the City of Vancouver archives, with labels by Tim Ford)
I feel like at least SOME of those perceptions have to be wrong, right?
Right?
Well, whatever the case, I think the onus is on me, on all of us really, to be more alive to the world around us. I’m going to make it my mission to explore more of these places, really knuckle down into the identities of Metchosin or Highlands or Central Saanich. Find out what makes them tick.
It’ll be healthy, too! We have an incredibly bikeable city, and I can get into shape riding out to the Westshore, north to Sidney…
I just have to wait for the rain to stop.
The rain does stop, right?
Right?
Ah, screw this. I’ll be in my bubble.
Welcome to Ford on Fridays: a weekly column where Victoria Buzz staff writer Tim Ford offers his thoughts on life, love, and the pursuit of the perfect joke.
This column is for comedic purposes only. Please feel free to send feedback, thoughts, and [constructive] criticisms to tim@victoriabuzz.com.
The weekend is finally here, and although there is no sunshine in this weekend’s forecast, we are happy to say there is no chance of snow!
For now…
Though we’re in for a rainy weekend, there is still plenty to do. You can purchase your tickets to a Valentine’s Day haunted house, go ice skating and even try a plant-based spin on an old fast food favourite.
Here are 18 things to do in and around Victoria this weekend, January 15th-16th:
This February, your favourite haunted house will transform into a sinister, jilted lover’s twist, bringing a whole new reason to celebrate the holiday.
From February 10th to 13th, Monsters Haunted House is transforming the old Landmark Movie Theatre in University Heights to Love Hurts, a Valentine’s Day haunt.
So grab your boo, hold them tight and brave your way through the haunted house. While you’re there, be sure to get your photo taken in the haunted Valentines photo-op!
Where: Landmark Movie Theater, University Heights Shopping Centre – 3980 Shelbourne Street
When: 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m., February 10th-13th
Tickets: $21.85 each. You can purchase tickets here.
KFC has announced the launch of their expanded plant-based menu, giving those Canadians looking to reduce their meat consumption and play a part in more conscious eating habits something to indulge in.
On January 3rd, the popular chain released their Plant-Based Sandwich, Plant-Based Spicy Sandwich, Plant-Based Popcorn and Box Meal at KFC restaurants across the country.
100% Canadian made, the new menu items are animal free, made with soy and wheat and coated in KFC’s famous herbs and spices.
Victoria will become the set for a new movie production later this month and they’re looking to hire extras!
‘Under Wraps 2’, the sequel to the 2021 Disney Channel original movie, is looking to hire locals aged 8 to 70 years old.
The production is seeking regular extras as well as specialty acts such as jugglers, stilt walkers, musicians, pro hula hoopers, street performers and others with special skills that can be utilized on camera.
McDonalds Canada is looking to show their appreciation for healthcare workers around the country this month, with a special deal just for them.
Starting January 7th, and throughout the rest of the month, healthcare workers in Canada can enjoy complimentary coffee or tea from their local McDonalds.
This offer is valid for a medium coffee or tea and can be redeemed at both the front counter and drive-thru.
The Rink at Uptown is ready to invite eager skaters in!
Guests will be able to skate for $5 per person and $2 skate rentals and can book their 40 minute time spot online for groups of up to 6 people.
Waivers and masks are required in order to participate, so guests are asked to arrive five minutes prior to check-in to sign in and get laced up!
The festive fun is also for a good cause! 50% of proceeds from The Rink will be donated to 1UP Victoria Single Parent Resource Centre, in support of their Christmas Hamper Program.
Where: Uptown Boulevard, 3440 Saanich Road
When: 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday to Thursday, 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., Friday, 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday and 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday
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: Shirley Gnome: 7 p.m., Saturday, Comedy Here Often? The Late Show: 10 p.m., Saturday January 14th
Tickets: $20. Tickets can be purchased online here.
You can now enjoy the taste of New Orleans with the grand opening of Vancouver Island’s very first Popeyes Louisiana Chicken – and it’s right here in Victoria.
The new location is in Tuscany Village in Saanich, and will bring a whole new world of flavour to the city.
Popeyes Canada hopes to open as many as five more franchises on Vancouver Island, with hopes of having their second location in Nanaimo completed by Christmas.
So stop in for their famous chicken sandwich, spicy chicken, chicken tenders, fried shrimp and more!
A Taste of Victoria Food Tours offers rain or shine tours through downtown Victoria, showcasing the best local cuisine the city has to offer.
The Tour begins at Victoria Public Market and includes stops in Fan Tan Alley, Market Square, Bastion Square, Trounce Alley, Government Street and the Inner Harbour, with 6 to 8 local tastings along the route.
Starbucks’ new latte, The Pistachio latte, returns by popular demand for a second year, featuring flavours of sweet pistachio and rich brown butter paired with espresso and steamed milk.
The drink can be ordered hot or iced at stores in Canada for a limited time and can be customized with your choice of dairy or non-dairy milk options.
Justin Bieber is helping bring three fresh flavours of Timbits in what both him and Tim Hortons are calling Timbiebs.
The pride of London, Ontario, teased the collaboration two days ago in an Instagram post and had fans wondering what was going on.
Now he’s helping bring three Timbiebs flavours – Chocolate White Fudge, Sour Cream Chocolate Chip, and Birthday Cake Waffle – to stores across North America.
However, this doesn’t mean you will go without this year!
Coffee shops across Victoria are now announcing their very own eggnog lattes and other holiday drink menus. This means you can still live your eggnog latte dreams while supporting local businesses. You can see our list here.
Now that we are able to go out and catch up with friends over dinner again, we want it to be special. We want to go all out!
Getting dressed up, ordering a glass of wine and sharing a charcuterie board at a local restaurant can make you feel fancy and sophisticated.
Charcuterie boards give you a little bit of everything, meat, cheeses, pickled sides. It’s the perfect sharing dish to have while you discuss everything you’ve missed with your friends.
A brand new shop specializing in British treats has opened in Victoria and we’re buzzing with excitement!
Limey, the British Shop, opened as a single, family-run location in Kelowna. Now, they’re overjoyed as they expand to, in their words “the most British city in all of Canada”.
This fun and funky shop specializes in all things British, from sweets and crisps, to bangers, black pudding and Marmite.
A popular Vancouver Island attraction announced it will be closing temporarily to allow staff time to “rest and renew.”
In a statement, the Butchart Gardens announced it will be closing its doors to the public for two weeks.
The gardens will be closed from January 24th until February 6th. The attraction will remain open daily until then, with the Spring Prelude indoor garden opening January 15th to the 23rd and February 7th to March 20th.
“In appreciation of the hard work our staff has done over this second difficult year, and to allow them time to rest and renew,” the company said in a media release.
Anyone with a valid Butchart Gardens 12 month passes will be extended by 14 days to reflect this closure.
In late June of last year, the Butchart Gardens closed temporarily due to the scorching heatwave BC experienced.
Victoria hit a red-breaking temperature for the month of June. According to Environment Canada, temperatures reached a peak of 35.8° C. The previous record of 35° C set in 1925.
BC has recorded another deadly year in the fight against toxic drug overdoses, and in addition, paramedics and medical dispatchers responded to a record-setting number of calls last year.
According to a report by BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS), every health authority in the province saw an increase in overdose calls in 2021.
In total, BC paramedics across the province responded to 35,525 overdose calls, an average of 97 overdose calls per day — an increase of 31% from 2020. In the Island Health region, 5,917 overdose calls were made in 2021 — a 32% increase.
Victoria was among the top five communities with the most calls for overdoses with 1,952, an increase of 24% from 2020.
The first ten months of 2021 claimed 1,782 lives in BC, representing the highest number of deaths due to drug toxicity ever recorded in the province in the calendar year.
