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UVic students will soon be able to return to campus, after temporarily moving to online classes in an effort to mitigate rising COVID-19 cases.
In a statement issued Thursday by Kevin Hall, UVic’s President and Vice-Chancellor, the university announced they would be returning to in-person classes on January 24th.
The news comes shortly after UBC announced they would be delaying the start of in-person classes to February 7th.
“Thanks for your patience as we enter into 2022 and continue to experience challenges related to the ongoing pandemic,” Hall said.
“Our direction aligns with current, evidence-based advice from BC’s Provincial Health Officer (PHO), who is confident that the layers of protection on campuses will help to minimize transmission of COVID-19—as they have throughout the pandemic. The PHO also continues to emphasize how important it is for students to be in classrooms, including to support mental health and wellness.”
The announcement came after UVic saw an increasing number of COVID-19 cases emerge on campus and ceased in-person exams in December.
On December 13th, 2021, Island Health released a joint statement with UVic after 124 cases of COVID-19 were linked with people who attended two off-campus parties.
The decision to cancel in-person exams immediately was made to reduce the frequency and number of students sitting together for extended periods of time in examination gyms and rooms.
On December 23rd, UVic announced they would begin their winter term online in response to the changing situation of COVID-19 and the rapid spread of the Omicron variant.
Some courses, including those with clinical, performance, studio or lab components could continue to operate in person with appropriate approval and safety protocols.
“We are actively developing academic and operational contingency plans that build in flexibility throughout the term,” Hall said.
“Faculty, instructors and students can expect a follow-up email from the Vice-President Academic and Provost that includes options to create greater flexibility over the academic term, ideas on how to best manage absences, and supports and resources for instructors and students.”
Island Health has declared COVID-19 outbreaks at two long-term care homes, with one in Victoria and another in Nanaimo.
According to an Island Health release on Thursday, the following long-term care homes have been affected:
The Dufferin Place long-term care home in Nanaimo has had nine residents test positive.
The outbreak declaration is only for the Cedar unit at this time.
The Beacon Hill Villa long-term care home in Victoria has had three residents identified related to this outbreak.
The outbreak declaration is limited to the first floor of the home at this time.
The cases have been confirmed via PCR testing or follow up from Island Health’s case and contact management team.
The following outbreak response protocols have been implemented at the sites:
No admissions or transfers to affected units;
Staff movement will be limited wherever possible;
No congregate dining or group activities for residents of affected units;
Enhanced cleaning and infection control measures will continue;
Residents, families and staff are being notified;
Enhanced screening of all staff and residents for symptoms;
COVID-19 testing as determined by the Medical Health Officer and Infection Prevention and Control.
In addition to the new outbreaks, Island Health said the outbreak at Aberdeen Hospital long-term care home has been declared over.
On January 4th, the outbreak was declared in the Lansdowne Unit at Aberdeen Hospital long-term care home. In total, two staff member and three resident cases were attributed to this outbreak.
There are currently ten COVID-19 outbreaks in total on Vancouver Island.
This article was written by Leo Spalteholz and originally appeared on House Hunt Victoria
If you were one of the many Victorians who purchased a home last year, statistics show that you certainly weren’t alone.
The full year buyer origin data is out, and a recent report takes a look at what changed and what didn’t about where Victoria buyers moved from in 2021.
Keep in mind, this is filled out by agents and is in response to the question,“Where is the buyer currently residing?“—that means it’s not a measure of buyer citizenship, and of course, it’s always debatable whether someone who moved here to rent for 6 months before purchasing should be considered a local or out of town buyer (in this data they would very likely be considered local).
Nevertheless it’s an interesting dataset given it’s been running for 18 years and it seems to match pretty well with both other data sources on migration from StatsCan (figure below) and changes in market activity.
In 2021, we saw 72% of buyers already living in Greater Victoria, while 28% were from out of town. As a reminder for why the split is important, out of town buyers have a much greater impact on the market than in-town buyers—they buy properties without listing one for sale (similar to first time buyers and investors), while in-town buyers generally sell one property and buy another.
The biggest source of out of town buyers by far is the lower mainland at 11% of buyers, with the runner up being buyers from Ontario/Quebec, Alberta, and the rest of BC being roughly equal in second place.
Not surprisingly, buyers moving from out of the country were an insignificant part of the transaction volume. The US was the largest source of that small group, which has been the case every year of the last 18. This can be backed up by provincial foreign buyers data, which has remained at an average of only five sales per month since the introduction of the foreign buyers tax in 2018.
The big story in the last few years has been the variability in out of town buyers, specifically from the lower mainland. The number of out of town buyers varies a lot more year-to-year than local buyers. In 2016, local buyers increased 62% compared to the slowest year, but out of town buyers increased 250%. After the mortgage stress test kneecapped the market in 2018, out of town buyers dropped nearly all the way back, but that changed when the pandemic hit and out of town buyers jumped back up to near peak levels.
Of the out-of-towners, lower mainland buyers are both by far the biggest single group and the most volatile, increasing 386% between 2013 and 2016. The increase in Vancouver buyers is perhaps largely explained by the price gap between Vancouver and Victoria but there’s clearly more to it, since other out of town buyers also jumped in 2016 and 2021.
It’s not entirely clear why, since Victoria prices certainly haven’t lagged behind the rest of the country post-pandemic. Worth keeping in mind is that when the market pulls back in the rest of the country, they are a class of buyers that could drop back again as quickly as they came. For now, Victoria continues to fly high.
In other news, there’s been a lot of focus on the jump in assessed values this year. This comes as no great surprise, given that only a small percentage of people are buying or selling every year, and the reality of the increases don’t sink in for most until they get that slip of paper in the mail.
In a time when inflation is being driven by excess demand in the face of supply chain disruptions, the resulting wealth effect is not going to help this year.
Of course, the assessments are valuations as of July 1st, 2021—given the strong price gains since then, they are already out of date and lagging market value. Once sales relative to the new assessments this year start being charted, we will likely be starting around +10%.
The BC Ministry of Health reported 2,554 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, January 13th.
There have been 291,246 cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began.
New cases were reported in these health regions:
Vancouver Coastal Health: 485
Fraser Health: 885
Island Health: 412
Interior Health: 462
Northern Health: 304
Resident outside Canada: 6
There are currently 36,049 active cases of COVID-19 in the province.
249,458 people who tested positive have recovered.
There are now a total of 534 people in hospital due to COVID-19, 102 of whom are in critical care — ICU or acute care units.
7 new people have died from COVID-related causes, making the provincial death toll 2,462.
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 5 new health-care facility outbreaks in the province: Lakeview Lodge, Hamlets in Vernon, Brocklehurst Gemstone (Interior Health), Dufferin Place and Beacon Hill Villa (Island Health).
The outbreak at Aberdeen Hospital (Island Health) has been declared over.
There are a total of 53 ongoing health care outbreaks in the province.
There are currently 10 health care outbreaks in the Island Health region.
Vaccinations
As of Thursday, January 13th:
9,897,611 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in BC
88.9% (4,433,294) of eligible people five and older in B.C. have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine and 83.3% (4,150,713) have received their second dose.
92.3% (4,277,097) of eligible people 12 and older in B.C. have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, 89.5% (4,150,305) received their second dose and 29.2% (1,352,152) have received a third dose.
92.6% (4,006,935) of all eligible adults in B.C. have received their first dose, 90.0% (3,893,147) received their second dose and 31.2% (1,351,017) have received a third dose.
In a press release Thursday, BC’s Ministry of Health announced people who are pregnant can now book their COVID-19 booster vaccine.
Health Officials are recommending pregnant people receive their booster during pregnancy to ensure optimal protection for themselves and their baby.
This recommendation has resulted in the time between second doses and booster doses to be shortened to at least eight weeks from their second dose for pregnant people.
It is currently recommended that booster doses be administered six months after one’s second dose to ensure longer-lasting protection.
Those who indicate they are pregnant when they call the Get Vaccinated system will receive an invitation for a booster shot.
To date, approximately 1,800 people have already stated that they are pregnant and will automatically receive an invitation to book their dose when they become eligible.
Those who have not registered with the Get Vaccinated system can register online, by phone (1-833-838-2323) or in-person at a Service BC Centre.
Update: West Shore RCMP have confirmed the missing individual has been located and is safe.
— earlier:
West Shore RCMP are asking for the public’s help in locating a missing homeless man.
The RCMP detachment said they are concerned for Lief Schieder’s health and well-being and family say it is out of character for him to be out of contact for this long.
Schieder, who is of no fixed address, was last seen on December 29th, 2021 when he was dropped off at the intersection of Helmcken Road and the Trans-Canada Highway in View Royal.
A Lower Mainland resident could lose their vehicle after a traffic stop on Vancouver Island uncovered a loaded weapon next to the driver’s seat and a significant amount of drugs.
On January 7th, a Port Alberni RCMP officer stopped the vehicle in the 3600 block of 4th Avenue.
The initial stop developed into a drug investigation and during a search conducted with a warrant, police found a loaded and unregistered firearm next to the driver seat, along with a “significant quantity” of drugs.
RCMP said the drugs seized from the vehicle are suspected to be fentanyl, methamphetamine and crack cocaine.
The 2017 vehicle is now the subject of a civil-forfeiture application.
“This is just one example of the proactive work our officers do on a daily basis to disrupt criminal activity in our community,” said Eric Rochette, officer in charge of the Port Alberni RCMP detachment.
The driver was released on conditions, including not being on Vancouver Island, pending approval of charges by Crown counsel.
Police will not release the driver’s identity until charges are approved
Who says you can’t celebrate spooky season all year round? Well, now you can, on Yates Street in downtown Victoria.
Haunted Manor Victoria prides themselves on being not your average mini golf, where you’ll putt your way through a dilapidated manor with a ghoulish history that lures you through your 15-hole game.
The family-friendly attraction offers a series of twists and turns that lead you through the maze, with spots to snap the perfect photo along the way.
There are also two private ping pong lounges that guests can rent out by the hour, and the safe, indoor spot is perfect to host a birthday party for all-ages—or even private events for team-building!
If you haven’t experienced the thrill for yourself yet, you’re in luck – we’ve partnered with Haunted Manor Victoria to give away a $50 gift card to one lucky winner – and you’ll find contest details below.
The immersive manor officially opened their doors to the public this past Halloween with much success, and is always looking at creative ways to update the experience for their guests.
Wanna play? You can book your timeslot online for either mini golf or ping pong, and get down to some seriously spooky fun – no matter what time of the year it is!
CONTEST
For your chance to win a $50 gift card to Haunted Manor Victoria, please do one or more of the following:
SHARE this article on Facebook or Twitter and comment below telling us once you have. (1 entry)
TAG your mini golf date in the comment section below – make sure to register your comment account so we can contact you! (1 entry)
Contest entries will be accepted from the time and date of publishing until 11:59 p.m. on January 20th, 2022. One winners will be chosen at random and contacted through the platform they used to enter. Make sure to register when commenting below.
Were you lucky enough to catch last night’s light show?
With the weather alerts (finally) subsiding, on Wednesday evening the city was privy to a brief hiatus from the rain, snow, and everything in between.
This means we were treated to a winter sunset of epic proportions—and what a treat it was!
As the sky was streaked with hues of orange, pink and yellow, the people of Victoria flocked to social media to share their favourite snaps of the rare occasion, and we’ve compiled a few of our favourites here.
Without further ado, here are 21 snaps of last night’s stunning sunset over Greater Victoria:
Two BC Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) chapters have announced they will require full vaccination status in order for people to work at, stay in or visit their facilities.
Starting January 17th, both the House at 4567 Heather Street in Vancouver and the Family Room in Surrey Memorial Hospital will require proof of full vaccination (two doses) in addition to completing an existing screening.
The mandate will apply to all staff, visitors and residents—including children—unless accommodation has been sought and explicitly approved and granted by RMH BC in writing.
RMHC provides support and resources to families with hospitalized infants and children, many of whom are immunocompromised.
They operate in 62 countries and regions around the world.
Starting January 12th, the two RMHC chapters in BC will begin their vaccination scanning process. Employees, residents and visitors will visit the front desk to scan their BC vaccination passport, confirming proof of vaccination, or provide their vaccination card for those 12 and under.
In a release posted to the RMHC website titled RMHC Global Position on Vaccination Mandates and COVID Safety Protocols, RMHC detailed how each local Chapter faces different circumstances in the fight against COVID-19.
“It is a local Chapter decision whether or not to mandate vaccinations of RMHC guest families,” the release read.
“Since vaccinations have been proven to limit the spread of the virus and reduce severity of disease, RMHC Global strongly recommends that local Chapters require vaccination of all eligible staff, families and visitors to RMHC program spaces, including recommended boosters when individuals are eligible.
This announcement was met with backlash from the public as well as current residents.
Now, RMHC has announced alternative arrangements will be made for families with unvaccinated members after the January 31st deadline.
“Our commitment to protecting the health and well-being of the vulnerable population of children we serve, their families, RMHC staff, volunteers and communities is always our top priority,” RMHC said.
You can grab your favourite coffee or indulge in a snack without leaving the comfort of your car. It’s quick, convenient and, with many restaurants introducing order ahead options, your experience is a breeze.
Now, Canada’s favourite drive-thru stops have been revealed!
According to Confused.com, Canada’s top drive-thru choice is Starbucks! Are we surprised?
Every month, Canadians search for ‘Starbucks drive-thru’ an average of 33,100 times. Obviously, Canadians love their Starbucks and the ease of drive-thru and mobile ordering for their favourite caffeinated drink.
Across Canada, Starbucks is the most popular drive-thru of every city on the list beside Montreal, which chooses McDonalds as their top spot!
McDonalds comes in second for Canada’s favourite option for the drive-thru with an average of 14,800 monthly searches to find the closest one.
KFC comes in third place with 1,600 monthly searches by Canadians looking to locate a drive-thru near them.
In Victoria, locals agree with Canada’s top choice of favourite drive-thru with our preferred stop being Starbucks.
Victoria’s WHL team is Schuur to make some waves with this one!
Royals Brayden Schuurman was ranked 58th by the NHL’s central scouting bureau in their 2022 North American midseason rankings, proving the forward has been turning some heads in the big league.
The Abbotsford native ranks second on the team in both goals and points, tallying 17 goals, 9 assists, and 26 points thus far, and has scouts taking note of his strong goal scoring ability and high compete level.
Schuurman had been in great form of late, burying seven goals in his last 10 games, but the WHL has postponed 3 Royals games due to COVID-19. Games on January 8th, 11th, and 12th will all be played at another time – including two home games.
Schuurman taking advantage of Royals youth movement
The Royals are working on developing some home grown talent these days, and Schuurman thus far appears to be the cream of the crop. The Royals have had ten 16 or 17 year olds play at least 20 games this season, which is roughly half the squad. With an 11-3-2 record in the last 16 games, Victoria brass has to be thrilled with the progress of their youngsters.
Selected in the fourth round, 69th overall in the 2019 WHL bantam draft, Schuurman led his under-18 Yale Academy Prep squad in scoring the following year, playing the majority of the season as a 15 year old against older competition. Despite being 5’9, Schuurman is strong on his skates and displays no fear around the front of the goal mouth. If there’s a goal to be had, he’s willing to pay the price.
So far, Schuurman is 15th in league goal scoring, aided by a torrid late November/December run where he sniped 10 goals in 15 games. Goal scorers are always fun to watch, and with at least two more years of junior eligibility left, Royals fans will be enjoying Schuurman’s insatiable goalscoring appetite for the foreseeable future.
High possibility Schuurman could be second Royals player drafted to the NHL since 2017
Given his ranking of 58th in North America, and factoring in talented European prospects as well (who have their own set of rankings), Schuurman could go as early as the third round in the NHL’s seven round draft, but that’s anybody’s guess. Of course, he would have to maintain his strong play and also find himself ranked for the season’s final rankings, which, in a normal season, usually occur in April.
Nonetheless, if he hears his name called on draft day, he would join teammate Gannon Laroque as the second Royals player drafted to the NHL since 2017. Laroque was selected in the fourth round, 103rd overall in the 2021 draft by the San Jose Sharks, which happens to be where former Royal Noah Gregor is playing.
Overall, the Royals have had 11 players taken in the NHL draft, with four of them coming from a legendary 2016 crop that featured Matthew Phillips, Tyler Soy, Jack Walker, and Vladimir Bobylev. Ah, the good ol’ days.
Catch the talented Schuurman when the Royals return back home January 21st
As mentioned, the Royals have had three games postponed due to covid issues.
If all goes well, they’ll resume their season with a four game road trip from January 14th-19th.
The Royals will be back in action at home with a weekend set Friday, January 21st, against the Vancouver Giants, and a Saturday night battle against the Everett Silvertips.
Looking to spice up your Valentine’s Day this year?
Tired of the same old date night?
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!
All guests must provide proof of full COVID-19 vaccination to enter, to comply with the current BC Health Orders.
In addition, a limited number of tickets will be sold to maintain allowable capacity. Tickets will be time-entry.
Please note, Love Hurts Valentine Haunt may not be appropriate for all ages and is not recommended for children under the age of 12. There are no refunds or exchanges allowed for this event.
Another familiar face hit the ice as an NHLer this past weekend, and was lucky enough to skate alongside some hockey greats.
Former Victoria Royals forward Brayden Tracey made his NHL debut with the Anaheim Ducks Sunday night, skating just over nine minutes and registering one shot on goal.
Tracey was immediately placed into a prime opportunity, skating alongside Anaheim Ducks all-time leading point scorer and captain Ryan Getzlaf.
To boot? His other line mate was Troy Terry, who is tied for 3rd in the NHL this year with 22 goals—not a bad introduction to the NHL.
Clearly, the Ducks see Tracey, who they selected in the first round at 29th overall in 2019 NHL Draft, as a future offensive weapon.
Tracey translates hot start in American Hockey League to quick NHL call up
The Ducks have every reason to believe Tracey will develop into a contributing attacking player at the NHL level. He makes smart passes and has a deceptive shot, and has quickly adjusted to life in the pros, scoring 21 points in 24 games in the American Hockey league (AHL)—not bad for a 20 year old.
Players his age often require a year or two to adjust to the strength and speed of the AHL, but Tracey has seamlessly made the transition to the tougher competition, and has a bright future ahead of him. At the time of his call up, he was 7th in rookie scoring in the AHL, which is never a bad sign.
He may require a further season in the minors before he’s truly ready to contribute at the NHL level, but no doubt the early returns have been encouraging for the Ducks.
Unfortunately, Tracey’s Royals career was shorter than hoped
Brayden Tracey’s Victoria Royals career was nixed short by COVID-19, but he still got two seasons under his belt with Victoria team.
Of course, it happened to be the two seasons where the WHL didn’t have playoffs following the regular season, meaning the former Moose Jaw Warrior never got the chance to suit up for the Royals in the tournament during the prime of his junior career.
Acquired at the trade deadline from Moose Jaw during the 2019-2020 season, the Royals were able to add an NHL first round draft pick to their lineup, which on its own is a rarity.
The WHL produces roughly a half dozen NHL 1st rounders per draft, meaning NHL scouts believed Tracey to be one of the most promising players in the league.
Ultimately, Tracey played 24 games his first season as a Royal, and 22 in last year’s COVID-shortened season, finishing with a total of 44 points in 46 games over his two season career with Victoria.
A premium WHL talent at the time of acquisition, it’s a shame his Royals contributions were cut short given the high cost it required to get a player of his reputation.
Regardless, with Noah Gregor, another former Royal getting his first taste of the big leagues with the San Jose Sharks, Royals fans will have a few familiar faces to follow in the NHL this season.
Time will tell if we’ll see Royals legend Matthew Phillips join them in the NHL this season after making his one-game debut last year—he currently has 27 points in 26 games for Calgary’s AHL affiliate, the Stockton Heat.
The BC Ministry of Health reported 2,859 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, January 12th.
There have been 288,939 cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began.
New cases were reported in these health regions:
Vancouver Coastal Health: 697
Fraser Health: 982
Island Health: 451
Interior Health: 534
Northern Health: 195
Resident outside Canada: 0
There are currently 36,641 active cases of COVID-19 in the province.
246,693 people who tested positive have recovered.
There are now a total of 500 people in hospital due to COVID-19, 102 of whom are in critical care — ICU or acute care units.
6 new people have died from COVID-related causes, making the provincial death toll 2,455.
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 5 new health-care facility outbreaks in the province: Langley Memorial Hospital, Laurel Place, Burnaby Hospital, Peace Arch Hospital (Fraser Health) and Kelowna General Hospital (Interior Health).
The outbreak at Ridgeview Lodge (Interior Health) has been declared over.
There are a total of 49 ongoing health care outbreaks in the province.
There are currently 9 health care outbreaks in the Island Health region.
Vaccinations
As of Wednesday, January 12th:
9,834,018 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in BC
88.9% (4,429,847) of eligible people five and older in B.C. have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine and 83.2% (4,148,538) have received their second dose.
92.2% (4,275,308) of eligible people 12 and older in B.C. have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, 89.5% (4,148,174) received their second dose and 27.9% (1,293,926) have received a third dose.
92.6% (4,005,282) of all eligible adults in B.C. have received their first dose, 90% (3,891,188) received their second dose and 29.9% (1,292,823) have received a third dose.
(Saanich Mayor Fred Haynes and CRD Board Chair Colin Plant)
The District of Saanich unveiled twenty new public electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at eight municipal sites Wednesday morning.
Since 2013, the District of Saanich has installed 32 public EV charging stations, part of an existing network of 115 public charging stations in Saanich.
“We’re making electric vehicles more affordable and accessible for Canadians from coast-to-coast-to-coast,” Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources said in a press release Wednesday.
“Investing in more charging stations like the ones announced today in Saanich will allow more Canadians to be in the driver’s seat on the road to a net-zero future and help achieve our climate goals.”
The twenty new stations are a result of Natural Resources Canada’s Zero Emissions Vehicle Incentive Program (ZEVIP) which provided a $100,000 investment to deploy and install the chargers.
The new stations are located at the following eight municipal sites, including four brand new locations at Saanich parks:
Saanich Commonwealth Place – 6 new stations (plus 2 existing stations)
G.R. Pearkes Recreation Centre – 2 new stations (plus 2 existing stations)
Cedar Hill Recreation Centre – 2 new stations (plus 2 existing stations)
Cedar Hill Golf Course – 2 new stations (plus 2 existing stations)
Gyro-Cadboro Park – 2 new stations
Mount Douglas Park – 2 new stations
Hampton Park – 2 new stations
Beckwith Park – 2 new stations
There are now 115 public charging stations in Saanich. This includes 91 level 2 stations, eight DC Fast Charging (DCFC) stations and 16 Tesla Superchargers.
“It’s very encouraging to see Saanich demonstrating leadership with an ‘if you build it, they will come’ approach – and I believe this recent partnership with Natural Resources Canada to add 20 new EV charging stations to the existing public network in the Capital Regional District exemplifies what’s needed to fight climate change,” said Colin Plant, Board Chair of the Capital Regional District.
“Our region’s transportation landscape is changing and, given the significant opportunity for reducing emissions that this shift to electric presents, this transition is a key priority for the CRD’s new Climate Action Strategy that we are discussing with municipalities right now. I’m confident that the CRD and Saanich will continue working together towards our shared goal of 770 new public level 2 stations by 2030 in an effort to help accelerate EV ownership across the region.”
According to the release issued by the District of Saanich, the CRD has the highest rate of new EV registrations on a percentage basis in Canada.
This high rate is expected to make the largest contribution toward Saanich’s target to cut GHG emissions in half by 2030.
For more information on local EV Charging Station availability, visit Plug Share.
Businesses in British Columbia who were ordered to close their doors due to recent public-health measures can now apply for the province’s COVID-19 Closure Relief Grant.
On December 22nd, bars, nightclubs and lounges that do not serve full meals, gyms, fitness and adult dance centres and event venues were ordered to fully close, a closure that affected more than 3,000 businesses across the province.
Now, applications for the grant to help support these businesses have been made available.
The one-time grant means eligible businesses could receive between $1,000 and $10,000, depending on the number of employees to help with expenses such as rent, employee wages, insurance, maintenance and utilities.
“This is not the way any of us wanted to start the new year with more strain on our businesses, families and communities,” Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation said in a press release Wednesday.
“Our government will be there to help hard-hit businesses that have had to shut down and get them some necessary support to help pay their bills. We can get through this together as quickly as possible by going back to the basics – bringing back our COVID-19 safety plans for all businesses, recommitting to our daily health checks and continuing to follow all public-health measures.”
For more information on the COVID-19 Closure Relief Grant, eligibility and how to apply you can visit the province’s Business Relief website.
A tow truck driver was seriously injured after being struck by a vehicle in Parksville on Tuesday.
At approximately 6:30 p.m., on January 11th, BC Highway Patrol Parksville received reports of a tow truck driver being struck by a vehicle which then fled the scene.
The incident occurred on Highway 19 near Rumming Road, north of Lantzville, where repairs were underway following recent winter storms that damaged parts of the highway.
A number of damaged vehicles were parked on the shoulder of the highway, waiting to be towed by the tow operator.
As the tow truck driver worked he was struck by a green Dodge Caravan.
According to witnesses, the vehicle fled the scene after striking the driver. Thankfully, they were able to provide a licence plate for the van which was located by officers approximately 30 minutes later in Nanoose Bay.
The vehicle was found parked along a road with a man behind the wheel.
It was quickly determined the man was impaired by alcohol. He was arrested and taken to the BCHP officer where he provided breath samples. His results indicated he was three times over the legal limit.
The man is facing potential charges of impaired driving causing bodily harm and failing to remain at the scene of an accident.
He remains in custody at this time. The vehicle was seized and will undergo a forensic examination.
The tow truck driver sustained serious, but non-life threatening injuries.
Anyone with information regarding this collision, including dashboard camera footage, is asked to contact BC Highway Patrol in Parksville at 250 954 2953.
The City of Langford continues to make its mark on Vancouver Island and the province as it celebrates winning two more awards.
According to BC Business Magazine, the City of Langford has been ranked the Most Resilient City and Best Place for Work for the second year in a row.
The ranking considers factors such as economic diversity, population growth, household financial vulnerability, resident sense of belonging, residential gas emissions, rental vacancy rate, residential sales, housing starts, change in jobs and annual unemployment rate.
“Although the last couple of years continues to be challenging for both residents, business owners and employees, this ranking is a strong signal that we continue to move in the right direction,” said Langford Mayor Stew Young.
“Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the City has continued its work to spur investment and new development in Langford’s core commercial areas. As a community we collectively continue to support each other as a resilient, diverse, and strong community. Everyone should be very proud of this accomplishment and recognition.”
These are not the only awards the City of Langford has won. Over the course of the pandemic, the city has also been awarded several other honours, including:
#1 Most Resilient City in BC, by BC Business Magazine (2021, 2022)
#1 City for Work in BC, by BC Business Magazine (2021, 2022)
#1 Best Community in BC, and #18 Best Community in Canada by Maclean’s Magazine
Most Liveable City in Canada, by RATESDOTCA
Economic Resiliency and Recovery Award, population over 20,000 by the BC Economic Development Association (I AM Langford campaign)
Island Health has declared COVID-19 outbreaks at two long-term care homes, with one in the Saanich Peninsula Hospital’s long-term care unit and another in Ladysmith.
According to an Island Health release on Tuesday, the following long-term care homes have been affected:
The Saanich Peninsula Hospital long-term care unit has had two staff members and three residents test positive.
The outbreak declaration is limited to the extended care units and Saanich Peninsula Hospital is not affected.
Oyster Harbour long-term care home in Ladysmith has had two resident cases and one staff case. The outbreak declaration is limited to the Sea Haven unit at this time.
The following outbreak response protocols have been implemented at the sites:
No admissions or transfers to affected units;
Staff movement will be limited wherever possible;
No congregate dining or group activities for residents of affected units;
Enhanced cleaning and infection control measures will continue;
Residents, families and staff are being notified;
Enhanced screening of all staff and residents for symptoms;
COVID-19 testing as determined by the Medical Health Officer and Infection Prevention and Control.
On December 31st, the outbreak was declared in two rooms on the general medicine unit on 4B at VGH. In total, two patient cases were attributed to this outbreak.
There are currently nine COVID-19 outbreaks in total on Vancouver Island.
West Shore RCMP have released a photo of a suspect vehicle used in an industrial break and enter in Langford last week.
Police were notified of a theft occurred at an industry compound located in the 2100 block of Millstream Road on January 6th — Island Crushing Ltd. informed police that the suspect(s) used an on-site bobcat to damage a gate and load a welding machine into a vehicle.
Since then, the West Shore RCMP Crime Reduction Unit obtained video surveillance from a nearby business which captured the suspect vehicle and a male suspect.
The truck had a snowplow attached to the front of the vehcile.
“We are asking anyone with information about this suspect and the incident to come forward and speak with our investigators,” said Cst. Alex Bérubé, spokesperson of the West Shore RCMP.
Anyone with information is asked to call West Shore RCMP at 250-474-2264 or anonymously contact Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Now, with some BC highways still damaged by flooding and mudslides and potential further flooding this week, the province believes there is a continued need for public safety measures under the Emergency Program Act.
“My continued thanks go out to road crews who are working so hard to get our highways back and fully open,” said Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General in a release Tuesday.
“This work is essential in getting vital resources to the people of British Columbia, and once completed will allow for easier access to communities around the province. Thank you to all British Columbians for your ongoing patience and compliance during these challenging times.”
The orders restricting travel on highways 5 and 99 will also remain in place at this time.
The BC Ministry of Health reported 2,239 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, January 11th.
There have been 286,080 cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began.
New cases were reported in these health regions:
Vancouver Coastal Health: 383
Fraser Health: 807
Island Health: 562
Interior Health: 318
Northern Health: 167
Resident outside Canada: 2
There are currently 36,087 active cases of COVID-19 in the province.
244,551 people who tested positive have recovered.
There are now a total of 469 people in hospital due to COVID-19, 97 of whom are in critical care — ICU or acute care units.
3 new people have died from COVID-related causes, making the provincial death toll 2,449.
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 4 new health-care facility outbreaks in the province: Abbotsford Regional Hospital, Glenwood Seniors Community (Fraser Health), Saanich Peninsula Hospital – Long Term Care, and Oyster Harbour (Island Health).
The outbreak at Mission Memorial Hospital and Hawthorne Lodge (Fraser Health) have been declared over.
There are a total of 45 ongoing health care outbreaks in the province.
There are currently 9 health care outbreaks in the Island Health region.
Vaccinations
As of Tuesday, January 11th:
9,775,058 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in BC
88.8% (4,426,451) of eligible people five and older in B.C. have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine and 83.2% (4,146,540) have received their second dose.
92.2% (4,273,371) of eligible people 12 and older in B.C. have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, 89.4% (4,146,186) received their second dose and 26.8% (1,239,995) have received a third dose.
92.6% (4,003,464) of all eligible adults in B.C. have received their first dose, 89.9% (3,889,316) received their second dose and 28.6% (1,238,916) have received a third dose.
It’s finger lickin’ good… and it’s now plant-based!
Just last week, KFC 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.
In addition to the new plant based menu, KFC’s potato bun, coleslaw, original recipe corn, mayo, BBQ sauce and plum sauce are also plant based extras!
Victoria Buzz was able to sample some of the new menu items and we give it 2 wings up!
Odd Burger, one of the world’s first vegan fast-food chains and the first to go public, announced it is coming to Victoria.
The company’s very first British Columbia location would join the other restaurants in Toronto, London, Windsor, Vaughan, Waterloo, and Hamilton, with Calgary and Ottawa, with plans to continue to expand throughout the rest of Canada and the rest of North America.
The vegan fast food chain’s mission is to “disrupt the fast-food industry by offering delicious food made from scratch using plant-based, minimally processed and sustainable ingredients that are good for people and the planet.”
The new Victoria location is projected to open within three months of site selection and permit approvals, with franchisees John Bowker and Luke Ceraldi currently looking for a location for their new venture.
“Victoria is the ideal spot to begin our West Coast takeover, and our partners Luke and John are ready to bring our brand to their city,” said James McInnes, Odd Burger co-founder and CEO.
“The community will love our indulgent, iconic fast food without the guilt, made from wholesome ingredients like chickpeas, jackfruit, and fresh veggies.”
McInnes founded Odd Burger in 2014 as a grassroots vegan organization that brought organic fruit and vegetables from local farmers to customers’ doorsteps.
In 2016, Odd Burger brought their ‘Famous Burger’ to the London, Ontario Ribfest where it sold out completely which garnered the company increased media attention across North America.
In 2017, the company launched Canada’s first vegan fast-food restaurant and, within six months, the world’s first 24-hour vegan drive thru.
Since then, the company has expanded throughout Ontario and continues their plans to move across North America.
A family-owned business in Victoria got a whole lot bigger after the acquisition of a long standing company on Vancouver Island.
On Tuesday, Monk Office announced they had purchased the Victoria and Sidney locations of Island Blue Art & Framing stores.
“It is with great excitement and pleasure that we announce to you Monk Office’s purchase of Island Blue Art & Framing stores in Victoria and Sidney, BC as of Tuesday, January 11, 2022,” the company said in a media release.
Island Blue Print was founded in 1912, focusing on map drafting, blueprint services and the sale of drafting supplies.
For the past 55 years, the business has been locally owned and operated by the Shemilt family as an art supply and framing business.
“We honour this purchase as an exciting new chapter for Monk Office, keeping the longstanding and respected island-based Shemilt family legacy alive.”
The first Monk Office location opened its doors in 1951 in Victoria. Since then, the business has grown to eight locations across Vancouver Island including a head office and distribution center in Victoria.
Police are investigating after a 60-year-old man was struck during a hit-and-run in Saanich last night.
Saanich Police say that the incident occurred on Monday, January 10th at approximately 7:45 p.m., at the intersection of Burnside Road West at McKenzie Avenue.
The man was crossing Burnside Road West on the north side of the road when a vehicle turning right onto McKenzie Avenue struck him.
The vehicle did not stop and continued eastbound on McKenzie Avenue. The pedestrian was transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Witnesses told police the vehicle was a dark car, possibly a Chevrolet Cobalt, with no tinting on the windows and it had a loud sounding exhaust.
“Investigators continue this morning to follow up on potential CCTV from homes nearby,” Saanich Police said in a media release.
“In the meantime, they are asking for any motorists that may have been driving in the area leading up to that intersection to check their dash cams for footage of the incident or of the suspect vehicle before or after the collision.”
Police said the driver would have been more than aware that they struck this man and are urging that person to do the right thing and come forward.
“Officers have several investigative avenues to continue to explore, and they are confident that it will only be a matter of time before we can identify the driver,” police said.
Anyone with information can contact SPD at 250-475-4321 and cite file number 22-00637.
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.
In order to be involved, extras must be able to get to and from set in and around Victoria, be available between January 17th and 20th, and be ready to work as early as 6 a.m. for an all-day commitment.
A negative COVID-19 test will be required 24 to 48 hours before your work start date. However, the production will provide and pay for the test and your time to take it!
The opportunity is a paid position, with compensation dependent on what you are doing on set.
Anyone who meets the requirements and is interested in volunteering can do so by sending their age, phone number, availability as well as a current photo/selfie (no head shots) to Rachel and Sara at uw2extras@gmail.com.
If you have a skill you want to share, be sure to include it in your email!
The BC Ministry of Health reported 6,966 new cases of COVID-19 for a three-day period on Monday, January 10th.
There have been 283,841 cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began.
Day-to-Day Breakdown:
Friday-Saturday: 2,573
Saturday-Sunday: 2,287
Sunday-Monday: 2,106
New cases were reported in these health regions:
Vancouver Coastal Health: 1,067
Fraser Health: 2,672
Island Health: 1,249
Interior Health: 1,393
Northern Health: 584
Resident outside Canada: 1
There are currently 34,551 active cases of COVID-19 in the province.
243,953 people who tested positive have recovered.
There are now a total of 431 people in hospital due to COVID-19, 95 of whom are in critical care — ICU or acute care units.
7 new people have died from COVID-related causes, making the provincial death toll 2,446.
Outbreaks
There have been 7 new health-care facility outbreaks in the province: Morgan Place, Maple Ridge Seniors Village, Dania Home, Amica White Rock (Fraser Health), German Canadian Benevolent Society Home, Crofton Manor (Vancouver Coastal Health) and Sun Pointe Village (Interior Health).
The outbreaks at Guildford Seniors Village (Fraser Health) and Victoria General Hospital (Island Health) have been declared over.
There are a total of 43 ongoing health care outbreaks in the province.
There are currently 7 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 10th:
9,,728,199 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in BC
88.7% (4,423,328) of eligible people five and older in B.C. have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine and 83.2% (4,145,023) have received their second dose.
92.2% (4,271,751) of eligible people 12 and older in B.C. have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, 89.4% (4,144,682) received their second dose and 25.8% (1,197,440) have received a third dose.
92.5% (4,001,930) of all eligible adults in B.C. have received their first dose, 89.9% (3,887,908) received their second dose and 27.7% (1,196,380) have received a third dose.
Four men were arrested Thursday evening following a home invasion in Nanaimo.
According to Nanaimo RCMP, the incident occurred at approximately 6:50 pm, on Thursday January 6th, in the 500 block of Second Street.
Police officers flooded the area and were able to locate a suspect vehicle attempting to flee the scene.
Four men, all from Nanaimo, were arrested without incident.
A man in his 20’s was found inside the home suffering from minor injuries from an altercation with the suspects.
“The response by officers to this dangerous volatile situation was a clear cut example of the strong communication between 9-1-1 dispatchers, General Duty patrol officers and specialized plain clothes units, whose goal is to ensure the safety of the citizens of Nanaimo,” said Constable Gary O’Brien of the Nanaimo RCMP.
Police said the incident appears to isolated and there is no risk to the public.
A 35-year-old Nanaimo man was released from custody and is facing charges of assault with a weapon.
His first appearance date has been set for March 15th, at the Nanaimo Provincial Court.
The other three men were released from police custody without charge.
Nanaimo RCMP continue to investigate this matter and are asking for anyone that witnessed the incident to contact them at 250-754-2345.
After almost two years since he was last seen, Comox RCMP are now suspecting foul play in the investigation into a missing Comox man.
Wesley Edwards (“Wes”) was last seen in Courtenay on March 20th, 2020.
At the time of his disappearance, police reported it was unusual for him to go for a long period of time without contacting friends or family.
Now, investigators have announced they suspect Wes may have died as the result of foul play.
“Investigators have been actively following up on tips, interviewing witnesses and gathering evidence since the initial Missing Person report was received in 2020,” said Corporal Matt Holst, Comox Valley RCMP Major Crime Unit.
“Recently, new information has surfaced that Wes may have died as the result of foul play. His disappearance remains a priority for us to investigate.”
At the time of his disappearance, Wes was 45 years old. He is described as 5’9”, weighing approximately 145 pounds with blonde/grey hair and blue eyes.
Anyone with information into the disappearance of John Wesley Edwards (“Wes”), no matter how insignificant it may seem, is asked to contact the Comox Valley RCMP at 250 338-1321.
Saanich Police have arrested a 41-year-old man after he was caught committing an indecent act and attempting to break into a residence early Sunday morning.
The incident occurred just after 12:30 a.m., the victim was inside their home when they noticed a man looking in through a sliding glass door.
Police said the man then removed his pants and began committing an indecent act. He then walked toward the door to grab the handle to enter but the victim was able to quickly run up and lock it from inside.
He then ran off through the backyard.
Officers attended along with the Integrated Canine Section who were able to locate the man in a park in the 4300-block of Tyndall Avenue.
Police said 41-year-old Sherwin Batley was arrested without incident and was held in custody to appear before court that same morning.
Batley is facing charges of break and enter and for committing an indecent act.
According to Saanich Police, Batley has a lengthy criminal history with many cases still before the courts.
The victim, who had never seen the man before this, was terrified by the encounter, said Const. Markus Anastasiades
“The quick actions of the victim prevented this from escalating into a potentially much more serious incident,” said Cst. Markus Anastasiades.
That’s the forecast this week with most of Vancouver Island under a rainfall warning.
Environment Canada has issued a rainfall warning for the majority of Vancouver Island, which includes the west coast, east coast, and inland areas.
Heavy rain fall is expected to hit Tuesday afternoon and last through Wednesday night.
According to the weather agency, a strong southwest flow will develop on Tuesday and result in an atmospheric river impacting the south coast of British Columbia.
Snow levels are also expected to rise to between 1,500 to 2,000 metres. Some snowmelt at low levels will contribute to a runoff which may result in high stream levels and localized flooding as well.
According to meteorologist Tyler Hamilton, many regions in BC could hit their monthly rainfall averages by Thursday.
Victoria could see 20mm to 30mm through the week with Sidney expected to see up to 75mm of rain for the same time period.
These forecast amounts would typically cause some flooding, regardless of the enhanced snowpack in situ across lower terrain. Temperatures have been below average since Dec. 23rd, allowing snowpack at lower terrain to accumulate. (2/4) pic.twitter.com/oSZ8TdCEs5
“Heavy rain will develop later Tuesday as the first of several systems embedded in the flow arrives. Heavy rain will redevelop at times through Wednesday night as other systems arrive,” reads Environment Canada’s warning.
“Snow levels will rise to between 1500 to 2000 metres. Some snowmelt at low levels will contribute to runoff which may result in high stream levels and localized flooding.”
You can see the 7-day weather forecast for Victoria below:
Are you looking to gain employment in Victoria’s largest school district?
Look no further than SD61, where they’re currently accepting applications for Spareboard Custodians.
Spareboard (relief) work may lead to continuing employment within Greater Victoria School District schools, and those on the on-call list can expect to work around 30 hours per week.
Those who apply will need to be available for calls Monday to Friday, as well as the occasional weekend.
Typical shifts during the school year are weekday evenings from 3:30 p.m. to midnight, and having your own vehicle is recommended as some assignments may take you to more than one location.
What you need to apply
Grade 12 completion is preferred, and completion of a Building Service Worker (BSW) course is a definite asset
Proven initiative and ability to work independently
Ability to problem-solve and possess excellent interpersonal skills to interact with students, teaching staff and the general public
Perks of the job
Position falls under the CUPE 382 Collective Agreement
Pay rate of $22.77 per hour plus applicable allowances and 11% in lieu of benefits
For a more detailed description of the position, please click here.
If you’re interested in applying for the available positions, you can do so by sending your cover letter, résumé, proof of qualifications and references to hrs@sd61.bc.ca.
In a media release Monday, BC Ferries announced they are anticipating additional unplanned service disruptions on all routes over the coming months.
According to BC Ferries, potential disruptions due to the Omicron variant and regular cold and flu season are expected to affect crew availability.
They have also predicted severe winter storms, vaccination policies that have reduced crew availability and the global shortage of professional mariners making it difficult to hire replacement staff to also have an impact.
“Crewing is a complex, logistical task that considers the individual’s qualifications and the number of skilled mariners required for the various roles onboard each vessel, as well as where they live and work,” said BC Ferries.
“Regulations require these positions to be filled with the appropriate crew, or the vessel cannot sail. Even a small number of crew that are unavailable to sail can have a significant impact on service if replacements are challenging to find.”
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.
“[We] understand the importance of providing reliable ferry service, especially for ferry dependent communities and customers who use the ferry system to get to work, school, medical appointments, or to visit family and friends,” BC Ferries added.
“[We] will do [our] utmost to avoid and minimize disruption to service, even when faced with a combination of factors. While a route may operate on a modified schedule, no route is expected to be suspended completely.”
VicPD are seeking the public’s help in locating a missing 54-year-old man.
According to police, Ian Indridson, who has been deemed high-risk, was last seen at 2 a.m. Monday morning.
Investigators believe he may have gone to an area near the ocean. Officers are working to locate Indridson to ensure that he is safe.
Indridson is described as a Caucasian man standing 5’11” tall, with a slim build. He has short salt and pepper hair. It is believed he was wearing black sweatpants and rubber boots.
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.
Big changes are proposed for a well-known intersection of downtown Victoria!
BC Housing has proposed a large re-development for the Capital City Center Hotel and the surrounding area, including the former White Spot location.
The hotel is currently operated by the Our Place Society after the province purchased it as a temporary housing facility in early 2020.
Now, BC Housing has partnered with local developer Chard Development Ltd., in hopes to rezone the properties at 710, 722 and 732 Caledonia and 1961 Douglas street to create a multi-purpose development.
This includes the Capital City Center Hotel and surrounding area including the building that previously housed White Spot for 50 years.
(The Capital City Center Hotel sits in the top left corner of the bigger box. The smaller box is where the replacement supportive housing would go.)
The proposal includes purpose built and designed supportive housing, market rental units, below-market rental units, office units, childcare, a public plaza, commercial retail, a grocery store and condominiums.
If successful, the proposal would happen in stages:
The empty parking lot at 722 and 726 Discovery Street would become a replacement supporting housing building
Current residents of the Capital City Center Hotel would have the opportunity to move into that replacement supporting housing
Once the Capital City Center Hotel is empty, the hotel and other buildings on the Douglas street lot (including the old White Spot) would be demolished
The bulldozed lot would become affordable housing, offices, stores, a childcare centre and market housing
A virtual, public community land use meeting will be held on February 7th by the Burnside Gorge Road Association to provide neighbours an opportunity to learn more, ask questions and provide feedback.
Nearby neighbours of the proposed redevelopment will receive invitations sent by the City of Victoria.
Anyone with questions or comments can submit them via the redevelopment’s information page or by email to communityrelations@bchousing.org.
A group aiming to halt old-growth logging are planning to block traffic along the Trans-Canada Highway on Vancouver Island multiple times this week.
The group began their protests Monday morning by blocking the southbound lanes of Douglas Street near Burnside, disrupting the morning commute.
Police are on scene to ensure public safety. Public transit and motorists are being detoured at Douglas and Finlayson. The northbound lanes remain open.
Protesters have blocked southbound traffic at Douglas St & Burnside Rd E. Northbound traffic remains unobstructed. Our officers are on scene working to keep everyone safe.
Southbound traffic is diverted at Douglas/Finlayson. Please use an alternate route. #yyj@SaanichPolice
In a press release over the weekend, Save Old Growth, a collective of activists who describe themselves as a new direct action group, said that members will be targeting sections of the Trans-Canada Highway in Nanaimo and Victoria starting January 10th.
“The provincial government has failed to end all old growth logging by our deadline of January 9. Starting on January 10, ‘Save Old Growth’ will disrupt the Trans-Canada Highway,” the group said in their statement.
The group said Trans Canada Highway off-ramps will be will be blocked multiple times per week to start but said they will increase the number of protests until all old-growth logging is stopped.
Other locations that will be targeted include Vancouver and communities near Revelstoke that the Trans-Canada Highway passes through.
The group, which in one media release calls itself “an offshoot” of Extinction Rebellion, said the provincial government has broken the social contract and failed to protect BC families from the now regular climate disasters besetting our cities and towns.
“Old growth forests are the lungs of our planet, and the BC NDP and their corporate pals are lung cancer. There are no jobs on a dead planet,” said Brent Eichler, the president of Unifor local 950 and an organizer for the campaign.
Over 15 people in total are expected to risk arrest just on the first day of the campaign, according to the group, which is asking motorists to keep their cars below 30 km/h on the highway over the coming weeks.
“Many in the group will be risking repeated arrests to the point of imprisonment. The provincial government and the provincial minister of forestry have refused to act in the best interests of the public. We are declaring the Trans-Canada Highway a site of permanent nonviolent civil resistance,” Simon Fraser University student Zain Haq, a spokesperson and organizer for the campaign and member of Extinction Rebellion, said in a press release.
“During the next 6 months the government will be faced with the dilemma of either implementing their own promises or arresting and imprisoning hundreds of British Columbians,” he added.
The group has not released any information on exactly when and where they plan to continue their protests this week.
The Boston Pizza franchise located near the intersection of Hillside Avenue at Blanshard Street has closed after 35 years in business.
A notice posted to the front door of the restaurant on Sunday reads, “It is with heavy hearts that today, after 35 years of operations, we close our doors permanently.”
Owner and operator Jeremy Dewey said they have tried to navigate through every wave of this global pandemic, Public Health Orders, staff shortages, and overall increase in the cost of living, with no success.
“Thank you, Victoria, for 35 years. Be safe,” Dewey said to end the notice.
There are two other Boston Pizza locations remaining in the region, one in Saanich and the other in Langford.
VicPD have released surveillance footage of an armed robbery that occurred early this morning.
The incident occurred shortly after 1 a.m. Saturday morning at a convenience store in the 900-block of Craigflower Road.
The female suspect pointed a handgun at staff and stole money before fleeing the store on foot.
“Detectives with VicPD’s Major Crime Unit are asking for your help to identify a suspect seen wearing a distinct red jacket during a robbery with a firearm this morning,” said VicPD in a media statement.
Police said several officers attended the scene immediately, including a unit from the Integrated Canine Service, however, the suspect was not located.
The suspect is described as a Caucasian woman between the ages of 20 and 30-year-old. She is about 5’8” with a medium build.
The woman had blue eyes, distinctive eyelashes, and was wearing a medical mask.
Police also said she was carrying a gold purse and wore a distinct red and black jacket with the hood up during the robbery.
If you recognize this suspect or have information about this incident, call VicPD at (250) 995-7654. To report what you know anonymously, call Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
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.
(Dr. Bonnie Henry/Province of British Columbia Flickr)
The BC Ministry of Health reported 3,144 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, January 7th.
There have been 276,875 cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began.
New cases were reported in these health regions:
Vancouver Coastal Health: 483
Fraser Health: 1,416
Island Health: 475
Interior Health: 526
Northern Health: 244
Resident outside Canada: 0
There are currently 33,184 active cases of COVID-19 in the province.
240,198 people who tested positive have recovered.
There are now a total of 349 people in hospital due to COVID-19, 93 of whom are in critical care — ICU or acute care units.
9 new people have died from COVID-related causes, making the provincial death toll 2,439.
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 2 new health-care facility outbreaks in the province: Surrey Memorial Hospital and Peace Arch Hospital Foundation Lodge (Fraser Health).
There are a total of 38 ongoing health care outbreaks in the province.
There are currently 8 health care outbreaks in the Island Health region.
Vaccinations
As of Friday, January 7th:
9,604,331 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in BC
88.5% (4,410,494) of eligible people five and older in B.C. have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine and 83.1% (4,142,030) have received their second dose.
92.1% (4,269,410) of eligible people 12 and older in B.C. have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, 89.4% (4,141,729) have received their second dose and 23.5% (1,089,023) have received a third dose.
92.5% (3,999,841) of all eligible adults in B.C. have received their first dose, 89.8% (3,885,236) received their second dose and 25.2% (1,088,028) have received a third dose.
It has been a crazy week of weather for Vancouver Island!
On Wednesday, another winter storm blew in, with heavy snowfall resulting in the suspension of Canada Post deliveries, CRD recycling services and bus routes throughout Thursday.
Then, the winds blew in, causing several BC Ferry sailings on the Swartz Bay/Tsawwassen route to be cancelled on Friday.
Now, as the weather clears, we hope the weather remains calm as we look forward to a relaxing weekend.
Here are 16 things to do in and around Victoria this weekend, January 8th-9th:
Depending on when you like to pack up your decorations and take the tree down, you may be trying to figure out where you can get this year’s tree chipped!
Before recycling, don’t forget to remove all screws, nails, lights and ornaments from the tree. These items may be potentially hazardous if passed through chipping equipment.
You can see our list of 22 places to get your tree chipped here.
The Rink at Uptown is ready to invite eager skaters in!
This holiday, guests will be able to skate for $5 per person and $2 skate rentals. Guests 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: John Beuhler: 7 p.m., Saturday, Comedy Here Often? The Late Show: 10 p.m., Saturday December 4th
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.
Ready to clear those pops bottles from the garage? Juan de Fuca Minor Hockey Team U8-C2 are hosting a drive-thru bottle drive. Simply load up your bottles and cans in your car trunk, drive through and they’ll grab them with no contact and no sorting. Just drop off and go! The team will also be collecting door-to-door in the Royal Bay area.
Location: Royal Bay Secondary School Soccer Field parking lot
Warning: This story contains graphic details relating to sexual assault which some readers may find upsetting.
A man accused of multiple sexual assault allegations at a downtown Victoria restaurant, which has since closed, has been charged following a lengthy investigation.
41-year-old Jesse Chiavaroli, a former employee of the now closed Chuck’s Burger Bar, was charged with sexual assault and assault with a weapon.
On December 10th, VicPD’s Special Victims Unit detectives arrested Chiavaroli on the Lower Mainland. He was later released with a court date and conditions, including conditions not to contact the survivors of sexual violence related to the recommended charges.
Chiavaroli was also arrested back in June six counts of sexual assault linking to restaurants and bars in Hamilton.
The cases began emerging in early February after multiple sexual assault allegations were leveled online against Chiavaroli from both customers and employees in Victoria.
The website Survivor Stories Project posted 10 different detailed accounts accusing the former staff member at Chuck’s Burger Bar of rape and assault.
There are reportedly 35 women that have come forward with allegations of sexual assault against the restaurant worker.
In several of the accounts, individuals describe being encouraged, coerced, or even forced into intoxication with alcohol supplied by the staff member, sometimes while he was on duty.
Some of the accounts go on to say they were further coerced or forced into taking illicit substances such as cocaine.
They go on to describe the staff member forcing them into non-consensual sex acts, becoming violent and angry if refused, and in some cases raping them while unconscious or semiconscious.
“I vaguely remember him forcing my friend to do coke and getting angry when I refused,” one account says.
“I also remember him making out with me and pulling me into his bedroom and trying to push me towards his bed, while I was protesting the entire time. I believe he was under the impression that I was more intoxicated than I was.”
The restaurant later fired Chiavaroli after public pressure and closed for good in March of 2021. The former staff member denied the allegations at the time.
Chiavaroli has now been charged with four counts of sexual assault and one count of assault with a weapon.
His next court appearance is on February 24th, 2022.
A Nanaimo RCMP’s officer was put at risk last week, when a suspect he was arresting attempted to steal the officer’s gun from his holster.
At approximately 2 p.m. on Tuesday, December 28th, a suspect attempted to grab a Mountie’s holstered firearm and made threats to use it against the officer.
The incident, which occurred in the area of Promenade Drive, began as reports of a shoplifter.
The suspect had allegedly thrown cosmetics at a Loss Prevention Officer (LPO) at London Drugs before threatening them with bear spray and fleeing on foot.
He was last seen heading toward the waterfront, where an officer located and approached the suspect.
The officer informed the suspect he was under arrest and proceeded to try to secure his wrist.
During this process, the suspect attempted to grab the officer’s holstered firearm and made threats to shoot him with it.
A civilian, overseeing the incident, intervened, distracting the suspect long enough for another officer to arrive.
The two officers were then able to subdue the man and handcuff him.
“This was an extremely dangerous and volatile situation for the officer. It is also a stark reminder of the dangers that front line officers are faced with,” said Constable Gary O’Brien of Nanaimo RCMP.
“The officer involved is to be commended for staying in the battle, using their training and relying on their physical conditioning to successfully meet the challenge.”
The suspect, 31-year-old Brian Imhoff, was arrested for assaulting a police officer, attempting to disarm a police officer, and uttering threats.
Imhoff appeared in court on January 4th where he was remanded into police custody until January 18th.
Thankfully, the officer involved was not seriously injured in the incident.
Investigators have released a photo of a witness they’re trying to identify after a sudden death of a young woman that occurred in downtown Victoria in November.
In a media release, VicPD stressed this is not a criminal investigation and the witness is not a suspect or a person of interest.
Shortly after 10 a.m. on Wednesday, November 17th, 2021, police responded to a call from BC paramedics regarding a woman in medical distress in the 1200-block of Wharf Street.
Unfortunately, the woman passed away despite medical treatment on scene.
A GoFundMe has been started to support the mother and help with funeral costs
“As many of you may know, Sarah Pollner tragically and suddenly lost her daughter Olivia Grace on November 17th,” the GoFundMe reads.
“Olivia was a funny kid that always made everyone laugh and smile. She wanted to be a vet tech and loved dogs more than anything else, she was a like most teenagers, fiercely independent with a big personality that always shined through.”
If you recognize this man or can assist in identifying him, call VicPD at (250) 995-7654. To report what you know anonymously, call Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Clear the snow from your vehicle before heading out!
After this week’s winter storm, Nanaimo RCMP warned motorists they would be on the lookout for “rolling snow forts”.
Police said “rolling snow forts” are vehicles in which their drivers have not taken the time to remove snow build up from their roofs.
If not properly cleared, remaining snow on a vehicle while in operation can be considered an insecure load under the Motor Vehicle Act.
In a media release, Constable Gary O’Brien said the traffic unit team are on the lookout for these vehicles as they can cause significant damage to unsuspecting motorists and threaten the safety of all others who share the same roadway.
Over the past twenty four hours, officers have cited several examples of these potentially dangerous vehicles in and around Nanaimo.
These drivers, young and old alike, have been provided with the tools and safe opportunity to clear the snow.
Although no tickets were issued in these instances, not clearing your car can potentially result in a $109 ticket and three penalty points under Section 195 (1) (b) of the Motor Vehicle Act, ‘Drive While View Obstructed’.
“The Officers of the Nanaimo Municipal Traffic Unit patrol the streets and highways in all weather conditions, looking to ensure the safety of motorists and pedestrians,” said O’Brien.
“The interaction they have had with motorists during the recent snowfall, is an example of their dedication to public safety as well as road safety education.”
In a frightening incident last week, a pedestrian was struck while crossing a downtown Victoria intersection – and in dashcam footage of the hit-and-run, the vehicle involved could be seen covered in a heavy layer of snow – another stark reminder of the importance of clearing your vehicle of any snow or ice that may be obstructing your view.
In a service notice Friday, BC Ferries announced the cancellation of six sailings affecting the Spirit of Vancouver Island, Coastal Renaissance and Coastal Celebration due to high winds.
The cancellations affect sailings between Tsawwassen and Swartz Bay, a popular and heavily trafficked route.
According to BC Ferries, Friday’s 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. sailings leaving Tsawwassen and 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. leaving Swartz Bay have been cancelled.
“The safety of our passengers and crew is of primary importance to us. We don’t take the decision to cancel sailings lightly, as we know customers rely on us to get to their destinations. We will resume service as soon as it is safe to do so,” BC Ferries said in a release.
“We appreciate your patience and apologize for any inconvenience experienced as a result of these cancellations.”
Environment Canada issued a wind warning for Friday until late this afternoon.
The weather agency is expecting southwesterly winds around 50 km/h, gusting to 70 km/h, in the majority of the region Friday. Winds will be a little more severe near the Juan de Fuca Strait, with 70 km/h winds gusting up to 90 km/h.
Customers with bookings will have their bookings cancelled and reservation fees refunded.
In a press release Thursday, VicPD announced they will be temporarily re-deploying officers to the patrol division in order to assist frontline call response.
The measure, which will begin this weekend, is in response to anticipated staffing shortages due to the quickly spreading Omicron variant.
According to VicPD, there are currently over 50 officers off work, primarily due to injury but also for training or administrative purposes.
VicPD is working to plan ahead to address the already imminent staffing challenges, only believed to increase with the increasing number of Omicron variant cases.
“Maintaining the continuity of police operations during this global pandemic is critical,” said Chief Del Manak.
“I am extremely grateful to our officers who are adjusting their shifts and schedules to serve on the frontlines, ensuring that citizens of Victoria and Esquimalt know that when they call 911, a uniformed officer will respond to their call for help.”
This redeployment marks the first time VicPD has enacted a clause in the collective agreement between the Victoria Police Department and the Victoria City Police Union (VCPU) to allow for this redeployment.
“The VCPU and VicPD are working together as we respond to the ongoing COVID-19 public health emergency,” said VCPU spokesperson Matt Waterman.
“The Union will continue to monitor and hopes the emergent situation will be resolved shortly so workers can return to their regular duties and schedule.”
