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(Dr. Bonnie Henry, Minister Adrian Dix/BC Gov Flickr)
BC is expanding the group of clinically vulnerable who can receive a third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
In their weekly COVID-19 update, BC Health officials, Dr. Bonnie Henry and Adrian Dix, announced the third dose booster for more than 100,000 individuals who are moderately to severely immuno-compromised.
Dr. Bonnie Henry said this new group includes (but is not limited to) people suffering from tumours who are receiving various treatments (chemo, molecular, hormone), people with immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), and those taking immuno-compromising medications.
A complete list of eligible residents to receive a third vaccine is available on the BC Centre for Disease Control’s website.
At the same press conference, changes to long-term care and acute care settings were also announced.
People visiting long-term care and acute care settings will need to be fully immunized by October 12th and October 26th, respectively.
On the topic of vaccinations, Dr. Bonnie Henry and Minister Dix encouraged health-care workers who have yet to receive a vaccination to do so by October 12th or risk a leave of absence without pay until they are vaccinated.
In September, BC mandated immunization in all health-care settings.
By October 12th, health care workers must have at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccination, with the promise of receiving a second one up to 35 days later.
Religious exemption will not be accepted, only medical exemption will be.
Dix said that 97% of health-care workers on Vancouver Island have been vaccinated against COVID-19 with at least one dose; 94% are fully immunized.
As of yesterday, Minister Dix said there were 467 people in ICU right now – 94.3% of beds are occupied, not including surge beds.
In BC there are 510 critical care beds in BC and 218 surge beds.
From September 27th to October 3rd, people not fully vaccinated accounted for 70.7% of cases and from September 20th to Oct 3rd, for 78.1% of hospitalizations.
In the past two weeks 347 COVID cases were hospitalized. Of those, 242 (69.7%) were unvaccinated.
The BC Ministry of Health reported 593 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, October 5th.
There have been 190,372 cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began.
New cases were reported in these health regions:
Vancouver Coastal Health: 68
Fraser Health: 203
Island Health: 107
Interior Health: 128
Northern Health: 87
Resident outside Canada: 0
There are currently 5,937 active cases of COVID-19 in the province.
182,045 people who tested positive have recovered.
There are now a total of 345 people in hospital due to COVID-19, 144 of whom are in critical care — ICU or acute care units.
There were no reports of deaths from COVID-related causes, making the provincial death toll 1,983.
Data by Vaccination Status:
From September 27th to October 3rd, people not fully vaccinated accounted for 70.7% of cases. From September 20th to October 3rd, they accounted for 78.1% of hospitalizations.
Past week cases (Sept. 27-Oct. 3):
Total: 4,922
Not vaccinated: 3,160 (64.2%)
Partially vaccinated: 320 (6.5%)
Fully vaccinated: 1,442 (29.3%)
Past two weeks cases hospitalized (Sept. 20-Oct. 3)
Total: 347
Not vaccinated: 242 (69.7%)
Partially vaccinated: 29 (8.4%)
Fully vaccinated: 76 (21.9%)
Past week, cases per 100,000 population after adjusting for age (Sept. 27-Oct. 3):
Not vaccinated: 297.3
Partially vaccinated: 90.1
Fully vaccinated: 35.1
Past two weeks, cases hospitalized per 100,000 population after adjusting for age (Sept. 20 to Oct. 3):
Not vaccinated: 36.7
Partially vaccinated: 12.9
Fully vaccinated: 1.7
Outbreaks
There has been one new health-care facility outbreak at the University Hospital of Northern BC (Northern Health).
The outbreak at Menno Terrace East (Fraser Health) has been declared over.
There are a total of 19 active outbreaks, including:
Long-Term Care: Willingdon Care Centre, Westminster House, The Residence in Mission, Magnolia Gardens, Manoah Manor and Good Samaritan Delta View Care Centre (Fraser Health), Louis Brier Home and Hospital (Vancouver Coastal Health), Cottonwoods Care Centre, The Hamlets at Westsyde, Joseph Creek Care Village, Overlander, Village by the Station (Interior Health), Wrinch Memorial Hospital, Jubilee Lodge (Northern Health) and Victoria Chinatown Care Centre (Island Health).
Acute Care: University Hospital of Northern BC (Northern Health) and Royal Inland Hospital (Interior Health).
Assisted or Independent Living: Sunset Manor (Fraser Health) and Cooper Place (Vancouver Coastal Health).
Island Health:
Island Health reported 107 new cases of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Island region and 621 active cases.
Breakdown of cases on Vancouver Island:
South Vancouver Island Active cases: 327 │Total Cases: 3813
Central Vancouver Island Active cases: 242 │ Total Cases: 4010
North Vancouver Island Active cases: 52 │Total Cases: 1138
40 people remain in hospital with 23 in ICU.
There have been no new deaths reported in the Island Health region today, and a total of 70 deaths on Vancouver Island.
Vaccinations
As of Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021, 88.3% of eligible people 12 and older in B.C. have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine and 81.7% received their second dose.
In addition, 88.8% of all eligible adults in B.C. have received their first dose and 82.5% received their second dose.
To date, 7,894,975 (+10,905) doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in BC; 3,789,179 (+7,171) of which are second doses.
A number of power outages have affected southern Vancouver Island residents this afternoon, likely due to the surprise high winds.
Residents in Oak Bay, North Saanich and Central Saanich, as well as Metchosin, Sooke, Duncan, and Salt Spring Island have been left in the dark as BC Hydro is investigating power outages in each area.
Over 5,800 residents have been affected by the power outage.
Outages began around 2 p.m. for most areas, with some beginning in the morning.
As of 3:16 p.m.,BC Hydro was still investigating the majority of the power outages.
This afternoon, wind warnings in Greater Victoria were in effect with wind moving west at 30 km/h and gusting to 50 km/h.
Currently, there are no wind warnings in effect.
If your outage isn’t shown, call 1-800-BCHYDRO (1 800 224 9376) or *HYDRO (*49376) on your mobile or report it online.
Hide and Seek Coffee’s Fall menu is overflowing with new favourites. The cafe will be offering a Butterscotch Pumpkin Spice Latte, Cardamom Tea Latte, Apple Pie Latte and a Ginger Apple Spritz .
Location: 2207 Oak Bay Avenue
Hours: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday and Sunday
This Fall, Discovery Coffee will be bringing back their Pumpkin Spice Latte crafted with their homemade spice blend. They will also be offering a hot apple cider for those looking for something without coffee.
Location: 664 Discovery Street, 1001 Blanshard Street, 2550 Rock Bay Avenue, 1964 Oak Bay Avenue and 281 Menzies Street
Victoria is receiving some well-deserved adoration.
Popular Travel magazine, Condé Nast Traveler, listed their 12 Best Hotels in Canada based on reader’s choice.
Two Victoria hotels topped the list—one of which came first.
Oak Bay Beach Hotel has been crowned #1 by Conde Naste Traveller’s reader’s choice and it’s the third time in a row it has topped the list.
This luxury boutique hotel is nestled on the shores of the Pacific ocean looking over the Juan de Fuca strait with the snowy-topped Mount Baker sitting in the distance.
Sitting at #12 is the oh-so-delightful Magnolia Hotel & Spa in downtown Victoria.
For the fourth time in a row, this Inner Harbour hotel and spa is both cute, small—at just 64 rooms—and perfect for anyone looking for rest and relaxation, as well as a night out on the town.
And this was all the more reason readers chose it again.
“This louche little boîte skews a tad small, but that’s what we like about it—no crowds, no confused or overwhelmed staff, and certainly no angling for speedy service,” said Conde Nast Traveler.
With an added spa, even locals can go in and enjoy some rest and relaxation.
So, if you’re coming from out of town, or you just need a staycation, consider one of these two hotels, because they’re already considered some of the best in Canada!
In a press release today, the BC Public Service Agency, along with the Provincial Health Officer announced new vaccination regulations for BC public service workers.
As of November 22nd, the BC government will be requiring full COVID-19 vaccination as a requirement of employment for BC public service workers.
This announcement affects 30,000 employees working in core government offices or ministries.
Later this fall, it is predicted more public works employees will be returning to regular workplaces after working remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
These additional measures will add an extra layer of protection as employees return to work.
Proof of full vaccination status must be provided by BC Public Works employees by November 22nd.
BC Public Works has not yet announced details of accommodation for those employees who are unable to be vaccinated, however, they said they will release those details by early November.
For nearly 6 hours, 3.5 billion users across the world were unable to access their favourite social media platforms and were forced to socialize in person and maybe even go outside.
Facebook attributed the crash to an error in the reconfiguration of routers, which took the site (as well as its other platforms) offline.
Confirmed: The DNS records that tell systems how to find https://t.co/qHzVq2Mr4E or https://t.co/JoIPxXI9GI got withdrawn this morning from the global routing tables. Can you imagine working at FB right now, when your email no longer works & all your internal FB-based tools fail?
As a result, Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, is said to have lost approximately 9 billion dollars. However, his net worth is approximately 122 billion dollars.
Facebook stock also dropped nearly 5% by the end of the day.
By 4 p.m. PST, the social media platforms were restored and with them, peace.
Steve Wallace—owner of Steve Wallace Driving School and former Mayor of Quesnel—has been accused of three counts of sexual assault based on recommendations from VicPD.
One count is from 2011 and two others are from 2021—Wallace has 30 days to appeal.
The fallout comes after an Instagram account, Wallace Driving School Victims, began sharing stories of alleged sexual assault by Wallace towards women and girls—some as young as 16.
The group has amassed nearly 2,000 followers and effectively become a safe space for alleged victims of sexual assault by Wallace. So far, there are a total of 15 victim’s alleged stories.
In the meantime, Wallace has a court date—the undertaking documents show a tentative court date has been set for November 25th, 2021—and as a result of these
accusations, ICBC has permanently suspended Wallace’s teaching license.
“Over the past several weeks, ICBC has taken direct statements from individuals who have made allegations of unconscionable conduct, including sexual harassment, against Mr. Wallace,” ICBC said in a statement.
“As a result of the findings of ICBC’s investigation, we have made the decision to permanently cancel Wallace’s driver instructor license.”
Not only that, but Wallace’s bylines with the Times Colonist have also been removed.
Aiko Oye, an alleged victim of Wallace, said she feels grateful now that charges are being recommended by VicPD and the pending court date.
“It’s been really amazing to see something being done about this, I feel grateful because I know this isn’t always the outcome,” Oye said.
“I’m hoping the charges stick, and if this goes to court I’m hoping it will give power to victims of similar cases, and let them know they don’t ever have to stay silent.”
A 24-year-old woman has died after head-on crash in Courtenay Monday evening.
According to Comox Valley RCMP, the crash occurred at about 6:18 p.m., officers responded to multiple 911 calls reporting a crash on Veterans Memorial Parkway.
Upon arrival, officers saw that the driver of a heavily damaged Honda Civic was being treated by paramedics and firefighters who were trying to save her life.
Sadly, the young woman died after being transported to hospital.
Several witnesses told investigators the Honda Civic suddenly veered into oncoming before colliding with a full sized pickup truck towing a travel trailer.
“Investigators are being assisted by a traffic analyst from the BC Integrated Collision Analyst and Reconstruction Service as the exact cause of the collision continues to be examined,” said Comox Valley RCMP Cst. Monika Terragni.
The driver of the pickup truck sustained non-life threatening injuries and was transported to hospital.
The BC Coroners Service has been notified and has launched its own concurrent fact-
finding investigation into the death of the driver.
Anyone who witnessed the crash and have not yet spoken to police, or you have dash camera footage of the collision, are asked to call the Comox Valley RCMP at 250-338-1321.
Nanaimo RCMP are asking for dashcam footage or witnesses who may have seen three male suspects assault a 24-year-old homeless man with a metal pipe this past weekend.
Police said the unprovoked attack occurred just before 11 p.m. at Museum Way in downtown Nanaimo on Saturday October 2nd.
Police responded to a report of an assault with a weapon and were told that a homelessness person had been struck with a metal pipe or similar object.
The victim was transported to hospital with head and facial trauma.
Witnesses told investigators that three male suspects dressed in dark clothing approached the victim on Museum Way.
According to witnesses, the suspects asked the victim a question and suddenly struck him with an object resembling a metal pipe.
The suspects then ran towards Gordon Street and were last seen getting into a black minivan that fled toward Terminal Avenue.
Anyone with dashcam or other video footage from the area bounded by Museum Way, Commercial Street, Terminal Avenue and Gordon Street between the hours of 9 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on October 2nd are asked to contact investigators.
Additionally, police are asking anyone who may have witnessed this attack to contact Nanaimo RCMP at 250-754-2345.
If you did, you were one of more than 3.1 million campers who stayed in provincial parks during the 2021 camping season.
Discover Camping, the BC Parks online booking platform, saw more than 260,000 reservations, marking the highest volume of bookings on record.
As a result, BC Parks has dedicated a significant investment to expand and enhance opportunities for outdoor recreation, including new campsites, trails and upgrades to facilities.
$21.5 million dollars will be invested over the next three years, part of an $83 million dollar budget increase to BC Parks operating overall.
On Vancouver Island, Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park and Miracle Beach Provincial Park are set to benefit from this investment.
Improvements to Miracle Beach Provincial Park include trail enhancements, including a new bicycle flow track and accessibility upgrades.
Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park projects include improving accessibility for day-use trails.
The province is consulting with First Nations governments as well as environmental assessments before moving forward with the park projects and campsite expansions.
“We are taking strides to ensure our parks are inclusive and welcome for all,” said Kelly Greene, Parliamentary Secretary for Environment,
“As well as our plans for more campsites, improved trails and better accessibility, we are working in partnership with First Nations to reflect Indigenous history and culture in our provincial parks and deepen our understanding of connection to the land.”
VicPD are seeking the public’s help in their search for a high-risk missing 68-year-old woman.
Patricia Thomas who goes by “Kathy”, was last seen in Esquimalt on September 22nd.
Her family discovered her missing and are concerned about her well-being.
According to police, Thomas suffers from a medical condition and requires immediate support.
“While officers have no direct information that Kathy is at risk of immediate harm, her medical concerns, the length of time that she has been missing and previous files in which she has been reported missing all mean that the circumstances under which Patricia have gone missing are considered high-risk,” said VicPD in a media release.
Thomas is described as a 68-year-old Caucasian woman with medium-length greying brown hair and blue eyes. She is 5’5″ tall, with a medium build and might be wearing black leggings and a pink or cream coloured sweater.
Anyone who spots Thomas is asked to call 911, or anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to call VicPD at (250) 995-7654.
To report what you know anonymously, call Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Thanksgiving is coming up and with the cool winds bringing on those cozy sweaters it feels like the perfect time to talk about food.
From gravy to cranberry sauce, to brussel sprouts and stuffing, to the classic roast turkey, Thanksgiving is often a time to fill up on family, fun, and food.
It’s also a great time to express gratitude.
But that doesn’t mean there can’t be a little competition.
In a recent survey, Chef’s Pencil tracked down which provinces prefer which side dishes at Turkey time.
By analyzing the number of Google searches done last year around Thanksgiving (between October 8th and October 12th), Chef’s Pencil determined the country’s favourite side dishes and desserts.
Brussels sprouts – roasted or with ham – are the top favorite in British Columbia, Alberta, and Yukon with Butternut Squash and Mashed Potatoes battling it out for the remainder of the country.
Not surprising was the fact that gravy won in almost all provinces except Newfoundland and Labrador, where cranberry sauce reigned supreme.
But this is a democracy after all, and its desserts where the country, you could say, banana splits.
If you are in Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador, apple pie is the king of Thanksgiving desserts. And there are two more exceptions to the rule: New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, where apple crisp is the most popular Thanksgiving dessert.
The remainder of Canada picked a classic: pumpkin pie.
But what about the stuffing?
Well, Chef’s Pencil said that while it was the most searched item around Thanksgiving time, they chose not to include stuffing in the report.
Let’s hope that you don’t forget to include it on your dinner table though.
The BC Ministry of Health reported 1,986 new cases of COVID-19 for a three-day period on Monday, October 4th.
There have been 189,680 cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began.
Day-to-Day Breakdown:
Friday-Saturday: 617
Saturday-Sunday: 707
Sunday-Monday: 662
New cases were reported in these health regions:
Vancouver Coastal Health: 226
Fraser Health: 782
Island Health: 218
Interior Health: 414
Northern Health: 346
Resident outside Canada: 0
There are currently 5,986 active cases of COVID-19 in the province.
181,304 people who tested positive have recovered.
There are now a total of 326 people in hospital due to COVID-19, 142 of whom are in critical care — ICU or acute care units.
10 new people have died from COVID-related causes, making the provincial death toll 1,983.
Data by Vaccination Status:
From September 24th to 30th, people not fully vaccinated accounted for 71.5% of cases. From September 17th to 30th, they accounted for 81.4% of hospitalizations.
Past week cases (Sept. 24-30):
Total: 5,106
Not vaccinated: 3,303 (64.7%)
Partially vaccinated: 346 (6.8%)
Fully vaccinated: 1,457 (28.5%)
Past two weeks cases hospitalized (Sept. 17-30):
Total: 383
Not vaccinated: 272 (71.0%)
Partially vaccinated: 40 (10.4%)
Fully vaccinated: 71 (18.5%)
Past week, cases per 100,000 population after adjusting for age (Sept. 24-30):
Not vaccinated: 295.7
Partially vaccinated: 98.5
Fully vaccinated: 35.8
Past two weeks, cases hospitalized per 100,000 population after adjusting for age (Sept. 17-30):
Not vaccinated: 40.5
Partially vaccinated: 17.0
Fully vaccinated: 1.6
Outbreaks
There have been two new health-care facility outbreaks at Manoah Manor and Good Samaritan Delta View Care Centre (Fraser Health).
The outbreaks at Hallmark on the Lake (Fraser Health), Arbutus Care Centre (Vancouver Coastal Health), Kamloops Seniors Village and Hardy View Lodge (Interior Health) have been declared over.
There are a total of 20 active outbreaks, including:
Long-Term Care: Willingdon Care Centre, Westminster House, The Residence in Mission, Magnolia Gardens, Manoah Manor and Good Samaritan Delta View Care Centre (Fraser Health), Louis Brier Home and Hospital (Vancouver Coastal Health), Cottonwoods Care Centre, The Hamlets at Westsyde, Joseph Creek Care Village, Overlander, Village by the Station (Interior Health) Wrinch Memorial Hospital, Jubilee Lodge (Northern Health) andVictoria Chinatown Care Centre (Island Health).
Acute Care: University Hospital of Northern BC (Northern Health) and Royal Inland Hospital (Interior Health).
Assisted or Independent Living: Sunset Manor, Menno Terrace East (Fraser Health) and Cooper Place (Vancouver Coastal Health).
Island Health:
Island Health reported 218 new cases of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Island region and 597 active cases.
Breakdown of cases on Vancouver Island:
South Vancouver Island Active cases: 312 │Total Cases: 3774
Central Vancouver Island Active cases: 240 │ Total Cases: 3983
North Vancouver Island Active cases: 45 │Total Cases: 1126
37 people remain in hospital with 25 in ICU.
There were no new deaths reported in the Island Health region, and a total of 70 deaths on Vancouver Island since the pandemic began.
Vaccinations
As of Monday, Oct. 4, 2021, 88.2% of eligible people 12 and older in B.C. have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine and 81.6% received their second dose.
In addition, 88.7% of all eligible adults in B.C. have received their first dose and 82.3% received their second dose.
To date, 7,884,070 (+31,185) doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in BC; 3,782,008 (+20,960) of which are second doses.
Later this month, we will get a glimpse of a full Hunter’s Moon over Victoria.
Similar to September’s Harvest Moon, the Hunter’s Moon rises around the same time for several nights, giving Vancouver Islanders multiple opportunities to view it.
The Hunter’s Moon will reach peak illumination at 7:57 a.m. PST on Wednesday, October 20th. You will be able to see it in the sky that night around sunset, at approximately 6:35 p.m.
Along with appearing a perfect Autumn orange hue, the moon may also appear larger than expected.
According to the Farmer’s Almanac, this is called a “Moon Illusion”. This is a trick of the brain when the moon is still touching the horizon, rather than further up in the sky.
The Hunter’s Moon isn’t actually larger, but this along with it’s orange appearance makes for the perfect October experience.
Live music is back at Mary Winspear Centre, with their special series dubbed the Seaside Sessions, featuring exclusive performances by a handful of talented artists.
Next up is soul-inspired Witch Prophet, hitting the stage on Thursday, October 14th and we’re giving away a pair of tickets so you can see her in concert for yourself – contest details are below!
Witch Prophet is a queer, Ethiopian/Eritrean, singer-songwriter who provides her fans with a soundscape of vocal layers, loops, raps, and harmonies on a bed of hip-hop, jazz, and soul-inspired beats.
She finds depth and connection in creating music as a portal for self-growth and discovery, as she navigates and better understands her cultural and queer identity.
Witch Prophet has shared the stage with and opened for acts like THEESatisfaction, Shabazz Palaces, Lido Pimienta, A Tribe Called Red, Climbing Poetree, SAMMUS, Sean Leon, JPEGMAFIA, The Cliks, Rae Spoon, Zaki Ibrahim, Kae Sun, and LAL, just to name a few.
Her vocals have appeared on Shad’s “Flying Colours” LP, and she has toured Europe independently twice; playing shows in Paris, Amsterdam, London, and Berlin, as well as performed at North American and European music festivals like: Black Women Rock, New Skool Rules, Soul Of Brooklyn, Allied Media Conference, Montreal Jazz Festival, Sappy Fest, Electric Eclectic, Summerworks, Ottawa Capital Pride, Pride Toronto, Pop Montreal, Halifax Pop Explosion and so many more!
In March of 2020, Witch Prophet released her Ontario Arts Council funded sophomore LP “D.N.A Activation”.
An ode to her Ethiopian and Eritrean ancestral roots, fusing Jazz, Hip-Hop, Soul and RnB with songs sung in English, Amharic, and Tigrinya.
Co-produced by herself and her partner SUN SUN, praised by press and music lovers alike, DNA Activation was shortlisted for the 2020 Polaris Music Prize. She has since been signed to Ki An Projects, a new label in the UK for the release of a deluxe edition of DNA Activation.
Tickets for Witch Prophet’s show at Mary Winspear Centre are now available for purchaseonline.
Seaside Sessions is an eight part series highlighting emerging and underrepresented Canadian talent in a cross section of genres. This program is in partnership with FACTOR Canada: a non-profit dedicated to providing assistance toward the growth and development of the Canadian music industry.
Each performance will be filmed in 4k in front of a live audience, fans can experience a 45-minute recording on YouTube for free or purchase the extended 90-minute 4k edition.
Mary Winspear Centre will be taking all measures to provide a safe, sanitized and comfortable concert setting, following current regulations provided by the provincial government and Worksafe BC.
Masks will be mandatory in all public indoor spaces, and proof of first vaccination will be required for anyone 12 years of age and older to attend any performance in the Charlie White Theatre between Monday, September 13th and Sunday, October 23rd. Events held Monday, October 24th onwards will require proof of second vaccine. You will be asked to show your Vaccine Card along with a government issued ID if you are 19+.
View Mary Winspear Centre’s full COVID-19 planhere.
CONTEST
For a chance to WIN 2 tickets to see Witch Prophet at Mary Winspear Centre, please do one of more of the following:
SHARE this post on Facebook and/or Twitter and leave a comment below telling us once you have. (1 entry)
Contest entries will be accepted from the time and date of publishing until 11:59 pm on October 13th. One winner will be chosen at random and contacted through the platform they used to enter.
A new mixed-use housing development is under construction at the former Tally Ho property in Victoria.
Located at 3020 Douglas Street and 584 Burnside Road East, the Crosstown development project will provide 100 affordable rental homes for individuals, seniors, and families and 54 supportive homes for people experiencing homelessness.
The rental housing will include a mix of studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom homes for people with moderate and low income, and either studio or one-bedroom homes will be provided for supportive housing residents.
Victoria Cool Aid Society partnered with the City of Victoria using a provincial investment of $28.2 million.
In addition, a new child care facility with 36 new spaces is intended to open, operated by Beacon Community Services.
On the supportive housing side, Cool Aid Society will provide on-site support for individuals needing daily meals, life-skills training, employment assistance and counselling, physical and mental health resources, and access to treatment and recovery services.
Current residents at the Cool-Aid run Tally Ho temporary housing facility will have the option of moving to the new facility.
“Crosstown is a fantastic example of the kind of innovation and forward thinking we need in the housing sector in order to make lasting change,” CEO of Victoria Cool Aid Society, Kathy Stinson, said.
“A combination of affordable and supportive housing, along with commercial space and a child care centre, will create the kind of environment in which everyone who lives, works and plays there has the opportunity to thrive. We are truly excited to see this vision becoming a reality.”
The development will include commercial space, a coffee shop and a public plaza.
This week, thirty cats and kittens will be arriving at PetSmart’s Uptown location, directly from the Embrace a Discarded Animal Society.
The Embrace Society saves animals from overcrowded shelters across the United States and gives them a second chance through adoption events through participating stores such as PetSmart.
From October 6th to 10th, you can visit PetSmart Uptown to meet these cats and apply to have one be a part of your family.
To be pre-approved for a kitten prior to visiting, you can visit the Embrace Society’s website to apply. Applications can indicate ‘unknown cat’ on their application.
These kittens are sure to be adopted fast! Pre-applying will speed up the adoption process once you have met the kittens.
Each application will be reviewed individually.
The event will start Wednesday, October 6th at noon and will operate during the store’s working hours through October 10th.
Additionally, the event is also seeking volunteers.
Volunteers will help set up the event Wednesday morning, care for the cats and help to provide potential homes with the necessary information they need prior to adopting.
If you are interested in volunteering, you can send Embrace Society a message through their Facebook Page.
Please share our post!Kitten/cat adoption event to be held at Petsmart Uptown in Victoria! Oct 6th-10th! 30…
Pumpkinfest at Galey Farms starts this Saturday, October 2nd!
This year, Galey is offering combo tickets which include a train ride past the pumpkin patch and through the Halloween displays and two-hectare corn maze.
Guests are then invited to visit the pumpkin patch to pick out the perfect pumpkin!
No walk-ins will be accepted, tickets must be purchased online prior to attending.
Hours: Every October weekend, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Last train ride at 4 p.m.)
Michell Farms has been growing on the Saanich Peninsula for over 150 years and is a local favourite for pumpkin picking! Visit their farm to grab some fresh, local produce and the perfect pumpkin.
Ocean View Estates’ pumpkin patch is now open! Buy your general admission ticket to secure your time. They also have an on-site photographer if you’re looking for the perfect fall photo op!
Location: 7979 Central Saanich Road
Hours: Pumpkin Patch hours begin at 9:30 a.m. and close at 6:30 p.m.
This year, Silver Rill is offering U-Pick pumpkins for the first time ever! Pick your pumpkins and visit with the goats and chickens for the perfect fall day.
Visit the patch to choose your own pumpkin or purchase a pre-weighed pumpkin at the Market.
Unfortunately, there are still some local farms that are not offering U-Pick this year, such as Longview Farms. This year, their pumpkins will be sold at Thrifty Foods, but don’t worry, they plan to be back next year for U-Pick!
For the first time in over half a century, a Canadian naval ship has crossed the Northwest Passage.
The HMCS Harry DeWolf—the Royal Canadian Navy’s (RCN) newest Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship (AOPS)—will pass by Ogden Point at approximately 4 p.m. today, Sunday, October 3rd.
Local are encouraged to stop by view the first vessel of its class as it remains berthed alongside Ogden Point overnight.
HMCS Harry DeWolf is nearly halfway through its maiden operational deployment already demonstrating its versatility by successfully crossing the fabled Northwest Passage while exercising the defence of Canada in northern regions.
In October it will participate in drug interdiction operations before transiting the Panama Canal.
My favourite photo of the entrance into #Vancouver this morning by @HMCSHarryDeWolf
Harry DeWolf will move to CFB Esquimalt on Monday, October 4th so the ship and crew can undertake a rest and maintenance period. When HMCS Harry DeWolf returns to its home port of Halifax, Nova Scotia it will be the first Canadian Warship since HMCS Labrador in 1954 to complete the circumnavigation of North America.
HMCS Harry DeWolf is the first of six arctic offshore patrol vessels built under Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy.
There are about 87 sailors aboard HMCS Harry DeWolf, which is the size of a Canadian football field and 19 metres wide.
I fear I may be cultivating a reputation at the office.
Ordinarily, I don’t put much stock in what other people think of me. For starters, I don’t really believe I’m worth thinking about: a writer and journalist in a mid-sized capital city of a semi-large province of a semi-important country on a semi-important planet in an area of the Milky Way Galaxy which, judging from the continued absence of aliens, is the proverbial Nebraska of the universe.
In all that vastness, why should I care about how people see me at work?
But I think it was a moment at a pizza party. The last slice, you see.
“Tim’ll finish it,” they said.
Just like that. Not a question. A statement of fact. Tim. Will. Finish. It.
And in that moment, I realized: I have become the office garburator.
It’s my own fault, and I make no excuses for that. I’ve always been the guy to go around post-meetings, post-birthdays, post-quarterly-mitzvahs, etc., scrounging up the leftover passed hors d’oeuvres like some kind of Office Krampus collecting tributes.
What can I say? Free food shouldn’t go to waste.
It’s a philosophy I had deeply drilled into me growing up. At Boy Scout camp, the mantra of “take all you want, BUT EAT ALL YOU TAKE” was hammered into us – in one case quite literally, with a wooden sign nailed atop the main lodge to hang over the dining table like the sword of damocles.
I also think my parents had an effect on that mentality, with both my father and mother coming from households used to WW2-style rationing. That, in turn, bled into coupon-scrounging and semi-hoarding that would make Storage Wars blush.
Then there’s the broader cultural upbringing. I still remember all those advertisements on public networks that shamed me from the ages of 6 to 14, informing me that there were starving orphans all over Africa, and any microscopic crumb I dared waste was a slap in the face to those hollow-eyed children.
You don’t see those ads much anymore, but in the back of my subconscious, I’ll always be thinking “Did we solve that problem? Why is nobody talking about starving orphans still? Did it go out of fashion because one of the celebs in the campaign made a holocaust joke on Twitter? Did STARVING AFRICA get hashtag-CANCELLED?
AAAAUGH maybe if I stuff my face with this month-old Halloween candy our accountant left out I’ll feel better.”
So yah, I’m definitely the guy that can be counted on to dispose of the leavings of the office. And like I said, under ordinary circumstances that reputation might not be an issue, but I’m worried now that it’s become widely understood that I will vacuum up the table scraps of the office, we’re reaching the point where it might become something else.
It could become a challenge.
Like, next thing I know my coworkers will quietly begin stocking up on things like Prairie Oysters or Escargot Balls or, god forbid, Boursin Cheese.* And they’ll troll me by leaving it out on little plates around the cubicles, and then lament, loudly, in my direction: “Oh dear! Isn’t SOMEONE going to finish this off?”
And like Pavlov’s dog, I will emerge, salivating, and scrounge up whatever concoctions they deem fit to test on my iron stomach.
But what can I say?
I gotta be me.
*you heard me.
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 BC Ministry of Health reported 714 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, October 1st.
There have been 187,694 cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began.
New cases were reported in these health regions:
Vancouver Coastal Health: 73
Fraser Health: 274
Island Health: 56
Interior Health: 205
Northern Health: 106
Resident outside Canada: 0
There are currently 6,317 active cases of COVID-19 in the province.
178,980 people who tested positive have recovered.
There are now a total of 328 people in hospital due to COVID-19, 138 of whom are in critical care — ICU or acute care units.
11 new people have died from COVID-related causes, making the provincial death toll at 1,973.
Data by Vaccination Status:
From September 23rd to 29th, people not fully vaccinated accounted for 71.3% of cases.
From September 15th to 29th, they accounted for 80.8% of hospitalizations.
Past week cases (Sept. 23-29):
Total: 5,152
Not vaccinated: 3,311 (64.3%)
Partially vaccinated: 3,59 (7.0%)
Fully vaccinated: 1,482 (28.8%)
Past two weeks cases hospitalized (Sept. 16-29):
Total: 426
Not vaccinated: 302 (70.9%)
Partially vaccinated: 42 (9.9%)
Fully vaccinated: 82 (19.2%)
Past week, cases per 100,000 population after adjusting for age (Sept. 23-29):
Not vaccinated: 296.6
Partially vaccinated: 98.0
Fully vaccinated: 36.6
Past two weeks, cases hospitalized per 100,000 population after adjusting for age (Sept. 16-29):
Not vaccinated: 44.4
Partially vaccinated: 17.7
Fully vaccinated: 1.9
Outbreaks
There are 22 active health facility outbreaks, including:
Long-Term Care: Willingdon Care Centre, Westminster House, The Residence in Mission, Magnolia Gardens (Fraser Health); Arbutus Care Centre, Louis Brier Home and Hospital (Vancouver Coastal Health); Cottonwoods Care Centre, Kamloops Seniors Village, The Hamlets at Westsyde, Joseph Creek Care Village, Overlander, Village by the Station (Interior Health); Wrinch Memorial Hospital, Jubilee Lodge (Northern Health); and Victoria Chinatown Care Centre (Island Health).
Acute Care: University Hospital of Northern BC (Northern Health) and Royal Inland Hospital (Interior Health).
Assisted or Independent Living: Sunset Manor, Menno Terrace East, Hallmark on the Lake (Fraser Health), Hardy View Lodge (Interior Health) and Cooper Place (Vancouver Coastal Health).
Island Health:
Island Health reported 56 new cases of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Island region and 536 active cases.
Breakdown of cases on Vancouver Island:
South Vancouver Island Active cases: 286 │Total Cases: 3659
Central Vancouver Island Active cases: 214 │ Total Cases: 3893
North Vancouver Island Active cases: 36 │Total Cases: 1106
33 people remain in hospital with 21 in ICU.
Vaccinations
To date, 88% of eligible people 12 and older in B.C. have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine and 81.1% have received their second dose.
In addition, 88.5% of all eligible adults in B.C. have received their first dose and 81.9% have received their second dose.
To date, 7,852,885 (+21,656) doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in BC; 3,761,048 (+15,591) of which are second doses.
Three men bound for Vancouver Island were arrested by Sidney RCMP last Saturday after they allegedly refused to wear masks and threatened passengers aboard a BC Ferries vessel.
On September 24th, at approximately 8:35 p.m., Sidney RCMP were called to attended the Spirit of British Columbia ferry which was inbound from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay, after it was reported that three man had become aggressive toward other passengers.
According to a media release from RCMP, the three men became aggressive after they were confronted by passengers and BC ferries officials for not wearing a mask.
Officers boarded the vessel and located the men who were arrested without incident.
All three men have since been released pending a court date in December—all have conditions to stay off of BC Ferries property.
“The Provincial mandates are in place to protect the public and help control the spread of the COVID-19 virus,” said Corporal Andres Sanchez media relations officer at the Sidney/North Saanich RCMP.
“These individuals defied the direction of the trained crew members who’s job is first and foremost to keep passengers safe. These three men took it upon themselves to put others health at risk by refusing to wear the masks on a crowded voyage and when confronted on their behaviour, threatened others,” said Sanchez.
The mask mandate was reinstated on BC Ferries vessels on August 25th. Passengers 12 and older are required to wear masks in all indoor public spaces regardless of vaccination status, unless they are inside a vehicle or consuming food or drinks in a designated area.
By now, we’re sure most Canadians have heard that Justin Trudeau was seen walking the beaches of Tofino on the first annual Truth and Reconciliation Day.
In fact, one journalist caught up with the Prime Minister in a video below:
Global News caught up with Justin Trudeau, who was vacationing in Tofino on Canada's first National Truth and Reconciliation Day.
His official itinerary placed him in "private meetings" in Ottawa.
Canadians have reacted to the incident shocked, especially since Trudeau’s government created the federal statutory holiday and his itinerary pitted him in Ottawa for the day.
Others are upset because Trudeau had received at least two invitations to spend the day with survivors and their families of the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation, who uncovered the remains of 215 children at a residential school site earlier this year.
Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation Chief Rosanne Casimir said she was deeply saddened by Trudeau’s choice:
Sid Seixeiro, former sports talk show host and now Breakfast Television anchor, had choice words for Trudeau, effectively calling the government liars:
While most Canadians spent September 30th honouring #NDTR, reports showing Canadian Prime Minister @justintrudeau vacationing in #Tofino B.C. shocked the nation. What did you make of the prime minister vacationing on the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation? @sid_seixeiropic.twitter.com/SdXF2soKV1
Today, the hashtag #TofinoTrudeau began to trend on Twitter in light of the incident.
Trudeau took to Twitter in the late afternoon on Thursday telling his followers that he “spent some time on the phone today with residential school survivors from across the country.”
I spent some time on the phone today with residential school survivors from across the country, hearing their stories and getting their advice on the path forward. By listening and learning, we can walk down that path – and advance meaningful reconciliation – together.
Despite the Prime Minister’s actions, nearly 1,000 Victoria residents took to Centennial Square on National Truth & Reconciliation Day to honour and observe the day and pay respects to former residential school victims and survivors.
If you have been looking to get back into some in-person events this weekend is packed with opportunity!
Events include sports events, comedy shows, literary festivals and more.
While we are finally able to get back to all the events we love with our family and friends, just remember to follow both physical distancing and vaccination guidelines set by the BC Health officials and event coordinators.
Here are 18 things to do in and around Victoria this weekend, October 2nd-3rd:
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: Graham Clark: 7 p.m., Saturday and Comedy Here Often? The Late Show: 10 p.m., Saturday, October 2nd
Tickets: $20. Tickets can be purchased online here.
After last year’s remote event, the Victoria Festival of Authors will be returning with a hybrid event!
This year, the festival will have both in-person and online events for you to enjoy.
This year, the event will host thirty authors. There will be seven in-person events, however, all in-person programming will be live-streamed for free!
When: Friday, October 1st to Sunday October 3rd. View the schedule here.
Attend the Shelbourne Memorial Trees Anniversary Event
This Saturday, The District of Saanich, the City of Victoria and the Memorial Avenue Committee will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the planting of the London Memorial Planetrees on Shelbourne Street.
The trees were planted to honour the fallen soldiers and nurses in the First World and Boer Wars who were from British Columbia.
The event will unveil images of the new gateway signs and a commemorative tree will be planted.
Visiting Sooke Country Market is a perfect Saturday morning activity. Browse through the vendors selling everything from fresh produce, jewelry, gardening supplies and more.
2021 marks Moss Street Market’s 30th season in operation. If you prefer contactless pick up, you can visit the online Moss Street Market to pick up your order.
Tours of Craigdarroch are back! Tours are available Friday, Saturday and Sunday with tickets purchased in advance. Proceeds from tickets fund the ongoing castle restoration projects.
For more information on tickets, prices and to book your tour, visit the Craigdarroch Castle website here.
The Sidney Street Market is back! After a prolonged COVID-19 absence, the market has returned to a new location at the Mary Winspear Centre. While you’re there, be sure to check out Glory Bakehouse for some delicious brownies.
Where: Mary Winspear Centre, 2243 Beacon Avenue, Sidney
When: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., every Sunday through October 10th
As restrictions ease, workout classes are finally re-opening and going back to regular capacity.
If you are interested in trying something new but want to try out some different workouts before committing to a lot of money we have a list of 15 new-member deals at local fitness studios!
BC was recently named Canada’s #1 staycation destination! Which means we are envied by the rest of Canada for our beautiful views, nature and relaxing environment.
Plan a staycation on our very own island with this list of 10 unique Airbnb getaways right here at home!
On a local subreddit, r/VictoriaBC, user fyrite asked the public to share their favourite local dishes, the go-tos, the ones people can’t live without.
Victoria delivered, and over 300 recommendations were posted to the thread.
Fyrite took the recommendations and created a mass spreadsheet and map to allow the suggestions to be easily accessible and enjoyed by everyone!
Whether you’re a seasoned runner or just starting out, location has a huge impact on the quality of your running experience. Pick a cool morning or break out the running shoes later in the day when everything cools down. If you’re not sure where to go for your run, we have created a list of 10 scenic routes just waiting for you to explore!
After a leaked document revealed a shocking amount of COVID-19 cases among shelters and housing facilities in Victoria, 50 new shelter spaces will be established across the city for people who need to self-isolate or recover from COVID-19.
According to the document, 225 people living in shelters and on the streets in Victoria tested positive for COVID-19 in the first three weeks of September.
Shortly after the leak, Chief Medical Health Officer for Island Health, Dr. Richard Stanwick, revealed in a media availability, that rooms used for COVID-19 isolation among the unhoused were being repurposed by the hotel industry for paying guests.
The new shelter spaces will include an estimated 30 beds in several locations within existing shelters and housing, and 20 pop-up spaces at a new location.
The spaces are expected to open in early November.
BC Housing and Island Health partnered with the City of Victoria and non-profit operators to establish these measures.
In a press release regarding the 50 new shelter spaces, the BC government said that the risk of COVID-19 transmission to the general public from people experiencing homelessness is low.
“Over the past several weeks, there has been an increase in the number of people in Victoria without a home who have contracted COVID-19,” the province said.
“This is a very challenging situation that has required urgent collaboration between all social service agencies and partners in Victoria to ensure people can access the care and health services they need to recover. The risk of COVID transmission to the general public from people who are unsheltered or have unstable housing is low.”
A 27-year-old woman was arrested after crashing a stolen van in the West Shore on Wednesday.
The single-vehicle crash occurred around 9:30 a.m. on Millstream Road near Lost Lake Road in the Highlands area.
West Shore RCMP were called to the scene by witnesses of the crash and were able to provide officers with a detailed description of the driver who fled the scene, apparently uninjured.
During the investigation, it was determined that the white Dodge van involved in the crash had been reported stolen out of Victoria.
Police brought in more resources to assist with the investigation, including the Police Service Dog (PSD) Halla, who was quick to track down the suspect hiding in the bush off the roadway nearby.
“This woman, 27 year-old Audrey Moffatt, was subsequently arrested and was held for a telebail where she was charged with possession of stolen property and breach of probation as she was bound with conditions to not be in a motor vehicle,” said Cst. Alex Bérubé, spokesperson for the West Shore RCMP.
Anyone with information on the crash and stolen van is asked to contact the West Shore RCMP at 250-474-2264.
As if we weren’t already ‘fall’ing hard enough over the changing leaves and cozy feeling of autumn, one of the season’s most popular activities is back; and you’re invited.
Starting October 2nd, Ocean View Estatesis officially reopening their corn maze and pumpkin patch for the entire month, and you won’t want to miss it!
Even better, we’re giving away four tickets to the experience – which includes both the pumpkin patch and corn maze – so make sure you check out the contest details below!
Grab your flannels and boots and head to the patch, which is open from Friday to Sunday 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. each week, all month long until November 1st.
Tickets are available online only to keep in line with COVID-19 protocols, and you can book your visit on their website.
Each ticket gets you admission to pumpkin patch and the corn maze and is perfect for all ages.
Plus, on select dates Ocean View Estates is collaborating with Enchanted Fables for a princess meet and greet at the enchanted pumpkin patch – keep an eye on @saanichtoncornmaze‘s social media for a chance to introduce your little ones to a magical princess.
Also to be announced are even more fun events, including carriage rides and news on a Halloween Fright Night experience.
(Saanichton Corn Maze / Its A Thing Imagery)
CONTEST
To enter to win two tickets to this year’s Saanichton Corn Maze, do one or more of the following:
SHARE this post on Facebook and/or Twitter, and comment below letting us know once you have (1 entry)
Contest entries will be accepted from time and date of publishing until 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, October 7th. One winner will be chosen at random and contacted through the platform they enter within 24 hours of the contest closing. Good luck!
Small businesses are an integral part of our society and economy. The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic were especially challenging for small businesses in downtown Victoria, as they rely on tourists and local office workers as customers. With most people still working from home, and without the usual heavy tourist populations over the last two summers, small businesses are still working every day to stay afloat.
Why October?
October is a shoulder month in most small businesses, business typically slows as the summer winds down and before we start thinking about holiday gifts and events. That’s why we want to encourage you to support downtown’s amazing small businesses during this Autumn month.
Did you know?
98% of business in BC is small business
Small businesses employ over one million British Colombians
What’s the big deal with small business?
Remember that small businesses are the lifeline of individuals. Small business owners consider staff as family and want to keep them employed. These owners work tirelessly every day to offer products or services tailored to the needs of our local community. Their business is an expression of themselves and they care deeply about serving their community. When we shop small, we make a direct and positive impact on someone’s life.
We vote with our dollars. When we spend at small businesses, we support our community.
Throughout the month of October, the DVBA will be introducing you to a myriad of small business owners. Check out dvba.ca/smallbiz for more information and follow along on Instagram to meet the faces behind some of the amazing small business in downtown Victoria!
This article was written in partnership with the Downtown Victoria Business Association.
The Downtown Victoria Business Association (DVBA) is a business-led non-profit with the mission to nurture and promote the vitality and vibrancy of downtown Victoria and its business community.
Beginning this Monday, October 4th, masks will now be required in every grade in all school settings.
Dr. Bonnie Henry and Minister of Education, Jennifer Whiteside, announced the extension for the mask mandate on Friday morning.
Masks will now be required from kindergarten to grade 12 when sitting at a desk, inside a school building, and on school busses.
This builds on the existing guidelines for grades 4 to 12.
Dr. Henry also announced that BC health officials will be providing monthly updates on COVID-19 and how the virus is affecting school-aged children after increased pressure from parents of school children and media.
Days ago, Dr. Bonnie Henry said that masking in kindergarten to grade three was not necessary. However, several school districts in BC had already implemented the mask policy for all students, including the Vancouver and Surrey school districts.
“This pandemic continues to evolve and so do we,” Dr. Bonnie Henry said.
“We need to make changes to fit the situation as it’s arising. We know the COVID-19 virus is being transmitted more rapidly, particularly to those who don’t have the protection that vaccination offers. This extra measure adds another layer of protection as we navigate this phase of the pandemic.”
Schools will also be implementing other preventative measures including daily health checks, hand washing, staying home when sick and improved ventilation systems, and staggered recesses, lunch breaks and class transition times.
The province will start making a COVID-19 gargle test available to schools and at pharmacies soon.
Because Royals’ regular season hockey is BACK this weekend, after nearly a two year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The boys and blue will hit the ice for their home opener at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre this Saturday, October 2nd versus none other than familiar foe the Vancouver Giants.
Puck drop is at 7:05 p.m., and this game marks the first time in 581 days fans will be in the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre for a regular season game.
“We’re excited to be back in front of our tremendous fans,” said GM and Head Coach Dan Price.
“The pre-season has given us valuable preparation time. The team is enthusiastic and ready to compete. I’m looking forward to watching the level of competition and speed in this game and throughout the season.”
On top of some good ol’ fashioned hockey, the home opener will feature door prizes, a live DJ and Victoria’s beloved Marty the Marmot.
Additionally, the game will be dedicated to heroes of the pandemic who risked their lives to serve the Victoria community; guests such as the Royal Canadian Navy, a plumber, the Victoria Police Department, a trades worker, a server, a grocer, a pharmacist and many others will be in attendance.
Fans will see a few familiar faces on ice this game, including Gannon Laroque, veteran Graeme Bryks and forward Keanu Derungs.
There will also be a few new players on the bench, like brothers Wyatt and Anthony Wilson, forward Igor Zborovskiy and former Grande Prairie Storm forward Devin Aubin.
Tickets to Saturday’s home opener can be purchased online, or by calling the Select Your Tickets box office at (250) 220-2600. You can also stop by the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre ticket office Wednesday through Friday between 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Ticket prices start at $25 for students, seniors and corner seats, $30 for sides and ring, and go up to $39 for Premium Club seating.
Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre will be welcoming a half-capacity crowd, in accordance with provincial public health guidelines. Additionally, the arena will require all employees and guests born 2009 or earlier to show proof of vaccination before entering.
Guests required to show proof of full (two dose) vaccination by providing their vaccine passport plus ID.
Those that are 12 and over will also be required to wear a mask at all times.
October is here, which means crisp air and cozy sweaters.
It also means drivers may have to be a little more patient this weekend with the return of one of Victoria’s most popular cycling events.
The 10th annual Tour de Victoria kicks into action this weekend, giving cyclists of all skill levels the opportunity to take a ride on one of eight routes in and around Greater Victoria.
The event is returning for the first time since 2019 due to the pandemic.
“It is so exciting, and such a relief, to finally be able to celebrate our 10th annual event with our riding community after having to postpone the ride in August 2020,” said Tour Director, Seamus McGrath.
“We have worked carefully with the Provincial Health Organization on it’s guidelines, have made a lot of adjustments for this year, but thanks to incredible support from the municipalities, police, sponsors, suppliers and volunteers, we will still be providing a safe and amazing atmosphere for everyone.”
Over 2,000 cyclists take part in the event each year, closing roads across the Greater Victoria area. Road signage and police will be in place to guide pedestrians and drivers when necessary.
The first ride starts in downtown Victoria at 7:30 a.m., travels 160km around the region and ends downtown at 5:00 p.m.
Police will assist with minimizing traffic disruptions and ensure those participating in the races are safe.
Belleville Street will be closed from 3 a.m. to 8 p.m. between Government and Quebec streets.
Government Street between Superior Street and Humbolt and Wharf streets will be closed in 20 minute intervals between 7:30 a.m. and 9:45 a.m.
Belleville Street will also be closed between the entrance to the Coho Ferry dock and Pendray Street from 11 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.
Dallas Road is closed from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Camus Circle in Beacon Hill Park is closed from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Traffic overview and timing of the route:
Victoria: Between 7:20 am – 7:40 am and 9:20 am – 9:45 am Vehicle traffic permitted in the opposite direction our cyclists will be travelling on Belleville St, Government St, Wharf St, Johnson St & Johnson Bridge
Esquimalt: Between 7:30 am – 7:55 am and 9:30 am – 10:00 am Vehicle traffic permitted in the opposite direction our cyclists will be travelling on Esquimalt Rd, Harbour Rd, Tyee Rd, Skinner St, Craigflower Rd.
View Royal: Between 7:35 am – 7:55 am and 9:40 am – 10:10 am. Vehicle traffic permitted in the opposite direction our cyclists will be travelling on Island Hwy and Old Island Hwy.
Colwood: Between 7:45 am – 8:40 am. Vehicle traffic permitted in the opposite direction our cyclists will be travelling on Ocean Blvd, Lagoon Rd, Metchosin Rd.
Metchosin: Between 7:55 am – 10:00 am. Vehicle traffic permitted in the opposite direction our cyclists will be travelling on Metchosin Rd, Duke Rd, William Head Rd, Lombard Dr, Rocky Point Rd, East Sooke Rd, Kangaroo Rd, Liberty Dr, Lindholm Rd, Happy Valley Rd.
Sooke: Between 8:10 am – 9:35 am. Vehicle traffic permitted in the opposite direction our cyclists will be travelling on Rocky Point Rd, East Sooke Rd, Gillespie Rd.
Langford – Between 8:25 am – 10:10 am. Vehicle traffic permitted in the opposite direction our cyclists will be travelling on Happy Valley Rd, Glen Lake Rd, Langford Pkwy, Jacklin Rd, Goldstream Ave, Atkins Ave.
View Royal: Between 8:40 am – 10:30 am. Vehicle traffic permitted in the opposite direction our cyclists will be travelling on Atkins Ave and Burnside Rd W.
Saanich: 8:45 am – 11:00 am. Vehicle traffic permitted in the opposite direction our cyclists will be travelling on Burnside RdW, Prospect Lake Rd, and Munn Rd.
Highlands: 8:55 am – 11:30 am.
Munn Rd: Vehicle traffic permitted in the opposite direction our cyclists will be travelling on.
Millstream Lake Rd and Ross Durrance Rd (between Munn Rd and Willis Point Rd.): Northbound traffic only. This is THE SAME DIRECTION as their cyclists.
Willis Point Rd: Two-Way Traffic will be permitted on Willis Point Rd controlled by Traffic Control personnel to allow residents from Millstream Rd and Willis Point Rd to exit to Wallace Dr
Saanich: 9:15 am – 11:45 am. Vehicle traffic permitted in the opposite direction our cyclists will be travelling on Wallace Dr. (Two-Way Traffic will be permitted on Willis Point Rd controlled by Traffic Control personnel to allow residents from Millstream Rd and Willis Point Rd to exit to Wallace Dr)
Central Saanich: 9:25 am – 12:00 pm. Vehicle traffic permitted in the opposite direction our cyclists will be travelling on Wallace Dr, Garden Gate Dr, Benvenuto Ave, West Saanich Rd, and Old West Saanich Rd. (Two-way traffic will be permitted on West Saanich Rd)
Saanich (West of Bay Pay Hwy #17): 9:30 am – 2:30 pm. Vehicle traffic permitted in the opposite direction our cyclists will be travelling on with two-way traffic allowed on West Saanich Rd when needed. Cyclists travel on Old West Saanich Rd, Spartan Rd, Prospect Lake Rd, Burnside Rd, Charlton Rd, Granville Ave, Hastings St, North Rd, Hector Rd, Conway Rd, Quayle Rd, Beaver Lake Rd, West Saanich Rd, Old West Saanich Rd, Oldfield Rd, Brookleigh Rd and Hamsterly Rd.
Interurban Rd: Two-Way Traffic will be permitted on Interurban Rd controlled by Traffic Control Personnel cars are not allowed to pass cyclists. Cyclists take the lane.
Doyle Rd, Forest Hill Rd, Elkwood Rd: Northbound traffic only. This is the same direction as their cyclists.
Saanich: Pat Bay Hwy #17 and Sayward Rd: 10:00 am – 2:50 pm. The intersection will be controlled by Traffic Control Personnel. Traffic will still be able to travel the Pat Bay Highway both northbound and southbound, but please expect some delays. Eastbound traffic on Sayward Rd will be closed on both sides of the Pat Bay Hwy.
Saanich (East of Pat Bay Hwy #17): 10:00 am – 3:10 pm. Vehicle traffic is permitted in the opposite direction our cyclists will be travelling on. Cyclists travel on Sayward Ave, Cordova Bay Rd, Ash Rd, Grandview Dr, Ferndale Rd, Gordon Head Rd, Arbutus Rd, Queenswood Dr, Telegraph Bay Rd, Cadboro Bay Rd. Please note that Cadboro Bay Rd, between Sinclair Rd and Beach Drive will allow two-way traffic where needed to relieve traffic build-up.
Oak Bay: 10:50 am – 3:50 pm. Full road closure on Beach Drive, and King George Terrace. However, residents of Beach Dr, King George Terrace and roads that can only be accessed through these roads will still have access to their homes. Traffic Control Personnel will allow residents to access their homes when there are breaks in the cyclists. Access to Royal Victoria Yacht Club, Oak Bay Marina, Oak Bay Beach Hotel and Victoria Golf Club will be controlled by Traffic Control Personnel.
Victoria: 11:10 am – 4:30 pm. Full road closures on Crescent Rd, Hollywood Cres, Dallas Rd and the waterfront perimeter of James Bay including Erie St, St Lawrence St, Kingston St, Montreal St, Quebec St, Pendray St, and Belleville St.
Any resident that lives on a waterfront road or road that can only be accessed by a waterfront road, will still have access to their homes. Traffic Control Personnel will allow residents to access their homes when there are breaks in the cyclists.
Tonight, Greater Victoria residents will finally be able to watch the first episode of “Maid” as it premieres its first episode on Netflix.
The series, which was filmed entirely in the Greater Victoria area, is based on the memoir “Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother’s Will to Survive” by Stephanie Land.
The adaptation follows the story of a young mother fleeing an abusive relationship who finds a job cleaning houses to help provide for her child and build them a better future.
Margaret Qualley leads the cast, with the producers of Shameless and Promising Young Woman backing the production.
Filming began at Colwood’s Royal Beach in September 2020.
Production then moved to various locations including Sidney, North Saanich, Esquimalt, Saanich, Colwood, Oak Bay, and Sooke before wrapping in March 2021.
The series is the biggest TV production in Greater Victoria history and production of the series employed approximately two hundred crew members.
Grab the popcorn, spot the locations and enjoy the show!
Since the vaccine passport rolled out on September 13th, more than half of BC residents said they have used the new card for proof of vaccination.
In a survey conducted by Insights West, 58 per cent of respondents have used the new vaccine card already at a restaurant or at some other non-essential business, but a third said the card was not checked when it should have been.
According to the poll, support for the vaccine card has not changed (77 per cent) since the concept was first introduced in mid-August—about 20 per cent are opposed to the vaccine card.
Nearly 30 per cent of residents said they wouldn’t go to an establishment again if they failed to check vaccine cards and 6 per cent said they would call out the business on social media.
“Our poll also clearly shows that those businesses who don’t comply with the mandate are subject to the backlash of people who are in favour of the new rules,” said Steve Mossop, President of Insights West.
Additionally, the implementation of the vaccine card has resulted in many people in BC feeling more confident about returning to pre-pandemic behaviours including:
48% say they are more comfortable now in going to a restaurant or bar
29% are more comfortable going to a movie theatre
25% to indoor gatherings such as weddings and conferences
23% feel more comfortable about going to either gyms or other recreational activities indoors
About one-in-five feel more comfortable going to live concerts (20%) and live sporting events (17%)
In all, about two-thirds feel more comfortable doing at least one of these activities, while about a third (31 per cent) indicate the vaccine cards don’t make a difference in their comfort level, according to the poll.
“What surprised us, however, was the relatively large number of people in BC who have experienced incidents where the public establishment didn’t properly ask for the BC Vaccine Card upon entry,” said Mossop.
BC health officials announced 749 new test-positive COVID-19 cases on Thursday, bringing the total number of recorded cases in the province to 186,994.
Given the holiday, the ministry did not provide hospitalization numbers, active cases or recovered cases. However, these numbers will be available in Friday’s update.
Currently, 145 COVID-19 patients are in intensive care.
In a written statement, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix said the number of yesterday’s critical care COVID-19 confirmed cases has been changed to 142 from 146 after a correction from Interior Health.
New cases and total active cases, broken down by health region, are as follows:
Fraser Health: 267 new cases
Vancouver Coastal Health: 113 new cases
Interior Health: 157 new cases
Northern Health: 148 new cases
Island Health: 64 new cases
Outside of Canada: No new cases
There have been nine new COVID-19-related deaths in BC over the past 24 hours, for a total of 1,962 deaths in BC.
The new deaths include:
Fraser Health: 3
Island Health: 2
Northern Health: 1
Vancouver Coastal Health: 1
Interior Health: 2
There are no new outbreaks at care homes in the province. As of this publication, 22 active outbreaks remain, including Victoria Chinatown Care Centre.
From September 22nd to 28th, people not fully vaccinated accounted for 71.2% of cases.
From September 15th to 28th, they accounted for 80.6% of hospitalizations.
Past week cases (Sept. 22-28) – Total 5,251
Not vaccinated: 3,367 (64.1%)
Partially vaccinated: 373 (7.1%)
Fully vaccinated: 1,511 (28.8%)
Past two weeks cases hospitalized (Sept. 15-28) – Total 444
Not vaccinated: 317 (71.4%)
Partially vaccinated: 41 (9.2%)
Fully vaccinated: 86 (19.4%)
Past week, cases per 100,000 population after adjusting for age (Sept. 22-28)
Not vaccinated: 303.4
Partially vaccinated: 101.6
Fully vaccinated: 37.4
Past two weeks, cases hospitalized per 100,000 population after adjusting for age (Sept. 15-28)
Not vaccinated: 46.5
Partially vaccinated: 17.1
Fully vaccinated: 2.0
As of Thursday, September 30th, 88.0% (4,078,469) of eligible people 12 and older in BC have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, and 81.0% (3,756,363) have received their second dose.
In addition, 88.5% (3,827,508) of all eligible adults in BC have received their first dose and 81.8% (3,539,236) have received their second dose.
Sooke RCMP are asking for the public’s help in locating looking for a missing woman 40-year-old woman.
Tamara Stephens was last seen on Saturday, September 25th in the 6700-block of West Coast Road/Highway 14.
Tamara is described as:
Caucasian female
40-years-old
5’5” inches tall
Blond hair
Blue eyes
Police said Tamara was last seen wearing grey cargo pants, white and black converse type sneakers, a dark blue jean jacket with a camouflage hoodie underneath.
Sooke RCMP and Tamara’s family are concerned for her wellbeing.
Anyone with information are asked to call the Sooke RCMP, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) to remain anonymous.
The BC Ministry of Health reported 813 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, September 29th.
There have been 186,245 cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began.
New cases were reported in these health regions:
Vancouver Coastal Health: 102
Fraser Health: 303
Island Health: 82
Interior Health: 208
Northern Health: 118
There are currently 6,185 active cases of COVID-19 in the province.
177,729 people who tested positive have recovered.
There are now a total of 340 people in hospital due to COVID-19, 146 of whom are in critical care — ICU or acute care units.
11 new people have died from COVID-related causes, making the provincial death toll at 1,953.
Outbreaks
There have been two new outbreaks at Royal Inland Hospital (Interior Health) and University Hospital of Northern BC (Northern Health)
Two outbreaks have been declared over at Hillside Village and Village at Mill Creek – second floor (Interior Health) for a total of 22 active outbreaks
Island Health:
Island Health reported 82 new cases of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Island region and 558 active cases.
Breakdown of cases on Vancouver Island:
South Vancouver Island Active cases: 296 │Total Cases: 3563
Central Vancouver Island Active cases: 220 │ Total Cases: 3829
North Vancouver Island Active cases: 42 │Total Cases: 1095
31 people remain in hospital with 17 in ICU.
There has been 3 new deaths in the Island Health region today, and a total of 68 deaths on Vancouver Island.
Vaccinations
87.9% of eligible people 12 and older in B.C. have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine and 80.8% have received their second dose.
In addition, 88.4% of all eligible adults in B.C. have received their first dose and 81.6% have received their second dose.
After courts ruled that they would not be extending the request for a court injunction against old-growth logging protests at the site of blockades in Fairy Creek, the RCMP union has responded.
Brian Sauvé, president of the National Police Federation, said the union is proud of its members’ “professional, thoughtful and patient approach” to enforcing the injunction in the face of “aggressive physical, racial, and personal taunts and threats by some of the [protesters].”
Sauvé concluded by wishing officers “a relaxing and peaceful time at home with their families after so much time away.”
The response comes after Justice Douglas Thompson cited the RCMP’s infringement of civil liberties, including the impairment on freedom of press, and the Court’s risk of “further depreciation of its reputation,” as his core reasons for not granting the extension to the Teal-Jones Group.
Thompson continued to cite contravening orders directed at RCMP officers for their removal of identification and choice to associate with the “thin blue line patches”—a Canadian flag with a blue line between it that is often associated with both police solidarity, but also linked to police violence and impunity.
Sauvé doubled down on the idea of the thin blue line patches officers.
“In many circumstances and on many occasions over the last 133 days, they have embodied the thin blue line between order and chaos,” Sauvé said in his statement.
The recent court ruling and union response is in direct juxtaposition since both the ruling cites RCMP infractions and the fact that the RCMP have been heavily criticized for their role in enforcement of the injunction.
Over 1,000 arrests have taken place since RCMP began enforcing the injunction in May and RCMP have been criticized for their heavy handed role.
While the court ruling is a win for many, RCMP will continue to patrol the area and can arrest for crimes, such as digging ditches and certain protest methods that blockaders have been participating in.
Also, logging can still continue in the area that the Teal-Jones Cedar Group owns their license.
On September 30th, we come together to support Indigenous communities across Canada and honour, acknowledge and recognize the harm caused by the residential school systems on generations of Indigenous people and communities across the country.
September 30th marks Orange Shirt Day, also known as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a statutory holiday which was given royal assent on June 3rd of this year.
The new national holiday will commemorate the tragic history and lasting effects of Canada’s residential school system, and to honour Indigenous survivors and their families and communities.
Federally-regulated workplaces will be closed in order to respect the new statutory holiday.
Here are 8 events to honour Indigenous communities around Victoria on September 30th:
Indigenous Acknowledgement Event
Hampton Little League invites the public to witness an acknowledgement of Indigenous Territories. There will be an unveiling of a permanent Territorial sign acknowledging the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations.
Representatives from both the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations will be in attendance. Lunch will be provided for any witnesses and the event encourages all attendees to wear orange.
To RSVP please contact rangerstation@shaw.ca or call 250-889-9413.
Where: 3401 Tillicum Road, Hampton Park
When: 11 a.m., Thursday, September 30th
March in Duncan on The National Day of Truth and Reconciliation
Tomorrow, attend an Every Child Matters walk to observe the inaugural National Day of Truth and Reconciliation.
Registration, for contact tracing, will take place prior to the event from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. Following this, an opening prayer will begin at 9:15 a.m.
The walk will begin at 9:30 a.m., from Vancouver Island University (VIU) to the Cowichan Tribes, S’iem Lelum Soccer Fields on River Road.
Attendees are encouraged to bring drums as well as mementos to leave at city hall.
After the walk, Elders will share their stories followed by Traditional drumming, singing and dancing.
Masks are mandatory.
Registration: 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., at VIU
Where: The walk will be from VIU to the Cowichan Tribes, S’iem Lelum Soccer Fields on River Road
When: Thursday, September 30th. Prayer at 9:15 a.m., Walking begins at 9:30 a.m.
Marking the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Virtual Zoom Event
On September 30th, the Prairie Federal Council and the Canada School of Public Service will be holding an online, virtual zoom event for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
The event will feature the lived experiences of residential school Survivors and their communities. Guests will share their thoughts and insights on what those experiences mean for Indigenous Peoples in Canada and our journey toward truth and reconciliation.
Where: Virtual Zoom Event
When: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Registration: Registration can be completed here. Registered attendees will be sent the link to the stream.
Capital Bike and Victoria Orange Shirt Day have announced the first-ever National Reconciliation Day Ride.
The event is part of Go By Bike Week in recognition of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
The ride will start at Centennial Square and stop at locations of significance to the lək̓ʷəŋən (Lekwungen/Songhees) and W̱SÁNEĆ (Saanich) People.
The ride will return to Centennial Square by noon, in time for the start of the Xe xe Smun eem-Victoria Orange Shirt Day: Every Child Matters Ceremony at Centennial Square.
Where: Centennial Square
When: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Thursday, September 30th
On September 30th, you are invited to attend the Orange Shirt Day: Every Child Matters ceremony in Centennial Square.
Xe xe Smun’ eem means “Sacred Children” in the Cowichan or Quw utsun language.
The community is invited to wear orange as they join the event for the blessing of the land, the raising of the Orange Shirt Day flag, followed by a moment of silence to honour and remember those who did not survive residential schools.
The event will be held rain or shine, masks are recommended.
On September 30th, visit the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria for a free Public Open House.
Visitors to the gallery will be able to view two exhibitions ‘Emily Carr: Seeing and Being Seen’ and ‘Holding Ground’.
Where: 1040 Moss Street, Art Gallery of Greater Victoria
When: 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday, September 30th
Totem pole raising to honour lost children and survivors
Snuneymuxw First Nation, partnering with the City of Nanaimo and Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools will be holding an event to honour lost children and survivors of residential schools in Canada.
The event will take place at Maffeo Sutton Park on Thursday afternoon.
Snuneymuxw Elders and survivors of residential schools will share speeches and stories. There will also be performances in the Lions Pavilion and a new Welcome Pole unveiled at the park’s entrance.
On this National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, ReconciliAction Oak Bay invites residents to attend a ceremony to honour residential school survivors, their families and their lost loved ones.
Members of the Songhees Nation will be present to share their stories and wisdom.
Where: The Sno’uyutth Welcome Pole, in front of Oak Bay High School.
When: 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., Thursday, September 30th
The Spirit of Vancouver Island approaches the Tawwassen ferry terminal near Roberts Bank, May 12, 2013. (Photo/Dennis J. Dubinsky) 9030682
BC Ferries have cancelled multiple sailings for this Wednesday afternoon, September 29th.
The Spirit of Vancouver Island is experiencing mechanical difficulties with its starboard gearbox, BC Ferries said in a release.
And just announced this afternoon at 11:50 a.m., the Coastal Celebration is currently holding in dock at Swartz Bay due to a BC Hydro power outage, affecting ramp operations.
In addition to the below, the 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. sailings from this morning departing Swartz Bay did not go forward.
Today’s cancellations include:
1 p.m. departing Tsawwassen
3 p.m. departing Swartz Bay
5 p.m. departing Tsawwassen
7 p.m. departing Swartz Bay
9 p.m. departing Tsawwassen
An additional round trip from the Coastal Celebration is scheduled for 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. tonight in order to supplement the cancelled sailings.
BC Ferries said that they apologize for any inconvenience.
“We appreciate your patience and apologize for any inconvenience you may experience as a result of these cancellations,” BC Ferries said in a statement.
“We are working to resolve the issue, and we will keep you informed as soon as more information becomes available.”
Environment Canada has issued a wind warning for eastern Vancouver Island this evening which could lead to further ferry cancellations.
The weather agency warned of southeast winds reaching 70km/h.
“Strong southeast winds will develop over parts of the South Coast this afternoon as a vigorous frontal system approaches Vancouver Island. Winds will rise to southeast 70 km/h early this evening over northern sections of the Sunshine Coast and East,” stated the wind warning.
To stay up-to-date on sailing and departure information, BC Ferries encourages customers to follow BC Ferries on Twitter, visit their current conditions webpage at www.bcferries.com or call BC Ferries toll free at 1-888-223-3779.
Two people are safe after their boat caught fire on Monday afternoon off the northern tip of Vancouver Island.
According to Maritime Forces Pacific (MARPAC), a distress signal was sent from the operators of the 14-metre pleasure craft around 1:30 p.m near the coast of Egg Island.
Military and coast guard personnel at the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Victoria responded but were unable to detect a radio signal and locate the ship.
Luckily, a civilian plane was flying overhead and reported the fire, a representative for MARPAC told Victoria Buzz.
Both a Buffalo search-and-rescue plane and a Cormorant helicopter were dispatched from the Canadian Forces Base in Comox.
After locating the two operators, who had boarded a row boat but were rowing towards heavy seas and rocky terrain with high winds, the Buffalo aircraft was first on scene and dropped a radio and a sea-rescue kit, including a life raft, down to the rowboat.
A fishing boat picked up the two survivors approximately 15 minutes later where first responders determined they were uninjured in the incident.
Their 14-metre pleasure craft burned and sank as the coast guard arrived.
Victoria Buzz did not receive a response in time for publication on whether the coast guard will investigate the incident.
If you’ve missed live music as much as we have, we’ve got a treat for you!
The Mary Winspear Centre has brought it back for their Seaside Sessions concert series featuring exclusive performances by a handful of talented artists, and you’re invited.
Are you ready to get back into the swing of things? Mary Winspear is giving away two tickets to see Tanika Charles in October – contest details are below!
Though she used be known as the best kept secret in soul music, Toronto-based Tanika Charles has now become a staple of the genre both at home and abroad.
With a live show that’s high energy and endearing, she continues to win audiences over one stream, one Shazam and one encore at a time.
Tanika released her debut album Soul Run in 2016, which was long-listed for the 2016 Polaris Music Prize and nominated for the 2017 Juno Award for best R&B/Soul Recording of the Year.
Tanika’s 2019 sophomore album The Gumption picks up where Soul Run left off, continuing her tradition of marrying classic soul with modern production and instrumentation.
Once again, she was long-listed for the 2019 Polaris Music Prize and had the honour of being named the inaugural Polaris artist-in-residence for 2020 at the Studio Bell National Music Centre.
On top of this, The Gumption was nominated for the Juno Awards 2020 R&B/Soul Recording of the Year.
Backed by her band The Wonderfuls, Tanika has travelled on five international tours since releasing Soul Run, performing for fans across nine countries.
Her live shows move seamlessly between renditions of her studio recordings and revealing influences of rock, gospel and country influences.
Apart from performing her original material, Tanika made her theatrical debut in the 2017 touring production Freedom Singer.
Tickets for Tanika Charles’ show at Mary Winspear Centre are now available for purchaseonline.
Seaside Sessions is an eight part series highlighting emerging and underrepresented Canadian talent in a cross section of genres. This program is in partnership with FACTOR Canada: a non-profit dedicated to providing assistance toward the growth and development of the Canadian music industry.
Each performance will be filmed in 4k in front of a live audience, fans can experience a 45-minute recording on YouTube for free or purchase the extended 90-minute 4k edition.
Mary Winspear Centre will be taking all measures to provide a safe, sanitized and comfortable concert setting, following current regulations provided by the provincial government and Worksafe BC.
Masks will be mandatory in all public indoor spaces, and proof of first vaccination will be required for anyone 12 years of age and older to attend any performance in the Charlie White Theatre between Monday, September 13th and Sunday, October 23rd. Events held Monday, October 24th onwards will require proof of second vaccine. You will be asked to show your Vaccine Card along with a government issued ID if you are 19+.
View Mary Winspear Centre’s full COVID-19 planhere.
CONTEST
For a chance to WIN 2 tickets to see Tanika Charles at Mary Winspear Centre, please do one of more of the following:
SHARE this post on Facebook and/or Twitter and leave a comment below telling us once you have. (1 entry)
Contest entries will be accepted from the time and date of publishing until 11:59 pm on October 11th. One winner will be chosen at random and contacted through the platform they used to enter.
Rutledge Park is about to see some exciting new changes!
For twenty years, the Quadra Cedar Hill Community Association has been advocating for upgrades for Rutledge Park, bordered by Cloverdale Avenue, Inverness Road and Rutledge Street.
Now, Victoria-based real estate company Abstract Developments is providing $352,000 toward upgrades for the park and the District of Saanich’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund.
$250,000 of the funding will go toward splash pad and washroom upgrades in the park.
“In addition to the proposed CAC, Abstract is providing a substantial land dedication and
significant off-site frontage improvements, which include new sidewalks, separated bike paths, landscaped boulevards and an on-site electric Modo vehicle to advance Saanich’s electric vehicle goals,” said Mike Miller, President and CEO of Abstract Developments,
“We are excited to start our pre-sales marketing campaign given the current shortage of housing supply across Greater Victoria”.
The announcement comes after Saanich council approved a new condo development project by the company dubbed Cadence that will be located in the upper Quadra neighbourhood.
Over the past twenty years, Abstract Developments has built over five hundred homes across Greater Victoria.
No timeline was provided on when the park enhancements would be completed.
Construction of a new affordable housing development on the Tsawout First Nation in Central Saanich is currently underway, with completion set for Spring 2023.
The housing development aims to provide an affordable place to live that meets the needs of working families.
Although rental prices have not yet been confirmed, to be announced closer to opening date, they are said to be well below market rents in the area. Approximately $655 for a two-bedroom unit and $750 for a three-bedroom.
“Once the Salish Sea Housing Society identified the strong need for workforce housing on the traditional W̱SÁNEĆ territory, they embarked on a mission to fill this gap in housing options,” said Ron Rice, chair, Salish Sea Housing Society.
“We are so excited to see this vision actualized and are grateful to our project partners.”
The five-storey building development is designed for Indigenous peoples in the workforce, built through a partnership between the Province through BC Housing, the Salish Sea Housing Society and the Tsawout First Nation.
“This project will help working people in Saanich stay connected to their culture, communities and families,” said Lana Popham, MLA for Saanich South,
“We will continue to work in partnership with First Nations and Indigenous housing partners to deliver more much-needed affordable housing, both on and off reserve.”
The building will have 24 two-bedroom suites, three three-bedroom suites and one fully accessible suite.
Amenities include dishwashers and washer/dryer hookups in each unit, a common laundry facility, storage lockers and bike storage, covered parking and internet access. There will also be a playground and a communal space for gatherings.
“The Tsawout First Nation is thrilled to work with BC Housing to have affordable housing for working families built on our traditional territories,” said Chief Harvey Underwood, Tsawout First Nation,
“There are many jobs opening up right now, but without an affordable place to live, it is harder for people to access these jobs. We are pleased that these 28 units will be built to a high environmental energy standard, which fits with the values of our First Nation.”
The housing is expected to be ready for occupancy in Spring 2023.
The BC Coroner has reported that, since the beginning of January, over 1,200 BC residents have died due to a toxic drug supply, adding an additional 184 deaths from July.
July marks the second-deadliest month on record in BC—only two fewer than the 186 deaths recorded in June 2020—and is the 17th consecutive month that more than 100 British Columbians died due to toxic drugs.
The average rate of death in July is 5.9 British Columbians per day.
The overall rate of deaths due to toxic illicit drugs in British Columbia stood at 39.7 per 100,000 residents.
Vancouver, Surrey and Victoria are experiencing the highest number of illicit drug toxicity deaths in 2021 so far and the highest rates of death per 100,000 population are Vancouver Coastal (47.2) and Northern (45.6).
Fentanyl and Carfentanil—a more potent analogue of fentanyl—has been commonly detected in toxic drug supply deaths.
Provincial funding for naloxone kits
In April 2020, the BC government announced it would no longer supply naloxone training or kits to police forces.
Naloxone is a medicine that is injected to reverse drug overdoses.
Last Tuesday, the chief of the Oak Bay Police Department tweeted that its supply is expiring, and Saanich and Victoria police forces have confirmed their departments are in a similar situation.
Oak Bay Police Chief Ray Bernoties said he’s not going to abandon the naloxone program and will seek funds for their 2022 budget.
Some departments have funded the program from their own budgets, while others haven’t yet run out of supplies.
Premier Horgan responded last Thursday with a promise to replenish naloxone supply for the few detachments that are experiencing supply issues, but was pressed on why this issue did not ring the alarm 18 months prior
BC’s official opposition criticized the BC government for the budget cut and their lack of priorities.
“Just last week we found out John Horgan cut funding to naloxone kits, which are essential for front-line emergency responders during this crisis,” said Trevor Halford, BC Liberal Critic for Mental Health and Addictions.
“While the NDP keep trying to say this public health emergency is a top priority, their actions show otherwise.”
Horgan doubled down by saying the province can only respond as the issues come, but there is no word yet on when the funding will be restored.
The incident occurred just before 9 a.m. yesterday when a VicPD officer was struck by a stolen vehicle while on assignment in the 900-block of Pandora Avenue, outside of Our Place Society.
The officer, who was standing next to a police cruiser at the time, was struck from behind by the driver. One witness report stated the VicPD officer appeared to be pinned between the car and a dumpster.
The suspect’s vehicle was a 2008 black Chevrolet Cobalt.
The officer, a member with the force for 10-years, was transported to hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries while the driver of the vehicle was arrested on scene and taken into custody.
VicPD seek further information
Now, investigators are seeking further witnesses, dashcam footage and information to assist with the case.
After further investigation, the stolen vehicle is believed to have been driving erratically near the area of the incident just prior to striking the officer.
Investigators now also believe that two cyclists were nearly struck by the vehicle prior to the incident.
Officers would like to speak with the cyclists to gather more information as well as anyone who witnessed the incident, or has dashcam footage from the 900-block and 1000-block of Johnson Street, and the 1300-block and 1400-block of Vancouver Street from around 8:30 a.m. Monday morning.
Del Manak condemns continuing violence against police
“I am deeply concerned with the severity and volume of violent crime in our community which is impacting the very people whose duty it is to uphold the law and keep every one of us safe,” VicPD’s Chief Constable Del Manak said in a release today.
“Recently, we have seen several officers – both on-duty and off-duty – violently assaulted. These attacks have a direct impact on the number of officers that can show up to work to keep our community safe and, equally importantly, the health and wellbeing of police officers who give so much of themselves in service to our community.”
“I worry about the human toll that these attacks continue to have on our officers,” said Chief Manak.
“This is not sustainable.”
Manak said the officer injured yesterday has served with both Victoria and Esquimalt as a front-line officer, and previously as a member of the Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) team for many years with distinction.
“He is well respected throughout our community for his compassion and understanding and has forged personal connections with many of those experiencing homelessness and mental illness. He is one of many here at VicPD who serve this community with great pride,” said Manak.
The suspect, 27-year-old Chance Nichol, has been charged with assaulting a police officer with a weapon, dangerous operation of a vehicle and possession of stolen property over $5,000.
Police said Nichol remains in custody. The VicPD officer has since been released from hospital and is recovering at home.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the VicPD non-emergency line at 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 652 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, September 28th.
There have been 185,432 cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began.
New cases were reported in these health regions:
Vancouver Coastal Health: 70
Fraser Health: 219
Island Health: 82
Interior Health: 162
Northern Health: 117
Resident outside Canada: 2
There are currently 5,992 active cases of COVID-19 in the province.
177,113 people who tested positive have recovered.
There are now a total of 316 people in hospital due to COVID-19, 141 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 1,942.
Data by Vaccination Status:
From September 20th to 26th, people not fully vaccinated accounted for 72.2% of cases.
From September 13th to 26th, they accounted for 82.5% of hospitalizations.
Past week cases (Sept. 20-26):
Total: 5,012
Not vaccinated: 3,263 (65.1%)
Partially vaccinated: 357 (7.1%)
Fully vaccinated: 1,392 (27.8%)
Past two weeks cases hospitalized (Sept. 13-26):
Total: 360
Not vaccinated: 269 (74.7%)
Partially vaccinated: 28 (7.8%)
Fully vaccinated: 63 (17.5%)
Past week, cases per 100,000 population after adjusting for age (Sept. 20-26):
Not vaccinated: 296.0
Partially vaccinated: 93.1
Fully vaccinated: 34.7
Past two weeks, cases hospitalized per 100,000 population after adjusting for age (Sept. 13-26):
Not vaccinated: 40.0
Partially vaccinated: 11.1
Fully vaccinated: 1.5
After factoring for age, people not vaccinated are 26.7 times more likely to be hospitalized than those fully vaccinated.
Outbreaks
There have been three new outbreaks at Village by the Station (Island Health), Willingdon Care Centre (Fraser Health) and Wrinch Memorial Hospital (Northern Health).
One outbreak has been declared over at Fort St. John Hospital (Northern Health).
There is a total of 22 active outbreaks, including:
Long Term Care: Willingdon Care Centre, Westminster House, Menno Terrace East, The Residence in Mission, Magnolia Gardens (Fraser Health), Arbutus Care Centre, Louis Brier Home and Hospital (Vancouver Coastal Health), Village at Mill Creek – second floor, Cottonwoods Care Centre, Kamloops Seniors Village, Hillside Village, The Hamlets at Westsyde, Joseph Creek Care Village, Overlander (Interior Health), Wrinch Memorial Hospital, Jubilee Lodge (Northern Health), Village by the Station and Victoria Chinatown Care Centre (Island Health)
Acute Care: none
Assisted or Independent Living: Sunset Manor, Hallmark on the Lake (Fraser Health), Hardy View Lodge (Interior Health), Cooper Place (Vancouver Coastal Health)
Island Health:
Island Health reported 82 new cases of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Island region and 577 active cases.
Breakdown of cases on Vancouver Island:
South Vancouver Island Active cases: 299 │Total Cases: 3518
Central Vancouver Island Active cases: 235 │ Total Cases: 3798
North Vancouver Island Active cases: 43 │Total Cases: 1087
35 people remain in hospital with 15 in ICU.
There has been 2 new deaths in the Island Health region today, and a total of 65 deaths on Vancouver Island.
Vaccinations
87.8% of eligible people 12 and older in B.C. have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine and 80.6% have received their second dose.
In addition, 88.3% of all eligible adults in B.C. have received their first dose and 81.4% have received their second dose.
To date, 7,812,228 (+9,693) doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in BC; 3,736,540 (+6,934) of which are second doses.
(RCMP and Protestors face off at Fairy Creek/ Colin Smith Takes Pics)
An extension for a court injunction against old-growth logging protests on Vancouver Island will not go forward.
Justice Douglas Thompson handed down his decision Tuesday hours before the injunction was set to expire.
Thompson detailed his decision against further RCMP enforcement on behalf of Teal-Jones in Tree Farm License 46 in a 32-page document.
In it, Thompson cited the erosion of law, the RCMP’s infringement of civil liberties, including the impairment on freedom of press, and the Court’s risk of “further depreciation of its reputation,” as his core reasons for not granting the extension to the Teal-Jones Group.
Justice Thompson wrote that “it is not just and equitable in all the circumstances of the case” to grant Teal Cedar Products Ltd.’s request for an extended injunction order.
Though many old-growth activists were hoping public interest over the preservation of old-growth forests in BC would play into the rejection, Thompson overruled that.
“While a powerful case might be made for the protection of what remains of British Columbia’s old growth temperate rainforests, and this issue is of considerable public interest and importance, the evidence marshaled to support this argument cannot be considered,” Thompson said.
Rather, Thompson continued to cite contravening orders directed at RCMP officers for their removal of identification and choice to associate with the “thin blue line patches”—a Canadian flag with a blue line between it that is often associated with both police solidarity, but also linked to police violence and impunity.
“It might be argued that this is ‘just a patch, just a symbol.’ But we all know the impact that symbols can have,” Thompson said.
“And, enforcement has been carried out by police officers rendered anonymous to the protesters, many of those police officers wearing ‘thin blue line’ badges.”
Leader of the BC Green Party expressed her gratitude that the injunction extension was rejected, but also called on the BC government.
“With over 1,000 arrests, Fairy Creek is the largest act of civil disobedience in Canadian history, and I am relieved to see the court reject the request to extend the injunction,” said B.C. Green Party Leader Sonia Furstenau, MLA for Cowichan Valley.
“This ruling does not solve the crisis of leadership we are facing in B.C. The province has not done its job and now the courts have stepped in. The increasing violence at Fairy Creek has been extremely troubling and this government has failed to keep the police from overstepping their authority.”
While this does not cease old-growth logging or the blockades in the Fairy Creek area, it is vindication for many old-growth protestors and members of the media who have experienced injustice from RCMP officers in Fairy Creek for the past year.
RCMP will still enforce the rule of law in the area.
