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Winter weather is just around the corner and that means B.C.’s winter tire rules are now effect, as of Friday, October 1st.
The Ministry of Transportation has issued a reminder to the public to install winter tires on their vehicles if they plan to travel on certain highways such as the Malahat, Highway 14, Highway 4 and Highway 28.
In British Columbia, winter tires are defined as those labelled with either the Mountain Snowflake symbol or the Mud and Snow (M+S) symbol.
Tires marked with a mountain/snowflake symbol on the sidewall offer the best traction on snow and ice and in cold weather.
Tires marked with M+S (mud and snow) offer better traction than summer tires but are less effective than mountain/snowflake tires in severe winter conditions.
The tires must be in good condition with a minimum tread depth of 3.5 mm and must be used on designated highways October 1st to March 31st.
Signs are posted to identify those highways where winter tires are required for lighter cars and trucks, and chains are required for heavy commercial trucks.
These routes are generally located approaching high mountain passes and highways which see significant winter conditions and where conditions can change from rain to snow very quickly.
Drivers planning to travel through these designated routes are encouraged to “know before you go” and check DriveBC.ca for the latest for latest highway conditions, highway cams, route forecasts and delay information.
What are the fines
Drivers who don’t have proper winter tires on their vehicle on the designated routes can receive a fine of $121, and those who don’t have the minimum tread depth on their tires (3.5 mm) on the designated routes can receive a fine of $109.
More information on winter tire and chain requirements in B.C., can be found here.
There have been 184,780 cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began.
New cases were reported in these health regions:
Vancouver Coastal Health: +256 | Active: 843
Fraser Health: +857 | Active: 2,218
Island Health: +230 | Active: 657
Interior Health: +525 | Active: 1,159
Northern Health: +358 | Active: 1,165
Residents Outside Canada: +13
There are currently 6,098 active cases of COVID-19 in the province.
174,281 people who tested positive have recovered.
There are now a total of 303 people in hospital due to COVID-19, 141 of whom are in critical care — ICU or acute care units.
There have been 18 additional deaths from COVID-related causes in BC, increasing the provincial death toll to 1,940.
Island Health
South Vancouver Island – Active cases: 318 │Total Cases: 3,489
Central Vancouver Island – Active cases: 198 │ Total Cases: 3,756
North Vancouver Island – Active cases: 38 │Total Cases: 1,082
32 people remain in hospital on Vancouver Island due to COVID-19, with 18 in the ICU.
There was 2 new deaths in the Island Health region this weekend, and a total of 63 deaths on Vancouver Island have been recorded since the pandemic began.
Outbreaks
There have been five new health-care facility outbreaks declared at Chilliwack General Hospital (Fraser), Northcrest Care Centre (Fraser) Spring Valley Care Centre (Interior) David Lloyd Jones Home (Interior) Sun Pointe Village (Interior Health).
There are a total of 21 active outbreaks.
Vaccinations
To date, 87.7% of eligible people 12 and older in B.C. have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine and 80.5% received their second dose.
In addition, 88.2% of all eligible adults in B.C. have received their first dose and 81.3% received their second dose.
Are you passionate about a career where you can make a difference in someone’s life?
The Greater Victoria School District wants to help get you there, where you’ll have the opportunity to help shape the next generation.
They are currently offering a three-week condensed training program designed to get aspiring Educational Assistants classroom-ready, completely free of charge.
In 47 schools serving 19,000 students, SD61’s 3,000 employees are committed every day to ensuring their students’ success in a responsible and safe environment.
The Educational Assistant training program will take place from October 12th to October 29th, and is free for all accepted applicants.
Acceptance to free Educational Assistant training program will be based on an interview to be conducted over Zoom, October 5th to October 8th, 2021. Though a job offer is not guaranteed at the end of the program, that is the hopeful outcome for all applicants.
Requirements for acceptance into the program
Grade 12 or equivalent
One (1) year Education Assistant and Community Support Worker certificate or equivalent combination of post-secondary courses in child/adolescent development, or behavior management including non-violent crisis intervention techniques.
Experience working with vulnerable children
First Aid and CPR certified, or willingness to get certified
Ability to commit to the full three week course (please do not apply if you cannot attend these dates)
Desire to be gainfully employed by the School District at the conclusion of the program
The program includes
Organizational structure of schools
The role of Education Assistants in the classroom
Health and safety (COVID Protocols)
Child development
Indigenous learners and the “First Peoples Principles of Learning”
Inclusion
Supporting learning
Technology and education
Behavior support
Communication
Boundaries
Social emotional learning
English Language Learners
Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) Training (1 day)
School Visits: Elementary, Middle, Secondary (6 days)
Benefits of working in the Greater Victoria School District
Having an opportunity to work with all students and see their progress in the classroom you support
Having the flexibility to work around family commitments, personal avocations and the school calendar
Consistent Monday to Friday work
Competitive wages
Comprehensive benefits package
Completion of the program could lead to an Educational Assistant position with the Greater Victoria School District, and these positions offer regular call-outs leading to continuing assignments of 24-28 hours per week.
The deadline to apply for the Educational Assistant training is Friday October 1st, 2021 at 4 p.m., and to apply, interested applicants can send their cover letter, resume, copies of relevant certification and references to:
Human Resource Services, Greater Victoria School District #61 556 Boleskine Road, Victoria, B.C. V8Z 1E8
You can also email hrs@sd61.bc.ca.
For a detailed job description of the position of the Educational Assistant position, please visit SD61 onlineand head to their Employment section.
If you’re one of the many people in Greater Victoria who ride your bike to work, you’ll be pleased to know that your bus ride will be on the house this week.
From September 27th to October 3rd, BC Transit are offering cyclists free rides within the Victoria Regional Transit System for cyclists during Go By Bike Week.
In order to hitch a free ride, Go By Bike Week participants must use the bus bike racks or show their bike helmet when boarding the bus.
“BC Transit buses are equipped with bike racks on the front of the bus, making it easier for cyclists to combine two forms of sustainable transportation when travelling longer distances – or when the weather changes throughout the day and makes cycling less desirable than it was first thing in the morning,” BC Transit said in a media statement.
There will be BC Transit staff at the Saanich Municipal Hall on October 3rd from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., demonstrating how to use the bike racks on the front of BC Transit buses.
The bike racks on smaller on smaller fleet buses cannot be used after dark, since they obstruct the headlights.
Keep in mind masks are still mandatory aboard all BC Transit buses, and physical distancing and capacity limits are still in place.
The BC government announced it is allocating $1.5 million in funding for trauma-informed mental health and wellness support for victims of residential schools.
As a result of the ongoing findings at former Indian Residential Schools, this week was declared Truth and Reconciliation Week with the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Thursday, September 30th—a new federal statutory holiday in Canada.
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation provides an opportunity to recognize and commemorate the tragic history and ongoing legacy of residential schools, and to honour survivors, their families and communities.
The allocation of these funds will be put towards the additional counselling and cultural support staff of the 24/7 support line and to provide more in-person health and wellness and cultural support at the sites of former Indian Residential School and Indian Hospitals.
Metis Nation BC will also receive funding to expand their Metis Counselling Connection Program specific to the experience of Metis survivors.
The $1.5 million comes from the province’s funding of $12 million announced in June dedicated to the BC Residential School Response Fund.
“The Indian Residential School Survivors Society would like to express our profound gratitude to the Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation for its commitment to reconciliation by taking action towards the mental health and wellness journey of all former students of Residential Schools including intergenerational,” executive director of the Indian Residential School Survivors Society, Angela White, said.
“We are working tirelessly to support former students of Residential Schools and their families through programs and services for the youth, 2SLGBTQ+, Elders and families. This funding will have a direct impact and be used for services that include grief and loss counselling, crisis counselling, family and group counselling and programs, traditional healing methods, crisis support and mental health and wellness.”
A Victoria restaurant owner has died after being hospitalized with complications from COVID-19.
Chad Rennie, owner of Rain Dogs Wine Bar in Victoria’s Chinatown, tested positive for COVID-19 on August 6th.
According to a GoFundMe page, Rennie, a father and grandfather, had very few symptoms but within a few days he started to feel unwell and quickly declined and required hospitlization.
On August 15th, Rennie was put on a ventilator at Victoria General Hospital but his health continued to decline and was transferred to Vancouver General Hospital.
“On Sunday August 22nd, the decision was made to put him on ECMO to give his very sick lungs a chance to rest and heal,” Seanna McDonald wrote on the GoFundMe page.
“His wife, his daughters and his grandkids need him to get better as soon as possible,” added McDonald.
Despite best efforts by hospital staff, his condition continued to deteriorate and on September 25th, he was transitioned to palliative care where he passed away the following day.
Rennie’s wife Angela confirmed he passed away at 2 p.m. on Sunday, September 26th.
“There are no words today, just feelings,” she said in a Facebook post.
As of this publication, the GoFundMe surpassed its goal of $20,000 and has raised $29,405 to date.
There have been 60 deaths from COVID-19 in the Island Health regions since the pandemic began.
After a snap Federal election which saw the Green Party lose one of three seats they gained in the 2019 election, Annamie Paul has resigned as Green Party leader.
Paul, who did not gain a seat in the 2021 election, came in a distant fourth in her riding of Toronto-Centre—her third time running, and losing, in that riding.
After the results of the election, Paul’s decision to step down comes on the heels of the party initiating a review of her leadership and a tumultuous year which almost saw her undergo a leadership review in June and an attempt to strip Paul of her Green membership.
Paul cites the infighting the Green Party has undergone since Elizabeth May stepped down as Green Party leader as one of many reasons she is stepping down.
Paul stated in a press conference on Monday morning that the past year and a half has been the “worst period in her life.”
Many leaders reacted to Paul’s resignation, including NDP leader Jagmeet Singh and Conservative leader Erin O’ Toole.
Thank you @annamiepaul for your perseverance & for being a trailblazer for Canadians from all backgrounds interested in public service. I always appreciated our discussions and admire your tenacity. Wishing you and your family well.
With the Conservative Party winning the popular vote, and most parties maintaining their seats with either incremental or lateral changes, the Liberal Party formed a minority government in the House of Commons by winning 158 ridings.
All federal party leaders secured seats in their ridings with the exception of People’s Party of Canada leader Maxime Bernier and Green Party Leader Annamie Paul. ,
The Green Party secured two seats.
Longtime Saanich-Gulf Islands, BC MP and formerGreen Party leader Elizabeth May held her seat and rookie Mike Morrice of Kitchener Centre, Ontario was able to gain a seat.
In a tight race, incumbent Green MP Paul Manly lost his seat in Nanaimo-Ladysmith, BC.
What if we told you you could take charge of your fitness with only two 20-minute workouts per week?
At Victoria’s Charge Fitness, they can make that your reality, with a focus on less time, more energy, and quicker results.
Charge Fitness provides workouts through EMS (Electro-Muscle Stimulation) training, which works by stimulating the muscles to contract harder and longer.
In turn, this provides a more effective and complete muscle contraction, allowing gym-goers to contract 80% of their muscles versus a standard contraction rate of 30%.
Sound intriguing? If you’re interested in trying it for yourself, you’re in luck! We’re giving away 6 free sessions for you AND a friend at Charge Fitness – contest details are below.
The science behind EMS
In plain language, EMS training requires you to wear a special suit during your workout. The suit sends an electrical impulse to the muscles to create an involuntary muscle contraction. During a typical workout, your brain is sending signals to your muscles telling them to contract – this is called voluntary contraction.
(Charge Fitness)
The combination of voluntary and involuntary contraction creates a deeper, more complete muscle contraction.
During traditional strength training the brain sends impulses which stimulate certain muscles to contract. However, not all muscles have a well-developed connection to the brain and these muscles are not activated as easily and therefore they will not develop so well.
Training stimulates all the major muscle groups and in turn helps you get a better, more complete workout.
Why it works
Charge Fitness Training is a safe way to resistance train without putting added stress on your body and joints, while taking up little of your precious time.
With Charge Fitness you can achieve the results of a 90-minute training session in just 20 minutes, and because it is so effective in building muscle and burning calories you only have to train 2 days a week.
To help you get in charge of your fitness this fall, we’ve partnered with Charge Fitness to give away a two-week membership (that’s 6 sessions!) for you AND a friend!
On top of that, they’ve given us the exclusive promo code BUZZ30which can be used until Monday, October 11th – click hereto book your session today!
CONTEST
For a chance to win a two-week membership (that’s 6 sessions!) for you AND a friend to Charge Fitness, complete one or 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 p.m. on October 4th, 2021. One winner will be chosen at random and contacted through the platform they used to enter.
The incident occurred just before 9 a.m. on Pandora Avenue. The injured officer was on special duty assignment outside of Our Place Society assisting City of Victoria Bylaw staff.
In a media release, VicPD said the officer was standing next to a police cruiser when he was struck by a driver of another vehicle from behind.
While VicPD didn’t release details of the incident, one witness report stated the VicPD officer appeared to be pinned between the car and a dumpster.
The officer 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 said the vehicle was stolen and the suspect was not injured.
The 900-block of Pandora Avenue remains closed as the investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the non-emergency line at (250) 995-7654. To report what you know anonymously, please call Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
VicPD has closed the 900-block of Pandora avenue to traffic as several officers respond to a police incident in the area.
Just before 9 a.m. Monday morning, VicPD closed the area in front of Our Place Society and encouraged drivers to use alternative routes.
The 900-block of Pandora Avenue is closed to #yyjtraffic as several officers have responded to a police incident in the area. Please use an alternate route. Updates to follow. #yyj
There are unconfirmed reports an officer was injured during the incident. One witness report stated a VicPD officer was trying to remove the driver from a vehicle, when the vehicle was driven into the officer, pinning him between the car and a dumpster.
Effective immediately, the Animal Responsibility Bylaw has made a prohibition of roaming cats on another’s property without an owner’s permission.
Nanaimo city council has also banned owning four or more dogs over four months old and made it mandatory for cats over six months old to be identified and sterilized.
The goal of the bylaw, Nanaimo city council said, is to protect the health and well-being of the animals and emphasize the importance of animal safety and responsible pet ownership.
The bylaw was adopted on Tuesday, September 21st.
Other bylaw provisions include changing the “vicious dog” designation to “aggressive dog,” and that in the case of a lost cat where no owner is found, the cat will be spayed or neutered, affixed with permanent identification, and put up for adoption to an indoor-only home.
Any seizure and impound fees will be waived until January 1st, 2023, for any cat impounded that is sterilized and has identification.
While it may seem strict, cats will not require a leash.
To see a more detailed version of the bylaw click here.
Pet lovers have the perfect opportunity to adopt a new four-legged friend this week!
To help free up space in animal shelters, the BC SPCA is offering 50% off all adoption fees across the province.
“Many of our shelters are very full right now with animals seized or surrendered in large-scale investigations and our goal is to create capacity for these animals, while at the same time finding wonderful homes for the pets currently in our care,” says Lorie Chortyk, general manager of communications for the BC SPCA.
The half-price adoption event will take place from September 27th to October 6th at all 36 BC SPCA locations.
“We are offering 50% off adoption fees for all companion animals – dogs, cats, puppies, kittens, rabbits and small animals, as well as for farm animals (with the exception of horses),” said Chortyk.
“We encourage anyone who has been thinking about adopting a pet to take advantage of this promotion. You will not only be providing a loving home for a deserving animal, but it will also allow us to create capacity for abused and neglected animals who urgently need our help.”
For a full list of all adoptable animals available, visit the BC SPCA’s website online here.
BC RCMP Highway Patrol are seeking the public’s help with the investigation into a fatal motor vehicle incident near Parksville on Friday night.
In a media release, RCMP said a vehicle travelling northbound on Inland Island Highway drove off the road at the Exit 51 off ramp to Parksville just after 10 p.m. on Friday, September 24th.
The vehicle rolled over and landed on its roof.
There were two occupants in the vehicle, a 35-year-old male passenger and a 35-year-old female driver, both from the Parksville Qualicum Beach area.
The man was pronounced dead at scene and the woman was airlifted to hospital.
“BC Highway Patrol Parksville would like to thank all of the many people who stopped to render aid, to the Oceanside RCMP and to the Fire and Ambulance crews for their assistance on the scene,” said Cpl. Michelle LeBrun of the BCHP.
RCMP are asking witnesses, anyone in attendance at the scene or anyone with dashcam footage to contact them at 250-954-2953.
There are very few truly untouched places of wild beauty in this world.
The remotest reaches of Antarctica, home to sagely penguins and the most hermetic of research scientists.
The deepest cave systems of the earth, where the CHUDS and the Molemen battle for dominance.
The unknowable fathoms of the ocean, where giant squids give the biggest, most unwelcome hugs to deep-diving whales.
And my grandmother’s backyard.
Yes, I took a trip to the mainland for the first time in two years, to go see my 婆婆 at her Vancouver home. There’s a bit of a rite of passage that must be performed at these visits, rare as they are for the grandkids like me, especially in the COVID times.
At 101, my grandmother is still sharp as a tack, with incredible memory recall, and she’s still quite capable of getting around the house and taking care of herself. It’s pretty damn impressive. I’m 35 and I struggle to keep my bachelor pad from accruing roving stacks of dishes and dust bunny colonies.
One thing understandably beyond my 婆婆’s abilities, however, is the garden.
In its heyday the garden was glorious. My grandparents grew vegetables, fruit, glorious flowers and trees and more. And it still is glorious, but would be less glorious in the vein of Butchart Gardens and more glorious in the vein of the mighty Amazon Rainforest.
I’m quite convinced an entire civilization could crop up in the veritable forest that has overtaken my grandmother’s backyard. Tour groups have been sent into that backyard, never to be seen again.
That’s where we whippersnappers come in. Deployed with clippers and shears, the younger generations from my parents on down are sent into this jungle to hack back the ever-encroaching nature, hopefully stalling its progress from overtaking the (incredibly patient) neighbours’ properties.
To give you a concrete idea of how real this issue is: my sister and her husband were at my grandmother’s house in August. They, too, performed the visitation ritual of cutting back the jungle-garden.
I just visited in September. Nearly everything they’d cut down, and extra in some places, had grown back.
I even encountered signs of their passage, like I was tracing a failed expedition. There were cut-off points on the trees, showing where branches had been cut down earlier. There were bent plants where people had desperately stood, fighting back the mad growth.
And still, it grows.
Yet I can’t help but respect its wild tenacity. Much like my 婆婆, now a centenarian and still trucking along, the garden persists, and is wholly out of f**ks to give. And aside from occasionally snaking over a fence or two, it’s not really a problem per se. It just…is.
And I’d be lying if there wasn’t a certain satisfaction in chopping away at plants which you know will not be permanently harmed by your actions. It’s like the plants are a boxer competing out of their weight class, and they won’t hit back, but they’ll spit out a gob of blood and a tooth or two, stare you did in the eye, and say “THAT ALL YOU GOT, BOY?”
You have to give it that.
So in a perverse way, despite the tearing of twigs at my forearms, and one branch clocking me square in the forehead (leaving a dark brown spot which has still not disappeared and should maybe be looked at), I’m looking forward to going back and having at it again.
With COVID-19 hopefully entering its last stage of destruction, and the possibility of world travel maybe more than just a wild hope, It might be nice to see some of those natural wonders. But on the other hand, I can get some epic chopping and jungling done right in the urban sprawl of Vancouver.
Who needs the wilds of the Amazon, when I have my 婆婆’s backyard.
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.
A new COVID-19 testing facility has opened in downtown Victoria. Island Health announced the opening of the new facility at the Victoria Conference Centre located at 720 Douglas Street for people with cold, flu or COVID-19-like symptoms. The facility is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Appointments can now be booked. To determine whether you require a COVID-19 test, Island Health recommends you to use this self-assessment tool. Conversely, people with symptoms can call: 1-844-901-8442 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily,and expect to hear back from an Island Health representative within 24-hours to schedule a test. The vaccination centre will still be available in tandem with the testing facility. Free parking is available and the walk-in entry point can be accessed off of Douglas Street on the south side of the building. Island Health requires you to have yours or your child’s personal health number available when booking a test and arriving. Gargle tests will also be available for children and adults. Island Health recommends that children being tested watch this video in advance to prepare.
A Sooke woman currently in ICU at Royal Jubileee Hospital took to social media to share her ongoing battle with COVID-19 in hopes it helps to save a life.
Sharlene Amerl, a single mother of two, said she was fearful how she would react to the ingredients in the COVID-19 vaccines as she had leukemia when she was six years.
Because of these fears, and even though she was advised to get the vaccine, Amerl decided against it for herself and her 13-year-old daughter.
“This is no joke, and VERY difficult for me to share! No judgements needed, I’ve paid the ultimate price of living in fear,” Amerl said in a Facebook post.
Amerl said she battled the virus silently for a week because she was “scared, ashamed” and didn’t want anyone to know she had it but also hoped it was just a cold.
She went and got tested on September 12th and the test results came back positive – at the same time, her daughter also tested positive for the virus.
“I laid in bed for 8 more days, following isolation orders, but sleeping 20-22 hours a day, I was so exhausted and getting sicker each day while trying to down all the vitamins and liquids I could,” said Amerl.
Amerl said she called 911 twice but she said she was told by paramedics that the hospitals were full and would likely be turned way.
This is no joke, and VERY difficult for me to share! No judgements needed, I’ve paid the ultimate price of living in…
She decided to stay home, however, her conditions worsened and on September 20th, she couldn’t breathe properly or walk.
“When I woke up Monday the 20th, I knew I was in real trouble right away, I couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t walk, I just wanted to sleep immediately! Thankfully I called 911 one last time! The third set of paramedics I had was this amazing team, who finally took me into the hospital, and said “we’ll take care of everything, don’t worry, we’ve got you,” Amerl wrote.
She has been in hospital since, and is slowly battling the virus one day at a time, but reiterated this has been the worst fight of her life.
“I can’t describe how painful, brutal and horrifically cruel COVID is to endure!”
Amerl avoided intubation, which she said was a possibility when she first arrived at Royal Jubilee Hospital.
Amerl said if she had her time back, she would have gotten vaccinated; but added that she would be getting the vaccine once she is able.
“I’m sharing my story, sharing my vulnerability in hopes it helps to save a life. COVID is evil and it is a silent killer! You just slowly get worse and worse, until you’re too sick to save yourself, almost like a gas leak… you just want to go to sleep,” Amerl described in her social media post.
Amerl said that her 13-year-old daughter is doing much better, and that her 10-year-old son received a negative result on his birthday.
As of this publication, 87.3 per cent (4,046,960) of eligible people aged 12 and older in BC have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine and 79.9 per cent (3,701,696) received their second dose.
This week BC Health officials were criticized for what the public and journalists have perceived as withholding vital information regarding daily case count data and surveillance data.
This means that numbers of those who were previously infected with COVID-19 and are now deemed ‘uninfectious’ but still occupy an ICU have been omitted from daily case counts.
BC’s health minister Adrian Dix said this week that COVID-19 patients in ICU are removed from daily case count numbers when they are no longer infectious with the virus.
In a statement Friday morning, the province doubled down, addressing what journalists have considered a breach of public trust.
“The BC Centre for Disease Control’s surveillance reports and the numbers in the daily report have a different function. They report the number of people with COVID-19 who require hospital or critical care,” the province said in a statement.
“These data help determine if, for example, the Delta variant causes increased rates of hospitalization or leads to more people needing critical care. This helps to understand the impact of the pandemic on the population (e.g., what percent of people with COVID-19 require hospital care) and plan public-health measures.”
As of September 21st, the province reported that there were 152 of these patients in BC hospitals – they are deemed “discontinued isolation.”
The government admitted that these cases are not reported in the daily case counts, and are determined as surveillance reports.
But before now, the public was not privy to this information.
The BC government remained stoic in their resolve of the issue, citing other provinces as a benchmark for keeping this data private.
“These cases do not directly contribute to the epidemiological picture of the pandemic, but importantly, make a significant contribution to public awareness and understanding of hospitals’ readiness to provide care,” the province said in a statement.
“Discontinued isolation reporting is anchored in B.C.’s public-health guidelines. For most cases, isolation is discontinued after 10 days, provided there is no fever and symptoms are improving. These same requirements are in effect in Ontario, Alberta and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.”
With daily case counts rising, and both the Island and Lower Mainland health regions opening ICU beds for Northern Health region COVID-19 patients, The Ministry of Health says that it is the sustainability of the system that they take into consideration when providing numbers.
Meanwhile, Manitoba have been transparent in providing their ‘uninfectious’ numbers in their daily updates.
In a September 23rd update, Manitoba reported that “68 Manitobans hospitalized with COVID-19 including 35 people with active COVID-19 as well as 33 people who are no longer infectious.”
Questions over transparency are especially poignant now in light of Alberta’s overrun ICU this month.
Members of a Vancouver Island nation have created a video game meant to preserve and teach children about their culture.
Ditidaht Kids is an interactive video game with 12-levels designed to help kids, between ages three and six, to learn and play games involving Ditidaht traditions, Ditidaht traditional territory, and listen to songs emphasizing diiʔdiiʔtidq language.
Thanks to the Ditidaht First Nation and generous contributions from the First Peoples Cultural Council, the game was consulted on by elder teachers, knowledge keepers, fluent speakers, historians and parents to ensure the game honours the Ditidaht ways.
Now available on Google Play and Apple stores, the game began in 2020, and came to fruition with the help of various voice actors, songwriters, historians, researchers, and people who maintained the cultural design of the Ditidaht within the game.
This is another in the number of ways that the Ditidaht First Nation have been preserving and sharing their culture.
Recently, the school’s language department encouraged Ditidaht language fluency by offering free classes online.
Island Health reported five south Island school clusters of COVID-19 in the past two weeks – two schools are in the Greater Victoria area.
A COVID-19 cluster is defined by Island Health as “two or more confirmed cases within a 14-day period, with evidence of transmission occurring within the school and no other likely source of exposure.”
The four clusters announced this week are at Discovery Elementary in Shawnigan Lake École Victor-Brodeur in Esquimalt and both Mt. Prevost and Tansor elementary schools in Duncan.
The cluster at Sir James Douglas Elementary School in Victoria was announced last week.
Before the start of the current school year, BC health officials said such exposure notices would no longer be issued, saying the notifications had caused anxiety for parents.
After hearing a call from parents and educators, Dr. Bonnie Henry said the province is working on a system to make sure parents can have access to COVID-19 school notifications that are “less intrusive.”
Details on that system have not yet been announced.
For those worried about COVID-19 in schools, a vaccine may soon be available to children.
On Monday, Pfizer and BioNTech announced successful trials with their COVID-19 vaccine in five- to 11-year olds and that they will be appealing to Health Canada to authorize their vaccine.
Children received a smaller dose – about more than a third – than those aged 12 and older.
The weather forecast is looking gloomy, Victoria, but that doesn’t mean your weekend has to be.
This weekend, there are still plenty of things you can do to have a good time.
Check out some indoor entertainment such as a small music performance or comedy show or get outside for a boat show or pottery sale to enjoy the end of September.
Here are 19 things to do in and around Victoria this weekend, September 25th-26th:
Musician Jeff Bryant returns to the Belfry Theatre after a long pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic with his show ‘The Great Unknown’.
The show is a solo acoustic performance of original songs that explore themes of loss, love and hopefulness. Bryant is on a mission to explore playful, creative curiosity.
Where: 1291 Gladstone Avenue, Belfry’s BMO Studio Theatre
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: Phil Hanley: 7 p.m., Saturday and Comedy Here Often? The Late Show: 10 p.m., Saturday
Tickets: $20. Tickets can be purchased online here.
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 annual Fall Fairfield is back! This free, family-oriented event is a celebration of community and the harvest season.
There will be live entertainment from the lək̓ʷəŋən Traditional Dancers, Charles Appleton & Emily Stewart, Dead Deer in a Ditch, Lelolai, and Bučan Bučan.
There will also be over thirty local vendors, workshops, food and snacks as well as a community art project and activities for the kids to enjoy.
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!
From the creators of the ‘Islands Passport’ comes a brand new addition, the ‘Distillery Passport’. The passport includes a complimentary flight and deals at 37 distilleries across British Columbia, with 14 of them located on Vancouver Island alone!
The Distillery Passport is $47.99 and can be purchasedonline.
Where: Vendors across Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands and throughout BC!
When: Available July 21st at 9 a.m., and can be used until June 2022.
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!
A road construction worked was killed late Thursday and another was seriously injured when they were hit by a car in a construction zone in Nanaimo.
The incident occurred just before midnight on Thursday September 23rd, near Kipp Road and the Trans-Canada Highway.
The driver of the vehicle involved, a white hatchback car, was detained by police for investigation.
Tragically, Nanaimo RCMP said one of the victims died at the scene, while the other was transported to hospital with serious injuries.
The highway was closed overnight in both directions with traffic being rerouted via alternate routes and reopened this morning around.
Investigators believe alcohol and speed to be contributing factors in the crash.
“While the investigation is only in the preliminary stages and evidence continues to be gathered, alcohol and speed are believed to be contributing factors,” RCMP said in a media statement.
“When police arrived, two victims were being attended to by BC Ambulance Service staff.”
Anyone who witnessed the collision, or any persons who may have dash cam footage of the collision or immediately preceding the collision, are asked to contact investigators at the Nanaimo RCMP non-emergency line at 250-754-2345.
VicPD are investigating an alleged targeted hate crime that occurred at a downtown Victoria church.
Just after 11 p.m. on Sunday, September 12th, two people were caught on video surveillance spray-painting St. Andrew’s Cathedral located at the corner of Blanshard and View Streets.
The video, captured from the 700-block of View Street, appears to show a suspect damaging the church while a witness is seen speaking with another suspect—who VicPD believe was acting as lookout.
Investigators are looking to identify and speak with this male witness, and want to assure this person that they are not a suspect in the hate crime investigation.
In a second video, captured in the 1200-block of Blanshard Street, the primary suspect and the secondary suspect, again acting as a lookout, are observed damaging the church.
Another witness, who police described as female, is seen walking past and observing the incident.
Investigators are also looking to identify and speak with this witness. This person is also not believed to be a suspect in the hate crime investigation.
VicPD believe that these two people also participated in several other similar acts of vandalism occurring in Oak Bay and Saanich.
“Targeting places of worship for political purposes is against the Criminal Code of Canada and not welcome in Victoria or Esquimalt,” VicPD said in a statement.
“The nature of the targeting and some of the vandalism meets the standard for investigation as a hate-motivated incident or hate crime. Officers are looking to identify and speak with the two suspects.”
Anyone with information about this incident, the suspects, or the two witnesses, is asked to call VicPD at (250) 995-7654.
The BC Ministry of Health reported 832 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, September 23rd.
There have been 181,798 cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began.
New cases were reported in these health regions:
Vancouver Coastal Health: 114
Fraser Health: 377
Island Health: 71
Interior Health: 153
Northern Health: 117
There are currently 5,697 active cases of COVID-19 in the province.
173,786 people who tested positive have recovered.
There are now a total of 330 people in hospital due to COVID-19, 148 of whom are in critical care — ICU or acute care units.
There have been 5 additional deaths from COVID-related causes in BC, increasing the provincial death toll to 1,915.
Island Health:
Island Health reported 71 new cases of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Island region and 654 active cases.
Breakdown of cases on Vancouver Island:
South Vancouver Island Active cases: 330 │Total Cases: 3,345
Central Vancouver Island Active cases: 190 │ Total Cases: 3,633
North Vancouver Island Active cases: 47│Total Cases: 1,067
34 people remain in hospital with 21 in ICU.
There were no new deaths in the Island Health region today, and a total of 59 deaths on Vancouver Island.
Outbreaks
There have been no new health-care facility outbreaks.
The outbreak at Brookhaven Care Centre (Interior Health) has been declared over, for a total of 22 active outbreaks, including the ongoing outbreak at the Victoria Chinatown Care Centre.
Vaccinations
To date, 87.3% of eligible people 12 and older in B.C. have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine and 79.9% received their second dose.
In addition, 87.8 of all eligible adults in B.C. have received their first dose and 80.7% received their second dose.
But a new storytelling tool has been developed by Camosun College to aid young students with the pressure of interviews, helping those who struggle to display what it is that makes them a good employee.
“CamSTAR” has been developed by Camosun’s Applied Learning, Co-op Education and Career Services department to teach students how to use structured storytelling to demonstrate their skills, behaviours, and competencies for an employer.
To help students, the CamSTAR app will log curated stories and personal examples for the students so that they can reference and develop their professional skills.
This means that when a challenging question such as ‘can you name a time you demonstrated leadership?’ comes up, interviewees can demonstrate their skills.
The app is intended for use in interviews, resumes, or digital portfolios.
“CamSTAR helps you prepare for those really hard behaviour-based questions,” says University Transfer student Sofia Devlin.
“Even if you don’t necessarily have a sense about how to go about developing your STAR stories it offers helpful examples.”
CamSTAR is intended to alleviate the pressure of interviews and instil the skill necessary for them to demonstrate their specific skill for something the interviewer is asking.
This tool will be integrated into select programs and into Camosun’s Career Development course.
Camosun’s Career Services will be offering a series of webinars and one-on-one support to orient students to the online resource in October and November.
With this app, no longer will you be left wondering what answers you can give!
The COVID-19 pandemic is something we’d all like to put behind us.
But a recent poll of 1,000 Canadians from Research Co. demonstrates that more than a third of Canadians (36%) believe the worst still may be ahead, while just under half (48%) think the opposite.
Two thirds of Canadians aged between 18 and 34 (64%) believe that the COVID-19 situation will not worsen, and people aged 35 to 54 (50%) and over 55 years old (39%) believe the same.
More than four-in-five Canadians (84%) consider the COVID-19 pandemic as a real threat, while 12% disagree and 4% are undecided.
In light of the recent federal election, Research Co. also polled Canadians on the federal and provincial governments’ COVID-19 responses.
More than half of Canadians are satisfied with the federal government’s COVID-19 pandemic response.
Satisfaction is slightly lower this month for the way in which municipal governments (60%) and provincial governments (56%) have performed during the pandemic.
Only 26% of Albertans are satisfied with the provincial administration—a 20-point decrease since July and the lowest level recorded for a government since March 2020.
Currently, Alberta is seeing a surge in COVID-19 cases after the government apologized for its COVID-19 response this past summer.
While it may appear to be a contentious issue across provinces, the Research Co. poll demonstrated that more than four-in-five Canadians (84%) are in favour of requiring all customers or visitors entering an indoor premise to wear a mask or face covering while inside.
BC is in the midst of its fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic with currently 5,458 active cases of COVID-19 in the province.
After months of mouth-watering patience, Cinnaholic—the popular vegan Cinnamon bun chain—will finally open its doors!
Known for its plant-based and allergy-friendly recipes, Victoria is welcoming the international vegan cinnamon roll chain to 535 Yates Street on October 8th.
To celebrate, Cinnaholic will provide $1 cinnamon rolls from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m where you can either have a signature roll or a build-your-own bun. Customers are limited to one roll per customer.
Cinnaholic’s Victoria location will be the first in BC; however, there are several Canadian locations throughout Alberta, Manitoba, and Ontario.
They offer fresh cinnamon rolls with 40 different frosting flavours and 40 different toppings with half the calories compared to their competitors.
The popular bakery provides custom-made vegan, dairy and lactose-free, egg-free, and cholesterol-free cinnamon buns.
They also offer catering services.
The California-based company gained notoriety on the show Shark Tank seven years ago and has since opened locations internationally.
The Capital Regional District (CRD) Animal Shelter received a generous bequest of over a half a million dollars from a couple who wanted to honour their relationship with their cat.
In a media release, the CRD said the estate of Francis Gordon Ainsworth bequeathed $518,000 to the animal shelter.
“Mr. Ainsworth, and his partner Mr. Carter who predeceased him, donated annually to the CRD Animal Shelter as a way to honour their relationship with their much loved pet who provided so much comfort and joy—Whiskey the cat,” the release read.
Ainsworth and Carter learned about the work of the CRD at a community outreach event where the animal shelter was promoting its work.
“Inspired by staff’s passion for animal welfare, they became annual donors and were pleased to be able to assist with providing new beds for dogs, hide and perch boxes for the cats, and to help fund the care of extreme medical cases.”
This is a welcome donation for a shelter that does so much good work.
The CRD Animal Shelter is located along the Pat Bay Highway and offers temporary shelter for lost pets and operates an adoption program for stray, lost, abandoned or injured animals.
The CRD shelters dogs, cats and livestock—like chickens, roosters, or quail—and smaller critters like hamsters, rats, gerbils, birds and snakes.
Currently, staff at the animal shelter are in the process of developing outreach programs to assist in the reuniting of animals with their owners.
Animals brought into the shelter are often scanned for a microchip or tattoo.
In 2020, only 60% of animals that were found lost were claimed by their owners with almost 200 animals requiring medical care and new homes.
The CRD shelter vaccinates and microchips, as well as spays and neuters, any unclaimed animals before being placed for adoption.
The CRD says it has provided emergency medical care including spaying and neutering over 400 found animals with more than $150,000 in veterinary expenses in the past four years.
With some of the best views the Westshore has to offer, tons of amenities and five brand new, stunning homes just released, it’s easier than ever to see why this is the perfect area to make your forever home.
Located on the southern slopes of Skirt Mountain in Langford, Westview not only boasts views, it’s minutes from everything you could possibly need.
There are so many reasons why this picturesque area is one of the most sought-after communities in Greater Victoria, and here are 5 of its amenities you won’t want to miss out on:
#westviewbestview
Seriously, though.
Westview has stunning valley, mountain and Juan de Fuca Strait views from many of its lots – there’s a LOT to see in this neighborhood!
These photos speak for themselves:
Minutes from everything you need
A short jaunt to the new Leigh Road interchange, Bear Mountain, Southpoint, highway 1 and tons of other convenient transportation options, Westview provides you with quick access to all the daily necessities such as schools, shopping, and restaurants while only minutes away from parks, beaches and golf.
Dreamy interiors
You can bring Westview’s best views inside of your home with designer selected finishings including gourmet kitchens, inviting interiors and stylish bathrooms.
You’ll also have the choice of two colour schemes designed by Dawn Garneau of Award-Winning Nygaard Interior Designs.
Here are just a few of the stunning features you’ll find inside:
Bright and inviting 1 bedroom legal suites
Double garage with additional surface parking
Inviting open-concept layouts with High volume, 9ft tall ceilings on the main floor
Built Green Certified construction
Large windows for plenty of natural light
Natural gas appliances including furnace, hot water, fireplace, bbq outlet and optional cooling packages!
High-quality, environmentally friendly 12mm laminate flooring with a 25-year warranty included
Quality trim package throughout the home
Amenities galore
When you make Westview your forever home, you’ll enjoy limitless options when it comes to provincial parks and trails, natural lakes and world-class golfing. World-class mountain biking and tennis facilities are just up the road, as well as the new Langford Aquatic Centre/YMCA-YWCA and the City Centre Park recreational facility.
We’ve also partnered with Westview to give away a stay at the stunning nearby Villa Eyrie, so make sure you scroll down for contest details.
Homes for everyone under the sun
With a dynamic mix of single family homes with suites as well as townhomes – which are coming soon! – the new community has just released 5 new homes.
The 5 homes just released include some of their most family-friendly floor plans with legal suites. You can visit Westview online and get all the details!
CONTEST
For your chance to win a $500 prize package which includes an annual family pass for Malahat Skywalk PLUS a one-night stay at the Villa Eyrie Resort, please do the following:
5. COMMENT below with who you’d take with you! (Don’t forget to register on the website!) (1 entry)
Contest entries will be accepted from the time and date of publishing until 11:59 pm on Wednesday, October 6th. One winner will be chosen at random and contacted through the platform they used to enter.
Lululemon will now outfit Canadian athletes at the next four Olympics.
The deal, announced on Thursday, confirmed Lululemon would be the exclusive supplier of Olympic-branded athletic apparel for the Canadian Olympic Committee and the Canadian Paralympic Committee.
Inspire, unite and transform the world together through sport. 🤝
We are proud to welcome @lululemon as Official Outfitter of #TeamCanada through 2028. ✨
The Vancouver-based athletic wear company will outfit Canadian athletes at these next four Olympic games:
The Winter Games in Beijing in 2022
The Summer Games in Paris in 2024
The Winter Games in Milan in 2026
The Summer Games set for Los Angeles in 2028
From athletes to support staff, to coaches and trainers, every member of Team Canada will be fit in the popular BC-based company’s athletic wear.
“Supporting these incredible athletes as they prepare to compete on the world’s largest sporting stage is a privilege,” Lululemon CEO Calvin McDonald said in a news release.
“Through this partnership, all of us at Lululemon are honoured to play our part to inspire, unite and transform the world through sport.”
Lululemon takes the contract from the Hudson’s Bay Co. who has outfitted Team Canada since 2006.
At Beijing 2020, Hudson’s Bay Co. unveiled a ‘Canadian Tuxedo’ which was heavily criticized, and at the 2018 Winter Olympics a stereotypical lumberjack red and black flannel was the outfit for Canadian athletes.
Lululemon has yet to announce any designs, but have revealed teasers and a legacy bag in support of the Canadian Olympic Foundation and Paralympic Foundation of Canada.
If you’re looking for the thrill of experiencing live, in-person rugby, you’re in luck; Canada’s Men’s 15s Team will be playing their World Cup Qualifying Series match against Chile right in our own backyard, and you’re invited.
It all kicks off on Saturday, October 2nd at Langford’s Starlight Stadium at 5 p.m., in what promises to be a spirited bout between rivals in their quest for the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Even better, we’ve partnered with City of Langford and Rugby Canada to give away four tickets to the match, and you’ll find those contest details below.
This match will be an important one, as it will determine who will move on to the third qualifying round in July 2022.
The Rugby World Cup 2023 is being hosted in France, and occurs just once every four years, with 20 countries coming together ti compete in the event.
According to the City of Langford, The Rugby World Cup is the third largest sporting event in the world, and Canada has a track record of qualifying for the event every time the tournament has taken place since its inception in 1987.
The Canadian men last played at Starlight Stadium on February 22nd, 2019, where they secured a victory against Chile.
The event will be following all Provincial Health & Safety protocols; this will include the requirement to present a vaccine passport at the gate for entry, and wearing masks everywhere within the Stadium except when seated.
To be a part of this once in a lifetime action, grab your tickets online today!
Game two of the aggregate series will be played on October 9th, but this time, in Chile.
CONTEST
To win 4 reserved seating tickets to Rugby Canada’s World Cup Qualifying match vs. Chile in Langford, please do the following:
SHARE this article on Facebook/Instagram and leave a comment below once you have (1 entry)
COMMENT below who you’d take with you to the game! (1 entry)
Contest entries will be accepted from the time and date of publishing until Thursday, September 30th. One winner will be chosen at random and contacted through the platform they used to enter. Make sure to register when commenting below.
A Victoria man wanted for driving over a police cruiser and attempting to ram three others with his vehicle at the end of August has been caught by police.
On August 31st, a Central Saanich police officer attempted to stop Pocetti’s at the Co-op gas station on West Saanich Road for a traffic violation.
Pocetti did not comply, instead driving over the hood of the police cruiser in his green 4×4 Dodge pick-up before pushing it aside and fleeing the scene. The officer was not injured.
A few days later, on the early morning of September 5th, Pocetti attempted to ram three people on foot with his vehicle on Dallas Road.
Pocetti then exited his vehicle and attempted to assault one of the individuals with a weapon, narrowly missing the person.
Just before 10 p.m. on Tuesday, September 22nd, the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team (GVERT) conducted a high-risk vehicle arrest using a distraction device at the intersection of Bay and Blanshard Streets.
Photos from the scene show a vehicle with its windows blown out and a large heavily armed police presence.
(Carmen Lamberg)
Pocetti was taken into custody without further incident.
The $19 Parttime Tiki Punch cocktail is an experience. Made with a blend of rums, passionfruit, pineapple, c&c falernum, lime and bitters, the drink is then lit on fire!
Location: 1900 Douglas Street, Citrus and Cane
Hours: 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., Sunday and Monday, 6 p.m. to 12 a.m., Thursday to Saturday
According to Reddit, this $44 drink is worth it! This 3oz frozen old fashion is made with Okanagan Spirits Blk Bourbon, Rittenhouse rye, house syrup, arto life wtr, angostura & rootside root beer bitters. The drink is served at -20°C.
Victoria’s newest Tiki Bar already has a fan favourite,‘The Zombie’. The 3oz drink is made with Appleton 8 Year, Ron Matusealem 15 year and Wray & Nephew overproof rum with grapefruit, falernum, cinnamon syrup, lime juice and special spices.
Location: 714 Cormorant Street
Hours: 5 p.m. to 12 a.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday and 5 p.m. to 12 a.m., Sunday
Clive’s ‘I Live in Vic West’ is made with Stillhead Blackberry Gin, Esquimalt Wine Co. Kina Rouge, Bittered Sling Lem Marakesh Bitters and lemon juice.
Location: 740 Burdett Avenue
Hours: 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday, 5 p.m. to 12 a.m., Friday and Saturday, 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., Sunday
A new twist on a classic cocktail, Clarke&Co’s ‘Maple Butter Smoked Old Fashioned’ is made with Bookers Bourbon & Forty Creek Copper Pot Butter Washed Whisky, Hoyne Dark Matter Maple Syrup, Cedar Smoked Glass and Chocolate Bitters
The BC Ministry of Health reported 759 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, September 22nd.
There have been 180,937 cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began.
New cases were reported in these health regions:
Vancouver Coastal Health: 101
Fraser Health: 214
Island Health: 79
Interior Health: 233
Northern Health: 129
Resident outside Canada: 3
There are currently 5,458 active cases of COVID-19 in the province.
173,215 people who tested positive have recovered.
There are now a total of 324 people in hospital due to COVID-19, 157 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 1,910.
Outbreaks
There has been one new health-care facility outbreak at Sunset Manor (Fraser Health).
There are a total of 23 active outbreaks, including:
Long-Term Care: Northcrest Care Centre, Westminster House, Menno Terrace East (Fraser Health), Arbutus Care Centre, Louis Brier Home and Hospital (Vancouver Coastal Health), Village at Mill Creek – second floor, Cottonwoods Care Centre, Brookhaven Care Centre, Spring Valley Care Centre, Kamloops Seniors Village, Hillside Village, The Hamlets at Westsyde, Joseph Creek Care Village, Overlander (Interior Health), Jubilee Lodge (Northern Health) and Victoria Chinatown Care Centre (Island Health)
Acute Care: Chilliwack General Hospital (Fraser Health), Fort St. John Hospital (Northern Health) and Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital (Interior Health)
Assisted or Independent Living: Sunset Manor (Fraser Health), David Lloyd Jones, Sun Pointe Village and Hardy View Lodge (Interior Health)
Island Health:
Island Health reported 79 new cases of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Island region and 563 active cases.
Breakdown of cases on Vancouver Island:
South Vancouver Island Active cases: 339 │Total Cases: 3319
Central Vancouver Island Active cases: 180 │ Total Cases: 3597
North Vancouver Island Active cases: 44 │Total Cases: 1060
35 people remain in hospital with 20 in ICU.
There has been one new death in the Island Health region today, and a total of 59 deaths on Vancouver Island.
Vaccinations
To date, 87.1% of eligible people 12 and older in B.C. have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine and 79.7% received their second dose.
In addition, 87.7% of all eligible adults in B.C. have received their first dose and 80.5% received their second dose.
To date, 7,739,828 (+14,242) doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in BC; 3,692,922 (+7,123) of which are second doses.
The highly anticipated Victoria International Wine Festival (VICWF) is back for it’s eighth year and, this time, it has a brand new look.
This November, the event is going industrial-chic, taking over Victoria’s historic Powerhouse Building.
The location will serve as the backdrop for a wine tour including over thirty five international vendors who will each showcase up to twelve different wines.
“Our boutique festival offers an interactive experience; when guests walk in, we give the time to explore and engage with the presenters,” says Event Director David Bain.
“Guests are encouraged to engage with the tables so they can learn the story of each winery, and its tasting notes first hand.”
Attendees will be able to meet international and local winemakers while sampling some of their soon to be new favourite wines.
“Guests can expect to walk through and learn about each of the wines and how best to consume them, but also hear the actual background story,” says Bain.
“These are wines made with love and care by growers; their stories are intriguing—some wines are new and other recipes were made in castles that go back to the 1600s.”
Tickets for the event will be available exclusively for newsletter subscribers on September 27th before becoming available to the general public on September 30th.
From sea to sea, ocean to ocean, and prairies to mountains, small towns are the backbone of what makes travelling through Canada so great.
A recent listicle from Travel and Leisure has acknowledged the beauty of Canada’s small towns, and a popular Vancouver Island destination has topped that list: Tofino.
Popular with surfers, vagabonds, or vacationers, we all know how colourful and curious the town of Tofino is, and we’re happy to see it get the recognition it deserves.
In fact, Tofino is so popular we often forget it’s a small town.
With a population close to 2,000, Tofino often sees a huge influx of tourists pop by during the summer season to check out popular destinations including the famous Long Beach and UNESCO Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Reserve.
Not only is the town full of natural diversity, but it has plenty of amazing restaurants to choose from, bolstered by a number of renowned chefs and culinary professionals.
Tofino is among good company in BC, with quaint little Golden, BC, making the list as well.
Other notable towns are Banff, Alberta, Baie-Saint-Paul, Quebec, and Dawson, Yukon, among more!
We’re happy to see Travel and Leisure acknowledge our little Vancouver Island oasis with its second article commending the terrific Tofino.
While summer winds down, and the tourists flock back to their hometowns, perhaps this is your best chance to check out what Tofino offers during the fall and winter time.
After joining CRAFT Beer Market in March, the location remained in operation as Canoe while extensive architectural and design changes were reviewed.
Now, CRAFT Beer Market will officially take over the harbor-fronted taphouse with plans for some major renovations, including an open beer-hall and a yard-games area.
“We are excited to reinvigorate the space to be a landmark destination within the community,” says PJ L’Heureux, founder and President of CRAFT Beer Market.
“There is a lot of history in the building, and we’re thankful for the support that the community has given Canoe over the years.”
Don Calveley, founder and owner of Vancouver Island company the Truffles Group will continue to own the building and land that the brewpub is on.
CRAFT Beer Market, known for its wide selection of over 100 beers, is being welcomed wholly by the community already.
Matt Phillips of Phillips Brewing said he’s been impressed with CRAFT’s dedication to brewers, breweries, and the art of brewing for a while now.
“I’ve been enthusiastic about the approach that CRAFT Beer Market takes to showcasing the brewers’ art since they opened over 10 years ago,”said Phillips.
“It’s been an honour to be a partner of theirs as they have opened more locations in both eastern and western Canada, and I look forward to welcoming them to the neighbourhood,” added Phillips.
While we may be losing a local mainstay, CRAFT Beer Market ensures its Victoria clientele that they will commit to the local community.
“Although CRAFT Beer Market has grown to include locations across the country, they remain committed to the local communities that support their brand,” CRAFT Beer Market said in a media release.
“They [CRAFT] are actively involved in the communities they call home, including partnerships with several organizations, noting that they have volunteered tens of thousands of hours and raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to support local community initiatives and charities.”
The closure and renovation of the location is expected to take four to six months, with a planned re-opening in late winter or early spring of 2022.
Renderings of the proposed architectural changes are below!
Check it out, and make sure you say ‘sayonara’ to Canoe one last time.
Have you ever wanted to toss your boss off a bridge?
If so, here’s your chance!
On October 1st, you and your coworkers can have some friendly fun at WildPlay Nanaimo’s first annual ‘Toss the Boss’ event.
The event, brought to you by Victoria Brain Injury Society, Nanaimo Brain Injury Society, & WildPlay, raises money for brain injury survivors and their families.
WildPlay calls this event “a one-of-a-kind opportunity to do something you have only ever dreamed about…”
Not only is it a great way to raise money, it is also a perfect team building experience for employees.
To get involved, form a company team and nominate your boss for the bungy jump.
Register your team online, including the boss nominee and any other teammates wishing to participate in the fundraiser.
Get organized and raise a minimum of $500 as a team to go toward the cause.
On jump day, each team will be given a time slot to do their bungy jump!
If, the day of, the boss chickens out, the company team will then be required to double its donation.
Don’t give them a hard time, however, as the boss will have the choice of forfeiting the jump entirely or volunteer an unlucky co-worker to take their place!
The more you raise, the more incentives and prizes there are to be won!
Teams that raise $750 will also be given super soakers to drench their boss mid-bungy, making the experience even more unforgettable.
Teams that raise $1000 will get to bungy-DUNK their boss into the freezing water below.
Teams that raise $2000 will get to do BOTH!
Top fundraisers will also win extra prizes. The top individual fundraiser will win a mountain bike donated from Westshore Bikes and the top team will receive a Day at WildPlay!
A Brentwood Bay resident’s life just got a whole lot greener.
Pena Elliot won over $600 grand at the end of August after one final spin at the MegaJackpots Siberian Storm slots.
“I was on one of my last spins before I was about to quit playing,” admits Elliot, who won the jackpot prize on August 29th.
“But I remembered the rules of Siberian Storm and saw the five icons go across, and I thought that I had won the jackpot. So I clicked ‘continue’ and noticed the jackpot had reset. That’s when I was pretty sure that I actually hit the jackpot.”
Elliot called BCLC’s customer support the next day and they confirmed his win.
Now, Elliot says he wants to put his winnings to help a close family member build a completely sustainable, green house with solar panels on one of the Gulf Islands.
That sure is a lot of green!
*Note: Victoria Buzz is not affiliated with BC Lottery Corporation and does not advocate gambling or taking part in lotteries. If you choose to participate, remember to play responsibly.
During a COVID-19 press conference today, BC health officials announced that in order to prevent an overrun ICU in the Northern Health region, they would be opening five ICU beds on Vancouver Island and ten beds in the Lower Mainland.
Also during the conference, on whether Northern BC COVID-19 response could end up similar to what is happening in Alberta, Dr. Bonnie Henry said that BC is not at the same point as our neighbours to the east.
Henry also noted that due to BC’s current COVID-19 response, the province would not be able to handle taking on Alberta residents into their ICU care.
“We are not at a breaking point [like Alberta]. We are in a different place. But sadly, as a country, especially in BC, we cannot take people from Alberta into our [BC’s] ICU care,” Dr. Bonnie Henry said.
This begs the question of where Vancouver Island health services are at.
Earlier this month, Victoria Buzz reported a story about a father pleading for people to get vaccinated after his son was waiting for an ICU bed at the Royal Jubilee Hospital ICU due to what he saw was overrun with COVID-19 cases.
“He [Joel] is in a coma, and they’ve tried bringing him out. He’s still in CCU, and he’s on a ventilator. He’s just waiting for a bed in the ICU,” Roberts said.
“Before he had his episode, I felt that yes, people need to get vaccinated. But this has made that sentiment stronger. Stop thinking about yourself and start thinking about everyone else.”
Victoria Buzz spoke to Island Health to get a better grasp of how Vancouver Island has been handling this fourth wave of the pandemic, and how ICUs in Victoria are holding up.
A representative for Island Health confirmed that they are seeing an increasing impact on hospitals and critical care units amidst the fourth wave.
They said that since the beginning of the pandemic, Royal Jubilee, Victoria General, and Nanaimo Regional General hospitals were the core facilities supporting COVID-19 patients.
Despite occupancy varying day-to-day, last week’s average occupancy of critical care beds was 73%, according to Island Health. In comparison, Alberta’s ICU capacity is 88%.
In order to support additional critical care needs beyond base capacity Island Health has now implemented surge critical care beds and an inpatient unit at Victoria General Hospital for non-critical care patients.
In a statement to Victoria Buzz, Island Health expressed their willingness to do what they can to support the province, but also acknowledged what British Columbians could do as well: get vaccinated.
“In addition to supporting the increasing critical care needs of Vancouver Island residents, we have supported over a dozen critical care patients from other health authorities,” the Island Health representative told Victoria Buzz.
“Our health-care teams need every eligible resident of Island Health to get vaccinated today if they haven’t already, and follow public health guidance, in order to protect our health-care system and our teams.”
As of this publication, 87% of all eligible British Columbians have been vaccinated and there are currently 540 active cases on Vancouver Island.
Of the 353 British Columbians who have been hospitalized from September 6th to September 19th due to COVID-19, 279 (79%) were unvaccinated.
The suspect approached the woman during transit and committed a sexual assault.
Both the woman and the man exited the bus at the Royal Oak Exchange, where she was reportedly followed for a short time by the suspect before he disappeared.
Police said the woman was not physically injured during the incident.
The suspect has since been released with conditions and a court date for later this year.
While Canada has been accepting American citizens across the land border for nearly a month now, and the Clipper made its grand return to Victoria from Seattle this past weekend, the US will not be returning the favour for at least another month.
On Monday, The White House overhauled some of its international travel restrictions, like loosening restrictions for fully-vaccinated foreign travellers flying into their country for November, but leaving in place a now 19-month ban on travel across the Canada-US. land border.
Until at least October 21st, Canadians looking to travel recreationally across the land borders will be stopped and told to head back home.
The new policy, announced on Monday, will no longer limit travelers from specific countries like the UK, China and India.
The US also released other travel restrictions for their own citizens on Monday that echo similar to Canada’s guidelines, this includes any unvaccinated Americans needing to be tested one day before traveling to or leaving the US and fully vaccinated passengers not needing to complete a quarantine upon arrival or departure.
For some, this is welcome news. The US and Canada are currently dealing with a vicious fourth wave, mostly affecting the unvaccinated.
But for others, it is just another devastating blow to a sense of normalcy for what is almost two years of hard work and restrictions meant to aid the fight against COVID-19.
In the past week, from September 13th to 19th, of the 4,367 people who tested positive for COVID-19 in BC, 68.3 per cent were unvaccinated while 7.8 per cent were partially vaccinated.
(Dr. Bonnie Henry/Province of British Columbia, Flickr)
The BC Ministry of Health reported 525 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, September 21st.
There have been 180,178 cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began.
New cases were reported in these health regions:
Vancouver Coastal Health: 51
Fraser Health: 187
Island Health: 61
Interior Health: 147
Northern Health: 79
Resident outside Canada: 0
There are currently 5,282 active cases of COVID-19 in the province.
172,624 people who tested positive have recovered.
There are now a total of 332 people in hospital due to COVID-19, 155 of whom are in critical care — ICU or acute care units.
1 new person has died from COVID-related causes, making the provincial death toll at 1,900.
Data by Vaccination Status:
From September 13th to 19th, people not fully vaccinated accounted for 76.1% of cases . From September 6th to 19th, they accounted for 84.7% of hospitalizations.
Past week cases (Sept. 13-19):
Total: 4,367
Not vaccinated: 2,982 (68.3%)
Partially vaccinated: 340 (7.8%)
Fully vaccinated: 1,045 (23.9%)
Past two weeks cases hospitalized (Sept. 6-19):
Total: 353
Not vaccinated: 279 (79%)
Partially vaccinated: 20 (5.7%)
Fully vaccinated: 54 (15.3%)
Past week, cases per 100,000 population after adjusting for age (Sept. 13-19):
Not vaccinated: 290.3
Partially vaccinated: 87.2
Fully vaccinated: 26.3
Past two weeks, cases hospitalized per 100,000 population after adjusting for age (Sept. 6-19):
Not vaccinated: 39.8
Partially vaccinated: 8.2
Fully vaccinated: 1.2
After factoring for age, people not vaccinated are 33.1 times more likely to be hospitalized than those fully vaccinated.
Outbreaks
There has been one new health-care facility outbreak at Victoria Chinatown Care Centre (Island Health).
There are a total of 22 active outbreaks, including:
Long-Term Care: Northcrest Care Centre, Westminster House, Menno Terrace East (Fraser Health), Arbutus Care Centre, Louis Brier Home and Hospital (Vancouver Coastal Health), Village at Mill Creek – second floor, Cottonwoods Care Centre, Brookhaven Care Centre, Spring Valley Care Centre, Kamloops Seniors Village, Hillside Village, The Hamlets at Westsyde, Joseph Creek Care Village, Overlander (Interior Health), Jubilee Lodge (Northern Health) and Victoria Chinatown Care Centre (Island Health)
Acute Care: Chilliwack General Hospital (Fraser Health), Fort St. John Hospital (Northern Health) and Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital (Interior Health)
Assisted or Independent Living: David Lloyd Jones, Sun Pointe Village and Hardy View Lodge (Interior Health)
Island Health:
Island Health reported 61 new cases of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Island region and 540 active cases.
Breakdown of cases on Vancouver Island:
South Vancouver Island Active cases: 319 │Total Cases: 3273
Central Vancouver Island Active cases: 181 │ Total Cases: 3576
North Vancouver Island Active cases: 40 │Total Cases: 1051
32 people remain in hospital with 16 in ICU.
There have been no new deaths in the Island Health region today, and a total of 58 deaths on Vancouver Island.
Vaccinations
87% of eligible people 12 and older in B.C. have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine and 79.5% received their second dose.
In addition, 87.5% of all eligible adults in B.C. have received their first dose and 80.4% received their second dose.
To date, 7,725,586 (+14,280) doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in BC; 3,685,799 (+6,618) of which are second doses.
(Missing Zenaeh Edwards-Helgason/Photo by West Shore RCMP)
Update:VicPD reported on Wednesday morning that Zenaeh has been located and is safe.
VicPD are asking for the public’s help locating a high-risk missing youth.
Zenaeh Edwards-Helgason was last seen on Monday, September 13th.
Zenaeh is described as a 16-year-old Caucasian girl with shoulder-length brown hair and brown eyes standing 5’5” with a slender build, weighing approximately 115 pounds.
Officers do not believe Zenaeh is at immediate risk of harm, but the circumstances involving her disappearance, including her age, are high-risk.
VicPD is asking that if you see Zenaeh Edwards-Helgason, please call 911.
Anyone with information on where Zenaeh may be should call VicPD at (250) 995-7654.
In a live press conference today, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry addressed the public’s confusion surrounding guidelines of contact tracing and self-isolation for fully-vaccinated British Columbians.
Previously, people who had been in contact with someone infected with COVID-19 were required to self-isolate for fourteen days as per BC Health Official guidelines.
Today, amendments to the guidelines were announced to take into account fully-vaccinated individuals and clear up any confusion.
Now, fully-vaccinated people who have been in contact with somebody infected with COVID-19 in a low-risk setting are NOT required to self-isolate for fourteen days.
However, Henry stressed that these people must take extra care in self-monitoring for COVID-19 symptoms that may arise.
If someone does start to experience COVID-19 symptoms, they are then required to both self-isolate and get tested for the virus.
The guidelines have only changed for full-vaccinated individuals who have come in contact with someone who has tested positive for the virus.
As of this publication, there are 5,608 active cases of COVID-19 in the province with 558 of those being in the Island Health region.
On Saturday, September 18th, a serious collision involving two vehicles on Sooke Road resulted in the death of one man, while seriously injuring another.
The accident occurred just after 11:30 p.m. in the 3700-block of Sooke Road in Metchosin.
Following an investigation, it was determined a Mazda 3 travelling eastbound crossed the centre line and collided head-on with the other vehicle.
The driver of the Mazda was pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver of the other vehicle, who has now been identified as Nick Grove, was left trapped in his vehicle by the collision. The Metchosin Fire Department worked quickly to free Grove and he was transported to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
According to the GoFundMe, at the time of the collision, Grove was driving home from doing what he loves, umpiring at Goudy Field in Langford.
The crash left Grove with injuries to his sternum, five broken ribs, bruises as well as trauma.
Since the crash Grove has been on oxygen.
Grove’s family is now seeking the public’s help via a GoFundMe set up for their son, and for those interested in donating, the link can be found here.
The family requests that Grove not be bombarded with questions, just continued support and love.
On Monday night, Grove posted a message on Facebook thanking everyone for the love and support. He also stated that he was focusing on healing “physically and mentally” to get home to his kids.
I love you all ThankYou from the bottom of my heart. There are no words to describe my love appreciation and gratitude ….
Many things are being learned in the midst of the pandemic, none so much as the importance of play.
Despite our best efforts, a recent study shared by Canadian Tire said that 277 million hours of organized sports activity was lost during the pandemic.
Unfortunately, most of those hours were taken from children in low-income households.
Canadian Tire reviewed research for over three periods of time – between the 2020 and 2021 school year until December, summer of 2020, and March to early July 2020. They noted that since capacities were limited amidst the pandemic, many kids were limited to their daily activity.
Typically, sixty minutes of moderate to vigorous activity per day is encouraged for children ages 5-19, where vigorous activity largely comes from structured play like organized sports.
Much of the world has changed since 2019, and while we’re still dealing with many changes, this change is one that no one wants to see.
Lost Hours:
“The impact of this is significant, and undoubtedly broad. The long-term physical and mental health impacts on our nation’s youth may not emerge for years,” Canada Tire said in a media release.
But researchers for Canadian Tire predict that this change may open up more opportunities as this shocking fact may restructure organized sports.
Less structured programming, promoting social connections over competition, steering away from contact sports, and more outside venues and sports will be such ways we can reorganize how we do organized sports.
Whatever it is, it’s sad to see kids not getting the play they deserve.
Some local sports organizations, such as the Saanich Peninsula’s PACE FC have stepped up to offer ‘at cost’ registration during these times, in hopes of making soccer accessible to anyone and everyone who wants to play.
They are able to provide this by having no paid coaches, consultants, or anyone within the club, municipal co-operation in use of fields, and sponsors and volunteers.
Though not an option for all organizations, it’s certainly a start.
Last night, a full Harvest Moon peaked over Vancouver Island.
Each year, the full moons in September and October fight for the title of “Harvest Moon”, with the full Moon that occurs nearest to the equinox winning the title.
If October’s full Moon occurs closer to the equinox than September’s, the September full moon is then referred to as the Corn Moon.
Since last night’s full moon peaked only two days before the fall equinox, it won the title of “Harvest Moon”.
The moon rose in the southeast and reached peak illumination just after sunset.
Thankfully, the weather was on our side for perfect viewing of the sky last night.
For those who may have missed it last night here are 15 photos of last night’s full Harvest Moon over Victoria:
With the Conservative Party winning the popular vote, and most parties maintaining their seats with either incremental or lateral changes, the Liberal Party has formed a minority government in the House of Commons by winning 158 ridings.
While mail-in ballots are still being counted, which may make a difference in a few BC ridings, most news outlets had projected a Liberal government before polls closed on the west coast.
Opposition Conservative party members have secured 119 seats, the Bloc Québécois has 34, the NDP has 25, and the Green Party has 2.
While very little changed compared to the 2019 election, there are small differences that are worth noting in BC.
In Nanaimo-Ladysmith, incumbent Green MP Paul Manly is trailing behind both the NDP candidate, Lisa Marie Barron, and Conservative candidate, Tamara Kronis, who are in a tight race to win the Nanaimo-Ladysmith seat in the House.
On the mainland, Vancouver-Granville, the former riding of Jody Wilson-Raybould, is in a deadlock between the NDP candidate, Anjali Appadurai, and the Liberal candidate, Taleeb Noormohamed.
Each are toggling between 33% and 34% and a recount will most definitely be needed to assure the winner.
All federal party leaders secured seats in their ridings with the exception of People’s Party of Canada leader Maxime Bernier and Green Party Leader Annamie Paul. ,
Bernier lost his seat for the second time in Beauce, Quebec, and Paul failed to win a seat in Toronto-Centre, coming fourth in standings.
Former Green Party leader Elizabeth May held the same seat she has since 2011, in the riding of Saanich-Gulf Islands, and Erin O’Toole held on to his seat in Durham, Ontario.
NDP leader Jagmeet Singh won in his riding of Burnaby South.
Last night, Prime Minister Trudeau took to the podium to acknowledge his minority government win.
“I hear you when you say that you just want to get back to the things you love, to not worry about this pandemic or about the election, that you just want to know that your members of parliament of all stripes will have your back through this crisis, and beyond,” Trudeau said.
“The moment we face demands real important change, and you have given this parliament, and this government, clear direction.”
Trudeau concluded by echoing his platform and promises made during the election, including 10$ a day childcare, affordable housing, green jobs, reconciliation, and investments for the middle class.
