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One man is dead following an officer-involved shooting near Mayfair Shopping Centre this morning.
Just before 10 a.m. on Sunday, Saanich Police responded to the 3500-block of Douglas Street for reports of an armed man who was said to be in crisis, and was also making threats.
While on scene, police were informed that the man had just stolen from a liquor store at Uptown Shopping Centre, where he had held a knife to his own throat before exiting the business.
VicPD officers were sent to assist with the incident at Douglas Street and Tolmie Avenue, given it was near their jurisdiction.
Officers on scene attempted to de-escalate the situation with the man until around 11 a.m., when an altercation occurred.
This resulted in a VicPD officer eventually shooting the armed man.
Officers on scene immediately attempted to provide emergency first aid to the man while waiting for paramedics to arrive.
Despite this, the man died of his injuries on scene.
No officers were physically injured in the incident, and the Independent Investigations Office of BC (IIO) will be conducting an independent investigation.
Anyone has any information regarding the incident is asked to contact the IIO at 1-855-446-8477.
Warning the photo below contains graphic images:
(Skip Dilly)
Chief Del Manak of the Victoria Police released this statement following the incident:
In this video @ChiefManak provides an update on this morning's fatal officer-involved shooting. If you have information about this incident please contact the @iiobc, who are conducting an independent, civilian-led investigation. #yyjpic.twitter.com/cYta1OyGqM
UPDATE: One man is dead following an officer-involved shooting near Mayfair Shopping Centre this morning.
The Independent Investigations Office of BC (IIO) will be conducting an independent investigation. Click here for the full story.
— original:
A section of Douglas Street near Mayfair Shopping Centre is closed Sunday following a police incident.
In a tweet, Saanich Police said officers were attempting to “de-escalate and negotiate with a person in crisis.”
The incident occurred on Douglas Street between Tolmie Avenue and Finlayson Street and the area remains closed while officers investigate.
Witnesses say a man was being treated by paramedics after hearing what they described as sounding like gun shots.
Photos from the scene show an object covered by a white tarp.
The area where the incident occurred is on the border of the Saanich and Victoria municipality and is now being investigated by VicPD.
Photos from the scene shows the incident came to an end near the Island Savings on the corner of Douglas and Tolmie.
This has transitioned to a VicPD police incident, in coordination with @SaanichPolice. Officers remain on scene at Douglas St & Tolmie Ave. #yyjtraffic will be disrupted in the area. Updates to follow here. #yyjhttps://t.co/ettOywxQqD
The Independent Investigations Office of BC (IIOBC) have confirmed to Victoria Buzz that they are involved in the investigation but could not release any other details at this time.
VicPD and Central Saanich PD are seeking the public’s help in locating wanted man Johnathan Pocetti.
Pocetti is wanted on several outstanding warrants related to ongoing investigations in both jurisdictions.
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.
Johnathan Pocetti is described as a 28-year-old Caucasian man with short brown hair and brown eyes. He stands five feet, six inches tall, and weighs approximately 135 pounds.
Johnathan Pocetti is believed to be driving a 1999 green Dodge 2500 truck with British Columbia license plate KJ7200. There is no front license plate.
The vehicle may have been painted a matte white over a blue primer, which is visible near the wheel wells.
The vehicle may also possess a different aftermarket rear bumper, and the British Columbia license plate LH8986.
If you see Johnathan Pocetti, both VicPD and Central Saanich PD advise the public to call 911 and not approach.
If you have information about his whereabouts, you can call VicPD’s non-emergency line at (250) 995-7654 or Central Saanich Police Service non-emergency line at (250) 652-4441.
Saturday, September 11th marks the 20th anniversary of a culturally-shattering and world-altering moment: 9/11.
In the early morning hours of September 11th, 2001, al Qaeda terrorists hijacked four planes with the intent to crash.
Two crashed into the World Trade Centre in New York City and one into the Pentagon in Virginia.
A fourth flight was flying in the direction of Washington D.C. but crashed into a field in Pennsylvania when passengers attempted to regain control of the plane from hijackers.
The attacks claimed nearly 3,000 lives and created a serious socio-economical impact that still affects policy and culture to this day.
Many remember what they were doing when reports began flooding in that early morning on September 11th, 2001 and regardless of where or who you were, it seemed like the whole world stopped, listened, and watched the tragedy unfold.
Victoria Buzz readers remember 9/11
We reached out to local readers to share their stories of where they were when the 9/11 tragedy occurred.
Michelle Olfrey said she learned the news from her 13-year-old daughter.
“My 13 year old daughter came running out of her bedroom screaming, saying, ‘Mom, something bad is happening, turn on the TV.’ I could hear the fear in her voice. When I got up and watched the TV, I looked in horror as I felt total helplessness,” Olfrey said.
Another reader, Robyn Murray, detailed their experience on that fateful morning, while they were living in Japan.
“I was living in Japan [at the time], the news flashed up and I watched in shock. Nothing was in English,” Murray said.
“I called my family in Canada to find out what was happening but everyone was still sleeping. It was very surreal. It was very strange to be so far from home that day. I ended up waking up most of my family who were all still sleeping. It seems like a lifetime ago now.”
20 years ago does feel like a lifetime ago, and for some, the events on September 11th, 2001 were a poignant moment in their young lives.
A lot of adults now were children back then when the attacks happened.
“I was 9 years old,” Victoria Buzz reader Kassie Maria Christina said.
“We were in class when my principal pulled our teacher out of the room. A few minutes went by and our teacher and principal told us they’re going to call our parents and send us home for the day. This was during the first plane hitting,” she added.
“I lived across the street and when I got home, my mom and grandma were watching it on the news. I then watched the second plane hit. My mom and grandma sent me to my room. I had a TV so I just watched and I remember not really being able to comprehend why this was happening and what was actually happening.”
Most say that the attacks were surreal and that they couldn’t believe what was happening.
For first responders on the ground though, there was no time to think like that, they just acted.
Miesje Mesha said that his heart was with the first responders when he watched the attacks.
“I was in bed with my small son at the time when a friend called and told me to turn on the TV. We saw the second tower fall on live TV,” Mesha said.
“I burst into tears knowing how many first responders were running into that building. I had to pull myself together and explain in a way so a 7-year-old would understand what had just happened. I intend to ask him on Saturday what he remembers of that day. I worked for the firefighters club for many years so it really hit hard.”
Like many others, Melissa Brech recalls find out about the tragedies unfolding moments after waking up.
“I remember, I was sleeping and my alarm went off to wake up for school. I think I’d fallen asleep with my tv on, and when I awoke, one of the towers was on fire, billowing plumes of smoke,” Brech said.
“I was groggy and rubbing the sleep out of my eyes, and trying to see what was happening,” she recounted.
“While I watched, I saw another plane in the background. I thought that it was flying behind the building, but the I suddenly saw debris and more smoke, and realized the plane was not so far in the background. It had crashed into the second tower. I immediately started crying as it dawned on me what had just happened, and what I had just seen. I remember running down to my moms room and telling her what I’d just seen, and she waking up and having to come see and console me. My mom said I didn’t have to go to school, that I could stay home, but I needed to go for me. I realized when I got there that I was pretty traumatized, and found a lot of other students were too. We were all in shock. The teachers had a brief discussion about the events that morning, and allowed us to go home and reflect and heal. I spent the rest of the day watching the news and crying.”
There are countless stories of people who heard, witnessed, and experienced the attacks on September 11th, 2001.
But it’s the stories that aren’t told, of the people that had their lives taken, of the people who risked their lives, of the people who don’t get to be here, or still live with those memories —it’s those who we remember most today.
We send out all our love and respect to them as we remember, and never forget.
How do you remember that day? Let us know in the comment section below.
I was sleeping in when my hubby, who was leaving for work, came & woke me. I said it's terrorists. He knew how much I loved NYC, had loved ones there, had been to the towers & had supper @ Windows on the World. I watched in horror as they second plane hit. Retriggered my PTSD.
The BC Ministry of Health reported 820 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, September 10th.
There have been 173,158 cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began.
New cases were reported in these health regions:
Vancouver Coastal Health: 112
Fraser Health: 264
Island Health: 90
Interior Health: 253
Northern Health: 101
Resident outside Canada: 0
There are currently 5,850 active cases of COVID-19 in the province.
165,027 people who tested positive have recovered.
There are now a total of 281 people in hospital due to COVID-19, 135 of whom are in critical care — ICU or acute care units.
9 new people have died from COVID-related causes, making the provincial death toll 1,856.
Data by Vaccination Status:
From September 2nd to 8th, people not fully vaccinated accounted for 78.4% of cases.
From August 26th to September 8th they accounted for 86.6% of hospitalizations.
Past week cases (September 2nd to 8th):
Total: 4,661
Not vaccinated: 3,252 (69.8%)
Partially vaccinated: 402 (8.6%)
Fully vaccinated: 1,007 (21.6%)
Past two weeks, cases hospitalized (August 26th to September 8th):
Total: 358
Not vaccinated: 292 (81.6%)
Partially vaccinated: 18 (5.0%)
Fully vaccinated: 48 (13.4%)
Past week, cases per 100,000 population after adjusting for age (September 2nd to 8th):
Not vaccinated: 301.2
Partially vaccinated: 88.7
Fully vaccinated: 26.1
Past two weeks, cases hospitalized per 100,000 population after adjusting for age (August 26th to September 8th):
Not vaccinated: 39.5
Partially vaccinated: 6.7
Fully vaccinated: 1.1
Outbreaks
There have been no new health-care facility outbreaks.
There are 22 active outbreaks, including:
Long-term Care: Northcrest Care Centre, Menno Home (Fraser Health), Arbutus Care Centre, Brock Fahrni, 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 (Interior Health), Sunset Lodge (Island Health) and Jubilee Lodge (Northern Health)
Acute Care: Chilliwack General Hospital (Fraser Health) and Fort St. John Hospital (Northern Health)
Assisted or Independent Living: Nicola Meadows, David Lloyd Jones, Sun Pointe Village, Hardy View Lodge and Rose Woods Village (Interior Health)
Island Health:
Island Health reported 90 new cases of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Island region and 463 active cases.
Breakdown of cases on Vancouver Island:
South Vancouver Island Active cases: 181 │Total Cases: 2843
Central Vancouver Island Active cases: 202 │ Total Cases: 3239
North Vancouver Island Active cases: 80 │Total Cases: 981
19 people remain in hospital with 13 in ICU.
There has been one new death in the Island Health region today, and a total of 54 deaths on Vancouver Island.
Vaccinations
85.5% of eligible people 12 and older in B.C. have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine and 78.0% received their second dose.
In addition, 86.1% of all eligible adults in B.C. have received their first dose and 78.9% have received their second dose.
To date, 7,583,999 (+13,075) doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in BC; 3,614,503 (+6,436) of which are second doses.
A popular pub near the Gorge is set to close their doors after this weekend, but not without one last hurrah!
Before they say goodbye to the over 100-year-old bar, The Gorge Pointe Pub will be serving the last of its drinks and food from now until Saturday night.
From craft brews to great food, and cocktails too, the Gorge Pointe Pub plans to make the last hurrah a special one for all their loyal customers.
“We’re gonna finish this off right and give the people memories of a bustling bar with an incredible atmosphere,” owner Mike Louis told Victoria Buzz..
The decision, Louis said, is not an easy one.
Amidst the pandemic, staff shortages, and the purchase of the property in May, Louis said it was the most viable option to give his staff and customers the respect they deserve.
“We had to cut hours and days. We don’t want the [Gorge Pointe] pub to be remembered like that,” Louis said.
“It[Closing]’s like ripping a band-aid off: better to do it fast, not long.”
Though the closure might seem sudden, in May, news broke that Abstract Developments, a Greater Victoria development company, purchased the Esquimalt property at 1075 Tillicum Road with plans to redevelop the site.
When we talked to Mike Louis in May, he was unaware that discussions over the future of the Gorge Pointe Pub were over.
“As far as we knew, we were still trying to work on something,” Louis told Victoria Buzz in May.
While Louis was in high spirits talking to us now, he didn’t shy away from his grievances.
“You know, I’d like to say it’s bittersweet, but it’s mostly bitter,” Louis laughs.
“But regardless, tomorrow, we’ll be here to remember our fondest memories and reminisce about the good times, and look forward to building some more memories in some different places too.”
For the regulars that love the pub, or the passersby that have also wanted to try, the Gorge Pointe Pub is open for only two nights more, so make sure you check it out!
Tomorrow’s special is called the ‘Gimme a Beer’- which Louis told me is the bartender’s choice of any beer for 3$.
“We’re going until there’s no more beer and no more food, and then that’s it, the doors will close for good,” Louis added.
While the Gorge Point liquor store, Liquor Stop, will stay open until November, Louis said that soon you’ll actually be able to have a physical piece of the pub as well.
“We’re planning an open house auction where people can bid on Gorge Pointe Pub memorabilia, including vintage photos and chairs, with all proceeds being donated to Our Place Society,” Louis said.
More news to come on that as it develops.
While we’re sad to see the over a hundred year old bar go, we’re happy that people have one last chance to celebrate a staple of Victoria’s pub scene!
A dashcam captured footage of what could have been a disastrous collision on the Pat Bay Highway in Saanich in late August.
The video, which has two different camera angles, first shows a small vehicle aggressively tailgating a Ford van on the evening of August 24th.
The camera angle then changes and shows the same small vehicle aggressively pass the van by using the leftmost shoulder of Highway 17 in Saanich.
During the passing of the vehicle, the suspect vehicle could be seen swerving in what appears to be in an attempt to avoid a curb and highway marker on the side of the highway.
“The driving behaviour exhibited in this dashcam video is blatantly idiotic,” Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, said in an email statement to Victoria Buzz.
“I defer to the police of jurisdiction to investigate the circumstances at their discretion, but I want to be very clear that when my ministry receives evidence of reckless and dangerous driving, you can expect us to take these situations very seriously and the consequences, including a driving ban, could last months or even years, depending on the circumstances,” said Farnworth.
Brent Nicholson, who captured the footage, said the incident occurred in Saanich near the Royal Oak exit of the Pat Bay Highway.
Nicholson said he wasn’t sure what led to the erratic driving.
After avoiding the potential accident, the two cars continue onwards.
Victoria Buzz reached out to Saanich Police who said there was no report on the incident but did say “the maneuver was extremely dangerous and posed a high risk to the driver, and all other motorists using the highway.”
“I can’t say that I have ever seen a driver pass on the left shoulder on the highway like that before. It is remarkable a collision did not result from it,” said Saanich Police Const. Markus Anastasiades.
Anastasiades added that this sort of driving behaviour would constitute driving without due care and attention under the BC Motor Vehicle Act.
Anyone witnessing this type of erratic driving that puts the public at immediate risk are urged to call 9-1-1.
If you recognize the vehicle involved in this incident, call Saanich Police at 250-475-4321.
VicPD arrested a man who assaulted two officers following an incident in downtown Victoria this morning.
Shortly after 8 a.m. on Friday morning, officers were investigating a report of an escalating threat of violence due to a mental health concern at a multi-unit residential building in the Jubilee neighbourhood.
Officers spoke to the man and attempted to apprehend him under the Mental Health Act at which point the officers were violently assaulted by the man.
In response, officers deployed both pepper-spray and a taser gun during the assault – both were ineffective.
Several officers attended the scene and assisted in the arrest of the man.
VicPD said that the man was transported to hospital for a mental health assessment and to be decontaminated from the pepper spray.
He will now face multiple recommended charges of assaulting a police officer.
Another officer responding to the scene was involved in a collision with another vehicle at the intersection of Douglas and Fisgard streets.
The police officer and the driver of the other vehicle involved in the collision suffered non-life-threatening injuries, but the driver was transported to hospital.
Northbound traffic on Douglas Street, between Fisgard Street and Pandora Avenue, was closed during the investigation.
Traffic has since reopened.
VicPD is asking for information on either of these incidents to call them at (250) 995-7654.
Victoria resident Bert Fawdrey and his family were out for lunch when they learned they had won big while playing Lotto Max.
The winning ticket, which came from the August 27th draw, had been purchased by Fawdrey on the PlayNow.com website.
While out for lunch, the family decided to check the ticket on the BCLC Lotto app. To their surprise they were met with the winner’s jingle!
“My wife actually overhead the sound of the app playing the jingle,” says Fawdrey, “So she asked me what it won, and then I showed her.”
The family had won $500,000.
“I was very surprised and didn’t believe it,” Fawdrey said. “At first I read through and saw it, and I had to double and triple check.”
When asked if there were any plans for the winnings, Fawdrey said there were no immediate plans but expressed how much of a relief this prize brings to his family overall.
“For my wife, my son and I, it’s a very comfortable feeling.”
After missing a year due to the pandemic, Ribfest has returned for their 2021 event. Six Ribber teams, beer and cider vendors and 21 local musical acts will be there to keep you fed and entertained!
After being closed for nearly two years, Hecklers is back to fill your comedy needs. This weekend, enjoy the comedy stylings of Mike Delamont and Comedy Here Often?’s The Late show.
Where: 123 Gorge Road East, Hecklers Bar and Grill
When: Mike Delamont: 7 p.m., Saturday, 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.
If you’re an art lover, enjoy a self guided artist tour through the neighbourhoods of Fairfield, Rockland and Gonzales this weekend. Meet local artists, tour studios and view the artwork directly in the artist’s studios.
It’s the last weekend to attend an outdoor concert at the Cameron Bandshell in Beacon Hill Park.
The outdoor performance venue, also known as The Stage in the Park is located in the middle of Beacon Hill Park, off Arbutus Bridge way and has recently reopened for summer concerts.
The Bandshell includes 12 benches providing seating for over 500 spectators, as well as picnic tables and space for attendees to bring lawn chairs or a picnic blanket.
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.
No, you haven’t been transported back in time, this is real! Legacy Drive-In has announced showtimes for their outdoor theatre at Westshore Motorsports Park.
This weekend, see The Hangover and The Wizard of Oz from the comfort of your car as you enjoy food by Westshore Burger Co.
Tickets must be purchased in advance and it is recommended patrons arrive 30 minutes before showtime to ensure they get the best spot.
Where: Westshore Motorsports Park (formerly Western Speedway) 2207 Millstream Road
When: The Hangover, Friday September 10th at 9 p.m., The Wizard of Oz, Sunday September 11th at 8 p.m.
The annual Oak Bay Collector Car Festival is back, celebrating 21 years of showcasing the coolest and most sought after collector cars Vancouver Island has to offer.
Where: 5 blocks of Oak Bay Avenue, Monterey to Mitchell Street plus a portion of Hampshire Road
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!
The City of Langford announced a new $44 million tech investment today, which will be a major addition to the Westhills commercial district, Lakepoint.
Plexxis Software, which is currently located in Brampton, Ontario will be relocating its new headquarters to 1331 Westhills Drive in Langford and is expected to open its doors in August 2022.
For the past eighteen months, city staff have been working closely with the tech company to discuss and finalize their relocation plans.
The firm will contribute over 100 new jobs in it’s new $44 million-dollar, 80,000 sq. ft build out and 50,000 sq. ft. of commercial lease space. This space will also include two ground-floor units for possible restaurant use.
“More and more tech companies are discovering the benefits of being located in British Columbia, a global crossroads,” said Premier John Horgan.
“I want to welcome Plexxis to Langford and the growing Westshore community.”
Not only will the relocation contribute new jobs within the firm, the relocation will also create hundreds of construction jobs in the process.
“Plexxis setting roots in Langford reinforces the technology sector as a strong economic driver for the province,” said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation,
“British Columbia offers many advantages to growing technology companies and start-ups. We invite entrepreneurs and innovators to be part of our sustainable and inclusive economic future.”
Langford was chosen as the best location for the firm’s relocation due to the city’s lifestyle and recreation options, talent opportunities, affordable housing choices and the city’s support to business development.
The city also has proven efficient in development processes and timelines.
“We believe that Langford had the most to offer with respect to lifestyle and amenities for our business and team,” said Plexxis CEO, Chris Loranger.
“The City of Langford has been incredibly easy to work with as we move and build our new headquarters on the West Coast.”
When complete, the Westhills commercial district area will include 32-acres of mixed use residential and commercial units.
Every year, millions of tonnes of plastic waste enters the ocean. These plastics affect ecosystems, our health and economies all over the world.
The Ocean Cleanup hopes to help solve this problem.
The non-profit was formed in 2014, with a goal to clean up the ocean by creating and testing new ways of removing plastics from the ocean.
Although the organization’s home base is the Netherlands, two of their vessels are currently docked at Ogden Point in Victoria.
Ocean Cleanup is currently working on solutions to intercept plastics in rivers before it reaches the ocean. They are also developing cleaning systems to remove floating plastics caught swirling in the Great Pacific Garbage patch in the North Pacific Ocean.
For the past 6 weeks, crew aboard the vessels have been collecting debris from this patch, returning with 8 tonnes of garbage.
After 6 weeks offshore, the crew is back in port with the plastic catch from test trip 1. We are heading back to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch this week, where we expect to catch even more plastic. pic.twitter.com/cXxzEOI9CP
The vessels pull a horseshoe shaped device pulled behind them on your journey, a contraption the team calls ‘Jenny’. As it is pulled behind the boat it collects ocean plastics and garbage.
The Ocean Cleanup’s crew will set sail again Saturday. The goal of this journey is to return with 30 to 40 tonnes of plastic debris by October 20th.
The organization has a goal of removing 90% of the world’s ocean plastics by 2040, the largest cleanup in history.
A 38-year-old driver is in trouble after driving almost 100 km over the speed limit while drunk.
On Saturday September 4th, Oak Bay police were doing radar enforcement on Foul Bay Road at which time they clocked a blue 2002 Mercedes C240 at 142 km/hour in a 50 km/hr zone.
The driver then turned onto a side road, hit a curb, and drove into a cul-de-sac in the area.
The officer said the suspect’s driver’s side tire was flat and the rim was damaged, and determined he was showing signs of liquor indicia.
An ASD was administered and officers were correct.
The driver was confronted by police officers and issued a 90-day immediate driving prohibition and his vehicle was impounded for 30 days.
The driver was also issued a violation ticket for excessive speeding (exceeded by
more than 60 km/hr) with a prescribed fine of $483.00.
The Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit (VIIMCU) are investigating a homicide at a home on Battleford Avenue.
The incident occurred on Wednesday, September 8th, at approximately 11:30 a.m., when Saanich Police responded to a 911 call at the home.
Responding officers located a deceased man in the residence.
Saanich Police say that the name of the deceased will not be released until investigators confirm the identity and contact the family.
No details surrounding the crime were released. The home remained behind police tape on Friday as the investigation continues.
“Investigators believe this is an isolated incident and the subjects would have been known to one another,” Saanich Police said in a statement.
The location of the homicide is in close proximity to an earlier incident where a man was found seriously injured along the Trans Canada Highway near Uptown last week.
Investigators are asking anyone who may have information surrounding the incident to call the VIIMCU at (250) 380-6211.
UPDATE: Ride for Hooves is moving indoors for 2021.
Unfortunately, Blake Swan sustained injuries in a recent crash. In order to prioritize safety for both Blake and others on the road, the ride will be moved indoors using the virtual cycling platform Zwift.
The 400kms will be cycled on the virtual roads and the ride is anticipated to take the same amount of time as it would have outdoors.
Along with being able to watch the ride virtually, you will be able to keep updated via the Ride For Hooves Instagram stories.
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Next week, local cyclist Blake Swan will set out on a long ride for the Ride for Hooves Event, a fundraiser to support an animal sanctuary.
Swan’s journey will take 17 hours as he travels 400 km from Port McNeill to the Home for Hooves Farm Sanctuary in Duncan.
A Home for Hooves Farm Sanctuary is Canada’s first accredited farm sanctuary which provides farm animals with a forever home that emulates a natural and enriching environment.
The Ride for Hooves event has a fundraising goal of $10,000 which will be raised through donations of $25/km.
All donations will go toward the purchase of a much needed tractor for the farm.
The piece of equipment will also come with a backhoe, loader and a post hole auger. The addition of this equipment will greatly benefit the farm and the animals who live there.
In addition to the Ride for Hooves Event, the sanctuary will also be holding a silent auction.
All items in the auction are vegan and cruelty free and come from local businesses and restaurants which offer vegan products and options.
Donors to the auction include B.C. Ferries, Butchart, Malahat Skywalk, The Very Good Butchers, Bear and Joey, Il Terrazzo, Fern Cafe, Dumpling Drop, Soupa, Belle General as well as local artists.
The BC Ministry of Health reported 774 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, September 9th.
There have been 172,338 cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began.
New cases were reported in these health regions:
Vancouver Coastal Health: 123
Fraser Health: 233
Island Health: 65
Interior Health: 253
Northern Health: 98
Resident outside Canada: 2
There are currently 5,594 active cases of COVID-19 in the province.
164,470 people who tested positive have recovered.
There are now a total of 262 people in hospital due to COVID-19, 130 of whom are in critical care — ICU or acute care units.
After factoring for age, people not vaccinated are 34 times more likely to be hospitalized than those fully vaccinated.
5 new people have died from COVID-related causes, making the provincial death toll 1,847.
Data by Vaccination Status:
From September 1st to 7th, people not fully vaccinated accounted for 78.6% of cases. From August 25th to September 7th, they accounted for 86.3% of hospitalizations.
Past week cases (September 1st to 7th):
Total: 4,694
Not vaccinated: 3,296 (70.2%)
Partially vaccinated: 393 (8.4%)
Fully vaccinated: 1,005 (21.4%)
Past two weeks cases hospitalized (August 25th to September 7th):
Total: 344
Not vaccinated: 277 (80.5%)
Partially vaccinated: 20 (5.8%)
Fully vaccinated: 47 (13.7%)
Past week, cases per 100,000 population after adjusting for age (September 1st to 7th):
Not vaccinated: 301.4
Partially vaccinated: 84.8
Fully vaccinated: 26.0
Past two weeks, cases hospitalized per 100,000 population after adjusting for age (August 25th to September 7th):
Not vaccinated: 37.1
Partially vaccinated: 6.8
Fully vaccinated: 1.1
Outbreaks
There have been no new health-care facility outbreaks.
There are 22 active outbreaks, including:
Long-term Care: Northcrest Care Centre, Menno Home (Fraser Health), Arbutus Care Centre, Brock Fahrni, 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 (Interior Health), Sunset Lodge (Island Health) and Jubilee Lodge (Northern Health)
Acute Care: Chilliwack General Hospital (Fraser Health) and Fort St. John Hospital (Northern Health)
Assisted or Independent Living: Nicola Meadows, David Lloyd Jones, Sun Pointe Village, Hardy View Lodge and Rose Woods Village (Interior Health)
Island Health:
Island Health reported 65 new cases of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Island region and 428 active cases.
Breakdown of cases on Vancouver Island:
South Vancouver Island Active cases: 182 │Total Cases: 2818
Central Vancouver Island Active cases: 180 │ Total Cases: 3199
North Vancouver Island Active cases: 66 │Total Cases: 962
17 people remain in hospital with 14 in ICU.
There has been one new death in the Island Health region today, and a total of 53 deaths on Vancouver Island.
Vaccinations
As of today, 85.3% of eligible people 12 and older in B.C. have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine and 77.8% received their second dose.
In addition, 85.9% of all eligible adults in B.C. have received their first dose and 78.8% have received their second dose.
To date, 7,570,924 (+13,368) doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in BC; 3,608,067 (+6,898) of which are second doses.
Thursday morning, Dix called a last minute media availability today to address the numbers of unvaccianted British Columbians in the ICU.
At the conference, Dix said unvaccinated people make up 14.7% of BC’s population and account for 111 out of 133 (83.4%) of people in ICU’s.
Ten ICU patients have one shot and nine are fully-vaccinated.
Dix said that of the over 100 people that are in the ICU in BC hospitals, no one aged under 50 years old is fully-vaccinated.
Health minister Dix got heated over unvaccinated British Columbians at the press conference, calling on them to “trust the science.”
“There is nothing heroic or altruistic in attracting [COVID-19]’s infectious aim. Where there is doubt, we turn to fact,” said Dix.
“Going up against this virus in our daily lives, unvaccinated, only helps the virus. People who are unvaccinated are more than likely to end up in the ICU.”
Dix said he hoped this was a wake up call for those who are unvaccinated to stop delaying vaccination.
The call to vaccinate more arms in BC comes amidst health officials announcing further details regarding the BC Vaccine Card.
Dix said that over 1.1 million people have already registered for their proof of vaccination which will allow them to participate in certain discretionary activities.
So far, 77.8% of eligible British Columbians are fully-vaccinated.
As of this publication, there are 5,550 active COVID-19 cases in the province with 485 of those cases being in the Island Health region.
An off duty Nanaimo RCMP officer is being credited for saving the life of a 17 month old child on Monday, after she pulled over onto the side of Highway 19 and began CPR on the infant.
At approximately 12:30 p.m. on Monday, August 30th, Constable Denise Laforest was driving along Highway 19 between Woss and Sayward on Vancouver Island when the incident took place.
Laforest was travelling to visit her husband in Alert Bay from Nanaimo with their two small children when her attention was diverted to a vehicle that pulled quickly to the side of the busy highway.
As Laforest was driving by the vehicle, a man jumped out of his car and he was holding a limp infant, Nanaimo RCMP said in a media release.
She noticed and immediately pulled a U-turn to help the man.
Laforest told the man she knew first aid and the father, Sam, consented to her administering first aid to the child.
While Sam called 911, Laforest conducted a quick assessment, checked for injuries or blockages, and managed to find a very weak pulse. She immediately started doing back blows in hopes that whatever the child was choking on would dislodge.
The child did not immediately respond and soon a pulse could no longer be found. At this point, Laforest said she realized the child could die.
Laforest began CPR, switching between mouth resuscitation and finger compressions on the baby’s chest.
After several minutes, the baby, Hanna, began to make a small wheezing sound. Laforest managed to clear a small amount of debris from her mouth and shortly thereafter, Hanna began to cry.
“Collectively, it was the most beautiful sound we had ever heard,” said Laforest.
The toddlers mom, Amanda, cried out, “You saved my babies life” to the off-duty mountie.
Many heartfelt hugs and tears ensued, but due to the remote nature and lack of cell phone service, Sam was unable to reach emergency crews, so Hanna, Sam, and Laforest drove into Woss and found a first aid clinic to have the baby assessed, until 7:30 p.m. that night when she was discharged.
Laforest commented that she was fortunate to have recently completed a refresher course for emergency first aid.
“If it wasn’t for that [the refresher course], my training may not have kicked in and we could have been looking at a very different outcome,” said Laforest.
The family—Amanda, Sam, Hanna and their other daughter Quinn—recently came to Vancouver Island from Terrace.
RCMP said the first thing they plan to do when they get home is to enrol in an emergency first-aid course.
Following Air Canada’s recent announcement making COVID-19 vaccinations mandatory for all employees and future hires, the WestJet Group has released their policy moving forward.
As of October 30th, full vaccination status will be a requirement of employment for all employees and future employees of the WestJet Group.
Employees who are unable to be vaccinated against COVID-19 (through medical or other exemption) will be evaluated and accommodated.
Employees who do not provide their vaccination status by September 24th or their full vaccination status by October 30th will face unpaid leave or termination of employment by the company. This does not include said employees who are exempt.
Following vaccine mandates, WestJet will not be providing employees with regular testing as an alternative to vaccination.
“Protecting the health and safety of our guests and employees remains our number one priority and vaccinations are our best line of defense,” said Mark Porter, WestJet Executive Vice-President of People,
“Aviation has been one of the hardest hit industries and we believe requiring all WestJet Group employees to be vaccinated is the right thing to do and ensures the safest travel and work environment for everyone in WestJet’s world.”
The airline’s announcement falls under the Government of Canada’s mandate for employees in all the federally regulated air, rail and marine transportation sectors to be vaccinated by the end of October.
This weekend, Ribfest 2021 kicks off at Esquimalt’s Bullen Park, a highly anticipated return after missing 2020 due to the pandemic.
The event will feature six Ribber teams showcasing their best ribs and BBQ sauce and beer and cider vendors will also be on site to satisfy your thirst.
This year, 21 musical acts will also be performing over the course of the weekend!
If you have not yet received your first or second dose of your COVID-19 vaccine, the Island Health Vax Van will be attending the event all weekend to administer vaccinations.
The Vax Van will be operating from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Anyone aged 12+ can visit the Vax Van to receive their first or second dose of their COVID-19 vaccine.
Just make sure to bring your COVID-19 Immunization Record Card (for second doses) and your Personal Health Number card.
This Halloween, Frankenstein will wreak havoc in the hallowed halls of the Craigdarroch Castle.
Beginning October 9th and running until October 30th, this four-night, one-man version of Mary Shelley’s classic horror story, Frankenstein, will take place in the Castle’s dance hall, located on the fourth floor.
Frankenstein, written by Shelley at 18-years-old, is a story about Victor Frankenstein—a young scientist who creates a hideous creature in an unorthodox science experiment.
The act will feature Jason Stevens, who is also known for his popular one-man production of Charles Dickens’ Christmas Carol.
A classically-trained, professional actor, Stevens comes from the prestigious Drama Centre in London and has performed with various theatre companies in Victoria and Vancouver.
His take on Frankenstein will both honour its historical relevance, while staying poignant to the cultural implications of such a story in a modern age.
“It’s one of those tales that surprises us with its emotional depth and cultural relevance,” said Stevens.
“Underneath, it’s a love story and a story about abandonment and loneliness, but it’s also a story about social responsibility which is a very relevant topic in our culture today.”
The show will begin at 6 p.m., with doors opening at 5:45 p.m., and seating is on a first come, first served basis. Audience size is limited to 45 attendees.
On October 16th, 23rd and 30th, a second show was added at 8 p.m., with doors opening at 7:45 p.m.
Tickets are $30 ($25 for members) at Frankenstein Tickets – Eventbrite, or by calling 250-592-5323.
Note that all COVID-19 protocols will be in place.
With under two weeks to go until Canadians hit the polls, the first and only English-language debate will kick off tonight at 6 p.m. and go until 8 p.m.
Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau, Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet and Green Party Leader Annamie Paul will all face off less than 24 hours after last night’s French-language debate.
On Wednesday, leaders debated topics including COVID-19 recovery, vaccine passports, health care, child care, and climate change.
So far, opinion polls have the Conservatives and Liberals in an unexpected two-way race. Many believe Trudeau called the election to reform a majority government.
The topics set to be debated tonight include reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, affordability, COVID-19 recovery, leadership and accountability.
So far, each party has released their platforms within the month, save the Greens, from what is the shortest election time legally allowed.
There are seven ridings on Vancouver Island, visit here to see who is running in your riding. You can watch the English-language Leader’s debate via CBC News on television, or radio, or on their app for iOS and Android, or cbcnews.ca to follow the debate live, with live video of the event itself. You can also watch the debate via YouTube.
As post-secondary institutions re-open their doors for in-person classes for the first time since March 2020, the province is focusing it’s attention toward on-campus sexual violence prevention measures and education.
According to the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training, nearly two-thirds of sexual assaults occur on campus during the first eight weeks of school.
This Fall, the province is relaunching their “…Is Not Yes” campaign, a sexual violence prevention measure to increase awareness and available supports for post-secondary students.
“Sexual violence has no place on our campuses,” said Anne Kang, Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Training. “Understanding consent is one of the first steps to preventing sexual violence because only ‘yes’ means ‘yes’.”
The campaign will build on the 2019/2020 campaign, hoping to reach more students through a larger online presence as well as being able to return for on-campus education this Fall.
Digital advertisements for the campaign are scheduled to run on major social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat and will run in popular student destinations such as on campus restaurants and bars.
Digital advertisements will also run in multiple languages to further the campaign’s reach and message.
Shareable campaign materials will be distributed to both student organizations and university faculty to be disbursed to the general student population.
“Education and awareness are essential to creating cultures of consent at our institutions,” said Anna-Elaine Rempel, a University of Victoria student and advocate,
“Everyone has a responsibility to address and prevent sexualized violence, and that means being informed, actively challenging systems and beliefs that uphold gendered and sexualized violence, and ensuring that all campus community members have the tools and resources they need to support survivors.”
The ‘…Is Not Yes” campaign launches today, September 8th and will run through October.
VicPD have arrested a man in connection to drug trafficking across Greater Victoria, seizing cash, drugs, and a vehicle.
At approximately 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 1st, officers stopped a vehicle in the 4700-block of Sooke Road and arrested a lone occupant whose car was searched by officers who seized large quantities of drugs and cash.
VicPD said in a media release that the man has connections to Lower Mainland organized crime groups and had been the subject of a drug-trafficking investigation since late July.
Officers subsequently executed search warrants in Saanich at a multi-unit residential building in the 900-block of Edge Place and a residence in the 4300-block of Torquay Drive.
Officers seized additional drugs and cash and have inferred it is consistent with a drug trafficking operation at each location.
In total, 350 grams of cocaine, over 260 grams of methamphetamine, nearly 100 grams of fentanyl, nearly $22,000 in cash and a 2005 BMW 330, which will be submitted for civil forfeiture, was seized.
VicPD reported that the street value of the drugs is upwards of $60,000.
The suspect, a 24-year-old Victoria man, faces several recommended drug trafficking charges.
Saanich Police have arrested two prolific and well-known property offenders after a series of residential break and enters in the Shelbourne area between July and August.
Timothy Gratto, 36, remains in custody and is facing three counts of break and enter.
The other suspect, a 37-year-old man, was arrested on August 20th in Saanich and police are recommending one count of break and enter.
In a media release, Saanich Police said between July 9th and August 21st, five residential complex units on Shelbourne Street, Richmond Road, Cedar Hill Cross Road and Church Avenue were broken into.
Tools, electronics, packages, and firearms, were among some of the items stolen in the series of crimes.
Upon investigation, Saanich Police believed these crimes were connected and were thus able to identify two suspects.
On August 27th, one of the suspects was arrested in the 3600 block of Richmond Road upon which officers discovered several items linking him to the crimes.
That weekend, Saanich Police conducted a search warrant of his residence, resulting in the discovery of several more stolen items.
Despite this, Saanich Police are concerned with the stolen firearms they’ve yet to uncover.
“Our focus right now is to locate outstanding firearms. They include a shotgun, a rifle, and a handgun,” Saanich Police said in a statement.
Police said that the owners of many of the stolen recovered items have been notified and efforts are underway to return their property to them.
Saanich Police is encouraging anyone with information on the whereabouts of firearms to contact them at 250-475-4321.
(Dr. Bonnie Henry/Province of British Columbia Flickr)
The BC Ministry of Health reported 814 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, September 8th.
There have been 171,564 cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began.
New cases were reported in these health regions:
Vancouver Coastal Health: 135
Fraser Health: 241
Island Health: 90
Interior Health: 272
Northern Health: 72
Resident outside Canada: 4
There are currently 5,550 active cases of COVID-19 in the province.
163,793 people who tested positive have recovered.
There are now a total of 261 people in hospital due to COVID-19, 129 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 1,842.
Data by Vaccination Status:
From August 31st to September 6th, people not fully vaccinated accounted for 77.8% of cases.
From August 24th to September 6th, they accounted for 85.9% of hospitalizations.
Past week cases (August 31st to September 6th):
Total: 4,691
Not vaccinated: 3,247 (69.2%)
Partially vaccinated: 403 (8.6%)
Fully vaccinated: 1,041 (22.2%)
Past two weeks cases hospitalized (August 24th to September 6th):
Total: 233
Not vaccinated: 184 (79.0%)
Partially vaccinated: 16 (6.9%)
Fully vaccinated: 33 (14.2%)
Past week, cases per 100,000 population (August 31st to September 6th):
Not vaccinated: 244.4
Partially vaccinated: 108.3
Fully vaccinated: 30.0
Past two weeks, cases hospitalized per 100,000 population (August 24th to September 6th):
Not vaccinated: 13.7
Partially vaccinated: 4.1
Fully vaccinated: 1.0
Outbreaks
There have been no new health-care facility outbreaks.
There are 21 active outbreaks, including:
Long-term Care: Northcrest Care Centre, Menno Home (Fraser Health), Arbutus Care Centre, Brock Fahrni, 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 (Interior Health) and Sunset Lodge (Island Health)
Acute Care: Chilliwack General Hospital (Fraser Health) and Fort St. John Hospital (Northern Health)
Assisted or Independent Living: Nicola Meadows, David Lloyd Jones, Sun Pointe Village, Hardy View Lodge and Rose Woods Village (Interior Health)
Island Health:
Island Health reported 90 new cases of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Island region and 385 active cases.
Breakdown of cases on Vancouver Island:
South Vancouver Island Active cases: 159 │Total Cases: 2777
Central Vancouver Island Active cases: 163 │ Total Cases: 3172
North Vancouver Island Active cases: 63 │Total Cases: 949
18 people remain in hospital with 12 in ICU.
There have been no new deaths in the Island Health region today, and a total of 52 deaths on Vancouver Island.
Vaccinations
As of today, 85.2% of eligible people 12 and older in B.C. have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine and 77.7% received their second dose.
In addition, 85.8% of all eligible adults in B.C. have received their first dose and 78.6% have received their second dose.
To date, 7,557,556 (+11,685) doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in BC; 3,601,169 (+6,240) of which are second doses.
Although we’re sad to see the slow, sunny days of summer come to an end – fall is on the horizon, and with that, comes time for wardrobe refresh!
With the recent buzz around back to school shopping the cooler air starting to creep in, there’s no better time to visit Hillside Centre – they’ve got a little bit of everything so you can start checking all of this year’s ‘must-haves’ off of your list!
We’re even partnering with Hillside to give away a $200 gift card to one lucky winner, and you’ll find those contest details below.
You’ll also find that Hillside Centre’s ‘This OR That’ is BACK for fall, where you’ll have the chance to win even more.
Playing ‘This OR That’ is easy – just head onlineand find out what’s inspiring you this season!
Is it that cute cable knit sweater or edgy leather bomber jacket; are you a ‘Boho Chic’ kinda gal, or is there a little ‘Rebel Prep’ in you?
Perhaps your style is more focused on ‘Shining Star’ or ‘Eco Trendsetter’ – the choice is yours!
The best part? When you play ‘This OR That’, you’ll be entered to win $1000 shopping spree!
Whether you’re adding to your fall and back-to-school wardrobe, or starting from scratch, Hillside Centre is the place to be.
With over 100 shops and services including a spacious food court with 14 vendors, the recently renovated shopping centre is home to some great fashion retailers that will help get you out the door to the office or school in style.
CONTEST
For a chance to WIN a $200 gift card to Hillside Centre, 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 time and date of publishing until 11:59 p.m. PST on September 16th, 2021. One winner will be chosen at random and contacted through the platform they enter within 24 hours of the contest closing. Good luck!
Central Saanich Police had a busy Labour Day long weekend after logging nearly thirty calls for service; which included nine incidents alone at the Saanich Fair.
Sadly, one of those incidents included the death of a man at the Saanich Fairgrounds on Stelly’s Cross Road.
In a media release, Central Saanich Police said officers responded to a man in medical distress and is now being investigated by the BC Coroner’s Service.
Other incidents at the fair included the following:
One missing child who was located quickly. The Saanich Fair Grounds alerted police on site after closing the gates until the child was found and returned to family members. Police said the fair staff did an excellent job developing and implementing lost child safety protocols
One dog overheating inside a vehicle. The owner was located quickly to tend to the dog and given a warning
Two assaults, both isolated incidents with officers still investigating and seeking witness information/video/images
One impaired driver was given a 90-day immediate roadside prohibition, with the vehicle impounded for 30 days
One lost or stolen camera
Police are seeking additional information related to the two assaults which they described as “isolated incidents”.
The first incident occurred on Sunday, September 5th, at 8:45 p.m., a 17-year-old man was assaulted by an unknown man on the carpet slide ride.
The following day, on Monday, September 6th, at 3:50 p.m., a man in his late thirties was assaulted by another man at the midway.
Anyone with information on those assaults should call Central Saanich Police at 250-652-4441.
On top of the incidents at the fair, police also removed five impaired drivers off the road.
Late last week, a VicPD officer was attacked by an unknown man in Banfield Park while performing a wellness check on another person.
The attack occurred at approximately 11:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 2nd.
Although the officer was able to call for assistance, the suspect was gone before officers and other emergency officials arrived.
While the officer did not suffer non-life-threatening injuries, he sustained potentially life-altering injuries, VicPD said in a statement.
We are still seeking a witness to the assault on an officer in Banfield Park on Thursday, Sept 2nd, approx 11:30 pm. The officer spoke with this witness in the Banfield Park parking lot off the 500-blk Craigflower prior to the attack. @VicCrimeStophttps://t.co/xvZkww1Uyupic.twitter.com/FkEUF30Ngt
The annual Oak Bay Collector Car Festival is back, celebrating 21 years of showcasing the coolest and most sought after collector cars Vancouver Island has to offer.
On Sunday, September 13th car enthusiasts can bring their cars down to Oak Bay to participate in the festival.
Cars of all makes and vintages are welcome!
Safe, outdoor events are back in Oak Bay!!
Check out the Collector Car Festival on #OakBay Avenue on Sunday, September 12th from 7 am to 3 pm.
Car enthusiasts and their families can stop by to view the cars, which will be placed in sections along 5 blocks of Oak Bay Avenue, Monterey to Mitchell Street and a portion of Hampshire Road.
Starting at 7 a.m., exhibitors can enter the Festival near Foul Bay Road from the West end of Oak Bay Avenue where they will be met by volunteers to pay the registration fee.
No pre-registration is required.
Volunteers will then escort cars to their location to be on display until 3 p.m.
The festival will award prizes for Policemen’s and Firefighter’s choice, Mayor’s and Ladies choice as well as 11 other categories. Colourful rosette ribbons will be awarded to the winners of each category.
Many restaurants and businesses in the area will be open especially during the event so be sure to make a day of it!
The Oak Bay Collector Car Festival is a non-profit community event. Please keep in mind BC health protocols as well as respecting physical distancing measures while in attendance.
A structural fire in Saanich was extinguished by fire crews early Wednesday morning.
In the early morning hours of Wednesday, September 8th, Saanich Fire responded to a report of a structural fire at the 3200 Block of Wascana Street.
Saanich Fire were able to confine the fire, protecting neighbouring properties, but not without extensive fire and smoke damage to the residence.
Two residents and their dog were safely evacuated from the home.
Saanich Fire told Victoria Buzz that they were alerted of the fire when neighbours awoke to the smell of smoke and ran over to the burning house to alert the occupants.
It’s unclear what caused the fire so far, but an investigation is ongoing.
Quick work by crews confined the fire and protected neighbouring properties.
Island Health has confirmed there have been three more deaths and one new case related to a COVID-19 outbreak at a long-term care home.
The outbreak, which began August 27th, at Sunset Lodge has claimed four lives to date – all were residents of the facility.
In total, 15 staff and 21 residents have tested positive for COVID-19.
In a statement, Island Health said that a second round of COVID-19 testing for all staff and residents was recently completed. More than 80 residents were tested and all results came back as negative.
All staff results also came back negative.
“Extensive control measures were put in place immediately when the outbreak was declared and Island Health’s COVID-19 Long-term Care Rapid Response team continues to have an on-site presence to support the site through this outbreak,” Island Health said in a statement.
Sunset Lodge is owned and operated by the Salvation Army. Island Health said it will continue to work with leadership and staff to respond to the outbreak and protect the health of all residents and staff.
Nanaimo RCMP have issued a warrant for a 69-year-old man for possessing child pornography and voyeurism.
Michael Gordon Lowry is wanted for several incidents of suspected voyeurism carried out in August 2019 when police seized various electronics owned by Lowry at a Nanaimo residence.
Last November, Lowry was arrested in the Lower Mainland and was later released on conditions.
Lowry missed a scheduled court date in Nanaimo Provincial court and as a result, a warrant has been issued for his arrest.
Lowry is a Caucasian man, 6’1”, 200 pounds, and bald with blue eyes.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call Nanaimo RCMP at 250-754-2345.
Landlords in BC will once again be able to increase rent on their property next year.
Announced Wednesday morning by the province, BC landlords will have the ability to raise rent on their property once a year with an allowable rent increase of 1.5% beginning in January.
If landlords choose to do so, they will have to give three months notice. If a landlord previously gave a tenant a notice of rent increase that takes effect this year, the tenant does not have to pay it.
In 2021, the province placed a rent freeze, as well as banned illegal renovictions (evictions to complete renovations to a property).
This Fall, you can support innovative technology in the fight against prostate cancer through a new fundraising campaign.
According to the BC Cancer Foundation, over 6,000 Vancouver Island residents will be diagnosed with cancer this year.
For men, prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosis they face.
From September 8th to November 8th, you can donate toward advance life-saving diagnostic technology which can detect this cancer sooner, determine the precise location and reveal earlier if the cancer has spread.
The Future Cures Campaign aims to raise $500,000 toward PSMA-PET, the technology which does just that.
The campaign is a collaboration between the BC Cancer Foundation and local grocers, such as
49th Parallel Grocery, Country Grocer, Fairway Markets, Quality Foods, Thrifty Foods and Tru Value Foods.
Until November 8th, Thrifty Foods will be matching donations up to $125,000
(Dr. Bonnie Henry/Province of British Columbia, Flickr)
The BC Ministry of Health reported 2,425 new cases of COVID-19 for a four-day period on Tuesday, September 7th.
There have been 170,750 cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began.
Day-to-Day Breakdown:
Friday-Saturday: 695
Saturday-Sunday:634
Sunday-Monday: 563
Monday-Tuesday: 533
New cases were reported in these health regions:
Vancouver Coastal Health: 705
Fraser Health: 705
Island Health: 202
Interior Health: 838
Northern Health: 312
Resident outside Canada: 0
There are currently 5,465 active cases of COVID-19 in the province.
163,062 people who tested positive have recovered.
There are now a total of 255 people in hospital due to COVID-19, 126 of whom are in critical care — ICU or acute care units.
15 new people have died from COVID-related causes, making the provincial death toll at 1,842 – 4 of those deaths were in the Island Health region.
Outbreaks
There have been three new health-care facility outbreaks at Louis Brier Home and Hospital (Vancouver Coastal Health), The Hamlets at Westsyde and Joseph Creek Care Village (Interior Health).
The outbreaks at Peace Arch Hospital, Heritage Village (Fraser Health) and Hawthorn Park (Interior Health) have been declared over.
The outbreak at Sunset Lodge in Victoria remains active.
Dairy Queen is reminding us that the sweet days of summer aren’t quite over yet with an even sweeter deal!
For a limited time only, you can snag a few of their signature ice cream treats for only $0.99.
From now until October 17th, Dairy Queens famed Blizzards are buy-one get-one for $0.99 – and that’s not all!
You can also get their beloved Peanut Buster Parfaits AND Banana Splits for the same deal.
All you’ve got to do is buy one the above treats in any flavour/size, and you can get a second one of equal or lesser value for just $0.99.
The same goes for a box of DQ Sandwiches or Dilly Bars.
Download the Dairy Queen app and sign up so you can see all the offers they have available.
Though their fan favourite the Pumpkin Pie Blizzard is now back in stores to celebrate the return of fall, we think this deal means it’s time to grab a pal and head over to your nearest DQ location to stretch summer out just a little bit longer!
Coupons expire October 17th, 2021 and can be used at participating locations.
Five people suffered serious injuries in a single-vehicle crash in Sooke in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
At approximately 2:15 a.m., Sooke RCMP and paramedics were called to attend a single vehicle collision in the 5800 block of Sooke Road.
The collision involved a single black 2-door sedan that collided with a tree.
At the time of the crash, there were five people occupying the vehicle, who were all discovered to have sustained serious injuries as a result of the collision, according to Sooke RCMP.
Sooke Road was closed for a majority of the morning which caused significant delays — the road has since reopened.
Sooke RCMP are continuing to investigate the circumstances of the collision and are seeking witnesses and/or dash camera footage to assist in the case.
Anyone with dash camera footage along Sooke Road, from Woodlands Road in Sooke to Veterans Memorial Parkway in Langford, between the hours of 1:30 a.m. and 2:15 a.m. this morning is asked to call the Sooke RCMP detachment at 250-642-5241.
(Premier John Horgan, Minister Adrian Dix, Dr. Bonnie Henry/BC Gov Flickr)
The province has detailed how the BC Vaccine card will work when it is implemented on Monday, September 13th.
Starting September 13th, you will need to be vaccinated with at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccination; by October 24th, you will need to be fully-vaccinated in order to attend businesses or events requiring proof of vaccination.
The registration system asks for a resident’s personal health number, date of birth and date of COVID-19 vaccine. Those who already use the BC Services Card app can alternately log in that way.
Once registered, the user can access a downloadable QR code that serves as proof they’ve been vaccinated.
Alternatively, people without access to a computer and printer can get their card by calling 1-833-838-2323 at the Get Vaccinated call centre and get their printed copy mailed to them.
Businesses that will require proof of vaccination include restaurants and bars, indoor events, theatres, and sporting events.
Food courts, grab-go, drive thru, cafeterias at universities, will not require proof of vaccinations The vaccine card will not be required for youth aged 19 and under playing sports. Until September 27th, you may use your physical copy of your BC vaccination record. After then, you will need to use the online BC Vaccine card.
BC Vaccine Card
The BC Vaccine Card is a scannable QR code which demonstrates whether you’re either fully, partially, or have no record of your vaccination.
Your record will show up something like this:
The province said they are working with the federal government to assure that the QR code is one that can be used to travel internationally, once proof of vaccination is required for that.
If you get caught without your vaccination card you can be issued violations of up to $575 for individuals or $2300 for owners/operators.
Travelling to BC
If you are travelling into BC, you will also be asked to show your proof of vaccination. BC will accept officially recognized vaccine records from your province.
International visitors will also need to show proof of vaccination.
It’s unclear what that means for countries or provinces that have not developed a proof of vaccination card or system.
Businesses
For businesses that might be a bit worried about how to proceed, the province is providing online support systems here.
Businesses will soon have an app that can scan to verify these QR codes. They can also visually verify, like with ID’s.
Businesses will be required to validate name and vaccination records with a government issued ID.
Paper vaccination records will only be accepted until September 27th.
From then on, the virtual BC Vaccine Card will be the only accepted form of proof.
Before you begin your Fall household to-do list, break out the ingredients for baked goods and decorate your home for the season, be sure to take a look at what you are using in your home if you have pets around.
Many everyday seasonal items, as well as popular Fall decorations, scents and tastes can pose potential dangers to your pets.
Thankfully, the BC SPCA has released a list of Fall items that you may be using around your home that we should be aware of.
When it comes to your pet’s health and safety, here are 5 Fall items to be on the lookout for:
Antifreeze
Did you know coming into contact or ingesting just one tablespoon of antifreeze can be lethal for your pet?
If you are using this substance to help prepare your car or boats for the winter conditions, be sure to keep your pets far away from it as well as any surfaces it may have come into contact with.
Candles
When Fall hits, stores overflow with their autumn candles and everyone moves inside to get cozy.
However, if you are not using candles that are made from soy, coconut or a vegetable-based wax with unbleached 100% cotton wicks, you may potentially be releasing toxins into your home.
Most candles are made from paraffin wax, use lead wicks and release synthetic oil and fragrances. These can trigger respiratory illnesses in your pets.
Lit candles and the resulting hot wax are also a potential danger to pets as they can easily be knocked over.
Chocolate and candy
For humans, Fall brings Halloween and Thanksgiving, two holidays that mean a lot of chocolate and other sweets. However, your pets cannot enjoy these the same way we can.
Chocolate is toxic to cats and dogs, as they cannot metabolize caffeine or a chemical called theobromine like we do. When consumed, other artificial sweeteners in candy are also linked to hypoglycemia and liver damage in dogs.
Compost and mulch piles
The decaying organic matter or molding food products in compost and mulch piles can cause serious harm to pets if ingested.
If ingested, animals can be poisoned, causing tremors or seizures.
Creating piles of leaves and gathering compost are routine Fall chores, so be careful to keep your pets away from these piles and manage these piles and their discarding properly.
Pumpkin Spice
Pumpkin pie spice is made of a mix of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and cloves. Although small amounts of these spices in most baked goods will not usually cause harm to pets, other pumpkin spice products such as essential oils or large amounts of the spices directly can cause harm to your pet.
Comox Valley RCMP are looking to identify an alleged suspect involved in an assault at a park in Courtenay last week.
According to the victim, the assault occurred just before 2 p.m. on Tuesday, August 31st at Pinewood Park.
It is alleged the unknown suspect pushed the victim to the ground and kicked him. No other details regarding the incident were released.
Police said the alleged suspect in known to fly a drone at the park.
The victim of the assault reported to police that he was at Pinewood Park in Courtenay at approximately 1:50 p.m. when an unknown male pushed him to the ground and kicked him.
The suspect, in the attached photograph, is known to frequent Pinewood Park and fly a drone in the area.
Anyone with information on the assault or if you can identity the individual, call the Comox Valley RCMP at (250) 338-1321 and refer to file number 2021-14770.
If you wish to remain anonymous, contact Comox Valley Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
Have you ever dreamed of working in one of the fastest-growing industries in Victoria?
If you’re looking to kick off your career in the booming hospitality industry, Delta Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort is the place to be; with a fun, vibrant working environment along with best in class wages, they offer it all.
Delta Victoria is on the hunt for people who contribute to their culture every day – by taking care of each other just as well as they take care of their guests.
Every employee is in charge of making their hotel a great place to work and stay, with a focus on guest experience in one of the most beautiful places on earth.
Delta Victoria’s team wears jeans with a smart casual look, and along with their upstanding wages, they offer incredible benefits including medical, dental and pension.
They also offer up the gym and pool to associates for free, along with free parking. Worldwide travel benefits for their associates and their friends and family are just a few of the other perks you’ll receive working for them!
Here are the positions Delta Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort is currently hiring for:
Sous Chef – Salaried position
Chef de Partie – $24.88/hour
Second Cooks – $22.50/hour
Banquet Captain – $20.00/hour
Banquet Server – $16.84/hour
Room Attendant – $22.27/hour
House Attendant – $22.27/hour
In Room Dining Server – $16.77/hour
Guest Service Agents – $22.56/hour
LURE Server $15.75/hour
LURE Host – $16.77/hour
The above positions are available now, and interested applicants can apply online here.
According to reports, the fire began from a large homeless encampment on Dallas Road and was made worse by exploding propane bottles.
The Victoria Fire Department arrived quickly to the scene where three fire trucks were required to put out the blaze.
The quick action of the firefighters saved two nearby homeless encampments as well as the Dallas Road waterfront from going up in the blaze.
Thankfully, recent rain assisted in the dry foliage conditions in Beacon Hill Park.
Photos of the fire can be found below:
(photo by Matthew E McCormick/@matthewemccormick)(photo by Matthew E McCormick/@matthewemccormick)(photo by Matthew E McCormick/@matthewemccormick)(photo by Matthew E McCormick/@matthewemccormick)(photo by Matthew E McCormick/@matthewemccormick)(photo by Matthew E McCormick/@matthewemccormick)
Victoria Buzz has reached out to the Victoria Fire Department for more information.
If you’re a musician, venue owner, or music lover, the City of Victoria is looking for your input!
For their next Music Strategy draft, the City of Victoria is seeking community feedback to guide the City’s annual $1.7 million investment into arts, culture and events.
Community members are invited to an open house and information session on Saturday, September 11th at the Neighbourhood Hub (709 & 711 Douglas St.) from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
The open house is intended to create a dialogue between community members and the City to get a clearer vision of what Victoria’s music scene should look like.
Those who cannot attend the open house are still encouraged to participate.
The community is invited to share feedback on the Music Strategy’s recommendations through an online survey by Friday, September 17th here.
The survey prioritizes five main areas:
Removing regulatory barriers and creating music friendly policies.
Preserving existing spaces and encouraging the development of new spaces.
Building local capacity for artists to develop their music careers.
Growing audiences and expanding access to music in all its forms.
Seeking partnerships and collaborations to explore new innovative music platforms and experiences.
“These final engagement steps for our new Music Strategy will help build the city’s musical roadmap and allow the public to understand what the key priorities are,” said Kathryn Calder, Chair of the Victoria Music Advisory Committee.
The strategy and accompanying reports will go before Council in the fall for final adoption and implementation.
School has barely begun at UVic and already challenges are afoot related to COVID-19 protocols.
This past weekend, a party on UVic campus of over several hundred students took place.
UVic released a statement on Monday condemning the party.
We appreciate those students who are acting responsibly and ask those involved in the incident last night to stop behaving in a manner that puts our fall return to campus at risk,” said Jim Dunsdon, associate vice-president of Student Affairs.
“By holding or attending large, unstructured parties, students increase the risk of COVID-19 transmission. Their behaviour is unacceptable and puts at risk students, our employees, our instructors and our local community.”
Saanich Police were on scene with Campus Security where they conducted 50 pour-outs of liquor and ticketed two people for underage drinking.
Huge party on campus. CSec and Saanich Police are on scene but weren't shutting it down, as of 11:15. No masks, clearly no distancing.
Videos from the party show young people climbing structures of UVic, but there were no reports of property damage.
Witnesses reported that Saanich Police were on scene for a couple of hours, where officers guarded an entrance to a residence building at UVic.
“The majority of the people there were respectful, but as usual, there were some that were not,” said Const. Markus Anastasiades with Saanich PD.
While there are no restrictions on outdoor gatherings in public places, UVic has expressed their concern over COVID-19.
“It is the responsibility of every UVic student to take public health measures and related campus rules seriously and challenge their peers to do the same,” UVic said in a statement on Monday morning.
“Efforts by our entire UVic community to provide an in-person experience that everyone seeks is placed in jeopardy when behaviours such as this impact what we are trying to achieve.”
This week, UVic will require its students, staff and faculty attending on-campus activities to either self-declare their vaccination status or participate in a COVID-19 rapid test.
To participate in on-campus, in-person activities students, faculty, and staff must choose either option.
Students will also be required to wear masks in all indoor public spaces in light of the province-wide mask mandate.
Beginning September 13th, vaccine cards will be required in recreational spaces in BC for both British Columbians and visitors to the province.
With schools back in session in BC tomorrow, it may be helpful to review laws concerning passing school buses.
Many motorists are unaware of the penalties for passing a stopped school bus, despite the efforts to raise awareness, some drivers still fail to stop — in both directions.
Before stopping a school bus for picking up or letting off children, a bus driver is required to activate amber flashing signal lamps.
Once the bus comes to a complete stop, the bus driver is required to extend the stop arm and activate the red flashing signal lights prior to opening the door of the bus.
If a school bus is stopped to pick up or let out passengers with the stop arm and signal lights activated, drivers must stop whether the bus is oncoming or you are behind the bus.
Vehicles shall not proceed until the bus has completely let out or picked up all passengers and started moving.
The hazards of ignoring these laws were made shockingly clear in the following footage:
Penalties
In BC, the first offence penalty for illegally passing school buses is $368, and it increases dramatically after that.
For drivers who receive a second ticket, it will be $668, and a third offence will run a motorist over $1,000 for that third offence alone.
Drivers will continue to receive three penalty points on top of the increased fine.
A suspect remains at large after he attempted to ram three people with his vehicle on Dallas Road early Sunday morning.
According to VicPD, a woman and her two friends were walking along Dallas Road near Linden Avenue at around 4 a.m. when a man attempted to hit them with his vehicle.
The man then exited his vehicle and attempted to assault one of the individuals with a weapon, narrowly missing the person.
However, despite the large police presence, which included the Integrated Police Dog Service, the suspect managed to evade capture and remains at large.
The suspect is known to police and investigators believe this to be an isolated incident, as the suspect and one of the victims were known to each other.
Anyone with information 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.
A large search took place in the Colwood area this morning following a incident on Dallas Road early Sunday morning.
In a media release today, West Shore RCMP confirmed they they were searching for a suspect in an on-going VicPD investigation.
The search began just after 5 a.m. this morning, Sunday, September 5th after a West Shore RCMP officer located a suspect’s vehicle near the Royal Roads University.
RCMP along with the officers from the Integrated Police Dog Service flooded a Colwood neighbourhood to search for a suspect who had fled the scene before their arrival.
The suspect remains at large.
“We understand the concern of seeing so many police officers in a quiet community on a Sunday morning,” said S/Sgt. Janelle Shoihet of the BC RCMP.
“We want to reassure the public that we believe the suspect is no longer in the area but are continuing efforts to locate him through investigative means,in partnership with VicPD.”
