The Government Street streetscape has not changed in over 50 years and now the city is seeking input on how to make it one of the best in Canada.

In a media release, the City of Victoria said it is looking for the public’s help with the Government Street ‘Refresh’ project to develop a long-term, pedestrian-focused concept design and implementation strategy.

Government Street has always been a popular location for both locals and tourists in the city. 

With the COVID-19 pandemic, the city made changes to try and help support the businesses, many of which were restaurants hit hard by restrictions as well as businesses who relied heavily on tourist traffic to survive. 

Over the past year, Government Street saw periods of being closed to car traffic, allowing the restaurants to expand their patios to accommodate outdoor dining. 

Recently, Government Street began timed closures closing the corridor to vehicle traffic between Humboldt and View Streets. From noon to 10:00 p.m. each day, the street is only open for pedestrians.

The 900 block of Government Street between Humboldt and Broughton streets remains open to vehicles 24 hours a day.

The Government Street streetscape has not changed in over five decades, so the project comes in time to replace many of the street’s elements (road signs, traffic lights, furniture etc.) that are nearing the end of their life and will soon need to be replaced. 

The project hopes to build on the success of the city’s ‘Build Back Victoria’ program and support local businesses that were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Public engagement with the project and plans will work in three phases: 

First, the public is asked to complete a short online survey and submit any written ideas, illustrations, images and videos at engage.victoria.ca. This form will be open for submissions until July 11th. 

These submissions will be used to create a draft design concept for Government Street which will then be shared with the community for initial feedback. 

Second, the draft will be revised based on community feedback. This draft will be shared in January 2022.

Finally, a final draft of the designs will be presented to Council early next year.

The project includes both renovations to street design as well as major upgrades to below-ground water services.

The public is asked to complete the short survey and submit ideas for the future design of Government Street online here by July 11th. 

In the long list of things we have missed during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, happy hours are near the top.

Luckily, dining restrictions have recently eased in BC and with dine-in service now available once more, dinner dates with small groups of friends are back on the table – literally.

That means there’s no better time to celebrate happy hour with great deals on food and drinks, and catch up with those we’ve been missing while we do so 

Below, we’ve created a running list of happy hours in the city, featuring bountiful beverages and mouth-watering appies, just in time for patio season.

Think of any that we’ve missed? Be sure to reach out to have your restaurant’s happy hour deals added!

Without further ado, here’s a list of restaurants with happy hour deals in and around Victoria:

Saanich Peninsula area

Waddling Dog Pub

• Location: 2476 Mt Newton Cross Road
• Happy Hour: 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Sunday
• Happy Hour Drink Specials: $4.50 Sleeves of Lucky Lager, $4.50 Bottles of Budweiser and Canadian, $5 6oz glass of House Red or White wine

Victoria area

Belleville’s Watering Hole & Diner

• Location: 427 Belleville Street
• Morning/Afternoon Happy Hour: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Monday to Sunday 
• Morning/Afternoon Happy Hour Drink Specials: $5.95 House Wine, $5.95 Highballs, $7.95 Cocktails (Caesar, Harvey Wallbanger, The Hound, Blood Orange Margarita, Crannntastic, John Daly, Mimosa), $6.95 Belleville Shaft, $7.95 Belleville’s Coffee, $6.25 Solaris White Peach Ale Pint
• Evening Happy Hour: 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Saturday 
• Evening Happy Hour Drink Specials: $5.95 House Wine, $5.59 Highballs, $8.95 Double Highballs
• Evening Happy Hour Food Specials: $10 Appies (Asian Sticky Ribs, Funghi Flatbread, and Chicken Tostadas), $11 Appies (Calamari, Chicken Satay, and Popcorn Shrimp) and $12 Appies (Blackened Halibut, Fish Tacos, and Stuffed Yorkshire Puddings)

Caffe Fantastico Coffee Roasters

• Location: 965 Kings Road
• Happy Hour: All Day!
• Happy Hour Food and Drink Special: 1L Mason jar of local draft beer and two snacks for $15. Snacks include house-made sourdough pretzels, Two Rivers Meat Sticks and house-spiced bar nuts.

Cenote Restaurant and Lounge

• Location: 768 Yates Street
• Happy Hour: 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Tuesday to Saturday
• Happy Hour Drink Specials: $5 20oz pints, $6 double Gin & Tonics
• Happy Hour Food Specials: $10 Tacos (3 per order)

Darcy’s Pub (Downtown)

• Location: 1127 Wharf Street
• Happy Hour: 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday to Sunday
• Happy Hour Drink Specials: $6.25 House red and white wine, $5.25 sleeves of beer, $5.25 Shafts
• Happy Hour Food Specials: $10 Sesame Tofu, $10 Bruschetta, $10 Chips and Guacamole

FARO Handcrafted Pizza and Tasting Room

• Location: Oak Bay Beach Hotel, 1175 Beach Drive
• Happy Hour: 11:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Monday to Sunday
• Happy Hour Drink Specials: $24 Wine Flights (featuring a different Vancouver Island winery each month)

Frankie’s Modern Diner

• Location: #38 910 Government Street
• Happy Hour: 2:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday to Friday. All day drink specials Saturday and Sunday
• Happy Hour Drink Specials: $5 (1oz) Classic Margarita, $4 (1oz)/ $7 (2oz) Highballs, $5 (1 ½ oz) Shafts, $6 (1 1/z oz) Frankie’s Hugo.
• All day happy hour Saturday and Sunday $5 Mimosa, $5 Sangria, $5 Classic Sangria.
• Happy Hour Food Specials: $3 Single Meatball, $3 Bowl of Fries, $6 Personal size pizza, $6 crispy fried chicken burger, $6 cheesy flatbread, $7 Mozzarella Sticks, $8 wings (1lb.), $8 Veggie Curried Penne, $8 Stuffed Meatballs and Fries, $8 Tuna Salad

John’s Place Restaurant

• Location: 723 Pandora Avenue
• Happy Hour: 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m, Monday to Friday
• Happy Hour Drink Specials: $2 off all cocktails! Mimosas (3 kinds), Caesars, Sangria, Aperol Spritz, etc!
• Happy Hour Food Specials: $4 Tiger Fries, $6 Onion Rings, $6 Ballpark Dogs, $6 Spring Rolls, $10 Thai Chicken Bowl, $10 Tofu Bowl

Leopold’s Tavern

• Location: 570 Yates Street
• Happy Hour: 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday
• Happy Hour Drink Specials: $5.50 Leo’s Lager, $5.50 6oz House Wine, $5.50 Leo’s Ceasars, $4.50 Highballs
• Bucket Mondays (3:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.) $7.50 (assorted Leo’s Faves)
• Happy Hour Food Specials: 3:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., Tuesdays: $3.50 Tacos, 3:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., Wing Wednesday

Moon Under Water Brewpub and Distillery

• Location: 350 Bay Street
• Happy Hour: 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday
• Happy Hour Drink Specials: $5 Moon Pints
• Happy Hour Food Specials: $7.95 Coconut Shrimp and Fries, $6.95 Zucchini Strips, $7.95 Popcorn Chicken, $7.95 Cajun Potato Skins, $5.95 Fry Bowl 

The Pacific Restaurant, Patio and Terrace

• Location: Hotel Grand Pacific, 463 Belleville Street
• Happy Hour: 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Sunday
• Happy Hour Drink Specials: Daily featured $6 wine/beer/cocktail 
• Happy Hour Food Specials: All appetizers $12

Rooftop Patio

• Location: 919 Douglas Street
• Happy Hour: 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday
• Happy Hour Drink Specials: $5 Shafts, $5 Nudes, $4.50 Sticky Wicket Lager, $5 White Claw
• Happy Hour Food Specials: $8 Individual Nachos, $8 Artichoke Dip, $8 Half Pizza, $8 Rooftop wings

Shark Club Bar and Grill

• Location: 2852 Douglas Street
• Happy Hour: 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Monday to Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., Fridays
• Happy Hour Drink Specials: All Happy Hour drinks are $5. 5oz glasses of house red and white wine, 16oz glasses of Big LIfe Euro Lager and Big Life Amber Ale, 1oz highballs, and a selection of signature cocktails (Ceasar, Porch Side Margarita, Aperol Spritz, Whiskey Smash, Old Fashioned, Moscow Mule, Electric Arnold)
• Happy Hour Food Specials: $7 Appetizer options including chicken quesadillas, chips and guacamole, lettuce wraps, poutine and fried pickles. 

The Snug Pub

• Location: Oak Bay Beach Hotel, 1175 Beach Drive 
• Happy Hour: 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday to Sunday 
• Happy Hour Drink Specials: $5 Wine (Mission HIll Pinot Noir, Noble Ridge Chardonnay, Dirty Laundry Rosé), $5 Hoyne Vienna Lager, $7 Steamworks Nitro Strou, $5 Phillips Short Wave
• Happy Hour Food Specials: $12 Crispy Pork Belly, $12 Truffle Fries, $10 Chickpea Polenta Fries

Spinnakers Gastro Brewpub

• Location: 308 Catherine Street
• Happy Hour: 2:30 to 5:30, Monday to Friday
• Happy Hour Drink Specials: $6 house red and white (6oz), $6 Beer Pint, $16 Beer jugs,  $8 Cocktails (Cider mimosa- pink grapefruit or orange juice), $7 Shafts, $8 Long Island Iced Tea
• Happy Hour Food Specials: $6 Kennebec Fries, $8 Truffle Fries, $9 Popcorn Chicken, $13 smoked chicken wings

The Sticky Wicket Bar & Restaurant

• Location: 919 Douglas Street
• Late night Happy Hour: 10:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.
• Happy Hour Drink Specials: $4.50 Sleeve of Wicket Lager, $4.50 BBJ 5x Lager (can), $5 House highballs, $5.50 Shaft, $5.50 Nude Vodka Soda can (peach, raspberry, strawberry, watermelon), $6 Jameson Irish Whiskey, $6 Corona (bottle)

Sidney 

Surly Mermaid

• Location: #1B 9851 Seaport Place
• Happy Hour: 3:00 to 5:00 p.m., Monday to Sunday
• Happy Hour Drink Specials: $6 wine, $5 pints and $6 high balls
• Happy Hour Food Specials: $4 Kettle chips, $8 Cajun Spare Ribs, $9 Beer Cheese, $10 Tequila lime snapper ceviche, $10 Pesto Flatbread 

Langford/Colwood

328 Taphouse + Grill

• Location: #102 328 Wale Road
• Happy Hour: 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday to Sunday 
• Happy Hour Drink Specials: $5 12oz Beer (Various Phillips and Russel), $5 6oz wine (Peller Estates) and $5 1oz spirits
• Happy Hour Food Specials: $6 Parm Truffle Fries, $7 Guac and Chips, $7 Homemade Pretzels and dip, $8 Stone Fired 900° Flatbread, $8 Coastal Fish Tacos

House of Boateng Café

• Location: 2845 Peatt Road
• Happy Hour: 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Thursday, Friday and Saturday
• Happy Hour Drink Specials: $5 1oz Highballs (rum, vodka, gin and whiskey), $5 Beer (Blue Buck and Dark Matter), $7 5oz House Wine (Bench 1775 Red Blend, Nichol Pinot Gris), $1 off Merridale Cider, $7 1oz Shafts, 20% off Bottled Wine
• Happy Hour Food Specials: $9 Spiced Nuts, $10 Chef Castro’s Exotic Chips, $12 Herb Poached Prawn Shooters, $10 Chicharrones, $13 HOB Chef’s Preserved Crudité, $6 Jamaican Beef or Veggie Pattie

Want to add your business to the list? Send an email to mike@victoriabuzz.com with your restaurant name, address, and happy hour information.

If you’re going into liquor or cannabis stores, it’s not uncommon to have to show identification.

But what about a fingerprint?

According to a recently released report, up to 30 privately-owned BC liquor and cannabis stores have been collecting private information that does not maintain adequate privacy management programs or document privacy policies, despite obligations under BC’s private sector Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA).

In some cases, liquor and cannabis retailers have been collecting private data using facial recognition software from customers and thumbprint identification from employees, among other biometrics, as well as personal data collection from their websites other than what is typically asked, like age, birthdate, identification.

All liquor and cannabis retailers collect personal information, though many initially believed they did not do so to such an extent, according to the report.

BC cannabis and liquor stores are not authorized to collect biometric information or “information about an identifiable individual”, including employee personal information.

PIPA requires organizations to notify individuals of the purpose of collection unless the purpose is obvious and the individual voluntarily provides their personal information for that purpose.

“While the purposes for the collection of personal information directly from customers, such as to make a purchase or to sign up for a newsletter, may be obvious and consent implied; the purposes for the collection of browser information or other online identifiers may not be obvious,” said the report.

“Web-based privacy policies are also an important part of ensuring the organization meets its obligations under PIPA in respect of personal information collected online.”

One concerning reason the report brought up was the fact cannabis is illegal in many jurisdictions outside of Canada. Some countries will deny entry to individuals who have purchased cannabis or work in the industry.

The province said that retailers who are considering any type of biometric collection will be scrutinized at a very high level.

The purposes for collection, use or disclosure of biometric information must be reasonable and express consent.

“Surprisingly, many retailers didn’t understand that they collect personal information, despite the fact that all private licensed liquor and cannabis retailers collect some form of personal information from employees and customers who enter physical stores or make purchases online,” said Michael McEvoy, BC’s information and privacy commissioner.

The report contained 18 recommendations for liquor and cannabis retailers to establish and maintain privacy management programs, including designating someone to be responsible for ensuring the organization complies with PIPA, developing written policies, and monitoring compliance and conducting risk assessments to know that security safeguards are effective.

This is a developing story.

Victoria Buzz has reached out for more information.

BC residents will continue to be eligible to access grants of up to $600 to help pay their BC Hydro bills.

The province has extended the BC Hydro’s Customer Crisis fund (CCF) to help BC Hydro customers who are facing a financial hardship due to a job loss, injury, illness or loss of a family member, and possible disconnection of their service.

The pilot program ended on May 31st, after a three-year term, which the BC government said helped over 11,000 residential customers.

The government has issued a direction to the BC Utilities Commission to enable BC Hydro to continue offering grants through the CCF.

The program was funded by a monthly charge (rate rider) of 13 cents that was added to residential customers’ bills. The temporary continuation of the CCF will be funded through an existing surplus of approximately $5.9 million that represents the difference between revenues already collected through the monthly customer charge and the costs of providing the program.

BC Hydro stopped applying the rate rider to customers’ bills effective June 1st.

In a government survey, 70% of BC Hydro residential customers expressed support for the CCF.

BC Hydro, in partnership with FortisBC, also offers conservation programs to help lower-income households save energy and keep their bills low.

The Energy Conservation Assistance Program offered by BC Hydro in partnership with FortisBC also offers eligible lower-income customers free energy assessments and energy-saving products like a free Energy Saving Kit which includes weather-stripping products and energy-efficient light bulbs.

Upgrades can result in savings of up to $430 each year and the kit can save up to $130 each year.

“We recognize there will be times when people may need some financial assistance to catch up on their hydro bill. As many families struggle to recover from the impacts and stresses of the COVID-19 pandemic, that time is now,” said Bruce Ralston, Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation.

“By extending BC Hydro’s Customer Crisis Fund, we are preventing disconnections, helping families get back on their feet and making life more affordable for British Columbians.”

Visit this link to fill out an application form to see your eligibility.

Check your tickets, Vancouver Island!

According to BCLC, there were two winning tickets sold for the $6 million jackpot in Saturday night’s Lotto 649 draw.

One ticket was purchased in Parksville and the other in Newfoundland. Each ticket is worth $3 million.

The winning numbers are: 13 15 17 25 34 45 and the bonus number was 5.

The extra numbers were: 30 46 66 97.

The retail location of where the ticket was not released. The winner has one year to claim their winning prize.

Meanwhile, the Lotto Max jackpot remains at $70 million after the prize went unclaimed again on Friday.

Four people and two cats escaped uninjured after a fire destroyed a James Bay home on Father’s Day.

The residential fire on Montreal Street fire broke out at around 2 p.m. on Sunday.

According to the Victoria Fire department, 16 firefighters and five trucks were dispatched to the blaze.

Video from the scene shows thick smoke billowing out of the second-level windows.

The home is believed to have suffered at least $100,000 in damage.

Firefighters quickly extinguished the flames and managed to contain the damage to two rooms.

The displaced residents are receiving support from the Canadian Red Cross.

Today, Monday, June 21st, marks the 25th National Indigenous Peoples Day in Canada.

A day recognizing and celebrating the cultures and contributions of the First Nations, Inuit and Métis Indigenous peoples of Canada.

At 2:15 p.m. today, a moment of silence was observed across all Island Health sites to honour and respect the 215 Indigenous children found in Kamloops in late May.  

“We encourage all Vancouver Island residents to find time for quiet reflection today” said Island Health President and CEO Kathy MacNeil. 

“We paused at this particular time to reflect on the tragic impact of residential schools, colonialism and systemic racism on Indigenous people and their communities,” MacNeil explained. 

“As we acknowledge this ongoing trauma, we know that this discovery in Kamloops is only the beginning,”said Eunice Joe, Island Health Executive Director.

There were at least five residential schools included in the Island Health region: 

•       Alberni Indian Residential School – Port Alberni (1917 – 1973)
•       Ahousaht Indian Residential School – Ahousaht (1901 – 1950)
•       Christie Residential School – Meares Island (1900 – 1983)
•       Kuper Island Indian Residential School – Penelakut Island (1890 – 1975)
•       St Michaels Residential School – Alert Bay (1929 – 1975).

“It is important for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people working in partnership at Island Health to come together to mourn this loss and to commit to supporting the wellness of all people with compassion” said Joe.

In a joint statement, Premier John Horgan and Murray Rankin, Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, released the following message:

“On National Indigenous Peoples Day, we honour the leadership, resilience and strength of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples throughout British Columbia and across Canada. It is a day to recognize the immense contributions of Indigenous peoples to every facet of our province.

“As we honour and celebrate Indigenous communities today, we must also recognize the systemic racism, discrimination and intergenerational trauma Indigenous peoples have experienced and continue to experience. These harms are a daily, lived reality for Indigenous peoples.

“We acknowledge and share the grief with the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc, and all residential school survivors and their families, as they mourn for their stolen children. We know there are many other sites throughout our province that are still the source of unanswered questions and unimaginable pain for Indigenous communities. We still have much work ahead of us.

“So, today on National Indigenous Peoples Day, we recognize that reconciliation is a hard and essential journey that we will make together. Our government recognizes the responsibility we have to advance reconciliation in partnership with Indigenous peoples, and we are walking this journey side by side.

“The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples remains a touchstone on our path forward together. Through B.C.’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, we are working closely with Indigenous peoples on a draft action plan to meet the objectives of the UN Declaration. The act sets us on a path that recognizes and respects Indigenous rights as human rights, creates more opportunities for people and communities, and commits our government – and future governments – to action on reconciliation, not just words.

“As we face our collective truth on the generational impacts of our colonial history, let us work together and take action, so we can better understand our shared history, accept and learn from it and work together to make things right. Together, we will continue to build a more equal and more inclusive British Columbia for generations to come.”

A temporary ban on most open burning activities on Vancouver Island will come into effect Wednesday as the province mitigates wildfire risks.

The ban will start at 12 p.m. PST on June 23, and covers the Coastal Fire Centre area of the BC Wildfire Service.

The Coastal centre is headquartered in Parksville and includes Vancouver Island, the Lower Mainland, and the Sunshine Coast up to the northern border of Tweedsmuir South Provincial Park.

Haida Gwaii will be exempted from the ban. A map of the Coastal Fire Centre area is online on the BC Wildfire Service website.

Under the ban, Category 2 or 3 open burns will be prohibited. That includes any fires over 0.5 metres high by 0.5 metres across.

Fireworks, sky lanterns, air curtain burners binary exploding targets, burn barrels or burn cages of any size are also prohibited.

This applies to both private and public land.

Campfires will still be permitted, provided they are kept within 0.5 metres high by 0.5 metres across. Cooking stoves and barbecues are also still permitted.

People enjoying campfires must also have 8 litres of water or a shovel on hand, and must extinguish their fires entirely, including making ashes cool to the touch, before leaving. A fireguard, such as circle of stones or a pit, is also required.

More details on the different fire categories is available as an infographic at www.gov.bc.ca/openfireregs.

People who violate the ban could find themselves facing a $1,150 ticket. If they are convicted in court of an offence, they could also face fines up to $100,000 and/or a year in jail.

Those whose actions are found to have caused or contributed to a wildfire could be ordered to pay for all firefighting and associated costs.

Wildfires can be reported by calling 1-800-663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cell phone.

For the latest information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions, road closures and air quality advisories, go to: http://www.bcwildfire.ca

BC small businesses will now have access to financial support to create environments for people with disabilities.

According to the BC government, the new $4.8 million grant with the Accessible British Columbia Act from the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction is designed to support small business employers hire people with disabilities, as well as procure the necessary tools to support them.

It’ll provide direct financial assistance to improve physical environments, technology, communication, and access to information for employees with disabilities.

Small Business employers can apply for grants of up to $1,000 per business. Grant applications are open from June 21st, to April 30th, 2022 for a range of eligible services.

The grant can be used to improve working environments, training, and policies, as well as purchase technology and communication documents such as ASL or braille versions of policies or documents.

The grant will be available to BC businesses with between one and 50 employees (part-time or full time) providing they include a covering memo describing the item(s) and/or service(s) they are purchasing.

“Almost a quarter of B.C.’s population are living with a disability, which ranges from physical disabilities to invisible ones like mental illness and communications challenges. We want to enable small businesses to retain and hire people with disabilities and to create long term employment opportunities so every person can fully participate in their community,” says Tom Conway, CEO of Small Business BC.

Greater Victoria residents only have two more weeks to share their opinions on local issues facing our region, in the 2021 Victoria’s Vital Signs Survey. 

Until July 1st, residents from all corners of Greater Victoria are asked for their participation in the survey to create the 2021 Victoria’s Vital Signs Program.

The program, which will be released this fall, will be combined with relevant data and statistics to provide an insight into the livability and wellbeing in our region, as well as determine what is working and what needs improvement.

The survey has been adjusted to be a shorter, more concise questionnaire with a particular focus on issues relating to inclusion and diversity as well as the COVID-19 pandemic.

It also asks residents to weigh in on issue areas such as housing, safety, health and wellness, and the economy. 

Residents can complete the survey on the Victoria Foundation website, which closes on July 1st.

A 55-year-old man was arrested Friday night after a dramatic crash in which he fled the scene in his heavily damaged Corvette.

On June 18th, West Shore RCMP said they received a report of a possible impaired driver.

The vehicle, a white Corvette, was reportedly being driven in a manner described as “stunting” while travelling south on the Trans Canada Highway.

Minutes later, RCMP received a second report from the public, stating a white Corvette had been in a motor vehicle collision on the Helmcken Road on-ramp in View Royal.

The heavily damaged Corvette left the site of the collision and was located by West Shore RCMP at the McKenzie Avenue exchange.

The driver, a 55-year-old Saanich resident was arrested at the scene. He is now being investigated for failure to remain at the scene of an accident and impaired driving.

A post on the Victoria Buzz Facebook page regarding the incident garnered over 400 comments, with many people posting photos and videos from the scene and recounting their encounter with the Corvette.

“In light of the speeds reported by witnesses, we are relieved that no one was seriously hurt or killed in this collision,” said Cst Meighan Massey of the West Shore RCMP.

“This collision is a stark reminder of the increased risks on our roads with the onset of summer activity. With the lifting of restrictions comes the increase in local travel and socialization. Please remember to arrange for a safe ride home if you are going to be out drinking,” said Massey.

Investigators are looking for any dashcam or cell phone footage of the events leading up to the collision — the collision itself or events after.

If you witnessed any part of this incident, or have footage, contact the West Shore RCMP at (250)464-2264.  If you have any information to provide and wish to remain anonymous, contact Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-888-TIPS (8477).

If you were one of the many who took to social media yesterday trying to figure out why a woman on a scooter was blocking traffic, we believe we may have uncovered the mystery.

On Thursday afternoon, June 17th, traffic was congested in all directions at the intersection of Fort Street and Douglas Street.

According to VicPD, a woman in a motorized wheelchair was protesting in the middle of the intersection.

Reports are saying that the woman was protesting for the environment and against climate change.

According to reports, the woman refused to move and VicPD had to direct traffic for at least an hour.

In a tweet, VicPD said they were able to peacefully resolve the issue and the woman was moved from the roadway and checked over by paramedics.

Victoria Buzz has reached out to VicPD for more information.

Victoria’s historic Chinatown may lose another long-standing business this summer. 

After over 50 years in business, the popular Chinatown Fan Tan Trading Company, a favourite of locals and tourists alike, may have to close its doors.

The store, a popular destination for both locals and tourists, was purchased by Grathy Li in 2017 when she moved with her family from China to operate it. 

For many, it is a must when visiting Victoria. 

Now, due to an immigration issue requiring Li to be an employee and not self employed, Li must switch gears to obtain a study permit. She will be moving to New Brunswick to meet her new permit requirements. 

This means the store will be left without an owner and the store’s lease is set to expire next month. 

Li hopes someone will step up and buy the shop, including all the inventory at a discounted price. 

If the business does find a new owner, that means the historic Chinatown Fan Tan Trading Company can remain in an ever changing Chinatown. 

Canada’s oldest Chinatown has shrunk from half a dozen blocks down to one.

Year-end stats for BC Ferries show a massive drop in traffic brought on chiefly by the COVID-19 pandemic, the transportation service says.

According to the statistics, the fiscal year that ended on March 31, 2021, showed a 40 per cent drop in passenger traffic and a 24 per cent drop in vehicle traffic compared to last year.

BC Ferries pointed the finger squarely at COVID-19 in a statement on Friday, saying the pandemic has had “unprecedented consequences” on their revenues.

They add, however, that financial results are expected to improve, through Safe Restart funding and as travel restrictions ease.

Safe Restart funding from the federal and provincial governments included $308 million in December 2020 for BC Ferries.

“We recognize the vital contributions from the federal and provincial governments with the Safe Restart funding,” said Mark Collins, BC Ferries’
President and CEO.

“This funding has also helped us to protect the long-term viability of the coastal ferry service.”

BC Ferries says the funding has helped offset revenue losses and keep fare increases low. Without Safe Restart dollars, the company says they would have suffered a revenue loss of 27.8 per cent instead of 8.1 per cent.

Capital expenditures and operating expenses were also cut, with an 8.9 per cent reduction in operating expenses. Capital expenditures totalled $122.0 million this year, down from $238.1 million in the previous year.

Despite these cuts, BC Ferries’ says they are on track to receive new vessels such as the one currently en route from Romania. This battery-powered vessel and others of its type are is set to go into service in 2022.

Another Lotto Max, another record-breaking draw.

For the fourth time in a row, Friday’s Lotto Max jackpot is a record-breaking single day draw of an estimated $140 million.

Tonight’s draw includes a $70-million jackpot plus an estimated 70 Maxmillions prizes.

The previous Lotto Max record-breaking draw occurred this past Tuesday, June 15th, when an estimated $128 million in combined prizes was up for grabs.

During this draw, eight winning tickets purchased in BC won Maxmillions prizes.

Prior to that, on June 11th, players had the chance to play for a total of $120 million, and on June 8th, the draw was a total amount of $117 million.

The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 33,294,800. For comparison, the American Centre for Disease Control says you have a 1 in 500,000 chance of getting struck by lightning.

Friday’s draw takes place at 7:30 p.m. PST. Tickets cost $5.

Video has surfaced online showing the moments before a gas station in Whiskey Creek was destroyed after a camper van burst into flames on Thursday afternoon.

The video was taken by a passing vehicle and shows the van completely ablaze, and quickly spreading to the overhang above the fuel pumps at the Whiskey Creek Mid-Island Co-Op, located between Qualicum Beach and Port Alberni.

According to photos and video posted online, heavy black smoke could be seen for kilometres and witnesses reported hearing an explosion.

The attached convenience store was also destroyed by the fire.

Traffic along Highway 4, the Alberni Highway, was backed up for kilometres for several hours.

There are reports the fire began while the owner of the van was filling the vehicle up with gas. Just as other customers went to inform the owner of the van, the fuel burst into flames.

One person was transported to hospital.

Parksville, Qualicum Beach, Coombs-Hilliers, Errington, and Dashwood fire departments responded to the fire.

Video shows moments before the entire gas station erupted in flames: (Warning: video contains explicit language)

An early morning fire that completely consumed two portable toilets in Port Hardy has RCMP investigating for possible arson.

Port Hardy Fire Rescue says they responded to the fire at about 3:50 a.m. on June 13th, in the parking lot of 7200 Market Street.

The fire was quickly extinguished, but a photo posted to Port Hardy Fire Rescue’s Facebook page shows the toilets, located outside the Visitor’s Centre, were totally engulfed.

Port Hardy RCMP are still investigating and are asking that anyone with information on this incident call them at at 250-949-6335.

Anonymous reports can be made through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at at www.crimestoppers.ca.

The incident follows another early-morning fire in the North Island town, which destroyed a cardboard container outside of an apartment block.

That fire, which occurred at about 2:30 a.m. on June 7, was also quickly extinguished by Port Hardy Fire Rescue and did not lead to any further damage.

Another fire which RCMP are investigating as suspicious occurred on May 21, and consumed a shed on the Gwa’Sala-‘Nakwaxda-xw’s Indigenous community. Port Hardy Fire Rescue were able to keep this blaze from spreading to a nearby house.

Port Hardy RCMP Cst. Rebekah Draht told Victoria Buzz in an email that at this time, there is no indication that the fires are connected.

Students, families, and teachers can expect a near-normal return to school in September.

In an announcement on Thursday, June 17th from Jennifer Whiteside, Minister of Education, she said students will be back in the classroom for fulltime in-person instruction, will no longer be grouped in cohorts, and will be allowed to participate in more extracurricular activities.

The province will also provide $43.6 million to support ongoing health and safety measures, First Nations and Métis students, mental health services, rapid response teams, and to address learning impacts to students.

$25.6 million of funding will be put towards a new one-time, pandemic-specific funding to support necessary cleaning and disinfecting, hand hygiene for students and staff, improve ventilation and restock supplies of personal protection equipment (PPE).

The province said this funding will strengthen the commitments to First Nations and Métis students and provide more mental health support for students and staff.

See also: BC School Districts will have control over how best to spend federal COVID-19 funding

An additional $12.1 million will be provided from the remaining 2020-21 school year operating grant, together with the $5.9 million allocated to tackle learning impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since vaccinations began for those aged 12 and over, 74.6% have received their first dose.

Dr. Bonnie Henry assured that transmission is rare in structured class environments and said that, by September, BC will be back to a much more normal school experience.

“B.C. is one of the few jurisdictions that has kept schools open all year despite the pandemic, thanks to the enormous collective efforts of everyone in the K-12 education system, and I extend my heartfelt thanks to them all,” said Jennifer Whiteside, Minister of Education.

“We will continue to work with the experts in the provincial health office and our provincial K-12 education steering committee throughout the summer to finalize plans and guidelines to ensure students and staff are safe for the next school year.”

Here’s a breakdown of the one-time funding:

• $14.4 million for health and safety, cleaning and supplies
• $5 million to support First Nations students and build capacity within First Nations Education Steering Committee and Métis Nation BC
• $5 million for mental health services
• $1.2 million for independent schools

As reported on our Facebook page Wednesday night, Camper, the dog who fled from a violent incident in downtown Victoria last week has been found and reunited with its owners.

Camper, a brown Pit Bull, was located Wednesday evening, June 16th, by a person walking with their dog on Hollywood Crescent.

The owner’s dog located Camper and brought the owner over.

Police said the owner took Camper home and called the number on the dog’s collar.

Camper ran away from the scene of a violent incident Friday, June 11th, after a man smashed vehicle windows with a hammer in the 500-block of Pembroke Street.

The man had smashed the driver’s side window of a van with a hammer while the occupant and her dog were inside.

The dog, frightened from the incident, ran away and became separated from her own.

The suspect was arrested by officers that night, but Camper was not located.
The search for Camper commenced. ROAM posted notices in the area where Camper was last seen, while officers and citizens alike searched for her.

The suspect, a 40-year-old Edmonton man, faces recommended charges of assault with a weapon and mischief. He was later released with a court date and conditions.

“Tonight VicPD officers and staff are sharing the relief and joy that comes with knowing Camper is back home, safe,” said VicPD in a statement.

“ROAM, members of our local media community, VicPD officers, and many concerned Victorians have helped by searching for Camper over the last four days,” added VicPD.

VicPD are asking anyone with information to call (250) 995-7654.

A new interactive map will allow people to explore First Nations territories, artists and more spanning British Columbia and beyond.

The Island-based First Peoples’ Cultural Council (FPCC) announced on Wednesday that they have launched a digital map that is the first of its kind in Canada, featuring information about Indigenous languages, arts and cultural heritage in B.C.

FPCC says the project was undertaken to coincide with National Indigenous History Month and combines and replaces earlier maps by the FPCC showing language and arts, from 2008 and 2012 respectively.

“The First Peoples’ Map is a significant visual representation of the incredible work being done by Indigenous people in B.C. to revitalize and celebrate our unique languages, arts and cultural heritage,” said Karen Aird, acting CEO of the First Peoples’ Cultural Council.

“Our hope is that this map will help non-Indigenous people to better appreciate Indigenous perspectives as one small step towards reconciliation. By combining all of this rich information together in one place, the map reflects an Indigenous perspective, by braiding important cultural elements together with the land.”

Those elements include audio pronunciations of Indigenous greetings, listings of local artists and important cultural sites, and more.

204 First Nations communities and language regions are represented in the map. Data on 34 First Nations languages and more than 90 dialects are also included.

Visitors to the online tool can search for specific geographic locations, browse using a sidebar, or input keywords and filters to narrow a search.

The project was made possible through a $50 million fund by the province of B.C.

“FPCC’s First Peoples’ Map is an incredibly valuable tool that everyone can easily use and learn from,” said Terry Teegee, Regional Chief, British Columbia Assembly of First Nations.

“First Nations in British Columbia celebrate diverse and living languages, arts, cultures and
heritages that this map largely captures.”

The map is available online at maps.fpcc.ca.