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A warrant had been issued for federal offender Travis Moore following the suspension of his statutory release. Moore is currently serving a 5-year sentence for convictions including break and enter, robbery, assault and assault causing bodily harm.
Moore had been sighted on Sunday by VicPD in Beacon Hill Park. He evaded officers by fleeing into bushes in the park.
On Tuesday, shortly after 7 p.m., officers were called to the 900-block of Yates Street for a reported sighting of Moore.
Upon arriving, officers spotted Moore, who fled on foot. After a short pursuit, officers were able to arrest him near Quadra and Yates streets.
Moore was transported to VicPD cells and held in custody. In a tweet, VicPD thanked the public and media for sharing the community alert and the tipster who notified police.
A 56-year-old woman is facing impaired driving charges after crashing her vehicle Sunday night.
The crash occurred just after 9 p.m April 11th in the 2100 block of Oak Bay Avenue.
When emergency crews arrived, they found a red Nissan Versa facing north on the south sidewalk, wedged between a rock wall and another vehicle.
The vehicle also struck a light post which fell on the roof of the vehicle.
The driver was transported to the hospital where police continued their investigation. Police opened an impaired driving investigation and requested a blood sample.
Deputy Chief Mark Fisher later confirmed to Victoria Buzz the woman was impaired by alcohol.
San Josef Bay, known as the Best Wilderness Beach by Lonely Planet, is located in Cape Scott Provincial Park at the end of a 2.5 km trail that begins at the end of a 70 km logging road near Port Hardy.
It’s remote and it’s wild.
With crashing waves, lush foliage, and unique sea stacks, this beach is isolated and encouraging for anyone who wants to camp in and take the scene in by night and day.
“Bring a tent and binoculars. You can camp right on the smooth sandy beach and the ‘bins’ will enhance your appreciation of the resident wildlife including eagles and ospreys,” said Lonely Planet.
With its firm sand and its short ride from town, this beach is fun to cruise to and on.
Honourable mention for Best Urban Beach goes out to Kitsilano beach located in the heart of the city of Vancouver.
Other beaches include Stanhope Beach (#2) in Prince Edward Island; Wasaga Beach (#3) in Ontario; Parlee Beach (#5) in New Brunswick; Shallow Bay (#7) in Newfoundland; Annette Lake (#8) in Alberta; Plage de la Grande Échouerie (#9) in Québec; and Dunes Beach (#10) in Ontario.
Drivers should expect heavy delays on Highway 14 in Sooke Tuesday afternoon following a serious crash.
Sooke RCMP have advised that Highway 14 — also known as West Coast Road — is closed between Grant Road west and Otter Point road until further notice.
Drive BC is reporting it as a vehicle incident between Kemp Lake and Grant Roads.
UPDATE – CLOSED – #BCHwy14 – Vehicle incident has the highway closed in both directions between Kemp Lake Rd and Grant Rd W. Crews are on scene, detour is in effect via Otter Point Rd. Next update at approximately 4:00 PM. More info here: https://t.co/1p1rZalsSi#Sookepic.twitter.com/ZxrAJbdV3T
Emergency services are currently on scene and the public will be advised when the road is open.
A detour is in effect on Otter Point road but drivers should plan accordingly. There is no estimated time of re-opening as of this publication.
Injuries are unknown at this time.
Sooke RCMP would like to advise the motoring public that W. Coast Rd. is closed between Grant Rd. West and Otter Pt. Road while front line members investigate a serious incident. Emergency services are currently on scene and the public will be advised when the road is open.
Nowadays, supporting local tastes AND feels good, so ordering in take-out for tonight’s dinner really is a no-brainer.
With local food delivery app Tutti, you have the option to dine-out on a huge selection of delicious eats, help out Victoria’s restaurant industry and stay in your pajamas while doing so.
In light of the recent public health restrictions banning indoor dining, it’s more important than ever to show these eateries we’ve got their back and Tutti allows everyone to do so safely from the comfort of their own home.
And in working in partnership with the DVBA, delivery costs will continue to be waived for downtown restaurants and their customers using the Tutti app until April 19th.
Tutti doesn’t just support local, they ARE local – they’ve even gone as far as to discount their commission for all local restaurants down to 5% during these trying times.
And even better than that, Tutti’s giving away a $100 app credit to one lucky winner – that’s a lot of delicious burgers! – more details on that below.
As if you even need an excuse, here are 7 reasons why you should order in tonight – take the night off, you deserve it!
Contest entries will be accepted from time and date of publishing until 11:59 p.m. PST on Thursday, April 15th. One winner will be chosen at random and contacted through the platform they enter within 24 hours of the contest closing. Good luck!
Video has emerged of two men seen removing red dresses, a symbol for missing and murdered Indigenous women, along a Vancouver Island Highway.
This past Saturday, April 10th, in the Oyster Bay area of Ladysmith, two individuals were recorded taking down red dresses hanging from trees off the Trans-Canada highway.
The video shows two men using a large branch to remove the dresses then tossing them into the woods.
The red dresses are hung from tree branches for awareness and advocacy to solve unresolved cases involving missing or murdered Indigenous women and girls (MMIWG).
The REDress Project began as an art installation by Metis artist, Jaime Black, in 2010.
Since then, the project has evolved into a symbol and tool to bring awareness to all Indigenous women who have been murdered or deemed missing across Canada.
Red dresses have been hung from Victoria to Port Hardy since January.
“Indigenous women make up 16% of all female homicide victims, and 11% of missing women, even though Indigenous people make up 4.3% of the population of Canada,” The Assembly of First Nations’ website said.
“Current public data on MMIWG oversimplifies and underrepresents the scale of the issue, yet still demonstrates a complex and pervasive pattern of violence against Indigenous women and girls who are often targeted because of their gender and Indigenous identity.”
It’s unclear who the individuals who took down the dresses are.
“A good friend sent me these videos, hesitant to post or share in case of backlash, yet horrified by what they witnessed. They were taken on Saturday April 10th in the Oyster Bay area of Ladysmith, BC,” the Facebook post read.
The REDress Project continues to shed light on the issues involving MMIWG.
A man was arrested after he allegedly fired his rifle at a Malahat campground on Sunday.
On April 11th, West Shore RCMP received numerous reports of a male with a firearm outside his trailer located at a campground in the 3900 block of Trans-Canada highway.
Police received reports the 42 year-old man had also fired shots from his rifle outside.
Police located the man nearby and he was arrested without incident.
“Due to the high-risk nature of the incident, several police resources responded and located the man nearby,” said Cst. Alex Bérubé.
Despite members of the public being around the campground at the time, no one was injured.
Criminal charges are being considered as the investigation is ongoing.
“As the investigation progressed, the 42 year-old man was later apprehended under the Mental Health Act and was transferred into the care of medical staff for his well-being”, said Bérubé.
Anyone with more information is asked to contact the West Shore RCMP at 250-474-2264.
The Operations Officer aboard Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship BRANDON radios the on-watch Naval Combat Information Operators during a drug interdiction as part of Operation CARIBBE in the eastern Pacific Ocean on March 21, 2021.
Photo Credit: Op CARIBBE PAO, HMCS BRANDON, Canadian Armed Forces photo
A pair of Canadian ships partnered in March with U.S. agencies to seize nearly $44 million USD in drugs, the Royal Canadian Navy announced Monday.
The Royal Canadian Navy says that HMCS Brandon and Saskatoon, in partnership with embarked United States Coast Guard (USCG) Law Enforcement Detachments (LEDET) 103 and 108, seized 1,120 kg of cocaine and 100 lbs of marijuana during drug interdictions in the eastern Pacific Ocean on March 21st and 23rd, 2021.
The seizures came as part of a planned Canadian participation in a counter-narcotics operation in the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific Ocean, named operation CARIBBE.
The Canadian Armed Forces has deployed ships and aircraft to these regions on a rotational basis since 2006, including the Kingston-class coastal vessels HMCS Brandon and Saskatoon from CFB Esquimalt.
HMCS Brandon interdicted a vessel suspected of smuggling on March 21st, 2021. US Coast Guard and Law Enforcement Detachment members boarded the vessel and found three suspected smugglers and 870 kg of cocaine.
“The ship’s company of HMCS Brandon is proud to see mission success on Operation CARIBBE in partnership with our allies, the USCG Law Enforcement Detachment 103,” said Lieutenant-Commander Maude Ouellet-Savard, Commanding Officer HMCS Brandon.
“It’s a mission that demonstrates the Navy’s capability in a tangible way and creates real results that we can all be proud of. Disrupting the flow of illicit narcotics destined for North America has a ripple effect that interrupts the flow of money for criminal organizations.”
Two days later, HMCS Saskatoon stopped another suspected smuggling vessel. Four suspected smugglers, 250 kg of cocaine and 100 lbs of marijuana were found.
“I am very proud of the crew of HMCS Saskatoon, including USCG Law Enforcement Detachment 108, for their tireless efforts throughout Operation CARIBBE,” said Lieutenant-Commander Nadia Shields, Commanding Officer HMCS Saskatoon.
“It is because of their diligence and professionalism that we have been successful in demonstrating Canada’s interoperability and strong relationship with partner nations.”
In total, 1,120 kg of bales of cocaine were seized, valued at approximately USD $43.4M.
So far this year, operation CARIBBE has led to the seizure of around 1,980 kg of cocaine.
Tax season is upon us and most BC residents will be filing their taxes by themselves with the help of a few apps.
A recent poll from Research Co. found that 52% of British Columbians intend to use apps or software during this fiscal year.
One-in-five (21%) will file their taxes through an accountant or a firm, while 13% plan to rely on a tax preparation company and 11% will file on their own.
“The pandemic has not changed the way British Columbians file their taxes,” said Mario Canseco, President of Research Co..
“There are minimal fluctuations when we compare this year’s methods to what respondents did in 2020.”
The poll also measured how British Columbians feel about the provincial income tax (PST) and other taxes.
Almost three-in-five British Columbians (57%) say they dislike having to pay the PST, while 37% do not mind and 5% are not sure.
According to Research Co., half of BC’s residents believe that provincial income tax is too high, especially residents in Northern BC, while 41% believe it is adequate.
A higher proportion of the province’s residents think GST (51%), the federal income tax (55%) and PST (57%) is currently too high.
Saanich Police have confirmed the driver behind the vehicle that was a part of a massive collision at Uptown Shopping Centre last week was a man in his 20’s, and that he was experiencing a mental health crisis at the time.
The crash occurred just before 4:30 p.m. on Friday, April 9th, after the vehicle, which was on a parkade level, drove through a concrete wall and into the interior of Walmart.
Several Walmart employees had to be rescued from the walk-in cooler in the store’s deli section.
“Saanich Fire crews were able to rescue the people trapped inside, and the driver was also safely removed from their vehicle,” said Saanich Police in a media release.
All sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
Police are now confirming the driver was a man in his early 20’s who they believe was experiencing a mental health crisis leading up to and at the time of the collision.
“The driver was taken to the hospital to receive medical care and treatment. It’s remarkable that physical injuries to all involved were non-life-threatening,” said Cst. Markus Anastasiades with Saanich PD.
Walmart was closed following the incident and has since reopened — four days later. The deli department remains closed as repairs continue.
“The safety and well-being of our associates is a top priority,” said Walmart spokesperson Felicia Fefer.
“While the store has been closed, associates not working have been paid for their scheduled shifts. We do have counselling services and support available for our associates.”
We’re pleased to share that your #VictoriaWalmart has reopened today! The deli department remains closed as repairs…
Eligible bars, breweries, wineries, gyms and fitness centres can now apply for the “Circuit Breaker” business relief grant announced last week.
In a press conference on Thursday, the BC government announced a provincial relief grant of $50 million for roughly 14,000 BC businesses impacted by the new March 30th COVID-19 restrictions.
The grant will provide affected businesses with one-time funding to help with expenses like rent, insurance, employee wages, maintenance and utilities.
Eligible businesses will receive between $1,000 and $10,000 which can also help cover unexpected costs, such as the purchase of perishable goods, that resulted from COVID-19 restrictions.
The grant is open to eligible businesses of any size that have been in operation since February 2021. To be eligible, a business is required to:
confirm it has been affected by the recent provincial health orders;
provide electronic banking information;
confirm it is registered as a B.C. business;
produce a business validation document, such as a business licence, liquor licence, notice of assessment or lease agreement; and
confirm majority ownership and operations and payment of taxes in B.C.
How much money a business receives depends will depend on how many employees they have.
The funds have been reallocated from the $345-million small and medium-sized business recovery grant program announced in early February.
Businesses that were closed or had their licences revoked due to provincial health order non-compliance will not be eligible for this grant.
Applications will remain open until June 4th, 2021, or until the grant funds are disbursed and can be applied for online.
The list of schools reporting COVID-19 exposures in the Greater Victoria area is continuing to grow this week.
On Monday, two more school COVID-19 exposures were added to the list by the Greater Victoria School District.
In two separate tweets, the Greater Victoria School District announced the exposures at both Arbutus Global Middle School and Mount Doug Secondary.
An exposure at Mount Doug Secondary happened on April 6th and an additional exposure at Arbutus Global Middle School was added on the same day.
Arbutus Global Middle School had a previous exposure from April 1st. It’s unclear if the two cases are linked.
Arbutus Global Middle School has experienced an additional COVID-19 exposure. The date of potential exposure occurred on April 6, 2021. If an individual may have been exposed, Island Health will contact them directly. Notification letters have been sent to the school community. pic.twitter.com/E7QbBDytAD
Mt. Doug Secondary has experienced an additional COVID-19 exposure. The dates of potential exposure occurred on April 6, 7, 8, 2021. If an individual may have been exposed, Island Health will contact them directly. Notification letters have been sent to the school community. pic.twitter.com/tDU1aCLlsU
— Greater Victoria School District (@sd61schools) April 13, 2021
Since last week, there have been COVID-19 exposure warnings for at least seven different schools on southern Vancouver Island.
Currently, there are 19 outbreaks at Vancouver Island schools.
Outbreaks, exposures, and clusters are removed after two weeks from their exposure dates.
Island Health says staff or students who see the exposure alert notice should not assume they have been exposed to the virus.
Contact tracing is being completed to identify any individuals that need to self-isolate or self-monitor for symptoms.
If an individual may have been exposed, Island Health will contact them directly.
Air Canada announced Tuesday that they will be offering refunds for flights cancelled due to COVID-19, dating back to February 1st, 2020.
The new policy includes customers with non-refundable fares who either voluntarily cancelled their travel or whose flights were cancelled.
Refund options will also be offered as of April 13th for customers who purchase non-refundable fares and experience a cancellation or flight rescheduling exceeding three hours.
“Customers can now submit refund requests online or through their travel agent and we are committed to processing refunds as fast as possible,” said Lucie Guillemette, Executive Vice-President and Chief Commercial Officer at Air Canada.
“This new policy will provide more certainty and flexibility, so customers can book their future travel with greater confidence and we look forward to welcoming you back on board.”
Customers also have the option to accept a transferable voucher with no expiry date, or to convert the value of their ticket to Aeroplan points with a 65 per cent bonus.
Those who already accepted these options can also exchange them for a refund to the original form of payment. Partial refunds will also be provided if a portion of a voucher was used.
Air Canada says they have refunded more than $1.2 billion to customers with refundable tickets since March 2020.
Refund requests can be submitted online at www.aircanada.com/refund until June 12th, 2021. The policy also applies to Air Canada Vacations packages.
Bookings made through a travel agency can only be refunded through that travel agent. Air Canada says they will not be recalling agency sales commissions on refunded tickets.
The news follows an announcement on Monday that Air Canada will be entering into an agreement with the Canada Enterprise Emergency Funding Corporation (CEEFC) that will provide the airline with access to approximately $4 billion in loans.
The funding includes $1.5 billion as a secured loan and $2.475 billion in unsecured loans.
An additional $1.4 billion in repayable loans is also being provided by CEEFC to Air Canada to finance its refund program.
Nanaimo RCMP have arrested a suspect in an alleged assault that saw a 15-year-old youth beaten and forced to walk home naked on Friday evening.
The incident occurred on Friday evening, April 9th, and took place at a gathering near Long Lake — a popular hangout for teenagers.
The victim, a 15-year-old boy, was assaulted after the suspect made unprovoked accusations toward him then began punching and kicking the victim in the head.
According to police, the suspect then threw the victim’s cell phone, wallet, and shoes in the lake and told the victim to remove the rest of his clothing and walk home.
As the victim was walking home, a bystander came to his aid, providing clothing and a ride to the boy’s residence. The 15-year old male suffered numerous cuts and lacerations to his upper body, and received medical treatment at his home.
The parents of the youth reported the incident to the Nanaimo RCMP on Saturday, April 10th.
The same day, the suspect, a 16-year-old boy, was arrested after being involved in an unrelated motor collision in the vicinity of Wallace Street at Comox Avenue in Nanaimo, where he uttered threats and brandished a pipe at the victim.
Investigators were provided with a video of the incident which was uploaded and widely shared on social media.
“The video, which is approximately 2 minutes in duration was extremely disturbing, and witnessed by a number of youth who could be heard laughing and jeering at the victim,” said Constable Gary O’Brien of the Nanaimo RCMP.
A judicial bail hearing was held for the 16-year old suspect.
With respect to the April 9th incident, the youth has been charged with assault causing bodily harm and robbery.
As per the incident on Saturday, April 10th, he faces charges of uttering threats and possession of a weapon.
Investigators are looking to speak to anyone who was present and witnessed the incident, and anyone with information is asked to call the Nanaimo RCMP non-emergency line at 250-754-2345.
A suspect was arrested and a replica firearm seized after VicPD received a report of a man armed with a gun at a temporary housing facility on Sunday.
Patrol officers were called to the facility in the 100-block of Gorge Road East at 12:30 a.m. on April 11.
Upon arrival, police spotted the suspect in the parking lot, attempting to leave the area. The man was arrested. A subsequent search of a suite at the facility uncovered a replica firearm.
VicPD say the suspect was subject to conditions of an earlier release relating to possession of an assault rifle. Part of his conditions included an order not to attend the multi-unit temporary housing facility.
The man has been held in VicPD cells for breaching his release conditions.
Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call VicPD at (250) 995-7654, extension 1.
Anonymous reports can be made through Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
District SD61, the Greater Victoria School District, is at risk of losing most of its music programs in elementary and middle school as the district considers cuts.
The district has had a $7 million shortfall this year that will be rebalanced by cutting significant programs, including music.
The cuts are part of a commitment to “aligning learning needs” and “living within our [the district’s] means.”
The budget cuts will affect Oak Bay’s ukulele program and the district’s middle school band, choir, and strings programs.
Grade 8 band classes will remain.
The decision came as a shock to many parents and kids. A small protest/impromptu concert was held at the lawns in front of Lansdowne Middle School this morning, April 12th.
Nick Lariviere, a working musician for acts such as 54-40, believes this is a letdown to kids, who like himself, grew up with the desire to be musicians.
“I started playing trombone in elementary school, and immediately took to music. I knew from a young age that this was what I wanted to do for my career,” Lariviere told Victoria Buzz.
“There were other classes I took throughout school that felt far less important and now I’m a full time musician. I can’t imagine doing anything else, but without that early start in my life things would have been very different.”
The decision to cut music programs adds to the toll that this pandemic has taken on live music events.
The board meeting will take place on Tuesday, April 13th, where it will consider cutting the intended music programs.
It has been an eventful couple weeks for the Vancouver Canucks, to say the least, and not just due to trade deadline.
On March 31st, Vancouver’s team physician released that 25 individuals that are a part of the team had tested positive for COVID-19 – and the source infection is confirmed a variant.
Among the 25 positive cases were 21 players (three players from taxi squad) and 4 members of staff – one additional player is considered a close contact.
According to the team’s physician, Jim Bovard, an ongoing investigation by Vancouver Coastal Health and club contact tracing staff attributes the source infection to a single individual obtained in a community setting, which has since been identified by public health as a public exposure location.
A total of seven Canucks games have been postponed during a period of March 31st through April 14th.
The league has rescheduled those games with the team’s 56-game schedule now ending on Sunday, May 16th.
According to a press release from the team, the Canucks are set to hit the ice once more on Friday, April 16th versus the Edmonton Oilers.
Though practice was set to resume on Sunday, April 11th, this was postponed due to another player testing positive and the team’s practice facilities re-opened on Monday. This is not expected to impact the April 16th return to play, however.
According to GM Jim Benning, 10 players were on the ice for practice today.
Despite the above, a few Canucks trades have made their way down the pipes before today’s deadline; Jordie Benn is headed to Winnipeg, and Vancouver has added a defenceman as one heads out the door with Madison Bowey joining the team from Chicago.
The club has also acquired forward Matthew Highmore from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Adam Gaudette.
Madison Bowey, who may be a familiar face to some Victorians, came to the Canucks with a fifth-round pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft from the Chicago Blackhawks, in exchange for a fourth-round draft pick in 2021.
Bowey was a part of the Kelowna Rockets organization for four seasons, and captained the WHL team for two of those – from 2013 to 2015.
A native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Bowey represented Team Canada three times, winning gold each time, including the 2015 World Junior Hockey Championship.
All new players to the team will have to quarantine for one week before joining on-ice play.
People aged 60+ can now register to book their appointment to get a COVID-19 vaccination.
The announcement was made this past Saturday, April 10th.
Now, people born in 1961 and earlier aged 60 and older, Indigenous peoples 18 and older, and those who are clinically extremely vulnerable can now register to book their vaccine.
Appointments can be made through B.C.’s new Get Vaccinated system in one of three ways:
through a provincial call centre between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. at 1 833 838-2323 or
in-person at the nearest Service BC location.
The web portal is only for the age-based program including Moderna and Pfizer vaccines.
Last week, April 6th, the Province developed a new tool that will allow recipients to receive a text message or email once they are eligible to get their COVID-19 vaccine.
People born between 1956 and 1966 (between the ages of 55 and 65) can get the AstraZeneca vaccine at eligible pharmacies with vaccine supply on Vancouver Island.
Appointments must be booked in advance at all sites by going online or by calling ahead. A full list of locations can be found here.
Approximately 20% of BC’s population has been vaccinated. To date, 1,025,019 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in BC.
BC has released a list of pharmacies across the province set to join the rollout of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to those aged 55 and older.
People born between 1956 and 1966 can get the AstraZeneca vaccine at eligible pharmacies with vaccine supply on Vancouver Island.
Appointments must be booked in advance at all sites by going online or by calling ahead.
Some pharmacies already have internal systems to book vaccine appointments, but the province’s centralized vaccine platform has been expanded to include pharmacy bookings.
If you’d rather wait and go with another vaccine from the province, people born in 1961 and earlier (aged 60 and older), Indigenous peoples 18 and older, and those who are clinically extremely vulnerable can now register to book their vaccine.
Here’s a list of locations where eligible residents 55 and over can get their AstraZeneca vaccine:
Victoria area:
Costco Pharmacy #256 799 McCallum Road
Cridge Family Pharmacy 641 Fort Street
Drugstore Pharmacy #6708 846 Viewfield Road
Fort Royal Pharmacy Hillside #50 – 797 Hillside Avenue
Fort Royal Pharmacy Oak Bay 2217 Oak Bay Avenue
Heart Pharmacy IDA At Cadboro Bay Village #302 – 3825 Cadboro Bay Road
Heart Pharmacy IDA At Fairfield Plaza Suite 15 – 1594 Fairfield Road
Heart Pharmacy IDA At Shelbourne Plaza 3643 Shelbourne Street
JC Pharmacy #211 – 3214 Douglas Street
Medicine Shoppe #195 Suite #104B – 1964 Fort Street
Medicine Shoppe #255 #4 – 4071 Shelbourne Street
Medicine Shoppe #415 Unit 104 – 2806 Jacklin Road
Peoples Pharmacy 103 – 1910 Sooke Road
Pharmasave #115 1 – 1153 Esquimalt Road
Pharmasave #142 1641 Hillside Avenue
Pharmasave #232 #310 – 777 Royal Oak Drive
Pharmasave #284 2401F Millstream Road
Pharmasave #285 101 – 1497 Admirals Road
Pharmasave Oak Bay #152 2200 Oak Bay Avenue
Rexall #7103 1511 Admirals Road
Rexall #7121 912 Douglas Steet
Rexall #7126 103 – 1646 McKenzie Avenue
Rexall #7127 101 – 230 Cook Street
Rexall #7128 101-1990 Fort Street
Rexall #7133 Suite 210 – 1595 McKenzie Avenue
Rexall Drug Store #7139 102 – 1880 Island Hwy
St. Anthony’s Clinic Pharmacy #2 #109 – 582 Goldstream Avenue
Vital Health Pharmacy 1825 Fort Street
Wal-Mart Pharmacy #3109 3460 Saanich Road
Wal-Mart Pharmacy #3188 860 Langford Parkway
Nanaimo area:
Costco Pharmacy #155 – 6700 Island Highway
Medicine Shoppe #350 – 33 – 1150 Terminal Avenue North
Medicine Shoppe #352 – #2A – 1834 Cedar Road
Rexall #7181 – 1750 Dufferin Crescent
Rexall #7191 – Southgate Centre
Parksville and surrounding area:
Medicine Shoppe – #168 192 West Island Highway
Pharmasave Health Centre – #1 – 281 East Island Highway
Tablet Pharmacy Unit 4 – 154 Middleton Avenue
Medicine Shoppe, Qualicum Beach – #268 143 Second Avenue West
As of this publication, 1,025,019 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in BC.
A number of arts organizations in Victoria and Regina are partnering this spring to launch a BIPoC (Black, Indigenous, People of Colour) arts leadership program. The program will offer Zoom seminars and paid internships to 10 participants, with components framed around the proposals of successful applicants.
Taiwo Afolabi, an assistant professor at the University of Regina is co-coordinating the project with the Belfry Theatre, and says the collaboration will be genuine and meaningful.
“The senior management of these organizations have come to the table to ask difficult questions about the current state of the art,” he said.
“They are hoping to develop a path towards an arts and culture sector that is deliberately inclusive.”
Afolabi is also the former Manager of Community and Artistic Connections at the Belfry Theatre, and added that the program will create exchange opportunities that can unlearn old practices and establish new ones.
Interested applicants can contact nida@belfry.bc.ca for information and application forms. Submissions can be made in written or video form.
Oak Bay police called in the bomb squad after a blasting device was found washed up on a beach by Gonzales Bay on Saturday.
The discovery was reported at approximately 1:20 p.m. on April 10th. A report said that an explosive device had been found on a beach about 100 metres from the end of Repulse Street.
It was identified as an orange Nxburst cartridge, a non-detonating blasting technology used to break rocks and concrete. They were designed as a safe alternative to traditional explosives for use in construction, demolition, mining and quarrying environments.
Police say the cartridge appeared to have been in the water for some time prior to washing up. The markings on the device were quite faded and it is not known how it came to be in the ocean.
After consulting with the VicPD Explosive Disposal unit on scene, a robot was used to safely remove the device.
The cartridge was subsequently destroyed at a safe location.
The list of schools reporting COVID-19 exposures in the Greater Victoria area continued to grow over the weekend.
Since Friday, there are have been COVID-19 exposure warnings for at least five different schools on southern Vancouver Island.
Here’s a breakdown of where and when the exposure occurred:
Colquitz Middle School experienced a potential COVID-19 exposure on April 6th.
Franks Hobbs Elementary experienced a potential COVID-19 exposure on April 7th,
Glanford Middle School experienced another potential COVID-19 exposure on April 7th.
Esquimalt High School experienced a potential COVID-19 exposure on April 7th, 8th, 9th.
Edward Milne Community School experienced a potential COVID-19 exposure on April 7th.
Island Health is completing contact tracing to identify any individuals that need to self-isolate or self-monitor for symptoms.
If an individual may have been exposed, Island Health will contact them directly.
At the moment, there are 18 ongoing exposure or cluster outbreaks in schools across Vancouver Island.
Outbreaks, exposures, and clusters are removed after two weeks from their exposure dates.
An ‘exposure’ is defined by Island Health as a single person with lab-confirmed COVID-19 infection who attended school during their infectious period.
A ‘cluster’ means two or more individuals with lab-confirmed COVID-19 infection attended school during their infectious period. These cases may be linked to the school-based transmission.
Island Health says staff or students who see the exposure alert notice should not assume they have been exposed to the virus.
During Tuesday’s press conference, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry was asked why schools in the province are remaining open — especially when other parts of Canada have switched to online learning.
Henry said that the matter was discussed with education leaders and is something they’ve put a focus on.
“We’ve been in touch with our counterparts in the Ministry of Education, with the Superintendents, with the school districts, principals, and teachers,” she said.
“What we have also learned is that we see cases go up when children are not in school, and that is often because they have other unstructured time.”
Henry stressed that “children need school,” adding that the “downside impacts on families are immense.”
As of this publication, there are 9,574 active cases in BC with 508 of those cases being in the Island Health region.
RCMP confirmed they are investigating the death of a 6-year-old child after they were found unresponsive at a motel in Duncan Friday night.
Shortly after 9 p.m. on April 9th, North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP along with paramedics were called to the Falcon Nest Motel for reports of an unresponsive child.
Following life-saving attempts by first responders on scene, the child was transported to a nearby hospital. Sadly, the 6-year-old was pronounced dead not long after.
In a press release, RCMP said they will not be identifying the child at this time.
North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP are continuing to investigate alongside the Forensic Identification Section of the detachment, and officers are expected to remain at the scene today and in the area tomorrow.
BC Coroners Service will also be conducting their own investigation into the circumstances surrounding the child’s death.
“The North Cowichan Duncan Victim Services is engaged and are supporting the family during this difficult time,” Sgt. Janelle Shoihet of BC RCMP said in the release.
Emergency crews responded late Friday afternoon to a structural collapse report in the lower level parkade at Uptown Mall after a vehicle incident. When emergency crews arrived, they discovered a vehicle had crashed through a concrete wall on the lower level parkade, causing a partial collapse of an area that was part of the Walmart at Uptown Mall.
Several workers inside a commercial walk-in freezer were trapped by the collision. Saanich Fire and Rescue and Police were on scene at approximately 4:30 p.m., according to a tweet from the Saanich Police Traffic Safety Unit.
It was unclear how many workers were trapped in the incident. Saanich Fire said the Walmart employees were freed by rescue teams.
Shortly after 5 p.m., Saanich Fire tweeted that a building engineer and inspectors were en route to assess the structure.
The driver of the vehicle was treated for minor injuries by BCEHS.
Saanich Police asked that people avoid Uptown Boulevard if possible, and to be prepared for disruptions on Blanshard, Douglas, Saanich, and Ravine Roads.
“Our officers are on scene to investigate the cause of the crash and expect to be on scene for the next several hours,” said Cst. Markus Anastasiades in a press release.
Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) announced they’re on track to mail out all remaining 2.86 million COVID-19 related rebate cheques by the end of April.
The $600 million share of rebates will be sent directly to eligible customers. Since April 6th, approximately 940,000 cheques have been issued.
Eligible recipients are customers who had vehicles insured for all or part of the six-month period between April 1st and September 30th, 2020.
The rebate is averaging $190 per policy and is approximately 19 per cent of the premium a customer paid during coverage for that six-month period.
This large mailout, originally scheduled to begin March 15, was delayed by a cyberattack on the vendor.
“An investigation of the cyberattack confirmed that no ICBC customer information was obtained by unauthorized parties and there were no impacts to ICBC’s systems, which remain secure,” ICBC said in a statement.
Nanaimo RCMP are asking for the public’s help identifying a man that allegedly stabbed another man last night.
Around 8 p.m. on Thursday, April 1st, in the vicinity of the Pantry restaurant located at Port Place Mall, an alleged altercation took place when the suspect produced a knife, stabbed a victim, and fled.
The victim’s injuries were minor, however he was transported to hospital where he was treated and then released.
Police spoke to several witnesses and the victim, determining the exchange of words leading to the altercation.
The picture provided was taken by a bystander shortly after the incident.
The suspect is described as Caucasian, approximately 6 foot 1 inches, with brown/blonde hair.
He was wearing a dark jacket and baseball cap at the time of the incident, carrying a white/black backpack and is described as having discoloured yellow teeth.
The knife was a sheath described as old and rusty.
If you have information on the identity of this person, contact the Nanaimo RCMP non-emergency line at 250-754-2345.
The BC Arts Council announced today that it will provide a total of $1.19 million for community Arts Festivals, visual artists, and co-op placements for the arts and culture sector.
More than 70 community arts festivals will be able to receive funding.
Community Arts Festivals will receive 72 grants to pay artists for playing; visual artists will receive 46 grants to support them creating new works; and 20 grants are reserved for co-op placements for students to gain experience in the sector.
Victoria Buzz spoke with event producer, Dave Bain, to see whether any of these grants have been applicable to live event venues and festivals.
“A lot of these grants are reserved for not-for-profit organizations that the government sees as being able to reemploy the sector, right now” Bain said.
Most festivals and venues work on a contractual basis, hiring workers out as subcontractors, but cannot currently employ anyone due to provincial health orders.
“Most of the grants you see released by both the Provincial and Federal governments are for not-for-profits or those that can apply for Canadian heritage funding for culture, history, and sport [respectively]. Meaning, they don’t necessarily apply to a lot of people’s favourite independent live venues or festivals,” said Bain.
Festivals like Brewery and the Beast and the Cheese and Meat Festival cannot access these grants, and venues like Capital Ballroom and Distrikt do not qualify for these grants either.
While some venues have been urged to open their doors for smaller shows since the pandemic began, Bain said that’s also a challenge.
“Without these grants, it’s hard to open the doors. Most places are doing layaways because they can’t afford rent. Businesses are required to pay their full insurance for their fire code capacity, despite some having only 15 per cent capacity. They aren’t open because they can’t, they’re not open because there’s nothing for them,” said Bain.
Even before the pandemic, live music venues and most festivals operated without government funding and the fact that grants have not been available to them now, is no surprise.
Event workers have tried contributing in more creative ways.
“A group of us, consisting of some of the largest event organizers and producers in the province, offered to help the Province with its vaccine rollout — since organizing people is what we do best — but we were scoffed at,” said Bain.
“If you aren’t running on government funding right now, you’re running on thin ice,” said Bain.
Will we see live music festivals this summer?
The short answer is no.
“It takes a minimum 9 months to organize a festival, and that’s if we have money,” said Bain.
Despite this, many people are optimistic that BC’s vaccine rollout, that promises a vaccine will be available to anyone who wants one by July, will allow festivals to operate this summer.
Bain said that’s eager-thinking, but understands why some might think that it’s possible.
“It’s tough when we see the US government give their independent venues and festivals $15 billion dollars in funding, and then we see festivals currently being booked for their summer, while we sit idle,” said Bain.
The Save Our Stages Act in the US dedicated $15 billion in funding for live venues, independent movie theaters, and cultural institutions.
“We work hard to put on our shows when we can, but if we’re not being supported financially, we can’t do them. You have to put money into a festival before it can actually happen,” said Bain.
Victoria Buzz asked if there were any unions available to live music venues or event workers and currently nothing is available.
“Most people who did these jobs have moved on to do other things, so it’s unclear what will be left when restrictions are eventually lifted.”
UPDATE: The owner of the dog who attacked and killed another dog at Mount Doug Park Tuesday has turned himself into Saanich Police and is fully cooperating with Animal Control Officers.
“This file is still under investigation and as such, no further details will be released at this time. Thank you to the public and media partners for creating awareness of this incident,” Saanich Police said in a media release.
— original:
Saanich Police are looking to identify the owner of a dog who provided false information after their dog bit a person and attacked and killed their small dog.
The incident occurred around 7:15 p.m. on Tuesday, April 6th near the summit of
Mount Douglas Park.
According to Saanich Police, a small dog, which was on a leash with its owner, was mauled by a larger dog that was off-leash and not believed to be under the control of its owner.
The small dog, which suffered serious injuries, was rushed to a veterinary hospital but had to be put down. The owner of the dog was also bitten and sustained minor injuries.
Police released photos of the man who owned the large dog involved in the attack in hopes he will turn himself in or the public can help identify him.
The individual provided false information to the owner of the small dog.
Animal Control Officers are investigating the incident.
“We urge to come forward and speak to Animal Control Officers,” Saanich PD said in a media release.
Katie told Victoria Buzz her 11-year-old Pomeranian – whose name was Stogie – had injuries that were so extensive that she “had to make an incredibly hard decision to put him down.”
“It was a really traumatic event that wound up not only with my dog dying, but also with me being injured and I simply want to prevent something like this from happening to anyone else,” said Katie.
10-year-old Stogie (Katie)
“Dogs, in any public place in Saanich, must be kept on a leash or under effective control at all times. There are certain locations in Saanich where dogs are restricted, or leashes are
mandatory,” said Saanich Police.
Anyone with information are asked to contact Saanich Police at 250-475-4321.
The world is truly a village for one Victoria videographer.
Local filmmaker, Rodrigo Inostroza C., recently posted a video on his YouTube channel which shows a sensationally small timelapse video of Victoria’s historic Inner Harbour.
From water taxis to hot tub boats, to Legislatures and walking trails, this short little video, accompanied by the classic downtown sounds, is a fantastic sight for sore eyes.
What the video lacks in size, it makes up for in sensationalism with its interesting tilt shift effect and soundscape.
Rodrigo Inostroza C. said on Reddit that rather than a tilt lens, which is typically used for this type of effect, the video was made miniature by his own hand in post production.
However it’s made, we’re tiny livin’ for it. Check out the video below:
The videographer’s YouTube channel also features a few other local spots made miniature, including the iconic Cattle Point and a very snowy Summit Park this past winter.
COVID-19 exposures at schools in the Victoria area continue to climb after another case was reported Thursday evening.
In a Tweet, School District 61 confirmed Victoria High School experienced a COVID-19 exposure.
The dates of potential exposure occurred on April 6th and 7th.
Island Health is completing contact tracing to identify any individuals that need to self-isolate or self-monitor for symptoms.
If an individual may have been exposed, Island Health will contact them directly.
Victoria High School has experienced a COVID-19 exposure. The dates of potential exposure occurred on April 6 and 7th, 2021. Island Health is completing contact tracing to identify any individuals that need to self-isolate or self-monitor for symptoms. pic.twitter.com/IZe5qSGKLQ
— Greater Victoria School District (@sd61schools) April 9, 2021
At the moment, there are nine ongoing exposure or cluster outbreaks in schools across Vancouver Island, visit here for more information.
Outbreaks, exposures, and clusters are removed after two weeks from their exposure dates.
An ‘exposure’ is defined by Island Health as a single person with lab-confirmed COVID-19 infection who attended school during their infectious period.
A ‘cluster’ means two or more individuals with lab-confirmed COVID-19 infection attended school during their infectious period. These cases may be linked to the school-based transmission.
Island Health says staff or students who see the exposure alert notice should not assume they have been exposed to the virus.
(the bridge at Crystal Gardens, in its heyday | Facebook)
A contractor who was hired to deconstruct the old Crystal Garden exhibit is now selling one of the items he removed: an ornate bridge.
Jason Adams, the founder of reFUSE Resource Recovery, says he was hired in 2007 to remove the exhibit and was persuaded to save many items by staff on site.
“We started kind of just taking away the branches and cleaning up all the animal bedding as part of our composting business,” Adams said in an interview with Victoria Buzz.
“The people on the scene said, ‘hey can you take these plants’ and then it just kind of kept growing and growing into the scope of that, so that we ended up taking the whole exhibit down to the empty swimming pool.”
The 60-foot metal and cedar bridge was a particular challenge for Adams and his crew. He says that they could have simply demolished it, but he chose to hire some metal fabricators to come in and take it apart for reassembly at a later date.
(one of the bridge rails at Adams’ farm)
Adams initially planned to use the bridge on a horse farm he owns in Central Saanich, spanning a large pond on the property.
Other items from the deconstruction of Crystal Garden made their way onto the farm too.
“As far as stuff that people will recognize, we used a lot of the glass that used to be the whole border for the butterfly exhibit up on the second floor,” Adams said.
“We’ve made a viewing area in our barn out of that. I’ve got the big laminate wooden benches that used to circle the fountain where the flamingos hung out.”
Repurposing items and moving to zero waste is a passion of Adams, who sold reFUSE in 2015.
Now though, he is selling his horse farm, and the bridge, which has remained uninstalled, is going up for sale.
(the cedar decking, currently stored at Adams’ farm)
The listing for the bridge is now live on Facebook, and has already attracted a great deal of attention. Some users have suggested that the bridge could find a good home at Butchart Gardens.
Adams has high hopes that a buyer will come forward, particularly one who will see it as a piece of Victoria’s history.
“I’ve always in the back of my mind hoped that something would happen with the City of Victoria and they would buy it, repurpose it into some new thing whether it was when they redid the Crystal Pool or whatever,” he said.
“The bridge is beautiful. It would cost you a fortune to undertake to have something this ornate built these days. I definitely want it to have a happy ending.”
Adams is asking for $45,000 or best offer and says he is open to trades. With the pending sale of his farm, he is hoping to have the bridge sold by April 30th.
A number of film projects have begun shooting in the Greater Victoria area this spring.
Maid, a ten part series on Netflix, has been shooting in the West Shore since September, and American Dreamer, a feature film starring Peter Dinklage, started shooting last month.
There have been reports of Peter Dinklage, who gained fame as Tyrion Lannister in Game of Thrones, and Community actor Danny Pudi spotted around Victoria.
Other actors slated for screen time in American Dreamer are Danny Glover, from Lethal Weapon, and Matt Dillon, from There’s Something About Mary.
Actress Shirley MacLaine is also set to star in the film.
Here’s what IMDb said about the pending film:
“Phil is a dreamer. Most dreams don’t come true. Phil hates that. But that’s not going to stop Phil from dreaming.”
Last week, film crews were on set at the Legislature in downtown Victoria, and this week, a mock farmer’s market was created near Fernwood Square.
American Dreamer is scheduled to shoot until April 16th.
Filming for Maid at Lagoon Beach began yesterday, April 7th, and should wrap up today.
A premiere date for either project has yet to be announced.
WARNING: This story contains details some readers may find upsetting.
VicPD are undertaking a hate crime investigation after anti-Semitic graffiti was discovered at a Jewish community centre in Victoria.
Staff made the grim discovery on April 6th at the Chabad Centre for Jewish Life and Learning, by Topaz Park.
The messages were quickly removed by staff. A review of surveillance footage showed two suspects tagging the Centre.
VicPD has released stills from the video footage and are working to identify the two individuals.
“Hate has no place in Victoria or Esquimalt,” VicPD said in a statement.
The news comes during Yom HaShoah, a Jewish day of remembrance for the lives lost in the Holocaust.
A photo of two of the messages that were sprayed onto the sign of the centre at 2955 Glasgow Street was tweeted out by the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA).
The messages read “Kill Jews” and “Gas Jews.”
Jewish children have a right to feel safe in places of learning and recreation, and should never have to come across such hateful slogans when coming to the Chabad Centre in #Victoria. pic.twitter.com/fAt8w5c7O7
The BC government just announced a provincial relief grant of $50 million for roughly 14,000 BC businesses impacted by the recent restrictions.
Ravi Kahlon, the Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery, and Innovation, announced the grant today, April 8th.
Businesses will have access of up to $10,000 to help costs associated with rent, insurance, employee wages, maintenance, and utilities.
The grant is accessible to eligible businesses of any size that have been in operation since February 1st, 2021.
How much money a business receives depends will depend on how many employees they have.
The funds have been reallocated from the $345-million small and medium sized business recovery grant program announced in early February.
The announcement comes after the March 30th circuit breaker measures that shut down indoor group fitness and indoor dining at restaurants.
Businesses that have had licenses revoked due to breaching Provincial Health Orders will not be eligible for the grant. The BC government said it is urging the federal government to extend the wage subsidy that expires in June.
The Vancouver Island School of Art (VISA) has announced they will be relocating its operation to downtown Victoria.
The school will be moving from its current location at 950 Kings Road to 733 Johnson Street at the end of May.
VISA was established in 2004 and more than 4,000 people have taken courses or workshops during this time. Since May 2020, they have offered online art courses for those who prefer to learn from home during the pandemic.
As part of the move, there will be an art supply sale on May 15th between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. at its Kings Road location.
The school has already listed some items for sale on its Facebook page.
VISA moved to its current Kings Road location from its former campus on Quadra street several years ago.
VISA chose its new, smaller location at Maynard Court due to COVID-19’s impact on classroom sizes.
Port Alberni RCMP have released the identity and confirmed an arrest was made in the homicide of a 20-year-old man in late March.
The victim has been identified as Clifton Alec Johnston of Port Alberni and Ahousaht.
Johnston’s body was discovered in the grass in front of the Port Alberni Friendship Centre on March 27th.
He had been stabbed multiple times, according to RCMP.
On March 31st, officers arrested a man in connection with the homicide.
Johnston’s family has been notified, and the Port Alberni Victims Services unit has been working closely with all those affected by this incident.
“This is believed to be an isolated incident where the suspect and victim were known to each other,” said Eric Rochette, Detachment Commander Inspector for the RCMP. The RCMP are appealing for witnesses, and since charges have not yet been approved, they will not identify the suspect. No further details will be released at this time as the investigation progresses. Anyone with information is asked to call Port Alberni RCMP at 250-723-2424.
A COVID-19 exposure alert has been issued on Vancouver Island for a middle school in the Victoria area.
According to the Greater Victoria School District, students and staff at Arbutus Global Middle School, located at 2306 Edgelow Street, may have been exposed to COVID-19.
A statement on Twitter said the potential date of exposure was April 1st. Island Health is completing contact tracing to identify any individuals that need to self-isolate or self-monitor for symptoms.
At the moment, there are nine ongoing exposure or cluster outbreaks in schools across Vancouver Island, visit here for more information.
An ‘exposure’ is defined by Island Health as a single person with lab-confirmed COVID-19 infection who attended school during their infectious period.
A ‘cluster’ means two or more individuals with lab-confirmed COVID-19 infection attended school during their infectious period. These cases may be linked to school-based transmission.
Island Health says staff or students who see the exposure alert notice should not assume they have been exposed to the virus.
The discovery of a deceased man is being investigated as a suspicious death, Nanaimo RCMP announced on Thursday.
The man’s body was first found at approximately 6:45 p.m. on Wednesday, March 31, 2021 in some bushes adjacent to the Nanaimo Parkway.
The location was close to Tamara Drive, just east of the parkway.
Emergency crews responded but first aid efforts were unable to resuscitate the man. He was later pronounced dead.
The man’s identity has not been publicly released, however the Nanaimo RCMP say he was a 58-year-old local man. His family has been notified.
“The deceased did sustain several injuries which investigators are attempting to understand how and when they may have occurred,” said Constable Gary O’Brien of the Nanaimo RCMP. “As a result, the investigation is continuing.”
Investigators are looking for witnesses or individuals with video footage of the area at the time of the incident or the hours leading up to it.
Anyone who was driving on the Nanaimo Parkway or Tamara Drive between 4 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. on March 31, 2021 and has dashcam footage is asked to contact the Nanaimo RCMP non-emergency line at 250-754-2345, and quote file # 2021-11524.
The BC Coroners Service is also conducting an independent investigation into the circumstances of the man’s death.
The Nanaimo RCMP say they will be in the area with officers and a tactical team on Thursday, searching where the man was found.
Conveniently located in the heart of Langford, Belmont Market is a 200,000 sq. ft., open concept shopping centre featuring a wide variety of shops, services, restaurants and more.
Belmont Market is also home to some great local businesses, and as supporting local is so incredibly important right now, we’ve teamed up with them for a massive giveaway – worth over $1000, to be precise! – and you’ll find those contest details below.
Without further ado, here are 11 reasons why visiting Langford’s Belmont Market should be on your to-do list this spring (and any season, really):
1. You can win a massive prize package worth over $1000
So you can experience all that is Belmont Market for yourself, we’ve teamed up with City of Langford to give away an incredible prize package from a handful of their shops – and it’s worth over $1000! Read ahead as we highlight those businesses, and for details on how you can win.
Origin Bakery is a 100% gluten free bakery home to delicious sweet and savory treats that don’t skimp on taste. Due to current restrictions, their in-house dining at Belmont Market is currently on pause but their sunny patio is open and there are tables set up for anyone who would like to sit and stay to enjoy their goodies!
There is also lots of great seating in the courtyard beside them, and they offer take-out and delivery at this time.
3. True Boutique
(True Boutique)
True Boutique will dress you from head to toe whether going on a date, or just hanging out at home.
Filled with everything your closet desires, True Boutique offers fashionable casuals, dresses, shoes, handbags, and accessories – with new stock arriving weekly!
4. Thetis Massage Therapy
(Thetis Massage Therapy)
These days, everyone could probably use a little extra massage therapy in their life.
Thetis Massage Therapy prides themselves on ensuring you receive the best possible care, and offers predominantly Massage Therapy, but their team also consists of Acupuncturists and Reflexology therapists.
5. Staying safe
Because Belmont Market is a large, open-air concept shopping centre, you can have peace of mind that along with all of the businesses being conveniently spaced apart, each and every one is taking COVID-19 safety protocols to ensure the health of all visitors.
Many restaurants have pivoted to offer patio service under the current health restrictions, and even more have the option of take-out or delivery.
6. Oxygen Yoga & Fitness
(Oxygen Yoga & Fitness)
Oxygen Yoga and Fitness at Belmont Market offers a range of classes, including Yoga, Fitness, Barre and more.
Though indoor group fitness classes are currently on hold for the time being, Oxygen is offering virtual classes online until April 19th – you can check them out here!
7. Lustre of Pearl
(Lustre of Pearl)
Lustre of Pearl is your one-stop shop for hair, nails, lashes and brows – they can even do multiple services at the same time!
8. MOD Pizza
(MOD Pizza)
Located in Belmont Market near Thrifty Foods and Oxygen Yoga & Fitness, MOD Pizza serves up personal-size artisan-style pizzas and salads for lunch and dinner. Customize your order from over 30 ingredients – classic to seasonal, and lots of delicious stuff in between.
9. Great Clips
At Great Clips Belmont Market, they’re committed to helping keep everyone as safe and comfortable as possible in the salon.
They even have convenient Online Check-In and ReadyNext text alerts, so you can take comfort in knowing you’ll stay safe and look great with your next cut.
10. Thrifty Foods
Thrifty Foods at Belmont Market features in-season products from local farmers, a plant-based meat alternatives section and expanded vegan and vegetarian options, sustainably sourced fresh fish and lobster, a unique dry-aged beef program, full service bakery with made-in-store cheesecakes, a sushi bar, and a range of ready to eat meal options from the Carvery and pizza ovens.
11. There’s even more prizes to be won with City of Langford
https://www.instagram.com/p/CNFYJA2A_hX/
From now until April 19th, visit any local restaurant, cafe or group fitness business in Langford (buy a gift card of any amount) and enter to win 1 of 10 $100 gift cards. Plus, post a selfie showing a receipt from a local restaurant or group fitness business and tag the local Langford business and the City of Langford on Instagram (make sure your account is public!) for a chance to win daily prizes. It’s that easy! Tap the above post for info.
CONTEST
We’ve partnered with City of Langford to give away a massive prize package worth over $1000 – here’s what’s in it:
SHARE this article on Facebook/Instagram and leave a comment below once you have (1 entry)
COMMENT below your favourite Belmont Market retailer! (1 entry)
Contest entries will be accepted from the time and date of publishing until 11:59 p.m on April 18th. One winner will be chosen at random and contacted through the platform they used to enter. Make sure to register when commenting below.
VicPD are warning Esquimalt parents after a 12-year-old boy was randomly attacked on his way to school this morning.
The incident occurred between 8 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, near the area of Devonshire and Fairview Roads.
The boy was riding his bike when he was suddenly grabbed and pulled from behind by a man he did not know.
Police said the boy shielded his face after falling to the ground as the man stood over him and grabbed at his backpack.
A second person, believed to be a male, pulled the first man away and ordered the boy to get back on his bike and leave the area.
The boy fled and rode his bike directly to school, according to VicPD. Fortunately, he was not physically harmed during the incident.
Officers were called by the boy’s family late this afternoon after they learned about the incident.
VicPD’s Esquimalt division is looking to speak with the second man who intervened in the incident, as they work to identify the suspect responsible.
The child was not able to provide a description of the suspect and officers are currently in the area looking to identify witnesses.
A map showing the area where the incident occurred is below.
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.
As the pandemic moves into its second year and provincial health measures urge more physical distancing, Girl Guide cookies will not be coming to your door.
However, they will be coming to a store near you: London Drugs.
Girl Guides of Canada’s BC Council announced on Wednesday that they will be entering into an exclusive distribution partnership with London Drugs in B.C.
Classic chocolate and vanilla sandwich cookies will be available at all London Drugs stores in the province, as well as online at londondrugs.com.
“Girl Guides teach adaptability and preparedness to handle unexpected situations with a sense of confidence and self-assuredness,” said Clint Mahlman, London Drugs President and Chief Operating Officer.
“Whether you have close ties to the Girl Guides in your own family or not, by purchasing a box of cookies, you are helping build resiliency and future leaders in your community.”
The cookie fundraiser is the largest source of fundraising support for the Girl Guides, and is projected to bring in over $600,000, with 120,000 boxes sold at London Drugs.
Proceeds from the cookie sales go directly to BC Girl Guides, supporting ongoing programs, inclusion resources, and membership subsidies for girls with financial need.
“Now more than ever, we need funding to keep girls connected with supportive peers and caring adult role models who mentor them during these unusual times,” said Diamond Isinger, provincial commissioner for BC, Girl Guides of Canada.
“We are grateful to London Drugs for providing a safe distribution network to sell our cookies, and we are grateful to British Columbians for their continued support through the purchase of Girl Guide cookies.”
Girl Guides cookies are now available at all London Drugs in BC and online.
As hospitality sectors once again shut down, mental health resources for these workers becomes even more necessary.
Today, the BC government introduced a new digital resource hub for BC workers in the tourism, hospitality, and community social service sectors.
The online hub offers a range of tools to help address common workplace concerns, such as bullying, harassment, COVID-19 exposure, coping with stress and more; it provides workshops, webinars, and information to employees to manage stress, build resiliency, and improve overall mental health, the announcement said. It will also connect those who access these services to other mental health services, including counselling and peer support. “The pandemic has had a devastating impact on people working in tourism, hospitality and social services,” said Sheila Malcolmson, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. “I’m grateful to workplace leaders stepping up to promote positive mental health for their employees. This will have a lasting impact on people in the months and years ahead.” The hub is in collaboration with the BC Division of the Canadian Mental Health Association and go2HR.
The new hub will augment existing mental health support the government deployed early on and it is expected to expand by May into a training and coaching platform for employers and employees.
