Join our community of SUBSCRIBERS and be part of the conversation.
To subscribe, simply enter your email address on our website or click the subscribe button below. Don't worry, we respect your privacy and won't spam your inbox. Your information is safe with us.
A business in Langford has been forced to close for ten days after a COVID-19 cluster has affected workers.
Starting Monday, April 19th Club Phoenix Fitness, located at 305-895 Langford Parkway, will close for ten days as per Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry’s orders.
Club Phoenix Fitness said they intend to reopen on Thursday, April 29th.
This Monday, April 19th, Island Health confirmed on their website the Club Phoenix Fitness COVID-19 cluster that will begin their closure.
Island Health has initiated contact tracing to inform anyone who may have been exposed, only those who have been contacted need to isolate.
The workplace cluster and subsequent closure is the first of its kind on Vancouver Island.
On April 8th, 2021, Dr. Bonnie Henry announced that when three or more people in a workplace have COVID-19 with likely transmission in the workplace, the workplace may be ordered to close, helping reduce transmission of COVID-19 in our communities.
Sadly, the 24-year-old woman who was reported missing yesterday has been found deceased.
This morning, Saanich Police reported that her body was found in the Mount Douglas Park area, and that foul play is not suspected.
Yesterday, Megan Letham was reported as being last seen on Saturday, April 17th at around 7:30 p.m., in the same Mount Douglas Park area.
Her death is not being treated as suspicious.
“Our thoughts are with her family and her loved ones,” said Saanich Police.
“We would like to thank our local Search and Rescue as well as those from the public that assisted in searching or creating awareness for this investigation.”
Victoria Buzz has reached out to Saanich Police for further details.
Sadly, the missing 24-year-old woman we reported on yesterday was found last night deceased. Foul play is not suspect and her death is being treated as not suspicious. Our thoughts go out to her family and loved ones. Thank you to our local Search & Rescue and others that helped. pic.twitter.com/KKMwkzCiMd
During Monday’s COVID-19 update, the Province announced that people born in 1981 and earlier (40+) can get the AstraZeneca vaccine at eligible pharmacies with supply in the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, the Interior, and Northern BC.
The Province also announced Monday that 15 high-risk communities will be given priority for clinics dedicated to administering AstraZeneca for people born 1981 and earlier (40+), including Invermere and Enderby.
Based on the successes of targeting high-risk communities like Whistler and Prince Rupert, the Province is using AstraZeneca to target places with high rates of COVID-19 transmission.
The criteria for these communities was based on the rate of COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people, coupled with the 40+ population left to be vaccinated.
The AstraZeneca vaccine is not part of BC’s age-based vaccination program, like Pfizer and Moderna.
Most of the communities make up the Fraser Health, Vancouver Coastal, and Interior Health regions, including Squamish, Port Coquitlam, and Dawson Creek.
Appointments for the AstraZeneca vaccine must be booked in advance at all sites by going online or by calling ahead.
Some pharmacies have internal systems to book vaccine appointments, but the province’s centralized vaccine platform has been expanded to include pharmacy bookings.
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 as well.
Today, all residents of BC, 18 and older, will be able to register for their COVID-19 vaccine this week, see eligibility and register here.
One person has been arrested after a man with Down’s Syndrome was assaulted along Dallas Road on Saturday.
Shortly after 1 p.m. on April 17th, VicPD were called to Dallas Road near Camas Circle for a report of a fight.
When officers arrived, they located a man with Down’s Syndrome injured and being assisted by passersby.
According to the injured man, he was suddenly attacked by a person he did not know. After the attack, the suspect fled when a passerby intervened.
The suspect was located nearby and was arrested for assault.
“When the officers took the suspect into custody, the man made concerning statements prompting the officers to transport him to hospital for a mental health assessment,” VicPD said in a statement.
The man was held in hospital under the mental health act and will face recommended charges of assault.
This file remains under investigation.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call our VicPD Report Desk at (250) 995-7654. To report what you know anonymously, please call Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Thinking of leaving your health region in BC for leisure?
You may want to reconsider that.
During Monday’s live conference, Premier John Horgan announced those who are caught travelling outside of their health region for the next 5 weeks will be fined.
BC will eliminate travel bookings from outside the health area. “Do not try to book outside your area.” This will include travel from inside and outside BC.
Horgan said Minister Mike Farnworth will issue the orders Friday under B.C.’s Emergency Program Act.
“This will be conducted through random audits, not unlike roadside stops for a counterattack during the Christmas season. They will be susceptible to all travellers, not just a few travellers… there will be a fine if you are travelling outside of your area without a legitimate reason,” Horgan said.
People will be subject to random inspections and fines if they do not follow these rules, Horgan said. The amount of the fine has not been determined as of yet.
Starting on Friday, BC Ferries will no longer accept recreational vehicles that are travelling for leisure outside their health region. Bookings will be cancelled including trailers and campers.
Additionally, BC Ferries will not be putting extra sailings on for the May long weekend as they have in the past.
Signs will be installed along the Alberta border telling travellers to not travel into BC unless it is for essential travel.
Representatives from the tourism industry are helping to eliminate any travel bookings from people outside of the particular area.
“This is not the time to load up the Winnebago and travel around British Columbia,” Horgan said.
If you’re one of the many Rogers Wireless customers across Canada that woke up on Monday morning to find they were unable to make calls or use their cellphone’s data plan, you’re certainly not alone.
Rogers posted a tweet apologizing for the service interruptions, saying their team is “quickly working to restore services as soon as possible.”
Fido customers are also experiencing the same issues as they share a network, and some Rogers customers are reporting that their service has been out since midnight.
The general consensus? Rogers isn’t working hard enough, or fast enough, in many customers’ opinions.
From customers unable to adequately work from home due to the outage, to texts left unsent, to phone calls being put on hold, here a few reactions to Rogers’ extended outage:
Oh man, I'm wishing the best, and cheering @Rogers on to come through for all of us who are without services. …I do hope I can get a 3.3% discount on my mobile package for each day it's down though.
It’s official: BC’s ban on indoor dining and other restrictions has been extended for an additional five weeks.
The provincial government announced the extension on all restrictions currently in place during Monday’s latest COVID-19 update.
The order, which came into effect on March 30th, was put in place following a spike in new cases which has now been deemed the third wave.
It was set to expire tonight, April 19th, at midnight – but will now be extended until at least May 24th.
The province has reiterated that in the coming five weeks, through to the end of the May long weekend, it is critical that we focus our efforts to follow the guidelines, including:
Continuing to focus on the basics to reduce transmission
Especially focusing on in-person social interactions; be very purposeful about who you are seeing and where you are going, stick with the same few contacts
Staying within your health region and as much as possible your local community, and strictly following the travel guidelines
Restaurants, bars and pubs, all food and liquor-serving premises will still be able to provide take-out or delivery service. Dine-in service will likely remain prohibited, except for outdoor patios.
People dining on patios should do so with their immediate household or core bubble.
Here’s a list of restrictions and guidelines the has been extended:
For restaurants, bars, and pubs, all food, and liquor-serving premises must only provide take-out or delivery service. Dine-in service is prohibited, except for outdoor patios. People dining on patios should do so with their immediate household or core bubble.
Indoor, adult group fitness activities of any kind must cease. Gyms and fitness centres are restricted to individual or one-on-one activities only i.e. one-on-one personal training.
The previously announced class variance for limited indoor worship services has been suspended. Outdoor worship services under the current variance may continue.
Travel continues to be limited to essential travel, work or medical reasons only. For those who have traveled outside their health region, if you or anyone in your family develops any signs of illness, you must stay home from work, school or daycare, and arrange to get tested immediately.
For outdoor gatherings, people should be seeing a max of the same 10 people—not different people at different times — outside and physically distanced.
All students from grade 4 onwards will now be required to wear masks in schools across BC.
All workers are strongly encouraged to work from home, where possible.
(North Vancouver Grand Prize Home / Hometown Heroes Lottery)
Our Hometown Heroes are there when you need them, now it’s your turn to be there for them.
Aside from being the hottest ticket in town, the Hometown Heroes Lottery supports both Vancouver General Hospital and the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund.
This includes BC’s health care heroes, like doctors, nurses, front line workers, first responders – as well aspatients that need life-saving care, and who benefit from all the work and research the lottery funds.
This year’s lottery features 9 incredible grand prize packages, including 8 stunning homes, with two right here on Vancouver Island – and the 9th prize is a cool $2.1 million!
BC’s Hometown Heroes come to the aid of people in life-threatening situations every day. From rescue to recovery, BC’s fire fighters – along with the doctors, nurses and healthcare teams at Vancouver General Hospital, where 60% of the province’s trauma surgeries take place – are always on duty for severely injured and critically ill patients from all across BC.
When you buy a Hometown Heroes Lottery ticket, you’re directly supporting VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation – this raises essential funds for specialized adult health services and research at Vancouver General Hospital, UBC Hospital, GF Strong Rehab Centre, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute and Vancouver Community Health Services for all British Columbians.
Our health care heroes are currently fighting COVID-19 at VGH and now, more than ever, they need your support.
Ticket purchases also support programs of the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund, including burn survivor support services and resiliency programs for fire fighters.
Tickets to the main lottery – and a chance to win one of the 9 prize packages including either a gorgeous SookePoint condo or stunning Courtenay home – start at 3 tickets for $75, and go all of the way up to a 20-ticket pack for $300.
Check out these photos of the 8 grand prize homes you could win, and don’t forget to grab your tickets!
Enjoy golf-course living in this 2,502 sq. ft. 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom rancher with a 2 car garage and plenty of room to enjoy all the Island has to offer.
In the lovely family community of Murrayville sits this amazing 5,137 sq. ft. 4 bedroom, 5 bathroom home with a gourmet chef’s kitchen, double garage and triple garage, detached workshop and additional 1 bedroom suite.
This 1,355 sq. ft. 2 bedroom penthouse with 2 parking spaces offers sensational views from an exciting location, with a den and 440 sq. ft. rooftop deck.
There are so many reasons to love this 3,137 sq. ft. 4 bedroom, 4 bathroom, 2 car garage home! The perfect spot for outdoor enthusiasts, it’s nestled among gentle rolling mountains where you can capture an endless panorama of open skies in the heart of the South Okanagan.
Enjoy the million-dollar city and ocean views from this 2,419 sq. ft. sub penthouse. The 3 bedroom (plus den), 3.5 bathroom home comes with a chef’s kitchen and a private garage. An amazing home, an amazing location, and an amazing Grand Prize.
Aside with your choice of 1 of 8 of the above Grand Prizes, you can also choose $2.1 million cash!
On top of all of this, Hometown Heroes has some incredible bonus draws happening before the Grand Prizes are drawn, which include brand new vehicles, gift cards and more.
The grand prize draw will be Thursday, July 29th, 2021. Purchase your ticket (or packs of them!) here.
Deadlines to enter the various draws are:
Welcome Bonus Draw: Midnight, Friday, May 14th
Heroes Bonus Draw: Midnight, Friday, May 28th
Summer Bonus Draw: Midnight, Friday, June 11th
Early Bird Draw: Midnight, Friday, June 25th
Main Draws and Grand Prize: Midnight, Friday, July 16th
50/50 PLUS™: Midnight, Friday, July 16th
Daily Cash PLUS™: Midnight, Friday, July 16th
Know your limit, play within it. Must be 19+ to play.
All residents 18 and older in BC will be able to register for their COVID-19 vaccine this week.
Earlier this month, the BC government released a new tool that will allow recipients to receive a text message or email once they are eligible to get their COVID-19 vaccine, and it’s only a few simple steps to sign up.
More than 1.8 million British Columbians are expected to register through the week.
A new schedule for age cohorts to register ensures people know when it is their turn. To preserve system capacity, the province is asking people to wait until your age cohort is eligible to register:
Monday, April 19th – Registration opens for people aged 40 and up
Tuesday, April 20th – Registration opens for people aged 35 and up
Wednesday, April 21st – Registration opens for people aged 30 and up
Thursday, April 22nd – Registration opens for people aged 25 and up
Friday, April 23rd – Registration opens for people aged 18 and up
It’s as easy as heading online to this website, filling in the required information, and how you want to be contacted once your age group is eligible.
All you need is your full name, postal code, and Personal Health Number (found on your BC Services Card) along with the way you prefer to be contacted – text message, or email – and the service will send you a notification once it’s time for you to book your appointment.
It only takes a few minutes, and you’ll receive a confirmation message right away.
According to the province’s website, the tool has been created to help them gather information on the amounts of vaccines needed in BC.
Additionally, beginning today, all eligible residents will now be able to register and book their vaccine appointments online.
People born in 1976 and earlier (45 and up), Indigenous peoples 18 and up, and those who are clinically extremely vulnerable are already invited to register.
2. Book: Book a vaccine appointment when you get an email, text or phone call telling you you are eligible to book, based on your age.
3. Get vaccinated: Visit a vaccine clinic to get your vaccine dose.
The final step is visiting a vaccination clinic and getting vaccinated. The web portal is only for the age-based program including Moderna and Pfizer vaccines.
Those who are not comfortable booking online can call 1-833-838-2323 or in-person at a Service BC location.
BC’s age-based program runs parallel to the pharmacy program for people age 55 and up. Now, anyone over the age of 55 is eligible to be vaccinated with the AstraZeneca vaccine in local pharmacies throughout the province.
Since the “Get Vaccinated” provincial registration and booking system started on April 6th, more than 1.1 million British Columbians have registered and more than 400,000 have booked their shot.
As of April 17th, more than 1.2 million people in BC have received their first vaccine dose, with that number increasing every day.
VicPD have arrested a man and seized drugs and weapons following the execution of a search warrant at a supportive housing unit in Victoria.
The warrant was executed shortly after 4 p.m. on Saturday at a suite in a building in the 700-block of Queens Avenue.
A man inside the suite who was wanted on charges of drug trafficking was arrested. The subsequent search of the suite uncovered illicit substances as well as several weapons and combat accessories, including:
A loaded sawed-off 12 gauge shotgun
A .22 calibre rifle with a drum magazine
A .22 calibre handgun
A bandolier
Body armour
Armoured gloves
A “skull” mask
The man faces 11 recommended charges including unauthorized possession of firearms, careless storage of firearms and possession of firearms.
Police are still investigating. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact VicPD at (250) 995-7654 ext 1.
Anonymous reports can be made through Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Five COVID-19 flight exposures on Vancouver Island have been added to British Columbia’s Centre for Disease Control’s website, including three at Victoria International Airport.
Three flights are from Victoria, one from Comox Valley, and one from Nanaimo.
Below are the affected flights:
• Air Canada Jazz flight 8302 on April 7th departing from Victoria to Vancouver | row 16-22
• WestJet 3172 flight on April 9th departing from Comox Valley to Calgary | row 1-7
• WestJet 3113 flight on April 11th departing from Calgary to Victoria | row 1-7
• WestJet 3112 flight on April 11th departing from Victoria to Calgary | row N/A
• Air Canada 2264 flight on April 12th departing from Fort St. John to Nanaimo | row 4-10
All passengers on a domestic flight with a COVID-19 case should self-monitor for symptoms for 14 days.
The information on affected flights is posted publicly on the BCCDC website.
Below are the most recent domestic and international flight exposures.
UPDATE: Sadly, the 24-year-old woman who was reported missing yesterday has been found deceased.
This morning, Saanich Police reported that her body was found in the Mount Douglas Park area and that foul play is not suspected.
— original:
Saanich Police are seeking the public’s help in locating a missing 24-year-old woman.
Megan Letham was last seen on Saturday, April 17th at around 7:30 p.m., and her last known location was in the Mount Douglas Park area.
Megan is described as 5’9” tall, 125-130 lbs, short, light brown hair, with brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a large sweater with “Superbowl 2020,” a grey Patagonia v-neck t-shirt, an orange toque, black pants, and blue tye-dyed sneakers.
Police said she may be also wearing a taupe-coloured blanket and a small backpack or sling pack.
Family members said they’re concerned for Meg’s well-being and safety.
If you see her, call 9-1-1.
Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to contact Saanich Police at 250-475-4321 and refer to file 21-8442.
One step on the bus, means one small step for the Earth.
This Thursday, April 22nd, BC Transit and the Victoria Regional Transit Commission (VRTC) are celebrating Earth Day by offering free rides throughout the day!
On both conventional routes and handyDART services in the region, mask up, hop on, and venture to any of your favourite places in the city for free.
“Earth Day helps shine a spotlight on the importance of sustainability and encourages people to make choices that will help protect our environment,” said BC Transit in a statement.
“Choosing transit instead of driving is one easy way to take action. It not only helps to ease traffic congestion, but also decreases greenhouse emissions by reducing the number of vehicles on the road.”
We’re still in the midst of a pandemic, so make sure you’re spaced out and masked up!
For information on BC Transit schedules, routes and service alerts in Greater Victoria, please visit For information on BC Transit schedules, routes and service alerts in Greater Victoria, please visit bctransit.com/victoria.
Do you use Rogers or Fido for phone or internet? Don’t be alarmed if you can’t phone, text or use your data.
Many Rogers wireless customers across Canada woke up Monday morning to find they were unable to make calls or use their cellphone’s data plan.
Some wireless customers are experiencing an intermittent service interruption for wireless voice and data services. Our team is working quickly to restore services as soon as possible. We apologize for the inconvenience and will continue to provide regular updates.
Rogers posted a tweet apologizing for the service interruptions, saying their team is “quickly working to restore services as soon as possible.” Fido customers are also experiencing the same issues as they share a network.
Some Rogers customers are reporting their service has been out since midnight.
There is still no word on when service will be restored.
This is why we need more telecom competition in Canada. We can’t rely on just 2 not to mention the insane prices they charge us
For those of us working from home this has serious repercussions. I have patients who are waiting for their scheduled calls and I can't use my phone. No one has home phone these days so when you cut off our cell phone, we are disconnected from everyone. This is unacceptable!
Early this morning, scientists at NASA confirmed that they have made history once again.
At 3:46 a.m. Pacific Time, the team behind Ingenuity, a helicopter drone currently on Mars, received data showing that the aircraft had completed a successful, controlled flight.
This marks the first time in humanity’s history that a powered flight has taken place on another planet.
“Ingenuity is the latest in a long and storied tradition of NASA projects achieving a space exploration goal once thought impossible,” said acting NASA Administrator Steve Jurczyk.
“We don’t know exactly where Ingenuity will lead us, but today’s results indicate the sky – at least on Mars – may not be the limit.”
In a moment reminiscent of the Wright brothers’ tentative successes at Kitty Hawk, Ingenuity first became airborne at 12:34 a.m. Pacific Time (12:33 Mars time).
Data from the solar-powered helicopter altimeter indicated the aircraft climbed to an altitude of 10 feet and maintained a stable hover for 30 seconds, before touching down after a total of 39.1 seconds of flight.
The rover captured photos of the drone’s flight using its mast cam and Navcam imager.
Developed by the Jet Propulsion Team, Ingenuity has been programmed to fly autonomously. Due to the vast distance between our planet and Mars, Ingenuity cannot be flown with a joystick.
In recognition of the achievement, NASA Associate Administrator for Science Thomas Zurbuchen announced they would be naming the field where the flight took place after the Wright Broths.
“117 years after the Wright brothers succeeded in making the first flight on our planet, NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter has succeeded in performing this amazing feat on another world,” Zurbuchen said.
“While these two iconic moments in aviation history may be separated by time and 173 million miles of space, they now will forever be linked.”
Powered flight on Mars is challenging due to an extremely thin atmosphere, with relatively few air molecules for rotor blades to push against.
Ingenuity’s purpose is a proof-of-concept, showing that powered flight can be achieved and paving the road for future aerial exploration of Mars and the solar system.
A second test flight is planned no sooner than April 22. The NASA team will use data from these tests to determine the craft’s flight profile going forward, provided it survives the second attempt.
One teen is in custody after three teenagers were hospitalized following a multiple-stabbing in Comox Saturday evening.
The incident happened at around 10 p.m. in front of a large group of people at an empty gravel pit area along Pritchard Road.
All three teens suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries, according to Comox Valley RCMP. Two victims, deemed to be in critical condition, were airlifted to Victoria while one teen was transported by ground to Nanaimo Regional General Hospital.
All victims are expected to recover.
A suspect was quickly identified and arrested.
“The school district has activated their critical incident response team, which will be available to support students, families, and staff after this alarming incident,” said Comox Valley RCMP Const. Monika Terragni.
Anyone with additional information is asked to please contact the Comox Valley RCMP at (250) 338-1321. If you wish to remain anonymous, contact Comox Valley
Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
A driver has been charged with impaired driving after a single-vehicle crash Sunday afternoon in Saanich.
The rollover crash occurred just after 1 p.m. occurred on Claremont Road near the Pat Bay Highway.
Traffic on the street was temporarily disrupted as crews dealt with the driver and crash scene. According to Saanich PD, an officer came across the crash.
The driver of the SUV suffered minor injuries and was issued a 90-day driving suspension.
Fortunately, there were no other injuries.
Traffic on Claremont Rd was temporarily disrupted as one of our traffic members came across a single veh roll over. Driver suffered minor injuries and was issued a 90-day Immediate Roadside Prohibition for being impaired. The road is now open. 👍🏻#dontdrinkanddrive#yyjtrafficpic.twitter.com/5CEZoythSK
— Saanich Police Traffic Safety Unit (@SPD_Traffic) April 18, 2021
Earlier in the day, a driver decided to test their car’s performance after a repair by travelling 150 kilometres per hour on the Pat Bay Highway.
According to Saanich PD, licence plate covers were mounted on both the front and rear plates.
The driver was issued a $713 ticket and a 7-day impound notice.
In the early hours of Sunday morning, a driver decided to test their car's performance after a repair by travelling 150 kilometres per hour on Highway 17. Licence plate covers were mounted on both the front a rear plates. A $713 ticket and 7-day impound notice were served. pic.twitter.com/Ho9pp45HYz
— Saanich Police Traffic Safety Unit (@SPD_Traffic) April 18, 2021
UPDATE: Kiana Chamberland, who was the subject of a high-risk missing person alert, has been located and is safe, according to VicPD.
— original:
The family of a missing Esquimalt woman are asking for the public’s help in locating her.
Kiana Chamberland, 24, has been deemed a high-risk missing person by VicPD.
Chamberland was last seen Thursday, April 15th at approximately 4 p.m., in the 600 block of Nelson Street in Esquimalt.
According to family, she left her job site to visit her mom on foot and has not been seen since.
According to a Facebook post by her mother, when Chamberland left the job site, she was in distress after having an argument with her boyfriend.
Chamberland is described as a Caucasian woman with long brown hair standing standing 5’4” tall with a thin build.
She has multiple tattoos, including the roman numeral for “13” on her left chest, and a crown on the back of her neck. Police said she may have a large Michael Kors purse with her that is brown with black straps and may have some green paint on it.
“The circumstances under which Kiana has gone missing are considered to be high-risk and officers are concerned for her safety,” VicPD said in a statement.
If you see Kiana Chamberland, please call 911.
Anyone with information about where she may be is asked to call the VicPD Report Desk at (250) 995-7654.
A group of activists, Extinction Rebellion, are expected to make it to Victoria on Sunday after a trek from Vancouver.
Between 50 to 80 protestors began their march on Friday where members of Extinction Rebellion held a rally in downtown Vancouver to kick off a four-day journey dubbed “Walk for Mother Earth.”
The group plans to finish their multi-day trek at the Legislature in Victoria and activists are calling on the province to “tell the truth about the unfolding ecological catastrophe.”
This includes Premier John Horgan’s approval of the Site C dam, failure to oppose the Trans-Mountain pipeline expansion, as well as failure to enact endangered species legislation.
The demonstrators will walk from Vancouver to the ferry terminal before boarding a ferry Sunday morning. Their plan is to make it to Saanichton by Sunday evening and finish up their remaining 25-kilometer stretch to the Legislature on Monday.
Once they arrive, the group plans to hold a rally, which includes nailing their proposed “Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill” to the legislature doors.
After the rally, the Extinction Rebellion group is expected to occupy the Johnson Street bridge on Monday, however, the timing of this is unknown.
The walk will take place on public roads and plans to be disruptive, but protesters must wear masks and physically distance while walking.
It was right near the Legislature, so my first reaction was to wonder if John Horgan had finally got fed up with my schtick and was hurling mouldy clumps of Hansard transcripts at me.
But no, it was just one of our local winged trash screechers, expelling its waste onto my noggin, pant leg, and shirt.
People will tell you that’s good luck. We all know that’s a lie.
The old superstition that avian fecal matter brings fortune was probably concocted by a mother desperately trying to comfort a freshly dunked-on child. And that child was, and still is…the guy inside Big Bird.
Okay, that’s definitely not true, but neither is it true that a bird’s digestive tract is a determining factor in your chances of winning the lottery.
So there I was, with seagull scat smeared stupendously on myself, with nothing to show for it but a grim comfort that I was riding my bicycle with my helmet on. It was a low bar, but I had avoided becoming a Radagast the Brown cosplay.
At least, my brain tried to rationalize, you didn’t get it in your hair.
Yes, like beloved bird character Falco, I had to say: “I guess I should be thankful.”
I’m an atheist. I mention this because I think when people who are religious, spiritual, or superstitious have something bad happen to them, there’s a deep well to go to. Perhaps it was Jesus’ will that I get crapped on. Maybe I had kicked the bad karma fairy. Or maybe my body thetans needed a purging.
Whatever the case, atheists like me, broadly speaking, can only turn to science. Or in this case, statistics.
Let me tell you folks, there is a veritable cornucopia of Google results for “odds of getting pooped on by a bird.”
I’m happy to share with you that birds crap a PROLIFIC amount, with some species expelling butt blasts every 15 minutes.
Given that tremendous typhoon of turds, and the fact that we live amidst an Alfred Hitchcock’s worth of seagulls, it becomes more and more of an inevitability: it is not a matter of IF the birds will get you, it is WHEN.
For my atheist sensibilities, this experience was as close as I might get to a spiritual epiphany; the realization that there is an astronomical amount of poop out there, working against you.
There’s a kind of power in that; knowing that there will be a day for you in the poop chute of life. You could, perhaps, stay indoors. Wear a helmet. Carry a shotgun and a murderous look in your eye. These are all potentially mitigating efforts against the airborne assault.
But that’s no way to live.
Far better to live life accepting the knowledge that it could crap on you at any moment while enjoying all the clean days in between.
Welcome to Ford on Fridays: a weekly column where Victoria Buzz staff writer Tim Ford offers his thoughts on life, love, and the pursuit of the perfect joke.
This column is for comedic purposes only. Please feel free to send feedback, thoughts, and [constructive] criticisms to tim@victoriabuzz.com.
A situation that started with a food delivery turned into a police standoff after RCMP were called to a home in Duncan.
On April 14, the North Cowichan Duncan RCMP were contacted by a Duncan resident who said they were concerned for a friend’s safety.
The resident had been delivering food to the friend, and noticed they were behaving oddly. The friend said they “were not OK” when asked, and the friend’s adult son then began yelling for them to leave.
Officers arrived at the residence shortly after 4 p.m. and were able to determine there were two people inside. However, they were unable to enter the residence, due to one of the occupants being agitated and denying them entry.
“The members made a decision to back away from the house to not rile the agitated man any more,” said North Cowichan RCMP Detachment commander Inspector Chris Bear.
“For the safety of all of those in the nearby area Cowichan Lake Road was blocked, and some nearby residents in an apartment were evacuated. The negotiators worked for almost three and a half hour to have the man exit the house on his own without success.”
Following the prolonged standoff, police made the decision to breach the entrance of the residence. After a brief struggle, the man was apprehended. He was later taken to a nearby hospital for treatment and a full medical evaluation.
The RCMP say the homeowner was also in need of medical assistance, but had not suffered injuries stemming from the incident.
Investigators remained on scene following the incident. A search uncovered an unloaded firearm and several knives, which were seized.
Police said the friend did the right thing in contacting the authorities and thanked the public for their patience during the nearby road closures and evacuations.
Fairy Creek blockades near Port Renfrew remain despite the risk of arrest by the RCMP and objections from both Premier John Horgan and leaders of the Pacheedaht nation.
Earlier this month, the Teal-Jones Group, the logging company who intends to cut block Tree Farm Licence (TFL) 46, served Fairy Creek protestors an injunction granted on April 1st by the BC Supreme Court.
Since then, the blockades have remained, but the RCMP have yet to enforce the injunction.
This week, comments from both the Premier and the Pacheedaht Nation’s Chiefs and Council have surfaced, urging the protestors to move on.
“The First Nation does not welcome unsolicited involvement or interference in their territory, including activism,” said a statement from the Pacheedaht released Monday.
But, some members of the Pacheedaht Nation, such as Elder William Jones, have been supporting protesters in the territory.
“I implore people to continue to stand with me to protect our forests from destruction and colonialism, because we need allies on the ground to stop all old growth logging in my home territory,” responded Bill Jones in a statement on Tuesday.
The Rainforest Flying Squad, who makes up the majority of protestors, have responded to the injunctions and objections via Facebook.
“Our frontline strategy is to continue to peacefully defend the last stands of ancient forest in the face of a BC Supreme court injunction and potentially in the face of imminent mass arrests, while government stands by offering nothing but empty promises, foot-dragging and deference to the status quo.”
Victoria Buzz visits Fairy Creek blockades
Last week, Victoria Buzz visited the Fairy Creek blockades to better understand the situation.
At this point, the injunction had been served, but Premier Horgan and the Pacheedaht First Nation had yet to comment on the situation.
Below is our interview with Yogi Shambu and Shawna Knight, members of the Rainforest Flying Squad, the crew who has been standing at the blockades since August 2020.
The Fairy Creek blockades consist of two blockades that lead up to the site of the Teal-Jones group cut blocks.
There are close to 100 people camping in tents along the logging road.
Portions of the forest have already been logged and cut. There is no service or radios. There are kitchens to cook food and people are encouraged to maintain trails and roads. The public donates food.
There is also a GoFundMe that has raised over $275,000 to assist with the costs associated with the blockades, such as legal fees.
Protestors have no intention of moving, despite the injunction, and told Victoria Buzz that there were a variety ways protestors will stand their ground.
“There are arborists who have pulley systems in place to attach themselves to the trees. And there’s even a woman who has figured out how to block the logging road by attaching herself to a PVC pipe,” said protestor, Forest Tate.
“It’s the Moulin Rouge of blockades,” said Yogi Shambu.
As of late, the Fairy Creek blockades have seen a vast amount of support via social media.
Below is a video from Matt Cave, who captured the blockades and Fairy Creek area earlier this month.
Camosun College’s Interurban campus will be getting $150,000 from the province to facilitate the potential creation of an on-campus film studio for its students, according to the BC government.
The construction of a film studio looks to provide Camosun students with hands-on training opportunities, particularly in the construction and skilled trades – carpenters, electricians and plumbers.
In addition, local trades could bid on contracts and businesses that provide support services during construction, such as excavation and hauling and delivery services.
“This funding is a great first step in determining how students at Camosun College could benefit from a new film studio on the south Island through unique skills training opportunities,” said Murray Rankin, MLA for Oak Bay-Gordon Head.
“Our region has stunning locations and skilled people, and I’m pleased to see this investment in exploring the potential benefits to students of competitive sound stages.”
The college is creating an advisory committee that will assist with the planning process, and upon completion of planning work, Camosun will evaluate the results of the plan to determine the best next steps.
“The investment from the B.C. government allows the college to further explore the feasibility of a film studio and sound stage at our Interurban campus and the exciting educational possibilities it could create for students,” said Sherri Bell, president of Camosun College.
“Educational opportunities could include carpentry and electrical programs for trades students; new diploma and certificate programs such as digital animation; and, skills training programs for people in the industry.”
A GoFundme has been launched for the family of a young boy who drowned in a pool at a downtown Victoria hotel last month.
The incident occurred on March 24th in the pool at Hotel Zed on Douglas Street.
Paramedics attempted CPR on the child and they were eventually rushed to hospital. A week later, VicPD confirmed the child had died.
According to a GoFundMe page, Ethan, who was 8.5 years old, was in Victoria from Vancouver with his mom, aunt, as well as other family members.
The family was staying at Hotel Zed, and Ethan’s mom was preparing to go out to the hotel pool with him; however, the young boy left to swim unsupervised, and moments later, his mother found him at the bottom of the pool.
“He drowned on March 24th, 2021, his brain was severely damaged, he was put on life support but didn’t make it. Plugs were pulled on March 25th as there was no hope,” the GoFundMe page read.
“Shock to the entire family, especially his mom Kandi – a single mother who couldn’t digest this situation – ended up admitted in hospital herself as a result. She is a hard-working healthcare aid, she may not be able to return to work soon,” the post continued.
Funds raised from the GoFundMe will go towards a proper funeral, headstone, and support Ethan’s mother during these difficult times.
As of this publication, $6,515 of the $8,000 goal has been raised.
36 anti-racism organizations will receive increased funding to be put towards 57 communities in BC, according to the province.
It was announced on Friday morning that an additional $372,500 will be allocated to the Resilience BC Anti-Racism Network for one-time funding put towards additional projects that provide anti-racism community engagement, resources, and support.
The 36 organizations, representing 57 communities, will each receive $5,000, $7,500 or $10,000 to address the recent increase in anti-Asian and anti-Indigenous hate activity, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Racism is real and it’s pervasive in our communities. We must take action to combat racism in our local communities,” said Rachna Singh, Parliamentary Secretary for Anti-Racism Initiatives.
The Resilience BC Anti-Racism Network connects communities with the information, support, and training to respond to and prevent future incidents of racism and hate.
“In response to the recent increases in racist attacks and incidents, this funding increase will help Resilience BC expand our capacity to work with communities to help combat racism,” said Ravi Saxena, executive director of the Immigrant and Multicultural Services Society of Prince George.
Royal Athletic Park will remain without the familiar sights and sounds of the good ol’ ball game for at least one more season.
According to the teams’ ownership, the 2021 West Coast League baseball season has been cancelled for the Victoria HarbourCats as well as their expansion team, the Nanaimo NightOwls, due to COVID-19.
“It’s unfathomable this would happen for two consecutive seasons,” said Jim Swanson, managing-partner and general manager of both teams.
“There is no business plan for this.”
Both the Victoria and Nanaimo baseball clubs are operated by the same ownership group, and none of the 5 Canadian teams in the West Coast League will be operating this season.
For the HarbourCats, this will be the second season in a row with no baseball, while the NightOwls were gearing up to play their inaugural season in the league under at the brand new Serauxmen Stadium in Nanaimo.
The Vancouver Island teams had no choice, says the team’s management, considering the Provincial Health Officer’s guidelines and current and possible future restrictions in both British Columbia and Alberta, along with the ongoing Canadian-US Border closure.
“There are simply too many things working against us,” said Jim Swanson.
Fans who have purchased tickets, or ticket vouchers for both HarbourCats 2021 games will receive full value for their purchases.
Season Ticket holders who have paid in full will automatically have their tickets rolled over into the 2022 season. Fans with 2020 or 2021 specific game tickets or 2021 flex pack vouchers will be able to redeem those for tickets into the 2022 season once that schedule is announced.
Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps also chimed in on the HarbourCats’ season cancellation, “Right about now, what many people would like to do is something normal like having a burger and a beer and cheering on our home team,” she said.
“I respect the decision of the HarbourCats management and thank them for keeping our community safe. In the meantime, I know we’ll all look forward with anticipation to the 2022 season.”
One driver woke up on the wrong side of the bed when an incident of road rage saw them recklessly weaving through the Pay Bay Highway Thursday afternoon.
On April 15th, Saanich Police said they received several calls from motorists describing a driver weaving in and out of traffic, cutting a driver off, and at one point, getting out of their car to confront and verbally abuse another driver.
Witnesses called 9-1-1 and followed the driver just outside the Saanich Police department where an officer stopped the suspect on Blanshard street just south of Saanich road.
Saanich Police demanded a breath sample and reported that the driver, who had a mandated alcohol detecting ignition interlock, provided a ‘fail’ breath sample.
The offending motorist, who was driving a vehicle damaged from a prior collision, admitted to officers that they were driving while impaired by alcohol.
They were served a 90-day prohibition and 30-day impound of their car.
The driver, who had a licence restriction requiring an ignition interlock due to a previous incident of impaired driving, was also driving a vehicle damaged from a prior collision. They provided a 'fail' breath sample today and were served a 90-day prohibition / 30-day impound.
— Saanich Police Traffic Safety Unit (@SPD_Traffic) April 15, 2021
As Canada is at grips with its third wave of COVID-19, Moderna has reduced its shipments of their COVID-19 vaccine to Canada by almost 55% this month, due to production issues at their European facilities.
Canada was originally meant to receive 1.2 million doses of the vaccine by next week, but now, the Massachusetts-based vaccine distributor, Moderna, is sending around 650,000 doses by the end of April.
Luckily, its mRNA counterpart, Pfizer, is poised to send more vaccine doses than originally intended.
Prime Minister Trudeau announced at a conference Friday morning that Canada will receive 8 million additional doses from Pfizer— 4 million more Pfizer doses in May, another 2 million in June, and 2 million more in July.
Both the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer are vital to BC’s age-based vaccination program.
The increased doses of Pfizer and the cuts from Moderna will not affect the age-based vaccination program, since Canada will receive at least 4 million more shots in May and June than anticipated, thanks to the Pfizer deal.
Canada is now expecting 6 million more doses of the Pfizer vaccine in the second quarter of this year, from 17.8 million to 23.8 million doses.
To date, 1,235,863 doses of vaccines have been administered in British Columbia.
Canada Day sunrise at the breakwater
(James Hutcheson)
In a recently released report, Canada has been ranked the #1 country in the world.
It’s the first time the U.S. News & World Report has placed our great nation at the top of its annual Best Countries Report.
In previous years. Canada ranked in second and third positions on the roundup.
This year, the model has evolved in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. While cultural, economic, political, and technological influences remain important in the ranking, two new categories were added: social purpose and agility.
Together, this broad range of categories determines how the 78 countries are ranked on the world stage, as well as individually.
Canada ranked #3 Most Agile, as in dynamic, adaptable, and modern, and #1 for Social Purpose, as in most progressive, inclusive, and committed to social justice.
Other key themes for ranking included women viewed as effective leaders, and how essential it is for any country to be seen as adaptable, progressive, and responsive, which Canada scored high in each.
Interestingly enough, how influential conspiracy theories are to a country was also a factor.
Together with the BAV Group, VMLY&R, and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, the basis of the survey came from more than 17,000 people from four regions assessing perceptions of 78 countries on 76 different metrics.
“This year the model behind the Best Countries report has been updated and evolved in response to 2020, a year like no other,” said John Keaveney, WPP advisor and head of Analytics & Insight for BAV Group.
“From the death of George Floyd and the subsequent rise of the social justice movement to the need for quick and decisive action by our governments and scientists to tackle the threat from COVID-19, all such seismic events now play a role in the way citizens rate a nation and its society as a whole.”
VicPD are searching for the driver of a vehicle that fled from a crash this afternoon and narrowly missed nearby children.
The crash occurred around 1:45 p.m. at the intersection of Lampson Street and Old Esquimalt Road.
According to police, the driver of a white truck was travelling at high speed on Lampson Street when it lost control and swerved, narrowly missing a group of nearby children.
The vehicle collided with a fence at a nearby house. The driver then fled the area.
Luckily, no children were injured in the crash. It is unknown if the driver was hurt.
The vehicle is a small white Mazda B-series two-door pick-up truck with a white canopy and ladder rack.
The driver, who was the only occupant of the vehicle, was last seen in the area of the 800-block of Old Esquimalt Road and the 500 to 600-block of Head Street.
Officers are looking to locate and identify the driver.
Additionally, investigators are looking for surveillance and dashcam footage from the area around the time of the incident.
Anyone with information or video footage is asked to contact VicPD at (250) 995-7654. If you know the current location of the driver, please call 911.
Shoppers in Victoria are encouraged to start bringing their reusable bags when they shop, as the city reinstates the single-use plastic ban.
Beginning today, April 15th, the City reintroduced the Checkout Bag Regulation Bylaw that began in 2018.
All businesses will have the same requirements in place previously which included restricting the use of plastic checkout bags, and charging a fee for paper bags.
Businesses can offer customers paper bags for no less than 25 cents or reusable bags for $2.
Reusable bags have been shown to be safe to use during COVID-19, with many local businesses still encouraging their use to reduce waste.
“Reducing the distribution of single-use plastic items in Victoria is helping to keep plastic waste out of our landfill, save tax dollars and protect the environment,” said Mayor Lisa Helps.
“Resuming the Checkout Bag Bylaw is a simple step to maintain our forward momentum towards reaching our goal to reduce waste by 50% by 2040 and be fully zero waste by 2050.”
Before the initial bylaw’s implementation in 2018, it is estimated that Victorians disposed of 17 million single-use plastic bags annually.
In a recently released report from Rental.ca, the average rent price across Canada has decreased 8.5 per cent from last March.
According to the report, the drop in price is in part due to the effects of the pandemic, including the desire for more space and the uncoupling of many workers to the location of their employer’s office.
Though, the average rent in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal increased in March over February this year and Vancouver is still the most expensive city for one and two-bedroom rentals.
Victoria finished 11th and 14th, respectively, on the list for average monthly rent in March for a one-bedroom and two-bedroom home.
Monthly and annual rents for a one-bedroom home in Victoria went down to an average of $1,617, while a two-bedroom place went up to $1,902.
It was reported that it costs a tenant a little more than half as much to live in Saskatchewan than British Columbia.
In Canada, median rent levels by bedroom type show that studios, two-bedroom, three-bedroom and four-bedroom properties have all increased year over year, suggesting that outliers have had a big impact on the averages.
According to the Rentals.ca, renters continue to look for larger units for a home office, which has resulted in more smaller units being listed.
This is driving rental prices down, contributing to the drop in the market, nation-wide.
According to Rental.ca, tenants will look to get in at the bottom before rents rise in conjunction with the rise in vaccine distribution.
“With the likelihood that downtown offices will reopen within the next year, it is clear that some tenants are taking advantage of the lower rents and greater choice to secure a better location or bigger unit than they had prior to the pandemic,” said Ben Myers, president of Bullpen Research & Consulting.
The highway leading in and out of the Pacific Rim communities of Tofino and Ucluelet will be closed for five consecutive Wednesdays starting on April 28th.
The province is warning drivers that a section of Highway 4 at Kennedy Hill will be closed from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. for roughly ten hours each day for blasting and removal of a significant rock bluff.
This 10-hour closure is required for crews to undertake one of the most complex blasts in an area of the bluff directly above the road repair site where a temporary bridge had to be used in spring 2020.
The daylight closure will allow workers time to prepare the road beneath the blast area and to safely remove loose rock immediately following the blast.
The contractor did a similar blast last month with a 10-hour closure and the highway reopened on time.
“A similar degree of preparation in advance of each blast is required for these next five scheduled blasts,” the province said in a statement.
VANCOUVER ISLAND UPDATE:Wednesday closures of Hwy 4 at Kennedy Hill — 8 am to 6 pm — start April 28. ⛔️🚧 Closures…
Once the above work is complete, the majority of the blasting work on the project will be complete, and no further 10-hour closures will be needed to complete the project, and the contractor will be closer to moving to night-time blasting, as the busier summer months approach.
The regular project closure schedule of four-hour road closures on weekdays between 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. will continue on the other weekdays.
Construction on the Kennedy Hill Highway 4 safety project is over 60 per cent complete and is geared towards a better, safer connection from Port Alberni and the west coast of Vancouver Island.
Improvements to the 1.5 kilometre stretch of road include widening to accommodate two full lanes and paved shoulders, realignments, and the addition of a rest area with a lakeside view that will be accessible to passenger vehicles, RVs, buses or transport trucks.
The full schedule of intermittent highway closures for the area is available here.
(Road to Pacific Institution courtesy of Google Maps)
An inmate from Victoria serving five years at Abbotsford’s Pacific institution has died.
Brodie Patrick Bingley, a Victoria man serving just over 5 years for aggravated assault and assault causing bodily harm, died this Monday, April 13th.
Bingley had been serving his sentence since August 14th, 2019.
The inmate’s next of kin have been notified of his death.
According to Correctional Service Canada, they will review the circumstances and notify police and the coroner.
Bingley faced charges of aggravated assault and uttering threats after an incident in 2013.
The incident occurred when Bingley was detained under the Mental Health Act, taken to Royal Jubilee Hospital, and in custody, without provocation, attacked another man sitting beside him, according to Black Press Media.
Victoria Buzz has reached out to Pacific Institution for comment on the circumstances surrounding his death.
A VicPD officer was assaulted in the line of duty on Tuesday when he came to the aid of a youth during a mental health crisis.
According to police, the man was running into traffic in an attempt to cause harm to himself.
When officers arrived, they found the youth who appeared to be impaired by drugs.
Officers were able to de-escalate him and safely remove him from the roadway. Paramedics arrived to transport him to hospital, and an officer rode with the youth to the hospital.
At the hospital, the youth’s condition began to further deteriorate due to the negative effects of drug intoxication.
Paramedics administered naloxone to the youth who then began to recover.
The youth soon became aggressive with hospital staff, paramedics, and officers, attempting to spit on an officer and kick another in the face.
Without injury, the youth was brought under control.
The officer suffered non-life-threatening injuries, was treated at hospital, and finished his shift.
The youth was held in hospital under the Mental Health Act and the file still remains under investigation.
VicPD arrested a man with a history of sexual offences after he accosted and followed two young women this past weekend.
On Saturday, April 10th, shortly after 3:30 p.m., officers were called by convenience store staff in the 2600-block of Quadra Street for a report that two young women were being followed by a man on a bicycle.
The worker reported that he locked the door to the store and the man tried to open the locked door, aggressively.
When officers responded, the young women reported that they were followed by the man for several blocks and accosted, despite the youths walking away and telling the man to leave them alone.
Officers located the man and he fled from the officers on his bicycle, but he was quickly located and arrested without further incident.
The suspect was held in custody at VicPD cells and faces recommended charges of criminal harassment, obstructing a peace officer, and assault.
“These young women did exactly the right thing here. They said “no”, then sought a public place, told the store staff what was happening and what they needed to be safe, and provided an excellent description to officers,” Bowen Osoko, spokesperson for Victoria Police, told Victoria Buzz.
“They showed courage and decisive decision-making which kept them safe, lead to the suspect’s location, identification and arrest and may have kept others safe by doing so.”
VicPD know the man has a history of convictions for sexual offences, such as indecent acts and breaching conditions of probation.
This file is under investigation.
If you have information about this incident, call the VicPD Report Desk at (250) 995-7654.
Nanaimo RCMP have deemed the discovery of a body last month as a homicide.
At approximately 6:45 p.m. on March 31st, the body of Randell Charles Thomas was discovered in some bushes off of a dirty walking trail in the vicinity of Tamara Drive.
Investigators believe Thomas was involved in an altercation which led to his death, but it’s unknown how many people were involved.
Thomas did not reside in the immediate area of his death and prior to the homicide, it is unknown if he was walking in the neighbourhood.
At the time of his death, Thomas was wearing a dark hoodie with a white logo on the front.
Investigators are looking to speak with anyone who was in the area of his death between 2:45 pm and 4:45 pm on March 31st and are also asking motorists to check their dash cam video for that time period.
In the coming days, investigators will be canvassing the area to speak with residents.
If you have any information on this incident, call the Nanaimo RCMP Serious Crime Unit at 250-754-2345
In our opinion, it’s always a good time for some retail therapy!
And what better way to kick off spring than a $100 shopping spree courtesy of Hillside Centre? You can check out how you can win below!
With so many retailers under one roof, Hillside Centre is literally your one-stop for everything you need (and even some things you didn’t know you did!)
Plus, with major deals like up to 70% off at Boathouse, free gifts when you spend $249 at Michael Hill and some stores like Northern Reflections even offering curbside pickup, a shopping trip seems like a no-brainer.
Even better than that, Hillside Centre is offering more chances to win big – with their all new spring-inspired ‘This or That’ quiz, you could be well on your way to winning $1000 shopping spree PLUS getting a curated spring style board just for you – check it out here.
Are you a ‘Modern Romance’ kinda girl, or more ‘Back to Nature’? Or maybe your style is focused on ‘City Comfort’ or the ‘Bright Lights’!
It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3 – pick your style, enter to win, and receive your very own curated Spring Style Board for more inspiration on your style match and hot finds at Hillside.
SHARE this post on Facebook and/or Twitter and leave a comment below telling us once you have. (1 entry)
Contest entries will be accepted from time and date of publishing until 11:59 p.m. PST on Sunday, April 25th. One winner will be chosen at random and contacted through the platform they enter within 24 hours of the contest closing. Good luck!
BC RCMP are confirming a crash on West Coast Road in Sooke Tuesday was fatal.
Just after 1:30 p.m. on April 13th, emergency crews were called to a single-vehicle collision in the 7500 block of West Coast Road.
The driver, who was the lone occupant in the vehicle, was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to Sooke RCMP, it is believed a grey mid 90’s Nissan SUV was travelling westbound when it crossed the center line into the opposite lane of traffic, left the roadway, continued down a small embankment, and collided with a tree.
“Witnesses to the collision immediately attempted lifesaving efforts to the man until they were relieved by first responders,” said Sooke RCMP Sergeant Kevin Shaw.
“I’m very grateful for the contributions and lifesaving efforts of all involved, witnesses and first responders.”
Paramedics administered first aid to the vehicle’s only occupant, however, the Sooke man was pronounced deceased at the scene.
A collision analyst is working alongside the Sooke RCMP to determine the cause of the crash.
The BC Coroners Service is also investigating to determine the cause of death.
The identity of the man was not released.
Sooke RCMP are asking any witnesses who may have seen the driving behaviour of this vehicle prior to the collision to contact them at 250-642-5241
Girl Guide Thin Mint Cookies are in a league of their own, but when you combine them with sweet, creamy soft serve? Out of this world.
Dairy Queen Canada has released their summer line-up of Blizzards, and despite the fact that the season officially doesn’t kick off until June, we’re feeling all the sunny-day vibes with these new flavours.
The line-up includes the following Blizzard flavours: Brownie Batter, Raspberry Fudge Bliss, Nestle Drumstick with Peanuts, Cotton Candy Blizzard, and the all-new Girl Guide Chocolatey Mint Blizzard.
If you’re already stressed about deciding which Blizzard to try out first, here’s a rundown of what exactly each one entails:
Girl Guide Chocolatey Mint: A crunchy, chocolatey biscuit with a cool mint filling, all covered in a chocolatey coating with world-famous DQ soft serve.
BC’s ban on indoor dining is expected to be extended into mid-May, according to BC Restaurant & Food Services Association (BCRFA).
A letter sent from BCRFA to its members states the province-wide health order restricting in-person indoor dining that was set to expire on April 19th will likely be extended throughout May.
“Our conversation has indicated that the current PHO order restricting in-restaurant dining will be extended beyond April 19th through to May,” the letter said.
The order, which came into effect on March 30th, was put in place following a spike in new cases which has now been deemed the third wave.
“This is a result of the continued high number of daily cases and the Province’s goal to have restrictions in place that avoid socialization and gathering indoors, for now,” read the BCRFA statement.
Restaurants, bars and pubs, all food and liquor-serving premises will still be able to provide take-out or delivery service. Dine-in service will likely remain prohibited, except for outdoor patios.
People dining on patios should do so with their immediate household or core bubble.
There remains some confusion around patios which was addressed in the statement, something the BCRFA says will be better outlined in a new patio guidelines document to be circulated around the community soon.
Moms, bosses, leaders, nurturers – they spoil everyone all the time – but who spoils them?
Local beauty salon Kharma wants to give back to one lucky lady this spring time, and have launched a contest that will give her the ultimate spoiling: a head-to-toe makeover; hair, clothes, and more PLUS a professional photo shoot to capture it all!
This lady will get a day to themselves, be pampered by beauty pros and have a blast as they work the camera while looking and feeling their best.
We’re pretty sure we all know one special person that is deserving of the royal treatment, maybe a selfless friend who never takes time for themselves, someone who has been ill and needs an uplifting experience, or even someone who has had the negative impact due to COVID-19 the past year – and now’s your chance to nominate them for an incredible makeover experience.
What’s included in the makeover
Up to $1000 value at Kharma Salons towards any beauty service they offer (Hair, brows, lashes – they do it all!)
$500 in customized treatments at boutique clinic Aestheva
The BC government has announced a $45 million investment into harm reduction services and has applied for a federal exemption from Health Canada to decriminalize personal possession of drugs in BC.
On Wednesday, April 14th, BC announced the new investment, which will be distributed over the next three years and will extend and enhance the funding announced last August.
The investment will implement new overdose prevention services, including safe consumption sites, as well as hire new registered nurses who can prescribe addictions treatment, and social workers and peer support workers, for interdisciplinary outreach teams.
Officials for the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions and Health Canada have been working on an agreement to apply for a provincewide exemption to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
The agreement will determine and define simple possession, allowable drug amounts, and ensure the readiness of law enforcement, health and social services to support decriminalization.
It’s unclear when the decision to decriminalize personal drug possession will be made.
Portugal, Switzerland, and the Netherlands are just some of the countries that have decriminalized drug use and the possession for personal use in the past.
“Through provincewide decriminalization, we can reduce the fear and shame that keep people silent about their drug use, and support people to reach out for help, life-saving support and treatment,” said Sheila Malcolmson, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions.
The Province will continue to allocate funds to each of BC’s health authorities.
Five-Year Anniversary of State of Emergency
Today, flags are flying at half-mast around the province in recognition of the five-year anniversary of BC’s public health emergency for substance-related harms.
The Canadian flag at City Hall will be flown at half-mast today from sunrise to sunset to mark five-year anniversary of opioid overdose crisis in B.C. being declared a public health emergency & in memory of British Columbians whose lives have been lost due to this crisis 1/2 pic.twitter.com/jJn68tzSnu
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.
.jpg)
