The City of Victoria’s first publicly accessible electric vehicle DC fast charger has officially opened on Store Street.

This is the city’s latest charging station to be added to its growing electric vehicle network, and the first one that offers Level 3 capabilities.

Offering space for two EVs, the station is located at the south end of Store Street between Johnson Street and Pandora Avenue, near the Johnson Street Bridge.

“We are continuing to build a future-ready city and we know that residents are switching to zero-emission vehicles at a rapid rate,” said Mayor Lisa Helps.

“Not only are these new fast chargers a great step towards reducing emissions and addressing the climate crisis, but they are also going to be a great incentive for EV drivers to come downtown and support our local businesses.”

The installation of the station was included in work to add a new accessible parking space and repaving of Store Street in front of Market Square.

BC Hydro performed the installation work and will be responsible for maintenance of the chargers. The City says the level 3 charger can provide a 100 kilometre range in 30 minutes of charging, depending on the vehicle model.

Currently, the City owns and operates 13 Level 2 (240 volt) chargers in groups of two to four in each of the City’s five parkades, and recently installed six Level 2 chargers along Broad Street.

They are planning to spend an additional $175,000 on further expansions to the City’s EV network in 2021 and 2022.

A trio of baby raccoons are recovering after being found wrapped in fiberglass insulation and dumped at the entrance to a park in Campbell River.

The three kits were taken to MARS Wildlife Rescue Centre where they will be cared for by staff and volunteers for the next months.

MARS Wildlife Rescue Centre tells Victoria Buzz the raccoons were pretty cold when found and the person who found them wrapped them in his sweater as he transported them to their facility.

“Thank you so much to Al for warming them up and bringing them to MARS,” a post read on the MARS Wildlife Rescue Centre Facebook.

According to MARS Wildlife Rescue Centre, the cute little critters had likely been separated from their mom within the 12-hour frame of being found. They are doing well and adjusting to being bottle-fed.

“If you have unwanted raccoons nesting in your attic or shed please get in touch with us or your local rehabber for advice,” said the MARS Wildlife Rescue Centre post.

“While prevention is key, there are humane options for dealing with this situation and encouraging mom to take her babies elsewhere.” 

The raccoons will be released to their mother once they are much better off.

There may something in the air next week around Mount Work.

The CRD has issued an odour advisory for areas around Mount Work Regional Park and Willis Point Road due to work around Hartland Landfill.

The Residuals Treatment Facility located north of the landfill will be carrying out commissioning activities that are likely to generate intermittent odours over the next two weeks.

Staff with the CRD and facility contractors will be trying to limit the source and impact of the odour, and the CRD says these incidents should not be recurring once the Residuals Treatment Facility is fully operational.

“The CRD is mindful of the impact this facility’s commissioning process has on residents and grateful to both our local community and recreational users for their patience,” the CRD stated.

A Nanaimo RCMP officer narrowly escaped injury on Wednesday after an impaired driver sideswiped his cruiser while he was parked roadside.

At around 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 28th, an officer was pulled to the side of the road writing reports on Dufferin Crescent near the Bowen Road intersection.

According to Nanaimo RCMP, he was then surprised when his left side rear view mirror suddenly broke off. The impact jarred him, and he watched as a Jeep SUV careened along the driver side of his vehicle.

Following the collision, the SUV driver did not stop and continued driving.

Luckily, the officer was not injured in the incident and continued after the suspect in the vehicle.

The officer was able to pull over the vehicle successfully, and noticed that when the male driver stepped out of the SUV, there was a very strong odor of liquor present. He was also having difficulty standing, and was needing to lean against his vehicle for support.

The 44-year-old male driver was arrested for impaired driving, then transported to the Nanaimo RCMP detachment. There, he provided breathe samples of 320, 350 and again 350 – all at least 4 times over the legal limit.

Out of an abundance of caution, officers had paramedics transport the suspect to hospital for possible alcohol poisoning, where he was treated then later released.

The driver was served a 90-day driving prohibition and his vehicle was impounded for 30 days, as well as a court appearance notice for August 3rd.

“Given his gross state of impairment, the time of day and the amount of traffic in that area, this situation could have easily turned tragic,” said Constable Gary O’Brien.

Five years ago, BC declared a public health emergency due to the opioid-crisis.

This past March, the BC Coroners Service has reported that toxic illicit drugs have claimed the lives of 158 more British Columbians – raising the total number of deaths in the province for the year to 498.

The 158 new deaths show a 41% increase over the 112 deaths recorded in March 2020, and this also ties the previous high for March established in 2018.

Additionally, for the third month in a row, BC saw 5 people lose their lives to illicit drugs each day.

“Once again, we are reminded of the incredible toll that the toxic drug emergency is having on communities throughout our province,” said Lisa Lapointe, chief coroner, BC Coroners Service.

“The illicit drug supply in British Columbia is volatile and unpredictable, and anyone using a substance from this unregulated market is vulnerable to serious injury or death.”

According to the BC Coroners Service, the drug supply continues to remain unstable and toxic; carfentanil was detected in 18 deaths in March, bringing the total number of carfentanil-related deaths in 2021 to 48.

There has also been an increased rate of benzodiazepine detection in drugs, up 15% in samples from July 2020 to 51% in samples from February 2021.

“There are no simple solutions to the toxic drug crisis this province is experiencing,” Lapointe said.

“Problematic substance use is widespread throughout our province, and evidence-based strategies, such as supervised consumption and drug-checking services, prescription alternatives and accessible and meaningful treatment and recovery options, are essential to reduce the death and suffering.”

According to the report, the number of illicit drug toxicity deaths in March 2021 was about 5.1 deaths per day, and in 2021 so far, 69% of those dying were aged 30 to 59.

Males have also accounted for 80% of deaths in 2021.

By health authority in BC, the highest death rates in 2021 are in Northern Health (57 deaths per 100,000 individuals) and Vancouver Coastal Health (45 per 100,000).

So far, no deaths have been reported at supervised consumption or drug overdose prevention sites.

On April 22nd, Island Health warned of overdose spike on Vancouver Island, including Victoria.

Island Health also offered these safe practices for safer use:

• Visit your local Overdose Prevention Service (OPS)
• Have your drugs checked at your local OPS
• Carry Naloxone and have an overdose response plan
• Do a tester; try a little before your regular hit
• Fix with a friend; if alone, be close to help
• Try the LifeguardApp on your phone www.lifeguarddh.com
• Contact the National Overdose Response Service at 1-888-688-6677
• Stagger your use with a friend, so someone can respond if needed

Those are some expensive donuts.

VicPD’s traffic unit impounded a vehicle and consequently served the driver with almost $800 in violation tickets on Wednesday afternoon, after receiving reports of the Chevrolet Camaro doing donuts on the grass in Irving Park.

Just after 1 p.m. yesterday, VicPD were called to the park in the 200-block of Menzies Street in James Bay, where they located the vehicle and driver of the Camaro, parked next to circular marks on the grass.

After continuing their investigation, police learned that not only was the vehicle unregistered, it was also uninsured – and the driver had driven from Alberta to Victoria with the intent of camping in a park.

At the time of the incident, the vehicle was around 30 metres from a playground occupied with children.

VicPD impounded the vehicle for seven days for ‘stunting’, and also served the driver with $794 in violation tickets for no insurance, and driving without consideration.

If anyone has information about this incident, they’re asked to call the VicPD Report Desk at (250) 995-7654.

To report what you know anonymously, call Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

VicPD arrested a man with a violent criminal history less than two hours after he was released on Tuesday.

On April 27th, around 10 a.m., VicPD, working with Community Services Division (CSD) and the Behavioural Assessment and Management Unit (BAMU) worked to monitor a 38-year-old man upon his release from custody.

VicPD expressed significant public safety concerns about the man’s likelihood of reoffending, given his violent criminal history.

The man has over 70 criminal convictions, including a number of unprovoked and random assaults and offences which include assault with a weapon, assault causing bodily harm, assaulting a police officer, robbery, uttering threats, weapons possession, and numerous breaches of release orders.

Noted by police was an incident in 2019 when he injured several correctional facility staff with a makeshift weapon, and an incident in 2020, when he assaulted a stranger who confronted him for pulling on vehicle door handles in a parking lot.

At the time of his release, the man was bound by the conditions of his probation.

Shortly after 11:30 a.m., on the day of his release, officers observed the man breach several of his probation conditions.

Police arrested him in the 800-block of Johnson street without incident.

He was then transported to VicPD cells where he was held in custody.

The Comox Valley RCMP are looking to speak to anyone who may have near St. Joseph’s Hospital Tuesday afternoon after the body of a man was recovered from the harbour.

On April 27th, at approximately 3:45 p.m., the body of a man was discovered offshore in the ocean, near St. Joseph’s Hospital.

Police said the circumstances surrounding his death are still under investigation and the BC Coroners Service is assisting with the Comox Valley RCMP.

“Anyone who drove, cycled, or walked in this area and saw something of interest, please give us a call to speak with investigators,” said Cst. Monika Terragni, Media Relations Officer, Comox Valley RCMP.

According to Comox Fire Rescue Chief Gord Schreiner, the victim was in three feet of water in the mudflats by the hospital.

No other details were released about the victim.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Comox Valley RCMP at (250) 338-1321 and refer to file 2021-6590. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).

A warehouse and distribution facility proposed to the Victoria Airport Authority (VAA) was presented to Sidney council Monday evening.

According to a staff report presented to council on April 26th, York Realty has applied to the VAA for the construction of a 486,937 square foot multi-storey distribution warehouse facility at 9899 McDonald Park Road.

The realtor is representing a business tenant whose identity has not been publicly disclosed. During the presentation, the facility’s purpose was identified as being a delivery site for a large-scale distributor.

The height of the proposed facility is 22.76 metres. This exceeds the VAA’s height regulations, but Town of Sidney staff say the authority has accepted a variance.

The height also exceeds the Town of Sidney’s regulations, however, the final decision for approval of the development rests with VAA.

A Memorandum of Understanding between the VAA and the Town of Sidney requires that applications on VAA lands be forwarded for review to the Town of Sidney and/or District of North Saanich.

“We’re not the decision-makers,” said Sidney councillor Peter Wainwright during Monday’s presentation.

“Basically, all we do is make some recommendations to VAA. We’ve got a good relation, they’ll probably follow them. But I’m certain that our community’s going to have quite a bit of interest in this.”

Wainwright went on to express concerns with public engagement, saying that a significant portion of the community is likely to not have heard about the development until Monday night’s presentation.

Matt Woolsey, president of York Realty, said his company was only following the application process and that he could not take ownership of frustrations with that process.

“We are absolutely open to feedback from the community,” he said in reply to a question from Wainwright on if there would be more opportunities for engagement.

Other councillors expressed reservations about how the large-scale development could affect the direction of the community.

“This is something that is going to be with us and shape who we are in the future, so we have to look at this very, very carefully,” said councillor Barbara Fallot.

“For me, it is the personality of who we are as a community, and what this is going to do for us. Is it a price that we’re willing to pay? Are the benefits something that our community wants?”

In order to comply with the Memorandum of Understanding between the VAA and the Town of Sidney, the Town must respond with comments to the proposal by May 11, 2021.

Public feedback for the proposal can be submitted through email.

A RCMP officer who has been posted throughout Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands was awarded for work in reconciliation on Monday.

Corporal Chistopher Voller was one of the recipients of the inaugural British Columbia Reconciliation Award, created in partnership between BC Achievement and The Office of the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia.

A 14-year veteran of the force, Voller is now in his fifth posting — this time as the detachment commander of the Quadra Island RCMP — following nine years on the North Island.

BC Achievement says that throughout his service, Voller has been confronting the RCMP’s need to address its history and build or rebuild trust with communities, particularly Indigenous ones.

“We existed as an enforcement agency when the Government created policies that forcefully removed children from their families in order to place them in schooling systems that saw them lose their sense of personal and cultural identity,” Voller said.

During his time around Port Hardy and Port McNeill, Voller oversaw an Indigenous unit serving the Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw, Quatsino and Kwakiutl communities, according to the National Police Federation.

He has been credited with having a positive impact in these communities and was nominated for the reconciliation award by both Indigenous and police leaders.

Voller was also invited to dance at a potlatch held by the Nakwaxda’xw hereditary Chief. During the dance, the Chief and Voller exchanged pieces of Voller’s police uniform and regalia from the Chief.

“He’s one of several leaders with whom I’ve formed a connection that will last a lifetime,” Voller said.

The RCMP officer added that he hopes the award will draw attention to the need for education and wants to give hope to people who continue to feel the negative effects of colonization.

Voller was the only award recipient from Vancouver Island.

Other recipients included Grand Chief Stewart Phillip from Penticton, Dr. David Suzuki, Squamish Nation elder and leader Xele’milh-Doris Paul, and the Kelowna-based research team xaȼqanaǂ ʔitkiniǂ (Many Ways of Doing the Same Thing).

Downtown Sidney will be getting its very own ‘nanobrewery’ this summer if all goes according to plan.

On Monday, Sidney council met to consider a report that recommended the municipality get views on plans by Beacon Brewing to open a small brewery this upcoming August, featuring a tasting room for up to 45 people.

The proposed business would be at 9837 Third Street and would operate out of the first floor of the mixed-use commercial and residential building – which is currently under construction.

According to the council report, Beacon Brewing will be a small-scale brewery, featuring a tasting room with pints, tasting flights and small scale, out of house sales.

Nanobreweries brew in very small batches, and differ from microbreweries because they typically produce no more than 500 liters per batch, and usually do not deal in large scale distribution of product outside of the tasting room.

Beacon Brewing has applied to the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch (LCRB) for a liquor license with lounge area, and the council report says this will fall under the pub or brew pub categories; which allow alcoholic beverages to be consumed on site as long as there is food accompaniment.

Only the LCRB can approve or deny applications, but the Town of Sidney can also gather the written views of residents, showing their support or opposition.

Additionally, the municipality will also directly contact by mail owners and tenants occupying property within 100 metres of the proposed business.

In their letter to the mayor and council, Beacon Brewing details why they’d be an excellent addition to Sidney’s downtown core.

“We plan on having approximately 3-5 flagship beers that will stay in production continually and then rotate 2-5 seasonal/experimental brews that will rotate after one or two batches, with a guest tap or two and at least one local craft cider,” says Beacon Brewing.

“Bingo nights, car club days, live music, and hosting ticketed events are just some of the ideas we have in mind to bring people from all stages of life into the taproom as well.”

As the weather warms up, most Victorians will be digging out their summer attire.

But according to one local middle school, that may pose a problem, and they’ve gone as far as to say this type of clothing could be considered “distracting or disruptive” to other students.

Spencer Middle School in Langford sent out an email to parents on Monday outlining their dress code policy, beginning it with, “As the sun comes out and the temperatures begin to warm up, the clothes seem to come off.”

The email goes on to state that the school is a “place of business,” and that “clothes and appearance must not create a distracting or disruptive situation in the class room.”

But one parent at Spencer Middle School says this is simply not acceptable.

Tina Clark, whose son attends grade seven at Spencer, believes that there are bigger issues at hand than just the wording of the policy.

“I just think it specifically targets children that identify as female,” Clark said in an interview with Victoria Buzz.

“As a mother of a boy, I’m also insulted – the policy implies that boys are incapable of controlling themselves around girls.”

The letter sent to parents yesterday is below:

The Spencer Middle School website also detailed the policy – which has since been removed – stating that clothing with thin straps, bare midriffs, short shorts or low-cut fronts is not permitted.

It also says that backpacks and purses are not permitted in class, which leads to a whole other host of issues, Clark continued.

“Girls could need menstrual products in class, and if I sent my son with something he needed in school, I would not expect him to have to go to his locker to get it.”

“It’s just archaic,” Clark said, referring to the policy.

On Tuesday morning, prior to this publication, the dress code policy was removed from the Spencer Middle School website.

Spencer Middle School has received mixed reactions from parents and the public regarding the policy since then, some sharing their disappointment, while others showed support.

A post on a social media group regarding the email has also garnered much attention, receiving hundreds of comments, some supporting and many against the policy.

Since then, the school’s principal, Darren Russell, has responded to the concerns stating that the dress code policy has been changed moving forward, and that the school has been “working on the code of conduct over the last few years” and they had “used the wording we had in place for last year.”

“The code of conduct sent out yesterday is outdated. We have a newly developed one. We’ve never had a “dress code” per say,” Lindsay Vogan, Communications Manager at Sooke School District #62 said in a statement to Victoria Buzz.

“Only rules against wearing something that is openly discriminatory or violent towards others.”

The updated code of conduct sent out this morning is as follows:

ACCEPTABLE CONDUCT

• The school expects that students will actively participate through effort and punctual, regular attendance, in their assigned education program.
• Students are expected to respect the rights and property of all Spencer staff and students.
• Students are expected to comply with classroom expectations set by individual teachers in order to ensure that all students’ rights to effective and efficient learning environments are respected.
• Students are expected to wear clothing that is appropriate for an educational environment.
• Students are expected to respect all school and school related events and ensure they are free from use of restricted substances, weapons and of intimidation.
• Students are expected to respect the appropriate use of school computers and internet access.
• Cell phones are to be turned off and stored in locker throughout the day.
• Students are expected to stay on campus throughout the entire day.

The Saanich Peninsula Hospital celebrated the opening of their new and expanded Day Surgery Unit earlier this month, a project that was five years in the making.

The new section of the hospital opened for use on Monday, April 12th and can be viewed as a virtual tour of the new facility

As a part of the opening ceremonies, local First Nations elders May Sam, Patti Underwood and Barb Henry conducted a blessing for the new facility.

This project, which has been in development for five years, will assist staff to care for patients in an area of the hospital that has grown in importance.

Day surgery, or outreach surgery, does not require an overnight stay.

“As surgical techniques advance and surgeons increase the use of laparoscopic techniques, more and more surgeries can be done as day surgery,” said Jessica Johnson, Director, Saanich Peninsula and the Gulf Islands.

“This modernization will further improve access for patients requiring medical, surgical and endoscopic care, and by consolidating activity in one part of the hospital, we will be able to increase our efficiency.”

The unit includes features such as a waiting room, lockers for an individual’s belongings, change rooms, more storage for medical supplies and expanded space to handle an increased amount of patients and hospital staff.

The Foundation has raised $65 million dollars for equipment, facilities and programs both at the Saanich Peninsula Hospital and in the community.

The project itself totalled $3.5 million which was made possible by local donors.

Watch the virtual tour of the new unit: