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Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.'s provincial health officer, and Adrian Dix, Minister of Health (Colin Smith Takes Pics)
The BC Ministry of Health reported 1,889 new cases of COVID-19 since Saturday, April 3rd. Additionally, the province released revised numbers for Saturday and Sunday.
Since Thursday, there are have been 4,040 new cases of the virus reported in BC.
The breakdown per day:
Thursday to Friday: 1,074
Friday to Saturday: 1,077 – highest total to date
Saturday to Sunday: 999
Sunday to Monday: 890
There have been a total of 104,061 cases since the pandemic began in BC. A total of 94,806 people who tested positive have recovered.
New cases were reported in these health regions since Saturday:
Vancouver: 25,182 (+579)
Fraser: 58,654 (+986)
Vancouver Island: 3,521 (+100)
Interior: 8,735 (+129)
Northern: 5,681 (+95)
Residents of other countries: 179 (+0)
There are now a total of 318 people in hospital due to COVID-19, 96 of whom are in critical care — ICU or acute care units.
There have been 23 new deaths from COVID making the provincial death toll at 1,4686.
There are 8,490 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, with 11,989 people under public health monitoring as a result of identified exposure to known cases.
Island Health
There have been no updates since Thursday, the next update is expected around 4 p.m. Tuesday. There are currently 425 active cases in the Island Health region.
Vaccinations and Variants
To date, 893,590 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in BC, 87,472 of which are second doses.
Since April 1, there have been 916 new confirmed COVID-19 cases that are variants of concern in our province, for a total of 3,559 cases (588 are active).
This includes 2,771 cases of the B.1.1.7 (U.K.) variant, 51 cases of the B.1.351 (South Africa) variant, and 737 cases of the P.1 (Brazil) variant.
As of 8 a.m. tomorrow, all people 71 years and older, Indigenous peoples 18 and older, and those who have received their ‘clinically extremely vulnerable’ letter in the mail may book their vaccine appointment online, by telephone through B.C.’s new provincial call-in centre or in-person at a Service BC location.
While we haven’t been able to enjoy a live game in a little while, soccer culture in Victoria is alive and well – and thanks to Pacific FC’s all-new training facility, some very lucky budding soccer stars will get to train with the best of the best.
We’ve even partnered with PFC to give away two free registrations to the program – contest details on that PLUS a massive grand prize are below!
Led by PFC’s Technical Director, James Merriman, the Trident Development Program will take place at the all-new multi-sport Island Training Centre – the 55,000-square-foot facility in Langford is actually home to the largest indoor field house in British Columbia.
The Trident Development Program looks to provide motivated players with the opportunity to train consistently over the Spring season (Apr/May/June/July), with two training sessions per week through-out the 12 week comprehensive program.
The training environment will follow the current Phase 1 guidelines, and the program will adapt in terms of training phase based on health authority, via sport and BC Soccer restriction updates. Health and safety of the players, families and staff will remain at the forefront of the training environment.
The program is available to two different sets of ages, U8 – U11 and U12 – U14, and schedule will run as follows, beginning in April:
You can sign-up to register for the program here, but make sure you snag a spot before they’re all gone!
Even better, you can win one of two free registrations below OR the chance to win a grand prize of a Suite night at a PFC game, once they’re back in action!
CONTEST
To enter to win one of two free registrations to the Trident Development Program OR a Suite night at a PFC game, please do one or more of the following:
COMMENT below who your favourite soccer star is! (1 entry)
Contest entries will be accepted from the time and date of publishing until 11:59 p.m on Thursday, April 8th. One winner will be chosen at random and contacted through the platform they used to enter. Make sure to register when commenting below.
Three more Greater Victoria schools have reported COVID-19 exposures since yesterday.
On Saturday, the Greater Victoria School district report both Oaklands Elementary and Cedar Hill Middle School confirmed they had experienced COVID-19 exposures.
The dates of exposure at Cedar Hill Middle School were March 30th, 31st and April 1st.
This is the second exposure warning for Cedar Hill Middle School this week.
Oaklands Elementary School’s exposure dates were March 29th, 30th and 31st.
Additionally, the Sooke School District reported Belmont Secondary School’s exposure date was April 1st.
Also, a letter sent to parents of students who attend Dunsmuir Middle School confirmed a exposure.
The potential exposure dates Dunsmuir Middle School are March 29th, 30th, and 31st.
Island Health is completing contact tracing to identify any individuals that need to self-isolate or self-monitor for symptoms.
If an individual may have been exposed, Island Health will contact them directly.
Earlier this week, the Greater Victoria School District warned of two separate positive cases at two schools.
On Wednesday night, the school district issued a COVID-19 exposure at Oak Bay High School.
The potential date of that exposure was March 30th.
There are currently 7,571 active cases in the province with 425 of those cases being in the Island Health region.
Thrifty Foods has confirmed several employees at multiple locations have tested positive for COVID-19.
According to Sobeys, the parent company of Thrifty Foods, one employee working at Thrifty Foods on Quadra Street in Saanich Centre recently tested positive for the virus and two employees working at the Thrifty Foods in Parksville also tested positive.
The two Parksville employees last worked on March 23rd and March 28th while the Saanich employee last worked on March 31st.
Similar to Loblaws, Sobeys has a running list on their website of positive cases at their stores in order to be transparent with the public.
“We will always follow the guidance of Public Health to support our teammates who are impacted by COVID-19,” Sobeys said on its website.
The province provided a rare update on new on Saturday which saw 2,090 new COVID-19 cases reported in BC for a two-day period. 147 of those cases were in the Island Health region.
A new cannabis shop has landed on the island, and they’re celebrating their grand opening in an amazing way.
Flight Cannabis Co.in Nanaimo is ready for lift off and open 7 days a week for all of your canna-related needs, from greenery to accessories and everything in between.
The all new retail space is conveniently located on Bruce Avenue in Nanaimo, and offers a wide range of products you can choose from, based on feel and on form.
On top of this, Flight also hosts a handy strain guide in case you’re curious to try something new or just need a little more info on what to buy and they focus on BC products first and foremost – so you’re supporting local when you buy.
The Island’s latest cannabis retailer officially takes flight and opens their doors to the public on April 4th and are hosting an amazing giveaway to mark the momentous occasion, looking to give readers their own chance to experience the beauty of Nanaimo.
One lucky winner will be privy to a Fly & Dine package for themselves PLUS three friends, that starts off with a floatplane tour that takes a scenic flight from Nanaimo’s historic waterfront and soars above the Harbour City and the Southern Gulf Islands including Newcastle Island Provincial Park.
Following the flight, you and your three guests will enjoy a first class dining experience in historic, downtown Nanaimo.
Want to win this prize package for yourself and your pals? Head over to Flight’s website and follow a few simple steps, and you could be flying high in no time!
Contest is open until April 20th, 2021, and you must be 19 years of age to enter. Winner must pick up prize at Flight’s retail location in Nanaimo at 101-847 Bruce Avenue. No purchase necessary!
A mattress fire at a residence in Sidney on Saturday evening resulted in one person being transported to hospital, according to a witness.
At around 8 p.m. on April 3rd, Sidney Fire Department along with multiple emergency crews responded to a fire that reportedly originated in a basement suite on Bradford Avenue.
A witness who lives two doors down from where the blaze occurred, Olivia Clarke, told Victoria Buzz that a man returned home to his residence to find it filled with smoke.
Upon checking with his roommate downstairs, he found that a mattress had been set ablaze, and the roommate appeared to be heavily intoxicated.
The intoxicated man was reportedly treated for smoke inhalation on scene, and transported to hospital with possible burns from the fire.
The witness adds that an elderly woman also shares the residence with the two men, but was able to escape without injuries, along with a dog.
Emergency crews were able to contain the blaze to the one suite, though still remain on scene.
Victoria Buzz has reached out to Sidney Fire Department for more information.
Langford’s famed Western Speedway is already planning its return for the 2021 and 2022 seasons, but along with the comeback comes a brand new name.
Newly minted “Westshore Speedway” announced their imminent return on Friday, which follows the 81-acre property being purchased by a new owner in 2020.
Races have been given the green light to continue on-site until September of 2022, and the new owners of the property have offered the city $2.5 million to help find a new spot and rebuild the racecourse.
In a press release, Westshore Speedway said the name change is due to legal reasons.
According to the speedway, the previous owner’s lawyers informed them that the continued use of ‘Western Speedway’ would suggest an improper association with an existing business, Western Speedway 1966 Ltd., and could cause extensive financial damages as a result.
“Although we believe the support of the fans and racers over the years of the speedway have given meaning to the “Western Speedway” name, we have been given no choice but to change the operating name of the speedway in order to avoid litigation,” the statement says.
“Western Promotions would like to thank the community for their continued support,” reads the statement.
“Our goal is to continue to provide an excellent opportunity for family entertainment in the Westshore.”
As a result of the change, all of Westshore Speedway’s social media pages, websites, email addresses and company branding will be updated with the new name.
A GoFundMe has been started for a local Vancouver Island resident who has sustained multiple c-spine fractures in a mountain bike accident.
The GoFundMe is in support of Robin Norris, a husband, doctor, and father of three.
According to the fundraiser, Norris is currently in ICU and has a breathing tube.
He will eventually be transferred to the specialized spine unit and then into rehab.
The fundraiser has a goal of $100,000 and has raised over $88,000.
According to the fundraiser, the money raised will be put towards home renovations, equipment, and costs associated with Robin’s condition.
His wife, Kate Mehaffey, has been providing updates on Robin’s condition on the fundraising page.
“When I told Robin about the GoFundMe page, he furrowed his brow in a very Robin way and told me ‘That’s silly, they should donate it to someone who needs it a lot more than we do’,” Kate said.
“At his [Robin’s] request, we have earmarked the same amount of money back to a good cause in the community in the future if it is at all feasible for us to do so.”
Robin Norris is a physician and his wife, Kate, is a maternity and addiction medicine physician.
Organizer of the GoFundMe page, Sarah Kluge, wrote, “They do so much for our community, let’s do this for them.”
A widespread effort to stop the spread of an invasive species in BC has resulted in the seizure or surrender of nearly 3,000 suspected or confirmed zebra mussel infested moss balls.
Invasive zebra mussels have been found in aquarium and water-garden moss balls sold in pet stores and garden centres across BC and Canada.
Often called “Marimo moss balls,” nearly 3,000 of these ornamental moss balls suspected or confirmed to be contaminated with zebra mussels have been seized or surrendered to conservation officers.
To date, there has been no reported introduction of live zebra mussels into BC lakes or waterways.
Zebra mussels are a highly invasive species that pose a serious threat to Canada’s aquatic ecosystems, fish populations, hydropower stations, and other infrastructure since they multiply rapidly and are extremely difficult to eradicate once they become established in an area.
Suspected or lab-confirmed contaminated moss balls have been found in Terrace, Invermere, Kamloops, the Lower Mainland and on Vancouver Island. Most of the moss balls seized were found on the Lower Mainland.
Several people have reported finding what they believed were zebra mussels in their home aquariums.
Investigations have linked some potentially contaminated moss balls to international shipments.
Many retailers and distributors are cooperating by voluntarily pulling the moss balls from their shelves. The continued cooperation from the industry is commended.
The BC Conservation Officer Service continues to work with the ministry’s science experts and Fisheries and Oceans Canada, as well as other federal, provincial and territorial partners to address the situation.
(Fairy Creek Yellow Cedar photo courtesy of Ancient Forest Alliance)
The BC Supreme Court has granted an injunction to remove protestors and road blockages at the old growth forest in Fairy Creek near Port Renfrew.
Old growth forests are defined as forests that are more than 250 years old.
The road blockades began in early August 2020 and there have been eight blockades at various locations and adjacent roads throughout the planned cut block in Tree Forest License 46.
Last Saturday, Fairy Creek conservation protests took place at the legislature in Victoria, and last February protestors crowded John Horgan’s constituency office in Langford.
The road blockages at Fairy Creek continue to persist despite the injunction, but no action has been taken by police or by the Surrey-owned logging company who will be logging the forest, the Teal-Jones Group.
The protestors refer to themselves as the “Rainforest Flying Squad” and on their website have said, “Despite the injunction granted to the logging company today in court, Fairy Creek forest defenders vow to continue the fight to protect old-growth forests.”
The Teal-Jones group said about 200 hectares of the approximately 1,200 hectares in the Fairy Creek watershed would be harvested. 722 hectares are protected old growth forest.
(Photo from Rainforest Flying Squad website)
The Fairy Creek old growth forest resides on Pacheedaht nation territory and some members of the Pacheedaht nation territory have expressed their support for the protestors.
Bill Jones, of the nation, stated that the old growth forest within the Fairy Creek watershed is essential to his culture and religion.
The old growth forest is also part of Premier Horgan’s riding, but Premier Horgan has failed to comment and has deferred all communications to his Forestry Minister Catrine Conroy.
Conroy said the government respects the right to peaceful protest, but that it expects people to follow the law.
A GoFundMe has been set up to cover the legal funds for protestors with a goal of $200,000.
As of this publication, over $160,000 has been raised.
“70% of all donated money has been reserved for our legal fund, and this will continue. The court has also awarded damages to the logging company,” said Yogi Shambu, the organizer of the GoFundMe.
Damages awarded from the court are due to a loss of Teal-Jones employees losing wages of “$350 to $400 each for every day of work lost,” according to the court.
Protesters have continued their road blockages, as of this publication.
Logging has been curtailed in recent years. In 2019, the Teal-Jones group began laying off over 500 employees. Logging Fairy Creek is set to employ many of those who lost their jobs.
A single-vehicle collision in Saanich this morning resulted in a 90-day immediate roadside prohibition, and 30-day impound.
At around 9:30 a.m. on Good Friday morning, April 2nd, Saanich Police were called to Shelbourne Street for reports of a collision.
Officers responded and approached the driver of the car, whose front end was heavily damaged.
The driver stated they had been drinking last night, and they thought they were ok to drive this morning, Saanich Police reported.
Starting our Good Friday morning with a single vehicle collision on Shelbourne St. Driver stated they drank last night and thought they were ok to drive. Driver was issued a 90-Day Immediate Roadside Prohibition and 30-Day impound. #dontdrinkanddrive#saanichbcpic.twitter.com/8z6ALldKEf
— Saanich Police Traffic Safety Unit (@SPD_Traffic) April 2, 2021
The Greater Victoria School District has issued another possible COVID-19 exposure at one of its schools late Thursday night.
In a tweet, the district said Cedar Hill Middle School has experienced a COVID-19 exposure.
The potential date of exposure is March 29th.
Island Health is completing contact tracing to identify any individuals that need to self-isolate or self-monitor for symptoms.
If an individual may have been exposed, Island Health will contact them directly.
The exposure has not yet been added to Island Health’s website as of this publication.
Cedar Hill Middle School has experienced a COVID-19 exposure. The potential date of exposure is March 29th, 2021. Island Health is completing contact tracing to identify any individuals that need to self-isolate or self-monitor for symptoms. pic.twitter.com/BedyvDW6Kn
— Greater Victoria School District (@sd61schools) April 2, 2021
UPDATE: VicPD have confirmed the suspect in this incident has been identified.
— earlier:
VicPD are seeking the public’s help in identifying a suspect after an incident where a woman chased a security guard with a knife in a mall parking lot.
At 12:30 p.m this afternoon, April 1st, officers were called to Hillside Shopping Centre for a report of a woman brandishing a knife towards a security guard.
The woman fled with a man before the officers could arrive.
Officers investigated and learned that the suspect had been in a loud argument with a man in the parking lot. Security asked the pair to leave the property and that’s when the woman threatened the security guard, brandished the knife and chased him.
The security guard called 9-1-1 and was not physically injured in the incident.
VicPD described the suspect as Caucasian woman in her 20s with long brown hair, wearing black clothing, standing 5 ft. 5, with a slim build.
If you recognize this suspect or have information about this incident, VicPD are asking you to call their non-emergency line at (250) 995-7654.
To report what you know anonymously, please call Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477
Typically, the common tactic for journalists is to surprise the reader at the end of the post, but I’m going to be upfront about it here: it’s April Fool’s Day. Understand? Everybody got it?
Good. This piece hinges on you knowing that today is a day of lies. Rather than offering you some fake comically light-hearted news, I can make this non-holiday about me. An occasion of pure selfishness.
If Schrodinger’s Cat could be a day, it would be April Fool’s Day, where truth and fiction meld into a superimposed feline that MAYBE pushed all your stuff off your desk and/or MAYBE loves you.
In this case, I’m counting on this day to mask my deep personal shames, a chance to finally get some things off my chest.
Ready to play? I SURE AM, LET’S DO THIS FOOLS (beloved readers).
Secret Shame #1: I hoard plastic straws
Ever since governments and social media opinion turned against plastic straws, I have been living a double life chastising environmental laggards with one side of my brain, while secreting away dozens or even hundreds of 8 to 10-inch soda rods with the other.
It’s like a switch went off in my head, and I internally decided we were headed for a Mad Max-esque apocalypse where straws replace all forms of currency. Well, the joke will be on YOU, Immortan, when I DRINK YOUR WATER UP with my plastic pile of plenty.
Secret Shame #2: I am under the age of 60 and unironically enjoy Murdoch Mysteries
WELL, I mostly enjoy it. Except for when Emily Grace left, and then they killed off Robert Parker, but they KEPT Rupert Newsome?
I just want William to be happy, and that means ditching that harridan Dr. Ogden and shacking up with hottie mchottie Anna Fulford, who is definitely NOT dead shut up shut up-
Oh lord, I’m providing way too many details, aren’t I? Nobody’s going to believe this one is a lie.
Secret Shame #3: I hate all squirrels
I’m just going to say it: squirrels are monsters. Thieving little no good trickster gerbils.
Ever see a cartoon squirrel with lasting appeal? Hell no. Chip and Dale: Rescue SQUIRRELS? I think not.
Brown squirrels are moderately tolerable at the best of times. Gray squirrels are just awful. I once saw a black squirrel in the company of a rat, I swear to god.
I don’t care if it gets me cancelled, someone had to say it.
Secret Shame #4: I accept only the freshest of groceries
If you’ve ever gone to the supermarket and found only items with expiry dates the next day or, at best, the day after…it’s my fault. I did that.
I am that guy who reaches past the stuff they deliberately move to the front, the things that are juuuust about to go off, and grabs at the things that came in straight from the distribution warehouse.
I am the one who will turn his nose up at bakery items made the day before my arrival, like a debauched Roman emperor sneering at a plate of grapes that were carried by an insufficiently nubile slave.
I am Foodor, the chooser of choice meats and picker of fresh produce. Fear my long shadow approaching your Thrifty’s.
Secret Shame #5: I thought “Paw Patrol” was “Papa Troll” for an uncomfortably long time
When I was working an office gig, a coworker brought their kid in one day while their partner was away.
To keep them occupied, they let them watch cartoons on their computer.
Now, I was down the hall, and I heard the theme song, and somehow the uptempo beat melded “Paw Patrol” into “Papa Troll.”
The child LOVED this cartoon, which again I could not see. And that instilled in me a deep belief that children around the world had embraced a love of gross, hulking monsters that dwelled under bridges.
You can imagine my personal disappointment upon learning that they in fact loved cute, four-legged animals.
So much for my hopes at finally making a connection with my niece.
Secret Shame #6: I have no family photos in my home and I worry it makes me look like a psychopath
Like many people, I have been binging old TV recently, trying to give my brain some calming medicine for the world’s woes.
My choice program at the moment is Criminal Minds, and at multiple junctures I have seen these characters at a crime scene, remarking “no family photos. This guy’s a regular Ted Bundy.”
Is that…a thing? Like really a thing?
Because I haven’t hung a picture of my family in my home for like…a decade.
I don’t THINK I’m a psychopath, but that also sounds suspiciously like something a psychopath would say.
Well, the good news is, it’s April Fool’s Day, so if the prosecution brings this post forward for my inevitable trial as the Victoria Squirrel Slayer, I have deniability.
Merry Fool’s Day to all, and to all a good lie!
Welcome to Ford on Fridays (on Thursday today): 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.
BC Housing has purchased another building in Victoria to help provide temporary shelter space for people experiencing homelessness in the capital city.
The property located at 225 Russell Street will provide indoor shelter to roughly 70 people experiencing homelessness in Victoria.
The building is currently undergoing renovations to provide wraparound supports for residents and is expected to be ready for occupancy before the end of April.
“In order to hit our target of bringing everyone in tents in parks in Victoria inside by the end of April, this building is a necessary part of the plan,” said David Eby, Attorney General and Minister Responsible for Housing.
“While this purchase helps us reach our initial goal of dignified shelter by the end of next month, the site will also support our work to deliver stable, safe, long-term homes for people living in parks in Victoria when it is ultimately redeveloped.”
This purchase is part of the commitment between the Province and City of Victoria to move more than 200 people currently living in encampments indoors by April 30, 2021.
The province invested $9.4 million to purchase the building and the annual operating cost is expected to be around $2 million.
A real estate listing shows the property was listed for sale last year at $3.4 million, however, after going unsold for five months, the listing expired — it’s unclear where the extra $6 million will be going.
According to a source – who requested anonymity – the building was sold to a local investor and company in December, who then flipped the property at a much higher price to the province.
In a statement to Victoria Buzz, BC Housing provided an update on a breakdown of costs for the property which was purchased for $9,319,500.
“This includes $8 million for the land, as well design and construction costs for the future conversion of the existing building into a 40-unit permanent supportive housing building as well as renovations required to set up a temporary shelter for 70 individuals,” said a representative from BC Housing.
“An independent appraisal was completed by Phung Horwood on March 25th, 2021 and valued the property at $8.2 million,” the statement from BC Housing said.
Since January 2021, the province, City of Victoria, and outreach workers have partnered to move 116 people experiencing homelessness throughout Victoria into supportive housing units and shelter spaces, including Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre and the Capital City Centre Hotel.
The temporary shelter will remain open for 18 months and will be extended an additional 6 months if needed.
Following its use as a temporary shelter, BC Housing will engage the community on a redevelopment proposal for supportive housing, which will follow the municipal rezoning process.
BC Housing said they will be reaching out to neighbourhood associations, local businesses and other stakeholders and will be inviting neighbours to a virtual information session to learn more about the project.
WARNING: This story contains details that some readers may find upsetting.
An investigation into the death of a Courtenay man who died by suicide has cleared the RCMP of wrongdoing in the incident.
The Independent Investigation Office of British Columbia (IIOBC) says that officers acted reasonably during and after the execution of a search warrant late last summer.
A man inside told officers that the warrant was for him, and one of the officers activated an audio recorder as they searched inside.
The audio recording captured the conversation between the man and another of the officers, who stayed with the man while the search was underway.
According to IIOBC, the conversation turned highly personal and the man said that he wanted kill himself.
This prompted the officer to inquire about the man’s wellbeing.
“When you say these thing [sic] to me as a police officer I have to take these things very seriously, okay?” the officer can be heard saying, according to the report.
“So when you make those comments to me I have to act upon them. And if you really feel that way, then it’s my obligation as a human being and as a police office [sic] to make sure that you are safe. Because above and beyond any of this, you’re still a human.”
No other direct quotations from the audio recording were included in the public decision released by IIOBC.
The decision goes on to say that the conversation continued for 52 minutes, and concluded with the man saying he no longer wanted to commit suicide.
According to IIOBC, the man offered “concrete and compelling examples” of reasons to live.
The RCMP departed the residence at approximately 9:06 a.m. The officer who had spoken to the man informed one of the other two officers about the conversation, but also said that they felt it was safe to leave.
Two roommates of the man were also present during the search but did not hear the conversation between the officer and the man.
Shortly after police departed, one of the roommates phoned police to inquire if they would be returning and was informed they would not. The officer who had spoken to the man earlier also asked to speak to the man again and took down his date of birth.
Approximately 12 hours later, one of the roommates called the police again and told them he had not seen the man who had expressed suicidal thoughts all day.
RCMP responded to the residence and found the man deceased from an overdose. A suicide note was found near his body, which read “I told Blond cop this was going to happen.”
IIOBC Chief Civilian Director Ronald MacDonald wrote in his decision that the officer who had spoken to the man acted reasonably and in a manner that did not represent “a marked and substantial departure from the appropriate standard of care.”
“The challenge in a case such as this is that in hindsight it appears that [the man] was not being truthful with the officer when he said he did not actually wish to take his own life,” MacDonald wrote.
“However, this case must be based on what the officer knew at the time. A police officer is not held to a legal standard of perfection when making assessments about a person’s mental health.”
The director went on to cite the amount of time the officer spent with the man and the audio recording as further evidence against referring the case to Crown counsel for charges.
If you or someone you know needs help, call the B.C. Crisis Centre Distress Line number at 1-800-SUICIDE or 1-800-784-2433.
Starting today, the BC government implemented a tax hike that will see residents pay more to drive, heat their home, and watch Netflix.
The tax hikes will impact carbon emissions, streaming services, vape products, and sugary drinks.
The increase in tax was meant to go forward in 2020, but due to the pandemic, the tax hike was postponed.
Here is what British Columbians will be paying extra for:
Streaming Services
Streaming services, like Spotify and Netflix, were previously exempt from the seven per cent provincial sales tax until now.
With the seven per cent increase, BC residents will pay an extra $14.27 a year for Netflix and Spotify users will pay an extra $1.05 per month.
The streaming tax requires Canadian and foreign sellers of software and telecommunication services with more than $10,000 in B.C. sales to register, collect and remit provincial sales tax.
The increase was part of NDP’s 2020 provincial tax plan, but was put on hold last year due to the pandemic.
Sugary Drinks
Pops and juices are no longer exempt from the seven per cent PST either.
The tax on sugar and artificial sweeteners has been recommended for seven years, and was finally put on the financial budget in 2020.
The province held off this increase last year due to the pandemic.
This is part of a financial strategy to discourage people who drink the most sugary drinks, typically the ages of 14-18.
Vaping Products
Canadian retailers selling vape products in store will be expected to charge PST on orders from customers.
For online stores, they will require customers who reside in BC to pay the PST.
For businesses with revenue higher than $10,000 that sell vapes or vaping products, they will be required to charge the seven per cent provincial sales tax. Businesses without that amount of revenue are still required to remit the sales tax.
Carbon
The carbon tax will cost 8.9 cents per litre of gasoline, 10.23 cents per litre of diesel and 7.60 cents per cubic metre of natural gas now.
Going forward, the tax is scheduled to increase by $10 annually until it hits $50 per tonne in 2022.
Criticisms
The tax hikes do not go without their criticisms though.
“It’s now going to cost you more to get to work, more to heat your home and more to watch your favourite shows,” said Kris Sims, B.C. Director for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation in a statement.
“This is not an April Fools’ joke. It’s going to cost everyday people more to live their lives and the taxman is going to get you even when you’re relaxing at the end of the day with a drink.”
The BC Liberals shared their criticisms in a statement as well.
“British Columbians are struggling financially and have once again been asked to do more to stop the spread. It’s the worst time for the NDP to be imposing new taxes on carbonated beverages and streaming platforms. British Columbians deserve a break,” said Interim Leader of the Official Opposition Shirley Bond.
RCMP are reminding the public to be prepared after they safely located a pair of hikers who had gotten lost near Metchosin over the weekend.
Officers with the West Shore detachment were notified at approximately 8:40 p.m. on March 27 that a 17-year-old male and an 18-year-old female were lost in the Sooke Hills Wilderness Regional Park.
The pair told police that they had no water, food or survival supplies, and their cellphone battery was at 4 per cent.
West Shore RCMP undertook a 12 kilometre hike into the rough mountainous terrain, following GPS coordinates they had obtained.
Officers were also accompanied by Police Service Dog Erik as they hiked up the trails.
The search party was eventually able to make voice contact with the lost hikers after three hours.
According to a constable with the detachment, the hikers were “thirsty but unharmed.”
The RCMP say the incident serves as a reminder for hikers to be prepared when venturing outdoors. This includes bringing water, food, and dressing appropriately.
Low-cost airline Swoop is adding two new routes to Victoria this summer as they move to expand their operations.
Starting May 20, 2021, Swoop will be flying from Edmonton to Victoria up to seven times weekly, and Toronto to Victoria up to six times weekly.
In addition to the routes to the provincial capital, Swoop is renewing and adding routes to Abbotsford and Kelowna from other major Canadian cities.
“As we continue to plan for recovery, our focus remains on ensuring the safe reopening of air travel within Canada,” said Charles Duncan, President of Swoop.
“When the time comes for a safe resumption of travel, it will be critical to ensure access to affordable travel exists within our borders and Swoop is strategically positioned to meet that need in British Columbia and across the country.”
Swoop was established in 2018 as an independently operated subsidiary of Westjet. They currently offer service to 23 seasonal and year-round destinations in Canada, the U.S., Mexico and the Caribbean.
The airline says they had previously postponed planned operations to Victoria in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Swoop’s commitment to Greater Victoria is welcome news – both as we recover from the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond,” said Paul Nursey, CEO of Destination Greater Victoria.
“It goes without saying we are located on an island. Reliable transportation to and from the destination is vital to the success of our visitor economy.”
Pop-up pods assembled to house homeless at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre (BC Government)
VicPD arrested a man after he assaulted a staff member at a local shelter and a police officer.
Just after 12:30 a.m. on the morning of Wednesday, March 31st, VicPD was called to a temporary housing site in the 1900-block of Blanshard Street for a report that a man assaulted a shelter staff employee.
The victim suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the attack and the suspect fled after the attack.
Police located the suspect near the shelter.
As police approached the suspect in their cruiser, the suspect began to punch the vehicle as well as attempted to punch an officer in the face.
After a brief struggle, the suspect was taken into custody without incident where he was taken to VicPD cells, and later released with a court date and conditions.
The officer was not injured.
The suspect faces recommended charges of assault and assaulting a police officer.
It’s patio season, but this year it looks a bit different.
With the recent changes to BC health regulations, it is more important now than ever to support local restaurants in any way we can. Ordering pick up and delivery helps out restaurants following provincial guidelines which prevent indoor dining.
Some restaurants, however, still have outdoor patios to be enjoyed with your household bubble, where you can enjoy a meal while remaining physically distanced from others. Be sure to check in with restaurants to ensure they are still operating their patio dining prior to visiting.
Here is a list of restaurants in and around Victoria with outdoor patios:
Saanich Peninsula area:
10 Acres at the Pier – 2538 Beacon Avenue, Sidney
Boondocks Pub Sidney – 9819 Fifth Street, Sidney
The Farmer’s Daughter – #101 2360 Beacon Avenue, Sidney
Officers arrested the man for breaking his probation and transported him to hospital due to a medical issue. He was evaluated and held under the Mental Health Act.
The man faces charges of breach of probation and the file remains under investigation.
VicPD reported that this incident follows several recent, unrelated, incidents where women have been targeted in attacks or followed.
This morning, Premier Horgan announced that as part of the province’s new vaccination rollout, they will be using the waterslides at Commonwealth pool as a way to fast track vaccinations.
“Fast-Vax” will be the first of its kind in the province.
Minister of Recreational Vaccinations, Johnny Speed, is surprised it took the province so long.
“It’s been a long time coming, and I’ve come far from my humble roots. Literally, I owned a hot dog stand outside the legislature before this,” Speed said.
Not to be confused with the “Fast-Vac” vacuum, the province has contracted famed comic book artist, Todd McFarlane, to create the logo.
In an interview over Zoom, McFarlane told Victoria Buzz, “The inspiration behind this will be-.”
Unfortunately, the Zoom call cut out before McFarlane could answer.
In order to keep the waterslides sanitary, the province has also teamed up with Purell to create the first ever sani-slide – a fully operational waterslide that recycles sanitizer rather than water.
“The sani-slide is the first-of-its kind, it’s one-of-a-kind, so gorgeous to the eyes, I could say this stuff twice,” Horgan free-style rapped.
Masks are encouraged, not just for transmission but also to avoid excess hand sanitizer in one’s mouth.
Booking for the Fast-Vax will be first-come, first-served, although those proficient in water sports will be given priority.
Upon arriving for your vaccination appointment, you’ll be given a pair of goggles, an Island Health branded Speedo, and flippers – snorkels are optional, but must be worn in conjunction with a face mask.
After making your way down the slide (make sure you hold onto that Speedo!), you’ll be greeted at the bottom by the sound of Darude’s Sandstorm and a round of applause by none other than Dr. Bonnie Henry and Adrian Dix themselves.
You’ll then receive your vaccine, be given a congratulatory sticker, and ushered out of the way before the next recipient slides behind you and covers you in a wave of Purell.
Bookings for Fast-Vax will open next week, according to health authorities
In all seriousness, it’s been a long road dealing with COVID-19 – as numbers climb and we head into a third wave, we need to continue to hold the line, do our part, and flatten that curve once again.
Continue to support local, be safe, and love your neighbours (from a distance).
In the words of Dr. Bonnie Henry, “Be kind, be calm, be safe”.
An employee at the Real Canadian Superstore in Langford has tested positive for COVID-19.
In an online update posted on Loblaws’ website, the company confirmed one worker at the store tested positive for the virus.
The last day the employee worked was on March 24th at the Superstore located at 835 Langford Parkway.
Loblaws keeps an updated list of employees who have tested positive for COVID-19 at locations around the province in the last 15 days.
“Given the important role we play in our communities, we are prepared for all possible situations, including a positive test for COVID-19 in our stores,” the parent company of Real Canadian Superstore said on its website.
“In these cases, we work closely with public health and follow their guidance to ensure proper notification of close contacts and required cleaning and sanitization in our stores.”
The exposure has not yet been added to Island Health’s website as of this publication.
There are currently 7,405 active cases in the province with 364 of those cases being in the Island Health region.
BC health officials announced a record breaking 1,013 new cases in the province on Wednesday.
The Maritime Museum of BC announced on Tuesday that they have decided to withdraw from development plans with the City of Langford for a new Pacific Maritime Centre.
Citing the COVID-19 pandemic as the leading cause for the decision, the Museum says that the current economic climate makes the project unsuitable for their needs.
“The City of Langford looked forward to welcoming the Maritime Museum to Langford, however we understand and support their decision to seek out a waterfront location,” said Langford Mayor Stewart Young. “We wish them all the best with this project moving forward.”
The President of the Maritime Museum, Jamie Webb, told Victoria Buzz in an interview that they will be exploring other options to keep their operations in Victoria.
“It became evident towards the end of 2020, that the plan as it was developed in Langford wasn’t going to work for us at this time,” Webb said.
“We’re hunkering down downtown, we’re hoping to have a solid plan of action within 12 months, whether that’s a renovation or partnership.”
Currently, the museum is operating on a month-to-month lease at a location on Humboldt Street, just off Douglas.
The space is limited, however, and Webb says that many artifacts are being held in a storage and research space that is inaccessible to the public.
With a new space, the priority would be to bring as much of the collection out from storage as possible for the public to enjoy.
“We have almost 500 members, and they’re super keen after 5 years since we left Bastion Square to get our exhibit space back out in the open again,” Webb says.
“We think it’s important that post-pandemic we create some new tourism opportunities and products for Victoria. We think we’re well-positioned to participate in that.”
Ideally, the museum board is hoping that the Maritime Museum can remain close to the harbour. They are actively seeking partnerships and opportunities, and Webb says that since the news broke on Tuesday some organizations and individuals have already reached out.
“We have a number of opportunities that we’re exploring,” he says, adding that any interested parties can reach out to the museum to start a dialogue.
Currently, the Maritime Museum of BC is showing an exhibition on the SS Valencia, a passenger steamer that suffered a nautical disaster on the coast of Vancouver Island.
Two domestic flights heading to destinations on Vancouver Island have been added to the BC Centre for Disease Control’s public exposures list.
Both of the lights originated in Vancouver and were on Air Canada Jazz.
The BCCDC lists passenger rows, where applicable, as an indicator of a higher risk due to proximity to the case.
The flights and their affected rows are:
Air Canada Jazz flight 8256 on March 26th to Nanaimo | Rows 8 to 14
Air Canada Jazz flight 8079 on March 26th to Victoria | Rows 15 to 20
All passengers on a domestic flight with a COVID-19 case should self-monitor for symptoms for 14 days.
Effective March 27th, 2020, the BCCDC is no longer notifying passengers on affected flights about potential exposures. The information on affected flights is posted publicly on the BCCDC website.
VicPD has issued a community alert to the public as they search for a man wanted on a Canada-wide warrant.
Travis Moore, a federal offender serving a 5-year sentence, is wanted after he failed to abide by conditions of a statutory release.
He had been convicted on charges including break and enter, robbery, assault, and assault causing bodily harm.
VicPD says that Moore was last seen in downtown Victoria on the evening of March 21.
He is described as a 28-year-old white male, 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighing approximately 150 pounds. Moore has short brown hair and blue eyes.
Anyone who sees Travis Moore is advised not to approach him and to call 911. Those with information on his whereabouts are asked to call VicPD at (250) 995-7654, extension 1.
Individuals who wish to report information anonymously can do so by calling Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Supporting local restaurants in downtown Victoria got a little easier after the Downtown Victoria Business Association (DVBA) announced it would extend its free delivery service for restaurants.
In response to the latest public health restrictions banning indoor dining, the DVBA will continue subsidizing delivery costs for downtown restaurants and their customers using the Tutti app until April 19th.
“The latest health restrictions have had a significant impact on the food and beverage sector. We are extending Downtown Delivers for restaurants to support them during this difficult period,” said Jeff Bray, DVBA Executive Director.
“Every Victorian can help by purchasing an extra takeout meal to support local restaurants and their staff.,” said Bray.
The program launched in December in response to the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on local businesses.
The program was expanded to include meal deliveries once the DVBA and Tutti, a Victoria-based meal delivery service, determined a system to ensure restaurant members and customers would pay nothing for deliveries.
Downtown restaurants that are participating will be listed on the Tutti app located under the “DVBA Free Delivery”. They will be able to provide free delivery within 20 km (straight line distance).
Through Downtown Delivers, downtown restaurants using Tutti for delivery do not pay the usual 10 – 15% by other providers and delivery is completely free to you, the customer!
VicPD are seeking witnesses and possible video footage after an arrest on Monday in which saw two police officers and the suspect injured.
In a media release, VicPD says on Monday, March 29th shortly after 10 a.m., they were called to the area of Quadra and Courtney Streets for a report of a man breaking into parking meters and parking pay stations.
When officers arrived on the scene, the suspect fled the area on foot.
VicPD were able to catch up to the man near Quadra and Broughton Streets and attempted to take the man into custody.
Police say the suspect began to fight with officers after refusing their verbal commands.
Officers tased and pepper-sprayed the man, but both were ineffective. An ICS K9 team, including PSD Zender, were deployed and assisted in taking the suspect into custody.
The suspect, a Vancouver man, has been the subject of nine additional police calls in the previous three days.
He was treated at the scene for non-life-threatening injuries then transported to hospital for a mental health assessment.
In addition, VicPD says he faces recommended charges of resisting arrest.
Two officers suffered minor injuries during the scuffle with the man but were able to complete their shifts.
Anyone with information or video from this incident is asked to contact the VicPD non-emergency line at (250) 995-7654. To report what you know anonymously, call Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Warning this article contains graphic photos that may not be suitable for all readers
A wildlife and trophy hunter residing on Vancouver Island is denying claims she killed an entire pack of wolves in the Sooke/Metchosin area.
Photos of Jacine Jadresko holding two dead wolves in East Sooke were recently shared in a Facebook group dedicated to the legacy of Takaya, a lone wolf famous in the South Island area.
The group and many locals in the area reported the wolf pack to which the alleged dead animals belonged was not causing any harm.
Jadresko, who uses the social media username Inked Huntress, claims they are not the same wolves.
“In the absence of action by Canadian provincial governments, the uncontrolled slaughter of wolves continues and the perpetrators still face no consequences for killing these valuable apex predators and sentient, social beings,” the Facebook post accompanying the photos said.
“Shortly after the Inked Huntress killed two wolves from the East Sooke pack, she appeared in another public social media post, posing with the carcasses of three more dead wolves,” the post went on to allege.
Wolf management and the hunting of wolves have been controversial issues among wildlife activists and conservationists, with many believing that wolf-hunting should be re-examined.
The Takaya Facebook group, which operates the website Takaya’s Legacy Project, advocates for wolf management policies and is pushing for the provincial government to tighten regulations around wolf hunting and trapping.
The group has penned an open letter to the BC government regarding Jadresko’s alleged actions.
“Recent incidents of wolf hunting have elicited an emotional response from hunters and non-hunters alike,” the letter states.
“In fact, it was a hunter who spontaneously chose to inform us about the recent actions of Ms. Jadresko. Clearly the social media post in question has functioned simply as a trigger to alert the government to the need to examine regulations governing the recreational killing of wolves.”
Currently, BC’s wildlife regulations allow for hunters to take three wolves each. They are expected to self-report their kills, but in two BC regions, there are no bag limits and no closed season. Typically, hunters only take the wolf’s pelts and leave the rest.
The Takaya Legacy Project says that Jadresko has claimed the wolves have been attacking dogs and cats in the area.
They also allege that instead of calling the BC Conservation Service, Jadresko took the matter into her own hands.
In posts to her social media accounts, Jadresko says that she baited and hunted two wolves in East Sooke. She says that she was dealing with “a problem wolf pack,” and that “full pack removal is always the goal.”
Jadresko’s lawyer forwarded a statement to Victoria Buzz which denies claims that she killed the East Sooke wolf pack.
“Earlier this year, Ms. Jadresko trapped and killed two wolves from a pack in southern Vancouver Island. These wolves were trapped on private property, with permission of the property owners, and with a valid license,” said the statement from her lawyer.
“Ms. Jadresko reported the killings in both instances to the conservation authorities. Ms. Jadresko was informed by property owners in the area that these wolves had attacked and killed multiple pets, and had chased and cornered a human.”
The statement refutes all claims that Jadresko has “wiped out” or “killed” an entire pack.
This isn’t the first time Jadresko has been in the public eye.
Jadresko was one of the subjects in a 2016 Netflix documentary called ‘The Women Who Kill Lions,’ where she said she has killed 29 different species of animals, including African Buffalos and grizzly bears.
According to the documentary, she has also received numerous death threats for sharing photos of her kills online.
Takaya’s Legacy Project says they are dedicated to the campaign for current wolf hunting and trapping regulations consistent with current apex predators in the BC ecosystem.
As of this publication, Canada has vaccinated about 7 per cent of its population, whereas, Israel (1) has vaccinated 55 per cent and the US (9) has vaccinated 27 per cent of its population.
Why is Canada so far behind?
Among shipping delays and a shortage in the early stages of the vaccine rollout, simply put, Canada’s federal government put their eggs in the wrong basket.
Last year, the federal government signed an agreement with Chinese vaccine-maker CanSino for vaccine trials, which eventually fell apart.
Canada also invested in vaccines from European factories, said to be spurred by former President Trump’s remarks on giving Americans “first priority” and the potential the former President would implement export bans.
These factors, along with Canada lacking domestic production capacity for vaccines, have resulted in the nation playing proverbial catch up.
In early February this year, Canada announced a new vaccine manufacturing plant in Montreal that would likely only be able to produce vaccinations months after the majority of Canadians will have already received their shots.
As of this publication, BC has given 724,193 residents a vaccine in a population of about 5 million.
14.6 per cent of BC residents have received a dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
Among the provinces and territories, BC sits behind Ontario and Quebec who have vaccinated 14.8 per cent and 15.7 percent of their population, respectively.
In the Island Health region, 109,594 (12 per cent) of residents have been vaccinated in a population of about 870,297.
As the number of new COVID-19 cases surge in the province, the BC government has extended the state of emergency for an additional two weeks.
“While the finish line remains in sight, rising case counts and the spread of variants of concern mean we all must continue working together to keep each other safe,” said Premier John Horgan.
“I urge everyone to double down on their efforts to control the spread and continue to follow public safety guidelines.”
Last week, the BC government doubled fines for people breaking the COVID-19 restrictions currently in place for social gatherings.
Fines were increased from $230 to $575 for those who promote or attend a non-compliant gathering. The $2,300 fine for organizers or hosts of events remains the same.
A $230 fine will continue to apply to a range of COVID-19 violation measures, including failing to wear a mask and failing to abide by patron conditions.
“Over the last several months, it’s become clear that for some, the risk of a $230 violation ticket isn’t enough to deter attendance at events that violate the PHO order,” said Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General.
“This selfish behaviour needs to stop, and police and provincial enforcement authorities will be able to issue these new fines immediately.”
1,570 violations have been issued between August 21st, 2020, and March 26th, 2021.
Here’s a breakdown:
242 $2,300 tickets to owners or organizers contravening the provincial health officer’s (PHO) order on gatherings and events;
48 $2,300 violation tickets for contravention of the PHO’s Food and Liquor Serving Premises Order, and
1,280 $230 tickets issued to individuals who failed to comply with PHO orders.
The federal government announced today it will be loaning $100 million to the developers of the Hudson Place 2 project in downtown Victoria to provide over 200 affordable rental homes.
Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, announced the development on March 30th.
The affordable housing development, located at 1700 Blanshard Street, will feature 245 multi-residential units ranging from studios to 2 bedroom + den units.
This is part of the Rental Construction Financing initiative, a National Housing Strategy (NHS) program delivered by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).
“Over the past year – and despite the COVID-19 pandemic – the City’s Housing Strategy has made significant strides in achieving housing goals and targets, however more work is still needed to improve access to housing for people across our city,” Mayor Lisa Helps said in a statement.
“In Victoria, three out of five residents rent their home. Which is why developments like the Hudson Place 2 are vitally important to building a community for everyone. I would like to thank Townline for their commitment and for digging in and responding to the needs of accessible, affordable rental homes in downtown Victoria, in addition to working to minimize the greenhouse gas emissions of their project,” said Helps.
“Our entire region has been facing a housing crunch for a long time and it requires work and investment across all levels of government to bring forward solutions. ”
Hudson Place 2 is the last phase of a master plan community by Townline Homes, dubbed “The Hudson District”, which will comprise a total of 6 buildings and over 950 residential units.
227 of the 245 units will have rents 30% below the median household income. This affordability will be maintained for a minimum of 16 years
49 of those 227 units will be deeply affordable, which is 70 per cent below the median household income in the Victoria region.
The federal government, alongside the BC Government and the Capital Regional District announced details of new developments in the region, which would create up to 91 new affordable homes in Greater Victoria.
In addition to that announcement, the BC Government, in partnership with the City of Victoria, announced it is moving forward with four new supportive housing projects that will deliver up to 192 permanent homes with 24/7 support for people experiencing homelessness.
A new poll says that Canadians are generally trusting of COVID-19 vaccines, although some brands are less trusted than others.
The newest survey from polling firm Leger says that over half of Canadians trust vaccines from four different manufacturers that are currently being used in the country.
The highest levels of trust were given to Pfizer, with 82 per cent of respondents saying they would trust the American-made vaccine for themselves or a relative.
The lowest levels of trust were placed in AstraZeneca, which was recently suspended for use in B.C. in patients 55 and under. 53 per cent of respondents nationwide said they would trust AstraZeneca for themselves or close family.
Vaccine trust is lowest in Alberta, which less than half (44 per cent) from the prairie province saying they trust AstraZeneca, and 59 per cent trusting the vaccine from Johnson and Johnson.
Quebec sees the highest level of trust in vaccinations, with 86 per cent of respondents from la belle province approving of Pfizer and 83 per cent trusting the vaccine from Moderna.
Age was also a factor in trust, with respondents 55 and over being most likely to trust vaccinations (85 per cent for Pfizer and Moderna).
Respondents between 35 to 54 showed the least amount of trust in vaccinations from AstraZeneca (49 per cent) while those 18 to 34 had the least amount of trust in Johnson and Johnson (62 per cent).
An increasing number of Canadians now say they will receive a vaccination once it becomes available.
58 per cent say they will take the first vaccine that becomes available to the public and is free. That’s an increase of over 20 points from November (37 per cent).
The number of people who say they will not take a vaccine under any circumstance has seen a small reduction from 12 per cent in November, to 9 per cent most recently. However, this change is nearly within the poll’s margin of error of +/- 2.51 per cent.
Leger, in collaboration with the Canadian press, conducted this Web survey with a representative sample of 1,523 Canadians over the age of 18, selected from LEO’s (Leger Opinion) representative panel. Data collection took place from March 26th, 2021 to March 28th, 2021. For comparison purposes, a probability sample of this size would have a margin of error ±2.51%, 19 times out of 20.
VicPD are asking witnesses to come forward after a woman was attacked by three men in Victoria last weekend.
Officers were called to the area of Vancouver Street and Pandora Avenue just before 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 27th, for a report of an assault.
When police arrived they located a woman with non-life-threatening injuries.
The woman told the officers that she had been driving her vehicle on Johnson Street near Pandora Avenue when three men crossed in front of her vehicle, despite her having the right-of-way with a green light.
She stopped her vehicle to avoid a collision and honked her horn. The men then began to kick and spit on her vehicle. One of them also grabbed a nearby traffic pylon and struck the woman’s vehicle, damaging it.
The men then began to walk away. The woman parked her car nearby to survey the damage and asked the men why they had attacked her vehicle. The men then attacked the woman.
The woman reported being kicked and punched several times and was struck with the traffic pylon as well. The men then fled at the sound of approaching sirens.
Police say nearby witnesses to the assault stayed with the woman until officers arrived. She was taken to hospital by paramedics.
VicPD are still investigating and are asking witnesses and those with video of the incident to come forward. Anyone with information is asked to call VicPD at (250) 995-7654 ext 1.
Those who wish to report information anonymously can call Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
The first of 11 new double-decker buses will enter service in Victoria on Wednesday.
BC Transit says the first Enviro500 bus will enter limited service tomorrow while the remainder will roll out over the coming weeks.
Each bus has the capacity to seat 89 passengers, with room for an additional 15 standing passengers on the lower level.
According to BC Transit, the new fleet of buses will feature USB ports at each seat to charge mobile devices and a monitor at the bottom of the stairs so passengers can view seating availability on the upper deck before heading up the stairs.
Additionally, the new double-decker buses will have
new Q’POD 3-point technology integrated wheelchair securement system
vinyl seating fabric that is easy to clean and resists dirt and contaminants
side-mounted ‘docking lights’, which are designed to illuminate the bus stop area and increase safety for boarding and exiting passengers
The double-decker buses will be replacing the first high-capacity buses that entered service in the Victoria Regional Transit System in 2000.
According to BC Transit, the cost of the replacement project was approximately $15.5 million, with the federal and provincial governments each covering 40 per cent of the cost and the Victoria Regional Transit Commission covering the remaining 20 per cent.
VicPD officers deployed a bean bag gun to subdue a suspect who had been threatening staff at a local business downtown on Monday.
Police say the incident began shortly before 7:30 p.m. on March 29. Officers were called to a business in the 1200-block of Douglas Street for a report that a man was armed with a knife and was threatening staff.
When officers arrived the suspect was found leaving the scene, near the intersection of Douglas and Yates streets. Police say he refused to comply with their direction, and they shot him with a less-lethal bean bag shotgun round.
He was then arrested without further incident. A search of the man produced a knife.
The suspect was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries sustained in the arrest. He was held in the hospital under the Mental Health Act after evaluation.
The man faces charges of uttering threats and causing a disturbance.
Nanaimo RCMP arrested three suspects Sunday evening after they threatened and then attempted to assault a security guard.
The incident occurred at approximately 7:20 p.m. on Sunday, March 28th, in the parking lot of the University Heights Mall.
Police say the security guard noticed one of the three men had entered a local business. The guard told him to leave and a confrontation ensued, with the man producing a knife and waving it at the guard.
The other two men surrounded the guard and police say they were attempting to assault him when officers arrived.
All three suspects, ranging in ages from 25 to 37, were arrested. A knife and sheath were found and seized as well.
The man face charges including uttering threats, assault and assault with a weapon. They have been released with a scheduled appearance in provincial court on July 6th.
The Nanaimo RCMP say the suspects are known to police as frequent offenders.
“The security guard was faced with an extremely dangerous situation from individuals who have shown, time and time again, a total lack of regard for law enforcement,” said Constable Gary O’Brien.
“We were fortunate to have arrived when we did in order to diffuse an extremely volatile situation.”
Saanich Police issued two separate fines over the weekend for indoor gatherings they say violated current Provincial Health Orders.
Officers were called to noise disturbances on Friday, March 26th, and early in the morning of Saturday March 27th.
In each case, police say there were people gathered inside of homes, including additional people who were not residents.
One of the homeowners said they were having a party with friends from the neighbourhood.
Each homeowner was fined $2,300 for being in contravention of provincial health orders.
Saanich PD Constable Markus Anastasiades said in a statement that the force has had to issue a relatively low volume of tickets throughout the pandemic, indicating that the overwhelming majority of people in Saanich are following restrictions.
“However, there are those that continue to choose to not follow these rules,” he said.
“With new province-wide restrictions announced yesterday, it is important for residents and businesses to be aware of all of the current measures in place and plan their events accordingly.”
Anastasiades added that Saanich PD will investigate all reports contravening health orders. Anyone wishing to make a report can contact the police non-emergency line at (250) 475-4321.
We’ve all had our fair share of rental woes or housing no’s.
But none quite stacks up to one Oak Bay home owner after their house in the 2100 block of Bartlett Drive was listed for sale without their consent.
On March 2nd, police says a neighbor walking by the house noticed the realty sign and contacted the actual owner of the residence.
Apparently, someone purporting to be the owner was in contact, by email, with a property management company’s representative in early February.
With no real proof of identification (i.e. A driver’s license), the suspect said they were the real homeowner with a new email and phone number, then signed the email in the name of the actual property owner.
Later that month, the suspect requested a property evaluation from the property management company representative who referred the suspect to a local realtor
The realtor completed an evaluation and upon the email request of the suspect, the house was listed for sale.
The suspect provided a fraudulent passport and health care card of the actual owner, and then the house was listed and showings to potential buyers followed.
In order for any offers for purchase to actually go through, an appointment with a Canadian lawyer would have to be arranged.
On March 2nd, the homeowner of the residence contacted the realtor to revoked the listing after the neighbours informed them.
The suspect has not been identified and Oak Bay Police have concluded the investigation.
The seasons are changing, and one lucky lady’s look is about to change with it!
We all know how difficult this past year has been, and many women have been at the forefront of that; whether they’re frontline workers, mothers, business owners or just every day modern superheroes, we see you, and we appreciate you.
Which is exactly why, this Spring, Kharma Salons is introducing their Kharma Kares makeover; a fully customized makeover that will bring one lucky winner the most fulfilling experience, inside and out.
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
A child who was taken to hospital following an incident at a hotel pool in downtown Victoria last week has died.
The incident occurred shortly after 6 p.m. last Wednesday, March 24th, at Hotel Zed’s pool.
Paramedics attempted CPR on the child and they were eventually rushed to hospital.
Shortly after the incident, VicPD confirmed they responded to an incident at a hotel pool in the 3100-block Blanshard Street.
“Officers are supporting the family & investigating. This file is in the early stages. Updates as we are able,” VicPD said in a statement.
The child was transported to hospital with life-threatening injuries but later died.
BC Coroners Service confirmed to Victoria Buzz that they were investigating the incident, but could not release any other details stating it was too early in the investigation.
VicPD confirmed the death as well but did not release any other details.
The fundraiser which launched Sunday has garnered nearly $100,000, as of this publication on March 29th.
“As a collective of agents we’re upset and deeply disturbed with the recent information that has become public. We’d like to show our support for the women of Victoria that are dealing with the heavy burden of being sexually abused,” said the fundraiser.
“This is not ok and we hear you. Through this donation we want all women who have suffered to know: we support you and honour you for being so brave.”
Local real estate agencies have donated, like Sotheby’s International Realty Canada.
The fundraiser was prompted after, last week, three real estate agents were fired following a woman’s allegations on social media that she was sexually assaulted by them.
The Agency released a statement saying that they were “aware of the very serious social media allegations” towards the two agents, and were “shocked and deeply disturbed by the accusations.”
According to the initial post on the Instagram account “Survivor Stories Project”, both agents worked for another company, Engel & Volkers, at the time the assaults occurred.
The Survivor Stories Project shares anonymous reports of sexualized and domestic violence.
Three more incidents have surfaced on the Survivor Stories Project Instagram account since the initial post, accusing each one of the men of separate instances of sexual assault.
There have been no charges laid in connection to these allegations, and Victoria Police say that though they are aware of the posts, no victims have come forward to make a formal report as of yet.
A third realtor in Victoria was also fired by their employer after sexual assault accusations surfaced online.
Engel & Volkers Vancouver Island released a statement Saturday saying that a real estate agent recently accused of sexual assault no longer works for them.
The Victoria Sexual Assault Centre supports survivors of sexual assault and childhood sexual abuse.
