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The wedding industry reached an all-time low last year after many were forced to cancel the big day due to COVID-19 restrictions, however, one report shows a large boom will occur in 2022.
According to Hellosafe.ca, the wedding Industry lost $158 million in 2020.
With an estimated turnover of about $702.9 million in BC in 2019, the wedding industry revenues fell 22.55% in one year due to the arrival of COVID-19 last March.
The decline turned dramatic last April, where the number of marriages passed from 1,453 in 2019 to 730 in 2020 (-49.8 %).
While this year, in Victoria, weddings have decreased about 53% from last year, with 61 weddings celebrated compared to the 131 around the same time last year, the industry is holding out hope that vaccinations will increase the number of weddings going into summer.
In the meantime, it is unlikely the industry’s annual revenue will get back to the pre-Covid numbers, despite vaccinations rolling out ahead of schedule.
But the promise of a robust 2022 could be inspiring for those working in the wedding industry right now.
Considering that a great majority of celebrations postponed in 2020 and 2021 will take place in 2022, next year is likely to be a record year for the wedding industry in British Columbia.
The wedding industry revenues in BC could therefore reach unprecedented levels with annual revenue that could go beyond $900 million.
VicPD are investigating after patrol officers seized two replica pistols and real ammunition from a tent in Vic West last week.
Victoria police were assisting bylaw officers at a makeshift tent encampment in the 100-block of Bay Street near Victoria West Park last Thursday when the seizure occurred.
Police say the tent was unoccupied at the time when they were notified of the weapons.
The weapons found in the ten included two replica firearms, a knife, and various types of ammunition, including .308 calibre rounds.
Investigators are seeking information about the seized items and how they ended up in the abandoned tent.
Anyone with information about the items is asked to call Victoria police at 250-995-7654 or Crime Stoppers at
What better way to welcome Spring than with a safe, interactive scavenger huntfor the whole family – with an epic grand prize as the cherry on top!
This Spring Break, pop by Uptown to join in on the hunt – a search for 5 scan spots to find around the property, and scan with your phone – no touch points, and plenty of physical distancing!
Running from March 15th to March 31st, you’ll have plenty of time to hunt for prizes like gift cards, and instant wins from some of the retailers at Uptown.
Plus, with a grand prize of 1 of 2 Nintendo Switches (worth up to $500 each!), you’ll want to challenge your bubble to a race to the proverbial finish line.
How it works
The Scavenger Hunt will consist of 5 QR scan spots around Uptown’s property
Head to Uptown’s website for how to find the first QR code
Players are encouraged to find all the spots for maximum prize entries.
From March 15th to March 31st, parents and children can find all 5 marked QR scan spots and scan the QR code using their mobile device to be entered to win the grand prize
After scanning, you’re automatically entered to win a variety of mini-instant prizes at random – Uptown Gift Cards and retailer instant wins as well as be entered to win the Grand Prize
The Grand Prize will be awarded April 1st – 1 of 2 Nintendo Switches! You’re automatically entered to win each time you scan the code, which means more chances.
There’s no booking required! The hunt begins on March 15th and entries can be done anytime of day (or night) for the duration of the 2 week period.
Keep your eye on prize! The Grand prize winners will be announced on Thursday, April 1st, 2021
Playing it safe
The Scavenger Hunt is meant to be played while you’re already visiting Uptown!
There’s a 2 week period to enter the contest using your own mobile device, and the contest is designed to be done outside with little to no touch points, at the leisure of the user.
Players who win an instant prize will have their prize voucher emailed to them so they can redeem in store. COVID-19 safety protocols are in place at each retailer location, and players are asked to wear a mask and follow store specific guidelines when entering to retrieve their prizes.
The BC Ministry of Health reported 1,506 new cases of COVID-19 across the province for a three-day period between Friday, March 12th to Monday, March 15th.
There have been a total of 88,373 cases since the pandemic began.
New cases were reported in these health regions:
Vancouver Coastal Health: 382
Fraser Health: 840
Island Health: 75
Interior Health: 80
Northern Health: 129
The number of active cases in B.C. decreased from 5,070 to 4,987.
There are now a total of 269 people in hospital due to COVID-19, 76 of whom are in critical care — ICU or acute care units.
Ten new people have died from COVID-related causes, bringing the provincial death toll to 1,407.
9,000+ people are under active public health monitoring after exposure to COVID-19.
A total of 81,890 people have recovered from novel coronavirus.
Outbreaks
There has been one new health-care facility outbreak and one new community outbreak.
Currently, there are six active outbreaks in long-term facilities and eight in acute-care facilities.
Outbreaks and other exposure events can be linked to from the BC Centre for Disease Control website.
The highway leading in and out of the Pacific Rim communities of Tofino and Ucluelet, will be closed for ten hours next Tuesday, March 23rd.
This 10-hour closure is required for crews to undertake one of the most complex blasts on the Kennedy Hill Highway 4 project.
The daylight closure will allow workers time to prepare the road beneath the blast area, and to safely remove loose rock immediately following the blast.
After the closure, there will resume a four-hour road closures weekdays between 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, March 24th.
Construction on the Kennedy Hill Highway 4 safety project is over 60 per cent complete and is geared towards a better, safer connection from Port Alberni and the west coast of Vancouver Island.
Improvements to the 1.5 kilometre stretch of road include widening to accommodate two full lanes and paved shoulders, realignments, and the addition of a rest area with a lakeside view that will be accessible to passenger vehicles, RVs, buses or transport trucks.
The full schedule of intermittent highway closures for the area is available here.
The sun is finally here and as per new health regulations in BC, we can now enjoy the sunshine with up to ten people while still remaining physically distanced outdoors.
Hanging out is not complete without food though, and as we all begin to spend more time outdoors we will need some portable and exciting food options to accompany us.
Without further ado, here are the 9 best spots to get your picnic boxes in and around Victoria:
The Inn @ Laurel point is offering ‘Inn @ Home’, a pre-order and pick up tea and snack box. The service includes boxes for various occasions such as a standard tea for two box, an Easter box for two box, and a Mother’s Day tea for two box.
Location: 680 Montreal Street
Hours: Pre order and pick up 10 a.m. to 2 p.m Saturdays or 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Wednesdays
The Very Good Butchers has put together a vegan charcuterie box including 2 large charcuterie board’s worth of plant based meat. The box comfortably feeds 8-10 people. Pre-order one week in advance to enjoy this box at your next picnic!
Location: Victoria Public Market, 1701 Douglas Street #6
The Farmers Daughter, a local favourite, offers different options and sizes in to-go charcuterie boxes. Enjoy a cheese box, a cheese and charcuterie box or your own individual cheese and charcuterie box on a sunny afternoon.
Location: 2360 Beacon Avenue #101, Sidney
Hours:
11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday
12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sunday
Price:
Cheese and Charcuterie boxes: $65 to $160
Cheese Box: $55 to $80
Individual cheese and charcuterie box: $30 each (order minimum of 2)
Gourmet Grazerie is a small, locally owned business created by two friends who share a love of charcuterie and locally sourced products. The boxes can be customized depending on preference (vegan and vegetarian options available) and offer delivery. Check out their facebook page to order.
Hungry Hummingbird creates gourmet grazing boxes that vary in serving sizes from 2 to 12 people. The compostable boxes include a selection of artisan cheeses and meats, fruits, olives crackers and baguettes. They also offer a Vegetarian box. Hungry Hummingbird delivers their boxes to Victoria and the surrounding communities and requires orders 24-48 hours notice in advance.
Location: Delivery to Victoria and surrounding communities
Fol Epi’s picnic boxes for 2 include baguettes, salami, terrine, whole muscle cure, two palmier, house pickles vegetables, and mustard. Products rotate and may vary.
Location: 732 Yates Street
Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Sunday
Charelli’s snack/picnic boxes are a Victoria favourite. Made from a selection of some of their favourite cheeses and spreads, the cheese shop and delicatessen offers both small (suitable for two people) and large (for 4-6 people) box options. The boxes require 24 hour notice for in store pickup and local delivery.
Location: 2851 Foul Bay Road
Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday
Cheryl’s Gourmet Pantry has 8 picnic boxes to choose from, so you will be sure to find one for you! All boxes feed two and include a table cloth, napkins, wine opener and glasses, cutlery and plates. 24 hour notice is appreciated on orders.
Location: 2009 Cadboro Bay Rd
Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday
Price: Box options vary in price from $59.95 to $149.95
Roast boxes include your choice of protein (1/2 chicken, 1/2 pound meat, or 1 cut sandwich), sides and desserts. With boxes that feed 2 and 4 they are the perfect to go option for your Sunday afternoon picnic.
Two Saanich men were arrested late last week in response to community drug trafficking complaints.
The two men were selling cocaine and fentanyl, and were specifically targeting people at local shelters struggling with addiction.
In a media release, VicPD says the operation was a joint operation between VicPD’s Strike Force, VicPD’s Analysis and Intelligence Section (AIS), and the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team (GVERT).
On Thursday, March 11th, the Strike Force and GVERT officers executed a search warrant at a residence in the 4000-block of Orion Place in Saanich, and on three vehicles.
During the search, officers located cash as well as amounts of fentanyl and cocaine consistent with drug trafficking.
VicPD said the month-long investigation involved investigative techniques and surveillance which tracked the men as they allegedly sold drugs to “some of the most marginalized members of our communities” at multi-unit residential temporary housing facilities and shelters.
These arrests come in the midst of the ongoing opioid overdose epidemic in which drugs like fentanyl have killed thousands of British Columbians.
Both men are facing recommended charges related to drug trafficking.
(PEXSISEN and Centre Mountain Lellum Fly Throughs)
Construction is underway for two new Langford schools that are set to open in September 2022.
Pexsiseṉ Elementary school and Centre Mountain Lellum Middle school will welcome 1,200 students all together next year.
At the moment, the construction project is 25% complete and the sites have been prepared with concrete foundations and retaining walls in place.
The Government of BC is providing $88.6 million to build the two new schools at the corner of Constellation Avenue and the West Shore Parkway.
“It’s no secret the West Shore is home to some of the fastest-growing communities in the province and an attractive place to raise a family,” said Premier John Horgan, MLA for Langford-Juan de Fuca.
“I am excited students in Langford will soon have the benefit of learning in modern, engaging and inspiring new schools designed to support student success.”
There will be a new neighbourhood learning centre on-site with new, before- and after-school child care spaces to further support young families in the community.
The space will reduce the need for portables.
“As a board of education, we work hard to ensure there are neighbourhood schools for our communities,” says Ravi Parmar, chair of Sooke Board of Education.
“These schools help us on our path to providing leadership in educational stewardship while fostering choice and diversity for both our students and staff.”
Since September 2017, the provincial government has announced more than $2.2 billion for school construction projects in B.C, including $187 million for the Sooke School District and the purchase of five sites for future schools to meet expected growth on the West Shore.
Take a look at this video rendering of the future schools:
The entrance to the Royal Jubilee Hospital remains closed Monday morning following a police-related shooting at the facility.
Sources tell Victoria Buzz a man entered the hospital with a knife to his throat and was threatening people.
The source tells Victoria Buzz a taser was used on the man, however, it was not effective and the man charged at police officers.
In a tweet, VicPD confirms one man was shot by officers shortly after 5:30 a.m. after they were alerted of a man with a weapon.
“Officers were alerted to a man armed with a weapon. CEW was deployed, but ineffective. Officer fired a pistol, striking the man,” VicPD said in their Tweet.
A man is being treated for non-life-threatening injuries after an officer-involved shooting at RJH. Officers, there on an unrelated call, were alerted to a man armed w a weapon. CEW was deployed, but ineffective. Officer fired pistol, striking the man. (1/2)
According to VicPD, the man remains in hospital with what are believed to be non-life-threatening injuries, and the officers present during the incident were not physically injured.
The Independent Investigations Office of BC (IIO) has been notified and will be conducting an independent investigation.
The IIO is asking anyone with information regarding the incident to please contact their witness line at 1-855-446-8477 or provide information online at iiobc.ca.
The Victoria police major crimes unit is also investigating.
Three COVID-19 exposure alerts were issued over the weekend for three separate Greater Victoria schools on the heels of a two-week spring break.
According to the Island Health school exposures notice website, students and staff at Lansdowne Middle School, South Park Elementary School, and Spectrum Community School may have been exposed to COVID-19.
Lansdowne Middle School’s exposure alert is in place for March 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 9th.
Spectrum Community School is dealing with two separate possible exposures on the following dates: March 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th.
Spectrum Community School has experienced a COVID-19 exposure. The potential exposure dates are March 8, 9, 10, and 11th, 2021. Island Health is completing contact tracing. If a person may have been exposed, Island Health will contact them directly. pic.twitter.com/JPVivlEkTH
Spectrum Community School has experienced an additional COVID-19 exposure. The potential dates of exposure are March 10 and 11th, 2021. Island Health is completing contact tracing to identify any individuals that need to self-isolate or self-monitor for symptoms. pic.twitter.com/vfjBRpz7G1
South Park Elementary School is dealing with exposures from March 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th.
South Park Family School has experienced a COVID-19 exposure. The potential dates of exposure are March 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12th, 2021. Island Health is completing contact tracing to identify any individuals that need to self-isolate or self-monitor for symptoms. pic.twitter.com/SRxm68mTzY
— Greater Victoria School District (@sd61schools) March 14, 2021
Last week, on March 10th, the Greater Victoria School District has issued a COVID-19 exposure for Vic West Elementary School.
The potential exposure occurred on March 2nd, 3rd, and 4th.
An ‘exposure’ is defined by Island Health as a single person with lab-confirmed COVID-19 infection who attended school during their infectious period.
A ‘cluster’ means two or more individuals with lab-confirmed COVID-19 infection attended school during their infectious period. These cases may be linked to the school-based transmission.
Island Health says staff or students who see the exposure alert notice should not assume they have been exposed to the virus.
Close contacts of the person(s) who tested positive for COVID-19 will be identified and contacted by public health officials.
Additionally, a possible exposure warning was issued mid-island at Brechin Elementary after possible exposures occurred on March 4th, 5th, 8th, 9th, 10th, and 12th.
The province will be providing a COVID-19 update today at 3 p.m. via a live presser with the latest numbers over the weekend.
Like any good invention, it started with seeking out a solution to a problem. In this case, a common one on Vancouver Island: damp wood.
“I was on a camping trip on the Juan de Fuca trail,” John Shukin told Victoria Buzz..
“We had a night and that was very rainy, and we really struggled to start a fire. We’re not the first ones that have had this problem, and there’s got to be a better way.”
The better way is the Firetent, a fire-starting aid created by Shukin and his business partner, Jordan Campbell.
Consisting of a small, 11-piece laser-cut plywood design that assembles into a 4.25-inch structure, a couple of cotton balls and some paper packaging, the Firetent promises to be an easy method for getting a comfy blaze going.
The partners are co-founders of Shape Design, a furniture and design company that they operate together in Victoria.
They currently provide branding and graphic design services to other businesses and individuals but are hoping to dip back into the world of innovation with the Firetent.
“About a year ago we launched the COVID key,” said Shukin.
“The idea there was to raise awareness and money for local businesses, but it was a similar sort of invention. That was pretty successful, so we decided to try and make this a part of who we are, to continue making physical products.”
Shape Design now has a Kickstarter running to try to raise money to launch the Firetent.
The company was able to build and test a prototype in-house using equipment Shukin and Campbell had from their days designing furniture, but they need funding to begin production.
(Shape Design)
“We’re seeking some capital to get going and we’re hoping that the interest is enough that people would want to see this as a product long term,” said Campbell.
He also says that local distribution could be a possibility once production gets going, and Shape Design has already been meeting with potential retailers.
“We’ve been in talks with Robinson’s Outdoor Store, Canadian Tire and various other stores. There’s definitely some interest from those larger retailers.”
Shukin and Campbell are also considering options for constructing the product entirely in Canada.
They hope to source environmentally friendly materials and are looking into options for sourcing the wood for the Firetent from deadfall and other naturally fallen trees.
Those discussions and the future of the product hinge upon the success of their Kickstarter, but the partners are feeling confident that the Firetent will attract interest.
“The Island is a perfect place for this,” said Campbell. “Our hope is to do more than just provide a product…It’s about solving problems that exist, with a focus on sustainability.”
The Firetent Kickstarter is currently running until April 15th. Those interested in donating can do so online.
As mass vaccinations begin across BC tomorrow, the province announced it is one week ahead of booking vaccinations appointments and is now ready to book the next group.
Beginning at noon Monday, BC Health Authority call centres are ready to book the next age cohort of BC seniors — those born in 1937 or earlier (80+), however, it will be in a staggered format this time around.
The province estimates there are approximately 105,000 seniors in this age category who have not yet been vaccinated. To manage the volume of calls expected, the province will be staggering the calls each day.
Starting at noon on Monday, March 15th, seniors can call to book their appointments based on the following schedule:
Monday: age 84 and over
Tuesday: age 83 and over
Wednesday: age 82 and over
Thursday: age 81 and over
Friday: age 80 and over
This plan will assist in reducing wait times and allow the oldest seniors in this 80 to 84-years-old age group.
Call centres are processing vaccination appointment bookings ahead of schedule. This week:
“We also ask that family and friends of seniors in these age groups have only one designated family member or support person call to book appointments for people in this age group,” said Dr. Penny Ballem, Executive lead for B.C.’s immunization efforts, in an email statement.
It’s anticipated the call centres will be busiest in the mornings, so try calling in the late afternoon or evening.
There are thousands of vaccine appointments for British Columbians in this age group waiting to be booked – everyone who wants to book an appointment will be able to do so.
The phone lines to book a COVID-19 vaccination for the general public opened last Monday morning with some frustrations after many reported not being able to get through.
Since then, Telus, the contractor for the phone lines, apologized for the problems and quickly rectified them.
Residents who become eligible don’t lose eligibility, and seniors over 85 can book their immunization appointment anytime.
Clinic locations across Victoria are ready to administer vaccinations starting this Monday, March 15th, and people can book their appointment by calling 1-833-348-4787.
After a long, dark winter, things are finally changing; the sun is setting later in the evening, the birds are chirping and the flowers are beginning their bloom. One thing is certain, spring is coming!
Over the past few years, decorating with and wearing dried flowers has become incredibly popular. Come spring, Instagram feeds are flooded with dried flowers being used as decoration, made into jewelry and worn as crowns. Not only are they beautiful, but, with gentle care, they can be enjoyed forever. What’s a better way to celebrate the turn of the season with homemade flower crowns?
On Saturday, March 27th, Westshore Town Centre has partnered with Queen Tina from Platinum Floral Designs, and will be holding an all-ages online workshop to help you create your very own flower crowns.
For only $10, you can register to be a part of the step-by-step workshop over Zoom.
And even better, Westshore Town Centre is gifting one lucky winner a box of Purdy’s Chocolates, a box of tea and a sweet tea cup to enjoy it in while they make their crown – because what better pair than flowers and chocolate? Contest details are below!
Once you registerfor your flower-crown making kit, you’ll be able to pick it up directly from Westshore Town Centre between Monday, March 22nd and Friday, March 26th – the kit will include everything you need to create your very own flower crown on the day of the event, from the comfort of your own home.
You can head online to register, and all proceeds from the event will be donated to Westshore Town Centre’s 2021 charity of choice, the Goldstream Food Bank.
Registration closes on March 24th at 5:00 p.m., and spots are limited and will sell out fast, so be sure to reserve your spot early before they are gone!
COMMENT below with who needs a flower crown! (1 entry)
Contest entries will be accepted from the time and date of publishing until 11:59 p.m on Thursday, March 25th. One winner will be chosen at random and contacted through the platform they used to enter. Make sure to register when commenting below.
A highway maintenance worker suffered serious injuries after being struck by a tire that came loose from a truck.
Just before 10 a.m. Wednesday morning, near the Chemainus River Bridge on Highway 1, RCMP responded to a report of an injured roadside worker.
Police arrived and witnesses who saw the incident remained on scene to help the injured 30-year-old woman.
It was determined that the rear driver’s side wheel assembly broke off of a work truck which travelled through the construction zone, and both tires separated.
The worker was able to avoid one tire, but was struck by the other.
The driver of the vehicle remained on the scene.
Commercial Vehicle Safety Enforcement officers (CVSE), and investigators from Worksafe BC both came to assist the RCMP in their investigation.
The worker was transported from the scene by BC Ambulance and is recovering from injuries received in this incident.
The RCMP continues to work alongside Worksafe BC and CVSE to determine if there is any criminality in the investigation.
Even before I looked into the history of Daylight Saving Time, I knew it had a business background.
It carries that unique corporate cadence, like “ethical oil,” “clean coal,” or “awesome asbestos.”
So I wasn’t surprised to learn that it comes from the industrial revolution, you know, that delightful period of time when men were moustachioed, women carried parasols with impunity, and child laborers knew not to ask for anymore bloody pudding, OLIVER.
And so, once again, we come to it: “spring forward,” a perky upbeat phrase that belies the soul-sucking tradition of having an hour of sleep yanked away from us.
It’s like how people claim that being pooped on by a bird is good luck. There’s nothing lucky about that. That is an awful, bad, no-good thing to have happen to you.
No one in the history of humanity has ever been shaken out of a funk when they were pooped on by a bird, and went on to great things.
Einstein would have given us cold fusion before he died, but the day he thought about formulating it, a bird pooped on his head. That’s just a fact.
You know it, I know it, and you better believe the birds know it, the psychopathic feathered little crap-cannons.
So too with “springing forward,” a low-key Maoist phrase if I ever heard one, and Daylight Saving Time.
In fact, there’s no variation on the word “save” that doesn’t fall apart under scrutiny, too. Think about it:
Who are we “saving” time from? Is there an evil time thief, not unlike the hamburglar, threatening to robble robble our minutes away? Does he have a charming moniker as well, like the Clock Catcher, or the Seconds Snatcher?
If we are “saving” time for a rainy day, why do we always end up paying it back later? Aren’t we, in effect, creating a time deficit?
If we save time, and the cheerleader, do we save the world? Is that reference too dated?
And I know, I know, I KNOW I’m preaching to the choir here, I’m picking the proverbial low-hanging fruit by standing up to Big DST, hanging out with the poll groups that say 90 per cent of us just want to sleep like humans.
But dang it, those clouds aren’t going to yell at themselves, and as a rapidly aging semi-white man I consider it my duty — my absolute Lard Tunderin Jaysus DUTY — to point to the things that make me crotchety and speak at them in the language of shotgun blasts and creaking rocking chairs.
In short: I want my nappy, and I want it NOW.
Is that too much to ask?
Welcome to Ford on Fridays: a weekly column where Victoria Buzz staff writer Tim Ford offers his thoughts on life, love, and the pursuit of the perfect joke.
This column is for comedic purposes only. Please feel free to send feedback, thoughts, and [constructive] criticisms to tim@victoriabuzz.com.
The B.C. Ministry of Health reported 648 new cases of COVID-19 across the province on Friday, March 12th, for a total of 86,219 cases since the pandemic began.
New cases were reported in these health regions:
Vancouver Coastal Health: 149
Fraser Health: 372
Island Health: 32
Interior Health: 39
Northern Health: 56
The number of active cases in B.C. increased from 4,912 to 5,070.
There are now a total of 255 people in hospital due to COVID-19, 67 of whom are in critical care — ICU or acute care units.
Three new people have died from COVID-related causes, bringing the provincial death toll to 1,397.
9,155 people are under active public health monitoring after exposure to COVID-19.
A total of 80,325 people have recovered from novel coronavirus.
Outbreaks
There have been two new health-care facility outbreaks at Oceana Parc (Fraser) and Ridge Meadows Hospital.
As of yesterday, there were nine active outbreaks in long-term facilities and eight in acute-care facilities.
Outbreaks and other exposure events can be linked to from the BC Centre for Disease Control website.
Nanaimo RCMP arrested a man known for having ties to fentanyl trafficking and the production of GHB, commonly referred to as the “date rape” drug.
On Wednesday, March 3rd, the 54-year-old Nanaimo man was seen making a drug transaction in the parking lot of the Terminal Park Mall.
Officers quickly moved in and arrested the suspect.
After the arrest, officers searched his vehicle, locating 40 litres of GHB in the trunk.
A search warrant was carried out on the suspect’s residence in central Nanaimo.
Nanaimo RCMP says they seized approximately half an ounce of suspected fentanyl, three ounces of cocaine, a smaller quantity of methamphetamine and crack cocaine; as well as one litre of GHB and $1500 in Canadian currency.
On March 5th, three storage lockers — thought to be the site of where the GHB was being produced — were located on a rural property south of Nanaimo.
Investigators searched and seized drug production equipment, precursors, and a small amount of GHB from the lockers.
The suspect has been released with no charges as the investigation continues, but is expected to face two charges of Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking and Production of a Controlled Substance.
“This is just another excellent example of our officers aggressively targeting individuals who continue to sell drugs to the vulnerable population in our community, and to those who are entrenched in the vicious cycle of drug addiction,” said Constable Gary O’Brien of the Nanaimo RCMP.
And getting to know the boss is the most important part of the job because you want to make a great first impression.
But what do you do when the new boss steals $1,000 from you?
Perhaps he wasn’t your boss after all.
Investigators with VicPD are warning the public after professional fraudsters victimized a new staff member and stole $1,000 in a sophisticated “internal email” cybercrime.
The victim reported to officers that they had received a phishing email from an internal email address that very closely resembled that of the organization’s CEO.
The fraudster posed as the CEO urgently needing their credit card information, insisting they would be refunded.
The staff member obliged, purchasing ten gift cards of $100 each, and shared the numbers from the back of the gift cards with the fraudster.
The employee then brought the gift cards to the actual CEO, at which point she learned she had been the victim of a sophisticated fraud.
The organization had previously been targeted by phishing attacks, but as a newer member of the team, the targeted employee had not yet received training created to avoid these sophisticated frauds.
While officers are investigating, it is unlikely the employee’s funds will be recovered.
The goal to move all unsheltered people living in parks into housing by the end of March has been delayed until the end of April after two buildings were secured to house them.
In a press release from the province, the BC Government announced it had secured two locations in partnership with the City of Victoria and BC Housing.
While the two locations will provide enough shelter space for those living in parks, both buildings require retrofitting.
The locations of the buildings will be released at a later date.
“Although we had hoped to secure additional buildings that were ready to go for housing, and BC Housing chased down several leads, we didn’t get lucky,” said David Eby, Attorney General and Minister Responsible for Housing.
“We’ll need the extra weeks to prepare the two new secured sites for use as shelter before moving folks inside.”
There is an increase of pressure on the City of Victoria and the Province as the opioid crisis continues and encampment grows larger.
“The Province and BC Housing have worked really hard and everyone currently living in the parks will be offered an indoor space as a pathway to permanent housing,” said Lisa Helps, mayor of the City of Victoria.
Parks are not homes […] and eventually the city will once again prohibit 24/7 sheltering.”
Nanaimo RCMP are investigating two reports of lug nuts on vehicle tires being loosened maliciously this past week.
The two vehicles were parked in the same parking lot adjacent to the Serauxmen baseball stadium, located at 745- 3rd Street.
In one incident, a tire actually came loose while the vehicle — a blue 2008 Dodge Caliber — was being driven.
The vehicle owner said he parked his vehicle at 8:10 am then returned at 12:10 pm on Wednesday, March 10th.
When he drove out of the parking lot he noticed a strong vibration coming from the rear passenger side tire.
Just as he was bringing his vehicle to a stop, he watched in shock as the rear tire came loose and rolled almost 200 metres before coming to a rest.
The youth called his father and the two of them managed to retrieve the tire and safely secure it in place.
He then told his friends about his experience, and in doing so may have averted a second incident.
Another 17-year-old youth who also parked his vehicle in the same lot approached his black Ford F-150 and immediately checked the lug nuts, noticing his rear passenger tire had also been tampered with.
He secured them and safely drove off.
“These were extremely dangerous and malicious acts of vandalism that could have had tragic consequences, “said Constable Gary O’Brien of the Nanaimo RCMP.
Anyone with information on either of these incidents, or did not report their own loosened lug nuts, are asked to call the Nanaimo RCMP non-emergency line at 250-754-2345.
The victim in last week’s homicide at Beacon Hill Park has been identified as a 46-year-old mother.
The body of Bree Sara Gamble (also known as Brianna Lozano) was discovered last Wednesday, March 3rd along the road on Dallas Road, on the south side of Beacon Hill Park.
Family members said she was not homeless nor a drug addict. She also had a 17-year-old daughter.
Shortly after 6 a.m. last Wednesday, March 3rd VicPD were called to the park for reports of an unresponsive person.
VicPD officers along with paramedics performed CPR on the woman, but she was confirmed deceased at the scene. Her death was ruled a homicide one week later.
Investigators with the Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime unit are retracing her last moments and are particularly interested in dashcam footage from several locations:
Lower Cook Street near Beacon Hill Park
Lower Douglas Street near Beacon Hill Park
Dallas Road between Douglas Street and St Charles Street
The area of Fort Street and Foul Bay Road
Additionally, a map of the areas in which investigators are looking for information is below.
Investigators are asking anyone who was in the following areas between the hours of 11 p.m. on Tuesday, March 2nd, and 5 a.m. on Wednesday, March 3rd to please call the VIIMCU Information Line at (250) 380-6211:
VicPD confirmed that the homicide is not connected to the fatal vehicle fire in Beacon Hill Park just one day later, on March 4th, where a 60-year-old man was found deceased.
Foul play has been ruled out in that death.
A memorial video has been posted to YouTube in dedication to Brianna:
In a press conference Thursday, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced that liquor sales provincewide must cease at 8 p.m. on March 17th.
The ban on alcohol transactions will be lifted at 9 a.m. the following day, on March 18th.
Bars will also seize alcohol sales at 8 p.m. The order is similar to the one she made on New Year’s Eve.
St. Patrick’s Day and Spring Break, for most schools, falls on the same week.
“Right now we need to save those parties for the summer,” said Henry.
Dr. Henry said the amendment is necessary to keep case numbers low.
The March 11th press conference, marked one year since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic.
During the same press conference, Dr. Bonnie Henry also announced the easing of restrictions to allow groups of up to ten to safely gather outside.
“This means your children can have a playdate with their friends… their safe group of friends, over the March break,” said Henry.
“You can meet friends outside, for a coffee, a chat, a connection, a picnic in the park.”
Henry urged people to still use safety when meeting with their safe group, including wearing a mask or maintaining some distance.
There are no changes to the current restrictions on indoor gatherings – in our homes or elsewhere. The requirements for restaurants and bars also continue.
On Thursday, 569 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed across B.C., and three more deaths were reported.
A World War II veteran celebrated his 106th birthday on Thursday March 11th!
Albert Middleton survived two world wars, lived through two pandemics, and blew out 106 candles as of his recent birthday this week.
Middleton currently lives at Veterans Memorial Lodge in Victoria, though he was born and raised in England.
In his early teens, he was sent to Canada as a war orphan. Later in life, Middleton served overseas in the Air Force during World War II.
After the War, Middleton received a sum of money from Veterans Affairs Canada which he used as a down payment on a hobby farm.
Besides his full time job as a factory worker, Albert spent most of his time operating a steady stream of livestock on 65 acres of his farm in Ontario.
He was married and widowed twice and had three children.
Eventually, Albert moved to Victoria and began living on his own in an apartment across from Beacon Hill Park.
Then at 101 years of age, Albert moved into Veterans Memorial Lodge, supported by his family in Ontario, Veterans Affairs Canada, members of the Broadmead Care community, and dear friends who live nearby.
To ensure they displayed his impressive age, Veterans Memorial Lodge staff had to get creative and crafty when they realized birthday balloon numbers only go to 100…
And while the pandemic posed restrictions on the celebration, a small gathering was held with his fellow residents, which included a birthday cake, champagne sent by his daughter in Ontario, and some classic big band music.
For many, taking off their bra at the end of a long day is one of the best feelings in the world.
So good, apparently, that one woman driving in Metchosin last night couldn’t even wait until she got home to do it – and was pulled over by police in the process.
On Thursday night, West Shore RCMP stopped a vehicle that was reportedly driving erratically in the 4100 block of Sooke Road.
According to a tweet by RCMP, they had received a complaint from the public on the woman’s driving.
Upon stopping the vehicle, the driver stated she that her reason for driving erratically was that she was trying to “take her bra off”.
“This is distracted driving too!”, West Shore RCMP said in the tweet.
Last night, officers stopped a vehicle who was driving erratically in the 4100 block of Sooke Rd after receiving a complaint from the public. The driver stated she was trying to "take her bra off"… This is distracted driving too! #drivesafely#itcanwaithttps://t.co/GIJRxTtZ7spic.twitter.com/jfcouXhXSs
March is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and police across the province will be conducting intensified enforcement and education, as well as checking for inattentive and distracted drivers.
Distracted driving is factor in about 27 per cent of fatal crashes in British Columbia, claiming an average of 78 lives every year.
The use of personal electronic devices is among the most common causes of distracted driving. Studies show that drivers talking on the cellphone lose sight of about 50 per cent of what is happening around them and drivers using hand-held phones are five times more likely to crash.
They say these factors have never been assembled in a Canadian city ranking of this scale.
In addition, the report also assigned editorial ratings for qualitative ratings on things like scenery, nightlife, climate, and outdoor lifestyle.
“Our first ranked city, Langford B.C. got high marks for growth, affordability (particularly relative to other B.C. hotspots), property tax costs, desirable climate and proximity to spectacular nature,” said Robert McLister, Mortgage Editor, RATESDOTCA.
“[Langord] and other top 10 locations could see outsized real estate returns in coming years given they check a lot of homebuyer boxes and are relatively cost effective.”
Also included in the top 10 locations was Cowichan Bay, in the number eight spot. The small South Island community was awarded five stars in the reports “scenery ratings,” compared to four for Langford.
However, Cowichan Bay was awarded only one star for “nightlife” to Langford’s three and had a slightly longer commute to a commercial airport.
“Though more expensive than mainland Kelowna, Langford retains a small-town feel, along with imminent access to nature,” the report says.
“The city’s nightlife and culinary scene falls shy of the country’s largest metropolises, but the recent increase in population has spurred growth, adding some cultural niceties to a place defined by natural beauty.”
RATESDOTCA says that housing prices are becoming increasingly inaccessible in many metropolitan cities, with 61 per cent of homebuyers citing affordability as a key criterion as they look for a place to relocate to.
“Canada has some incredible hidden gems if you’re relocating for a change in lifestyle; places people seldom think about,” said McLister. “This list shows that there are affordable home options for homebuyers willing and able to broaden their horizons.”
Victoria placed 30th on the list, while Greater Vancouver ranked at 27.
The report also included results from an online survey of 1,514 Canadians conducted by Leger Marketing from January 22-24, 2021, using Leger’s online panel. The sample’s ages ranged from 18 to 55+ years old. The margin of error for this study is +/-2.5%, 19 times out of 20.
Victoria Police have released a photo of a suspect wanted in connection to a stabbing at a downtown community shelter Wednesday afternoon.
The incident occurred shortly before 1 p.m. on March 10th in the 900-block of Pandora Avenue.
VicPD officers who were dispatched to the community shelter found a man who had been stabbed and was suffering from non-life-threatening injuries.
The suspect had already fled the area before officers arrived.
Police described the suspect as a Caucasian man with a heavy build, wearing a grey hooded sweater, white sweatpants with red lettering, a black face mask, and black shoes. He was also carrying a black shoulder bag.
Anyone who recognizes the suspect, or if you have information on the incident are asked to contact the VicPD non-emergency line at (250) 995-7654 or call Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
BC has seen its first easing of the provincial restrictions as we head into Spring Break.
With just days to go, BC has amended its province-wide COVID-19 orders when it comes to gatherings.
During Thursday’s press conference, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said the orders have been amended to allow for outside gatherings of up to 10 people.
“This means your children can have a playdate with their friends… their safe group of friends, over the March break,” said Henry.
“You can meet friends outside, for a coffee, a chat, a connection, a picnic in the park.”
Henry urged people to still use safety when meeting with their safe group, including wearing a mask or maintaining some distance.
There are no changes to the current restrictions on indoor gatherings – in our homes or elsewhere. The requirements for restaurants and bars also continue.
Similar to New Year’s Eve, the province is altering its COVID-19 public health orders to cut off alcohol sales early on St. Patrick’s Day.
The province will be ceasing liquor sales at 8 p.m. on March 17th in an effort to limit gatherings on St. Patrick’s Day, rather than the 10 p.m. cutoff that has applied during the pandemic.
“Right now, we have to save those parties for the summer,” said Henry, noting inhibitions drop when people are drinking.
The province reported 569 new cases of COVID-19 Thursday, including 41 people who tested positive in the Island Health region.
The B.C. Ministry of Health reported 569 new cases of COVID-19 across the province on Thursday March 11th, for a total of 86,219 cases since the pandemic began.
New cases were reported in these health regions:
Vancouver Coastal Health: 140
Fraser Health: 301
Island Health: 41
Interior Health: 26
Northern Health: 60
The number of active cases in B.C. increased from 4,861 to 4,912.
There are now a total of 244 people in hospital due to COVID-19, 68 of whom are in critical care — ICU or acute care units.
Three new people have died from COVID-related causes, bringing the provincial death toll to 1,397.
8,900 people are under active public health monitoring after exposure to COVID-19.
A total of 79,829 people have recovered from novel coronavirus.
Outbreaks
There has been one new health-care facility outbreak.
There are nine active outbreaks in long-term facilities and eight in acute-care facilities.
Outbreaks and other exposure events can be linked to from the BC Centre for Disease Control website.
(Tarun Fizer plays against the Kamloops Blazers in a past season)
The Victoria Royals announced on Thursday that they have named forward Tarun Fizer as the team’s new captain ahead of the 2020-21 season.
Fizer, originally from Alberta, becomes the eighth captain in Royals’ history, and follows Phillip Schultz, who wore the ‘C’ for a short tenure last season.
“Tarun is a driven competitor who sets the standard for dedication, leadership and behaviour for our organization,” Royals’ General Manager and Head Coach Dan Price said in a media release.
“He has earned this opportunity and we know that he is ready to take on this added responsibility. Tarun is, and will continue to be, an outstanding leader for us both on-and-off of the ice.”
The 20-year-old veteran of the time is coming off of a career season, where he tallied 53 points, with 19 goals and 34 assists – a personal best for him.
Fizer has spent the entirety of his WHL career with Victoria; in all 170 career regular season games with the Royals, Fizer recorded 94 points in 34 goals and 60 assists, with 34 penalty minutes.
The 5’11”, 190-pound forward has also made an appearance in 20 career playoff games for the Royals.
Fizer was selected by the Royals in the fourth round, 69th overall, in the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft.
Victoria’s season kicks off on Friday, March 26th, as the away team, when they face the Rockets.
All of the Royals games will be streamed on WHL Live on CHL TV – full 2020-21 season streaming packages are available for $59.99, or for $6.99 per game.
(Dylan Coghlan of the Vegas Golden Knights, pictured on the right / NHL)
Well, that’s one way to start your NHL career off with a bang.
Scoring your first-ever NHL goal is always a momentous occasion, but for one Vancouver Island-born player, he wasn’t stopping there, tallying a hat-trick on Wednesday night for the Vegas Golden Knights.
Nanaimo’s Dylan Coghlan scored all three goals for the Golden Knights last night, though the game ended in a 4-3 loss to the Minnesota Wild.
The defenceman’s first-ever NHL goal came within just two minutes of the first period, with the second goal 14 minutes into the third – the third and final goal came a few minutes later.
“I haven’t had a hat trick since I was 10 probably, maybe even younger,” said Coghlan in his post-game interview.
Coghlan is only 12 games into this season with the Golden Knights, who currently lead the NHL’s West Division with a 16-6-1 record.
He kicked off his career with the Nanaimo Minor Hockey Association, then moved on to play one season of B.C. Major Midget League hockey with Nanaimo’s North Island Silvertips.
He continued on to the major junior level and beyond.
Aside from surely breaking some personal records, Coghlan marks only the third defenceman in NHL history to score his first three career goals in the same game.
Also impressive, he became the 11th player in the last 30 years to score his first three goals in the same game.
A Victoria man is vying for a chance to be on the first of eight on a civilian flight to the moon.
Japanese billionaire and fashion designer Yusaku Maezawa is offering a free trip to fly the lunar orbit in collaboration with Elon Musk and SpaceX.
Maezawa launched the ‘dearMoon’ mission on Tuesday with the hopes of bringing eight people, with a focus on artists, that must fulfill a criteria of two things.
Watch this video to learn more about the selection process. It also contains a special message from @elonmusk#dearMoon
Brett Andersen, a restaurant manager in Victoria, said he fulfills the criteria.
In a video posted to his Instagram, Andersen details the criteria which Maezawa will choose the recipients, and why he fits the bill.
“The first criteria is to push the envelope of whatever it is I love to do […], the second one is to support the rest of the crew on their aspirations while we go on this adventure,” said Andersen in his video below:
Andersen is an adventure photographer and videographer and has been in the hospitality industry for over 15 years.
But this isn’t the first time Andersen has tried going into orbit.
In 2015, Andersen made it through a global contest that would have seen him board the first civilian flight on Sir Richard Bransen’s Virgin Galactic.
The shuttle he was supposed to board ended up crashing.
This is his second chance, even if the circumstances are different.
“For Branson, I submitted a minute video which won both nationally and globally – that’s how I stood out. But for this, it’s just a basic application and raffle,” said Andersen.
The video Andersen posted is a way to put him on Maezawa’s radar.
“The more people who watch it, the more people can ‘like’ it and tag Yusaku,” said Andersen.
A trip like this is once in a lifetime, and it’s rare for someone to have gotten one chance, let alone the possibility of a second.
For Andersen, the adventure once again aligns with his core values of freedom and adventure, and it’s a way for him to reawaken the wanderlust that’s been more dormant since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
“When it comes to space, there’s something so special about looking down on earth. I’m so used to looking up to clear my head and mind that to be able to look down would be a dream,” said Andersen.
“[The trip] it’s like a cheat code to enlightenment.”
Flags are at half-mast today for the National Day of Observance for COVID-19 in Canada.
It’s been one year since the World Health Organization (WHO) first declared the COVID-19 outbreak as a pandemic.
It’s hard to imagine that just one year ago, phrases like ‘social distancing’ and ‘novel coronavirus’ were new, and quarantining wasn’t so normal.
Or that most Canadians would be out their jobs, their livelihoods, and fearful of an unpredictable virus.
Today, Canada half-masts their flags – a symbol of respect, mourning, distress, or salute – for all those affected by COVID-19.
“Every Canadian we lost to this virus will be remembered. Every shift done by a frontline nurse, every mask made by a Canadian worker will not be forgotten. We are stronger together, today, tomorrow and always,” said Prime Minister Trudeau.
All Government of Canada buildings and establishments in Canada and abroad are half-mast from sunrise until sunset today.
Worldwide, the COVID-19 pandemic has infected 118,886,960 people and claimed the lives of 2,636,186.
Canada has seen over 899,000 cases and 22,636 have lost their lives due to COVID-19.
BC has seen a total of 85,650 infections and, on Monday, commemorated a full year since the first BC resident died from COVID-19; it has since grown to 1,394 deaths.
The City of Victoria have participated in the National Day of Observance and half-mast their flags too:
Today the Canadian flags on all City establishments will be flown at half-mast to acknowledge the one-year anniversary of the @WHO declaring #COVID19 a pandemic, and in memory of all the British Columbians whose lives have been lost due to #COVID19. 🇨🇦 #yyjpic.twitter.com/pR41V2UBEP
VicPD shared an image of their flags half-mast at their headquarters:
Our flags are to half-mast today to acknowledge the one-year anniversary of the World Health Organization declaring COVID-19 a pandemic and in memory of all the British Columbians whose lives have been lost due to COVID-19. #WeWillRememberpic.twitter.com/5c1Xs6Rlkn
Around the world, some countries begin easing restrictions.
Australians have returned to life with large-gatherings, and this week, the US CDC began to recommend lifting restrictions for vaccinated people in the US.
The question is when Canada will be safe to return to their pre-COVID lives.
In BC, Dr. Henry says that the USA’s CDC guidelines are reasonable, that restrictions like that will be achievable after one-dose, but that BC isn’t there yet.
BC’s active cases have remained around 4,000+ for several months but the government announced today it is four days ahead of schedule after months of uncertainty in the shipments of doses.
Canada continues to increase vaccination in its citizens. As of today, 1 out of 20 adults in Canada has been vaccinated so far.
Someone on Vancouver Island has won a $1 million lottery ticket, and they just have one week left to claim the cash prize.
The winning lottery ticket for the March 18th, 2020 Lotto 6/49 guaranteed prize draw was purchased in the northern Vancouver Island region but is still unclaimed.
The winning number is 19117903-02.
Winners have one year from the date of the draw to claim their prize. All unclaimed lottery winnings go back into the prize pool for bonus draws.
So whoever has that winning ticket only has a week remaining as it is set to expire at midnight on March 18th, 2021.
The north island region includes Alert Bay, Telegraph Cove, Port Hardy, Coal Harbour and Port McNeill, among other municipalities.
BCLC said the specific retail location where the winning lottery ticket was purchased from will be announced after the winner has come forward to claim the prize.
Just one day after the sudden death of a woman at Beacon Hill Park was ruled a homicide, VicPD says a second death – that occurred the following day in the park – has been deemed non-suspicious.
On Thursday, March 4th, 60-year-old Michael Lockhart died when the van he had been living in caught fire in Beacon Hill Park.
His death came nearly 24-hours after the sudden death of a woman near the park raising many concerns by local residents as both deaths were being investigated by the Major Crime Unit (MCU).
Shortly after 8 a.m. last week, VicPD were called to Beacon Hill Park where the Victoria Fire Department was already on scene extinguishing a fire in a camper van.
Once the fire was doused, police confirmed that one person has died in the blaze, which occurred near the Children’s Petting Zoo.
VicPD’s MCU took over the investigation and has now ruled the incident non-suspicious.
While many friends of Lockhart had good things to say about him, court documents show he served a 90-day jail sentence in 2016, after pleading guilty to a charge of invitation to sexual touching involving a seven-year-old girl. He was under probation for two years after being released.
Vic Fire Dept responding to a camper van fire a few minutes ago in Beacon Hill Park. Let's pray no one was injured. pic.twitter.com/Xv5aWSsNSA
Despite a rocky opening day, the BC Government announced their booking system is four days ahead of schedule, and seniors age 85 and up will be able to book vaccination appointments today.
Beginning today at noon on Thursday, BC Health Authority call centres are ready to book the next age cohort of BC seniors starting — those born in 1936 or earlier (85+).
Indigenous seniors ages 65+ can continue to book.
“We’re allowing people to get their appointments sooner,” BC Health Minister Adrian Dix said. “This reflects that, for the most part, seniors over 90 have already booked their appointments.
Health officials originally planned to make vaccine appointments available to seniors age 85 to 89 starting this Monday, March 15th.
Now four days ahead of schedule, health authority call centres are ready to book the next age cohort of BC seniors starting tomorrow, Mar 11, at noon – those born in 1936 or earlier (85+). They won’t have to wait until Monday.
The phone lines to book a COVID-19 vaccination for the general public opened on Monday morning with some frustrations after many reported not being able to get through.
Since then, Telus, the contractor for the phone lines, apologized for the problems and quickly rectified them.
According to the province, call centres across the province received nearly two million calls within the first two hours of operation, and a whopping 1.4 million of those came in within the first 90 minutes.
There are about 47,000 British Columbians over the age of 90 and 35,000 Indigenous peoples above the age of 65.
As of 7 p.m. Wednesday, 39,163 were booked for their vaccine across the province.
Total bookings by Health Authority:
VIHA – 6,145
FHA – 16,487
IHA – 5,972
VCHA – 7,699
NHA – 2,860
Residents who become eligible don’t lose eligibility, and seniors over 90 can book their immunization appointment anytime.
Clinic locations across Victoria are ready to administer vaccinations starting this Monday, March 15th, and people can book their appointment by calling 1-833-348-4787.
A popular Victoria-based company most commonly known for creating unique masks has added a new inclusive product line.
The Kindness Factory launched their ‘zeropad‘ line on February 26th – a reusable menstrual pad lineup for all humans who bleed.
The reusable cloth pads not only reduce waste, they can save you money, and even better? Won’t leak when used as directed!
Zeropad carries 6 sizes from mini light to postpartum, an adjustable width with multiple snaps on the wings, and a specially formatted backing meaning the pads don’t slide when you wear them.
They also come in a variety of different colours, and their website even offers waterproof pouches for discrete transport.
“As we look to a future where masks are less commonplace, we have chosen to continue being kind to the planet by making other high-quality reusable products,” said CEO and Founder Karmen McNamara.
“Reusable pads seem like the perfect fit,” McNamara added.
McNamara adds that reusable pads are more comfortable than disposables and create significantly less waste. They’re also designed to last up to five years, and are washer/dryer friendly!
You can order your pads online today, via single purchase or by subscription – which saves you 15% off!
You can also snag your order for 15% off with the exclusive promo code VICBUZZ from now until March 31st!
The Kindness Factory was founded in March 2020 in response to a community need for reusable masks and has since grown to 18 people: 1 founder, 3 employees, and 14 contractors.
The company offers contact-free pickup at their location on Hillside Avenue.
(plate recovered from SS Valencia lifeboat/Maritime Museum of BC)
115 years ago, it was one of the worst nautical disasters to ever take place near Vancouver Island.
Now, the wreck of the SS Valencia, which saw the loss of over 100 people, will be the focus of a new exhibit at the Maritime Museum of BC.
“Shipwrecks are popular stories, of course,” said Brittany Vis, Executive Director of the museum, in an interview with Victoria Buzz.
“The Valencia is a very popular and well-known one here on the coast. It also has some ghost stories associated with it that a lot of people know.”
The SS Valencia was a passenger steamer that was temporarily servicing a route from San Francisco to Seattle in January 1906.
Stormy weather, strong southeastern wind and bad visibility took the ship off course, causing them to miss the Juan de Fuca Strait.
The ship ultimately collided with a reef near Cape Beale, off the southwest tip of Vancouver Island. Pandemonium followed, with an improperly trained crew loading lifeboats unsafely, leading to numerous deaths.
“They shouldn’t have even gotten out in the first place,” said Vis.
“The waves were just so strong and so high, and they were right on the rocks…they were just completely capsized right from the get-go. And people were falling to their deaths on these rocks, and the people still on board could do nothing.”
(photo by Victoria Buzz)
In the inquest into the disaster, it was determined that better training for crews was needed to prevent loss of life.
A new lighthouse was also built at Pachena Point to improve nautical safety. That lighthouse was first lit in 1908 and is still in operation today.
On top of the material consequences, a number of ghost stories cropped up in the years after the disaster.
Some sailors claimed to have spotted a spectral vision of the SS Valencia near Pachena Point, with human figures clinging to the rigging for dear life.
Vis, an English and History graduate of the University of Victoria and Master’s graduate of Libary and Information Science, composed and curated much of the exhibit’s content.
She says the public interest in the story reflects on our human fascination with the horrific.
“I think it just kind of speaks to the fact that we’re a little bit morbid,” she said with a laugh.
“It’s kind of that same reaction, like when you’re driving down a highway and there’s a car crash, and you’ve got to just slow down to take a look and see what’s going on.”
Victorians and visitors to the city will get their own chance to slow down and take a look at the SS Valencia’s story at the museum starting on Friday, March 12th. The exhibit will then run until September 2nd, 2021.
(photo by Victoria Buzz)
Like many businesses, the museum has been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, temporarily shutting down completely before gradually returning with some online learning and limited in-person capacity.
Vis says she wanted to include information in the exhibit on the mental health impacts of the SS Valencia’s loss, a theme that has resonance today.
“Back in 1906, we didn’t have as much understanding of the brain’s reaction to trauma,” she said.
“Nowadays, I think we can understand that piece a little bit more. I’m hoping people will be able to take that, and maybe shed a little bit more sense of deeper understanding of how things unfolded.”
The Maritime Museum of BC is currently located at 634 Humboldt Street. They will be open Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., from March 16th to 27th.
From April to Victoria Day, they will be open Thursday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., before resuming Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., until September 2nd.
The Greater Victoria School District has issued a COVID-19 exposure at another elementary school in the region.
In a tweet, the district confirmed Vic West Elementary School has experienced a COVID-19 exposure.
The potential exposure occurred on March 2nd, 3rd, and 4th.
Island Health is currently conducting contact tracing.
If an individual may have been exposed, Island Health will contact them directly.
As of this publication, there are 202 active COVID-19 cases in the Island Health Region.
COVID-19 Notification: Vic West Elementary has experienced a COVID-19 exposure. The potential dates of exposure are March 2, 3, and 4th, 2021. Island Health is conducting contact tracing. If a person may have been exposed, Island Health will contact them directly. pic.twitter.com/Us2DwkMqek
— Greater Victoria School District (@sd61schools) March 11, 2021
The sudden death of a woman discovered in Beacon Hill Park last week has been deemed a homicide by VicPD.
Shortly after 6 a.m. last Wednesday, March 3rd VicPD were called to the park for reports of an unresponsive person.
VicPD officers along with paramedics performed CPR on the woman, but she was confirmed deceased at the scene.
VicPD confirmed her death as a homicide one week later.
VicPD reports that the homicide is not connected to the fatal vehicle fire in Beacon Hill Park just one day later, on March 4th, where a 60-year-old man was found deceased.
That death also remains under investigation and foul play has yet to be ruled out.
Investigators are asking anyone who was in the following areas between the hours of 11 p.m. on Tuesday March 2nd, and 5 a.m. on Wednesday March 3rd to please call the VIIMCU Information Line at (250) 380-6211:
Lower Cook Street near Beacon Hill Park
Lower Douglas Street near Beacon Hill Park
Dallas Road between Douglas Street and St Charles Street
The area of Fort Street and Foul Bay Road
Investigators are particularly interested in dashcam footage from either location. A map of the areas in which investigators are looking for information is below.
The B.C. Ministry of Health reported 531 new cases of COVID-19 across the province on Wednesday March 10th, for a total of 85,650 cases since the pandemic began.
New cases were reported in these health regions:
Vancouver Coastal Health: 147
Fraser Health: 291
Island Health: 19
Interior Health: 42
Northern Health: 32
The number of active cases in B.C. decreased from 4,869 to 4,861.
There are now a total of 244 people in hospital due to COVID-19, 66 of whom are in critical care — ICU or acute care units.
One new person has died from COVID-related causes, bringing the provincial death toll to 1,394.
9,051 people are under active public health monitoring after exposure to COVID-19.
A total of 79,309 people have recovered from novel coronavirus.
Outbreaks
There have been no new health-care facility outbreaks.
Outbreaks and other exposure events can be linked to from the BC Centre for Disease Control website.
BC’s Premier has topped the charts once more, this time for an overall approval rating across the country, a recent poll reports.
According to the Angus Reid Institute, the latest Premiers’ Performance survey saw John Horgan score an approval rating of 66 per cent.
The premier has seen high ratings throughout the majority of the pandemic thus far, and is up two points from the previous poll, which was released in December 2020.
Angus Reid’s latest poll sees two-thirds of British Columbians approving of the job Horgan’s been doing, holding the top spot this quarter versus the rest of the country’s provincial leaders.
Horgan’s first place designation comes despite the recent announcement that the now $16-billion Site C hydroelectric dam would be completed, and with last week’s news announcing details for the province’s mass immunization also hot off the presses.
The immunization strategy made waves across the country for extending the time between first and second doses of COVID-19 vaccine to four months.
Though there was initially some negative feedback over the mass immunization plan, other provinces announced they’d follow suit in adopting the same four-month spacing.
Many had something to say about the introduction of Monday’s vaccination booking hotline, after it was inundated with an influx of calls on opening day, but it’s still too soon to say if this will have an impact on the level to which British Columbians approve of their premier.
On the other side, Nova Scotia’s Iain Rankin scored the lowest of any premier, clocking in at 31 per cent.
Angus Reid does say that this number may be misleading, as the province is still trying to figure out their brand-new premier.
“While he appears to be the least approved-of premier in the country, this is a function of fully half the province (51%) as yet unable to render an opinion on the job he’s doing,” says the organization.
The Angus Reid Institute conducted an online survey from February 26th to March 3rd, 2021 among a representative randomized sample of 5,004 Canadian adults who are members of Angus Reid Forum. For comparison purposes only, a probability sample of this size would carry a margin of error of +/- 1.4 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.
Despite the low-risk of transmission, according to the US CDC, theatre curtains have mostly remained closed during the pandemic.
But on Vancouver Island, a few local theatre owners have found a solution to maintain some revenue.
Star Cinema in Sidney has opened its doors each weekend to serve that irreplaceable movie theatre-style popcorn we’ve all known, loved, and eaten off our shirts.
“We are keen to open soon, but in the meantime, we’ve opened up for popcorn services on weekends,” said the owner of Sidney’s Star Cinema, Sandy Oliver.
Many cinemas across Canada have offered online, virtual screenings of their typical marquees, including Vic Theatre.
Other theatres, like the Rio theatre in Vancouver, are redefining their license:
Operators and representatives are still wondering why they have to stay closed, despite similar protocols to bars and restaurants.
The Sidney Star Theatre has respected and understood all the provincial health guidelines and followed protocols, but Oliver said it’s disappointing that theatres aren’t able to open.
“We applied for variance before the restrictions [in November], we were operating house-hold bookings. Cohorts and families could rent the theatre on their own. We had a family rent it out and even a couple, but we haven’t been able to do that anymore,” said Oliver.
Representatives for the industry have argued there’s no data that points to cinemas as being a point of transmission.
But if you’ve been missing that fix, don’t worry, here’s how to get it:
Star Cinema
Address: 9824 Fifth Street
When: Friday, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Saturday, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Sunday, from 1:00 p.m.to 4:30 p.m.
If you have a larger popcorn order, you can call (250-655-3384)
Cineplex (Yates)
Order online via Skip the Dishes after 6 p.m. daily. All food items such as pop, candy and etc. are available.
CCPA presents "I Hope My Heart Burns First" (Left) and "Falsework" | photos by Andrew Barrett
In late May to early June, another cohort of students will graduate from their two-year diplomas at the Canadian College of Performings Arts (CCPA).
For this cohort, though, the experience has been unlike any group’s before, and will probably be unlike any other group to follow.
“They had from September to last March in pre-COVID times, doing normal training at the college,” said Caleb Marshall, the College’s Managing Artistic Director.
“And then they had to complete their year entirely remotely, and we had to pivot their year end project into a digital virtual portfolio.”
That sudden shift, brought on by the pandemic, has led to significant changes for all of CCPA’s operations.
While the school has been able to continue in-person operations, they underwent substantial infrastructure changes to accommodate COVID safety guidelines.
That included installation of new HEPA filters, renovation of the office blocks to create a large studio for physical distancing, and the addition of screens and webcams in every single studio to allow remote viewing.
For the students, however, the change has been particularly jarring.
“I feel for this class because they knew what it was like before,” said Marshall.
“Our year one students this year have only ever known COVID protocols at the college. And in a way, I think the year ones have probably adapted more easily.”
Marshall also teaches at CCPA, and says that there is a sense of loss for the graduating cohort in that they haven’t been able to experience the usual activities that offer a sense of community through their learning.
In some cases, students are learning from instructors through a screen, and they are learning to perform with face masks on.
That said, Marshall says he is proud of the students for rising to the challenge.
“I’m incredibly proud of the student body,” he says.
“This is a very rigorous, demanding program…mostly 12-hour days from 8:30 in the morning until 8:30 at night. And then you layer the stress and anxiety, of how do you explore an intimate art form, an art form that requires human connection, an art form that requires physical intimacy.”
Their efforts will be presented for the public in a series of shows that will be available for viewing through a live-stream. The performances will not be recorded; audiences will be watching remotely as the students perform live from the College.
First up will be Governor General’s Award-winning playwright Colleen Murphy’s I Hope My Heart Burns First, a black comedy about six youths who break into a mansion, determined to loot their way out of a drug debt.
There will be three performances: 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday March 10, 7:30 p.m. on Friday March 12 and a 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday March 13.
The second show performed by the students will be Falsework, adapted for the stage from the book of poetry by Gary Geddes and directed by Christopher Weddell.
The story dramatically recalls the worst industrial accident in Vancouver history, on
June 17, 1958, when Second Narrows Bridge collapsed while under construction.
Falsework will be live-streamed Thursday March 11 at 7:30 p.m., Friday March 12 at 2 p.m. and Saturday March 13 at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets can be bought online at ccpacanada.com, or over the phone (250-940-6851).
Marshall says these productions show the adaptability of these students and their commitment to their craft.
“This is an industry and an art form that is about collaboration, and about community coming together,” he said
“I think their sense of of collaboration and Unity has been strengthened by this. Even though at times they probably feel very isolated, and that’s the irony.”
Victoria in the springtime is the stuff of dreams on its own, but it also signifies another kind of beauty; the return of Birkenstock season!
Just in time, our friends at Merchant Quarters General Store are offering an exclusive pre-sale on the hard-to-find Arizona Big Buckle Sandals.
And even better news than that, you’ll have the chance to win a pair of your very own big buckle Birkenstocks – read ahead to find out how!
The new over-sized buckles freshen the look of the legendary Arizona Sandal, which are available in black or cognac, with rubber outsole, full leather upper and of course the famous Birky cork footbed.
You can pre-order your pair online, but make sure you snatch them up quick before they’re gone!
(Merchant Quarters General Store)
Located on the bustling corner of Government Street, Merchant Quarters is a modern version of the classic general store – inspired by the early general merchant stores of the 1800’s.
Though they have done away with the harnesses and tobacco of the olden days, you’ll still find an array of artisan items – and have added everything from Birkenstocks to Ray Bans.
They offer products produced here in B.C. by local artisans and makers as much as possible, and seek out companies who are socially responsible with a mindful and fair trade philosophy.
Merchant Quarters carries 150 brands including Ray Ban, Scotch & Soda, Birkenstock, Free People and Herschel, and over 3000 individual and unique items.
CONTEST
For your chance to win a pair of Big Buckle Birkenstocks, do at least one of the following:
Head to the Instagram post below and complete the steps there (1 entry)
The event which began in 1998, would see nearly 1,400 pre-1952 collector vehicles lined the Inner Harbour on display for this year’s Northwest Deuce Days.
Started in 1998, Northwest Deuce Days took place every three years, saw nearly ten times as many spectators, as thousands of classic car fans from all over the world came to check out the much-anticipated event.
The event would see nearly all of Victoria’s hotel rooms rented out.
The last Deuce Days event was held in July of 2019, while the next was scheduled for 2022.
Victoria Buzz has reached out to Al Clark, Mayor Lisa Helps, as well as Destination Greater Victoria for comment.
VicPD is transitioning out of its volunteer bicycle registry in favour of adopting a registration app used across North America.
The “Garage” app, operated by Seattle-based organization Project 529, has been in use in Vancouver since 2015 and is now used by police departments on Vancouver Island.
Owners can upload photos of their bikes, notify other users if their bike is stolen, and allows registration by email.
The Greater Victoria Cycling Coalition (GVCC) hailed the move on Wednesday, saying that RCMP in Nanaimo, Sidney and Langford already use the app.
A volunteer with GVCC says that with more Island-based police agencies on the app, it makes it easier to coordinate efforts to recover stolen bicycles in the region.
“Part of the purpose of a registry is to return a bike to its rightful owner,” said GVCC volunteer Todd Kalyniuk in an interview with Victoria Buzz.
“[The app] is much easier to use than VicPD’s process was. They can store more information.”
Kalyniuk says that the Greater Victoria region is a hotbed for bicycle thefts, with bike thefts consistently outpacing vehicle thefts by a factor of more than three-to-one.
A survey of over 500 bicycle owners conducted in 2019 by the GVCC showed more than half had reported a stolen bike, and in those cases only 15 per cent said their bike had been recovered.
“We’ve been trying to educate individual bike owners to secure their bikes more effectively,” said Kalyniuk. “One big thing is to stop using cable locks.”
The survey by GVCC also included some potential calls to action for the region, including a transition to a better registry.
They also recommended that the City look at adding or upgrading secure bike parking in publicly-owned parkades, as well as partnering with organizations that would be willing to host long-term valet bike parking or pursue other innovations.
VicPD officers will be able to access the Project 529 Garage app to query recovered property or found bicycles.
Users interested in registering their bicycles can find more information on the app at project529.com/garage.
All information currently held on the VicPD Bike Registry will be deleted by June 30, 2021, in keeping with provincial privacy legislation.
West Shore RCMP have arrested three individuals in corroboration with a suspected drug trafficking operation.
Following a two-month long investigation, investigators executed three simultaneous search warrants on February 26th at residences in Colwood, Langford, and Sooke.
Police arrested a 31-year-old man and a 28-year-old woman of Langford, and a 27-year-old man of Colwood.
As a result, investigators seized the following:
1 kilogram of suspected methamphetamine;
11 ounces of suspected fentanyl;
6 ounces of suspected heroin;
5 ounces of suspected cocaine;
1 kilogram of suspected Psilocybin;
70 micro dose of suspected Psilocybin capsules;
$12,000 in Canadian Currency;
1 loaded shotgun;
2 loaded pistol magazines;
Ammunition and other weapons, including brass knuckles and a stun baton;
5 luxury vehicles;
2 all terrain vehicles;
1 wake boat.
The investigation is ongoing and a detailed report to Crown Counsel will be forwarded for consideration of charges.
With the help of the West Shore RCMP Police Service Dog Erik, police uncovered evidence of a drug trafficking network, operating in the West Shore area and Capital Regional District.
“ Numerous resources as well as a variety of covert investigative techniques were utilized during this investigation,” said Constable Alex Bérubé.
“The disruption of such a drug trafficking operation is key to keeping our communities safe.”
VicPD arrested a man wanted on a Canada-wide warrant last night after an assault at a Victoria business.
Around 6 p.m. on Monday, March 8th, VicPD officers were called to the 3000-block of Blanshard Street after they received reports of a man assaulting staff members and breaking a glass door.
According to police the man was confronted by a staff member after he was caught stealing items from the business.
The suspect responded by smashing the glass door of the business and fleeing.
The staff member suffered non-life threatening injuries.
Officers identified the suspect in corroboration with witness information and CCTV footage.
The suspect was then located at a temporary housing site in the 1900-block of Blanshard Street and arrested for assault.
VicPD additionally arrested the man on outstanding Canada-wide warrants for assault with a weapon relating to an incident in Vancouver.
Officers transported the man to cells at VicPD where he was held to await court.
