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This past Family Day an Esquimalt couple were married in a phenomenal celebration that included a small ceremony in their living room and over 200 guests online.
Kandace Harry, 39, is battling terminal cancer and has spent the last year undergoing treatment including radical surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy.
The cancer was deemed terminal after her and her husband, Donnie Musgrove, 49, travelled to Tijuana in early 2021 while Kandace underwent immunotherapy.
The ceremony was donated by over a dozen wedding vendors, which included flowers, cake, the officiant, planners, décor, photographers, and videographers, at the behest of dressmaker, Lily Kennedy.
“I had Donnie on my Facebook, but I’d never met either Kandy or Donnie. When they returned from Tijuana I read the post where her cancer was terminal and she was given just weeks to live. I couldn’t stop thinking about them that entire day, and just decided that I would message Donnie and offer to plan a wedding for them,” said Lily.
This fall, Kandace was prepared for the “all clear” and a return to her regular life and work as a ready-mix truck driver. The cancer returned more intensely and in early November, her bladder, along with another tumour were removed.
The couple had been planning to get married since December 2019, and despite the troubles, have kept their spirits alive.
Kandace is currently in hospice.
“She is an upbeat lady with an infectious smile. Friends visit her and [despite her condition] she’s still able to put a smile on their face,” said Donnie.
A GoFundMe has been set up to help them through them and their family’s financial burdens.
“We’ve been lucky enough to have the GoFundMe page. We’ve blown through our savings and while Kandy has health benefits and there’s plenty of support for cancer research, there isn’t enough support for victims of cancer.”
The couple’s family consists of Kandace’s four children, ages 20, 19, 18, and 15, and Donnie’s four children, ages 29, 18, 12, and eight.
An elderly man living in a tent became trapped after last weekend’s snowfall.
In a media release from VicPD, officers were called by a concerned person to a Fernwood residence on the morning of Sunday, February 14th.
When officers arrived, they discovered the elderly man trapped inside a tent in a Fernwood resident’s yard.
They were able to quickly dig him out safely from the collapsed tent.
Thankfully, the man, who is in his eighties was unharmed and has been living in the Fernwood residents yard for the past year.
“Officers spent an extended period of time with him to ensure that he was in a safe environment and had the necessary resources for the weather,” VicPD said in a release.
Police report that the man is happy with his unorthodox living arrangement.
A young woman who was lost overnight near Ladysmith was found safe by search and rescue volunteers last weekend.
Ladysmith Search and Rescue was activated Saturday, February 13 after emergency responders received a call from a woman lost near Cassidy, north of Ladysmith.
The woman said she was somewhere in the vicinity of Timberlands Road. Her car was located shortly afterwards, and a rescue team led by Search Manager Tim Chadwick began a search.
An employee from a gas plant located on Timberland Road informed the rescue team that he had seen the missing woman, and was shown the area where he had spotted her.
The team was able to follow her tracks as snow fell heavily throughout the evening, and located the lost woman shortly afterwards.
The woman was in medical distress after spending the night in severe winter conditions in the wilderness.
Due to the location and condition of the woman, the Emergency Coordination Centre was contacted to have her extracted by helicopter.
North Shore Search and Rescue sent an AS 365 helicopter hoist stream, along with an ER doctor and a cardiac anesthesiologist.
The woman was then hoisted out of the area and transported to BCEHS at the Nanaimo Airport.
“Thank you to the RCMP and North Shore Rescue for their help and to Mid Island Sno Blazers for extracting our team and saving them from a 90 minutes snowy hike back out,” search manager Patty Abbott said in a statement.
The B.C. Ministry of Health reported 427 new cases of COVID-19 across the province on Wednesday for February 17th for a total of 74,710 cases since the pandemic began.
New cases were reported in these health regions:
Vancouver Coastal Health: 90
Fraser Health: 236
Island Health: 18
Interior Health: 47
Northern Health: 31
The number of active cases in B.C. decreased from 4,347 to 4,150.
There are now a total of 232 people in hospital due to COVID-19, 63 of whom are in critical care — ICU or acute care units.
3 more people have died from COVID-related causes, bringing the provincial death toll to 1,317.
Over 7,238 people are in isolation, under active public health monitoring after exposure to COVID-19.
A total of 69,167 people have recovered from novel coronavirus.
Outbreaks
There are no new health facility outbreaks reported.
The outbreaks at Sunnybank Retirement Home and Mountain View Manor are now over.
Outbreaks and other exposure events can be linked to from the BC Centre for Disease Control website.
Victoria’s Belfry Theatre will be going virtual for their spring season by filming and streaming their next three productions.
The theatre says they will be employing an in-house crew including a videographer and designers from Vancouver.
That crew will shoot in Victoria and Vancouver to minimize travel, obtaining footage for the Belfry’s next three shows: Being Here: The Refugee Project (running March 16 – 21), Same Old Same Old (running June 1 – 6), and a still-to-be-announced musical production.
“The health and safety of our patrons and artists made changing our approach and abandoning all in-person audiences an obvious and easy decision for us,” said Artistic Director Michael Shamata in a statement to Victoria Buzz.
Ticket holders and subscribers will be able to watch the shows during scheduled dates any time from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Box office staff will also be available online to answer questions and resolve potential technical issues.
The Belfry says they considered setting up a live-stream for the performances, but issues with travel and safety ruled this possibility out.
“While we have developed extensive protocols, trained staff and felt ready to welcome artists and small, socially distanced audiences back to the theatre, COVID-19 and the local and national health orders continue to impact our plans,” said Shamata.
Season ticket and single ticket holders will be contacted with information about the virtual productions.
A woman was able to stave off an attempted robbery in Saanich as she was exiting her vehicle this morning.
Saanich Police say the incident occurred at approximately 6:40 a.m. on Wednesday, February 17th at the Mattick’s Farm plaza, located in the 5300 block of Cordova Bay Road.
The woman had just parked her vehicle and as she was exiting her car, an unknown man pushed his way in and grabbed her handbag.
Police say a short struggle ensued, at which point the suspect gave up his attempt and left the area on foot.
The suspect was not known to the victim and police believe the attack was random.
The suspect is described as an adult Caucasian man, standing 5’9” tall. He was wearing a brown winter-style tweed jacket and knitted black gloves.
His face was covered at the time and he was last seen heading southbound near Cordova Bay Road. He may have later left the area in a vehicle.
No weapons were used, and the victim was not physically injured.
Saanich Police are asking for any witnesses to come forward that may have seen the suspect prior to, during or after the offence.
Additionally, drivers in the area are being asked to please check their dashcams for any footage they may have captured.
“This is a very concerning incident and our officers are working diligently to try and identify this suspect,” said Cst. Markus Anastasiades.
“This happened in an open, public area and we are hopeful that someone may have witnessed this incident. We continue to provide support to the victim involved.”
Anyone with information or dashcam footage are asked to call the Saanich Police department at 250-475-4321.
Two new affordable housing projects are on the way to Sooke that will provide 75 affordable rental homes for people with low to moderate incomes, along with 33 supportive homes for people experiencing homelessness in the community.
Construction is set to begin this month at 2170 Charters Road and the building is estimated to open in 2022.
The project is a partnership between the Province, M’akola Housing Society, the federal government and the Capital Regional District.
The building will provide studio, one, two, and three-bedroom homes for individuals, Elders, seniors, and families.
“Everyone deserves safe and secure housing. After so many years, these new homes will mean more people and families in Sooke have the affordable housing and support they need,” said Premier John Horgan, who is also MLA for Langford-Juan de Fuca.
He said these projects are an “important step towards advancing the continuum of care for those experiencing homelessness.”
In addition, the Province, through BC Housing, has purchased the Hope Centre at 6750 West Coast Road.
The Hope Centre will undergo renovations to accommodate 33 supportive homes, a service hub with six shelter beds, training/outreach services and a commercial kitchen.
While the Hope Centre currently provides rental homes for people with low incomes, M’akola will work with these residents to discuss their future plans and support those who wish to stay or transition to other housing options.
The Sooke Shelter society will operate the new building with staff on site 24/7 to provide support services to residents, including life skills training, mentorship and other programming.
President of the Sooke Shelter Society, Sherry Thompson, said, “These projects will provide residents with many of the supports they need to move forward with their lives.”
A community advisory committee (CAC) will be formed, which will include project partners and neighbourhood representatives. The CAC will oversee the project’s integration within the community and help address any concerns that may arise.
The Victoria Shamrocks lacrosse team has recently announced that they have made a coaching change ahead of their 2021 season.
Bob Heyes will no longer be head coach following a eight-year term with the Senior A club; according to the team, he was offered another position within the organization, but declined in order to focus on other projects.
“The Shamrocks are deeply appreciative of Bob’s contributions to the club, and grateful to his family for allowing him and supporting him in his dedication to the club over the years, from his playing days through his coaching career,” said General Manager Chris Welch.
Heyes has been a part of the Shamrocks family for quite some time – he first joined the as a goaltender in 1992, and continued to play with the club until 1998, as well as in 2000 and 2002.
The former head coach won a Mann Cup as a player in 1997, and later joined the team as an assistant coach before being named head coach in 2012.
Heyes was able to rack up an impressive record as the club’s bench boss, with 157 wins, 83 losses, and 3 ties over his tenure.
The club also made the playoffs every year under his leadership, winning the WLA playoff championship in 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2019, and winning the Mann Cup in 2015.
“This was a difficult decision to make,” said the General Manager in a release.
“It certainly isn’t one we took lightly. Nobody works harder or is better prepared than Bob Heyes.”
“I’ve had the feeling for some time that we needed a fresh voice of leadership behind the bench – and it’s not because of Bob’s abilities or that he did anything wrong. It’s just a reality of coaching in sports that it is a temporary job, and every coach will eventually run their course with a team; I feel we have reached that point.”
According to the Shamrocks, an announcement surrounding a new head coach is expected in the coming weeks.
Police are searching for a driver involved in a fatal hit-and-run crash that took place in Chemainus on Sunday night.
According to North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP, the incident occurred on February 14th at approximately 7:30 p.m. in the 9900 block of Chemainus Road.
After receiving reports of the collision, first responders arrived to find the man lying just off of the road.
North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP say he was killed immediately after being struck and the driver left the scene before they arrived.
“North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP and the BC Coroners Service are working alongside the Integrated Forensic Identification Services, and Integrated Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Service (ICARS) to determine all the circumstances leading up to this incident and to locate those responsible,” said BC RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Chris Manseau.
Investigators are asking anyone who witnessed the incident, or those who may have dashcam footage to contact the North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP.
“This is a busy section of road, and even though the weather wasn’t great, investigators feel there was enough traffic for someone to have seen or heard something that can assist the investigation,” said Manseau.
The identity of the deceased was not released due to privacy concerns.
Oak Bay’s police chief took to Twitter Tuesday to clarify his views regarding a recent incident of porch piracy.
“Not a ‘porch pirate’…just a thief” Chief Ray Bernoties said on his personal Twitter account.
The incident in question is in regards to a surveillance video of a woman stealing a package off a porch and getting into a white subaru.
Bernoties suggested that her touque and sweater are “distinctive” and encouraged anyone with information to call the Oak Bay Police at 250-592-2424.
As online shopping becomes widespread across Canada, with most retailers are moving their businesses online, unfortunately, so does porch piracy.
But don’t worry, in cases like these you have rights. Most companies, like Amazon, will offer a refund or replacement.
Consumer Protection has a few tips to avoid porch piracy here.
This woman just helps herself to your packages and then flees in the white vehicle in the background. Her sweater & toque are pretty distinctive. If you have any info about who this is, please call us. Not a 'porch pirate'🏴☠️…just a thief. 😡 pic.twitter.com/1bQoMt6UUN
The provincial government formally extended B.C.’s state of emergency on Tuesday, with a new expiration date of March 2nd, 2021.
The new deadline is just shy of a year since the state of emergency was first declared on March 18th, 2020.
“The fight against COVID-19 has been a long and difficult one, and I am proud of what British Columbians have accomplished to flatten the curve and protect our health-care system,” said Premier John Horgan.
“The beginning of our mass vaccination program is just weeks away, and health-care workers have already vaccinated virtually everyone in our long-term care system.”
The Province, together with law enforcement, continues to enforce the measure under the EPA to limit the spread of COVID-19.
This includes ticketing owners, operators and event organizers who host an event or gathering against Dr. Bonnie Henry’s order.
Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, said that the “vast majority of British Columbians are getting the message[…]. For the few who aren’t getting the message, police departments across B.C. have been doing an excellent job.”
According to the province, 1,058 violation tickets for contraventions of provincial guidelines were issued from August 21st, 2020 to February 12th, 2021.
Police have issued 94 violation tickets, totalling $102,695, to individuals who were in violation of the Federal Quarantine Act.
Further extensions of the provincial state of emergency can be made for periods of up to 14 days at a time.
Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.'s provincial health officer, and Adrian Dix, Minister of Health (Colin Smith Takes Pics)
In the latest COVID-19 update for the province, Minister of Health, Adrian Dix, said he’s hopeful that “10% of the population will be immunized by April,” if the vaccines are delivered on schedule.
Dr. Henry provided an update to B.C’s vaccination program saying it was back on schedule after delays due to extreme weather conditions.
Both the Pfizer-BioNTech and the Moderna vaccines have seen plenty of delay in the past month due to both lack of supply and extreme weather conditions.
During the presser, Henry said she is “excited” about the opportunities that come with other potential vaccines, including Johnson & Johnson’s, but reiterated they have yet to get CFIA or FDA approval.
In the latest Island Health update, 67 new cases were announced with a total of 151 active cases and 2 new deaths.
Here is the breakdown by region:
South Island: 47 | Total cases: 564
Central Island: 95 | Total cases: 1,137
North Island: 9 | Total cases: 296
For more information on B.C’s latest Covid-19 update go here.
A high-speed crash in the West Shore area last week was captured on a home security camera.
The incident occurred near the 2300-block of Selwyn Road, when police say an uninsured 2015 Fiat 500 was travelling at a high rate of speed striking two vehicles parked on the side of the road.
In the shocking video seen below, the Fiat can be heard traveling at extremely high-speeds before entering the camera view before striking the two parked cars.
The driver of the Fiat was uninsured and unlicensed and was allegedly under the influence of alcohol.
Both the driver and the passenger suffered serious injuries.
The owner of one of the parked cars, a single father of two, had recently removed the optional insurance that covers incidents such as this; thus, ICBC will not cover the costs.
A GoFundMe has been set up for the owner of the parked 2006 Audi A3 totalled last Sunday, February 7th.
The vehicle was sent 30 feet from its position onto the front lawn of a nearby residence.
Now, the victim has lost his vehicle, his means to transport his kids, and his way to work.
“While trying to save money during Covid, he [the victim] removed the optional ICBC insurance that covers these kinds of accidents,” the GoFundMe page read.
“He has also been told that he is responsible for all of the towing and lot charges associated with removing his wrecked vehicle from the scene. His only option is a private legal case which would cost thousands in legal fees, with a minimal chance of recovering his losses.”
As of this publication, the GoFundMe has met $1,350 of their goal of $7,500.
The B.C. Ministry of Health reported 1,533 new cases of COVID-19 across the province on Tuesday for the period of February 12th to February 16th for a total of 74,283 cases since the pandemic began.
New cases were reported in these health regions:
Vancouver Coastal Health: 392
Fraser Health: 856
Island Health: 58
Interior Health: 92
Northern Health: 135
The number of active cases in B.C. decreased from 4,347 to 4,189
Breakdown for 4 day reporting period:
Fri to Sat: 452 Sat to Sun: 431 Sun to Mon: 348 Mon to Tues: 302
The City of Langford will officially receive 38.5 acres of forestland centrally located in the municipality.
The deal includes 3.5-acres that will connect to the newly constructed Jordie Lunn Bike Park, slated to open April 1st.
The remaining 35-acres located on the east side of West Shore Parkway will feature trail connections in residential areas providing wild open green space for residents. In addition to traditional activities, a section of the land could potentially feature a rock-climbing area.
The green space aligns with the Council’s vision and commitment to protecting green space for their residents.
The land is donated from Westhills Land Corporation as part of the Master Development Agreement between the city and the corporation, with the land to be protected in perpetuity for residents of Langford.
“Getting outside for recreational purposes and exercise has never been more important as we navigate these stressful and uncertain times,” says Langford Mayor Stew Young.
Located near Langford Lake, Irwin Ponds, Mount Wells Regional Park, City Centre Park and the Westhills YMCA, this new parkland will complement the many recreation opportunities offered at Westhills.” says Ryan McKenzie, manager of Westhills Land Corporation.
The next few months will see an extensive trail network and wayfinding plan for the lands.
Nanaimo RCMP are asking for the public’s help in regards to an incident in which a man was assaulted and robbed in downtown Nanaimo last Monday.
The incident occurred at 5 a.m. on Monday, February 8th near the intersection of Front Street at Bastion street.
The 33-year-old victim suffered non-life-threatening injuries when he was approached and assaulted by two men and one woman while taking photos of the downtown core.
The victim told police the woman had red hair, and the man who assaulted him was Caucasian, with black hair and wore a black and white baseball cap.
No description could be provided for the third man.
Accused of recording the three individuals, the victim was punched in the head which caused him to fall on the ground and lose consciousness for a short period of time.
When the victim awoke, his wallet and phone were gone.
With the help of a security guard from the nearby Coast Bastion Hotel, the victim located the three individuals close by and ultimately received his phone and personal identification.
Anyone with information on this incident or the identity of any of the three suspects, please call the Nanaimo RCMP non-emergency line at 250-754-2345.
This past weekend was a cold one, but it was even colder when one local man took a polar dip in Victoria’s inner harbour to rescue his iPhone.
Roman Czarnomski was walking around the harbour in the wee hours on February 14th when he stopped to take a picture of the harbour freezing over near the Empress.
But the fun stopped after his phone slipped from his hand falling straight into the ice cold waters.
Here’s the photo he took before the slip:
Later that morning, Czarnomski stripped down and bucked up to dip into the freezing cold water to rescue his iPhone XS.
“I dropped my phone the night before. Then grabbed it the next day when the tide was low. It was refreshing,” Czarnomski told Victoria Buzz.
While it seems most phones barely survive the humidity from the shower these days, the new iPhone can survive dunking in up to 3m of water for up to 30 minutes.
While the phone may have been submerged for a little more than a few hours, Czarnomski said his phone appears to be working fine.
“I had a feeling it would work. […] I wasn’t really sure though until it buzzed in my pocket when the guy who took the videos sent them to me after I got out,” said Czarnomski.
Check out the video below to see the arctic dip that saved an iPhone.
Victoria man jumps into the freezing inner harbour to rescue his iPhone. 🥶 Wondering if it worked afterwards?
A Nanaimo RCMP officer was transported to the hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries after a significant rollover crash on Monday morning.
The cruiser hit a patch of ice, went off the roadway, and flipped several times.
According to RCMP, the police vehicle was travelling on Highway 19A at the time of the crash, just south of the Oliver Road and Highway 19A intersection, and was enroute to assist another officer.
The officer, travelling northbound, had the vehicle’s sirens and emergency equipment activated.
TRAFFIC: Northbound traffic on the Island Hwy. is closed temporarily from Rutherford Rd. to Oliver Rd. after a motor vehicle incident around 9:30 a.m.
While the fluffy white snowflakes have now turned to raindrops and Frosty may or may not be melting in the backyard, this past weekend on Vancouver Island saw the kind of winter wonderland most islanders only dream of.
A moist pacific weather system collided with arctic air creating copious amounts of snow on the South Coast over Family Day Weekend.
Many roads around the regions were rendered useless and converted into sledding hills and ski slopes, and Victorians in particular got a taste of a real Canadian winter as the city was blanketed in snow.
While most areas in the Greater Victoria area saw about 24 cm of snow accumulations, the Malahat area was hit the hardest with about 43 cm of accumulation.
A weather alert remains in place for the Malahat area (Goldstream to Mill Bay) as heavy snow continues to fall in the area.
Temperatures will gradually go back to normal averages as the week goes on with Tuesday and Wednesday seeing a high of 7 ºC and periods of sunshine.
Here are the total snowfall accumulations as of 8 a.m. Monday:
Update: The West Shore RCMP have confirmed that the 37-year-old female reported missing has been located and is safe and sound.
— original:
West Shore RCMP are asking for the public’s help in locating a missing woman.
Jessica Ramalho, 37, was last heard from on February 12th and is known to frequent the Victoria area.
Police say they are extremely worried about her health and well-being.
Ramalho is described as being 5 ft 4 inches tall, approximately 160 lbs with green eyes, and dark brown/black hair. She is reported as having a dark complexion. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Jessica Ramalho is urged to contact their local police, or Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).
Canada Post announced service disruptions to several municipalities on Vancouver Island following snowstorms on the weekend.
The mail service said they are issuing a “yellow alert” for Nanaimo, Ladysmith, Parksville, Port Alberni, Ganges, Sooke, Courtenay and Campbell River.
A yellow alert means that Canada Post will be attempting deliveries in these areas, but delays are expected.
Customers in affected municipalities are encouraged to clear snow and ice from walkways, stairs, and driveways to ensure safe access for mail carriers and other visitors.
In Cobble Hill, Chemainus, Mill Bay, Shawnigan Lake, Duncan, and Pender Island, service was suspended altogether with Canada Post issuing a red alert.
Red alerts are issued in cases where the mail service has determined that conditions have become unsafe for delivery agents.
Canada Post says that delivery service will resume in these areas once it is safe to do so.
The service disruption is on top of a standing alert regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and Canada Post experiencing higher delivery volumes along with enhanced safety protocols.
While most people have canceled their travel plans, two BC Transit employees’ plans have gotten a whole lot more serious.
Darcy Darbshire and Eli Blanchette will tie the knot aboard a BC Transit bus this Family Day – a day which also marks the fifth anniversary of their first date.
Darbshire, who’s been with the BC Transit service team since November 2019, said the wedding was initially supposed to be in Cuba, but of course,”Covid changed that plan.”
So who made the new plans?
“It started out with me joking about it to Darcy. Then her mom kind of fell in love with the idea, and it took off from there,” said Eli Blanchette, a Transit Operator with BC Transit since September 2018.
While it may not be the most traditional wedding, Darbshire will still be wearing a traditional wedding dress, while Blanchette is still undecided, despite his suggestions to deliver his vows in his BC Transit uniform and a tie.
The couple will be joined by Darbshire’s parents and sisters, their photographer and of course their wedding Officiant in the physically-distant ceremony.
While people have gotten more creative with their weddings this past year, this isn’t the first time BC transit has been involved in a wedding, and it likely won’t be the last.
While traveling and studying abroad has presented many challenges in the midst of the global COVID-19 pandemic, it’s assuring to those in Canada that we can enjoy, work, study and live in such a fantastic country, and welcome those who want to.
According to CEOWORLD, Canada is ranked number four in the world for international students.
The United States ranks number one, while Australia and United Kingdom rank second and third, respectively.
The study ranked 46 countries on “equally weight indicators” based on their education systems, access to high-quality teaching, the number of research institutions and university funding.
They also took into account specialization expertise, industrial linkage, institutional output by research, higher education institutions, government expenditure on education total, student visa, and post-study work visa credentials.
Countries were given a score out of 100.
“Studying abroad renders you something more than just an educational qualification” said CEOWORLD in the report. This includes, international language proficiency, career opportunities, and a culturally-rich understanding of the world.
List of the world’s best countries for international students:
Local minor hockey team, the Victoria Admirals, have been selected as BC.’s regional finalist in a national contest that sees $100,000 donated to the team’s charity of choice.
The team has chosen the Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island (the Foundation) as their charity of choice, if they win the ‘Good Deeds Cup’.
The Admirals’ video pitch outlines a plan to purchase specialized equipment for Island kids who need help learning to walk or are at risk of head injuries, and is one of 11 pitches across Canada short-listed to win the grand prize.
The Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island helps kids with physical and mental health challenges, and helped over 1,000 kids access specialized equipment last year.
“To us a good deed is assisting others to achieve their goals,” the Admirals say in their video pitch.
Take a look at their video entry below:
People can help by voting once per day for the Victoria Admirals online from now until February 24th.
The grand prize winner of $100,000 for the charity of their choice will be announced on March 17th, 2021.
A teenager has gone missing from Nanaimo and the RCMP are asking the public for help to bring him home safely.
15-year-old Brandon Sheldon was reported missing to Nanaimo RCMP on Thursday, February 11.
Police say that given his age and a lack of information on his whereabouts, caregivers are extremely worried about his safety.
Sheldon is described as 5 feet 11 inches tall, weighing 150 pounds. He wears braces on his teeth and was last seen wearing a grey jacket, tan coloured pants and white runners.
Anyone with information on Brandon Sheldon’s whereabouts is asked to call the Nanaimo RCMP non-emergency line at 250-754-2345, and quote file # 2021-5179.
A new report on rental markets across Canada ranks Victoria as the 5th most expensive city in the country.
Listing website Padmapper’s February 2021 report says that the B.C. capital city dropped one place on their rankings after holding the number four spot since September.
According to Padmapper’s data, Victoria saw a decline from January of 2.5 per cent in average monthly rents for a one-bedroom apartment to $1,570.
The city also saw a drop of 0.5 per cent for two-bedroom apartments, with an average price of $1,990 a month.
Meanwhile, Barrie, ON saw rising prices for rental units, with a 4.4 per cent increase for one-bedrooms pushing monthly average rents to $1,650 and a 2.9 per cent increase for two-bedrooms leaving monthly rents at $1,780 on average.
Those increases caused Barrie to bump Victoria out of fourth place into fifth on Padmapper’s list.
Ahead of Barrie and Victoria, the top three most expensive rental markets in Canada were:
Vancouver (one bedroom, $1,940, two-bedroom, $2,630)
Toronto (one bedroom, $1,770, two-bedroom, $2,340)
Burnaby (one bedroom, 1,680, two-bedroom, $2,190)
Padmapper says that these figures represent the lowest one-bedroom rents in Vancouver and Toronto in nearly four years.
According to the listing site’s data, the last time Toronto saw one-bedroom rents at the current price was in February 2017, while Vancouver rents were comparable to current rates in April 2017.
Crystal Chen, author of the Padmapper report, attributed the overall decline in rents to migration from the most expensive rental markets in Canada.
“It seems the continuous rent price declines from renter migration out of Canada’s two most expensive rental markets have not stopped, even as COVID-19 vaccines have begun to roll out,” Chen said.
The Nanaimo RCMP are asking the public for help to find a 23-year-old man who has been missing since Saturday.
Nathaniel Biernacyzk was reported missing on February 13, 2021. Family members are extremely concerned for his wellbeing.
Local shelters have already been searched for Biernacyzk and his cell phone is not active.
Biernacyzk is described as 5 feet 8 inches tall, 170 pounds, with short blonde hair and blue eyes.
He is believed to be wearing a black jacket, camouflage-patterned pants, and a grey toque.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Nathaniel Biernacyzk is asked to call the Nanaimo RCMP non-emergency line at 250-754-2345, and quote file # 2021-5408.
A recent study from BC Business and Environics Analytics has found that despite the ongoing pandemic, Vancouver Island has proven to be the most resilient region in the 2021 ranking.
The list sees Langford at number one, Parksville in second, Sidney at number three, and Sooke in fifth place, rounding out the study based on demographic, workforce composition, real estate, and employment trends.
In fourth place was the City of Langley, the only region not on Vancouver Island in the top 5.
Indicators include key risk factors, resiliency, and early signs of recovery.
This past year, the Capital Region has seen a higher than average share of residents working in the public sector.
The government employs around 10% of the workforce in the area, according to Associate Professor of Economics at UVic, Martin Farnham.
“Thanks to the ability to run deficits, government employment is not as cyclical as the private sector,” he says.
With people spending more time in and around their homes, residents are favouring larger living spaces more affordable that provide more space for remote work and social distancing.
The study also sees smaller independent communities favoured over bigger metropolitan areas.
A COVID-19 outbreak has been declared at two Vancouver Island long-term care homes.
In a statement released by Island Health, the confirmed outbreaks are located at Wexford Creek and Eden Gardens long-term care homes in Nanaimo.
One staff member has tested positive for COVID-19 at each site.
At this time, no residents are experiencing symptoms, according to Island Health.
Communication with residents and families is underway.
Wexford Creek is owned and operated by Park Place Seniors Living. The staff member who tested positive is self-isolating at home.
The outbreak is limited to one floor within the facility.
Eden Gardens is owned and operated by the Nanaimo Travellers Lodge Society. The staff member who tested positive is al self-isolating at home.
The outbreak is limited to staff and elders who participated in activities on specific days.
Admissions, transfers and visitation to the both facilities have been stopped.
Enhanced control measures have been put in place at both sites and Island Health is working to identify anyone who may have been potentially exposed to the virus.
The following measures have been implemented at both sites:
* Staffing levels will be maintained to provide resident care.
* Visitors are restricted throughout the facilities.
* Staff and resident movement in the facilities has been restricted.
* Cleaning and infection control measures have been enhanced.
* Residents, families and staff are being notified.
* Twice a day screening of all staff and residents.
* At Wexford Creek, all residents on the affected floor are being tested for COVID-19 and all staff who worked on the affected floor with the confirmed case are being tested for COVID-19.
* At Eden Gardens, all staff and elders who participated in activities on specific days are being tested for COVID-19.
Another special weather statement has been issued for Greater Victoria and the rest of the island as a second winter storm arrives Sunday.
On the heels of a snow-producing storm which began Friday evening and carried on through Saturday, a second storm will arrive on the south coast on Sunday and last until Monday.
According to Environment Canada, this second storm will see a transition from snow to rain for most areas of Vancouver Island.
The storm will begin as snow on Sunday morning before transitioning to rain early in the afternoon for southern areas and to late in the evening for northern areas.
Nanaimo may experience greater snowfall from a later transition to rain due to Howe Sound outflow.
The weather agency says snowfall amounts will vary due to the timing of the transition and warns additional alerts may be issued once snowfall amounts become more certain.
I know there’s no chance of humanity collectively switching to a new calendar, but the lunar year has always made a lot of sense to me.
For one thing, the Sun is a fickle dingus, vanishing every night, daring you to look at it during the day, and horrendously punishing you with cornea damage if you do.
Not like the Moon, that chill bae in the sky. Visible night AND day, oftentimes transformed into an adorkable, lopsided grin. The Moon is our planet’s manic pixie dream girl, reflecting only the best of the Sun’s light and being all quirky and daring us to have wild adventures and build Space Force bases on it and junk.
But I digress.
In my half-Chinese household, Lunar New Year is Chinese New Year, by thunder, and that means red envelopes, dim sum, and a phone call to 婆婆.
Only this year, thanks to COVID, that perpetual mistress of torment, at least some of these activities are a no-go.
Oh, I can definitely still call my 婆婆, but dim sum, clearly the most vital of traditions, is a hard nope.
I considered toting a piece of rolling luggage around my apartment, chock full of Save-On-Foods’ frozen appetizers and entrees, pretending my dog, Bailey, was an eager customer awaiting Har Gow and Siu Mai. I’d tick off Bailey’s table card and top her tea up with a Dr. Who thermos I have kicking around.
Bereft, then, of this annual culinary foray, and the accompanying visit to the chinese bakery for delicious bao, followed by the customary trip to the medicine cabinet for Pepto Bismol, I am left to ask myself: is Chinese New Year more than just tasty deep-fried noms hand-delivered on rolling carts?
But alas, though my pooch’s palate wouldn’t know the difference between an imaginary COVID-apartment dim sum and the genuine article, I would. And my homemade fortune cookies, containing wisdoms such as “Cry less today maybe?” aren’t cutting it.
This is the year of the Ox, I am reliably told by several tweets from politicians.
The METAL OX, if we’re being specific, which sounds absolutely badass, like something that was birthed off a Judas Priest album cover and wielding a battle axe.
It’s supposed to be a symbol of sturdiness and reliability, hard work and perseverance. It’s the type of animal that brings to mind an image of solid steadfastness.
In that vein then…maybe it’s not so crazy to just keep sheltering in place. Maybe that’s the best way to celebrate this Lunar New Year, gazing up at Moon bae and thinking of the dim sums of tomorrow, which will follow a hard year of Ox-headed hard work.
And it’s always, always, always a good time to call your 婆婆.
A single case of a new COVID-19 variant has been detected in B.C., the provincial health officer said on Friday.
“The new variant under investigation is the one associated with Nigeria,” said Dr. Bonnie Henry. That strain, designated B.1.525, was found in a man in Interior Health who had travelled internationally recently.
It is still unclear if the new variant has increased transmissibility or leads to a more severe illness.
Contact tracing has been completed on the new case, and no associated transmission has been identified.
46 cases of other variants have been confirmed to date in B.C, including 29 of the B.117 UK variant and 17 of the B.1.351 variant identified in South Africa.
The majority of these cases were traced to individuals returning from abroad, or people coming into close contact with individuals who had travelled recently.
Only three active cases of variants of concern remain in the province.
Health officials say that there is little evidence to suggest variants are widespread in B.C.
In one screening process, 3,099 positive cases of COVID-19 were tested for variants through whole genome sequencing, and only 3 cases were confirmed.
“What we have found is 0.1 per cent of the positive cases were confirmed to be a variant, so that’s a very small number,” said Dr. Henry.
A logging truck that lost its load while turning onto the Trans-Canada Highway in Langford Monday was captured on dashcam.
The incident took place just after lunch hour in the Westshore Parkway area.
Dashcam video shows the truck turning a left onto the Trans-Canada Highway causing what appears to be a load shift before tipping over.
The truck ended up on its side in the northbound lane of the highway. The crash snarled northbound traffic as crews worked to tow the vehicle away. The logs were removed from the scene the following morning.
The cause of the crash is still under investigation, however, the driver was ticketed for failing to maintain a logbook and police ordered an inspection for the truck and trailer.
apparently something on the trailer failed
Posted by Cody Loughran on Thursday, February 11, 2021
Ringing in 2021’s Lunar New Year will be a much quieter affair for Victoria’s Chinese community.
Due to the ongoing pandemic, the Wong Sheung Kung Fu Club are celebrating Chinese New Year virtually this year.
“Filmed safely with as much New Years spirit as we could fit into one video for you to enjoy safely in the comfort of your own home,” the club said in its description on the video.
The 26 minute video features new year traditions like the lion dance, martial arts demonstrations and clips from previous years from Canada’s oldest Chinatown and the second oldest in North America after San Francisco’s.
Victoria’s Chinatown had its beginnings in the mid-nineteenth century in the mass influx of miners from California to what is now British Columbia in 1858.
2021 is a year of the Ox, starting from February 12th, 2021 (Chinese lunar New Year Day) and lasting until January 31st, 2022.
The ox, in Chinese culture, is a hardworking zodiac sign. It usually signifies movements so, hopefully, the world will be less static than last year and get moving again in the second half of the year.
Enjoy the video and hopefully by this time next year, we will be celebrating in person.
In order to maintain traditions and culture and give some sort of normalcy this year, Wong Sheung Kung Fu Club said the video is a good way to give back to the community and still allow people to enjoy Chinese New Year.
With a prize lineup like this one, it’s no wonder this year’s first BC Children’s Lotterysold out in record time.
From luxury homes, to brand new vehicles and even cold hard cash, this year’s Choices Lottery is one for the books. If you were able to snag your tickets before they sold out, you’re in luck; read on to learn more about what exactly you could have the chance to win!
Your ticket gives you the chance to win one of eight grand prizepackages. These include brand new homes in Morgan Creek, South Surrey, Vernon, Okanagan Falls, Vancouver, Courtenay, and Victoria, as well as a massive $2.2 million cash prize
The 2021 Choices Lottery Grand Prize Draw will be held on Thursday, April 29th at 9 a.m. and you can tune in to the Lottery’s Facebook pageto watch the draw and see who wins!
The best part of these ticket sales is that they go towards research initiatives at BC Children’s Hospital that could help address some of the biggest health challenges facing kids today.
If you’ve ever imagined living in the beautiful wine country of the Okanagan, look no further; this stunning 4,400 sq. ft. 6 bedroom, 4 bathroom home by 5200 Investments Ltd.overlooking the serene Skaha Lake could be your own slice of heaven on earth.
Take a look at these photos of the Okanagan Falls area that could be right outside your back door if you win this Grand Prize:
Also in the Okanagan area is the Choices Lottery’s Vernon Grand Prize home, which consists of beautiful 3 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom home with double garage by Aldebaran Homes at Infinity.
This 2,229 sq. ft. home is perfect for the outdoor enthusiast; after a day of skiing, hiking, kayaking or golf, you can return to enjoy sweeping views of Kalamalka Lake from your new home on Middleton Mountain.
Take a peek inside the Vernon Grand Prize home below:
Though this BC Children’s Lottery sold out in record time, keep your eyes peeled for more lotteries in the future for your chance to win big; who knows, your ticket could be the lucky one!
The Grand Prize draw will be Thursday, April 29th, 2021.
According to their poll, roughly half of Canadians (49 per cent) who are married or live with a significant other say they and their partner are equally in charge of setting the thermostat.
However, a number of people also admit to tinkering with the temperature without telling their partner.
39 per cent of those surveyed say they change the heat at home without telling their spouse or partner “all of the time” or “most of the time.”
Women are more likely to sneak in a bump on the thermostat, with 45 per cent saying they would change temperatures without telling their spouse or partner “most of the time” or “all of the time,” compared to 34 per cent of men.
More broadly, energy use at home has increased as people are working from home or sheltering in place during the winter.
Over a third of Canadians (37 per cent) say their energy and heating use at home has increased over the past few weeks, compared to 13 per cent who say it has decreased, and 45 per cent who say it hasn’t changed.
As for the ideal thermostat setting, the largest number (39 per cent) said 21C or 22C, a third (33 per cent) said 19C or 20C, 12 per cent said 18 C or lower, and 10 per cent said 23C or higher.
Results are based on an online study conducted from February 1st to February 3rd, 2021, among 800 adult British Columbians. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region in British Columbia. The margin of error— which measures sample variability—is +/- 3.5 percentage points, nineteen times out of twenty.
Port Alberni RCMP are asking for the public’s help in locating a man they believe has been camping in forested area amid the cold snap on Vancouver Island.
In a media release, police say 37-year-old Matthew David Warren was reported missing on February 6th and may still be in the Port Alberni area.
With the current frigid temperatures, police say they are concerned for Warren’s well-being.
Warren is described as:
Caucasian male
37-years-old
6 ft (183 cm)
161 lbs (73 kg)
brown balding/ shaved head
blue eyes
He was last seen wearing a light blue windbreaker jacket and blue jeans.
Anyone with information or if you see him are asked to contact the Port Alberni RCMP at 250 723-2424, or 911 if urgent.
(Greater Victoria Extreme Weather Protocol/Facebook)
With temperatures below freezing for much of the week and into the weekend, many facilities have opened their doors to offer temporary shelter from the cold to those who need it.
As Greater Victoria braces for 15 to 25 cm of snow this weekend along with frigid temperatures, concerns rise for those left without shelter in the region.
Below is a list of current emergency indoor shelters, warming tents and drop-in spaces available to provide respite from the cold weather for people experiencing homelessness.
INDOOR SHELTER OPTIONS:
The Salvation Army ARC, Chapel, 525 Johnson Street
Mat spaces available for up to 10 individuals.
Opening tonight, February 11th to Monday, February 15th.
Operating hours will be from 8:00 PM – 8:00 AM.
Call 250-384-3396 or stop by the ARC to sign up for a mat
The James Bay United Church, Victoria Dandelion Society, 511 Michigan Avenue
Direction: Go along the right hand side of the church and access through the back patio
Warming respite for up to 20 individuals.
Not mats, space for people to come in, sit down and warm up
24/7 for the duration of the cold front presently upon us. This will be re-evaluated as necessary.
Toilet facilities
Coffee/Tea and Snacks
Shelter for Seniors, Downtown, Accessible Location
The GVCEH has 10 spaces available for vulnerable, low acuity, seniors (55+).
These spaces would be available for individuals to stay 24/7 (with a site closure for maintenance between 12-5)
Open through Sunday, February 14th, to be reviewed on Monday, February 15th.
The persons accessing the space are required to stay in the designated area only.
Referral is through phone intake, please call:
Site Manager 250-589-7481 hours 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
After hours call the Site Office line 250-508-9326
NO DROP-INS
PETS OKAY
Rock Bay Landing Seasonal Shelter, 535 Ellice Street
Open to come to the shelter or call to get on the list at 250-383-1951.
15 more overnight mats added this week and available as long as the current extreme weather continues.
Breakfast and a bagged lunch.
All the seasonal mats at RBL will still be overnight-only, people will still have to leave by 8:30 a.m.
Victoria Native Friendship Centre (VNFC), Seasonal Shelter, 231 Regina Avenue
NO DROP-INS, call any time during the day to see if there is space at 250-812-7100.
In addition to normal shelters hours, will be staying open 24/7 from Thursday, February 10th to Monday, February 15th
WARMING TENTS:
MEEGAN – Community Care Tent, Cook Street near Dallas Road
Open: 24/7, community donations can be dropped off during daytime hours from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Warming tent
Support and access to donated supplies
Overnight support and crisis response
Royal Athletic Park (RAP), 940 Calendonia Avenue
Open: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. this week, normal operating hours 12:45 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Peers Victoria 20 x 20 warming tent for people living at RAP, with a permit from the City and in collaboration with the North Park Neighbourhood Association.
Mustard Seed, 625 Queens Ave
Open: Monday to Saturday 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Friday and Saturday nights 6 p.m – 8 p.m.
Parking lot warming tents accessible during Mustard Seed open hours for food
Our Place Society, 919 Pandora Avenue
Open: Daily 6:30 a.m. – 9 p.m
Courtyard tents with heaters
DROP-IN SPACES
Sanctuary Youth Centre (ages 14-22), 767 Humboldt (near Blanshard)
Up to 6 youth at a time can be inside and will have to wear a mask when not eating/drinking.
Contact number: 250-385-6255
Normal operating hours: Friday to Sunday night
Emergency “Snowy Day” hours: Wednesday, February 10th and Thursday, February 11th from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Food, showers and laundry
Our Place, 919 Pandora Ave
Drop-in centre open every day from 6:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Dry and secure storage for personal belongings of people affected by homelessness
Health and hygiene services including showers for the community (Showers: 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.)
A Canada-wide warrant has been issued for a Nanaimo man who has breached release conditions from a conviction for aggravated assault.
Nanaimo RCMP say that 30-year-old Jesse Goodale was released from a federal penitentiary in January after serving the majority of his sentence.
Part of his court-ordered release conditions was to reside at the Salvation Army in Victoria.
On February 10, 2021, Goodale failed to return for the night and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
Police say that Goodale is originally from Nanaimo and has family and friends in the city and throughout central Vancouver Island.
He is described as Indigenous, 5 feet 11 inches tall, weighing 220 pounds. It is believed that he is now sporting a beard.
Goodale also has several distinct tattoos, including lettering that says “JJ” on his right arm, “WEED” on his left hand, and “M.H” and “CROWN” on his right hand.
RCMP say that Goodale should be considered violent. Anyone with knowledge of his whereabouts is asked to call the Nanaimo detachment at 250-754-2345.
A suspect was caught in the act this week breaking into a storage locker at Elements Casino in View Royal.
West Shore RCMP were notified of the break-in by a remote security surveillance company on February 7 at 4:40 p.m.
The company told police that several individuals were breaking into a storage locker on the property and provided RCMP with detailed descriptions.
Officers responded and located two male suspects. An investigation found that only one of them was alleged to have broken into the storage locker.
He was arrested for break and enter while the other suspect was released.
The arrested suspect had numerous outstanding charges from unrelated investigations in Saanich and Victoria, including break and enter, breach of conditions, theft and possession of a controlled substance.
He was held in custody for a court appearance on Friday.
One man was arrested Thursday morning after a crime spree that included smashing several local businesses’ windows, an assault on a City of Victoria staff member, and the assault of a police officer.
According to VicPD, the suspect, bloodied for an unknown reason, began the spree around 4:30 a.m. on February 11th in Centennial Square, where he first assaulted a City of Victoria staff member – wiping blood on their back.
The suspect then left Centennial Square and proceeded to the 500-block of Johnson Street, where he smashed the window of a business and caused significant damage to a parked vehicle.
Officers located the suspect in the 1300-block of Government Street, where he had smashed the windows of two more businesses.
The suspect refused to surrender to police, physically resisted arrest, and assaulted an officer.
Police then tased the man and took him into custody.
Both the officer and suspect suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
VicPD states that the man could face charges of assault, assault on a police officer, three counts of mischief under $5,000, and one count of mischief over $5,000.
Let’s face it, life’s a little weird right now; technology was already in the forefront before the pandemic hit, but once it did, it almost became a necessity in life.
While many were forced to work from home unexpectedly, that came with a few challenges – remote work isn’t for the faint of heart, and while some thrived, some… struggled – with hilarious results.
Luckily, for those of us out there that are not certified tech gurus (where’s the ‘start menu’, again?), there’s help.
Enter Dial-A-Geek – a simple, affordable solution to all of your tech-related needs. From software to hardware and everything in between, remote and on-site, they’re the IT experts we all need in this current tech-heavy world. They even have 24/7 support – for those times when you’re indeed not a cat, and need to get that filter off your Zoom call.
Hold onto your coffee (please don’t spill it on the keyboard!) and take a look at these 7 technology fails:
1. “I’m here live, I’m not a cat”
“I’m here live, I’m not a cat,” says lawyer after Zoom filter mishap
Our first fail comes all of the way from southwest Texas, when a virtual courtoom came to an abrupt “paws” after a lawyer inadvertently appeared on screen as a computer-filter-generated cat.
The struggle was real as he attempted to remove the filter, which he was able to eventually, but with the help of Dial-A-Geek, he would have had the support to know what to do in this feline-related mishap.
2. That ever-elusive mute button
We know, it’s a big change working from home. And one of the most common things we’re hearing (literally) across social media is that finding that mute button is… hard.
With 24/7 support at your fingertips, Dial-A-Geek can help out with everything your coworkers need to hear – or not.
Whole house WFH day 1 report: I whispered “I LOVE YOU” loudly into what turned out to be my spouse’s active meeting headset mic. 🏆
3. “Hold my juice dad, I’m going to make you famous”
It’s a live news broadcast, what could possibly go wrong? In one of the OG WFH fails, this interviewee clearly hasn’t learned to manage intruders (or interruptions) yet, and it’s even funnier that he didn’t stand up and walk the kids out – perhaps he still had his pajama pants on? Business on top, lounge wear on the bottom, that’s our Zoom motto.
4. Honey, I’m working.
Big WFH learning for me today.
📝 Remind Ryan to put some clothes on before he goes into the bathroom first thing in the morning.
Today he walked past my team video call BUTT naked 🤦🏻♀️
Along with learning how to work that mute button, acquiring the skills to manage to turn off your video during a call is also a very valuable skill in today’s tech-based world.
For questions like these and more, check out Dial-A-Geek’s online Immediate Assistance.
Unfortunately, Dial-A-Geek can’t assist you with the actual writing and editing of your emails (we’re looking at you, John) but if you’re having any issues with security, Outlook, etc., they’re your people!
Even if you’re not working from home, your office is most likely stocked with hand sanitizer and extra cleaning supplies.
These guys are dangerously close to some high-tech equipment during an all-out “sanitizer war”, but luckily it looks like it all came out unscathed.
Dial-A-Geek also offers full office support for your workplace, so whether you have 5 computers or 500, they can help you troubleshoot it all (just try not to get liquids on the expensive stuff!)
7. Internet… you need that
Bringing your whole work set-up home is A LOT, even for the most tech-savvy people.
From anti-viruses, to setting up your wifi, even recovering lost emails or documents (did I save that?!), Dial-A-Geek offers solutions for it all.
Established in 2003, Dial-A-Geek’s flagship Victoria branch has grown over the years to service the Saanich Peninsula and Greater Victoria Area.
Their focus is on providing state of the art IT solutions for small to medium sized businesses, professionals, and residential customers. They can offer everything from a simple, on site and on demand repair to a comprehensive and proactive outsourced IT solution for businesses and professionals.
To celebrate their 18th anniversary, Dial-A-Geek is offering is offering an exclusive promo where you can buy 5 hours of IT service get 6th free!
You can call Dial-A-Geek today and book a geek to come help you at 1-855-437-4335, or visit them online anytime for 24/7 support.
The B.C. Ministry of Health reported 449 new cases of COVID-19 across the province on Thursay, for a total of 72,305 cases since the pandemic began.
New cases were reported in these health regions:
Vancouver Coastal Health: 93
Fraser Health: 242
Island Health: 19
Interior Health: 58
Northern Health: 37
The number of active cases in B.C. increased from 4,305 to 4,317.
There are now a total of 224 people in hospital due to COVID-19, 63 of whom are in critical care — ICU or acute care units.
Nine more people have died from COVID-related causes, bringing the provincial death toll to 1,278.
6,869 people are in isolation, under active public health monitoring after exposure to COVID-19.
A total of 66,603 people have recovered from novel coronavirus.
Outbreaks
No new health facility or community outbreaks were reported on Thursday.
Outbreaks at Glenwood Seniors Community, Hilton Villa Seniors Community and Bradley Centre were declared over.
In total, there are 16 assisted-living, long-term care homes, seniors’ rental buildings and eight acute-care facilities with ongoing COVID-19 outbreaks.
Port Alberni RCMP are investigating after an elderly pedestrian was struck and killed while crossing the street Wednesday afternoon.
Police were called to the scene at Johnston Road and Tebo Avenue just after 12 p.m. on February 10th for a report of a single-vehicle collision.
Several witnesses on scene at the collision told officers that a pedestrian was in the process of crossing Johnston Road in the crosswalk. He was then struck by a GMC pickup truck making a left-hand turn.
The pedestrian, an 80-year-old local man, suffered serious injuries and was transported to hospital for emergency treatment. He later succumbed to his injuries.
RCMP say the BC Coroners Service has been notified.
According to police, the driver and sole occupant of the pickup truck remained on scene and was cooperative.
Investigators are being assisted by a traffic analyst and are still looking into the cause of the collision.
They are now looking for motorists or pedestrians who witnessed or may have video of the incident or the moments leading up to it.
No charges have been laid.
Anyone with information on the collision is asked to contact the Port Alberni RCMP detachment at 250-723-2424.
Island Health says that some local areas like Cowichan Valley South have seen a flattening and subsequent bending down of their curve.
However, they added that Greater Nanaimo is continuing a worrying trend, with a rising total in new cases for four consecutive weeks.
According to localized data, Greater Nanaimo saw 93 new cases from Jan. 31 to Feb. 6, nearly doubling its previous weekly new case total of 48.
Island Health
The health authority says that there is still no evidence of widespread community transmission, but they have noted an increase in the number of contacts reported by cases.
This suggests that people are gathering more frequently and in larger groups for social purposes.
Island Health says that people should be sticking to their own households, and even small gatherings can increase the risk of transmission.
The health authority also says walking with an individual outside of your household is acceptable, but outdoor gatherings with multiple households not wearing masks or engaging in distancing are not a safe way to socialize.
Anyone who exhibits COVID-like symptoms is asked to stay home and get tested. Those who require testing can call 1-844-901-8442 between 8:30 a.m. and 8 p.m., seven days a week.
Shawnigan Lake RCMP are investigating a vehicle fire they say was set deliberately.
A Ford F1-50 was set ablaze at a residence in the 1200 block of Stonecrest Way at 5:00 a.m. on Sunday, February 7th.
The victim said he noticed the fire at 5:30 a.m.
“I noticed an orange flickering coming from outside then noticed my truck was on fire. The truck was close to the house and a few propane tanks, so I got in the truck and drove it out of harm’s way.”
The victim said the event is “extremely unusual” to happen to him but that it is not unusual for the area.
His wife, two kids, and two friends that were inside the house are safe.
The RCMP Forensic Identification Section is assisting in the investigation which confirmed the incident as a deliberate act of arson.
Anyone with information or video should contact Shawnigan Lake RCMP at 250-743-5514 or – if you wish to stay anonymous – call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
