Join our community of SUBSCRIBERS and be part of the conversation.
To subscribe, simply enter your email address on our website or click the subscribe button below. Don't worry, we respect your privacy and won't spam your inbox. Your information is safe with us.
A wild, windy morning on Vancouver Island has cancelled multiple ferry sailings and knocked out power to thousands of customers.
Environment Canada reported wind warnings with gusts of up to 70 km/h in Victoria, and up to 100 km/h on the West Island. They cautioned that the blustery conditions could cause tree branches to break and toss loose debris and items.
BC Hydro reported multiple outages affecting thousands of customers in Sooke, Parksville, Metchosin and Colwood. Some of the outages were still under investigation, but at least 2,000 households lost power directly because of wires being knocked down by high winds.
Ferry cancellations were also reported as a result of the high winds. BC Ferries cancelled six sailings on Queen of Oak Bay, Queen of Coquitlam and Queen of New Westminster servicing Vancouver and Nanaimo between 5:15 a.m. and 8:25 a.m.
The windy conditions are expected to abate by the afternoon.
Island Health has declared an outbreak of COVID-19 at a long-term care facility in the Victoria area.
Veterans Memorial Lodge long-term, located at 4579 Chatterton Way in Saanich, is now the latest of 54 active outbreaks in the province’s long-term care homes.
According to Island Health, only one staff member has tested positive for COVID-19 to date and the outbreak is limited to just one unit in the facility, however, Veterans Memorial Lodge is currently closed to admissions.
Communication with residents, families and staff is underway.
The health authority says the staff member who tested positive is self-isolating at home.
“Enhanced control measures have been put in place at the site. Island Health is working with Veterans Memorial Lodge leadership and staff to identify anyone who may have been exposed and is taking steps to protect the health of all staff, residents and families,” Island Health said in a statement.
The following measures have been proactively implemented at the site:
Staffing levels will be maintained to provide resident care
Visitors are on hold for all residents at Veterans Memorial Lodge
Staff and resident movement in the care home has been limited
Cleaning and infection control measures have been enhanced
Residents, families and staff are being notified
Ongoing screening protocols for staff and residents are in place, including temperature monitoring.
As of this publication, there have been a total of 571 cases of COVID-19 in the region, six of whom have died. Five people in the region are currently in hospital and one person is in ICU after contracting the virus.
Island Health reports that as of Friday, November 27, there are 183 active cases in the region.
South Vancouver Island Active cases: 45 (-1) Total Cases: 183 (+6)
Central Vancouver Island Active cases: 112 (+4) Total Cases: 256 (+11)
North Vancouver Island Active cases: 26 (+10) Total Cases: 132 (+10)
Veterans Memorial Lodge is a non-profit care home operated by Broadmead Care.
Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for Greater Victoria and other parts of the island as a strong cold front blasts through southwest BC.
According to the weather agency, southeast winds up to 50 to 80 km/h will develop Sunday afternoon and will sharply veer to northwest 50 to 70 km/h Sunday night or early Monday morning.
Exposed coastal sections of northern Vancouver Island will see very strong southeast winds near 80 km/h Sunday afternoon before veering to northwest 50 to 70 km/h in the evening.
Communities on the Sunshine Coast and north of Qualicum Beach on eastern Vancouver Island will feel the effects of the strong southeast winds beginning just before midnight Sunday night.
As the cold front treks across, the winds will veer to the northwest at 30 to 50 km/h.
The wind will veer sharply to the northwest 50 to 70 km/h mid-Monday morning before easing in the afternoon.
Lastly, in the wake of the cold front, 70 km/h westerly winds are forecast for the east entrance of Juan de Fuca Strait on Monday which will affect neighbourhoods in Greater Victoria that are typically exposed to the westerly winds in Juan de Fuca Strait.
The B.C. Ministry of Health has reported a record-breaking 911 new cases of novel coronavirus in the province on Friday, including four epi-linked cases, bringing the total number of cases to 30,884.
In total, 8,482 of the cases are in the Vancouver Coastal Region, 19,428 in Fraser Health, 571 in Vancouver Island Health region, 1,538 in Interior Health, 772 in Northern Health region, and 95 people whose residence is outside of Canada.
The number of active cases has decreased by 395 to 7,504 in B.C.
There are now a total of 301 people in hospital due to COVID-19, 69 of whom are in critical care — ICU or acute care units.
11 additional COVID-related deaths were reported over the past 24 hours, and the death toll is now at 384.
10,430 people are currently in isolation being monitored by public health for symptoms of COVID-19.
A total of 21,304 people have recovered from novel coronavirus.
Outbreaks
Three new health care facility outbreaks were reported on Friday, and one has been declared over.
There are a total of 54 long-term care or assisted-living facilities and 5 acute-care facilities that have active, ongoing outbreaks.
There remain a number of ongoing COVID-19 exposure sites. B.C. residents are urged to check the BC CDC website for all public alerts about possible exposures to the virus.
Those who may have been exposed are asked to monitor their symptoms, reduce the number of contacts they have, and call 811 to get tested for the virus if they do develop symptoms.
Island Health region
27 new COVID-19 cases were reported in the Island Health region on Friday.
There have been a total of 571 cases of COVID-19 in the region, six of whom have died. Five people in the region are currently in hospital and one person is in ICU after contracting the virus.
Island Health reports that as of Friday, November 27, there are 183 active cases in the region.
South Vancouver Island Active cases: 45 (-1) Total Cases: 183 (+6)
Central Vancouver Island Active cases: 112 (+4) Total Cases: 256 (+11)
North Vancouver Island Active cases: 26 (+10) Total Cases: 132 (+10)
The COVID-19 case curve in the Vancouver Island health region as of November 27 is represented below:
As of Thursday, there had been a total of 1,102,307 novel coronavirus tests conducted across B.C., 126,064 of which were done in the Island Health region.
The BCCDC has set up a 2019 novel coronavirus telephone information line at 1-833-784-4397 for those who have further questions about this disease.
Anyone concerned that they may have been exposed to, or are experiencing symptoms of the novel coronavirus, should contact their primary care provider, local public health office, or call 8-1-1.
The Province has also created the 1-888-COVID-19 line to connect British Columbians needing non-medical information about the pandemic.
As of the time of publication, the total number of COVID-19 patients worldwide has risen to 61,952,488.
Over 1,448,147 people have died from the illness and 42,762,706 have recovered.
A man is in VicPD custody facing charges of assault after a dispute over wearing a mask at Market on Yates escalated to threats and violence.
Officers were called to the grocery store just after 10:30 a.m. Friday morning for a report that a man had entered the store not wearing a mask.
Callers said that the man had been offered a mask, and confronted staff both verbally and physically.
Part of the incident was caught on camera and posted to Reddit under the r/Victoria thread. In the video a man is seen yelling that store staff are “psychopaths” and threatening to assault police if they are called.
When VicPD officers arrived, the man approached them in a threatening manner. He was arrested without further incident and transported to cells.
The man was fined $230 under the COVID-19 Related Measures Act (CRMA) for abusive or belligerent behaviour. Police are also recommending charges including uttering threats and assault with a weapon.
Under the CRMA and provincial health orders, masks are required to be worn in public spaces, including grocery stores.
Police are still investigating and are asking witnesses, including anyone who captured video, to come forward. Those with information are asked to call VicPD at 250-995-7654 extension 1.
Four people are facing multiple charges after allegedly robbing a man at gunpoint early Thursday morning.
The incident took place near the intersection of Highlands Road and Watkiss Way in View Royal around 6:40 a.m.
Investigators were told by the victim the four suspects wearing disguises assaulted him with a weapon before brandishing a long gun and threatening him with it.
The suspects then robbed the man of several items before attempting to set his remaining belongings on fire.
Despite the suspects wearing disguises, the man said he recognized them and that all four were known to him.
The man was transported to hospital with injuries and is expected to make a full recovery.
West Shore RCMP tracked the suspects down to an apartment building in the 600-block of Admirals Road in Esquimalt and alerted the VicPD of their investigation.
VicPD officers helped secure the building and arrest the four suspects.
A search warrant was executed on the apartment and investigators recovered the firearm described by the victim along with other evidence of the crime.
All four suspects were taken into custody without incident and were handed over to the West Shore RCMP.
Two suspects have been identified as 32-year-old Ryan Walker, 33-year-old Robert Rose. The other two suspects are youths and cannot be identified, though police say one individual was a 17-year-old male and the other was a 16-year-old female.
All suspects are facing charges of robbery with a firearm, assault with a weapon, arson, and committing an indictable offence while disguised.
But with a second wave of COVID-19 causing a surge in cases nationwide, Victoria’s restaurants could be in for their biggest challenge yet: a long, hard winter, and a possible return to stricter regulations.
“The general concern of course was that even the Phase 3 rules limit capacity in restaurants, bars, pubs and lounges,” said Jeff Bray, Executive Director of the Downtown Victoria Business Association (DVBA). “That of course impacts your revenues.”
That’s why some restaurants are moving to adapt their operations as quickly as possible, including winterizing outdoor patios that blossomed this summer downtown.
Tents, Awnings, and Igloos
The patio outside of QV Cafe looks like a futuristic space camp.
A trio of panelled domes now occupies the space, looking for all the world like a collection of science fiction habitats.
“We thought this would be a perfect solution for the patio,” Channing Qian, the owner and operator of QV Cafe, told Victoria Buzz.
“The structure is very sturdy. It’s made out of steel pipe. It can handle winds up to 120 km.”
The domes are “Wigloos” a product which Qian says has been around for a year or two and which he special-ordered from a manufacturer he knows in China.
There are two smaller versions at QV, each about nine feet in diameter, and a larger 13 foot one.
Each small Wigloo fits around four or five people, while the larger one can fit up to 10 but is currently limited by provincial health orders to 6.
“When we first opened up after the lockdown, we were doing well with the patio,” said Qian.
“But we wondered what happens when patio season ends in October, and we have limited space inside.”
He says that the product could be good for other business owners in Victoria, too. Qian has partnered with his contact in China to offer the products to neighbouring restaurants at a discounted rate, and has already received a lot of interest.
In Market Square, more traditional-looking tents have gone up at Whistle Buoy Brewing Company.
The independent craft brewery worked with their landlord this summer to expedite an extension of their patio, and now they’re working to keep it open through the winter.
“We got about another third of the space than we had previous to the pandemic,” said Isaiah Archer, one of Whistle Buoy’s three founding partners, in an interview with Victoria Buzz.
“That allowed us to keep most of the original occupancy that we had out there.”
He says that Victoria’s restaurants are fortunate in that the moderate, warm climate allows the potential for a year-round patio season.
Whistle Buoy is hoping to capitalize on that possibility by protecting their patio with tents and sweetening the deal for pub-goers with a pair of food truck partners.
Los Panas Kitchen and The Wandering Mollusk are both featured on the outdoor patio for select days of the week.
“People have enjoyed those little extra things,” said Archer. “The tents have been awesome to keep people dry. We have heaters as well, and we can close the sides up.”
He says they intend to keep the tents through the winter and into next year. They are also negotiating with their landlord about making the tents permanent or installing a more fixed structure like a retractable awning.
Archer credits the landlord and government bodies for partnering with Whistle Buoy during a difficult time to permit things that would not normally be allowed in Market Square.
“The fact that we were able to get the approvals to get the extension within a week is kind of unheard of,” he said.
“Now that that is extended as it is, it seems to me that we will more than likely be able to keep this patio, moving forward even after next year.”
That spirit of cooperation has also helped with the quick construction and success of the patio at Yates St. Taphouse, according to co-founder Grant Turner.
He says that when the pandemic first caused closures in Victoria, he set to work on plans to expand the pub’s outdoor space.
“I could see things happening in other jurisdictions, in other areas, including the States,” Turner said in an interview with Victoria Buzz.
“If you took a step back you could see the things that the City would be requiring.”
Yates St. Taphouse was in an enviable position, according to Turner. With two partners handling the operational side of the business, he was free to dive into planning for a long-term patio.
The pub operator hired a photographer and designer and was able to present plans for government scrutiny early on in the summer.
Turner says that while he doesn’t always see eye-to-eye with Victoria council, he felt supported in the process by partners and government officials alike.
“If you have as much information and all the questions answered prior to going to the City, it’s easier for them,” he said.
“We really got a sense from City Council they were really partnering with us on this one.”
As winter takes hold in the city, Yates St. Taphouse is battening down the proverbial hatches on the outdoor deck with heaters, a tent, and a vinyl window to cover gaps and cut down crosswinds.
Moving forward, Turner says they’ll likely change their tent covering out for heavier material to protect the deck from any adverse weather.
Changes could be made permanent
The upside of all of this, according to Jeff Bray, is that downtown Victoria could be transformed for the better.
“It’s an opportunity for the city to look at a lot of their bylaw and regulations around the public realm, sidewalks and animation,” said Bray.
“This is an important aspect of keeping downtown alive and vibrant during the pandemic.”
He says that businesses are extending their licenses well into the new year, and that’s a smart move given the potential delay in vaccines.
Vaccines could begin rolling out as soon as March, but the Executive Director of the DVBA says that delivery will still lag behind as health experts focus on vaccinating the most vulnerable groups.
That’s a window of opportunity to make many winterized patios into a permanent Victoria institution, says Bray.
“These might be things that come permanent, that enhance our public realm,” he said.
“Just like cities in the US or Europe, why can’t we do that here? Victoria may be ready to have a really great patio culture, permanently.”
Turner agrees, and says that the other positive side of the pandemic has been a renewed connection between Victoria’s restaurants and the patrons they serve.
He says that going forward, he’ll do whatever he can to keep his patio and he’s hoping neighbouring restaurants try to pick up the idea too.
“One of the big things that I find is that up until the pandemic, we were all competitors,” said Turner.
“You worked on you. It was very specific, me against them. What I find moving forward is there has to be a level of cooperation.”
Drivers in Sooke will want to allow some extra commute time on Monday as construction is set to continue on Highway 14.
The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure says that single-lane alternating traffic will take place on the highway between Otter Point Road/Murray Road and Caldwell Road.
The work is scheduled to allow for paving and tree removal, with closures on the Highway from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday, November 30, weather permitting.
Drivers should expect delays of between 15 to 20 minutes. Business access will remain open with some restrictions due to paving.
The Ministry reminds drivers to obey construction zone speed limits and directions from traffic control personnel. Up-to-date information on the construction is available online at DriveBC.ca.
If you’re missing your traditional visit with Santa this year, not to fret!
Westshore Town Centre wants to bring the visit to you and your family – virtually.
They’re offering the exclusive chance to enjoy a free one-on-one virtual visit via Zoom from the comfort of your own home with the man of the season – Santa Claus!
The five-minute sessions using Zoom are being offered at no cost now through to December 24th, but they’re going fast!
“Christmas is not cancelled,” says Kelly McClure, Marketing Manager at Westshore Town Centre.
“The safety of our shoppers retailers, and Santa Claus himself, is our top priority, and we’re excited to bring holiday joy to the community once again, just in a different way. We love that by offering one-on-one video calls, kids will be able to spend quality face-time with the big guy in red, creating a very special memory.”
You can also read ahead for your chance to win the perfect Santa Zoom-ready prize pack worth over $100 – contest details are below.
Here’s how the Santa Zoom calls will work
Reservations are available at 5-minute intervals, and you can use the calendar here to reserve your preferred date and time – note that Santa Michael’s days and Santa Fred’s days are as follows:
Visit with Santa Michael on
Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays or Saturdays
Visit with Santa Fred on
Tuesdays, Thursdays or Fridays
Your personal Zoom reservation link will be emailed to you with your appointment confirmation – be sure to check your Spam or Junk folders as e-mails may end up there!
While no sign-up is required for Zoom, if you are using a mobile device for your virtual visit, you will need to download the Zoom app to access your call with Santa
If you do not receive your confirmation e-mail after 24 hours, please e-mail kelly.mcclure@quadreal.com with your name, your child(s) name, phone number, and date and time of selected reservation.
Bookings start and end on time. If you are unable to make it to your reservation, kindly book a new one as Westshore Town Centre is unable to make changes.
Visits with Santa will be approximately 5 minutes long.
Please be sure to have your Zoom reservation setup and ready to go as soon as your time slot hits so that Santa can meet all the wonderful families right on time!
Each virtual visit will be personalized, as you fill in your child’s name and details prior to booking, and time slots are filling up quick, so make sure to book here!
To get you into the holiday spirit, we’ve partnered with Westshore Town Centre to give away a Santa Zoom-ready gift pack, which includes:
A WTC mug with Purdy’s hot chocolate
Holiday blanket from QE Home / Quilts Etc
Festive socks from Ardene or Reitmans
Holiday story book from Coles
A special toy from Mastermind Toys
CONTEST
To enter to win the $100 Santa Zoom-ready gift pack from Westshore Town Centre, complete one or more of the following:
SHARE this post on Facebook and/or Twitter and leave a comment below telling us once you have. (1 entry)
Contest entries will be accepted from time and date of publishing until 11:59 p.m. PST on December 20th, 2020. One winner will be chosen at random and contacted through the platform they enter within 24 hours of the contest closing. Good luck!
Comox Valley RCMP and School District 71 (SD71) jointly made the decision to close the school. SD71 announced the closure on Twitter at 7:41 a.m. on November 26.
Due to a weapons related threat, Lake Trail school will be closed today, November 26, 2020.
In a statement, Cst. Monika Terragni said that RCMP are still investigating and working with the school district, but there is no evidence to suggest an ongoing threat to the school.
“Reports of this nature are always treated as serious and authentic until we conduct a thorough investigation to confirm the credibility of the report,” said Terragni.
The youth is facing possible charges for uttering threats.
Anyone with additional information can call the Comox Valley RCMP at (250) 338-1321 and refer to file 2020-19222.
Those who wish to make an anonymous report can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or online at comoxvalleycrimestoppers.bc.ca.
Nanaimo RCMP are asking for the public’s help in identifying a man who stole three backpacks from a Vancouver Island daycare.
The theft occurred at around 10:45 a.m. on Tuesday November 24 from a daycare located on Wildlife Place.
The backpacks were hung on the fence outside the home due to COVID-19 guidelines.
As soon as the owner saw that that the backpacks were missing, she called the police and reviewed her security system.
A man can be seen riding into the driveway on a yellow mountain bike. He then walks over to the backpacks, grabs three of them and rides off.
Police attended and patrolled the area but could not locate the suspect but were able to find two of the three missing backpacks in a marshy area near the Nanaimo Ice Centre.
Police say the backpacks were left open with their contents strewn about nearby.
Police believe the man is still in possession of the last backpack, which was slightly larger and dark blue in colour.
“The little ones were not told about the theft but when the parents were notified they had a range of emotions, from anger (to) disgust to shock,” said Const. Gary O’Brien of the Nanaimo RCMP in a release Thursday.
The man is described as a white male in his late teens or early 20s who was wearing a distinctive hoodie with stripes and a geometric pattern design.
The daycare no longer hangs backpacks on its fence.
Anyone with information on the theft or the individual is asked to call Nanaimo RCMP at 250-754-2345.
The 33-year-old man who was the subject of a missing person search by VicPD has been found.
ORIGINAL POST:
VicPD are asking the public for help to locate a high-risk missing man after his abandoned vehicle was located.
33-year-old Brody Greer was last seen by VicPD officers on November 5th. His abandoned vehicle was located by Sooke RCMP on November 10th.
Greer was reported missing by his family to their local RCMP detachment, who in turn notified VicPD on November 25th.
Patrol officers have been working to find him since that time. They say that the circumstances under which Greer was reported missing are considered to be high-risk, but they do not have information that he is at immediate risk of harm.
Greer is described as a white man standing six feet tall, with a medium build, weighing about 170 pounds. He has shaggy brown hair and blue eyes.
Greer frequents the Burnside Gorge neighbourhood and is also often in Sooke.
Anyone who sees Brody Greer is asked to call 911. Individuals with information on his whereabouts should call VicPD at 250-995-7654, extension 1.
Those who wish to provide information anonymously can call Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
With the holiday season just around the corner, longstanding craft fair and market operators are looking at new opportunities to support local makers, bakers, artists and artisans.
Due to COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions on mass gatherings, many of these events have been forced to cancel, and for the first time in 32 years Out of Hand Modern Market, one of Vancouver Island’s largest and longest running artisan markets, will not fill either the Victoria Conference Centre or Crystal Gardens.
Out of Hand Modern Market has held its annual holiday market for the past 31 years, with last year being a record year for attendance.
While the in-person experience has been paused for 2020, the holiday shopping must go on! Organizers of Out of Hand Modern Market have moved the market from Victoria’s Crystal Gardens to online.
From Wednesday, November 25 to Sunday November 29, over 40 BC based artists and makers will be offering shoppers discounts and offers on a wide selection of beautiful handmade goods at the Out of Hand Holiday Online Market.
“Holding an online market is a very different experience than an in person market, we are going to miss the personal interactions but are excited to bring shoppers such an amazing array of makers, artists and designers online,” said Bethany Wilson, owner of the market.
“I am so grateful for the support of our shoppers, and the adaptability of our makers; some of whom have had to embrace e-commerce for the first time while others have worked very hard to take their online business to new levels of success during these times.”
The Out of Hand Holiday online market features 40 makers of premium handmade goods from the mainland, Victoria, Salt Spring Island and other parts of Vancouver Island.
Unique to this market, these makers will all be offering discounts and deals through their online shops with the exclusive promo code “OOH2020”. The participating makers and their offers are listed on outofhand.ca.
Additionally, Out of Hand has partnered with several local makers and has produced a line of curated gift boxes of beautiful handmade goods just in time for the holidays.
These gift boxes can be purchased online and are 15% off during the market when using the exclusive promo code.
A Victoria elementary school has experienced a COVID-19 exposure, the Greater Victoria School District announced on Thursday.
Sir James Douglas Elementary experienced the exposure on Monday, November 23. School District 61 (SD61) says that a single class has been asked to self-isolate.
They also say that Island Health is conducting contact tracing from the exposure event and will contact anyone who may have been exposed directly.
Sir James Douglas Elementary experienced a COVID-19 exposure on Monday, Nov. 23rd. A class has been asked to self-isolate. Island Health is conducting contact tracing. If a person may have been exposed, Island Health will contact them directly. More info: https://t.co/cNo9g3ZPFmpic.twitter.com/nulnSHfPrG
They emphasize that only those at high-risk are contacted. Parents who are not contacted should rest assured that their child or children did not have a high-risk exposure and they can continue attending school as long as they are not experiencing symptoms.
Rob Fleming has been shuffled out of his role as Minister of Education following Premier John Horgan’s swearing-in of cabinet ministers on Thursday.
Replacing the outgoing Minister is rookie MLA Jennifer Whiteside, the newly-elected representative for New Westminster.
During a press availability after the swearing-in ceremony, Horgan said that the decision was a mutual change between him and Fleming.
“I’m very proud of the work that he’s done but I wanted to move him on to other activities,” said Horgan.
“He’s got a background in economic development, he wanted an economic ministry.”
As such, Fleming will now serve in cabinet as the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, replacing retired MLA Claire Trevena.
Asked if he has any concerns about a rookie MLA handling a difficult cabinet portfolio that oversaw a labour dispute with the BC Teachers’ Federation (BCTF), Horgan said he has full confidence in Whiteside’s abilities.
“Jennifer knows the challenges in the system right now,” he said. “She’ll have the full support of myself and former minister Fleming.”
He added that Whiteside will also be working from the mandate letter directing the activities of the minister within government, and the support of professionals currently working in the education system.
The City of Victoria has decided to reopen the road to Beacon Hill Loop that allows access to the summit for vehicles.
In May 2020, council decided to impose a partial vehicle ban for most of Beacon Hill Park, leaving only the parking lots at Heywood Road, Circle Drive, and Nursery Road to allow access for seniors, and people with disabilities.
The rationale for that decision was to allow for proper physical-distancing for pedestrians at the park during the pandemic.
Now, after input from accessibility organizations including the Accessibility Working Group, the Beacon Hill Loop will reopen to vehicles on November 28.
“We heard loud and clear that seniors and people with disabilities take great joy from being able to visit the summit of the park,” said Mayor Lisa Helps in a statement.
“By reopening the road, we are able to improve accessibility and enjoyment of the park for all, while continuing to provide opportunities for physical distancing and staying active.”
Arbutus Way, Bridge Way, and Chestnut Row remain closed to all vehicles except for emergency and service vehicles.
Parking lots remain open at Heywood Road, Circle Drive and Nursery Road, and street parking remains available along Douglas Street, Cook Street and Dallas Road.
The B.C. Ministry of Health has reported a record-breaking 887 new cases of novel coronavirus in the province on Thursday, bringing the total number of cases to 29,973.
In total, 8,329 of the cases are in the Vancouver Coastal Region, 18,779 in Fraser Health, 544 in Vancouver Island Health region, 1,491 in Interior Health, 737 in Northern Health region, and 95 people whose residence is outside of Canada.
The number of active cases has increased by 283 to 7,899 in B.C.
There are now a total of 294 people in hospital due to COVID-19, 64 of whom are in critical care — ICU or acute care units. More people are now hospitalized or in ICU with COVID-19 in B.C. than there ever have been in the past.
13 additional COVID-related deaths were reported over the past 24 hours, and the death toll is now at 384.
10,307 people are currently in isolation being monitored by public health for symptoms of COVID-19.
A total of 19,998 people have recovered from novel coronavirus.
Outbreaks
Two new health care facility outbreaks were reported on Thursday, and three have been declared over.
There are a total of 51 long-term care or assisted-living facilities and 5 acute-care facilities that have active, ongoing outbreaks.
There remain a number of ongoing COVID-19 exposure sites. B.C. residents are urged to check the BC CDC website for all public alerts about possible exposures to the virus.
Those who may have been exposed are asked to monitor their symptoms, reduce the number of contacts they have, and call 811 to get tested for the virus if they do develop symptoms.
Island Health region
18 new COVID-19 cases were reported in the Island Health region on Thursday.
There have been a total of 544 cases of COVID-19 in the region, six of whom have died. Five people in the region are currently in hospital and one person is in ICU after contracting the virus.
Island Health reports that as of Thursday, November 26, there are 170 active cases in the region.
South Vancouver Island Active cases: 46, Total Cases: 177
Central Vancouver Island Active cases: 108, Total Cases: 245
North Vancouver Island Active cases: 16, Total Cases: 122
The COVID-19 case curve in Vancouver Island health region as of November 26 is represented below:
As of Wednesday there had been a total of 1,089,225 novel coronavirus tests conducted across B.C., 124,554 of which were done in the Island Health region.
The BCCDC has set up a 2019 novel coronavirus telephone information line at 1-833-784-4397 for those who have further questions about this disease.
Anyone concerned that they may have been exposed to, or are experiencing symptoms of the novel coronavirus, should contact their primary care provider, local public health office, or call 8-1-1.
The Province has also created the 1-888-COVID-19 line to connect British Columbians needing non-medical information about the pandemic.
As of the time of publication, the total number of COVID-19 patients worldwide has risen to 61,261,464.
Over 1,436,631 people have died from the illness and 42,349,702 have recovered
Environment Canada has issued weather advisories for East, West, and North Vancouver Island expected to remain in place through Friday.
Residents in northwestern Vancouver Island are in for a prolonged period of heavy rain starting Thursday and through Friday thanks to a pair of frontal waves that will make landfall in succession.
Rainfall amounts up to 90mm are expected near Port Alice.
On Friday morning, residents in western Vancouver Island near Zeballos and Tahsis will wake up to nearly 100 mm of rainfall with a further 20 to 30 mm expected during the day.
Rain will cease Friday evening as the weather system moves southwards away from the region.
People in these regions are warned to look out for flash floods and water pooling on roads a result of the heavy downpour.
An entirely different type of weather warning is in effect for the eastern Vancouver Island, from Courtenay to Campbell River and Nanoose Bay to Fanny Bay.
There, southeast winds of 50 to 70 km/h are expected to develop overnight on Thursday/Friday signalling the arrival of a strong cold front.
These winds are expected to ease up late Friday afternoon but in the meantime, residents are advised to be wary of objects being tossed loose by the wind.
A dispute over a Victoria byelection candidate campaigning at a popular farmer’s market escalated to the point where police were called, according to the parties involved.
The incident occurred at the Moss Street Market, a near 30-year-old weekly farmer’s market currently held in a large area around Sir James Douglas School, Robert J. Porter Park, and Brooke St. Park.
Byelection candidate Stephen Andrew had gone to the market on Saturday, October 31 with a group of volunteers to hand out flyers and speak to voters.
“Stephen showed up on the market grounds and our marketing manager spotted him,” Kyle Goulet, Executive Director with Moss Street Market, told Victoria Buzz.
“She said that we were operating a market and he was not allowed on market grounds.”
Goulet says that Andrew became belligerent and insisted that he was on public property and would not leave.
“An aggressively toxic attitude,” was how Goulet described Andrew’s reaction. “He was very caustic, very insistent, just an aggressive behaviour, being very confrontational, even when presented with a permit.”
Moss Street Market says that they are granted City and community permits to use the areas during their event, and they have rules and guidelines around political candidates promoting themselves at the market.
Their policy handbook states that “political parties running candidates in municipal, provincial or federal elections are welcome to have a table one week during the Market season, close to election time.”
However, Goulet says candidates are not allowed to freely range the market, and flyering, hawking, or approaching people is not permitted for the comfort of customers.
Andrew says that’s not reason enough to kick him out.
“I think we’re well within our rights to be on the public boulevard to encourage voter engagement and other things that are important in the election,” he said in an interview with Victoria Buzz.
The former journalist says he believes the incident was a biased political attack. On Facebook, he accused a Moss Street Market staffer of being associated with Together Victoria, a left-leaning municipal candidate slate.
Goulet denies that charge, saying that the Market has encountered these types of disputes in the past with candidates who have a range of affiliations. He says that in the recent provincial election, Green Party candidate Jenn Neilson also tried to campaign at the market and was asked to leave.
A spokesperson for the Green Party confirmed this, saying they had intended to ask the market for permission but had gotten communication lines crossed. They also say that the market’s boundaries were not terribly clear, but they left without further incident.
On October 31, the dispute between Andrew and Moss Street Market ended differently.
“Only once before have we had to call the police,” said Goulet. “That’s in 9 years of my managing the Market.”
A constable attended the scene, and after a short conversation, Andrew and his campaign team left. No charges or fines were laid in the incident, according to the parties involved.
Andrew added that his campaign team left of their own volition as they were scheduled to be elsewhere.
“After discussions with bylaw, I think we’re well within our rights here,” he said.
In an emailed statement, the City of Victoria told Victoria Buzz that they regulate outdoor public markets through a permit system.
“Because market operators are required to manage and maintain the market area, they have some control which businesses can set up within the market area,” the City said.
“However, they do not have exclusive use of those public spaces and, generally speaking, are not permitted to exclude members of the public from the area.”
They added that market operators operate independently from the City and do not act on behalf of or under the authority of the City.
A follow-up question on what constitutes a business vs. a member of the public was not answered in time for publication.
Andrew says he was entirely in the right and that he simply wants to move on.
“I disagree with [the Market] completely,” he said. “No matter what they say, they have produced no evidence that their statements are correct.”
For Goulet, however, the issue rests in Andrew’s reaction to the market’s request.
“Even common decency didn’t prevail,” he said. “I don’t know that I have anything to say to him directly, other than what I would ask of any candidate, and that is to be respectful of market policies.”
Police and search and rescue teams have been searching round the clock for a man who went missing from a mental health facility in Saanich earlier this month.
Investigators with Saanich Police say they have involved PEMO (Peninsula Emergency Measures Organization) Search and Rescue in the search for 34-year-old Sean Hart who unexpectedly left the Seven Oaks Tertiary Mental Health Facility on November 6 and has not been seen since.
Police say Hart has been the subject of missing persons before but he was either found or returned by himself within a few days.
This time, he has not been seen in almost three weeks, and investigators have not been able to find him despite tips from the public.
His mother, Penny Hart, has flown to Victoria from Calgary to help look for her son.
“His family is very concerned for his well-being and we are working with them as well as
additional resources to make every effort possible to locate Sean,” said Cst. Markus Anastasiades in a statement.
“We would like to thank the public for the tips we have received thus far, and we hope that this release creates even more awareness to help find Sean and bring him home safely.”
Hart is described as a white man standing 5’7″ tall, weighing 130 lbs, and has blue eyes and long, curly brown hair.
He was last seen wearing black clothing and wearing a white mask.
Police say he will need immediate medical attention as he lives with schizophrenia and has not received his medication.
Anyone who sees Hart is asked to not approach him and call 911 while keeping an eye on him.
An outbreak at a long term care facility on Vancouver Island has reported a new COVID-19 case.
According to Island Health, a resident at Tsawaayuus Rainbow Gardens long-term care home in Port Alberni tested positive for the virus on November 25.
The resident was one of three people who had close contacts with the staff member who tested positive for COVID-19 on November 16, which is when an outbreak was declared at that facility.
Island Health says the patient is not exhibiting any symptoms of the virus and their test result is not an indication of widespread transmission within the facility.
In total, one staff member and two residents have tested positive for COVID-19 at this long term care home.
“All residents and staff who work at the site received a second COVID-19 test earlier this week,” said Island Health in a statement. “At this time, no additional cases have been identified.”
The health authority says all residents who were considered close contacts of the initial staff case have been isolating in their rooms since the outbreak was declared on November 16.
The unit where their rooms are located has been isolated from the rest of the building, and staff movement has been restricted within the facility.
When a vehicle is pulled over by police it’s usually due to a driving infraction, but in this case, it was for more aesthetic reasons.
The incident happened in Langford this past Monday, when West Shore RCMP officers spotted the battered 2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee, and pulled the vehicle over to inspect the extent of the damage.
“At approximately 3:15 p.m. a West Shore RCMP frontline officer on patrol spotted a 2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee with extensive passenger side damage travelling on Veterans Memorial Parkway in Langford,” said Const. Nancy Saggar in a press release.
The passenger side rear door was being held together by tape and a cargo strap.
“Due to the damage, the passenger side doors could not be opened and the vehicle frame was likely bent,” writes Saggar.
The driver of the vehicle, a 22-year-old Langford woman, told officers that her vehicle had been involved in a T-boned crash a few days prior but that she had never reported it to police. She also didn’t have a valid driver’s licence.
The woman was issued a violation ticket for not having a license and an inspection was ordered on the vehicle which was impounded due to safety concerns.
RCMP are asking that the driver of the vehicle that was involved in the T-bone collision report it to police.
RCMP were still investigating into the late morning for a reported weapons threat directed at the school.
Police and the School District said they were working closely to ensure the safety of staff, students, and area residents while they assessed the credibility of the threat and investigated.
On Facebook, SD71 said that because of the specific nature of the threat, police have determined that surrounding school communities are safe and normal operations would be continuing at these facilities.
RCMP said additional information will be released when it becomes available.
Victoria Police are searching for a man who broke parole conditions and has a history of violent crime.
In a statement on Wednesday evening, the police department said 40-year-old Jason Soukochoff is wanted on a Canada-wide warrant after violating his parole conditions.
Police say he has an extensive violent criminal history including robberies targeting the elderly. Soukochoff’s parole location was Nanaimo but investigators believe he may be in Victoria.
He is described as a white man standing 6’2″ tall, weighing 260 lbs and has short dark brown hair and hazel eyes.
Anyone who sees him is asked not to approach him and call 911.
Those with information on his whereabouts can call Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced surprise discrepancies in the province’s reporting of COVID-19 case counts for the past eight days.
The number of new cases reported each day between November 17 and 24 were found to be incorrect, due to technical errors in the Fraser Health Authority’s data reporting.
In some cases, daily cases in the Fraser Health region are lower than what was originally reported, but in other cases they are higher.
Fraser Health has had the highest number of COVID-19 cases each day for the past few months.
Here is a breakdown of case numbers across BC as they were reported originally, compared to what they actually are:
Date
Originally reported case count
Actual case count
November 16
646
509
November 17
717
557
November 18
762
624
November 19
538
765
November 20
516
639
November 21
713
835
November 22
626
791
November 23
594
772
November 24
941
695
As of November 25, there are 7,616 active cases of COVID-19 across BC.
The City of Nanaimo is asking residents for feedback on proposed bylaw changes that would affect outdoor cats.
Nanaimo Council passed a resolution on November 16 to delay the passage of the changes until public consultation could be completed.
The bylaw changes include:
removing reference to “Restricted Dogs”;
changing “Vicious Dog” to “Aggressive Dog”;
modernizing sections to reflect current best practices on standards of care;
requiring every owner of a cat to provide the cat with identification;
requiring every cat that is permitted to go outside be spayed or neutered; and
prohibiting cats to be at large in a public place or on another person’s property, unless it is under the immediate charge and control of the owner or other person responsible for the animal.
The City says that under the last item regarding cats, they would still be allowed outdoors on the owner’s property.
The BCCDC has reported 738 new cases of novel coronavirus in the province on Wednesday, bringing the total number of cases to 29,086.
In total, 8,161 of the cases are in the Vancouver Coastal Region, 18,167 in Fraser Health, 526 in Vancouver Island Health region, 1,426 in Interior Health, 713 in Northern Health region, and 95 people whose residence is outside of Canada.
The number of active cases has decreased by 116 to 7,616 in B.C.
Today’s case counts reflect a data correction from Fraser Health region which affect the number of total daily cases reported between November 16 and 24 — while some days there were fewer cases, others showed more.
These errors have been attributed to technical difficulties, and a breakdown of actual case numbers can be found in this article.
There are now a total of 294 people in hospital due to COVID-19, 61 of whom are in critical care — ICU or acute care units. More people are now hospitalized with COVID-19 in B.C. than there ever have been in the past.
13 additional COVID-related deaths were reported over the past 24 hours, and the death toll is now at 371.
A total of 19,814 people have recovered from novel coronavirus.
Outbreaks
No new health care facility outbreaks were reported on Wednesday, while two have been declared over
There are a total of 52 long-term care or assisted-living facilities and 5 acute-care facilities that have active, ongoing outbreaks.
There remain a number of ongoing COVID-19 exposure sites. B.C. residents are urged to check the BC CDC website for all public alerts about possible exposures to the virus.
Those who may have been exposed are asked to monitor their symptoms, reduce the number of contacts they have, and call 811 to get tested for the virus if they do develop symptoms.
Island Health region
21 new COVID-19 cases were reported in the Island Health region on Wednesday.
There have been a total of 526 cases of COVID-19 in the region, six of whom have died. Two people in the region are currently in hospital after contracting the virus.
Island Health reports that as of Wednesday, November 25, there are 173 active cases in the region.
South Vancouver Island Active cases: 49, Total Cases: 175
Central Vancouver Island Active cases: 109, Total Cases: 233
North Vancouver Island Active cases: 15, Total Cases: 118
The COVID-19 case curve in Vancouver Island health region as of November 25 is represented below:
As of Tuesday there had been a total of 1,077,733 novel coronavirus tests conducted across B.C., 123,339 of which were done in the Island Health region.
The BCCDC has set up a 2019 novel coronavirus telephone information line at 1-833-784-4397 for those who have further questions about this disease.
Anyone concerned that they may have been exposed to, or are experiencing symptoms of the novel coronavirus, should contact their primary care provider, local public health office, or call 8-1-1.
The Province has also created the 1-888-COVID-19 line to connect British Columbians needing non-medical information about the pandemic.
As of the time of publication, the total number of COVID-19 patients worldwide has risen to 60,656,000.
Over 1,425,186 people have died from the illness and 41,883,652 have recovered
A cyclist is in hospital after the driver of a parked car opened their door as she was riding by on Oak Bay Ave.
In a statement on Wednesday afternoon, Victoria Police said said traffic cops were called to the intersection of Oak Bay Ave at Fell Street just after noon for reports that a cyclist had been knocked off her e-bike.
A driver bound for BC Ferries received some hefty fines and had their vehicle impounded after Central Saanich Police caught them speeding excessively on the Pat Pay Highway near Island View Road.
According Central Saanich police, the driver was caught travelling at 155 km/h around 8:15 p.m. Monday evening — nearly double the posted speed limit of 80.
The speeder, who was driving a Toyota Camry, was reportedly weaving between cars without signalling and initially failed to stop for officers.
When the driver finally pulled over, he told officers “I need to make the last ferry” as his reason for speeding.
Despite his attempt to reason with the officer, the driver was served $817 in fines, received 12 penalty points on their licence and the vehicle was impounded.
Excessive impounds last night, Hwy 17 @ Island View: 20-3670: 8:15pm, Camry @ 155kph. Weaving btwn cars, no signal, fail to stop. "I need to make the last ferry". $817 fines/12 pts 20-3674: 5:30am, Tracker @ 129kph. $368 fine/3 pts 8:15pm or 5:30am, Officers are out there. #csaanpic.twitter.com/orPH1tkpXw
The following morning, around 5:30 a.m., a driver in a Chevrolet Tracker was ticketed for excessive speeding after they were spotted driving 129 km/h along the highway.
That driver received a $368 fine and three demerit points on their license.
A petition to ban hunting near the Cowichan River Estuary has acquired over 22,000 signatures after a swan was shot and left for dead earlier this month.
Cowichan Bay resident Laurie Arbuthnot started the petition to the Cowichan Valley Regional District after a hunter shot at a pair of swans on November 13.
In it Arbuthnot writes about how the estuary is an internationally designated Important Bird Area (IBA) and hosts vast numbers of rare migratory and year round birds like Trumpeter Swans, Bald Eagles, Blue Herons, as s many varieties of ducks, geese and song birds.
Walking trails at the estuary make bird-watching available for all, but the petition argues their proximity to hunting areas ruin the experience and frighten visitors.
“The community shudders every time the blasts are heard,” writes Arbuthnot.
“But the final straw was on November 13th 2020 a beautiful pair of Swans had taken flight only for one to be shot and not killed but coming to the ground by the walking trail.”
The petition notes that the hunter did not check on the injured swan, but birders in the area took quick action and transported it to a recovery centre where it is expected to make a recovery.
“It was an act of sickening, malicious destruction. Pictured are the exact pair moments before the shots were fired.”
Arbuthnot goes on to call for a ban on hunting in the area surrounding Cowichan River Estuary to “protect all the wildlife” in the region.
Since its creation, the petition has garnered over 22,800 signatures.
One of the candidates for the Victoria byelection to fill an empty seat on council has announced he will be ending his campaign and endorsing someone else.
In his opening statement for an online forum hosted by the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce, candidate Jason Heit announced he would be ending his campaign and endorsing fellow candidate Stephen Andrew.
Heit, a gym owner and former professional athlete, said he believed his candidacy would “split the vote” between him and former broadcaster Andrew.
“I am too late to drop off the ballot, but I am in agreement that we need an independent person on there with no ties to the alignments that are going on at city hall,” said Heit.
“I believe that will bring a better balance to the citizens of Victoria.”
His decision had been made public on Tuesday, however the statement seemed to take Chamber CEO Bruce Williams, serving in the role of moderator for the forum, off guard.
“Jason, you want to stay a part of this?” Williams asked Heit during the first all-candidate question.
“You’re endorsing Stephen, but you’re going to stay a part of this conversation?”
Heit said he would stay in the conversation, but deferred to Williams for the final decision on if he should participate. Williams said he could stay.
With the informal withdrawal of Heit’s candidacy, 10 candidates remain in the race for a seat on Victoria’s council:
Stephen Andrew
Rob Duncan
Riga Godron
Stefanie Hardman
Bill Heflin
Sean Leitenberg
Hailey McLeod
Keith Rosenberg
Alexander Schmid
Roshan Vickery
Andrew, Hardman, Heflin, and Leitenberg were the only other candidates to participate in Wednesday’s online forum.
During comments on the live video, Hailey McLeod asked why she had been excluded from the conversation.
The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce replied that they included individuals who had a demonstrated record of business experience, based on answers to a questionnaire they sent to all candidates.
In addition to McLeod and the candidates who participated in the online conversation, candidates Rob Duncan and Roshan Vickery submitted answers to the questionnaire. Those answers can be seen on the Chamber website.
Holiday lovers, rejoice – Christmas lasts the whole month of December at Craigdarroch Castle!
Starting November 29th, the Castle promises to bring holiday-themed theatre, decor and more for the entire family – all at one of Victoria’s most iconic landmarks.
Kicking off at Craigdarroch’s Museum Store on Sunday, November 29th, a special promotion offers shoppers from around the globe the chance to support local to start the busy holiday shopping season.
In order to allow for more physical distancing and safe shopping Museum Store Sunday will be recognized in the store for a second Sunday on December 6th, in addition the online store will have special discounts all week, from November 29th to December 6th.
Over 1,200 retailers worldwide will participate in ‘Museum Store Sunday’, including the Castle Gift Shop located in the Craigdarroch Castle Visitor Centre.
“By shopping in the Castle shop visitors are supporting our mission to share the stories of Craigdarroch Castle with the community,” says John Hughes, Craigdarroch Castle’s executive director.
Even better, in the spirit of Christmas, we’ve partnered with Craigdarroch Castle to give away a pair of tour admission passes Castle PLUS 20% off at their Castle Gift shop – contest details are below!
And what better way to channel the Christmas spirit than a one-man performance of the classic tale ‘A Christmas Carol’?
Jason Stevens channels the spirit of Charles Dickens within the historic walls of the Castle and brings this story to life from December 10th-24th – full schedule and tickets are available online for each showing, and are recommended for ages 13 and up.
Though the Christmas season at Craigdarroch Castle will look different than in the past due the ongoing pandemic, the Castle is open Wednesday to Sunday during December from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and tours are available only by reservation online or by calling 250-592-5323. This year, only the first floor of the Museum will be decorated for the holidays.
You can find Craigdarroch Castle’s full COVID-19 protocols online.
CONTEST
We’re giving away a pair of admission passes to Craigdarroch Castle PLUS 20% off at their Castle Gift shop – for your chance to win, please complete one or more of the following:
Comment below and let us know your favourite thing about Craigdarroch Castle – make sure to register when commenting so we can contact you (1 entry)
Contest entries will be accepted from the time and date of publishing until 11:59 pm on November 29th, 2020. One winner will be chosen at random and contacted through the platform they used to enter. Make sure to register when commenting below.
Two recent flights to Victoria have been added to the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC)’s list of COVID-19 public exposures.
Both flights were with Air Canada and originated in Vancouver. The first is Air Canada Jazz flight 8075, on November 18, and the second is Air Canada Jazz flight 8081 on November 19.
For flight 8075 on November 18, the affected rows are from 11 through 17, and for flight 8081 on November 19, the affected rows are from 1 through 5.
The BCCDC says that passengers seated in affected rows should consider themselves to be at higher risk of exposure due to proximity to the positive case.
Affected travellers are asked to monitor their symptoms for 14 days and call 8-1-1 to get tested if they do develop symptoms of the virus.
Since late March, the BCCDC has not been contacting passengers who sat near a confirmed patient during their flight.
Instead all travellers must check their website to find out whether they have been exposed to the virus.
Since the beginning of June, multiple international and domestic flights have landed in or departed from Vancouver and Victoria with confirmed COVID-19 cases.
At least 162 people have lost their lives to toxic drug overdose in October bringing the death toll of the overdose epidemic to 1,386 so far this year, according to the latest report from the BC Coroners Service.
This means more than five people overdosed to death each day of the month in October.
The latest report also brings with it revised counts of the number of people who died in prior months this year, meaning more people have lost their lives to the overdose crisis than previously thought.
June 2020 was the deadliest month for overdoses ever recorded, after 185 people died.
“This is the fifth month this year with more than 160 suspected illicit drug deaths reported to the BC Coroners Service and more than double the number of people who died as a result of a toxic drug supply in October 2019,” said Lisa Lapointe, chief coroner, in a statement.
“Challenges during COVID-19, such as access to key harm-reduction services and the toxic drug supply, including the extreme concentration of illicit fentanyl, are resulting in continuing significant and tragic loss of life across the province.”
So far this year, 115 people have overdosed to death in Victoria, surpassing the overdose death toll of every year recorded.
The capital city remains the third deadliest for the overdose crisis in the province, after Vancouver and Surrey.
In 2020, fentanyl either alone or in combination with other drugs was detected in 83 per cent of all drug overdose deaths.
Additionally, between April and Oct 2020, approximately 14 per cent of cases had extreme fentanyl concentrations, compared to 8 per cent from January 2019 to March 2020.
A review of cases between 2017 and 2020 shows that the top four drugs found in drug overdose deaths were fentanyl (87 per cent), cocaine (50 per cent), methamphetamine /amphetamine (35 per cent), and other opioids (30 per cent).
“The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a devastating effect on the overdose crisis in B.C.,” said Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health officer, in the statement.
“Exacerbating this is the highly toxic drug supply that exists in our communities right now. Now more than ever, we must remove the stigma of drug use and remove the shame people feel, which keeps them from seeking help or telling friends and family.”
No deaths have been reported at safe consumption or overdose prevention sites.
In September, Henry issued a provincial health order allowing nurses to prescribe drugs to at-risk populations in an effort to separate people from the increasingly toxic street drug supply.
Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses will be adhering to new standards through the availability of additional training, education, and access to expert consultation.
In addition, the Office of the Provincial Health Officer, Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions and the Ministry of Health are working to develop an updated policy directive for prescribers and health authorities.
This policy will expand the eligibility criteria of prescription drugs to include individuals with opioid-use disorder, other substance-use disorders or individuals with a history of accessing the toxic street drug supply who are at high risk of overdose and other drug-related harms.
It would also expand the number of access points from which these medications can be dispensed to include health authorities and community pharmacies.
A Victoria-based orthopedic surgeon has been reprimanded and fined for inappropriate conduct and language, including calling a pre-teen patient a “loose woman.”
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (CPSBC) announced their findings of a disciplinary investigation against Dr. Bruce Taro Yoneda last week.
In their ruling, they said that Dr. Yoneda had engaged in unprofessional conduct during a consultation with a female pre-teen patient.
Specifically, they say he referred to the patient as a “loose woman” and told her he would be giving her a “lube job.” He also questioned the patient about her menstrual cycle without first offering a clear explanation of why he needed that information.
Reviews on the website RateMDs dating back to 2017 include comments critical of unprofessional behaviour from Dr. Yoneda.
The reviews are anonymous and can be submitted by anyone, but refer to statements from Dr. Yoneda towards female patients that they can “get back to pole dancing” and that he will offer “lube jobs” in relation to knee and joint issues.
On November 9, the CPSBC issued a formal reprimand to Dr. Yoneda and a fine of $7,500.
He has also been forced to register under the “Conditional – disciplined” class of the CPSBC and will be required to complete a program in communication and a course in professionalism.
VicPD say the fines stemmed from a dine-and-dash incident that began early in the evening of November 24.
Police were called to a restaurant in the 500-block of Yates Street just after 7:30 p.m. for a report that a group had left without paying.
Officers located the group nearby and escorted them back to the restaurant to have them settle their bill.
Staff at the restaurant told officers that some of the original group had not returned with police, and the missing individuals had been belligerent and aggressive towards staff who were trying to enforce COVID-19 restrictions.
One of the men in the group had apparently even threatened a staff member who asked him to follow the restaurant’s COVID-19 rules.
Officers were given surveillance footage from in side the restaurant to view and witnessed one man clearly violating restrictions and threatening staff.
Police were able to locate the man a short time later at another nearby restaurant. He was issued two violation tickets under the COVID-19 Related Measures Act (CRMA); one under Section 6 for Abusive or Belligerent Behaviour and one for Failing to Comply with Patron Conditions.
VicPD say each of these fines, with Victim Surcharge, is $230.
All British Columbians over the age of 12 are required to wear a mask or face covering while visiting indoor public spaces or face a $230 fine, according to the details of a provincial mask mandate released Tuesday afternoon.
“We’ve entered a second wave of COVID-19 in British Columbia and additional steps need to be taken to protect our health,” said Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, in a statement.
“Last week, the PHO provided guidance that masks should be worn in all indoor public places. This new order under the EPA will ensure we have the tools necessary to enforce the mask mandate as recommended by the PHO.”
Under the Emergency Program Act (EPA), which applies for as long as BC remains under a state of emergency, masks are officially required to be worn by everyone over the age of 12 in many indoor public settings.
Some examples of these settings include:
malls, shopping centres, coffee shops, and retail and grocery stores
liquor and drug stores
airports, city halls, libraries, community and recreation centres
restaurants, pubs and bars
places of public worship
on public transportation, in a taxi or ride-sharing vehicle
common areas of office buildings, court houses, hospitals and hotels
common areas of sport and fitness centres when not engaged in physical activity
common areas of post-secondary institutions and non-profit organizations.
More orders are expected to be issued to mandate mask use in common areas of apartment buildings, condos and workplaces.
According to the statement, this first order only covers situations in which strangers often interact.
For the purposes of this order, people are required to wear a mask or face covering that is medical or non-medical and covers both the nose and mouth. Face shields do not count.
Anyone who cannot wear a mask for a psychological, behavioural or health condition, or due to a physical, cognitive or mental impairment is exempt from this order, as is anyone who requires someone else to help them put on a mask.
Masks are not recommended for children under two years old. For children between the ages of two and 12, mask use is recommended. Anyone above the age of 12 must wear a mask in the aforementioned settings.
This order does allow people to temporarily remove their face covering to provide identification, consume food or drinks at an establishment that offers dine-in, while participating in a sport or fitness activity in a sport facility, or while receiving a personal or health service that requires the mask to be removed.
According to Farnworth, businesses are asked to review their COVID-19 safety plans to provide signage about the mandatory mask policy and let customers know about the new requirements.
“Of course, despite any range of efforts, some people will break the rules knowing full well what they’re doing,” the Minister added.
“These measures give police and other enforcement officials the tools to intervene with and penalize problematic individuals and groups.”
Anyone who does not comply with the new order, refuses to leave the space or responds with aggressive behaviour, even after being directed to follow the rules by an enforcement officer, could be subject to a $230 fine.
If violation tickets do not act as a deterrent, or in cases of particularly egregious contraventions or for repeat offenders, police can recommend charges in relation to the offence.
Those who wish to report non-compliance of this order can do so by calling their local government’s bylaw office.
Bylaw officers can then engage police or WorkSafeBC as required. Those who are unable to reach bylaw can contact their local police department using the non-emergency line.
This mandatory mask order takes effect immediately.
The second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic on Vancouver Island is being driven by cases in the central region, according to Island Health.
Records show that between November 10 and November 19, central Vancouver Island saw a 500 per cent increase in the number of active COVID-19 cases.
On November 19, the region had 76 active cases. As of Monday, November 23, that number had increased to 100.
In comparison, in the nine day period between the 10th and 19th, the south island saw a 40 per cent increase in active cases and there was a 55 per cent increase in north island cases.
A bulletin posted on the Island Health website urges people to follow the rules in place in order to curb transmission rates.
These orders were issued by Dr. Bonnie Henry on Thursday, November 19 and remain in place until at least December 7, at which point they will be reevaluated based on whether or not the transmission curve has been flattened.
Most recently, on November 24, the province announced a record-breaking single day case count of 941, and added 10 more people to the COVID-19 death toll.
There are currently 7,732 active cases across B.C., 152 of which are in the Island Health region.
At its most rudimentary level, the new order looks to restrict social gatherings, get people to wear masks indoors, limit activities where the virus has been known to spread easily, and limit non-essential travel.
Answers to some of the most common questions about BC’s new orders can be found here.
The BCCDC has reported a record-breaking 941 new cases of novel coronavirus in the province on Tuesday, bringing the total number of cases to 28,348.
In total, 7,992 of the cases are in the Vancouver Coastal Region, 17,724 in Fraser Health, 505 in Vancouver Island Health region, 1,356 in Interior Health, 678 in Northern Health region, and 95 people whose residence is outside of Canada.
The number of active cases has increased by 372 to 7,732 in B.C.
There are now a total of 284 people in hospital due to COVID-19, 61 of whom are in critical care — ICU or acute care units. More people are now hospitalized with COVID-19 in B.C. than there ever have been in the past.
10 additional COVID-related deaths were reported over the past 24 hours, and the death toll is now at 358.
A total of 19,605 people have recovered from novel coronavirus.
Outbreaks
Two new health care facility outbreaks were reported on Tuesday, while one has been declared over.
There are a total of 55 long-term care or assisted-living facilities and 6 acute-care facilities that have active, ongoing outbreaks.
There remain a number of ongoing COVID-19 exposure sites. B.C. residents are urged to check the BC CDC website for all public alerts about possible exposures to the virus.
Those who may have been exposed are asked to monitor their symptoms, reduce the number of contacts they have, and call 811 to get tested for the virus if they do develop symptoms.
Island Health region
11 new COVID-19 cases were reported in the Island Health region on Tuesday.
There have been a total of 505 cases of COVID-19 in the region, six of whom have died. Two people in the region are currently in hospital after contracting the virus.
Island Health reports that as of Tuesday, November 24, there are 152 active cases in the region.
South Vancouver Island Active cases: 44, Total Cases: 170
Central Vancouver Island Active cases: 95, Total Cases: 219
North Vancouver Island Active cases: 13, Total Cases: 116
The COVID-19 case curve in Vancouver Island health region as of November 24 is represented below:
As of Monday there had been a total of 1,066,696 novel coronavirus tests conducted across B.C., 122,145 of which were done in the Island Health region.
The BCCDC has set up a 2019 novel coronavirus telephone information line at 1-833-784-4397 for those who have further questions about this disease.
Anyone concerned that they may have been exposed to, or are experiencing symptoms of the novel coronavirus, should contact their primary care provider, local public health office, or call 8-1-1.
The Province has also created the 1-888-COVID-19 line to connect British Columbians needing non-medical information about the pandemic.
As of the time of publication, the total number of COVID-19 patients worldwide has risen to 60,051,163.
Over 1,413,415 people have died from the illness and 41,473,076 have recovered.
With Christmas tunes increasing their volume as we head into the holiday season, most local crafters in Victoria are looking for other solutions to sell their their handmade crafts.
As local fairs and other market events are on pause due to the pandemic, makers have been forced to use even more of their creativity to come up with unique ways to showcase their wares.
To help with this task, Used.ca – known locally as UsedVictoria.com – launched a new handmade market section on their website to encourage people to go homemade this holiday season.
“We heard from our craft fair partners that this would be a tough holiday season for local crafters, bakers and jewelry designers – many of whom rely on the holiday season for the majority of their annual sales,” says Nicki Reich, Publisher and Director of Marketing at Used.ca.
“We wanted to provide a place for them to showcase their talent and products where locals are already online and ready to buy.” “We have already seen some beautiful items posted from pet treats to macrame wall hangings to pottery, and we want locals to purchase these unique handmade treasures right here in our community.”
As of publication, there were over 300 items already posted, including handmade candles, pet treat Christmas stockings, bird houses, stuffed animals, and abstract paintings.
“Esquimalt Farmers Market is eternally grateful for the number of businesses thinking outside the box to support local and handmade – like Used.ca creating a handmade page,” says Katrina Dwulit, Manager of the Esquimalt Farmers Market.
“With everything in the world being so uncertain, it’s comforting to know that we live in a supportive community that truly cares about the real humans making real items!”
So, if you are a local crafter that wants to promote your items or you are looking to buy locally-made holiday decor or gifts, check out the new handmade market on UsedVictoria.com.
“I think it’s a head cold. BUUUUUT should I get tested?”
“If you think you should, then you prob should”
“I don’t feel feverish or anything”
“not everyone with covid gets a fever tho”
“Never hurts to get tested.”
That brief exchange of messages in my workplace Slack was what spurred me to be COVID-smart and get tested for my cold-like symptoms.
The BCCDC says that testing is available for anyone experiencing cold or flu-like symptoms, including the ones that I had been experiencing: a sore throat and runny nose.
I don’t like going to the doctor. There’s no good reason for it. In my head, I usually duck around it by saying that I don’t want to inconvenience health care professionals, waste resources, or otherwise be a hypochondriac.
But really, I just don’t like it.
In this case, though, it’s important to note that the BCCDC wants people to err on the side of caution. Check off that you are experiencing even mild symptoms and the online tool will tell you to self-isolate and get tested.
During a pandemic, my selfish anxieties needed to be put aside: I signed up for a test.
Signing up
To begin booking my appointment, I hopped online and went to the online collection centre finder.
Three centres are currently listed in Greater Victoria: West Shore Collection and Assessment Centre (in the Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre), Peninsula Health Unit (in the Saanich Peninsula Hospital), and the Victoria Health Unit (on Cook Street across from Royal Athletic Park).
I was in luck; the Victoria Health Unit is a short walk from my apartment.
The collection centre finder details any special requirements, like whether testing is done by appointment-only or on a walk-in basis.
Testing for the centres in Greater Victoria are all done by appointment-only, and people can book in by calling Island Health’s COVID-19 testing call centre at 1-844-901-8442.
When I called in, an automated message told me that bookings were being taken on a call-back basis. By pushing a button, my number was recorded for callback, and I received one less than 24 hours later.
At this point I should mention something about my personal situation: I moved to Victoria last year, and have neglected to properly shift my health care over from my birth province of Alberta.
Even with this bureaucratic hangup, the professional who took my appointment was able to book me in for a 2 p.m. test the following day within just 15 minutes.
For people with BC Health Numbers, the process would be even quicker.
I was also fortunate in my timing; Island Health and Lower Mainland health authorities have recently started using saline gargle tests for children and adults alike in place of the more invasive nasal swabs where possible.
The call-taker concluded my booking by having me listen to an automated message that gave instructions on the gargle test:
Swish for five seconds
Gargle for five seconds
Repeat 1-2 twice more, for a total of 30 seconds
Spit into a provided collection tube
With that, I was ready for my appointment the next day.
The Test
I had been told to arrive about five minutes in advance of my appointment, wearing a mask.
When I showed up at the Victoria Health Unit, some very clear and well-posted signage on the door directed me around the back of the building.
As I approached the rear side of the building, a parking official in a high visibility vest greeted me warmly and thanked me for wearing a mask.
He then handed me a pamphlet explaining how to get my test results and directed me to a sandwich board, which instructed testing appointees to wait to be admitted.
No other appointees were present.
I waited less than a minute before a security guard with a clipboard asked for my name, confirmed my appointment time, and smoothly ushered me into an outdoor tent with a single chair.
Again, I waited less than another minute before a registered nurse in a mask, shield, and wearing a lab coat and protective gloves emerged with the testing equipment.
For the saline test, that equipment consisted of the solution and a collection tube.
The nurse confirmed the instructions I had been given earlier over the phone for the test, then uncapped the solution and handed it to me.
If you’ve ever taken a dip in the ocean and accidentally tasted a mouthful of water, it tastes no worse than that.
The nurse advised that I needed to return a sufficient amount of the solution for testing. She then helpfully counted off the seconds to help me switch from gargling to swishing as I proceeded with the test.
30 seconds later, I was done and on my way.
Getting Results
Results from my COVID-19 testing were available online through Island Health’s myHealth portal, which I signed up for when I booked my appointment.
It took just over 24 hours for the results to come in: negative!
You can also sign up for text message notifications, or call 1-833-707-2792. Parents of children who get tested can also call this number for results.
In sum total, the process crossed four days, but only took about an hour out of my life.
Bottom line, my COVID-19 test was a smooth, professional, painless experience, and if you’re in doubt about your symptoms, as I was: get tested.
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article did not include the UVic testing facility among the centres available for testing appointments. The article has been updated to include this information.
Yes, it may still be November but we wanted to give you plenty of time to mark your calendars for one of Greater Victoria’s coolest kick-offs of the season!
Whether you identify as an elf or a grinch, Sidney BIA’s annual Christmas by the Sea is sure to get you into the holiday spirit with its plethora of safe, distanced and family-friendly activities.
Sidney will be transformed into a twinkling wonderland as it welcomes the community to celebrate the holiday season with festive displays all throughout the town. This year, you’re invited to cozy up with with your closest bubble and experience the small-town cheer in the safest way possible.
Also, keep your eye on the prize, as we’ve partnered with the Sidney BIA to gift THREE lucky winners with a $100 gift card to a Sidney business of their choice!
Hold onto your Santa hats, because here are 9 safe and distanced Christmas activities happening in Sidney this holiday season:
1. Festive Displays
The Sidney BIA has organized a professional contractor to install Christmas lights on business storefronts up and down Beacon Avenue, in addition to a dazzling display of holiday-themed features around town by local merchants, the Town staff and Sidney BIA.
2. Lighted Window Tour
Sidney merchants will put on their creative ingenuity on full display in their shop windows, and the Sidney BIA is offering prize incentives for the best arrangements of lights and sparkle! The Sidney Lighted Window Tour contest includes awards for the most enchanting window displays, with a chance to win one of three prizes.
The public can explore the storefronts and vote for their favourite here! Winners will be announced on December 23rd.
3. Gingerbread Showcase
Habitat for Humanity is bringing its Gingerbread Showcase to various locations throughout downtown Sidney, and you’ll find elaborate gingerbread displays around town from December 8th – January 3rd, 2021.
4. Horse Drawn Carriage Tours
Victoria Carriage Tours will offer festive rides through downtown Sidney on Saturdays and Sundays, December 8th – December 20th, 12 p.m. – 4 p.m. Tours are $40.00 per carriage and seat up to 6-people within your bubble or household. Click here to book your tour!
5. Free Holiday Films
This holiday season, every Saturday at 10:30 a.m. from December 8th – December 19th, the Sidney BIA has partnered with Star Cinema to offer a line-up of favourite holiday flicks for movie-lovers of all ages, including Elf, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and more. Click hereto register!
6. Free Delivery
Free Commercial Delivery Service from downtown Sidney businesses to local residents to enhance shopping options is now available, just in time for Christmas shopping! More information can be found here.
7. Residential Decor Contest
Did you do an extra-festive job with outdoor Christmas decor on your Sidney street? Send an email to hello@sidneybia.ca to be featured on Sidney’s Christmas Map and to be entered to win $100 to your favourite Sidney shop!
8. Festive Brass Ensemble
Well-known individually and as symphonic and jazz ensemble musicians, the Festive Brass will will serenade shoppers in downtown Sidney every Friday and Saturday from December 8th – December 19th from 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.
9. Holiday Cheer Sweepstakes
Sidney’s favourite Sweepstakes Contest is back! Support local Sidney businesses and be entered to win one of six $500 shopping sprees to the businesses of your choice in Sidney, plus $500 cash for the small business of your choice in Sidney. Winners will be selected weekly throughout the holiday season! You can enter here.
Please keep in mind that all event start dates are subject to change in accordance with provincial health orders. As of this publication, all events are on pause until at least January 8th, 2021.
CONTEST
For a chance to win a $100 gift card to a Sidney business of your choice from Sidney BIA (we’re choosing three winners!), complete one or more of the following:
SHARE this post on Facebook and/or Twitter and leave a comment below telling us once you have. (1 entry)
Contest entries will be accepted from the time and date of publishing until 11:59 p.m. on December 15th, 2020. One winner will be chosen at random and contacted through the platform they used to enter.
In an effort slow the spread of COVID-19 after an uptick of cases in BC, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced a host of new restrictions last week, which will be in effect until at least December 7th.
When it’s broken down simply, the new order aims to restrict social gatherings, encourage mask-wearing in all indoor spaces, and limit or pause activities where the virus is known to spread or cause outbreaks.
For at least the next two weeks, non-essential travel has also been ordered to be limited, which will not only affect many on a social level, but also applies to athletic activities.
Here’s what sports leagues, players, and families need to know:
No spectators at any sport activities
Under the current provincial order, no spectators are allowed at any sporting activities, whether they are held indoors or outdoors.
The only exception to this rule is for those that provide care to a participant or player, like first aid attendants.
That being said, games, competitions and practices can continue within the above guidelines as long as they are restricted to each local community.
Some sports teams, such as PACE FC soccer which operates on the Saanich Peninsula in an outdoor-only model, have temporarily suspended all play for the next two weeks, saying they will extend their season to make up for the pause.
The Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League also announced Saturday that it would be postponing all games due to the newly announced regulations, at least until December 7th.
Individual leagues are asked to review their current COVID-19 safety plans to ensure they meet guidelines. Meanwhile viaSport is reviewing the guidance and working with public health to release an updated version of the rules.
For the time being, as a part of the order, masks are required in all indoor public settings.
Sports team travel between communities
As a part of the order, people should stay as much as possible within their local communities for at least the next two weeks.
To that end, travelling across health regions for the purposes of sports tournaments is currently suspended for the time being.
Dr. Bonnie Henry recently clarified that children or players who live in different communities, but play on the same team, can still continue to play together.
That being said, entire sports teams cannot travel to another jurisdiction to compete with other teams.
Other athletic activities
Certain high-risk indoor group physical activities must be suspended until at least December 7th, including:
Spin classes
Hot yoga
High intensity interval training (HIIT)
According to an update on November 24, particular venues that offer other types of indoor group physical activities must suspend them temporarily, until new guidance is released. These include:
Dance studios
Martial arts
Yoga
Pilates
Strength and conditioning
Cheerleading
Gyms
Gyms and recreation facilities that offer individual training can remain, as open as long as they have a COVID-19 Safety Plan that is strictly followed.
Henry has made it clear that public health will close down any studios where transmission events are detected.
Some specific gyms have implemented mandatory mask measures, but it’s best to check with your gym to see whether or not they require masks at all times.
Who’s exempt from these restrictions?
Anyone identified by the Canadian Sports Institute Pacific as a high performance athlete is excluded from the sport-related restrictions, as long as they are already training in BC.
The Provincial Health Order restricting travel, gatherings, and more in BC for two weeks have been updated to include shutting down several other types of fitness facilities across the province.
Originally, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry ordered high-intensity interval training studios, hot yoga classes, and group indoor spin classes to shut down until at least December 7, to reduce transmission of COVID-19.
This order has been updated as of November 24, to include the following types of fitness activities:
Gymnastics
Dance studios
Martial arts
Yoga
Pilates
Strength and conditioning
Cheerleading
According to updated rules, these activities are to be put on pause at least until the province develops new guidance to allow them to continue safely.
This guidance, highlighting how facilities offering group indoor physical activities can operate during the pandemic, is expected to become available later this week or early next week.
Gyms and recreation facilities providing individual workouts and personal training sessions can remain open as long as they follow COVID-19 guidelines.
Another COVID-19 exposure alert has been issued on Vancouver Island for a secondary school in Qualicum Beach.
According to the Island Health school exposures notice website, students and staff at Kwalikum Secondary School, located at 266 Village Way, may have been exposed to COVID-19.
A statement from School District 69 says one member of the school community tested positive for the virus, and their last date of attendance is November 19.
The exposure alert is in place for November 18 and 19.
At the moment, there are seven ongoing exposure or cluster outbreaks in schools across Vancouver Island, two of which are in Victoria.
Alerts for cluster outbreaks at Dover Bay Secondary school and John Barsby Secondary school have been removed from the Island Health site as it has now been two weeks since they were first issued.
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 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.
Environment Canada has issued a wind warning for East Vancouver Island Tuesday morning.
According to the advisory, strong southeast winds of 70 km/h gusting up to 90 km/h are forming across parts of East Vancouver Island near the Georgia Strait late Tuesday morning as a cold front sweeps across the region.
These winds are expected to spread into the Southern Gulf Islands, southern Howe Sound including Bowen Island and parts of Metro Vancouver near the water, particularly Tsawwassen and Boundary Bay.
The gusts are expected to subside this afternoon as the cold front leaves the area.
The advisory is in effect for the area encompassing Duncan to Nanaimo and Nanoose Bay to Fanny Bay.
Residents are advised to be wary of loose objects that may be tossed by the strong winds.
A dog owner has been cautioned after his puppy got loose and scared a woman and her child, according to CRD Animal Control.
The RCMP said they were notified about the dog at approximately 4 p.m. on November 19th. The report said the dog was trying to bite a small child near the intersection of Glen Lake Road and Monnington Place in Langford.
According to Westshore RCMP, their officer arrived on the scene and saw the dog growling and lunging toward the pair. The woman had placed her child on the roof of a car to protect them.
Police say the dog had bit the woman’s rain boot but did not break the skin.
CRD Animal Control says the dog, an 8-month-old rottweiler, was likely displaying puppy tendencies and trying to play with the woman.
They also say that the woman and her child were playing with the dog prior to calling the police.
“Apparently these people were petting and playing with this dog,” chief bylaw officer Don Brown told Victoria Buzz. “The dog got overly playful.”
Brown says the RCMP officer was easily able to control the dog, and by the time Animal Control arrived the dog was cooperative and was taken to the impound.
CRD Animal Control was then able to contact the owner, who claimed the dog the next day and paid an impound fee and license fee.
The dog was also recorded in CRD Animal Control’s database with a dangerous dog caution. Brown says a further incident would designate the dog as dangerous.
“It’s still got some puppy tendencies but it’s also a very large dog, and it’s also unfixed, unneutered,” he said.
“We suggested to the owner that he do get it neutered and perhaps get some training for the dog.”
The owner was in the middle of a move and had asked a relative to look after the rottweiler, which Brown says may have made the dog anxious.
He added that the owner was cooperative with authorities, and says he personally thinks it is unlikely the dog will be the subject of a further incident.
Phones, TVs and radios will be blaring out one tone in unanimity tomorrow afternoon as BC conducts a test of the nation-wide emergency alert system.
This scheduled bi-annual test of the wireless Alert Ready system will take place at 1:55 p.m. on Wednesday, November 25.
A scheduled test earlier this year, in May, was cancelled across Canada due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Alert Ready emergency system was launched in BC in 2018, and has been tested twice a year since then.
During the test, an alert will be broadcast on radio and television stations, as well as on compatible wireless devices. The test message will read:
“This is a TEST of the British Columbia Emergency Alerting System, issued by Emergency Management British Columbia. This is ONLY a TEST. If this had been an actual emergency or threat, you would now hear instructions that would assist you to protect you and your family. For further information go to www.emergencyinfobc.gov.bc.ca. This is ONLY a TEST, no action is required.”
For a wireless device to receive the alert, it must be compatible to wireless public alerting, have the most updated version of its operating software, and be connected to an LTE wireless network when the alert is issued. Click here to check your phone’s compatibility.
The Alert Ready system was developed by several authorities including federal, provincial and territorial emergency management officials, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Pelmorex, the broadcasting industry and wireless service providers.