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Early concept art for Magic Cat Academy 2 (Google)
Google Doodles have a long history of awesome content, and today’s Halloween entry is another amazing one.
The Doodle starts off with some adorable animation showing the characters from 2016’s Halloween Doodle, “Magic Cat Academy.”
Then, the game truly begins. Literally!
The Doodle switches to a game interface where users must draw symbols over ghostly enemies in order to fend them off.
Five different levels are included in the game, with a plethora of foes to battle and some quirky and cool bosses.
The Doodle, titled “Magic Cat Academy 2,” comes from a team of in-house designers and programmers at Google, including artwork by Olivia When, Juliana Chen, and Alyssa Winans.
Google Doodles are often memorable, interactive experiences, including a mini-game based on the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who, a celebratory animation and game for composer Ludwig van Beethoven, and a compact version of Pac-Man to honour the iconic arcade game’s 30th anniversary.
Our Victoria Buzz team spent a solid 30 minutes carefully researching today’s mini-game and the 2016 version. In review, we believe the 2020 version perfects the 2016 formula.
VicPD are warning the public about possible scammers after a Victoria man was defrauded of $6,000 this week.
Officers were contacted on October 28 by a man who said he had been the victim of a fraud involving scammers impersonating Service Canada and VicPD.
The man said he had received a phone call with an automated message claiming he was the subject of federal charges.
The message instructed the man to press 1 to be “transferred to a Service Canada employee.” The impersonator the man spoke to after pressing 1 told him his Social Insurance Number was compromised.
The impersonator also told the man that several bank accounts had been opened under his name and used to commit criminal offences, including drug trafficking.
The man was told to deposit money into a bitcoin account to “protect his assets,” and was told his bank accounts would be frozen in an hour if he did not.
Scammers falsified several phone calls to the victim from the number 250-995-7654, which is the same number as the VicPD non-emergency line.
A person impersonating a VicPD officer gave the same story as the scammer who impersonated a Service Canada representative, and encouraged the man to deposit money into the bitcoin machine.
The victim was persuaded to deposit $6,000 into a bitcoin machine.
VicPD warns that fraudsters are often both aggressive and convincing.
Fraudsters will often “spoof” legitimate telephone numbers like those of the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), and local police departments, including VicPD. They often will not allow their potential victims to hang up or leave the phone call.
VicPD says their officers will never demand cash to be paid to resolve an incident, nor request funds transferred through bitcoin.
Anyone who is contacted by telephone by someone claiming to be from VicPD who asks for money should simply hang up.
If financial information is given out, VicPD say that victims should contact financial institutions immediately and ensure all unauthorized payments are stopped. They should also call the VicPD non-emergency number at (250) 995-7654 to report the incident.
Darkness falls across the land, the midnite hour is close at hand…Here are some things do to in Victoria on Friday, October 30th!
As you head out to activities and events, please follow the restrictions and guidelines that these businesses require to keep their employees and patrons safe during the pandemic.
As always, wash your hands, wear masks, practice physical distancing, and stay home if you feel sick or show symptoms!
Without further ado, here are five things to do on Friday, October 30th:
Outdoor Music Fridays extend into October at Jaga Silk! Book in-person or virtual zoom tickets at jagasilk.com. This Friday Sister Speak joins Matt Stern.
Sister Speak’s high energy, moving show features “Alt-Blues-World” and has led to European tours, festivals, headlining concerts at iconic venues and opening slots for Air Supply, The Doobie Brothers and Xavier Rudd among others.
Matt Stern is known for infectious melodies, uplifting energy, and an ability to inspire a sense of community in a diverse crowd. Matt was born in Montreal and is currently based on Vancouver Island. Praised by Radio-Canada International for promoting body positivity and diversity.
We may not be able to see our American friends in person, but thanks to the world of virtual performances we can still see some of theatre! Oak Harbour, Washington-based theatre company Whidbey Playhouse brings Orson Welles’ classic radio play “The War of the Worlds” back to life for an online show! Revisit the frightening radio play experience of the extraterrestrial takeover that panicked the nation!
In this cult classic, sweethearts Brad (Barry Bostwick) and Janet (Susan Sarandon), stuck with a flat tire during a storm, discover the eerie mansion of Dr. Frank-N-Furter (Tim Curry), a transvestite scientist. As their innocence is lost, Brad and Janet meet a houseful of wild characters, including a rocking biker (Meat Loaf) and a creepy butler (Richard O’Brien). Through elaborate dances and rock songs, Frank-N-Furter unveils his latest creation: a muscular man named “Rocky.”
Take a guided tour of the beautiful and historic Craigdarroch Castle. Tours run 75 minutes in length. Built by coal baron Robert Dunsmuir during the reign of Queen Victoria and now a National Historic Site, Craigdarroch Castle has been meticulously restored, giving visitors a glimpse of privileged life in the 1890s.
When: 10:20 a.m. to 11:35 a.m., 11:20 a.m. to 12:35 p.m., 2:20 p.m. to 3:35 p.m., 3:20 p.m. to 4:35 p.m.
Investigators with VicPD’s hate crimes unit are seeking suspects and witnesses after they received a report of hateful graffiti in Macaulay Point Park.
Esquimalt patrol officers were called to the park in the 300-block of Clifton Terrace just before 7 p.m. Wednesday evening.
A person told police they had discovered fresh graffiti on signs and structures in the park. The graffiti included anti-Semitic and other hate-based content.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the VicPD non-emergency line at (250) 995-7654, ext 1.
Those who wish to report information anonymously can call Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Transport Canada announced on Thursday that they would be extending measures that limit cruise ship and other pleasure craft traffic until February 28, 2021.
In particular, cruise ships with overnight accommodations carrying more than 100 people continue to be prohibited from operating in Canadian waters, following an initial ban implemented in May that was set to expire on October 31, 2020.
The ban has severely impacted the tourist economy on Vancouver Island. Statistics from the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority (GVHA) say that the cruise industry is worth about $3 billion annually to Canada’s economy, with two-thirds of that generated on the West Coast.
GVHA CEO Ian Robertson says he supported the ban in its first form and continues to support it with the extended deadline.
However, he says that he will continue to advocate for a decision timeline and process for the return of cruise lines to Canadian waters.
“I will continue to engage with Transport Canada on this,” Robertson said in a statement.
“Our organization is also engaged with cruise line management as they develop and unveil their plans for a safe return of cruise in other markets, as well as on the west coast of Canada.”
Robertson says the GVHA is planning for cruises to resume in 2021 and their team is working to ensure that the Victoria Cruise Terminal will be prepared to welcome guests.
The B.C. Ministry of Health has reported 234 new cases of novel coronavirus in the province on Thursday, bringing the total number of cases to 14,109.
In total, 4,588 of the cases are in the Vancouver Coastal Region, 8,036 in Fraser Health, 256 in Vancouver Island Health region, 734 in Interior Health, 406 in Northern Health region, and 89 people whose residence is outside of Canada
The number of active cases has increased by 28 to 2,344 in B.C.
There are now a total of 86 people in hospital due to COVID-19, 24 of whom are in critical care — ICU or acute care units.
One additional death were reported over the past 24 hours, and the death toll is now at 262.
5,714 people are now in isolation and being monitored by public health officials after being exposed to COVID-19.
A total of 11,448 people have now recovered from novel coronavirus in B.C.
Outbreaks
There were four outbreaks declared at health care facilities on the mainland in the past 24 hours. One prior outbreak has been declared over.
There are now a total of 24 long-term care or assisted-living facilities and one 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
Three new COVID-19 cases were reported in the Island Health region on Thursday. Of those three cases, one was reported in the south Island region while two were in central Island.
There have been a total of 256 cases of COVID-19 in the region, six of whom have died.
Island Health reports that as of October 29, there are 10 active cases on the Island.
South Vancouver Island Active cases: 4, Total Cases: 97
Central Vancouver Island Active cases: 4, Total Cases: 81
North Vancouver Island Active cases: 2, Total Cases: 78
The COVID-19 case curve in Vancouver Island health region as of October 29 is represented below:
(Island Health)
As of Monday there had been 806,953 novel coronavirus tests conducted across B.C., 96,769 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 45,255,385.
Over 1,184,792 people have died from the illness and 32,907,376 have recovered.
The mural has been a source of controversy since it was found to contain the acronym, widely understood to stand for “All Cops Are Bastard/Bad.”
VicPD Chief Del Manak was vocal in his calls to remove the message, which he described as “deeply disrespectful.”
On Wednesday, activist and community organizer Charity Williams wrote on Instagram that there were many discussions between the artists and city staff and those talks would be continuing.
“This is in no way a concession, rather a way forward,” Williams wrote. “We have a ways to go, but I’m proud of being a part of the conversation.”
She added that the artists would be adding a new message to replace the old one, beginning at 4 p.m. on Wednesday.
City manager Jocelyn Jenkyns said in an emailed statement to Victoria Buzz that the mural would be changing but would “remain an honest representation of the artists’ experience.”
“The 17 BIPOC artists who created the More Justice, More Peace mural have sparked an important conversation about systemic racism and discrimination in our city and in our country,” Jenkyns said.
“We now move forward and I know that the important message of this mural will continue to inspire conversations.”
A spokesperson for the city added that the artists’ new design to replace the ‘ACAB’ portion was approved by city staff, and was expected to be completed Thursday afternoon.
The new design will include a message that reads:
“This letter has been censored by the City of Victoria influenced by the Victoria Police Department. In doing so, Victoria is contributing to the silencing of Black and Indigenous voices and experiences across this land.”
Over the past few days, multiple social media event pages have cropped up, advertising a variety of Halloween events happening this Saturday.
One of these events claims to be an ‘Official Mega Party’, another is an ‘Ultimate Paint Experience’, and a third claims to offer an ‘Ultimate Foam Experience’.
These event pages have been circulating on Facebook and say there will be over 5,000 people in attendance at each gathering.
This claim is in direct contravention with current provincial health orders that prohibit parties and gatherings of more than 50 people. Recently, amid a surge in COVID-19 cases, Dr. Bonnie Henry has also instated a new order restricting private gatherings to six people outside of the immediate household.
Given that B.C. is currently in the middle of the second wave of the pandemic, event pages advertising large gatherings with thousands of people could be alarming at first glance.
However Victoria Police say they are aware of these event pages, and that they could be created by fake or spam profiles.
“Some signs of fake profiles include the use of the stock images for the events. Neither the foam party nor the house images are from Victoria locations,” said VicPD spokesperson Bowen Osoko in an email to Victoria Buzz.
“Most local event organizers will create a poster with a date, time, location and cost for the event. The ‘discussion’ portion of the event is closed, which does not allow potential attendees to get additional information.”
The event page also asks people to ‘like’ another page and share personal information as part of a contest entry, indicating that the real motive behind the “events” are fake accounts attempting to gather people’s personal information.
The three event pages mentioned earlier were created by two accounts, both of which were created on the same day: April 8, 2020.
Nevertheless, Osoko says police have reached out to the organizers of the events and reported their profiles to Facebook. The profiles have not yet responded to VicPD’s requests to connect.
“We are reminding all people who are attending Halloween festivities of the relevant Provincial Health orders that they need to be aware of,” said Osoko.
“We’re also really hoping that people think about the risks that COVID-19 present this year and make decisions accordingly.”
Anyone who hosts a large gathering during the pandemic is subject to receive fines of up to $2,000.
Enforcement officers can also issue $200 violation tickets to anyone actively encouraging gatherings or events, or refusing to leave when asked to do so.
Vancouver Island police forces and a specialized unit from the mainland teamed up last week to make a large bust in the local drug trade.
Members of the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of B.C (CFSEU-BC)’s Uniform Gang Enforcement Team (UGET) were sent to Vancouver Island to concentrate enforcement efforts around Nanaimo and the South Island.
UGET is normally based in the Lower Mainland, but its members are also deployed to communities around the province for short-term support at other police agencies.
Last week UGET partnered with Nanaimo and West Shore RCMP detachments and the Saanich Police Department to help direct enforcement activities in Nanaimo and Victoria.
During the four-day partnership, UGET members seized several items connected to the local drug trade including:
$15,000 in cash
knives and machetes
swords
a crossbow and an axe
bear spray
a pellet gun styled to resemble a Glock handgun
a replica AR 15 rifle and replica shotgun
two firearms, including a MP40 .22 caliber rifle and a .22 caliber pistol
“The work done on targeted offenders by the CFSEU UGET teams when they come to Vancouver Island is always appreciated by the local detachments and communities,” said Corporal Chris Manseau, Division Media Relations officer for the BC RCMP.
“These most recent results show some of the excellent pro-active work completed by the teams in an effort to disrupt organized crime activity in our communities.”
UGET officers also seized substantial quantities of suspected fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, marihuana and prescription medication.
Victoria Police are seeking public assistance and information after a sexual assault case was reported this morning.
At around 4 a.m. on October 29, VicPD was called to the 800-block of Cormorant Street for reports of a sexual assault.
After reaching the scene, police found out that a woman had been sexually assaulted by an unknown man, before she was able to eventually fight him off. Police say she suffered non-life threatening injuries in the incident.
The suspect was last seen riding away from the scene on a grey mountain bike, southbound on Blanshard Street from Cormorant Street.
Officers are now searching for the suspect.
He is described as a slim, adult South Asian or Black man, standing about 6’2″ tall, and has short dark hair and a dark, scruffy beard.
At the time of the incident, the suspect was wearing a dark hooded sweater with the hood up and a mask over his face.
The incident took place at around 3:43 a.m.
Anyone who has information about this incident or recognizes the suspect based on the above description is asked to contact VicPD at (250) 995-7654, extension 1.
To report what you know anonymously, call Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
(Lieutenant Governor Janet Austin, at podium, accepts the first poppy/Twitter)
The Royal Canadian Legion kicked off its annual Poppy Campaign this week with a series of small ceremonies ahead of a Remembrance Day that will be unlike any other.
B.C.’s Lieutenant Governor Janet Austin was presented with the symbolic first poppy on Wednesday, marking the start of the Royal Canadian Legion BC/Yukon Command’s 2020 Poppy Campaign.
The small ceremony at the Government House was restricted to a small number of people in keeping with COVID-19 guidelines, which will also be in place for Remembrance Day events.
The National Remembrance Day ceremony on November 11 will be broadcast on Facebook Live this year and on television, while events in Greater Victoria also seek to go virtual.
Other municipalities, such as Metchosin, have cancelled their events and are encouraging supporters to tune into the National Remembrance Day ceremony instead.
The Legion says this is the first time they have had to discourage people from participating in in-person Remembrance Day events.
“We want to be at the forefront of new technologies and provide several options for donors, given that fewer people are carrying cash and we remain in the midst of a pandemic,” said Dominion President Thomas D. Irvine in a statement.
Nearly 20 million dollars is raised through the National Poppy Campaign each year, with funds directly sent to veteran supports and programs.
Programs help prevent homelessness, food insecurity, operational stress injury, and also aid veterans in accessing government benefits.
More and more Canadians are now supporting a universal program that offers access to prescription drugs through the nation’s health care system.
A recent survey from the Angus Reid Institute found that a byproduct of the COVID-19 pandemic has been more people recognizing a need for pharmacare as a policy.
The concept of government providing universal access to prescription drugs found “strong” support by 57 per cent of respondents and “moderate” support from 29 per cent.
Only 7 percent strongly opposed a pharmacare initiative while the remaining 7 per cent were “moderately” opposed to it.
The study also found that over the past year, more than one-in-five Canadians decided not to fill or renew a prescription due to costs, or taken measures to extend it because they could not afford to keep the recommended dosage schedule.
In the past year, during the pandemic, 14 per cent of Canadians say they lost prescription drug coverage, while just 7 per cent say they gained it.
While most people say their prescription drugs are covered under insurance plans, British Columbia was found to have the highest percentage of residents who pay half or more of those costs out of pocket.
(Angus Reid Institute)
The study also found that those who earn the least income are most likely to pay out of pocket for their medicines.
Among those who earn less than $50K per year, 37 per cent say they paid out of pocket for their prescription drugs; meanwhile, only 15 per cent of those who earn over $100K did the same.
Provincially, Ontario residents pay the least out of pocket for prescription drugs, which Angus Reid Institute attributes to the fact that the province offers comprehensive public drug coverage for seniors and children and youth under 25 years old.
The rates of those paying $500 or more are highest in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Quebec.
B.C. is also where residents reported facing drug cost problems the most, with three-in-ten respondents saying they either decided not to refill their prescriptions or stretched prescriptions because of out-of-pocket costs.
The disparity is also clear between white people and visible minorities. 36 per cent of respondents belonging to minority groups reported that members of their household skipped or stretched prescriptions because of costs, compared to one-in-five white respondents.
These findings also corresponded with how many people support a universal pharmacare plan.
Nearly all survey respondents agreed, to some extent, that every Canadian, regardless of income, should have access to necessary prescription medication.
(Angus Reid Institute)
Among those who earn between less than $25K to $50K per year, 89 per cent strongly supported the idea of their provincial government participating in a national pharmacare program.
However support for this concept was fairly unanimous across all income levels, with 83 per cent of the top earners agreeing as well.
At a provincial level, support for universal pharmacare is highest among B.C. and Quebec residents, and lowest in the prairies.
(Angus Reid Institute)
The Angus Reid Institute conducted this online survey from October 13 – 18, 2020 among a representative randomized sample of 1,936 Canadian adults who are members of Angus Reid Forum.
For comparison purposes only, a probability sample of this size would carry a margin of error of +/- 2.2 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.
A sign posted in a North Saanich neighbourhood threatened to capture and “not return” outdoor cats in the area, according to some local animal rescue societies.
“I read it and thought ‘we’d better post this, to make sure everybody reads this,'” Oakley said in an interview with Victoria Buzz.
The sign was posted in the 400-block of Ardmore Drive, near a community mailbox. It says that several neighbourhood cats have been spotted on private property, and indicates that traps have been placed to capture the outdoor felines.
“If you are the owner(s) of these beasts, please be warned that we do not want them pooping in our yard or stalking the birds,” the sign reads.
It also identifies three specific cats by rough description and threatens that if captured they “WILL NOT be taking them to the SPCA to be returned to you,” implying that the cats could either be euthanized or set loose in the wild.
(ROAM/Facebook)
“People trap cats all the time, let them go in the bush,” Oakley said. “It’s cruel. People seem to think that cats can make it on their own, that is far from the truth.”
“There’s obviously someone in this neighbourhood who’s upset about cats,” Steeves said in an interview with Victoria Buzz. “But the tone of his or her poster on the mailbox is quite threatening.”
Both Steeves and Oakley emphasized that they are not official bodies, and said that the matter would be handled by bylaw officers and the CRD.
Steeves added that she personally confirmed with officials that the matter has been forwarded to bylaw officers.
She also said that she went to view the sign and found that someone else had altered it with a marker.
The added message reads “Maybe you should just move away! There is something wrong with you!” The unknown responder also blacked out the word “NOT” so that the sign says “we WILL be taking them to the SPCA.”
(courtesy Lesli Steeves, ROAM)
Steeves says the back-and-forth vitriol is an inappropriate way to handle pet disputes.
“It’s a contentious issue,” Steeves said. “It’s certainly not the best way to go about this. To threaten to people that you’re going to trap their cats, and to make them disappear is just…it’s not the neighbourhood I live in.”
A spokesperson for CRD Bylaw enforcement says that North Saanich bylaws technically prohibit animals to be “at large” in any place off of the owner’s property.
The spokesperson added that they rarely receive complaints about “at large” cats.
('Bayview Squawker'/Screencap from video by Darrell Pfeifer)
Victoria resident Darrell Pfiefer is sick and tired of hearing birds. But not real birds. Rather, a bird deterring device placed on the building across the street from him.
Pfiefer lives across the street from Bayview One, an apartment building located across the Bay Street bridge in Victoria West.
According to Pfiefer, “Bayview One operates a seagull noise deterrent on the roof of their building. The device generates a noise every minute for 15 seconds, every day, all day.”
“To most people the noise sounds like a constantly upset bird, but no bird makes that much noise in such a consistent way all day long,” he says.
Pfiefer has created a website to try and raise awareness about the Bayview Squawker and hopefully put an end to the incessant noises, which he says is in violation of nighttime noise bylaws.
The website urges any other residents who are annoyed by the noise to report it to the bylaw department of the City of Victoria.
“The more people who report the problem, the more likely that the city will eventually take action,” says Pfiefer.
Although City council did mandate the device only be used during the day and at a lower frequency in September 2020, Pfiefer says he doesn’t want to stop there.
He hopes to eventually have the City prohibit the use of the devices “within 100m of dwellings.”
Instead of the squawking device, Pfiefer suggests Bayview go with a less disruptive option: falcon kites, which are currently in use at City Hall, Point Hope Shipyard, and the new Hillside Seniors residence.
If you’d like more information about the device, or have questions for Pfiefer, he has created a ‘Stop the Squawk’ email address and can be reached at stopthesquawkers@gmail.com.
One day, Pfiefer hopes to find some peace and quiet — free of artificial squawks.
In the midst of Fall, it’s all about the cozy sweaters, warm blankets and creature comforts.
But we can’t forget one of our favourite autumn indulgences, and that’s comfort food!
Just in time, in the name of all things delicious and cozy, Earls Kitchen + Bar at the Bay Centre has just launched its new fall menu; and do you know what that means?
On Wednesdays, we eat steak!
At Earls Kitchen + Bar at the Bay Centre, steak night just got a major upgrade. You can enjoy all 6oz sirloins for only $21 every Wednesday, or full on treat yourself to a 9oz for an additional $3. (Dine in only!)
In celebration of the new fall feature, the Bay Centre wants to treat you and three of your bubble members to a steak dinner on them – contest details are below!
Earls’ Canadian Prime Sirloin is served with buttery garlic mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables; what’s not to love?
On top of this, now at the Bay Centre downtown you can get a bonus $25 Earls Kitchen + Bar gift card with the purchase of a $75 Bay Centre gift card.
Who knew shopping at the Bay Centre could be so delicious? Get your Bonus $25 Earls Gift Card at the Bay Centre today! This exclusive deal is on now until November 8th, or while supplies last.
(The Bay Centre / Earls Kitchen + Bar)
CONTEST CLOSED – CONGRATS TO OUR WINNER!
To enter to win a steak dinner for four at Earls Kitchen + Bar in the Bay Centre, please complete one or more of the following:
COMMENT below telling us who you’d share your steak dinner with! (1 entry for every comment)
Contest entries will be accepted from time and date of publishing until 11:59 p.m. PST on November 4th, 2020. One winner will be chosen at random and contacted through the platform they enter within 24 hours of the contest closing. Good luck!
When one door closes, another opens — even if it might take a little longer than expected.
Earlier this year, Victoria faced the unfortunate closure of a downtown staple pub, club, and karaoke bar, Copper Owl, after the owners announced that the venue would be taken over by new owners.
The business, located above Paul’s Motor Inn at 1900 Douglas Street, was taken over by Tim Siebert and his partner Jessa Gildersleeve on January 2, 2020.
The duo have been a part of the hospitality industry for over a decade and were running a pop-up tiki bar event out of the Copper Owl space in 2019 when they were asked if they wanted to take over the lease.
Now, the couple has a new idea for the space, giving it a fresh yet nostalgic makeover. They plan to open up a 70’s style tropical cocktail bar, called ‘Citrus & Cane’.
“We have taken great care in restoring some of the classic art deco details of the original lounge bar that occupied the space in the late 70’s, with a touch of escapism,” said Siebert in an email to Victoria Buzz.
“It will be a table service lounge bar unlike anything currently on offer here in town.”
(A sneak peek of the decor at Citrus & Cane/Facebook)
The menu will feature a mix of tropical, tiki, and classic cocktails, with the Piña Colada occupying its own section.
There will also be a list of wines on rotator, cider and prosecco on tap, and a fridge full of Miller High Life.
After acquiring the Copper Owl space, Siebert and Gildersleeve were originally planning to close the venue in February and March for renovations, and then open for business on April 1.
The pandemic severely delayed those plans, but did not deter them.
Citrus & Cane is expected to open to the public in November 2020.
It’s getting pretty spooky around here, and so are the events! Here are some things to do around Victoria on Thursday, October 29th.
As you head out to activities and events, please follow the restrictions and guidelines that these businesses require to keep their employees and patrons safe during the pandemic.
As always, wash your hands, wear masks, practice physical distancing, and stay home if you feel sick or show symptoms!
Without further ado, here are five things to do on Thursday, October 29th:
Bram Stoker’s iconic novel adapted by Brian Richmond, and read by the best of Blue Bridge Theatre’s acting ensemble. Be sure to catch both performances to experience all eight chapters.
Part One
‘In Black’
Chapters One Through Four (Oct 29 at 8pm)
Part Two
‘In White’
Chapters Five Through Eight (Oct 30 at 8pm)
Head on over to The Vic theatre for some terrific B movies schlock and horror. This Thursday check out “Attack of the Giant Leeches.” A backwoods game warden and a local doctor discover that giant leeches are responsible for disappearances and deaths in a local swamp, but the local police don’t believe them.
This Hallowe’en season, connect with the spirit of famed architect Francis Rattenbury for an hour-long exploration of the eeriest tales of the BC Parliament Buildings. Learn the strange secrets of the Piano-Playing Speaker, the Premier’s Double, and the Vanishing House. You may even discover the lurid details of your host’s untimely demise.
Online sessions are offered via Zoom.
Email tours@leg.bc.ca for more information and to register. Please let us know the date and time of the session you would like to join.
Once confirmed, you will receive additional information on how to join the session via Zoom.
Esquimalt Farmers Market heads into the fall season with a new time and location. For the final eight weeks of the season, you can see local growers and producers with terrific goods and services made with environmentally sound practices. There will be food trucks on hand too!
When: 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Where: Just outside the Esquimalt Rec Centre (527 Fraser Street), in the lacrosse box
Victor Frankenstein created a monster. The terror and fear that the monster inspired is legendary. But do you know the real story? Do you dare listen to it in the upper reaches of Craigdarroch Castle on a dark October night?
Actor Jason Stevens makes a rare non-Christmas appearance in the Craigdarroch Castle dance hall with his interpretation of this classic gothic horror story. If you’ve been delighted by Jason’s one-man performance of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”, you won’t want to miss his gripping take on Frankenstein.
Please note: Frankenstein takes place in the Castle’s dance hall, located on the fourth floor (there are 87 steps and no elevator in the Castle).
The B.C. Ministry of Health has reported 287 new cases of novel coronavirus in the province on Wednesday, bringing the total number of cases to 13,875.
In total, 4,545 of the cases are in the Vancouver Coastal Region, 7,863 in Fraser Health, 253 in Vancouver Island Health region, 727 in Interior Health, 399 in Northern Health region, and 88 people whose residence is outside of Canada.
The number of active cases has decreased by six to 2,316 in B.C.
There are now a total of 87 people in hospital due to COVID-19, 25 of whom are in critical care — ICU or acute care units.
Two additional deaths were reported over the past 24 hours, and the death toll is now at 261.
5,358 people are now in isolation and being monitored by public health officials after being exposed to COVID-19.
A total of 11,244 people have now recovered from novel coronavirus in B.C.
Outbreaks
One new outbreaks has been reported at PICS assisted-living facility. The outbreaks at Dr. Al Hogg Pavilion and at Delta Hospital have been declared over.
There are now a total of 21 long-term care or assisted-living facilities and one acute-care facilities that have active, ongoing outbreaks.
One new community outbreak was also reported at the Okanagan Men’s Centre.
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
Three new COVID-19 cases were reported in the Island Health region on Wednesday. Of those three cases, one was reported in the south Island region while two were in north Island.
There have been a total of 253 cases of COVID-19 in the region, six of whom have died.
Island Health reports that as of October 28, there are nine active cases on the Island.
South Vancouver Island Active cases: 3, Total Cases: 96
Central Vancouver Island Active cases: 3, Total Cases: 79
North Vancouver Island Active cases: 3, Total Cases: 78
The COVID-19 case curve in Vancouver Island health region as of October 28 is represented below:
(Island Health)
As of Monday there had been 797,381 novel coronavirus tests conducted across B.C., 95,995 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 44,683,181.
Over 1,177,562 people have died from the illness and 32,633,088 have recovered.
A man who threw a spear at a moving car was arrested by RCMP Wednesday afternoon after he failed to appear in Nanaimo Provincial Court.
A warrant was issued for 38-year-old Brian Thomas after he missed his scheduled court appearance on a charge of Assault with a Weapon.
The charge stemmed from an incident on October 11 when Thomas allegedly threw a six-foot metal spear-like object at a vehicle driving along Raines Road in Cedar.
The vehicle was occupied by two adults known to Thomas, and the impact of the spear smashed one of the side windows.
One of the occupants told investigators that if the vehicle had not sped up as the spear was being thrown, it would most likely have gone through the front window.
Constable Gary O’Brien with the Nanaimo RCMP confirmed by phone with Victoria Buzz that Thomas was apprehended by officers Wednesday afternoon, and would be held in custody.
Two men have been arrested after Victoria Police Strike Force officers uncovered a drug trafficking ring over the course of an investigation that began in February 2020.
Back in February, officers began their investigation into a ‘dial-a-dope’ drug trafficking operation in Victoria — this involves a drug trafficker getting orders for drugs via phone call or text message.
As part of that investigation, police seized cocaine, fentanyl, and a loaded 9 mm firearm from multiple suspects.
The investigation eventually led to Strike Force officers seizing a kilogram of cocaine and several additional ounces of fentanyl.
On March 10, police arrested one of the suspects involved in Victoria.
Strike Force and GVERT officers then executed a search warrant at a suite associated to one of the suspects in a multi-unit residential building the 300-block of Burnside Road East.
There, they seized another quarter kilogram of cocaine, along with significant quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine, counterfeit oxycodone, and approximately $5,000 in cash.
43-year-old Joshua Stark was one of the suspects arrested. He faces charges of two counts of trafficking in a controlled substance.
The other man arrested is 34-year-old Dimitar Vitchev.
He has been charged with five counts of trafficking in a controlled substance, four counts of possession of a controlled substance, and one count of trafficking a firearm.
The BCCDC has issued a new COVID-19 exposure alert for a Westjet flight that landed in Comox earlier this month.
Passengers travelling on Westjet flight 3315 on October 22 from Calgary to Comox are advised to be aware that they may have been exposed to the virus.
In particular, those seated in rows 6 – 12 are at risk of contracting the illness.
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.
A local wildlife society is reminding the public to be aware and exercise caution around Victoria’s deer population as the fall rutting season begins.
The Oak Bay-based Urban Wildlife Stewardship Society (UWSS) says people should remember a few basic safety tips around local Columbian black-tailed deer at this time of year.
“During late-fall’s rutting season, bucks lose any ‘street sense’ in their single-minded search for a doe,” the UWSS says on their website.
“To minimize the chance of surprise encounters, drivers, cyclists and others should pay attention, especially around dawn and dusk, when deer tend to be more active.”
They suggest that dog owners keep their pets leashed when out on walks, and to check yards for deer before letting pets outside.
The UWSS says that rutting season lasts from about November to December, with bucks competing for does through postures, movements, and sometimes butting heads and locking antlers.
Pregnancy in deer lasts between 180 to 200 days, with younger does generally giving birth to a single fawn and older does 3 to 9 years of age often having twins.
Officers with West Shore RCMP recovered over 1,000 pieces of stolen ID after busting a massive fraud operation on Vancouver Island last week.
The RCMP were first alerted to the operation when they received a complaint on September 18 about a fraudulent bank draft that was used to buy a used car from a dealership in Colwood.
An initial investigation uncovered four other transactions involving fraudulent bank drafts that were used to purchase vehicles from dealerships on Vancouver Island.
The RCMP were able to track down the vehicles and identified two suspects. They also determined that one of the vehicles had been used in a September break and enter at Adams Store in View Royal.
Eight separate storage lockers were broken into during the September theft, and victims said stolen items included personal documents and identification cards along with other valuables.
On October 21st, RCMP officers executed a search warrant at the suspect’s residence located in Langford.
Officers found the stolen contents of the eight storage units inside the home, along with a “vast amount” of evidence of identity and bank fraud.
Credit card embossers, PIN machines, printers and computers were also seized from the residence.
(West Shore RCMP)
“Police believe the stolen personal documentation was being used to make a variety of fraudulent cards including BC Identification cards, BC drivers licence cards, firearms licences, status cards, credit and gift cards as well as fraudulent bank drafts and cheques,” said Cst. Nancy Saggar, West Shore RCMP Media Relations Officer.
“This is a massive investigation and officers are still combing over the evidence collected as well as returning stolen items to rightful owners.”
A male and female, both 30 years old, were arrested for possession of stolen property and fraud-related offences.
Police are still investigating and more charges are forthcoming.
“Thus far we have seized over 1000 pieces (and counting) of stolen identity cards,” said Cst. John Taylor of the West Shore RCMP Crime Reduction Unit.
“The fraud that was committed here is in the range of hundreds of thousands of dollars.”
Taylor added that officers have spoken to several victims connected with the investigation, and some have expressed serious financial hardships resulting from the fraudulent activity.
An incident involving a motorist being threatened with a knife led to the arrest of a suspect on drug trafficking charges in Nanaimo Friday morning.
RCMP officers with the Nanaimo Bike Unit responded to the intersection of Wesley and Franklyn Streets shortly after 8 a.m. for a report that a motorist had been threatened with a knife.
The complainant told police that he was driving towards the intersection on Franklyn Street and slowed down to allow two men to cross the street.
One of the men produced a knife and directed threats at the driver.
Officers were able to locate the man based on a description provided by the driver. The man was arrested, and a search of his personal effects produced a number of illicit items including:
a folding knife
9 grams of fentanyl
8 grams of methamphetamine
1 gram of cocaine
The man was also in possession of $829 of Canadian currency.
RCMP have charged 37-year-old Daniel Purser of Nanaimo with 2 counts of Posession for the Purpose of Trafficking. No charge was laid in relation to the alleged threat made towards the motorist.
Purser was released later the same day, with a scheduled court appearance of December 2.
As part of his release, Purser is prohibited from being in the area of Wesley Street, where he has been residing for several months.
Police are allowing Purser a single police-escorted visit to the encampment he had been staying at, to pick up his personal belongings.
(Tiff Macklem, Governor of the Bank of Canada/Twitter)
The Bank of Canada announced on Wednesday that it will be keeping interest rates steady as the economy is predicted to rebound in 2021-2022.
Overnight rates and deposit rates are being maintained at 0.25 per cent, while the Bank Rate remains at 0.50 percent.
The Bank says that both global and Canadian economic outlooks have unfolded largely along the lines they anticipated based on the July Monetary Policy Report.
Rapid expansions from economies reopening gradually gave way to slower growth, and the Bank says that rising COVID-19 infections are likely going to hamper the economic outlook in many countries, with growth reliant on public policy support.
They predict that global GDP will contract by about 4 per cent in 2020 before growing an average of 4.5 per cent in 2021 and 2022.
In Canada, most commodities have fully recovered, however oil prices remain about 30 per cent below pre-pandemic levels.
Low-income workers have been particularly hard-hit by the pandemic, and the Bank says that “extraordinary monetary policy support” will be needed to help the economy recuperate.
“We are committed to providing the monetary policy stimulus needed to support the recovery and achieve the inflation objective,” the Bank of Canada said in a statement.
A Vancouver Island man who uses a deck of card to pick his lotto numbers won half a million dollars after saying ‘yes’ to the Extra for the Lotto Max draw on October 13.
BCLC says that Courtenay resident Greg Brown uses a deck of cards to select his lottery numbers every week. The retiree who has lived on the island for more than 20 years swears by his deck-of-cards strategy.
“I’ve been off and on for the Extra over the years, but for whatever reason, I decided to say ‘yes’ this time,” says Brown.
“I take a deck of cards and mark down numbers one to 50 with a stencil pen, and I shuffle them and deal them out to pick my numbers,” says Brown. “But I guess it didn’t matter this time when I decided to play the Extra!”
After picking his numbers, Brown used his phone to purchase his ticket and later discovered he had won a prize while doing some grocery shopping.
“My phone beeped and I got an e-mail saying I had won a prize on PlayNow.com,” says Brown. “When I went home and checked my account and it said $500,000, I thought it was a joke.”
Brown says he’s sticking to his deck-of-cards strategy for future draws, hoping it will pay off for an even bigger lottery prize in the future.
“I’ve already shuffled up the cards and have my ticket for the next draw!”
Earlier this week, BCLC announced a Parksville resident had recently won $75,000 from the BC/49 draw on Wednesday, September 9.
Jared Huggan plans to purchase an electric bike for his partner and says he will put the rest away for retirement.
Huggan purchased the winning ticket from Walmart on Island Highway in Nanaimo while shopping with his husband, Ron.
He was at home when he decided to check his numbers and discovered he had matched 5 of 6 numbers.
“I wanted to tell Ron right away, but he was visiting with the neighbours so I went over to share the news,” said Huggan.
The pair then headed to a Co-op to double check that his ticket was indeed a winner.
“When the screen showed I was a winner, I just thought, ‘this can not be happening,’” Huggan recalled.
“Ron was excited and took a photo of the screen. We posted it on social media and I had so many people reach out to me. Everyone was excited and happy.”
British Columbians will once again set their clocks back an hour as Daylight Saving Time comes to an end on Sunday, November 1.
The annual ritual has been a political topic for years now in the province, with incumbent premier John Horgan mulling an end to the practice.
A survey conducted in 2019 found that 93 per cent of respondents favoured a permanent move to Daylight Saving Time.
Despite the overwhelming result, Horgan has expressed reluctance to make the move while several American States on the West Coast continue to observe the practice.
Oregon, Washington State, and California have all passed bills through their state legislatures to end Daylight Saving Time, but California’s law is tied up in the state senate, Washington’s needs federal authorization, and Oregon’s specifies that California’s must be enacted first.
Until that bureaucratic process is completed, B.C. is likely to keep changing its clocks for the foreseeable future.
While Americans head to the polls, British Columbians are participating in the US Election in their own high-stakes way: with online bets.
BCLC reports that approximately 10,000 bets are expected to be placed by BC-ers via the betting website PlayNow.com.
On Tuesday, the oddsmakers said that Joe Biden’s odds had improved from 4/5 to a much more favourable 10/19, whereas Donald Trump had dropped from 51/50 to 33/20.
Most of the bettors are staking their money on Trump to win a second term, with 44 per cent of bets placed on the incumbent President to Biden’s 27 per cent (other non-candidates account for the remaining 29 per cent).
Trump’s longer odds may account for why he is receiving the majority of bets as of Tuesday.
A bet on odds of 33/20 will payout 2.65 times the original bet, a profit of 1.65, whereas a bet on Biden’s 10/19 odds would only net 0.53 profit.
BCLC says the 10,000 expected bets would significantly outpace the previous record of online betting at PlayNow.com for a single event.
The 2016 US election holds the previous record with approximately 7,200 bets, more than any Super Bowl, Stanley Cup Playoffs or NBA Playoffs.
*Note: Victoria Buzz is not affiliated with BC Lottery Corporation and does not advocate gambling or taking part in lotteries. If you choose to participate, remember to play responsibly.
A few spooky activities are popping up around the city…check them out in our list of things to do in Victoria!
As you head out to activities and events, please follow the restrictions and guidelines that these businesses require to keep their employees and patrons safe during the pandemic.
As always, wash your hands, wear masks, practice physical distancing, and stay home if you feel sick or show symptoms!
Without further ado, here are five things to do on Wednesday, October 28th:
An annual Cinecenta event, this is a special advance sneak preview of a brand new feature film. So new, it hasn’t yet been released in Victoria, but will be opening soon. Be among the first exclusive few to see a new film specially selected for Cinecenta’s savvy audience! It could be a comedy or a drama or a documentary; it could be in English or have subtitles…. Leap into the unknown! And then tell your friends that you saw it here first!
The Mint brings another hilarious group of comedians to their weekly Phillips Comedy Night. Each week Morgan Cranny and Drew Farrance bring the most hilarious comedian’s in the city together for a wonderful evening of food, drink and fun! Seating is limited, be sure to book your table online! There are options for 2, 4 or 6 only.
Join learning program developer and RBCM@Outside host Liz Crocker and Dr. Gavin Hanke, curator of vertebrate zoology, for a 30-minute dive into iNaturalist to learn how you can add your voice to science. The Royal BC Museum recently joined iNaturalist, a global online resource to document nature. We use iNaturalist for our own research and also to contribute our expertise in identifying the flora and fauna of BC and other parts of the world. Learn how you can use iNaturalist as a tool on your own, or, if you’re a parent or educator, how to use the platform in or outside the classroom or home. If you are curious about community science, iNaturalist is a great way to join the effort to document biodiversity.
To celebrate this spooky season, Theatre SKAM’s Pop-Up Theatre Home Delivery presents The Quest for the Moon and Silly & Scary Stories!
The Quest for the Moon – About a solitary young fox who is best friends with the Moon. When the moon disappears one night, the fox embarks on a journey to find his friend. Original Story and Shadow Puppetry by Olivia Wheeler (runtime: 15 minutes).
Silly & Scary Stories – Silly & Scary Stories brings to life classic (and frightening!) folktales through the use of shadow play. Based off of Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark as retold by Alvin Schwartz (runtime: 15 minutes).
HOW HOME DELIVERY WORKS
Pop-Up Theatre Home Delivery is where audiences book live shows to their home, event or community fair, etc. and the show is delivered on a pick-up truck stage.
Join Royal BC Museum exhibit artist Megan Anderson for this spooky session of monster making. Add to a doll or stuffie and make a Halloween creation.
If you would prefer not to use a doll or stuffie, you can use any material to create your monster. Gather up your craft supplies, and get ready for some scary fun.
Supplies recommended, but not required:
a doll or stuffie that you don’t mind permanently altering; markers, paint, etc;
a glue gun; pom poms; googly eyes; and any other craft material you would like to include
Bring it all! Megain will suggests ways to be creative with anything you have on hand.
The B.C. Ministry of Health has reported 217 new cases of novel coronavirus in the province on Tuesday, bringing the total number of cases to 13,588.
In total, 4,476 of the cases are in the Vancouver Coastal Region, 7,674 in Fraser Health, 250 in Vancouver Island Health region, 717 in Interior Health, 383 in Northern Health region, and 88 people whose residence is outside of Canada.
The number of active cases has decreased by three to 2,322 in B.C.
There are now a total of 84 people in hospital due to COVID-19, 27 of whom are in critical care — ICU or acute care units.
No additional deaths were reported over the past 24 hours, and the death toll remains at 259.
5,101 people are now in isolation and being monitored by public health officials after being exposed to COVID-19.
A total of 10,954 people have now recovered from novel coronavirus in B.C.
Outbreaks
Two new outbreaks were reported at Fellburn Care Centre and St. Michael’s Centre, both in the Fraser Health region.
There are now a total of 21 long-term care or assisted-living facilities and two 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
No new COVID-19 cases were reported in the Island Health region on Tuesday.
There have been 250 total cases of COVID-19 in the region, six of whom have died, and 236 have recovered.
Island Health reports that as of October 27, there were eight active cases on the Island.
South Vancouver Island Active cases: 3, Total Cases: 95
Central Vancouver Island Active cases: 4, Total Cases: 79
North Vancouver Island Active cases: 1, Total Cases: 76
The COVID-19 case curve in Vancouver Island health region as of October 27 is represented below:
(Island Health)
As of Monday there had been 792,224 novel coronavirus tests conducted across B.C., 95,304 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 44,183,974.
Over 1,170,267 people have died from the illness and 32,357,974 have recovered.
“B.C. is in the second wave of the virus with no clear path forward without a vaccine,” the company stated.
“Add in the potential threat of more regulations/closures due to the rising cases and the live music model becomes no longer viable.”
Logan’s Pub has been operating since 1997. It closed temporarily in March 2020 when COVID-19 restrictions first started to come into force.
The company says that they had explored options like distanced seating and an early last call, but found that costly overheads including COVID-19 renovations and a closed kitchen were not viable.
They also added that they were unable to have a side patio that many downtown bars and restaurants have installed with support from the City.
Logan’s Pub ended their letter by thanking staff, patrons, musicians and other individuals for making their business a success in its heyday.
“We would like to thank from the bottom of our heart EVERYBODY that made Logan’s Pub the iconic venue it became.”
Part of a new federal fund created to speed up the construction of affordable housing units across Canada has been earmarked for the Capital Regional District (CRD).
On October 27, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a new Rapid Housing Initiative set to offer $1 billion for the creation of up to 3,000 permanent affordable housing units across the country.
Out of that amount, $500 million has been earmarked to be delivered through a ‘Major Cities Stream’ to municipalities that have been determined to be in serious need of housing due to severe homelessness.
One of these municipalities is the CRD, which is slated to receive $13.1 million.
The remaining $500 million will be delivered through an application-based ‘Projects Stream’, through which provinces, territories, municipalities, Indigenous governing bodies and organizations, and non-profit organizations can apply to receive a part of the funds.
Identifying projects in the CRD
CRD Board Chair Colin Plant says the authority began working to identify projects as soon as they were notified that the region had been designated to receive a portion of the funds.
“We received the information on Friday morning that the CRD had been pre-selected as one of the receiving entities, so immediately staff started the planning work,” said Plant in a phone interview with Victoria Buzz.
He says the municipality has until November 27 to present project proposals that meet the criteria for the funding set aside for the region.
This week, the CRD is inviting municipalities to present their requests for affordable housing projects that need funding.
“We want every municipality … to feel that they have a chance. It won’t be just the CRD identifying projects,” said Plant.
Thus far, the CRD has been using the $130 million earmarked through the Regional Housing First program to build up to 2,000 new housing units across southern Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands.
“With this, we’ll be able to take on some new projects and expedite some of the existing ones,” said Plant.
Homelessness in the region
The $13.1 million, however large it may seem, is not enough to fund the number of homes necessary to alleviate the region’s homelessness crisis.
Before the pandemic drove many shelters to close leaving homeless people with nowhere to go, the Point in Time Count for Greater Victoria showed that there were 1,523 homeless people living in the capital region as of March 2020. That number has undoubtedly increased since then.
According to Plant, the municipality will be able to build a minimum of 52 housing units through a $13.1 million fund.
“Unfortunately it is not going to end homelessness. We know some have more complicated needs and will need more than just affordable housing, but also housing with wraparound support,” Plant added.
At this point it is unclear whether the RHI is slated to fund supportive housing units as well as affordable homes, but the plan is to explore those options.
For their part, the CRD plans to also identify specific projects to apply for funding for through the additional $500 million ‘Projects Stream’.
Applications for federal funding to build affordable housing units will be accepted from today until December 31, 2020, and all projects must be completed within 12 months of a signed agreement. Unused funds will be re-allocated to other projects.
The RHI is specifically aimed towards developing new modular multi-unit rentals, converting non-residential buildings into affordable multi-residential homes, and rehabilitate buildings that are in disrepair into affordable housing units.
Projects that require purchasing land and buildings will also be eligible to receive these funds.
“I have no doubt we will identify projects that exceed $13.1 million,” said Plant.
“We are going to be ready for it, and it’s not like we’re starting from zero.”
The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria (AGGV) announced on Tuesday that it has received a number of donated works from two Victoria-raised brothers, including a never before seen painting by Emily Carr.
Ian and Andrew Burchett made the donation on behalf of their parents, long-time friends of the AGGV’s Peter and Damaris Burchett.
Included in the donation are two paintings by Emily Carr, two from Group of Seven Member Lawren S. Harris, and several other works of art.
One of the two works by Carr is an untitled painting of Finlayson Point on Dallas Road that was purchased by Peter Burchett’s mother, Bets Burchett, directly from the artist after they met over a shared passion for dogs.
The painting was later given to Peter and Damaris as a wedding gift in 1958, and hung over the fireplace mantle in the living room of their North Saanich home.
Peter and Damaris Burchett built that house together in 1960 and resided in it until they passed away in 2013 and 2019 respectively.
“It is with considerable pride that these artworks, which graced our family home, are now part of the AGGV’s collection,” said Ian and Andrew Burchett.
“These gifts span two generations on both sides of our family – maternal and paternal – and we hope that they can be enjoyed by others in the community and all visitors to the Gallery.”
Two of the paintings are already on display at the AGGV, and plans are underway to display the other donated works, including several Chinese jade pieces from Peter’s collection, two concrete panels by Herbert Siebner, and family portraits dating from the mid-1600’s.
A disciplinary committee has ruled that a Campbell River nurse is guilty of falsifying records and diverting “significant” amounts of pain medications away from patients.
The British Columbia College of Nursing Professionals (BCCNP) found that Amanda Parniak committed the offences over a six-month period from November 2017 to March 2018 while she was employed at Campbell River Hospital.
Parniak diverted doses of hydromorphone, a powerful opioid pain medication, from at least 10 different patients at the hospital, falsifying records and creating false requests in the process.
An investigation found that Parniak had diverted hydromorphone in over 100 incidents.
The BCCNP also found that in the course of these incidents, Parniak accessed private patient records and falsified their medical documentation.
“Ms. Parniak’s falsification of patient medical records created serious risks to patient safety and continuity of care,” the disciplinary committee wrote in their ruling.
They cited an example of a patient complaining of pain who was delayed in receiving his medication, which caused confusion among hospital staff, including the nurse who was caring for the patient.
“Ms. Parniak’s proven conduct, when taken together, represents a pattern of professional misconduct which is disgraceful, dishonourable and unbecoming of a member of the profession,” the BCCNP added.
The disciplinary panel is currently reviewing proposed penalties and costs for Parniak’s actions.
General Voting Day will take place on Saturday, December 12.
The nomination period for prospective candidates opened on Tuesday at 9 a.m. and will close at 4 p.m. on Friday, November 6, 2020.
Those interested in running can obtain a candidate nomination form from legislative services at Victoria City Hall by calling 250-361-0571 or by emailing elections@victoria.ca.
Completed nomination forms can be filed in-person by appointment only with legislative services, or sent in by email.
The City says that only eligible candidates who have filed their papers by the close of nomination will be included on the ballot.
Candidates will be profiled in an online guide on the City website by November 17.
The byelection for Collins’ former seat on Council was originally scheduled for April 4 but was cancelled on March 18 by the provincial government due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Initial estimates pegged the cost of the by-election at $170,000, $90,000 of which had already been spent before the cancellation of the vote in March.
Staff say that an additional $350,000 could be needed to properly fund the by-election in December.
Saanich Police have arrested a 40-year-old man suspected of breaking into multiple businesses throughout the month of October.
Police say a total of six break-and-enters were reported in Saanich between October 2 and 26, particularly at liquor stores.
In each case, the suspect carefully removed glass windows or wall panels to gain access into the store, and stole wine, beer and other alcohol.
A vehicle associated with the suspect in these break-and-enters was stopped by a Victoria Police K9 unit on Hwy 17 near McKenzie Avenue at around 3:30 a.m. on October 26.
At the same time, in Saanich, a K9 unit discovered an overnight break-and-enter at a liquor store in the 4400 block of West Saanich Road, which involved the careful removal of a glass windowpane, indicating that the serial liquor thief had struck again.
Back in Victoria, police discovered bottles of liquor in the vehicle driven by the suspect, who was then arrested for breaking and entering.
“The suspect clearly knew how to remove large panels of glass carefully which would have afforded them a rather quiet entry into the store,” said Cst. Markus Anastasiades with Saanich Police.
“This is not a common means of breaking into a building nor a skillset common without previous training or knowledge.”
He says the suspect, a 40-year-old man, is known to police.
Officers are now investigating the file to ascertain how many of the October break-and-enters the suspect committed.
Nanaimo RCMP arrested a man who was caught spray-painting a police cruiser in front of the officer who had parked it in the first place.
Police say the incident unfolded at approximately 9 a.m. on Sunday, at the Tim Horton’s on Wallace Street in Nanaimo.
The officer was responding to an unrelated spray painting incident at the business. Employees told the officer that a suspect had spray-painted part of their floor but had left before she arrived.
As the officer took photos of the damage, someone yelled to her, “they’re painting your car!”
The officer ran out and found a man standing on the hood of her police vehicle, spray-painting the windshield.
As the officer approached, the man jumped off the hood and tried to spray the side of the car.
The suspect was promptly arrested and was found to be in possession of a small quantity of crystal methamphetamine.
The 24-year-old man was arrested for Mischief and Possession of a Controlled Substance, however, he was only charged with two counts of Mischief.
He is scheduled to appear in Nanaimo Provincial Court in February 2021.
The man faces two charges of Mischief. No charges were laid for the drugs, and his first court appearance is set for early February of 2021 in Nanaimo Provincial Court.
Vancouver Island Health authority has increased COVID-19 testing capacity in the region by opening a new site at the University of Victoria.
Those who have symptoms consistent with COVID-19 can now book a test at the new facility at the UVic campus in parking lot 10, located off Gordon Head Road via West Campus Way.
This is the fourth testing site available in the south island, and tests all all four sites can be booked by appointment only.
Island Health says they have also increased testing capacity and staffing at the existing Victoria Health Unit and Peninsula Health Unit sites, and a new site was opened in September in the Westshore at the Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre.
The health authority says they are also exploring ways to increase testing capacity within other communities throughout Island Health, in order to meet demands.
Those who think they may need to get tested are advised to first use the self-assessment tool. If a test is deemed necessary, call 1-844-901-8442 and expect to hear back from an Island Health representative within 24-hours to schedule a test.
Children up to age 19 going in for a test will be administered a saline gargle test instead of the usual nasal swab test, and are asked to familiarize themselves with the process beforehand.
VicPD are investigating after a man was stabbed at a temporary housing facility on Douglas Street Monday evening.
Officers were called to the facility in the 3000-block of Douglas at approximately 11 p.m. for a report of a stabbing.
Upon arrival police located a man who had been stabbed and was suffering from potentially life-threatening injuries.
Paramedics transported the man to hospital for treatment.
A K9 team was deployed to track the suspect but an extensive search proved fruitless and the suspect remains at large.
The victim remains in hospital and their injuries are now considered non-life-threatening.
The suspect is described as a 25 to 35-year-old man with a dark complexion, dark hair and dark beard.
He was wearing a puffy jacket over a hooded sweater, high top shoes, and a baseball hat which was partially covered by a toque.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact VicPD’s non-emergency line at (250) 995-7654, extension 1.
Those who wish to report information anonymously can call Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
UPDATE: An earlier version of this article appeared with a headline identifying the housing facility as being on Blanshard Street. This was based on incorrect information supplied by VicPD, and has been corrected.
Halloween is on Saturday, and no it is not cancelled, just COVID-safe! Here are some other COVID-safe, great things to do in Victoria!
As you head out to activities and events, please follow the restrictions and guidelines that these businesses require to keep their employees and patrons safe during the pandemic.
As always, wash your hands, wear masks, practice physical distancing, and stay home if you feel sick or show symptoms!
Without further ado, here are five things to do on Tuesday, October 27th:
Discover the unique social history of a remarkable place. Join filmmaker and author David R. Gray as he discussed his book Deep and Sheltered Waters: The History of Tod Inlet. From the original inhabitants from the Tsartlip First Nation to the lost community of immigrant workers from China and India, from a company town to the development of parkland, the wealth of history in this rich area reflects much of the history of the entire province.
An evening of solo guitar (baritone nylon, classical, and electric), with music by Keith Jarrett, Kenny Wheeler, Bill Evans, and others, plus original compositions (“Very, very good avant fusion” Guitar Player magazine).
Check out all the cool shops in Canada’s narrowest street! Over a dozen locally owned-and-operated stores are open with socially-distant policies in place.
When: Varying hours, check individual store listings.
Where: Access from Pandora or Fisgard Avenues, between Government and Store Streets
James Bay United Church and the Victoria Jazz Community continue to be partnered together during the COVID-19 closures to bring you personal interviews with Victoria’s finest musicians. We hear about their influencers and musical passions and gain some insight through the playlists that they select for us through the evening.
Aura Waterfront Restaurant hosts a wine tasting featuring some of B.C.’s best local varieties. $20 for a flight of three wines and a bite of food to go along with your tasty beverages.
Potterheads in Victoria can rejoice, as one local Airbnb operator has created the perfect place to hang their robes for short-term stays.
The “Common Room” is a private listing that features a converted condominium done up to look like the Gryffindor House common room from the 90’s and 2000’s film adaptations.
It features a Potter-themed chess set, portraits of familiar characters like Remus Lupin and Sirius Black, a model of the Weasley family car, and more.
Modern amenities are also included, such as a dishwasher, a full kitchen with a stove, a queen-sized bed in the loft space, a TV and Wifi.
Airbnb records show that the Common Room is frequently booked, with nightly rates varying in price depending on the length and dates of stay.
You’ll have to bring your own chocolate frogs, pumpkin juice and Bertie Bott’s Every-Flavor beans!
BC’s Provincial Health Officer has announced a new health order under the Public Health Act after a record high number of COVID-19 cases were reported over the weekend.
In a media availability on Monday, Dr. Bonnie Henry announced that private gatherings will be limited to the members of the immediate household plus a “safe six” — six more people who are in their social bubble.
Between Saturday, October 24 and Monday, October 26, there were 817 reported cases of novel coronavirus in the province, most of which were reported in the Fraser Health region.
According to Henry, these record-breaking numbers are mostly attributed to virus transmission at large private gatherings in households.
These include weddings, funerals, celebrations, and also large family gatherings over Thanksgiving weekend.
The new provincial health order will be enforceable by bylaw officers, police officers, and environmental health officers.
Members of the public who witness a private residence hosting a large gathering can report it to these officers in the same way that they would report a noise complaint, said Henry.
In addition to this new order, the provincial health officer added that the use of non-medical face masks in indoor, public spaces is expected.
She has not, however, issued an order making the use of masks mandatory.
The B.C. Ministry of Health has reported 817 new cases of novel coronavirus in the province since Friday, bringing the total number of cases to 13,371.
Between Friday and Saturday, 317 people were reported COVID-19 positive; 293 new cases were reported between Saturday and Sunday; and 207 cases were reported between Sunday and Monday.
The 300+ cases reported for Saturday is the highest ever daily case number the province has ever recorded.
In total, 4,428 of the cases are in the Vancouver Coastal Region, 7,529 in Fraser Health, 250 in Vancouver Island Health region, 639 in Interior Health, 383 in Northern Health region, and 88 people whose residence is outside of Canada.
The number of active cases has increased by 316 to 2,325 in B.C.
There are now a total of 77 people in hospital due to COVID-19, 26 of whom are in critical care — ICU or acute care units.
Three additional deaths were reported over the past three days, and the death toll is now at 259.
5,077 people are now in isolation and being monitored by public health officials after being exposed to COVID-19.
A total of 10,734 people have now recovered from novel coronavirus in B.C.
Outbreaks
Four new outbreaks were reported at health care facilities on the mainland since Friday, while three health care facility outbreaks have been declared over.
There remain a total of 19 long-term care or assisted-living facilities and two acute-care facilities that have active, ongoing outbreaks.
One community outbreak was reported in Surrey, and the outbreak at a FedEx office in Kelowna is now over.
According to Henry, two schools have shut down as a result of COVID-19 clusters in the Fraser Health and Interior health region.
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
No new COVID-19 case was reported in the Island Health region over the past three days.
There have been 250 total cases of COVID-19 in the region, six of whom have died.
Island Health reports that as of October 26, there are nine active cases on the Island.
South Vancouver Island Active cases: 3, Total Cases: 95
Central Vancouver Island Active cases: 5, Total Cases: 79
North Vancouver Island Active cases: 1, Total Cases: 76
The COVID-19 case curve in Vancouver Island health region as of October 26 is represented below:
(Island Health)
As of Friday there had been 764,099 novel coronavirus tests conducted across B.C., 92,927 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 43,715,234.
Over 1,163,211 people have died from the illness and 32,105,581 have recovered.
Preliminary records from Elections BC shows that not many voters cast their ballots in this year’s provincial elections.
This estimated voter turnout was calculated by Elections BC based on the number of voters who voted during advance voting, those who voted on Election Day, an estimate of the number of certification envelopes containing absentee ballots, and an estimate of the number of completed vote-by-mail packages containing mail-in ballots.
The last two are yet to be counted, and Elections BC estimates that there are 85,000 absentee ballots to be counted.
By October 24, the authority had received approximately 525,000 mail-in ballots in the mail. However they say this number does not include mail-in ballots returned by voters in person to voting places or district electoral offices before the deadline of 8 p.m. on October 24.
Once those ballots are counted, the estimated voter turnout is expected to increase.
As it currently stands, the 52.4 per cent voter turnout is the lowest ever recorded in B.C., according to records that go back to 1928.
Over 61 per cent of registered voters cast their ballots in the last provincial elections that took place in 2017.
Elections B.C. is expected to release the final results after all mail-in ballots are counted. These figures will not be available until at least November 16.
If you’ve had your sights set on some stunning Vancouver Island real estate, now’s your chance to win it for yourself!
This beautiful 2,333 sq. ft. 3 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom home with a 2 car garage in Courtenay is just 1 of 8 Grand Prizes you could win with VGH Millionaire Lottery – and that’s not all.
It also comes with a $50,000 furniture package, a 2020 Toyata Tundra Platinum, a 2020 Volkswagen e-Golf SUV, a 2020 Duckworth 22 Pacific Pro Boat, Rockwood Signature Ultra Lite RV, and a Golf Membership plus 6,500 Golf Store Credit.
Tickets for the VGH Millionaire Lottery are on sale now, but don’t wait on this one – with prizes like this, they won’t last!
Not sold yet on this prize pack yet? Take a look at these 20 photos of the beautiful Courtenay Grand Prize home:
Your ticket helps support life-saving care at British Columbia’s largest hospital, along with all of the doctors and nurses, frontline workers, and first responders – as well as all the patients who visit VGH every day.
You’re also helping fund specialized adult health care and research in Vancouver, at Vancouver General Hospital, UBC Hospital and GF Strong Rehab Centre.
Every year, VGH performs more than 30,000 surgeries and treats more than 600,000 patient visits. They treat 60% of British Columbia’s adult trauma cases – and 50% of their surgical patients are from outside Vancouver. Their health care heroes are fighting COVID-19 at VGH.
The grand prize draw will be Monday, January 27th, 2021. Purchase your ticket (or packs of them!) here.
Deadlines to enter the various draws are:
Loyalty Bonus Draw Deadline: Midnight, Friday, November 6, 2020
Fall Bonus Draw Deadline: Midnight, Friday, November 20, 2020
Christmas Bonus Draw Deadline: Midnight, Friday, December 4, 2020
Early Bird Draw Deadline: Midnight, Friday, December 18, 2020
Main Draws and Grand Prize Deadline: Midnight, Friday, January 8, 2021
Know your limit, play within it. Must be 19+ to play.
VicPD officers helped an officer from the BC Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS) rescue a pair of bucks that had become entangled in a fishing net on Sunday.
Police were alerted to the distressed Blacktail deer at about 10 a.m. Officers arrived at the intersection of Kipling and Richardson Streets in Fairfield where the bucks were surrounded by area residents observing the incident.
The bucks’ antlers were caught in a piece of fishing net, which had also become entangled in a large piece of driftwood.
An officer with the BCCOS arrived shortly after and worked together with VicPD officers to sedate the deer.
Police had to remind bystanders to keep back at several points to give them room to work safely.
The deer were successfully sedated and cut free from the fishing net. The officers then used their patrol vehicle and a BCCOS truck to transport the bucks away from urban areas, where they were released.
Looking to get your Halloween baking on AND support a good cause this spooky season?
United Way Greater Victoria has partnered Dan Hayes of The London Chef along with the creator of Witches’ Fingers Cookies, Emilie Dore, UWGV team member to bring you a fun, interactive, online event for the whole family benefiting UWGV’s Imagination Library project.
The ‘lunch and learn’ for the Spooktacular Witches’ Fingers Cookie Making Workshop is the next installment in UWGV’s Local Love Cafe webinar series and is happening Thursday, October 29th from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
And even better, the first 30 people who book a spot for the seminar gets themselves a free tin of Victoria Fog tea locally made from Queen Bee Farms!
Victoria Fog is a creamy rich vanilla bean with subtle yet distinct hints of cooling mints, lavender, and Italian Bergamot Orange; a unique original twist on a classic blend.
This exclusive and ghoulish workshop will feature Emilie sharing the secret to making her Witches’ Fingers Cookie recipe; which was first featured in Canadian Living Magazine and has become one of their most requested recipes!
On top of this, celebrity chef Dan Hayes of the London Chef will create a savory coffin crostini with caramelized onions and parmesan cheese that is sure to put your taste buds under a spell.
All you will need to do is sit back and enjoy the cooking experience, and a special video link will be provided to you afterwards so you can make the cookies at your leisure. The perfect family-friendly baking activity!
“I am really excited to be part of this upcoming fundraiser for the Imagination Library. I am a big supporter of United Way and its various programs and projects but this is one of the most exciting endeavors yet,” says Dan Hayes, London Chef.
“I love reading to my girls and fully appreciate the value of kids being exposed to reading and books as much as possible. If I can be part of bringing some of the magic of reading into people’s homes I am all for it.”
Proceeds from the workshop will benefit the Imagination Library project, a community based early literacy book-gifting program that aims to boost literacy and parental bonding.
In the program, children under the age of five in the CRD will have access to an exciting new book delivered to their home each month.
When: Thursday, October 29, 2020, 12:00 to 1:00 pm
Where: Online via Zoom
Tickets: $25 each and available for purchase online
United Way Greater Victoria has narrowed their focus in direct response to COVID-19 to help their community recover and rebuild.
In the coming weeks, we will highlight their areas of action, each with signature initiatives, which you can donate to in order to assist those most vulnerable.
Halloween is almost here, but in 2020, it looks a bit different than usual. The British Columbia Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) has released official guidelines on how to have a safe and spooky Halloween in 2020, encouraging physical distancing, wearing masks and limiting the amount of people in each trick or treating group.
A pandemic Halloween brings it challenges, in both how kids get their candy and how people give out the candy while staying safe. But, 2020 is also the perfect year to get creative so the kiddos can still enjoy their night.
Without further ado, here are 5 creative ways to hand out candy this pandemic Halloween.
Use your costumes
If you love to get involved in handing out candy each year, there are still ways you can enjoy Halloween just as much as the little ones. Incorporating your Halloween costume into the candy distribution process can not only be fun, but also allow you to encourage physical distancing without making it feel like Halloween is incredibly different this year.
Costume ideas include a hockey player who hands out candy with their hockey stick, and a witch who does the same with their cauldron stirring paddle. Of course, always be sure to wear a mask, but have fun with the mask you choose and match it to your costume.
One great costume idea that keeps both yourself and trick or treaters safe, while keeping with the 2020 theme, is a Hazmat suit!
Hide candy in your yard
If you love to create a spooky atmosphere in your front yard, 2020 doesn’t have to stop the tradition. Incorporate candy into those decorations to allow trick or treaters to stay distant while searching for their loot.
Create pumpkin gift bags filled with prepackaged candies and hang them from sticks in the yard or along the fence. Fill glow in the dark eggs with wrapped candies for a candy hunt. These options allow trick or treaters to search for their loot and prevent many hands digging into a communal candy bag or bucket.
Create a contraption
If you love to build contraptions and are looking for a new, fun project, creating a candy chute might be just the thing for you.
Build a candy chute or spooky clothesline to deliver candy from your front porch to the trick or treaters in the yard. Decorate the chute or clothesline with a ghost or skeleton hand to add the spooky element.
Set up a Halloween trick or treat table
If you want to keep things simple this year but also love to hand out candy to trick or treaters, you can create a Halloween trick or treat table outside of your home.
The table could include small treat bags with prepackaged candy or individual piles of candy for trick or treaters to pick up. Be sure to decorate the table with spiderwebs and fake spiders, and leave your front porch light on to let everyone know Halloween is on at your house!
This method allows you to still participate and hand out candy but remain safely within your own home.
Organize a drive-thru Halloween event
Finally, a drive thru Halloween could work as a fun and safe alternative to the traditional trick or treat night.
Organize a drive thru event and route with a group of friends, driving to each home with the candy delivered from the car. An organized drive thru Halloween event with a small group of friends limits the amount of contact you have with the public and still feels like a celebratory event.
Not only does this keep groups distant and warm, but the kids also have the candy come to them!
Halloween 2020 can still be enjoyed by all, as long as we stay safe, encourage physical distancing, and get creative with our approach.
