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The B.C. Government announced it will be quadrupling fines this fall on people who open the door of a parked car when it is not reasonably safe to do so, also known as “dooring.”
As of Sept. 21, 2020, the fine for dooring will jump from $81 to $368.
Minister of Transportation Claire Trevena said in a statement that dooring is preventable.
“Dooring can cause serious injury, and the new fine reflects that,” said Trevena.
The government says it will also be pursuing a public education and awareness campaign to raise the profile of cyclist safety.
Spencer Chandra Herbert, the MLA for Vancouver-West End, says that this fine will make dooring equivalent to distracted driving and excessive speeding offences.
“With cycling and other modes of active transportation becoming more popular, it’s important to have the right policies in place for people to safely commute,” said Herbert.
“Dooring can kill or severely injure a person.”
In 2019, 10 per cent of British Columbians used active transportation to commute to work, and 33 per cent of school-aged children used active transportation.
A man suffered life-threatening injuries after a shooting in Nanaimo over the weekend.
The incident occurred at approximately 3 p.m. Sunday at a home on Malpass Road.
According to a statement from police, numerous officers responded to reports of gunfire. At the residence, officers found an adult male suffering from a gunshot injury.
There are reports the victim was shot in the abdomen.
The individual was transported to the Nanaimo hospital where he currently remains.
A short time after the shooting, an adult male arrived at the home and was arrested in connection with the shooting.
Police say they are not searching for additional suspects or victims and do not believe there is any further risk to the public.
“Evidence gathered lead officers to a second undisclosed location in Nanaimo,” says Cst. Gary O’Brien of Nanaimo RCMP.
The residence, located at 5705 Malpass Road, was secured overnight and investigators are in the process of obtaining a search warrant to enter the home.
Anyone with information is asked is to contact the Nanaimo RCMP non-emergency line at 250-754-2345.
The Independent Investigations Office of British Columbia (IIOBC) is investigating an incident involving Campbell River RCMP after a man was taken to hospital on Sunday.
According toRCMP, officers were called to a noise complaint shortly after midnight on July 26 and confronted three intoxicated people.
Officers say that a man in the group became combative and the situation escalated to a physical altercation.
He was then handcuffed and taken to a cell.
Emergency Health Services were called but police say they would not deal with the man due to his aggressive nature.
Approximately two hours after being taken into custody, the man complained of pain and was taken to a hospital where he was found to have a possible fractured arm.
IIOBC are investigating to determine whether police actions contributed to the man’s injury.
The civilian-run police oversight body is asking that anyone who saw, heard or recorded the incident contact the IIO WItness Line toll free at 1-855-446-8477.
Those wishing to report information online can use the contact form at iiobc.ca.
The Provincial Government says that it will be adding 800 new student housing spots to the University of Victoria by 2022.
The new housing will be part of a mixed-use complex that also includes a dining hall, small grocery store and Indigenous student lounge.
During a teleconference Monday morning, UVic Vice President Gayle Gorrill said that 75 per cent of students at the institution come from outside the Greater Victoria area.
“Victoria has one of the most competitive housing markets in Canada with a vacancy rate of 1.2 per cent.”
The project will cost approximately $232 million in total, with the Province providing $128 million.
The government says this is the first major capital project at the campus since 2016.
While the new dining hall is under construction, students will be able to dine at a temporary 500-seat modular facility from September 2020 to July 2022.
A temporary 500-seat modular dining facility will be operational from September 2020 to July 2022 for students while the new dining hall is under construction. The new hall is expected to open in 2022.
The temporary dining hall has sped up construction estimates that had pegged completion of the new housing facility in 2023.
With this new estimate, the government says students should be able to move in by 2022.
From a paddle and pint, to bingo and trivia, this Monday is full of things to do in and around Victoria today.
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 today, Monday, July 27th:
Head out on the water, and then enjoy a cold pint on the patio. Kayak or Paddleboard are available for rent at $39 per person and includes a cold pint.
Online life drawing is open to members and non members alike. The same as our in-person sessions, all skill levels are welcome. In fact, beginners may be even more comfortable working in their own space to begin with. If you have any concerns about group gatherings or our in-person sessions are full, this is a great option.
Cost: $10 Members, $15 Non Members
When: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Where: Xchanges Gallery and Studios, 2333 Government St Suite 6E
For rounds of complete random obscure knowledge including movies, music, sports, science, geography and possible things found in a hardware store …who knows!
When: 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Where: Christies Carriage House Pub, 1739 Fort Street
Saanich Police have issued an alert after a cougar was spotted in a backyard.
The sighting was reported late Sunday evening by a resident in the Cordova Bay area who observed a cougar in their yard.
Police believe this is the same feline that had been spotted in the same area two weeks ago which had been “demonstrating some unusual behaviours.”
Police are warning residents along Sayward Road, Fowler Road, Cordova Bay Road and those around Matticks Farm should be on alert and stay mindful of their surroundings.
BC Conservation Service has been advised.
It is recommend that people in the area keep their pets indoors if possible and to be vigilant of their surroundings while out for walks.
What to do if you encounter a cougar:
Never approach a cougar. Although cougars will normally avoid a confrontation, all cougars are unpredictable. Cougars feeding on a kill may be dangerous.
Always give a cougar an avenue of escape.
Stay calm. Talk to the cougar in a confident voice.
Pick all children up off the ground immediately. Children frighten easily, and their rapid movements may provoke an attack.
Do not run. Try to back away from the cougar slowly. Sudden movement or flight may trigger an instinctive attack.
Do not turn your back on the cougar. Face the cougar and remain upright.
Do all you can to enlarge your image. Don’t crouch down or try to hide. Pick up sticks or branches and wave them about.
If a cougar behaves aggressively:
Arm yourself with a large stick, throw rocks, speak loudly and firmly. Convince the cougar that you are a threat, not prey.
If cougar attacks, fight back! Many people have survived cougar attacks by fighting back with anything, including rocks, sticks, bare fists, and fishing poles.
Victoria Buzz has your event planning for the weekend July 25 to 26 covered, with COVID-19 safe events, outings, and workshops!
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 social distancing, and stay home if you feel sick or show symptoms!
This west coast inspired modern jazz band will play some cool horn-driven jazz+funky music along with some clever jazz interpretations of some modern pop songs. Featuring Bryn Badel on Trumpet and Vocals.
Dreamland Silent Disco & Social Club hosts two Silent Dico Yoga sessions at SeaCider on Sunday. Admission gets you a wireless headset which allows you to hear the live DJ during the one hour yoga class, taught by Salt Spring Island local Amy Haysom. Also enjoy a complimentary cider tasting, along with coffee, tea, or bottled water from SeaCider. Note that you’ll need your own yoga mat!
When: Sunday, 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.
Where: SeaCider, 2847 Mt. Saint Michael Road, Saanichton
Van Vogue Jam and independent artists are featuring a series of art workshops, and this month you can register for “Messages of Resistance: A Visual Arts Workshop.” Lead by visual artist Kimmortal, participants will be invited to create an art piece of hand drawn lettering, expressing messages of solidarity and resistance. The two hour workshop is free and will include information on lettering techniques and art/design suggestions.
Welcome new coffee shop Fix! Coffee to the Victoria scene with a yummy drink and food event in Brentwood Bay. Sidney Scones will be on scene with – you guessed it – tasty scones, as will eight other vendors of tasty treats. Bring empty stomachs and come enjoy a scrumptious covid friendly Sunday afternoon.
When: Sunday, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Beauregard Cafe, 1191 Verdier Ave., Brentwood Bay
The Moss Street Farmers’ Market is in its 29th year and is continuing as a “shop, don’t stop” experience, where visitors are encouraged to check out local produce but not to linger in large groups.
Vendors sell local and organic farm-fresh produce, local foods, handmade crafts, artisan clothing, inspiring services and community education.
Where: Vendors spaced out along Sir James Douglas School, Robert J. Porter Park and Brooke St. Park.
Tally-Ho is now offering a Tally-Ho & Sea Cider Picnic Experience for a limited time: it’s a three-hour long carriage tour showcasing the Saanich Peninsula, and including a complimentary coffee or tea from Fresh Cup Roastery Café, a flight of six award-winning ciders selected by Sea Cider Farm & Ciderhouse, and a fresh gourmet meal prepared by Truffles Catering.
When: Sunday, 10:30 a.m., 12 p.m., 1:45 p.m.
Where: Tours depart from Fresh Cup Cafe & Roastery (101-1931 Mt. Newton X Rd, Saanichton, BC)
Cost: $110 per carriage, seats up to five, call 250-514-9257 to book
Sponsored by the City of Victoria’s Creative Spotlight program, this pop-up show will feature live jazz, soul, pop and funk. The Trio is Alexander Ferguson on keyboards and vocals, Tyler Lieb on guitar, and Damian Graham on drums.
The B.C. Ministry of Health has reported 26 new test-positive and one epidemiologically linked cases of novel coronavirus in the province today, bringing the total number of cases in B.C. to 3,419.
In total, 1,057 of the cases are in the Vancouver Coastal Region, 1,764 in Fraser Health, 142 on Vancouver Island, 319 in Interior Health, 79 in Northern Health region, and 58 people whose residence is outside of Canada.
The number of active cases has dropped by 10 to 294 in B.C.
There are a total of 12 people who have been hospitalized with COVID-19, three of whom are in critical care — ICU or acute care units.
One new death was reported over the past 24 hours, and the death toll stands at 191 in total.
A total of 2,934 people have now recovered from novel coronavirus in B.C.
Outbreaks
An outbreak in Haida Gwaii has resulted in 13 confirmed cases, one of whom has recovered. The initial source of the outbreak is under investigation, but all of the cases are epidemiologically linked.
The Province says in the Haida Gwaii outbreak, the cases are all among local residents, some of whom had travelled off-island and are related, and others who were exposed to known cases.
Also identified as cases of concern were additional community exposure events around the province, including Fossello’s clothing store in Kelowna.
In light of earlier exposures in the interior, Dr. Bonnie Henry says she is in the process of drawing up a Provincial Health Order to limit the number of visitors allowed to stay at vacation rental properties including houseboats. This order will be applicable for jurisdictions across B.C.
A new health order redefining guidelines for pubs and nightclubs was issued Thursday. Business owners are now moving to adjust to this order.
Residents are also urged to check the HealthLink BC 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
Five new COVID-19 cases were reported in the Island Health region earlier this week, and one more case was added to that list on Thursday.
There have been 142 total cases of COVID-19 in the area, five of whom have died, and 128 people have recovered. These numbers are consistent from Thursday.
This means there are now nine active cases remaining in the region.
Thus far, there have been 241,715 novel coronavirus tests conducted across B.C., 36,058 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 coronavirus pandemic.
As of the time of publication, the total number of COVID-19 patients worldwide has risen to 15,929,885.
Over 641,000 people have died from the illness and 9,714,608 have made a full recovery.
Environment Canada has issued a warning on Friday that the first heat of the season will start on Sunday.
The agency says that a ridge of high pressure will build over southern BC this weekend, producing the highest temperatures of the summer so far over the Lower Mainland, Sea to Sky and Vancouver Island.
Daytime maximum temperatures are expected to reach the low 30’s on Sunday and Monday. By Tuesday temperatures will start to lower as the ridge weakens.
Environment Canada is advising the public to take measures to reduce their exposure to the heat:
Stay cool and hydrated, especially during the hottest period of the day from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Limit outdoor activities to early morning and evening
Dress in loose, light-weight clothing and wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses
Keep homes cool by opening windows, closing shades or blinds, using an air conditioner and prepare meals without the use of an oven
NEVER leave children or pets alone in a parked car
The B.C. Government announced four new child care facilities will be rolled out from fall 2020 to fall 2022 as part of Childcare BC’s New Spaces Fund.
The facilities will add 133 new licensed child care spaces for families, at the following locations:
Infant Plus Daycare Centre, in James Bay – 32 spaces (April 2021)
Green House Studio, mixed indoor/outdoor spaces – six spaces (September 2020)
Pacifica Housing Burnside, in Burnside Gorge – 59 spaces (late fall 2022)
Pacifica Housing Oak Park 2, in Langford – 36 spaces (spring 2021)
“The Pacifica Housing Oak Park 2 project will create 81 new affordable housing units with an onsite child care facility, so that low- and middle-income families in the Westshore can access this service,” said Mitzi Dean, MLA for Esquimalt-Metchosin.
The province says that COVID-19 developments may cause unexpected delays in construction and added that all newly opened spaces will have to abide by guidelines that are in place.
Since the New Spaces Fund launched in July 2018, over 1,400 new, affordable licensed child care spaces in the CRD have been funded.
The funding is all part of the B.C. government’s Childcare BC plan — a three-year $1-billion investment into daycares and school programs across the province that was announced in February 2018.
The family of Vancouver-born TV star Jason Priestley is selling a $4.5 million resort based in Ucluelet on Vancouver Island.
The Terrace Beach Resort consists of 21 suites occupying 19 strata lots, built to resemble a fishing village.
Realtor Dave Koszegi tells Victoria Buzz that Priestley’s parents are looking to retire from operating the business.
The actor, famed for his role in Beverly Hills 90210 has a full-time TV career and not enough time to look after the resort.
The family is hoping that the new owners will continue the business as-is, and according to Koszegi there are conditions of sale that require new owners to honour existing bookings.
He says that there are already offers on the property and multiple interested parties are looking to keep running the resort in its current form, and will hopefully retain staff.
“It’s a world class location,” said Koszegi. “The interest we’re getting, they’re interested in keeping it the way it is.”
The realtor says that business at the resort remains strong despite COVID-19, with Canadian tourists replacing Europeans as the main source of income.
“There’s definitely demand for it.”
With offers already coming in, you’ll have to hurry to get your offer in on the listing over at Koszegi’s website.
If you’ve got $4.5 million to spend, why not buy local?
The new health order contains COVID-19 guidelines for nightclubs, bars and other alcohol-licensed establishments.
The rules are effective immediately and include restrictions on dance floors, alcohol self-service, and outside lineups.
Some key highlights are:
Dance floors must be closed with physical barriers or occupied with tables
Patrons must not sing, engage in karaoke or dance on the premises
Patrons must be assigned to tables in groups no more than six, and cannot leave their tables except to use washrooms or to order a drink at a bar. They must immediately return to their seats afterwards
Businesses must take steps to limit patrons congregating outside, including taking reservations and notifying patrons via an app or text when tables are available
The guidelines also outline steps towards contact tracing, including collecting contact information from patrons at the door.
Mike Holmes, Co-Owner of the Loft Pub, says that while he is still processing the guidelines, he can anticipate some changes at his live music venue.
“We had already closed the dance floor,” Holmes said. “But we had been letting people dance at their tables. Now they say no dancing.”
But the pub owner also says that he fully supports keeping people safe, and that he is ready to adapt.
“We’ve been doing well. It’s a bigger challenge, but we’ll get there.”
Solomon Siegel, the Owner and General Manager at Pagliacci’s restaurant, agrees.
“It’s to keep people safe,” said Siegel. “We’re completely on board with it.”
Pagliacci’s hosts live musicians and Siegel says he is still determining if the restaurant will need additional barriers to follow guidelines around separation of performers and audience members.
He added that he is pleased with the efforts of local politicians to support downtown business.
“The city’s been helpful with giving us outdoor patio space,” Siegel said. “That’s a huge benefit for us.”
“We are at a turning point. We right now show some concerning upward trends in our infection rate and our reproduction rate. We are on the edge,” said Dr. Henry at a briefing on Monday.
“We can contain this but we need people to be aware of it and take preventive measures and stop that next party where someone inadvertently brings it in and spreads the virus.”
Police say that video surveillance was unable to capture the suspect or the vehicle, and are seeking help from the public in identifying him.
They are seeking possible dashcam footage or tips from anyone who was in the area near the Royal Bank at West Shore Town Centre between 2:40 and 3:15 p.m. on July 2.
Anyone with information is asked to contact West Shore RCMP at 250-474-2264.
Happy Friday, folks! From live music, trivia and art, here are 5 things to do to cap the end of the week as we head into the weekend.
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 today, Friday, July 24th:
SuperSauce will be taking the stage this Friday at The Loft to preview their new “Rockstar Nights” concept (Live Music. Band Bingo. Scary’aoke. All will be explained – and be sure to bring your smartphone!). Once the shenanigans are over, stay the rest of the evening for SuperSauce’s signature 80’s to Modern Rock Party.
Hybrid show, in-person seats available by reservation and live streaming. Daniel Cook & The Radiators are an original West Coast roots group from Victoria. With Robert Cromwell’s solid grooves, Ryan Rock’s funk-driven bass, Norm MacPherson’s magical lead guitar, the multi-instrument juggling of Sam Torrance, and Daniel Cook’s well-crafted songwriting, these contagious melodies and timeless stories are blended with vocal harmonies into a tasty mix of indie-folk, funk and country.
If you want to learn simple ways to use creative expression to improve your physical and mental health or if you already paint to maintain your health, this is the class for you!
When: 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Where: Cook Street Village Activity Centre, 380 Cook Street
A fast paced, action packed trivia game with visuals, audio and great prizes. The game is hosted and live, and the food and drink specials are fantastic and you’re guaranteed to have some laughs!
Every Friday from 11am to 6pm, the Market will be filled with locally-grown produce and fruits, as well as fresh-cut local flowers, handcrafted soaps, jewlery and prepared foods. They’re bringing the farmers market to the downtown core of Victoria!
When: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Where: Victoria Public Market, 1701 Douglas Street
Two post-secondary institutions on Vancouver Island are receiving a combined total of $1,085,000 investment from the province to put towards health care education and training programs.
Camosun College has received $310,000 for activities related to starting up a health-care assistant program and an educational assistant program on the Westshore.
The lion’s share of the funding has been allocated to North Island College where $775,000 has been invested for programs that will train health-care assistants, licensed practical nurses, and community mental health workers.
This is part of an overall $4.4 million in funding for health profession-related education and training at post-secondary institutions across British Columbia.
“We are committed to training, recruiting and hiring a new generation of health-care professionals at all levels, including respiratory therapists and critical care nurses, who are vital members of the health-care team,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health.
“Respiratory therapists and nurses working with patients during the COVID-19 pandemic have a high-risk role because of their hands-on work treating patients with breathing difficulties and I thank them for all they do.”
Programs being funded through this investment across the province include health-care assistants, anesthesia assistants, mental health and community support workers and programs for nurses.
Other institutions that received funding from the province include British Columbia Institute of Technology, Coast Mountain College, College of New Caledonia, Nicola Valley Institute of Technology, and Vancouver Community College.
However the group left without paying that bill, prompting a police report and subsequent investigation.
“The waitstaff brought you everything you needed to ensure your dining experience was up to your standards. You all left with full stomachs, but sadly you must have come in with empty wallets, ’cause all 9 of you left without even an attempt at paying,” reads a description from Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers.
“In fact one woman was rather belligerent to staff when it came time to pay.”
The anonymous tips organization shared a security photo of the group, hoping that someone will recognizes them and come forward.
Anyone who recognizes them from the image can contact Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or submit at tip online at www.victoriacrimestoppers.ca.
West Shore RCMP are looking for a man who used his skateboard to smash a shop window in Langford.
Police say that on May 3 at approximately 12:42 a.m., a man was seen by a witness using his skateboard to smash the front window of Arq Salon at 115-829 Goldstream Ave.
The suspect was caught on surveillance camera and is described as a Caucasian male in his early 20’s, approximately 5’7 with a medium build, wearing a white baseball cap, black hoodie, black pants and black backpack.
West Shore RCMP are asking the public for help identifying the suspect. They say anyone with information can contact the RCMP at 250-474-2264.
Those wishing to report anonymously can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
British Columbia’s Provincial Health Officer says she is working on coming up with a health order to limit the number of people that will be allowed to stay at short-term rental properties during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This order, which will be applied to health regions across the province, comes in light of a recent spike in cases, many of which are linked to several events and parties in the central Okanagan region.
“I will be introducing an order requiring those who rent properties, whether it’s boats, rooms, AirBnb, houseboats, or houses, to limit the numbers of guests and visitors to those premises as part of those rental agreements,” said Dr. Bonnie Henry at a press briefing on Thursday.
“We know that this is not just an issue in the Okanagan; this is an issue that has affected vacation and rental places across B.C.”
#BREAKING Daily #COVID19 update in B.C.: – 29 test-positive, 1 epi linked case today – 3,392 total cases – 142 in Island health (+1) – 1 new death, death toll is 190 in BC – 16 in hospital, 3 in critical care – 2,898 people have recovered in total#bcpoli@victoriabuzzes
Dr. Henry says she is in talks with public health officials in the province to determine exactly how many people should be allowed at these properties.
The number cap will be based on the size of the property in question.
While the specifics of this order are unknown and still to be determined at this time, the provincial health officer says it will be the onus of the property owner to ensure the order is followed, and they can enlist the help of municipal bylaw officers to do so.
This is the second new health order to be announced after a spike in COVID-19 cases in B.C. this week, after Dr. Henry stated new rules are in place for restaurants and bars.
In particular, no more liquor self-service will be allowed at these establishments, which means guests will not be allowed to walk up to the bar and order a drink.
Patrons must remain in their designated seats, other than when they need to get up for bathroom breaks. Large groups visiting restaurants and pubs will no longer be allowed to sit at different tables and intermingle between one another—groups will be restricted to six people.
Dance floors will no longer be allowed to operate at bars and night clubs, and establishments will be required to further control lineups to ensure appropriate distancing.
The province was also originally considering geographical area-specific restrictions for the central Okanagan region, the epicentre of the most recent exposure events, but decided to stick with province-wide restrictions instead.
“This is not just a local issue,” added Dr. Henry. “We are going to continue with our provincial approach.”
The Capital Regional District (CRD) has issued an advisory warning about a toxic blue-green algae bloom at Beaver Lake.
The advisory does not currently include Elk Lake, but the CRD says that blooms are unpredictable and may occur at any time.
Blue-green algae can produce cyanotoxins which can cause illness in people and can be fatal for household pets that ingest water with algae.
Visitors to Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park are advised to avoid swimming in the lake and to keep animals leashed to prevent them from drinking or swimming, until the advisory has been lifted.
Algae blooms usually produce a surface scum with a blue-green sheen on the water, however not all blooms are easy to see and toxins may still be present even without a visible bloom.
Ingesting water with algae-produced cyanotoxins can lead to headaches and abdominal pain in humans and lethal liver damage in dogs.
Beaver Lake has seen multiple toxic algae blooms over the past year, including incidents in August and December of 2019.
For the latest updates on the status of the algae bloom visit www.crd.bc.ca/alerts or follow the CRD on Twitter @crd_bc.
The B.C. Ministry of Health has reported 29 new test-positive and one epidemiologically linked cases of novel coronavirus in the province today, bringing the total number of cases in B.C. to 3,392.
In total, 1,051 of the cases are in the Vancouver Coastal Region, 1,750 in Fraser Health, 142 on Vancouver Island, 315 in Interior Health, 77 in Northern Health region, and 57 people whose residence is outside of Canada.
The number of active cases has increased by 19 to 304 in B.C.
There are a total of 16 people who have been hospitalized with COVID-19, three of whom are in critical care — ICU or acute care units.
One new death was reported over the past 24 hours, and the death toll stands at 190 in total.
In good news, a total of 2,898 people have now recovered from novel coronavirus in B.C.
Outbreaks
One health care outbreak was reported last week at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver, in which one infant tested positive for the virus.
Further, over 70 people have now tested positive for COVID-19 that are associated with private events and social gatherings in Kelowna.
According to the provincial health officer, nearly 1,000 British Columbians are currently self isolating at home as a result of exposures in Kelowna.
In light of these exposures, Dr. Bonnie Henry says she is in the process of drawing up a Provincial Health Order to limit the number of visitors allowed to stay at vacation rental properties including houseboats. This order will be applicable for jurisdictions across B.C.
Residents are also urged to check the HealthLink BC 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
Five new COVID-19 cases were reported in the Island Health region earlier this week, and one more case was added to that list on Thursday.
There have been 142 total cases of COVID-19 in the area, five of whom have died, and 128 people have recovered.
This means there are now nine active cases remaining in the region.
Thus far, there have been 241,013 novel coronavirus tests conducted across B.C., 35,241 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 coronavirus pandemic.
As of the time of publication, the total number of COVID-19 patients worldwide has risen to 15,530,121.
Over 633,000 people have died from the illness and 9,446,618 have made a full recovery.
The Saanich Fire Department says two people have been temporarily displaced after a fire engulfed the upper floor of their house near Tillicum Mall.
Assistant Deputy Chief Rob Heppell says that firefighters responded to reports of a structure fire in the 500 block on Walter Ave. just before 12 p.m. on Thursday.
When crews arrived they saw two residents evacuating a house with smoke and flames coming from the second floor and roof.
Heppell says that the fire proved “stubborn” due to the location on the upper areas of the house.
“We had to use piercing nozzles to get into the attic space,” said Heppell, referring to a specialized hose nozzle that can penetrate through concrete to reach internal fires.
“We were using them to get into the rafters.”
He added that it took crews about one and a half hours to fully extinguish the blaze.
No injuries were reported from the fire. The cause remains under investigation and the residents are unable to return to the home at this time.
Earlier
The Saanich Fire Department tweeted just before 12:30 p.m. on Thursday that they were responding to a residential fire on Walter Ave., southwest of Tillicum Mall.
Photos included in the tweet show firefighters directing water into a second-story window, with large volumes of smoke coming from inside.
Injuries are unknown.
Victoria Buzz has reached out to Saanich Fire and will update this story as it develops.
The results of a new poll suggest Canadians’ personal financial situations are improving from the worst lows of COVID-19, but remain fragile overall.
The study from the Angus Reid Institute found that 80 per cent of Canadians referred to their financial situation as “good” or great.”
That represents a gain of seven points from early April, at 73 per cent.
However, with one in five Canadians saying they are in “bad” or “terrible” shape, the overall situation remains fragile.
(Angus Reid)
Angus Reid says individuals who are currently receiving employment insurance or the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) are particularly vulnerable.
Among that demographic, 30 per cent said they are “barely treading water.”
More broadly, 56 per cent of all respondents said that regardless of their personal situation, they were not considering major purchases like vehicles or homes within the next 12 months.
(Angus Reid)
Two-thirds of Canadians (69 per cent) say they are spending less on non-essential items such as gifts and restaurant meals.
Three in ten Canadians continue to say they have lost work due to the COVID-19 outbreak, which is unchanged from May.
One man was taken into custody and then hospitalized after a mental health incident early Thursday morning.
Victoria Police were called for assistance at around 3:45 a.m. this morning to the 1200-block of Dallas Road.
The man who called in reported that he was in his vehicle and had armed himself against other people who were also in the vehicle and were attempting to hurt him.
When police arrived, they found that the man was alone in his vehicle, had a knife, and was experiencing a mental health crisis.
Officers then used their vehicles to contain the man’s vehicle and used de-escalation and crisis intervention techniques to try and coax the man into putting down his knife and coming out of his vehicle.
According to police, over the course of two hours, the man proceeded to damage his vehicle, stabbing seats and at one point breaking a window and causing himself non-life-threatening injuries.
At 5:30 a.m., he dropped his knife and exited the vehicle after which he was taken into custody and transported to hospital.
VicPD spokesperson Bowen Osoko says no charges are anticipated in this incident.
You’ve made it over the hump this week, and that’s enough reason to celebrate with our list of things to do in and around 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 today, Wednesday, July 23rd:
Start off with Picnic in the Gardens at 1 p.m., and consider arriving early for your class and bringing a picnic lunch while enjoying the sounds of a live local musician.
At 5 p.m., you can move into the pavilion for your paint night experience.
EFM believes in building connections that create a sense of community through partnerships, collaborations, and building relationships with the community, and pushing forward with a movement promoting healthy eating, living & relationships.
EFM supports local growers and producers and those who engage in environmentally sound, farming practices. EFM encourages backyard farmers to help nourish their community with their quality products.
Pagliacci’s restaurant at Broad & Fort is bringing live music back to its patio, free of cover charge. This Thursday diners can listen to Scott White and Chris Frye playing a broad range of jazz, R&B, country and even some old school rock.
Any cheese-lover knows that Vancouver Island houses some of the best of the best of the good stuff.
One household name many recognize isHaltwhistle Cheese, and with good reason; the renowned cheese company produces beautiful natural cheeses, with an abundance of unique flavours.
In celebration of the wonderful array of dairy delights our Island has to offer, we’re partnering withBC Dairy Association on a massive giveaway of some of our favourites, and supportingFood Banks BC in the process – contest details are below!
From delicious delights such as their buttery Belmont to more exotic flavours like their Spanish-inspired La Mancha, there’s something for even the pickiest of cheese connoisseurs.
Cowichan Valley couple Cory Spencer and Kirsten Thorarinson began making cheese six years ago, and produce a variety of raw goat and cows milk cheeses.
They pride themselves on sourcing all of their goats milk from their own herd of 130 animals, and their cows milk comes from a local Ayrshire herd.
Haltwhistle’s cheeses are inspired by old world varieties the couple came across while working with cheesemakers in France and the United Kingdom.
They favour a natural process and allow the inherent cultures in the raw milk to shine, producing beautiful natural rinds, and cheese with unique flavours.
The prize packs we’re giving away are full of 4 delectable flavours of Haltwhistle’s cheese, including:
Nailsea
Nailsea is a mild Gouda with a pleasantly smooth texture. This buttery and velvety cheese has a fresh and light flavor, making it adaptable to many uses.
Thombury
Thombury is the cows’ milk counterpart of our signature Tomme de Vallée. This traditional French Alpine cheese is full of rich and earthy flavor.
Abergavenny
Abergavenny is a soft, mild blue cheese. It has a lovely creamy texture, tangy bite, and beautiful mushroomy rind.
Since this April of this year, BC dairy farmers have made a concerted effort to support communities in need as a result of COVID-19.
To-date, contributions have included a $175,000 in donations directly to Food Banks BC, and dairy product donations totaling 40,000 liters of milk, 5200 kg of cheese, and 2700kg of butter.
BC Dairy Association is encouraging British Columbians to support their local community food businesses during the challenging times caused by COVID-19, as food-based businesses have been particularly hard-hit, and need the support of their communities more than ever.
In the coming weeks, we will highlight small dairy processors, cheese crafters, ice cream makers, and other local businesses that use BC dairy to make their products.
CONTEST
For a chance to WIN one of 30 cheese prize packs from Haltwhistle Cheese (a $50 value!), please head on over to our Instagram page to enter:
COMMENT Below telling us who you’d share this prize pack with (1 entry for every comment)
SHARE this in your IG Stories and tag @Victoria_Buzz (1 entry)
Contest is open to Greater Vancouver and Vancouver Island residents from Victoria to Nanaimo. Entries will be accepted from the time and date of publishing until 11:59 pm on July 29th 2020. 30 winners will be chosen at random and contacted through the platform they used to enter.
(Kingzett Lake or the quarry/Photo by Brishti Basu)
Nestled in the middle of a wooded area just north of Shawnigan Lake lies Vancouver Island’s worst kept secret: Kingzett Lake or ‘the quarry’, as it is known by locals.
For 16 years, the owners of the private property on which the quarry lies, Mark and Grant Dakus, have tolerated the growing numbers of people that have flocked to the crystal clear waters every summer.
But according to them, there are now far too many people gathering at the swimming hole for the area to accommodate without having proper infrastructures in place.
The Quarry or Kingzett Lake has officially closed to the public as of the weekend of July 19-20, and the RCMP have been given the authority to issue fines for trespassers.
“Some days there can be up to 2,000 people. Last month we were bombarded with emails from people living around the corner that parking is insane. There are sometimes 300 to 500 vehicles at once,” says Grant Dakus in a phone interview with Victoria Buzz.
Back in 2004, when the duo first purchased the property at Cobble Hill, the quarry would see about one-twentieth of the current number of visitors each summer.
The fact that Kingzett Lake has seen such a major influx of new visitors in recent years can be attributed to the population growth of nearby cities like Victoria, coupled with the prevalence of social media posts that give away the location of what was once a well-kept secret.
Over the years, the Dakus’ have received many tempting offers from foreign and local buyers interested in taking the quarry off their hands, but the owners always believed in keeping the swimming hole freely available for all.
“When you look at everyone that goes to the quarry, there’s something for everybody there no matter what age. We really believe that it should belong to the province and it should be regulated and be a safe environment for everybody,” said Mark Dakus.
Now, the pair are poised to enter talks with the Cowichan Valley Regional District to plan ways in which to turn the property into a regional park for all to enjoy.
What the public wants
The Dakus’ vision of developing the quarry into a regional park for all to enjoy with parking lots, bathrooms, and other safeguards in place is consistent with a local petition that has recently begun to pick up steam again.
In August 2019, Victoria resident and media personality Bailey Parker launched a petition to explore ways of turning the limestone quarry into a park or protected area.
Since then, over 7,400 people have signed it and, with each signature, sent an automatic email to the board members of the Cowichan Valley Regional District showing staggering public support for the initiative.
“I love going there, I love everything about the quarry… it’s very fortunate that the owners want to turn it into a park. They could’ve just as easily sold it to someone private that would’ve destroyed the essence of the quarry,” said Parker.
“I understand that it’s going to be a process. It’s not just simply putting up some garbage cans and calling it a day.”
She recognizes that one of the challenges in the way of this major project is the economic toll of developing the land.
Nevertheless Parker, along with the Dakus’, are hopeful that enough if people are passionate enough about keeping Kingzett Lake free and open for all, the initiative will move forward in a timely fashion.
“I would hope for it to be sooner rather than later because I want to go for a swim!”
Pornographic video sharing website YouPorn has written to B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix with an offer of COVID-19 relief: $100,000 to build glory holes across the province.
Among the suggestions and recommendations is a line that promotes the use of “barriers, like walls (e.g., glory holes), that allow for sexual contact but prevent close face-to-face contact.”
YouPorn Vice President Charlie Hughes writes that his company is “aligned with the BCCDC and would like to extend an offer of our support in an effort to continue to flatten the curve without forgoing sexual pleasure.”
Hughes adds that YouPorn will offer a $100k grant to the province to support the construction of glory holes across B.C.
“Hope to see you on the other side!” Hughes wrote.
It is unclear how many glory holes could be funded if the government were to accept YouPorn’s offer.
B.C’s provincial government is committing an additional $1 billion in spending to aid restart plans for local governments and transit services impacted by COVID-19.
The funding is conditional on matching federal contributions under a 50/50 cost-sharing structure.
“This new funding will secure B.C.’s share of the federal government’s $19-billion Safe Restart program and ensure people have access to the critical services they need in their communities,” said Premier John Horgan in a statement on Wednesday.
The province says the funding will help with revenue shortfalls due to COVID-19 and maintain the stability of transit systems and local government services.
The federal government announced the Safe Restart Agreement on July 16, through which they will provide $19 billion to provinces and territories as many begin loosening restrictions.
The $1 billion in funding towards B.C. is based on estimates introduced by Finance Minister Carole James in the B.C. legislature, depending on the outcome of federal cost-sharing discussions.
The province applauded the federal government for being a “reliable partner” during the COVID-19 pandemic and said the funding commitment will help support efforts to restart the provincial economy.
The B.C. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has made amendments to pandemic regulations for restaurants and bars in light of a continuing surge in cases associated with partying young adults.
After several days of more than 30 new cases per day, Dr. Bonnie Henry says changes have been made to the Provincial Health Order regulating activities at bars and restaurants.
In particular, no more liquor self-service will be allowed at these establishments, which means guests will not be allowed to walk up to the bar and order a drink.
Patrons must remain in their designated seats, other than when they need to get up for bathroom breaks. Large groups visiting restaurants and pubs will no longer be allowed to sit at different tables and intermingle between one another—groups will be restricted to six people.
Dance floors will no longer be allowed to operate at bars and night clubs, and establishments will be required to further control lineups to ensure appropriate distancing.
These measures were announced after over 70 COVID-19 cases were identified among young people in their 20s and 30s who attended various parties in Kelowna.
The problem, according to Dr. Henry, is not that people are getting together with small groups, but that they are gathering with different small groups every night at house parties, houseboats, restaurants, etc.
Lowered inhibitions due to alcohol consumption makes physical distancing difficult in these situations.
As a result of exposure to these cases after attending these parties, over 1,000 people across all health regions in B.C. are currently in isolation at home.
Public health officials are now considering potential area-specific restrictions for the Okanagan region due to this uptick in cases.
A motorcyclist with a crudely forged license plate was arrested by Saanich Police after fleeing from officers early Wednesday morning.
Police responding to a domestic dispute just after 6:30 a.m. in the 1800 block of Harvard Place saw a man they believed was involved in the case leaving the area on a motorcycle.
An officer tried to pull the motorcycle over, but the rider accelerated away at high speed and failed to stop for a stop sign.
Police halted their pursuit since they had obtained the suspect’s license plate.
However, minutes later a witness approached the pursuing officer and said the motorcyclist had crashed in the wooded trails off Finnerty Rd.
Police were then able to locate and arrest the 36-year-old motorcyclist, who was taken to hospital for non-life-threatening injuries sustained from the crash.
The man remains in custody at the Saanich Police Department.
He did not possess a driver’s license, and police determined that his license plate had been forged.
“It appears that this individual fled from police because he did not have a licence, was riding an uninsured motorcycle, and had court conditions imposed that prevented him from driving period,” Cst. Markus Anastasiades wrote in a statement.
“His actions were completely reckless and void of care for anyone that may have been using the roads this morning.”
The motorcyclist is facing charges including fleeing police, forgery, dangerous driving and other charges relating to prior court conditions from outside B.C.
The B.C. Ministry of Health has reported 31 new test-positive and three epidemiologically linked cases of novel coronavirus in the province today, bringing the total number of cases in B.C. to 3,362.
In total, 1,049 of the cases are in the Vancouver Coastal Region, 1,742 in Fraser Health, 141 on Vancouver Island, 304 in Interior Health, 69 in Northern Health region, and 57 people whose residence is outside of Canada.
The number of active cases has increased by 19 to 285 in B.C.
There are a total of 17 people who have been hospitalized with COVID-19, three of whom are in critical care — ICU or acute care units.
No new deaths were reported over the past 24 hours, and the death toll stands at 189 in total.
In good news, a total of 2,888 people have now recovered from novel coronavirus in B.C.
Outbreaks
One health care outbreak was reported last week at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver, in which one infant tested positive for the virus.
An ongoing community outbreak at the Krazy Cherry Fruit Co. farm in Oliver, B.C. has had four people test positive for COVID-19. Those who live and work on the farm are under restrictions to limit further transmission.
Further, over 70 people have now tested positive for COVID-19 that are associated with private events and social gatherings in Kelowna.
According to the provincial health officer, nearly 1,000 British Columbians are currently self isolating at home as a result of exposures in Kelowna.
Residents are also urged to check the HealthLink BC 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.
Provincial health order amendment
As a result of an uptick in cases associated with young people in their 20s and 30s gathering in different groups, the provincial health officer has announced amendments to a health order regulating operations at bars and restaurants in the province.
There will be no more liquor self service allowed at bars, and patrons must remain in their designated seats except for bathroom breaks.
Dance floors will also no longer be operational at bars and nightclubs.
This amended order will be posted on the Ministry of Health website shortly.
Island Health region
Four new COVID-19 cases were reported in the Island Health region earlier this week, and one more case was added to that list on Wednesday.
There have been 141 total cases of COVID-19 in the area, five of whom have died, and 128 people have recovered.
This means there are now eight active cases remaining in the region.
Thus far, there have been 238,346 novel coronavirus tests conducted across B.C., 34,871 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 coronavirus pandemic.
As of the time of publication, the total number of COVID-19 patients worldwide has risen to 15,317,929.
Over 624,570 people have died from the illness and 9,246,440 have made a full recovery.
Early Wednesday morning, two significant earthquakes occurred off the coast of Vancouver Island, with the largest being a magnitude 6.2 quake.
Nearby, south of Alaska, several larger earthquakes rumbled through Tuesday evening, topping the charts at a whopping 7.8 magnitude.
If any one of those had happened closer to home, would you have been prepared?
If it’s money that’s holding you back, now’s the perfect time to grab yourself an emergency kit. Our friends at GetMyKitare offering up to 50% off almost their entire store!
There’s free shipping for purchases over $149, so you might want to reach for the top shelf or fill an order with a friend.
It’s easy to put emergency preparations on the back-burner when things are calm and quiet – but that might not always be the case and, honestly, you’ll want to be prepared for when it does happen.
When an emergency strikes, the last thing you should be worrying about is what to bring with you during an evacuation.
That’s exactly why GetMyKit is here to save the day, with their variety of emergency kits that contain everything you’ll need to survive during a crisis.
Nanaimo RCMP have arrested a man from Ladysmith after he allegedly tried to force a woman into his car in broad daylight.
Police say that at approximately 6:30 p.m. on June 18, 2020, 34-year-old Kade Dwolinsky allegedly assaulted a woman outside her work place in central Nanaimo, and tried to force her into a vehicle.
The woman managed to free herself from his grasp, and Dwolinsky fled in his vehicle.
The victim was not physically injured during the attack and called 911.
Ladysmith RCMP arrested Dwolinsky several hours later at his residence. He is due in Nanaimo Provincial court on August 20, 2020.
Police say that based on evidence they have gathered there may be other victims of Dwolinsky and are hoping that releasing his picture will encourage people to come forward.
Anyone with information on this incident or other unreported crimes can contact the Nanaimo RCMP at 250-754-2345 and quote file #2020-21950.
Emilie Pattie is believed to be hanging out in downtown Victoria or the Beacon Hill Park area. (Saanich Police)
Saanich Police are seeking the public’s help in locating a missing 15-year-old girl.
Emilie Pattie is believed to be hanging out in downtown Victoria or the Beacon Hill Park area.
Police have searched both areas but have been unable to locate her.
Pattie is described by police as First Nations, standing 5’2” tall, slim build, and has dark hair.
Police would like to locate her and ensure she is safe.
Anyone with information on her whereabouts can contact Saanich Police at 250-475-4321 or report through Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477
A woman has died in hospital after drowning in a lake on Tuesday.
At around 6:45 p.m. on July 21, West Shore RCMP, Metchosin Fire Rescue and BC Ambulance responded to a 911 call for a possible drowning at Matheson Lake in Metchosin.
According to witnesses, a 32-year-old woman had been rescued from the lake, and people in the area had begun administering CPR before paramedics arrived, as she was in medical distress.
Among those witnesses who were available to perform this task were an off duty Oak Bay police officer and an off duty Saanich fire fighter.
Advanced life support was later provided by paramedics and Metchosin Fire Rescue.
The woman was then rushed to hospital where she died. BC Coroners Service is investigating the circumstances surrounding her death.
A team of University of Victoria researchers is partnering with a local tech firm to develop a new sewage monitoring system they say will help detect and track COVID-19 outbreaks.
The researchers say that analyzing wastewater from communities can be a faster way to collect data than current person-to-person testing methods.
Because genetic material from COVID-19 is found in the stool of infected people, this method could enable a faster public health response by detecting infections before people are symptomatic.
The University says that three of its engineering researchers are working with Pani Energy Inc. to report to public health authorities on data from wastewater plants across B.C., starting with Greater Victoria this month.
“Having this predictive tool will be a real game changer, both in terms of responding to a second wave of COVID-19, as well as to other pathogen outbreaks over the longer term,” said Heather Buckley, a civil engineering researcher.
“Victoria is currently at a near-zero point with COVID-19, so any data we can collect now provides us with a baseline against which we can compare when the virus returns.”
The research team includes Buckley, Stephanie Willerth, chair of UVic’s Biomedical Engineering program, and Caetano Dorea, head of the Public Health and Environmental Engineering lab.
Other research teams across Canada and around the globe are also exploring wastewater monitoring as a way to more quickly identify COVID-19 hotspots.
The team at UVic says that this monitoring is particularly important as governments move to lift restrictions and people return to work.
They also argue that the project’s applications can extend beyond the current pandemic to detect other pathogens in wastewater and help with future public health issues and emergencies.
The project is funded by a grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.
The Independent Investigations Office of BC (IIOBC) has cleared an RCMP officer of wrongdoing after a cyclist collided with his cruiser in View Royal.
On September 12, 2019, at about 4:30 p.m., the officer was driving northbound on Thomas Rd., and was making a right turn onto Seenupin Rd.
A cyclist who was travelling northbound on the shoulder collided with the front end of the cruiser as it turned, sending her flying over the hood.
The cyclist sustained serious injuries.
According to a witness who was travelling northbound behind the RCMP cruiser, the officer failed to signal his turn.
However, a senior manager with the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure testified that the cyclist was not in a designated bicycle lane and was not permitted to pass traffic on the right.
The Motor Vehicle Act says that failing to signal a turn is only an offence “[if] traffic may be affected by the turning vehicle.”
According to the IIO,because the cyclist was not in a designated bike lane, the officer could not reasonably have expected there to be traffic affected by his turn.
As such the RCMP officer was found not to have committed an offence by failing to signal.
The IIO noted in its conclusion that the cyclist did not provide them with a statement in spite of multiple requests.
“I do not consider that there are reasonable grounds to believe that an officer may have committed an offence under any enactment,” Chief Civilian Director Ronald J. MacDonald wrote in his conclusion.
“Therefore the matter will not be referred to Crown counsel for consideration of charges.”
Over two dozen new medium-duty Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) BC Transit buses are slated to arrive in Victoria over the next few weeks.
The 25 new buses are part of a plan to introduce 80 of these cleaner, greener, buses to the Greater Victoria transit region by the end of the year. A total of 99 CNG buses are planned to go into operation across B.C. this year.
“The average age of the fleet in Victoria is 12 years old and we’ll have new vehicles start to come in January 2020. By the end of 2020, the average age of our fleet will be 6 years,” said BC Transit spokesperson Jonathon Dyck when the plan was first announced last year.
The first of these buses began arriving in January 2020 and went into operation the next month.
Each of the 30-foot buses has room for 24 seated passengers and 20 standing passengers, comes equipped with a bike rack which accommodates three-inch tires, white LED destination sign and full driver doors to protect operators and commuters alike.
CNG buses are expected to have both a long term economic and environmental benefit, offering a reduction in tailpipe emissions and operational costs.
Each bus cost $455,000 and was purchased through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP).
The federal and B.C. provincial governments each contributed 40 per cent of the cost, while the Victoria Regional Transit Commission funded the remaining 20 per cent.
The annual open fire ban for BC’s Coastal Fire Centre, which includes all of Vancouver Island, will go into effect this week.
As of noon Pacific Time on Friday, July 24, Category 2 and 3 open fires will be prohibited in order to reduce wildfire risks as temperatures start to rise on the island.
One exception is that Category 3 fires will still be permitted in Haida Gwaii after it takes effect for the rest of the region.
These bans apply to the following types of fires:
Category 2 open fire
the open burning of any material (piled or unpiled) smaller than two metres high
and three metres wide;
the open burning of material concurrently in 2 piles each not exceeding 2 m in height and 3 m in width; or
burning of stubble or grass fires over an area smaller than 0.2 hectares.
Category 3 open fire
any fire larger than 2 metres high by 3 metres wide;
the burning of 3 or more concurrently burning piles no larger than 2 metres high
by 3 metres wide;
the burning of 1 or more windrows; and
burning stubble or grass over an area greater than 0.2 hectares.
These prohibitions apply to all public and private land, unless specified otherwise like in a local government bylaw. Residents are asked to check with local government authorities for any other restrictions before lighting any fire.
Fireworks, sky lanterns, binary exploding targets, burn barrels or burn cages, and air curtain burners are also banned.
It does not prohibit campfires that are a half-metre high by a half-metre wide or smaller, or apply to cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes.
However anyone lighting a campfire is required to maintain a fireguard by removing flammable debris from around the campfire area, and have a hand tool or at least eight litres of water available nearby to properly extinguish the flames.
Those found defying the ban may be issued a violation ticket for $1,150, required to pay an administrative penalty of up to $10,000 or, if convicted in court, fined up to $100,000 and/or sentenced to one year in jail.
(Dr. Bonnie Henry walking down the hallway leading to the press theatre inside the B.C. Legislature/Photo by Colin Smith Takes Pics)
British Columbia remains in the longest state of emergency the province has ever seen after a further extension on Tuesday.
Premier John Horgan has extended the provincial state of emergency for the ninth time on July 21 after the previous extension period ran out.
Minister of Public Safety Mike Farnworth initially declared a state of emergency on March 18 as a result of COVID-19, which was originally in effect for 14 days.
It was then extended eight times by Premier Horgan, on March 31, April 15, April 29, May 13th, May 27, June 10, June 24, and July 7.
Tuesday’s announcement further extends the state of emergency until the end of day on August 4, 2020.
“While some restrictions have been eased, we must stay the course to flatten the COVID-19 curve,” said Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth in a statement Tuesday.
“This means that even as British Columbians start to carefully adjust to life in Phase 3, we are maintaining the necessary critical supports to respond to and alleviate the effects of this pandemic.”
Declarations of emergency can be extended by the province by increments of 14 days at a time.
The province has recently seen an increase in the number of daily cases, with more than 30 new COVID-19 cases declared per day for three days in a row. For over a month now, that rate was hovering at around 10 per 24 hour reporting period.
A large portion of these were attributed to a series of social gatherings in which young people, particularly those in their 20s or 30s, have been gathering in more than one group.
From comedy to improving your photography skills, make your Wednesday a good hump day with our list of things to do in and around 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 today, Wednesday, July 22nd:
Whether on a weekend city break or on summer vacation, more of us are aware of the hope of taking striking photos that capture the essence of our time away and often these are more than just photos for our friends and family to enjoy.
This is where this particular host instructor comes into play. A National Geographic photographer who has seen it all, including being one of the pioneering digital stock photography leaders over the last 25 years.
So whether you’re a keen amateur photographer for business or pleasure or a budding professional with a specific assignment, this event has all the current information you need to help you successfully capture the many photographic opportunities that await.
Tom Vickery Trio is back in action! Tom Vickery, Rob Johnson and Patrick Boyle are an incredible trio that has so much fun! Straight ahead jazz, and a Victoria classic. Tom Vickery is one of the performers that have performed at Hermann’s since it’s inception.
A Tsunami warning is in effect following a large 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Alaska.
The quake struck at 11:12 p.m. Tuesday night 98 km SSE of Perryville, according to United States Geological Survey.
A tsunami warning was initially issued for south Alaska and the Alaska Peninsula, but was cancelled shortly afterwards.
The level of tsunami danger for British Columbia is still being evaluated.
UPDATE: At 12:31 a.m. Wednesday, Emergency Info BC announced there is no tsunami threat to BC.
An earthquake has occurred in Alaska. The level of tsunami danger for #BC is being evaluated. Please stand by for BC specific info. https://t.co/CzEfC7lG0v
— Emergency Info BC (@EmergencyInfoBC) July 22, 2020
Moments after the earthquake in Alaska, Earthquakes Canada reported a 4.6 earthquake in the Port Hardy area, however, it was later retracted as a false alert based on an automatic detection due to the Alaska earthquake.
The USGS upgraded the quake from a preliminary magnitude 7.4 to a 7.8.
The RCMP Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of British Columbia (CFSEU-BC) say they have prevented the expansion of an emerging gang.
According to a statement from RCMP, a special task force designed to track the Brothers Keepers gang and prevent them from expanding into the Nanaimo area of Vancouver Island has been successful.
The Brothers Keepers first emerged within the British Columbia gang landscape in 2017 and were immediately in direct conflict with rival gangs such as the Red Scorpions, the Wolfpack, the Hells Angels, the United Nations, and numerous other individuals and groups, according to the CFSEU.
Police say these conflicts led to increased violence in communities across the province, and the gang has since expanded its territory to Alberta and Ontario.
RCMP says they have been monitoring the Brothers Keepers since early 2018 due to the spike in violence associated with their presence.
Since then, law enforcement officials across 21 jurisdictions have intercepted gang members and their affiliates 259 times.
During that time, police say they have seized over 30 kgs of suspected fentanyl, methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine.
The Brothers Keepers gang is made up of about a dozen core members and a network of 194 affiliates.
“The Brothers Keepers have continued their operations since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, this despite the restrictions that have been put in place around travel and non- essential work and the sacrifices that hundreds of thousands of British Columbians have made to ensure they, their loved ones, and our communities remain safe and healthy,” says the CFSEU.
“Crime does not quarantine and neither have the Brothers Keepers.”
Data from RCMP analysts suggests that there has been a 38.5 per cent decrease in combined gang-related murders and attempted murders from January 2017 to December 2019.
In case you were looking for guidance on love in the time of COVID-19…
The BCCDC website has launched a page that tackles some of the “kissing questions” that has left provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry flustered over the past few months.
Specifically, the site offers advice for people looking to get busy on how to do so in the safest way possible during the pandemic.
First of all, if you’re sick, skip the lovemaking and stick to the solo act.
“You are your safest sex partner; your next-safest sex partner(s) is/are the person(s) you live with, or the person(s) who has close contact with only you and no one else,” reads the website.
According to the BCCDC, the virus has been found in semen and feces, but it is not yet clear whether it can be transmitted through sex.
For those who are not feeling sick and have no symptoms of COVID-19, masturbation is still the top recommendation—the centre also encourages doing so with a partner while physical distancing, as that reduces the spread of the virus.
Virtual sex is touted as the next best option as—video dates, phone sex, online chat rooms, and group cam rooms are recommended, with the caveat of needing to be wary of sharing information or photos online, and web camming.
“Some people do not share personal information or show their face or other identifiable body parts, for more privacy,” says the BCCDC.
For the physical act of lovemaking, the centre says having one or a few regular partners for intercourse reduces the risk of contracting COVID-19.
The agency goes on to further outline steps to take while having sex to reduce the risk of being exposed to the virus. These include:
Washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
Washing sex toys thoroughly with soap and water before and after use. Do not share them with multiple partners.
Wearing a face covering or mask as heavy breathing during sex can create more droplets that may transmit COVID-19.
Avoiding or limiting kissing and saliva exchange.
Choosing sexual positions that limit face-to-face contact.
Using barriers, like walls (e.g., glory holes), that allow for sexual contact but prevent close face-to-face contact.
Using condoms, lubricant, and dental dams may help to further reduce the risk by minimizing contact with saliva, semen and feces during oral and anal sex.
Back in May, Dr. Bonnie Henry was visibly flustered when asked questions about dating and sex during the pandemic.
After an amusing moment of B.C.’s top doctor struggling to find the right words to describe the dating lives of young people in the 21st century, she stated that “online encounters” — presumably referring to dating apps like Tinder and Bumble — have been useful thus far in keeping loneliness at bay.
“This is not the time to do rapid serial dating,” she added, advising people to “pick someone and see if it works out.”
Together, the advice from the BCCDC and B.C.’s top doctor should help most people figure out how they want to go about getting frisky during the pandemic.
The B.C. Ministry of Health has reported 29 new test-positive and one epidemiologically linked cases of novel coronavirus in the province today, bringing the total number of cases in B.C. to 3,328.
In total, 1,043 of the cases are in the Vancouver Coastal Region, 1,731 in Fraser Health, 140 on Vancouver Island, 291 in Interior Health, 69 in Northern Health region, and 54 people whose residence is outside of Canada.
There appears to be a data correction for the Island Health region as two cases previously reported yesterday have been removed from the total tally, bringing the number of cases in the region to 140.
The number of active cases has increased by 13 to 266 in B.C.
There are a total of 15 people who have been hospitalized with COVID-19, three of whom are in critical care — ICU or acute care units.
No new deaths were reported over the past 24 hours, and the death toll stands at 189 in total.
In good news, a total of 2,873 people have now recovered from novel coronavirus in B.C.
Outbreaks
One health care outbreak was reported last week at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver, in which one infant tested positive for the virus.
An ongoing community outbreak at the Krazy Cherry Fruit Co. farm in Oliver, B.C. has had four people test positive for COVID-19. Those who live and work on the farm are under restrictions to limit further transmission.
Further, over 60 people have now tested positive for COVID-19 that are associated with private events and social gatherings in Kelowna.
In light of these events, public health officials have been working with representatives in the Okanagan communities to form a plan that aims to slow down transmission in that region.
“Here in B.C., our curve is trending upward, and we need to bend our curve back down to where it belongs,” reads the statement from the Ministry of Health issued on Tuesday.
“Many of the new cases are a result of community transmission from an increase in social interactions this summer. This trend is a concern, but we can turn this trend around.”
Dr. Henry also urges people to check the HealthLink BC 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
On Monday, there were six new cases reported in the Vancouver Island health region over a 72-hour reporting period.
This number has been corrected to four new cases, and no additional cases were reported on Tuesday.
Data for the region shows that there have been 140 total cases of COVID-19 in the area, five of whom have died, and 127 people have recovered.
This means there are now eight active cases remaining in the region.
Thus far, there have been 236,669 novel coronavirus tests conducted across B.C., 34,685 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 coronavirus pandemic.
As of the time of publication, the total number of COVID-19 patients worldwide has risen to 15,013,526.
Over 616,500 people have died from the illness and 9,025,891 have made a full recovery.
As Victorians, our love for brunch knows no bounds.
And as British Columbians, we share a similar adoration for B.C.’s top doctor.
It was The Ruby restaurant who brought these two together to create the ‘Dr. Bonnie Benny’; a play on the popular breakfast order that also has a charitable twist.
According to a post on The Ruby’s Instagram, the Eggs Benedict dish is comprised of two house-made crab cakes on top of a bagel or croissant served with tomato hollandaise.
The downtown Victoria eatery says that the all-new feature will be offered indefinitely, in honour of Dr. Henry “safely getting the industry back into action”.
If you’ve always wanted to party at sea with your family and closest friends (those who are in your COVID-19 bubble of course), now is your chance!
A decommissioned BC Ferries vessel is currently up for sale and it could be all yours.
The vessel is being sold for $159,000, and according to a Craigslist advertisement, a reasonable offer will be considered.
Built in 1958 and rebuilt in 1971, the North Island Princess was retired on June 10, after it was replaced by Island Discovery, one of BC Ferries’ new hybrid-electric ships.
Prior to retirement, it was the oldest vessel in the BC Ferries’ fleet and had served the Powell River-Texada route since 1979. Before that, it was used to connect communities north of Kelsey Bay on Vancouver Island.
Listed by Pacific Boat Brokers, the company says the 59-year-old ship measures just over 200 feet in length and is powered by twin MTU V12 2000 engines with twin disc gears.
It can fit up to 38 cars and has the capacity to carry 150 people. The vessel can travel up to 13 knots and has a horsepower of 1,609.
The Tourism Industry Association of BC (TIABC) is asking the provincial government to allocate a large chunk of funds earmarked for its COVID-19 recovery plan to help revive the tourism and hospitality sector.
A statement released by the coalition on Tuesday morning announces that the sector is seeking $680 million out of the $1.5 billion fund reserved for recovery, to help mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 on the B.C. visitor economy and its workforce.
TIABC argues that their industry is the most severely impacted by business closure orders and restrictions on personal travel, some of which still remain in place.
“The existing suite of packages aimed at the overall economy are appreciated and helpful, but not sufficient to sustain the B.C. tourism and hospitality sector for the foreseeable future from this unexpected pandemic,” said TIABC Chair, Vivek Sharma, in a statement.
“The only way we can prevent generations of lost economic activity, jobs, and tax revenues is by acting decisively now with innovative and creative solutions that recognize the importance of this sector, which is the face and brand of British Columbia to the world and one of the strongest drivers of BC’s economy.”
Projections for the province’s tourism sector, according to Destination B.C., forecast a $14.8 billion (69 per cent) decline in tourism revenue, down from from $20.4 billion in 2018 to $6.7 billion in 2020.
To help mitigate these declines, the TIABC proposes the creation of a $680 million stimulus package broken down into three components.
First, the group envisions a $475 million ‘Working Capital Recovery Grant’ that could provide low or no-interest loans with an extended payback period for crippled businesses that normally rely on out-of-province visitors.
Next, a $190 million allocation to fund businesses in their efforts to adapt to their operations to the health and safety requirements of COVID-19.
The final $15 million is proposed to be used for helping industry sub-sectors (accommodation, attractions, transportation, food services, and retail) refocus and create supply chains to promote recovery over the next 18 months and moving forward.
This proposal also recommends the creation of a task force to oversee funding allocation, with members from the B.C. Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, the Ministry of Jobs, Economic Development and Competitiveness, and the Ministry of Finance.
Earlier this month, workers in the province’s hotel sector gathered at the B.C. Legislature to raise awareness of the lack of job stability workers currently face.
Approximately 50,000 hotel workers in the province have lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic and they are not legally guaranteed those positions back.
The Ministry of Finance has yet to announce their plans for how the $1.5 billion set aside for pandemic recovery will be allocated.
