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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 eighth time on July 7 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 seven times by Premier Horgan, on March 31, April 15, April 29, May 13th, May 27, June 10, and June 24.
Today’s announcement further extends the state of emergency until the end of day on July 21, 2020.
“We’ve made a commitment to British Columbians to do all that we can to keep COVID-19 at bay,” said Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, in a statement.
“The extension of the state of emergency will allow us to keep orders in place to ensure public safety until measures are in place to transition out of the state of emergency.”
Declarations of emergency can be extended by the province by increments of 14 days at a time.
(Dr. Bonnie Henry, Minister Adrian Dix/BC Gov Flickr)
The B.C. Ministry of Health has reported 11 new test-positive cases of novel coronavirus and one epidemiologically linked case in the province today, bringing the total number of cases in B.C. to 2,990.
In total, 1,013 of the cases are in the Vancouver Coastal Region, 1,576 in Fraser Health, 133 on Vancouver Island, 203 in Interior Health and 65 in Northern Health region.
The number of active cases have decreased by four to 162 in B.C.
There are a total of 16 people who have been hospitalized with COVID-19, four 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 183 in total.
In good news, a total of 2,645 people have now recovered from novel coronavirus in B.C.
Outbreaks
No new health care outbreaks were reported today, and one outbreak at Tabor Home has been declared over, bringing the total to three long-term care facilities and one acute-care facility outbreaks that are currently ongoing.
All of community outbreaks in B.C. were declared over on July 2, and no new outbreaks were reported today.
However a public alert was issued for a new community exposure event at Hotel Belmont bar and nightclub in the Vancouver Coastal Health region.
Anyone who visited the club on June 27 and/or 29 is asked to monitor their symptoms for COVID-19, limit contact with others, and call 811 for testing if any symptoms develop.
Dr. Henry also urges people to check the BCCDC website for public alerts about possible exposures to the virus.
Island Health region
One new case has been reported in the Vancouver Island Health region on Tuesday, making it the first new COVID-19 patient in the region this month.
In June, just two people tested positive for the virus in the Vancouver Island Health region.
Data for the region shows that there have been 133 total cases of COVID-19 in the area and five people have died.
There are currently three active cases remaining in the region.
Thus far, there have been 204,396 novel coronavirus tests conducted across B.C., 29,920 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 11,897,927.
Over 544,800 people have died from the illness and 6,828,259 have made a full recovery.
The B.C. government has announced a faster way for residents in the province to verify themselves on the virtual BC Services Card app.
As a result of more people accessing the virtual platform during the COVID-19 pandemic, the app, which requires a Services B.C. representative to verify individuals’ identity, was experiencing high wait times for its video call feature.
“Our new Send Video feature within the mobile BC Services Card gives people the choices and tools they need to connect with government supports and services quickly, safely and securely,” said Anne Kang, Minister of Citizen’s Services, in a statement on Tuesday.
This new feature allows B.C. residents to send a photo or short video of themselves while signing up for the virtual Services card by using the Send Video feature within the app from their iPhone, iPad, Android phone or tablet.
Within a few hours, a Service BC representative can then use that information to verify the person’s identity and activate their virtual card through the app.
(Send video feature/BC Gov News)
For now, British Columbians can use this virtual app to pay bills, access health care information, access their Canada Revenue Agency account, and manage StudentAid applications. The province is working to bring more services online through the online card.
According to Minister Kang, B.C. is the first jurisdiction in North America to be able to verify people’s identity using an online platform through an app.
The BC Services Card Verify by Video service was launched in June 2019 and allowed people to have their identity verified for the purposes of using their Services Card mobile app by video calling a Service B.C. rep.
Now, residents have the option of calling or using the new “Send Video” feature.
Thus far, around 125,000 people have set up a mobile services card.
James Smith (left) died Sunday in a skydiving accident in Nanoose Bay (photo courtesy Gord Gauvin)
A local man who died early Sunday evening in a skydiving accident near Nanoose Bay has been identified as a professional skydiver with advanced certification, according to a colleague and friend.
James Smith had reached “C” Certificate of Proficiency with the Canadian Sport Parachuting Association (CSPA), according to Gord Gauvin, owner/operator of Skydive Vancouver Island.
“He had easily performed over 1,000 skydives,” Gauvin said in a phone call with Victoria Buzz.
Earlier, Gauvin wrote in a statement that Smith died after impacting the ground while performing an advanced high speed maneuver called “swooping.”
The technique involves deploying a parachute with a rapid descent, then flying close to the ground at high speeds and long distances.
Gauvin says the maneuver is “high risk” and said that equipment failures likely did not contribute to the tragedy.
That assessment matches the initial findings of government agencies, according to Oceanside RCMP spokesperson Cst. Chris Manseau.
Manseau says that Transport Canada found no issues with the plane involved in the accident, and RCMP investigators concluded there was no evidence of criminal wrongdoing.
He also added that WorkSafeBC would not be investigating the accident since Smith’s skydive was recreational.
Manseau says that the BC Coroners Service and the CSPA will continue to investigate.
Meanwhile, Gauvin says that Smith’s death has sent shockwaves through the skydiving community.
“We’re a small, tight-knit community,” he said. “There’s around 50 or 60 professional skydivers on the island, [Smith] knew 90 per cent of them.”
That community also includes Smith’s stepbrother, who Gauvin says owns and operates a skydiving centre in the Okanagan Valley.
“It becomes a bit of a lifestyle,” he said.
Gauvin says that members of the community are meeting with grief counselors as they come to terms with the loss of a dear friend. His company is also making one-on-one counseling available to his employees.
Smith, a married father of two children, owned a carpentry business on the Island. He was 34 years old at the time of his death.
The majority of respondents in a Statistics Canada survey say they are very willing to take a vaccine for COVID-19 once it becomes available.
This information is based on data collected through a series of Statistics Canada surveys in which 36,000 people responded to between May 26 and June 9, 2020.
Around 68 per cent of respondents said they are “very likely” to get a COVID-19 vaccine when it comes available, while 15.2 per cent answered that they were “somewhat likely” to choose vaccination.
Meanwhile 12 per cent of Canadians are unwilling to vaccinate against the pandemic virus, and 4.6 per cent are unsure of what they would choose.
(COVID-19 vaccine/Statistics Canada)
One part of the survey series found a positive correlation between those who want a COVID-19 vaccine and those who say that most people are trustworthy.
More than three quarters of survey respondents who had a high level of trust in the federal government said they would be very likely to get vaccinated, compared to over half the participants who said they had a low level of trust in government who said the same thing.
In British Columbia, where provincial health authorities declared the start of Phase 3 of their reopening plan at the end of June, the final phase of reopening relies on the availability of a COVID-19 vaccine.
Most businesses in the province are now operating with strict physical distancing and other guidelines in place.
But gatherings above 50 people will remain prohibited in B.C. until a vaccine is available.
Cabin fever has found a new life during the COVID-19 pandemic, and a man in Woodgrove Shopping Centre in Nanaimo is its latest icon.
A man covered in saran wrap and sporting a red pair of underwear on his head as a face mask was confronted by mall security as he walked the halls earlier this week.
Photos of the man that surfaced online on Monday show him also sporting black hiking boots and a leotard.
Witnesses on social media say the man dubbed himself the “COVID Avenger,” apparently as a form of protest against mask-wearing policies.
While health professionals have encouraged the wearing of masks in public to prevent the spread of the disease, no authorities have yet put out statements regarding saran wrap.
B.C. residents who have been looking forward to experiencing the big screen ever since theatres shut down due to COVID-19 can now do so at a much lower cost.
SilverCity Victoria Cinemas, part of a group of theatres recently reopened by Cineplex as COVID-19 restrictions lift, is offering all shows priced regularly at $5 per adult for a limited time.
A total of eight Cineplex theatres have reopened across the province as of July 3, two of which are on Vancouver Island. These include the SilverCity Victoria Cinemas located at the Tillicum Shopping Centre, and Galaxy Cinemas in Nanaimo.
And if that deal isn’t enough, Tuesday showings are even cheaper at just $3 a ticket.
Currently, SilverCityVictoria Cinemas is showing summer blockbuster hits like The Invisible Man and Sonic the Hedgehog, alongside lower profile fare like sports drama The Way Back.
Cineplex has not made mask-wearing mandatory in its theatres, but is selling limited seats for each showtime to maintain physical distancing.
Tickets and a full list of shows are online at cineplex.com.
(Vehicle collision on Pat Bay Hwy near Weiler overpass/Submitted by Bahar Golrang)
UPDATE: All lanes were reopened to traffic on the highway as of 11:20 a.m. this morning.
Earlier: Multiple lanes of traffic have been closed on the Pat Bay Highway after several vehicle collisions this morning.
Both lanes have been reduced to single-lane traffic only after one collision in the northbound lane and one in the southbound lane on Tuesday morning at about 10:20 a.m., sources say.
A third, more minor collision allegedly took place at around 10:45 a.m. and was cleared within a few minutes.
All three crashes occurred on Pat Bay Highway near the Weiler overpass — south of Beacon Avenue. There are no details on whether anyone was injured at this point.
Victoria Buzz has reached out to Sidney/North Saanich RCMP for more information.
West Shore RCMP are searching for two women who were seen stealing a large amount of high end beauty products from a store in Langford.
The theft reportedly took place at around 6:45 p.m. last week, Friday July 3, at the Shoppers Drug Mart store located at 300-2945 Jacklin Road.
(Photo by West Shore RCMP)
The women were caught on camera allegedly shoplifting over $3,000 worth of beauty products from the branch, and police are now looking to identify the suspects.
Both suspects are South Asian women, one of whom is in her early 40’s while the other looks to be in her 20s.
The older suspect stands 5’6″ tall, has a medium build, long dark hair, and at the time of the incident was wearing a black top, black pants, white runners, and carrying a large orange purse.
The second suspect is the same height, has a slim build, and at the time of the incident was wearing her dark hair tied in a bun.
She was also wearing a black puffy coat, dark pants, black converse runners, and carrying a black purse.
Anyone who knows these individuals is asked to contact West Shore RCMP at 250-474-2264.
The property housing a Chinese restaurant in Campbell River that was recently closed for good has been purchased by the B.C. government for the purpose of creating a new homeless shelter in the region.
The provincial government doled out $985,000 to buy the former Rose Bowl restaurant located at 1221 Cedar Street in Campbell River.
The restaurant, which was still operating as recently as last month, was opened in the 1970s and had glowing reviews on Google and Facebook.
Now the property will be repurposed to create much the much needed bridge housing that will remain in place until a new permanent supportive housing project is in place.
Construction will begin immediately to renovate the building and create space for 20 beds and showers for people experiencing homelessness in the region.
“This project will provide people in our community with a safe place to sleep while we work with our partners to build the permanent homes they deserve,” said Claire Trevena, MLA for North Island, in a statement on Tuesday.
“We know our community is safer and healthier when everyone has a place to call home, with supports and services to help them succeed, and we are working closely with the city to build new permanent supportive housing as fast as possible.”
Residents at the temporary shelter will be provided with a bed, showers, meals, outreach services, and referrals to health services, with day-to-day management overseen by the Vancouver Island Mental Health Society.
BC Housing is working with the City of Campbell River to explore potential locations for a permanent supportive housing project.
The homeless shelter at 1221 Cedar St is expected to open in August 2020.
After a several month hiatus due to the pandemic, our daily list of things to do in and around Victoria is returning this week.
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:
Take a virtual road trip to one of BC’s most beloved historic sites, Barkerville Historic Town and Park, located in the Cariboo Mountains. Billy Barker’s legendary gold strike on Williams Creek triggered a multi-billion dollar industrial revolution that literally built a province. Today, the extraordinary historic town of Barkerville stands as a living testament to BC’s golden beginnings.
Way West Wines is proud to host David Paterson, the winemaker at Tantalus Vineyards in Kelowna, BC. Having established the hallmark by which BC Rieslings should be measured, Tantalus now also creates some delightful Pinot Noirs, Chardonnays and Sparkling wines.
Local wine educator and fellow agent Sharwan Khanna who will be on hand with David on the patio of Poco in Trounce Alley. The tastings will all run each about 30 minutes and will be socially distant and weather permitting, outdoors. Make sure to reserve your spot.
When: There will be 8 sessions starting at 11 a.m. – see event for more.
The Oak Bay Beach Hotel has launched its new VIP Summer Screenings. A combination of Classic films and new releases will be presented in their David Foster Foundation Theatre each Tuesday evening throughout the summer.
Knives Out will feature this evening, a 2019 American mystery film.
Each ticket includes complimentary parking, one glass of sparkling wine, a bottle of water, local charcuterie board and pre-packed theatre snacks such as popcorn and licorice. Tickets are $40 each and physical distancing measures are in place.
When: Doors open at 7:40 p.m., show starts at 8 p.m.
The Sidney Museum reopened to visitors late last month and that includes their ever-popular LEGO exhibit which, according to a statement from the museum, includes a wide range of themes like Star Wars, Minecraft, Friends, Harry Potter, Batman and vintage sets.
When: Every day until July 11 to see the Lego exhibit
Nanaimo RCMP have taken four people into custody in connection with the closure of an alleged drug house after months of investigation.
In a statement released Monday, police announced that a two month long investigation into drug trafficking and disturbances led to the search of a property on Woodhouse Street in Nanaimo.
The search warrant was executed on the evening of July 1 and culminated in the arrest of four people and seizure of drugs and $19,000 in cash.
The initial investigation was based on a number of community complaints against the property, ranging from drug trafficking and thefts to various other types of disturbances.
Police arrested two men and two men whose ages ranged between 27 and 57 years old. The drugs seized included about two ounces of crack cocaine, a half ounce of crystal methamphetamine and a small amount of fentanyl.
“This is another example of community members working with the police to address a problem home, which was having a negative impact on their right to peace and enjoyment,” said Cst. Gary O’Brien in a statement.
According to police, residents of nearby homes came out onto the streets while officers were executing their search warrant and expressed that they were pleased that the occupants of the house were being arrested.
The four people who were arrested were released from custody on a promise to appear in court at a later date.
An hours-long standoff between police officers and a 37-year-old woman at an apartment building in Saanich ended in the use of tear gas and her subsequent arrest.
In a statement on Monday, Saanich Police said they responded to reports that a woman was “causing a disturbance” from her apartment at 3225 Eldon Pl in Saanich at around 7:15 a.m. on the morning of Monday, July 6.
According to police, the woman had threatened to burn down the building, had incendiary devices, made threats to other residents, and later threatened police with a weapon.
“She had lit something on fire on her balcony, and had a lighter in her possession,” said Cst. Markus Anastasiades in a phone call with Victoria Buzz.
“Last week, she had started a fire as well so police knew she was capable of carrying out the threats she uttered.”
In the first step, officers evacuated residents in nearby suites, and the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team along with crisis negotiators were called in.
After several hours of negotiation, police say the talks broke down and at 12:30 p.m., GVERT made the decision to use tear gas as a way to compel the woman to leave her suite and then took her into custody.
Police say the woman was not injured during the arrest but was taken to hospital to be treated for exposure to tear gas.
When asked about the decision to use tear gas, Anastasiades stated that he cannot comment on the specific tactics used by GVERT.
“That being said, there were several safety concerns that arouse during the call, including the possession of a weapon, that ultimately led to the decision to deploy gas to effect an arrest in the safest way possible for everyone involved. Using gas in barricaded person situations is quite common,” he added in a statement to Victoria Buzz.
Officers are now continuing their investigation into the incident and gathering evidence from other residents of the building.
According to Anastasiades, officers have responded to nearly 40 calls for service involving this particular individual over the past two months, nearly all of which were mental health calls.
He adds that she will go back into police custody once she is discharged from hospital.
Police are considering charges of Uttering Threats, Mischief to Property, and the Possession of a Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose.
The B.C. Ministry of Health has reported 31 new test-positive cases of novel coronavirus in the province since Friday, bringing the total number of cases in B.C. to 2,978.
Between Friday and Saturday, there were nine new test-positive cases of COVID-19; 15 people tested positive for the virus between Saturday and Sunday; and between Sunday and Monday, there were seven new cases reported.
In total, 1,008 of the cases are in the Vancouver Coastal Region, 1,570 in Fraser Health, 132 on Vancouver Island, 203 in Interior Health and 65 in Northern Health region.
The number of active cases have increased by four to 166 in B.C.
There are now a total of 16 people who have been hospitalized with COVID-19, four of whom are in critical care — ICU or acute care units.
Six additional deaths were reported over the past three days, four in the Vancouver Coastal Health region and two in the Fraser Health region, and the death toll stands at 183 in total.
In good news, a total of 2,629 people have now recovered from novel coronavirus in B.C.
Outbreaks
No new health care outbreaks were reported today, and there remain a total of three long-term care facilities and one acute-care facility outbreaks that are currently ongoing.
11 new cases have been reported in those facilities, two of whom were residents while the rest are staff.
All of community outbreaks in B.C. were declared over on July 2, and no new outbreaks were reported today.
Dr. Henry urges people to check the BCCDC website to check for public alerts about possible exposures to the virus.
Island Health region
One new case was reported on June 30 in the Island Health region, bringing the total number of cases to 132. This was one of just two cases recorded in the region in the month of June.
Specific data for the Vancouver Island Health region shows that there have been 132 total cases of COVID-19 in the area and five people have died.
There are currently two active cases remaining in the region.
Data from the Ministry of Health shows that southern Vancouver Island has had 48 cases, there were 25 in central Vancouver Island, and 59 in the northern part of the island.
Thus far, there have been 198,765 novel coronavirus tests conducted across B.C., 29,093 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 11,692,783.
Over 539,300 people have died from the illness and 6,611,089 have made a full recovery.
Victoria Police have arrested a woman after she reportedly robbed a store in downtown Victoria and assaulted the officer while they were trying to take her into custody.
At around 10 a.m. on Sunday July 5, officers responded to reports of a robbery with a weapon at a business in the 900-block of Douglas Street.
The suspect allegedly stole a number of items and then threatened to hurt a staff member with a weapon. The type of weapon she was using has not been made clear at this time.
By the time police arrived on site, the suspect had already fled the area.
She was then identified by officers and arrested in the 900 block of Pandora Ave about one hour after the initial robbery.
According to police the woman “assaulted a Patrol officer” during the arrest, and the officer sustained non-life threatening injuries but was able to work the rest of their shift.
The nature of this alleged assault and the extent of the ensuing injuries have not been made public by VicPD.
The suspect was then transported to VicPD cells where she was held for morning court.
She faces recommended charges of robbery with a weapon, assaulting a police officer, and obstructing a police officer.
While Victoria is well-known for its diversity in many different ethic foods and flavours, Thai food in particular tops the list as a favourite for many – and this local restaurant has hit the mark, and then some!
With three locations and voted ‘Best In City’, Little Thai Place has won the hearts (and bellies) of Victorians all across the region, serving up unique dishes while still staying true to their roots.
Even better, if you’re looking to try some of their dishes for yourself, they now offer online ordering and have recently launched an all new mobile app – so droolworthy dinner is only a few clicks away!
Though it’s certainly hard to choose, here are 5 dishes from Little Thai Place that are a must-try:
A delightful red curry with bamboo shoots, eggplant, red peppers and basil. You can choose to add beef, chicken, pork or prawns, and it’s great over rice!
This one is a classic! It has a nice ginger, sweet and sour and slightly tangy taste to it, and goes well with a side of steamed rice.
With the creation of Little Thai Place’s new app, you can choose to download either through Google Play or the Apple App Store, depending on if you have an iPhone or android.
They’re also giving away $1000 in gift cards – 50 cards of $20 each – make sure to enter!
Everyone who registers to order online through the website or through the mobile app will also be entered to win even more monthly giveaways, including another $1000 worth of gift cards each month.
Police and Search and Rescue teams are combing multiple parts of central Vancouver Island after an experienced hiker went missing during a planned expedition last week.
64-year-old Laurence Philippsen had set out on his hike on June 29 with a planned expedition in Strathcona Park to the mountain range that included Mt. Laing, Mt Filberg, Mt Cobb and Mt. Haig-Brown.
He was expected to return on July 2, but has not yet been seen or heard from.
Right after his expected return date, Nootka Sound RCMP were notified and initiated a search after finding Philippsen’s vehicle at his planned parking spot.
According to RCMP, Philippsen had been planning for this trip for a long time and had all the necessary equipment as he is an avid and experienced hiker.
Campbell River Search and Rescue and multiple other search groups in partnership with the RCMP Air Services Section, RCMP Police dog services and the Nootka Sound RCMP, have been conducting an ongoing multi-day air and ground search in efforts to locate him.
Philippsen is described as a Caucasian man standing 5’6″ tall, weighing 160 lbs, with short, silver hair, glasses, and a large scar on his back from a previous surgery.
He was last seen waring a blue T-shirt, blue fleece sweater, beige hiking pants, a large beige hiking pack, and was also carrying a red tent for shelter.
Anyone who has had any conversations with Laurence Philippsen about this particular trip is asked to contact Nootka Sound RCMP 250-283-2227.
RCMP say any detail may help narrow the search area of this very vast mountainous area.
UPDATE: As of 2:15 p.m. on Monday July 6, the two teenage boys were located by RCMP air services helicopter after their vehicle got stuck on a back road in the Copper Canyon area of Chemainus.
“The boys are safe and returning home to their families in Langford,” said Cpl. Chris Dovell in a statement.
“Thank you to all the first responders, search and rescue personnel and community members for your hard work to help locate them.”
Earlier: Multiple police detachments are searching for two teenage boys from Langford after they did not return home from what was supposed to be a day trip in Lake Cowichan.
At around 10:30 a.m on Sunday, July 5, 18-year-old Dylan Deroy and 15-year-old Jordan Phillion embarked on a trip to the Duncan/ Lake Cowichan area.
According to West Shore RCMP, the boys had only packed for enough supplies for the day so it is assumed that they were not planning an overnight camping trip.
When the boys failed to return home on Sunday, their families contacted West Shore RCMP and Lake Cowichan RCMP.
Police determined that Deroy’s cell phone was used near the 300 block of Gibbins Rd in North Cowichan at 11:34 a.m. that day, and has not been used since.
“Dylan was driving. They could be anywhere between Port Alberni Lake Cowichan and the Pacific Marine route,” reads a Facebook post from Deroy’s mother.
Since it was posted this morning, the Facebook post has been shared nearly 2,500 times.
The pair are believed to be travelling on back roads toward Youbou/ Lake Cowichan in Deroy’s white 1996 GMC Sonoma pickup truck, licence plate PD3539. The vehicle has a “Syclone” sticker on the right side.
Local Search and Rescue teams have been deployed by Lake Cowichan RCMP and an RCMP helicopter and Civil Air Search and Rescue planes will be conducting an aerial search.
Anyone who has information on their whereabouts or has observed a white GMC Sonoma is urged to contact their local police immediately or call 911.
(Saturday night's 'Buck Moon' / Photo by Neil Dicke)
From picturesque sunny days, to multi-coloured sunrises, sunsets, moons and everything in between, Victoria has had some truly eye-catching photos posted to Instagram accounts this past week!
This is exactly why we’ve decided each week, we would compile some of the best photos in town that used the hashtag #victoriabuzz on Instagram.
On Mondays we’ll create a new list, so if you’d like to be featured, upload your photo on Instagram and use the hashtag #victoriabuzz; the best pictures will be shared in our next photo gallery!
For now, feast your eyes on some of the most beautiful photos of our fair city had to offer this past week:
An Oak Bay Police officer received some minor injuries after breaking up a group of young people partying at the beach on Saturday night.
According to a statement from Deputy Chief Ray Bernoties, one officer attended reports of a loud party at the beach in McNeil Bay on Saturday, July 4.
When he arrived, he found a small group of teenagers drinking and smoking weed. They were all told that the party was over and advised to disperse.
“Most youths left but a few started yelling ‘Fu** the Blue’ and continued to yell and swear despite requests by our member to stop,” says Bernoties.
However one of the youths, a 16-year-old boy, was “very agitated” according to police, and kept yelling ‘Fu** the Blue’.
The officer moved to take the teen into custody, during which he resisted arrest and caused minor injuries to the officer in question. Police say the youth weighed about 230 lbs.
According to Bernoties, the officer suffered a swollen knee and abrasions to his hands.
Eventually, the officer restrained the teenager, and decided on turning him over to his mother and issued him a $115 ticket for public intoxication.
In a tweet about the incident, Oak Bay Police talked about how anti-police rhetoric has become more common in recent weeks.
“There are some important conversations occurring regarding Police accountability. Unfortunately, however, there is also a great deal of inflammatory and inaccurate messaging that can create unnecessary conflict,” said Bernoties in an email to Victoria Buzz.
“We work in a very supportive community so these types of incidents are fortunately still uncommon.”
During the incident, the officer had to request urgent backup from other members of his detachment, Victoria Police and Saanich Police—something that, according to Oak Bay Police, the officer has never done before during his 24-year-long career.
“He asked the youth afterward ‘Was I disrespectful in any way?’,” reads a Twitter update from Oak Bay Police.
Victoria Police are investigating an incident that left one man hospitalized with serious injuries this morning.
At around 4:30 a.m. on Monday July 6, officers were called to Centennial Square for reports that a man had received potentially life threatening injuries.
Upon arrival at the scene, police learned that he was the victim of an assault with a weapon.
He was transported to hospital where it was determined that his injuries were but not life threatening.
No arrests have been made and the incident is currently under investigation.
Anyone with information is asked to contact VicPD at (250) 995-7654, extension 1. To report what you know anonymously, please call Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Saanich Police have issued a warning after a cougar was spotted in the Royal Oak area of Saanich Saturday morning.
According to police, the feline was seen around 9:30 a.m. in the vicinity of Chatterton Way and Royal Oak Drive.
It was last seen in the 4500 block of Chatterton Way.
BC Conservation Service has been advised.
The Saanich Pound as well as Saanich Police are in the area searching for the animal.
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.
Vancouver Island residents can now add a luxurious picnic to their summer staycation this pandemic season courtesy of one local business.
Tally-Ho Carriage Tours, a horse carriage tour company that was created as a transportation business in 1903, has launched a new tour package in partnership with several local businesses in the Saanich Peninsula.
The business which usually offers scenic tours for visitors in downtown Victoria has had to improvise their model due to tourist season effectively being shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As a result, they are now offering a Tally-Ho & Sea Cider Picnic Experience: 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.
“Open-air carriage rides naturally offer much greater levels of safety than indoor activities and are designed for guests to enjoy with people who are already in their small, consistent social bubble,” says Tally-Ho owner Donna Friedlander in a statement.
“We’ve created a new experience that celebrates the community where our family and horses live, showcasing the spectacular offerings of other Saanich Peninsula businesses.”
The tour will encompass a ride through rural farmlands, feature stunning views of ocean vistas, and guides who offer fun facts about the Saanich Peninsula.
Each ride starts at the Fresh Cup Cafe & Roastery located at 101-1931 Mt. Newton X Rd and brings patrons back to that point at the end of the tour.
This package is offered for groups of two to five people, will be offered on Thursdays and Sundays throughout the summer starting July 9, and costs $110 per person.
Tally-Ho has also resumed their tours of downtown Victoria at a limited capacity from noon to 6:00 p.m. Thursday to Sunday.
The B.C. Ministry of Health has reported 13 new test-positive cases of novel coronavirus in the province today, bringing the total number of cases in B.C. to 2,947.
In total, 995 of the cases are in the Vancouver Coastal Region, 1,553 in Fraser Health, 132 on Vancouver Island, 202 in Interior Health and 65 in Northern Health region.
Six cases previously reported have been removed from the total, as they were identified as residents of another province and will be reported in their home province.
The number of active cases have increased by two to 162 in B.C.
There are now a total of 19 people who have been hospitalized with COVID-19, two of whom are in critical care — ICU or acute care units.
No additional deaths were reported today, and the death toll stands at 177 in total.
In good news, a total of 2,608 people have now recovered from novel coronavirus in B.C.
Outbreaks
No new health care outbreaks were reported today, and there are now a total of three long-term care facilities and one acute-care facility outbreaks that are currently ongoing.
All of community outbreaks in B.C. were declared over on July 2, and no new outbreaks were reported today.
Dr. Henry urges people to check the BCCDC website to check for public alerts about possible exposures to the virus.
Island Health region
One new case was reported on June 30 in the Island Health region, bringing the total number of cases to 132. This was one of just two cases recorded in the region in the month of June.
Specific data for the Vancouver Island Health region shows that there have been 132 total cases of COVID-19 in the area and five people have died.
There are currently two active cases remaining in the region.
Data from the Ministry of Health shows that southern Vancouver Island has had 47 cases, there were 25 in central Vancouver Island, and 59 in the northern part of the island.
Thus far, there have been 197,246 novel coronavirus tests conducted across B.C., 28,898 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 11,161,989.
Over 528,000 people have died from the illness and 6,230,800 have made a full recovery.
British Columbia’s favourite Hollywood export, Ryan Reynolds, is once again demonstrating his love for the Pacific Northwest.
The Vancouver-born actor has launched a fundraising campaign titled ‘Make Ryan Pay’, in support of Victoria-based wildlife conservation group, Pacific Wild.
Through this fundraiser, Reynolds will match all donations to Pacific Wild between July 1 and August 3, up to a maximum of $50,000.
“Providing this gift, this matching challenge, is to help raise money for the critical conservation work being done by my friends at Pacific Wild,” says Reynolds in a video on the Pacific Wild website.
“This is my way of ensuring that the rainforest that I grew up with as a kid are still going to be there, wild and unique and in the world for my kids and for hopefully their kids too.”
This is not the first time the famous actor has expressed his appreciation for the wilderness across B.C.’s rugged and beautiful coastline.
Last year, Reynolds narrated a documentary about the Great Bear Rainforest, home to grizzlies, coastal wolves, large sea otters, and the rarest bear on earth—the spirit bear, for IMAX.
In launching this fundraiser, the Deadpool star made sure to include his own trademark comedic twist as another way to get people to donate.
“Now here’s the best part: if you’ve ever panned one of my movies or hated one of my movies, then this is your chance for revenge – make me pay for it.”
For their part Pacific Wild calls Reynolds their superhero, and states that the #MakeRyanPay campaign will help them achieve “lasting conservation protections for the lands and waters of BC’s Great Bear Rainforest and beyond”.
The wildlife conservation group was founded in 2008 and has since achieved several conservation milestones like a fully legislated ban on grizzly bear trophy hunting in 2018, maintaining a ban on fish farm expansion in the Great Bear Rainforest, and increasing marine protected areas like the Scott Islands.
(Sunset at E&N Railway's Victoria Roundhouse/Photo by Mike Raposo)
The B.C. Supreme Court dismissed a case this week brought by a Vancouver Island First Nation to have the E&N Railway corridor land returned to their ownership.
The Corridor bisects the Snaw-Naw-As reserve just west of Lantzville. It was acquired in 1912 by the E&N Railway Company.
The Snaw-Naw-As First Nation had argued that the land, currently owned by the Island Corridor Foundation (ICF), has been sitting unused despite a requirement that the lands be used for railway purposes.
In their statement of claim, the Snaw-Naw-As submitted that it was “a fiction to state [the land] is held for railway purposes.”
The ICF agreed that the land must be used for railway purposes, but argued that although passenger trains haven’t operated on the corridor since 2011, they are conducting their ownership with the intention of resuming service.
They went on to argue that the “purposeful” use of the land did not imply continuous passenger service and wrote that “a hundred years later, the railway is still there. The tracks have not been torn up.”
Supreme Court Judge Robert Punnett sided with the ICF in dismissing the claim.
In his ruling, which has been made public, he wrote that while the future of the railway may be unclear, even describing it as “bleak,” the provincial government’s recent studies on the area show that they haven’t completely closed the door on rail service returning.
The ICF wrote in a release on their website that they were pleased by the ruling, but also stated that they recognized the “frustration” of First Nation partners and the public towards the lack of progress on the rail line.
“This determination should not be mistaken for an invitation to delay progress but as a clarion call to move forward with restoration of rail service,” the ICF said.
For the claimant’s, Snaw-Naw-As Chief Gordon Edwards said that he was “disappointed” with the decision and would be considering options including whether or not to appeal the ruling.
Events are back in action in Victoria as the province enters Phase 3 of their COVID-19 restart plan!
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!
Tonight we get to find out who the winners are in the Victoria Pride Society’s Annual Big Gay Dog Walk, which has gone virtual this year! Host Chaz Avery will be guiding viewers through a Youtube showing of the costume contest and trick competition, starting at 7 p.m. PST. Winners will be awarded gift cards to Boom + Batten Restaurant and some doggie treats.
The 10th episode of the Vicarious Show, presented by the Victoria Pride Society, premieres on Saturday at 8 p.m. PST online. The weekly variety show features queer local artists hosted by Henrietta Dubet and Shelita Cox.
Victoria Pride Festival is going virtual this year to stay physically distant! A variety of performances of local artists will be presented online through the Victoria Pride Society’s Youtube Channel, emceed by J McLaughlin.
The Greater Victoria Green Team needs few good volunteers to help control invasive species in Anderson Hill Park in Oak Bay! These outdoor activities are a great way to meet people, connect with the community and get outdoors in a safe, physically distant manner. There are two sessions on Saturday to choose from!
Where: Anderson Hill Park (572 Island Rd.), meet near the entrance.
When: 10 a.m. to 11:45 a.m., or 12:45 p.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday.
The Mint’s SonIK Saturdays invites you to put on your best red & white for some beats with special guest DJ’s from the Victoria Electronic Music Collective crew. Seating is limited on a first come first served basis to maintain physical distancing, so get there early!
A swarm of bees appeared in an Esquimalt yard earlier this week (photo by Diane Farries)
An Esquimalt resident was having a neighbour over at her home on Sunday for a visit when they noticed something out of the window: a huge cloud of bugs.
“We went out to the yard and half of it was covered in bees,” says Pica in a phone call with Victoria Buzz. “Initially it was frightening. But they didn’t care at all.”
A third neighbour googled bee swarms and discovered a lifeline: the Capital Region Beekeepers Association (CRBA).
Peter Day, a beekeeper and director of CRBA’s swarm response, answered the call.
“He showed up to see what to do about them,” Pica says. “They were really efficient and knew what they were doing.”
The CBRA is a volunteer-based association that Day says can provide knowledgeable beekeepers who will help collect bees and give them a home before they end up in difficult-to-reach spots like attics or chimneys.
“Swarm collecting is a bit of an art,” Day says.
When bees swarm, they are preparing to form a new hive with a new Queen, says Day. Scout bees will be sent out, report back, and then the whole swarm will follow.
Just as Day and another volunteer were preparing to collect the swarm from Pica’s yard, the scout reported back and the bees took off.
A second target
“They went over to Flying Squirrel about a block away,” Day says.
The Flying Squirrel, a trampoline park and entertainment centre, was open that day, and a couple of young patrons spotted the swarm first.
“A lady and her kids were just leaving and the kids came out and they looked and just stopped dead in their tracks and ran back in,” Day says.
Some quick-thinking employees shut the doors to prevent the bees from entering, an action which Day says saved them a lot of trouble. He says the bees may have wanted to build their hive inside.
“It is unusual for bees to consider going indoors but they seemed to be interested in going in.”
With the doors closed, the bees grew tired and gathered on a nearby maple branch.
Day cut off the branch and shook most of the bees into a box. The remainder of the swarm followed into the box when night fell.
For the Flying Squirrel, it was a close call to having a beehive in the building, but for Day this was business as usual.
Peter Day collecting bees at Flying Squirrel (courtesy Peter Day)
How swarm response works
The CRBA has about 180 members who help them track hives in the area.
“When we get a call of a swarm, the first thing that we do is we determine where the swarm is and we go to our map to see if we might be able to determine who owns the bees.”
The swarm responders check with hive owners to see if their bees have swarmed, and if they have, they ask if they would like to retrieve them.
In some cases, however, a beekeeper may be at their limit for beekeeping. Day says that the Township of Esquimalt permits a maximum of three bee hives for private keepers.
In other cases, the swarm may not belong to anyone. That was the case for the rogue Flying Squirrel bees.
In a situation like this, Day says, the bees are generally “adopted” by a beekeeper who has space. He says he has personally taken ownership of the swarm from Pica’s yard.
Pica says she was very impressed by Day and the CRBA’s work and wants other people to know they don’t have to be afraid and react poorly to bee swarms.
“Most flying creatures, if you don’t get into their nest, they won’t bother you,” Pica says. “I’ve never seen a bee swarm, it was really an amazing experience.”
Day says that anyone looking for more information on the CRBA can find them online at capitalregionbeekeepers.ca. Annual membership fees are $32, with monthly meetings currently held via Zoom due to COVID-19.
If you encounter a bee swarm in your area you can reach CBRA’s swarm response by phone at 250-900-5787, or by email at swarms@capitalregionbeekeepers.ca.
It might technically be summer, but the weather in Victoria lately still calls for blankets and cozying up in front of a great movie or show.
Filming has been on hold in Hollywood and Hollywood North over the past few months, but that hasn’t stopped Netflix from rolling out movies and shows on its platform to keep viewers entertained during lockdown.
The Splash Pad at Esquimalt's Adventure Park (township of Esquimalt)
Families and kids in particular will be happy to hear that Esquimalt’s Adventure Park will be turning on the taps for its popular splash pad on Monday.
The Township of Esquimalt says they are bringing back the park’s water features in line with the Province’s phased COVID-19 reopening strategy.
Water to the splash pad will be turned on from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily along with the park’s adjacent washroom, subject to change depending on maintenance requirements.
The fenced Adventure Park also includes seating and a playground.
The Township of Esquimalt says that the park typically sees a consistent flow of visitors during the summer months and asks that users follow health guidelines and maintain physical distancing.
They suggest that if the park appears too busy that visitors consider returning later.
“We’re pleased to have such a wonderful community amenity to offer our residents,” said Mayor Barbara Desjardins.
“It doesn’t feel like summer in Esquimalt until the splash pad is going.”
The District of Saanich will slowly start to reopen recreation centres across the municipality this month.
In the first phase of reopening, Day Camps at rec centres began operating with new safety measures in place on June 29.
Next up, in-person reception services and weight rooms will open at all recreation centres on July 13.
Starting July 20, ice services will restart in the GR Pearkes Green Arena.
Limited aquatic programs will reopen at Gordon Head on July 20 and at Saanich Commonwealth Place on August 4.
“Recreation is a vital part of our community well-being. We understand that our residents can’t wait to return to the services and facilities they love,” said Mayor Fred Haynes in a statement.
“I, council and staff join them in this, albeit with understanding that there will be modifications and new safety protocols in place.”
The district has increased the frequency of cleaning protocols at all of the facilities in keeping with new COVID-19 regulations.
Further, all services will be provided by reservation for the foreseeable and the number of people allowed indoors will be monitored to maintain room for physical distancing.
According to the statement from Saanich, recreation safety protocols were developed based on guidelines and requirements from the Provincial Health Officer, WorkSafe BC, Island Health, BC Recreation and Parks Association, and the Lifesaving Society of BC.
At a press briefing on Thursday, B.C. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced one new case in the Vancouver Island Health region.
This was an unusual occurrence for a health authority that has not seen any new cases since June 22, and on June 4 had declared zero active cases for the first time since the start of the pandemic.
In response to questions from Victoria Buzz, Dr. Henry stated that the new test-positive COVID-19 case in the Island Health region was a travel-related case.
The individual who contracted the virus is not related to any local outbreak or cluster. It is not known what part of the island they are located in.
Whether or not a public exposure alert is issued by the BCCDC will depend on when the person travelled, says B.C.’s top doctor.
“As far as I understand, they had a small number of close contacts that are in quarantine now, so I don’t believe there was any concern about travel,” said Dr. Henry.
This new case was reported alongside a daily update that announced 24 new COVID-19 cases and three additional deaths in B.C. between Tuesday and Thursday.
The number of active cases has increased by eight to 160 across the province.
Before this new case recorded on June 30, Island Health reported the first new case of COVID-19 since early May on June 22, breaking the region’s streak of no active cases since the beginning of June.
Specific data for the Vancouver Island Health region shows that there have been 132 total cases of COVID-19 in the area and five people have died.
Data from the Ministry of Health shows that southern Vancouver Island has had 47 cases, there were 25 in central Vancouver Island, and 59 in the northern part of the island.
Thus far, there have been 193,752 novel coronavirus tests conducted across B.C., 28,370 of which were done in the Island Health region.
(Dr. Bonnie Henry, Minister Adrian Dix/BC Gov Flickr)
The B.C. Ministry of Health has reported 24 new test-positive cases of novel coronavirus in the province since Tuesday, bringing the total number of cases in B.C. to 2,940.
Between Tuesday and Wednesday, there were 15 cases of COVID-19, and nine people tested positive for the virus between Wednesday and Thursday.
In total, 989 of the cases are in the Vancouver Coastal Region, 1,553 in Fraser Health, 132 on Vancouver Island, 201 in Interior Health and 65 in Northern Health region.
The number of active cases has increased by eight to 160 in B.C.
There are now a total of 17 people who have been hospitalized with COVID-19, two of whom are in critical care — ICU or acute care units.
Three additional deaths were reported over the weekend, and the death toll now stands at 177 in total.
In good news, a total of 2,603 people have now recovered from novel coronavirus in B.C.
Outbreaks
No new health care outbreaks were reported today, and there are a total of four long-term care or assisted-living facilities and one acute-care facility outbreaks that are currently ongoing.
All of community outbreaks in B.C. have also been declared over and no new outbreaks were reported today.
Dr. Henry urges people to check the BCCDC website to check for public alerts about possible exposures to the virus.
Island Health region
One new case was reported today in the Island Health region, bringing the total number of cases to 132. This is the first new case recorded in the region in over a week.
On June 22, Island Health reported the first new case of COVID-19 since early May, breaking the region’s streak of no active cases since the beginning of June.
Specific data for the Vancouver Island Health region shows that there have been 132 total cases of COVID-19 in the area and five people have died.
Data from the Ministry of Health shows that southern Vancouver Island has had 47 cases, there were 25 in central Vancouver Island, and 59 in the northern part of the island.
Thus far, there have been 193,752 novel coronavirus tests conducted across B.C., 28,370 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 10,979,142.
Over 522,700 people have died from the illness and 6,125,449 have made a full recovery.
North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP say alcohol and speed are not believed to be factors after a vehicle crashed into a building in Duncan late Thursday morning.
Police say that a little after 10:30 a.m. on July 2, a car crashed into a building near the intersection of Government Street and Craig Street in Duncan.
Officers rerouted traffic around the area until around noon.
Police did not release information about the nature of injuries in the incident but said that “several” people were taken to hospital for assessment.
North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP say they are not releasing further information about the investigation or the causes of the collision for privacy issues.
Cst. Brandon Hill thanked the public for cooperating with the road closure and asked that drivers slow down, move over and follow signs or instructions from those directing traffic around emergency responders.
A large group of Canada Day revellers were spotted at Mount Douglas Park in Saanich last night.
In a statement, Saanich Police say they received multiple reports of the large gathering taking place at around 9 p.m. on July 1.
When they arrived, they saw around 200 people wearing red and white, partying in the parking lot and down at the beach.
Officers stated that there was also a “steady stream of vehicles” dropping people off at the gathering.
Attendees of the party were displaying public intoxication, open alcohol consumption, underage drinking, and were also not practicing physical distancing.
However when officers showed up to break up the party, they were met with almost full cooperation from the youth who they say were respectful and left the area.
“We certainly anticipated some gatherings last night of people wanting to celebrate Canada Day, however this is a reminder that physical distancing measures are still in place in the province,” said Cst. Markus Anastasiades in a statement.
It took about two hours for everyone to disperse as parents came to pick up their wards, and none of the intoxicated people required medical attention.
Victoria Police say they have been working to combat human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation with “Project No More.”
In the month of June, detectives with the Special Victims Unit focused on information gathering and meeting potential victims to offer resources and assistance.
Plainclothes officers stationed themselves at a local hotel and contacted sex-trade workers through website advertising services, posing as potential clients.
Social workers accompanied officers to the arranged meetings to raise awareness and offer available resources.
The sex-trade workers were all immediately informed upon arrival that they were free to leave and were under no obligation to speak with officers.
Police say the majority chose to stay and were provided with bags containing toiletries, clothes, and gift cards for basic items, in addition to information resources.
The officers met with eight sex-trade workers, some of whom were visiting Victoria from as far east as Montreal and Toronto.
Police say this is not uncommon as many victims of sexual exploitation travel on a circuit of major cities across Canada.
VicPD says the youngest of the workers was 18 years old.
Detectives are asking the public to be aware of the ongoing issue of human trafficking in Victoria, and say that anyone who wishes to report information about a suspected incident can call the VicPD non-emergency line at (250) 995-7654.
Those wishing to report anonymously can do so by calling Greater Victoria Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
The province announced on Thursday that they will boost the climate action tax credit for more than 80 per cent of families and individuals for the month of July.
The credit will benefit individuals up to $218, children will receive up to $64 and a family of four will receive up to $564.
The government says this is double the annual amount households would have received prior to B.C.’s COVID-19 Action Plan.
The province says the enhanced credit is part of their pandemic response plan to support people and businesses impacted by COVID-19.
“Many British Columbians are still worried about how they can cover costs such as transportation so they can return to work, pay for groceries and find day camps for their children,” said Carole James, Minister of Finance.
“The enhanced climate action tax credit puts extra money in the pockets of British Columbians for their household expenses and to spend at local businesses.”
The funds will automatically be deposited for those who are eligible and have completed their 2019 B.C. income tax return.
A hit-and-run on Gabriola Island has left a young man with serious injuries, according to police.
Gabriola RCMP says the incident happened on Sunday at 6:30 p.m. in the 700-block of North Road.
The pedestrian was found with serious injuries consistent with being struck by a vehicle.
Witnesses administered first aid to the victim until first responders arrived. They also helped police identify the suspect.
Police then located and arrested a Gabriola resident a short time later and believe that impairment is a likely factor in the collision.
“This incident could have easily resulted in a tragic loss of life,” said Acting Cpl. Patti Evans, the detachment commander. “As it is, the victim likely has a long road to recovery and the driver faces serious penalties for his alleged actions.”
The victim was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
It was a confusing turn of events for Nanaimo’s Woodrgrove Centre, after a memo was sent out to staff claiming an employee had tested positive for COVID-19, and then was retracted only 24 hours later.
The memo was sent out on Tuesday afternoon to mall managers and tenants, signed by Ivanhoé Cambridge’s B.C. Regional Manager Charles Fleck, and stated that the person was “no longer” in the shopping centre.
Despite this, the memo didn’t clarify when the infected individual tested positive, where they worked within the mall, or how long ago they had left the mall.
A mere 24 hours later, on Canada Day, the Nanaimo shopping centre sent a follow-up, claiming that the previous memo was all just a mistake.
In a brief statement released by Ivanhoé Cambridge Wednesday evening, Woodgrove Centre said they were notified that the person who tested positive was indeed not working at the mall.
“We have just been informed that the person who tested positive for COVID-19 was not working at Woodgrove Centre,” the statement said.
“Meanwhile, rest assured that we have been following health and safety protocols and guidelines in our mall.”
No information about how the mistake was made, or where the apparent COVID-19 positive case originated from was revealed in the memo.
Woodgrove went on to stress that the health and safety of their employees, tenants, customers and other guests is of the highest importance to them and that they will continue to diligently disinfect the common areas throughout the shopping centre, such as countertops, entry doors, door handles, and railings.
There are reports that there was actually a mix-up, and the memo went to Woodgrove Centre instead of another shopping mall, but this has not been confirmed, nor which centre the memo was originally intended for.
Ivanhoé Cambridge operates dozens of malls across Canada, including Victoria’s Mayfair Shopping Centre, Tsawwassen Mills, and Metropolis at Metrotown.
One Victoria man was arrested and faces charges after VicPD were called to investigate a shooting on Tuesday evening.
Victoria Police were called to to a multi-unit temporary housing building in the 100-block of Gorge Road East around 8:20 p.m. on June 30th, for reports that a man had fired a handgun at another person.
Following the incident, the suspect entered a suite in the building. Upon investigation, VicPD discovered that the shooting was captured on video.
VicPD officers were able to identify the suspect, then worked to contain the suite, and in an abundance of caution, evacuated nearby residents.
The Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team (GVERT) was also deployed to the scene, in an effort to work to resolve the incident safely.
After some time, three occupants eventually exited the suite, and were then taken into custody without incident, according to Victoria Police.
The man who was identified as the suspect was the last to exit the suite, and was taken into custody, then transported to cells.
A search of the suite following the incident found a replica, compressed air-powered handgun, and the victim did not receive any physical injuries.
According to VicPD, the suspect faces recommended charges including assault with a weapon, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, and discharge of an air gun with intent.
Hot summer days and ice cream go hand in hand, quite literally!
And when you can support a local Victoria business AND indulge in the good stuff, those sweet treats taste even better.
Parachute Ice Cream was created by a couple of local entrepreneurs who decided it would be a great idea to make good quality, delicious ice cream – and they’ve been serving up cool classics along with unique flavours ever since.
Want to try some for yourself? We’ve partnered with the BC Dairy Association to give away not only two pints of ice cream of your choice, but also an ice cream cake AND a $20 gift card to Parachute Ice Cream, while helping to support Food Banks BC in the process – contest details are below!
Parachute prides themselves on creating as much as they can in-house, and try to use as much product from local businesses as possible.
They make all of their ice cream on site, even details like the brownies that go in the Brown Butter Brownie Ice Cream, the rhubarb compote and crumble for the Rhubarb Crumble ice cream, and the fresh hand chopped mint for the Mint Dark Chocolate flavour!
Parachute offers local small batch ice cream in pints, scoops, ice cream cakes, milkshakes and ice cream floats.
Their ice cream cakes are made to order and can be customized with all your favourite flavours and toppings!
A variety of rotating and seasonal flavours are available in house for scoops, and they serve them in their house-made waffle cones.
Their hope is to not only make a great product, but also be a positive member of the Victoria business community.
Since 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 2700 kg 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 a total of five businesses – small dairy processors, cheese crafters, ice cream makers, etc. – that use BC dairy to make their products.
BC dairy farmers will also donate $1 for every contest entry to Food Banks BC up to $20,000 inclusive of the entire BC Giveaway Series.
For a chance to WIN one of twenty, free ice cream cakes as well as two pints of your choosing, AND a $20 gift card to Parachute Ice Cream (an $80 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 Victoria residents only and entries will be accepted from the time and date of publishing until 11:59 pm on July 8th, 2020. One winner will be chosen at random and contacted through the platform they used to enter.
A young Black man in Victoria was the victim of a random assault on a BC Transit bus last month.
In a statement on Wednesday, Victoria Police says they are investigating this incident as potential hate crime.
Officers were flagged down by two men in the 1100-block of Johnson Street at around 4 p.m. on June 19.
One of the men reported that he had been hit by a man he did not know while on a BC Transit bus, and was suffering from non-life threatening injuries as a result.
Upon investigation, officers learned that a video on board the bus in question had captured the incident.
In the video, the victim is seen entering the bus and heading towards a seat when the suspect stands up and strikes the victim without warning.
Other passengers on the bus are then seen intervening and the suspect is pushed off the bus.
Police describe the suspect as Caucasian man, about 40-50 years old, with a medium to heavy build, and blond hair.
At the time of the incident, he was wearing sunglasses, a black hat with a logo on it, a blue shirt with a logo on it, tan shorts, white socks, and black sneakers.
Officers are now seeking public assistance in their efforts to identify the suspect, and further investigate the incident before determining potential charges.
Anyone who recognizes him from the images above is asked to contact VicPD at (250) 995-7654, and select option 1 for the report desk. To report what you know anonymously, call Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
One man has been taken into custody and then hospitalized after a mental health call involving a weapon on Tuesday afternoon.
At around 4:30 p.m., Victoria Police officers were called to an apartment building in the 1100-block of Hillside Ave for reports that a man was in crisis and had a weapon.
According to VicPD spokesperson Bowen Osoko, it took two to three hours for officers to secure the scene and Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team and Crisis Negotiators to take the man into custody.
A part of the building was evacuated during the incident, says Osoko, and the man in question was taken to hospital for evaluation.
The nature of the weapon is not being disclosed, and there were no injuries to either the man in custody or anyone in the building.
No charges are being recommended at this time and there may be an update on this incident in the near future.
An Indigenous woman in Nanaimo shared a tearful account of an alleged racial profiling incident after she visited a local Tim Hortons over the weekend.
The woman, who goes by the name Ashleigh Lori-anne on Facebook, started a live video immediately after leaving the store that she says she was kicked out of, on Saturday June 27.
According to her, she was standing in line at the front counter of the Tim Hortons located at 519 Fifth Street and asked to use the washroom but was told that they could not allow her to unless she paid for something—but that’s not the only reason she was given.
“The guy specifically at the counter told me that he couldn’t let me in because I look suspicious of having drug paraphernalia,” says Lori-anne, in between sobs.
At this, both Lori-anne and another customer standing in line beside here questioned the employee, asking him why he needed to say anything about drug paraphernalia.
Lori-anne was then asked to leave the store, after which she began filming her video.
In an updated comment the next day, she stated that the witness and another customer who saw the incident will be helping her file a formal complaint against the Tim Hortons branch.
“I’ve never had that happen to me. I got kicked out of a store because they assumed because of the colour of my skin that I have drug paraphernalia on me, and that hurts,” she goes on in the video.
Since it was first uploaded, Lori-anne’s video has been viewed 106,000 times, shared by nearly 2,000 people, and received over 1,000 comments.
Victoria Buzz has reached out to Tim Hortons for further information about this incident, but have not heard back in time for publication.
An employee at the 519 Fifth St store declined to comment on the incident.
The procession will head down Beacon Ave, turn right on Lochside Dr, travel over the overpass to Willingdon Rd, around the Victoria International airport, turn right on West Saanich Road, make another right on Lands End, head down the highway and on to McDonald Park Rd.
“We will be passing through some neighbourhoods, so if we are passing through yours, bring some chairs out and watch the rolling car show!”
If you’re in the area and looking for last minute Canada Day activities, give these motor enthusiasts and their vehicles a cheer.
Just remember to maintain proper physical distancing from people outside your social bubble!
This new single-day record for overdose calls comes just a few weeks after a BC Coroners Service report found that 170 people died from overdosing in May 2020, surpassing the previous monthly record of 161 deaths reported back in December 2016.
“It is both sad and deeply frustrating to see the number of illicit drug deaths reach a new high in B.C. four years after the declaration of a public health emergency,” said Lisa Lapointe, chief coroner, in a statement at the time.
“We still know that illicit drug toxicity death rates in B.C. remain the highest for any jurisdiction in Canada, and every region in B.C. has been impacted.”
B.C. has thus far recorded three consecutive months with over 100 people dying from drug overdose, and a record of the number overdose deaths in the month of June is expected to be released later this month.
Before March, deaths related to drug overdose were on the decline in B.C. as the Coroners Service report in February showed a 36 per cent reduction in the number of people who died by overdose in 2019 compared to 2018.
Provincial health officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry has long advocated for the establishment of harm-reduction measures like safe consumption sites, and naloxone training and availability.
“We’re dealing with addiction. And addiction is an illness, a health condition,” said Dr. Henry in a statement back in February.
Saanich Police have arrested 46-yeaer-old Randy Smith after an investigation found that he had allegedly imported Conducted Energy Weapons, or tasers, from China.
In a statement released on Tuesday, police announced that they had been investigating the importation of the tasers after their delivery was intercepted in the mail system and turned over to Saanich PD in May 2020.
The illegal weapons were believed to have been purchased online and shipped over from China.
According to police, the person importing the weapons had a long history of drug trafficking and possession charges along with weapons-related offences.
Smith was arrested on June 25 with the assistance of the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team and a search of his vehicle and residence was conducted.
The search yielded more illegally imported tasers, drugs which had an estimate street value of $10,000, and other weapons including a crossbow, brass knuckles, batons, switchblades, and a ‘medieval mace’.
Smith was held in custody on three charges of Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking
and two counts of Possession of weapons contrary to a lifetime firearm/weapon prohibition.
Victoria residents can once again watch high-definition movies on a six-storey high screen starting this week.
After three and a half months of closure, IMAX Victoria located at the Royal BC Museum will welcome audiences once more starting Friday, July 3.
This decision comes after B.C. announced its transition into Phase 3 of the COVID-19 Restart Plan which allows businesses like hotels, resorts, and movie theatres to reopen.
In keeping with orders of the provincial health officer, IMAX has reduced its theatre capacity to 50 people, providing ample opportunity for patrons to maintain physical distancing.
Fans will have an opportunity to view films that were aired before the closure of the theatre. IMAX will also be showing the 1980 classic, Raiders of the Lost Ark, from July 3 to 16.
To align with Royal BC Museum schedules, the theatre will run six days a week and will close on Wednesdays.
Patrons can find more information about showtimes and schedules on their website.
