Join our community of SUBSCRIBERS and be part of the conversation.
To subscribe, simply enter your email address on our website or click the subscribe button below. Don't worry, we respect your privacy and won't spam your inbox. Your information is safe with us.
Courtenay’s Alan Barker and Langley’s Kathleen Cook are best friends who are celebrating their $2-million win from the BC/49 draw on March 4th. (BCLC)
After 70 years as best friends, two people from Vancouver Island have another reason to celebrate — $2 million is headed their way.
Courtenay resident Alan Barker and Langley resident Kathleen Cook haven’t seen each other for months, but are hoping for a dream reunion soon to celebrate their big win from the BC/49 draw on March 4th.
The duo met in England in the 1950s and later moved to Canada with their spouses and were friends ever since.
More recently, they have been buying lottery tickets together.
“I was looking at the screen and was dumbstruck,” says Barker of the moment when he discovered the pair had won. “Even while I was walking out someone asked if it was the big winner. I still can’t believe it.”
Barker contacted Cook immediately to share the exciting news.
“I was surprised when Alan told me the winning ticket was in his hands, full of wonder and disbelief,” says Cook. “It took a long time to register.”
Barker and Cook — with the help of Barker’s grandson — claimed their $2-million prize through BCLC’s alternate prize claim process, which Barker described as “marvelous.”
On what the future will bring thanks to the life-changing prize, Barker plans to donate some winnings to the local hospital for new equipment, and may move into “posher” assisted living.
Cook says she will help her family members to make their lives easier and more convenient.
As individual provinces gradually introduce their reopening plans, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has outlined what needs to happen to move forward with reopening the economy on a federal level.
This is will include amplified COVID-19 testing capacity, contact tracing, and data sharing between different jurisdictions in the country.
During his daily address on Friday, Trudeau stated he spoke with all Canadian premiers on Thursday evening during the tenth weekly call since the pandemic has begun. The focus was primarily on how Canada can move to safely reopen the economy.
The Prime Minister emphasized that the virus remains a “serious health threat”, and individual provinces and territories must proceed carefully while listening to the advice of experts.
“Canadians have been doing a great job of staying home and listening to public health advice,” Trudeau said. “But we are not out of the woods yet.”
In order to successfully reopen the economy, Trudeau says there must be a boost in testing capacity, and that Canada must identify new cases and work to isolate them.
He added that the federal government is working with the provinces and territories on providing them with reagents and swabs; in order to effectively manage future outbreaks.
Canada also must fast-track contact tracing, says the Prime Minister.
Contact tracing means reaching out to with everyone who may have been exposed to the virus, in hopes they can isolate and manage themselves.
To assist with contact tracing, Trudeau has said he will provide federal government employees to aid in making 3,600 calls per day, seven days a week, to people who may have come in contact with someone infected.
Statistics Canada will also be providing 1,700 interviewers to make 20,000 calls a day.
“These federal resources are available for any surges, backlogs, and challenges. We are already helping in Ontario and stand ready to help anywhere else.”
The Prime Minister also notes that data collected across different jurisdictions must be shared within provinces and territories; this will help follow the spread of the virus, and respond accordingly.
These are the first steps Canada needs to take in order for people to move around freely again and get back to their routines, says Trudeau.
Lastly, he says there must be a coordinated approach across the country, so that Canadians can feel safe reopening the economy.
The incident leading to Perez’s arrest took place on May 14 in the 700-block of Johnson Street.
Officers arrived at the scene to find that a man was stabbed and sustained potentially life threatening injuries.
The victim was transported to hospital while police worked to locate the suspect.
Perez now faces several recommended charges including one count of aggravated assault, two counts of assault with a weapon, and two counts of unlawful confinement.
One Saanich resident was baking cookies when she looked up and spotted her neighbour’s trampoline flying past her window.
Erin Fletcher was startled when she realized that her neighbourhood was the point of landing for what experts call a “weak, short-lived EF0 tornado”.
The funnel cloud carried her neighbour’s trampoline into the air, over and past several houses on McBriar Avenue.
“There was also a sign that travelled over half a kilometre, landing in my backyard,” said Fletcher in an email to Victoria Buzz.
After viewing the video, Environment Canada concluded that a weak tornado had indeed made a landing in the region at 12:18 p.m.
According to the agency, the “unsettled conditions” that created the tornado and periods of heavy showers in the region are expected to clear out later this afternoon.
Take a look:
A doorbell camera captures footage of a rare short-lived tornado in North Saanich today! At one point, a trampoline can be seen thrown into the air by strong winds.
With British Columbia nearly through its first week of partial reopening after COVID-19, a survey shows that residents are split in their decisions to partake in several activities that are now allowed again.
A survey released by Research Co on Thursday shows what percentage of the population is comfortable visiting places like restaurants, gyms, libraries, and taking public transit before a vaccine is available for the novel coronavirus.
For the most part, British Columbians feel comfortable going to dine in at restaurants — more so if the restaurant in question has patio dining options.
When it comes to gyms and fitness facilities, opinions are split more evenly with 53 per cent saying they will go work out at their local gym before a vaccine is available, and 47 per cent saying they won’t.
“More than half of women in British Columbia (54%) say they would not set foot inside a gym or fitness facility before they can have access to a COVID-19 vaccine,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co.
“Conversely, most men (60%) say they would have no problem visiting these venues.”
Similar split votes were registered when it came to personal choices about riding the bus or skytrain.
The survey also asked about willingness to visit libraries, community centres, and hair salons — all of which the majority of British Columbians say they do feel safe going to regardless of whether or not a vaccine is available.
Places that most are likely to avoid, on the other hand, are music venues and live sporting events — an apt choice, considering gatherings over 50 are banned in B.C. until Phase 4 of the restart plan, which involves a vaccine.
Take a look at the full results of the survey:
(Research Co.)
The results of this survey are based on an online poll of 800 people in B.C. forming a representative sample of the population.
The study was conducted between May 15 and 17 and the margin of error – which measures sample variability – is +/- 3.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
The B.C. Ministry of Health has reported 12 new test-positive cases of novel coronavirus in the province today, bringing the total number cases in B.C. to 2,479 people.
In total, 887 of these cases are in the Vancouver Coastal Region, 1,223 in Fraser Health, 126 on Vancouver Island, 183 in Interior Health and 60 in Northern Health region.
The number of active cases continue to decline as there are now 307 in B.C.
There are now a total of 43 people who have been hospitalized with COVID-19, 8 of whom are in critical care — ICU or acute care units — showing a continued decrease in hospitalizations and ICU rates.
Sadly, three new deaths were reported today and the death toll is now at 152 in total across the province.
In good news, a total of 2,020 people have now recovered from novel coronavirus in B.C.
Outbreaks
In total, there are 14 long term care and three acute care facilities now have active ongoing outbreaks, with 537 people affected including 329 residents and 208 staff.
One additional outbreak has been declared at a federal correctional institution in the Fraser Health Region where one person has tested positive for COVID-19.
A community outbreak at the Oppenheimer Group, a fruit and vegetable processing plant in Coquitlam, has three cases.
The coronavirus outbreak at the Mission Institute federal correctional facility continues to have 134 people who have tested positive for COVID-19, including 121 inmates and 13 staff.
The outbreak at a Vancouver chicken processing and packaging plant, United Poultry Company, had 36 employees who tested positive for COVID-19. This outbreak has been declared over and the plant is back up and running.
There continues to be seven people who tested positive for COVID-19 linked to the Fraser Valley Speciality Poultry outbreak.
A total of 17 people returning to B.C. from the Kearl Lake oil sands project in Alberta have tested positive for the virus, and there are additional family members of those workers who are also at risk of virus transmission.
Island Health region
Specific data for the Vancouver Island Health region shows that there are 126 total cases of COVID-19 in the area.
BCCDC data shows that as of May 20th, 120 people have recovered in the Island Health region and there have now been five virus-related deaths in total.
This means there continues to be just one active case in the region, and that patient is in hospital.
Thus far, there have been 126,236 novel coronavirus tests conducted across B.C., 18,954 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 5,171,414.
Over 333,000 people have died from the illness and 2,067,376 have made a full recovery.
Kids returning to school also signals the return of many other parts of routine life we may have forgotten — including things like school zones.
Though the recent announcement that K-12 students can start returning to classrooms in B.C. states June 1st as a start date, many families of essential workers have already had their children return to school in recent weeks.
VicPD is reminding the public that school zones are back in effect in Greater Victoria during this time, with a posted limit of 30 km/h.
School zones are in effect from 8 a.m to 5 p.m. on scheduled school days, and police remind everyone to slow down in designated zones and pay close attention in order to keep students and school staff safe.
VicPD also adds that penalties for speeding in a school zone not only mean several points on your license, but also fines for exceeding the posted speed limit range from $196 to $253.
Cst. MacIntyre from VicPD talks about the importance of school zone safety:
If you’ve got the itch to get back out into the wilderness, don’t fret; BC Parks is set to reopen Discover Camping to take new campground reservations starting this Monday.
With the announcement that many campgrounds and accommodations will start to open on June 1st, along with most B.C. parks now open for day-use, Discover Camping has made the decision to open up their booking schedule on May 25th.
That being said, the reopening of campgrounds is not without some changes to this summer’s upcoming camping season.
B.C. residents will be given first access, and new reservations made after May 25th by non-B.C. residents will be subject to immediate cancellation without refund.
For local residents, front-country and backcountry reservations will be available on a two-month rolling basis starting Monday.
This means beginning May 25th, the system will open to arrivals as far forward as July 25th, for example. This system will continue on, with each day allowing one more day of bookings two months in advance.
Campers can reserve a spot for a maximum of 14 days, and reservations made within the first two weeks of inventory being released cannot be changed.
“This is to prevent people from overbooking and subsequently changing arrival dates to shorten their stay in order to obtain a favourable site or time ahead of other customers,” said BC Parks in a release.
Group sites and reservable picnic shelters will remain closed for the time being, and double sites will only be available for double site bookings and cannot be booked as two single sites for separate groups.
“We are all in this together, and we thank you for your patience and understanding as our staff and park operators work to safely re-open parks and campgrounds across the province. We look forward to seeing many of you out camping soon,” reads the statement on the Discover Camping website.
Bookings for available campgrounds can be made on the Discover Camping website, and will officially be open as of May 25th.
Saanich Police have issued a statement advising the public that a bear was spotted on Thursday morning.
In their tweet, authorities state that the animal was seen “just strolling along” in the 5100 block of Interurban Road.
This is the second bear sighting in the municipality this month, the first of which resulted in an advisory after the animal was seen attempting to get into garbage left on a residential property.
This time, however, police state that the bear was not eating garbage and was not aggressive. Regardless, Conservation Service have been notified of its presence in the area.
Earlier this month, authorities advised people to secure their garbage in order to avoid encounters with bears.
As hibernation season comes to an end, sightings will become more common as the animals wander in search of food.
(Victoria's Secret location in Vancouver / Facebook)
Hundreds of Victoria’s Secret and Bath & Body Works across Canada and the U.S. are permanently closing as retailers struggle to stay afloat amid COVID-19.
On Wednesday, L Brands announced that around 250 Victoria’s Secret and 51 Bath & Body Works stores will close as part of their attempt to persevere through falling sales.
The company’s first-quarter earnings report states that 13 of its 38 Victoria’s Secret stores in Canada will be closed with the remaining closures taking place in the U.S.
There will be 50 Bath & Body Works locations closed in the U.S., and only one in Canada.
L Brands reported their total company sales declined 37 per cent in the first quarter of 2020, which ended on May 2nd.
They also noted that nearly all stores in Canada and the U.S. have been closed since March 17th, in response to the pandemic.
L Brands has not yet provided a list of which Victoria’s Secret and Bath & Body Works locations will be shut down.
Victoria’s Secret currently has 5 locations in Vancouver; Bath & Body Works has 2 stores on Vancouver Island, with one in Victoria.
This announcement follows retail chain Pier 1 revealing they are going out of business, and closing all 540 of their stores in the U.S. and Canada.
Earlier this month, Canadian footwear retailer Aldo and fashion chain Reitmans both filed for creditor protection and went into “restructuring” due to COVID-19.
A Duncan driver is facing a hefty fine after he was allegedly caught driving 100 kilometres an hour over the speed limit on Tuesday morning.
Police say members of the North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP pulled the vehicle over near Cowichan Bay Road at around 3:30 a.m. on Tuesday.
RCMP officers were travelling south on the Trans-Canada Highway when they observed a vehicle approaching them at high speed, activated the radar unit and measured the vehicle’s speed at 180 km/h.
The posted speed limit was 80 km/h.
The driver was pulled over and issued a ticket for excessive speed, with a fine of $483 and three demerit points on his driver’s licence.
Because he was going more that 40 km/h over the speed limit, the vehicle was also impounded for seven days at the driver’s expense.
“We are out patrolling the highways at all hours of the day,” said Cpl. Cari Lougheed, road supervisor for the North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP.
“We encourage everyone to drive responsibly so as to arrive safely at your destination.”
Following in the footsteps of Victoria and Saanich, the Township of Sidney has announced the reopening of some outdoor recreational facilities starting today, Thursday May 21.
These include all tennis courts, the Iroquois Park multi-sport court, the sand volleyball court, and the skate park in Sidney.
Like in neighbouring CRD municipalities, these facilities are being reopened with new health and safety guidelines in place.
These include:
Stay home if you are sick
Keep at least two metres away from people from other households
Wash or sanitize your hands thoroughly and frequently
Do not share equipment, water bottles, or snacks
Remain courteous and limit use if others are waiting to use the facility
These facilities were first closed to the public on March 20 to limit the spread of COVID-19.
“We appreciate the patience and understanding shown by our community throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and are requesting everyone’s ongoing cooperation in continuing to follow the Provincial Health Officer’s directions and guidance as this public health emergency evolves,” reads a statement from the municipality.
Since then, parks and pathways have been kept open in the municipality with additional signage promoting physical distancing.
Public bathrooms in Iroquois Park and Tulista Park have also remained open, with enhanced cleaning procedures in place.
(Grad class of 2019 / Belmont Senior Secondary School)
Graduating students in the Sooke School District may get to cross the stage in cap and gown to receive their diplomas this year after all.
In a video posted to District 62’s Twitter on Wednesday, Superintendent Scott Stinson announced that along with an online ceremony for 2020 graduating students, they will also be offered the option of attending an in-person ceremony.
“We’ll be organizing this in small groups so that students will be able to participate and engage in this crossing of the stage as an important part of your graduation,” Stinson said in the video.
“This will allow you to dress in your cap and gown and formal attire underneath if that’s what you choose.”
Though students will be encouraged to attend the in-person ceremonies, Stinson does note that families will not be allowed to attend.
He goes on to add that there will be a professional photographer on site to capture the memories for families.
Recently, graduating high school students in School District 62 petitioned against the idea to hold a virtual graduation ceremony for the class of 2020 because of COVID-19 concerns.
“We understand that due to the circumstances of COVID-19 that we will not be able to have our grad ceremony by the end of June, but instead of prolonging it SD62 has decided to cancel it completely and instead give us an online version of a graduation ceremony,” the petition read.
The petition argued that “an ‘online graduation’ is simply not good enough and should be rethought”.
Superintendent Stinson did not address the petition in School District 62’s video, but did state, “we’ve heard your concerns”.
School District 62 includes Sooke, Port Renfrew, Metchosin, Colwood and Langford.
The federal government has unveiled additional financial support to help off-reserve Indigenous people weather the COVID-19 pandemic.
In his daily address on Thursday, Prime Minister Trudeau announced that $75 million in additional funding will be made available to Indigenous people living off-reserve and in urban centres.
The additional funding will support off-reserve Indigenous populations’ needs, including things like food security, PPE, transportation, educational materials and mental health services.
Though the Prime Minister did not reveal any specific schedule for when applications for this funding will be made available, he did state it will begin to roll out in the coming weeks.
“While all communities have had to wrestle with COVID-19 these past few months, the everyday realities of this crisis are different for everyone,” Trudeau said Thursday during his address.
“To mount an effective response to this crisis, we must adapt our approach and our programs to recognize and meet the particular needs of all Indigenous peoples, including those living in urban areas and off-reserve.”
In mid-March, the government created the $305 million Indigenous Community Support Fund, most of which went to organizations representing First Nations, Inuit and Metis communities to help them prepare for and deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.
At that time, only $15 million of that was allotted for off-reserve organizations, even though they serve more than half of Canada’s Indigenous population.
The Congress of Aboriginal Peoples, which was seeking $16 million, received just $250,000 of the funding.
Uptown Shopping Centre provided an update today announcing that they have closed off a portion of their main boulevard to vehicle traffic, in an effort to make the area accessible to pedestrians only.
The changes have taken place to give shoppers more space for physical distancing, coinciding with B.C. entering Phase 2 of its re-opening plan, following the economic shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dubbed ‘Pedestrian Boulevard’, Uptown has allocated the space from Famous Footwear to The North Face store for pedestrians only.
According to the shopping centre’s website, pedestrians are encouraged to walk along Uptown Boulevard, leaving the sidewalks available for retailer line-ups.
Vehicular access to the Boulevard will be limited to the Carey Road and Douglas Street entrances.
A small section of the boulevard between Browns Social House, Zennkai Salon and The North Face will remain open for one-hour vehicle parking and 15-minute drop off parking.
One-hour parking will still be available on the west side of H&M, and the roundabout in front of Best Buy will also remain open, but with limited access from Douglas Street.
Here’s a look at the newly designated Pedestrian Boulevard at Uptown:
RCMP have issued ten Canada-wide warrants for 34-year Jack Lincoln Kelley.
Kelley has been labelled a violent offender and is known to have connections to Vancouver Island.
(Jack Lincoln Kelley/Nanaimo RCMP)
He is wanted for two counts of sexual assault, two counts of unlawful confinement, and two counts of assault causing bodily harm stemming from allegations made in 2019.
There are also multiple breach charges against Kelley for not abiding by court imposed release conditions.
According to a statement from Nanaimo RCMP, investigators in the Lower Mainland believe he is hiding out on Vancouver Island but his current whereabouts are unknown.
Kelley is a muscular, Caucasian man standing 6 feet tall, has a shaved head and a number of tattoos.
Anyone who sees him is asked to not approach him and call 911, or the Nanaimo RCMP non-emergency line at 250-754-2345, or the nearest police agency.
Popular island destination Ogden Point Breakwater has officially reopened to visitors today with new signage installed requiring physical distancing.
The breakwater was taped off to visitors on March 24 after members of the public were seen gathering in close proximity and not adhering to physical distancing guidelines.
It has reopened to the public as of 10 a.m. on May 20, with signage that warns visitors to comply with health and safety guidelines while accessing the breakwater.
These include:
Do not use if you are feeling sick or unwell.
Maintain physical distancing: 2 metres or 6 feet apart.
Remain single file when passing others.
Stay to the right when walking.
Ensure children and pets are kept close to your group.
Wearing a mask is recommended.
Do not loiter.
We're pleased to announce that the Ogden Point Breakwater is now open for use. Signage has been placed at all entry points that outlines COVID-19 measures. #vicharbour#yyjpic.twitter.com/UDIGuAHLn1
— Greater Victoria Harbour Authority (@gvicharbour) May 20, 2020
The reopening was announced as a result of the provincial government coming out with new guidelines to phase in increases to economic and social activity in the province.
If visitors ignore these rules, the GVHA may choose to close the space again.
Victoria Symphony has announced the suspension of their 2020-21 season due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The announcement is in compliance with the province’s Restart plan which does not allow for gatherings of more than 50 people until Phase 4, which begins after a vaccine, effective treatment, or immunity is achieved.
“We’ve been overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity of our community in response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said CEO Kathryn Laurin in a statement.
“Now more than ever it is critical to ensure a vibrant and sustainable future for our wonderful symphony orchestra. We look forward to welcoming our audiences back to the concert hall to experience live symphonic music as soon as we are able to perform safely.”
The announcement comes after the organization cancelled the 31st annual Symphony Splash this year, an event that regularly draws crowds of over 40,000 spectators from all over the world.
For this year, the Symphony plans to move performances to a virtual platform through a “digital concert hall” that can be accessed by all.
Everyone who has subscriptions for the 2020-21 year can either receive a refund, apply their subscription for the 2021-22 season, or donate their tickets back to the Victoria Symphony.
Patrons can choose one of the following by contacting the Symphony at 250.385.6515 or emailing boxoffice@victoriasymphony.ca.
The B.C. Ministry of Health has reported 21 new test-positive cases of novel coronavirus in the province today, bringing the total number cases in B.C. to 2,467 people.
This is a jump in cases after the province reported just two new patients diagnosed with COVID-19 on Tuesday.
In total, 885 of these cases are in the Vancouver Coastal Region, 1,1214 in Fraser Health, 126 on Vancouver Island, 182 in Interior Health and 60 in Northern Health region.
The number of active cases continue to decline as there are now 317 in B.C.
There are now a total of 43 people who have been hospitalized with COVID-19, 10 of whom are in critical care – ICU or acute care units — showing a continued decrease in hospitalizations and ICU rates.
Sadly, three new deaths were reported today and the death toll is now at 149 in total across the province.
In good news, a total of 2,001 people have now recovered from novel coronavirus in B.C.
Outbreaks
One new outbreak has been reported at an The Cedars assisted-living facility in Mission.
In total, 15 long term care and three acute care facilities now have active ongoing outbreaks.
A community outbreak at the Oppenheimer Group, a fruit and vegetable processing plant in Coquitlam, has three cases.
The coronavirus outbreak at the Mission Institute federal correctional facility continues to have 134 people who have tested positive for COVID-19, including 121 inmates and 13 staff.
The outbreak at a Vancouver chicken processing and packaging plant, United Poultry Company, has 35 employees who tested positive for COVID-19.
Its sister plant, the Superior Poultry processing plant in Coquitlam had 61 test-positive cases of patients who contracted the virus. The order that required this facility to close has been rescinded and the plant has been reopened with additional health and safety measures in place.
There continues to be seven people who tested positive for COVID-19 linked to the Fraser Valley Speciality Poultry outbreak.
A total of 17 people returning to B.C. from the Kearl Lake oil sands project in Alberta have tested positive for the virus, and there are additional family members of those workers who are also at risk of virus transmission.
Island Health region
Specific data for the Vancouver Island Health region shows that there are 126 total cases of COVID-19 in the area.
BCCDC data shows that as of May 19th, 120 people have recovered in the Island Health region and there have now been five virus-related deaths in total.
This means there is still just one active case in the region, and that patient is in hospital.
Thus far, there have been 125,044 novel coronavirus tests conducted across B.C., 18,764 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 5,069,071.
Over 328,700 people have died from the illness and 2,001,689 have made a full recovery.
A new petition launched by the BC Employment Standards Coalition and the Retail Action Network calls for a provincial program that guarantees paid sick leave for all workers across the province.
Since the global pandemic began taking its toll in B.C., public health directives have continued to stress the importance of workers staying home and not going to work if they are ill and have symptoms of COVID-19 or the flu.
Premier Horgan has talked about how he himself and others in the public sector have often shown up to work while ill, stating that the pervasive view of people who go to work sick as “heroic” needs to shift in light of this pandemic and moving forward.
However the main deterrent for people to abstain from work while ill is a fear of financial loss — something that could be mitigated through the establishment of universal sick pay, according to these advocacy groups.
The petition launched today calls on the provincial government to legislate paid sick leave under the Employment Standards Act.
“It is unfair to accuse sick workers of being irresponsible, of being villains, when they stand to lose income by not reporting for work in such circumstances,” said David Fairey, Co-Chair of the BC Employment Standards Coalition, in a statement.
“Employees should not be penalized for staying home, yet that’s exactly what happens to workers who don’t have access to paid sick leave.”
The petition calls for the immediate instatement of at least 21 days of paid sick leave in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, and a permanent law allowing employees to accrue at least one hour of paid sick leave for every 25 hours worked.
As of the time of publication, the petition has garnered 137 votes.
In response to questions about paid sick leave during a press briefing on Wednesday afternoon, Premier Horgan said he is not ruling out a provincial program but for now, he is pushing the federal government for a national program.
“I have allies in the federal government,” he added, stating that he will bring up the issue with the feds again at a telephone meeting on Thursday.
If needed, however, B.C. may end up with a paid sick leave plan of its own in the future.
BC Transit has announced a switch to summer service levels with some changes in place starting May 25.
According to the crown corporation, while summer service routing and schedules will take effect, buses will continue the temporary suspension of Friday and Saturday late-night service.
There will also be no regular summer increase in the number of buses servicing usual high traffic destinations like Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal, Butchart Gardens and Thetis Lake.
On Canada Day and BC Day this year, buses will run at Sunday levels.
The transit company announced that they would resume collecting fares and allowing front door service starting June 1.
All buses that do not yet have a full driver door will be fitted with a temporary vinyl panel to create a barrier between the driver and passengers.
With June 1st looming on the horizon, half of Canadian business owners say they are worried they won’t be able to pay rent next month due to the economic impacts of COVID-19.
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) has recently conducted a survey which reports that half the respondents feel they need further assistance to afford the upcoming cost of rent.
Additionally, 55 per cent of respondents felt that rent relief could make the difference between their business surviving COVID-19 or not.
“We’ve been asking for rent relief since March. Even when CECRA applications become available we know that program will leave businesses without the help they desperately need,” said Laura Jones, CFIB’s executive vice-president.
“The closer we get to June 1st, the more stressful things are getting and the more business failures we will see. We’re begging governments to move quickly to create additional help outside of CECRA.”
On April 24, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the federal government unveiled details of the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) program, which is aimed at helping small businesses pay their landlords.
However 65 per cent of small businesses say governments have been too slow in providing rent relief, and 67 per cent agree that more Canada Emergency Business Account funds should be forgivable.
Last Week, Prime Minister Trudeau announced plans to expand the eligibility requirements of the Canada Emergency Business Account to provide more small businesses with access to interest-free loans.
“Expanding the Canada Emergency Business Account to cover many more businesses is a great start and it’s urgent this be implemented in time for June 1st,” said Jones.
“We would now like to see the government increase the forgivable portion of CEBA which would go a long way to cover the CECRA shortfall.”
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) is Canada’s largest association of small and medium-sized businesses with 110,000 members across the country.
Pandora Ave homeless camp/Photo submitted by Tim Ford
All 360 people who had set up camp at Topaz Park and along the Pandora Avenue corridor have been offered indoor shelter options as of Wednesday.
In a press briefing this morning, Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction Shane Simpson announced that authorities expect everyone at the encampments to leave the sites by end of day today.
“People are packing up as we speak,” said Simpson, adding that as of yesterday, May 19, 308 campers had already moved out of the tent cities and into temporary shelters secured by the province and BC Housing.
“I want to thank the dozens of people who have been involved in this partnership, including staff from BC Housing, the City of Victoria, Island Health, the Province, service providers, peer support workers and outreach workers,” said Simpson in a statement.
“All have approached this massive effort to house people with compassion and care, providing people with choices that best suit their individual needs.”
The encampments are expected to clear out today, or latest by tomorrow, after which the sites will be handed over to the City of Victoria.
The City will then work with BC Housing and other groups to remove tents and clear the sites after the last few people have left.
On April 25, the Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, Mike Farnworth, issued an order that set May 9 as the deadline to transition people out of the Topaz Park and Pandora Ave encampments in Victoria and the Oppenheimer Park encampment in Vancouver.
This deadline was met in Vancouver, but in Victoria it was extended to today, May 20 after non profit service providers operating shelter sites in Victoria advised BC Housing and the Ministry that they needed more time to “best prepare accommodations and their staff in order to be able to welcome their guests”.
A small group of unsheltered people living at encampments in Victoria have refused shelter accommodations.
“We’re not forcing anyone into housing if they reject shelter accommodation, but we’re telling them that they do need to leave the site,” said Simpson.
Meanwhile, approximately 30 additional people moved into the two encampments after the order to house homeless people at these sites took effect on April 25.
According to Minister Simpson, while these people have not been offered the same indoor shelter options, outreach workers have been registering them on the housing registry.
Similar measures are being taken to provide supports to homeless people in Victoria outside of those two major encampments.
“The work over the past few weeks has seen unprecedented collaboration between the City, the Province, BC Housing, Island Health and the many service providers,” said Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps in a statement responding to this morning’s announcement.
“I especially want to thank the frontline staff who have continued to do the work of providing care and support to the most vulnerable people in our community.”
The majority of unsheltered people in Victoria have been offered indoor housing at leased hotels, and at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre which has been converted to provide beds and other facilities for 45 people.
Most recently, the province made a big splash by purchasing the Comfort Inn hotel on Blanshard Street for $18.5 million. This building has 65 rooms to provide temporary shelter to people from the two encampments and in the future, could be turned into an affordable housing space.
BC Housing has re-hired some original staff from the former Comfort Inn hotel to take care of maintenance and other services but for many employees, their livelihoods remain in limbo.
Canadian health officials have changed their position on non-medical mask use amid COVID-19, from stating “it’s a good idea” to “we recommend it.”
Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. Theresa Tam made the announcement on Wednesday during a press conference, saying the federal government is now recommending the use of non-medical masks in situations where physical distancing is not possible.
“Where COVID-19 related activity is happening, the use of non-medical masks or face coverings is recommended, as an added layer of protection when physical distancing is difficult to maintain,” said Dr. Tam in today’s address.
She also added that “proper cough etiquette, physical distancing and hand-washing measures are a minimum,” during the spring and summer months.
Additionally, she reiterated that masks protect others, not those that are wearing them, and said that if two people are wearing masks, they are both more likely to be protected.
Tam also noted that there are provincial differences in community spread of COVID-19, and went on to point out that last week Transport Canada made it mandatory for all air passengers to wear non-medical masks or face coverings during travel.
Canada’s deputy chief public health officer, Dr. Howard Njoo, reminds Canadians that medical masks are to be reserved for health care workers.
“Medical-grade masks must be reserved for health care workers. But for the general public, if we find ourselves in circumstances where it’s not possible to maintain social distance from other people, it is an extra layer of protection,” said Dr. Njoo.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said he will wear a non-medical mask on Parliament Hill, and told reporters today that he has started wearing a mask when he is out of his home and cannot be two metres away from other people.
The Prime Minister also wore one today when he arrived at the House of Commons for an in-person sitting.
The District of Saanich has announced the reopening of multiple outdoor recreation facilities in the region, after the City of Victoria made a similar move last week.
The following facilities will reopen for public use on Thursday, May 21:
35 tennis courts
11 pickleball courts
21 sports courts (e.g., basketball and street hockey)
the Lambrick Skate Park
“Outdoor recreation is an important part of the fabric of our community,” said Mayor Fred Haynes.
“I’m delighted we have reached a point where we can reopen these facilities with guidelines that address safety precautions for the public and our staff. Safety is our number one priority now and into the future.”
Like in Victoria, all playgrounds in Saanich will be closed until further notice as they constitute high tough surfaces.
Public washrooms are open for use and have more frequent cleaning protocols in place, but portable toilets will not be reinstalled yet.
Outdoor public recreation facilities in Saanich were closed to the public for nearly two months due to enhanced transmission risks posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Residents who use the newly reopened facilities are asked to follow these guidelines:
practice physical distancing by keeping at least two metres (six feet) away from people from other households
wash your hands thoroughly and frequently and use your own hand sanitizer
avoid touching your face
cough or sneeze into your elbow or tissue
limit use at busy times and don’t create a crowd
don’t share equipment, water bottles or snacks
stay home if you’re feeling unwell – no exceptions.
“Everybody’s eager to get back to doing things we all love to do, especially this time of year when we have such beautiful weather. At the same time I think our community knows we have to proceed carefully,” said Saanich councillor Ned Taylor in an interview with Victoria Buzz last week.
“I for one am really excited to be able to get onto the tennis courts and get active again.”
Prime Minister Trudeau announced on Wednesday that applications for the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance program will open next week.
The rental assistance program was initially announced in April, designed to help businesses who are struggling to pay their landlords due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance program is expected to provide 75 per cent in rent reduction for small businesses, with 50 per cent of these costs covered by the federal government, and 25 per cent to be covered by landlords.
Of the 50 per cent covered by government, 37.5 per cent will be paid for by the federal government and 12.5 per cent by provincial governments.
Property owners must offer a minimum of a 75% rent reduction for the months of April, May and June 2020.
The benefit will provide forgivable loans to qualifying commercial property owners that will cover 50 per cent of the three monthly rent payments.
During his daily address on Wednesday, Trudeau unveiled that the application portal for the rental assistance program will be open on May 25th.
“These are challenging times and make sure our economy can bounce back,” said the Prime Minister.
On Wednesday morning, Finance Minister Bill Morneau also announced the opening of the application process for the government’s Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility (LEEFF).
According to the federal government, the program will support Canada’s largest employers, whose needs during the pandemic are not being met through conventional financing.
LEEFF will help successful applicants keep their operations going.
UPDATE: Victoria police say Matthew Dunning has been located and is safe.
— earlier:
Victoria Police are asking for the public’s help in locating a missing 25-year-old man.
Matthew Dunning was reported missing after not being seen for several weeks. His friends and family are concerned for his well-being.
Dunning is described as a 25-year-old mixed race man standing six feet tall, with an average build. He has brown hair and brown eyes and a distinctive scar on his chin.
Anyone who sees Dunning is asked to call 911.
Anyone with information is asked to call the VicPD non-emergency line at 250-995-7654. To report anonymously call Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Seven food banks across Vancouver Island have received donations of $2,000 each courtesy of the Island Corridor Foundation.
The total $14,000 donation is provided to help food banks purchase much-needed resources for those in need during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The ICF is a part of many different communities on Vancouver Island and wanted to provide some assistance where we are able to,” said Andrea Thomas, Manager Corridor Development, ICF.
“This is a small contribution but hopefully will make an impact and help ease some of the stress on people and families in all our communities.”
The food banks receiving donations include:
Loaves and Fishes Community Food Bank in Nanaimo
Comox Valley Foodbank
Mt. Arrowsmith Salvation Army Community Ministries in Parksville/Qualicum
Port Alberni Community Food Bank Salvation Army
Cowichan Valley Basket Society
Goldstream Foodbank
Mustard Seed in Victoria
The ICF is a charity registered for the purpose of owning and managing the former E&N Corridor on Vancouver Island.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, food banks across Canada have reported a notable increase in the number of people requiring their services.
Both the federal and provincial governments have since allocated millions of dollars for the purposes of keeping food banks well stocked.
Since then, individuals, groups, and businesses have all stepped up to organize fundraisers and donation drives for the purpose of raising money for charities and food banks.
A 53-year-old pedestrian has been hospitalized with serious but non-life threatening injuries after he was hit by a vehicle in Nanaimo.
The incident occurred at around 10:30 p.m. on Saturday May 17 in the 1700 block of Cedar Road.
Police and paramedics attended the site and found that the male victim was walking southbound along the street with another man when he decided to cross the road.
While doing so, he was hit by a F350 pickup truck going northbound. The victim was transported to the hospital with serious injuries.
The 37-year-old driver of the truck remained on site to cooperate with investigators.
The vehicle was seized and will undergo a mechanical inspection as the investigation continues.
The B.C. Ministry of Health has reported just 2 new test-positive cases of novel coronavirus in the province today, bringing the total number cases in B.C. to 2,444 people.
In total, 883 of these cases are in the Vancouver Coastal Region, 1,196 in Fraser Health, 126 on Vancouver Island, 181 in Interior Health and 60 in Northern Health region.
There are now 325 active cases in B.C.
There are now a total of 45 people who have been hospitalized with COVID-19, 12 of whom are in critical care – ICU or acute care units — showing a continued decrease in hospitalizations and a slight increase in ICU rates.
Sadly, three new deaths were reported today and the death toll is now at 146 in total across the province.
In good news, a total of 1,975 people have now recovered from novel coronavirus in B.C.
Outbreaks
In total, 14 long term care and five acute care facilities now have active ongoing outbreaks with 326 residents and 203 staff infected.
This includes the most recent outbreak at an ICU at Abbotsford Regional Hospital where six staff members and two patients were diagnosed with COVID-19.
A new community outbreak at the Oppenheimer Group, a fruit and vegetable processing plant in Coquitlam, now has three cases.
The coronavirus outbreak at the Mission Institute federal correctional facility continues to have 134 people who have tested positive for COVID-19, including 121 inmates and 13 staff.
The outbreak at a Vancouver chicken processing and packaging plant, United Poultry Company, has 35 employees who tested positive for COVID-19.
Its sister plant, the Superior Poultry processing plant in Coquitlam had 61 test-positive cases of patients who contracted the virus. The order that required this facility to close has been rescinded and the plant has been reopened with additional health and safety measures in place.
There continues to be seven people who tested positive for COVID-19 linked to the Fraser Valley Speciality Poultry outbreak.
A total of 17 people returning to B.C. from the Kearl Lake oil sands project in Alberta have tested positive for the virus, and there are additional family members of those workers who are also at risk of virus transmission.
Island Health region
Specific data for the Vancouver Island Health region shows that there are 126 total cases of COVID-19 in the area.
BCCDC data shows that as of May 15th, 120 people have recovered in the Island Health region and there have now been five virus-related deaths in total.
This means there is now just one active case in the region, and that patient is in hospital.
Thus far, there have been 118,335 novel coronavirus tests conducted across B.C., 17,820 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 4,971,332.
Over 324,100 people have died from the illness and 1,950,015 have made a full recovery.
One man was injured after crashing his truck into the rock wall of a house in Langford Monday afternoon.
Officers from West Shore RCMP responded to reports of a vehicle collision at McCallum Road and Cavalcade Terrace at around 1:30 p.m. May 18th.
Upon arrival, police found an unresponsive man in the driver’s seat of an F150 truck.
An investigation into the incident found that the vehicle was travelling on McCallum Road toward Florence Lake Road when it crossed into the oncoming lane and over the sidewalk.
The truck proceeded to hit a maple tree and crashed into a rock wall before coming to a rest on the front lawn of a house in the 800 block of McCallum Road.
“The driver was the sole occupant of the truck and was taken to the hospital,” said Cst. Nancy Saggar in a statement.
Officers found a small amount of narcotics inside the truck which led to an ongoing investigation to determine whether impairment was a factor in the incident.
“Incredibly, no one other than the driver was injured in this collision.”
The B.C. provincial government has announced a temporary pay boost for over 250,000 eligible frontline health care and social service workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Workers will receive a lump sum payment of around $4 per hour for a 16-week period starting March 15th, 2020.
Those who are eligible to receive this pay boost do not need to apply as the money will be distributed through their employer.
“From care aids to domestic violence workers, to people working in corrections and others delivering essential addictions and mental health supports, our front-line workers are providing vital support to people who are most vulnerable during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Carole James, Minister of Finance, in a statement.
“Temporary pandemic pay recognizes all that our health and social service workers do to help keep people healthy, our communities running and deliver important care and services to the most vulnerable during this challenging time.”
The amount is provided through a cost-shared program between the provincial and federal governments and will be part of B.C.’s $5-billion COVID-19 Action Plan.
To be eligible to receive the lump-sum payment, employees must have worked straight-time hours (the number of hours an employee is expected to work in a day) any time during the 16-week period starting March 15, and does not apply to excluded management staff, fee-for-service providers or employees on leave.
After the announcement was made, the BC Government and Service Employees’ Union (BCGEU) issued a call for the provincial government to expand the pay boost to include essential workers in other sectors like the liquor and cannabis industry and employees maintaining food supply chains for the restaurant industry.
“From the moment this funding was announced by the federal government, our goal as a union was to make sure B.C.’s program covered the broadest possible swath of frontline essential workers,” says Stephanie Smith, BCGEU president.
“And our goal hasn’t changed. This kind of patchwork recognition creates arbitrary divisions at a moment when unity and solidarity among workers is more important than ever. We’re grateful for those who are covered, but we will keep fighting for those who aren’t.”
As it stands, the pandemic pay boost program is expected to cost approximately $540 million with the federal government contributing up to $401 million and B.C. adding up to $139 million.
Here’s a list of workplaces in which employees could now be eligible for this pay boost, categorized by sector.
Health services
hospitals
long-term care and assisted-living facilities
provincial mental health facilities
provincially funded home and community care services
public health units
primary care clinics
diagnostic facilities
community clinics
diagnostic and treatment centres
Social services
community living: residential services and intervenor residential sites
Indigenous services:
delegated Aboriginal agencies,
friendship centres providing critical services,
healing and wellness facilities and shelters
harm reduction:
shelters for survivors of gender-based violence and human trafficking,
directly operated residential facilities,
adult-justice residential facilities,
safe injection sites,
emergency outreach harm reduction workers,
emergency shelters,
supportive housing facilities,
respite and drop-in centres,
temporary shelter facilities, and
hotels and motels used for self-isolation or shelter overflow
youth services:
high-risk youth services,
youth justice residential facilities,
licensed children’s residential sites.
immigrant services:
high-risk support services for immigrants and refugees,
high-risk immigrant youth services,
settlement services.
Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction (SDPR)
SDPR income assistance and disability reduction offices
SDPR/Service BC integrated offices
SDPR contact centre offices.
Ministry of Child and Family Development
Service Delivery Division
Service BC
Service BC offices
BC Housing
BC Housing main location and other offices
Community Living BC
head office and other local offices; and
Provincial Assessment Centre.
Corrections
adult correctional facilities and youth justice facilities;
The Victoria Clipper V has announced today that it will be extending its sailing suspension between Victoria and Seattle once more, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and continuing Canada-U.S. border closure.
The initial announcement that Clipper would be suspending their service came on Tuesday, March 17th, though at that time they only reported it would take place until April 30th.
They issued another extension until May 20th, which was announced on Tuesday to be extended once more to July 3rd, in conjunction with the continuation of closed borders for non-essential travel between Canada and the US.
While the ferry company looks to relaunch service on July 3rd, the adjusted sailing schedule include at that time will be Friday through Monday daily sailings, July 3rd to July 31st.
The Clipper looks to return to daily sailings seven days a week August 1st through January 3rd, 2021.
The Clipper is one of the ferries that offer transport between Victoria and Washington state, and say they have elected to suspend their services based on the growing concerns over COVID-19 outbreaks.
“While the business impact continues to be dramatic, we’ll be ready to return to service as soon as the border re-opens and Vancouver Island is prepared once again for non-essential travel,” said David Gudgel, CEO of Clipper.
“In the meantime, we are continuing to revise and prepare our operation plans for a safe and healthy return of crew, staff, and customers.”
The MV Coho has also extended its sailing suspension between Victoria and Washington to June 21st.
When thinking of Canadian athletes, inspirational Terry Fox definitely tops the list.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of his Marathon of Hope run that brought the country together, and in commemoration, Adidas Canada is releasing a retro pair of sneakers in his honour.
The Terry Fox collection celebrates Fox’s attempted journey across the Canada to raise money for cancer research, and Adidas is re-releasing its Orion sneakers, the same ones he wore in 1980.
The new and improved versions of the classic include Fox’s name on the side along with the signature stripes, as well as a 40-year anniversary logo inside, and will be a release exclusive to Canada.
The collection drops on Wednesday, May 20th and will be available for purchase online.
Along with the sneakers, the tissue paper they’re wrapped in has significance as well; it will be a recreation of the original letter that Fox wrote asking for shoes from Adidas.
According to the shoe giant, Fox wrote the company before beginning his cross-country journey to ask them for a donation of 26 pairs of shoes.
The Terry Fox collection also includes a t-shirt with Fox on the front, as well as a map of his journey on the back.
100 per cent of the profits from the sale of these items will be donated directly to the Terry Fox Foundation.
Adidas is hoping to raise $1 million for the foundation, and say that the the shoes and shirt are just the first of more to be released in the next six months.
Charities across Greater Victoria can now apply to receive a part of the $350 million fund announced by the federal government last month.
The capital of B.C. is slated to receive $1.635 million through the Emergency Community Support Fund to help charities and non-profits that are struggling to meet increased demand amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
These funds will be distributed through United Way Greater Victoria and the Victoria Foundation to eligible charities and community organizations that require funding to support their work.
“This is a vital step in the fight against COVID-19,” said Sandra Richardson, CEO, Victoria Foundation in a statement.
“Local charities and non-profit organizations have been working tirelessly to support those who need it most right now. This additional funding is a much-needed boost to their efforts.”
Once received, grants can be used to cover a variety of costs including staffing, resource needs, and purchase assistance.
Funds will be issued on an ongoing basis until July 31, 2020 or until all funds have been allocated.
The event that has marked the unofficial start to fall in Victoria for 151 years will not be taking place this year.
The 152nd annual Saanich Fair has been cancelled in light of provincial health orders banning gatherings of more than 50 people. This order is likely to remain in place until a successful vaccine or treatment has been found to combat COVID-19.
According to Saanich Fair President Dave Hamer, the Labour Day weekend fair annually draws crowds of over 45,000 to the Saanich Fairground.
“There’s no possible way of social distancing in a fair like that,” Hamer said in a phone call with Victoria Buzz.
The event plans to make a comeback in a traditional sense on September 4 – 6, 2021.
Cancelling the Saanich Fair will mean lost revenue for many businesses and non profits that rely on the event to accrue funds that allow them to function for the rest of the year, says Hamer.
In lieu of a grand annual fair this year, organizers are looking to move some events online through social media, and perhaps host a smaller farmer’s market at the Saanich Fairgrounds during Labour Day weekend this year.
“We’re going to have several meetings to discuss that. It’ll be educational, and there’s a chance we might have a [farmer’s] market up at the fairgrounds but we won’t have our traditional fair,” added Hamer.
Farmer’s markets are currently deemed essential by the provincial government and are therefore allowed to operate, provided that vendors only sell food and beverages.
“I know things are changing and opening up but right now you can only have vegetables and [other food items]. You’re not allowed artisans and vendors like that. That could change.”
More information about what this year’s Saanich Fair will look like and how some activities will be hosted virtually will be made available in the coming months.
Organizers are also inviting community members to share their ideas for a “virtual fall fair experience” by contacting them at info@saanichfair.ca or calling 250-652-3314.
Follow the Saanich Fair website and Facebook page for updates.
Central Saanich Police are looking for any witnesses who may have seen a vehicle collide into a retaining wall on Keating Cross Road Monday night.
According to police, the incident occurred around 1:15 a.m., at the intersection of Keating Cross Road and Oldfield Road.
The crash involved one vehicle, which struck a retaining wall in the incident. Both the vehicle and the wall were damaged in the crash.
Police say that the driver of the vehicle also fled the scene at the time of the crash, and was possibly assisted by others.
Central Saanich Police are reaching out to the community for possible witnesses, and anyone who may have witnessed the crash is asked to contact Cst. Davies of the Central Saanich Police at 250-652-4441.
More to come.
Files 20-1432/20-1450
Officers seek witnesses to a 1 car MVI that occurred ~1:15am on Mon, May 18. The vehicle & a retaining wall sustained damage. The driver fled the scene, possibly assisted by others. Call Cst Davies at 250-652-4441. To report anonymously, call @VicCrimeStop. pic.twitter.com/1lzDx05bGi
Several witnesses told police that the vehicle left the roadway, drove across the grass and then crashed into the fence, Cst. Markus Anastasiades of Saanich Police tells Victoria Buzz.
Witnesses also helped police locate the driver nearby, who showed signs of impairment.
The resulting investigation led to a 90-day driving prohibition for that driver and a 30-day vehicle impoundment, according to police.
“The Gorge Waterway is a very popular walking path and it is fortunate that nobody was struck by the car,” said Cst. Markus Anastasiades.
“Saanich Police would like to thank all of the witness who remained on scene and provided information to help in this investigation.”
It’s going to be a little bit longer before lacrosse fans get to hear the familiar squeak of sneakers on the concrete floors of local arenas.
The Victoria Shamrocks announced on Tuesday, that in light of COVID-19, they will be cancelling their 2020 season.
The announcement came in conjunction with decisions by the Western Lacrosse Association along with Major Series Lacrosse in Ontario, who both have reached the agreement to suspend not only the 2020 season across the leagues, but also the Mann Cup national championship.
“First and foremost, it is about following the provincial guidelines, and keeping everyone safe and well,” said Shamrocks general manager Chris Welch.
The 2020 season was originally slotted to kick off this Thursday, May 21st, and was announced to be postponed back in March.
This would have been the Shamrocks 52nd season.
“We are disappointed but we are far from alone,” Welch said about the WLA’s decision.
“It’s happening up and down and all over in the sports world. Everyone has to do their part to flatten the curve and get past this thing.”
In a release, the Shamrocks have said they finalizing plans and processes to ensure that all season ticket holders who have already renewed their memberships for 2020 will be made whole.
When it comes to fans, the team thanks them for their ongoing support, and say, “We wish all of you the best and look forward to seeing you back at The Q Centre next season.”
Canada and the United States have reached an agreement to extend the mutual ban on non-essential cross-border travel until June 21st, announced Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Tuesday.
The border closure has been extended by an additional 30 days, as the original date of expiry was set for this Thursday, May 21st.
“This is an important decision that will keep people in both of our countries safe,” said Trudeau during his daily address.
The extension means travelers will continue to no longer be allowed to cross the border for recreational or tourist purposes.
Despite this, essential border crossings and trade movements will not be impeded by these measures.
As it stands, the closure agreement exempts the flow of trade and commerce, as well as vital health care workers such as nurses who live and work on opposite sides of the border.
The initial border closure was announced in March, as a collaborative effort to curb the spread of COVID-19.
The Prime Minister also announced on Tuesday that the federal government will be expanding the current Canada Emergency Business Account eligibility.
The business benefit will now include family-owned businesses that pay employees through dividends, sole owner/operators of a business, and businesses that rely on contractors.
Rent prices across Canada experienced a drop in the month of April, according to a recent report.
The monthly National Rent Report from rentals.ca for April showed that the average rent prices in Victoria have decreased by 8.7 per cent for apartments and rental condominium apartments.
Out of 33 cities listed in the study, Victoria placed #14 in terms of prices with the first five spots taken up by cities in Ontario and Vancouver clocking in at #6.
According to the report, a one-bedroom apartment in B.C.’s capital city cost an average $1,523 and a two-bedroom cost an average $1,804 in the month of April.
The rental site says the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted rental prices across Canada in the short term, as both apartment and condo rent prices listed decreased by 3.2 per cent and 4.6 per cent respectively in April.
The report finds that large landlords are staying firm on their asking rents, but offering incentives like a portion of the first month’s rent off, or a free month of rent to attract tenants. Meanwhile smaller landlords have been more willing to lower asking rent.
“The sharp monthly declines in the average rental rates in major cities in Canada was stark,” said Matt Danison, CEO of Rentals.ca.
“With the gradual opening of the economy, this may be the low point for rental rates in some time if tenants feel comfortable enough to move.”
Two prominent Greater Victoria shopping centres have posted guidelines that will allow for a safe, partial reopening of the premises after a period of COVID-19 induced shut down.
The Bay Centre in downtown Victoria, and the Hillside Shopping Centre will restart some operations at reduced service starting tomorrow, May 19.
Other shopping malls like Mayfair and Tillicum never fully closed their doors to patrons, although many individual retailers within the premises discontinued operations.
As of today, the Bay Centre and Hillside Shopping Centre are the only two malls of their kind in Greater Victoria that have publicly posted safe reopening plans on their websites, giving customers an idea of what to expect.
Bay Centre reopening plan
Downtown Victoria staple The Bay Centre will reopen with reduced hours on Tuesday, May 19.
The mall itself will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day of the week, but stores with exterior entrances may have different hours.
Not all businesses within the shopping centre will reopen right away, and some of them may choose to have a different schedule.
However retail stores and food vendors inside the Bay Centre that will definitely reopen on May 19 include:
Ardene
Below the Belt
Celestolite
Central Art Studio & Gallery
Coast Capital Savings
Eco Chic AVEDA Salon & Spa
EB Games
Faye’s Spa
Lifestyles West
Mobile Snap
OptiCanada
Out of Bounds Sports
Sean Schuster Photography
SoftMoc
Sport Chek
The Tuscan Kitchen
Urban Art
Urban Planet
West Coast Leathers
Western Coast Insurance
Earls Kitchen + Bar
Johnny Rockets
Marble Slab Creamery
Mr. Pretzels
Opa! of Greece
Owly Cafe
Starbucks
To reduce risks of transmission, amenities like wheelchairs and strollers will not be provided for the foreseeable future and water refill stations, candy and vending machines, and the Informal Mall Walking program will be closed until further notice.
Floor markers and stanchions have been installed to guide lineups outside of individual stores as businesses can now accommodate far less customers than normal.
Hand sanitizer stations will be available throughout at all mall entrances and in common areas, and high touch surfaces like washrooms and seating areas will undergo a rigorous, regular sanitization process.
All employees exhibiting flu-like symptoms will be asked to stay home, and a remote Guest Services kiosk will be open at the Douglas Street entrance to answer questions and assist with gift card sales.
Hillside Shopping Centre reopening plan
For their part, the Hillside Shopping Centre has adopted a plan very similar to that of the Bay Centre.
Starting May 19, the Hillside mall will be operating from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday – Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays.
The main entrances at Marshalls (N Dairy Rd), Shoppers Drug Mart (Shelbourne St), Food Court (Hillside Ave) and CIBC (Hillside Ave) are open as they provide designated “entry” and “exit” options with no overlap.
While the Guest Services desk remains open, some services have been temporarily discontinued, like the availability of children’s strollers, wheelchairs/walkers, courtesy telephone, and electronics recharging stations.
Hand sanitizer stations have been installed throughout the premises and enhanced sanitation protocols are in place for common touch surfaces like door handles and washrooms.
There will be a limit on the number of people allowed inside the washrooms at any given time, and ‘Wash Your Hands’ signs will be placed as a reminder inside every washroom.
Physical distancing will also be required throughout the premises with floor markers in place to guide lineups. Shopping Centre authorities have also instated a limit of two customers per food vendor at the food court.
As with all other malls and businesses, employees and visitors are asked to refrain from entering the premises if they have flu-like symptoms.
The B.C. Ministry of Health has reported 16 new test-positive cases of novel coronavirus in the province since Saturday, bringing the total number cases in B.C. to 2,444 people.
Between Saturday and Sunday, eight people tested positive for the virus, and a further eight people were diagnosed between Sunday and Monday.
In total, 882 of these cases are in the Vancouver Coastal Region, 1,195 in Fraser Health, 126 on Vancouver Island, 181 in Interior Health and 60 in Northern Health region.
There are now 335 active cases in B.C.
There are now a total of 47 people who have been hospitalized with COVID-19, 12 of whom are in critical care – ICU or acute care units — showing a continued decrease in hospitalizations and a slight increase in ICU rates.
Sadly, two new deaths were reported today and the death toll is now at 143 in total across the province.
In good news, a total of 1,966 people have now recovered from novel coronavirus in B.C.
Outbreaks
In total, 14 long term care and five acute care facilities now have active ongoing outbreaks with 326 residents and 202 staff infected.
This includes the most recent outbreak at an ICU at Abbotsford Regional Hospital where six staff members and two patients were diagnosed with COVID-19.
A new community outbreak at the Oppenheimer Group, a fruit and vegetable processing plant in Coquitlam, now has three cases.
The coronavirus outbreak at the Mission Institute federal correctional facility continues to have 134 people who have tested positive for COVID-19, including 121 inmates and 13 staff.
The outbreak at a Vancouver chicken processing and packaging plant, United Poultry Company, has 35 employees who tested positive for COVID-19.
Its sister plant, the Superior Poultry processing plant in Coquitlam had 61 test-positive cases of patients who contracted the virus. The order that required this facility to close has been rescinded and the plant has been reopened with additional health and safety measures in place.
There continues to be seven people who tested positive for COVID-19 linked to the Fraser Valley Speciality Poultry outbreak.
A total of 17 people returning to B.C. from the Kearl Lake oil sands project in Alberta have tested positive for the virus, and there are additional family members of those workers who are also at risk of virus transmission.
Island Health region
Specific data for the Vancouver Island Health region shows that there are 126 total cases of COVID-19 in the area.
BCCDC data shows that as of May 15th, 120 people have recovered in the Island Health region and there have now been five virus-related deaths in total.
This means there is now just one active case in the region.
One person with COVID-19 is currently hospitalized in the Island Health region.
Thus far, there have been 118,335 novel coronavirus tests conducted across B.C., 17,820 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 4,870,153.
Over 319,100 people have died from the illness and 1,893,492 have made a full recovery.
Just before tonight’s iconic 7 p.m. cheer, a memorial flight is scheduled to take off from Abbotsford International Airport in honour of the Snowbirds and their fallen comrade.
Dubbed Operation Backup Inspiration, the memorial flight is dedicated to Capt. Jennifer Casey, a Royal Canadian Airforce public affairs officer who was killed in a crash in Kamloops Sunday.
The Canadian Armed Forces’ Snowbirds aerobatics team embarked on a cross-country flyover tour which started last weekend in Nova Scotia, in an effort to boost morale across the nation.
On Sunday, one jet was involved in a fatal crash in a neighbourhood in Kamloops at around 11:40 a.m.
Video shows the jet rise, then circle, before crashing in the area of Glenview Drive in Kamloops.
Both Capt. Casey and the other service member on board, Capt. Richard MacDougall, ejected from the flight, but Casey did not survive while MacDougall made it out with some serious but non-life threatening injuries.
The Royal Canadian Air Force is currently investigating the cause of the crash, and stated on Monday that all Snowbirds flights are postponed until further notice.
Monday’s memorial flight was organized by the BC General Aviation Association, and the mass flyover will begin at 6:30 pm at Abbotsford International Airport this evening.
Organizers said that the response to the idea was “overwhelming” but that for safety reasons, the flight was limited to 35 pilots.
“We are paying tribute to the Snowbirds,” the association said in a statement.
“In doing so we must act with the same level of professionalism and care they do every day.”
The day after Victoria Day long weekend in B.C. this year marks an important milestone in the province’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On Tuesday May 19, some businesses will be allowed to start reopening after a two-month long closure induced by the need to curb the spread of a virus that threatened to overrun our health care system if left unchecked.
The threat of the novel coronavirus has, by all accounts and evidence, been brought to a standstill in B.C. (at least for the time being), prompting public health officials to explore ways in which the economy and public life can safely and partially restart.
Over the past two weeks, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has been collaborating with agencies like WorkSafeBC to come up with reopening guidelines for businesses like restaurants, hair salons, and retailers.
First and foremost, these guidelines require businesses to create and publicly post a COVID-19 safety plan for customers and employees to see, either on their website or on a storefront window.
Employers do not need to get those plans approved by either public health officials or WorkSafeBC before moving forward with reopening.
However, the province is implementing a complaints-based system through which employees who feel that adequate safeguards against COVID-19 are not available in their workplace can report to WorkSafeBC.
Consumers and patrons who may want to report lackluster protocols can contact public health officials in their region.
Authorities will then follow up with businesses through an inspection, during which employers must present their COVID-19 safe reopening plans.
From May 19 onward, these plans will be put into practice as various types of businesses start opening their doors.
Here’s a look at what protocols for businesses like restaurants, personal services, and retail stores should entail.
Establishments that serve food and liquor were originally reduced to take-out and delivery service only as part of British Columbia’s COVID-19 response plan.
Starting May 19, these businesses can once again open their doors and offer dine-in service but will only be allowed to accommodate half the customers they could previously fit inside the premises.
This means eateries may accumulate line-ups of people waiting to enter. To accommodate waiting guests, businesses need to come up with ways to rearrange waiting areas and use things like stanchions and floor tape to space people in lines six feet apart.
When inside, patrons will be restricted to groups of six per table, and each table must be spaced six feet apart. Customers from different parties must sit six feet apart when seated at a bar or counter.
Instead of physical menus, these businesses are asked to use digital menu boards, large chalkboards, or online pre-ordering to minimize contacts.
In a similar vein, table top items like salt and pepper shakers, sauce dispensers, and candles will no longer be a part of the dining experience status quo. Those who want these amenities will have to request them from the establishment.
Buffets and other self-serve options will not be allowed under the current circumstances. Instead, servers are required to place food and drinks at the head of each table and step away, after which guests can pass them around after the waiter has stepped away.
Wherever possible, eateries are also advised to note down the contact information for one customer from each party and save it for 30 days in case a medical health officer needs that information for contact tracing purposes.
Businesses in the food industry, like every other establishment moving forward, will be required to provide an updated and enhanced cleaning protocol featuring rigorous sanitization of communal items that are used by more than one group of people.
More information and resources on how restaurants, cafés, and pubs can build their reopening plan can be found here.
Retail stores were among businesses that were not required to shut down by any official order, but many decided to do so anyway in the absence of clear guidelines for how to operate safely.
Now that WorkSafeBC has issued more information on the subject, retail stores must follow much the same protocols as those used by grocery stores when serving customers at a physical location.
Stores are required to determine an occupancy limit — one that allows customers to maintain a distance of six feet from each other while inside — and post that limit at the entrance.
These businesses are also advised to rearrange store layout and areas where it may be difficult to maintain physical distances, like waiting areas, fitting rooms, elevators, and check out areas.
Stores that have fitting rooms should get rid of all decorative items from inside the room, and employees will no longer hand out tokens to customers to mark the number of items to try on.
Customers trying on clothing will be required to leave unwanted items, including hangers, in a designated location.
Where rearrangement is not possible, stores are asked to consider requiring both customers and employees to wear non-medical masks as a way to prevent the spread of droplets that may carry COVID-19.
Patrons of retail outlets can expect to see signage that asks them not to enter if they’re displaying symptoms of the virus, and physical markers like cones or floor tape to ensure that everyone lining up to enter is maintaining a distance of six feet between each other.
At the checkout desk, retail stores will be required to provide plexiglass barriers and hand sanitizer for customers to use.
And while the use of cash will not be disallowed, hygiene practices like washing or sanitizing hands after handling cash must be in place, and all patrons will be encouraged to use the tap feature on their credit or debit cards to make payments.
More information and resources on how retailers can build their reopening plan can be found here.
Personal services businesses were ordered to shut down on April 16, when the COVID-19 pandemic started ramping up in B.C.
However on May 14, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry issued a notice that cancels that shut down order as of May 19 meaning businesses like hair salons, nail technicians, tattoo parlours, etc. can reopen tomorrow if they follow WorkSafeBC guidelines.
Once they do reopen, patrons can expect the workstations of hair stylists, nail techs, etc. to be spaced six feet apart.
Clients will be asked book all appointments virtually, show up alone if possible, and wait outside the premises until their scheduled appointment time.
All patrons will be asked to cancel their bookings if they or someone in their household exhibits symptoms of COVID-19, and will be reminded of this policy upon arrival.
In this new normal, there will be no product testers, magazine racks, booklets, brochures or toys, and businesses that offer refreshments like coffee and tea are advised to discontinue that practice.
For personal services that require close contact, businesses must let patrons know if they need to wear a non-medical mask, and provide masks for those who have not brought their own.
Workers will be allowed to wear gowns, smocks, or aprons over their street clothes while performing their jobs.
Tools like irons, nail clippers, gowns, etc. should be shared as little as possible, and employers are advised to provide each employee with their own set of tools wherever possible. All such tools must be disinfected between each client.
The guidance for how to handle payment is the same as that for retail stores and eateries, where all patrons are asked to use the tap feature of their bank cards as much as possible, but cash is not disallowed.
Personal service businesses will also be required to allow additional time between each client to enforce a rigorous cleaning protocol as part of their regular practice.
More information and resources on how retailers can build their reopening plan can be found here.
For all businesses that require staff to converge at a physical location, concerns about COVID-19 exposure at work can be addressed to WorkSafeBC’s Prevention Information Line at 604-276-3100 in the Lower Mainland and toll-free within B.C. at 1-888-621-7233.
If required, a prevention officer will be assigned to assess the health and safety risk at the workplace of the complainant.
From spectacular sunsets to stunning seascapes and everything in between, Victoria has some of the most eye-catching Instagram accounts out there.
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.
Every Monday 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:
In an announcement on Saturday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed that the first clinical trials for a potential COVID-19 vaccine have been officially approved by Health Canada.
The trials will be conducted out of the Canadian Centre for Vaccinology at Dalhousie University where they have been given the green light by the federal health authority to move forward with the vaccine candidate.
“If these vaccine trials are successful we could produce and distribute it here at home,” Trudeau said during his daily address in Saturday.
So far, Health Canada has authorized 33 clinical trials for supportive care or treatments for COVID-19.
This recent announcement, however, marks the first approved Canadian venture in finding a vaccine for the disease.
The federal government has already made large investments in medical research to fight COVID-19, including $23 million to support pre-clinical testing and clinical trials of a potential vaccine in Canada and $29 million for the production of vaccines.
This could mean that Canada is in a good position to manufacture a vaccine domestically, experts say.
Though even with approval of a clinical trial, there is much that needs to be done before a vaccine is available.
“Research and development take time, and must be done right, but this is encouraging news,” Trudeau said Saturday.
According to Health Canada, clinical trials generally consist of three phases of human trials before a vaccine is approved for general use.
These studies often begin with only a few subjects, before they are widened to include hundreds or even thousands of subjects.
Staying at home doesn’t mean our lives have to stop. There are so many opportunities to learn, explore, improve, and marvel, even while sitting pyjama-clad on the couch.
One great way to do this is by taking online courses. Camosun College, Royal Roads University, and the University of Victoria have all modified their spring and summer lineups in an effort to make education accessible while the risk of COVID-19 lingers.
Check out a few selections from the huge range of offerings provided by these post-secondary institutions.
Camosun provides over two dozen publicly accessible, affordable courses from May through August.
If you’ve succeeded in writing your quarantine masterpiece, check out Self-Publishing for information on copyright, writing apps, and marketing.
Start learning a new language in Spanish Level 1, or buckle down in Spanish Boot Camp if you’ve already got an intermediate understanding.
They even offer Prenatal Online, a course for expectant families that covers the stages of pregnancy, labour techniques, and potential interventions, and options during labour and delivery.
Royal Roads offers a variety of non-credit courses through their Professional and Continuing Studies department.
Building and Sustaining Community in Times of Crisis is an especially relevant course right now. Discover how to build resilient, collaborative communities and look at leadership with an interpersonal lens. Learn how to live with the greater good in mind.
Multiple offerings of the course Academic Writing and Critical Thinking are available, which allows writers to hone their craft as well as improve their research skills. This practical course is feedback-oriented, with consistent input from instructors as well as peer review.
Royal Roads also has a number of webinars available to the public, ranging from mindfulness practices for leaders to pandemic conspiracy theories!
One of the largest hotels overlooking Victoria’s Inner Harbour has set its re-opening date for next month.
Hotel Grand Pacific officially shuttered its doors on March 26th, as the COVID-19 outbreak started to affect the tourism industry, and travel restrictions and strict physical distancing measures were put in place.
The 304-room hotel announced on Friday, in a statement on its website, that it will reopen on June 21st.
According to the statement, Hotel Grand Pacific’s operations and staffing levels will be at a minimum to ensure safe distancing.
“We will be sharing via our website, how we will be working to ensure we keep you safe and healthy during your stay with us,” said Reid James, the hotel’s general manager.
“Rest assured, we will take no chances with your well being and we will be exceeding the standards you expect of us.”
Food and beverage options will be limited while the pools, sauna, and steam room will remain closed.
Subject to provincial guidelines, the hotel said they are hoping to re-open the gym soon.
The Royal Canadian Air Force has confirmed one member of the Snowbirds team has died, and one has sustained serious injuries following a crash in Kamloops Sunday afternoon.
The deceased person has been identified as public affairs officer, Captain Jennifer Casey.
Casey served as a spokesperson for the Snowbirds and was on the plane when it crashed.
The injured pilot has not been identified as of this publication.
The plane had just taken off from the Kamloops airport around 11:40 a.m with one other jet and was bound for Comox.
Video shows the jet rise, then circle, before it crashed in the area of Glenview Drive in Kamloops.
Photos and videos on social media show flames and a large amount of black smoke in the area, as well as a pilot being ejected from the plane moments before it crashed.
“It is with heavy hearts that we announce that one member of the CF Snowbirds team has died and one has sustained serious injuries. We can confirm that we have contacted all primary family members of those involved. More information will be communicated in the near future,” the CF Snowbirds announced in a Tweet.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted a message, saying, “My thoughts are with the brave members of the @RCAF_ARC. ” He added in a second tweet “I would also like to thank the emergency personnel in Kamloops who responded so quickly to this tragic incident.”
There are reports that two elderly people who were inside of a home in the area of the crash at the time were able to escape, before the house caught on fire.
The Canadian Armed Forces’ Snowbirds aerobatics team embarked on a cross-country flyover tour which started last weekend in Nova Scotia, in an effort to boost morale across the nation.
The flyovers looked to salute everyone working to flatten the curve amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and were scheduled to fly over Vancouver Island today.
Snow bird crashing into house in Kamloops pilot ejected late , the elderly couple who’s house the plane hit got out safe. Thoughts and prayers with the pilots “To use this video in a commercial player or in broadcasts, please email licensing@storyful.com”
