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According to developers, Design Build Services, the advantages of a wood building is include a reduction in timeline for construction, and sustainable forest management.
A groundbreaking ceremony to kick off construction will take place on Wednesday afternoon, attended by City of Langford Mayor Stewart Young, and representatives from Design Build Services and Colliers International.
In the meantime, here are some photo renderings of what the project is expected to look like:
It seems like a no-brainer – good mental health and well-being help us enjoy our life and the people in it, right?
But individuals struggling with mental health issues can experience fear, rejection, and stigma that severely impacts their quality of life. Many of these people have even been denied adequate housing, loans, health insurance, and jobs.
Too often stigma gets in the way of asking for help, and there are many who struggle with mental health challenges, but find it difficult to talk about it with family, friends, or coworkers.
(Donations can help people like AJ reconnect to society and access programs and services to help)
For people like AJ, there was a time where mental health challenges controlled his life.
“I should have been successful, but I wasn’t.”
When AJ was nine or ten, he was diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) – this also led to other diagnoses, including generalized anxiety and depression.
Growing up, he was in the gifted program at school but was getting into shouting matches with his teachers. By the time he was in grade 10, he had dropped out.
“I felt like no one was listening to me.”
His illness made it difficult to get along with his family; his depression got to the point where it was so bad, it manifested as suicidal thoughts. By the time he was 18, he ended up leaving home and had no money, no education, and very little social life.
Programs and supports
Mental health is one of our most critical community needs – while Island Health and its first responders are there to provide urgent medical responses to mental health issues, it’s United Way that works with partner agencies on community-based initiatives focused on mental health promotion, prevention, and early intervention.
United Way is creating a more inclusive community and ensuring those impacted by #UNIGNORABLE mental health issues can easily access the services they need before these issues become deep-rooted.
A Victoria Police officer was the subject of an Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner (OPCC) investigation after she used her police cruiser for a personal issue.
According to the report, in September 2018 the officer in question strapped her two children together in the front seat of her police cruiser, using one seatbelt.
She then turned on the lights and siren on her cruiser in order to rush them to school on time.
The emergency lights, used against protocol, caused several motorists to pull over in order to let her pass.
At the time of the incident, the officer was also assigned to an investigation and left it, and her jurisdiction, to conduct a non-police related activity without informing a police supervisor.
The OPCC therefore charged her with two misconducts: discreditable conduct, and neglect of duty.
For her actions, she was given “advice to future conduct” and a “verbal reprimand”. She also received a violation ticket for strapping two children together with one seatbelt.
According to the report, this behaviour is not likely to be repeated as the officer in question was in the process of retiring.
This investigation into police conduct is one of 79 conducted by the OPCC in the past year, one of which resulted in the dismissal of former Victoria police chief, Frank Elsner.
On Tuesday evening, 16-year-old Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg took to Twitter and Instagram to clarify that she did not decline a visit to Victoria.
This clarification was necessary because earlier today, several media outlets reported that according to mayor Lisa Helps, Thunberg rebuffed the city’s invitation to visit because BC Ferries vessels use fossil fuels.
“PS. I don’t know anything about an invitation to Victoria, and I have definitely not declined it because of ’emissions’ from the public transport ferry. Just so you know:),” reads her tweet.
“I try to visit as many places as I can, but there’s unfortunately not enough time to visit everywhere.”
PS. I don’t know anything about an invitation to Victoria, and I have definitely not declined it because of “emissions” from the public transport ferry. Just so you know:) I try to visit as many places as I can, but there’s unfortunately not enough time to visit everywhere.
In response, Victoria mayor Lisa Helps posted a photo of the open invitation extended to Thunberg from herself, Saanich mayor Fred Haynes, and local teenage climate activists Emma-Jane Burian and Rebecca Wolf Gage.
The letter invites her to both Victoria and Saanich, and states that its authors would arrange public engagements for her if she wishes.
Sidney/North Saanich RCMP are asking for the public’s help in locating a missing 36-year-old man.
Vincent Olsen was last heard from on October 21st, and are very concerned for his health and well being.
According to police, Olsen has connections in multiple Vancouver Island communities, including Sooke and Duncan and may be residing there.
He is described as a First Nations man standing 5’3″ and weighing about 146 pounds with brown eyes and dark brown/black hair.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Sidney/North Saanich RCMP at 250-656-3931, or if you wish to remain anonymous call Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Experience the show at a whole new level of intensity: live! This is Atomic Vaudeville’s fourth production of The Rocky Horror Picture Show in Victoria.
With over a dozen showtimes, there’s bound to be one that works for you and your fellow freaks. Let’s all do the Time Warp again!
Note: Audience members are not permitted to bring their own props. However, prop bags will be available for purchase at every show or in advance.
When: 8 p.m.
The event runs from October 17th — November 2nd (multiple dates and times) Click here for the full schedule.
If you are looking for some “spine-tingling fun” this Halloween season, be sure to visit The Gordon Head Haunted Manor! This haunting exhibit is a “Treasure Island”-themed animatronic yard display, that is sure to get kids of all ages into the Halloween spirit! This is a family-friendly event is by donation, in support of Victoria Hospice.
Get your I-just-don’t-wear-it-anymore clothing, accessories, and old costume items ready folks because Surfrider UVic is hosting a clothing exchange! (This is also a great opportunity to get random pieces for Halloween costumes!)
The fashion industry is one of the most polluting industries worldwide, so instead of buying new clothes, organizers of this event is trying to support the re-use of clothing.
When: 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Where: Bob Wright Centre (SCI), 3800 Finnerty Road
A School Sponsored Event for ALL ages. Proceeds benefiting Local Saanich Schools. $10 per person / $30 for Elementary School Family of 4. Included: Entrance, 1 Haunt and 1 Midway game. Additional Coupon Packages Available for Purchase.
Tickets Available at your Neighbourhood School or at Claremont – 250-658-5221.
Stop by Vertigo between for a pumpkin carving contest, popcorn and music! All supplies will be provided, just bring yourself and a donation to participate. All proceeds will be donated to the UVic Little Big House Build.
When: 7:00 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Where: University of Victoria Sustainability Project – UVSP, 3800 Finnerty Road
Yesterday, Canadians made their voices heard in the polls. With everything counted, the night ended with Justin Trudeau and the Liberals winning power again, but this time with a minority government.
Meanwhile, winning the popular vote and claiming all Alberta ridings but one, Scheer and the Conservatives maintain that they will be back next election to claim power.
With Trudeau now heading a minority government, he will need the support of another party to pass bills. This is because 170 votes are needed to pass a bill and the Liberals only managed to secure 157 seats.
Elizabeth May and the Green Party did not experience the voting surge they may have initially expected, but they did see some moderate gains, tripling their seat count from 2015 and doubling their vote count from last election. May also won her riding of Saanich-Gulf Islands for the third election in a row.
The NDP party, led by Jagmeet Singh, came up shorter than previously expected. In the weeks leading up to the election, Singh was polling at an increased approval rating of 18%. Despite Singh winning his riding of Burnaby South, the NDPs ended the evening with a mere 24 seats in the House.
As the dust settled on the 43rd Canadian Federal Election, Victoria Buzz headed to social media to gauge the reactions of Canadians.
Some voters remained proud of their chosen parties, despite lack of power.
Well done @DavidMerner for taking the #GreenParty up a notch in Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke with a strong second place and being an important part of green vote growth right across the country. Under #ProportionalRepresentation we would have 25 seats – that's how good it was!
Some lamented what they felt was a lack of acknowledgement on Climate Change
I was led to believe that BC was the most environmentally conscious province in Cda. Last nights result prove that to be incorrect. The majority of BCrs voted #cpc/#ndp, both whom support fossil fuel expansion and environmental and human sacrifice zones in B.C.
So delighted to see 🇨🇦Canada choose, by an overwhelming majority, to set a progressive agenda for itself, kicking to the curb all that Scheer, Trumpist, Harperite ideology of selfishness and regression.#cdnpoli#ChooseForward
And Alberta immediately wanted to jump ship and separate from the rest of Canada (#wexit), leading to responses like these:
I can't believe Alberta's reaction after four years of anger is now to be angrier. That didn't work the last time, should we maybe not try a different plan? #elxn43
Others do not find Trudeau to be a progressive leader at all, and instead are left feeling disappointed by last night’s results.
We really are a country who doesnt care about a prime minister who wears Blackface, bailed out a private pipeline for 4.5 billion dollars, lied about electoral reform, and wanted to keep hush on massive SNC corruption scandal. What even ?!? #cdnpoli#ElectionsCanada#elxn2019
One of the more humorous anecdotes on Twitter came from user @davidpleonard, who pointed out that two Maxime Berniers ran in the riding of Beauce, Quebec.
Shout-out to the (so far) 68 people who've voted for the Rhino party's OTHER Maxime Bernier in Beauce. Fantastic stuff. #elxn43pic.twitter.com/BHOEi1DSts
In what was perhaps surprising to some, Donald Trump reacted positively to Trudeau reclaiming power once again.
Congratulations to @JustinTrudeau on a wonderful and hard fought victory. Canada is well served. I look forward to working with you toward the betterment of both of our countries!
Despite not publicly endorsing Trudeau, Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, also sent him well wishes and expressed the desire to work alongside Canada in future endeavours.
In the end, it seems that Canadians are less than surprised with these results. After all, power has been shifting back and forth between Conservatives to Liberals for the past 150 years.
While there may not have been a momentous shift in power or stance, this remains an important moment in Canadian politics.
Previously, the average amount of time for a minority government to last is one year. The Liberals will have to regain trust and momentum if they want to survive in power any longer than that.
However, as of October 2017, he fled the country and hid out in France, leading to a search by Canadian authorities as well as Interpol.
Victoria Police and partner agencies including the Regional Domestic Violence Unit then used warrants and tracking software to find out Normandin’s exact whereabouts in France.
Once he was located, there followed a lengthy, 12-month long extradition process involving Interpol, the Canadian Department of Justice and an RCMP officer stationed in France to request Normandin’s extradition back to Canada to stand trial.
Once court proceedings in France concluded and authorization from the French Prime Minister was granted, VicPD detectives flew to France on Friday, October 18th and returned Normandin to Victoria.
“This has been a very lengthy process and I’m really proud of our entire team for being dedicated to this file to ensure our community knows that we take these files very seriously,” said Detective Sergeant Shawn Robson.
“Without the amazing efforts from our community partners here on Vancouver Island as well as in France, Mr. Normandin would still be at large.”
He is currently being held in custody pending a bail hearing.
For their 5th annual event, Wicked Victoria will be shortening their route to encompass Courtney Street along Government up to Yates Street, mainly due to the construction of the Customs House.
But they’re packing in the same amount of exciting events, music, and vendors as every other year!
Plenty of excitement for everyone
Besides providing an excuse to wear your costume more than once, this event features fun festivities, like live performances, a kid’s zone with pumpkin decorating and games, a kid’s costume parade, and tons of local vendors to visit!
This year, their list vendors include some spooktastic businesses and activities like Axe & Grind, Horror Escape, Escape Room, Inflatable obstacle course, twister and Giant Soccer Kick games.
Speaking of vendors, there are still a few spots for businesses and non profits to set up at the event, so contact the Greater Victoria Festival Society if you want to get in on this spell-binding local tradition.
For all visitors, make sure to dress your scariest, and take a fun-filled walk through one of the city’s most coveted festivals of the year.
What’s better than the warm, sultry music of Sinatra on a cold Autumn’s day?
The chance to experience it at Victoria’s own Royal Theatre!
On November 2nd and 3rd, the Victoria Symphony is presenting two days filled with some of Sinatra’s greatest hits, sung by entertainer Tony DeSare alongside conductor Giuseppe Pietraroia.
The New York Times calls DeSare “two parts young Sinatra to one part Billy Joel”, and he will join the Victoria Symphony to sing tunes from legendary Old Blue Eyes himself!
A part of the Symphony’s series of POP concerts, at Old Blue Eyes you’ll get to revel in the sounds of classics like Luck Be A Lady, Come Fly With Me and My Way – just to name a few of Sinatra’s hits this famed crooner and his grooving band will perform.
Tickets are available online, but grab them fast! This is one soulful event you will not want to miss out on.
Even better, we’re giving away a pair of tickets to Old Blue Eyes, so you can have the chance to win yourself the majesty of this concert for yourself!
CONTEST
For a chance to WIN a a pair of tickets to Old Blue Eyes from the Victoria Symphony, complete one or more of the following:
Win 2 tickets to see one of the @VicSymphony’s Old Blue Eyes performances via @victoriabuzzes RT to enter! #victoriabuzz
Contest entries will be accepted from the time and date of publishing until 11:59 pm on October 31st, 2019. One winner will be chosen at random and contacted through the platform they used to enter.
This vessel has vehicle ramps with an upper level for loading, so some passengers will be loaded onto this upper level ramp.
Vehicles will be loaded differently with commercial traffic being separated from regular vehicles, but everyone will still get on the boat on a first come, first serve basis.
There is an elevator that goes to the second level lounge, and the vessel also features a Coast Café Express.
To help passengers adjust to the new vessel, BC Ferries will have additional staff and signage during at Fulford Harbour Terminal on Salt Spring Island during the first week the Queen of Cumberland is on route.
Despite the Conservative Party winning the popular vote, the Liberal Party has formed a minority government with 155 seats in the House of Commons.
In spite of their win, this still comes as a loss for the Liberals, who will now occupy far fewer seats than the 184 they secured in the 2015 elections. While in office, the Liberals will have to negotiate support from another party in order to pass any legislation.
Opposition Conservative party members have secured 122 seats, the Bloc Québécois has 32, the NDP has 25, the Green Party has 3, and there is one Independent MP.
At around 9:30 p.m., United States President Donald Trump tweeted his congratulations to Liberal Party leader and incumbent Prime Minister Justin Trudeau — with whom he has previously had a tense relationship.
“Canada is well served,” wrote President Trump. “I look forward to working with you toward the betterment of both of our countries!”
Congratulations to @JustinTrudeau on a wonderful and hard fought victory. Canada is well served. I look forward to working with you toward the betterment of both of our countries!
Trudeau garnered a massive 50.8 per cent of the vote in his district, followed by NDP candidate Christine Paré with 19.2 per cent of the vote.
All federal party leaders secured seats in their ridings with the exception of People’s Party of Canada leader Maxime Bernier, who lost his seat in Beauce, Quebec with only 28.7 per cent of the vote.
Green Party leader Elizabeth May came out victorious in her riding of Saanich-Gulf Islands, and Andrew Scheer held on to his seat in Regina-Qu’Appelle with 64 per cent of the vote.
NDP leader Jagmeet Singh has also won his riding of Burnaby South with 37.3 per cent of the vote.
By over 2,000 votes, Victoria city councillor Laurel Collins has beat out the competition to become the next MP for Victoria for the New Democratic Party.
At time of publishing, Collins has won with 35.8 per cent of the vote with 81.5 per cent of polls reporting.
In the 2018 municipal elections, Collins successfully campaigned to become one of the councillors for the City of Victoria.
Her campaign to represent Victoria in the House of Commons will mean a byelection to fill her current position as city councillor, which is projected to cost $200,000.
Among other candidates in the district, Racelle Kooy of the Green Party secured 28.2 per cent of the vote, Liberal candidate Nikki Macdonald received 22.2 per cent, Richard Caron of the Conservative Party secured 11.6 per cent.
Collins echoes the NDP’s climate change policies and has shown her commitment to the cause as a member of the CRD Regional Water Supply Commission and a director on the board of the Green Municipal Fund.
She has also taught courses in Social Justice, Sociology, and Social Inequality at the University fo Victoria.
The NDP was heavily criticized after residents in Victoria received fliers falsely insinuating that the Green Party would oppose abortion rights in Canada.
While the overall votes have not been tallied yet, projections say the Liberals will be holding on to power in the form of a minority government.
Despite the win, it’s still quite a loss for the Liberals, as they had 184 seats after the 2015 elections and now will occupy far fewer seats.
Meanwhile Green Party leader Elizabeth May achieved a similar victory in her riding of Saanich-Gulf Islands, and Andrew Scheer held on to his seat in Regina-Qu’Appelle with 64 per cent of the vote.
NDP leader Jagmeet Singh is projected to win his riding of Burnaby South with 37.1 per cent of the vote after over three quarters of the ballots had been counted.
The only party leader to lose his riding is People’s Party leader Maxime Bernier in Beauce, Quebec, where the MP seat went to Conservative Party candidate Richard Lehoux.
Green Party leader Elizabeth May has secured her seat as MP of Saanich-Gulf Islands with 46.9% per cent of the vote. Around 61% per cent of votes are currently in for this riding.
This is the third time May has been elected to represent Saanich-Gulf Islands since 2011, and in 2015 received a whopping 55 per cent of the popular vote.
Among other candidates in the riding, NDP’s Sabina Singh received 15.2 per cent of the vote, David Busch of the Conservative Party received 19.3 per cent, Liberal candidate Ryan Windsor received 17.1 per cent, and Ron Broda for the People’s Party had 1.5 per cent.
With climate change at the forefront of the average Canadian voter’s psyche, the Green Party has seen a surge in popularity.
As of the time of publication, Elections Canada shows that overall, the Greens have 6.1% of popular vote.
In the 2015 elections, they finished with 3.5 per cent of the vote and May was the only Green MP in the House of Commons.
However, this time around she will be accompanied by party candidate Jenica Atwin who won the MP seat in her riding of Fredericton, New Brunswick. Atwin is the first Green Party candidate east of British Columbia to be elected into the House of Commons.
As Green Party leader, May has been campaigning across the country in this year’s elections, facing off against Liberal, Conservative, NDP, PPC, and Bloc Québécois leaders in several debates.
Her environmental priorities include forming a federal Internal Cabinet with all parties to focus on climate change and get everyone on the same page, and getting Canada to net zero emissions by 2050.
May also focuses on expanding the single player medicare model to include pharmacare for everyone, establishing free dental care for low income Canadians, and increasing the National Housing Co-Investment Fund by $750 million for new builds.
The election is over and so is Monday, now that we made it through the toughest part of the week, here are 5 things to do in and around Victoria today:
Don’t miss out on Canadian indie rocker and former lead singer of Matt Mays & El Torpedo one night performance for an intimate crowd for his “Howl at the Night” Tour!
Hungry for some local cuisine? Enjoy this 2-hour tour that starts at Victoria Public Market with stops along the way at The Harmonious Gates of Interest, Fan Tan Alley, Market Square, Bastion Square, Trounce Alley, and more!
When: 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Where: Begins at Victoria Public Market, 1701 Douglas Street
Another round of mind testing trivia with drink specials, grilled cheeses, and prizes! First time? Head over and try your hand at questions that will push you to your cerebral limits.
Interested in learning how to draw? Host Meghan Krauss will take you through this weekly course that starts at the basics and will teach you skills to move your abilities on to the next level!
When: 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Where: Vancouver Island School of Art, 2nd Floor 950 Kings Road
With 145 seats, the Liberal Party is just 25 seats away from a majority win less than an hour after polls closed in B.C.
At 7:10, CBC News predicted a Liberal government. Just minutes later, they amended this statement to clarify that they anticipated a Liberal minority government.
UPDATE: CBC News is projecting a Liberal minority government.
At time of writing, Liberals currently have 34.8 per cent of the vote, with the Conservatives (with 116 seats) close behind at 33 per cent.
The Bloc Québécois have 32 seats so far with 6.2 per cent of the vote, the NDP has 14.6 per cent of the vote and 19 seats, while the Green Party has 1 seat at 8.1 per cent of the votes.
So far, just 25.59 per cent of the vote has been counted.
Get ready Victoria, if the weatherman is right, we should be in for a whole lot of sunshine this week.
This week’s forecast from Environment Canada is calling starting tomorrow and into the weekend (minus Friday), meaning you can bust out the sunglasses (though maybe not the shorts and sandals).
Meteorologists are predicting a brief end to our rainy days as clear skies are expected to be above Victoria for the next 3 days straight.
Temperatures will hover around highs of 11° to 14° Celsius, while the nights will range from 5° (like tonight) to 2°.
The streak of rainless days will begin tomorrow Tuesday, October 22nd and continue Thursday, October 24th, which for those looking to get outside is a thankful reprieve.
However, if you’re a pluviophile, there will be another possible rainy day and night on Friday, October 25th before some further continued clear skies into the weekend.
With Halloween festivities kicking off over the next ten days, the escape from the rain is good news to those looking to break out their best spookiest costumes.
Are we doing enough to tackle the culinary industry’s impact on the environment?
That’s the question a group of chefs in Victoria have a response to, and they’re looking for a way to pay it forward.
On Monday, October 28th EAT Magazine and Boom + Batten Restaurant/Café are co-hosting Eat The Future, a unique event to celebrate just how committed they are to making a difference and changing the future in the culinary world.
Though the event itself is sold out, there’s still a way for everyone and anyone to participate! Boom + Batten and EAT Magazine are co-hosting an online auction, with some truly unique west coast prizes available to bid on.
On top of incredible packages such as a three night stay at the Pacific Sands Resort in their Oceanside Suite paired with a $100 gift certificate at the Wolf in the Fog donated by Hoyne Brewing, there will also be biddable items such as travel excursions, art, unique experiences, luxury perks and of course – fabulous dining adventures!
(Boom + Batten / Photo by Lillie Louise)
Also up for bid will be a unique series of eight original paintings of working chefs titled: Tattoo Series 1, donated by Mary Ploegsma, a respected artist who splits her time between Victoria and Houston.
Money raised at this event and through the auction will be shared equally between the BC Hospitality Foundation and the Gary Hynes Foundation – specifically for students heading into their final year of a culinary program.
Photo from Shaun of the Dead official Facebook page
Are you looking to avoid the cold Fall weather this week?
Later this week, you can enjoy a pint, carve a pumpkin, and wait for this all to blow over.
On Thursday, October 24th, the Mint will be showing the film ‘Shaun of the Dead’, as well, they will be providing pumpkins to carve, popcorn to eat, and a featured Halloween inspired beer to drink.
They’ll be serving a 12oz P49 Schadenfreude Pumpkin Ale to pair with the festive night and keep you fully in the mood for the undead quotable comedy.
Shaun of the Dead is a 2004 film famously known for being the first of the Cornetto Trilogy starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost teaming with director Edgar Wright, it was followed by 2007’s Hot Fuzz, and concluded by 2013’s World’s End.
With Halloween only 10 days away, the events gearing up during the spooky season are now in full swing and this one is expected to sell fast, so make sure you get tickets while supplies last.
Oak Bay police are on the lookout for a possible arsonist after they were contacted by the local Parks Department regarding an incident at a public washroom.
At about 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 16th Oak Bay police were alerted of a possible arson in the Quimper Street Park washrooms.
Police believe the fire was started inside a garbage can which spread to the paper towel dispenser above.
The fire was already doused when police and fire arrived, but the damage left behind was evident to the small washroom’s equipment.
There are currently no witnesses or suspects to the crime or the incident.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Oak Bay Police department at 250-592-2424 or Crime Stoppers 1-800-222-8477.
Several residents in the Oaklands neighbourhood of Victoria woke up this morning to find their vehicle tires slashed.
Victoria Police are now searching for a suspect or multiple suspects that slashed the tires of at least 30 vehicles in the neighbourhood overnight.
The area targeted by the tire slashers includes Shakespeare Street, Scott Street, Victor Street, Lionel Street, Haultain Street, and Kings Road, among others.
Investigators believe there may be more victims of this crime, and are seeking witnesses who saw suspicious behaviour in the area last night.
Anyone with dash cam or security footage is also asked to come forward.
If you have information about these incidents, contact VicPD at (250) 995-7654 or Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
According to a tweet from the department, a happy reunion took place at the police station between when a lost dog, who had been found and kept overnight by a resident, was brought back to her owner.
The family dog named Lily got lost late last night, and in the dark fall night, was unable to be reunited with her owner until this morning
A video shows the ecstatic family greeting their beloved pet and was posted on Twitter by Oak Bay PD.
A happy reunion between a lost dog (who had been found & kept overnight by a very caring resident) and its concerned owner. Video best played in slo-mo to "Reunited and it Feels So Good". pic.twitter.com/Cf6rgBcfu1
Moments after the reunion, Oak Bay police found themselves back to work in their very own parking lot assisting a stranded motorist whose vehicle was not starting.
Though helping a broken down car is usually a job set aside for a local mechanic or BCAA, the Oak Bay PD were able to help get the car up and running again with some quick, efficient thinking and jumper cables.
“If we had scout badges for our sleeves, this would be a good morning. Hoping to plant a tree and read to some children by noon,” reads their jubilant tweet.
Immediately after the safe return of the dog, we deployed to our parking lot to help get this car started. #NoCalltoSmall If we had scout badges for our sleeves, this would be a good morning. Hoping to plant a tree and read to some children by noon!😃 pic.twitter.com/ZIHmh0dr1a
Are you into antiques, fine art, collectibles, even vintage gaming equipment?
If so, this one’s for you!
Steptoe Services is presenting their first ever LIVE auction, happening Thursday, November 7th at the Prospect Lake Community Hall.
Happening from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. that evening, not only will there be an abundance of art, antiques and collectibles you can peruse and bid on, this event is FREE to attend and will also host live music throughout, featuring varying bluegrass musicians each day as well as a special guest auctioneer.
There will also be auction preview days happening from November 4th-6th from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m., and November 7th from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
All of the items have been consigned for sale by members of the general public, and in true auction fashion, will be sold to the highest bidder.
Have you tried Mosi Bakery’s tasty treats?
They will be onsite selling their delicious sandwiches and baked goods to snack on while you browse and bid, and they’re also giving away a $50 Mosi Bakery gift card to one lucky winner – enter below!
Even better?
They will have a 1980s ATARI 2600 gaming system set up for your gaming enjoyment during the preview days, so head on down for some vintage gaming fun!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BqiZu-xh7ou/
CONTEST CLOSED** Congratulations to Nina Szylko!
For a chance to WIN a $50 gift card to Mosi Bakery, please complete one or more the following:
Click the Facebook LIKE button below and comment below to let us know have (1 entry)
Contest entries will be accepted from time and date of publishing until 11:59 p.m. PST on October 29th, 2019. One winner will be chosen at random and contacted through the platform they enter by. Good luck!
After several weeks of campaigning, debates, and a smattering of scandals, the 2019 Canadian federal elections is nearly at an end.
Starting at 7 a.m. PST on Monday, October 21st, voters across BC have 12 hours to cast their ballot and help decide who will lead the country for the next four years.
All registered voters must bring either one piece of government-issued ID, or two pieces of ID that both have their name and at least one with a current address, or declare their identity and address in writing and have a witness to vouch for their identity at the polling station.
Here’s how to find out where to go to cast your ballot:
Photo courtesy from Elections Canada Facebook page
It’s Election Night across the country and if you were able to vote in the upcoming democratic process, we have some great events to celebrate afterwards!
Here are 5 things to do in and around Victoria today:
Looking for an after Election party? Well, look no further! Entry to this by donation event is provided to anyone who shows proof of voting such as selfie, sticker, or just a good faith pinkie swear will also be accepted.
Experience a night of live music with composer Linda Bouchard and the trio of Vancouver musical improvisers including Gordon Grdina, Francois Houle, and Kenton Louwen.
Ah hoy! You can now bring the kids down to this family-friendly by donation Treasure Island-themed haunted house that will have age-appropriate scares that will dive them right into the spooky season!
When: October 18th – October 31st, 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Always wanted to sing? Now you have a chance! Come down and join this drop-in choir hosted by director Marc Jenkins who is accepting all comers regardless of experience or musical reading abilities!
Hit Canadian comedy series Letterkenny is coming back to Victoria with a live performance at the Royal Theatre in 2020.
Regular tickets for the show officially go on sale on Saturday, October 26th but for those of you who can’t wait to get your hands on them, there’s another option.
According to the Letterkenny Facebook page, fans can grab tickets 5 days early to reserve their spot by using the early pre-sale code PUPPERS on Monday, October 21st.
The Toronto-based television show, available for streaming on CraveTV, follows a group of friends in the fictional small town of Letterkenny, Ontario.
It has won several awards throughout its 41-episode run including 3 Canadian Screen Awards and 2 Bell Media Awards.
Their live performance combines stand-up comedy and sketches centered around the main characters of the show. It also provides the audience with an interactive experience of being part of the sets.
If you’re a fan of the show or are just looking for some Canadian comedy with authentic small-town sensibilities, make sure to get your tickets while supplies last!
[Left to right: David Busch (Conservative), Sabina Singh (NDP), Ryan Windsor (Liberal), Elizabeth May (Green Party), Ron Broda (PPC)/Photo compiled by Victoria Buzz]
The 43rd Canadian federal elections are just days away, which means it’s the last chance to cast your ballots.
This Monday, Saanich-Gulf Islands residents will be heading to their nearest polling stations to take part in the democratic process and elect an MP to represent the electoral district in Ottawa.
Here’s a breakdown of the five major candidates running for election in Saanich-Gulf Islands:
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party nominated Sabina Singh as their representative candidate for Saanich-Gulf Islands.
Singh originally attempted to run as representative for the Victoria riding, but was defeated in a vote by city councillor Laurel Collins after incumbent MP Murray Rankin announced that he would not be seeking a third term.
The political scientist was an instructor at the University of Victoria and has worked with the community to push for electoral reform, and seek justice for missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.
Like most candidates, Singh is focusing on tackling climate change while trying to make life affordable and fair for the average Canadian by advocating for universal pharmacare, free mental health and dental care, ending interest on student loans, and implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
David Busch is the Conservative Party candidate hoping to represent Saanich-Gulf Islands in the House of Commons in the upcoming elections.
As a practicing lawyer, he spent several years working as a civil litigator for a major law firm in BC, and over the past decade, has volunteered for the Conservative Party in a number of capacities.
He aims to unseat the riding’s current representative, Elizabeth May, by pushing a platform that addresses several different issues while still keeping climate change in mind.
Busch prioritizes implementing policies to tackle the housing crisis, provide more access to health care, and combat climate change, all while balancing the budget.
Earlier this month, he also announced the party’s plans to change the Volunteer Firefighter and Search and Rescue Tax Credit in order to give volunteers a $450 rebate for donating 150 hours per year.
Incumbent MP and party leader, Elizabeth May, is the Green Party candidate for the Saanich-Gulf Islands electoral district.
May has been elected to represent her riding twice, and in 2015 received a whopping 55% of the popular vote.
Some of her measures as MP have included sponsoring the Lyme Disease Act, preventing the closure of the Centre for Plant Health in Sidney when its shutdown was imminent under the Harper administration, and created a bill (that became the law in 2019) to ban keeping cetaceans (whales and dolphins) in captivity in Canada.
As Green Party leader, May has been campaigning across the country in this year’s elections, facing off against Liberal, Conservative, NDP, PPC, and Bloc Québécois leaders in several debates.
With climate change at the forefront of the average Canadian voter’s psyche, the Green Party has seen a surge in popularity. Current polls show that the Greens have 8.2% of popular vote, while in the 2015 elections they finished with 3.5% of the vote and May was the only Green MP in the House of Commons.
May’s environmental priorities include forming a federal Internal Cabinet with all parties to focus on climate change and get everyone on the same page, and getting Canada to net zero emissions by 2050.
She also focuses on expanding the single player medicare model to include pharmacare for everyone, establishing free dental care for low income Canadians, and increasing the National Housing Co-Investment Fund by $750 million for new builds.
The last few days have been incredible. Touring through Vancouver Island, I've felt the incredible Green momentum we have here on the island. Rain or shine, we've had hundreds of amazing supporters and volunteers cheering us on. @CanadianGreens are about to make history! #GPCpic.twitter.com/lsUovRCrGZ
The Liberal Party candidate for Saanich-Gulf Islands, Ryan Windsor is also the current mayor of Central Saanich. He has taken an unpaid leave of absence in order to run for the federal position.
Windsor was elected mayor of Central Saanich in 2014 and since then, has implemented the municipality’s climate leadership plan to reduce greenhouse gases, especially from transportation and municipal buildings.
Another sign of his dedication to mitigating climate change is his volunteer work to restore the ecosystem in local streams and creeks and help educate children about farming and the food we eat.
Like his opposition, incumbent MP Elizabeth May, Windsor champions his party’s goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2050, among other climate change initiatives like cutting corporate taxes for small clean tech businesses by 50%, and having all federal buildings run on clean electricity by 2022.
His platform also focuses on implementing universal pharmacare, similar to both Green and NDP policies, establish national standards for mental health care, and make sure everyone has access to a family doctor.
Ron Broda is the People’s Party candidate representing Saanich-Gulf Islands in the 2019 elections.
Broda moved to Central Saanich from the mainland in 1991 and has worked as a police officer for the Vancouver Police Department, Saanich Police Department, and was an officer with the Canada Border Services Agency.
For Broda, the main issue in Canadian politics today is trust, and he denounces the “paralyzing degree of political correctness that is stifling our free speech and rational discussion of major issues.”
He joined the PPC after Maxime Bernier’s slogan of ‘Freedom, Personal Responsibility, Fairness and Respect’ resonated with him.
Like his PPC counterparts in Victoria and Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke, Broda has also experienced hostility to his platform in the form of people vandalizing his campaign signs.
In a tweet, Broda calls for the public to help him identify a woman who was caught on camera removing his campaign signs in Saanich.
The PPC is the only party without any policies pertaining to climate change in this year’s elections. They have issued a blanket statement saying that the “uncertainties over the scientific basis of global warming, and the certainties about the huge costs of measures designed to fight it” justify their desire to withhold from government intervention.
[Left to right: Jamie Hammond (Liberals), David Merner (Green Party), Randall Garrison (NDP), Jeremy Gustafson (PPC), Randall Pewarchuk (Conservative)/Photo compiled by Victoria Buzz]
The 43rd Canadian federal elections are just days away, which means it’s the last chance to cast your ballots.
On October 21st, residents in the Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke riding will be heading to their nearest polling stations to take part in the democratic process and elect an MP to represent the electoral district in Ottawa.
Here’s a breakdown of the five major candidates running for election in Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke:
New Democratic Party
Randall Garrison, the National Democratic Party’s candidate for Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke, is the incumbent MP for the electoral district for the past eight years.
He is the party’s LGBTQ2+ spokesperson and sponsored the bill that added transgender rights to the human rights section of the Criminal Code and the Canadian Human Rights Code.
Garrison is also the NDP’s critic on national defence, advocating for strong training, equipment, and support for Canadian Forces.
He fought against the Trans Mountain Pipeline in an effort to stop the Liberal government from purchasing it from Kinder Morgan and pushing the project through.
His platform echoes leader Jagmeet Singh’s policies, with particular emphasis on housing, health care, employment, and climate change action.
“As Canadians we can choose to ask those who are doing so very well in our society, the super-rich and profitable corporations, to pay a little more, something closer to their fair share,” writes Garrison.
“If we do, then we can afford head-to-toe health care for all Canadians and secure housing for everyone.”
Randall Pewarchuk is the Conservative Party candidate hoping to represent Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke in the House of Commons after Monday’s elections.
Pewarchuk was a dental practitioner for several decades before deciding to run as the CPC candidate for his riding.
His priorities focus on lower taxation, in line with the party’s plans to introduce a Universal Tax Cut, abolish the carbon tax, and remove the GST from utility bills.
According to his website, Pewarchuk wants citizens to vote for him if they don’t want to “risk losing [their] livelihood to over-aggressive, rushed and questionable green initiatives at the expense of a stable economy.”
David Merner is the Green Party candidate for the Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke electoral district.
Merner was a practicing lawyer for 28 years before running for the federal elections in 2015 as a member of the Liberal Party, and garnering 27.4% of the vote.
He switched to the Green Party in 2018 after deciding that he “could not support a party that serially breaks its promises”, particularly after the Trudeau government’s purchase of the Kinder Morgan pipeline.
On top of supporting the Green Party’s climate change policies, Merner’s platform focuses on combatting the inequality and exclusion of Indigenous people and those living in poverty; establishing pharmacare for all; abolishing student debt; creating good jobs, social supports, and affordable homes in a green economy; and bringing an end to tax havens, loopholes, and corporate handouts.
The Liberal Party candidate for Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke, Jamie Hammond, served in the Canadian Armed Forces for nearly 3 decades before turning to politics.
He went on to serve as Private Secretary to two Lieutenant Governors of B.C., and as a senior civil servant with the provincial government, focused on innovation and international trade.
If elected, Hammond pledges to create a dedicated military liaison in his community office to assist veterans and families of current members access government services.
He is a strong advocate for the Canada Child Benefit, and also plans to form a Local Environmental Advisory Panel to make sure local environmental needs and concerns are heard in Ottawa.
Hammond also pledges to convene a Transportation Action Team made up of local constituents, government representatives, and First Nations, to provide a voice for the region’s transportation needs in the federal government.
In our riding 18,000 children are helped by the Canada Child Benefit. I am asking for your support to keep us moving forward growing a strong middle class and an innovative economy.
Jeremy Gustafson is the People’s Party candidate representing Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke in the 2019 elections.
Gustafson works in the film industry and is a resident of East Vancouver, but has been staying in his riding for the last two weeks of the election campaign.
His platform focuses on housing affordability, lowering the income tax, cutting immigration by more than 50%, and abolishing the carbon tax.
If elected, Gustafson plans to support policies that combat pollution in Canada’s waterways and providing clean drinking water to First Nations reserves.
Like the PPC’s candidate for Victoria, Alyson Culbert, Gustafson has also encountered issues with unknown people vandalizing or hiding his campaign signs.
The PPC is the only party without any policies pertaining to climate change in this year’s elections. They have issued a blanket statement saying that the “uncertainties over the scientific basis of global warming, and the certainties about the huge costs of measures designed to fight it” justify their desire to withhold from government intervention.
The annual cocktail event returns! Enjoy samples and learn about drinks from artisans and distillers so you can make the perfect cocktail for your next party!
Can’t make it to Germany for Oktoberfest? Well, you’re in luck! Break out your lederhosen, play games like beer pong and giant Jenga, while also listening to some live accordion music at this German styled celebration!
When: Saturday, 7 p.m. – 11 p.m.
Where: Victoria Public Market, 1701 Douglas Street #6
If you haven’t made a soccer game this year make your way down to Westhills Stadium to watch Victoria’s Pacific FC face off against Manitoba’s Valour FC for their final game of the season.
Pumpkin hunters and Halloween enthusiasts, your time of the year has finally arrived. Get into the Halloween spirit with Hayrides to the pumpkin patch, a corn maze, petting farm, haunted house, and much more.
When: Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Sunday, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Where: Hosted by Galey Farms Corn Maze, 4150 Blenkinsop Road
Bring the kids down to this costume encouraged Halloween event and art show celebrating its second year! There will be treats, horror t-shirts, ghoulish art, and more!
Dance the night away to this late-night party featuring a collective of artists who have appeared at such festivals as Shambala, Bass Coast, Atmosphere Gathering, and Koksilah!
Looking for a furry friend? Flirting with Fido makes it that much easier at this 4-hour adoption fair that will have dogs on site for you to meet and maybe even take home.
Beer lovers, prepare yourself for an evening of brewery specials at this tap takeover that will have specials and signature ales to try at this evening event!
If you’re looking for a night of live music with a rockabilly swagger, make your way down to Vinyl Envy for this party that features three different bands that will have you shaking your hips for hours!
Spend the night listening to the music of composer Richard Rogers at this tribute event dedicated to the man behind such scores as The Sound of Music, Oklahoma!, South Pacific, The King and I, and much more
Get a great Fall picture of your furry best friend taken at this Halloween photoshoot hosted by Eagle Creek Bosley’s, and as an added bonus, all proceeds from the event going to help rehabilitate rescue dogs.
Lovers of country and rock, make your way down to Capital Ballroom to hear the music of this British Columbia born artist who will be playing hits from “Me and the Mountain”, newest released album.
Are you in the market for a unique present or a hobby item? The Victoria Flea Market has you covered with another Sunday of bargains on creative gifts!
Enjoy an evening of East Coast food and beer at this party dedicated to fresh lobster, clams, sausages, potatoes, and traditional tunes from the other end of Canada.
Ah hoy! You can now bring the kids down to this family-friendly by donation Treasure Island-haunted house that will have age-appropriate scares that will dive them right into the spooky season!
When: October 18th – October 31st, 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.
If you’re looking for a chuckle this weekend, make your way down to Dylan’s pub for a featured night of comedy with local comedians breaking out a number of funny sets.
[Left to right: Alyson Culbert (PPC), Richard Caron (Conservative Party), Laurel Collins (NDP), Nikki Macdonald (Liberal Party), Racelle Kooy (Green Party)/Image compiled by Victoria Buzz]
The 43rd Canadian federal elections are just days away, which means it’s the last chance to cast your ballots.
On October 21st, Victoria residents will be heading to their nearest polling stations to take part in the democratic process and elect an MP to represent the electoral district in Ottawa.
Here’s a breakdown of the five major candidates running for election in Victoria:
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party nominated Laurel Collins as their representative candidate for Victoria.
In the 2018 municipal elections, Collins successfully campaigned to become one of the councillors for the City of Victoria. If elected as MP, the municipality would need to host a by election to replace her seat.
Collins echoes the NDP’s climate change policies and has shown her commitment to the cause as a member of the CRD Regional Water Supply Commission and a director on the board of the Green Municipal Fund.
She has also taught courses in Social Justice, Sociology, and Social Inequality at the University fo Victoria.
Too many of our beloved species are at risk: orcas, peregrine falcons, sea otters, Vancouver Island marmots and more. New Democrats will use all the tools available under the Species at Risk Act to preserve our biodiversity for generations. #WorldAnimalDay#AnimalsOfDoorKnockingpic.twitter.com/RnCbmpJbcS
The NDP was heavily criticized after residents in Victoria received fliers falsely insinuating that the Green Party would oppose abortion rights in Canada.
Conservative Party of Canada
Richard Caron is the Conservative Party candidate hoping to represent Victoria in the House of Commons in the upcoming elections.
In an op-ed in the Times Colonist on Friday, Caron outlines the Conservatives’ climate change policies which focus on “green technology, not taxes” in which the party pledges to create more jobs through green technological growth while lowering emissions.
“One item that I am personally very interested in is the Green Homes Tax Credit, a two-year plan that will encourage Canadians to improve their homes with emissions-reducing technologies,” writes Caron.
“Canadians will be eligible to receive a 20 per cent refundable credit on their income tax for green improvements to their homes of more than $1,000 and up to $20,000. This will allow Canadians to save up to $3,800 on their green renovations each year.”
His platform also rests on reducing taxes by supporting Scheer’s Universal Tax Cut and removing GST from utility bills.
Green Party of Canada
Racelle Kooy is the Green Party candidate for the Victoria electoral district.
Her platform focuses on policies to mitigate the effects of climate change, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, address the housing crisis and high cost of living, introduce a comprehensive health care plan, and put an end to the opioid epidemic.
“Victoria historically elects MPs who fight for green values. It’s time for Victoria to elect a Green MP. This riding was the birthplace of the Species at Risk Act under David Anderson,” Kooy said in a statement after being nominated federal Green candidate for Victoria earlier this year.
“And after the National Energy Board’s appalling decision, this is the riding that needs to lead the fight to make sure the act is enforced to protect the southern resident orcas from the Trans Mountain pipeline.”
"The reason Greens are important is they represent a fundamental change in the way that we see ourselves in the world." – Dr. David Suzuki
Kooy’s office in downtown Victoria was broken into in the wee hours of Thursday, October 17th. The suspect stole thousands of dollars worth of items and Victoria Police are investigating the incident.
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party candidate for Victoria, Nikki Macdonald, recently received an endorsement from former Prime Minister Jean Chretien, after having worked as a Senior Advisor for him.
“She has experience and integrity and will fight for all Victorians in Ottawa,” says Chretien in an audio recording.
As with several other candidates, Macdonald’s platform focuses on climate change, citing Liberal Party initiatives that would directly benefit Victoria, like the ongoing building of a sewage treatment plant, decades-long efforts to clean up the waters of the Upper Gorge, and annual beach clean-ups.
These policies include banning single-use plastics by 2021, upholding the carbon tax, protecting around 14% of the country’s coastal and marine lands, and restoring marine ecosystems through the Oceans Protection Plan.
Vote this election for positive, progressive government and investment in Canadians. We can't go backwards with Andrew Scheer's cuts.
Alyson Culbert is the People’s Party candidate hoping to represent Victoria in the 2019 elections.
Culbert’s campaign garnered significant media attention after several of her campaign signs were stolen from outside her headquarters on Douglas Street last month.
“The principles of our party and my own views strongly support free speech and open
discussion, which make an attack on our message particularly disturbing,” she wrote in a statement at the time.
According to her website, Culbert was moved to participate in politics after hearing PPC leader Maxime Bernier speak last year and finding that “his words rang true”.
Her platform focuses on the opioid crisis and mental health and addictions resources, advocating for the decriminalization and consequent regulation of illicit drugs.
Debate on mental health, homelessness and drug addiction. Great debate. We really came out on top. Afterwards, one individual asked me to run for city council if I don't win federally! pic.twitter.com/85uqqawAJC
The PPC is the only party without any policies pertaining to climate change in this year’s elections. They have issued a blanket statement saying that the “uncertainties over the scientific basis of global warming, and the certainties about the huge costs of measures designed to fight it” justify their desire to withhold from government intervention.
The 18-year-old victim was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries and is expected to make a full recovery.
Despite searching the area with a K9 unit, police were unable to locate the suspect.
They are now asking for witnesses and anyone with dashcam footage near the Langford bus exchange on October 11th between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. to contact investigators.
The suspect is described as a 30-year-old Caucasian man, standing 6’4″ tall and has blonde hair. At the time of the incident, he was wearing blue jeans and a black or grey hoodie.
West Shore RCMP can be contacted at 250-474-2264, or you can report anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
(Screenshot from video submitted by Kathy Erickson)
A resident in Gordon Head was shocked to find out that a suspected mailbox thief had licked her doorbell camera before disappearing into the night.
Yes, you read that correctly.
The incident happened at around 9 p.m. on Thursday, October 17th, and a recording shows the suspect licking the doorbell camera, and then proceeding to also lick her hand before rubbing the railing.
Shortly after the incident, the resident contacted Saanich Police who arrived on the scene about 20 minutes later.
Nothing has been reported stolen from the mailbox, but the homeowner tells Victoria Buzz that she “diligently cleaned the doorbell and railing with Lysol”, upon seeing the recording.
Incidents of strange doorbell licking were also recorded in Florida and California earlier this year, resulting in videos that went viral.
Victoria Buzz has reached out to Saanich Police to ask if there have been similar incidents in the area, but they were unable to comment as of the time of publication.
If you recognize the woman in the video or have any information that could help solve this case contact Saanich Police at 250-475-4321.
With just three days left until Canada’s 43rd federal elections, all candidates are ramping up their promises as well as their attacks.
Speaking at a rally in Fredericton, New Brunswick on Friday, Conservative Party leader Andrew Scheer reiterated parts of his 100 Day Action Plan and heavily criticized the possible formation of a Liberal-NDP coalition government.
Most notably, he talked about plans to eliminate the carbon tax by January 2020 as one of his first acts if elected.
Scheer also plans to take the GST off utility bills as a way to make heating and electricity more cost-effective, and to introduce a Universal Tax Cut that he says will save average Canadian workers $850 per year.
As another way to entice voters to switch to Conservative, Scheer heavily criticized the formation of a Liberal-NDP coalition government in the event that the CPC fails to gain a majority in the House of Commons.
He accused Trudeau of “scheming behind closed doors with the NDP” and planning to raise the GST or other taxes to appease the NDP, although neither of the two parties has proposed raising taxes.
“A Trudeau-led government with the NDP calling the shots would be the worst possible outcome for Canadians… This is the coalition Canadians cannot afford.”
He finishes by stating that a coalition government would cost Canadians thousands of dollars more every year.
In a statement to press last weekend, NDP leader Jagmeet Singh expressed his support for forming a minority government with Trudeau’s Liberals, should the Conservatives win the most seats but fail to secure a majority.
He has since dialled back, stating that his priority is to focus on his own party’s performance. Meanwhile Trudeau has refused to state whether or not he’d be open to forming a coalition government with the NDP.
Opposition leader Andrew Scheer, on the other hand, has stated that his aim is to prevent a minority Liberal-NDP government by making sure the Conservatives secure a majority of seats in the House of Commons.
In an interview with CTV Chief News Anchor Lisa LaFlamme on Wednesday, Scheer reasoned that his party should be allowed to rule if they win the most number of seats, even if they fall short of a majority.
He justifies this by pointing out that in the last three elections, the party that got the most seats went on to form government.
However as a rule, Canada’s parliamentary system gives the incumbent Prime Minister the first chance at forming a minority government in the House of Commons.
Each municipality in Greater Victoria is known for its unique demographic, whether it be seniors in Sidney or tough people in Esquimalt.
This hilarious meme circulating around Facebook sums it all up perfectly, depicting each municipality in Victoria as a character from the hit animated comedy show The Simpsons – and Duncan made it in there too!
The creator of the comic, James Micheal Berkey, told Victoria Buzz back in 2017 that he was inspired to create the cartoon by other similar memes about Vancouver and Fraser Valley.
Check it out:
Oak Bay and several other Greater Victoria communities didn’t make the cut though. Which character do you think they would’ve been?
The last game of the season, scheduled to take place on Saturday against Valour FC at Langford’s Westhills stadium, will be coached by assistant coach James Merriman.
“Like any business, soccer is a results based business. We felt we weren’t getting the results on the pitch that our fans deserve,” says Rob Friend, CEO of Pacific FC.
“As an ownership group we decided to make the coaching change now, rather than wait until the offseason.”
“We would like to thank Michael for his contributions and wish him all the best in his future endeavours. He was an integral part of our inaugural season, and we will always be thankful.”
The Danish football manager and former professional player was hired to be the first assistant coach of Pacific FC in 2018.
Under his leadership, the team kicked off their inaugural season with a 1-0 win against visiting team, the Halifax Wanderers.
Cannabis edibles are officially legal across Canada but as per federal regulations, consumers will not be getting their hands on any until late December 2019.
This second phase of the legalization process was officially put into action as of Thursday, October 17th, and allows the retail sale and commercial production of three new categories of non-medical cannabis:
edible cannabis, such as baked goods and beverages;
cannabis extracts, such as liquids, tinctures, wax, hash and cannabis oil; and
cannabis topicals, such as creams, balms and similar products that are meant to be applied to a person’s hair, skin or nails.
However these products will not be available at either private retail stores or the provincial BC Cannabis Stores until December.
This is because Health Canada requires federally licensed producers to provide at least 60 days notice of their intent to make a new cannabis product available for sale.
Here are the government’s final regulations regarding edibles, extracts, and topicals:
(Health Canada)
Legalization in BC
Since non-medicinal cannabis was first legalized in October 2018, the BC provincial government has issued 144 private cannabis retail store licences and 33 other applicants have “received approval in principle”.
There are also currently seven BC Cannabis Stores retail locations across the province, with one of them on Vancouver Island.
“Unlike other provinces, B.C. had a well-entrenched cannabis industry prior to legalization, and over the last year, we’ve been working hard on the transition to a well-regulated, legal industry,” said Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General.
“As this new industry matures, B.C. will continue to take the steps necessary to make sure it is safe and successful. For example, we know there is interest in farm-to-gate sales, particularly from small-scale producers, and that’s an option we’re considering in determining how to support B.C.’s cannabis industry.”
Authorities have also been cracking down on unlicensed private cannabis retailers across the province.
Earlier this year, BC Community Safety Units conducted raids on two Trees Cannabis (Trees Island Grown) locations, forcing the company’s CEO to suspend operations at all of their stores.
Despite the province’s efforts to reduce the availability of illegal cannabis, a recent online survey from Research Co. finds that only 33% of recent cannabis users say they got their product from a licensed retailer.
“In April, only 6% of British Columbians said they had consumed marijuana only after it became legal,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “Now, the proportion has risen to 13%, including more than one-in-five residents aged 18-to-34 (22%).”
Multiple Saanich fire crews are actively battling a major structure fire on Linwood Ave this morning.
Firefighters have taped off access to the 3200-block of Linwood Ave as they work to combat a house fire.
Heather Stewart, who lives on adjacent Inverness Road, tells Victoria Buzz that she was walking her dog up Linwood Ave at around 7:45 a.m. on Friday morning when she saw smoke coming out of a house.
(Emergency crews tape off 3300-block of Linwood Ave/Photo by Seanna Wainman – Victoria Buzz)
Soon after, a woman ran out of the burning residence naked as she had just been in the shower. Stewart knocked on a neighbour’s door to procure a blanket for her. The neighbour then called 911.
Within 10 seconds, a huge explosion was heard coming from inside the house that seemed to originate in the attic.
Stewart and other neighbours then went around and woke up people living in houses nearby and, according to her, were able to successfully evacuate everyone.
The woman who ran out of the house told authorities that there was no one else inside when the fire broke out.
As of the time of publication, firefighters are working to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading to nearby residences.
A shroud of thick, black smoke can be seen blanketing the area surrounding the house.
Don’t let the days straight of rain get you down, it’s finally Friday!
Come celebrate anniversaries for food and music, a UK DJ coming for a pulse-pounding one night show, and a country night for Victoria Royals home game!
Here are 5 things to do in and around Victoria today:
Make your way down to Save-On-Foods Memorial Arena which will be filled with cowboy hats and Victoria Royals cheering crowd as they face off against The Swift Current Broncos during a country-themed event!
Where: Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre, 1925 Blanshard Street
When: Friday, October 18th – puck drop at 7:05 p.m.
Experience a night of music, poetry, and percussion with Syrian musical quartet with guests BC author Deborah Campbell and guitar/rhythm artist Celso Machado.
Students and families at Eagle View Elementary School in View Royal now have access to a brand new playground funded by the province’s Playground Equipment Program.
The PEP investment of $105,000 is part of their $10 million initiative that has led to upgrades at over 100 outdoor playgrounds across the province.
The program was created to relieve parents of the burden of fundraising for outdoor play equipment at BC schools, and communities which also lack the finances to build them.
“Playgrounds bring our students and community together and play an important role in helping youth develop fundamental skills. In the playground, children can joyfully interact and use their imaginations while building positive social, physical and cognitive behaviours,” said Ann Whiteaker, vice-chair of the Greater Victoria Board of Education.
“We need to ensure that this experience is available for all youth. We are very excited to introduce accessible play equipment at Eagle View Elementary today because our school district continuously strives to create inclusive spaces where each child has the opportunity to learn, grow and play.”
To receive a new playground, school districts must apply for the funding by sending a list of priorities in their capital plan submissions in June each year.
Schools without playgrounds are often selected first, and those with existing old equipment in need of replacement are next on the list.
A probable case of whooping cough has been detected at Macaulay Elementary School in Esquimalt.
In a letter to parents and guardians, Island Health warns that individuals attending the school may have been in contact with the pertussis bacteria that is spread by coughing.
Signs of whooping cough or pertussis include cold-like symptoms that may progress to a severe cough with a distinct ‘whooping’ sound, and may be followed by gagging or vomiting.
These symptoms can last for several weeks, and can be particularly dangerous for infants under the age of one.
Pregnant mothers in their third trimester who contract the illness may also run the risk of exposing their newborn infant to the ailment after they are born.
If someone contracts whooping cough, treatment includes an extended use of antibiotics. After five days of treatment, the individual is no longer considered infectious and can return to school or work.
Vaccination
While whooping cough is not unusual, its symptoms can still be severe.
Island Health is reminding parents that it is important for children to keep up to date with immunizations, including protection against pertussis.
Immunizations are normally given to children three times in early childhood: in their first year of life, at 18 months, and upon entering kindergarten. An additional booster shot is also administered in grade 9.
Parents are being advised to check their children’s immunization records, with vaccinations available at local public health units or select doctor’s offices.
The North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP is requesting the public’s assistance locating a missing girl.
According to police, 15-year-old Cera Qwulshemut was last seen on Tuesday, October 15th at 5:30 p.m. out front of the Shoppers Drug Mart on Trans-Canada Highway in Duncan.
She is described as a First Nations standing 4’9″, has brown eyes, short brown hair and weighs about 100 pounds.
Qwulshemut was last seen wearing a black jacket, polka dot rain boots and carrying a white backpack.
Family and friends are concerned for Cera and her well-being.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the North Cowichan/ Duncan RCMP at 250-748-5522 or, if you wish to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).
The Victoria Foundation has announced grants totalling over $113,000 provided to six societies and organizations in hopes of improving oral and mental health care in the city.
These grants were offered through a collaboration with Green Shield Canada (GSC) which established a program called ‘Six 4 Six’ to fund priority oral and mental health projects across six communities in Canada.
In Greater Victoria, grants will be provided to the Victoria Cool Aid Society, Inter-Cultural Association, Garth Homer Society, Salt Spring and Southern Gulf Islands Community Services Society, Island Community Mental Health, and Island Health.
Here’s a breakdown of what they will be used for:
Victoria Cool Aid Society – $24, 970
This project will engage a dental practice consultant to develop a fiscal and operational model for non-profit dentistry.
Inter-Cultural Association – $25,000
This project will scan and survey local dentists regarding participation in Interim Federal Health benefits, support dentists in registering with IFH, create a local network of dentists and health providers committed to increasing the long-term oral health outcomes for newcomers, and provide newcomer client oral health education.
Garth Homer Society – $25,000
This grant is for architectural research to determine the technical and design requirements for a clinic that provides special care dentistry services to be built within Garth Homer’s new building, and which could serve as a base for mobile dentistry units.
Salt Spring and Southern Gulf Islands Community Services Society – $16,318
This grant is to hire a dental navigator for Salt Spring Island, to increase access to oral health care, improve service delivery and network with private practice dentists and hygienists.
Island Community Mental Health – $7,700
This grant contributes to the planning and development of a new low-barrier social gathering place, designed to provide a range of evidence-based, recovery-oriented psychosocial rehabilitation services, including social engagement, peer support and health and wellness programming.
Island Health –$14,520
This grant provides funding for wrap-around mental health programming for a pilot school wellness centre at Shoreline Middle School. Programming will include group-learning sessions and workshops for parents and guardians as well as school staff, designed to bring the child’s whole team into their supportive strategies, and student skill-building groups addressing themes such as self-esteem and anxiety.
“Six 4 Six represents a new collaborative model of corporate philanthropy that’s all about community partnerships,” says Sherry Peister, GSC’s board chair.
“Back in 1957, the GSC founders identified the need for affordable pre-paid health benefits and met this need with Canada’s first pre-paid drug plan. Ever since, we’ve made ‘giving back’ a concept we live and breathe.”
The Six 4 Six program offers a total $6 million for programs in six communities across Canada.
They have allocated $700,000 for the Victoria Foundation to disperse to organizations that help address mental and oral health care needs, gaps and priority areas.
(Photo submitted by Karrie Hill/Graffiti by Nate "Nazo" Davis)
One of Victoria’s most popular food trucks is opening up a new permanent storefront location in Oak Bay next week.
Karrie Hill’s burgers-on-wheels joint, Deadbeetz, first made its way into Victoria’s food truck scene six years ago when they set up by the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.
Now, the iconic beet-purple truck is a fixture behind the Royal BC Museum at their year long food truck festival alongside other rolling eateries like Rolling Reef, Puerto Vallarta Amigos and The Love Perogy.
Deadbeetz’s success allowed Hill to purchase a second food truck (of the same name and menu) two years ago that frequents farmers’ markets, festivals, and other events around town.
Now, they are just a week away from opening a brick and mortar location at 1950 Oak Bay Ave to serve as a permanent fixture operating in conjunction with the two food trucks.
it’s storefront sign day!!!! a can’t wait for the burger guy to be in the side circles.
Deadbeetz is, first and foremost, a burger joint with a beet theme. Their signature menu item is the “Beetrice” – a beet patty burger topped with house made pickled beets.
The new restaurant features an expanded menu (some of which will be available at their food trucks on a rolling basis), along with an epic logo mural painted by artist Nathan “Nazo” Davis.
“I’ve been cooking my whole life, I’ve been in kitchens since I was 15. It was a way to sort of get out there and do my own thing with a food truck,” says Karrie Hill, when asked about her inspiration for the business.
“I wanted to have a unique selling point in Victoria. There were a lot of taco and poutine trucks, so we filled the void with a burger truck!”
The Deadbeetz restaurant is expected to be open to the public on Thursday, October 24th and Hill plans to do some giveaways and specials once it’s all set up.
A woman in Chemainus has been arrested for drug trafficking charges after a police raid found evidence of the crime at her residence.
In January 2019 North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP executed a search warrant on a property in Chemainus and found two ounces of methamphetamine, quantities of heroin/fentanyl, counterfeit currency, stolen property, and further evidence of drug trafficking.
The RCMP teamed with the municipality of North Cowichan and the BC Civil Forfeiture Office who were also conducting their own investigations on the property.
As a result of this investigation, the federal Crown Counsel issued an arrest warrant in September for 40-year-old Schivon Metcalf who was wanted for two counts of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking.
Metcalf was arrested on October 4th, during which police found drugs and drug trafficking paraphernalia on her person, leading to three further charges.
“Drug traffickers often select rental properties that will become hubs for criminal activity and cause considerable strain on neighborhoods,” said Constable Kevin Houlgate of the Street Crime Unit.
“The North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP will continue to target individuals and properties that negatively impact our communities due to drug trafficking and other illegal activity,” Houlgate adds.
Metcalf is due to appear in court on November 5th.
The Greater Victoria School District has launched an online survey to gauge community feedback on the idea of of changing the name of Fernwood’s George Jay Elementary School.
The online consultation is in response to the school’s Parent Advisory Council bringing forth concerns about its namesake, George Jay, who advocated for the segregation of Chinese-Canadian students.
Jay immigrated to Victoria from England in the late 1800s and went on to become the chair of the city school board for 27 years, later playing a key role in the establishment of Victoria College.
However a book published by historian Timothy J. Stanley in 2011 reveals that he helped develop a policy of banning students of Chinese heritage from schools unless they knew fluent English.
This policy was then applied to all Chinese-Canadian students, regardless of their proficiency in English.
Name change consultation
“Our District recognizes and values the diversity of our school population and in no way condones the racist historic practices by some of our predecessors,” said present day Board Chair, Jordan Watters, in a press release.
“As we develop a better understanding of institutional racism and the role of the education system, it’s essential that we have conversations as a community in order to determine the best way to address historical wrongs and forge a positive path forward.”
The online survey, which can be found here, is being monitored in addition to an open house consultation that will be held on Wednesday, November 6th at 6 p.m. in the gymnasium at George Jay Elementary.
Once the consultation process is over, the school district will forward the results to the Board of Education to help inform and guide the next steps.
The online survey is open for two weeks and will close at 4 p.m. on October 31st.
About two weeks ago, an inquisitive 4-month-old puppy ate something she found in the garden of her family’s home in Victoria.
Within 36 hours, she was dead.
On October 13th, Peter Ronald took to Twitter to share the tragic story of how his puppy, Luna, became ill and passed away after ingesting fatal Amanita phalloides or “death cap” mushrooms that had been growing in a corner of his garden.
Unfortunately, Luna is not the first puppy to succumb to the poisonous fungi this year.
Back in September, a chocolate brown lab puppy was surrendered to the Victoria Humane Society after consuming death cap mushrooms and despite best efforts, passed away within 24 hours.
In 2016, a 3-year-old boy died after consuming a death cap mushroom while foraging for wild mushrooms with his family in downtown Victoria.
This latest incident of an innocent puppy falling prey to the Amanita phalloides has renewed a call for vigilance, as death cap mushrooms are particularly lethal to children and pets.
Death cap mushroom (BC Centre for Disease Control)
Anyone who suspects they may have consumed a death cap mushroom is asked to go to their nearest hospital immediately, call the BC Drug and Poison Information Centre at 1-800-567-8911 or call 911, and keep a sample of the mushroom for testing.
Drugs, weapons, and vehicles were all seized by police in Victoria in late September, after several months of investigation by the West Shore RCMP.
According to West Shore RCMP, their drug unit executed five simultaneous search warrants in the Victoria area on September 27th, after conducting surveillance on two suspected drug dealers.
Both suspects resided in Victoria but frequented the West Shore area. The search warrants included three homes and two vehicles.
Investigators seized over 300 grams of powdered cocaine and crack-cocaine with an estimated street value over $50 000. Two vehicles, ammunition, and a variety of bladed weapons were also confiscated.
The cross-jurisdictional drug trafficking operation involved the West Shore RCMP, Victoria Police Department (VPD) Strike Force, and VPD Emergency Response Team.
“Drug trafficking doesn’t stop at the West Shore border, neither do our investigators. We put the call out to our colleagues at VPD who immediately showed their support and jumped on board, making the project a success,” said Cpl. Walsh of the West Shore RCMP Drug Unit.
While the investigation is on-going, police have arrested two 37-year-old men for drug trafficking and possession for the purpose of trafficking.
