VicPD are searching for a suspect who tried to break into a business in the 1400 block of Haultain Street last week.

In a video shared by Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers, the suspect can be seen hanging out outside the business for a while and even noticing a surveillance camera observing them, before deciding to try and kick down the front door.

See also:

• Victoria police officer herds geese away from downtown intersection by “quacking” at them (VIDEO)
• Victoria cyclist captures series of “weird” events on camera last Sunday (VIDEO)

Upon failing to do so, they promptly run away from the scene.

“When a shop window has a sign in it, saying it is closed, it really means that it is not open for customers. It doesn’t mean kick the door in and try to gain entry,” writes Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers.

“You can turn yourself in and we are certain they will keep the police station open for you, so no further damage will occur.”

Anyone who recognizes the suspect can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 and referring to VicPD file #19-37261.

Check out the video:

Finding love can be a daunting challenge to begin with, but for one Saanich couple the real struggle began when one of them forgot they had found it in the first place.

In 2017, Saanich resident Laura Faganello suffered a devastating brain injury after a pole fell on her head while setting up for a work event.

See also: Victoria couple keeps things steamy in the snow with homemade Valentine’s Day igloo

The incident left her with a crippling memory loss, forcing her to have to relearn how to read, write, and speak coherently, learn to live with the short and long term memory loss, and cope with constant pain.

One of the biggest impacts of the injury, however, was the fact that it made her forget marrying her husband 9 months prior to the accident.

“My next clear memory is of waking up thinking I was 17 years old, and not knowing who Brayden was,” Faganello shares in a Facebook post.

“My memory of meeting, falling in love with, and marrying Brayden was gone.”

The unnerving situation led to a period of anger and depression for Faganello, but eventually she came to terms with the fact that her memory had not yet come back.

“It’s really hard to feel completely devoted to a marriage when you feel like you just woke up to it one day,” she writes.

“Even though I didn’t really know who Brayden was, I saw how kind and patient he was with me… I wanted to try to make it work. I took off my rings, and I told him I wanted to date him. So, we started dating again.”

See also: This Victoria hotel left a sassy note for couple who wanted Channing Tatum photo on their bed

Fast forward to August 19th 2019, which is when Brayden proposed to Laura for the second time, and she said yes for the second time.

The couple will be getting married again next year on their fourth wedding anniversary.

“Brayden became my best friend, and then my crush, and then my love. I haven’t miraculously gotten my memory and all my old feelings for him back, but I have new feelings and new memories.”

“I’ve learned that love is a choice, and I am choosing to love Brayden.”

The union representing support staff workers at Saanich School District 63 have issued a strike notice in a letter to parents on Thursday.

After bargaining with the school district on six occasions, an overwhelming majority of CUPE 441 members have voted to take job action if necessary and are now in a position to serve 72-hour strike notice to the school district.

See also: 20-year-old UVic student remains in coma after hit-and-run in Saanich

According to union President Dean Coates, workers in School District 63 are demanding comparable wages to their counterparts in Victoria and Sooke, who have received higher wages for decades.

There are nearly 500 K-12 workers in CUPE 441 who fill a range of roles including Education Assistants, Technical Support staff, Library Techs, Youth and Family Counsellors, Clerical, Custodial, Grounds, Maintenance, Transportation, Trades, and District support staff.

 SD63 responds

In response to the strike notice, SD63 Board of Education Vice-Chair Elsie McMurphy stated that while the issue of wage competitiveness remains a concern to the board, it’s important to ensure that students’ education is not interrupted by a labour dispute.

Over the course of negotiations with the union, the Board proposed reallocating funds to provide CUPE441 workers with wage increases in excess of 6% over three years, in compliance with the compensation mandate established by the BC government for public sector bargaining.

See also: Province to build new $4.2M Children’s Development Centre in Saanich

“With this proposal, those jobs that are the farthest behind our neighbours in terms of hourly wage would receive a larger additional wage increase than jobs that are less affected,” said McMurphy.

However, Coates says this does not meet the needs of union members, especially given that the school district recently began paying managers and administrators comparable wages.

“We want them to also recognize and value the contribution of support staff in Saanich schools.”

UPDATE: As of Friday, August 30th, Colt Dodge has been located by police and remains in custody.

Earlier: Comox Valley RCMP are seeking public assistance in their search for 21-year-old Colt Thomas Dodge who has a warrant out for his arrest.

Dodge is wanted for failure to comply with probation, breach of undertaking or recognizance, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking.

Police say they’ve been making consistent efforts to locate him but he is actively avoiding arrest and therefore remains at large.

Dodge stands approximately 5’11” tall, and has short black hair and blue eyes.

Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to contact Comox Valley RCMP at
(250) 338-1321 and refer to file number 2019-13085.

If you see him, call 911 immediately.

Victorians hoping to take a dip in Prior Lake this afternoon would do better to pick a different water body.

As of Thursday, the CRD has issued an advisory against swimming in Prior Lake – located at the north end of Thetis Lake Regional Park – due to the presence of toxic blue-green algae.

See also: Beaver Lake closed to swimming after algae bloom detected

When present, the algae usually produces a visible blue-green sheen, which appears as surface scum. However, not all blooms are easy to see and toxins can still be present in the water even if you cannot see them.

If ingested, the algae can cause a range of harmful symptoms, including headaches and abdominal pains. For other animals, like dogs, it could also cause lethal liver damage.

During toxic blue-green algae warnings, the CRD advises against entering the water and keeping pets on leashes.

Students at the University of Victoria will be taking a course together with incarcerated students this fall.

A new course called “Conceptions of Justice and Engaged Pedagogy” was created by Associate Professor Dr. Audrey Yap and will begin on September 5th.

See also: UVic research finds that average Canadian drinker consumes 250 calories of alcohol everyday (STUDY)

For three months, 10 UVic students will be joining 10 incarcerated students at the Vancouver Island Regional Correctional Centre, through the course facilitated by the university’s Faculty of Humanities and BC Corrections.

“The Myth of Sisyphus.”

“What underlies this course is the transformative power of education, but also different ways of looking at education, in which it is not simply the transmission of knowledge from one party to another, but the co-creation of knowledge by people with different perspectives on and experiences of the world,” says Dr. Yap.

See also: Victoria’s first ever international women’s college basketball tournament is coming to UVic

Last year, Dr. Yap ran a successful pilot course with incarcerated students at the jail on Wilkinson Road, using role modelling, social learning, and peer accountability to support positive changes in thinking and behaviour.

Her goal with this course is to make philosophy accessible to the 10 students in custody while bringing the 10 UVic students face-to-face with the principles and practices of restorative justice.

A mouth-watering cookie shop that quickly became a staple in Victoria is shutting down its downtown location.

Today is the last day for The Cookie Guy on Blanshard Street, which will leave the business operating out of its secondary kiosk location at Uptown Shopping Centre.

This cookie shop has been selling their classic freshly baked cookies, coffee, and ice cream out of their 1122 Blanshard Street storefront for nearly three years.

See also:

• Victoria’s first authentic South Indian restaurant is now open on Yates Street
• Dine in Victoria closing for good after 20 years of delivering in the city

In November 2018, owner Matthew Davis decided to expand the business by adding a kiosk at Uptown. Now, this will have to serve as their primary space until they can find another spot to move into downtown.

“We were unable to come to a new agreement on our lease with the landlord [after] the building was recently purchased and fell into new ownership,” Davis tells Victoria Buzz.

While pricing was not the issue, lease negotiations were cut short by the new owners after Davis requested an extension.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B1sCibmlege/

The Cookie Guy’s main modus operandi, however, is through deliveries and fortunately the area they service will remain unchanged even after the downtown storefront shuts down.

“We hope to move into a larger venue at Uptown, but nothing is set in stone… and we should see our hours change in the middle of September, so we could be open earlier and close later,” adds Davis.

“We are hoping to return to the downtown scene in the near future, we just have to find a space that works for us.”

See also: Victoria’s Japanese Village Restaurant is now selling their famous Sesame Sauce

The menu will remain the same, with all of their popular cookies staying on, along with their rotating ice cream menu.

And while customers are sad to see one of their favourite downtown shops shut down, they’ve also been understanding and supportive of the transition.

“We’re receiving a lot of positive support which is great. We’re sad to leave the downtown core and are hoping to get back in there. The biggest thing on our end is that we’re still going to be delivering to the same areas, that’s not going to change at all,” says Davis.

The success of his business thus far, and the support from the local community has also enabled Davis to explore expansion options in Vancouver in the future.

For now, customers in Victoria can still have their freshly baked sweet treats delivered to them, and until the end of September, receive a 20% discount on their orders by using the code ‘Snickerdoodle’!

RCMP are asking for the public’s help in tracking down a man they say is wanted for an aggravated assault offence.

According to a press release issued today, a warrant issued in Alberta for 50-year-old Sheldon Hinton has been extended to B.C. and investigators believe he is currently in central Vancouver Island and possibly Nanaimo.

Hinton has an extensive history involving violence and has trained as a boxer. He is described as being 6’3″ tall, weighs 250 lbs and is bald.

In 2016, Hinton pleaded guilty to charges of assault causing bodily harm, assault with a weapon, uttering death threats and criminal harassment. The charges relate to two women he was involved with in separate romantic relationships.

He should be considered violent and dangerous.

If seen, do not approach and call 911. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

A large number of emergency crews and medical services have been dispatched to a serious collision that occurred north of Nanaimo this morning.

The incident involved a semi-truck and another vehicle at the junction of Ware Road and Island Highway on Wednesday morning.

Police, fire crews, and ambulances are on site, along with two emergency helicopters.

Nanaimo RCMP say that southbound traffic is being rerouted westbound onto Superior Road.

The highway is expected to be closed for at least an hour.

Starting this September, Camosun college will be supplying free menstrual products in women’s and men’s washrooms on their Lansdowne campus.

Organic pads and tampons will be available in the first floor washrooms in the Library and Learning Commons on Lansdowne campus for the 2019/20 academic year.

See also:

• Province to fund nearly $100K in free menstrual products for vulnerable women
• City of Victoria will provide free menstrual products at public facilities starting this summer

“The majority of people who menstruate are women and girls, but we recognize that they aren’t the only people who menstruate,” says librarian Robbyn Lanning, who spearheaded the project with her passion for menstrual equity.

“By having the products in both gendered washrooms, we’re trying to remove stigma related to menstruation and increase awareness in cisgender males.”

The products and the installation of Plexiglass dispensers in both washrooms was facilitated by a $5,000 Camosun Innovation and Creativity Grant.

This pilot project will take place between September 2019 and March 2020 during which Lanning will track the products’ use and survey student response before making recommendations for future steps.

See also: All BC public schools will be required to provide free menstrual products by the end of 2019

“The affordability of menstrual supplies is a pressing issue for many Camosun students,” says CCSS Pride Director, Angela Chou. “We feel confident that free menstrual supplies will not only be used, but will also help to relieve some of the impact of period poverty that students experience.”

Free menstrual products were also made available at various City of Victoria public facilities starting this summer.

Moreover, all public schools in BC will be required to provide free menstrual products in washrooms by the end of 2019.

The BC government has just announced a new 152-unit mixed-income housing project in View Royal.

These units will be divided into two six-storey wood-frame buildings located at 1938 West Park Lane near Thetis Lake.

See also:

• Saanich approves two new student housing buildings for UVic
• Canadian government invests $75 million for construction of rental housing in BC

“West Park Lane’s innovative mixed-market approach and unique funding partnership brings all levels of government to the table,” said Jean-Yves Duclos, federal Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and Minister Responsible for CMH.

“Through the National Housing Strategy, we are making historic investments in View Royal and across the country to help middle-class Canadians in communities hit hardest by housing challenges. Soon, people from all walks of life will have a safe and affordable home here, and I look forward to celebrating this project opening its doors in the near future.”

The project will be divided into a minimum of 44 affordable homes, 74 near-market-price homes, and 34 shelter-rate homes rented at the provincial income assistance rate of $375/month.

See also:

• Province opens new homeless modular housing project on Vancouver Island
• UVic-owned downtown property will be converted into hotel instead of student housing

Amenities will include laundry, a playground, bicycle storage, electric bike plug-ins, and an electric car charger, and the building will be operated by the Capital Region Housing Corporation.

It will be funded through the Regional Housing First Program in a partnership between the federal and provincial governments, and the Capital Regional District (CRD).

Construction is expected to start in October 2019, with an anticipated opening date of September 2021.

Central Saanich Police have arrested 33-year-old Jordan David Tahouney for allegedly robbing a driver operating a BC Transit bus.

At around 8 p.m. on Monday, August 26th, a passenger on the route 75 bus approached the bus driver, assaulted them, and demanded their wallet.

See also: Man found unconscious at Central Saanich bus stop following serious assault

The driver handed over their wallet and, fortunately, was physically uninjured during this encounter.

According to CS Police Deputy Chief Derren Lench, a suspect was located by officers with the help of members of the public soon after the incident occurred.

After an initial court appearance, Jordan Tahouney was charged with Robbery under Section 344 of the Criminal Code and will remain in custody until his next court appearance scheduled for September 11th.

See also: 52-year-old Saanich man arrested for robbing two 7-Eleven stores and TD bank

Police ask that any witnesses that have not yet come forward should contact them at 250-652-4441.

A Duncan man has been arrested after he allegedly approached young girls at a store in Cowichan Commons and interacted with them inappropriately.

In a release, the North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP said they responded to the incident on August 22nd around 11 p.m. at a store in the 3000-block of Drinkwater Road.

The man was reported to have been touching young girls in the aisles, as well as speaking to them and behaving in an inappropriate manner – he also allegedly vandalized merchandise geared toward young girls with profanities and crude drawings.

According to the RCMP, family members and store staff were alerted to the situation and the man fled the store.

Police were able to locate the suspect using surveillance footage and detailed witness descriptions.

28-year-old Ryan Pearce was charged with two counts of sexual interference. He will remain in custody until his next court appearance on Tuesday, August 27, 2019.

“Talk to your children about stranger danger, and go over safety planning with your children so that they’re prepared in case of an emergency,” said Const. Amron Christensen, Media Relations Officer for North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact RCMP at 250-748-5522.

UPDATE: As of around 2:30 p.m., VicPD stated that the barricaded man has been safely apprehended and transported to the hospital.

Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team also attended and aided police in negotiations with the man.

Johnson Street will remain closed until glass has been cleaned up off the road.

Earlier: A major police presence has been reported near Johnson and Blanshard Streets this afternoon.

Sources say police are attending a possible mental health incident at a condo building across from the Atrium in the 800 block of Johnson Street as of around 12:15 p.m. on Tuesday.

Police arrived at the building to find a man smashing a window and throwing items from a unit. Multiple police cruisers arrived in the area and traffic was halted from going through.

According to a Victoria Police tweet, officers are “dealing with a barricaded man”.

Witnesses have reported seeing a man smash several windows in the condo building.

Victoria Buzz has reached out to VicPD for more information.

More to come.

Looking to treat yourself this week?

Take a night off of cooking sometime this week and maybe gather the friends and fam around for a pizza party, on the cheap!

See also:

• Victoria’s first authentic South Indian restaurant is now open on Yates Street
• Starbucks launches new delivery service across Canada today

Domino’s Canada is offering a sweet 50% off on ALL pizzas ordered online between Monday, August 26th and Sunday, September 1st.

All you have to do is order your favourite pizza online and use the offer code 8700 to redeem the 50% off deal!

https://www.instagram.com/p/B1obCs0l4Ac/

The search for two Saanich Peninsula residents has resulted in a tragic discovery.

36-year-old Easha Rayel and 23-year-old James Evans were last seen August 9th.

The vehicle the pair were travelling in together, a blue 2002 BMW 325i, was believed to have been spotted in Vernon last week – that turned out to be a false sighting, according to family member.

In a release, Sidney / North Saanich RCMP said that vehicle was located today (August 24th), with two deceased people inside the car from an apparent motor vehicle incident. They did not say where the vehicle was located, however, it is believed to have been found crashed over an embankment along the Pat Bay Highway near Parkland Elementary school. 

The northbound lanes of the Pat Bay Highway were closed Saturday night as crews investigated. Motorists passing the scene said a coroner vehicle was on scene with a tent propped up.

While positive identification of the individuals has not yet been fully completed, family has been updated.

Police said there is no evidence of criminal behavior in this incident and they will not be making further comment.

Tucked away inside the St. Andrew’s Square building on Yates Street lies one of Victoria’s newest and most unique eateries.

On July 8th, Prashant “Bob” Unnikrishnan and his wife Lathika quietly opened the doors to Dosa Paragon, a south Indian restaurant that is one of its kind in Victoria, and perhaps all of Vancouver Island.

See also:

• This restaurant in Victoria is giving away 5 FREE kids meals to everyone who donates $5
• Starbucks launches new delivery service across Canada today

Unlike other East Indian eateries in town, this restaurant specializes in cuisine local to the south Indian state of Kerala and everything on the menu is made from scratch by the husband-and-wife duo.

Bob, who has lived in Victoria for the past 6 years, brings his dishes straight from India after having worked in major cities like Mumbai, Chennai, and Bangalore.

Before opening Dosa Paragon, he worked as a chef at several restaurants around town including Irish Times Pub, John’s Place, and Varsha Indian Kitchen.

Straight outta Kerala

“It’s my passion, and I just learned all the basic skills from my mom,” he tells Victoria Buzz. “It’s always [been] my dream to start my own restaurant.”

Around 80% of the menu is vegan and/or gluten free, with special non-vegetarian dishes served on weekends.

Some of their highlights include the Masala Dosa (a rice crepe stuffed with spiced potato), their Onion and Cilantro Uthappam (a savoury pancake topped with onion and cilantro), and for meat eaters, an aromatic and flavourful Chicken Biryani (a spiced rice and chicken dish).

Of course, no Indian meal is complete without a drink to go with it.

Those who prefer a cooler beverage may choose the thick, sweet concoction that is their mango smoothie. For those partial to hot drinks, the restaurant offers an authentic ‘masala chai’ or tea flavoured with a mix of spices and herbs.

See also:

• Victoria’s Japanese Village Restaurant is now selling their famous Sesame Sauce
• Dine in Victoria closing for good after 20 years of delivering in the city

While Bob and his wife have done practically nothing to advertise their new restaurant, the small eatery always has a steady stream of customers to keep them busy – a testament to the nearly addictive flavours and aromas emanating from Dosa Paragon.

They have been so busy, in fact, that the owners have had to extend their business hours up to 9 p.m. to keep up with the demand.

“That’s our motivation,” said Bob when asked about how customers have been responding to his restaurant. “We just want to maintain that momentum as our main goal is customer satisfaction.”

Dosa Paragon operates as a dine-in and take-out eatery, and is also available on Skip the Dishes.

Dosa Paragon

• Hours: Monday – Thursday, 11 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.
  Friday – Sunday, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
• Location: 735 Yates Street

Police tried to stop a pickup truck minutes before causing a high-speed crash involving three other vehicles and a cyclist early Saturday morning.

In a release, VicPD confirmed officers attempted to pull over a vehicle in the area of Gorge Road and Rock Bay Avenue just after midnight.

The driver failed to stop for officers and fled at high-speed colliding with three other vehicles at Douglas and Bay Streets causing significant damage to all the vehicles involved.

The crash was caught on a video by surveillance camera at Budget Brake and Muffler at 12:12 a.m. – the timestamp of video is in Eastern Standard Time.

The video surveillance shows the white truck entering the intersection from Bay Street at high-speed colliding with three vehicles in the intersection. The first vehicle hit can be seen flipping and landing upside down a distance away – the cyclist managed to stop amidst the chaos and is seen falling backwards before he gets up and runs from the debris.

Another cyclist can also be seen crossing the intersection just before the collision.

The suspect driver managed to exit the truck and can be see fleeing on foot. Officers were able to arrest him nearby.

The three other drivers were all transported to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The investigation is in the early stages and police are looking for any witnesses to the collision or people who have video of the incident who have not yet spoken with investigators.

The Independent Investigation Office has notified.

Video shows driver of truck fleeing scene: