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BC Ferries has issued an advisory to customers who plan to travel between Victoria and Vancouver on this coming Saturday and the next.
In the coming week, hundreds of people associated with Scouts Canada are expected to travel to and from Southern Vancouver Island for the 2019 Scouts Canada Pacific Jamboree.
The ferry company is therefore expecting high traffic for both foot passengers and vehicles on Saturday July 6th, and Saturday July 13th, for two specific travel times:
Saturday, July 6
Vancouver (Tsawwassen) to Victoria (Swartz Bay)
8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Saturday, July 13
Victoria (Swartz Bay) to Vancouver (Tsawwassen)
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
The Scouts Canada 2019 Pacific Jamboree is being held at Camp Barnard in Sooke from July 6th to 13th, 2019.
Those who wish to travel on these dates and times are asked to book a reservation, arrive significantly early, or consider a different itinerary, as these ferries are expected to fill up fast.
(Elevation Pointe home in Colwood / Hometown Heroes Lottery)
Have you got in on the hottest tickets in town?
If not, act fast – the deadline for the Hometown Heroes Lottery Grand Prize Draw is just one short week away, and features 9 incredible prize packages, one of which could be yours if you’re chosen as the lucky winner!
Tickets to the main lottery – and a chance to win one of the 9 prize packages including either a brand new Colwood home, or gorgeous SookePoint condo – start at 3 tickets for $75, and go all of the way up to a 20-ticket pack for $275.
BC’s Hometown Heroes come to the aid of people in life-threatening situations every day. From rescue to recovery, BC’s fire fighters – along with the doctors, nurses and healthcare teams at Vancouver General Hospital – are always on duty for severely injured and critically ill British Columbians.
When you buy a Hometown Heroes Lottery ticket, you’re directly supporting VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation – this raises essential funds for specialized adult health services and research at Vancouver General Hospital, UBC Hospital, GF Strong Rehab Centre, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute and Vancouver Community Health Services for all British Columbians.
Ticket purchases also support programs of the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund, including the annual burn camp for young burn survivors.
If you’re chosen as a grand-prize winner, you’ll be the proud new owner of either a 1,607 sq.ft. 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom condo located in beautiful SookePoint or a 3,580 sq.ft. 5 bedroom 4 bathroom ocean-view home in Colwood – but wait, it gets even better!
(SookePoint Home / Hometown heroes Lottery)
Included in the SookePoint package is also a brand new 2019 Tesla Model X 100D AND $850,000 cash, and the Colwood prize package also comes with $50,000 cash for furnishings, a 2018 BMW X1 xDrive 28i, 2019 BMW i3, a 2019 Harley-Davidson Heritage Classic plus $900,000 cash!
(Elevation Pointe Home / Hometown Heroes Lottery)
You could also choose 1 of 7 other Grand Prize choices – which feature homes in South Surrey, Abbotsford, Vancouver, Lake Country, Cultus Lake, downtown Kelowna and Squamish or choose $2.1 million cash.
The Grand Prize Draw will be Thursday, August 1st, 2019. Purchase your ticket (or packs of them!) here, as the deadline to enter is Thursday, July 11th.
Grab your tickets fast – because who doesn’t want to call one of these brand new pads home?
4-year-old Kaydance Etchells and Lauren Etchells – the mother who took her to Europe, away from her other parent, in defiance of a court order – have been found, according to an update from Saanich Police today.
In 2016, nineteen-month-old Kaydance Etchells was reported missing by her mother, Tasha Brown.
At the time, Brown believed that Kaydance had been abducted by her other mother – Brown’s ex-partner – Lauren Etchells who is a dual citizen of Canada and the United Kingdom.
Brown and Etchells got Kaydance through a donor process in 2014 before the two separated in 2015. Lauren had given birth to Kaydance and had full custody of the child, while Brown had visitation rights.
The next year, in 2016, Lauren Etchells defied a court order and obtained a passport for Kaydance.
At the time, police were able to determine that she then took the infant on board WestJet Flight 22 from Vancouver to London Gatwick Airport along with Etchells’ new partner, Marco van der Merwe.
What happened next
In a statement on July 4th, Saanich Police released details of a series of events that took place during the ensuing international search for Kaydance and Lauren Etchells.
Through the police investigation and Tasha Brown’s own search via social media, officers determined that Etchells and Marco van der Merwe had taken Kaydance from Canada to England, France, the Netherlands, the Middle East and possibly to Spain and Portugal.
At some point during these travels, Etchells broke off her relationship with van der Merwe but continued to travel across Europe with Kaydance and her son Marcus.
Once her movements through Europe came to light, INTERPOL issued a Red Notice, or an international “Wanted” flag, for Lauren Etchells’ arrest.
Caught red handed
On Monday, July 1st, 2019 Saanich Police received a call from the RCMP Liaison Office in London, England advising them that Lauren and Kaydance Etchells had been found.
The two were found landing a 13 foot inflatable dinghy on the shores just south of St. Catherine, Jersey, a small island in the English Channel.
They were accompanied by Lauren’s son Marcus, and her parents Brian and
Angela Etchells.
The group was picked up by the States of Jersey Police and Jersey Customs and Immigration Service, who found that none of the 5 individuals had passports.
Once Jersey Police learned their identities, they believed that the group may have been trying to get to the UK via Jersey in order to avoid passport control on UK soil.
Lauren Etchells and her parents were all arrested and charged with offences relating to child neglect and immigration.
While all three have pled guilty, Lauren remains in custody as a result of a provisional arrest warrant for her extradition to Canada.
For the time being the two children, Kaydance and Marcus, have been placed in foster care while authorities work through the complexities of this international investigation.
Relief for Tasha Brown
The lengthy process of bringing the now 4-year-old Kaydance and Lauren Etchells back to Canada has just begun, according to Saanich Police.
When Kaydance was taken in 2016, her other mother Tasha Brown started a Facebook page called ‘Where in the World is Kaydance?‘ as part of a social media search for her daughter.
Now that she has been found, Brown expressed her gratitude and excitement at the prospect of seeing her daughter again in a statement:
“I am extremely grateful to learn that she is in good health and good care. I am celebrating today. Kaydance is alive, and we know where she is,” said Brown.
“But I can’t celebrate 100% yet. Not until Kaydance is back in Canada. It is for this reason that I am spending today with my lawyer, and the various other agencies involved in bringing Kaydance home safely and…SOON!! But there is a lot I still need to do.”
“For now, I wish to thank some of the people and agencies that have helped, including: Elisabeth Strain and the Saanich Police Department for their devotion to this case, along with Global Affairs Canada and the Central Authorities in Victoria, BC and London, UK. Today would not be happening without these special people.”
“I am also grateful for the love I received from the friends and family who kept me going during the lowest of lows. I guess a person can survive on hope. Thank you all for this reminder.”
These refreshing summer drinks will be handed out in 12 oz. commemorative cups in all of the company’s 590 locations in Canada, in celebration of their 50th birthday.
(Photo by Ecoware\ Earth friendly take out & packaging solutions - Facebook)
The celebration of one of the sweetest summer treats is back in Saanich this Sunday!
The 53rd annual Saanich Strawberry Festival is a FREE family event that highlights strawberries in all their delicious glory.
What started as a celebration of the municipality’s agricultural roots has now grown into a vastly popular yearly festival.
Why, you ask?
Throughout the duration of the festival, you can get strawberries and strawberry ice cream for just 50 cents!
Between 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., members of Saanich Council and staff will be on hand to serve up traditional sweet treats.
The event will also feature a range of family-friendly activities including face painting, arts and crafts stations, bouncy castles, live entertainment, and more.
A 6.2 magnitude quake struck Wednesday night just north of Vancouver Island.
The earthquake struck at 9:30 pm in a location about 196 km WSW of Bella Bella at a depth of 10 km, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
No tsunamis were expected following the quake.
Per Earthquake Canada the tremor registered at a magnitude of 5.8.
There are reports the quake was felt by residents living in northern Vancouver Island.
UPDATE: earthquake Mag=5.8 on 03 Jul at 21:30 PDT.
Take advantage of a warm summer night and get lawn bowling for a good cause!
From coast to coast today, Canadians will be participating in a lawn bowling tournament and fundraiser for Cystic Fibrosis Canada. Come for great people, good vibes, fun bowling, and more!
When: 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Where: Victoria Lawn Bowling Club, 100 Cook Street
FREE Music on the Lawn returns to the Government House Bandshell this summer!
Join BC’s Lieutenant Governer, the Honourable Janet Austin for a free performance by the Chris Millington Band. Self-guided tours of the Government House will also be open from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. before the concert begins. Don’t forget to bring a blanket or chairs! Food trucks will also be on-site.
The 4th annual Fernwood Square Night Markets are back!
Come to Fernwood Square and enjoy live music, food, and 30+ artisans and small businesses. These curated markets have been a vibrant social scene for the neighbourhood and showcase a variety of pottery, skincare, textiles, home decor, clothing and more!
With the weather heating up its time to check out Esquimalt’s huge outdoor Farmer’s Market!
The market helps support local growers and producers who use environmentally sound farming practices and helps build connections within the community. And of course, the food is tasty, local, and fresh!
A favourite summer event has returned to the city! Head downtown to explore the Downtown Victoria Buskers Festival!
The festival is a FREE five-day family-friendly community event that showcases the unique talent of street performers from Victoria and across the world. If you can’t make it today, don’t worry, performers will be playing downtown until Sunday night!
Watch one of Victoria’s most iconic landmarks be transformed from head to toe in celebration of Pride Week!
Each of the three floors of the Royal BC Museum will feature live entertainment from DJs, Drag Queens/Kings, Vogue-masters and more.
Entertainment up the wazoo
Downstairs, DJ Yeezy Yee (and later, TigRess) will pack the lobby dance floor with high-energy club anthems, Top 40, tech, house and everyone’s favourite throwbacks.
On the second floor, DJ AppleCat will be weaving a mythic underworld vibe in the glittering Enchanted Forest.
Meanwhile upstairs, Madame Gouda Gabor and her bordello babes, Vivian Vanderpuss and Lola Maneata, will shake up the quiet streets of Old Town with raucous and raunchy performances, while local Victoria Drag Kings and Queens Eddi Liscious, Persi Flage and Henrietta Dubet strut their stuff throughout the galleries.
Take a break from the raucous revelry at craft stations, photo booths, and archival displays documenting the history of Pride.
And of course, there will also be on-site food and drinks to keep the night going strong.
With $40 and two pieces of ID, you’ll be ready to party the night away, Pride style, just one night before the city’s annual Victoria Pride Parade and Festival!
(Victoria Pride Parade 2017 - Victoria Pride Society/Facebook)
For the first time ever, non-uniformed police officers from departments across Greater Victoria will be participating in the annual Victoria Pride Parade.
The application for officers to participate in the parade is made by the Greater Victoria Police Diversity Advisory Committee (GVPDAC).
The GVPDAC was created in 2001 to bring together representatives from Greater Victoria’s diverse communities and the region’s police agencies with the goals of fostering trust, improving communication, and building mutual understanding.
In 2017, the Committee entered all of the police departments in Greater Victoria along with their vehicles to participate in the parade.
This meant that there were six police cars present in the 2017 Pride parade, a contingency that became far too large of a presence.
According to Pride Parade co-ordinator and Co-Vice President of the Victoria Pride Society, Britt Kohn, the VPS overhauled their system the following year, making sure that volunteers vet every parade entrant to make sure they meet the criteria of being an LGBTQ2S+ ally or partner.
Further challenges
According to Kohn, the GVPDAC apologized for bringing such a large police presence in 2017, and then in 2018 offered to wear t-shirts and show up without their uniforms in recognition of the impact that uniformed police can have on different people.
In 2018, the Victoria Pride Society made the decision to allow queer police officers to show up in uniform – one of those who did was an RCMP officer who was the first gay male member of his department, according to Kohn – while all other participating officers wore t-shirts.
However, according to VicPD spokesperson Bowen Osoko, asking only queer officers to don their uniforms for the parade proved “problematic”.
This year, on Sunday July 7th, police officers will be marching in the the Victoria Pride Parade without their uniforms after the GVPDAC heard “concerns from members of marginalized communities about [their] participation in this event.”
The no-uniform rule this year was mandated by the Victoria Pride Society, as confirmed by Kohn.
Consultation and inclusion
“VPS did vote based on consultation, and we recognize and hear that there’s work to do. We will publicly say that we asked for no uniforms, but they [GVPDAC] came to us with idea first that last year,” Kohn told Victoria Buzz.
“We were doing the best we could with the resources we literally do not have, as we all volunteer outside of our work hours.”
When asked about public criticism for not allowing uniformed police to march in the parade, Kohn brought up the fact that uniformed officers must carry weapons, which the Pride Society does not allow at this event.
“We’re asking for no weapons to be on a person. We needed to find a way to be inclusive of everyone by finding officers who are willing to proudly show that [they] recognize that the communities that [they] interact with may not be ready for [them] to show up with [their] uniform on and with weapons out,” said Kohn.
There will, however, be uniformed Victoria Police officers guarding the perimeter of the event, as they do with all major parades and festivals.
While uniformed police ensuring security at the event will not be participating in the parade itself, all VicPD officers are sporting Pride “patches” in support of Pride Week, as announced by Chief Del Manak on Twitter.
“I think that’s a fantastic show of awareness so that the general public are recognizing that it’s an important week,” Kohn stated upon finding out about the Pride patches. “It’s a great step of showing community support for them to do that.”
For their part, the Greater Victoria Police Diversity Advisory Committee has come out with a statement supporting the decision for police officers to participate in the Pride Parade without their uniforms.
“As guests at the VPS event, we’re happy to participate in the manner that the organizers and community have told us they need us to. This year, we’re glad to not walk in uniform,” they said in a statement.
“It is our hope that doing so helps us all take another step towards fostering trust, improving communication, and building mutual understanding between our officers and staff and LGBTQ2S+ members of the Greater Victoria community we serve.”
At this time, the Victoria Pride Society is seeking volunteers to help out at the Pride Parade and Festival.
Volunteers would aid in making the magic happen by performing a variety of tasks, like bar tending, decorating, setting up, tearing down, and more.
West Shore RCMP are searching for a teenager who beat up and robbed a 17-year-old boy along with two accomplices back in May.
On Thursday May 30th, West Shore RCMP were called to the scene of an assault that took place behind The Brick store located at 2945 Jacklin Rd in Langford.
Three teenagers aged between 14-17 years old allegedly took turns beating up the 17-year-old victim with a baton.
They then proceeded to rob him of his personal items including a wallet before leaving the scene. The victim was taken to the hospital with serious, non-life threatening injuries.
Since the incident, police have arrested two of the three suspects, and are now seeking public assistance in finding the third individual.
Description
The outstanding suspect is described as a Caucasian male between 14-17 years old who has dark, shaggy hair.
(Photo by West Shore RCMP)
At the time of the incident, he was wearing grey skinny jeans and a white t-shirt, which he later removed.
He was also wearing a dark burgundy coloured baseball cap and back pack, and was last seen walking away near the McDonald’s on Langford Parkway.
“This is a disturbing crime. The victim was taken to the hospital with serious non-life threatening injuries,” said Cst. Nancy Saggar.
“We have released the surveillance photos of the 3rd suspect in hopes that someone will recognize this person and notify police of their identity. If you know who this is please come forward and speak to the police.”
Anyone who recognizes the suspect can reach out to West Shore RCMP at 250-474-2264 or report anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
West Shore RCMP are warning residents to make sure their vehicle doors are securely locked and valuables are kept out of sight, after a video was sent to them last week.
A View Royal resident provided RCMP with surveillance footage on June 28th, showing a woman trying to open two car doors.
In the video, the suspect can be seen walking in between two parked vehicles in the complainant’s driveway and trying to open both doors.
Fortunately, the vehicles were locked and the suspect walked away empty-handed.
Check out the video:
“We get regular complaints regarding theft from vehicles all over the West Shore. Please keep your doors locked,” says Cst. Nancy Saggar.
“We suggest incorporating a nightly routine in your home. Before you head off to bed, make sure your vehicle doors are locked and bring your valuables inside.”
Anyone who knows the woman shown in the video is asked to contact West Shore RCMP at at 250-474-2264 or report anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
(PSD Erik and Cpl. Sansome/Photo by Victoria Buzz)
A man who broke into a construction site in View Royal wasn’t able to get away with it, thanks to West Shore RCMP police dog Erik and his human partner Cpl. Sansome.
At around midnight on June 28th, an alarm company monitoring a live feed at a construction site in View Royal alerted police to a break and enter.
The suspect had broken into the building located at 280 Island Highway, prompting West Shore RCMP to send their K-9 team to conduct a search.
Once PSD Erik was deployed, he immediately located the suspect and pulled his handler Cpl. Sansome to the side of the building where the man was hiding.
The suspect was then located and arrested right away.
“With all of the new construction happening in the West Shore we have received several complaints of break and enter and theft from construction sites,” said Cst. Nancy Saggar.
“Having the Police Dog Service on hand to help track suspects is crucial in these types of investigations.”
Around 56% of British Columbians agree with the federal government’s decision to re-approve the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion last month.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau approved the expansion in a vote on June 18th, expressing that he and his Cabinet had done their due diligence and taken the concerns of Indigenous communities into account before making the announcement.
In a recent online survey conducted by Research Co., 56% of British Columbians stated that they agreed with the decision. Around 33% disagree, and 11% remain undecided.
“As expected, dissatisfaction with the way Ottawa handled this issue is practically universal among strong opponents (95%) and moderate opponents (73%) of the project,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co.
“But 50% of British Columbians who moderately or strongly support the expansion are also unhappy with the federal government.”
On the other hand, the study also found that seven-in-ten people who live in the province agree that the pipeline will create hundreds of local jobs.
Meanwhile, Alberta’s advertisement campaign favouring the Trans Mountain pipeline tried to convince BC residents that expanding the pipeline would mean cheaper gas prices for British Columbians.
While 39% believed this ad, the majority of respondents either disagreed or were not sure about its veracity.
This study takes into account the opinions of around 800 adults who represent of a cross section of the population in BC, between June 22nd and 26th, 2019.
A shorter poll conducted by Victoria Buzz on June 18th received responses from over 9,300 followers.
Among them, 73% say they support the federal government’s decision to re-approve the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion, while 27% disagreed.
Do you support the federal government's decision to re-approve the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion in today's vote?
According to the post, 55-year-old Clarke Gourlay died while hiking in Strathcona park, “where he loved to pursue his passion for mountaineering”.
He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Nancy, his mother Dorothy, his sons Kevin, John, and Raymond (& Rebecca), and his grandchildren Kieran and Dahlia.
His last expedition
Gourlay was a long-time member of local mountaineering club, Island Mountain Ramblers, whose president issued a message to members upon Gourlay’s passing.
“With a heavy heart I write to tell you that over the weekend, while on a club trip to Mount Donner, we lost long-time club member Clarke Gourlay,” writes club president, Matthew Lettington.
“While route-finding in foul weather he found himself off-route, Clarke slipped as he attempted to downclimb some wet fourth-class terrain. With the height of the fall, and the resulting tumble down steep terrain, he died without suffering.”
Anyone who would like to pay their respects is invited to an open memorial service for Gourlay being held on Friday, July 5th at 10 a.m., at the family farm in Parksville (403 Lowrys Rd).
Instead of flowers, the family asks that attendees make a donation to the Campbell River Search and Rescue at this link.
Eighteen years ago a man with an enormous vision and a wild dream decided to start a business in an industry he knew…
A favourite summer event is returning to the city today!
Head downtown to explore the Downtown Victoria Buskers Festival! The festival is a FREE five-day family-friendly community event that showcases the unique talent of street performers from Victoria and across the world. If you can’t make it today, don’t worry, performers will be playing downtown until Sunday night!
Grab a basket and a blanket and enjoy a picnic at the Gardens at HCP!
Every second Wednesday the gardens extend their hours and invite the community to have a picnic, explore the grounds, and visit the local arts vendors, local musicians, and more! Admission tonight will also be by donation.
The classic Shakespeare comedy, Two Gentlemen of Verona, is starting its Victoria run tonight!
The Greater Victoria Shakespeare Festival presents their interpretation of a rollicking “la dolce vita” rom-com that celebrates youth, impulsivity, bad decisions, and unexpected endings — plus, ‘Steve’ the dog will join the cast on stage!
When: 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Where: Camosun College Landsdowne Campus, 3100 Foul Bay Road
Join the non-profit community space, the Victoria Event Centre (VEC) for another community work party!
In exchange for some free drins, people can help with maintenance tasks around the centre that are suitable for a range of interests and skill levels — pick up a paintbrush, screwdriver, hammer, or a coffee/pint, and help make the centre look as good as it can be!
Celebrate Pride Week by joining City of Victoria Poet Laureate John Barton for Wilde About Sappho, A Pride Reading by Local Queer Writers at Victoria City Hall!
Wilde About Sappho is a celebration of poetry, fiction and spoken word by LGBTQI2S writers from Greater Victoria. Mayor Lisa Helps will join the range of speakers, including Victoria’s Youth Poet Laureate, Aziza Moqia Sealey-Qaylow. This year also marks the 50th anniversary of Canada’s decriminalization of same-sex relationships.
Some were found suffering from skin issues, while several need soft-palate surgery and nasal surgery; one has digestive issues and some have cherry eye.
Still others require treatment for ear infections and dentals, and one is on antibiotics for a badly infected tail that may require surgery.
While some of these issues can be treated quickly, others like dental and emotional damage will need more time and intensive care.
(BC SPCA)
The animals were surrendered to a BC SPCA Special Provincial Constable who attended the property where the dogs were kept and found that it was cluttered, dirty, and parts of the floor had been ripped up to reveal plywood underneath.
“She did surrender the animals and has agreed not to have additional animals or continue with breeding,” said SPCA chief prevention and enforcement officer, Marcie Moriarty, when asked about the breeder whose identity has not been revealed at this time.
“As that is the main focus of this investigation at this stage it is highly unlikely that charges will be pursued.”
However the woman in question is known to SPCA Special Provincial Constables, as she has previously surrendered animals to the organization.
While none of them are currently available for adoption, those who are interested in taking these fur babies home once they have healed should email either one of the aforementioned SPCA branches.
Those who would like to contribute to their treatment costs can make donations at this website.
From Wednesday, July 3rd to Sunday, July 7th, Victorians will want to flock to Centennial Square, Bastion Square, Ship Point, and Market Square for some quality entertainment.
Talented artists and performers will be travelling from all around the world to bring you live acts that most have only seen on YouTube or Facebook.
The festivities will have talents scattered at busking “Pitch Stops” across the downtown core that make for a fun-filled day for people of all ages.
The Victoria Cool Aid Society has been serving the city’s homeless and impoverished community for over five decades now, and last year was the busiest the organization has ever seen.
According to the charitable society’s 2018-19 Annual Report, the number of people helped and financial costs of operation have never been higher.
Last year, over 12,000 people were helped by the society throughout the CRD.
These 12,000 individuals include 1,550 people who were sheltered in 19 different Cool Aid properties, 565 who have been permanently housed and supported, 215 people who have been saved from overdoses, and those who sit down for the nearly 1,000 meals served every single day.
Meanwhile, tens of thousands of medical and dental appointments were conducted by 45 volunteer health and dental professionals.
In total, over 7,000 people in need benefited from 43,750 medical and dental appointments, while another 2,331 counselling appointments were scheduled and 8,047 Resource Centre drop-ins were received.
While the highest number of people were supported by the Cool Aid society last year since its inception in 1968, operating costs have also reached their a new peak.
The organizations expenses were over $29.9 million last year, with the majority dedicated to housing, health, and support service costs.
Cool Aid was able to cover their expenses through a range of revenue sources, including government funding (which accounts for roughly 60% of their budget) and community donations, which accounted for approximately 6% of the organizations funds.
“Our philosophy at Support Services is to try to help every person who walks in the door without preconditions or judgement,” reads the report.
“None of these support programs, serving hundreds weekly, would be possible without the
ongoing, generous support we receive from individuals, foundations and corporations, and some Provincial and City of Victoria funding.”
Their signature drink comes in frosted mugs and froths over with delicious cane sugary goodness.
Made with natural flavours like sarsaparilla root, liquorice, birch bark, and anise, this treat can be enjoyed both on its own or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
This giveaway is an annual tradition for A&W… and we bet Canadians all over have been waiting for this day to come again!
Cannabis use has been on the rise in North America, especially in Canada, long before legalization took place, according to the UN 2019 World Drug Report.
From 2007 to 2013, cannabis use in Canada increased by 40% among residents aged 15 or older at a rate of roughly 9% per year.
“This [rise] is largely a result of a decrease in the perception of risk around cannabis use and of the national debate about legalizing non-medical use of cannabis,” reads the report.
In 2017, approximately 15% of Canada’s entire population (4.4 million people) above 15 years of age reported using cannabis, with 37% of that total citing medical purposes.
In total, just over a majority of users are aged 15-24, though use among young adults (aged 15-19) has declined since 2013.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the report found that British Columbia had the largest number of cannabis users in 2017, with just over 23% of the population reporting that they had consumed the substance within the last 30 days.
Meanwhile, Nova Scotia (18.8%) and Manitoba (15.7%) reported the 2nd and 3rd highest rate of cannabis use, above the national average of 14.8%.
(Image / UN 2019 World Drug Report)
While cannabis use rose dramatically in the middle of this decade, the UN notes that impact of legalization on public health remains to be seen until further information and long term effects are reported.
“The implementation of laws permitting the nonmedical use of cannabis in Canada is nascent and may take several years of monitoring to clarify how the cannabis market has evolved and to identify its dynamics and the impact of legalization on public health and public safety, among other outcome measures,” reads the report.
Cannabis for the use of medical purposes was first permitted in Canada in 1999 before it was fully legalized for recreational use in October, 2018.
Saanich Police are searching for a suspect involved in an armed robbery that took place on Saturday morning.
At approximately 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 29th, a man wearing a medical mask walked into the Chevron gas station at the intersection of Quadra Street and Cloverdale Avenue.
He proceeded to point a gun at the store clerk and demanded money. The 21-year-old clerk was thankfully unhurt during the incident, as he handed the robber the cash which prompted the suspect to flee.
The suspect is described as possibly Asian who is possibly bald or has a receding hairline.
At the time of the incident, he was wearing a grey and white hoodie, black jeans, grey gloves, sunglasses, and a medical mask to cover his face.
Saanich Police is asking the public to reach out if they have any information about the suspect or this incident, at their non-emergency line at 250-475-4321.
This Canada Day long weekend, thousands of people lined the walkways of Victoria’s Inner Harbour and the Sidney Pier to ring in our nation’s birthday with dazzling fireworks displays.
After both communities celebrated the 152nd Canada day with live music, dancing, food, and more, the night sky briefly lightened up in a technicolour display of fire.
Here are 16 of our favourite photos and videos of this year’s Canada Day firework display:
KFC Canada has joined the growing list of restaurant chains in the country to take a stance against plastic waste.
The company announced on Tuesday that they will stop providing plastic straws and plastic bags at all of their Canadian locations, thereby eliminating 50 million straws and 10 million bags from their restaurants per year.
“KFC Canada believes in feeding people, not landfills. Reducing the volume of single use plastic within our restaurants ensures we are continuing to lessen our environmental footprint,” said Nivera Wallani, President and General Manager, KFC Canada.
“Together with our franchisees, staff and guests, we can positively affect the communities we operate in and the health and wellbeing of future generations.”
Starbucks, A&W, Subway, and 18 other Canadian restaurants made the same commitments to eliminating plastic straw waste last year.
In an announcement last month, the federal government announced a move to ban all single-use plastic products across the country by 2021.
This includes shopping bags, straws, cutlery, plates, and stir sticks.
Although it seems easier said than done, budgeting your way to things you want (like that summer vacation you’ve been after!) doesn’t have to seem so daunting; especially when you have financial gurus in your corner to help!
Facebook group Black is the New Red is a literal wealth of resources in just that – serving up their financial prowess spread across not only their over 6,000 members, they have professionals from many areas to add their expertise to the conversation with zero sales pitch.
This may sometimes be difficult in our current society, but it’s important to be honest with yourself – do you really need that new purse or pair of shoes? There could be some tough decisions you’ll have to make, but it will be worth it in the end.
2. Include your “future self” in your budget
If this isn’t something you’ve done in your previous budgeting attempts and found it wasn’t working for you – this may be why! A family of four should be putting aside a minimum of $500 per month for life’s “expected-unexpected” events.
3. Everyone needs spending money!
In order to be fair, no less than $200 per month for each adult is a good benchmark – a family of four should have $600-$1000 available for spending.
4. Make moves if you feel you’re not making “enough”
If you’re feeling like you don’t currently make enough to get by (and save while doing so!), little things like taking up a side hustle or even asking for a raise may help – it all adds up!
5. Housing is expensive, but it’s not the most expensive!
Housing gets a bad rap, but car payments and groceries are the real budget killers – they’re also two areas you are in control of, so it’s wise to put your time and energy into them as opposed to something that’s out of your hands.
6. Take advantage of free resources
Pretty Money Club is currently offering a FREE budget template and including five-day email instructional.
On top of this, the club is holding a summer course on how to make your money look pretty – and not scary! You can check out their website for more info and to sign up, and even better, you could be the lucky winner of free enrollment in the course.
Pretty Money Club’s 8 week summer course opens for enrollment July 2nd, and is offered for two payments of $119 plus tax – but find out you can win a free spot below!
** CONGRATULATIONS, Kristie Carano. You are our winner **
CONTEST
ONE lucky winner is going to win free enrollment to Pretty Money Club’s 8 week summer course on budgeting!
To enter, complete one or more of the following steps:
JOIN Black is the New Redon Facebook and comment below to let us know once you have. (1 entry)
LIKE Pretty Money Club on Facebookand comment below to let us know once you have. (1 entry)
SHARE this article on Facebook and/or Twitter. (1 entry)
The winner will be drawn on Friday, July 5th. Good luck!
What better way to kick off the month of July than three full days of family-friendly fun, delicious eats and awesome sales?
Hillside Centre’s Hottest Days of Summer event promises to be all that and more – happening the weekend of July 5th to July 7th, from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. each day, it’s literally your one-stop-shop for all things summer.
On top of the exhilarating Extreme Dual Slide (open all weekend!), there is a market on Saturday and Sunday featuring 20+ local art and craft exhibitors, fabulous festive food including candy apples, cotton candy, popcorn and snow cones, face painting for the kids PLUS kid’s activities by Canadian Tire Jumpstart and more! These activities are taking place in the parking lot located off Hillside Avenue.
Located inside the shopping centre, there will be live musical entertainment Friday evening from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., as well as on Saturday and Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Friday, July 5th also marks the beginning of Hillside’s Summer Clearance, with over 80 tables and racks loaded with great deals – this runs all of the way until Sunday, July 14th!
“This is a great time to be a student in B.C.’s education system,” said Rob Fleming, Minister of Education in a statement.
“We are investing more in classrooms than ever before, so all students have the opportunity to reach their full potential.”
According to the ministry, the upcoming school year will mark the first time that all of BC’s 60 school districts receive funding at the same time since 2006.
Portions of the funding will be allocated to specific education areas, like support for students with special needs, targeted funding for indigenious students, increased resources for rural schools, and reserved funding for additional educational assistants.
With funding for classrooms expanding, the province has also committed to increasing the number of education professionals in the system. BC plans to spend $400 million to hire nearly 4,000 new teachers, including 500 special education teachers and 190 counsellors and teacher psychologists.
To support these new classes, government has invested over $400 million annually for school districts to hire almost 4,000 new teaching positions, including 500 special education teachers and 190 more teacher psychologists and counsellors.
“An investment in education is an investment in our future, and everyone benefits when students have the best possible chance to succeed,” said Fleming.
The Inner Harbour Summer Line-Up takes place in Victoria’s beautiful Inner Harbour. The festival includes artists of various kinds, entertainers, musicians, and food vendors!
When: 10 a.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Where: Greater Victoria Harbour Authority, 1019 Wharf Street
Bring the whole family for a free afternoon of crafts, stories, games and activities! Join the Oaklands Community Association on Tuesday afternoons in July & August at Oswald Park to enjoy some fun in the sun, get active and connect with your neighbours.
Come one come all to Bolen Books’ first open mic night: a night of performances from artists in the community! Share your creative voice on stage whether it be a song, poem, short story, or just come by to support fellow creators.
Performers will have 4-5 minutes to share their work with the audience, no advance sign up necessary.
While thousands in the BC capital enjoyed Canada Day festivities, multiple fire crews and helicopters were hard at work battling a major wildfire in Saanich.
At approximately 4:30 p.m. this afternoon, reports of a wildfire near Willis Point and Durrance brought firefighters from multiple detachments to the location.
— Saanich Fire Department (@SaanichFire) July 2, 2019
According to the latest update, Saanich Fire, Central Saanich Fire, BC Wildfire Service, and CFB Esquimalt firefighters worked together for several hours to contain the blaze.
A statement from BC Minister of Agriculture Lana Popham announces that as of 3 hours ago, the fire had been reduced to half its original size and is under control.
Saanich Wildfire Update: Size of the area affected by the fire at this time is 1.5 hectares. I have been advised it's under control. Many thanks to the firefighters & emergency teams for their response. Will update as I receive info. #bcpoli@BCEmergencyMgmt@SaanichFire#dndpic.twitter.com/gpUZne0FTe
‘Twas the first day of free agency… and the Canucks were making moves!
It’s not every day you hear one of the Benn brothers is returning to beautiful British Columbia – and not just for the off-season, either.
The Vancouver Canucks were proud to announce the official signing of Jordie Benn this morning to a two-year, $4 million contract; the 31-year-old defenceman was a free agent and most recently played parts of the last three seasons with the Montreal Canadiens.
Though the “less famous” of the two, Jordie played some of six seasons alongside his brother, Dallas Stars superstar Jamie Benn.
Both Benn brothers originally hail from hometown Central Saanich, and grew up playing for local hockey club the Victoria Grizzlies.
Jordie Benn ranked third among Canadiens defencemen in scoring in the 2018-19 season, registering 22 points (5-17-22) in 81 games played. His goals, points and games played were all career-highs while his 17 assists tied a previous career-high he set in 2013-14 with the Dallas Stars.
“Jordie is an experienced defenceman who brings leadership and versatility to our team,” says Canucks General Manager Jim Benning. “His steady presence will be an example and support to our young players.”
Vancouver has been busy thus far in free agency, as this announcement came on the heels of signing another defenceman, Tyler Myers, to a 5-year $30 million contract – Myers hails from the Winnipeg Jets.
All of this makes for a very different looking core group next season, as the Canucks also bid farewell to Markus Granlund, Derrick Pouliot, Luke Schenn, and Brendan Gaunce on top of their acquisitions today.
(Living Flag/Screencap from video by @BCLegislature - Twitter)
Victoria’s 6th annual Canada Day Living Flag photo was just taken this afternoon!
Thousands of people gathered at the BC Legislature lawn on July 1st to be a part of what has been the largest Living Flag in the country for two years running.
They dressed in red and dressed in white, and stood in precisely the right spots to form the Canadian flag in celebration of our country’s 152nd birthday.
While the numbers are not yet in to determine whether or not it was the largest in the country for the third year in a row, there is an incredible time lapse video of the whole human structure coming together.
It was posted on Twitter by the BC Legislature account just minutes after the photo was taken at 2 p.m.
As if we needed any more reason to love Cold Comfort Ice Cream!
In an announcement on Instagram, one of Victoria’s favourite ice cream parlours has shared their intention to create scholarship funds for Indigenous high school students in the city from sales made on Canada Day.
For every patron who brings their own reusable cup for their ice cream purchase between 12 p.m. and 6 p.m. on July 1st, all sales proceeds will be put towards building these scholarships.
This initiative by Cold Comfort was first launched last year on Canada Day, allowing the business to present three local Indigenous students with $1,000 scholarships each upon graduation.
“Cold Comfort would like to acknowledge that we have been working on the traditional Lkwungen territory of the Songhees and Esquimalt people for the past 9 years,” reads their post.
“Moving forward in the spirit of reconciliation, we would like to invite you to join us once again in creating more scholarships for Indigenous high school students in our community.”
The business will also be accepting extra donations for the scholarships via email transfer at autumn@coldcomfort.ca.
For those who don’t know, Cold Comfort produces small batches of flavourful locally made ice cream that is available in organic dairy, dairy free, and vegan options.
Head over ASAP!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BzT10j7l4aI/
Cold Comfort donates sales proceeds to Indigenous student scholarships
For the second year in a row, Victoria Buzz will be livestreaming the annual inner harbour Canada Day fireworks show on our Facebook page.
This year, we’re teaming up with our videography squad over at Roll.Focus. Productions, to bring you crystal clear, high-def coverage of the show, straight from the water at the brand new Victoria International Marina.
To hype you up for the big event, we’re also going to be livestreaming the “Future Oceans Fashion Show” event – which highlights designers who use repurposed ocean plastics to make wearable art – happening at the Marina prior to the fireworks.
So if you can’t make it downtown because of traffic, or you have the kids for the night, or your dog ate your outfit, never fear!
Just tune in to Victoria Buzz for coverage of the spectacular Canada Day fireworks show, starting at 10:20 p.m. tonight.
It’s not always easy to share the road with pedestrians, cyclists, skateboarders, and the occasional horse.
But a case of aggressive graffiti targeting cyclists may have taken the road rage a step too far.
Photos posted on Facebook by user Keith Greig captured phrases like “Bikers fuck off!!” and “No bikes” spray painted on the road on Lochside Trail, north of Island View Road.
While many of those who saw the photos responded with disdain for the taggers, others shared their stories of being forced off the road by persistent drivers.
On the opposite side, others complained about cyclists who ride abreast rather than single file, leaving no room for drivers to pass through.
There is currently no word on whether the CRD or Central Saanich RCMP have been informed of these tags.
Victoria Buzz has reached out to both organizations for information.
Health Canada has issued a general recall for certain Apple MacBook Pro laptops as of last week.
The recalled laptops pose a fire hazard to users as their batteries have a tendency to overheat.
Products affected include certain 15-inch MacBook Pro with 15.4 inch (diagonal) display, 2.2-2.5 GHz processors, 256 GB-1 TB solid state storage, two Thunderbolt 2 ports, two USB 3 ports, and one HDMI port.
To determine whether your laptop is a part of this recall, check your computer’s serial number at this website.
According to Health Canada the recalled units were sold mainly between September 2015 and February 2017.
While no injuries have been reported in Canada, there have thus far been five reports of minor burns and one report of smoke inhalation from these products in the US.
Approximately 26,000 units of the affected product were sold in Canada and around 432,000 were sold in the United States.
Those who report their laptop as one of the recalled versions will receive a new battery from Apple, free of charge.
This Canada Day, release your inner patriot by supporting artists and researchers in their quest to clean up our oceans!
For a combined Grand Opening and Canada Day celebration, the Victoria International Marina is hosting an evening of live entertainment, a unique eco-friendly fashion show, and a silent auction on a boat, all culminating in a front row seat to the annual Inner Harbour fireworks show.
Enjoy stunning waterfront views as you take in a lively evening of performances by the Nanaimo Contemporary Ballet Company and a jazz solo by Kristina Helene.
These skilful displays of artistry serve as an appetizer to the main event: a Future Oceans themed fashion show, in which models emerge off the Ascente superyacht and onto the runway.
A commitment to cleaning the oceans
Each of the ten fashion designers showcased at this event were challenged to meet two criteria:
Make a powerful artistic statement about the state of our oceans using wearable art pieces made of repurposed ocean plastic (or ocean debris), and
Promise to make a shift in their fashion design careers by launching their first eco-friendly fashionable lines.
The evening’s entertainment will be complemented by light refreshments and drinks served at regular intervals.
The entire event is not only a celebration of Canada Day and the marina’s grand opening wrapped into one, but it also acts as a fundraiser for the Ocean Legacy Foundation.
“Those are our heroes. We’re championing projects for them because we believe in the work that they’re doing,” says Catherine Larose of Natural Talent Alliance.
“They’re not just cleaning plastic, they’re creating a circular economy by cleaning, sorting, recycling, repurposing, and then selling plastics back into the economy. That’s the kind of thing we believe all organizations should be working towards, so that plastic waste doesn’t end up in landfills.”
Another aspect of the fundraising features a silent auction that will take place on the Prince of Whales whale watching boat docked at the marina.
The evening will be rounded out with a spectacular view of the Canada Day fireworks in downtown Victoria – all attendees basically have a front row seat!
Don’t forget to grab tickets while they’re still available.
Where: Victoria International Marina, 1 Cooperage Pl
Admission: Tickets are $60 – $350 available at this website. $60 – Entry level tickets with standing room that gives you access to the waterfront lounge, all live entertainment and great view of the fashion show from balcony of marina
$150 – Seated ticket down on the docks
$350 – VIP seated ticket prime seating on the docks and drink token included.
There’s something for everybody this weekend, from Canada Day activities to city baseball and soccer games to the Sidney Sidewalk Sale & Street Festival, and so much more.
Without further ado, enjoy your three-day weekend with these 24 things to do in and around Victoria this Canada Day long weekend.
Kick off your Canada Day long weekend with a block party at Lakeside Village and Thetis Lakeside in View Royal!
In the early afternoon visitors can look forward to live music, a bouncy castle with slides, a magic show, balloon animals, a Grilled to the Mac food truck, raffle draws (with proceeds going towards the Sarah Beckett Memorial Playground), condo tours, free swag, and more!
When: Saturday, June 29th, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
The music festival runs all weekend, with headliners including Snoop Dogg, Incubus, Sublime With Rome, Smash Mouth, Black Pistol Fire, Five Alarm Funk, and more.
Come join over 50,000 people and visit the Inner Harbour this Canada Day long weekend to take in the sights and sounds of over 130 talented artists, street performers, musicians, vendors, and food cart operators!
When: Saturday, Sunday, & Monday, June 29th, 30th & July 1st, 10:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Come support the nature conservation and the Victoria HarbourCats as they battle it out against the Kelowna Falcons this saturday!
For $20 spectators can grab a VIP ticket that lets them on the VIP deck where they can meet artist Robert Bateman and watch the game from picnic bench seating. The $20 ticket goes towards reconnect people to nature through the lens of art.
When: Saturday, June 29th, 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
If you’re in the market for a new tattoo you won’t want to miss Carbon Ink Collective’s second ever stick-and-poke flash day event!
The flash event is summer themed and also acts a great opportunity to book a bigger piece with the artists. The event will be held in Fernwood with the exact address available via text for privacy purposes. Contact information will be posted on Saturday. All pieces will be priced between $40 – $120 and is available for 18+ only.
When: Saturday, June 29th, Booking begins at 10:00 a.m.
Where: Exact location will be posted online here on Saturday.
A memorial service is being held for Tai Caverhill, a 13-year-old tragically died on a field trip near Sooke last week.
Tai is remembered as a loving young man who cared for his family and community.
“His kindness, loving, and caring for others significantly touched many groups of friends and families,” reads a GoFundMe campaign started in his memory. “His last words to his mum before he left to Camp Bernard was ‘take care of Lanna and Daddy for me’”.
When: Saturday, June 29th | Viewing from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., Service begins at 2:00 p.m.
Where: McCall Gardens Funeral and Cremation Service, 4665 Falaise Drive
Head down to the Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary for a fun-filled educational day starring turtles!
Learn about Victoria’s upcoming turtle nesting season, play education games, build turtle-related crafts, and visit the nature sanctuary’s biggest celebrity, Wrinkles the live Western Painted Turtle! Admission for the day is by donation.
When: Sunday, June 30th, 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Where: Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary, 3873 Swan Lake Road
It’s time to kick off your summer in style with Sidney’s annual Sidewalk Sale & Street Festival!
This year’s festival promises to be the biggest yet, with three stages for live music and entertainment, four themed photo booths, a beer garden and food vendors on site, and a heck of a lot more!
Head down to Beacon Hill park for the Greater Victoria Concert Band’s (GVCB) season closer!
The GVCB is made up of over 100 community members aged 19-92 in four different bands. While the ensembles may vary in skill level they all share one common trait, the enjoyment of music!
When: Sunday, June 30th, 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Where: Cameron Bandshell at Beacon Hill Park, Chestnut Row
Ring in Canada Day with a range of celebrations in Sidney! Get ready for a pancake breakfast, a parade, a family fun fair, a ‘build-a-boat race’, and more.
Head down to the Sooke River Campgrounds for a family-friendly event full of kids’ games, live music, a magic show, karaoke, bingo, fireworks, and more! Just make sure to bring your own chairs or blankets!
Come celebrate Canada Day along the Gorge Waterway with a pancake breakfast, family parade, stage entertainment, classic cars, kids’ activities, canoe rides, buskers corner, street hockey, Strawberry Tea, a Canada Day market, and more!
Enjoy a musical Canada Day at an all ages community night just in front of the Cobblestone Pub in Cobble Hill!
The day will feature performances by four live bands with ticket proceeds going towards Victoria’s summer Music in the Park program to help support music in the community all season long!
It’s time to get creative and paint your masterpiece at this special Paint Nite at the Fernwood Inn tonight!
Create a ‘Splash of Serenity’ with your artistic guide, Marina, and take home your beautiful painting when the night’s over. Save 25% on admission when you use the code ILOVEPAINT at checkout.
One of Victoria Pride’s signature events, the Memorial Drag Ball Game, is returning to the Victoria West Park this year!
First launched in 1993, the drag baseball game now attracts up to a thousand spectators and players who let go of differences, embrace absurdity, and just want to have some baseball fun! Everyone is welcome to play! Simply choose whether you’d like to play for The Queens or The Kings and pick a name for your drag persona.
Come ring our nation’s birthday at Upstairs Cabaret this Monday!
Located right on the Inner Harbour, you can enjoy the Canada Day fireworks from Upstairs’ main floor in their VIP booths which feature private windows!
Canada’s 152nd birthday is almost upon us, and we all know what that means: fireworks!
Several organizations around Victoria will be putting on spectacular fireworks displays this year, including shows in Sidney, Sooke, and of course, the downtown Inner Harbour.
To help you schedule your long weekend plans, here’s a guide to the 5 major fireworks displays happening in and around Victoria:
1. Butchart Gardens
Ring in Canada’s birthday at the beautiful Butchart Gardens and take in a dazzling fireworks show that features both aerial and ground displays, beautifully choreographed to show tunes. Click hereto see their full summer fireworks schedule.
When: Saturday, June 29th, 10:15 p.m.
Where: Butchart Gardens, 800 Benvenuto Avenue
2. Victoria HarbourCats Fireworks
Take in a Victoria HarbourCats vs. Kelowna Falcons baseball game, followed by a lengthy fireworks display right on the outfield at Royal Athletic Park directly after the match!
The game is expected to run from 6:35 p.m. to 10:15 p.m., with the fireworks show launching right afterwards.
When: Sunday, June 30th, after the ball game at 6:35 p.m.
Where: Royal Athletic Park, 1014 Caledonia Avenue
3. Inner Harbour Fireworks Display
After celebrating Canada Day downtown with an exciting lineup of live music and family-friendly events, make sure to stick around for the spectacular annual fireworks display along the Inner Harbour!
When: Monday, July 1st, 10:20 p.m.
Where: Inner Harbour
4. Sidney Fireworks Extravaganza
Sidney’s annual fireworks extravaganza will kick off Canada Day celebrations that begins at 5 p.m.! The day will include food trucks, cultural performances, music, a formal opening ceremony, and more!
When: Sunday, June 30th, 10:15 p.m.
Where: Beacon Park, 9801 Seaport Place
5. Sooke River Fireworks
Head down to the Sooke River Campgrounds for a family-friendly event full of kids’ games, live music, inflatables, a magic show, karaoke, bingo, and more that ends in spectacular fireworks display!
When: Monday, July 1st, 10:15 p.m.
Where: Sooke River Campgrounds, 2259 Phillips Road
Tune in as Victoria joins hundreds of cities around the world in hosting its very own Pride parade starting at 11 a.m. at the corner of Pandora and Government.
Can’t miss it!
As always, thousands of people of all ages in more than 100 colourful entries are expected to march through downtown Victoria in an expression of solidarity and, yes, pride for the LGBTQ2S+ community.
They’ll be marching south on Government, turn west on Belleville and south on Oswego before turning west at Simcoe. The route then ends at Simcoe and Montreal St before attendees head over to MacDonald Park for the Pride Festival.
This exuberant event is not one you’ll want to miss no matter where you are!
So with the help of our videography squad over at Roll.Focus. Productions, we’re bringing you crystal clear, high-def coverage of this year’s Victoria Pride Parade straight to your Facebook feed!
This livestream is made possible by a host of incredible sponsors. Show them some love by clicking the links below:
In the most recent update on the incident at Ruth King Elementary School on Wednesday night, West Shore RCMP have revealed that one youth is in the hospital recovering from knife wounds.
According to RCMP, an altercation broke out between two groups of youths at the elementary school yards during the late evening hours of June 26th.
When police arrived at the scene, they found that one teenager had knife wounds as a result, and had to be hospitalized.
Investigators believe two groups of youths were walking on Goldstream Ave between Peatt Rd and Matson Rd, and crossed paths between the hours of 8 p.m. and 11:30 p.m.
At this time, RCMP are asking any residences and businesses in the area that have surveillance cameras to review their footage, and report to police if their cameras captured the interaction.
The West Shore RCMP Serious Crimes Unit is also requesting that anyone with information regarding this incident who hasn’t already spoken to police, call them and speak to investigators.
They can be reached through their non-emergency line at 250-474-2264. You can also report anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
The new Johnson Street Bridge (flying.niimbus/Instagram)
An unidentified hydraulic issue is preventing Victoria’s 1-year-old Johnson St Bridge from lifting into its open position, according to the City of Victoria.
The issue was discovered by city staff during routine maintenance on Thursday afternoon and is currently under investigation.
According to the city, engineering crews, system designers, and PCL Construction staff are working to identify and fix the issue which appears to have originated in the hydraulic system.
Currently, authorities are unsure of when the bridge will be at full operation again.
“Right now, our staff are working with PCL and system designers to get the system back online as quickly as possible,” said Victoria Head of Engagement, Bill Eisenhauer.
“We don’t have a specific return to service start time but we suspect that we will know what our plan will be by this afternoon for today and the weekend due to final system tests.”
In the meantime, while the bridge is fixed in its closed position large marine vessels have been unable to enter or leave the Inner Harbour.
“We’re working very directly with the Harbour Master and marine operators to keep them informed on progress and what plans will be,” added Eisenhauer.
Meanwhile, the bridge remains fully open to vehicle, pedestrian, and cyclist traffic.
What: Come join the 50,000+ people who explore the Inner Harbour during Canada Day long weekend to take in the sights and sounds of over 130 talented artists, street performers, musicians, vendors, and food cart operators.
What: Come celebrate Canada Day along the Gorge Waterway with a pancake breakfast, family parade, stage entertainment, classic cars, kids’ activities, canoe rides, buskers corner, street hockey, Strawberry Tea, a Canada Day market, and more!
What: Ring in Canada Day with a range of celebrations in Sidney! Get ready for a pancake breakfast, a parade, a family fun fair, a ‘build-a-boat race’, and more.
What: Head down to the Sooke River Campgrounds for a family-friendly event full of kids’ games, live music, a magic show, karaoke, bingo, fireworks, and more! Just make sure to bring your own chairs or blankets!
What: Come celebrate Canada’s birthday with FREE admission and birthday cake at Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Sites! Features also include food vendors, a bouncy castle, and historical programming throughout the day.
When: Monday, July 1st, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Where: Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Sites, 603 Fort Rodd Hill Road
56-year-old William Earl Talbott II from SeaTac, Washington has been found guilty of viciously murdering a young Saanich couple who were in the U.S. for an overnight trip in 1987.
According to US news sources, a jury in Snohomish County Superior Court deliberated for several days before finding Talbott guilty of aggravated murder in the deaths of 18-year-old Tanya Van Cuylenborg and her boyfriend, 20-year-old Jay Cook.
The two Oak Bay High School graduates borrowed a van from Jay Cook’s father to pick up furnace parts for him, and headed to Port Angeles on November 18th, 1987 via the Coho ferry.
They were last seen in the Bremerton-Seattle area, and were reported missing on November 20th, 1987.
On November 24th, Tanya van Cuylenborg’s body was discovered in a ditch on a rural road near Alger in Skagit County, about 20 kilometres south of Bellingham. She was found naked from the waist down and then shot in the head.
On November 26th, 1987, Jay Cook’s body was found under a bridge near Monroe, Washington. He had been beaten with rocks and strangled to death with twine and two red dog collars.
(Jay Cook, 20, and Tanya van Cuylenborg, 18)
Gruesome details
At the time of the initial investigation, authorities found semen, blood, and handprints left by the suspect on Cuylenborg’s clothing and the couple’s van – however they were not able to match these pieces of evidence to a suspect.
The question of who committed these heinous crimes remained a mystery for decades, until 2018 when a genealogist at a DNA lab in Virginia used the public genealogy database to find distant relatives of the person who left the DNA.
By using cutting edge technology, they were able to determine its source, and use DNA phenotyping to create and release sketches of what the suspect may look like.
Within a month, tese breakthroughs led police to identify and arrest William Talbott.
At the time of the killings, Talbott was 24 year olds and living close to where Cook’s body was later found.
Despite Vancouver Island experiencing a drier than average June all month, Victoria saw a record-breaking amount of rainfall pour across the city on Thursday.
According to Environment Canada, the capital city received a total of 20.2 millimetres of rain in just one day, accounting for over two thirds of the entire rainfall total for June.
The 20+ millimetres of rain more than doubles the previous record for June 27th in prior years, with the previous record measuring only 9.7 millimetres set in 1955.
While the city saw plenty of rain yesterday, Victoria is expected to fall short of the average amount of rainfall for June.
“[Victoria received] roughly 29 milimetres for the whole month, and we got 20 milimetres yesterday,” said Environment Canada meteorologist, Bobby Sekhon.
“So we just made up for it yesterday because on average the community sees about 30.6 millimetres [in June]. If we hadn’t gotten that much yesterday we wouldn’t have been that close to that average.”
According to the weather agency, the rainfall was caused by an upper low cold system that moved through the island.
This unpredictable type of weather system is common for this time of year, according to Sekhon, and partially explained why the city saw bursts of showery precipitation rather than a more constant spread which is common in the fall and winter.
“July is usually the driest month of the year in Victoria so we’re glad to have gotten this precipitation at the end of June,” said Sekhon.
“It doesn’t look like we have a whole lot of rain expected for July.”
The result? Canada’s largest ‘living flag’ for the third year in a row!
The tradition is coming back for this year’s July 1st celebrations, and we’re trying to attain that epic title again, which is why you can reserve your spot well in advance.
All you have to do is gather a group of 10 or more friends and you’ll be given priority placement in the flag, which guarantees skipping the line for a red and/or white T-shirt. Click here to register.
Alternatively, you can also just head over to Legislature lawn on July 1st and enter the individual t-shirt line for a chance to be in the living flag.
The Living Flag photo will take place at 2 p.m. but everyone must arrive by 1:15 p.m. to participate.
As VicPD’s Major Crime Unit continues to investigate the massive downtown Plaza Hotel fire that gutted the heritage building in May, they have now confirmed that the blaze was a result of arson.
On May 6th, a devastating fire broke out at the historic Plaza Hotel building located at 603 Pandora Avenue.
The large fire took days for firefighters to extinguish and caused significant smoke damage to nearby properties, prompting the City of Victoria to issue an air quality warning and forcing some businesses to close their doors for several days – some for much longer.
While investigators have confirmed that the cause of the fire is arson, police say they are not releasing further details at this time to protect the integrity of the ongoing investigation.
One person remains missing
Nearly two months after the building’s destruction, police are still searching for the its caretaker, Mike Draeger, who has not been seen since the fire took place.
Police say that he was not located after a thorough search of the debris and remains unaccounted for.
VicPD are still searching for Draeger at this time and have released a new photo of the caretaker which shows him clean shaven, unlike previously released images.
According to Draeger’s former coworker Wayne Kalnciems, the caretaker was approximately 60-years-old, weighed between 180 and 200 lbs, stood roughly 6 feet tall, and had short grey hair.
“He was a pretty private person,” Kalnciems told Victoria Buzz back on May 15th.
“He pretty much kept to himself a lot of the time. I wouldn’t say he didn’t have any friends but he was a pretty private person.”
Mike Draeger was a maintenance worker/handyman at the century-old establishment, and once the bar shut down in 2013, he assumed the role of caretaker.
A trailer that reportedly belonged to him was located behind the building, and a van was parked out front, but there were no signs of anyone being in those vehicles.
Earlier in June, Victoria City Council approved the demolition of the remainder of the Plaza Hotel structure.
The council issued a Heritage Alteration Permit to the building’s owners, which allow them to replace the historic structure with a new building so long as it includes elements of the original hotel, like two round polished granite columns that flanked the original entry.
Initial designs for the site are expected to be presented to council in fall 2019.
The beginning of the Canada Day long weekend has arrived!
There’s plenty of activities to take part in today, including the beginning of Laketown Shakedown, a Pride celebration on the Breakwater Barge, community videogaming, and more!
Without further ado here are 5 things to do in and around Victoria today.
This year’s Laketown Shakedown festival has arrived!
The music festival kicks off today, with headliners including Snoop Dogg, Incubus, Sublime With Rome, Smash Mouth, Black Pistol Fire, Five Alarm Funk, and more.
Kick off your Canada Day long weekend by visiting the Canada Day Market down in Victoria’s Inner Harbour tonight!
Over 50,000 people will visit the Inner Harbour this Canada Day long weekend to take in the sights and sounds of over 130 talented artists, street performers, musicians, vendors, and food cart operators.
Before the downtown Victoria becomes packed with activity and long-weekend revelers, come check out two free historical tours of the scenic Inner Harbour!
Supported by the Maritime Museum of British Columbia, two free historical tours will take you through the storied history of Victoria’s local waters.
When: 12:40 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Where: Guests meet at the Downtown Community Centre, 755 Pandora Avenue
Come celebrate Pride month with the Breakwater Barge tonight!
This June marks the 50th anniversary of the decriminalization of homosexuality in Canada, and the Barge plans to celebrate love, community, and pride with live music from Rocksteady and drinks from local breweries. Donations from tonight will also go to Victoria Pride Society and Living Without Disguises.
Head down to Ground Control Cafe for a fun filled day of video gaming hosted by Boring Victoria.
Bring your Laptop, your Nintendo Switch, or other gaming devices and meet uup with other players who love the same games you do. The community gaming night will also feature competitions.
Exactly a year after the Greater Victoria School Board voted to upgrade the historic Victoria High School building, the provincial government has announced approval for funding.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Education, the province will be investing $77.1 million for seismic upgrades and a 200-seat expansion of Vic High.
The upgrade will also include a new neighbourhood learning centre for child care programs.
To meet the costs of the project, the Greater Victoria School District will also be contributing $2.6 million.
“Our community has long been waiting for this project to move forward, and I’m excited to know it’s being done in the best way possible,” said Carole James, MLA for Victoria-Beacon Hill.
“For over 100 years, Victoria High School has served families in our community. Today’s announcement of a safer school, more classrooms and new child care spaces will better support learners for decades to come.”
Construction on the upgrades and expansion at Vic High is expected to begin in August 2020. Students will be re-located to a renovated SJ Willis Education Centre while the project is underway.
The work is expected to be completed by September 2022.
Great news for Vic High! I was thrilled be Acting Mayor for today’s announcement for seismic upgrades and preserving our historic Vic High building – making room for 200 additional highschool students, as well as a neighbourhood learning centre with new #childcare spaces! #yyjpic.twitter.com/I5PWWel4f5
Exterior elements, such as terracotta, granite and brick masonry, will be retained, along with interior features, including the marble and art glass in the main entrance and lobby, and the painted wood panels and art glass in auditorium/balcony.
“This investment is truly remarkable and I’m very thankful to the Province for stepping up and getting things done,” said Lisa Helps, mayor, City of Victoria.
“The approach they’re taking shows they’ve really listened to the community. Safety is always the number 1 priority for students, but I know this heritage building is very special to the city and all the families who’ve had it as part of their lives.”
Located at 1260 Grant Street, Vic High opened on May 1, 1914, and currently has a capacity of 850 students.
West Shore RCMP are investigating a break and enter in Metchosin in which a number of firearms were stolen from the residence.
Police believe the break-in occurred between the evening hours of Sunday, June 23rd and the morning of June 24th in a residence near the intersection of Kangaroo Rd and Rocky Point Rd.
An array of firearms were stolen from a safe within the residence, including 8 long guns and 1 hand gun.
According to Cst. Nancy Saggar, the owner of the property had all the necessary legal permits for the guns.
Investigators ask that anyone who has information about this crime contact West Shore RCMP at 250-474-2264.
You can also report anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
