Do you find yourself checking groceries to make sure they’re not from the US before purchasing them?

Then you’re one of 25% of British Columbians that does the same thing, according to a representative survey conducted by Research Co.

Ever since Donald Trump was elected president, a significant number of BC residents have altered their shopping habits. Among the 25% who now avoid buying US products, 31% are aged 55 and above.

About 19% of the population have also changed a brand of clothing they usually purchase to avoid buying from US retailers. Around 25% of these people are in the 18 to 34 year age group.

16% of BC residents have also cancelled vacation plans in the United States.

Methodology

The results of the survey encompass the views of 800 British Columbians who responded to an online study earlier this month.

“The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region in British Columbia,” reads the website.

The poll was conducted at a time when the US and Canada are working on a new trade deal to replace NAFTA.

Click here to read the full report.

Central Saanich police have released updates on the collision that killed a 51-year-old woman and critically injured her 48-year-old sister Monday night.

With permission of the victim’s family, police have revealed their names: 51-year-old Kim Ward was pronounced dead on site, and her sister, 48-year-old Tracy Ward was transported to the hospital with serious injuries and remains there in critical condition.

The family of the victims are requesting privacy at this time.

Another crash occurred just 20 minutes before the fatal collision, in which a red SUV rear-ended a black sedan. Police have determined that the driver of the red SUV was involved in both collisions on August 27th.

While the driver of the black sedan has come forward, officers are still seeking witnesses to both crashes.

Details

Authorities say the SUV was travelling southbound when it veered across the road striking the women while they walked along the shoulder of the road.

The crash occurred just after 7 p.m. in the 7600-block of Central Saanich Road, near Mount Newton Cross Road. The sisters were walking their two dogs, one of which was also pronounced dead on site, while the other managed to run home.

The driver, a 26-year-old man, was also transported to hospital with unknown injuries.

Earlier this month, the City of Victoria council sparked public debate after voting to remove the statue of Canada’s first prime minister John A. Macdonald that adorned the front steps of Victoria City Hall.

In an op-ed appearing in the August 29th Times Colonist, Victoria mayor Lisa Helps apologizes for not including residents of the city in the decision. She also outlines the council’s reasoning behind the abrupt removal of the statue.

“I didn’t recognize the great desire of Victoria residents to participate in reconciliation actions,” writes Helps. “The process going forward will enable this.”

As an explanation for why she stood by the decision to remove the statue before coming up with an alternate site to relocate it to, Helps states:

“The statue in its original location was a barrier to Indigenous communities’ engagement with city hall. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission calls upon all levels of government to engage with Indigenous Peoples on reconciliation action. Without relocating the statue, we were not able to invite First Nations to city hall in good faith and respect.”

The op-ed also includes a promise to relocate the John A. Macdonald statue to “a more appropriate public place” in order to encourage conversation and debate surrounding Canadian history.

“It’s time to move forward together,” reads her main concluding statement.

The Federal Court of Appeal has nullified the government’s approvals to build the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project.

The $7.4 billion project is now halted indefinitely by this decision which is a major victory for Indigenous groups and environmentalists.

An executive summary of the ruling was written by Justice Eleanor Dawson and released on Thursday morning, revealing that the National Energy Board’s assessment of the project was extremely flawed and too unreliable to base the federal cabinet’s approval for the project in 2016.

The Court’s ruling was also a result of the government failing to “fulfil the legal duty to consult Indigenous peoples”.

The decision has garnered comments from Finance Minister Bill Morneau, and celebrations from First Nations communities, including the Tsleil-Waututh who took Canada to court.

Earlier this year, Green Party leader and MP for Saanich-Gulf Islands, Elizabeth May was arrested and charged with criminal contempt during a Kinder Morgan pipeline protest in Burnaby on March 23.

May also took to Twitter to celebrate the court’s decision today:

Heavily armed police surrounded Pearkes Arena in Saanich on Wednesday night after they received reports there was an extremely agitated man inside the building claiming to be armed with a firearm.

What followed was a two-hour standoff, before the situation was de-escalated by a negotiator who spoke to the suspect through a pay phone inside in the lobby of Pearkes Recreation Centre.

In a release, police said they were able to “quickly contain the building and ensure the safety of those that remained inside.”

During the negotiations, police say the man was extremely emotional and insisted he was in possession of a gun. At one point, he told negotiators that he had been running on four days of drugs and no sleep.

The man finally surrendered to the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team (GVERT) around 10:30 p.m. without incident, allowing staff and other people trapped inside to come out.

The circumstances leading up to the impasse are unclear, however reports suggest that several patrons were originally rushed out when the events were unfolding, while others were still stuck inside.

No one was injured. The suspect was taken to hospital under the Mental Health Act.

No firearm was located by arresting officers and police say the man later admitted he never had one in his possession.

Central Saanich Police are looking for witnesses to a motor vehicle incident on Monday that may have involved the vehicle that struck and killed a pedestrian the same night.

The crash occurred around 6:45 pm on Mount Newton Cross Road at Lochside Drive., approximately 20 minutes before the fatal collision that took place in the 7600 block of Central Saanich Road.

Police said they received a tip that a “red Jeep rear-ended a black sedan” and they are looking to speak with the driver and occupants of the black car. They are also looking for any witnesses who might have additional information.

Two sisters were walking their dogs northbound along Central Saanich Road when an SUV travelling southbound crossed the centre line just after 7 p.m. and struck them.

A 51-year-old woman died at the scene and her 48-year-old sister was critically injured.

The women were walking their two dogs, one succumbed to the injuries, while the other managed to run home.

The driver, a 26-year-old man, was also transported to hospital and later released.

Anyone with information is asked to call Central Saanich Detective Chad Vincent at 250-652-4441 – ext.3063 or make an anonymous call to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).

The BC Coroner’s Service is advising all road users to be cautious over the long weekend, after a reported spike in motorcyclist deaths has come to light so far this year.

Between January and July 2018, 30 people have died in motorcycle crashes, which is more than double the amount of similar deaths reported within the same time period in 2017. Six of the 30 fatal crashes this year happened on Vancouver Island.

Over the past decade, nine out of ten decedents were male, and the majority of motorcycle-related deaths occurred in the Interior and Fraser health authority regions.

In total, between January 2008 and July 2018, 17.9% of all motorcyclist deaths in British Columbia occurred on Vancouver Island.

Speed and impairment among motorcyclists have been named as the main contributing factors, leading to over one-third of all deaths.

The study also found that environmental factors, such as slippery roads, contributed to 23% of the deaths, and factors related to other motor vehicles and their drivers contributed to 14%.

“BC Coroners Service data signals a significant increase in deaths involving motorcyclists this summer,” said Lisa Lapointe, chief coroner.

“Our goal is to prevent deaths in similar circumstances by raising awareness of the fatalities and sharing preventative measures, so everyone can get to their destination safely. We urge all drivers on B.C. roadways to exercise caution and take time to plan ahead.”

The British Columbia government has officially extended the province’s state of emergency by two more weeks.

The province first declared a state of emergency on August 15th, which was initially supposed to be in effect for two weeks.

After evaluation by Emergency Management BC, it has been extended to two more weeks and will last until September 12th with the possibility to be extended or rescinded as necessary.

As of Wednesday morning, there are 534 wildfires burning across British Columbia with 34 evacuation orders affecting approximately 3,200 people, plus 53 evacuation alerts impacting about 21,800 people.

This marks the second time in as many years that B.C. has declared a state of emergency due to wildfires. In 2017, the declaration lasted 10 weeks from July 7 to Sept. 15.

The state of emergency gives agencies, such as Emergency Management BC, the fire commissioner, the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, and the RCMP, the authority to take every action necessary to fight the wildfires and protect residents and their communities.

Vancouver Island currently has five major wildfires burning, and smoke advisories have been lifted for most of the island.

A 38-year-old woman was pronounced dead after she drowned at Morningside beach, located off Hammond Bay Road, near Neck Point in north Nanaimo.

The incident occurred at about 12:30 p.m. on Monday, and the scene was first attended by City of Nanaimo Fire and Rescue who spoke to a distraught family member.

He told authorities that the woman had been swimming when she disappeared below the surface at one point, and appeared to be unconscious when she resurfaced.

Fire crews helped him get the woman back to shore and performed CPR until BC Paramedics and Nanaimo RCMP arrived.

Soon after, the BC Coroner’s Service attended the scene and pronounced the woman dead. Her family members in Nanaimo and elsewhere have been alerted, and Nanaimo RCMP Victim Services are now assisting them.

No foul play is suspected in this case, and it has been handed over to the BC Coroner’s Service.

Saanich police have been investigating several dozen firearm parts that were found sealed in police evidence bags and thrown into a dumpster.

The items were found by two residents of the Regina Park tent city encampment in a dumpster in the 3300 block of Douglas Street, near the Galloping Goose Trail at about 9 p.m. on Monday night.

They quickly turned the parts over to Saanich police with help from camp leader, Chrissy Brett, leading to an investigation into how they got there.

The story behind the firearm parts

According to Saanich police, the firearm parts were seized from a storage locker in Saanich in January 2017, after a search warrant was executed in the 3900 block of Quadra Street.

After a full investigation, authorities determined that the over 100 firearm parts were the legal property of a 20-year-old Victoria man, who had no criminal history and held a valid possession and acquisition license (PAL) so they were returned to him in February 2017.

When they were recovered from a dumpster last night, Saanich police launched an investigation into how the parts ended up there and have been in touch with the owner.

“Canadian law does not regulate the possession of the individual firearm parts
which were found in the dumpster, such as barrels, slides and trigger assemblies,” reads a statement from the Saanich PD.

“Police are grateful to the individuals who turned these items in.”

Police are still investigating what caused the driver to veer into the wrong lane.

Central Saanich police are looking for witnesses in a collision that killed a 51-year-old woman and critically injured her 48-year-old sister Monday night.

Authorities say an SUV was travelling southbound when it veered across the road striking the women while they walked along the shoulder of the road.

The crash occurred just after 7 p.m. in the 7600-block of Central Saanich Road, near Mount Newton Cross Road. The women were walking their two dogs, one of which was also pronounced dead on site, while the other managed to run home.

The driver, a 26-year-old man, was also transported to hospital with unknown injuries.

“Our officers are conducting a thorough investigation that includes looking at various factors such as possible impairment, speed, medical issues, and the vehicle itself,” said Chief Constable Les Sylven.

“We are also working closely with the families affected and our officers who attended the scene to ensure they are taken care of during this difficult time.”

If you have information about this incident, call Central Saanich Police, 250-652-4441, or make an anonymous call to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).

Looks like fall is here early – or at least that’s what these major coffee chains want us to think.

Companies like Starbucks, Tim Hortons, and Blenz have already debuted their fall flavours, which includes the ever popular fan favourite Pumpkin Spice Latte.

This classic treat was introduced to the world 15 years ago by Starbucks and has since caused a fall frenzy among retailers whenever September rolls around.

(Get ready to be inundated by Pumpkin Spice drinks, foods, candles, lotions, and more.)

Here’s what the fall menu at each company has to offer:

• Starbucks: Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino blended beverage and Teavana Pumpkin Spice Chai Tea Latte join their older PSL cousin. But besides that, any drink on the menu can be customized with real pumpkin and the classic fall flavours of cinnamon, nutmeg and clove.
• Tim Hortons: Pumpkin Spice Latte, Pumpkin Spice Ice Capp, Pumpkin Spice Muffin, Apple Cinnamon Tart, and Caramel Apple Danish.
• Blenz: Pumpkin Spice Latte, the Chillo (espresso and ice cream), and the Toffee Nut Mocha, to name a few.

Are you ready to pumpkin spice up your life?

Victoria police were able to apprehend and arrest two people after they attempted to flee in a stolen vehicle.

Last week, on August 21st, officers were checking on two people who were passed out in a car in the 700-block of Esquimalt Road.

When they asked the pair to step out of the vehicle, the driver started and reversed the car in an attempt to flee the scene.

Another officer used his police car to try and stop him. The suspect then sped at the police car, pretending as though he would ram the officer with his vehicle, but stopped just short of making contact.

He then sped off down a dead end road, where officers boxed him in and arrested him. The second suspect, who was in the vehicle at the beginning, had fled the scene but was arrested soon after by other officers on site.

Upon running the vehicle and license plates, VicPD discovered that it had been reported stolen out of West Shore.

Officers are now recommending seven charges against the two suspects under arrest.

For those who don’t want to shell out $79 on the spot for a whole year of Amazon Prime, there’s a new deal available!

Amazon Canada has just announced a monthly plan giving people the option to be a Prime Member for $7.99 a month, instead of the existing $79 annual membership.

“Prime brings together the best of entertainment and shopping into a simple package at an unbelievable value for Canadians,” said Mike Strauch, country manager for Amazon Canada.

“With the launch of a monthly membership, we have added yet another easy way to enjoy Prime benefits.”

The service allows members to get free 2-day or 3-day shipping on numerous items, and a slew of other perks like unlimited access to award-winning movies and TV shows with Prime Video, access to over one million songs on Prime Music, unlimited photo storage with Prime Photos and Twitch Prime.

Members also receive 30-minute early access to select Lightning Deals, and get discounts compliments of Amazon Family.

With the expansion of Amazon Prime, membership across the country has doubled over the past 18 months.

Customers can now start their new monthly plan (or stick to the annual one) and receive a 30-day free trial by clicking here.

A can defect is causing a recall of two types of Bowen Island beer.

In a release, the BC Liquor Distribution Branch and Northam Beverages, the manufacturer of Bowen Island beer, said they are voluntarily recalling two types of product due to concerns about can defects.

“The rims on some cans are not seamed properly, and may have sharp metal sticking out from the rim,” the recall notice stated.

The affected products are:

• Bowen Island – Artisan IPA, Lot numbers L18207, L18187, L18215
• Bowen Island – West Coast Lager, Lot number L18207

These cans are sold in six-packs and the lot number is printed on the bottom of each can.

All private retailers, BC Liquor Stores, and hospitality customers are being instructed to pull the product from their shelves.

Customers can return the recalled products from the store they purchased them from to receive a full refund.

One woman and a dog are dead and another woman is in critical condition after being struck by an SUV in Central Saanich Monday night.

The crash occurred just after 7 p.m. in the 7600-block of Central Saanich Road, near Mount Newton Cross Road.

The driver, a man in his mid-20’s, was also transported to hospital with unknown injuries.

According to Central Saanich police, the vehicle was travelling southbound when it veered across the road striking the women while they walked along the shoulder of the road.

The cause of the crash is still under investigation.

It’s been an odd couple of weeks for patrons of The Guild Freehouse on Yates and Wharf.

After the popular downtown Victoria restaurant suddenly closed its doors, Victoria Buzz was flooded with questions about why they were no longer in operation.

There were numerous reports of people who had booked events at the venue and subsequently lost their deposits when the business appeared to have shut down for good.

Following these claims, we attempted to reach out to The Guild to confirm and gather details about the transactions, but were unsuccessful in obtaining a response from management.

But in a recent turn of events, the restaurant seems to be hosting a grand reopening this Thursday, August 30th, featuring a new food menu, new cocktails, “and more.”

The event was announced with little fanfare via a sign posted on the door of The Guild, which only adds to the mystery surrounding its sudden closure and reopening.

Unconfirmed rumours suggest that the business had originally shut down due to lease issues.

RCMP are conducting an investigation after a fire significantly damaged Hornby Island Community School on Sunday morning.

The fire at the school building broke out at about 3 a.m., and first responders finished battling the blaze at about 10:30 a.m. on August 26th.

School district representatives travelled to the rural community early Monday morning to assess the situation and set up a contingency plan to make sure classes continue in the upcoming school year.

“The Board of Education is shocked and saddened that one week prior to the start of the new school year at the news of a devastating fire that has damaged the Hornby Island Community School, a rural island school that not only serves the many students and families of Hornby Island but the entire community,” reads a statement from Board Chair Janice Caton.

According to a release from the school district, the fire was put out by Hornby Island Volunteer Fire Department and Denman Island Fire Rescue, as well as first responders from Comox Valley RCMP, British Columbia Emergency Health Services and BC Hydro.

BC Ferries was also involved in the process, as staff members “worked through the night to shuttle emergency crews to the island”.

RCMP are currently investigating the cause of the fire.

The school will be releasing updates on their website regarding the plan moving forward.

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After four decades of translation and consultation, a new dictionary was published this week that documents and preserves an Indigenous Vancouver Island language.

Over 12,000 words of SENĆOŦEN, the language of the W̱SÁNEĆ First Nations on Vancouver Island’s Saanich Peninsula, now reside in its pages.

The dictionary consists of more than 1500 pages, and can now be used by future generations to learn the Coast Salish language that’s written mainly in upper-case.

It was carefully compiled over 40 years by Elders from the Tsawout, Tsartlip, Tseycum, and Pauquachin First Nations communities, and Dr. Timothy Montler.

According to the CRD, the dictionary costs $100, and can be purchased by calling Tye Swallow at the Tribal School at 250-652-2313.