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The pool at Oak Bay Recreation Centre is set to reopen next week on Januray 6 — one month after a leak was found in the main water line.
After crews located and fixed the leak, the area where work was done had to be re-cemented and re-tiled and then required time to cure.
During the closure, passholders were able to use their Recreation Oak Bay passes at any municipal rec centre pool in Greater Victoria, as well as the YM-YWCAs in Victoria and Langford.
FREE swim times on January 6th:
Adult Lengths Swim from 4:30-6:30 pm
Family fun starts at 6:30 pm with the Everyone Welcome Swim from 6:30-9:30 pm
Or come late and relax at the Length & Leisure from 9:30-11 pm or at the Late-night Swim from 11 pm -12:30 am
Spinnakers Brewpub is showing their gratitude to Victoria firefighters by dedicating a new beer to them after the firefighters extinguished a quick-moving blaze last month that could have been much worse if not for firefighters’ fast actions.
The fire broke out during lunch hour on November 23, under the floor of the fireplace located on the second floor. The pub and restaurant have since reopened.
The can features a drawing of a Victoria firefighter in full gear.
The company said in a press release the beer is, “an expression of our gratitude for the diligence and sensitivity of the dedicated crew who fought a great battle and saved our historic brewpub on “Black Wednesday” November 23, 2016.”
The 4.2 per cent alcohol lager is a hopped up west coast session lager, light in body with a delicate citrus aroma.
Partial proceeds from sales of the beer will go to the Fireman’s Burn Fund, which provides support and services for burn victims in B.C.
The beer will start canning this weekend and will go on sale in 2017.
UPDATE: police have confirmed the missing 38-year old woman located and safe! Thank you.
— original:
Victoria police are asking for your help in locating missing woman Riga Nason, who is known to use other names.
Riga went missing in the early morning hours of December 28th. It is believed that she was driving a green Dodge Caravan which has a British Columbia licence plate: AE0 12F.
Riga, 38, is described as a Caucasian female standing five feet tall, with short brown hair and hazel eyes.
She was last seen wearing a puffy black coat, a red tank top, red pants or tights, and black boots just below the knees.
Investigators and Riga’s family are very concerned regarding her well-being as it is believed she is suffering from a mental health crisis and needs assistance.
If you see Riga or know where she is, please call 911.
A 46-year old man remains behind bars after he allegedly rammed his vehicle into a car belonging to his ex-girlfriend in Victoria on Tuesday evening.
Police were called to the 1000-block of Gillespie Place where a 2-vehicle collision had taken place. One of the vehicles was severely damaged.
Investigators believe the driver intentionally drove his car into the vehicle in an attempt to harm two occupants he thought were inside the car, although the two were not in the vehicle at the time of the collision.
One person involved suffered non-life threatening injuries in the incident, but police would not confirm who was injured.
Police say the accused and the victim have a long history of domestic violence. There are reports it was the man’s ex-girlfriend and her boyfriend he tried to harm.
Sebastian Normandin is charged with two counts of attempted murder and one count of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.
He remains in custody, and his next court appearance is on January 4th.
Police will not release any more details as the matter is now before the courts.
Anyone who witnessed the collision or has any information is asked to call the VicPD non-emergency line at 250-995-7654 or Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Victoria-based and leading Canadian software provider Redbrick released a new desktop application that makes navigating multiple Gmail accounts easier and more efficient.
The application is called “Shift” and is for desktop computers. Here are the perks:
Allows users to quickly switch between multiple Gmail accounts right from their desktop.
Eliminates the need to sign in and out of accounts and run multiple browsers and tabs.
Eliminates workarounds like setting up different users in Chrome and adding email accounts and aliases to primary Gmail accounts.
Created by Redbrick, a Victoria-based software analytics and distribution provider that was ranked 2nd fastest-growing Canadian software company and 5th fastest-growing Canadian company by Profit 500.
Free version features include support for two inboxes, cross-platform support for Windows, Mac, and Linux, native desktop notifications, and more.
Pro version upgrade features include unlimited inbox account support, compatibility with Microsoft Outlook and more.
Available now
The program is available as both a free and a Pro version for a yearly subscription of $19.99.
The basic plan offers the opportunity for a clutter-free desktop and easy switching between Gmail apps to name a few benefits. The Pro version is available for a free 30-day trial with access to several additional and helpful features and upgraded versions of the free plan.
A section of Gorge Park has reopened to the public after a body was discovered Wednesday morning by someone out for a walk.
Saanich police were called to the park just after 9 a.m. and located the man, believed to be in his 60′, in a heavily wooded area of the park, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators believe the man, who hasn’t been identified, died of natural causes.
Saanich police Sgt. John Price said it’s too early to tell if the man died of an overdose or due to exposure to cold weather.
Discarded clothing and some other items found in the area suggest the man might have been staying in the park.
The area where the man was found is not normally frequented by most park users.
Victoria’s New Year’s Eve, 2017 is full of excitement as we celebrate 150 as a city and as a Canadian nation. It’s a big night of fun with music, entertainment and fireworks at the Spirit of 150 Event downtown from 5pm – 9:30pm.
To give 2016 a memorable sign off dinner, here’s our list of Victoria restaurants to kick off your night. All are within a short walk to the inner harbour evening festivities so you can make it to the show and fireworks. Cheers to new beginnings!
What: Farm to table and gluten free with dairy free, vegetarian and vegan options as well as responsibly sourced meat to compliment creative cocktails, local beer and an incredible wine list. Hosting a special NYE Eat-with-people-you-love food and beverage pairings to go along with their regular dinner menu.
What: Relaxed atmosphere, signature drinks, delicious food and live music by Blue Moon Marquee equal a recipe for a fantastic New Year’s Eve. 4-course dinner seatings at 5:00 pm and 8:00 pm. View Menu
Where:463 Belleville St
Tickets: $75 (5pm) or $100 (8pm). Wine pairings $30
What: Celebrate the new year with a nod to Queen Victoria. The Fairmount Empress hosts a five-course menu with live music and sparkling wine at midnight in the gorgeous Q Dining Room – view menu.
Where: 721 Government St
Cost: $210 per person, 50% off for children (ages 6 – 12), +$90 for wine pairings
What: Choose from two seatings: 5pm-7:30pm for a 3 course feast; 8pm-Midnight for a 3 course feast plus an amuse bouche, and chocolate strawberry & champagne at midnight – view menu!
What: A fantastic menu with some of the best pub food you’ll find boasting a variety of food styles. They’re sure to have a favourite for each member in your party – view menu.
What: A gorgeous harbour view patio and a celebratory atmosphere. Lure’s menu is enticing with traditional favourites and exciting new dishes to try – we hear their Philips lager battered Halibut is out of this world. A 15-minute walk to the inner harbour – view menu.
Where: 100 Harbour Rd
Cost: Entrees from $15-$29
Reservations:HereReservations not available for the patio.
What: The Island’s most authentic Italian restaurant experience. They boast award winning menu, unique wine list, a stunning location and great staff. An experience to remember – view menu.
Where:820 Yates St
Cost: Entrees from $16-$32
Reservations: On their website or by phone 250-360-1171
What: Our pick for NYE dinner of the three 10 Acres locations. A farm-to-table restaurant sourced from the Saanich Peninsula, and like-minded farmers, food purveyors + fishermen, 10 Acres Kitchen’s menu has a focus on exquisite seafood – view menu.
Where: 614 Humboldt St
Cost: $18-$39
Reservations: 250.385.4512
Know of another place? Add it in the commets below!
It was a landslide victory for Penny Oleksiak who garnered 61 votes (94%) of the vote for the Bobbie Rosenfeld Award for 2016, given annually by the Canadian Press to Canada’s female athlete of the year.
The Toronto native was a winner of four medals at the Summer Olympics and claimed four more medals at the recent World Short-course championship.
The 16-year-old swimming sensation already won the Lou Marsh Trophy as Canada’s athlete of the year earlier this month, becoming the youngest winner in the history of the award.
Previous five winners of the Bobbie Rosenfeld Award:
Canada Day fireworks 2015 captured from the top of the Hotel Grand Pacific by Ryan Kelm photography
We are just a few days away from ringing in 2017 and Victoria’s Inner Harbour will be the backdrop on New Year’s Eve.
This free family-friendly event includes a spectacular three-dimensional digital light show, musical performances, food, and spectacular fireworks to launch Canada’s 150th.
Fronting Government Street, the stage will be stepped back from the corner of Belleville and Government Streets, between the Royal BC Museum and the Legislature Building.
The festivities will kick-off with a First Nations Welcome Ceremony and performances by the Lekwungen Dancers and the Esquimalt Singers at 5:05 p.m. and will end just after 9 p.m with fireworks timed wth those in our nation’s capital of Ottawa.
Headlining the evening will be Vancouver-based Dear Rouge, the husband, and wife Juno-winning duo of Drew and Danielle McTaggart.
The Victoria Royals will return to action after an extended holiday break to face off against the top team in the WHL the Prince George Cougars.
The teams will play back to back games on Tuesday, December 27th and Wednesday, December 28th.
This two-game series will mark the fifth consecutive year that Victoria begins the second half of the season against the Prince George Cougars. In the eight previous games, the Royals have earned a record of 6-1-0-1, which includes a 3-1-0-0 mark in the first contest of the series.
Puck drop for both games is scheduled for 7:05 p.m
Japan Camera will be on site at Gate 1 to take Christmas photos with Marty the Marmot from 6:00-6:45 p.m. Photos are by food or cash donation to the Mustard Seed Food Bank.
The Victoria Royals also announced they had signed 1997-born goaltender Riley Mathieson to a WHL Standard Player Agreement.
“We are pleased to have Riley join our organization,” Royals’ General Manager Cameron Hope said. “Adding depth at the goaltending position with a local prospect is a fit for us, as well as a good opportunity for the player. Riley will remain with the Saanich Braves, but available to join us on an as-needed basis.”
So far this season, the native of Port Hardy, has taken part in 22 games for the Saanich Braves of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League (VIJHL). Mathieson has earned 3.25 goals against average, along with a 0.902 save percentage and has helped his club to a 21-9-1 record.
Environment Canada is warning that strong winds and snowfall may delay travel for Greater Victorians on Boxing Day.
A deep trough over the Pacific will approach the north coast of British Columbia tonight, then progress southeast on Monday. Strong southerly winds will develop during the day on Monday. Winds will be strongest near the Strait of Georgia.
Moisture will combine with the cool air over the south coast resulting in moderate to heavy snowfall for inland sections of Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland.
Snow will begin overnight and continue Monday or even Monday night.
The snow will eventually change to rain over most regions. As is normally the case, the changeover from snow to rain will take longer in certain areas, particularly over higher terrain, resulting in locally significant snowfall accumulations.
Snowfall warnings may be issued later today for several south coast regions.
Nanaimo RCMP are looking for two men in a silver four-door car after an alleged attempted abduction took place Thursday afternoon.
Police say a 21-year-old woman told them she was walking in the area of Lambert Avenue and Harewood Road around 2:30 p.m. when a car pulled up and the driver asked for directions.
When she tried to walk away, the passenger rear door opened, and another man grabbed her arm and attempted to pull her into the vehicle. She managed to free herself by kicking the man.As she ran towards home, turning around to see the vehicle heading towards 5th Street.
As she ran towards home, she turned around to see the vehicle heading towards 5th Street.
Both suspects are believed to be Middle Eastern. The driver might be in his late 20’s. The passenger had dark facial hair and a tattoo on his forearm.
The car they were driving was a shiny, silver four-door car with a “long front” and “shiny new rims”.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Nanaimo RCMP at 250-754-2345.
VicPD investigators are looking to speak to witnesses after an elderly Victoria man died after being taken to hospital with a head injury.
Last Thursday, just before 6:30 p.m., the man was located in the parking lot of a car dealership in the 1000-block of Yates Street.
An unidentified witness alerted employees at the car lot of the man lying prone on the ground. Staff from the dealership provided medical aid and called for an ambulance.
The senior man was unconscious before being able to speak with investigators.
During his treatment, medical staff alerted investigators to the man’s injuries, which met the threshold to warrant further investigation.
The man never regained consciousness and succumbed to his injuries two days later. Investigators were able to identify him but are withholding his name pending notification of his next of kin.
“While our investigation has not pointed to suggestions of foul play, investigators are looking to speak with the witness who alerted dealership staff to the elderly male,” said Bowen Osoko, the head of community engagement for Victoria Police.
“As well as witnesses who may have been in or around the area of the 1000-block of Yates Street between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. on December 15th.”
If you have any information, you are asked to call the VicPD non-emergency line at (250) 995-7654, or Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Bolen expanded her bookstore four times before settling into its current 17,000-square foot space.
Image: Bolen Books / Facebook
Madeline “Mel” Bolen, founder of Bolen Books, and a pioneer in early entrepreneurship for women in the seventies and eighties has passed away suddenly on Wednesday.
“It is with deep sadness and heartache that we regret to announce the passing of Madeline Bolen. Mel passed away unexpectedly on December 21st surrounded by her family,” read a statement on the companies Facebook page.
Bolen opened her small bookstore in Hillside Shopping Centre in 1975. Following a divorce in 1977 from Pat Bolen, she moved their bookstore to a larger space and ten years later when the mall was expanding she again took a chance and moved once again to a large 5000 square foot space.
Mel Bolen, the founder of Bolen Books, has died (Bolen Books)
In 1996 she made a calculated decision and moved into the current 17,000 square foot space, transforming it into something that she was very proud of, the family said.
The community agreed and supported her, and Bolen Books was awarded the Libris Award twice following this move.
“She believed in her community and their support of the independent businesses. She sat on various boards and committees, and she saw opportunity where others saw failure. She believed firmly in books and the ideas that they could invoke.”
“Married and divorced twice, she met her last love John Smith seven years ago. Together they traveled and had fun and laughed every day. Sadly, John passed three years ago, and she missed him every day after.”
Mel Bolen sold Bolen Books to her daughter Samantha on her retirement in 2010.
“She was thrilled to know that her granddaughter Madeline joined the team at the bookstore in 2014 and that her legacy would continue with them both. “
Bolen Books has set up a book of condolences for customers and friends of its well-known founder to share memories and thoughts with family and staff.
Saanich Police are investigating a serious assault which occurred the night of December 21 or the morning of December 22.
At 5:30 a.m., Michah McClure, 37, banged on a stranger’s door in the 3300-block of Whittier Avenue. A Saanich resident was awoken, opened the door and McClure barged in asking for help. The resident went to her neighbours home and called 911.
McClure, who is known to police, was able to speak briefly to officers before being taken to Victoria General Hospital.
McClure suffered severe facial and head injuries and is in a medically induced coma.
Police suspect McClure knows the identity of his attacker or attackers and that the assault occurred somewhere and then transported to the Whittier Ave. He was only wearing only lounge pants.
“Investigators do not believe the general public is at risk,” said Saanich police Sgt. John Price. “We do not believe at this stage that this was a stranger-on-stranger attack.”
If anyone has any information regarding this case, they are encouraged to call Saanich Police non-emergency line at 250-475-4321.
VicPD investigators are asking for your help in identifying two men of interest after a woman’s Fernwood residence was broken into, her car stolen and her credit card used for fraudulent purchases.
Victoria police said in a news release that an unknown person entered the victim’s home through an unlocked front door on November 25th around 3:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Several items were stolen from the home including a wallet and car keys.
The suspects then took off in the victim’s car. The vehicle has since been recovered.
Two people of interest were seen on video surveillance footage using a credit card from the stolen wallet at a gas station on Oak Bay Avenue the next day. They also use the card at one other location.
The first suspect is described as a white male with a heavy build, approximately 55 years old. He was wearing a dark green overcoat, dark brown fur hat with earflaps, sunglasses and had a dark brown moustache.
Police describe the second suspect as a tall, slim white male with long brown hair held in a ponytail, a medium-length bear. He was wearing a multicoloured thick bomber-style coat and a greenish grey hat with a pattern, similar to camouflage on it.
If you have any information on this incident, or can identify these persons of interest you are asked to call the VicPD non-emergency line at (250) 995-7654 or Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Vancouver Police are searching for a missing 41-year-old woman who was last seen in early November in the area of Grandview Park in East Vancouver.
Rhonda Leigh Stevenson, last seen on November 9th, has connections to both the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island and could be in either of those places, police said.
She is described as:
white female
5’3″ tall
105 lbs.
Shoulder-length, reddish-brown hair
Blue eyes
Anyone with information on Rhonda Leigh Stevenson whereabouts is asked to call 9-1-1.
If you are still in search of a fresh cut, local Christmas tree, or know somebody that doesn’t have the means to purchase one, a local grocery store is giving away their extras.
The Rootcellarsays they were over excited and hopped up on Christmas Spirit when they made the last order. They don’t want these trees to go to waste, so they’re offering a free tree to any customers who want one!
The trees are fresh cut, local, spray-free, and now the elves in Christmas Tree Forest have too many! We are told they have about a hundred trees left!
The Rootcellar is located at 1286 McKenzie Avenue.
Christmas Lights display on Victoria Buzz map - Address: 1212 Loenholm Road (Itkasanimages)
Santa Claus is coming to town! Christmas in Victoria is the most wonderful time of the year as the tree-lined streets of downtown and around town become adorned with lights and other festive displays.
Here are nine must things to do this week to get into the Christmas spirit:
What: A beloved holiday tradition and annual fundraiser for the Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island. A wonderful festive display of cuddly bears dressed up in costumes by local sponsors, business, organizations, and individuals.
What: For the past 24 years the Festival of Trees has created a lush forest of beautifully decorated trees to raise much-needed funds for BC Children’s Hospital. The festival knits together the incredibly generous community of Victoria in what has become, over the last two decades, a cherished holiday tradition and the unofficial kick-off to the holiday season in the city. Victoria Buzz are proud media sponsors of this event.
What: More than just a house, these are “sweet” masterpieces! This event brings together professionals and amateur chefs from across Canada, dazzling visitors with their skills. Vote for your favourite and make a donation to Habitat for Humanity Victoria. This year’s theme is “Around the World” and bakers are encouraged to let their creativity lead the way, whether it is finding inspiration in travel, traditions and cultures, or adventures with friends. Victoria Buzz are proud to be one of this year’s official judges.
When: Nov. 19, 2016 and runs until Jan. 2, 2017, with viewing from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
What: Christmas lights, holiday wreaths, carollers, festive dining & skating all taking this at the gardens this coming holiday season. The Magic of Christmas Light Up Ceremony is on December 1 at 5 PM. Visit the Magic of Christmas calendar herefor all details.
When: Thursday, Dec 1, 2016 – Tuesday, Jan 6, 2017.
What:Grab hot chocolates for the family, hop in the car, crank up the Christmas music, as you head out on the Christmas trail! We put together three routes that take you past some of those big and beautiful displays.
What: Decorated for the holidays and located in the resort’s backyard, the Bear Mountain skating rink is perfect place to build memories with your friends, colleagues, and loved ones. Come skate outdoors and take in the best views in Victoria! (Weather dependent)
When: Saturday, Nov 26, 2016 – Sunday, Jan 8, 2017. Open until 9:00 pm. This year, a special addition – the Fire Lounge and Adults only skate times! Saturday nights in December from 8PM to 10PM, the music is turned up and the bar is open – it’s a perfect spot for a date!
Where: Bear Mountain Resort, 1999 Country Club Way
Admission: $5 per person, which includes skate rental if needed. (limited skates available)
What: Enjoy a classic downtown tradition with your family this holiday season for FREE! Every weekend, horse-drawn trolleys will circulate throughout downtown making it an enjoyable experience for you as you take in the festive sights and sounds of the holidays. The trolleys are a unique way to tour the downtown or take a scenic break while you rest your weary feet.
When: Nov 27 – Dec 24, 2016; Saturdays & Sundays 11AM-3PM
Where: Pre-set trolley routes throughout the downtown with 4 stops at:
A: Store St. at Chatham St. – In front of Capital Iron
B: Johnson St. near Wharf St. – In front of Willie’s Bakery
C: Langley St. at Bastion Sq. – Across from Re-Bar
D: Government St. at Fisgard St. – In front of CRD Plaza
What: Presented by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and friends, members of the large cast, crew, and live animals transform Topaz Park for a few unforgettable moments that will keep the real meaning of Christmas in your heart forever.
Where: Topaz Park, Victoria
When: December 21st, 22nd, and 23rd – 6:30, 7:00, 7:30, or 8:00 nightly.
What: Craigdarroch Castle’s halls will ring with the sound of festive music this holiday season. Musicians ranging from jazz artists to medieval folk groups to classical cellists to Celtic bands will perform. Enjoy the castle beautifully decorated for the holidays while taking in the sweet sounds.
When: December 10, 11 and 17-24 at 11AM and 3PM
Where: Craigdarroch Castle, 1050 Joan Crescent
Admission: The performances are free with Castle admission.
What if, while you were singing the old sweet Christmas carols, you suddenly found yourself there, in Bethlehem, 2000 years ago, with the Magi and Mary and Joseph and the ‘wondrous little stranger’ in that humble, straw-filled manger?
What if you could watch the story unfold before your eyes? Well, you can – when you visit our live outdoor Nativity Pageant in Topaz Park.
Presented by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and friends, members of the large cast, crew, and live animals transform Topaz Park for a few unforgettable moments that will keep the real meaning of Christmas in your heart forever.
Whether this is your first visit or a tradition you won’t give up, you and your family can experience the joy of Christmas in a unique and beautiful way.
This is a free annual Christmas gift and organizers hope you will immerse yourself in it.
Admission and parking are free. Performances run nightly from December 21st, 22nd, and 23rd, in Topaz Park.
There will be four shows each night: 6:30, 7:00, 7:30 and 8:00pm.
Market Square during the blizzard of 1996. Photo by Ruda Rumburak
Today marks exactly 20 years since the first snow began to fall and which we now look back on in Victoria as the “Blizzard of 1996.” December 21st Victorians were greeted to snowflakes dusting the streets – little did we know that the last three days of December would see us blanketed.
On the evening of December 26, 1996, it began to snow again and would continue over the next several days. Over 65 cm of snow fell December 28-29 alone, breaking records set in Montreal, Ottawa, and Toronto!
Along with the 96 photos submitted by our fans, we’ve also re-printed in part the account of local Victorian Keith C. Heidorn, PhD, known as “The Weather Doctor”. Dr. Heidorn passed away in 2013, but his family has graciously granted us permission to include his words here:
The media called it the Blizzard of 1996, although with heavy snowfalls so rare here, The Blizzard would have sufficed. (The last major snowstorm of comparable size struck in 1916.) The rest of Canada had a rare opportunity for “reverse-gloating” when they heard the news — Victorians can be rather smug about their mild winters and take every chance to rub it in to the rest of the nation.
The media also called it a “disaster,” but that, in my opinion was an exaggeration. If the storm was a disaster, it would be for its impact on local buildings and infrastructure. Damage and clean-up costs were pegged at around $200 million Canadian dollars. Insurance claims of $120 million were the largest for a single event in British Columbia history.
I term the event a transportation emergency since the accumulated snow prevented people from going where and when they pleased. Even four-wheel drive vehicles could not negotiate the deeply covered streets. The hardy took to walking or skiing. The greatest concerns arose when emergencies occurred, and police, emergency vehicles and medical attention could not get to the site because of the snow-clogged streets. Victoria has but a few snowplows (five at the time), and most are attached to the centre of dump trucks, a viable method of snow removal in the normal light snows but of little use in deep snow accumulations since the trucks could not drive over the snow in front of them.
Not only did mechanized surface transportation stop, but Victoria International Airport and the BC Ferry service to the mainland and surrounding Gulf Islands also ground to a standstill. Staff could not reach the terminals nor could any passengers get to or from the airport and ferry terminals. Boating was possible if you could get to one, but before you could embark, the decks had to be shovelled free of the heavy snow to avoid capsizing. Many protective boathouses collapsed under the immense weight of the snow, trapping and often damaging the boats within.
The various levels of government (Victoria is the Provincial capital) were slow to react to the gravity of the situation. As a result, a local and popular talk radio station CFAX voluntarily undertook organization of the community response, initially through default but later because word had reached many citizens to tune to them for emergency information. (CFAX would later be cited with a special award from the Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society for their efforts during the situation, an award for which I nominated them.)
CFAX’s open phone line manned by announcers Mike King and Greg Morin connected those in need with those who could render assistance. For example, up the Saanich Peninsula, a seniors’ housing complex was literally snowed in. Snow drifted around the building prevented doors from being opened, and many of those trapped within became frightened. One elderly woman phoned CFAX emotionally asking for anyone with a shovel and within walking distance of the complex to help dig out the seniors. Within hours, a small squad of neighbours descended to clear the doorways of snow.
The overall reaction of the citizens of Greater Victoria was one of cooperation within neighbourhoods, offering what help could be delivered. Neighbours joined together to shovel snow from roof-tops, doorways, walkways and even full street. They shared food, medicines and other supplies. They offered companionship to those caught alone or frightened. Since snow in Victoria is so rare, many residents don’t own a snow shovel so in lieu of the proper equipment, people used cake pans, plates, platters, baking sheets, dustpans, and cardboard boxes to create paths through the snow. Others just waded out and stomped trails into the snow.
All neighbourhoods were not as cooperative as others, unfortunately, and some major disagreements arose over the use of the few single-lane roadways dug out by hand shovelling, as addictions to tobacco, alcohol and the automobile overcame common sense and forced mad trips to the nearest stores.
But, those who made it to a store usually found it closed. In those stores, mostly small convenience stores, able to be open, runs on food items quickly cleared shelves. In many cases, empty shelves could not be restocked for more than a week as post-holiday deliveries were stalled by the snow. Supply trucks were caught on the mainland awaiting the resumption of ferry services to the islands and a reopening of highways from the ferry terminal into town.
Hospital and nursing home staffs on duty during the storm were trapped and required to take extra shifts. Many Victorians could not obtain critically needed medications because there were few ways to connect supply with need.
Those businesses — restaurants, shopping malls, groceries — that might have been open during the mid-holiday period were forced to remain closed because employees could not negotiate the trip to work. Bakeries dumped thousands of dollars of bread and dough when the bakers could not reach work nor the baked bread be delivered. Dairy farmers were forced to dump their milk for several days because it could not be taken to the dairies for processing and distribution.
The storm wrought major damage to many buildings and utility structures around the region as the weight of the waterlogged snow collapsed roofs, sports bubbles, boat houses, carports and greenhouses. A number of boats sank under the weight of snow on deck, and several float homes capsized or sank. Many of the region’s fragile greenhouses, private and commercial, were crushed under the burden of the snow, destroying not only the structure, but the crops growing within.
Some specific incidents included:
Roof cave-ins at the Thrifty’s Food Store in James Bay, North Saanich Panorama Leisure Centre, Glen Meadows Golf Club curling rink;
Thirty-five boats lost at the Capital City Yacht Club in Sidney, sunk or damage in boathouse collapses;
An Esquimalt float home capsized with all contents lost;
Two Viking Air hangers collapsed, destroying four aircraft and assorted equipment inside;
Vantreight and Sons greenhouses crushed under weight of snow.
The storm had some unexpected side benefits in addition to community cooperation. The one most commented upon by Victorians was the quiet. I know my first reaction on awakening that morning was the lack of the urban clamour. Without the unceasing din of traffic, natural sounds wafted across the city. The barking of California seals wintering on several small islands off Victoria’s east coast was heard many kilometres inland.
Looking down Broughton from Government st Photo by Doug Clement Photography
Hillside looking towards Cedar Hill. Photo from Gilian Hillidge
Douglas Street near View St – Tim Anderson’s wife Viki writes, “It was a crazy winter where people became friendly and the streets became amazingly quiet due to lack of cars, or very slowly moving vehicles.”
Photo by Tim Anderson
“My car is under here somewhere” – Cedar Hill at Hillside. Photo by Gilian Hillidge.
“Found my car!” Photo by Gilian Hillidge.
Buried Island Temperature Control van. Photo by Kevin Lintern
Douglas Street photo by Doug Clement
Seven stories up in a condo in Songhees, open halls filled with snow. Photo Kevin Lintern – “My wife and I had just found out we were having our first baby, we wanted to tell my parents in person. We lived on Gorge Ave, they lived in Songhees. It took us about 3-4 hours to make that walk as most of the places were thigh deep snow…” K. Lintern
Christmas Village house on Bay Street. Photo Kevin Lintern
Saanichton photo by Suzy Bondesen
Saanichton photo by Suzy Bondesen
Dale Cooper digging out the car at Cedar Shores on Gorge Rd West. Photo Michelle Cooper
Dale Cooper digging out the car at Cedar Shores on Gorge Rd West. Photo Michelle Cooper
Dale Cooper assisting with snow removal at Cedar Shores on Gorge Rd West. Photo Michelle Cooper
Dale Cooper assisting with snow removal at Cedar Shores on Gorge Rd West. Photo Michelle Cooper
Cedar Shores on Gorge Rd West, with tree on car due to weight of snow. Photo Michelle Cooper
Butchart Gardens. Photo by Jeffrey Irwin
Butchart Gardens. Photo by Jeffrey Irwin
Butchart Gardens. Photo by Jeffrey Irwin
Digging out in Nanaimo. Photo by Kurt Seidel
Scoular Place’s Lisa & Graham. Photo Rhonda Cliff
Frolicking in the snow, Maddie, Rufus and Ryan. Photo Rhonda Cliff
Scoular Place. Photo Rhonda Cliff
Ralph Street in Saanich. Photo Alicia Brandt
Looking up Ralph Street toward Carey Road, Saanich. Photo Alicia Brandt
In the Uplands. Photo Nicola Holdsworth
In the Uplands. Photo Nicola Holdsworth
Apartment parking lot in Esquimalt. Photo Marc Boucher
Wendy Twomey outside her condo at the corner of Fort and Lee, across from the Jubilee Hospital.
Wendy Twomey outside her condo at the corner of Fort and Lee, across from the Jubilee Hospital.
Shawnigan Lake, photo Goldie Hartl
4-year-old Russell Prentice at his grandparents’ farm in Central Saanich. Photo via Russell Prentice
Central Saanich farm near the base of Bear Hill. Photo via Russell Prentice
Looking out the front door as brother tries to visit. Photo Kallie Price
Kallie Price’s one-year-old son wanting to go and play on the deck. Photo Kallie Price
Looking down Ker Avenue in Saanich. Photo Gail Abbott
Evelyn Becker (nee Barefoot) getting around on skis. Photo Gail Abbott
Looking towards Tillicum mall from Ker Ave. Photo Gail Abbott
Pearkes Rec Centre. Photo Gail Abbott
398 Ker Ave, Saanich. Photo Gail Abbott
Evelyn Becker (nee Barefoot) with her son Jacob. Photo Gail Abbott
Visiting relatives at Christmas on Salt Spring Island. Photo Wendy Montana
Shoveling snow in Cadboro Bay area. Photo Spook T.
Build up of snow on Gorge at Washington. Photo Muriel Marshall
From the top floor balcony overlooking downtown Victoria. At Gorge and Washington. Photo Muriel Marshall
Joseph street in Fairfield. Photo via Muriel Marshall – “We got stuck checking on my mother. We had to shovel our way out to the end of block. This was due to a large camper truck that went down the street leaving large ruts in the snow.” Dennis Raffard and Muriel Marshall.
Snow depth building up at Joseph Street in Fairfield. Photo of Calvin Whyte via Muriel Marshall
Waiting for the bus! Serendipitous visit from South Africa. Photo Sabine Kearns – “My husband, two boys, and I were visiting Victoria from South Africa. When this photo was taken, we were waiting for the bus to visit friends in Courtenay. We now live in Qualicum Beach, the beautiful little town we discovered on that very bus ride!” SK
James Bay – Photo Allison Mundschutz
In front of the Empress. Photo Allison Mundschutz
In front of the Empress. Photo Allison Mundschutz
Humboldt Street. Photo Allison Mundschutz
Frozen Inner Harbour Photo Allison Mundschutz
Frozen Inner Harbour. Photo Allison Mundschutz
Government Street and Parliament Buildings. Photo Allison Mundschutz
Photo taken on Douglas St looking up Johnson Steet Photo Allison Mundschutz
Humboldt Street. Photo Allison Mundschutz
Marifield in James Bay. Photo Allison Mundschutz
Broughton Street in front of YMCA – Photo Allison Mundschutz
Blanshard St near Burdette Ave – Photo Allison Mundschutz
A car buried in James Bay. Photo Peter Friebel
Cars buried in James Bay. Photo Peter Friebel “The fence at the end of this street makes me think it’s not San Jose. A sharp Victorian, can probably work out what street in James Bay it is.” Peter Friebel
“Tobogganing” in Beacon Hill Park. Photo Peter Friebel
Vanalman Avenue Saanich. Photo David Antrobus – “These photos were taken from our first home on Vanalman Ave. Everyone had to walk to Country Grocer at the time along thin channels in the snow.” David Antrobus
Vanalman Avenue, Saanich. Photo David Antrobus. “The backhoe belonged to a neighbour who owns Eagle Excavation.”
Montrose Avenue, Victoria. Photo Katie Stewart
Montrose Avenue, Victoria. Photo Katie Stewart
Montrose Avenue, Victoria. Photo Katie Stewart – “I worked at the Times Colonist, and was able to walk in, normally about a 20-minute walk. Only 35 people made it to work and there was no paper the next day.”
“Dad clearing a path with the dust pan.” Photo Katie Stewart
Douglas at View. Photo Ray Heeley
Douglas Street. Photo Ray Heeley
Humboldt Street in front of St. Ann’s Academy. Photo Ray Heeley
Yates St looking towards the intersection at Vancouver St. – “Yates was eerily quiet those days with only one lane ploughed and the only vehicles I saw were the police. I made myself eggnog pancakes and was keeping my food waste garbage in the freezer.” Jacqueline Staples
Yates St looking towards Johnson St. Photo Jacqueline Staples
Mahon road, Shawnigan Lake. Photo Jill Bell
Shawnigan Lake. Photo Jill Bell
View from Southgate St. across from Beacon Hill Park. “Silence and beauty of that day.” Pam Fortune
After the shovelling. Photo Tianna Shaw “Photo taken after my dad (Kenn Shaw) had finished clearing our roof and driveway in Victoria West, with me (Tianna Shaw) aged 2, standing atop the mountain of snow in front of our house.”
What’s a little snow? “We didn’t let a little snow slow us down. It was beautiful and calm. Walked downtown from Oak Bay.” Chrystal B
Susan McMullen, children Jen and Andrew, dog Kasey on Robinwood Drive. Photo Donald McMullen
Jen and Andrew McMullen enjoying the blizzard of 96. Photo Donald McMullen
Robinwood Drive at the north end of Shelbourne Street. Photo Donald McMullen
Donald McMullen on Robinwood Drive. Photo Susan McMullen
Window cleaning. “On a mission to clear snow from living room windows; had to climb over the fence as the sliding glass door was covered and we didn’t want snow in the living room!” Steve Buhr
Buried cars. Photo evinqvist – “Here is the big snowstorm in Victoria 1996. I took the picure in the morning. Scary!”
Judy Scott shovelling the snow on Kinross Ave – “Shovelling the snow in front of my sister’s house on Kinross Ave, Victoria (where I was stranded after coming to the island from Nelson for Christmas).” Judy Scott
Swallowed by snow on Kinross Ave. Photo Judy Scott – Judy Scott’s teen son and nephew dug a tunnel from the back door, across the yard to a picnic table. They hung out with hot chocolate in their snow fort. “We couldn’t see him while he was beneath the snow, but he surfaced to let us know he made it.”
Judy Scott standing in front of her mother’s apartment building on Bowker Ave.
South African visit to Nanaimo. “I will never forget the radio warnings for cars to stay off the road, and yet we were travelling cautiously along trying to get to the last ferry to the island (after staying in Surrey).” Gareth Evans
Buried in Nanaimo. “Upon arriving, we had to dig out the driveway which coming from a very sunny climate, was loads of fun. I didn’t want to go inside.” Gareth Evans
A change of climate! Photo Gareth Evans
“We ended up finding a slope and some crazy-plastic, and sledded into the night.” Gareth Evans
Have a piece of plastic will go down slope! “The only down side of the entire trip was that we had tickets to a Canucks game, which was cancelled due to the snow 🙂 ” Gareth Evans
An unforgettable winter. Photo Gareth Evans
Shoveling success! Photo Gareth Evans
Keep checking the Victoria Buzz Flikr account over the next week as we add more photos from the blizzard of 96.
Do you have photos? Send to > > tips@victoriabuzz.com – Please include “Blizzard of 1996” in the subject, and also a brief description of the photo such as location.
A special thanks to the family of Keith C. Heidorn for giving Victoria Buzz permission to include his recollection from the blizzard of 1996. The full text of his account can be found HERE.
The holiday season is one of the busiest times of the year in parking lots at shopping malls and in busy city centres. Unfortunately, it’s also the busiest time for crashes to occur in these areas.
Kate Wells from DriveWise BC has some tips for holiday shoppers to help reduce their parking lot-related frustrations as well accidents this season.
“We’ve all witnessed bad behaviour and aggressive driving and it seems to increase during this busy time of year,” said Wells. “If drivers remain calm and stick to some simple rules of the parking lot, they’ll be safer and happier.”
1. Expect the unexpected, like aggressive parking lot drivers who may be speeding, cutting corners or not paying attention. Drive at a maximum of 10km/hr to ensure the ability to stop quickly. It may seem slow but it’s the best way to reduce crashes and has the added benefit of making parking spaces easier to spot.
2. It should go without saying but by parking properly in one designated spot drivers reduce the chance of annoying others and of incidents like door scrapes and ‘close parkers’ that make it difficult to get back into a vehicle.
3. Don’t be distracted by a phone, the radio or a holiday to-do list – just don’t. Focus completely on safety while parking and in parking lots.
4. Wear a seatbelt because approximately 14 per cent of all crashes occur in parking lots. Many people take off their seatbelt while parking but wearing one is a must.
5. Reversing into a parking stall is much safer than reversing out of one. Though backing into a spot is daunting for many people, drivers benefit from having a full visual of the parking stall versus severely limited vision and lots of distractions when reversing out of a spot.
“Backing into parking stalls is a skill that DriveWise BC students learn in order to pass the ICBC road test, not all provinces require that skill, but it’s really worthwhile learning,” said Wells. “For drivers who would need practice, we’ve provided a set of tips.”
Spinnakers Brewpub has reopened its dining room nearly four weeks after a major fire almost destroyed the waterfront restaurant.
The fire broke out during lunch hour on Nov. 23. The fire was not as bad as originally thought, and a section of Spinnakers Brewpub reopened nine days after the fire.
The iconic spot announced on Facebook its kitchen and dining room would be reopening with a fresh new look, along with a full menu and bar.
Owner Paul Hadfield paid for the repairs out-of-pocket, instead of waiting for the insurance process that would have held up renovations until February.
“Exactly 4 weeks after the fire, our kitchen and dining room will reopen, with a fresh new look! We will be back to resume the lunch that was cut short on what we now call: Black Wednesday. Doors will open at 8 am with breakfast served until noon, full lunch menu available at 11 am with dinner starting at 5 pm. Full beer line up and full bar will be open!”
Most of the fire damage was contained to the roof and top floor, with smoke and water damage to the main floor.
The fire started in the floor under the fireplace on the second floor.
VicPD investigators are looking for a young teen boy who exposed himself to a teenage girl in a Victoria park last week.
Police say they were called to a park near Mount Stephen Avenue and Ryan Street around 3:30 p.m. Dec. 14.
The victim told police that a young man had exposed himself to her while she walking through the park. She remained calm, left the scene and told an adult immediately.
The boy is described as a slim white male, about 15-years-old, with light brown hair.
He was wearing a black, baggy hoodie sweatshirt and jeans and was riding a bicycle at the time.
Anyone with information is asked to call VicPD’s non-emergency line at 250-995-7654 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
BC Children's Hospital Festival of Trees - Photo ItkasanImages/Victoria Buzz
The Festival of Trees is celebrating their 25th year this year, thanks to the efforts of the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation and our generous community. We have two weeks left to support this wonderful event and raise funds for a crew of fantastic kids.
The Bay Centre and The Fairmont Empress Hotel have hosted a total of 85 spectacular trees for this year’s festival over the course of the past month with plans to keep the trees brightly lit until January 3rd. With two weeks to go, there’s still time to take in the stories, the gorgeous decorations and the beautiful representation of our city coming together.
Voting is easy – there are voting stations scattered around the trees or you can text a particular tree number to 45678. For example, our Victoria Buzz tree is #26, so if you’d like to vote for ours, you would text “TREE026” to the number 45678 and follow the three-step prompting for your vote to be complete.
Donating is even easier; send your tree number to 45678 and follow the three-step prompting. Can’t decide on a favourite tree, but would like to donate? Text “TREE” to the number to initiate donation instructions.
A woman full of heart, Rashida Malik of Royal LePage Coast Capital Realty has offered to match donations to the festival this year.
“As a young girl, my grandfather always told me that children are rare pearls and diamonds, our most precious gifts. Following his example, and as a mother and grandmother, it is important for me to ensure that the future of our local children is built on a foundation of health and happiness. As a realtor with Royal Lepage Coast Capital Realty, I am thrilled to be able to give back to the sickest children in our community. As the sponsor for the Festival of Trees Victoria Text-To-Donate, I will match all donation texts, to a maximum of $5,600, with all proceeds to BC Children’s Hospital. I encourage everyone who can to text the word TREE to 45678 and make a $5 donation.” – Rashida Malik
To make a downtown day complete, take a stroll around the harbour area and check out The Hotel Grand Pacific’s The Bear Wear event, #13 from our Christmas Season Things to Do Article. After seeing the cuddly bears, swing by Nourish Kitchen & Cafe, located at 225 Quebec St for festive holiday drinks & baked goods or a beautiful sit-down meal and then on to #7 from our list, The National Gingerbread House Showcase at The Inn at Laurel Point located at 680 Montreal St.
There’s so much joy happening in Victoria this season as our city celebrates together!
Planning to have a few drinks on New Year’s Eve? Make sure 2017 starts off on good note and plan an alternate way home!
As per tradition, BC Transit is free in Victoria after 6 pm on December 31 until the end of service!
Additional buses will be added to the regular service after the firework show.
So whether you taking in the Spirit of 150 Victoria celebrations in downtown Victoria, or out in the West Shore celebrating, the Victoria Regional Transit Commission and BC Transit want to ensure you get home safe this New Year’s Eve.
Transit riders should also be aware of some holiday schedule changes:
December 25 – Buses will operate on Sunday Service
December 26 – Buses will operate on Saturday Service (No Late Service)
December 31 – Buses will operate on Saturday Service
One person taken with hospital with minor injuries after falling tree strikes passing vehicle on Malahat.
The Trans Canada Hwy has reopened in both directions after high winds toppled trees onto the roadway Tuesday morning.
The fallen tree took out power lines and a struck a passing vehicle. at least one person was taken to hospital with minor injuries.
The incident happened near Goldstream Park around 10 a.m. affecting traffic in both directions for about two hours. Non-commercial vehicles were diverted down Finlayson Arm Rd.
Heavy winds have been wreaking havoc all morning around Vancouver Island with westerly winds of 70 gusting to 100 km/h.
A wind warning remains in effect but Environment Canada says the winds will diminish this afternoon.
BC Ferries is working on two major policy changes on its vessels coming in the New Year.
The company has confirmed it is working to fully implement Transport Canada regulations limiting passenger access to closed car decks while the ships are sailing for safety concerns.
The proposed ban would apply to the fully-enclosed lower decks of many vessels, where transport trucks and buses are parked; cars are also parked there when the upper deck fills up.
Passengers parked in open-air upper car decks are not expected to be affected by the change and will still have access to the pet rooms on the upper car decks.
BC Ferries also confirmed that they are reviewing its smoking policy and are looking at a total smoking ban on all ferries, removing designated smoking areas on outdoor decks.
The BC Lottery Corporation has issued a request for proposals for a new casino facility in the City of Victoria.
There will be up to 225 slot machines, and four to six “live dealer tables”. For comparison, the View Royal Casino has over 500 slot machines and about 30 gaming tables.
The operator of the new casino will be responsible for providing an adequate location and, “should consider access from major arterials, available square footage, available parking, and must be approved by BCLC,” reads a press release.
“Amenities required in the facility could include various types of food and beverage offerings, lounges, conference space, hotels, theaters, etc.”
The selected location must also have the option to increase the number of gaming tables after 2 years.
Ipsos Reid conducted an online survey, on behalf of BCLC, with more than 500 Greater Victoria residents, to better understanding how the community would feel about a new gambling facility. The results show that more than half of those surveyed think the region would see an overall benefit from a casino and entertainment facility, and that 69 percent believe it would appeal to tourists.
Overall, respondents were neutral about the concept of adding a facility. Tax revenue, tourism, and jobs were perceived as the main benefits. Residents also indicated concerns related to gambling addiction.
Once a casino facility proposal is put forward, the City of Victoria will need to seek and consider community input.
Fentanyl seizured December 1, 2016 Image Courtesy of the Victoria Police Department
The drug overdose crisis in British Columbia continues to take a terrible toll. According to statistics just released by the BC Coroners Service, November saw the highest number of deaths so far this year.
In November, 128 people died from drug overdoses, an average of more than four people per day. The previous recorded for a single month was 82 in January.
The number of deaths leapt to 755 by the end of November, a more than 70 percent jump during the same time period last year.
Fentanyl is responsible for 60 percent of the fatalities. 80 percent of those who died were male.
The highest number of deaths were in Victoria, Vancouver, and Surrey – Victoria had the third highest.
Lisa Lapointe, the province’s chief coroner said December so far is looking like a “bad month.”
“Despite the incredible efforts of all of those working on this crisis, the news today is not good,” she told a news conference in Victoria.
Two temporary supervised drug consumption sites are set to open in Victoria this week.
A site will open at Our Place Society at 919 Pandora Avenue, and a private site will set up at 844 Johnson Street where some people from tent city were relocated.
A third injection site is scheduled to open in Rock Bay at some point.
Make sure to stop and visit this home at 4091 Tuxedo Drive! (ItkasanImages)
Grab hot chocolates for the family, hop in the car, tune into 98.5 The Ocean and crank up the Christmas music, as you head out on the Christmas trail!
With so many light displays around the capital region, we wanted to narrow down some of the best spots to catch the lights around town.
We put together three routes that take you past some of those big and beautiful displays. Keep checking back as we will continue to add more. If you would like us to add your house or see a home that should be on the list, please send in using our online form.
[vc_text_separator title=”Click a the tab below to reveal the addresses and predefined routes “][vc_tta_tabs style=”modern” active_section=”1″][vc_tta_section i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-bars” title=”View Victoria Area” tab_id=”1481939850779-c1abc526-d0aa” add_icon=”true”][vc_toggle title=”Click to view addresses and routes in Victoria and surrounding areas” style=”simple” el_id=”1482190993644-7bcb3681-c8aa”]Map starting at Uptown Centre to 1016 Bewdley Avenue:https://goo.gl/maps/iaNGwXNNgVC2
Beacon Avenue, Sidney to Broadmead Village Shopping Centre – https://goo.gl/maps/F6Z5E5qnJJu[/vc_toggle][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-bars” title=”View West Shore ” tab_id=”1481940128238-48a24fe7-bd79″ add_icon=”true”][vc_toggle title=”Click to view addresses and routes for the West Shore” el_id=”1482192351973-0733be04-d221″]Use map from Uptown/3440 Saanich Road to 2731 Scafe Road: https://goo.gl/maps/8tNA6kj4L3G2
Get your throwing arms ready Victoria – the Royals will take on the Vancouver Giants on Saturday, at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre at 7:05 p.m., in the club’s sixth annual Teddy Bear Toss Night.
Fans can bring a new or gently-used teddy bear and throw them on the ice after the Royals score their first goal. Don’t have a bear to toss? Mini-Marty’s will be on sale at the game.
Save-On-Foods will be giving out plastic bags at the entrance to wrap stuffed toys in before they are thrown on the ice.
Bears will be distributed to a variety of local charities including Salvation Army, The Mustard Seed, pediatrics ward at Victoria Hospitals Foundation, Queen Alexandra Foundation, Single Parent Resource Centre, Women in Need, Victoria Police Department, and the Victoria Women’s Transition House.
Saturday’s game will be the last opportunity for fans to see the Royals live in action at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre before the Christmas Holidays.
The first 2,500 fans through the doors on Saturday will receive a set of collectible Royals’ 2016-17 player cards.
Japan Camera will also be on site at Gate 1 to take Christmas photos with Marty the Marmot from 6:00-6:45 p.m. Photos are by food or cash donation to the Mustard Seed Food Bank.
Tickets to the game can be purchased online or at the box office.
Thetis Lake in View Royal earlier this week. Photo by Jessica Swystun
The arctic air that has been with southern BC for nearly two weeks will finally be flushed out by milder pacific air but before that happens one more snowfall is likely.
Environment Canada issued a special weather statement for Greater Victoria saying more snow is on the way Saturday night and will continue through Sunday.
As usual, snowfalls will be highly variable with higher amounts expected inland and over higher terrain.
A complete changeover to rain is likely to happen by Monday morning.
Forecasters are warning there will be a risk of freezing rain for inland communities of Vancouver Island including Port Alberni.
Expect heavy traffic delays heading into town this morning and throughout the day as crews work feverishly to repair a broken water main on the Trans Canada Highway following a water main break late Thursday night.
The break occurred at about 11:50 pm between Burnside Road West and Helmcken Road.
The highway was closed to southbound traffic for hours due to flooding and freezing. Traffic was rerouted down 6 Mile to the old Island Highway.
Crews were able to reopen one southbound lane before the morning commute. Traffic snarls are being reported in the West Shore as commuters look for alternate routes.
The ruptured water supply main serves Saanich, Victoria and Oak Bay. The CRD has switched to alternate pipes so there will be no water service interruption to residents or businesses.
CRD said residents and businesses in Victoria West, Tillicum, Esquimalt and View Royal areas may experience lower water pressure and notice a slightly increased level of turbidity in the tap water as a result of fine sediments in the pipe being disturbed through the sudden change in flow and pressure.
Official say the water remains safe to drink.
Southbound traffic will remain down to one lane until the work is complete. Repairs are expected to take until late Friday night.
Recently-released statistics show Victoria ranked 4th in Canada for police-reported impaired driving incidents in 2015, according to Statistics Canada.
Last year, there were 271 impaired driving cases per 100,000 people in Greater Victoria. St. John’s led all metropolitan areas in Canada with 411 per 100,000 people in that city. That’s well above the next highest rate in Kelowna at 323.
Police reported 72,039 impaired driving incidents in 2015, a rate of 201 per 100,000 population. Of the total number of incidents, 122 were cases of impaired driving causing death and 596 were cases of impaired driving causing bodily harm.
Provincially, the highest rate of drinking and driving was in Saskatchewan, while Newfoundland and Labrador led the Atlantic provinces.
Statistics Canada also finds the vast majority of those who have driven after drinking have done so more than once, and almost half of all impaired driving incident occur between 11:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m, peaking at between 2:00 and 3:00 a.m. from Friday night through to Sunday.
The majority of impaired drivers are male, but the proportion of female impaired drivers has increased over the last three decades. Men were also more likely to report drinking and driving than women.
Other findings suggest the highest police-reported impaired driving rate was among drivers aged 20 to 24, at 480 incidents per 100,000 drivers.
Impaired driving rates across Canada have been declining for the past 30 years but the number of people nabbed by police is still in the tens of thousands every year.
BEST AND WORST
Five census metropolitan areas with lowest rates of alcohol-impaired driving (per 100,000) in 2015:
London: 87
Toronto: 84
Windsor: 84
Ottawa: 79
Kingston: 61
Five census metropolitan areas with highest rates (per 100,000) in 2015:
The B.C. government has announced interest-free loans to first-time homebuyers to help them pay for the cost of a mortgage down payment.
Called the B.C. Home Owner Mortgage and Equity Partnership, the program will provide a government-backed loan of up to $37,500 (or 5% of the purchase price) of a home for qualified buyers, starting Jan. 16.
The 25-year loan is interest-free for the first five years and does not require the homeowner to even pay down the principal during those first five years, as long as they keep the home as their principal residence.
Extra payments or full repayment at any time will be allowed, according to the government. The loan must be repaid in full when the home is sold or transferred to another owner.
The new program will cost the province about $703 million over the next three years to help and is expected to help 42,000 B.C. people enter the market for the first time.
To be eligible, a first-time homebuyer must be preapproved for an insured high-ratio, first mortgage. They must also meet the following criteria:
Have been a Canadian citizen or permanent resident for at least five
years.
Have resided in British Columbia for at least one year immediately preceding the date of application.
Be a first-time buyer who has not owned an interest in a residence anywhere in the world at any time.
Use the property as their principal residence for the first five
years.
Purchase a home that has a purchase price of $750,000 or less (excluding taxes and fees).
Obtain a high-ratio insured first mortgage on the property for at least 80% of the purchase price.
Have a combined, gross household income of all individuals on title not exceeding $150,000.
Have saved a down payment amount at least equal to the loan amount
for which the buyer applied.
Applications for the BC Home Partnership open January 16, 2017.
There are other programs available to help first-time buyers save on property transfer tax. The First Time Home Buyers Program can save first-time buyers up to $7,500 when purchasing a home valued up to $475,000. Or, first-time buyers can access the Newly Built Homes Exemption, which can save buyers up to $13,000 in property transfer tax when purchasing newly constructed or subdivided home worth up to $750,000.
After dozens of submissions and four weeks of voting, the V2V Vacations team has revealed the winners of the creative catamaran design competition that will outfit the exterior of the V2V Empress.
The top spot goes to William Cook who will receive two roundtrip business class tickets from Vancouver to Brisbane on Air Canada.
“We wanted a great and creative way to get the community involved and excited about the new V2V Vacations service, and so the creative catamaran design competition was launched,” the company said on Facebook.
The V2V Empress is now under a complete refit in Victoria and is expected to begin sailing between Victoria and Vancouver in the Spring of 2017.
Join Santa Claus and his festive Elf on the Santa Bus later this week.
The bus will make its way from the North Pole and will make stops around Greater Victoria on Friday, December 16 and Saturday, December 17, 2016.
Watch for Rudolph’s red nose and when you see the bus, hop on and enjoy some holiday music, Santa bus stickers, candy canes, and of course meet the jolly man in the red suit!
The bus can be found in downtown Victoria, University of Victoria, James Bay, Royal Oak, Esquimalt, Fairfield, Oak Bay and Gordon Head.
On Sunday, it will be making repeated round-trips between downtown Victoria, Mayfair, and Uptown.
Meet Clarence, the KiSS 103.1 adrenaline junkie selfie elf!
He was unceremoniously booted out of the North Pole for being on the naughty list, and the KiSS 103.1 Selfie Elf is skydiving his way into a bunch of different places around Victoria.
Three ships from China’s People’s Liberation Army have arrived in Victoria for a scheduled visit.
The replenishment ship Taihu and guided missile frigates Yancheng and Daqing anchored off Esquimalt yesterday.
According to a Canadian government press release, “Canada and China have a defence relationship based on senior-level dialogue as well as discussions and cooperation on defence issues including Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response, peace support operations, and military education”.
One of the ships will be open for public tours after it docks at Odgen Point later this week.
Public tour dates and times are as follows:
Thursday, December 15, from 12:30 p.m. until 4:00 p.m.
Friday, December 16, from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 18, from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.
The ships will come alongside at Ogden Point from December 15 to 19.
The last time ships from the Chinese People’s Liberation Army visited Victoria was in 2006.
Vladimir Bobylev is back in Victoria. Image: Victoria Royals/ Twitter
Vladimir Bobylev will be in the Victoria Royals lineup tonight for the first time after the club announced the 1997-born import forward would return to the team for the remainder of the 2016-17 campaign.
In 72 games with the Royals last season, Bobylev registered 28 goals and 39 assists for 67 points and finished the season fifth in team scoring. He also recorded seven assists in five post-season contests.
The native of Lipetsk, Russia spent the first part of this season split between the Kontinental Hockey League and the Supreme Hockey League. Bobylev played in 20 games for the KHL’s Spartak Moscow where he collected three points (1g-2a) to go along with 10 minutes in penalties. The 6-2, 203 lb forward also earned two points (1g-1a) in three contests with the Voskresensk Chemists of the VHL.
Bobylev was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the fifth round, 122nd overall, at the 2016 NHL Entry Draft and signed with Spartak Moscow this past summer.
The Royals are back in action tonight at the Save on Foods Memorial Centre vs Portland. Game starts at 7:05pm.
Don’t forget to bring a donation for the Mustard Seed and get a Christmas photos with the beloved Marty the Marmot.
Good news for bus riders that often wonder, “where is that bus?” when it hasn’t arrived at your stop at the ‘scheduled’ time.
BC Transit has signed a deal with a technology provider that will allow Victoria riders with a smartphone, tablet, or home computer, to track their bus in real-time.
No more guessing if the bus is just around the corner. Some key stops will even have a digital reader or screen installed to display the same information.
The system uses GPS and will calculate bus arrival times based on the speed and location of buses.
In a news release, the transit authority says, “BC Transit is working with its provincial and local partners to finalize plans for the implementation of Real Time information technology.
Real Time information will allow customers to determine when buses are due to arrive or leave their location via a mobile app, website, or passenger information displays at key exchanges. Communities that are expected to introduce Real Time include Kamloops, Nanaimo, Comox Valley, Squamish, Whistler, Kelowna, and Victoria.”
The new technology is expected to be available within 18 months.
Bryce Hobbs, 14, who lives in Langford, has never seen the true colours of Christmas before, due to a rare condition.
That has all changed for him now thanks to a special pair of glasses designed to change the way the eyes view things.
His mom Wendy decided to surprise him with EnChroma glasses, after he asked her for a pair so he could see how Christmas lights really look.
“My brother Bryce Hobbs has never seen colour, he is really badly colour blind, my mom bought him these glasses that can show him what colours were,” Kimberly Hobbs tells Victoria Buzz.
Here is video of Bryce outside Royal Bay seeing colour for the first time: (excuse the language, Bryce was quite taken back)
Bryce said he found it very strange to see colour on the Christmas tree but that it was amazing.
“I’ve been putting up lights for all these years and haven’t been able to see the colour and it’s great to finally see them,” Bryce said. He tells Victoria buzz his favourite colour is blue.
People who are colour blind are unable to differentiate between two colours – usually red and green – so the EnChroma lenses add a new dimension to their vision and allow them to see the shades separately.
One in twelve men and one in 200 women have some form of color vision deficiency.
The Greater Victoria Greenbelt Society have announced the completion of phase one of their campaign to purchase and create a nature park on the Mary Lake property in the Highlands.
The plan is to create 73-acre nature park which will include a 7-acre lake, creeks, wetlands and surrounding natural forest land. Also in the works is new 25 km hiking trail which will join together with Thetis Lake.
Over the past 6 months, the society has raised $1.3 million, they will also be obtaining the remaining $1.3-million through grants and donations and have secured bridge financing to close on the purchase on Dec. 23rd.
Since the initial GVGS attempt to purchase the property for $4.6 million, about 20-acres of land was sold to a developer dropping the purchase price to $2.6 million.
“In many ways, the property is really priceless, as it sits in the middle of a 13,000-year-old watershed with its sections of rare Costal Douglas Fir ecosystems and riparian areas which are all fast disappearing under the threat of encroaching development. This will be a true legacy for generations to come for both the Highlands and Greater Victoria communities that recognize the significant role that local natural areas play in the regions clean water and air,” reads a release from the society.
Mary Lake will also become the first park with lake access in the west Highlands just a short walk from an upcoming social hub at Finlayson Arm and Millstream Rd.
This area already contains the new Community Hall with plans for the District Offices and a Community Garden at the same location.
As is the case every holiday season, the terminals are packed at BC Ferries. To help avoid any major delays or back-ups, BC Ferries will be adding more than 100 sailings to its major routes.
In total, 136 additional trips are scheduled between December 21 through January 3. Ninety-eight extra sailings will be provided on the Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay route, which is the busiest route. Thirty-eight additional sailings have also been scheduled on the Horseshoe Bay-Departure Bay route during peak times.
December 23 is expected to be the busiest pre-Christmas travel day. Post-Christmas, heavy traffic is expected December 26 – 28 – with December 27 being the busiest day of the holiday season.
A full forecast of busy sailing times is available at bcferries.com.
A 52-year-old Esquimalt woman is facing multiple charges after the VicPD Crime Reduction Unit recovered thousands of stolen items, making it one of the largest property seizures in VicPD’s history.
Police executed a search warrant on a home in the 600-block of Admirals Road after a two-month long investigation. Officers seized thousands of items believed to be obtained through shoplifting, theft from vehicles and break and enters.
Stolen property was also located in a shipping container, multiple storage lockers and within three vehicles – which were also seized.
During the search, police also found four guns, heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana, fentanyl pills and $17, 455 in cash inside the home. The drugs combined value was about $53,000.
A secret room was also located which was accessed through a hidden panel in the back of a bedroom closet.
“As with any investigation that involves large amounts of property, there are good news stories that come out of the investigators’ hard work. Not only was stolen property located from a file in 2004, a diary from 1939 was located in a shipping container. After some research, the daughter of the person who wrote the diary was located in Aldergrove and investigators have arranged to get the diary back to her,” said Victoria Police spokesperson Cst. Matt Rutherford.
Lorraine Anderson, who is a Norteno associate, is facing charges of unauthorized possession of a firearm, possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking, and possession of property obtained by crime.
The Norteños are a street gang in northern California with a presence in the federal prison system. Their emblems and clothing are associated with the colour red and the number 14 is used in tattoos and graffiti because “N” is the 14th letter of the alphabet.
Police say the investigation has now revealed that there are other storage lockers which investigators are following up on. Anderson remains in custody.
The Greater Victoria Harbour Authority’s 2nd annual online auction in benefit of Cool Aid Society ends tonight.
For many years the harbour authority has partnered with the Cool Aid Society to raise funds for the society’s programs during the holiday season.
Last year’s inaugural online silent auction raised over $1400 for the society’s REES program, which provides Resources, Education, Employment and Support to those in our community with mental illness and addiction so that they can, in turn, contribute back to the system that supports them.
This great initiative was possible thanks to the many items donated by local businesses.
The auction ends tonight, December 12, so don’t wait any longer and get your bid in all from the comfort of your home or office.
BC Transit's annual Stuff the Bus. Taken in 2013 Image credit: Victoria Royals
Join BC Transit today to Stuff the Bus in support of the Mustard Seed Food Bank and Anawim House. The 15th annual Stuff the Bus is taking place at Tillicum Centre outside Save on Foods.
All donations are welcomed – from food to clothing, to cash. The goal is to have an entire bus full of donations that can make a meaningful difference in the lives of those who most need a helping hand.
Over the last 15 years, over $140,000 has been raised in support of local charities.
The Mustard Seed is looking for non-perishable food donations to feed 5,000 people a month, 1,600 of them children.
Cash donations give The Mustard Seed the ability to purchase what is most needed at a lower cost, from participating suppliers. For ideas on great donations for the Stuff the Bus event, The Mustard Seed has provided a great wish list.
Anawim House has been empowering people to embrace life since 1991, mainly through the provision of two core programs: drop-in and residential. Both are conducted within a safe and sober home where people can find hope and get assisted with their needs.
The programs offer various self-enriching programs pertaining to employment, life skills, art expression, life mapping, housing assistance and peer support. As well, they provide basic referrals and necessities such as meals, showers, laundry facilities and free clothing.
Hot dogs and coffee provided by Save on Foods will be available for donation throughout the Stuff the Bus event.
Help Stuff the Bus:
When: Saturday, December 10, 2016 Time: 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. Where: Tillicum Centre (3170 Tillicum Road near Save on Foods)
Two temporary supervised drug consumption sites are set to open in Victoria next week in response to the staggering amount of drug overdoses within the province.
A public site will open at Our Place Society at 919 Pandora Avenue, and a private site will set up at 844 Johnson Street where some people from tent city were relocated. A third injection site is scheduled to open in Rock Bay at some point.
“The city has been very supportive – as have the police,” said Grant McKenzie, spokesperson for Our Place Society.
McKenzie added that the site on Pandora will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and will have a full-time paramedic on site. Education on overdose prevention will also be offered, and staff will have access to the antidote naloxone in the event of an overdose.
Councillor Marianne Alto said the city has been working with Island Health and the Victoria Police Department to establish more permanent sites but is still waiting on exemptions from the federal government.
“But the fact of the matter is people are dying, and we need to do something,” said Alto.
Drug overdoses in B.C. have reached an unprecedented high with there being 622 overdoses from January to October of this year; the B.C.’s Coroners Service attributes 120 overdoses to Vancouver Island.
Supervised sites in Vancouver opened this week, while additional sites in Surrey will also open next week.
A snowy morning in Brentwood Bay. Photo by Nick Boyle Photography
When you woke up and rolled out of bed, you might have noticed a layer of snow covering your Greater Victoria neighbourhood.
With snow covered trees glowing outside our window and chilly temperatures forecasted throughout the week, it’s beginning to feel a lot like winter.
Environment Canada is estimating we’ll get at least another two centimetres, and whether you’re delighted or annoyed by it, you can’t deny the beauty of pristine, white snow.
Stolen property was also located in a shipping container, multiple storage lockers and within three vehicles – which were also seized.
“As with any investigation that involves large amounts of property, there are good news stories that come out of the investigators’ hard work. Not only was stolen property located from a file in 2004, a diary from 1939 was located in a shipping container. After some research, the daughter of the person who wrote the diary was located in Aldergrove and investigators have arranged to get the diary back to her,” 
