A 72-year-old cyclist remains in hospital with life-threatening injuries after a collision involving a car Sunday evening in Victoria.

The accident occurred at about 7:30 p.m. at the intersection of Hillside Avenue at Cook Street. The man was riding an electric bicycle.

Police say the cause of the crash has yet to be determined and it’s too early to determine if charges will be laid. The driver is cooperating with police.

Witnesses who saw the accident tell Victoria Buzz the cyclist ran the red light and collided with the vehicle.  

Anyone who witnessed the crash is asked to call Victoria Police’s non-emergency line at 250-995-7654

Puget Sound Radio is reporting that award-winning Steve Duffy and C-FAX have parted ways.

Duffy, a 44-year radio veteran in Victoria, was on-air this morning for his last shift, according to a Puget Sound Radio source. It is unclear if Duffy was advised his service was no longer needed before or after his final shift.

Duffy has been with Bell Media’s C-FAX AM1070 for the past decade and previously worked for OK Radio’s CKXM and 100.3 the Q.

Duffy wrote a daily sports comment on the C-FAX website; his last one was posted today where he talked about the old format of the NHL all-star game. He also covered the sports and the headlines twice an hour next to Al Ferraby.

Duffy’s termination is part of another wave of Bell downsizing across the province.

“Other recent changes at C-FAX News, include the full-time hiring of radio news veteran Kim Emerson to do the morning news. The appointment of former morning anchor Ryan Price to the News Director’s position, and the addition of Kamloops radio veteran Sandy Bell to the newsroom staff,” Puget Sound Radio wrote in their article.

The Calgary Police Service is seeking public assistance in locating a woman wanted on outstanding warrants.

Kassidy Taylor Batchelor, 21, is currently wanted on outstanding warrants for firearms-related offences and for breaching a recognizance.

Police says she has ties to Victoria and may be in the area.

Batchelor is Caucasian, 5’4” tall, 130 pounds, with blond hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with information about her whereabouts is asked to contact police at 403-266-1234 or Crime Stoppers anonymously using any of the following methods:

A 37-year-old Esquimalt man is likely regretting his decision in a Saanich parking lot on Thursday night after accidentally stabbing himself.

The man who was parked at Pearkes Arena returned to his vehicle to find that another car had parked extremely close to his.

Out of frustration he allegedly retrieved a knife and punctured a tire of the “offending” vehicle.

“Clearly the man was unfamiliar with the physics behind his actions, as not only did he puncture the tire, but he ended up stabbing himself too,” A/Sgt. Jereme W Leslie said in a release.

According to police, the man realizing how severe the stab wound was, started to drive himself to the hospital before stopping to call an ambulance due to heavy bleeding and loss of blood.

His self-inflicted stab wound required immediate surgery after he severed an artery in his leg.

Saanich Police is asking for any witnesses to call the Saanich Police at 250-475-4321.

A cyclist has been taken to Victoria General Hospital with serious head injuries after colliding with a minivan in North Saanich around noon today.

The cyclist was travelling down a hill on East Saanich Road near Lowe Road when a white van travelling the opposite direction turned left in front of the cyclist.

The 68-year-old cyclist crashed through the passenger side window, shattering the vehicle’s window and the cyclist’s helmet. Police say he was unconscious but breathing when they arrived. He was rushed to Victoria General Hospital in critical condition.

The 17-year-old driver of the vehicle is co-operating with investigators. Police have ruled out alcohol, drugs and cellphone use as a factor in the accident.

East Saanich Road was closed for several hours while RCMP collision analyst investigated, but it has since reopened.

A 20-year-old man sustained life-threatening injuries after being struck by an out of control vehicle in Saanich Wednesday evening.

Saanich Police believes the driver of a 1999 Black Chevrolet Tracker travelling east on Cedar Hill X Rd suffered a medical event, when it crossed into oncoming traffic, jumped the sidewalk and hit a pedestrian.

The vehicle came to rest in a yard after crashing through a fence at the corner of Cedar Hill X Road and Marjean Place.

The pedestrian was transported to hospital with life-threatening injuries. The driver of the vehicle remained on scene until police arrived and was also taken to the hospital.

The area was closed to traffic for several hours while a crash analyst team investigated the scene.

Police ask anyone that witnessed the accident to call Saanich Police at 250-475-4321.

More than five million international tourists arrived in British Columbia between January and November of last year, according to Stats Canada numbers released Wednesday.

That’s a 12.2% increase over the same time frame in 2015.

November 2016 alone saw a 13.1% increase in international visitors arrivals compared to the same period in 2015 –  a total of 31,675 more visitors.

“Tourism is a key economic driver in B.C., and the latest numbers show that more than five million international visitors selected British Columbia as their destination of choice last year,” said Shirley Bond, BC’s Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training. “This data shows the impact that our tourism industry has on our economy, creating jobs and
helping to keep B.C. diverse, strong and growing.”

Notable increases in tourist traffic in November 2016

• Australia – up 59.5%
• Mexico – up 34.8%
• France – up 19.7%
• Japan – up 13%
• United States – up 12.1%
• India – up 8.1%
• China – up 3.9%

Statistics also show a growing number of visitors from China have been coming to BC.

Year-to-date figures for 2016 show an increase of 18.5% (46,170 in total) visited BC during the first 11 months of 2016.

In December, a new flight from Beijing Capital Airlines began service between Vancouver and Hangzhou, via Qingdao.

China Eastern’s non-stop service to Nanjing, China also was announced in December. This year-round service will operate three times weekly to Nanjing Lukou International Airport.

Travel from India grew by 8.4% from January to November 2016. This increase is due in part to Air Canada’s direct flight from Vancouver to Delhi.

B.C.’s tourism industry employed over 127,700 people in 2015, in 19,000
tourism businesses throughout the province, the province said.

2016 was a record-breaking year for Victoria International Airport. Recent numbers released showed the airport served 1,856,421 passengers – that’s up by 8.5 per cent from the previous record set in 2015.

Tenants living at 2626 Cook St. received eviction notices after being notified that the property owners intend to renovate the entire building.

The eviction notices give residents 60 days to move-out and find alternative housing, but this may be a challenge given Victoria’s low vacancy rate.

“With a less than 1 percent rental rate, it is unlikely that anyone will find a place in the two months time that the residency Act allows for… The money that will be required for movers and other costs will make it almost impossible for some of the tenants to meet these deadlines,” said Richard Gillett, a current resident of 2626 Cook St.

Headwater Projects, the Vancouver-based company that owns the building, told the TimeColonist that the building will be completely renovated, and will therefore need to be completely empty for 6-months.

“In terms of major renovations being the only option, I think you need to appreciate that it is a rare exception that all this old stock has been maintained and repaired over the 40-60+ years of its life and now it has reached the point where either complete teardown of major renovations (to the studs) is necessary. There’s asbestos, mold and other health and safety issues,” said David Hutniak, CEO of LandlordBC.

Although these notices are legal, many still suggest that these “renovictions” are cause for greater concern.

“In the context of Victoria’s housing crisis, the ‘renovictions’ at 2626 Cook Street are particularly devastating. The potential displacement of 32 families exemplify the need for stronger protection of tenant’s rights,” said Emily Rogers, a Legal Advocate for the Together Against Poverty Society (TAPS).

Previously the NDP has, unsuccessfully, tried to pass a private members’ bill increasing the protection of tenants.

Three people were arrested and later released after Victoria police raided a marijuana dispensary on Fisgard Street.

Police say the search warrant is part of an investigation that began after 30 pounds of marijuana was discovered on a commercial flight earlier this month.

The investigation into the unlicensed marijuana storefront continues and investigators have noted that Health Canada has not licensed this storefront for sales.

“We are unable to comment further on any items seized, as our investigation is ongoing,” police said in a statement. “This search warrant does not represent a change in our approach to marijuana storefronts.”

More details to come.

Victoria Police is asking for public assistance to help locate a missing woman.

Ashley Ludwig, 27, was last seen in the 1900-block of Bay Street. Ludwig has a medical condition which requires immediate treatment.

“Officers need to locate her soon,” said Bowen Osoko, the head of community engagement for Victoria Police.

Ludwig is described as 5’4″ with long dark brown hair and hazel eyes. She was last seen wearing a jean jacket, black tank top, and black tights.

Anyone with information about her whereabouts is asked to contact police at  (250) 995-7654.

The year 2016 was a record-breaking year for the Victoria International Airport.

YYJ served 1,856,421 passengers at the airport last year. That’s up by 8.5 per cent from the previous record of 1,710,825 in 2015.

Geoff Dickson, president and chief executive officer of the Victoria Airport Authority, credits the growth increase because of  “consistently strong growth among our domestic air carriers because of consistently high growth among their domestic air carriers.”

New Delta Air Lines service to Seattle boosted the trans-border passenger numbers, and higher capacity in charters heading to sunny climates during winter increased international traffic.

“The challenge now is to continue to facilitate and enable continued growth through prudent and timely infrastructure investments,” Dickson said.

The airport plans to double the size of the lower departures area to provide more seating and provide better options for food and retail.

Also scheduled for 2017 are improvements to the airport’s secondary runway, identified as 14-32, which includes approach lighting for aircraft and can handle operations of smaller turboprops and jets.

The runway will be resurfaced and grooved, a practice that improves operations during wet weather, and lighting replaced with modern LED variants.

Victoria International Airport is the 10th busiest airport in Canada with more than 100 daily flights throughout North America.

If you thought Victoria’s housing prices were unaffordable – you were right. An annual international survey has rated Victoria the least affordable smaller housing market in the country.

The Demographia International Housing Affordability Survey measures affordability of housing markets by comparing *median house prices to median household incomes, using the Median Multiple. This is obtained by dividing median house prices by median household income.

This Median Multiple has historically hovered around a value of 3 and markets are deemed unaffordable above that rating. The report notes, “For metropolitan areas to rate as ‘affordable’ and ensure that housing bubbles are not triggered, housing prices should not exceed three times gross annual household earnings.”

With a median annual household income of $67,300 and median house price of $542,400, Victoria was rated 8.1, or “severely unaffordable”. Meaning prices are 8 times higher than Victoria household incomes.

As in all of the previous surveys, Vancouver is rated as having the worst housing affordability in Canada. With a rating of 11.8, the city is “severely unaffordable.”

Vancouver also has the dubious honour of being the third least affordable major housing market in the world. The report notes that Vancouver’s house prices rose the equivalent of a full year’s household income in only a year. It follows Hong Kong in first place with a Median Multiple of 18.1, and Sydney at second, with 12.2.

Among major markets, Canada is “seriously unaffordable” with a score of 4.7, with no affordable major markets in the country.

Moncton, New Brunswick, has a Median Multiple of 2.1 making it the most affordable city for housing in Canada.

As the report notes, high housing prices have serious consequences for residents, “The higher house prices reduce discretionary incomes, which reduces potential standards of living and raises relative poverty rates.” Resulting in house poor citizens spending disproportionate amounts of income on home ownership instead of in their communities.

*Note: The median is the middle point of a number set, in which half the numbers are above the median and half are below.

Victoria police are searching for the driver of a white mid-size SUV, possibly a Subaru, involved in a hit-and-run Friday evening that sent one person to hospital.

Police say the accident occurred around  5:30 p.m. at the intersection of Bay Street and Cedar Hill Road.

The driver of the vehicle fled the scene, leaving the cyclist with non-life-threatening injuries.

Police believe the vehicle will have minor front-end damage.

Anyone with information is asked to call the VicPD non-emergency line at (250) 995-7654.

When one door closes, another one opens.

Lush Cosmetics may have packed up its shop at 1003 Government Street but is getting ready to re-open in June 2017, just a short walking distance away from its original location of ten years.

Now located at 1020 Government Street, Lush Cosmetics tells Victoria Buzz the new concept shop will be bigger and better at 1,300 square feet, more than two times the average Lush store!

“We are very excited about our new large format location in Victoria,” said Elisa Torres, Lush’s Director of Retail. “Bigger shops, thoughtfully designed with the customer experience in mind, provide more space to demonstrate our ethics, playfully interact with our customers, and present our new and ever growing product range.”

Taking inspiration from Lush’s 10,000 square foot store on Oxford Street in London, the retail design gives new meaning to the vintage charm.

The store is filled with one-of-a-kind, salvaged and reclaimed furniture that has been sourced from all over North America. They will be keeping as much of the shops’ historic charm in tact as possible, including the towering archways, hanging pendant lights, and original, open-face, brick walls from when the shop space was a bank in the 1800’s.

This unique design concept of working from reclaimed materials reduces waste, ultimately cutting back on Lush’s environmental footprint, a value important to the brand.

Plus, the neutral tones of the interior contrast perfectly with the rainbow bright colours of Lush’s product range, including its signature bath bombs, a Victorian favourite.

Victoria police arrested 75-year-old Andre ‘Andy’ Van Goor of Central Saanich on Tuesday after another man came forward saying he was sexually abused years ago.

Van Goor worked as a supervisor at Royal Athletic Park from 1988 until 2003, and the offences are alleged to have taken place during that time.

The investigation began when the victim, now an adult, came forward to police in 2015. Detectives believe there are more victims and encourage them to come forward.

Van Goor has been charged with sexual exploitation and sexual assault. He has since been released on several conditions; his next expected court appearance is Feb. 22.

Due to a court order publication ban, police say they will not be releasing further details.

Anyone with information about Van Goor’s activities with children and youth is asked to call Victoria police at (250) 995-7654 or the Men’s Trauma Centre at (250) 381-6367 or menstrauma.com. To report anonymously, call Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

West Shore RCMP took to Twitter earlier today stating that they were on the lookout for a “vehicle of interest” but did not elaborate on why at the time.

Police are now saying they were contacted shortly after 9:00 a.m. after a 15-year-old girl was approached by an unknown man in a vehicle while walking in the 600 block of Brookside Rd in Colwood.

The man, in an older-model blue car with rust on the rear fenders, drove up to the girl and asked if she wanted to have a ride but left the area after she had ignored him, West Shore RCMP said in a news release.

The driver is described as about 60-70 years-old with rotted teeth. He was wearing a navy blue zip-up jacket and blue ballcap.

The vehicle was last seen near Latoria Road at Veterans Memorial Parkway.

“It is unknown to this date what the man’s intentions were. Police would like to speak with anyone who may have information on this man and/or vehicle,” Cst. Alex Bérubé said in a media release.

If seen, call the West Shore RCMP at 250-474-2264 or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

Figures released by the Province show that British Columbia recorded more illicit drug overdose deaths in December than ever before.

A total of 142 people died as a result of a drug overdose last month – that’s an average of nine every two days.

The staggering number was the highest ever recorded for a single month in BC. The December deaths bring the total for 2016 to 914, a staggering 80% increase in 2015’s statistics.

The year-end data show that more than half of those who died were between the ages of 30 and 49, four out of five who died were men.

Victoria, Vancouver, and Surrey had the highest number of fatal drug overdoses in the province.

The BC Coroners service did not release data on the proportion of people whose deaths were related to fentanyl; however, those figures should be available in March.

Kelly Ellard, who serving a life sentence for second-degree murder of 14-year-old Reena Virk will not be granted escorted temporary absences from prison.

Ellard was asking for the parole board’s permission to leave prison for medical appointments and parenting programs, but the two board members were split on their decision Wednesday.

She told the board the birth of her baby has calmed her, and the infant was the best therapy she could have hoped for, Canadian Press reports.

Ellard, now 34 and a new mother, was 15-years-old in November 1997 when she smashed Virk’s head against a tree and then held the Grade 9 student’s head underwater until she stopped moving.

She took responsibility for the death of the Victoria teenager nearly 20 year after the incident when she attended her first parole hearing last May.

The Parole Board says another hearing will be held for Ellard at a later date.

West Shore RCMP didn’t have to travel far to shut down Langford’s first marijuana dispensary, which opened on Monday.

Green Tree Medical Dispensary,  located directly behind the detachment,  opened in the 600-block of Granderson Road and was quickly closed by police Tuesday afternoon.

West Shore RCMP said officers conducted a compliance check at the unauthorized dispensary and they observed evidence of possible offences under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and took enforcement actions accordingly.

“There is no legal mechanism in Canada which allows for “medicinal marijuana dispensaries” or “compassion clubs” to sell marijuana to the public,” said West Shore RCMP Cst. Alex Berube.

“Businesses and/or individuals operating in contravention of the CDSA and Health Canada regulations may be subject to investigation and criminal charges in accordance with Canadian laws,” Berube added.

Langford Mayor Stew Young said the business had been warned it would be shut down and marijuana dispensaries will not be allowed in the community.

A young boy who sparked concern after he was seen alone at Mayfair mall on Friday has been identified and is safe, according to Victoria police.

A person called police concerned about the welfare of a boy they saw alone at the food court.

When they approached the child to ask if he was ok, the kid ran away through the parking lot.

VicPD sent out a media request looking for help in identifying the child on Saturday and the next day, police confirmed the boy and his parents had been identified.

VicPD says they have concluded their investigation.

A long-standing bakery in Sidney has shuttered its doors after more than 40 years of business.

The bakery was closed in October with a note posted on the door stating, “Lunn’s will close October 15, 2016, for an indefinite period for surgical procedures and recovery.”

The bakery never did reopen and on January 7, 2017, owner Robert Lunn announced on Facebook that Lunn’s would not be reopening.

“To our many loyal and valued customers, thank you for your kindness and patronage over the last forty years in Sidney. With the new year comes change and hopefully new challenges and opportunity for me, as Lunn’s will not be re-opening.”

“It has been very encouraging for me to be able to serve such a friendly and loyal clientele. I thank you once again and send you all my best for 2017 and beyond.”

Robert Lunn, a third generationThe bakery was closed in October with a note posted on the door stating, “Lunn’s will close October 15, 2016, for an indefinite period for surgical procedures and recovery.” baker, and chocolatier was the head baker for Lunn’s.

A source who asked not to be named tells Victoria Buzz  Lunn had to have major surgery which required extensive recovery time and during that period he decided he wasn’t up to the six days a week early morning grind anymore.

“As with everywhere else, magnified in Sidney, it’s tough to get kitchen help,” the source added.

Remediation work is underway on the lawn of Victoria’s courthouse to remove contaminated soil and prepare it for a new public space and a children’s playground.

Soil samples were taken from the site after the tent city homeless camp was dismantled.

Test results showed the presence of contaminants, including lead, gasoline, diesel and trace amounts of methamphetamines following the dismantling of the homeless camp.

Nine of twenty trees on the property will be removed and replaced with new trees to improve sight lines and increase public safety.

The remediation will also include the removal and replacement of the top 1.5 feet of soil.

The restoration work is expected to be completed in February.

The playground will be for children of all ages and abilities, but will also have features for adults and seniors, such as chess tables and seating benches, which will be ready for use sometime this year.

McDonald’s Canada has begun serving all-day breakfast at some of its restaurants across Canada.

The fast-food giant says having breakfast available after 10:30 a.m. was the No.1 request from consumers.

A company spokesman said McDonald’s is now testing all-day breakfast at 17 of its Canadian outlets. Those outlets include:

• 8 in the Ajax/Whitby area of Ontario.
• 3 in Montreal.
• 2 in Mississauga, Ont.;
• 1 in Bramalea, Ont.
• 2 in Langley, B.C.
• 1 in Coquitlam, B.C.

The company is celebrating its 50th anniversary in Canada this year and operates more than 1,400 restaurants from coast to coast.

McDonald’s launched all-day breakfast in the United States in the fall of 2015, and has since attributed the popularity of the morning food items for an increase in sales.

Splashdown Waterpark in Tsawwassen which “closed down permanently” last year will reopen this summer as the Big Splash Waterpark after being leased by Executive Hotels & Resorts.

Executive Hotels & Resorts, a Vancouver-based hotel chain is renovating and re-opening the popular waterpark this summer because of “popular demand.”

In addition to re-opening the waterpark, the hotel chain said it would also be opening a new boutique hotel next door to the waterpark, across from the new 1.2 million square foot Tsawwassen Mills shopping mall.

“We will be open for business this summer and look forward to welcoming back all of the waterpark’s loyal guests, as well as thousands of new guests to experience the rejuvenated Big Splash waterpark experience,” Joe Ennis, Director of Services at Executive said in a release.

The company has secured a 99-year lease from the member of the Tsawwassen First Nation who owns the land where the waterpark is located.

Some of the renovations underway at Big Splash include a new clubhouse, a new adults-only hot tub, a new sports bar, Vegas Style Cabana Rental Program, a VIP private viewing deck with DJ stand, and a new Espresso and Gelato Ba‎r.

There will also be a new beer and wine sports bar and a new Splash Cafe Grill food and beverage outlet with an all new menu.

Other additions include:

• All Newly Renovated Pools and Hot Tub
• New Kids Splash Park Equipment and theme
• New Refinishing of All Slides
• New Landscaping, Park Layout, and all new sun splash patio and umbrella furniture program for maximum sunbathing and picnic area
• New Parkwide Sound and Music System with Text Your Song Request program
• New and exciting Birthday, Group and Party Program for Park Buyouts
• Slide, Golf and Shop Program

All-day passes to the attraction will be $28 and special group rates will also be available. Admission will be free for children three-years-old and under.

The Big Splash Waterpark is also planning new slide installations for the 2018 season.