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KFC Canada has joined the growing list of restaurant chains in the country to take a stance against plastic waste.
The company announced on Tuesday that they will stop providing plastic straws and plastic bags at all of their Canadian locations, thereby eliminating 50 million straws and 10 million bags from their restaurants per year.
“KFC Canada believes in feeding people, not landfills. Reducing the volume of single use plastic within our restaurants ensures we are continuing to lessen our environmental footprint,” said Nivera Wallani, President and General Manager, KFC Canada.
“Together with our franchisees, staff and guests, we can positively affect the communities we operate in and the health and wellbeing of future generations.”
Starbucks, A&W, Subway, and 18 other Canadian restaurants made the same commitments to eliminating plastic straw waste last year.
In an announcement last month, the federal government announced a move to ban all single-use plastic products across the country by 2021.
This includes shopping bags, straws, cutlery, plates, and stir sticks.
Although it seems easier said than done, budgeting your way to things you want (like that summer vacation you’ve been after!) doesn’t have to seem so daunting; especially when you have financial gurus in your corner to help!
Facebook group Black is the New Red is a literal wealth of resources in just that – serving up their financial prowess spread across not only their over 6,000 members, they have professionals from many areas to add their expertise to the conversation with zero sales pitch.
This may sometimes be difficult in our current society, but it’s important to be honest with yourself – do you really need that new purse or pair of shoes? There could be some tough decisions you’ll have to make, but it will be worth it in the end.
2. Include your “future self” in your budget
If this isn’t something you’ve done in your previous budgeting attempts and found it wasn’t working for you – this may be why! A family of four should be putting aside a minimum of $500 per month for life’s “expected-unexpected” events.
3. Everyone needs spending money!
In order to be fair, no less than $200 per month for each adult is a good benchmark – a family of four should have $600-$1000 available for spending.
4. Make moves if you feel you’re not making “enough”
If you’re feeling like you don’t currently make enough to get by (and save while doing so!), little things like taking up a side hustle or even asking for a raise may help – it all adds up!
5. Housing is expensive, but it’s not the most expensive!
Housing gets a bad rap, but car payments and groceries are the real budget killers – they’re also two areas you are in control of, so it’s wise to put your time and energy into them as opposed to something that’s out of your hands.
6. Take advantage of free resources
Pretty Money Club is currently offering a FREE budget template and including five-day email instructional.
On top of this, the club is holding a summer course on how to make your money look pretty – and not scary! You can check out their website for more info and to sign up, and even better, you could be the lucky winner of free enrollment in the course.
Pretty Money Club’s 8 week summer course opens for enrollment July 2nd, and is offered for two payments of $119 plus tax – but find out you can win a free spot below!
** CONGRATULATIONS, Kristie Carano. You are our winner **
CONTEST
ONE lucky winner is going to win free enrollment to Pretty Money Club’s 8 week summer course on budgeting!
To enter, complete one or more of the following steps:
JOIN Black is the New Redon Facebook and comment below to let us know once you have. (1 entry)
LIKE Pretty Money Club on Facebookand comment below to let us know once you have. (1 entry)
SHARE this article on Facebook and/or Twitter. (1 entry)
The winner will be drawn on Friday, July 5th. Good luck!
What better way to kick off the month of July than three full days of family-friendly fun, delicious eats and awesome sales?
Hillside Centre’s Hottest Days of Summer event promises to be all that and more – happening the weekend of July 5th to July 7th, from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. each day, it’s literally your one-stop-shop for all things summer.
On top of the exhilarating Extreme Dual Slide (open all weekend!), there is a market on Saturday and Sunday featuring 20+ local art and craft exhibitors, fabulous festive food including candy apples, cotton candy, popcorn and snow cones, face painting for the kids PLUS kid’s activities by Canadian Tire Jumpstart and more! These activities are taking place in the parking lot located off Hillside Avenue.
Located inside the shopping centre, there will be live musical entertainment Friday evening from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., as well as on Saturday and Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Friday, July 5th also marks the beginning of Hillside’s Summer Clearance, with over 80 tables and racks loaded with great deals – this runs all of the way until Sunday, July 14th!
“This is a great time to be a student in B.C.’s education system,” said Rob Fleming, Minister of Education in a statement.
“We are investing more in classrooms than ever before, so all students have the opportunity to reach their full potential.”
According to the ministry, the upcoming school year will mark the first time that all of BC’s 60 school districts receive funding at the same time since 2006.
Portions of the funding will be allocated to specific education areas, like support for students with special needs, targeted funding for indigenious students, increased resources for rural schools, and reserved funding for additional educational assistants.
With funding for classrooms expanding, the province has also committed to increasing the number of education professionals in the system. BC plans to spend $400 million to hire nearly 4,000 new teachers, including 500 special education teachers and 190 counsellors and teacher psychologists.
To support these new classes, government has invested over $400 million annually for school districts to hire almost 4,000 new teaching positions, including 500 special education teachers and 190 more teacher psychologists and counsellors.
“An investment in education is an investment in our future, and everyone benefits when students have the best possible chance to succeed,” said Fleming.
The Inner Harbour Summer Line-Up takes place in Victoria’s beautiful Inner Harbour. The festival includes artists of various kinds, entertainers, musicians, and food vendors!
When: 10 a.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Where: Greater Victoria Harbour Authority, 1019 Wharf Street
Bring the whole family for a free afternoon of crafts, stories, games and activities! Join the Oaklands Community Association on Tuesday afternoons in July & August at Oswald Park to enjoy some fun in the sun, get active and connect with your neighbours.
Come one come all to Bolen Books’ first open mic night: a night of performances from artists in the community! Share your creative voice on stage whether it be a song, poem, short story, or just come by to support fellow creators.
Performers will have 4-5 minutes to share their work with the audience, no advance sign up necessary.
While thousands in the BC capital enjoyed Canada Day festivities, multiple fire crews and helicopters were hard at work battling a major wildfire in Saanich.
At approximately 4:30 p.m. this afternoon, reports of a wildfire near Willis Point and Durrance brought firefighters from multiple detachments to the location.
— Saanich Fire Department (@SaanichFire) July 2, 2019
According to the latest update, Saanich Fire, Central Saanich Fire, BC Wildfire Service, and CFB Esquimalt firefighters worked together for several hours to contain the blaze.
A statement from BC Minister of Agriculture Lana Popham announces that as of 3 hours ago, the fire had been reduced to half its original size and is under control.
Saanich Wildfire Update: Size of the area affected by the fire at this time is 1.5 hectares. I have been advised it's under control. Many thanks to the firefighters & emergency teams for their response. Will update as I receive info. #bcpoli@BCEmergencyMgmt@SaanichFire#dndpic.twitter.com/gpUZne0FTe
‘Twas the first day of free agency… and the Canucks were making moves!
It’s not every day you hear one of the Benn brothers is returning to beautiful British Columbia – and not just for the off-season, either.
The Vancouver Canucks were proud to announce the official signing of Jordie Benn this morning to a two-year, $4 million contract; the 31-year-old defenceman was a free agent and most recently played parts of the last three seasons with the Montreal Canadiens.
Though the “less famous” of the two, Jordie played some of six seasons alongside his brother, Dallas Stars superstar Jamie Benn.
Both Benn brothers originally hail from hometown Central Saanich, and grew up playing for local hockey club the Victoria Grizzlies.
Jordie Benn ranked third among Canadiens defencemen in scoring in the 2018-19 season, registering 22 points (5-17-22) in 81 games played. His goals, points and games played were all career-highs while his 17 assists tied a previous career-high he set in 2013-14 with the Dallas Stars.
“Jordie is an experienced defenceman who brings leadership and versatility to our team,” says Canucks General Manager Jim Benning. “His steady presence will be an example and support to our young players.”
Vancouver has been busy thus far in free agency, as this announcement came on the heels of signing another defenceman, Tyler Myers, to a 5-year $30 million contract – Myers hails from the Winnipeg Jets.
All of this makes for a very different looking core group next season, as the Canucks also bid farewell to Markus Granlund, Derrick Pouliot, Luke Schenn, and Brendan Gaunce on top of their acquisitions today.
(Living Flag/Screencap from video by @BCLegislature - Twitter)
Victoria’s 6th annual Canada Day Living Flag photo was just taken this afternoon!
Thousands of people gathered at the BC Legislature lawn on July 1st to be a part of what has been the largest Living Flag in the country for two years running.
They dressed in red and dressed in white, and stood in precisely the right spots to form the Canadian flag in celebration of our country’s 152nd birthday.
While the numbers are not yet in to determine whether or not it was the largest in the country for the third year in a row, there is an incredible time lapse video of the whole human structure coming together.
It was posted on Twitter by the BC Legislature account just minutes after the photo was taken at 2 p.m.
As if we needed any more reason to love Cold Comfort Ice Cream!
In an announcement on Instagram, one of Victoria’s favourite ice cream parlours has shared their intention to create scholarship funds for Indigenous high school students in the city from sales made on Canada Day.
For every patron who brings their own reusable cup for their ice cream purchase between 12 p.m. and 6 p.m. on July 1st, all sales proceeds will be put towards building these scholarships.
This initiative by Cold Comfort was first launched last year on Canada Day, allowing the business to present three local Indigenous students with $1,000 scholarships each upon graduation.
“Cold Comfort would like to acknowledge that we have been working on the traditional Lkwungen territory of the Songhees and Esquimalt people for the past 9 years,” reads their post.
“Moving forward in the spirit of reconciliation, we would like to invite you to join us once again in creating more scholarships for Indigenous high school students in our community.”
The business will also be accepting extra donations for the scholarships via email transfer at autumn@coldcomfort.ca.
For those who don’t know, Cold Comfort produces small batches of flavourful locally made ice cream that is available in organic dairy, dairy free, and vegan options.
Head over ASAP!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BzT10j7l4aI/
Cold Comfort donates sales proceeds to Indigenous student scholarships
For the second year in a row, Victoria Buzz will be livestreaming the annual inner harbour Canada Day fireworks show on our Facebook page.
This year, we’re teaming up with our videography squad over at Roll.Focus. Productions, to bring you crystal clear, high-def coverage of the show, straight from the water at the brand new Victoria International Marina.
To hype you up for the big event, we’re also going to be livestreaming the “Future Oceans Fashion Show” event – which highlights designers who use repurposed ocean plastics to make wearable art – happening at the Marina prior to the fireworks.
So if you can’t make it downtown because of traffic, or you have the kids for the night, or your dog ate your outfit, never fear!
Just tune in to Victoria Buzz for coverage of the spectacular Canada Day fireworks show, starting at 10:20 p.m. tonight.
It’s not always easy to share the road with pedestrians, cyclists, skateboarders, and the occasional horse.
But a case of aggressive graffiti targeting cyclists may have taken the road rage a step too far.
Photos posted on Facebook by user Keith Greig captured phrases like “Bikers fuck off!!” and “No bikes” spray painted on the road on Lochside Trail, north of Island View Road.
While many of those who saw the photos responded with disdain for the taggers, others shared their stories of being forced off the road by persistent drivers.
On the opposite side, others complained about cyclists who ride abreast rather than single file, leaving no room for drivers to pass through.
There is currently no word on whether the CRD or Central Saanich RCMP have been informed of these tags.
Victoria Buzz has reached out to both organizations for information.
Health Canada has issued a general recall for certain Apple MacBook Pro laptops as of last week.
The recalled laptops pose a fire hazard to users as their batteries have a tendency to overheat.
Products affected include certain 15-inch MacBook Pro with 15.4 inch (diagonal) display, 2.2-2.5 GHz processors, 256 GB-1 TB solid state storage, two Thunderbolt 2 ports, two USB 3 ports, and one HDMI port.
To determine whether your laptop is a part of this recall, check your computer’s serial number at this website.
According to Health Canada the recalled units were sold mainly between September 2015 and February 2017.
While no injuries have been reported in Canada, there have thus far been five reports of minor burns and one report of smoke inhalation from these products in the US.
Approximately 26,000 units of the affected product were sold in Canada and around 432,000 were sold in the United States.
Those who report their laptop as one of the recalled versions will receive a new battery from Apple, free of charge.
This Canada Day, release your inner patriot by supporting artists and researchers in their quest to clean up our oceans!
For a combined Grand Opening and Canada Day celebration, the Victoria International Marina is hosting an evening of live entertainment, a unique eco-friendly fashion show, and a silent auction on a boat, all culminating in a front row seat to the annual Inner Harbour fireworks show.
Enjoy stunning waterfront views as you take in a lively evening of performances by the Nanaimo Contemporary Ballet Company and a jazz solo by Kristina Helene.
These skilful displays of artistry serve as an appetizer to the main event: a Future Oceans themed fashion show, in which models emerge off the Ascente superyacht and onto the runway.
A commitment to cleaning the oceans
Each of the ten fashion designers showcased at this event were challenged to meet two criteria:
Make a powerful artistic statement about the state of our oceans using wearable art pieces made of repurposed ocean plastic (or ocean debris), and
Promise to make a shift in their fashion design careers by launching their first eco-friendly fashionable lines.
The evening’s entertainment will be complemented by light refreshments and drinks served at regular intervals.
The entire event is not only a celebration of Canada Day and the marina’s grand opening wrapped into one, but it also acts as a fundraiser for the Ocean Legacy Foundation.
“Those are our heroes. We’re championing projects for them because we believe in the work that they’re doing,” says Catherine Larose of Natural Talent Alliance.
“They’re not just cleaning plastic, they’re creating a circular economy by cleaning, sorting, recycling, repurposing, and then selling plastics back into the economy. That’s the kind of thing we believe all organizations should be working towards, so that plastic waste doesn’t end up in landfills.”
Another aspect of the fundraising features a silent auction that will take place on the Prince of Whales whale watching boat docked at the marina.
The evening will be rounded out with a spectacular view of the Canada Day fireworks in downtown Victoria – all attendees basically have a front row seat!
Don’t forget to grab tickets while they’re still available.
Where: Victoria International Marina, 1 Cooperage Pl
Admission: Tickets are $60 – $350 available at this website. $60 – Entry level tickets with standing room that gives you access to the waterfront lounge, all live entertainment and great view of the fashion show from balcony of marina
$150 – Seated ticket down on the docks
$350 – VIP seated ticket prime seating on the docks and drink token included.
There’s something for everybody this weekend, from Canada Day activities to city baseball and soccer games to the Sidney Sidewalk Sale & Street Festival, and so much more.
Without further ado, enjoy your three-day weekend with these 24 things to do in and around Victoria this Canada Day long weekend.
Kick off your Canada Day long weekend with a block party at Lakeside Village and Thetis Lakeside in View Royal!
In the early afternoon visitors can look forward to live music, a bouncy castle with slides, a magic show, balloon animals, a Grilled to the Mac food truck, raffle draws (with proceeds going towards the Sarah Beckett Memorial Playground), condo tours, free swag, and more!
When: Saturday, June 29th, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
The music festival runs all weekend, with headliners including Snoop Dogg, Incubus, Sublime With Rome, Smash Mouth, Black Pistol Fire, Five Alarm Funk, and more.
Come join over 50,000 people and visit the Inner Harbour this Canada Day long weekend to take in the sights and sounds of over 130 talented artists, street performers, musicians, vendors, and food cart operators!
When: Saturday, Sunday, & Monday, June 29th, 30th & July 1st, 10:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Come support the nature conservation and the Victoria HarbourCats as they battle it out against the Kelowna Falcons this saturday!
For $20 spectators can grab a VIP ticket that lets them on the VIP deck where they can meet artist Robert Bateman and watch the game from picnic bench seating. The $20 ticket goes towards reconnect people to nature through the lens of art.
When: Saturday, June 29th, 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
If you’re in the market for a new tattoo you won’t want to miss Carbon Ink Collective’s second ever stick-and-poke flash day event!
The flash event is summer themed and also acts a great opportunity to book a bigger piece with the artists. The event will be held in Fernwood with the exact address available via text for privacy purposes. Contact information will be posted on Saturday. All pieces will be priced between $40 – $120 and is available for 18+ only.
When: Saturday, June 29th, Booking begins at 10:00 a.m.
Where: Exact location will be posted online here on Saturday.
A memorial service is being held for Tai Caverhill, a 13-year-old tragically died on a field trip near Sooke last week.
Tai is remembered as a loving young man who cared for his family and community.
“His kindness, loving, and caring for others significantly touched many groups of friends and families,” reads a GoFundMe campaign started in his memory. “His last words to his mum before he left to Camp Bernard was ‘take care of Lanna and Daddy for me’”.
When: Saturday, June 29th | Viewing from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., Service begins at 2:00 p.m.
Where: McCall Gardens Funeral and Cremation Service, 4665 Falaise Drive
Head down to the Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary for a fun-filled educational day starring turtles!
Learn about Victoria’s upcoming turtle nesting season, play education games, build turtle-related crafts, and visit the nature sanctuary’s biggest celebrity, Wrinkles the live Western Painted Turtle! Admission for the day is by donation.
When: Sunday, June 30th, 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Where: Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary, 3873 Swan Lake Road
It’s time to kick off your summer in style with Sidney’s annual Sidewalk Sale & Street Festival!
This year’s festival promises to be the biggest yet, with three stages for live music and entertainment, four themed photo booths, a beer garden and food vendors on site, and a heck of a lot more!
Head down to Beacon Hill park for the Greater Victoria Concert Band’s (GVCB) season closer!
The GVCB is made up of over 100 community members aged 19-92 in four different bands. While the ensembles may vary in skill level they all share one common trait, the enjoyment of music!
When: Sunday, June 30th, 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Where: Cameron Bandshell at Beacon Hill Park, Chestnut Row
Ring in Canada Day with a range of celebrations in Sidney! Get ready for a pancake breakfast, a parade, a family fun fair, a ‘build-a-boat race’, and more.
Head down to the Sooke River Campgrounds for a family-friendly event full of kids’ games, live music, a magic show, karaoke, bingo, fireworks, and more! Just make sure to bring your own chairs or blankets!
Come celebrate Canada Day along the Gorge Waterway with a pancake breakfast, family parade, stage entertainment, classic cars, kids’ activities, canoe rides, buskers corner, street hockey, Strawberry Tea, a Canada Day market, and more!
Enjoy a musical Canada Day at an all ages community night just in front of the Cobblestone Pub in Cobble Hill!
The day will feature performances by four live bands with ticket proceeds going towards Victoria’s summer Music in the Park program to help support music in the community all season long!
It’s time to get creative and paint your masterpiece at this special Paint Nite at the Fernwood Inn tonight!
Create a ‘Splash of Serenity’ with your artistic guide, Marina, and take home your beautiful painting when the night’s over. Save 25% on admission when you use the code ILOVEPAINT at checkout.
One of Victoria Pride’s signature events, the Memorial Drag Ball Game, is returning to the Victoria West Park this year!
First launched in 1993, the drag baseball game now attracts up to a thousand spectators and players who let go of differences, embrace absurdity, and just want to have some baseball fun! Everyone is welcome to play! Simply choose whether you’d like to play for The Queens or The Kings and pick a name for your drag persona.
Come ring our nation’s birthday at Upstairs Cabaret this Monday!
Located right on the Inner Harbour, you can enjoy the Canada Day fireworks from Upstairs’ main floor in their VIP booths which feature private windows!
Canada’s 152nd birthday is almost upon us, and we all know what that means: fireworks!
Several organizations around Victoria will be putting on spectacular fireworks displays this year, including shows in Sidney, Sooke, and of course, the downtown Inner Harbour.
To help you schedule your long weekend plans, here’s a guide to the 5 major fireworks displays happening in and around Victoria:
1. Butchart Gardens
Ring in Canada’s birthday at the beautiful Butchart Gardens and take in a dazzling fireworks show that features both aerial and ground displays, beautifully choreographed to show tunes. Click hereto see their full summer fireworks schedule.
When: Saturday, June 29th, 10:15 p.m.
Where: Butchart Gardens, 800 Benvenuto Avenue
2. Victoria HarbourCats Fireworks
Take in a Victoria HarbourCats vs. Kelowna Falcons baseball game, followed by a lengthy fireworks display right on the outfield at Royal Athletic Park directly after the match!
The game is expected to run from 6:35 p.m. to 10:15 p.m., with the fireworks show launching right afterwards.
When: Sunday, June 30th, after the ball game at 6:35 p.m.
Where: Royal Athletic Park, 1014 Caledonia Avenue
3. Inner Harbour Fireworks Display
After celebrating Canada Day downtown with an exciting lineup of live music and family-friendly events, make sure to stick around for the spectacular annual fireworks display along the Inner Harbour!
When: Monday, July 1st, 10:20 p.m.
Where: Inner Harbour
4. Sidney Fireworks Extravaganza
Sidney’s annual fireworks extravaganza will kick off Canada Day celebrations that begins at 5 p.m.! The day will include food trucks, cultural performances, music, a formal opening ceremony, and more!
When: Sunday, June 30th, 10:15 p.m.
Where: Beacon Park, 9801 Seaport Place
5. Sooke River Fireworks
Head down to the Sooke River Campgrounds for a family-friendly event full of kids’ games, live music, inflatables, a magic show, karaoke, bingo, and more that ends in spectacular fireworks display!
When: Monday, July 1st, 10:15 p.m.
Where: Sooke River Campgrounds, 2259 Phillips Road
Tune in as Victoria joins hundreds of cities around the world in hosting its very own Pride parade starting at 11 a.m. at the corner of Pandora and Government.
Can’t miss it!
As always, thousands of people of all ages in more than 100 colourful entries are expected to march through downtown Victoria in an expression of solidarity and, yes, pride for the LGBTQ2S+ community.
They’ll be marching south on Government, turn west on Belleville and south on Oswego before turning west at Simcoe. The route then ends at Simcoe and Montreal St before attendees head over to MacDonald Park for the Pride Festival.
This exuberant event is not one you’ll want to miss no matter where you are!
So with the help of our videography squad over at Roll.Focus. Productions, we’re bringing you crystal clear, high-def coverage of this year’s Victoria Pride Parade straight to your Facebook feed!
This livestream is made possible by a host of incredible sponsors. Show them some love by clicking the links below:
In the most recent update on the incident at Ruth King Elementary School on Wednesday night, West Shore RCMP have revealed that one youth is in the hospital recovering from knife wounds.
According to RCMP, an altercation broke out between two groups of youths at the elementary school yards during the late evening hours of June 26th.
When police arrived at the scene, they found that one teenager had knife wounds as a result, and had to be hospitalized.
Investigators believe two groups of youths were walking on Goldstream Ave between Peatt Rd and Matson Rd, and crossed paths between the hours of 8 p.m. and 11:30 p.m.
At this time, RCMP are asking any residences and businesses in the area that have surveillance cameras to review their footage, and report to police if their cameras captured the interaction.
The West Shore RCMP Serious Crimes Unit is also requesting that anyone with information regarding this incident who hasn’t already spoken to police, call them and speak to investigators.
They can be reached through their non-emergency line at 250-474-2264. You can also report anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
The new Johnson Street Bridge (flying.niimbus/Instagram)
An unidentified hydraulic issue is preventing Victoria’s 1-year-old Johnson St Bridge from lifting into its open position, according to the City of Victoria.
The issue was discovered by city staff during routine maintenance on Thursday afternoon and is currently under investigation.
According to the city, engineering crews, system designers, and PCL Construction staff are working to identify and fix the issue which appears to have originated in the hydraulic system.
Currently, authorities are unsure of when the bridge will be at full operation again.
“Right now, our staff are working with PCL and system designers to get the system back online as quickly as possible,” said Victoria Head of Engagement, Bill Eisenhauer.
“We don’t have a specific return to service start time but we suspect that we will know what our plan will be by this afternoon for today and the weekend due to final system tests.”
In the meantime, while the bridge is fixed in its closed position large marine vessels have been unable to enter or leave the Inner Harbour.
“We’re working very directly with the Harbour Master and marine operators to keep them informed on progress and what plans will be,” added Eisenhauer.
Meanwhile, the bridge remains fully open to vehicle, pedestrian, and cyclist traffic.
What: Come join the 50,000+ people who explore the Inner Harbour during Canada Day long weekend to take in the sights and sounds of over 130 talented artists, street performers, musicians, vendors, and food cart operators.
What: Come celebrate Canada Day along the Gorge Waterway with a pancake breakfast, family parade, stage entertainment, classic cars, kids’ activities, canoe rides, buskers corner, street hockey, Strawberry Tea, a Canada Day market, and more!
What: Ring in Canada Day with a range of celebrations in Sidney! Get ready for a pancake breakfast, a parade, a family fun fair, a ‘build-a-boat race’, and more.
What: Head down to the Sooke River Campgrounds for a family-friendly event full of kids’ games, live music, a magic show, karaoke, bingo, fireworks, and more! Just make sure to bring your own chairs or blankets!
What: Come celebrate Canada’s birthday with FREE admission and birthday cake at Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Sites! Features also include food vendors, a bouncy castle, and historical programming throughout the day.
When: Monday, July 1st, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Where: Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Sites, 603 Fort Rodd Hill Road
56-year-old William Earl Talbott II from SeaTac, Washington has been found guilty of viciously murdering a young Saanich couple who were in the U.S. for an overnight trip in 1987.
According to US news sources, a jury in Snohomish County Superior Court deliberated for several days before finding Talbott guilty of aggravated murder in the deaths of 18-year-old Tanya Van Cuylenborg and her boyfriend, 20-year-old Jay Cook.
The two Oak Bay High School graduates borrowed a van from Jay Cook’s father to pick up furnace parts for him, and headed to Port Angeles on November 18th, 1987 via the Coho ferry.
They were last seen in the Bremerton-Seattle area, and were reported missing on November 20th, 1987.
On November 24th, Tanya van Cuylenborg’s body was discovered in a ditch on a rural road near Alger in Skagit County, about 20 kilometres south of Bellingham. She was found naked from the waist down and then shot in the head.
On November 26th, 1987, Jay Cook’s body was found under a bridge near Monroe, Washington. He had been beaten with rocks and strangled to death with twine and two red dog collars.
(Jay Cook, 20, and Tanya van Cuylenborg, 18)
Gruesome details
At the time of the initial investigation, authorities found semen, blood, and handprints left by the suspect on Cuylenborg’s clothing and the couple’s van – however they were not able to match these pieces of evidence to a suspect.
The question of who committed these heinous crimes remained a mystery for decades, until 2018 when a genealogist at a DNA lab in Virginia used the public genealogy database to find distant relatives of the person who left the DNA.
By using cutting edge technology, they were able to determine its source, and use DNA phenotyping to create and release sketches of what the suspect may look like.
Within a month, tese breakthroughs led police to identify and arrest William Talbott.
At the time of the killings, Talbott was 24 year olds and living close to where Cook’s body was later found.
Despite Vancouver Island experiencing a drier than average June all month, Victoria saw a record-breaking amount of rainfall pour across the city on Thursday.
According to Environment Canada, the capital city received a total of 20.2 millimetres of rain in just one day, accounting for over two thirds of the entire rainfall total for June.
The 20+ millimetres of rain more than doubles the previous record for June 27th in prior years, with the previous record measuring only 9.7 millimetres set in 1955.
While the city saw plenty of rain yesterday, Victoria is expected to fall short of the average amount of rainfall for June.
“[Victoria received] roughly 29 milimetres for the whole month, and we got 20 milimetres yesterday,” said Environment Canada meteorologist, Bobby Sekhon.
“So we just made up for it yesterday because on average the community sees about 30.6 millimetres [in June]. If we hadn’t gotten that much yesterday we wouldn’t have been that close to that average.”
According to the weather agency, the rainfall was caused by an upper low cold system that moved through the island.
This unpredictable type of weather system is common for this time of year, according to Sekhon, and partially explained why the city saw bursts of showery precipitation rather than a more constant spread which is common in the fall and winter.
“July is usually the driest month of the year in Victoria so we’re glad to have gotten this precipitation at the end of June,” said Sekhon.
“It doesn’t look like we have a whole lot of rain expected for July.”
The result? Canada’s largest ‘living flag’ for the third year in a row!
The tradition is coming back for this year’s July 1st celebrations, and we’re trying to attain that epic title again, which is why you can reserve your spot well in advance.
All you have to do is gather a group of 10 or more friends and you’ll be given priority placement in the flag, which guarantees skipping the line for a red and/or white T-shirt. Click here to register.
Alternatively, you can also just head over to Legislature lawn on July 1st and enter the individual t-shirt line for a chance to be in the living flag.
The Living Flag photo will take place at 2 p.m. but everyone must arrive by 1:15 p.m. to participate.
As VicPD’s Major Crime Unit continues to investigate the massive downtown Plaza Hotel fire that gutted the heritage building in May, they have now confirmed that the blaze was a result of arson.
On May 6th, a devastating fire broke out at the historic Plaza Hotel building located at 603 Pandora Avenue.
The large fire took days for firefighters to extinguish and caused significant smoke damage to nearby properties, prompting the City of Victoria to issue an air quality warning and forcing some businesses to close their doors for several days – some for much longer.
While investigators have confirmed that the cause of the fire is arson, police say they are not releasing further details at this time to protect the integrity of the ongoing investigation.
One person remains missing
Nearly two months after the building’s destruction, police are still searching for the its caretaker, Mike Draeger, who has not been seen since the fire took place.
Police say that he was not located after a thorough search of the debris and remains unaccounted for.
VicPD are still searching for Draeger at this time and have released a new photo of the caretaker which shows him clean shaven, unlike previously released images.
According to Draeger’s former coworker Wayne Kalnciems, the caretaker was approximately 60-years-old, weighed between 180 and 200 lbs, stood roughly 6 feet tall, and had short grey hair.
“He was a pretty private person,” Kalnciems told Victoria Buzz back on May 15th.
“He pretty much kept to himself a lot of the time. I wouldn’t say he didn’t have any friends but he was a pretty private person.”
Mike Draeger was a maintenance worker/handyman at the century-old establishment, and once the bar shut down in 2013, he assumed the role of caretaker.
A trailer that reportedly belonged to him was located behind the building, and a van was parked out front, but there were no signs of anyone being in those vehicles.
Earlier in June, Victoria City Council approved the demolition of the remainder of the Plaza Hotel structure.
The council issued a Heritage Alteration Permit to the building’s owners, which allow them to replace the historic structure with a new building so long as it includes elements of the original hotel, like two round polished granite columns that flanked the original entry.
Initial designs for the site are expected to be presented to council in fall 2019.
The beginning of the Canada Day long weekend has arrived!
There’s plenty of activities to take part in today, including the beginning of Laketown Shakedown, a Pride celebration on the Breakwater Barge, community videogaming, and more!
Without further ado here are 5 things to do in and around Victoria today.
This year’s Laketown Shakedown festival has arrived!
The music festival kicks off today, with headliners including Snoop Dogg, Incubus, Sublime With Rome, Smash Mouth, Black Pistol Fire, Five Alarm Funk, and more.
Kick off your Canada Day long weekend by visiting the Canada Day Market down in Victoria’s Inner Harbour tonight!
Over 50,000 people will visit the Inner Harbour this Canada Day long weekend to take in the sights and sounds of over 130 talented artists, street performers, musicians, vendors, and food cart operators.
Before the downtown Victoria becomes packed with activity and long-weekend revelers, come check out two free historical tours of the scenic Inner Harbour!
Supported by the Maritime Museum of British Columbia, two free historical tours will take you through the storied history of Victoria’s local waters.
When: 12:40 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Where: Guests meet at the Downtown Community Centre, 755 Pandora Avenue
Come celebrate Pride month with the Breakwater Barge tonight!
This June marks the 50th anniversary of the decriminalization of homosexuality in Canada, and the Barge plans to celebrate love, community, and pride with live music from Rocksteady and drinks from local breweries. Donations from tonight will also go to Victoria Pride Society and Living Without Disguises.
Head down to Ground Control Cafe for a fun filled day of video gaming hosted by Boring Victoria.
Bring your Laptop, your Nintendo Switch, or other gaming devices and meet uup with other players who love the same games you do. The community gaming night will also feature competitions.
Exactly a year after the Greater Victoria School Board voted to upgrade the historic Victoria High School building, the provincial government has announced approval for funding.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Education, the province will be investing $77.1 million for seismic upgrades and a 200-seat expansion of Vic High.
The upgrade will also include a new neighbourhood learning centre for child care programs.
To meet the costs of the project, the Greater Victoria School District will also be contributing $2.6 million.
“Our community has long been waiting for this project to move forward, and I’m excited to know it’s being done in the best way possible,” said Carole James, MLA for Victoria-Beacon Hill.
“For over 100 years, Victoria High School has served families in our community. Today’s announcement of a safer school, more classrooms and new child care spaces will better support learners for decades to come.”
Construction on the upgrades and expansion at Vic High is expected to begin in August 2020. Students will be re-located to a renovated SJ Willis Education Centre while the project is underway.
The work is expected to be completed by September 2022.
Great news for Vic High! I was thrilled be Acting Mayor for today’s announcement for seismic upgrades and preserving our historic Vic High building – making room for 200 additional highschool students, as well as a neighbourhood learning centre with new #childcare spaces! #yyjpic.twitter.com/I5PWWel4f5
Exterior elements, such as terracotta, granite and brick masonry, will be retained, along with interior features, including the marble and art glass in the main entrance and lobby, and the painted wood panels and art glass in auditorium/balcony.
“This investment is truly remarkable and I’m very thankful to the Province for stepping up and getting things done,” said Lisa Helps, mayor, City of Victoria.
“The approach they’re taking shows they’ve really listened to the community. Safety is always the number 1 priority for students, but I know this heritage building is very special to the city and all the families who’ve had it as part of their lives.”
Located at 1260 Grant Street, Vic High opened on May 1, 1914, and currently has a capacity of 850 students.
West Shore RCMP are investigating a break and enter in Metchosin in which a number of firearms were stolen from the residence.
Police believe the break-in occurred between the evening hours of Sunday, June 23rd and the morning of June 24th in a residence near the intersection of Kangaroo Rd and Rocky Point Rd.
An array of firearms were stolen from a safe within the residence, including 8 long guns and 1 hand gun.
According to Cst. Nancy Saggar, the owner of the property had all the necessary legal permits for the guns.
Investigators ask that anyone who has information about this crime contact West Shore RCMP at 250-474-2264.
You can also report anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Some major changes are about to take place in Vancouver Island’s media world.
According to a report by Puget Sound Radio, CHEK News has recently hired CTV Vancouver Island journalist/news anchor Joe Perkins.
Perkins has been working with CTV since 2011, and has also become a highly recognized personality on the island as host of the Noon Show on CFAX 1070 radio station.
While Perkins declined to comment, his profile can no longer be found on the CTV Vancouver Island website.
At the same time, CHEK News has removed the author profile of their anchor Ben O’Hara Byrne, triggering rumours that he will no longer be hosting the channel’s 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. news during the week.
O’Hara Byrne could not be reached for comment in time for publication.
Attendees of the Big Gay Dog Walk are invited to gather at the Dallas Road Off Leash dog area for a big group dog walk!
Mingle with friends, play some games, strut your style, and show off your tricks – again that applies to both humans and fur-babies, of course!
And yes, you are welcome even if you don’t have a doggie companion of your own.
This event is one of several hosted by the Victoria Pride Society during Pride Week, in the days leading up to the 25th annual pride parade and festival.
A GoFundMe account has been created to cover expenses for the family of a toddler who was tragically killed on Tuesday, June 25th.
The child, identified by friends and family as Wilder Kevin World, died after he was run over by a vehicle in the driveway of his residence on Maynard Avenue in Cobble Hill.
Nanaimo RCMP is seeking public assistance in their search for missing 14-year-old Donovan Williams.
Williams has not been seen or heard from since June 20th and given his age, his caregivers are extremely worried for his well-being.
He is described as a non-white male, 5’5″ tall, weighing 130 lbs, with a short “Afro-style” haircut.
The picture provided to RCMP is approximately one year old, and a recent clothing description was not available.
According to police, Williams is known to frequent the Woodgrove Centre and the food court, but searches of the area have not yielded any results.
Anyone who has information of Williams’ whereabouts is asked to contact Nanaimo RCMP at 250-754-2345. If you wish to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at www.nanaimocrimestoppers.com or call 1-800-222-8477.
UPDATE: West Shore RCMP have confirmed that Serious Crimes Unit is investigating reports of an aggravated assault at Ruth King Elementary School.
While specific details were not revealed, RCMP reports that the assault took place at the Ruth King Elementary School grounds, located at 2764 Jacklin Road during the late evening hours of June 26th.
“The investigation is in the very early stages and many resources have been deployed to assist investigators,” said Cst. Nancy Saggar.
“We will provide updates to the public and the media as the investigation advances.”
Earlier: Investigators were seen on site at Ruth King Elementary School after online sources say a stabbing took place last night, June 26th.
A section of the field at the elementary school has been cordoned off by police tape.
However, students are still being allowed to go to school, after the district stated that the incident overnight had nothing to do with the school or its students in any way.
A large police presence was reported on the premises of Ruth King Elementary School last night after sources say a group of young people were involved in a brawl.
Unconfirmed reports state that a stabbing took place on the field, however SD62 has released no information at this time.
(7-year-old BC avalanche super-dog, Henry, takes on Victoria/Photo by Daniel Ferguson)
Over the past two days, Victoria played host to some extraordinary, heroic visitors.
Patrons of Royal BC Museum’s IMAX theatre could be seen huddled around the entrance as rescue teams from the Canadian Avalanche Rescue Dog Association talked about their work and gave people a chance to pet and take photos with their K9 partners.
Among them were the two most sought after members, Henry and his human handler/trainer, Ian Bunbury – stars of the latest IMAX documentary, ‘Superpower Dogs’.
Henry (in his dog-sized vest and goggles) and Ian were in town on June 25th and 26th to promote the release of the movie.
‘Superpower Dogs’ follows the stories of 6 incredible dogs around the world who, along with their human partners, work hard everyday to save lives in several unique ways.
This 45-minute documentary has been 3 years in the making, and will be available for public viewing at IMAX Victoria starting Friday, June 28th. It has currently aired in 60 cities across 6 countries.
The 3D movie showcased on IMAX Victoria’s 6-storey high screen brings the audience closer than ever before to these four-legged superheroes, through striking imagery and descriptive – and at times, comedic – narration by none other than Captain America (Chris Evans) himself.
By the end of the film’s premiere screening, not a single dry eye was to be found.
Anyone who has ever visited the snow-capped mountains of interior BC knows that disaster can strike at any second, and usually without warning.
Luckily, Ian Bunbury and his trusty Border Collie avalanche rescue dog Henry are on the job and can be airlifted to wherever skiers and snowboarders fall prey to the wrath of the slopes.
“Statistics show that if you’re not found within the first 30 minutes [of an avalanche], your chances of survival drop by around 90%,” Bunbury told Victoria Buzz, while his K9 partner napped quietly on a couch nearby.
So to keep accidents from taking as few lives as possible, 7-year-old Henry works and trains everyday as one of the 35 avalanche rescue dogs at the Canadian Avalanche Rescue Dog Association (CARDA).
His story is the first one featured in ‘Superpower Dogs’, when the opening scene pans over the K9 cuddled in the arms of his handler as they hang on to a ladder suspended from a helicopter.
This breathtaking moment leads into a safe descent after which Henry embarks on his assignment du jour, and therein the story begins.
(Henry and Ian share a moment/Photo by Brishti Basu)
Occupational Hazards
While for the most part, conducting search and rescue missions is an incredibly fun and rewarding experience for Henry, the job does not come without its occupational hazards.
In fact, the daring Collie incurred one of the most common injuries for avalanche rescue dogs during the filming of ‘Superpower Dogs’ itself.
“We rode up the peak chair while filming and then took off [skiing] down an easy trail – we’ve been down this trail a hundred times – and he got cut on one of my skis,” said Bunbury.
“Fortunately we have a really good vet who patched him up and put a white bandage on him [to match his fur] during the rest of the shoot.”
Of course, the jobs of the five other dogs featured in the movie are no less dangerous and equally essential.
Some seek illegal poachers in the heart of Africa, while others save countless lives after natural and man-made disasters.
Still others work tirelessly to safeguard the coast of Italy, and one legendary dog heals humans with special needs by peering into their souls.
‘Superpower Dogs’ follows each dog and handler to showcase their unique roles that are often taken for granted.
While the movie takes viewers all around the world, its writer and director reserves a special place in his heart for Victoria, where his parents currently live.
Over the course of his career, Daniel Ferguson has produced, written, and directed numerous acclaimed documentaries including ‘Last of the Elephant Men’ and ‘Jerusalem’.
One of his areas of expertise lies in documenting the stories and lives of wild animals, and Superpower Dogs is Ferguson’s first foray into the world of canines.
“To be honest, I didn’t know if I wanted to make this movie because I always want to do something different that has never been done before,” said Ferguson.
“For me the hook was dogs who can fight crime and save lives, which sounds like a gimmick but what I realized is that the real superheroes are Ian and Henry combined.”
“The right human and the right dog can achieve great things.”
Luckily, he was also able to find and recruit the right human when it came to narrating the film.
Hollywood actor Chris Evans, best known for his role as Captain America in the popular Marvel franchise of the same name, is the voice of Henry as he goes through the stories of all six superdogs.
“It’s a dream pairing,” said Ferguson, about Evans joining the ‘Superpower Dogs’ team. “First of all he’s a dog nut, he’s always posting about dogs.”
“He fell in love with Henry and was totally engaged with narrating the film. [Evans] was more into Henry than anyone else in the room, and really gravitated towards that dog.”
Captain America’s love for dogs has clearly been infectious for the director of the movie.
While he and his family currently do not have a canine member, Ferguson tells Victoria Buzz that he does see dogs in their future after working on ‘Superpower Dogs’.
You can catch the movie in IMAX 3D starting this Friday!
The Sidney Street Markets is officially back for its 20th summer season!
Come see why nearly 5,000 people attend the outdoor market, which is packed with local food vendors, live music, unique merchandise, and more. Every Thursday until the end of August, the town of Sidney will close down Beacon Ave to vehicle traffic to make room for walkers and the dozens of outdoor vendors.
Entertainment Village presents Comedy Coalition – Live at the Mint!
Victoria’s A-Team of Improvised Comedy, Entertainment Village, are back at the Mint to bring hilarious improvised skits. Special guest Mikey Dubs will also be performing his signature stand-up comedy which will inspire some of the improv scenes!
Saanich residents and Vancouver Island community members as a whole are invited to join Saanich and Gulf Islands MP Elizabeth May for a discussion at the University of Victoria today.
Feel free to speak about any issues you feel affect the community.
When: 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Where: University of Victoria – Bob Wright Building – Room B150, 3800 Finnerty Road
Head down to the Capital Ballroom for the Victoria premiere of Hedwig and The Angry Inch!
Hedwig and The Angry Inch tells the tale of how a “slip of a girlyboy” from communist East Berlin becomes the “internationally ignored song stylist” known as Hedwig after a botched sex change operation. Hedwig examines her quest for her other half, for love, and ultimately her identity. Featuring a groundbreaking rock musical score by Stephen Trask.
With the weather heating up its time to check out Esquimalt’s huge outdoor Farmer’s Market!
The market helps support local growers and producers who use environmentally sound farming practices and helps build connections within the community. And of course, the food is tasty, local, and fresh!
There are fewer Airbnb and VRBO listings in Victoria today than there were 6 months ago, as a result of stricter regulations enforced by City of Victoria bylaws.
After the first six months of enforcing their new short-term rental regulations, the city has reported that there are 1,268 active listings as of May 2019, compared to 1,440 listings in December 2018 which is when the regulation began.
Operators complying with the new laws have obtained business licenses. People are eligible to obtain these licenses if they’re renting out a principal residence or if they own a unit where short-term accommodation was a permitted use, or a “grandfathered” property.
“Currently 675 short-term rentals are licensed in the City of Victoria, compared to 528 licensed short-term rentals in 2018,” reads a statement from the City.
These measures were introduced in order to increase housing options and affordability in the municipality.
The rental vacancy rate has seen a slight increase from 0.8% in 2017 to 1.1% in 2018, as a result of the construction of new rental buildings, with 1,269 new rental units built between 2014 and 2018.
A brand new $4.2 million Children’s Development Centre is coming to Saanich, according to the BC government.
The multi-million dollar facility is being built to replace the current Children’s Development Centre located in Cordova Bay, which was found to be below modern seismic safety standards back in 2018.
The centre offers an Alternate Learning Program that supports elementary and middle school students who have difficulty learning in traditional school settings.
Students who attend the centre take part in a 20-week “school experience” that is designed to foster social and emotional growth and help prepare children for reintegration into neighbourhood schools.
“Programs at the Children’s Development Centre have made positive, impactful changes in the lives of countless students throughout our community,” said Lana Popham, MLA for Saanich South in a statement.
“A brand new, safe facility is a welcome addition to Saanich, and I’m thrilled to see it being improved so it can continue to give our students the supports they need.”
The new centre will feature two educational programs in one modern building, one for children in kindergarten to Grade 5, and one for students from Grades 6 to 8.
Construction of the building is scheduled to begin in spring 2020 and is expected to be ready for students in September 2021.
The construction timing is designed to allow current students to remain in the existing facility while the new one is being built.
In total, the project is expected to cost approximately $4.2 million, with the BC government providing $3.7 million and the Saanich Board of Education contributing $500,000.
One of Vancouver Island’s largest music festivals, Laketown Shakedown, is kicking off this Friday for its star-studded three-day run!
Laketown Shakedown is an all-ages music festival set on the expansive Laketown Ranch near Lake Cowichan.
Musical headliners for this year include hip-hop legend Snoop Dogg, American rock band Incubus, ska/punk band Sublime with Rome, All Star’s Smash Mouth, and many more.
Festival goers can expect the usual event fare, like food vendors, beverage gardens, showers, and plenty of water stations, plus attendees are welcome to camp on-site and bring their own food and alcohol
The third annual Laketown Shakedown starts this Canada Day long weekend, from June 28th to 30th. Tickets can be purchased online here.
Without further ado, here is the full lineup for Laketown Shakedown 2019
Snoop Dogg | Incubus | Sublime with Rome | Smash Mouth | Black Pistol Fire | Jesse Roper | Five Alarm Funk | DJ Nu-Mark | Stickybuds | Skiitour | Grandson | The Sorority | Goldfish | The Boom Booms | Louise Burns | DJ Murge | Bend Sinister | Illvis Freshly | The Faceplants | Mt Doyle | Phono Pony | Plus more to be announced!
A recent surge of counterfeit bills appearing in Nanaimo businesses has prompted an RCMP investigation.
According to Nanaimo RCMP, there have been dozens of documented cases of people trying to use counterfeit bills to make purchases at local businesses since May 21st.
Police have identified 4-5 suspects, and the majority of incidents involved $100 Canadian bills with the identical serial number EJS8511162 on each bill.
In one case, a woman successfully used a Canadian $100 bill at the Rexall Pharmacy on Bowen Road on June 4th, and staff realized it was fake afterwards.
The next day, a man tried to do the same thing with another fake bill had the same serial number as the first, and was refused service.
He is described as a Caucasian male, “unkempt”, aged between 25-35 years, and with brown hair shaved on the sides.
At the time of the incident, he was wearing a t-shirt that read Believe the Hype, cargo pants and skater shoes.
How to identify
“We know from previous experience that the people attempting to pass the bills are most likely not the ones reproducing them and are often being lured into with the promise of some discounted real money or drugs,” said Cst. Gary O’Brien.
“Many of the investigations are continuing and investigators are confident that they will be able to determine who is responsible for producing the counterfeits.”
In light of these incidents, Nanaimo RCMP has released a list of ways in which you can identify whether a bill is fake or not:
Feel the note. Canadian and U.S. currency has raised ink at different points one each note. If you run your fingernail over the shoulders of the portrait on the bill you should feel that ink.
Look at the note: Genuine bills have a finish that doesn’t scrape off and colours that don’t run when they get wet. The holographic strip should be embedded in the note, not a sticker that can peel off.
Flip the note: The window on each note should have the same colours and details on both sides. It should also have a metallic portrait that mirrors the large face on the bill and changes colour when it’s tilted. The windows also have small numbers that match the value of the note.
Most commonly, those who use counterfeit money will attempt to make a small purchase with a large bill in order to get as much real money back in change as possible.
If you know of anyone involved in counterfeit bills, please call the Nanaimo RCMP at 250-754-2345. If you wish to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at www.nanaimocrimestoppers.com or call 1-800-222-8477.
Fancy a quick snack just after finishing up a long, hard day at work?
Long-standing downtown Victoria staple, Spice Jammer restaurant is about to make hump day a whole lot better by handing out snacks to one and all this evening.
Locals who visit the 500-800 blocks of Fort Street and surrounding areas will be treated to FREE pakoras – spicy vegetable or onion fritters bound with chickpea flour – starting at 5 p.m. today, June 26th.
The giveaway was announced on the restaurant’s Instagram page this afternoon, and we’re pretty sure you’ll want to be there!
Victoria Police has announced the dissolution of its Crime Reduction Unit, with officers being reassigned to other areas of the department.
The CRU primarily dealt with property offenders and drug traffickers, and targeted prolific offenders to reduce crime.
The unit was disbanded on June 1st, as the department focuses on aligning their resources to make more officers available to answer 911 calls.
“My preference is to not reallocate these positions and continue providing the full range of policing services that our citizens expect,” said Chief Constable Del Manak.
“However, citizens expect that when they call 911, an officer will arrive to help them quickly. Without this change and further changes, VicPD cannot maintain that basic level of service.”
Challenges and changes
The police department’s challenges are exacerbated by the fact that more than 30 police officers are currently not deployable in a call-response capacity for a variety of reasons, including physical and psychological injuries, parental leave, and recruits receiving training at the police academy.
According to VicPD, the most recent example of inadequate police resources was last night (Tuesday, June 25th) when there were 46 calls waiting to be assigned to Patrol officers, all of whom were already responding to previous calls.
Disbanding the Crime Reduction Unit is one of several organizational changes made by the department.
Earlier this month, VicPD significantly reduced service hours at the front desk of their 850 Caledonia Avenue headquarters. More changes will be released to the public next month.
Hockey season is on the horizon and today the Victoria Royals have released their full schedule for the 2019-20 Western Hockey League (WHL) regular season.
Though the Royals will begin this year’s season on the road facing the Everett Silvertips on Saturday, September 21st,Victoria’s home opener is set for Friday, September 27th versus the Prince George Cougars.
You can join the Royals for their official homestead kickoff at our very own Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre on September 27th – puck drop is at 7:05 p.m.!
In their longest homestand of the regular season this year, Victoria will remain on home ice for a five-game duration from Friday, October 25th to Saturday, November 2nd – during this time, the team will face the Kamloops Blazers and Kelowna Rockets twice a piece, and the Medicine Hat Tigers once.
The Victoria team will also spend a decent chunk of time away from home this season, their longest road trip including six separate games happening from Friday, January 24th to Saturday, February 1st.
This road trip will include facing the Eastern Conference’s East Division, which consists of the Brandon Wheat Kings, Winnipeg ICE, Saskatoon Blades, Prince Albert Raiders, Regina Pats and the Moose Jaw Warriors.
The Royals have been busy in their off-season, acquiring twin-brother defencemen Jason and Ryan Spizawka, as well as island-born forward River Fahey.
The full schedule release also follows on the heels of the announcement that Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre will officially be hosting the Vancouver Canucks training camp this fall, as well as Vancouver’s first pre-season game versus the Calgary Flames.
Season ticket packages for the Royals’ 2019-20 season are now available, so act fast to reserve your spot for all 34 games!
You can check out the Victoria Royals’ full regular season schedule here.
An upcoming Nanaimo to Vancouver high-speed passenger ferry that was expected to begin operations in summer 2019 has been delayed, according to Island Ferries Services Ltd.
While funding for the ferry service project had been going smoothly, an unexpected cancellation from a major investor has set the company back, according to a Facebook post by Island Ferries on Tuesday.
“…we’re disappointed to confirm that we won’t be starting this summer, but we remain committed to getting going!” reads the statement.
According to Island Ferries, a significant portion of funding had been secured back in April 2019, and since then construction of the ships has begun, lease or license Term Sheets for both terminals in Nanaimo and Vancouver had been agreed upon, and all required environmental assessment and permits had been cleared through the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority.
“In April 2019, we secured a substantial portion of the funding required to complete our financing,” said Island Ferries. “This was great news.”
“However, we were also set back when one highly-expected source of funding did not come through. In order to respect the parties involved, we are not going to identify either of the two parties – the one going ahead and the one that, frankly, disappointed us.”
With Langford’s plans to build the Sarah Beckett Memorial Playground in its final stages, the Rotary Club of West Shore has launched a ‘Buy A Brick’ program to raise money for playground equipment.
Cst. Sarah Beckett was killed while on patrol in April 2016, when a drunk driver in a pick-up truck collided with her police cruiser. She is survived by her husband and two young children.
To support the memorial park and help build the children’s playground, community members can purchase a personalized engraved brick for $200.
All proceeds from the bricks will go directly towards building the park and acquiring playground equipment.
The bricks can be engraved with a range of messages, and will be permanently installed in the area.
“Get creative and engrave [your name], your company name, favorite quote, or honour your own loved one by buying a brick in their memory,” said the West Shore RCMP in a statement.
In total, the bricks can accommodate 3 lines of text with a maximum of 18 characters and spaces per line.
The Sarah Beckett Memorial playground will be located next to the City Centre Park Stadium in Langford, and is expected to open on August 24th, 2019.
The park will be divided into two parts, one section for children aged 2 to 5 years old, and one area for children aged 5 to 12 years old.
To purchase a brick or learn more about the program, visit The Rotary Club of West Shore’s website online here.
The BC government has issued a reminder for parents to sign up for a grant that could be used to fund their child’s post-secondary education.
This $1,200 BC Training and Education Savings Grant (BCTESG) is made available for parents and families who have a young child but cannot afford to put aside savings at this time.
If approved, the grant is deposited into the child’s Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP).
It’s only available for a three-year window, when children are aged between 6 to 9 years. According to the province, around 40% of families leave this grant unclaimed.
The application process is a straightforward one – all you have to do is stop at your local bank or financial institution and fill out an application for an RESP and the BCTESG grant, if you’re eligible.
To make it even simpler, here are the eligibility deadlines:
For children born in 2006 – Aug. 14, 2019
For children born in 2010 – the day before the child’s ninth birthday in 2019
For children born in 2011 – the day before the child’s ninth birthday in 2020
For children born in 2012 – the day before the child’s ninth birthday in 2021
For children born in 2013 – the day before the child’s ninth birthday in 2022
An extension was provided for children born between 2006 and 2008 since the program was launched when that group of children turned six to nine years old.
Saanich Fire Department has discovered the likely cause of a deadly fire that occured in a large Saanich apartment building early Friday morning.
According to fire department officials, the blaze that tragically killed one woman and injured two others at the Brookside Manor building at 2623 Richmond Road on June 21st was likely caused by an electrical appliance failure.
“The investigation showed that the fire was likely caused by an electrical appliance failure, possibly a small space heater, speaker or a failed power bar,” said the Saanich Fire Department in a release.
“However, further investigation will be required and these items have been taken for further forensic examination.”
At approximately 4:30 a.m. on June 21st, Saanich Fire Department received reports of a fire at the Brookside Manor building at 2623 Richmond Road at approximately 4:30 a.m.
According to Saanich Fire, first responders found heavy smoke and a significant fire when they first arrived at the 85-suite, four-storey apartment.
While firefighters evacuated the blaze and rescued residents stranded on balconies, one woman was tragically found unresponsive in a fourth floor hallway of the building, and two others were taken to the hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation injuries.
According to fire investigators, the blaze started in the unit in which the female victim lived.
A little over a month before the tragic incident, on May 8, 2019, the Saanich Fire Department had given the building a passing grade in its fire inspection.
Residents unable to return
According to the Saanich Fire Department, 31 of the 85 suites in the building were affected by the fire and remain uninhabitable.
While some residents have returned to the building, 22 displaced residents are receiving support from Emergency Social Services until Thursday morning.
“I was shaking and nervous when I evacuated since I saw smoke coming out of a suite next to mine,” building resident Chelsea Dunning told Victoria Buzz.
“I wasn’t injured and my apartment sustained no damage whatsoever, thank goodness. I returned to daily life in my apartment on Sunday after spending the weekend at my boyfriend’s place.”
For those residents whose apartments did sustain heavy damage, the Saanich Emergency Program will work to transition support to agencies that provide social services for a longer time period, after Thursday.
UVic will soon be home to a national Canadian Indigenous law centre thanks to the support of a $9.1 million investment from the federal government.
The new centre is being designed to be an accessible space for cultural engagement and discussion and will be the first institution to offer a joint degree program in Canadian Common Law and Indigenous Legal Orders (JD/JID) in Canada.
The facility will also be the first to feature an Indigenous Law Research Unit, and is intended to revitalize indigenous legal systems and the significant roles that they play in both Indigenous communities and the country as a whole.
“Our government’s investment in the University of Victoria will create local jobs, and significant Indigenous input will go into the design and construction of the national centre for Indigenous law,” said federal Minister of Innovation, Science. and Economic Development, Navdeep Bains, in a statement.
“The building will use innovative technology to teach and connect at a national and international level regarding Indigenous law.”
Besides the $9.1 million contribution to construct the centre, the Department of Justice Canada will also be investing $173,300 over three years to UVic’s Faculty of Law to help fund courses and field studies in Indigenous communities.
“Canada is firmly committed to implementing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action to ensure Indigenous peoples and knowledge are included and respected as we build a stronger Canada,” said federal Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, Carolyn Bennett in a statement.
“The national centre for Indigenous law will create a space for conducting the research and providing the teaching necessary to ensure Indigenous laws will guide the paths of self-determination and reconciliation.”
Come cheer on the Victoria HarbourCats as they take on Washington’s Wenatchee AppleSox tonight!
Plus tonight marks the return of one of the team’s most unique promotions, the Funeral Giveaway. One lucky fan will receive a base funeral and cremation package, along with a will and financial planning advice.
When: Game begins at 6:35 p.m. to 10:15 p.m.
Where: The Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park, 1014 Caledonia Avenue
Don’t miss one of the most highly anticipated Victoria summer dance events at Uplands Golf Course!
LASHBASH has become the must-attend event of the summer in the dance community and includes dance performances, recreational dancing, a silent auction, lashes, a silent auction, and refreshments all in support of fundraising for the 2019/2020 Broken Rhythms dance season.
Head down to the Royal Theatre for a spectacular night of jazz music with Canada’s JUNO Award-winning Jesse Cook!
Cook is a master guitarist, composer, and producer who is known for his fusion of world music and jazz. He is also a three-time winner of the Canadian Smooth Jazz Award for “Guitarist of the Year”.
When: 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Where: The Royal Theatre, 805 Broughton Street
A child has succumbed to their injuries after being run over by a vehicle in a driveway in Cobble Hill.
The incident occurred at a residence on Maynard Avenue Tuesday morning.
Police said the driver of the vehicle remained on scene and is fully cooperating with the police investigation.
The collision is still under investigation, however, impairment has been ruled out as a cause at this time.
RCMP are being assisted by the Vancouver Island Integrated Collision Analyst and Reconstructionist Services (ICARS) team.
Family members of the child were at the scene and are being assisted by victim services.
“This is a tragic and traumatic incident, and we are working closely with all members and first responders who attended the scene to ensure they have the support they need,” states Shawnigan Lake RCMP Detachment Commander Sergeant Tim Desaulniers.
The identity of the child not been released.
The BC Coroners Service is also investigating the death.
Negroni fans who need an excuse to indulge in their favourite sip are in luck: Negroni Week has returned to Victoria this week.
34 local restaurants and bars are participating in the seven-day celebration, which started on Monday and will run until June 30th.
The tasty event mixes the delicious Italian cocktail with the spirit of generosity as participating establishments must donate to a charity of their choice to be included in the international Negroni Week venue list.
First launched in 2013, Negroni Week has grown from an initial 120 participants to almost 10,000 venues worldwide and have collectively raised approximately $2 million for charitable causes.
A sophisticated drug lab filled with high-end commercial equipment and explosive materials has been shut down by the West Shore RCMP in View Royal last week.
On Thursday, June 20th, West Shore RCMP received a request to investigate a suspicious residential fire from the View Royal Fire Department.
According to the fire department, the suspicious fire started in a basement unit kitchen and caused the 35-year-old female renter to suffer burns to her arms.
Officers then met with fire officials at the scene and learned that the fire was caused by chemically extracting cannabis.
The next day, a search warrant was executed on the property — with the fire department and CRD Hazmat team on standby — which lead to a series of surprising discoveries.
Inside the basement suite, officers discovered a “sophisticated large scale clandestine lab” that was allegedly producing a highly concentrated form of cannabis known as ‘shatter’.
Shatter is chemically extracted form of cannabis, and is currently illegal to sell or produce beyond personal cultivation limits.
To create the shatter, officers found that the drug lab included high-quality commercial grade lab equipment, industrial ovens, high-end steel extractors, laboratory glassware, a substantial quantity of flammable and explosive materials such as acetone solvents, and over 500 canisters and tanks of used butane.
Besides equipment, investigators also found over 100 pounds of dried cannabis, cannabis resin and oil, shatter in various stages of production, and over $1000 in cash.
The picture below shows 18 gallon Tupperware bins full of dried cannabis, and is far from the total amount found on the property.
Police say that the lab was located near a children’s playground, and that there was evidence of children living in the building.
“Producing shatter involves the use of organic solvents which is an extremely dangerous criminal activity,” said Cst. Pollock of the West Shore RCMP in a statement.
“The lab was in a neighbourhood bordering parks and children’s playgrounds. Further there was evidence of children living in the home. The Crime Reduction Unit worked with the RCMP Clandestine Lab Team to safely take down and process the scene.”
“The investigation is on-going. A variety of charges relating to drug production and distribution under the Cannabis Act and other potential Criminal Code offences are being sought.”
With plenty of music festivals lined up on Vancouver Island and around BC this summer, Island Health is looking to share safety tips on drug usage when attending these fun events.
While festivals can be great experiences all on their own, people who are planning on using substances such as cocaine, ecstasy alprazolam (Xanax), methamphetamines, or heroin should be aware of the possibility of overdosing or the possibility of contaminants like fentanyl.
Island Health stresses that the safest way to prevent an overdose is to avoid substances completely.
Island Health also notes that if you are at the scene of an overdose and call 911 for help, you will not be charged for possession of an illegal substance for personal use.
The Good Samaritan Act will also protect you from being charged for breach of probation or parole relating to simple drug possession.
Island Health encourages festival organizers and attendees to share tips about making safer substance-related choices.
For more information on overdose prevention you can visit Island Health’s webpage on overdose safety online here.
