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Island Health sent a letter to parents and guardians of kids taking the Greenglade Community Centre pottery class in Sidney informing them of a case of pertussis or whooping cough recently recorded at the centre.
The advisory was sent out on Thursday, March 21st, and stated that the individual diagnosed with pertussis was taking a pottery class which ran from Monday, March 18th to Friday, March 22nd.
Earlier this month, the first case of whooping cough in Victoria this year was recorded at Mount Douglas Secondary School in Saanich, prompting Island Health to issue a letter to parents of students attending the institution.
Symptoms of pertussis include flu-like features which progress into severe coughing with a distinctive ‘whooping’ sound that can last for several weeks.
People diagnosed with whooping cough are required to undergo five days of antibiotic treatment before they are no longer infectious and can return to school/work.
The Island Health letter called for parents to ensure that their children are up to date with their immunizations against pertussis.
(Island Health letter)
Vaccines for the infection are typically administered during their first year of life, after 18 months, upon entering kindergarten, and an additional booster shot in grade 9.
It is unclear whether or not the individual diagnosed with whooping cough at Greenglade Community Centre was immunized against the infection.
According to Island Health Communications member Shannon Marshall, there have been a total of five reported cases of whooping cough on Vancouver Island this month.
When they arrived at the scene, officers recognized that the woman was suffering from an opiate overdose.
“They called for an ambulance and in the meantime, Cst. Seutter administered a dose [of] Narcan nasal spray,” said Cst. Saggar of West Shore RCMP.
Paramedics administered an additional dose of Narcan and the woman regained consciousness after which she was transported to the hospital for assessment. Narcan is a nasal spray that counteracts the effects of opioids, and is issued to all officers.
West Shore RCMP have extended their gratitude to the bystander who called 911 when they witnessed the unconscious woman.
For those looking for information on what to do when encountering an opioid overdose, where to acquire a naloxone kit, and how to administer it, click here.
Fulfill your childhood dreams with three jam-packed days of curious fun at the largest comic convention on Vancouver Island – starting today!
Celebrate this year’s convention by taking in all of the comics, gaming, cosplay, exhibitors, nerdy burlesque, panels, workshops and more spread out over 98,000 square feet of the beautiful Crystal Gardens and Victoria Conference Centre.
When: 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Where: Victoria Conference Centre and Crystal Gardens, 713 Douglas Street
Want to show off the outfit you’ve put together for Capital City Comic Con? Now’s your chance at JagaSilk!
Cosplayers are invited to come pose for pictures with one free traditional maccha from JagaSilk plus 15% off any other drinks from the teabar. Flex your outfit, meet other cosplayers, and have some quality tea!
Victoria’s Sikh community is inviting the public to the city’s only mosque, Masjid Al-Iman, to help form a “protective human chain” around the building this afternoon.
On March 15th, 50 worshipers were shot and killed in two mosques in New Zealand during their Friday prayers. Organizers of today’s human chain hope that the community’s support will help Victorian Muslims feel safe as they attend their Friday prayers.
A human chain is being organized at the Masjid Al-Iman mosque in Victoria on Friday, in a show of solidarity for the Muslim population – and the public is invited to join.
Hand in hand, the human chain will form at 12:45 p.m. and go until around 3 p.m. at 2218 Quadra Street. It is meant to symbolize support and solidarity for both Muslims close to home and abroad.
“We will be doing this as a show of love and solidarity with our Muslim family and to remind everyone that bigotry will not be tolerated,” said Sikh Youth of Victoria in a statement.
“This human shield will be a physical barrier of protection for those feeling persecuted and vulnerable following the horrors in New Zealand last week. Everyone is invited to join us.”
On March 15th, an Australian man attacked two mosques in New Zealand while worshippers were performing their Friday prayers. 50 people were killed and dozens more were injured.
Sikh Youth of Victoria ask that volunteers arrive before Friday prayers at Masjid Al-Iman begin and stay until they have completed.
“Worshippers will typically start arriving at 1 p.m., for prayers at 1:30 p.m.,” said the group. “We would like people to arrive for 12:45 p.m. to greet the worshippers and remain until the last one leaves.”
A BC Transit bus driver and one female passenger were injured following an assault just outside of the downtown core Thursday afternoon.
Just after 1:30 p.m., police were called to a bus stop on Gorge Road East near the intersection of Douglas Street and Hillside Avenue.
The bus driver was injured after trying to break up a fight that had started on the public transit vehicle.
“The investigation is in the early stages, but it appears that the driver attempted to stop an altercation between two people on the bus when they were assaulted,” VicPD told Victoria Buzz.
After the incident, the driver was taken to hospital for treatment of injuries.
Police say that one man was arrested shortly after they arrived.
Meanwhile, BC Transit told Victoria Buzz that they are aware of the incident and that the scene is still an “active situation”.
“We are aware of an incident involving a transit operator that happened at Douglas Street and Hillside Avenue,” said John Palmer, BC Transit Director of Safety and Emergency Management. He also added that BC Transit is assisting VicPD with the investigation.
One criminal mastermind in Saanich had his plans busted by police officer on Tuesday afternoon.
At approximately 2 p.m., a Saanich Police Traffic Safety Unit officer noticed a vehicle with a thick plastic covering on their rear license plate, making it impossible to read. The officer found this suspicious and wondered if the driver was trying to hide if their vehicle was insured, so he pulled over the vehicle, a grey Audi A4, on the 3800 block of Quadra street.
The lack of insurance was just the tip of the iceberg, the officer discovered, as he approached the luxury sedan.
The 33-year-old Victoria man driving the car was breaking a number of laws. First and foremost, he was already a prohibited driver, secondly the vehicle was not insured, and lastly the license plates on the vehicle were simply laminated pieces of paper.
The man was then arrested for prohibited driving and for altering a license plate, his vehicle was towed and impounded for 7 days, and he was issued a $707 violation ticket for having a plastic cover on his plates and for having no insurance.
“Although the results of this vehicle stop were surprising, this is a great example of the work our Traffic Safety Unit does on a daily basis to help keep our roads safe and to hold drivers accountable for their actions,” said Sgt. Julie Fast, Saanich Police, in a release.
Victoria’s Capital City Comic Con is fast approaching and our excitement to meet some of the celebrity guests, exhibitors, artists, and cosplayers is building!
With six celebrity guests and dozens of comic book creators making their way to the island, this year’s Con is going to have plenty to do for fans, cosplayers, and everyone in between at the beautiful Crystal Gardens.
Star Trek alum and animation voice actress Marina Sirtis is just one of the recognizable guests who will be at the convention to meet and get autographs from, alongside Jake “The Snake” Roberts, Riverdale’s Skeet Ulrich, and the exemplary Malcolm McDowell.
You also won’t want to miss Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’s Dan Fogler and Star Trek’s Garrett Wang!
The Capital City Comic Con’s detailed but streamlined program and schedule here to help you plan out your weekend activities.
List of celebrity guests:
Marina Sirtis – Star Trek: The Next Generation
Jake “The Snake” Roberts – World Wrestling Federation
Skeet Ulrich – Riverdale
Malcolm McDowell – A Clockwork Orange
Dan Fogler – Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Garrett Wang – Star Trek Voyager
The convention begins this Friday!
Excelsior!
ONE MORE DAY (27 hours actually…but who's counting!) We can barely contain our excitement!
The training may include overturned vessels and smoke.
Officials ask that people avoid calling 9-1-1 unless there is an emergency.
There is a planned Search & Rescue exercise on March 21 from 1-4pm in @CityOfVictoria’s outer harbour. The Coast Guard & first responders will be conducting an on-water exercise that may include smoke/overturned vessels. Do NOT call 9-1-1, unless it’s a life-threatening emergency
It’s official, Canada is once again one of the happiest places on earth.
The World Happiness Report has just released its 7th annual ranking, and out of the 156 countries assessed, the Great White North placed 9th overall.
The report ranks countries based on the Gallup World Poll survey data, which asks people to base the happiness of their life on a scale of 0 (low) to 10 (high). Respondents are asked about six key areas, levels of GDP, life expectancy, generosity, social support, freedom, and corruption.
The 2019 report took combined survey results from over three years, 2016 to 2018.
While Canada holds a spot in the top 10 happiest countries in the world, its rank of 9th is the lowest position we have received since the report was started in 2012. In the past 7 years, our country has fluctuated between 5th and 7th place.
The United States also took a hit in this year’s ranking, dropping to 19th place, a decline of 5 spots since 2018.
Meanwhile, for the second year in a row, Finland was titled the happiest country in the world. Denmark was considered a close second and Norway rounded out the top three.
South Sudan had the lowest ranking overall, with a score of 2.85 out of 10. Canada, in contrast, has a score of 7.28 while the top country, Finland, earned a 7.77.
Have you been looking for the picture-perfect backdrop for your latest Instagram post? Look no further than Uptown’s ‘The Room’: Picture Playground!
The interactive pop-up exhibit opened up at Uptown on March 15th and includes brightly coloured installations holding a Californian hot-spot theme. The Room is designed for guests of all ages to snap and upload Instagram-worthy photos using the hash tag #theroomatuptown.
With everything from a brightly-coloured ball-pit (cannon balls, anyone?), to ice cream shop themed selfie stations, and even a beautifully decorated and functional swing to play on, The Room is a veritable theme park for all things friendly and fun, no matter what your age!
Entry is FREE into this one-of-a-kind cornucopia of perfect-selfie opportunities, and the event runs until March 31st, making it a must-see (and must-snap!) during your Spring Break festivities. The Room’s doors are open everyday from noon until 6 p.m., and it’s located right across from Brown’s Socialhouse on Uptown Boulevard.
A Victoria man who went missing earlier this week was found deceased in Port Renfrew Wednesday night.
Ronald Facey, 69, was last seen leaving his home on Sunday, March 17th. After he left his family had no contact with him and described the lack of communication as “out of character”.
In a release, VicPD said his death is not considered suspicious, but the investigation continues with help from Sooke RCMP and the BC Coroners Service.
Victoria Police appreciate the assistance they received from the public.
Sadly, Ronald Facey was located in Port Renfrew deceased last night. We’re continuing our investigation with the assistance of the @SookeRCMP and @bccoroners The death is not considered suspicious. We appreciate the assistance received from the public. #yyj
While offers came in from around the world, Bridget Matewish, granddaughter of Ron Hale who built Howard in 1998, and her family narrowed down the gnome’s home to five Vancouver Island locations.
Currently, Howard sits in front of a Chevron gas station in Nanoose Bay. After falling into disrepair, the company told Matewish that Howard would be destroyed if he was not moved. A GoFundMe campaign was started and now the giant gnome will get the repairs he needs.
The five locations where Howard may move to are:
Galey Farms, Saanich
Fast Time Grand Prix, Parksville
Log Cabin General Store, Parksville
Treasures, Curio and RV Park in Coombs
White River Resort in Sayward
“We have narrowed it down to our final 5, although we appreciate each and every interested party and offer of support,” reads an update from Howard the World’s Tallest Gnome Facebook page.
“We are taking his longevity and care into account as well as ensuring he will continue to be in the family based environment he was originally built for.”
The family is expected to make a final decision on Tuesday, March 26th.
As of yesterday, Spring has officially sprung, and there’s plenty to do today to help kick off the season! On today’s agenda there’s a RuPaul Drag Race star to see, a local farmers market to explore, and more.
Without further ado here are 5 things to do in and around Victoria today.
Get ready for an unforgettable night of stand up comedy with RuPaul’s Drag Race Miss Congeniality and All-Stars S2 finalist, Katya Zamolodchikova!
Katya’s hilarious show wasn’t originally going to come to Victoria, but after overwhelming demand the drag queen is coming to the McPherson Playhouse for one night only!
When: Doors open at 7:00 p.m., show begins at 8:00 p.m.
Where: The McPherson Playhouse, 3 Centennial Square
Get your business cards ready, its time for the 2019 Marketplace Mixer!
Network with hundreds of people and meet over 50 businesses and business owners who will be showcasing their services and products. There’s also hundreds of dollars worth of door prizes at the event!
Come check out the Room, a FREE interactive pop-up exhibition at Uptown Shopping Centre that’s designed to provide the perfect environment for some quality pics. There’s one dozen displays available so take your pick!
FLUX media gallery is continuing its noir screening series with the classic 1949 film, DOA (Dead On Arrival)!
The frantically paced plot follows a doomed man’s quest to find out who has poisoned him and why. Come see why reviewers say DOA has one of the most innovative opening scenes of all time.
Come check out this large and local indoor farmers 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!
When: 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Where: Esquimalt Recreation Centre, 527 Fraser Street
On Monday, a group of children were reportedly spotted playing with used syringes they found at a Saanich park.
According to Saanich Police, they were contacted at approximately 8:30 a.m., by a concerned citizen. The caller said there were needles scattered around Hampton Park and a group of kids were using them to play ‘darts’.
Once police arrived, the children were nowhere to be seen but officers did locate the syringes.
“When we got there, we didn’t find the kids that had been playing with them but we did find a number of needles and some were uncapped,” Sgt. Julie Fast of the Saanich Police department told Victoria Buzz.
The needles were collected by police and safely disposed of.
Victoria Police sadly found 69-year-old man Ronald Facey deceased in Port Renfrew on Wednesday night.
Before his disappearance, Facey was last seen leaving his home on Sunday, March 17th.
Victoria Police, Sooke RCMP, and the BC Coroners Service are investigating. However, no foul play is suspected at this time.
Victoria Police thank the public for their assistance.
Earlier:
Victoria Police are seeking the public’s assistance in locating a missing 69-year-old man.
Ronald Facey was last seen leaving his home at approximately 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, March 17th. At the time he was driving his white Honda Ridgeline truck that was towing a white Casita camping trailer.
The truck has a BC license plate “CG 4316”, and the trailer has a BC “959 830” plate.
Family members say that it is out of character for him not to be in touch and are very concerned for his well being.
Facey is described as a Caucasian man standing 5’ 11” tall and weighing 200 pounds. He has brown hair and green eyes.
Anyone who spots Facey or his truck and trailer is asked to call 911.
A free app just launched for immigrants and refugees to assist them as they settle in to BC and our city.
The mobile app, Arrival Advisor, will help newcomers find information about local services and can be customized to fit their individual needs.
Users start by answering an optional and anonymous questionnaire that will then produce recommendations and step-by-step guidance on topics such as medical services
plan registration, housing, employment, banking, schools, child tax credits, government programs, and more.
“This is one stop for newcomers to British Columbia in their own language so they know the
steps necessary to establish themselves and their families as quickly and efficiently as possible,” said Arrival Advisor Community Outreach and Engagement Coordinator Jean Parlina in a statement.
“It fast tracks newcomers by providing services specifically tailored to their needs while bridging gaps in accessibility to information.”
The app launched province wide and will assist roughly 70,000 BC immigrants that move to the province each year.
Arrival Advisor is currently available in three languages, English, French, and Arabic, with plans to add Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Korean, Punjabi, and Tagalog within the next few months.
The app was developed by non-profit Vancouver-based developers PeaceGeeks. The non-profit won a $750,000 prize from the 2017 Google.org Impact Challenge Canada competition to build Arrival Advisor. Additional funding was also provided by the provincial government.
Arrival Advisor is available for free on Apple App and Google Play.
Dental care will soon be more accessible for many British Columbians this year, following an announcement by the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction.
In a release, the province said it would be doubling the amount of annual operating support for twenty-four not-for-profit dental clinics around the province which will help provide more low-cost and free dental care to approximately 54,000 people living in poverty.
In total, $3.6 million will be dispersed over the next three years, including a $2-million upgrade to dental equipment — like X-ray machines, dental chairs, pediatric equipment, and computer software — for all of the clinics.
“Too often, people living in poverty cannot afford to take proper care of their teeth because they have to put the basics like food and shelter first,” said Shane Simpson, Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction in a statement.
“Access to quality, affordable dental health and hygiene care should be available to more people, and that’s why we’re making it a part of this government’s efforts to reduce poverty throughout B.C.”
Support from the BC Dental Association
The increased funding for dental care is part of the provincial government’s TogetherBC program, which hopes to reduce BC’s overall poverty rate by 25% and the child poverty rate by 50% by 2024.
“Oral health is an important component of our overall health,” said Raymon Grewal, president of the BC Dental Association.
“This funding will play a critical role in enhancing the access to dental care for financially vulnerable British Columbians, improving their quality of life and employment opportunities while also reducing the cost to the public health-care system by helping these patients remain free of oral pain and infection.”
Tim Hortons lovers will now have double the reason to pick up a steaming hot double double for their morning commutes.
The coffee and donut giant has finally launched a rewards program across Canada, giving customers one free any-sized coffee, tea, or baked goods (except for Timbits and bagels) after every seventh visit.
There are three ways to hop on the Tim’s Rewards program:
Visit any Tim Hortons in Canada to pick up a reusable loyalty card.
Download Tims Rewards to your digital wallet on your iPhone or Android device and use it the same way as you would use a reusable loyalty card.
Download the updated Tim Hortons mobile app, which allows you to track your status, scan for rewards and order directly through the app where you can earn visits and redeem rewards.
“Tim Hortons has some of the most loyal guests in Canada and Tim’s Rewards allows us to say thank you,” said Alex Macedo, President of Tim Hortons in a release.
“We heard from our guests that a new rewards program had to be easy to use and redeem, that’s why we offer both a reusable card and a digital friendly app.”
You can register your card online here or through the Tim Hortons app and both will let you keep track of your visit count and balance.
Plus, for a limited time only, customers will receive a free reward following their first purchase after they have registered.
The first month of 2019 saw a significant drop in overdose deaths compared to the same time last year, according to the BC Coroners Service.
In January of 2018, the coroners office reported 130 overdose deaths in BC and at the end of the year, in December, 2018, there were 116 overdose deaths. In January of 2019, the province saw 90 overdose deaths, a 31% drop from the same time last year and a 22% decline from one month earlier.
In total, the number of illicit drug overdose deaths in BC in January of 2019, equaled approximately 2.9 deaths per day.
While the number of overdose deaths appears to be on the decline, the rate of fentanyl and carfentanil continues to rise.
In 2018, there was a total of 1,310 overdose deaths that featured fentanyl, a 7% increase from 2017.
Meanwhile, in January 2019, carfentanil was detected at a much higher rate than last year and contributed to 13 overdose deaths. In comparison, in 2018, the synthetic opioid was detected in 35 overdose deaths for the entire year.
According to the coroners service, Victoria saw the third highest amount of drug overdoses in 2018, just behind Vancouver and Surrey.
In January of 2019, Victoria saw five overdose deaths and Nanaimo saw one.
Overdose deaths continue to be the number one cause of unnatural deaths in British Columbians by a landslide.
With recent measles outbreaks appearing in Vancouver and Washington State, the Ministry of Health has launched a catch-up immunization program to help families ensure that their children are protected from measles.
Government health authorities will administer the program – which will be available in schools for all children in kindergarten through to grade 12 – in public-health units, community health centres, and mobile community clinics where necessary.
The Ministry of Health hopes that offering vaccinations in schools and public health centres will make it easier and stress-free for parents to get their children protected from measles.
The program will run from April through June of this year.
“With outbreaks of measles occurring globally and here in B.C., we know we will see threats of further outbreaks and can be doing more to raise immunization rates,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health in a release.
“Our goal is to immunize as many people as possible before the end of the school year. The purpose, ultimately, is to reach an immunization rate of 95% as recommended.”
In order for everyone to be vaccinated, the province has purchased $3 million in the vaccine, roughly the equivalent of a regular one year supply.
Child immunization records will become mandatory
The program is the first step in preparing families for the mandatory reporting of a child’s vaccination status, which is planned for Fall 2019.
Parents can check their child’s records through their primary care provider or through a public-health unit. Parents can also give their child’s vaccination record to their local public-health unit to have it added to the provincial registry.
If a child’s current record is already on file with a local health unit, parents do not need to provide one again.
If you or a family member do not have a record or proof of immunity, the person is considered unimmunized and unprotected – it is safe to repeat immunizations.
“Safeguarding the health and well-being of children, staff and teachers who come into our classrooms and their family members at home is one of our highest priorities,” said Rob Fleming, Minister of Education.
“The K-12 education system plays a critical role in raising awareness of the importance of childhood vaccines and increasing immunization rates. We are continuing to work across government, and with our education and health community partners, to help curb preventable outbreaks and increase student safety.”
Who knew that Saanich Police loved the Backstreet Boys and a good meme?
On Tuesday afternoon, an unlikely but amazing video was posted on the Saanich PD Traffic Twitter account, showing three officers busting a move and trying the “Triangle Dance Challenge”.
The challenge went viral on the internet earlier this year and calls for three people to link arms in a triangle and jump to music with a different person hopping in the middle of the triangle in rhythm to the tune.
What makes the video even better is that the officers chose to dance to the tune of the Backstreet Boys’ “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)” to complete the challenge.
Twitter account @veggirl51 responded to the video saying, “Omg that was awesome! You nailed it!”, while @Machas1983 replied “Wow 😍”. Twittter user @KristinVitols offered a different opinion, jokingly saying “some things cannot be unseen”.
The Tweet ended with a challenge to VicPD and Oak Bay Police to complete the dance move themselves.
Fulfill your childhood dreams with three jam-packed days of curious fun at the largest comic convention on Vancouver Island – happening this weekend!
The much-anticipated event kicks off this Friday, March 22nd at the Victoria Conference Centre downtown, and if you haven’t purchased your tickets yet, now’s the time!
Get your tickets! Buy now and save $5 online versus at the door, so there’s really no excuse not to buy your weekend passes now – and grab a buddy, too.
Celebrate this year’s convention by taking in all of the comics, gaming, cosplay, exhibitors, nerdy burlesque, panels, workshops and more spread out over 98,000 square feet of the beautiful Crystal Gardens and Victoria Conference Centre.
You can check out the event’s program and schedule to plan an exhilarating weekend with family, friends, nerdy co-conspirators and the like! The Con runs from this Friday, March 22nd at 3 p.m until 9 p.m, and continues Saturday, March 23rd from 10 a.m until 6 p.m., and Sunday, March 24th from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.
With draws like guests Dan Fogler, Malcom McDowell and Skeet Ulrich of popular TV-drama Riverdale, the possibilities of a wicked few days of fun are endless, from nerdy to pop culture and everything in between!
In a unique pre-playoff tie-breaker game, the Kamloops Blazers took home a win tonight, solidifying their spot against the Victoria Royals in the first round of the 2019 WHL Playoffs.
The Blazers secured home ice for the much-anticipated bout at the sold out Sandman Centre in Kamloops this evening, determined by a small ‘goals for’ margin between the two teams – Kamloops with 196 total goals their regular season, and Kelowna netting 169 goals themselves. Otherwise, the stats are nearly identical! Both teams recorded 64 points with 28 wins – hence the uncommon tie-breaker game!
The first period of the match saw no goals, but the Kamloops Blazers going up 17-7 in shots between the two clubs. In true rivalry fashion, there was plenty of physicality despite the lack of numbers on the scoreboard.
Kamloops’ resident rookie Kyrell Sopotyk opened the scoring with a powerplay goal in the 2nd period, Kelowna tying it up not long after with a ‘rocket’ by Mark Liwiski.
An exciting third saw four more goals from the Blazers, two of them being shorthanded, and even one failed penalty shot attempt for the team! The Rockets made a goaltending switch midway through the period, though they still fell to a final score of 5-1 against the division rivals.
The Victoria Royals’ 2019 WHL Playoffs officially kick off this Friday, March 22nd here in Victoria at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre, with puck drop happening against the Kamloops Blazers set for 7:05 p.m.
Check out the full first-round schedule below!
We will face the Kamloops Blazers in Round 1 of the #WHLPlayoffs! Game 1 is this Fri, while Game 2 will take place on Sat. Puck drop for both contests is at 7:05 pm! #VICvsKAM
Stop by the Michele Pujol Room in the Student Union Building at the University of Victoria on Wednesday, March 20th to find ethical and fair trade goods from their amazing local vendors, all while supporting International Justice Mission and the fight to end modern day slavery. Be sure to bring cash/cheques, as not all vendors will be able to accept cards.
When: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Where: Michele Pujol Room in the Student Union Building, University of Victoria
A honey of a program fit for the royalty of the insect world. What’s the buzz about bees – are they really good dancers? Join the CRD for bee crafts, guided walks and buzzing activities. You can even get a glimpse of live bees up close! Meet at the Francis/King Nature Centre off Munn Road.
Looking for Work? New Career? Immediate Hiring? Direct Interview? Here’s your opportunity to meet face-to-face- with hiring companies, recruiters, HR managers, associations and employment agencies in Victoria! Admission is FREE for job seekers. Click here to register.
The Langford Legion Night Market is an amazing market for the whole family that runs once a month at the Legion on Station Avenue. There will be live music, yummy food, great shopping and a few surprises too.
When: 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Where: Royal Canadian Legion Branch 91, 761 Station Ave
The funniest night of the week is Wednesday at The Mint! Each week Morgan Cranny and Drew Farrance bring the most hilarious comedian’s in the city together for a wonderful evening of fun at the best venue for stand up comedy in Victoria.
One of the most notable measures announced by Prime Minister Trudeau’s Liberal government in today’s Federal Budget is the introduction of a First-Time Home Buyer’s Incentive.
“Saving enough for a down payment on a home and managing the monthly costs of homeownership can be challenging—especially for first-time home buyers, many of whom are trying to establish or advance their careers, raise young families, or even relocate to a new community,” reads the plan.
For this reason, the new program aims to make homeownership more affordable for first time buyers by reducing the amount of money required from a mortgage without having to increase the amount required for a down payment.
This announcement will allow eligible home buyers to partake in a shared equity mortgage that would give them the ability to lower their borrowing costs by sharing the cost of buying a home with Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.
We’re making affordable home ownership a reality with the new First Time Home Buyer Incentive. Allowing Canadians to get extra help for a down payment on their first home.
Starting in the 2019-2020 fiscal year, the CMHC would provide up to $1.25 billion over three years to eligible home buyers by sharing in the cost of a mortgage.
Eligible home buyers include those with household incomes less than $120,000, and participants’ whose mortgage and incentive amount is less than four times their annual household incomes.
The fund will also provide up to $100 million in lending to shared equity mortgage providers over a five-year period, starting in 2019–20, to help existing shared equity mortgage providers scale-up their business and encourage new players to enter the market.
(Example of how the First-Time Home Buyer’s Incentive would work/Budget 2019)
Moreover, the Budget plans to increase the Home Buyers’ Plan RRSP withdrawal limit from $25,000 to $35,000, giving first-time home buyers more funds to help them purchase their new property. This increase is available for all withdrawals made after March 19th.
It also proposes that individuals who face a breakdown in their marriage or common law partnership should also have access the Home Buyers’ Plan.
Good news is on the way for students and graduates of post-secondary institutions.
The federal government plans to lower the interest rate of floating student loans by 2.5% and freeze interest for 6 months after students graduate from university or college.
The change is expected to help over one million students save $2,000 over the course of their loan repayment plan.
Currently, when students sign up for federal loans they can choose between a variable “floating interest rates”, which is prime rate + 2.5%, or a “fixed rate” which is primate rate + 5%.
Budget 2019 will reduce these rates, lowering floating interest rates to just the prime rate, which is currently 3.95%, and the fixed rate to prime rate + 2% for the 2019-2020 fiscal year.
Additionally, interest rates will be frozen for up to 6 months once a post-secondary student graduates. Previously, there was a grace period of 6 months where students did not have to pay their student loans as they transitioned into the labour market, but interest still accumulated during this time.
Now, interest will not accrue on the loan during this half year after students have completed school.
Big changes are also in store for students with disabilities.
The cap for the Canada Student Grant for Services and Equipment for Students with Permanent Disabilities has been raised from $8,000 to $20,000 a year, and eligibility for the Severe Permanent Disability Benefit has been expanded, allowing for more Canadians to qualify for the loan.
Support for trades
With increasing demand for skilled trade workers, the federal government is working to support a high-quality apprenticeship system across the country.
The Liberal government plans on providing Skills Canada with $40 million over four years and $10 million every year after that to help encourage young people to consider careers in the skilled trades and technology industry.
The investment will help Skills Canada promote trades by hosting competitions, providing up-to-date equipment for classrooms, and adding resources for students who are looking for a career in the industry.
The government will also invest $6 million over two years into starting a national campaign that will promote trades careers to young Canadians.
“The campaign will work to change the perception around careers in the skilled trades, promoting their merits, including high demand, high wages, and continual professional development,” reads the budget.
A full look at Canada’s Budget 2019 can be found online here.
As if the Royals snagging a playoff spot wasn’t exciting enough!
In a very rare WHL occurrence, the Kelowna Rockets and Kamloops Blazers will be battling it out tonight in a tie-breaker game that will determine which one of the hockey clubs will be facing the Victoria Royals in the first round of the playoffs this year.
Games such as this certainly don’t happen every year, and you’ve got no excuse not watch along as the WHL will be streaming the game live for free tonight. Visit the WHL’s website and use PROMO CODE WhlTiebreak19 to catch the bout yourself and see who earns the final berth into the 2019 WHL Playoffs!
While the Victoria Royals Hockey Club has secured the #2 spot in the B.C Division standings with 72 points and 34 wins in the regular season, the Blazers and Rockets are tied with 64 points each and 32 wins respectively – hence the tie-breaker!
The Royals will begin their playoff run at home in Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre this Friday, March 22nd with puckdrop at 7:05 p.m.
The exciting WHL action between Kelowna and Kamloops begins tonight at 7 p.m., so get yourself hyped for playoff season’s return by tuning in to what will no doubt be a an epic competition!
There’s only one question left: Who would YOU rather face in the first round of 2019 WHL Playoffs this year?
The additional funding will be used to add more crews, enhance aerial capacity, and acquire new technologically advanced equipment. This summer, night vision goggles will also be piloted by firefighters for early detection and response purposes.
To help prevent wildfires before they start, an additional $10 million comprehensive prescribed burning program will also be implemented.
Existing programs also get a boost
Millions of dollars from the increased funding will be used to supplement two existing programs: one which focuses on community protection, and one that supports reforestation.
$10 million will be added to the Community Resiliency Investment program, which will help local governments and First Nations lower wildfire risks around their communities.
Meanwhile, $13 million will be given to the Forest Carbon Initiative over the next three years, and will be matched by the federal government.
The money will be used to support reforestation and restoration initiatives that will capture carbon from the air and reduce the risk of wildfires.
Canada’s Federal Budget for 2019 announced on Tuesday afternoon includes a promise to provide high speed internet for every Canadian by 2030.
The government is pledging $5-6 billion in new investments in rural broadband over the next 10 years.
The budget calls high speed internet a necessity, not a luxury, and expresses the importance of connecting 100% of individuals, homes, and businesses to world wide web – especially those areas that are typically underserved, including rural, remote, and northern communities.
High-speed internet access is a necessity – not a luxury. A new national plan will ensure every Canadian home and small business, no matter where they are, will have access to high-speed internet by 2030.
(Federal goals for high speed internet connectivity/Budget 2019)
To achieve these goals, government funding will support several initiatives like securing advanced Low Earth Orbit satellite capacity to serve the most rural regions of Canada, and coordinating with provinces, territories, and federal arm’s-length institutions, such as the CRTC and its $750 million rural/remote broadband fund.
The BC SPCA is seeking the public’s support for a bill that would help stop animal fighting and expand the definition of bestiality to better protect animals from abuse.
Bill C-84, introduced by former justice minister Jody Wilson-Raybould in October, would amend sections 445.1(1)(b) and 447 of the Criminal Code.
These amendments would cover promoting, arranging and profiting off animal fighting, as well as breeding, training, or transporting an animal to fight.
It would criminalize owning an arena for the purpose of animal fighting, and close a loophole that prohibits but does not adequately define bestiality.
“One of the greatest challenges with Canada’s current law is that there are loopholes that, for instance, don’t adequately address brutal or heinous acts committed against an animal or consider instances of gross neglect,” says Marcie Moriarty, BC SPCA’s chief prevention and enforcement officer.
“Many are found not guilty, or are not charged or sentenced for what their crime truly deserves. There are more than 100,000 animal cruelty complaints every year across the country, and a small percentage of those lead to successful prosecutions.”
Bill C-84 will amend the definition of bestiality in section 160 of the Criminal Code to clarify that it involves any contact for a sexual purpose between a person and an animal. Once passed, it would allow judges to prohibit anyone convicted of bestiality from having animals in their custody.
The bill is in its third reading before the House of Commons, and the SPCA asks all Canadians to express their support for its passing by signing their petition and sending a letter to their MP.
Animal cruelty provisions in Canada’s criminal code have not been updated or revised since 1892.
Langford’s plans to build a memorial children’s playground for Cst. Sarah Beckett, who died in the line of duty, are in their final steps with a predicted opening date this summer.
Cst. Sarah Beckett was killed while on patrol in April, 2016, when a drunk driver in a pick-up collided with her police cruiser. She is survived by her husband and two young children.
The Sarah Beckett Memorial playground will be located next to the City Centre Park Stadium in Langford, and will be divided into two parts.
One area of the park will be designed for children aged 2 to 5 years old, and the other section will be for children aged 5 to 12 years old. The playground is expected to open on August 24th, 2019.
While plans for the park are in their late stages, more funding is needed before construction can begin. The West Shore Rotary club is currently fundraising for playground equipment and pursuing grants to help them obtain the $250,000 that is still required.
At the beginning of March, the club raised $20,000 in one charitable dinner event, Westshore Lobster Fest.
Here are the municipality’s photo renderings of the memorial playground:
(Rendering / City of Langford)(Rendering / City of Langford)(Rendering / City of Langford)
The Nanaimo RCMP detachment has been partially evacuated following the discovery of two suspicious packages near the police headquarters earlier this morning.
At approximately 10:30 a.m., two cardboard packages were found on a lawn that is adjacent to the RCMP detachment. Out of “an abundance of caution”, part of the detachment was evacuated and the general public has been restricted from entering the building.
A stretch of Fitzwilliam Street between Prideaux Street and Milton Street has also been closed to pedestrian and vehicle traffic.
Meanwhile, an RCMP Explosives Dog has performed a preliminary assessment of the packages and the RCMP Explosive Disposal Unit is currently being consulted.
Police note that the 911 and non-emergency lines have not been affected.
Nanaimo RCMP will provide updates on the situation as more information is gathered.
Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact the Nanaimo RCMP at 250-754-2345 or anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Air Canada has decided to remove all of its Boeing 737 Max aircraft from service until at least July 1st, after grounding the planes last week in compliance with Transport Canada guidelines.
In a release, Canada’s largest airline stated that the measure is being taken to make flight planning easier and “to provide customers certainty for booking and travel”.
In the wake of the incident, Transport Canada followed in the footsteps of most other nations, and grounded all commercial Boeing 737 MAX 8 airline flights in the country as a precautionary measure.
Air Canada has since been substituting different aircrafts in place of the Boeing MAX 737s, chartering other carriers like Air Transat to provide extra capacity, and adding new aircraft into its fleet.
However, the Canada’s largest airline has had to temporarily halt service to on certain routes for which substitutions were not readily available. These include flights from Halifax and St. John’s to London, Heathrow, and seasonal flights from Vancouver to Kona, Lihue, and Calgary to Palm Springs, California.
“The Boeing 737 MAX accounted for six per cent of Air Canada’s total flying, but there is a domino effect from removing the 737s from our fleet that impacts the schedule and ultimately will impact some customers. We have been working very hard to minimize that impact,” said Lucie Guillemette, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at Air Canada.
“Customers who have travel plans between now and July can be reassured that we will keep them informed every step of the way as we revise our schedule.”
Changes in flight times and flight numbers will be emailed to all passengers who have finalized itineraries. The information will also be available in My Bookings on the Air Canada app or website.
Travellers affected by the service changes can take advantage of the airline’s rebooking policy (with full fee waiver) and a refund option by contacting Air Canada at 1-833-354-5963 for information within 72 hours of their planned flight.
After Transport Canada’s announcement to close Canadian airspace for all Boeing MAX 737 aircrafts, WestJet – the country’s second-largest airline – stated that it had rebooked over 65,000 passengers originally scheduled to fly on the grounded aircrafts.
Both airlines are now reconsidering their financial estimates for 2019.
In a curious twist of fate, a man who may have thought he’d gotten away with murder was found in Nanaimo after failing to wear a helmet while riding a bicycle.
19-year-old Kyle Antonio Dias was spotted riding a mountain bike without a helmet at approximately 1:30 PM on Friday March 15th, near Barsby Park off Prideaux St.
Officers were quickly able to confirm that the bike in question had recently been reported stolen, which is when they arrested Dias for Possession of Stolen Property.
When asked the identify himself, the 19-year-old produced a fake Ontario driver’s license and several different names.
However, upon further investigation, police identified him as Kyle Antonio Dias, a suspect wanted for Second Degree Murder in connection with a shooting that occurred in Toronto on February 13, 2019.
Once these details were confirmed by Toronto Police, Dias was transferred to a remand centre in Victoria from where he will be flown back to Toronto on Wednesday March 20th.
Back in Nanaimo, the bicycle he had stolen was returned back to its rightful owner, and RCMP decided not to pursue the bike helmet charge.
On Sunday night, a Saanich homeowner encountered a cougar trying to kill a deer in his backyard.
The resident and his family then scared away the big cat before it was able to eat its dinner, on their property in the 2600 block of Queenswood Dr.
“It had just attacked a deer when the homeowner scared it off,” said Sgt. Julie Fast of Saanich Police. “The cougar ran down towards the ocean and left the deer laying on the ground.”
But this wasn’t the only time a cougar was spotted by Saanich residents in the past three days.
Second and third encounters
At around 4:15 p.m. on Monday, March 18th, a man reported seeing a cougar walking around Rithets Bog off Chatterton Way.
He first thought the animal was a dog, but now believes it was a cougar based on the animal’s low profile and movement. Luckily, it was not aggressive and did not pay attention to the man as he walked by.
This morning, at around 2 a.m., a resident in the area of Hillcrest Avenue and King Alfred Court saw a cougar run into the bushes.
There is no information about whether or not the animal in the second and third sightings is the same one that tried unsuccessfully to eat a deer in Cadboro Bay on Sunday night.
In all three cases, the cougar(s) in question was not located by police, and BC Conservation Officer Service have been notified of these sightings.
If a cougar is reported near your property, Saanich Police recommends calling the Conservation Officer Service at 1-877-952-7277 and your local police department. If you are inside when you spot a cougar, stay inside, and ensure your family and pets are also inside.
What to do if you encounter a cougar:
Never approach a cougar. Although cougars will normally avoid a confrontation, all cougars are unpredictable. Cougars feeding on a kill may be dangerous.
Always give a cougar an avenue of escape.
Stay calm. Talk to the cougar in a confident voice.
Pick all children up off the ground immediately. Children frighten easily, and their rapid movements may provoke an attack.
Do not run. Try to back away from the cougar slowly. Sudden movement or flight may trigger an instinctive attack.
Do not turn your back on the cougar. Face the cougar and remain upright.
Do all you can to enlarge your image. Don’t crouch down or try to hide. Pick up sticks or branches and wave them about.
If a cougar behaves aggressively:
Arm yourself with a large stick, throw rocks, speak loudly and firmly. Convince the cougar that you are a threat, not prey.
If cougar attacks, fight back! Many people have survived cougar attacks by fighting back with anything, including rocks, sticks, bare fists, and fishing poles.
Spring is just around the corner, and for Victoria, that means a few things are certain – cherry blossoms are blooming, warmer temperatures are on the horizon, and the inevitable – tax season is upon us!
If you’re like many people, preparing your taxes each year can be a daunting task – most of us have never received any formal training in the subject, it was never taught to us in school (required course, anyone?), and it can sometimes be a frustrating (and stressful!) time for some.
Fortunately, there are some great (local!) resources to help navigate the treacherous tax season waters, such as popular group Black Is The New Red. 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.
The Facebook group’s resident tax expert Casey Ralph, CPA of C. Ralph & Associates has even offered up his insight into a few of the most important points when it comes to preparing your taxes this year, answering popular questions to things you may have always wondered about – or didn’t even think of! Because you can never be too prepared, right?
Without further ado, let’s dive headfirst into 5 things you absolutely need to know before tackling your income taxes this season:
1. Filing taxes late – or not at all! Are there penalties?
It’s always a good idea to file your taxes properly and before the deadlines – it literally pays to be on time here!
If you end up owing on your tax return, you could get dinged – late filing fees plus interest can be charged – up to 17% plus interest on a first offence and up to 34% on a second offence!
Filing deadlines for individuals are April 30th, and June 15th if you’re self-employed!
If you don’t file at all, you’re risking losing out on receiving:
a refund if it is due
GST/HST credit
Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS)
Canada Child Benefit
Working Income Tax Benefit (WITB)
2. Who can (and should!) claim transferable credits?
Are you sitting pretty on credits you could be claiming for? Read ahead to find out!
Medical expenses:
Generally best to claim lower-income spouse
Best to claim all medical expenses on one spouse
Threshold is lesser of $2,268 or 3% of net income
Tuition Tax Credit:
Can transfer up to $5,000 of the current year tuition amount to a spouse, parent, or grand parent
Can carry forward unused tuition credits for future use
Generally best to claim by the higher income spouse
Donations:
Best to combine donations with your spouse
If you donate small amounts annually, consider combining two or more years
Ensure you have an official donation receipt in the event the donations are questioned by the Canada Revenue Agency
Child Care Expenses:
You can claim to $8,000 per child under age of 7, and $5,000 per child aged 7 to 16
These are required to be claimed by the lower income spouse
Child care expenses can include day nurseries and daycare, caregivers providing childcare, educational institutes, day and sport camps, and even boarding or overnight schooling
3. Filing as single, common-law or married – even if you’re not!
Relationships can be confusing enough, so making sure you give the Canada Revenue Agency the right status update can help you avoid tax issues down the road.
You put a ring on it? Congrats! Make sure you update the CRA accordingly to avoid a hefty tax bill
Common-law and married statuses are technically different, and couples must be living together for 12 months in a row to be considered common-law for tax purposes. If you have children together, then you’re considered common-law as soon as you begin living together
Lovebirds might share everything, but you both still need to file taxes separately. Couples can’t file a joint return in Canada, they’ll always file individually so one partner won’t be held responsible for the other’s tax debt
4. Are you a landlord? You could cash in on related rental expenses!
The rental market in Victoria is a hot one, and the list of deductibles you can claim on your tax return if you have a rental income is long – read below for what that entails!
Deductible rental expenses:
Advertising
Insurance
Interest (mtg, loc, bank charges)
Office expense
Legal, accounting, and other professional fees
Management and administration
Maintenance and repairs (important to confirm items are expenses in the period and not capital)
Property taxes
Travel
Utilities
5. Some credits are null as of 2018!
It’s important to keep in the know on what you’re entitled to in the way of credits this year and going forward, and we have detailed a few changes that the CRA has made this past fiscal year.
You can no longer claim the Children’s Fitness Tax Credit or the Children’s Arts Tax Credit as of 2018
The Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB) has been replaced by the Canada Child Benefit (CCB), meaning you can no longer claim the UCCB as of 2018
Although UCCB has been eliminated, if you have payments that have been received in 2018 for years prior, they would still need to be reported. Also, any UCCB repayments can still be claimed
Tax season can be an overwhelming one, but having financial gurus in your corner such as the ones in Black Is The New Red at your disposal definitely helps. Don’t forget to join their Facebook group among members like chartered professional accountant Casey Ralph for continued financial tips – they’re currently even offering discounted tax preparation for people who join!
Suddenly that pile of T4s doesn’t seem so terrifying..
We hope you’re enjoying the sunshine! On today’s agenda we have exotic wildlife to see, local fundraisers to support, free art galleries for students on spring break, and more!
Without further ado, here are 5 things to do in and around Victoria today.
Don’t miss your chance to see Safari Jeff for FREE while he’s on the island as part of his North America tour.
Safari Jeff will perform two exciting and educational live shows today that feature rare and beautiful reptiles plus multimedia displays and more. The interactive experience will bring audiences up close and personal with captive-born exotic animals and environmental messages.
When: 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. & 2:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.
Tuesdays can only mean one thing, it’s a swing jazz and speakeasy kind of night! Get ready to step back in time to 1928 and listen to live swing jazz, sip on classic cocktails, and of course, dance!
Bootleggers and cocktail drinkers experienced or new are welcome, but people who know the speakeasy’s secret word will get one free drink!
The United Way of Greater Victoria and its partners have returned for the 6th Annual “Do Good in Our Community” Fundraiser, which supports people in need in our city!
Join United Way for drinks, appetizers, silent and live auctions, and more! Also, if you’re one of the first 50 people to donate $50 or more you’ll receive a travel voucher donated by Ruffell & Brown. RSVP at info@maxfurniture if you’re interested in attending.
Head on down to Sticky Wicket to test your knowledge of, well, everything!
This competitive quiz hosted by Sixty Watt Trivia is sure to be fun and challenging. Come with groups of 8 or smaller and win yourself some awesome prizes!
When: 7:30 p.m. – 10 p.m. Where: The Sticky Wicket, 919 Douglas Street
With the regular season in the books for the Victoria Royals, it’s now time for the playoffs to begin this upcoming weekend – and you could win yourself four tickets to both the first and second home games, plus a $50 Yates Street Taphouse gift card! The playoffs kick off this Friday, March 22nd.
This contest is one your friends won’t want you to miss out on!
After a tough loss against the Everett Silvertips Saturday on night, the Royals rounded off the regular season with their 8th annual awards ceremony on Sunday.
A few key players received multiple awards last night, including goaltender Griffen Outhouse, who was selected as the Royals’ MVP and The Keg Fans’ Choice. This being his final year with the team, the fan favourite finished his WHL career with the seventh most wins in league history – an impressive tally of 114.
Meanwhile, blueliner Scott Walford was named the Wilson’s Transportation Top Defenceman, and received the Wallace Driving School Most Dedicated Player award.
The Royals’ playoff season begins this weekend, but who they’ll play is yet to be decided.
Because they are currently tied in the standings, the Kamloops Blazers and Kelowna Rockets are battling for survival this Tuesday night – the losers will not qualify for a playoff spot, while the winners will face off against the Royals here in Victoria on Friday and Saturday.
Are you ready for black and blue playoff hockey, Victoria?
Single game tickets for the Round 1 of the #WHLPlayoffs are on sale NOW! Game 1 is on Fri, while Game 2 is on Sat. We will play the winner of Tues Tie-breaker game between Kamloops & Kelowna. #BlackandBlue Playoff Hockey
To enter for a chance to win four playoff tickets to both the Victoria Royals first and second home games, plus a $50 Yates Street Taphouse gift card, complete one or more of the following steps:
2. Tweet the following on Twitter and leave a comment below telling us once you have: (1 entry)
Win four playoff tickets to both the @victoriaroyals first and second home games, plus a $50 Yates Street Taphouse gift card @victoriabuzzes, RT to enter. The playoffs kick off this Friday, March 22nd. #victoriabuzz #RoarWithUs
Contest entries will be accepted from time and date of publishing until 11:59p.m. PST on March 21nd, 2019. One winner will be chosen at random and contacted through the platform they enter by. Good luck!
(Damen Fast Ferry DFFe 3209 rendering / Damen webiste)
A new high-speed catamaran passenger ferry could soon be connecting the West Shore with downtown Victoria, according to a detailed study conducted on behalf of BC Ferries.
The 201 page study, Westshore Express Passenger Ferry pre-feasibility study, is currently being reviewed by BC Ferries and was conducted by SNC-Lavalin and Steer. It thoroughly explores possible terminal locations, vessel designs, passenger cost, crew requirements, project costs, and more.
“The pre-feasibility study we commissioned is a high-level assessment of the proposed ferry service and infrastructure that would be required to support it,” said BC Ferries in a statement.
“We are at the very preliminary stage at the moment and will be engaging in discussions with a variety of stakeholders before any decision is made on offering such a service.”
The study offers three potential ferry terminal sites, one in Royal Bay, one at Ship Point, and lastly one in Esquimalt.
The first terminal would be located in Royal Bay on property that is part of a large housing development. The area would have room for 250 vehicles to park, space for bus stops and taxis, and a passenger drop-off and covered waiting area.
Victoria’s terminal would be located at Ship Point, a timber wharf that is undergoing repairs right in the inner harbour. The terminal would require the construction of two new berths, one on either side of the timber wharf, to service the ferries. Elements of the wharf would also have to replaced with concrete floats, and a new shelter area would have to built on or near the wharf deck.
Lastly, the terminal in Esquimalt would be located in the outer harbour Pacific Fleet Club building. The area was chosen because it sits outside of the Esquimalt Naval Base’s secure zone and could potentially make use of nearby buildings and real estate. However, the study also advises against creating this route, as a lower predicted ridership from the area would not offset the high capital costs of constructing a terminal.
(Proposed ferry routes / SNC-Lavalin)
Ferry design
The express passenger ferry line would make use of 5 Damen 3209 vessels, which are “high-speed” catamarans with a standard design and hull of marine grade aluminum alloy.
The vessels have a passenger capacity of 294 people and can maintain a desired crossing speed of 25 knots, even in waves of up to 2.5 metres tall.
(Damen Fast Ferry DFFe 3209 rendering / SNC-Lavalin)
Passenger fares and use
The study found that, based on CRD transportation model data, approximately 3,100 commuters would use the ferry route per day, assuming fares were the equivalent of a current bus ticket, $2.50.
Annual revenue at these predictions would bring in $2.2 million, and by 2038 it could make $3.4 million yearly with approximately 4,000 passengers a day.
While a seabus operating at BC Transit bus rates is best for commuters, the study found that this rate would lead to a loss of more than $8 million a year. The study recommends setting fare prices at $5.75 per trip.
Capital costs for BC Ferries
The combined estimate of capital costs for the construction of all three terminals, purchasing vessels, and allowing for a 30% cost contingency rings in at $41.6 million, a heft bill for BC Ferries.
If you remove the costs for the Esquimalt terminal, the estimated cost shrinks down to $31.6 million, with $27.9 needed for the Royal Bay development and $3.7 required for Victoria’s Ship Point terminal.
After capital, the study estimates that the largest operational cost to the ferry route would be staff and fuel. If there were four staff members per vessel, and three crews for each of the five vessels, staffing cost would be roughly $7 million per year.
Meanwhile, the cost for diesel fuel (at $0.95 per litre) would amount to roughly $3.2 million per year.
Recommendations
Initial assessment of the base outline predicts initial yearly losses of over $8 million, or roughly $240 million over 40 years.
In the study’s ideal model, several significant changes would be made to drop the 40 year cost to $31 million, and an initial cash positivity of $170,000 a year.
The key recommendations are:
Eliminating the Esquimalt terminal and route.
Reducing ship staffing to just two crew per vessel rather than four.
Reducing the number vessels to two and sailing frequency between Royal Bay amd Ship Point to every 40 minutes rather than every 20 minutes.
Reducing service hours to just the peak periods transit (4 hours in the morning and 4 hours in the afternoon/evening)
Using an alternative fuel. While no Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) version of the 3209 vessel currently exists, Damen estimates that this may be available in the future for an additional cost per vessel. The study found the cost of LNG is approximately half that of diesel.
Raising the fare price tp $5.75, though the study notes that this increased fare would result in a dramatic dip in ridership.
Increasing ferry speed to reduce the trip time, allowing two ferries to run at 30 minute intervals.
Moving forward
Should the project move forward, SNC-Lavalin and Steer recommend multiple next steps.
First and foremost, BC Ferries could explore financing and joint-funding options that involve organizations that will benefit economically and socially from the ferry route.
Secondly, research could be done into safety technology and the minimum crew size required for this type of vessel, and an investigation could be started on potential safety technology.
Additionally, a geotechnical investigation must be done to assess the conditions of the Royal Bay terminal site to determine the bedrock levels.
While the study provides even more recommendations, the last critical step would be conducting an assessment of off-peak demand data and a survey of potential ferry users.
BC Ferries received the study in early March and the review process is still in its early stages. No decision is expected to be made for quite some time.
Sooke’s Camp Thunderbird is one of the island’s oldest and most popular summer camps available, and this year big changes are coming to where children will be setting up their bunks.
The YMCA/YWCA overnight summer camp is offering cabins that house all genders for campers who have completed grades three through five, or who are approximately eight to eleven-years-old.
The move comes after many attendees contacted Camp Thunderbird about bunking with their friends of different genders, and to help lead inclusivity in youth.
“[The idea] started coming up in surveys for us a few years ago, and two things showed up,” said camp director Luke Ferris.
“The first was that some kids wanted to be registered in cabin groups with their best friends who were of a different gender, and there were some kids that come to camp that identify as transgender and we wanted to accommodate that,” he said.
The specifics
According to the camp’s website, there will be no limit on how many participants from any particular gender register in one cabin, as it is always “first come, first served”. However, cabin requests will always be considered for those who want to stick with their friends.
These mixed groups will also stay in cabins with private bathrooms.
The camp is unsure of how many all-gendered cabins there will be in total, as it depends on how many children register for this option. If the cabins are popular, Ferris says that there is “flexibility” in the number of spaces that can support the new policy.
The gender-inclusive cabins will be available for two weeks in August, between the 5th to 9th and 19th to 23rd.
Camp Thunderbird will be open for school programs at the end of April, and Summer camps will begin once schools end for Summer break in June.
One Saanich resident got an up close and personal with an apex predator this weekend after they spotted a cougar trying to hunt a deer in their own backyard in Cadboro Bay.
Just before 10 p.m. on Sunday night, Saanich Police received a call from a homeowner in the 2600 block of Queenswood stating they were keeping an eye on a cougar that was attempting to kill a deer on their property.
By the time officers arrived, the resident had already scared the cougar away and sent it slinking away towards a nearby beach.
“It had just attacked a deer when the homeowner scared it off,” said Sgt. Julie Fast of Saanich Police. “The cougar ran down towards the ocean and left the deer laying on the ground.”
Officers then searched the coastline but were unable to locate the animal.
Conservations officers were also contacted and aware of the situation but say the feline poses a low risk to the public and has likely moved on.
If a cougar is reported near your property, Saanich Police recommends calling the Conservation Officer Service at 1-877-952-7277 and your local police department. If you are inside when you spot a cougar, stay inside, and ensure your family and pets are also inside.
What to do if you encounter a cougar:
Never approach a cougar. Although cougars will normally avoid a confrontation, all cougars are unpredictable. Cougars feeding on a kill may be dangerous.
Always give a cougar an avenue of escape.
Stay calm. Talk to the cougar in a confident voice.
Pick all children up off the ground immediately. Children frighten easily, and their rapid movements may provoke an attack.
Do not run. Try to back away from the cougar slowly. Sudden movement or flight may trigger an instinctive attack.
Do not turn your back on the cougar. Face the cougar and remain upright.
Do all you can to enlarge your image. Don’t crouch down or try to hide. Pick up sticks or branches and wave them about.
If a cougar behaves aggressively:
Arm yourself with a large stick, throw rocks, speak loudly and firmly. Convince the cougar that you are a threat, not prey.
If cougar attacks, fight back! Many people have survived cougar attacks by fighting back with anything, including rocks, sticks, bare fists, and fishing poles.
After an incredibly snowy winter, the city is set to see double digit temperatures all week, according to Environment Canada.
From Monday through Wednesday, Victorians can expect clear skies and temperatures reaching a high of 15° and 16° celcius.
On Thursday, the warmth will stick around with a predicted 16° celcius all day, but clouds will be on the horizon.
Following a period of sun and cloud on Thursday, Friday and the weekend will see total cloud coverage with a chance of showers. The temperatures, however, will remain high above zero with predictions of 14° celcius for Friday and 12° for the weekend.
For now, start your week off by enjoying the sunshine! And don’t forget to stop to smell the flowers.
A total of seven vehicles were damaged after the elderly driver of a blue Subaru briefly lost control in a parking lot near the Beacon Hill Children’s Farm on Sunday.
At roughly 3 p.m., the single blue hatchback collided with 6 other parked vehicles in a Circle Drive parking lot before coming to rest on top of another vehicle, crushing its hood and part of its windshield.
No bystanders were injured in the incident, but sources who were at the scene say that an elderly female passenger in the Subaru was taken to hospital.
The series of crashes temporarily closed Circle Drive while crews investigated and cleaned up the debris.
Police are investigating the possibility the driver may have mistaken the accelerator for the brake pedal.
Four seasons after her husband’s disappearance, Colette remains emotionally motionless, isolated in a country cottage, waiting for word, or perhaps even more significantly, a connection. A young stranger in a jean jacket waves to her from the frozen lake—a sign? She emerges to give him her husband’s parka—strangely, the boy has a likeness to Tom. A moving story of vanished love enlivened by Panych’s trademark humour.
This Spring Break, March 18th – March 31st, the Robert Bateman Centre is offering free entry to all youth, aged 18 and under!
From our interactive Birdsong Gallery to the Virtual Reality Experience and multi-media video, there is something for everybody – as well as a scavenger hunt and art exploration map!
When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: The Robert Bateman Centre, 470 Belleville Street
Social gaming night – play new games, meet new people. This time, come and play in the ancient civilizations of the Mediterranean (Mare Nostrum, if you speak Latin, but you don’t need to).
Play: Traders of Carthage, 7 Wonders, Ave Cesar!, Downfall of Pompeii, Concordia and Imhotep
When: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Where: The Robert Bateman Centre, 470 Belleville Street
Saanich Police are seeking witnesses in an incident where a man broke into a home and sexually assaulted a 22-year-old woman.
In a release, police said the suspect entered the townhouse located in the 3900 block of Wolf Street in Gordon Head at around 2 a.m. on Sunday morning.
He then brandished a knife and proceeded to sexually assault the victim before fleeing the scene.
Although the home was dark at the time of the attack, the woman was able to describe her attacker as a tall male with short blond hair, athletic build, and may have been wearing glasses.
The suspect is not known to the victim, who is from the lower mainland and was staying overnight with her friends who attend UVic.
“It has become known to investigators that some residences in the area, where multiple University students are living together, are not being secured,” says a statement from Saanich Police Sgt. Chris Horsley.
“Although police do not feel the public at large are in danger, we remind everyone to ensure their homes are locked as it is possible the suspect had prior knowledge of the home being insecure.”
According to police, the victim is currently recovering, and has the support of her friends and various social services.
Anyone who may have observed suspicious activity around this time in the area surrounding the Gordon Head Townhouse complex is asked to contact Saanich Police at 250-475-4321.
The new federal program allowing parents to take an extra 5 weeks of shared parental leave will come into effect starting Sunday, March 17th.
According to Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, the program will allow new parents to receive extra weeks of parental benefits in an “effort to encourage more parents to share the work of raising their children more equally.”
The Employment Insurance parental sharing benefit adds five weeks to the existing 35-week standard option, and eight weeks to the 61-week extended option.
This move was announced in the 2018 federal budget and is intended to shift the “disproportionate” responsibility of child care away from primarily women, and to make sure that new mothers have the option to return to work sooner if they so choose.
“The introduction of the new five-week parental sharing benefit is welcome news for Canadian families. This additional leave will encourage all parents to be engaged in full-time caregiving for their infants, helping to create greater financial security for women, and stronger bonds between fathers or second parents and their babies,” said Maryam Monsef, Minister of International Development and Minister for Women and Gender Equality.
“By encouraging a more equitable distribution of child care within the home, this new parental leave benefit gives families more flexible child care options and advances gender equality both at home and in the workplace.”
The extended leave will be available for all new parents, including adoptive or same sex couples, of a child born or placed for the purpose of adoption on or after Sunday, March 17, 2019.
The federal government has also promised corresponding changes to the Canada Labour Code to ensure that all private sector employees feel free to take advantage of this new benefit without fear of losing their jobs.
This year’s annual flower count, which took place between March 6th and March 13th, saw a whopping 44 billion blooms counted in the Greater Victoria area.
After Victoria, the municipality that has the second-most number of blossoms is Saanich, at 14.5 billion blossoms.
We are SO EXCITED to announce that 44 billion blooms were counted during this year's Greater Victoria #FlowerCount! Victoria won the title of 'bloomingest' community with 19.9 billion flowers counted! Thank you to all who participated and made our 44th #flowercount a success! pic.twitter.com/bCyNJc6Icg
— Greater Victoria Flower Count (@FlowerCount) March 15, 2019
The Greater Victoria Flower Count is an annual event that began in 1976 and inspires people to count blooming spring flowers in communities across the island for one week.
The program hopes to boost community pride, promote tourism to the City of Gardens, and highlight Southern Vancouver Island’s temperate climate in contrast with the rest of the country.
If you’ve been considering making the West Shore your new home, now is the time to take the plunge!
The beautiful community of Royal Bay sits right at the edge of the water, with panoramic views of the Olympic Mountains to south and the skyline of Victoria’s iconic inner harbour just to the east.
GableCraft Homeshas just rolled out a new phase of residences in this scenic community, promising that being indoors will look just as good as being out! The West Commonstownhomes feature style, convenience, and worry-free living, right in the heart of the up-and-coming Royal Bay area in Colwood.
West Commons offers floor plans with 2 bed, 2 bed + flex, 3 bed and 3-bed + flex, ranging from 1292 to 1499 square feet. Each home promises inviting interiors, gourmet kitchens, beautiful bathrooms and modern conveniences. The townhomes start at $449,900 plus GST.
Without further ado, here’s a peek into two of GableCraft Homes’ brand new townhomes in beautiful Royal Bay!
Townhome 1:
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Townhome 2:
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If you missed the grand opening event showcasing these two brand new West Commons show homes on Saturday, stop by today (Sunday) from noon to 5 p.m.
