Santa and his elves made his list and checked it twice and the verdict is in!
With only five days before the big day, The Christmas Affairs Department of The North Pole Government released the annual naughty or nice list.
The list includes 29,367 names and it appears that well over 50% of you are on Santa’s good side this year.
With more than 255 births per minute, the Naughty and Nice list is constantly being reviewed and updated.
Detected by the Department’s Global Behaviour Tracking Network, the findings are sent directly to the North Pole Records Centre where Santa’s elves examine the data before Christmas Eve.
Using this advanced data mining technology the DOCA has confirmed 19,573 people can rest assured knowing they’ll wake up on Christmas morning without the fear of their stockings filled with coal.
For those that have fallen short, it’s okay, there still is time to plead your case!
If you believe your results are incorrect, you can defend your name by requesting a review on the DOCA’S website. Before submitting a request, be sure to include all the good deeds you’ve made over the year that you believe should reward a nice result.
This year the DOCA has released a naughty rehabilitation program for those that need a helping hand.
The Program’s team of nice coaches are currently helping naughty individuals set short and long term goals to achieve prolonged niceness as we head into 2023.
If you think this might be you or know of a friend that’s fallen on the naughty list, now is your time to check where your name stands on the list!
You can visit the official Naughty or Nice listhere and let us know what your report card says in the comment section below!
It’s no secret that we’re not very accustomed to the blanket of white Victoria is currently covered in.
Over the past couple days, the entire city has become a veritable winter wonderland, which is indeed wonderful—but can also make getting where you need to go difficult.
Transportation during winter conditions can be harrowing in itself, which is why it’s so important to remember to do your part when it comes to safety precautions while driving in the snow.
Things like having the proper tires on your vehicle and using caution while taking to the roads are key in these conditions, and some – like clearing your vehicle and windshields of snow and ice – can even earn you a fine if you don’t them.
With the onset of wintery conditions across BC, authorities remind drivers to clear all snow from their vehicle so that their view is not obstructed while driving.
Planning to drive today? Give yourself extra time this morning to clear off ALL the snow on your vehicle & to get to your destination. Use caution & drive to winter conditions. Be safe! #SnowDay
It may earn you a $109 ticket and three penalty points under Section 195 (1) (b) of the Motor Vehicle Act, ‘Drive While View Obstructed’.
“In these winter conditions you absolutely need to take extra time before driving to clear snow off your vehicle, so that your view is not obstructed and you are not creating a hazard on the road,” VicPD spokesman Cst. Cam MacIntyre told Victoria Buzz during a storm last January.
“Winter conditions are challenging enough without the added dangers created by drivers not taking a few simple steps to protect themselves and all road users.”
In a frightening incident last December, a pedestrian was struck while crossing a downtown Victoria intersection—and in dashcam footage of the hit-and-run, the vehicle involved could be seen covered in a heavy layer of snow—another stark reminder of the importance of clearing your vehicle of any snow or ice that may be obstructing your view.
Tuesday’s impressive snowfall is being compared to the blizzard of 1996 all over town because it was the most snow Victoria has seen since records began, but there were a few other dumps of snow that surpass what Victoria’s seen in the last 48 hours.
Only 26 years ago on December 29th, 1996, known as the ‘Blizzard of 96’’ there was more than double the amount of snow at the airport with 64.5 cm. That was the snowiest day ever recorded at the Victoria International Airport (YYJ).
Second and third place went to December of 2008 and 1968 with 35 and 34.8 cm respectively while fourth place was close with this year’s historic dump at 29.2 cm in January of 1971.
(RolfsWeather)
Those records only began in 1940 as the airport began operations, in 1916, Victoria saw the largest recorded snowfall of 46.4 inches which is 117.9 cm. That is more than four times the amount of snow that came down on Victoria over the last two days.
(BC Royal Museum)
Wednesday, December 21st being the first official day of winter, the accumulation of snow on the ground has set a record as the snowiest winter solstice on record in Victoria.
This adverse weather continues to plague BC Transit, BC Ferries and YYJ as suspensions, delays and cancellations have been rampant since the snow began on Tuesday.
Perhaps the snow will slow them down, or maybe not.
RCMP say pranksters, including one wearing a cow suit, who have been ringing doorbells in a Campbell River neighbourhood then running away are pushing the game too far.
Considered a harmless prank known as “nicky nine doors” which has been around for decades, Campbell River RCMP say they are on the lookout for a mischievous cow in the neighborhood surrounding Penfield School.
On December 3rd, shortly before 10 p.m., the slender dairy cow with a shock of blonde hair ascended the stairs to a home in the Penfield area, and rang the doorbell, but neglected to stick around to talk to the owner who opened the door shortly after.
Police said they were amazed the cow left no hoof prints, instead left footprints with a strange swoosh pattern in them.
“Many people may consider the game of nicky nine doors a harmless prank, and we are sure there are adults in the community who remember playing the game in good fun as youth,” said Cst Maury Tyre of the Campbell River RCMP.
“Unfortunately, in the Penfield area, what we have are some young people that have taken the game too far. Items in yards have been broken in haste and the repetitive nature of the events which have occurred as late as 3:00 am has stretched beyond fun to disturbing to many residents in the area,” added Tyre.
On more than one occasion the young people have ended up being physically apprehended by residents who have hit their breaking point, police said.
RCMP said they issued this release in hopes that some of the “older members of the herd can teach the young calves what is fun and what is criminal mischief in order to prevent further disturbance calls in the area.”
With snow removal now in full swing across Vancouver Island, some services across the capital district remain closed to ensure the safety of the public and employees.
Commuters and residents in Greater Victoria should be aware of the following closures on Wednesday, December 21st.
Those that were expecting recycling pickup this week, are asked to hold their blue bins for the next collection day or drop it off at a depot once the roads are safe to drive on.
For a second day in a row, public transit-goers in Greater Victoria will have to find an alternate mode of transportation due to snow and freezing conditions.
As of 10:20 a.m., the following routes are now resuming limited service.
2 James Bay/South Oak Bay – Not servicing Central/St. Patrick Terminus – routing via Oak Bay Marina
3 James Bay/Royal Jubilee – Not servicing May routing via Fairfield in both directions
4 Uvic/Downtown – Not servicing Blanshard/Fairfield Terminus – routing via Government & Superior
6 Royal Oak Exch/Dowtown- Not servicing Chatterton & Emily Carr – routing Royal Oak Mall
7 Uvic/Downtown- Regular Route
10 James Bay/Royal Jubilee – Regular Route
11 Tillicum Centre/Uvic – Not servicing Uplands – routing via Cadboro Bay in both directions
14 Vic General/Uvic – Regular Route
15 Esquimalt/Uvic – Regular Route
21 Interurban/Downtown – Not servicing Viaduct/Markham Tech Park – using Camosun College Loop
50 Langford/Downtown – Regular Route
Further up island, the Cowichan Valley Regional Transit System service is back with drivers operating on adverse weather routing, which is found on BC Transit’s website and listed in the Riders’ Guide.
For the most up-to-date information, BC Transit encourages customers to visit its website, NextRide or the Transit app.
(1/3)⚠️❄️ #YYJ#RiderAlert – due to unsafe road conditions, service continues to be suspended at this time. We truly apologize for the inconvenience & appreciate your patience.
Canada Post deliveries have also been suspended for Duncan, Sidney and Victoria today.
To ensure the safety of Canada Post mail carrier. The national mailing service is asking customers to ensure they clear their walkways, stairs and driveways once the service resumes.
Out of concern for public safety, the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority (GVHA) strongly urges everyone to refrain from walking the Breakwater and Inner Harbour lower causeway until the snow is cleared.
Royal Roads University
With increasing wind and windchill conditions, local authorities are advising people to stay off the roads. As a result, the RRU campus will remain closed today.
University of Victoria
UVic campus is closed and face-to-face exams are cancelled for the remainder of the day.
Online exams will remain as scheduled. UVic expects to reopen campus Thursday, December 22nd.
Camosun College
Due to continued heavy snow across the region, Camosun College remains closed on Wednesday, December 21.
Vancouver Island University
Today VIU’s Nanaimo, Cowichan and Powell River campuses have reopened.
Milner Gardens Christmas Magic will remain as scheduled for tonight, Tuesday, December 21.
Those looking to enjoy the beautiful winter views from high above the Malahat Skywalk, unfortunately, will have to wait as the popular attraction remains closed on Wednesday, December 21 due to extreme cold.
Crystal Pool and Fitness Centre
Victoria’s Crystal Pool and Fitness Centre has now reopened
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The deadline for the Early Bird Draw is December 23rd, so snag your tickets soon before they’re all gone!
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Deadlines to enter the final draws are:
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Know your limit, play within it. Must be 19+ to play.
On Wednesday morning, Environment Canada issued a statement warning that an arctic overflow is in effect for Greater Victoria.
An arctic outflow warning means there is a combination of high wind speed with cold temperatures in the coastal BC region creating uncommon temperatures of at least -20 degrees for a minimum of 6 hours.
This occurs when arctic air breaks from the Interior Mainland and spills out to the coast through mountain gaps and fjords.
The arctic outflow warning is in effect for all of Greater Victoria and the Southern Gulf Islands, bringing temperatures of near -20 degrees when the “bitterly cold winds” are taken into account.
(Environment Canada)
“An arctic front has brought in a cold airmass to the south coast,” said Environment Canada in a statement.
“Strong outflow winds are bringing temperatures near 10 degrees below seasonal normals resulting in wind chill values approaching minus 20 over the Greater Victoria and Southern Gulf Islands regions.”
“If outside, dress warmly in layers and stay dry. Cover as much exposed skin as possible to avoid frostbite. Ensure that shelter is provided for pets and outdoor animals. Be prepared for unusually cold temperatures and strong winds.”
The severe weather over the last couple days has caused pandemonium at the Victoria International Airport (YYJ), causing numerous flight cancellations and delays of up around 3 hours on average.
Sending out a big thank you to the YYJ airfield maintenance crew who have been working tirelessly to clear the runways. pic.twitter.com/eXiY6c0jE1
BC Ferries cancelled all morning and early afternoon sailings between many of their terminals including Swartz Bay and Tsawwessen on Tuesday.
As of Wednesday morning, BC Ferries hasn’t had to cancel any sailings but is dealing with some staffing shortages that have affected their departure times.
BC Transit cancelled all service to all of Greater Victoria and that service suspension has bled into Wednesday morning. BC Transit says they will begin trial runs today to see if the buses can make it in the snow.
“We are deploying some buses this morning as trials to test the road conditions. These buses will be deployed on a couple routes downtown and some that use the major thoroughfares,” said Tessa Humphries, BC Transit’s communications manager.
(1/3) ⚠️❄️ #YYJ#RiderAlert – After assessing the safety of our test drives earlier this morning, we will be gradually increasing the frequency of service in #VictoriaBC and starting to run new tests on additional routes.
Road conditions in Victoria continue to be dangerous due to heavy snow and icy conditions. Highways look to be mostly clear and Victorians can find a summarized list with updated images of highway conditions via Victoria Buzz’s current road conditions article.
This weather warning is in effect until Thursday morning.
For a second day in a row, public transit-goers in Greater Victoria will have to find an alternate mode of transportation due to snow and freezing conditions.
On Wednesday morning, BC Transit issued a statement saying they’re still dealing with unsafe driving conditions, meaning service remains suspended until further notice.
“We are deploying some buses this morning as trials to test the road conditions. These buses will be deployed on a couple routes downtown and some that use the major thoroughfares,” said Tessa Humphries, BC Transit’s communications manager.
“This is not a decision that we take lightly as we know our customers rely on us to get to their destinations,” said Humphries.
“Safety is our top priority and we appreciate your patience during this time.”
Update as of 9:10 a.m.:
After evaluating the road conditions based on the trials this morning, BC Transit said they are resuming limited service on the following routes:
2 James Bay/South Oak Bay – Not servicing Central/St. Patrick Terminus – routing via Oak Bay Marina
4 Uvic/Downtown – Not servicing Blanshard/Fairfield Terminus – routing via Government & Superior
15 Esquimalt/Uvic – Regular Route
50 Langford/Downtown – Regular Route
61 Sooke/Langford/Downtown – Regular route
70 Swartz Bay/Downtown Regular Route
(1/3)⚠️❄️ #YYJ#RiderAlert – due to unsafe road conditions, service continues to be suspended at this time. We truly apologize for the inconvenience & appreciate your patience.
On Tuesday, BC Transit said they dispatched about 10 buses in the early afternoon to test the road conditions but, due to conditions, made the decision to suspend service for the remainder of the day.
The ongoing cancellations come after the region saw nearly 30 cm of snow fall yesterday, followed by freezing conditions.
Environment Canada issued an arctic air warning Tuesday night stating temperatures in Victoria could drop to near -20°C with the wind chill.
BC Transit says the HandyDART service, similar to Tuesday, will offer essential service only for medical appointments.
(1/2) ⚠️❄️ #YYJ#RiderAlert – #handyDART is running essential service only for medical appointments today (Dec 21) due to road conditions, no fares are being collected. Drivers are working hard to help riders get out of their driveways, & have shovels to get as close as they can.
Similar to Tuesday, BC Transit will be deploy buses on a couple routes downtown and some that use the major thoroughfares to test operating conditions.
The Cowichan Valley Regional Transit System service is back with drivers operating on adverse weather routing, which is found on BC Transit’s website and listed in the Riders’ Guide.
For the most up-to-date information, BC Transit encourages customers to visit its website, NextRide or the Transit app.
As many services across Vancouver Island have shut down for the day in an effort to clear the snow, one festive event, in particular, is having to follow suit.
Tonight thousands of Twinkling lights at the Butchart Gardens will go dark as staff work around the clock to clear the snow that currently obstructs the path of the display spanning 1.6km.
Due to the last-minute cancellation, those that specifically purchased tickets for tonight, are allowed to use them any other night once the Butchart Gardens reopen.
As of right now, it is unclear as to what day Butchart Gardens will reopen.
With the Butchart Gardens’ set to reopen in the coming days, more information will be shared on the website for the local attraction.
This morning, BC Transit announced all service in Greater Victoria would be suspended due to heavy snowfall overnight.
At around 1 p.m., the public transit service made attempts to gradually resume service with slight adjustments.
Out of concern for passenger safety, at 2:30 p.m. BC Transit’s efforts were abandoned with service now suspended for the rest of the day.
“This is not a decision that we take lightly as we know our customers rely on us to get to their destinations. Safety is our top priority and we appreciate your patience during this time. We apologize for the inconvenience and advise customers to visit bctransit.com/Victoria,” said BC Transit Representative, Tessa Humphries in a press release.
BC transits next service update will be shared after 6 a.m. on Wednesday, December 21st. For more information on your route make sure to stay informed through BC Transit’s weather advisory.
(1/2) ⚠️❄️ #YYJ#RiderAlert – due to challenging conditions, service will continue to be suspended for the rest of the day (Dec 20). We truly apologize for the inconvenience & thank you for your patience.
Koen Knorr, who was the subject of a high-risk missing youth alert earlier today, has been found safe by officers.
— original:
VicPD are asking for the public’s help in finding a 16-year-old boy who is missing in Victoria.
Koen Knorr is a high-risk youth who police say has a wound on his hand that requires medical treatment.
According to police, Knorr was last seen on December 18th in the 3000-block of Blanshard Street. He was reported missing with VicPD on December 20th.
VicPD describes Knorr as a 16-year-oldCaucasian boy standing 5’5” tall with a slim build. He has brown eyes and curly brown hair.
“We do not know exactly what Koen was wearing when he went missing but he is known to wear dark coloured pants, high-top sneakers and a puffy jacket,” said Cst. Terri Healy in a media statement.
Police say he is also known to wear a bandana on his face with a toque or a baseball hat.
VicPD say that officers are continuing their search for Knorr.
Police ask that if you have information about where Koen Knorr may be, call VicPD at (250) 995-7654.
Victoria has received its annual dump of snow, knee-deep snow as far as the eye can see!
Now that the holiday break is in full swing for the little ones, today offers a great chance to take the kids out tobogganing.
Get your snow pants and jacket on and grab your go-to sledding instrument, whether it is a sheet of cardboard or a yoga mat, and enjoy the cold winter fun with our top picks of the 8 best hills to toboggan on throughout Greater Victoria:
Known for its steep and rocky hill, on a day like today when there’s a thick blanket of snow, Mount Tolmie is guaranteed to offer a thrilling experience for all ages.
Tucked away in Gordon Head, this park offers a large open field perfect for pulling around your little ones in a sleigh. This park can be reached from Moonlight Lane or Ferndale Road.
Gordon Head area (Travis Devonport / Victoria Buzz)
Snow’s in, school’s out!
With all post-secondary schools cancelled for the day, BC Transit buses brought to a halt, and advisories against non-essential travel, most of Victoria has the day off to head outside and enjoy the pre-Christmas snow.
For those who despise all things frosty or simply don’t wish to brave the icy roads, a cozy day in might be the order of the day.
Nevertheless, the rare foot or two of snow in the capital city has offered many a chance to snap some incredible photos and capture our little winter wonderland on film.
Without further ado, here are 25 photos/videos of Greater Victoria in the snow:
Every Victorian’s favourite downtown toy store has found a new home!
Cherry Bomb Toys has been a Broad Street mainstay for more than 18 years and its upstairs toy museum, which is the National Toy Museum of Canada, is host to hundreds of retro, vintage and rare collectibles.
Owners Candice and B Woodward found out in September that the new landlords of the building they’ve called home for well over a decade had new plans for the space and their leases on the ground floor, mezzanine, basement and upstairs living space would be coming to a close.
That didn’t mean the end for the Woodwards and their toy store though. Right away, they set up a GoFundMe and they got to work finding a new home for all their toys.
On Sunday, December 18th the duo announced they had found a new space and they will be able to stay in downtown Victoria.
“So we looked around everywhere in Victoria, we were looking at all sorts of spaces,” Candice told Victoria Buzz.
“We really want to grow our museum, so we needed somewhere that kind of worked for both the store and the museum.”
While their priority remained focussed on finding somewhere to go, accessibility has become a huge priority and goal for the Woodwards.
“Accessibility is tricky downtown,” said Candice. “There’s a lot of spaces that aren’t accessible.”
The new space they found used to be home to the Patch Clothing, a vintage store located at 719 Yates Street.
Their new storefront is accessible, same as their old location but they want to make the museum accessible as well.
“The Patch location is absolutely perfect for us but it has stairs in it, so we’re going to have to build ramps for accessibility,” Candice told Victoria Buzz.
“There’s the main level, then another little level, then there’s the top level in the back too.”
Another thing that Candice and B Woodward hope to grow in their move is the toy museum.
“Victoria needs some really good attractions, especially family oriented attractions and our museum is perfect for that,” Candice said.
While renovations happen in the new space, the storefront on Broad Street will be open until around the end of April. That will give them time to get some work done on the new spot and get all their permits in place.
The basement storage space in the original location ends at the end of December though, so they are beginning their move with that.
The new location–permits permitting–Candice hopes to open on May the fourth as a little easter egg for the clientele they’ve served for nearly two decades.
The holidays are all about making those precious moments spent with family friends, and creating memories that will last a lifetime.
This year, why not add something new to your list?
At Malahat SkyWalk, they’ve created a long list of family-friendly, fun and festive experiences that are sure to make your holiday season magical.
And with the holiday break officially upon us and kids out of school, what better time to check out all that they have to offer?
You can enjoy a cozy beverage, warm fire, their massive holiday tree, crafts, and visits from Santa–you may even see Luke the Sasquatch partaking in the holiday fun!
Most of these events carry on until January 1st, so make sure to stop by and check them out while the magic is still here.
Here’s a list of holiday magic happening at the Malahat SkyWalk you can’t miss:
Go see Santa
The quintessential holiday tradition! Children of all ages are invited to come visit and take photos with Santa.
When: December 22nd – 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Santa’s WorkShop
Ready to get crafty? Enjoy making your own creations for the season at the Tower Plaza.
When: December 17th – 31st, January 1st
The Claus Family Bakery
Who doesn’t love treats? The Claus Family Bakery is serving seasonal hot beverages and baked goods at the Tower Plaza.
Made with love by the hands of the Malahat SkyWalk elves!
When: December 17th – 31st, January 1st
Pop-up Gift Shop
In need of the perfect unique gift for the holidays? Purchase local and authentic gifts for the season at this special Gift Shop at the Tower Plaza!
When: December 17th – 31st, January 1st
Fire Pit
Time to get toasty! Warm up, roast marshmallows and make s’mores at the fire pit located at the Tower Plaza.
When: December 17th – 31st, January 1st
Malahat SkyWalk is open daily throughout the holiday season from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and Christmas Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. as well as New Years Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Want to check out the Malahat SkyWalk for yourself? Grab your tickets online here!
Around this time of year, students and people working away from home are starting to make the journey back to their families for the holidays.
While travelling this time of year can be stressful for many, being prepared and ready for your flight will help you avoid chaos and enjoy what really matters—time spent with family.
Whether you are leaving Victoria or coming back to the Island these 21 travel tips will help ensure you start your holiday adventure in the right direction.
Make sure you have all of the documentation required to travel. Requirements can vary depending on whether you are travelling domestically or internationally so you might want to check with your airline. Be sure to have a valid (not expired) government-issued passport for all flights.
This time of year with an influx of passengers, airlines may be strictly enforcing baggage limitations. Please check with your airline to confirm your flight and verify that your luggage is within the size and weight restrictions for both carry-on and checked baggage.
Most major airlines offer customers the option of saving time by checking in for their flights online up to 24 hours before departure. While it is not mandatory, checking in online can help save you a considerable amount of time once you arrive at the airport.
Before leaving for the airport, it is always a good idea to check the airline to ensure the flight is still on schedule.
When driving or ridesharing to the airport give yourself extra time to park, check your baggage, and clear security screening.
For those bringing their own vehicle, the YYJ airport does not accept parking reservations. Have no fear, there is plenty of parking at the airport as well as short and long-term parking spots.
Payment options for short-term parking are debit or credit only. Cash is not accepted
Payment for long-term parking includes cash at the exit booth, debit, credit or online using PARKEDIN application.
It is recommended that during the holiday season, those flying should arrive at least two hours before a scheduled departure time for check-in and pre-board security.
If you are travelling with a smart bag or stroller, make sure you remove the battery before check-in or boarding.
With many bags looking the same, it is always a good idea to add a distinctive feature to the bag so that it will stand out for you.
In case your luggage was to go missing, passengers should take photos of checked luggage to help with the location of the missing bags.
If you are travelling internationally, remember what you packed and be aware of the destination border inspection rules for agriculture items and prohibited items.
When it comes to security checks, if you are travelling with gifts, it is recommended that they be unwrapped.
If you are taking a wrapped item, it is best to place it in your checked baggage.
Keep valuables, medicine and other important items in your carry-on baggage.
Have your boarding pass and proof of full COVID-19 vaccination ready to present for verification when you get to the screening checkpoint.
When it comes to the security check, you can choose the order in which you place your items in the bins. If you have something that you want to keep an eye on, you should place it in the last bin that’ll go through the X-ray.
Sports equipment such as skis, snowboards, ski poles, hockey sticks and golf clubs are not permitted as carry-on items and must be transported as checked baggage.
If travelling with your personal pet – please check with your airline first to ensure your animal is allowed on board. Some airlines do not allow pets into the cabin during the holiday season.
Last but not least, never joke or make “small talk” about bombs, firearms or other weapons while going through pre-board screening. In Canada, it is a criminal offence
Have a travelling tip you’d like to share? Let us know in the comment section below!
After 88 years in business, Capital Iron closed its doors for the last time on Saturday.
For nearly a century, the locally owned and operated general store was a prime destination for Greater Victorians and tourists stopping throughout the downtown core.
Loyal shoppers over the years spent time reflecting on memories shared at the long-time business.
“We loved that store – back when it still had the really cool old stuff in the basement, etc. Also shopped often at the Sidney location and found all sorts of great stuff, from clothing to Japanese bowls and kitchen gadgets. Will really miss stopping there when we visit Victoria,” Betty K wrote on Victoria Buzz’s Facebook page.
For Ray M, Capital Iron represents an origin story for her family.
“My dad immigrated from England in 1958 and got his first job working for Mr. Greene at Capital Iron salvaging military assets,” Ray tells Victoria Buzz.
Originally founded in 1934, Capital Iron was a scrap store and ship dismantling business.
By 1971, the scraping days for the business were behind them with a new focus on retail.
Mike Black and his wife Evaline Black are the third generation of the family to be at the helm of the family business, along with their daughter Kylie Black.
While there were multiple Capital Iron stores in the region, the Sidney location shut its doors in January 2020, just before the COVID-19 pandemic took hold of the world.
And on Saturday, both the Langford location and the Store Street flagship of Capital Iron would be closed for good.
Almost 50 employees will be left unemployed as a result of the business closures.
The economic climate just became too much for the business to remain open for business and profitable.
In 2022 inflation has reached an all time high, supply chain issues have become the bane of the retail world’s existence and the COVID-19 pandemic changed the way any business operates on a day-to-day basis.
With yet another closure of a locally owned and operated company, how do you feel about the end of Capital Iron? Let us know in the comment section below.
Snow or no snow? That’s the question that online gambling site PlayNow is asking—and they’re willing to pay up if you get it right!
The BCLC website has announced a new kind of holiday bet, and you guessed it—it’s weather-based.
For the next 5 days, Victorians willing to test their luck can now place a wager on whether or not the city sees a white Christmas this year.
With less than a week until the big day and over 30 cm of snow slamming the island overnight, the odds of a winter wonderland are unpredictable.
Last year some parts of Greater Victoria were blessed with a healthy enough amount of snow on the ground to go tobogganing, have snowball fights and struggle on their road trip to a family dinner on Christmas Day.
However, the last true ‘white Christmas’ with fresh snowfall was in 2017.
This year, however, in early December, Old Farmer’s Almanac predicted snow for Victoria on Christmas Day but Environment Canada is saying otherwise.
With rain in the forecast on Sunday, December 25th, the current odds of a white Christmas in the provincial capital is set at 2.50. Ranking Victoria alongside Vancouver as the two cities in BC with the least chance of snowfall.
Betting is currently open and will end at noon on Sunday, December 25th.
BC Transit and BC Ferries have cancelled or suspended almost all travel on the island after more than 33 cm of snowfall came down on Greater Victoria overnight.
On Tuesday, December 20th, flights have been affected by the heavy snowfall as well.
Flights at YYJ remain mostly cancelled this morning due to heavy snowfall. If your flight has been cancelled please do not come to the airport. Check with your air carrier & our website for the latest flight information. Thank you to our crews for working hard to clear the snow pic.twitter.com/CZkD98fjbP
Pacific Coastal Airlines seem to be the only airline unaffected by the snow flying in and out of the Victoria International Airport (YYJ) while WestJet has cancelled most of their flights and Air Canada has been delaying theirs.
Meanwhile, almost all arrivals have been nixed through Tuesday morning at YYJ, up until 12:20 p.m. today.
The best way to stay up to date with flight information at YYJ is through their website on the arrivals and departures pages.
You can also follow YYJ on Twitter for updates from the airport.
So far for Wednesday, December 21st, only one flight is listed as cancelled and one is delayed as of 4 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon. The cancelled flight is Air Canada’s 6:25 a.m. departure bound for Vancouver.
The snowfall has caused several Environment Canada weather warnings for most of BC, including Vancouver Island, the Lower Mainland and Metro Vancouver.
“Consider postponing non-essential travel until conditions improve,” said Environment Canada in a weather warning for Greater Victoria on Tuesday morning.
“Surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots may become difficult to navigate due to accumulating snow.”
“Visibility will be suddenly reduced to near zero at times in heavy snow and blowing snow. There may be a significant impact on rush hour traffic in urban areas. If visibility is reduced while driving, turn on your lights and maintain a safe following distance.”
As primary to grade 12 students enjoy their Christmas break, playing in the snow with their friends, the following six universities and colleges across Vancouver Island have announced shutdowns:
Many Sprott Shaw campuses across BC have shut down, including the Victoria campus.
With an additional 10 cm of snow forecasted tonight, road conditions throughout the region remain unsafe, if you plan on driving today, Environment Canada warns those commuting to stay up to date of the condition of their route.
At the North Island College Port Alberni, Campbell River, and Comox Valley campuses are closed. With the exception of Mixalakwila campus, which remains open.
BC Ferries announced early on Tuesday morning that their first and second round trips between all terminals were cancelled.
The ‘adverse weather’ advisory on BC Ferries website details all the affected routes. At 6 a.m. on Tuesday December 20th, they announced the following:
The first round trips are cancelled for the following routes:
Tsawwassen (Vancouver) – Swartz Bay (Victoria)
Tsawwassen (Vancouver) – Duke Point (Nanaimo)
Horseshoe Bay (Vancouver) – Departure Bay (Nanaimo)
Horseshoe Bay (Vancouver) – Langdale (Sunshine Coast)
The first two round trips are cancelled for the following routes:
Tsawwassen (Vancouver) – Southern Gulf Islands
Swartz Bay (Victoria) – Southern Gulf Islands
Nanaimo Harbour – Descanso Bay (Gabriola Island)
Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay) – Bowen Island (Snug Cove)
Salt Spring Island (Vesuvius Bay) – Crofton
Brentwood Bay – Mill Bay
Thetis Island (Preedy Harbour) – Penelakut Island (Telegraph Harbour) – Chemainus
Since BC Ferries posted these cancellations at 6 a.m. their third and fourth round trips have also been cancelled from Tsawwassen, Swartz Bay and Salt Spring Island.
According to BC Ferries departures and arrivals webpage, all sailings up until 3 p.m. from all major terminals have been cancelled. No sailings have left the Swartz Bay or Tsawwessen terminals as of this time.
The 3 p.m. sailing from both Swartz Bay and Tsawwassen are full and BC Ferries is loading as many vehicles as possible.
The Victoria bound ferry is slightly delayed now though due to foggy conditions.
Some smaller terminals have started operations after cancelling the first few morning sailings. Vancouver’s Horseshoe Bay terminal is now sailing to and from Sunshine Coast (Langdale) and Bowen Island (Snug Cove), but those are the only terminals operating as of 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, December 20th.
Environment Canada has a ‘winter storm warning’ in effect for Greater Victoria and a ‘snowfall warning’ in effect for greater Vancouver as well as the Gulf Islands and the Lower Mainland.
“Dangerous travel conditions due to heavy snow and poor visibilities in blowing snow,” says Environment Canada’s weather warning.
“Consider postponing non-essential travel until conditions improve. Surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots may become difficult to navigate due to accumulating snow. Visibility will be suddenly reduced to near zero at times in heavy snow and blowing snow.”
“There may be a significant impact on rush hour traffic in urban areas. If visibility is reduced while driving, turn on your lights and maintain a safe following distance.”
Traffic and driving conditions being dangerous for people to get to and from ferry terminals is likely a big factor in all the cancellations thus far today.
The province also issued their own statement urging drivers to avoid travel.
Drivers on the Lower Mainland and southern and central Vancouver Island are encouraged to avoid non-essential travel today due to the heavy snowfall overnight.
At least 30 cm of snow fell on the Malahat and other areas of the island with more expected throughout the day.
The province said EMCON, which maintains the highways, are out in full force to clear snow and apply sand to the roadways.
“It is important for drivers to keep their distance as sand is applied and to not pass winter-maintenance equipment,” the province said.
Drivers can assist maintenance crews by moving over safely when they see a vehicle with an amber light approaching. This allows maintenance crews to clear the snow and improve road conditions to reduce hazards for drivers.
BC Transit has suspended all service in Greater Victoria Tuesday morning due to heavy snowfall overnight.
In addition, BC Ferries and other agencies are also warning of cancellations as road conditions throughout the region remain unsafe.
Heavy snowfall continues to fall with amounts in the region tallying up to 25 cm overnight.
“Due to recent snowfall and challenging driving conditions, all service is currently suspended in the Victoria Regional Transit System,” BC Transit said in a statement just before 6:30 a.m. Tuesday morning.
“BC Transit is closely monitoring conditions and our team is working hard to resume service.”
Service is also currently suspended in the Cowichan Valley Regional Transit system.
In a tweet, BC Ferries said multiple routes have been impacted.
As of this publication, most sailings have been cancelled or delayed between Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland.
#BCFHeadsUp Due to adverse snow conditions on roads and at terminals, service on multiple routes has been affected for today, Tuesday, December 20, 2022.
Highway maintenance contractor, Emcon Services, is asking drivers to avoid travel if possible with an advisory in effect for Highway 1 from Langford to Mill Bay.
Current conditions across South #VanIsle. Limited visibility, heavy snowfall, roads are snow covered. 25+cm of new snow overnight.
— Emcon Services Inc. – South Island Division (@EmconSouthVI) December 20, 2022
As of 5 a.m., Victoria saw upwards of 25 cm of snowfall with more expected this morning.
The snow has forced the closure and cancellation of many other services in the region as well.
The CRD says all scheduled blue box collection is cancelled today due to unsafe weather in the region. Those affected are advised to hold their recycling until their next collection day.
Camosun College will remain closed today and all classes have been cancelled.
While motorists are being encouraged to stay off the roads this morning, here are the latest images from DriveBC on the highways with a high frequency of commuters—these images will update every 15 minutes:
Highway 17 at Mount Newton X Road (N camera):
Highway 17 at Sayward Road near Elk Lake (S camera):
Highway 17 at Royal Oak Drive (N camera):
Highway 17 at Carey Road in Saanich (NW camera):
Highway 1 at Admirals Road and McKenzie Avenue (W camera):
Highway 1 near Burnside Road and Island Highway exit (W camera):
Millstream Road at Highway 1 overpass (N camera):
Highway 1 at Spencer Road (W camera):
Highway 1 at West Shore Parkway (W camera):
Highway 1 at Goldstream Park (N camera):
Highway 1 at Tunnel Hill (N camera):
Highway 1 at Okotoks Drive (N camera)
Highway 1 at Malahat Drive (N camera):
Highway 1 at Malahat Summit (N camera):
Highway 1 near Mill Bay Road, Bamberton Park entrance (N camera):
Highway 1 at Butterfield Road (N camera):
Highway 1 at Shawnigan Mill Bay Road, Mill Bay (N camera):
Highway 1 at Cobble Hill Road (S camera):
Highway 1 and Trunk Road in Duncan (S camera):
Highway 1 at South Davis Road, south of Ladysmith (S camera):
Sooke Road (Highway 14) at Suyer Road (W camera):
Sooke Road (Highway 14) at Kangaroo Road (W camera):
Sooke Road (Highway 14) at Lazzar Road, near Sooke (W camera):
Tom Hanks and director Robert Zemeckis reunite for The Polar Express, an inspiring adventure based on the beloved children’s book by Chris Van Allsburg. When a doubting young boy takes an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery that shows him that the wonder of life never fades for those who believe.
On Tuesday, December 20th The Polar Express will be playing at 5:15 p.m.
When: Select days starting December 17th to December 31st
Where: IMAX in downtown Victoria, 675 Belleville Street
13 years since Avatar was first released, the long-awaited sequel is finally here!
Jake Sully and Neytiri have formed a family and are doing everything to stay together. However, they must leave their home and explore the regions of Pandora. When an ancient threat resurfaces, Jake must fight a difficult war against the humans.
Where:
Cineplex Odeon, 780 Yates Avenue
Capitol 6 Theatres, 805 Yates Street
SilverCity, 3130 Tillicum Road
Westshore Cinema, 2945 Jacklin Road
When: Tuesday, December 20th at the following times
IQ 2000 Trivia is one of the funniest quiz nights in Victoria!! Round up some friends to prove your intellectual excellence, mental mettle, and cerebral superiority!!
Bundle up and stroll through the Twelve Days of Christmas display, sing along to the sounds of the season with Traditional Carollers or listen to the Festive Brass, then stop in at the Coffee Shop to warm up with a hot chocolate and gingerbread by the fire.
Where: The Butchart Gardens,
When: December 1st to December 31st, 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Another major retailer in Victoria has announced it will be closing its doors for good.
After nearly three decades, the Toys “R” Us store at Victoria’s Mayfair Shopping Centre is officially shutting its doors on January 2nd, 2023.
While there are rumours the popular children’s toy store could return to the region in the future, shoppers are currently greeted with a large sign outside the store confirming that the location is indeed closing.
“Thank you for everything! This location will be closing on January 2nd, 2023,” the sign reads.
“We’re so proud to have been a part of this community and we hope to return in the future.”
(Seanna Wainman / Victoria Buzz)
The Toys “R” Us opened in Mayfair on October 29th, 1994.
Victoria Buzz reached out to the manager of Toys “R” Us but they were unable to comment on the closure at this time.
After the toy chain rain into financial troubles, Canadian retail entrepreneur Doug Putman purchased the chain from investment conglomerate Fairfax Financial in 2021.
At the time of the acquisition, there were 81 locations across Canada which employed 5,000 employees.
Putman also owns Sunrise Records and Entertainment Limited and purchased HMV in 2019.
Fairfax took over the toy retailer’s Canadian assets when the US parent went insolvent a few years ago for $300 million.
Christmas dinner at Our Place, 2021 (Our Place Society / Instagram)
Everyone deserves to have a bite of turkey and stuffing smothered in gravy near Christmas.
Our Place Society feeds some of Victoria’s most vulnerable residents every day but they are stepping it up this week to bring their clients and anyone in need of a hot meal a proper Christmas dinner.
For more than 15 years, Our Place Society has been doing a Christmas dinner in some form or another. This season, they expect to feed between 600 and 800 mouths on Wednesday, December 21st, for the annual home-cooked Christmas meal.
Local politicians, radio hosts and TV anchors will be on hand to help serve up a warm meal to Victoria’s struggling population.
“Everybody loves a good holiday meal,” says Julian Daly, Chief Executive Officer of Our Place.
“Our chefs never disappoint. It’s also exciting to have local dignitaries return to meet and serve our vulnerable population.”
Grant McKenzie, Director of Communications at Our Place Society says all the food comes into Our Place’s kitchen via Greater Victorian good samaritans.
“Most of the money for food is from money that’s donated,” McKenzie told Victoria Buzz.
“We can really stretch a dollar even though the prices have gotten kind of crazy the last few years.”
Their donations from generous Victorians allows them to get enough funds for one of the biggest collective community dinners in the city.
“I think we usually cook up about 400 pounds of turkey, probably about 500 pounds of potatoes and I don’t even know how many litres of gravy,” chuckled McKenzie.
In addition to the turkey dinner with all the fixings, those who will be receiving this Christmas meal will also have a dessert, courtesy of Rogers Chocolates who are donating festive chocolates.
Our Place still has some COVID restrictions in effect for the safety of the community they serve, so the meal will be served up cafeteria style instead of the meal being table service as it has been in some years past.
The meal will be served at Our Place Society (919 Pandora Avenue) from noon until 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, December 21st.
“We always look forward to it,” McKenzie told Victoria Buzz. “It’s a real way to connect with people because a lot of times people don’t have a family of their own and so we become their de facto family.”
People of all walks of life who are struggling financially with putting a meal on their table are welcome.
“Our Place has always been there for people going through difficult times–regardless of the reason,” says Daly.
“This year, perhaps more than ever, people who thought they would never need our services are finding their way to our doors.”
Local philanthropist and businessman, Gordie Dodd has also committed to providing an additional Christmas dinner for Victoria’s vulnerable population via Our Place Society on Tuesday, December 20th from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
In two nail-biting showdowns, this weekend the Victoria Royals rode a new wave of success, winning back-to-back games against the Tri-City Americans.
Kicking off the action-packed weekend with a brief bout of turbulence, the Royal’s highly anticipated Teddy Bear Toss shot out of the gate prematurely in what was believed to be the first Royals goal by Riley Gannon, on a shorthand breakaway in the first period.
Shock and surprise covered the faces of 3,761 fans in attendance as the goal was quickly called off by the referee after bouncing off the crossbar, landing near the goal line but not over.
What felt like a festive Christmas movie, nearly 2,300 stuffies rained down upon the Royals who spent a good part of ten minutes clearing the ice.
(Photo by Travis Devonport)
This year’s teddy bears were collected and donated to local charities throughout Greater Victoria.
While many in the crowd expected this to be the highlight of the night, those in attendance were in for a pleasant surprise – a back-and-forth game with a strong American team.
Dubbed as Teddy Bear Toss part two, Brayden Schuurman scored the first real goal of the night for the Royals, tying the game 1-1 in the first period.
(Photo by Travis Devonport)
Following shortly behind Schuurman, Gannon made it 2-1 on the power play at 14:40 of the first period.
After pushing the pace of the game in the first period, Tri-City bounced back and rallied a massive three-goal lead, marking a 5-2 deficit against the Royals.
This is the point where you’d usually turn off your phone and walk away—but the Royals had a different idea.
In recovery mode, Teague Patton and Jake Poole ended the second and started the third period on a strong note with a goal for both forwards, bringing the game back to a competitive 5-4 rally against the Americans.
Tying the game five-all, Justin Kipkie scored his fourth goal of the season, placing the Royals in overtime contention.
In a back-and-forth match, with the fans on their feet. Patton scored his second of the game bringing the Royals to a 6-5 lead over the Americans.
Coming back with a vengeance the Americans tied the game 6-6 pushing one of the Royal’s most competitive games in recent memory to overtime.
Overtime would prove lackluster for both teams forcing the game to a shootout.
Patton would end the night with a game-winner in the fifth round of the shootout, concluding an action-packed game with a 7-6 victory for the Royals.
On Saturday, success would follow the team once more over their frustrated rivals, as the Royals capped a weekend sweep in a 6-5 win.
The Christmas Classic saw 3,184 fans decked out in ugly Christmas sweaters cheer on, Riley Gannon, Nate Misskey, Austin Zemlak, Carter Dereniwsky, and Justin Kipkie putting goals on the board.
That night was extra special for 17-year-old Teydon Trembecky who scored his first WHL goal to solidify the win.
As the team takes a holiday break to celebrate their recent success with family and friends. The Royals will be back on the ice on Tuesday, December 27th as they face off against their Vancouver rivals.
Local fans should mark Friday, December 30th in their calendars, as the Royals will face off against the Vancouver Giants once more on home ice at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre.
Sailings on a BC Ferries vessel have been affected by weather, mechanical issues and staff shortages all day on Monday.
At 7:40 a.m. on December 19th, BC Ferries stated in a tweet that a rescue boat for the Quinitsa had its motor and throttle frozen.
The Quinitsa was the sole vessel transporting passengers from Vesuvius Bay to Crofton due to the Quinsam being out of commission.
Initially, the issues due to low temperatures only affected two sailings, the 6 a.m. to 7:05 a.m. sailing from Salt Spring Island’s Vesuvius Bay and the 6:30 a.m. to 7:40 a.m. from Crofton were cancelled.
BC Ferries went on to cancel all sailings up until 11:25 a.m. due to these mechanical issues.
Just before 11:30 a.m., BC Ferries claimed that parts had been acquired to make the repairs necessary, saying the vessel may be able to continue on its route for the remainder of the day.
However, sailings were derailed again at 1:39 p.m. when BC Ferries tweeted that they now may have to cancel more sailings due to a staff shortage.
#ServiceNotice#Crofton As BC Ferries has been unsuccessful in securing the required number of crew on the #Quinitsa, all sailings beginning at 1:45 pm departing #Vesuvius and onwards are at risk of cancellation.
“We require a specific number of staff members on board the vessel to ensure the safety of our passengers in the unlikely event of an emergency and to comply with Transport Canada regulations,” said BC Ferries in a statement on the matter.
“The decision to cancel a sailing in these circumstances is made when we have exhausted all options to find replacement staff. If circumstances change and replacement staff become available, we would notify customers immediately.”
Sailings at risk of cancellation Monday, December 19th:
1:45 p.m. departing Vesuvius Bay
2:20 p.m. departing Crofton
3 p.m. departing Vesuvius Bay
3:35 p.m. departing Crofton
4:15 p.m. departing Vesuvius Bay
4:50 p.m. departing Crofton
5:30 p.m. departing Vesuvius Bay
6:05 p.m. departing Crofton
6:45 p.m. departing Vesuvius Bay
7:55 p.m. departing Crofton
8:30 p.m. departing Vesuvius Bay
9 p.m. departing Crofton
9:30 p.m. departing Vesuvius Bay
10 p.m. departing Crofton
To make up for both ships being out of commission, just after 2 p.m. BC Ferries made a statement informing travellers that a water-taxi had been hired to temporarily transport customers without vehicles.
“A 12-passenger water taxi had been sourced to provide complimentary foot passenger shuttle mode service between Vesuvius Bay and Crofton this morning,” said BC Ferries in their statement.
Passengers were also directed to take the Fulford Harbour to Swartz Bay route if they did have a vehicle to transport.
West Shore RCMP are currently looking to return a collection of high-valued stamps to their rightful owner.
During an investigation on November 11th, officers recovered stolen items including two vehicles and the collection.
To date, all of the items have since been returned except for the stamp collection.
According to investigators, these items were sold to another, who believed their recent purchase may have been stolen at some point before they paid for the items.
“The person who had them prior, who was trying to get rid of them was likely aware that they were stolen,” Cpl Nancy Saggar tells Victoria Buzz.
For those that think the stolen stamps might be theirs, “the owner will be asked to identify the specifics of the stamps inside the booklet,” said Cpl. Nancy Saggar West Shore RCMP in a press release.
If you know who the collection belongs to, West Shore RCMP encourages you to call their non-emergency line at 250-474-2264.
The search for a missing 38-year-old hiker has been suspended as of Monday, December 19th.
Initially, Melissa McDevitt’s disappearance was being investigated by VicPD when her family reported her missing for not showing up for a flight. She last spoke with family members on December 8th.
Her vehicle was found near the Charters River and Hatchery parking lot on December 10th and a ground search was initiated immediately by Juan De Fuca Search and Rescue.
The search for high-risk missing woman Melissa McDevitt continues today. Our @SookeRCMP partners are leading the search near the potholes w @JdFSAR expert assistance, while we follow up here. If you saw Melissa or her vehicle, call (250) 995-7654 ext 1. #yyjhttps://t.co/RpSdRCSd51
According to police, it isn’t out of the ordinary for McDevitt to go hiking near the Sooke Potholes and on neighbouring trails like John Stick Peak, Malcolm, the Donald, Mike Hill, the Three Amigos and Tony’s Triumph.
Sooke RCMP took over the investigation from VicPD after video footage was found showing McDevitt entering a trail-head just before 2 p.m. on December 9th, with nothing but two hiking poles.
On Friday, Sooke RCMP, the Juan De Fuca Search and Rescue team, RCMP Air Services and Police Dog Services scaled back their search and the search shifted gears to a recovery mission rather than a rescue, given the circumstances of the weather conditions and the fact they had not found her yet.
On Saturday, there were nearly 200 volunteers with boots-on-the-ground in the area of the Charters River and Hatchery trying to find McDevitt in spite of the rain.
Following the weekend, the recovery search was suspended by Sooke RCMP.
“The Sooke RCMP, along with Ms. McDevitt’s family, wish to extend their sincere appreciation to Juan de Fuca Search and Rescue, along with over 17 other assisting Search and Rescue agencies from across Vancouver Island and other parts of British Columbia, for their significant search efforts over the last 9 days,” said Acting Sooke RCMP Detachment Commander Sergeant Kevin Shaw.
Police say that McDevitt is a 38-year-old Caucasian woman who is described as neuro-divergent and she may initially show signs of cognitive delay.
She is described as standing 5’ tall, with a slim build, weighing approximately 105 pounds. McDevitt has alopecia but occasionally wears wigs or has short, dyed, rainbow coloured hair.
Police say they will continue to investigate McDevitt’s disappearance and ask anyone with information to call Sooke RCMP at (250) 642-5241.
‘Tis the season to don your best holiday wear, and we’ve got the place to do it!
On Friday, December 23rd, you’re invited to join the Downtown Victoria Business Association at Lights of Wonder for the Ugly Sweater Party of the season.
When you wear your favourite ugly holiday sweater to Centennial Square Friday night, you’ll have the chance to win tons of great prizes from downtown businesses—and that’s not all!
You’ll also have the opportunity have your photo taken with Father and Mother Christmas! They will be roaming the square spreading holiday cheer.
While you’re there, don’t forget to take advantage of the 360-degree camera! Mr. Booth Photo Experience will be onsite so you can get that picture-perfect Instagram holiday content.
The best part? It’s completely free!
The entire event is also family and pet-friendly, so you’re encouraged to bring the whole family—including those beloved furbabies.
Lights of Wonder runs December 15th until December 31st, and the free, accessible, and all-ages outdoor light display will welcome guests to experience a variety of activities and entertainment each day.
This year, Lights of Wonder will also include nightly performances every night except for on Christmas Day. A schedule of event for each night can be found on the Downtown Victoria Business Association website.
As the Lights of Wonder kicks off at 4 p.m. daily, it’s the perfect way to spend an evening downtown.
Christmas is less than a week away and let’s face it, if you’re reading this you’re probably scrambling to complete your Christmas shopping list.
If you’re stumped as to what gifts to get that friend, family member or co-worker, these seven local shops in Greater Victoria offer creative and thoughtful stocking stuffer options for everyone.
VIP candy is handmade in Sooke. These hard candies with an insane range of fun flavours are made in small artisan batches to ensure quality and freshness is delivered in each piece.
This is what makes their candy special. NO robots NO machines, just sweet love and LOTS of it.
To kick off the holiday season, VIP Hard Candy has released nine new flavours including:
If you’re looking to include a few sweet treats for that special someone, the Dutch Bakery is a great local shop featuring delicious baked goods made locally.
Where: Dutch Bakery, 718 Fort Street
When: Tuesday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas)
For that spicy food lover in your life, you can count on House of Boateng to serve up delicious hot sauce alternatives. From HOB’s mango, habanero and carrot hot sauce to sweet and smokey flavours. This diverse assortment of flavours will be sure to leave a smile on the faces you surprise.
Where: House of Boateng Café, 2854 Peatt Road
When: Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Closed over Christmas
For that green thumb in your life, the Dutch Green Design plant shop offers a diverse amount of small to large succulents that are pretty darn cheap! While this gift might not fit inside a stocking, it will certainly complement your loved one’s plant addiction.
Created by nature, beeswax candles burn cleaner and slower than other candles with no sticky or toxic sooty residues with longer burn times. When burning they produce negative ions which naturally purify the air, a natural ionizer!
Where: Local pickup in Malahat after completing your online order.
Starting this February, SD61 is hosting a three-week condensed training program designed to get aspiring Educational Assistants classroom-ready, completely free of charge.
In 47 schools serving 20,000 students, SD61’s 3,000 employees are committed every day to ensuring their students’ success in a responsible and safe environment.
The Educational Assistant training program will take place from February 13th to March 3rd and is free for all accepted applicants.
Acceptance to free Educational Assistant training program will be based on an interview to be conducted over Microsoft Teams from January 9th to 20th. Though a job offer is not guaranteed at the end of the program, that is the hopeful outcome for all applicants.
Applicants must be interested in working with Greater Victoria School District and able to accept a Monday to Friday position upon completion of the program.
Requirements for acceptance into the program
Grade 12 or equivalent
One (1) year Education Assistant and Community Support Worker certificate or equivalent combination of post-secondary courses in child/adolescent development, or behavior management including non-violent crisis intervention techniques.
Current Level One First Aid Certificate
Experience working with vulnerable children
Ability to commit to the full three week course (please do not apply if you cannot attend these dates)
Desire to be gainfully employed by the School District at the conclusion of the program
The program includes
Organizational structure of schools
The role of Education Assistants in the classroom
Health and safety (COVID Protocols)
Child development
Indigenous learners and the “First Peoples Principles of Learning”
School Visits: Elementary, Middle, Secondary (3 days)
Benefits of working in the Greater Victoria School District
Having an opportunity to work with all students and see their progress in the classroom you support
Having the flexibility to work around family commitments, personal avocations and the school calendar
Competitive wages
Completion of the program could lead to an Educational Assistant position with the Greater Victoria School District, and these positions offer regular call-outs leading to continuing assignments of 24-28 hours per week.
The deadline to apply for the Educational Assistant training is Monday, January 2nd, 2023 at 4 p.m., and to apply, interested applicants can send their cover letter, resume, copies of relevant certification and references to:
Human Resource Services, Greater Victoria School District #61 556 Boleskine Road, Victoria, B.C. V8Z 1E8
You can also email hrs@sd61.bc.ca.
For a detailed job description of the position of the Educational Assistant position, please visit SD61 online.
The weather event we’ve been eyeing all week has begun, and after a day of sprinkling snow, Environment Canada has issued an official snowfall warning.
Most of the region was blanketed with light snow on Sunday and according to the latest warning, Victoria could see upwards of 20 cm of snow.
According to the weather agency, at least 10 to 15 cm of snow is expected to fall over southern Vancouver Island, however, Greater Victoria, the Malahat, Southern Gulf Islands, Lake Cowichan, Port Renfrew and Duncan to Fanny Bay could see upwards of 20 cm.
The following areas are impacted by this warning:
Victoria
Malahat Highway
Southern Gulf Islands
Lake Cowichan
Port Renfrew
East Vancouver Island from Duncan to Fanny Bay
Snow will taper off late Tuesday morning on Vancouver Island and Tuesday afternoon on the mainland side.
The dump of snow is coming from a low-pressure system that will land in Washington State, then sweep over the southern part of British Columbia starting late Monday night.
Temperatures will remain in the freezing zone for most of the week, with temperatures hovering at -10°C and 12 °C overnight on Tuesday and Wednesday.
As of this publication, things will begin warming up by Christmas Eve with and unfortunately doesn’t appear as though Victoria will get the white Christmas as Old Farmer’s Almanac had predicted earlier this month.
(Environment Canada)
While authorities are asking motorists to avoid driving during this time unless required, Victoria Buzz has compiled a list of road cameras for you to check the latest conditions before heading out.
Snow is coming down across Vancouver Island just like it did all weekend long as predicted by Environment Canada.
We all know what that means when it comes to driving on Vancouver Island–wet, slippery, dangerous and slow roads.
BC Transit routes may be affected and the special weather statement provided by Environment Canada says that snow can be expected through the week.
Currently there is a highway warning in effect from Environment Canada for the Malahat from Goldstream to Mill Bay regarding the amount of snowfall.
Police have said that collisions are bound to happen in weather like this and that affects everyone’s commutes as they traverse the snow covered highways and city streets.
Highway 1, Highway 17 and Sooke Road (Highway 14) can be especially dangerous.
If you’re concerned of the road conditions before heading out, here are the latest images from DriveBC on the highways with a high frequency of commuters—these images will update every 15 minutes:
Highway 17 at Mount Newton X Road (N camera):
Highway 17 at Sayward Road near Elk Lake (S camera):
Highway 17 at Royal Oak Drive (N camera):
Highway 17 at Carey Road in Saanich (NW camera):
Highway 1 at Admirals Road and McKenzie Avenue (W camera):
Highway 1 near Burnside Road and Island Highway exit (W camera):
Millstream Road at Highway 1 overpass (N camera):
Highway 1 at Spencer Road (W camera):
Highway 1 at West Shore Parkway (W camera):
Highway 1 at Goldstream Park (N camera):
Highway 1 at Tunnel Hill (N camera):
Highway 1 at Okotoks Drive (N camera)
Highway 1 at Malahat Drive (N camera):
Highway 1 at Malahat Summit (N camera):
Highway 1 near Mill Bay Road, Bamberton Park entrance (N camera):
Highway 1 at Butterfield Road (N camera):
Highway 1 at Shawnigan Mill Bay Road, Mill Bay (N camera):
Highway 1 at Cobble Hill Road (S camera):
Highway 1 and Trunk Road in Duncan (S camera):
Highway 1 at South Davis Road, south of Ladysmith (S camera):
Sooke Road (Highway 14) at Suyer Road (W camera):
Sooke Road (Highway 14) at Kangaroo Road (W camera):
Sooke Road (Highway 14) at Lazzar Road, near Sooke (W camera):
With another week in the books and only one more to go before Christmas is on our doorstep. We’ve got you covered with a slew of events to keep your mind occupied as we wait.
From festive jaunts at the Malahat Skywalk to community skates, here are 15 things happening in Victoria this weekend, December 17th to 18th:
Until December 31st, the free, accessible, and all-ages outdoor light display will welcome guests to experience a variety of activities and entertainment each day.
This year, Lights of Wonder will also include nightly performances every night except for on Christmas Day. A schedule of event for each night can be found on the Downtown Victoria Business Association website.
Tom Hanks and director Robert Zemeckis reunite for The Polar Express, an inspiring adventure based on the beloved children’s book by Chris Van Allsburg. When a doubting young boy takes an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery that shows him that the wonder of life never fades for those who believe.
When: Select days starting December 17th to December 31st
Where: IMAX in downtown Victoria, 675 Belleville Street
The festivities will continue on Saturday, December 17th with the Royal’s second annual Christmas Classic.
Royals’ fans are encouraged to support local businesses by wearing their ugliest Christmas sweater. At halftime, those in attendance will have the opportunity to compete for the best Ugliest Christmas Sweater.
Where: Save-On-Food Memorial Centre, 1925 Blanshard Street
When: Saturday, December 17th, puck drops 6:05 p.m.
Fifteen years of punk rock Christmas in Victoria! Angry Snowmans bring the Nog and decks the halls with all your punk rock favourites. Joined this year by local IQ78.
Where: Phoenix Bar and Grill, 3944 Quadra Street
When: Saturday, December 17th, 8:30 p.m. to 12 a.m.
An unforgettable evening of music for the soul. The dynamic Sweet Soul Choir delivers the sounds of Motown, R&B, and Gospel, in five-part harmony.
Don’t be surprised if you find yourself clapping, dancing, and singing along to some of the greatest known holiday classics, with a vibrant twist. This performance will be a benefit concert for Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Join us at First Metropolitan United Church, on Saturday, December 17th at 7:30 pm (doors at 7:00 pm). Tickets are $20 and children under 10 are FREE. For more information, and to buy tickets, go to sweetsoulchoir.ca.
Where: First Metropolitan United Church, 932 Balmoral Road
When: Saturday, December 17th at 7:30 pm (doors at 7:00 pm).
‘Tis the season of Holiday Magic! Enjoy a cozy beverage, warm fire, their massive holiday tree, crafts, and a visit from Santa! You may even see Luke the Sasquatch partaking in the holiday fun! Here you can find more details on each activity.
This weekend the Skywalk has invited Santa as a special guest!
When: December 3rd to January 1st, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (see list of times)
While they might not make it through Colwood’s smaller streets, if you hear the sirens, come on out and cheer on Santa who will be sharing treats.
Sunday’s route will start at 9 a.m. at Belmont park making its way through the following streets:
Route #1
Belmont Park, Goldstream Avenue, Wale Road, Gamble Drive, Gamble Place, Tamarack Road and Loiacono Place
Route #2
Aldeane Avenue to Kelley Road between Sooke Road to Veterans Memorial Parkway
Route #3
Kelly Road to Lynlark between VMP and Sooke
Route #4
Brittany to Jacklin (Colwood creek park) Sooke to Afriston Place
Route # 5
Triangle Mountain
After taking a lunch break to spend time snapping photos with local fans, Santa and his crew will continue their tour in the afternoon, starting at 12:30 p.m. along the following streets:
Route #6
Wishart south Allendale to Delora between Wishart to VMP
Route #7
Lagoon Area, Lagoon Rd to Metchosin between Metchosin to Ocean Blvd
Route #8
Painter to Metchosin to Cotlow and Ledsham to Metchosin between Sooke and Wishart
Residents are encouraged to share food items with those in need. This year’s donations will support the Goldstream Food Bank.
This astonishing production features larger than life characters, glowing ghosts, and 10-foot-tall puppets – to name just a few of the treats in store for audiences as they are whisked away with Ebenezer Scrooge on his magical Christmas Eve adventure.
Prepare to laugh, cry, and be utterly enchanted this holiday season!
Where:
The McPherson Playhouse, Saturday, December 17th, from 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Cowichan Performing Arts Centre, Sunday, December 18th, 7 p.m.
The North Park Multicultural Festival is hosted by the North Park Neighbourhood Association in collaboration with the Masjid Al-Iman Mosque.
These lively events are a celebration of culture and diversity featuring food, art, crafts, performances, and free activities.
They offer a chance to connect with neighbours, learn about local businesses and organizations, and celebrate the diversity that exists in our amazing community.
Where: Save-On-Food Memorial Centre, 1925 Blanshard Street
When: Sunday, December 18th, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Immerse yourself in the season as you stroll through over 70 one-of-a-kind festively decorated trees in support of BC Children’s Hospital during the Festival of Trees, sponsored by Scotiabank.
Festival of Trees is free and open daily during Bay Centre shopping centre hours. Closed Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
When: From now until January 3rd, view during shopping centre hours
The 9th annual Christmas Lights map is now available!
Grab hot chocolates for the family, hop in the car, and tune into 98.5 The Ocean to crank up the Christmas music as you head out on the Christmas trail!
With so many light displays around the capital region, we wanted to narrow down some of the best spots to catch the lights around town.
Victoria’s Capital Region Housing Corporation (CRHC) approved its budget for the coming year which means they will be developing more affordable homes all over Greater Victoria.
The CRHC is a non-profit organization and is a subsidiary of the Capital Regional District whose mission is to bring housing options to masses of Greater Victoria.
Their budget is comprised of three components which are to identify new and future projects, managing their nearly 1,900 rental units as well as supporting and advancing developments.
“Housing is the foundation of a happy and healthy life, and the CRHC takes pride in continuing to expand its provision of affordable, sustainable, quality housing for people across the region,” said CRHC Chair Zac de Vries.
“Too many people in our region cannot afford a decent place to live, our work will continue until everyone can afford a decent home.”
The CRHC have eight projects currently underway that total to cost over $60 million in 2023 and they have a ‘Capital Projects’ Major Capital Plan’ (CPMCP) to spend $293 over the next five years to bring affordable housing options to the people of Greater Victoria.
Opened the 58 unit Twenty-Seven Eighty-Two in Langford
Broke ground on its 158 unit Caledonia development in Fernwood
Broke ground on its 97 units on its Michigan Square development in James Bay
Broke ground on its 51 unit Prosser development in Central Saanich
Continued planning on a proposed 119 unit redevelopment of the Campus View property in Saanich
Continued planning on the 51 unit redevelopment of Village on the Green in Victoria
Continued planning on the 158 units of affordable housing at the Pandora development in Victoria
Through their plan, the CRHC says they will bring 2,600 new units to Greater Victoria by 2027.
Their 2023 budget is set at $26.8 million which is within what their projected revenue is predicted to be at $26.9 million.
“In approving the 2023 Budget, the Board has enabled the CRHC to fully operationalize its plans to continue to add much needed affordable housing across the region, while ensuring those already housed continue to have a safe, comfortable place to call home,” said DeVries.
The CRHC currently operates 1,880 units that house nearly 4,000 tenants.
Let’s face it, you’ve worked hard all year and just as Christmas comes around you realize, oh snap! I need to prepare a holiday feast for the family.
If hours spent prepping that perfect meal are not of interest to you, there’s no need to stress.
From traditional family feasts to festive wine and dines, you’re invited to treat yourself at these local restaurants in and around Victoria, serving Christmas dinners over the holidays!
Head on over to Langford for dinner with a view this Christmas. The Westin’s Bear Mountain Resort is offering a special Christmas menu from 5 p.m. onwards this Christmas day!
This four-course dinner complete with all of your familiar favourites adds a touch of extravagance to make this year extra special. RSVP as soon as possible, as places are selling out fast.
Where: The Westin Bear Mountain Resort, 1999 Country Club
This year, the Ferris’ Grill & Garden Patio will be offering a Christmas dinner for two for a holiday date night at home. Orders can be placed online with your dinner ready for pickup on Friday, December 23rd.
Where: Ferris’ Grill & Garden Patio, 536 Yates Street
When: Pickup will be Friday, December 23rd, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
This year the Aura Waterfront restaurant and patio will be offering Christmas breakfasts, festive brunches and mouth-watering dinners on Saturday, December 24th.
Reservations are recommended. To Book a time you can call 250-414-6739 or email info@aurarestaurant.ca
Enjoy a traditional Turkey dinner with your family on Christmas Eve at the Irish Times Pub. Served from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, December 24th this delicious meal for a reasonable price is going to be sought after this holiday. Make sure you reserve your spot in advance!
This year, Q At The Empress will be offering three-course meals on Christmas eve and Christmas day. Featuring an array of seafood, turkey and lamb. This holiday dinner will leave you and your family with delicious memories.
Reservations are recommended.
Where: Q At the Empress, 721 Government Street
When: Saturday, December 24th and Sunday, December 25th, 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
You and the family are invited to spend the holidays at LURE Restaurant & Bar!
The Chef’s have put together a delicious three-course menu for Christmas Day which includes Herb Roasted Turkey and all the fixin’s but if you want a change on the traditional, Steelhead with a red curry broth or Kuri Squash Risotto are also on offer!
Reservations are strongly recommended for Christmas day
Where: LURE Restaurant & Bar, 100 Harbour Road
When:
The set seating times available on Christmas day are:
1 p.m., 1:15 p.m., 1:30 p.m. 3:30 p.m., 3:45 p.m., 4 p.m., 6:15 p.m., 8:30 p.m., 8:45 p.m., and 9 p.m. (Each reservation is for 2 hours)
The Courtney Room is once again offering several festive foodie options.
Attend a dine-in Christmas experience on the 24th or 25th, and have your pick from their special set menu. Enjoy your meal either a la carte, prix fixe or family-style.
Join the lovely staff at The Dining Room and Grand Lobby in celebrating Christmas Day with a local breakfast experience.
This lavish brunch buffet event includes an omelet station and carving station with all the works, created by Executive Chef Kreg Graham. Reservations required.
Seating starts at 10 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 12 p.m., and 12:30 p.m. Reservations are required, pre-paid and booked online.
Where: Oak Bay Beach Hotel, 1175 Beach Drive
When: Sunday, December 25th, seating starts at 10 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 12 p.m., and 12:30 p.m
Begin a new family tradition or continue an old one by joining us for a traditional Christmas Dinner in The Snug Pub.
Enjoy a three-course menu featuring traditional Christmas turkey with all the classic fixings, the perfect way to celebrate the magic of this special day.
Reservations are required and can be made for two seatings at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., for groups of 2 to 8 guests. This is a 19+ event.
There’s no doubt that we’ve all watched Family Feud at least once, but this Campbell River family has outdone themselves and risen to the challenge.
On the December 5th episode of Family Feud Canada, Sheryl Thompson, Julie Bronson, Robyn Ross, Iris Rayburn and Marian Atkinson faced off against the Wilson family from Whitby, Ontario.
In this episode of Family Feud Canada, the Wilson family tries to bank another $10,000 as they face the Roberts family.
???? Watch Family Feud Canada every Mon-Thurs 7:30 (8NT) on CBC, hosted by Gerry Dee. pic.twitter.com/oel9iNGYCO
As members of the We Wai Kum First Nation, the Roberts family wore their traditional Cedar hats and regalia with pride on the game show.
“The Roberts family have been living in Campbell River for over a thousand years. We’re proud to represent them today,” said Sheryl Thompson, during the episode.
While the Roberts fell short against the Wilson family, that didn’t stop the islanders from having a good time.
Taking home $200 each, as a consolation prize.
The family made the best of their time in Toronto by checking off a few bucket list goals such as watching their first Blue Jays game and visiting Niagra Falls as a family.
(File photo, because I forgot to take nice pictures of mine)
What a week it’s been!
Every once in a while you make your way through a week where everything really seems to go awry. In times like these, you need to turn things around, flip the script and make a special little treat for yourself.
I am no baker, nor would I ever want to be. I have done it before and the 2 a.m. wake up time to start your bake and fry 100 artisan donuts knowing the next day it’ll be the same thing… not for me.
I also don’t like when I have to follow a recipe. I am a cook by nature in that I want to experiment and mess around with a recipe, but alas, there is no room for trial and error in most baking.
Once though, I did manage to mess around with a cookie recipe to the point where I found the perfect textured snickerdoodle through the magic of brown butter.
Here is the recipe:
Ingredients:
Cookie dough:
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
⅓ cup brown sugar
2 eggs
3 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
Coating mix:
¼ cup sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
Process:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees (Fahrenheit)
In a small bowl, mix the coating sugar and cinnamon and set aside to roll the dough in once complete.
Put butter in a saucepan on medium heat until melted, stirring constantly to avoid burning. Once lightly browned, take off heat and set aside to cool a bit.
Add vanilla to brown butter once complete and incorporate.
In a large mixing bowl, add brown sugar, white sugar and brown butter and mix until incorporated.
In a separate bowl, mix cinnamon, baking soda, salt and flour. Mix well.
Gradually add flour mixture to sugar and butter mixture while mixing until a dough is formed.
Make golf ball sized dough balls and roll them in the cinnamon sugar mixture you set aside earlier.
Place evenly on a baking sheet with parchment paper that has been coated with non-stick spray.
Bake for 10 minutes in the centre of the oven.
Cool for five minutes then eat all 20 of them!
Or share with friends, family and loved ones.
(Satisfied friend eating a brown butter snickerdoodle)
This recipe is super easy and so, so tasty. Please share and enjoy.
VicPD are seeking the public’s help in identifying an individual who is wanted in connection to an armed robbery on Foul Bay Road on Thursday.
On December 15th at around 11 p.m., a man tried to get inside a business in the 1900-block of Foul Bay Road.
Police say the business was closed and the door was locked when he approached the front door. He proceeded to bang on the door and he fired what appeared to be a gun into the air on CCTV.
According to police, investigators are still unsure if he shot an actual firearm, a pellet gun or a replica handgun.
Police say their suspect is described as Caucasian, 20 to 30-years-old, about six feet tall, with short brown hair and brown facial stubble.
The man was wearing a navy blue t-shirt, black pants, grey and blue sneakers and a t-shirt around his head to conceal his identity.
Police ask that if anyone was in the area of the 1900-block of Foul Bay Road on Thursday December 15th, between 10:40 p.m. and 11 p.m. and saw this man, call VicPD at (250) 995-7654.
BC residents best bundle up and brace themselves for rain, the next week is going to be cold and wet.
Beginning on December 17th, Environment Canada’s forecast for Greater Victoria is bleak. The whole week has highs of -1 and 0 degrees with snow or rain expected nearly every day.
Forecasts for other areas of the southern coast of BC are expected to be 5 to 10 degrees colder than normal temperatures. Wind chill will also be bringing temperatures down for an even more extreme cold.
(Environment Canada)
The City of Victoria will likely be opening its warming centres in the city’s downtown area and in James Bay as it has the last few cold snaps. These centres are meant to help those without homes to find reprieve from the freezing temperatures. The City usually communicates which warming centres are open via Twitter.
The province also wants to remind motorists that with snow, rain and freezing temperatures come dangerous driving conditions.
Workers in the Ministry of Transportation will be treating provincial roads and highways with brine and abrasive materials to assist drivers in driving on roads affected by snow and ice. Ultimately though, avoiding driving in dangerous conditions when possible is the best way to avoid collisions.
Aside from abstaining from driving, the ICBC recommends the following tips when you must drive:
Equip your vehicle:
Put winter tires on your vehicle as soon as you can, if you haven’t already. In BC, these are defined as having both the “M” and the “S” symbols for mud and snow conditions
Have an emergency kit in your vehicle
Have a snow and ice scraper in your vehicle to fully be able to clear your vehicle of visual obstructions
Take it slow:
ICBC says that the key to driving in the snow is to take your journey slow and steady.
Accelerate slowly and make your turns gradually–no sudden movements
Anticipate stops and turns well in advance keeping your foot on the brake pedal
Don’t try and pass snow plows in urban areas or on highways. These vehicles might be equipped with a wing blade not visible to passing vehicles
Awareness is key:
When temperatures with windchill factored in get below freezing, be aware of black ice which is not always readily visible
Be extra aware of cyclists and pedestrians around you
Although snow is in the forecast for the coming days, Environment Canada predicts that there will be no snow on Christmas Day. This is in contradiction to the Old Farmer’s Almanac’s predictions for a white Christmas on December 25th.
As this time of year is often filled with joy and excitement for festive celebrations, it can be difficult to come to terms with the effects of seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
Defined by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, seasonal affective disorder is a type of depression that occurs during the same season each year. It usually happens in the fall or winter, but some people may experience season-linked symptoms in the summer.
Seasonal Affective Disorder is a type of seasonal depression that affects up to 15% of Canada’s population each winter.
This time of year, the shorter, darker, and colder days we’re experiencing on Vancouver Island can negatively affect our mood.
The signs and symptoms of SAD share several similarities with depression, although these signs and symptoms appear and disappear at about the same time each year
The major symptom is a sad, despairing mood that:
is present most days and lasts most of the day
lasts for more than two weeks
impairs the person’s performance at work, at school or in social relationships.
In order to overcome these overwhelming feelings, health practitioners recommend working towards a healthier lifestyle as one of the key components.
According to recommendations, spending more time outdoors during the day, resisting carb-heavy foods and sleep cravings, and arranging the spaces you spend time in to maximize sunlight exposure are the first steps one can take to overcome SAD.
Additionally, physical activity relieves stress, builds energy and increases both your physical and mental well-being and resilience
If all else fails, the following mental health resources throughout Vancouver Island are there to help those struggling in silence.
If you’re unable to access an in-person support system. Call 811 or visit the health link BC’s website to access free, non-emergency health information for anyone in your family, including mental health information.
Through 811, you can also speak to a registered nurse about symptoms you’re worried about, or talk with a pharmacist about medication questions.
University can be stressful and it’s easy to find yourself feeling overwhelmed. If you’re lonely, worried about the future or struggling with mental health issues, we can help.
UVic’s mental health support team takes a collaborative approach. Their team includes counsellors, doctors, nurses and spiritual care providers.
You can book an appointment to meet with a counsellor, nurse, physician or spiritual care provider by calling 250-721-8563, or by booking in-person at the Student Wellness Centre.
If you are unsure as to what kind of appointment you need you can also book a wellness consultation.
Where: Health and Wellness Building, 2300 McKenzie Avenue
When: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Children, youth and families can attend one of 13 CYMH intake clinics for an intake interview.
The intake interview will take about 45-90 minutes.
Upon completion of this interview, you will be provided with information and details about the next steps and what to expect in the process.
With 13 mental health clinics for children across Vancouver Island. This resource will allow those struggling with depression related symptoms receive advice and support.
Average rent prices are still on the rise in Victoria for both one bedroom and two bedroom units.
According to Zumper, a rental data aggregation company that releases its findings monthly to keep local renters and rentees informed, Victoria’s average rent for a one-bedroom unit is still rising, but at a lesser rate than previous months.
The average cost of a one bedroom suite is now $2,150. In November, the average was $2,100. For a two bedroom unit in Victoria, the average cost is now $2,540. Last month the average was at $2,500 per month.
One bedroom prices are up by 22.2% compared to last year and two bedroom costs are up by 10% when compared to 2021 averages.
Despite these figures, Victoria has fallen one position in the list of most expensive cities in Canada. In November Victoria was the third most expensive city in Canada to rent in and now BC’s capital is sitting in the fourth position on the list.
Vancouver remains as the most expensive city on the list for another month. In Victoria’s neighbour on the mainland, one bedroom units cost $2,470 and two bedroom suites cost $3,500.
(Zumper)
Zumper’s report says the record-setting rent costs across Canada are up so high because during the COVID-19 pandemic, people weren’t moving as much as they had been. Most people froze in place which froze rent prices in place for around two years.
When restrictions softened, people started moving again. Zumper says that pent-up demand for rental homes skyrocketed.
Metropolitan areas have seen the worst of rental demands and therefore, rental prices. Canadian cities can’t keep up with the demand for housing.
In addition to those unideal supply and demand circumstances, interest rates have been through the roof to combat inflation. The problem there is that high interest rates are a deterrent for buying a home instead of seeking a rental.
Until supply can meet demand in big cities across Canada, rental prices will continue to trend upward and surrounding municipalities will take on the burden of renters who have been priced out.
Next week, one record will be on repeat for Brentwood Bay music teacher, Mike Preston.
Instead of enjoying a traditional Christmas break, on Wednesday, December 21st, Preston will commit himself to listen to one song, chosen by the public for 14 hours.
Surprisingly, this mind numbing challenge will not be Preston’s first rodeo.
In 2020, Preston raised over $2,000 to support the Mustard Seed Food Bank.
Preston’s decision to do this a second time came from a personal call to action he says is meant to support global tragedies that have been out of mind due to today’s issues.
“I remember a year into covid, I was like they haven’t talked about Syria, everyone’s forgotten,” Preston tells Victoria Buzz.
To cast a vote, the public must donate $20 and comment their song choice directly to the GoFundMe page.
As of right now, the six-song choices include, TNT by AC/DC, Crazy Train by Ozzy Osbourne, Seven Nation Army by White Stripes, Europe’s The Final Countdown, Rebecca Black’s Friday and Los del Rio’s Macarena.
Once Preston’s fundraising efforts were shared online on December 12th, the Brentwood music teacher says the outpour of attention has surprised him.
“I’ve only done one CFAX interview a few mornings ago, but I just got a text from a friend saying they were talking about you (Preston) all day on The Ocean. It’s weird finding out that radio dudes are talking about you and you have no idea. It was pretty crazy last time and extra crazy this time,” says Preston.
Back in the classroom, Preston says a few of his students are basking in the torment, a challenge he encourages people to bring to his fundraiser as official votes will only be received with donations to the cause.
“I have this one kid that was like, I’m going to make a bunch of donations and I’m going to make sure it’s that song. I said, sure go ahead man. Everyone wins,” said Preston.
Votes will be collected until Tuesday, December 20th at 5 p.m. That night, the most voted song will be announced on Brentwood School of Music’s Facebook page.
Despite the 14 hour marathon not being live streamed. Preston invites the public to join his torment at his music studio or follow video updates he posts on Facebook.
Ok folks! Here are the SIX finalists for songs – as selected by students and those who know him well – that are sure to…
Apple Music users need not read. We are a small but mighty team! A collection of weirdos akin to the island of misfit toys.
Everyone in our office has pretty different tastes and our top five songs really showed it. We decided to slap our favourite tunes together into a playlist for you to enjoy should you choose to do so.
One of our writers is a hipster-punk type and you can probably tell that his songs start off the playlist. He bikes around the city a lot and likes to listen to punky and boppy songs while he rips.
Next is a member of our team who loves a nostalgic feeling and a lil’ bit of country rap. She keeps her top tunes all posi-vibes to manifest ultimate productivity.
Then our social media guru enters the chat. She is a bit obsessed with Mr. Harry Styles and it shows. It’s just a wonder that the Corn Song wasn’t in her top songs. Not on her list was the hundreds of Christmas and Halloween songs she subjects the office to.
Our next team member on the list celebrated Britney’s freedom by listening to her bop with Ginuwine, as well as a bit of Lizzo and some other poppy happy jams. We all think something’s got to be wrong with the Spotify algorithm because Ticketmaster’s least favourite artist didn’t seem to be all five of her top picks.
The newest addition to the Victoria Buzz team is next and he is tough to pin down. Little blue-eyed soul here, little bass-slapping funk there. He listened to Spotify lots in 2022, mostly while running, editing his photos and he occasionally belts out some sing-alongs in the shower karaoke.
Next up is the soft-hearted bossman. He likes modern R&B and top 40 bangers, and you may recognize a few of his top tunes from the Bachelor and Bachelorette. He needs the good vibes to get him through the work day that never seems to end when you’re the guy in charge.
Were any of our top songs on your list? Let us know in the comments!
Get your throwing arms ready Victoria, and bring along some Christmas spirit while you’re at it, as the Royals welcome the Tri-City Americans to town for one of the best combos of themed nights the Royals have to offer.
This Friday, December 16th, the Royals will participate in their annual Teddy Bear Toss game. It is without a doubt one of the coolest, most heartwarming hockey events of the season. The moment a Royals player finds the back of the net and tickles the twine, Save-On Foods Memorial Centre erupts with a storm of teddy bears from the stands, which are subsequently donated to local kids in need.
It’s one of a kind, and you don’t want to miss it.
On Saturday, December 17th, the Royals will be responsible for the most Christmas spirit per square foot in town as part of their Christmas Classic night. There will be a holiday market in the concourse featuring 10 local vendors, a Christmas sweater contest sure to generate a smile or two, and Christmas carollers throughout the arena.
For both games Santa will be in the building ready to take free Christmas photos of you and your family. Bring your cute Royals attire for your kids, skip the line at the mall, and if you’re one of the lucky ones, just maybe your one year old child won’t be bawling in Santa’s lap for the photos.
Puck drop Friday is at 7:05 p.m., and 6:05 p.m. on Saturday.
Pair of former Kelowna Rockets provide much needed spark
Former Kelowna Rockets forward Jake Poole and goaltender Nicholas Cristiano have given the Royals a much needed jolt this season.
Poole has been among the most consistent forward for Victoria this year, producing 7 multi point games en route to a team leading 16 goals and 28 points in 29 games.
Cristiano, meanwhile, has provided a spark between the pipes, having a recent run of 5 consecutive games from December 2nd to the 9th where he had let in 3 goals or less and picked up two wins. He’s been pulled in two consecutive games, however, so he’ll be looking to regroup and get back on track.
Goaltenders’ stats are significantly impacted by the play of the five man unit in front of them, but that unit also can play more confidently when they have a goalie they trust.
With back-to-back games this weekend, look for Logan Cunningham to get a chance between the pipes once more.
Royals are entertaining at Save-On Foods Memorial Centre
The optimist’s view on the Royals current season is that at least putting on more of a show for the home fans at the Barn on Blanshard.
The Royals average 1.47 goals per game on the road, where they have collected 2 wins from 15 road contests.
At home, however, the Royals are scoring 3.19 goals per game, which is much closer to league average. It hasn’t resulted in a ton more wins – they’ve secured 3 from 16 home games – but they’re proving to be more competitive in front of the home crowd, which is exactly what you want.
Curiously, the Royals are more defensively porous at home, allowing 5.16 goals against per game at SOFMC compared to 4.13 on the road.
Tri-City is plugging along at exactly .500 with a 14-14-0-0 record, and they play high event hockey – allowing 4 goals per game but also scoring 3.75.
We will see if the Royals’ are able to exploit the Americans’ mediocre defensive game at the Barn on Blanshard this weekend!
A massive donation of almost $1.3 million was given to Camosun College to open doors for women pursuing training in a wide range of Red Seal trades programs.
This gift was given by the Gwyn Morgan and Patricia Trottier Foundation, who has donated large sums of money to the college before in the effort to bring more women into trades programs.
The foundation has a five year commitment to give to the college and their efforts are historically, the largest philanthropic gift the college has ever received, other than estate donations.
Since its inception, the program has changed the lives of many women in Greater Victoria.
“The Empowering Woman in the Trades program has changed my life in such an incredible way, words can’t express the gratitude I have,” says Sarah Cooper, a former student of the Women in Trades sampler circa 2021 who plans on returning for additional training.
“I don’t know where my family and I would be there today without the ongoing mentorship and financial support that I’ve been given throughout my time at Camosun.”
In 2017, the foundation made a donation of $1 million. With that they began the Empowering Women in the Trades program. This second pledge will make sure it continues on for another five years.
“We saw the tremendous impact the first gift had on the lives of women over the last five year and how it encouraged more women to enter trades so it made sense to do it again,” says Gwynn Morgan.
“It is important to ensure the Empowering Women in the Trades program can continue to raise the quality of life for tradespeople and their families, as well as ensure employers and industries have a workforce to draw upon.”
A donation of $1.285 million from The Gwyn Morgan and Patricia Trottier Foundation will help open the doors to more women pursuing a career in a range of Red Seal trades programs at #Camosun.
According to the Province, more than 85,000 jobs will be opening in the trades in BC over the next ten years and this program will help to diversify the workforce in coming years.
The Empowering Women in the Trades program is unique to Camosun and is multifaceted in its approach to garnering participants.
In addition to breaking down certain financial barriers, it offers opportunities for one on one support, networking and mentoring opportunities as well as employment support with the ultimate goal of getting more women their Red Seal in their desired trade.
As a result of this program, 1,000 women have gone on to find gainful employment in a career in one of 12 Red Seal trades programs at Camosun.
Christmas has come early for two Vancouver Island residents.
Paul Willie of Port Hardy and Meghan Reaume of Comox have struck gold after winning in separate lotteries, totalling over one million dollars.
While on a road trip through Nanaimo, Willie spent part of his evening playing the MegaJackpots Wolf Run slots game.
After playing a few rounds, Willie had to pinch himself out of disbelief.
The Port Hardy man took home a prize of $588,376.64.
“I wasn’t quite sure what to think. I pressed the screen off and on again,” Willie laughed. “I thought it was a hoax.”
Once his win was verified by BCLC, Willie immediately called his family to share the exciting news. “I was most excited to share the news with my children,” Willie said.
While on a Christmas shopping spree in Comox, Meghan Reaume, decided to test her luck by purchasing a Lotto Max ticket for herself.
“I was shopping for Scratch & Win tickets to give as gifts,” recalled Reaume. “Then I saw the Lotto Max jackpot was over $50 million, so I bought myself a ticket as it was Friday!”
The Comox resident initially forgot about the ticket and left it in her bedroom. Upon finding the ticket, she checked BCLC’s Lotto app.
Now with an additional $500,000 in her bank account, Reaume is still in shock, “I’m still processing – it feels like a dream!”
With the newly acquired financial freedom, Reaume plans on paying her family in Ontario a surprise visit over Christmas who she hasn’t seen in years.
RCMP are seeking the public’s help in tracking down the whereabouts of 38-year-old Peter Alexander from Nanaimo.
Alexander is wanted on an outstanding warrant from Port Alberni and he is allegedly involved in numerous ongoing investigations.
The warrant from Port Alberni is in relation to an incident from February 2022 in which Alexander was caught by police with illegal drugs and a replica handgun.
Police later released him with conditions and a court date. Police say he failed to comply with these conditions, which is why he is wanted once again.
According to police, Alexander is actively involved in criminal activity all over Vancouver Island and he should be considered violent.
Peter Alexander is a Caucasian man, standing 5’10” tall, weighing 150 pounds, with dark brown hair and blue eyes.
Police ask that anyone who has information on the whereabouts of Peter Alexander, call Nanaimo RCMP at (250) 754-2345 or Port Alberni RCMP at (250) 723-2424.
