One person is in hospital and a road in Saanich is closed after a traffic incident involving a cyclist.
Saanich Police say its officers are investigating a crash that happened just after 9 a.m. Monday in the area of Richmond and Cedar Hill Cross Roads that sent a cyclist to hospital.
The crash involved a vehicle with a trailer and a bicycle.
Police say they are uncertain about how serious the cyclist’s injuries are.
Investigators, including members with the Saanich Police collision reconstruction team, are on scene.
“Our main priority was to get all parties involved medical attention. Presently, we are asking for the public to be patient while we fully investigate what happened at the scene. Expect delays in that area for several hours,” stated D/Sgt. Damian Kowalewich.
Police are asking motorist to avoid the area.
No other details were available as of this publication.
A junior football team in Langford is looking for a new field to practice on after receiving complaints from residents.
On Tuesday, the Westshore Warriors were informed by the Sooke District School Board (SD62) their use of mobile floodlight towers and noise coming from their evening practices was disturbing residents neighbouring the Belmont field.
Until now, the Warriors have practiced at the Belmont field from 6 to 8 p.m. twice a week for the past three years. Players now have to commute to Spectrum Community School from as far as Shawinigan Lake to practice at a field, that peewee head coach, David Hansen says is unsafe.
“It’s not a very well-maintained field. We’re used to turf and all of a sudden we’re going to a subpar field. My son’s on the junior bantam group and they had four field-related injuries because of potholes. I actually almost snapped my ankle on one,” says Hanson.
Since the Warrior’s first practice at Spectrum, parents have taken it upon themselves to ensure their children have a safe place to play. On September 25th, Melanie Gilbert started an online petition to draw attention to her concern. Today, the petition has over 2,200 signatures.
As a mother of two sons that use the Belmont field, Gilbert says her choice to start the petition came out of frustration.
“Everyone’s struggling right now. Where it was 20 minutes down the Malahat into Langford. Now they’re adding 40 minutes to get in because you’re hitting rush hour traffic, when you have a field empty five minutes from your house,” says Gilbert.
As the Warriors search for fields to accommodate evening practices, support is on the way. Councillor Roger Wade says the upcoming completion of Centre Mountain Lellum Middle School should allow the City of Langford to book weekend and evening activities there, allowing more availability at other fields. Until then, the Warriors will have to work with what they have.
“Unfortunately, with how sport is in the greater Victoria area, that is not an anomaly to be on the bus. I’m involved with the Westshore Rebels football team and we have coaches and players that use public transit and it is what it is,” says Wade.
Hanson says the impact of the recent restrictions is more than a long drive to practice. Limited accessibility to fields prevent young athletes from gaining leadership opportunities and recruitment prospects.
“Our junior coaches don’t have cars and they can’t just jump on a bus. All of a sudden the mentorship program goes out the window with that, and we lost 75% per cent of our junior coaches,” says Hanson.
As players, coaches and parents wait for answers. Lucy Hanson, the President of the Greater Victoria Minor Football Association, told Victoria Buzz they are currently working with SD62 to ensure community sports stay in Langford.
For now, Hanson and the school board have agreed to meet each other halfway by holding practices at Spencer Middle school in Langford.
“We’d like to be back at Belmont but we’ll see what Spencer has and hopefully we don’t get any complaints and we can finish the season. If there are complaints, then we go back to the drawing board,” says Lucy Hanson.
The Salish Bear Totem pole heavily damaged by fire last year was returned to the Malahat Summit ahead of National Day of Truth and Reconciliation last week.
The totem pole was removed for restoration in July 2021 after it was lit on fire in an act of vandalism.
In addition to the blaze, the vandals wrote “one statue – one totem” which is be believed to be in retaliation for the removal of a statue depicting British explorer James Cook that was torn down by protestors in Victoria.
“The quick thinking of the passing motorist likely saved not only the totem pole, but also a forest fire,” said Commander Sgt Tim Desaulniers at the time of the fire.
“This was a very dangerous act that could have had far reaching consequences. We will be working with partners along the Malahat for video and dashcam footage in an effort to identify suspect(s).”
On Thursday, September 29th, First Nations officials and other dignitaries held a private ceremony to unveil the refurbished totem pole at the site where it had been since 1966.
The totem pole was carved by Stan Modeste who created it to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the joining of the Colony of Vancouver Island with the Colony of British Columbia.
Doug August was tasked with refurbishing the pole after it went through a cleansing ceremony.
“Historic injustices and ongoing racist attacks weigh heavily on our community,” Lydia Hwitsum, Chief of Cowichan Tribes, said in a news release.
“Quw’utsun people are taught by our Elders to help one another and work together for the good of all. It has been greatly appreciated to see and experience the support of the larger community for the repair and reinstallation of (the) Salish Bear Totem.”
The cost of the totem’s refurbishment was covered by the Ministry of Transportation, according to the city of Duncan. The ministry had previously paid for the totem to be restored in 2015 after 50 years of general wear and tear.
The family and Cowichan Tribes commended the City of Duncan for its partnership and support in the pole’s restoration and return.
“Today’s ceremony was healing for our family members after last year’s hateful act directed at the iconic totem carved by our father, the late Stan Modeste. He used his talents to share with the world Quw’utsun culture and teachings around the sacredness of nature. We are pleased to see the Salish Bear restored to its intended beauty,” the Modeste family said in a statement.
Campbell River RCMP took to social media this weekend to call out multiple teenagers who were trying to start fights with homeless people in the downtown core.
In a Facebook post, RCMP voiced their frustration with teenagers “seeking to incite members of the community’s homeless population.”
Police said that most of the teens involved were predominantly in pickup trucks and “highly intoxicated.”
“It truly was the saddest of situations,” said Const Maury Tyre in the Facebook post.
“A group of privileged youth taking on some of our towns least privileged and hoping to provoke a street war. In recent weeks similar events have occurred where jacked up pickups have chased and egged the homeless and thrown rocks.”
Police said the teenagers and youths were above the age of 19 years old and had travelled to the downtown core for “one reason only.”
Several of them were apprehended, and police are still investigating.
While it remains unclear why, the Facebook post has since been taken down by Campbell River RCMP.
Anyone with information related to Friday night’s incidents should call Campbell River RCMP at 250-286- 6221.
In a media release, Saanich Police say someone called 911 at around 12:40 p.m., to report an erratic driver in the 2500-block of Blanshard Street, near Hillside Avenue.
Another caller reported the driver of the same vehicle, a Chevrolet Aveo, had exited his car and brandished a knife toward another driver in the 2600-block of Blanshard Street.
Moments later, that victim also called police to report they had been confronted by a man with a knife.
Police said the suspect driver returned to his vehicle and the erratic driving continued with failing to stop at red lights, passing unsafely, and speeding.
Eventually, the suspect driver pulled into the parking lot of the Save on Foods grocery store in the Saanich Plaza.
At that time, a witness alerted police and the vehicle was quickly swarmed by police cruisers.
Heavily armed officers with VicPD and Saanich PD could be seen and heard ordering the man to exit the vehicle.
Police say today’s take down of a man outside a grocery store at Saanich Plaza was related to a road rage incident. More info to come. #yyj#victoriabuzzpic.twitter.com/GepzO0HEx5
“With the assistance of the Victoria Police, Saanich Police attended and were able to de-escalate the male who was also in crisis and had what was believed to be a self-inflicted wound to his body,” said D/Sgt. Damian Kowalewich with Saanich Police
The suspect complied with police orders and was taken into custody without further incident.
Police said the 36-year-old man was apprehended under the Mental Health Act and provided medical and mental health-related care.
After being assessed at hospital, he was arrested for assault with a weapon, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, and uttering threats.
In addition to those charges, the man was on parole and had an outstanding warrant for his arrest which has been relayed to his parole officer.
The suspect was held in custody to face the criminal charges as police continue to investigate and gather evidence to support the case.
“This multi-jurisdictional incident could not have been remedied so quickly if not for the excellent awareness and communication of the witnesses involved. It was fortunate that no-one was injured given the overall erratic driving and behaviour of the driver,” stated Kowalewich.
While the details are slim at the moment, customers were in for a shock as they exited a Save-on-Foods in Saanich Sunday afternoon.
Shortly before 1 p.m. on October 2nd, a large police presence converged on a silver vehicle driving through a parking lot at the Saanich Plaza, blocking it from proceeding any further.
Officers, armed with large guns, could be seen and heard ordering the man to exit the vehicle.
The suspect complied with police orders and was taken into custody without further incident.
D/Sgt. Damian Kowalewich with Saanich Police confirmed to Victoria Buzz that the incident was related to a road rage and that more information would be released later today.
Kowalewich said one person has been taken into custody and there were no injuries.
Police say today’s take down of a man outside a grocery store at Saanich Plaza was related to a road rage incident. More info to come. #yyj#victoriabuzzpic.twitter.com/GepzO0HEx5
Go for a Hike into Warrior Point! (Outer Limits Digital / Facebook)
It’s the first full work week of October, already!
From donating blood to Brooklyn Nine-Nine trivia, kick off the week with that or head to Fernwood to learn more about the candidates running for the City of Victoria.
Without further ado, here are 5 things to do in and around Victoria today, Monday October 3rd:
Donate blood at the University of Victoria – Students Union Building, Michele Pujol Room. Fill out a form to book an open appointment and ensure patient needs are met, or download the GiveBlood app, or call 1-888-2DONATE (1-888-236-6283).
When: Monday, October 3rd, starting at 10 a.m.
Where: University of Victoria, Students Union Building, Michele Pujol Room
Calling all the Brooklyn 99 Fans! This is your time to shine. Sixty Watt Trivia is doing five select themed nights to celebrate the beauty that is Brooklyn 99. Free to play and prizes to be won. Team max of 8.
When: Monday, October 3rd, starting at 7:30 p.m.
Where: 5th Street Bar and Woodfire Grill, 1028 Hillside Avenue
Join Phillips Brewing, along with the fabulous hosts Woofie and Vivian Vanderuss, and guest performer Eddie Licious, on the infamous drag runway in the Tasting Room. This event is FREE, but there is very limited capacity, so get there early with your pals as there are no saving seats!
When: Monday, October 3rd, from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Where: Phillips Brewing & Malting Co., 2010 Government Street
Election is around the corner. Fernwood NRG & the Fernwood Community Association invite you to a meet and greet event for mayor and council candidates for the City of Victoria municipal election. This is an opportunity for Fernwoodians to meet the candidates, learn about their platforms, and ask the questions that matter to you. There will be free child minding available during this event.
When: Monday, October 3rd, starts at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Fernwood Community Centre, 1240 Gladstone Avenue
A definitive exploration of singersongwriter Leonard Cohen as seen through the prism of his internationally renowned hymn, “Hallelujah.”
This feature-length documentary weaves together three creative strands: The songwriter and his times; the song’s dramatic journey from record label reject to chart-topping hit; and moving testimonies from major recording artists for whom “Hallelujah” has become a personal touchstone.
Approved for production by Leonard Cohen just before his 80th birthday in 2014, the film accesses a wealth of never-before-seen archival materials from the Cohen Trust including Cohen’s personal notebooks, journals and photographs, performance footage, and extremely rare audio recordings and interviews.
When: Monday, October 3rd, from 5 p.m. to 7:10 p.m.
Susan Simmons wanted people to know what a disability feels like in parks around Victoria.
Simmons is a candidate for Victoria’s city council, and she had planned an event for this Sunday, one she has since had to cancel amid online bullying attacks.
The event was meant to invite able-bodied Victorians and fellow council candidates into the world of someone living with a disability such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in a public space such as Beacon Hill Park.
Being that Simmons lives with MS and works closely with the MS Wellness Centre, this was a matter that was close to her heart.
Following the announcement and promotion of her event, she was the victim of online ableist online bullies.
I'll contact candidates who signed-up & arrange private walks. Their names will remain confidential so they are not bullied for supporting PWDs#yyjpolihttps://t.co/eNHD4Yse2k
“I was attacked on twitter verbally,” Simmons told Victoria Buzz. “It’s the level of obsession that had me concerned.”
Simmons ultimately made the reluctant decision to cancel the event due to these online attacks which made her feel uneasy in her own safety at the event and for the safety of the disabled attendees from the MS Wellness Centre.
“I’d say 60% of the parks in Victoria are ‘accessible’ from a light touch,” said Simmons.
“Meaning that you can somehow bring someone up to the curb. They can wheel themselves or easily walk their walker into the park and sit at a location looking at something pleasant.”
“40% are not accessible, 60% are, so right away a large part of our parks are not accessible to begin with.”
With Beacon Hill Park, Arbutus Way was the accessible route for disabled Victorians to have access to the park.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, it was closed to allow for socially distanced foot traffic and it was never restored to how it was prior to the pandemic.
Although Sunday’s event is now cancelled, in an attempt to pivot and still provide the experience to those who are curious, she is now hoping to provide the experience to individuals as private information sessions.
The plan is to have those interested carry large bags of food and restrict their leg movement so they might understand the exhaustion that comes with movement for those living with MS.
“I won’t be deterred by bullies. I’m not surprised by this turn of events, I am disappointed–and more determined than ever to be a voice of reason and inclusiveness on Victoria council,” said Simmons.
Some how, some way, we are already saying goodbye to September.
This weekend, while the seasons transition to indoor events, there are plenty of things you can do to have a good time.
Check out some indoor entertainment such as a small music performance or the toy fair or get outside for a boxing match or drag show to kick off the new month.
Here are 19 things to do in and around Victoria this weekend, October 1st to October 2nd (and a few events happening today):
Today, Friday, September 30th, we recognize the second ever National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
It is a day where we must support Indigenous communities and come together in acknowledging, honouring and recognizing those touched by the residential school system that harmed countless people across generations and the entirety of Canada.
Click here for or list of 5 things you can do to recognize National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
A group of Iranian Victorians and UVic students have planned a demonstration to stand in solidarity with Iranian women struggling in their fight for women’s rights.
A gathering at the BC Legislature is planned for today following news of protesters being arrested and dying in Iran.
When: Friday, September 23rd, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
It’s official, the Toronto Raptors training camp in Victoria includes a charity game at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre tonight.
After a successful FIBA World Cup Qualifier game between Canada and Argentina, the Friends of Victoria Basketball announced the Toronto Raptors visit to the capital region will include their annual open practice and charity scrimmage game.
Where: Save On Foods Memorial Centre, 1925 Blanshard Street
The second Ultimate Hobby & Toy Fair of the year returns this weekend! Eventgoers can browse toys, action figures, collectibles, vinyl records, and more sprawled out amongst 200 tables at Pearkes Arena near Tillicum Centre.
Witches and warlocks throw your brooms in the trash and bring out your stand-up paddleboard (SUP).
The organizers want the event to be a chance for attendees to meet fellow paddleboarders, enjoy the fall foliage and float the lake with their coven.
If you want to join the floating coven you can bring SUPs, kayaks, canoes or dinghies and should make sure they have their pointy hats, capes and all black clothing ready for the float!
Amateur boxers from across BC will be in Victoria this weekend for a second time this year.
The event was last held at the historic Roundhouse at Bayview Place in Esquimalt in May, and by popular demand from the boxing community and the crowd who witnessed that first boxing card, Champ Promotions announced the event is returning.
This time around, the event will be held at the Songhees Wellness Centre.
When: Saturday, October 1st, doors open at 6 p.m., event starts at 7 p.m.
Where: Songhees Wellness Centre, 1100 Admirals Road in Esquimalt
When the harbour ferries were originally brought to Victoria in 1990, the skippers were amazed at their maneuverability. Taking inspiration from the world-famous RCMP Musical Ride, they set out to test their abilities by creating a synchronized performance. With no passengers on board, the captains were able to push the their little boats to the limit, making them twirl around the water in and out of beautifully choreographed sequences.
And so began the affectionately named Water Ballet. The Harbour Ferry captains who volunteered to become “ballerinas” had no idea just how popular their performances would become. They quickly realized that they needed practice—and lots of it! It was a pretty common sight to see five men in Harbour Ferry uniforms practicing their ballet moves on foot around the parking lot. It wasn’t long before the Water Ballet became a beloved local tradition, but not without a little light-hearted teasing from their fellow captains.
When:
Saturday October 1st, starting at 10:45 a.m.
Sunday October 2nd, starting at 10:45 a.m.
Where: Victoria’s inner harbour, Near the Steamship Terminal – 470 Belleville Street
Ready to learn about the most integral piece of the puzzle that is modern civilization?
Victoria’s IMAX theatre in the Royal BC Museum will host the Canadian premiere of Train Time.
The film is a story of a modern age freight train, the communities it serves and the beauty of the American landscape it traverses and the evolving role and remarkable heritage of railroading, a profession integral to the fabric of modern civilization.
Where: IMAX Theatre, 675 Belleville Street
When: September 9th to December 2022, see schedule here
A road rage fuelled argument resulted in one arrest on weapons charges in Saanich on Wednesday.
Saanich Police received reports of two men arguing in a parking lot in the 3700 Block of Shelbourne Street at about 9:20 p.m.
Police say the person who called in the incident reported that one man wielding was a knife and bear spray throughout the argument.
Officers arrived on scene and arrested a 50-year-old man for possession of a weapon.
According to police, the weapons were not used against anyone and no one was physically injured during the incident.
Later police reportedly learned that the confrontation between the two men began in the 4400 block of Shelbourne Street where they were driving separate vehicles.
Allegations suggest that both men were driving dangerously and that is the reason they both pulled into the same parking lot for a confrontation.
“We urge all drivers and residents not to confront others if they have driving concerns,” said D/Sgt. Damian Kowalewich in a media release.
“We have a dedicated Traffic Safety Unit who are prepared to investigate traffic matters and who are ready to assist when needed.
The man who was arrested on the weapons charges was later released on conditions he will have no further contact with the other man involved and have no further possession of restricted weapons, including bear spray and knives.
RCMP are investigating after a man in a wheelchair was struck by a truck on Wednesday night in Nanaimo.
The collision occurred around 8 p.m., near the intersection of Railway Avenue and Fifth Street.
The victim was a man in his early 60s who sustained serious injuries and was airlifted to a Vancouver hospital for treatment.
The vehicle that struck the victim was a Ford Ranger–a small model of truck. Following the collision the driver and her passenger remained at the scene to assist and cooperate with investigators.
According to police, witnesses and evidence suggest that the vehicle was headed eastbound on Fifth Street.
Investigators say there is a crest in the road on the vehicle’s path that caused a slight visual impairment at the intersection where the man in the wheelchair was struck.
Both roads that make up the intersection also have no sidewalks and thus, are not wheelchair-friendly.
In addition, the victim was crossing the road at a spot where there was no marked crosswalk.
According to investigators, alcohol or excessive speed were not factors in the collision.
The vehicle involved was impounded and will undergo a mechanical inspection.
Police are also asking for anyone who witnessed the collision, and has not already spoken with investigators, to call the Nanaimo RCMP at 250-754-2345.
Scary season is officially upon us, and we’ve got a place for you that’s not just your typical haunt!
Though they celebrate frightful nights all year round, Haunted Manor Victoria on Yates Street prides themselves on being not your average mini golf—you’ll putt your way through a dilapidated manor with a ghoulish history that lures you through your 15-hole game.
The family-friendly attraction offers a series of twists and turns that lead you through the maze, with spots to snap the perfect photo along the way.
There’s also a private ping pong lounge that guests can rent out by the hour. This indoor attraction is perfect to host a birthday party for all-ages—or even private events for team-building!
They’ve recently become a licensed facility, meaning you can grab a locally crafted beer or cider in their VIP ping pong lounge or before hitting a round of mini golf!
Indulge in beverages by Phillips, Hoyne and Sea Cider and snacks like Yonni’s pretzels, Cold Comfort Ice Cream sandwiches and more.
If you haven’t experienced the thrill for yourself yet, you’re in luck – we’ve partnered with Haunted Manor Victoria to give away a $50 gift card to one lucky winner – and you’ll find contest details below.
Wanna play? You can book your timeslot online for either mini golf or ping pong, and get down to some seriously spooky fun – no matter what time of the year it is!
CONTEST
For your chance to win a $50 gift card to Haunted Manor Victoria, please do one or more of the following:
SHARE this article on Facebook or Twitter and comment below telling us once you have. (1 entry)
TAG your mini golf date in the comment section below (1 entry)
Contest entries will be accepted from the time and date of publishing until 11:59 p.m. on October 9th, 2022. One winner will be chosen at random and contacted through the platform they used to enter. Make sure to register when commenting below.
(Minister of Health Adrian Dix/Province of B.C. - Flickr)
No more long waits to access a doctor when trying to renew your prescriptions.
As the family doctor crisis continues, pharmacists in BC will soon be able to renew prescriptions and prescribe medication for a range of ailments not previously allowed.
In a press conference Thursday afternoon, Minister of Health, Adrian Dix announced that BCs pharmacists will soon be able to provide patients with better access to critical medications.
“We are taking the next step in increasing access to public health care for people in BC,” said Dix in the press conference.
Beginning on October 14th, prescription renewals will be in BC pharmacies arsenal when it comes to giving their customers and patients the best service they can.
The only exception to this will be cancer chemotherapy medications.
These changes are predicted to especially help patients dealing with mental health and substance abuse disorders get fast, easy access to critical medications, as well as British Columbians without a family doctor to prescribe their medications.
Today, Minister of Health Adrian Dix announced changes that provide patients better access to critical medications, and B.C.’s community pharmacists are ready to provide much needed additional support to these patients. #bchealth#pharmacyhttps://t.co/coYwhfMBO6pic.twitter.com/IpLZcrPgAn
“Pharmacists are the medication experts,” said Jamie Wigston, President of the BC Pharmacy Association in a press release. “We have the knowledge and expertise to ensure patients get the medication they need, when they need it and how they need it.”
“What’s most important is British Columbians needing better access to their medications. This announcement allows pharmacists to serve more patients across the province.”
Pharmacists will also soon be allowed to administer a wider range of medications on top of the vaccinations they already give.
“These decisions will help many patients across the province who don’t have a family doctor, but who are taking medications to manage their ongoing health conditions,” said Wigston.
The aim of the changes is mainly so British Columbians will not be left to go to a hospital’s emergency room and wait for hours, just to get their regular medications renewed.
BC will soon join the nine other provinces where pharmacists can prescribe medication for minor ailments like acne, cold sores, indigestion and urinary tract infections.
“We’re looking forward to working in a fully collaborative relationship with primary care physicians to support all patients that need timely access to medications,” said Wigston.
Duncan/North Cowichan RCMP officers kept themselves busy last weekend as they inspected over one thousand vehicles.
On Saturday, September 24th, in conjunction with the British Columbia Highway Patrol (BCHP) and the Traffic Safety Unit Police Dog Service, a traffic enforcement initiative was put into action.
Police say they conducted over 1,000 traffic stops in Cowichan Bay, within the City of Duncan and on the Trans-Canada Highway in one day.
The vehicles and drivers were being stopped to ensure the drivers were sober and following Motor Vehicle Act (MVA) rules.
Through the duration of the initiative, officers issued 30 written warnings, 28 violation tickets, 15 notice and orders which included excessive speed investigation and two impaired driving investigations.
Police also caught three drivers with suspended licences, and conducted two vehicle searches for cannabis.
One of those searches resulted in the seizure of 16 ounces of marijuana and 45 cannabis edibles.
“These traffic initiatives are routinely undertaken to ensure compliance with the Motor Vehicle Act and road safety for all motorists, as a part of the North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP’s commitment to public safety,” said Corporal Alex Bérubé, spokesperson for the BC RCMP.
With very little rainfall over the last two months, many parts of BC are dealing with high levels of drought and water scarcity, including areas of Vancouver Island.
In a media statement Thursday, the Ministry of Forests said Vancouver Island, the inner south coast and the northeast corner of the province have reached the second-most severe level of drought on a five-point rating scale.
BC ranks drought levels from 0 to 5, with drought level five rated as the most severe with adverse effects to socio-economic or ecosystem values being almost certain.
The province is asking residents in impacted areas to reduce their water use whenever possible and observe all restrictions put in place by regional or local governments, with the ministry warning of possible water scarcity.
While a water restriction is currently in place for Greater Victoria, it is set to end on Friday, September 30th.
Victori’s September weather is on pace see the second driest on record, even after Wednesday light rainfall throughout the day.
Another ridge of high pressure over southern BC is expected to arrive by Friday meaning there will be more warm and dry days over the weekend and into next week.
“Provincial staff are monitoring the situation and working to balance water use with environmental flow needs,” the ministry statement says.
We take it for granted too often as we chug our morning brown at our desks or on our commute to work.
In a world of climate doom, divisive political landscapes and an impending financial crisis, it’s a little treat we give ourselves to help us get through the day.
And Thursday, September 29th is National Coffee Day.
So here are eight local coffee shops to spend a few bucks on the fancy roasted bean water you deserve:
They’ve been a mainstay of Victoria’s coffee scene since they opened their doors.
This hipster’s paradise is always spinning a vinyl record by an artist you’ve never heard of, they’ve got some seating for book-readers and laptop-bringers and they source their beans from some of the best roasters on the island and across Canada.
Plus, they recently added cocktails to their menu as they now have a liquor license.
They’ve got two locations to help you get your fix whether you’re near their Chinatown or their Atrium location.
They ethically source all their beans that make their brew that much tastier and they work in collaboration with BowsxArrows (who deserve an honourable mention on this list) since day one.
Their sister restaurant, Sherwood, is also a mainstay and has one of the best happy hours in town.
Ahead of the second annual National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, Canada Post has unveiled four new stamps encouraging awareness and reflection on the tragic history of residential schools.
The Crown corporation says the stamps will be released today, September 29th and is the first in an annual series showcasing the visions of First Nations, Inuit and Metis artists.
The stamps are meant to help Canadians reflect on the trauma inflicted on generations of First Nations, Inuit and Metis people.
Artwork was done by Jackie Traverse, Gayle Uyagaqi Kabloona, Kim Gullion Stewart and Blair Thomson. The stamps are inscribed with the Indigenous language of each of their creators.
Canada Post says the stamps are cancelled in Brantford, Ontario, the site of the Mohawk Institute, whose opening in the early 1830s made it Canada’s first Indian residential school.
The Indigenous languages found on the stamps represent the language and dialect of the artists who created the work.
Métis artist Kim Gullion Stewart places beaded flowers over the contour lines of a map as a reminder of the need to live symbiotically with the land, nature and each other. Learn more: http://ow.ly/Zpfc50KVcxl #NDTR #TruthAndReconciliation
Posted by Canada Post on Tuesday, September 27, 2022
Here are the stories behind each stamp and their artist:
Jackie Traverse, First Nations artist (Lake St. Martin, Manitoba) – Anishinaabe, Ojibwe
“This image represents seeds of change. Here we have man and woman, the Elders, their children and their grandchildren. I’ve put the (unofficial) national flower, the bunchberry, in the centre to represent Canada, with the roots from the seeds reaching to the past. For all of us to experience a good harvest we need to share the sun, water and the land. This is how we bring forth good crops and ensure everyone has the harvest of tomorrow.”
Traverse’s mother died at a young age and her siblings were apprehended in the Sixties Scoop. She grew up in one of Winnipeg’s toughest neighbourhoods. Traverse is a multi-disciplined Indigenous artist who works in several media, from oil and acrylic paintings to mixed media, stop-motion animation and sculpture. She draws inspiration from her Indigenous culture and her experiences as an Indigenous woman living in Winnipeg. Her work speaks to the realities of being an Indigenous woman.
Gayle Uyagaqi Kabloona, Inuit artist – Qamani’tuaq (Baker Lake), Nunavut
“I believe each group within Canada has a different responsibility for reconciliation. For Indigenous People, our responsibility is to ourselves and to others within our communities: learning or passing on our language and culture that was attacked only one generation ago. I created a woman lighting a qulliq (QUL-liq), the traditional Inuit stone lamp used for heat and light to signify caretaking. This woman is carrying on in her culture as she has always done, taking care of herself and others and healing.”
Originally from Baker Lake, Nunavut, Kabloona comes from a family of renowned Inuit artists. Art is how she connects with others within her culture, showcases her Inuit heritage, and expresses her Indigenous identity. Kabloona’s work puts a modern take on traditional Inuit imagery, and strong women frequently make appearances in her art. She co-founded a small group ceramics studio and has taught art as therapy at an addictions healing centre for Inuit, located in Ottawa. Last year, Kabloona was awarded a residency at the Art Gallery of Guelph, working with an Inuit curator, and created a new piece to be shown alongside her grandmother’s and great-grandmother’s artwork from the gallery’s collection.
Kim Gullion Stewart, Métis artist – Athabasca, Alberta (currently lives in Pinantan Lake, British Columbia)
“Flowers in Métis art remind people to live in a symbiotic way with land, waterways, ecosystems and one another. In this piece I have placed beaded flowers on top of contour lines representing the Rocky Mountains, twisty lines for rivers and dashes demarking political territories. While maps like this one are a two-dimensional record of historical process and places, they are incomplete until they include elements that are important to the people who are Indigenous on this continent.”
Gullion Stewart was born in Athabasca, Alberta. Her father’s heritage connects her to the Métis homeland of Red River, Man. She creates metaphorical meaning by connecting Métis cultural art forms (hide tanning, beading, quillwork) with contemporary and graphic art forms. In her art, she searches to uncover the depths of her Métis identity and learn Métis knowledge systems that have been hidden, lost or adapted as a survival mechanism. She is inspired by what Métis leader Louis Riel (1844-85) once said: “My people will sleep for 100 years, but when they awake it will be the artists who give them their spirit back.”
Blair Thomson, artist and graphic designer
“A pair of bold hands are held over the eyes and human face. Intended to be cross-representative — those of Indigenous Peoples/Survivors, covering their face in sadness, pain, memories, and those of the settler, masking their view of reality and shame. Tears stream from between the fingers. The background further connects to the school windows, looking out and dreaming of home. The eyes looking out from behind the hands reinforce the message that settlers must ‘never look away again.’”
Thomson is founder and creative director of Believe in, a design practice with studios in Canada and the United Kingdom. A harmony between strategic foundation, unique ideas and beautiful outcomes lies at the heart of his approach and creative processes. His work is multi-award winning and has been featured in many leading design publications worldwide. Thomson is the collector, archivist and historian responsible for Canada Modern (an archive of modernist, Canadian graphic design from 1960-85).
To pick up your stamps today visit the Canada Post website.
Editors note: BC Transit originally reported that the free transit would run until October 16th, but recently advised Victoria Buzz this was an error on their part—the free transit will in fact only run until October 9th.
Right when gas prices soar once more, cyclists get a nice kickback.
Go By Bike Week runs from October 3rd to the 9th and during that time the Victoria Regional Transit Commission and BC Transit are going to offer free transit for cyclists.
Cyclists who wish to reap the benefits of free transit simply need to use the bike racks mounted on the front end of all BC Transit buses, or leave their bikes locked somewhere and show the driver their helmet when boarding the bus.
Just in time for cooler, fall weather this initiative is meant to sway commuters to using the two forms of sustainable transportation when travelling longer distances rather than using a personal vehicle.
For those who have never used the bus mounted bike racks, the notion of asking a driver or fellow passenger how they work may be intimidating.
To help curb this intimidation, BC Transit representatives will be holding a demonstration at the Saanich Municipal Hall on October 6th from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. on how to use the bike racks.
BC Transit also has cyclist information available on their website to help bike commuters integrate transit into their trips.
BC Transit would like to stipulate that the bus mounted bike racks on community buses and smaller fleet buses may not be used after dark, as they obstruct the vehicles headlights.
Nanaimo’s Superstore on Metal Drive was evacuated by the RCMP Wednesday night after a concerning call.
At around 8:20 p.m. a bomb threat was called in that forced the Superstore to close and evacuate its staff and employees for several hours.
Police say the store manager called in the threat asking police how to proceed.
According to police, store management and Nanaimo RCMP then coordinated efforts in the best interest of the store’s employees, its customers and the building’s infrastructure.
The decision was made to evacuate the store.
Nanaimo firefighters and emergency health services were on scene and stood by while the investigation proceeded.
Police then reportedly searched the interior and parking lot with the assistance of a canine unit. The RCMP investigators say they found nothing suspicious in their search.
The store manager was informed of the outcome just after 10 p.m.
Only employees were allowed to re-enter the premises at that time, as the business normally closes at that time.
If you have information on this incident, contact the Nanaimo RCMP at 250-754-2345.
VicPD are seeking the public’s help locating a high risk missing 59-year-old man who hasn’t been seen in over a week.
In a media release, police say Timothy Mackness was last seen on September 20th and reported as a missing person on September 26th.
Mackness was last seen in the Jubilee area and is described as a Caucasian man, standing 6′ tall, with a slender build. He has blue eyes and brown hair.
“While investigators have no direct information that Timothy is at immediate risk of harm, the circumstances under which he has gone missing are considered to be high-risk,” VicPD said.
If you see Timothy Mackness, call 911.
If you have any information about where he may be, call the VicPD Report Desk at (250) 995-7654.
“When you’re a hero, you deserve to be acknowledged.”
These are the words behind the sentiment Mill Bay resident, Linda Petrovic wants to pass along to a man that saved her life 55 years ago.
Now 74-years-old, Linda wishes to pass along her most profound thanks to her hero for affording her all the wonderful opportunities she has had in life.
On April 1st, 1967, Linda was in a vehicle along with two others late at night at the Mt. Douglas Lookout in PKOLS (Mt. Douglas Park).
The ‘57 Ford she was in lost control while going nearly 130 kilometres per hour down the mountain. It skidded for 160 feet before plunging off Churchill Drive onto Shelbourne Street where it wrapped around a tree.
The vehicle’s damage was so extreme it left all passengers unconscious and severely injured, including an 18-year-old Linda.
(Times Colonist circa 1967)
A man who was in a vehicle nearby came to the site of the crash while the wheels of the ‘57 Ford were still spinning.
He was able to pull all three unconscious passengers from the wreckage and put them into the backseat of his vehicle.
The mysterious hero then sped toward the Royal Jubilee Hospital, but on his way there he was pulled over by Saanich Police for speeding.
Once the officer who had stopped this hero saw who was in the backseat of the car and heard where the vehicle’s destination was—and what had happened, he gave him a police escort to the hospital.
The three passengers survived in large part to the efforts of this mystery person.
On one occasion he visited Linda while she was in recovery at the hospital with a crushed foot and a significant head-wound. She vaguely remembers their conversation but Linda–who was only 18-years-old at that time–cannot remember getting the man’s name in their interaction.
“It’s funny, when things like that accident happen, a part of your mind just shuts down and you don’t think about it, you don’t go there,” Linda told Victoria Buzz.
“Then one day you turn 74 and you’re thinking, ‘you know, I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for this guy,’ and I want to know who he is.”
Linda made a Facebook post on a page entitled ‘Old Victoria BC’ recounting some of the details of the accident and her hopes to identify the mystery hero, should he still be, “in this realm.”
The post garnered hundreds of comments, shares and interactions within only 24-hours.
She told us, “the response was just unbelievable.” Sadly, the comments section has yielded no leads on who Linda’s hero may have been.
“I’m thinking, if you’re a young man and you have the traumatic experience of finding this accident, taking the people out of the car, getting pulled over by the police, you’re going to relay that story,” said Linda.
“I was hoping maybe somebody heard the story and they remember who told it to them.”
She said he must have been between the ages of 20-25. She doesn’t think he could have been much older than that because at the time Mt. Douglas Lookout was considered to be a make-out spot, and Victorians over 25-years-old didn’t frequent the area often.
When asked if she could find him, what would she say to him, Linda replied, “I would just want to thank him for the life that I’ve had.”
Linda has two daughters, seven grandchildren and says she feels pretty blessed to have gotten a new lease on life all those years ago.
“I was only 18, and sometimes it takes a long time to grow up and appreciate the people in our lives that make us who we are,” she said.
If you know anything about this 1967 car wreck or the man who saved Linda’s life, email Victoria Buzz at tips@victoriabuzz.com.
Sing along and dance to your favourite hit songs performed by a live band while playing an interactive game of music bingo! Get there early to secure a table!
When: Thursday, September 29th, 7:15 p.m. to 10:45 p.m.
A live stand-up comedy show at Ile Sauvage Brewing featuring Shane Priestley, Dylan Williams, Patrick McCann, Matt Basky, Nash Park, Bob Warwick, and Elyott Ryan.
Your host this month is Elyott Ryan. Elyott is a rising young comedian who recently performed on FunnyFest Comedy Festival in Calgary, Alberta.
Foggy Isle is an annual dark comedy and macabre-themed film event. Foggy Isle Film Festival’s mission is to showcase short films that celebrate all that is darkly hilarious, weird, and macabre.
After two years of being forced online, Foggy Isle will be returning to its original cabaret-styled roots for its fourth year with a live in-person show on September 29th!
Since the hit and run, the suspect has turned themselves in to West Shore RCMP.
Police are continuing their investigation and still ask that anyone who witnessed the incident or has dash-cam footage to contact police at 250-474-2264.
–original:
West Shore RCMP are looking to identify a driver and vehicle involved in a hit-and-run Tuesday morning.
The incident occurred at around 8:50 a.m. at the intersection of Sooke Lake Road and Amy Road in Langford.
A 14-year-old female student was waiting a bus stop when she was struck by the vehicle.
Police said the student sustained minor physical injuries and is expected to recover.
The driver of the vehicle did not stop to check on the student and drove west on Sooke Lake Road.
The vehicle is described as a black two-door car with round headlights. The victim also described the vehicle as being lowered to the ground.
The driver is described as being a Caucasian man in his 20s with long blonde curly hair and brown eyes.
West Shore RCMP say they made extensive patrols in the area but were not able to locate the suspect driver or vehicle.
“We are asking anyone in the area at the time who may have witnessed this collision to come forward,’ said Cpl. Nancy Saggar, West Shore RCMP
If you were driving in the area and have dash camera footage of the incident, call the West Shore RCMP at 250-474-2264.
“To the suspect driver, you know who you are, please do the right thing and identify yourself to the police,” pleaded Saggar.
When asked about if the property the new restaurant occupies is slated for redevelopment by the owners, Michelle told us she couldn’t speak to the redevelopment rumour, it should say enough that Floyd’s is going in and feeling confident that they’ve got some time there.
“We try to go in with a long-term vision,” said Boyd. “I don’t think we’re going anywhere for the foreseeable future.”
She also said the interior will be left much the same as the old Sassy’s space.
“Everything [in the kitchen] that we’re going to be working with will be pretty much new,” Boyd told Victoria Buzz.
The equipment in the kitchen was old and had seen “many years of breakfasts” so they’ve replaced most of the kitchen.
She also said, in regards to worker safety, “we’re making sure all the floors are ready for our new kitchen staff to be able to do their thing without being worried.”
The James Bay location of Floyd’s on Menzies Avenue has a beautiful mural of Marylin Monroe which is very on brand for the 60s inspired diner.
When asked about whether or not the new location would have an artist commissioned to create a similar mural, Boyd said, “we really hope that will happen soon.”
Floyd’s Diner (Michael Johnston Facebook)
“Right now it remains a vision and it’ll be a surprise, whatever we do.”
“We are just so excited to be a part of that community,” said Boyd. “We hope to make everyone full and happy.”
The 8th annual Survive Strive Thrive event is happening next month—and you’re invited!
The event is a FREE annual conference hosted by The Cridge Centre for the Family.
The purpose of SST is to provide education to healthcare professionals, students, and families supporting people with a brain injury, as well as survivors living with a brain injury, on the best practices, challenges and solutions when living with a brain injury.
The theme for SST 2022 is Living and Thriving Through the Many Intersections of Brain Injury.
It will be held virtually via ZOOM on October 13th from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Though the event is free, registration is required and appreciated—you can register online here.
Once registered, you will receive follow up emails with the Zoom link and instructions on how to attend—conference recording will also be available for registrants.
Though this year’s event will be virtual, in 2023 SST will be held in-person in Victoria, as well as via ZOOM.
As we say goodbye to September and hello to the spooky season, Netflix is here to provide entertainment for the cozy months ahead.
One new addition to the streaming service to take note of is a new docu-series about Vancouver Island wildlife. Island of the Sea Wolves, a nature documentary series filmed on Vancouver Island is coming to Netflix on October 11th.
Local filmmaker, Maxwell Hohn, spent time in the thick of Vancouver Island’s rainforests to capture footage of the incredibly unique and diverse wildlife that inhabit the island alongside us humans.
The new series focuses on the Vancouver coastal sea wolf, a subspecies of grey wolf and known to Vancouver Island.
Without further ado, here’s a full list of new movies and shows coming to Netflix Canada this October:
October 1st
17 Again
30 Minutes or Less
60 Days In: Season 3
Any Given Sunday
Barbie: It Takes Two: Season 2
Call Me by Your Name
Charlotte’s Web (2006)
Chocolat
City Slickers
The Color Purple
Gladiator
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
I Love You, Man
Labyrinth
Land of the Lost
Last Seen Alive
Mr. & Mrs. Smith
National Lampoon’s European Vacation
National Lampoon’s Vacation
Ocean’s Eleven
Ocean’s Thirteen
Ocean’s Twelve
Point Break (1991)
Risky Business
Robin Hood
Runaway Bride
Rush Hour
Rush Hour 2
Rush Hour 3
Scooby-Doo
Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed
Sex and the City 2
Sex and the City: The Movie
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie
Vegas Vacation
Walking Tall
Wedding Crashers
Yes Man
October 2nd
Forever Queens — NETFLIX SERIES
October 3rd
Chip and Potato: Season 4 — NETFLIX FAMILY
Jexi
October 4th
Hasan Minhaj: The King’s Jester — NETFLIX COMEDY
October 5th
Bling Empire: Season 3 — NETFLIX SERIES
High Water — NETFLIX SERIES
Jumping from High Places — NETFLIX FILM
Mr. Harrigan’s Phone — NETFLIX FILM
Nailed It!: Season 7 — NETFLIX SERIES
The Fight for Justice: Paolo Guerrero — NETFLIX SERIES
The Trapped 13: How We Survived The Thai Cave — NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY
Togo — NETFLIX FILM
October 6th
Aftershock: Everest and Nepal Earthquake — NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY
The Joys and Sorrows of Young Yuguo — NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY
October 7th
Conversations with a Killer: The Jeffrey Dahmer Tapes — NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY
Derry Girls: Season 3 — NETFLIX SERIES
Doll House — NETFLIX FILM
Glitch — NETFLIX SERIES
Kev Adams: The Real Me — NETFLIX COMEDY
Luckiest Girl Alive — NETFLIX FILM
Man on Pause — NETFLIX SERIES
The Midnight Club — NETFLIX SERIES
The Mole — NETFLIX SERIES
Oddballs — NETFLIX FAMILY
Old People — NETFLIX FILM
The Redeem Team — NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY
TIGER & BUNNY 2 Part 2 — NETFLIX ANIME
October 9th
Missing Link
October 10th
LEGO Ninjago: Season 4 Crystallized – Part 2
Spirit Rangers — NETFLIX FAMILY
October 11th
The Cage — NETFLIX SERIES
DEAW#13 Udom Taephanich Stand Up Comedy Show — NETFLIX COMEDY
Iliza Shlesinger: Hot Forever — NETFLIX COMEDY
Island of the Sea Wolves — NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY (Filmed on Vancouver Island)
October 12th
Belascoaran, PI — NETFLIX SERIES
Blackout
Easy-Bake Battle — NETFLIX SERIES
The Nutty Boy — NETFLIX FAMILY
Wild Croc Territory — NETFLIX SERIES
October 13th
Dead End: Paranormal Park: Season 2 — NETFLIX FAMILY
Exception — NETFLIX ANIME
The Playlist — NETFLIX SERIES
The Sinner: Season 4: Percy
Someone Borrowed — NETFLIX FILM
Sue Perkins: Perfectly Legal — NETFLIX SERIES
October 14th
Black Butterflies — NETFLIX SERIES
The Curse of Bridge Hollow — NETFLIX FILM
Everything Calls for Salvation — NETFLIX SERIES
Holy Family — NETFLIX SERIES
Mismatched: Season 2 — NETFLIX SERIES
Take 1 — NETFLIX SERIES
October 15th
Blippi’s Spooky Spell Halloween
Under the Queen’s Umbrella — NETFLIX SERIES
October 16th
Dracula Untold
Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am
October 17th
Waffles + Mochi’s Restaurant — NETFLIX FAMILY
October 18th
Gabriel Iglesias: Stadium Fluffy Live From Los Angeles — NETFLIX COMEDY
LiSA Another Great Day — NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY
Somebody Feed Phil: Season 6 — NETFLIX SERIES
Unsolved Mysteries: Volume 3 — NETFLIX SERIES (New Episodes Weekly)
October 19th
The Green Glove Gang — NETFLIX SERIES
Love Is Blind: Season 3 — NETFLIX SERIES (New Episodes Weekly)
Notre-Dame — NETFLIX SERIES
The School for Good and Evil — NETFLIX FILM
The Stranger — NETFLIX FILM
October 21st
28 Days Haunted — NETFLIX SERIES
Barbarians II — NETFLIX SERIES
Descendant — NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY
From Scratch — NETFLIX SERIES
High: Confessions of an Ibiza Drug Mule — NETFLIX SERIES
ONI: Thunder God’s Tale — NETFLIX FAMILY
Pokemon Ultimate Journeys — NETFLIX FAMILY
October 22nd
LOL Surprise! Winter Fashion Show
October 23rd
Franco Escamilla: Eavesdropping — NETFLIX COMEDY
October 24th
The Chalk Line — NETFLIX FILM
October 25th
Barbie Epic Road Trip — NETFLIX FAMILY
Blade of hte 47 Ronin
Fortune Feimster: Good Fortune — NETFLIX COMEDY
Guillermo Del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities — NETFLIX SERIES
Unsolved Mysteries: Volume 3 — NETFLIX SERIES (New Episodes Weekly)
October 26th
Fugitive: The Curious Case of Carlos Ghosn — NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY
The Good Nurse — NETFLIX FILM
Hellhole — NETFLIX FILM
Love is Blind: Season 3 — NETFLIX SERIES (New Episodes Weekly)
Robbing Mussolini — NETFLIX FILM
October 27th
Cici — NETFLIX FILM
Daniel Spellbound — NETFLIX FAMILY
Dubai Bling — NETFLIX SERIES
Earthstorm — NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY
Family Reunion: Part 5 — NETFLIX FAMILY
Hotel Transylvania 2
Romantic Killer — NETFLIX ANIME
October 28th
All Quiet on the Western Front — NETFLIX FILM
The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself — NETFLIX SERIES
Big Mouth: Season 6 — NETFLIX SERIES
Drink Masters — NETFLIX SERIES
I AM A STALKER — NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY
If Only — NETFLIX SERIES
My Encounter with Evil — NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY
Wendell & Wild — NETFLIX FILM
Wild is the Wind — NETFLIX FILM
October 29
Deadwind: Season 3 — NETFLIX SERIES
Here are some series that are leaving Netflix in October:
Schitt’s Creek: Seasons 1-6
Sofia the First: Seasons 1-4
After
Apocalypse Now Redux
Everything Must Go
Little Italy
Scary Movie 4
The Girl Next Door
Bleach The Movie: Fade to Black
Bleach the Movie: Hell Verse
Sinister 2
Yes, God, Yes
Hemlock Grove: Seasons 1-3
Begin Again
Metallica Through The Never
8 Mile
Bridget Jones’s Diary
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
Footloose
Friday
Friday After Next
Johnny Mnemonic
Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath: Seasons 1-3
Island of the Sea Wolves, a nature documentary series filmed on Vancouver Island is coming to Netflix on October 11th.
Canadian national treasure, Will Arnett is the narrator of the series.
Local filmmaker, Maxwel Hohn, spent time in the thick of Vancouver Island’s rainforests to capture footage of the incredibly unique and diverse wildlife that inhabit the island alongside us humans.
He is an award winning cinematographer and filmmaker who is also known for his series Call of the Coastal Wolves and Tadpoles: The Big Little Migration.
The new series that will be coming to Netflix shortly focuses on the Vancouver Coastal sea wolf, a subspecies of grey wolf and known to Vancouver Island.
‘Island of the Sea Wolves’ comes to Netflix October 11th. The series showcases some of Vancouver Island’s most incredible wildlife like you’ve never seen before. I spent most of last year filming and working on a dozen shoots taking place all over my own backyard! From underwater to FPV and aerial filming. From long lens to macro, remote cams to hides, snorkelling to rebreathers. This series expanded my skill set – and my understanding of Canada’s natural beauty. I can’t wait for you all to see the amazing work in this series. It was an phenomenal experience, with an incredible team I’m proud to be a part of:Jeff Turner, Chelsea Turner, Alex Burr, Lou Ferguson, Armen Evrensel, Kai Meyer, Matthew Muncaster, Jacques Russo, Jack Gawthrop, Lynn Fuhr, Matt Hood, Sam Eilis, Adam Ravetch, Maxwel Hohn, Darren West, Robin Smith, Dave Pearson, Kieran O’Donovan, James Frystak, Russell Clark, Tynan Callesen, Shane Craver, Beau Llewellyn, Casey Dubois, Cam Scott-Trask, Ryan Tidman, Mark McGovern #islandoftheseawolves #vancouverisland #netflix #seaotters #marmots #eagles #nature #wildlife #blackbears #wolves
Posted by Maxwel Hohn on Wednesday, September 21, 2022
The wolves are known because of their talents for swimming in our cold oceanic waters near Bella Bella. Their main food source is seafood which makes up 90% of its diet.
A quarter of their seafood diet relies on salmon populations. The wolves also hunt seals and river otters. Foraging makes up part of their diet as well. They scour the beaches for barnacles, clams, herring eggs and whale carcasses.
Hohn did had the opportunity to film in his own backyard here on the island with underwater and aerial filming using long lens, macro and remote cams.
He had to utilize hides, snorkelling and rebreathers to keep distance enough from the wildlife he was filming.
This is the first time one of Hohn’s projects has been picked up by the streaming giant, Netflix, and hopefully it won’t be the last.
The City of Victoria has the most candidates running for office both as mayor and city councillor.
On October 15th, residents of Victoria proper will have the opportunity to vote in one mayor, eight councillors, nine school Trustees (School District 61) and three CRD Directors (of the 18 councillor candidates who have chosen to run)
On September 19th, the city released a helpful voter information guide, in which each candidate had the opportunity to outline who they are, what they stand for and what their priorities for Victoria are.
In the City of Victoria, registered voters were mailed a voting card to bring with them on election day, along with their identification. This will help speed up the voting process.
However, the voter card does not replace the requirement to provide identification at a voting place.
At your voting place, you will be required to present two pieces of ID, one of which must include your signature.
If you are unsure of if you are registered to vote or unsure of where your voting place is, you can check that information here.
If you are planning on being out of town on election day, October 15th, advanced voting will begin on Wednesday, October 5th.
Here is where you can go for advanced polls:
Wednesday, October 5th 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Victoria City Hall, Centennial Square
Friday, October 7th 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Our Place, 919 Pandora Avenue
Tuesday, October 11th 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Victoria City Hall, Centennial Square
Tuesday, October 11th 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
University of Victoria, Student Union Building, 3800 Finnerty Road
Wednesday, October 12th 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Victoria City Hall, Centennial Square
On October 15th, you’ll need to know which voting place you can go to to cast your vote. There are 13 polling stations in Victoria and all will be made accessible so all Victorians can cast a vote if they choose to do so.
Here’s a list of the places you can vote, if registered:
Central Baptist Church – 833 Pandora Avenue
Central Middle School – 1280 Fort Street (Accessible voting machine available)
Cook Street Village Activity Centre – 380 Cook Street
George Jay Elementary School – 1118 Princess Avenue
Glenlyon Norfolk School – 781 Richmond Avenue
James Bay Community School -140 Oswego Street
James Bay New Horizons Centre – 234 Menzies Street
Margaret Jenkins Elementary School – 1824 Fairfield Road
Oaklands Elementary School – 2827 Belmont Avenue
Quadra Elementary School – 3031 Quadra Street
Sir James Douglas Elementary School – 401 Moss Street
SJ Burnside Education Centre – 498 Cecelia Road
Victoria West Elementary School – 750 Front Street
There is also a free Victoria Votes app that puts all the important election information right in the palm of your hand.
The app has candidate profiles and photos, information on advance voting opportunities, general voting day locations, what you need to know about registering to vote and how to check to see if you’re on the voters list.
You can download the app for iOS here and for Android here.
Amateur boxers from across BC will be in Victoria this weekend for a second time this year.
The event was last held at the historic Roundhouse at Bayview Place in Esquimalt in May, and by popular demand from the boxing community and the crowd who witnessed that first boxing card, Champ Promotions announced the event is returning.
This time around, the event will be held at the Songhees Wellness Centre on the unceded territory of the Songhees Nation this Saturday, October 1st.
The action-packed event will feature 12 bouts of boxers from around BC, including the Victoria area— many of these boxers have their sights set at the professional level.
“We are honoured to be able to exhibit some of Canada’s best amateur boxing talent,” said event organizers.
“Many of the boxers are from the Victoria area and many will travel from across Canada for this event. These boxing cards provide a steppingstone to such venues as the Pan Am Games and the 2024 Olympics.
Some of the boxers at this weekend’s event will be representing Canada in the future at major international events, or in the professional ring. Come out and support your local boxers and be a part of their climb to the top of the boxing world.
The evening, dubbed “ROUND 2” will include a live DJ that will fill the venue with music and energy before, between, and after the fights.
There’ll be several bars, food, and merchandise available on site. With less than 700 seats available, and pre-sales already going fast, order your tickets now.
Tickets can be purchased online at Champ Promotions until 5 p.m. on Friday or available at the door after that, however, if you’re feeling lucky, we’re giving away two pairs of tickets to the event!
The match-up will televised live on Shaw Direct channel 299 and live-streamed on YouTube.
CONTEST
We’re giving away two pairs of tickets to Live Boxing Round 2 happening this weekend. Make sure to check if you won this Friday September 30th.
To enter, complete at least one of the following steps and let us know in the comment section:
Follow @champ_promotions on Instagram. Leave a comment below with your IG handle telling us once you have. (1 entry)
Follow Champ Promotions on Facebook. Leave a comment below telling us once you have. (1 entry)
Contest entries will be accepted from the time and date of publishing until September 30th, 2022. Two winners will be chosen at random and contacted through the platform they used to enter.
Over 50 volunteers have signed up thus far to plant over 200 trees and assist in removing invasive species in the park this Saturday from 9:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
The GVGT say this climate action is beneficial for participants’ mental and physical health and the event is open to people of all ages and backgrounds. No prior knowledge to trees, tree planting or invasive species is necessary.
“In order to allow the trees and shrubs we plant to thrive, we will be removing invasive plants from the areas we will be planting. English Ivy is extremely prominent within the forest,” said Interim Program Manager, Maria Varem.
“We have a wide variety of native species ready to plant, including Douglas Fir, Grand Fir, Western Yew, Scouler’s Willow, Red Alder, Salal, Dull Oregon Grape, and Sword Fern.”
In regards to the invasive species in Saxe Point Park she said that typically similar forests will get invaded by English Holly and Daphne in addition to ivy.
Organizers recommend volunteers wear clothes they don’t mind getting dirty with long sleeves and long pants, bring a refillable water bottle, your own gardening gloves, tools, safety glasses (We provide them if you don’t have your own), sturdy closed toe shoes/boots, a hat and sunscreen if it’s sunny and a rain jacket in case it rains.
The GVGT will provide snacks and refreshments halfway through.
The event will go forward rain or shine and organizers ask that volunteers register prior to attending.
TD Tree Days is a climate action initiative created to plant over 1,000,000 trees by the year 2030.
According to TD, they are well on their way to achieving that goal with 466,000+ trees and shrubs planted to date.
Much like when Macintosh changed their name to Apple, the BC Liberal party hope this brand change will help them come next election.
The decision to potentially change their name came after a province-wide consultation with its membership in which several options were presented to the party’s members.
Following the consultation, BC United is what the Liberals decided as the possible replacement for their current name.
However, the new name is not yet set in stone.
Party members will have the opportunity to vote on the name change at the end of the year.
The name change idea was brought about by BC Liberal leader, Kevin Falcon who made the commitment at the party’s annual convention in June. Back then, two-thirds of the delegates voted in favour of considering a name change.
When it came to the matter of what the party would change their name to, over 2,000 suggestions were submitted over a three-month period.
“This has been a process driven by members from day one, and among thousands of name change suggestions, BC United emerged as the clear choice across the province,” said BC Liberal vice-president, Caroline Elliott in a media release.
The BC Liberal party announced that if the name change is approved by its party members, the new name will be implemented strategically and responsibly in respect to the next provincial election.
The 43rd British Columbia general election is set to be held on or before October 19th, 2024.
Belleville Street in downtown Victoria will host numerous peaceful demonstrators along the sidewalk this weekend
In solidarity with the Iranian women’s rights movement, a human chain demonstration is planned to stretch down Belleville Street from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on October 1st.
One of the organizers, who wishes to remain anonymous, told Victoria Buzz the demonstration is meant to be peaceful and they don’t want to disrupt traffic and people’s weekend routines. They only wish to inform.
This follows a peaceful demonstration that took place at the BC Legislature last Friday after the death of Mahsa Amini, an Iranian woman who was in custody of Iranian police when she was killed.
The human chain demonstration is being planned by Victoria’s Iranian community and UVic students.
Members and friends of Victoria’s Iranian community, women and allies of women’s rights are welcome to stand together in solidarity against the atrocities the people of Iran are currently enduring and protesting against.
At the event, organizers will be distributing information about the issue of women’s oppression in Iran and what Canadians can do to help and raise awareness.
Tim Hortons to celebrate National Coffee Day on Sept. 29 with exclusive, limited-edition Tims Run Club apparel (CNW Group/Tim Hortons)
If you’ve been struggling to carry your sandwich around, Tim Horton’s will soon have a solution for you.
Canada’s popular coffee chain unveiled their new apparel line which includes a jacket with built-in breakfast sandwich pocket—honestly!
Ahead of National Coffee Day, Tim Hortons unveiled they were launching a limited-editionclothing line to celebrate the day on September 29th.
The clothing line dubbed “Tims Run Club,” and is said to be “in honour of the millions of Canadians” who grab Tim Hortons on the go—without any actual running involved.
“Our Double Double™-inspired merch drop last year on National Coffee Day was extremely successful – each drop sold out within minutes. This year, we wanted to lean into a pastime our guests coined themselves – the Tims Run,” says Hope Bagozzi, Chief Marketing Officer at Tim Hortons.
The Tims Run Club Collection will include eight products – two windbreakers that range from $64.99 to $99.99 (one premium, one classic), a hat, a long-sleeve shirt, slides, socks, sweatbands and wristbands.
(Tim Hortons)
All eight products are adorned with a Tims Run Club logo, and some will have unique features – for example, the premium windbreaker includes a dedicated breakfast sandwich pouch and extra padding on the left elbow for added comfort when grabbing your order at a drive-thru window.
“We created the Tims Run Club – the only run club where no running is involved. Our exclusive Tims Run Club merch has clever little features like the insulated pocket on our premium windbreaker to keep your breakfast sandwich warm. There’s also elbow padding on the left arm for maximum comfort when resting your arm out the car window while going through the drive-thru. And we’ve also double layered the left sleeve of the premium windbreaker for extra weather protection on our cooler Canadian mornings and nights going through the drive-thru,” said Bagozzi.
The Tims Run Club Collection will officially drop this Thursday, September 29th.
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is just around the corner, and UVic has a new podcast that will bring to light some stories and history of Indigenous First Nations of Vancouver Island and across Canada.
Taapwaywin means truth or speaking truthfully in Michif, an Indigenous dialect used mostly by the Métis people of Canada.
The series was created by its host, Ry Moran, associate university librarian in reconciliation at UVic and founding director of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation.
Taapwaywin features intimate conversations with residential school survivors, elders, knowledge keepers and other indigenous perspectives on seeking truth before beginning the journey of reconciliation.
“Canadians still have many questions about what has happened in this country,” said Moran in a media release.
“They also have been called upon to learn more. This podcast is an effort to dig deeper, fill in some of the gaps and place particular emphasis on the voices of Indigenous Peoples.”
This local series will not only explore questions of creation, dissemination and cultural preservation, it will focus on the consequences of colonial worldviews and what could have been if other forms of political ,social and economic discourse were utilized in our country.
“It is an effort to help share the knowledge and wisdom that exists both with Indigenous communities and within scholarly communities – in recognition of the fact that we need as many good ideas circulating as possible given the scope and scale of some of the challenges collectively faced.”
Moran hopes to open listeners’ minds and hearts to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s calls to action.
He, along with the podcast’s contributors believe it will help to create a community of engaged and informed Canadians.
Colin James is returning to Victoria tonight after last visiting the region in 2017. A Canadian singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer, who plays in the blues, rock, and neo-swing genres. He knows how to put on an amazing show with his high level of guitar skills and vocal abilities.
When: Wednesday. Wednesday, September 28th, starting at 7:30 p.m.
Each week the Mint bring you the most hilarious comedians in the city. The funniest way to spend a Wednesday is Phillips Comedy Night at The Mint! Each week Morgan Cranny and Drew Farrance bring the most hilarious comedians in the city together for a wonderful evening of food, drink and fun!
When: Wednesday. Wednesday, September 28th, starting at 7:45 p.m. to 9:45 p.m.
Another night of Stand-up Comedy at The Fernwood Inn. Tickets are sold by the table
(4,5,or 6 people per table) and with the service charges the cost is just over $10 per person. This month’s show features Dan Duvall, Sophie Crocker, Shane Priestly, Craig Alexander, and Elyott Ryan, with headliner Carilynn Nicholson.
When: Wednesday. Wednesday, September 28th, starting at 7:45 p.m.
Prior to the space being taken over by the Porter family, it was a run down closed-for-business diner in the late 70s.
“They said that the size of this building and the number of seats was not enough to make a profit or a decent living,” former owner Cory Porter told Victoria Buzz in a past interview.
Porter took four years to get the space ready to open its doors, but finally got it open in 1983 as the Porter House before the restaurant joined the Smitty’s chain.
In 2011, the Porter family who were still running the restaurant were struck by tragedy. A member of the family, Sapphira, passed away from a rare disease, leaving the Porters heartbroken.
The restaurant broke its ties with Smitty’s and re-opened under the name Sassy’s. Sassy was a nickname of their dear Sapphira.
(Victoria Buzz)
The restaurant closed its doors in August of this year, after 43 years of service when Porter decided to retire at 73-years-old.
The space was put up for $195,000, and the lot it resided upon is slated for redevelopment in the near future.
Despite the above, a trusted source told Victoria Buzz Tuesday morning that the old Sassy’s diner space is being taken over by another one of Victoria’s mainstay diners, Floyd’s.
At the time of this publication, the building is currently being spray painted Floyd’s iconic pink.
Victoria Buzz has reached out to Floyd’s Diner for official confirmation, but did not hear back by the time of this publication.
You’re in luck, because BC Transit is now hiring Transit Operators in Greater Victoria, and we’re here to tell you how you can apply.
With tons of perks like their career transition allowance, excellent benefits and don’t forget an office with a view (Victoria has a lot of scenic routes!), sending in your application to this BC Top 100 Employer seems like a no-brainer.
You can apply online here—applicants need to provide a copy of their five-year driver’s abstract, five-year insurance claims history and Class 5 driver’s license.
Still on the fence? Here are 6 reasons why working for BC Transit could be a pretty sweet gig:
1. Career Transition Allowance
Each person who is hired as a Transit Operator will receive this sweet bonus—the career transition allowance of $1,500 will be paid within the first week of employment (FYI: taxes will be deducted from this payment).
2. Pension
You will receive membership in a “Gold Plated” defined benefit pension plan, meaning it’s one of the best in the province and ranked within the top ten in Canada! This perk provides you with guaranteed, monthly income for life, putting you in a strong position to be financially secure in your retirement!
3. Benefits
Oh, the benefits! You’ll receive comprehensive employer paid medical and dental group plan benefits to support you and your family, regardless of what life throws at you.
Additionally, BC Transit provides maternity leave top-up, access to BC Transit’s Fitness and Lifestyle Centres, and Social Club—which gives you access to events throughout Victoria, and a complimentary employee Bus Pass.
4. Vacation
Bon voyage! Enjoy 3 weeks of vacation, and that’s just to start. Transit Operators are also given the ability to bank statutory holidays, allowing you to take an additional 2 weeks off each year.
5. Flexibility
As you progress in your career, you will have the chance to pick shifts based on your lifestyle! BC Transit is a 22 hour/day operation—with that comes a variety of shifts and options for drivers.
6. Career Advancement
BC Transit’s Corporate Learning and Development Program supports continuous
growth – so you can perform your best and seize future career opportunities!
There are a number of positions that you could grow into. Transit Operators can become Safety and Training Officers, Dispatchers, and Controllers (aka Emergency Support!), just to name a few!
Interested in applying? You can apply online or come to one of BC Transit’s upcoming in-person Application Days on Tuesday, October 4th from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. or Wednesday, October 19th 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. at 520 Gorge Road East.
Witches and warlocks throw your brooms in the trash and bring out your stand-up paddleboard (SUP).
On Sunday, October 2nd two local witches are hosting Victoria’s first ‘What’SUP Witches’ group paddle at Thetis Lake.
All witches and warlocks of any age are welcome to this festive paddle to kick off this year’s scary season.
The organizers want the event to be a chance for attendees to meet fellow paddleboarders, enjoy the fall foliage and float the lake with their coven.
If you want to join the floating coven you can bring SUPs, kayaks, canoes or dinghies and should make sure they have their pointy hats, capes and all black clothing ready for the float!
The organizers ask that you please make sure you are an experienced paddler.
They say all paddle levels are welcome and no one will be left behind, but this should not be your first time on the board and you should feel comfortable on a board.
Attendees will have to paddle at their own risk. There will be no official instruction, leadership, liability, lifeguard, safety personnel or supervision at this event.
There will be extra pointy witch hats for sale for $5 at Thetis Lake on the day of the event.
The group has also organized with Palli Palli Paddle a 25% discount for any witches and warlocks who want to attend. “Witches25%” is the code to use to receive the discount.
A motorist is lucky to be alive after their vehicle veered off the Malahat and plunged hundreds of feet down the highway’s embankment on Sunday.
Cpl. Alex Bérubé, a spokesperson for BC RCMP told Victoria Buzz that Shawnigan Lake RCMP responded to the single-vehicle crash at around 7:35 p.m. near Split Rock Lookout.
Bérubé said the vehicle left the roadway and went 200 to 300 feet down an embankment.
The driver and lone occupant was taken to hospital with injuries that are described as non-life threatening.
While the cause of the crash in still under investigation, RCMP said there is nothing to suggest the driver was impaired.
To celebrate National Coffee Day on September 29th, you can get a free drink from Starbucks Canada and all you have to do to get it is sign up for rewards.
The promotion is running for a full week, taking place between Monday, September 26th, and Sunday, October 2nd.
In a media release, Starbucks Canada said it will gift every new Starbucks Rewards member with 150 points (“stars”), enough to claim a free drink or snack.
You can use the points to redeem a drink from Starbucks’ fall menu, including their classic Pumpkin Spice Latte or Apple Crisp Oat Macchiato — a revamped version of their Apple Crisp Macchiato, which was introduced last year, or another handcrafted drink.
The most popular drink among rewards program members in Canada is the classic latte.
Just a note, you’ll need to make a transaction after signing up in order to receive the 150 stars. Full details on signing up for Starbucks Rewards are online.
(Capital City Comic Con/Jesse Gibson Photography @j_gibzzphoto)
Nerd heaven just rolled through Victoria!
For the first time in what seems like forever, local comic, sci-fi and cosplay enthusiasts got to break out their best costumes and meet some cool people from their favourite realms, universes and movies.
The event featured cosplay artists and workshops, commission artists who could make your favourite characters come to life on a page just for you, and some high-profile creators of some of the most well known comics and series.
The event took over two venues downtown to accommodate all the patrons and artists alike at the Victoria Conference Centre and the historic Crystal Garden.
Whether you were able to suit up and have a picture taken with Darth Maul or not, here are 15 pictures to help you get all the FOMO from Capital City Comic Con:
Two disguised suspects broke into the Oak Bay Rec Centre and stole a number of pre-made sandwiches and alcoholic beverages.
On Tuesday September 20th, Oak Bay Police were called to the recreational centre for a reported incident of breaking and entering.
Staff told police that just after the recreational centre closed, two suspects entered the facility.
Chief Constable Mark Fisher told Victoria Buzz the suspects gained access to the building by climbing a ladder that was left on the premises by a worker then going through a second floor door that was not locked.
The suspects spent most of their time in the Sports View Lounge which is the small restaurant on the second floor where parents can watch their children play sports.
According to police, the suspects collected a number of the lounge’s pre-made sandwiches and alcoholic beverages.
They also damaged some cabinets they pried open but that was the extent of the damages and stolen goods said Chief Constable Fisher.
CCTV was recorded of the suspects gaining entry to the building and their theft.
One of the suspects is described as wearing a black hooded jacket, black pants, black shoes, tattoos on right hand (including fingers) and wore a camouflaged backpack.
The second suspect is described as wearing a black jacket, black pants and during the crime, wore a white clown mask with a black wig.
The investigation is ongoing.
If you have any information on this crime or its suspects, call Oak Bay Police Department’s non-emergency line at (250) 592-2424.
The weather is great and the daily events are returning, from yoga to catching a live show, here are 5 things to do in and around Victoria this Tuesday, September 27th:
This class is different to the traditional yoga, as in they move, use slow and small movements to go deep to our tight muscles that create pain in our body. You don’t have to be highly flexible to be in this class, just a willingness to try.
When: Tuesday, September 27th, starts at 9:15 a.m.
Where: Cook Street Village Activity Centre, #1 – 380 Cook Street
Join Royal BC Museum for an evening to acknowledge the history of residential schools as they honour and gather together.
On day two, they will welcome community leader, activist, political leader, residential school Survivor and speaker Guy Louie Senior. There will then be a special screening of We Were Children at IMAX.
Due to the sensitive topic, Wawadiťła (Mungo Martin House) will be open with a ceremonial fire for prayer and reflection throughout the evening. Cultural support workers will be available onsite as needed.
The Saanich Emergency Program is looking for volunteers. Support your community, gain valuable experience, learn about emergency management. They’re recruiting volunteers for: Emergency Support Services, Neighbourhood Emergency Preparedness Program and Radio Communications. Training provided.
When: Tuesday, September 27th, 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Where: Gordon Head Recreation Centre, 4100 Lambrick Park Way – Feltham Room
West Shore RCMP are investigating two separate residential break-ins in Langford after the garage doors were left open or unlocked.
According to police, the break-ins occurred early Monday morning in the area of Leigh Place and Trillium Road.
The suspect gained access to the homes through their garage door in both cases.
In one instance the garage door was left unlocked and in the other a garage opener was accessed in an unlocked vehicle parked in the driveway.
“We want to remind everyone to please lock your home and vehicle doors,” said Cpl. Nancy Saggar, West Shore RCMP Media Relations Officer in a media release.
“It’s a good habit to check your doors and windows at night before heading to bed and avoid leaving your garage door openers in the car overnight.”
If you have any information involving these crimes or know who the suspect could be, call the West Shore RCMP at 250-474-2264.
Hard to believe we are already thinking of this, but winter weather is just around the corner and that means BC’s winter tire rules will be in effect as of Saturday, October 1st.
The Ministry of Transportation has issued a reminder to the public to install winter tires on their vehicles if they plan to travel on certain highways such as the Malahat, Highway 14, Highway 4 and Highway 28.
In British Columbia, winter tires are defined as those labelled with either the Mountain Snowflake symbol or the Mud and Snow (M+S) symbol.
Tires marked with a mountain/snowflake symbol on the sidewall offer the best traction on snow and ice and in cold weather.
Tires marked with M+S (mud and snow) offer better traction than summer tires but are less effective than mountain/snowflake tires in severe winter conditions.
The tires must be in good condition with a minimum tread depth of 3.5 mm and must be used on designated highways October 1st to March 31st.
Signs are posted to identify those highways where winter tires are required for lighter cars and trucks, and chains are required for heavy commercial trucks.
These routes are generally located approaching high mountain passes and highways which see significant winter conditions and where conditions can change from rain to snow very quickly.
Drivers planning to travel through these designated routes are encouraged to “know before you go” and check DriveBC.ca for the latest for latest highway conditions, highway cams, route forecasts and delay information.
Drivers who don’t have proper winter tires on their vehicle on the designated routes can receive a fine of $121, and those who don’t have the minimum tread depth on their tires (3.5 mm) on the designated routes can receive a fine of $109.
More information on winter tire and chain requirements in BC can be found here.
If you haven’t eaten at these spots, are you even a Victorian?
Victoria has so many restaurants and the tourist spots are well known to locals as places to go in the off-season, but to avoid whenever a cruise ship haunts our shores.
Luckily for us, we have loads of places we can go to for a friendly face, a hearty meal and little to no tourists.
Not that we hate tourists, we just want to hang with our own community. We want to eat a hot dog while we sip a cocktail and have our hair cut, or have a soup, salad and beer on the front porch of a motorcycle shop, you know?
Here are the truest of the true Victorian restaurants:
Is it a motorcycle shop or the best sandwich shop in town? It’s both!
Wheelies hosts a Motorcycle Social every Friday evening, but aside from that it’s open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. every Tuesday to Sunday and has some of the best sandwiches, mac and cheese, soup, salads and brunch in town.
The perfect spot to cure your hangover blues on a Saturday or Sunday with a featured skillet and a double caesar made by a handsome boy in a crop top.
Where: 2620 Rock Bay Avenue
When: Tuesday to Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Open until 9 p.m. on Fridays
Victoria’s food scene’s brunch mainstay and greatest enigma, John’s Place has the diner brunch you just can’t get anywhere else.
Approximately 1,000 signed photos don the walls of John’s Place. All made out to John. Just who is John exactly?
He is a refined chef, Food Olympics gold medal winner and a free spirit. His gourmet/fine dining he decided to leave behind when he moved to Victoria from LA when he opened a Little Sammy’s Fattburger.
Then John used the money he saved up to buy a one way ticket to Tahiti for a down payment on a lease of an old fish n’ chips place on Pandora Avenue.
He opened the doors in October, 1984 and the rest is history.
Literally there is just a window you order through. Although they do have a small seating area inside the restaurant, it has not been open for dine-in since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Is it the best fish and chips in Victoria? Some say yes, but ultimately you’ll have to be the judge. Get yourself something to-go and sauter down to Willow’s Beach. It’s only a two minute walk!
You only have to dress medium fancy at most, their food is among some of the best of the best of the best in the city and they’ve been slinging ‘sta since 1979.
Eat. That. Bread.
Where: 1011 Broad Street
When: Monday to Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The creme de la creme of the Victoria food scene and deservedly so, the hardest place to get a reservation in town.
If you are looking to celebrate something special, make a normal date super fancy or spend all your paycheque on one fantastic (worth it) dinner, this is the spot.
Just make sure you book a reservation a month in advance!
They don’t need an Instagram. If they had one, it would just mean turning away more want-to-be patrons.
The biggest planet in the solar system is about to be the closest it’s been to Earth in nearly 59 years.
According to NASA, stargazers can expect excellent views of Jupiter the entire night of Monday, September 26th when the giant planet reaches opposition.
While Jupiter’s opposition happens every 13 months, it’s extremely rare for the planet’s closest approach to occur at the same time as opposition, meaning you won’t want to miss the unique and rare views it provides— the sun, Earth and Jupiter will nearly align perfectly in the solar system on Monday.
Jupiter will be around or 590 million kilometres away from the Earth, the closest the two planets have been since 1963, according to NASA.
Jupiter is currently at its closest point to Earth in many decades.
It will keep getting closer, and growing brighter and bigger in the sky until Monday when it peaks at "opposition" the point at which Earth is perfectly aligned between Jupiter and the Sun. pic.twitter.com/IlRPE1vUH2
— Mike Gerald Gibbs????️???? ????????(He/Him) (@Mikeggibbs) September 21, 2022
“With good binoculars, the banding (at least the central band) and three or four of the Galilean satellites (moons) should be visible,” said Adam Kobelski, a research astrophysicist at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.
“It’s important to remember that Galileo observed these moons with 17th century optics. One of the key needs will be a stable mount for whatever system you use.”
Kobelski recommends a larger telescope to see Jupiter’s Great Red Spot and bands in more detail; a 4 inch-or-larger telescope and some filters in the green to blue range would enhance the visibility of these features.
According to Kobelski, an ideal viewing location will be at a high elevation in a dark and dry area, such as Mount Tolmie and Mount Doug.
Although the nights of September 25th and September 26th will be the best nights of 2022 to view Jupiter, stargazers will have plenty of time to see the planet shine in all its glory.
According to Environment Canada, Victoria should see sun and clear skies for most of the weekend, as well as Monday and Tuesday.
Capture photos if you can and tag #victoriabuzz for a chance to be featured!
October is the best time of year to pop by one of Victoria’s most haunted locations and this year a one-man show of Frankenstein will be an added bonus to your visit.
The production of Frankenstein is set to haunt the dance hall within Craigdarroch Castle on Friday and Saturday nights beginning in October.
The show will be put on by a Craigdarroch fan-favourite, Jason Stevens, who is known well for his December productions of Charles Dickens’ 1843 classic, A Christmas Carol.
The Halloween classic, written by Mary Shelley, will take over the castle for three weekends on the Friday and Saturday night beginning on Friday, October 14th with a showtime at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.
“We are thrilled to have Jason back in the Castle ballroom, delighting audience members with his depiction of the spooky-classic,” said Craigdarroch Castle executive director, John Hughes.
Shelley wrote the novel Frankenstein when she was 20 and published the first edition in 1818 anonymously.
The first time her name appeared on the book’s cover was in 1820 for the second edition.
The now classic novel tells the tale of a scientist named Victor Frankenstein, who makes a hideous creature as a result of an unethical experiment.
Often people refer to the monster as “Frankenstein” when in fact, that is the name of the scientist who created him and he is simply referred to as “Frankenstein’s monster” in the novel.
“It’s one of those tales that surprises us with its emotional depth and cultural relevance,” said Stevens.
“Underneath, it’s a love story and a story about abandonment and loneliness, but it’s also a story about social responsibility which is a very relevant topic in our culture today.”
Jason Stevens is a classically trained actor from the prestigious Drama Centre London. He then worked in London and New York as an actor for many years.
In Canada he has appeared in a number of film and television roles and has performed with various theatre companies in Victoria and Vancouver.
Stevens one-man show will cost $30 (plus additional fees) per showing in the castle’s dance hall, located on the fourth floor. For those with mobility issues, there are 87 steps and no elevator in the castle.
COVD-19 precautions are in place and masks are required when visiting Craigdarroch Castle.
As of October 1st, Canada will drop all COVID-19 restrictions for travelers, including vaccination and masking requirements for flights and trains.
While there was speculation of the move over the past week, the federal government made the official announcement Monday morning.
In a media release, Health Canada said that travellers will no longer have to provide proof of vaccination, undergo pre-arrival or on-arrival testing, and much more.
As of this Saturday, travellers, regardless of citizenship, will no longer have to:
Submit public health information through the ArriveCAN app or website
Provide proof of vaccination
Undergo pre- or on-arrival testing
Carry out COVID-19-related quarantine or isolation
Monitor and report if they develop signs or symptoms of COVID-19 upon arriving to Canada
Undergo health checks for travel on air and rail
Or wear masks on planes and trains
Although the masking requirement is being lifted, Health Canada is recommending all travellers to wear high quality and well-fitted masks during their travel.
The measures also apply to cruise ships so passengers will no longer be required to take pre-board tests, be vaccinated or use ArriveCAN. A set of guidelines will remain to protect passengers and crew, which will align with the approach used in the United States.
“Air Canada welcomes the removal of these restrictions, acknowledging that air travel is safe and that the measures were not justified by science. We believe it will greatly facilitate travel, help to continue stabilizing the country’s air transport sector and support Canada’s economy. Customers and crew will still have the option to wear masks and we also encourage customers to monitor their own health to be sure they feel well and fit to travel,” said Craig Landry, Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer at Air Canada.
It’s believed the change will boost the Canadian travel industry, which has already been booming after months of lull during the pandemic.
The ArriveCan app can still be used by travellers to submit customs declarations in advance at major airports.
“While today’s announcement is a positive step, we urge the government not to lose momentum. Lessons learned during the pandemic should now be applied to streamlining the air transport system in Canada and to enact further reforms. This includes improving processes, such as security and customs at airports, developing new trusted traveller programs, deploying new technologies and, more fundamentally, re-examining the user-pay model that finances air transportation in Canada, whose weaknesses and interdependencies were exposed by COVID,” said Landry.
