A Salt Spring Island man has been arrested after RCMP found drugs and drug paraphernalia in his vehicle.
At around 8 a.m. on September 6th, Salt Spring Island RCMP responded to a call in a parking lot off Jackson Road where a man was reportedly passed out in his vehicle.
Officers who arrived on the scene determined the 26-year old man, who had no fixed address, was under the influence of an illicit drug.
The driver was arrested and his vehicle was searched by RCMP.
According to police, inside the car they found multiple baggies of prepackaged drugs suspected to be methamphetamine, scales, drug paraphernalia and a relatively large amount of cash, all of which were seized.
“Police will continue to focus attention on those trafficking illicit drugs, especially those that contribute to the toxic drug supply poisoning those suffering with addictions,” said Sgt. Clive Seabrook of the Salt Spring RCMP.
The accused is scheduled for his first appearance in Salt Spring law court in January 2023.
In a unanimous decision, Victoria city councillors approved a motion to return the John A. MacDonald statue to the society that donated it to the municipality years ago.
The statue was removed from outside Victoria’s city hall in 2018 as an act of reconciliation on behalf of the city toward the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations.
It had been on the steps since the 1980s when it was donated to Victoria by the John A. MacDonald Historical Society. It was installed on the steps of city hall without the consultation of the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations or the public.
John A. MacDonald was one of Canada’s historical figures responsible for the design of the residential school system, the mistreatment of Asian immigrants and general bigotry on non-white residents of Canada.
Macdonald was Canada’s first prime minister, serving from 1867 until 1873. He was prime minister again from 1878 to 1891. He was also the MP for Victoria from 1878 to 1882.
Due to the recognition of John A. MacDonald’s racist views and policies, the statue was removed professionally and held in a secure location.
The City of Victoria recognized the reckoning that was spreading through the country regarding Canada’s history of attempted cultural genocide of Indigenous peoples.
Victoria held seven sessions of reconciliation dialogue and discussed many things, the first of which was about John A. MacDonald and what to do with the statue that had been removed.
“The dialogue in March 2020, right before the pandemic, featured a conversation about John A. MacDonald,” said Mayor Lisa Helps. “We asked the public for their thoughts on what to do with the statue and a range of opinions came forward.
That range of opinions that came up in the reconciliation dialogue included throwing the statue in the harbour, dismantling it, putting it back and giving it back. There was no consensus.
The mayor also remarked that once the gravesites of hundreds of children were found in Kamloops, that changed the situation.
“We understand why the statue was removed from its plinth located near the entrance of city hall,” said John A. MacDonald Historical Society Chair, Michael G. Francis.
“We are appreciative of the time and thought that has been invested by yourself, the various First Nations involved in the Reconciliation process, and other city officials as you have considered alternative sites for the statue.”
The Historical Society has requested that the statue be returned under these conditions:
That the City of Victoria will return the statue to Ladner, BC, the Historical Society will not permit the statue to be displayed anywhere in BC without the approval of the Victoria City Council and the local Nations on whose territory the statue would stand
The Society continue to support the reconciliation process
The Society not seek another place to put the statue but instead safeguard it
That if they should ever display the statue again the Society will include with the statue, educational and contextual information about John A. MacDonald, his time, his policies, and their consequences.
The cost of shipping the statue is, “certainly less than putting it up anywhere else in the city,” said Helps.
Fall is here and so are the Victoria Royals, plus three other major events returning this weekend.
From catching the Royals home opener to experiencing a global tasting voyage with over 400 wines from around the world – there are plenty of mainstay events to check out today.
Here are 5 things to do in and around Victoria this this Friday, September 23rd:
Believe it or not, hockey season is back! The boys in blue will hit the ice for their home opener at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre versus the Spokane Chiefs.
The cherry on top?
We here at Victoria Buzz have scored you an exclusive deal on tickets to the game—only $15 each!—but there’s only a limited amount available, so make sure you grab yours today.
When: Friday, September 23rd – puck drop at 7:05 p.m.
Where: Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre, 1925 Blanshard Street
VKC is a pop-up seasonal consignment sale event held for just two days. Shop an obsessively-organized sales floor of 15,000+ items from over 200 local families.
When:
Friday, September 23rd – Volunteer presale: 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., seller presale 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., new parent presale – 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Event is also running on Saturday and Sunday and more open to the public. See event page for details
Where: Eagle Ridge Arena at City Centre Park, 1089 Langford Parkway
Tickets still available! Experience a global tasting voyage with over 400 wines from around the world!
The highly anticipated Victoria International Wine Festival is back for it’s ninth year and, this time, will be taking place in Victoria’s historic rail roundhouse—the Car Shop at Bayview Place.
When:
Friday, September 23rd – 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, September 24th – 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Do you have what it takes to climb the Classic Adventure Course in complete darkness? Join WildPlay tonight for Night Climb at WildPlay Victoria! Navigate log bridges, rope swings and ziplines with just the narrow beam of your headlamp and the light of the moon to guide your way!
Not surprisingly, Victoria is now the third most expensive place to live in Canada.
According to Expatistan, for a single person living in Victoria the average cost of living is now $3,494/month.
Expatistan is one of the largest cost-of-living databases in the world. Its database is constantly updated in a collaborative way by contributors all over the world.
The only cities more expensive than Victoria are, predictably, Toronto in second ($4,164/month) and Vancouver in first ($4,621/month).
This report also claims that for a family of four, the cost of living is $6,457/month.
For accommodations Expatistan says:
Monthly rent in a normal area–900 square feet: $2,250
Monthly rent in a normal area–480 square feet: $1,532
Not only does Expatistan list the average cost of living in general, but it also gives a thorough breakdown of what it costs for certain things Victorians buy and services they use every day:
The average lunch (including a drink) is: $22
The average bottle of good red wine is: $22
The average Big Mac meal (or similar) in fast food restaurant is: $12
The average pair of Levi’s jeans is: $91
The average monthly pass for public transit is: $84
The average box of tampons is: $9
The average cocktail from somewhere downtown is: $15
The average gym membership is: $57
How does your reality stack up against the averages listed by Expatisan? Let us know in the comments!
A commercial building fire in Parksville caused extensive damage in the early hours of Thursday morning.
At around 6 a.m. a structural fire was reported in the 100 block of Memorial Avenue in downtown Parksville.
According to Oceanside RCMP, the fire was determined to have originated in an unoccupied two-storey office building.
The building suffered extensive interior and exterior damage but no surrounding buildings were damaged.
The Oceanside RCMP General Investigation Section and an RCMP fire investigator are currently investigating the cause but their preliminary determination is that the fire was set deliberately.
Parksville Fire Chief Marc Norris told Victoria Buzz the fire appears to have originated from the rear of the building, however the investigation has not determined that for sure.
“If anyone has any information about this fire or has dash cam or video surveillance from the area around 6:00 a.m. this morning, investigators would like to speak with you,” said RCMP Sergeant, Shane Worth.
“Fire crews and police are still working in the area and the public is asked to respect the temporary closures and barriers that are currently in place.”
Fire Chief Norris said the highway is once again open through Parksville but Memorial Avenue is still closed to the public for the time being.
VicPD have released photos of a suspect they say threatened a bus driver with a knife with hopes the public can help identify him.
Just after 4:30 p.m. Thursday, September 15th, a BC Transit operator called police to the intersection of Fort Street and Lee Avenue, after a man had boarded the bus, threatened the driver, and then sat down.
Three stops later, the man got up and approached the BC Transit driver, pulled out a knife and brandished it at him.
Police said the bus driver called 911 immediately and after telling the suspect officers were on their way, he fled the bus and was last seen heading towards Foul Bay Road.
At the time of the incident, VicPD tweeted an initial suspect description and asked for assistance in locating him.
VicPD have released two still images of the suspect in hopes the public will recgonize him.
Police described the suspect as a Black man, approximately 50 years-old, standing 6′ tall with a slim build. He was wearing black clothes and carrying a dark blue bag at the time of the incident.
While initial reports incorrectly indicated the man was wearing a cowboy hat, video shows him wearing a black and blue toque with a feather in it.
“Our thoughts are with the transit operator and trainer who were the victims of this assault. The organization is supporting the Victoria Police, but as this is an active investigation, we cannot comment further at this time,” BC Transit said in an email statement to Victoria Buzz.
“Though incidents of this nature are rare on BC Transit buses, we take reports of inappropriate and illegal behavior within our systems very seriously and work closely with police to follow the legal process for complaints.”
BC Transit says their top priority is safety which includes:
closed circuit television cameras on a majority of buses
operator emergency notification protocols and enhanced radio communication to support managing on road incidents
partnerships with first responders including police, fire and ambulance to support quicker responses to transit related incidents
The BC Transit driver was not physically injured.
“Though incidents of this nature are rare on BC Transit buses, we take reports of inappropriate and illegal behavior within our systems very seriously and work closely with police to follow the legal process for complaints.”
Anyone who recognizes this man or have information about this incident is asked to call VicPD at (250) 995-7654.
Seeing a doctor in Victoria is difficult, but it may be slightly easier with a new clinic open in Gorge Road Hospital.
On Monday, September 19th, a new urgent and primary care centre (UPCC) opened at the Gorge Road Hospital at 63 Gorge Road.
The Gorge Road Hospital does not host an emergency room like Victoria General or the Royal Jubilee, but Victorians will now have access to the Gorge UPCC.
The Gorge UPCC is opening gradually as to not be overwhelmed immediately, but it is currently providing a limited number of appointments for people in the Victoria area.
“Our government is committed to increasing and improving access to everyday primary health care throughout Victoria and the province,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health in a media release.
“The new urgent and primary care centre on the Gorge means that more people in the region will have expanded access to the team-based, comprehensive health care they need, when they need it.”
As the hiring process progresses at the Gorge UPCC, patients will eventually have access to health-care providers, including general practitioners, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, mental-health and substance-use clinicians, nursing unit aides and social workers.
“I’m proud of our government’s primary care strategy and the way that it’s bringing co-ordinated, comprehensive services closer to home for people in our community and across BC through initiatives like the new Gorge UPCC,”. said Rob Fleming, MLA for Victoria-Swan Lake.
According to the Ministry of Health, the new UPCC will serve two purposes:
The first being to attach patients to the Gorge UPCC, meaning that they would have a family doctor based there. If they are unable to attach a patient due to workload, they will ensure the unattached patient receives an appropriate follow-up.
The second being to assist patients who need to see a health-care provider within 12 to 24 hours but do not require an emergency department.
To receive day-of care from the Gorge UPCC, starting at 8 a.m. each day, people can call (250) 519-3800.
The Gorge UPCC marks the sixth UPCC in Greater Victoria, including one in downtown Victoria, Esquimalt, James Bay, North Quadra, the Westshore and now on Gorge Road.
A Victoria woman who was wanted for driving recklessly and endangering police officers on Canada Day has been arrested in Langley for failing to show up for her court date.
The 44-year-old, Riga Godron, is also currently running for Victoria City Council.
Godron had a BC-wide warrant for not showing up to court after she was arrested for obstructing police, fleeing from police, and driving without due care and attention.
On Canada Day, she was reportedly driving recklessly on Dallas Road. VicPD bike patrol officers responded and found her vehicle empty.
According to police, she showed up to the vehicle a short time later and demanded to be let go despite them attempting to make her stay put for questioning.
She then reportedly entered the vehicle, started it up and fled the scene, almost running over the patrol officers in the process.
She was later boxed by several police cruisers while continuing to drive recklessly on Pandora Avenue near where Victoria’s Canada Day celebration was taking place in the inner harbour.
In a media release on Thursday, VicPD say Godron has been arrested in Langley, BC for not showing up to her court date for the crimes she allegedly committed on July 1st.
Her name still appears on the official declaration of candidates on Victoria’s ‘information for voters’ webpage.
As of this publication, it is unclear if her name will be on the ballot for city council on October 15th. Victoria Buzz has reached out to the City Of Victoria for confirmation, but have yet to receive a reply.
The Township of Esquimalt has a population of over 18,000 and on election day those residents who are eligible will have to choose one Mayor and six Council Members.
There is only going to be one disappointed mayoral candidate as well as one disappointed council member candidate as there are only two running for the mayoral seat and only seven running for council.
The candidates for Mayor are:
Barb Desjardins: Has been serving Esquimalt Mayor since 2008, and before that she sat on the municipal council. Her priorities for the 2022 election are public safety through policing and infrastructure, the environment, preserving Esquimalt’s culture and heritage, business development and bolstering community partnerships.
Sonya Gracey: She is a former Victoria city council member who now resides in Esquimalt and is running for mayor. Her platform is all about engaging and investing in the community, cultivating and nurturing relationships and responding/adapting to climate change.
Three out of the seven candidates for council are returning councillors. The other four candidates have all sat on various community boards or been a part of community organizations.
The candidates for Councillor are:
Ken Armour: Currently sits on the Esquimalt council. His three priorities are “density done right, climate action and business growth.”
Andrea Boardman: Says she wants a diverse and thriving community with opportunities for meaningful, local employment that supports health and healing, where families can grow, learn, live and play in an environment that respects history and looks forward to the future.
Duncan Cavens: His priorities are housing affordability, climate change, safe streets, active transportation, good governance and financial management.
Jacob Helliwell: Is running for his second term as council member. He says he wants to work to provide diverse housing options for everyone, building more accessible and connected neighbourhoods and investing in a strong, engaged community.
Tim Morrison: Has been on council for three terms. His priorities are housing affordability, dealing with the climate crisis on a local level, economic development, wants a unified CRD police force where each municipality pays their fair share and safer streets with better infrastructure.
Chris Munkacsi: Wants to see the development of Esquimalt with the climate crisis in mind, have active transportation for everyone and a regional amalgamated police department under the CRD.
Darlene Rotchford: Is running on a platform of community support, accountable governance and stronger public services including more family doctors.
This article is subject to change as more information on candidates becomes available. Any additional information regarding the candidates for the positions of Mayor or Councillor in Esquimalt can be sent to tips@victoriabuzz.com with the subject line saying “Election Information.”
The election will take place on Saturday, October 15th.
It’s still not clear who won the prize; BCLC reports the winning number is 11555858-01.
There was no winner on the main draw and will be carried over to Saturday’s jackpot.
The numbers are 01 26 33 37 44 498. The bonus number is 31. If you got the ‘Extra’, the numbers are 23 34 40 63.
The win came off 6/49’s new Gold Ball Jackpot feature that guarantees one new millionaire in every draw and provides that lucky winner with a chance to win at least $1 million.
(Victoria Royals' head coach Dan Price / Facebook)
This Friday is the Victoria Royals home opener against the Spokane Chiefs at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre.
The team won three and lost two in their pre-season and are excited to get into their 12th season.
Most of the players are returning to the roster with only a few fresh faces.
Alex Edwards is a 2005 born winger, Logan Cunningham is a goaltender who played a handful of games in the 2021-22 season, two 2005 born defensemen, Nate Misskey and Justin Kipkie as well as Luke Rybinski. He is a 2003 born defenseman who will be playing a bit of forward as well.
This year the team likely won’t have any 16-year old players in their roster given the amount of veterans returning to the ice for the Royals.
Given the amount of returning players, the Royals say they are confident in their team entering the 2022-23 regular season starting this Friday, September 23rd.
“Everyone in the room is really, really good. We all get along really well. So we all bring a lot of competition to practice every day,” veteran goaltender Tyler Palmer told Victoria Buzz. “So every day is a workday but we all make it really fun.”
Because of the travel restrictions put in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic, even the returning players on the Victoria Royals haven’t had the opportunity to face off against some American and Canadian teams.
“I think we played Prince George, like eight times in a row at one point,” Head Coach and General Manager of the Victoria Royals, Dan Price said in an interview.
“[The last couple seasons] were creating great rivalries, but the diversity of environments, cities, arenas, styles of play, coaching, player personnel and systems and storylines–that’s one of the best parts about our league, in my view.”
When asked what he foresaw in the team entering into this new season with such a similar roster, Price said, “I definitely sense a real sense of increased maturity and increased camaraderie in the group.”
“Year by year, [the players] come to learn each other more and form a stronger bond and a stronger connection. So I just feel that already strong camaraderie, strengthening even more.”
“I can feel the chemistry much more quickly this year as far as line combinations and personnel groupings,” remarked Price on the chemistry of the team as a whole.
“We did have to work out some of those kinks as far as teaching the tactics and the structure to the younger players. But by the end, we got there and I thought the team was operating at a really high level by the end of the preseason,” said Price about some of the development the team worked on through the preseason.
Their first two games are a home stand against the Spokane Chiefs.
This Sydney native is one of the most popular and respected comedians of his generation, entertaining audiences across the globe with his provocative, belief-challenging, and thought-provoking comedy.
When: Thursday, September 22nd, starting at 7 p.m.
Where: Save On Foods Memorial Centre, 1925 Blanshard Street
Are you on the hunt for a new job? If so, this free and informative event is for you! WorkBC is hosting a job fair in Langford—and you’re invited.
The job fair will take place at the Colwood Community Church from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., and over 40 employers will be in attendance including Island Health, GFL, BC Transit, Expedia Cruises, Royal Roads, Tim Hortons and more! Register online here
Sing along and dance to your favourite hit songs performed by a live band while playing an interactive game of music bingo at the Sticky Wicket! Get there early to secure a table.
When: Thursday, September 22nd, 7:15 p.m. to 10:45 p.m.
A BC Ferries vessel departing out of Tsawwassen to Galiano Island last Friday had to make an unexpected U-turn after crews realized, they forgot nearly two-dozen foot passengers at the terminal.
In an email statement to Victoria Buzz, company spokesperson Deborah Marshall says crews missed some passengers while loading traffic onto the Salish Eagle at the Tsawwassen terminal, forcing the ship to turn around and pick them up.
Marshall said the vessel had been given clearance and was just in the departure process when they realized the error—which is being blamed on crew shortages.
The ship came back into dock to pick the passengers up.
“There were 34 foot passengers on that sailing in total. From the video it appears about 25 foot passengers were missed,” Marshall said.
“We certainly apologize to our customers, but are pleased the issue could be resolved in a timely manner.”
By the time all passengers were on board and clearance procedures were complete, the ship was about 25 minutes behind schedule.
VicPD are seeking the public’s help in identifying further victims after nearly a dozen cases of rental fraud.
According to police, thousands of dollars have been lost in these cases and VicPD believes more people may have fallen victim to the same scam.
VicPD say officers began responding to a series of sophisticated rental frauds when they noticed distinct similarities between methods suspects used to defraud their victims and the suspects’ descriptions.
The frauds involve online ads for rental suites, correspondence via text and email over months in some cases, usually have suspects meeting with their victims in a brazen manner and giving out fraudulent key fobs.
VicPD outlined a few incidents with the suspects in a media release that are listed below:
Fraudster met victims
According to police, on September 1st, VicPD met with a victim who reportedly answered a Craigslist ad to rent a suite in a multi-unit building in the 800-block of Yates Street.
The fraudster met with the victim to show them the suite, called their references and collected a damage deposit from the victim who thought they were entering into a legitimate rental agreement.
The victim later became suspicious and contacted the property management of the building only to find out the suite was not available for rent.
Following this discovery, the property manager of the building found the ad for the unit still online and arranged a meeting to see the suite.
The property manager confronted the suspect and demanded the damage deposit funds be returned to the victim who saw the unit under false pretences while on speakerphone with that same victim.
The suspect never returned the funds to the victim.
Officers disrupt ongoing fraud, arrest one
According to VicPD, investigators executed a search warrant on that same building on September 2nd. They were able to arrest one of the two men suspected to be involved in these frauds.
He was released pending a future court date.
Officers say, while conducting that search, they discovered another potential ongoing case of rental fraud by the same two suspects.
Officers locate and arrest second suspect
VicPD claim that on September 19th, one of the victims in these rental frauds saw the same man who defrauded them at a business in the 1000-block of Pandora Avenue.
Officers of VicPD arrived, located and arrested the suspect.
The man they arrested gave a false name but one of the arresting officers had interacted with that suspect before and remembered him.
That suspect was already wanted on several other cases of fraud and he faced 36 different fraud-related charges.
He was transported to a cell by VicPD where the outstanding warrant was executed before being released with a series of conditions and a future court date.
If you have any information
Officers are asking the public for any information on this man as he is wanted in nine other fraud related cases. VicPD believes he potentially defrauded more victims than just those nine cases.
He is described as being Caucasian, standing 5’,8”, with dark brown, stubble-length hair. He wore a medical mask, a “newsboy” style hat, had painted fingernails, was wearing tight jeans, a button-up shirt and a necklace.
He is pictured below.
If you recognize this man or have fallen victim to a similar rental fraud, call VicPD at (250) 995-7654.
To report what you know anonymously, call Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
A major incident involving a hazmat team is currently unfolding at Victoria General Hospital this afternoon.
The incident started just after 11 a.m. Wednesday, September 21st at the back of the hospital.
According to reports, a recycling truck driver was in the process of crushing items from the hospital when they passed out at the wheel.
Photos from the scene show a large emergency presence, including West Shore RCMP, a hazmat team and fire crews.
While unconfirmed, at the time of the incident, there were reports of it being a chemical leak. Witnesses in the area say the driver of the truck remained in the vehicle for some time.
It was later confirmed a substance was released when the material was being compacted. There were two people in the truck the recycling truck. They were treated in the Victoria General Hospital emergency department.
Hazmat crews confirmed the chemical was a cleaning product and the container, which wasn’t fully empty, combusted.
Victoria Buzz has reached out to both RCMP and Island Health for details.
Book lovers, rejoice, another little free library is coming to Victoria.
This Saturday, the organization behind upkeeping all the little free libraries (LFLs) around town, will be unveiling the 650th LFL.
This milestone comes just days after the group announced the LFLs now host more than 75,000 books around the region.
The Greater Victoria Placemaking Network (GVPN) Pocket Places Project has been delivering books to LFLs since 2017 and this week they hit their newest milestone of 75,000 books delivered.
The GVPN’s mission has always been to inspire people, neighbourhoods and communities to create vibrant public places that promote health, happiness and well-being. The LFLs are just one way they accomplish that mission.
The 75,000th book delivered was a copy of Phyllis Webstad’s The Orange Shirt Story.
“With Orange Shirt Day around the corner, I thought that The Orange Shirt Story was perfect to deliver as our 75,000th book,” said Pocket Places Project Lead, Dr. Teale Phelps Bondaroff.
Most of their books that line the LFLs shelves are donated by local book shops , however, their milestone reaching book was purchased by the GVPN through a GoFundMe they started to purchase books about truth and reconciliation with Indigenous Canadians.
That GoFundMe initiative has now raised almost $7,000 for books on reconciliation.
Dr. Phelps Bondaroff’s hope is that The Orange Shirt Story, like all the others that get cycled into the system of LFLs, gets cycled through the network of LFLs. That way, it can be enjoyed by numerous people because “take a book and leave a book” is the principle the LFLs were founded upon.
The LFLs are created by community members and volunteers. Now with over 645 LFLs it takes a village to upkeep them and make sure there are new books being cycled in. Dr. Phelps Bondaroff can frequently be seen biking through the CRD delivering books to those LFLs from his bike trailer.
Books aren’t the only things the LFLs hold, they often also contain a wealth of toys, art and art supplies, poetry, puzzles and board games, yarn, non-perishable food, household items, seeds, and plants.
“People in the region love little free libraries and I’m constantly impressed with their creativity,” said Dr. Phelps Bondaroff.
“These little book boxes bring people together and help transform public spaces, and in this way act as coral reefs for the community.”
The 645+ LFLs can all be identified on a map that grows every day as new LFLs are built and stocked. They can even be found on the GVPN’s website. If you know of one that isn’t included on their website, you can submit a photo and have it added.
On Saturday, September 24th at 11:00 a.m., the ribbon will be cut on the region’s 650th little free library.
LFL enthusiasts will be gathering at the corner of Haultain and Scott Streets for a short ribbon cutting, followed by a celebration. Refreshments will be provided.
The latest little free library, dubbed the ‘Garden View LFL,’ was installed by Marthinus and Lori de Wet, and built from salvaged and upcycled materials.
It’s onto the big leagues for two local baseball teams!
On Monday, the West Coast League—which both the Victoria HarbourCats and Nanaimo NightOwls are a part of—announced a formal partnership with Major League Baseball.
Both teams will benefit from the agreement made between the two leagues, says a media release from the WCL.
Major League Baseball (MLB) has entered into a partnership with the WCL to share resources as well as collaborate on players and coaches development.
The agreement the two leagues reached will be to work together on initiatives that will be mutually beneficial for both partners.
The WCL is made up of 16 teams across BC, Alberta, Oregon and Washington including Vancouver Island’s Victoria HarbourCats and the Nanaimo NightOwls.
“We continue to be impressed by Major League Baseball’s enthusiastic support of amateur baseball,” said West Coast League Commissioner Rob Neyer in a media release.
“We take pride in the West Coast League’s status as the premier collegiate summer league in the western half of North America, so we imagine many potential fruits of this relationship and we’re eager to get started.”
Today the WCL and @MLB announced an agreement to jointly pursue initiatives of mutual interest, including player and coach development, technology innovation related to scouting and fan experience, and community engagement.
The MLB recognized the developmental success the WCL has, given that last year more than 60 WCL alumni were actively playing in MLB. In the last MLB draft, WCL alumni Gabriel Hughes and Brooks Lee were two of the top 10 players picked.
“Major League Baseball is excited to enhance our relationship with the West Coast League,” said Senior Vice President of Amateur Baseball Operations, John D’Angelo.
“The West Coast League is an important partner in the development cycle for amateur players and in representing our game in West Coast League communities. This agreement builds on an already solid foundation, and provides a framework for our work together.”
The specifics of the partnerships have yet to be announced but as the relationship between the WCL and MLB develops they will continually work on mutually beneficial initiatives.
West Shore RCMP are currently investigating a report of a man exposing his genitals to a woman on a trail in Colwood on Monday.
The indecent act occurred at around 5 p.m. on September 19th on a trail in Havenwood Park near the 3400 block of Veterans Memorial Parkway.
The woman told police while she was walking, an unknown man approached her and exposed his genitals—she was unharmed and left the area.
Police described the suspect is described as an Asian man in his 20s, standing about 5’9″ tall with a slim build. At the time, he was wearing black basketball shorts, a shirt and dark colored baseball hat.
Police say they have attended the trails on numerous occasions but have not located a suspect.
“If you are the victim of an indecent act please report it to police right away as this will give police the best opportunity to locate the suspect,” said Saggar.
Police are requesting the public’s assistance in identifying the suspect.
If you know who this could be, or were witness to this indecent act, please contact the West Shore RCMP by calling 250-474-2264.
The new website claims, “although tsunamis are rare, it is important to understand the impact of a tsunami in the capital region and what to do in the event of a tsunami warning.”
The portal’s main feature is an interactive map that outlines the at-risk areas.
The map’s source data comes from the arrival times of 11 tsunamis as well as five detailed inundation models for Victoria, Sidney, Saanich, Esquimalt, Oak Bay, Port Renfrew and Sooke.
It also features a tsunami preparedness information tab with a wealth of knowledge for how to be prepared, what to do in the case of a tsunami, information on classifications of tsunamis and what to do after a tsunami.
Prior to this information portal, the 13 municipalities that make up the CRD all had their own form of tsunami preparedness resource on their individual websites.
The creation of this portal combines the information to have a more centralized hub for visitors and residents alike to be as prepared as possible for the event of a tsunami in Greater Victoria.
UPDATE: Shirley Book has been located by VicPD officers for the second time and is safe with her family.
—original:
A 79-year-old Victoria woman—who was just previously located in the early morning hours Tuesday, after being reported missing Monday—is once again being searched for, according to VicPD.
Shirley Book, who was located in the early morning hours Tuesday is once again being searched for by police.
Following that alert and an extensive search by officers Monday, Shirley was located by VicPD officers and safely reunited with her family.
Police said despite her family taking precautions to help ensure Book remained safe at home, her family has discovered her missing a second time.
She was last seen on the 1200-block of Johnson street at around 11 a.m. on Tuesday. She was reported missing by her family again at about 5 p.m. this afternoon.
Book suffers from a medical condition that can leave her confused and unaware of her surroundings. Because of her condition, she is considered a high-risk missing person.
She is described as a Caucasian woman, standing 5’4” tall, with a medium build. Book has short grey hair and wears glasses.
“Her family are quite concerned for her well-being and officers are working to locate Shirley safely,” said VicPD in a media release.
If you see Shirley Book, stay with her and call 911. If you gave information about where she may be, please call the VicPD Report Desk at (250) 995-7654
Formerly known as Western Speedway, the track that stole our hearts and our hearing has closed its doors for good.
Whether it was a demolition derby, a total destruction night, a deuce coop showdown or a monster truck rally, the folks behind Westshore Motorsports Park provided some of the best entertainment on the whole of Vancouver Island.
After 68 years of hosting races, the beloved Speedway in Langford had its last race dubbed the ‘Last Lap’ on Saturday, September 17th. The grandstand predictably sold out so the last hurrah was broadcasted as a livestream for fans to be able to hoot and holler along with the crowds from the comfort of their homes.
“As far back as I can remember, Western Speedway (that’s right, Western Speedway) has been a big part of my life,” mused Darrell Midgley, Operator of Western Speedway in a post on Facebook.
“As a young child growing up, I remember the excitement that would build in anticipation of upcoming Saturday night racing.”
“At the time, my family operated the facility; we were the first ones at the track and the last ones to leave each night. My seven-year old self never wanted to miss a minute of it.”
Midgley’s family’s time at the race track came to a temporary end in the early 80s.
However, they came right back a short time later to run the place and this time Darrell was old enough to be his father’s right hand man.
It was then that Darrell Midgley learnt the passion, drive and respect for the craft of racing. With the support of his friends and family he got into the driver’s seat himself and honed his skills as a race car driver.
In 2007, Darrell Midgley took over the operations of the Speedway.
“I thought I knew what was coming, but mother nature had other ideas. In 2007 I think we had 9 rainouts and just about every one of them was on a big show night!”
Sadly, the property was sold in 2019 to Bastion Development Corp and Strand Properties which are based out of Vancouver.
However, according to Midgley they were very fair to deal with and allowed racing at the Speedway for another two years.
“I really feel that the impact the Speedway has on the local community has been horribly underestimated,” said Midgley. “The speedway is much more than what happens on Saturday nights!”
The Speedway was a haven for people young and old alike. It even allowed people to get their motorcycle safety training on the Speedway via the Vancouver Island Safety Council.
“Losing the track is a huge loss not just for the current generations, but also for the future generations that will miss out on all things racing.”
“This has been quite a ride, and I’m unbelievably sad to see it come to an end. I would like to take this moment to thank every competitor, fan, employee, and volunteer that has made the Speedway something so very very special,” said Midgley to conclude his heartfelt post on Facebook.
“It has been an honour and a privilege to operate this facility.”
Try this new way to experience some of the myriad stories the Craigdarroch Castle offers.
Based on the recent book by the same name by Moira Dann, the “21 Treasures Tour” will take you on 21 stops to all four floors of the castle, top to bottom, and offer portals to stories from the many lives of the Castle: The Dunsmuir Dynasty Victoria “bonanza castle”, the Military Hospital period, the Victoria College days, the Victoria School Board and Victoria Conservatory of Music eras, right up to its transition to the current incarnation as a world-class heritage site stewarded by the Castle Historical Society.
When: Wednesday September 21st, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Each week Morgan Cranny and Drew Farrance bring you the most hilarious comedians in the city! Wildly popular and always new, Phillips Comedy Night is a hilarious night out. Seating is limited, be sure to book your table early!
When: Wednesday September 21st, 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Mcrae’s Bistro and Sixty Watt Trivia are joining forces to bring you a great Wednesday Night Trivia Event! Gather a team of eight max and battle other teams in four rounds of trivia to see who reigns supreme. Prizes awarded each round to the winning team!
When: Wednesday September 21st, 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Louise Rose has been called a living Canadian treasure. She studied classical voice in Pennsylvania with John Duddy and Todd Duncan; pipe organ with Catharine Brooke Morgan; piano with Oscar Peterson; conducting with Leonard Bernstein and arranging with Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington.
The Belleville Terminal is a piece of Victoria’s history.
It has been the gate to mariners entering the city since 1924.
The terminal has the Clipper, Black Ball and Washington State Ferries operating out of Victoria’s Inner Harbour.
According to the province, the terminal generates over $57M in government revenues, $174 in direct spending within BC and $155 in value-added GDP in BC.
After years of tourism and imports being deterred due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the terminal’s redevelopment is being proposed by the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure.
Members of the public are being invited to have their voices heard in the project.
An online survey is now available and will be until September 27th. There will also be an in-person open house the same day from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Victoria Conference Centre for people to learn more about the project.
The Province is building the case for the Belleville Terminal Redevelopment Project: a state-of-the-art international gateway in the Victoria Inner Harbour.
According to the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, the redevelopment of the terminal is projected to create 3,200 regional jobs within 20 years and will generate approximately $257M in visitor spending.
The scope of the work includes a new pre-clearance terminal to comply with safety and border control measures, replacing old and aging infrastructure such as the wharf facilities, a new commercial goods processing facility and maximizing capacity while being adaptable to changes in capacity and security measures.
Without the modernization of the terminal the government claims the result would be the removal of US customs services form Vancouver Island, financial losses to small businesses and large-industry alike, significant job losses and even existing operations being shut down.
Prior to the pandemic, the Belleville Terminal processed international goods, services and passengers while supporting over 2,200 jobs.
The proposed new Belleville Terminal could include a three storey building with commercial space available at street level, vehicle pick up/drop off services, food and entertainment for terminal users, dedicated space for Indigenous artwork and storytelling and accessibility for all terminal users.
The proposed budget is $220M to $290M with BC seeking a 50% contribution from the federal government.
Feedback gathered by the survey and open house will be put toward informed decision making during the design phase on behalf of the province.
Some prominent Victoria voices showed their local love this past Friday, and now it’s your turn to do the same!
On Friday, September 16th, United Way Southern Vancouver Island (UWSVI) kicked off their annual fundraising campaign with a rousing game of Jeopardy—but not just any Jeopardy! The “Help a Neighbour” edition where questions showcased the incredible impact donations made to the United Way have in our community.
Bruce Williams of the Victoria Chamber of Commerce hosted the event, while 100.3 The Q’s Cliff LeQuesne was the announcer.
It kicked off at the Bay Centre in downtown Victoria, and featured contestants such as Victoria Buzz’s very own Nicole Bentham, Al Ferraby from CFAX 1070, Joe Perkins from CHEK News and Tammy Hofer from Capital Daily.
Instead of going home with the money they collected, every dollar the contestants unlocked from the board were directed to life-changing programs and services in our community.
Together, they unlocked almost $10,000 to support our neighbours who need it most – mental health supports, diversity equity and inclusion, to seniors and families in need.
Join the big names above and show your local love today by making a gift to United Way online.
Since 1937, United Way Southern Vancouver Island has raised $180 million dollars.
This year, they are looking to raise $5 million to bring their total investment in social
good up to $185 million.
Check out some snaps of United Way’s Charity Jeopardy game below:
(Photo by Kathryn Wu, tartandbond)(Photo by Kathryn Wu, tartandbond)(Photo by Kathryn Wu, tartandbond)(Photo by Kathryn Wu, tartandbond)(Photo by Kathryn Wu, tartandbond)(Photo by Kathryn Wu, tartandbond)(Photo by Kathryn Wu, tartandbond)(Photo by Kathryn Wu, tartandbond)(Photo by Kathryn Wu, tartandbond)(Photo by Kathryn Wu, tartandbond)
Following Friday’s fun game of Jeopardy, a block party also took place on Government Street on Saturday.
The family-friendly event was organized in partnership with Downtown Victoria Business Association (DVBA) and supported by Victoria Labour Council, and showcased non-profits and programs that United Way supports, including:
This year, United Way Southern Vancouver Island celebrates 85 years of building strong
and inclusive communities—neighborhood by neighbourhood and generation after
generation.
The funds raised for our community will support a strong network of local partners and
critical social services fostering systemic, long-term change.
United Way is 100% local—meaning you can transform lives right here on Southern Vancouver Island with just one donation.
They believe that everyone in the Greater Victoria region, which includes 13 municipalities and 11 First Nations and the Southern Gulf Islands, should have the opportunity to reach their potential.
Their priorities are focused on assisting seniors; families; diversity, equity and inclusion;
and mental health and addictions.
United Way Southern Vancouver Island is the winner of this year’s Non-Profit of the Year
Award from the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce, and this year, will power almost 100 programs and initiatives in the region.
Want to make a difference in your community? Donate today!
A Facebook post by Port Alberni RCMP, which has since been removed, sparked a lot of conversation online after it showed a police dog with titanium crowns on four of its teeth.
Last week, Port Alberni RCMP posted a message saying they were “thinking of our boy Jammer today as he is recovering from some dental work this morning.”
“Jammer is now the proud owner of four titanium teeth.”
(Reddit)
The post didn’t include many details and not long after, a thread was made on Reddit which garnered thousands of comments and upvotes.
The reaction was heavily mixed which forced the detachment to remove the post and follow it up with more details surrounding the reason Jammer had to get an upgrade.
“Earlier this week this page posted about our police service dog Jammer. This post caused some confusion and misunderstanding. We would like to take some time to explain more about Jammer,” RCMP said in an updated Facebook post.
According to RCMP, Jammer underwent a dental procedure to replace four cracked canine teeth with titanium crowns and was not done for vanity purpose.
“Recently, during a routine visit to the veterinarian, it was learned that Jammer had several cracks in the enamel of his teeth. Left untreated, this could cause infection which could be fatal,” RCMP said in the post.
“To ensure Jammer’s health, his veterinarian recommended he receive crowns on the cracked teeth. This is a procedure similar to what your dentist would do. Jammer’s crowns are similar to his originals in size and shape.”
Jammer update:Earlier this week this page posted about our police service dog Jammer. This post caused some confusion…
VicPD have identified the person who caused the trail of blood along Esquimalt Road.
According to VicPD, after a day-long investigation, a person was found to be in significant medical and mental distress after officers searched for hours to discover the source of multiple pools of blood which were pointed out to patrol officers early Saturday morning.
At around 8:45 a.m. on Saturday, Saturday 17th VicPD officers were called to a bus stop in the 1200-block of Esquimalt Road when a passerby discovered a large pool of blood.
The investigating officers shortly discovered a trail of blood throughout the neighbourhood.
According to VicPD, officers were concerned that someone had suffered life-threatening injuries.
After checking in and discovering no one had been admitted to any hospitals with injuries that matched the magnitude of the blood loss, officers from VicPD’s Forensic Identification Section (FIS) and staff with VicPD’s Community Engagement Division (CED) began an extensive search to find the person whose blood it was on Esquimalt Road.
Members of the public in the area helped the search by directing officers to blood spots they had discovered and when they had seen them.
Officers followed the trail of blood that extended over two kilometres through Esquimalt, Vic West and finally into downtown Victoria.
They also discovered bloodied clothing that was found along the trail further increasing their concern for the person who was injured.
An officer with the VicPD Esquimalt Division discovered a video which showed a man who had sustained an injury they appeared to disregard —as they walked through the frame a trail of blood was left behind them.
A photo pulled from that video was then circulated to other officers searching for the person who had sustained these injuries.
Minutes after the photo was sent to other officers, an officer in downtown Victoria found a man that matched that description.
The officer approached the man and discovered that he was in severe mental and physical distress with untreated injuries connected to a medical condition that caused the bleeding.
The person refused medical treatment so they had to be apprehended by officers under the Medical Health Act.
They were then brought to the hospital for treatment.
Officers located a person in significant medical & mental health distress after a person discovered a pool of blood in the 1200-block of Esquimalt Road Saturday morning. The evidence trail extended over 2kms into downtown Victoria #yyj#Esquimalt | https://t.co/J39d8fPDxK
A Vancouver Island man has been banned from being in possession of adhesives outside of his home after he glued himself to a Royal Bank of Canada door as part of a protest.
Victor Lawrence Brice, a member of the Save Old Growth protest group, pleaded guilty to two charges that were both in relation to protests earlier this year, according to court documents.
According to the documents, the first protest occurred on January 27th, which consisted of blocking a provincial highway, while the other one that took place on April 7th when Brice glued himself to a Royal Bank of Canada door as part of a protest.
“I am not sure if the protestors gluing themselves to the door at the bank is unique or not. It is certainly something I have not heard of, but it would certainly be an effective way of protest or at least causing disruption at the bank,” said Nanaimo Provincial court judge, William Jackson.
“The protest at the highway is not particularly unusual,” said Jackson.
The judge sentenced Brice to 12 months’ probation with several other conditions in addition to being forbidden from possessing glue.
In addition to that, Brice must complete 40 hours of community service. He’s also banned from the Royal Bank he glued himself to in Nanaimo and from blocking traffic on any public roadway.
“You may not possess any glue, superglue, adhesive, fixative, or resin outside of your residence except: with the prior written permission of your parole officer, or such adhesive, adhesive, fixative, or resin that would ordinarily be used by or with children,” said Jackson described the last trial period.
“You must carry the permit, if you have one from the parole board, which may be in electronic form, if you possess any of these items outside of your residence.”
“You must carry the permission if you have one from the probation office with you, which may be in electronic format, when you possess any of these items outside your residence,” the judge said, as a term of his probation.
The Independent Investigation Office of BC (IIO) is seeking witnesses to an incident in Victoria earlier this month that left a Victoria woman with serious injuries.
According to the IIO, VicPD officers responded to a call at around 7:05 p.m. on September 9th about a woman yelling near the intersection of Park Boulevard and Heywood Avenue.
While the details around the incident are minimal, police reported the woman was in possession of a weapon, and after several hours of negotiations, she was taken into custody at about 10:15 p.m.
The woman was also transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and the IIO was notified of the incident shortly afterwards.
An IIO investigation is now underway, as investigators hope to find what role, if any, police actions or inactions played in the injuries.
Anyone with with relevant information, dashcam or other video footage of the incident is asked to contact the IIO Witness Line toll-free at 1-855-446-8477 or via the contact form on iiobc.ca.
Daily happy hours on one of Victoria’s hottest patios?
Yes, please!
LURE Restaurant & Bar has extended their Happy Hour times, and you can still grab the same delicious eats and refreshing drinks—all while taking in some of the inner harbour’s most fabulous views.
Offered daily from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., you can get the classics like their Crispy Mac & Cheese Bites, Maple Bourbon Pork Ribs, and Lamb Meatballs, all at a Happy Hour price.
You can also partake in delicious sips like hi-balls, draft sleeves, and feature wine for only $6—plus $2 off all 9 ounce pours.
Take a look at the full scope of LURE’s menu here.
We’re firm believers that patio season is far from over in Victoria, and you can enjoy the above along with sweeping oceans views—oh, and there’s free parking!
Want to check it out for yourself? You’re in luck, because we’ve partnered with LURE to give one lucky winner a $75 gift card! Check out the contest steps below on how to win it.
On September 30th, Canadians come together to support Indigenous communities and honour, acknowledge and recognize the harm caused by the residential school systems on generations of Indigenous people and communities across the country.
On that day, Canada recognizes National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, also known as Orange Shirt Day,for the second time in our country’s history.
This year, all 13 municipalities that make up Greater Victoria say they plan on banding together to honour the lost children and survivors of the residential schooling system together.
They’ve collectively reached out to nine Indigenous communities in and around Greater Victoria for guidance in how to recognize this somber holiday.
The Songhees Nation, Esquimalt Nation, Sc’ianew First Nation, T’Sou-ke Nation, Tsartlip First Nation, Tsawout First Nation, Tseycum First Nation, Pauquachin First Nation and Malahat First Nation have had input in how our municipalities can best recognize the impact of residential schools on their communities and families.
At the request of Indigenous leaders, flags will be flown at half-mast on September 30th.
The Songhees Nation has collaborated with the municipalities to plan the South Island Powwow to be held at Royal Athletic Park on September 30th.
The Powwow is free to attend and will go all day from 10 a.m. until midnight. to 12 a.m. on October 1st.
On their website the Songhees Nation stated, “we believe September 30th is a day to reflect and celebrate our culture. For this reason, we will only be hosting intertribal dance groups, with no competition. We will sing and dance together, not against one another. This is a time to memorialize our past and future.”
In the City of Victoria, ‘Xe xe Smun’ eem’ also known as the Orange Shirt Day Ceremony will be held in Centennial Square from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on September 30th. from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
The family-friendly bike ride will start at 10 a.m. in Songhee Park and follow the All Ages and Abilities (AAA) bike network to Royal Athletic Park for 11:45 a.m., just in time for the South Island Powwow.
Other local activities and initiatives are being organized locally and some municipalities are committing financial contributions to Indigenous led initiatives and activities.
In a media release made by the 13 municipalities that make up Greater Victoria, they say they will continue to evolve how they recognize National Day for Truth and Reconciliation through the years as local governments continue to grow their relationships with First Nations.
If you missed the first toy fair back in May, another one is happening in just a couple weeks.
The second Ultimate Hobby & Toy Fair of the year returns Saturday, October 1st and Sunday, October 2nd, following an over two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on both days, eventgoers can browse toys, action figures, collectibles, vinyl records, and more sprawled out amongst 200 tables at Pearkes Arena near Tillicum Centre.
Organizers say they’re thrilled to bring the decade-old fair back, especially after the pandemic put a damper on the event industry in recent years.
“As someone who has been used to having events year-round, we really have missed the excitement we get while hosting our Toy Fair,” said organizer and promoter Candice Woodward.
“It is such a happy weekend for so many people. We haven’t seen some of our vendors and attendees in two-and-a-half years, and we can’t wait to finally see so many familiar faces.”
According to Woodward, the fair will also feature a silent auction, with money raised going to the MS Society and BC Children’s Hospital. Over the years, she says over $55,000 has been raised for local charities.
An Amber Alert that was issued late Monday night has ended safely after .
Shortly after 11 p.m. September 19th, Vancouver Police issued an amber alert for a missing 3-year old—in addition, an emergency alert was released to cellular devices across the province.
According to police, the child, Phaivanh Correia-Chanthabouala, was taken by his mother, Jenny Chanthabouala.
Investigators say Phaivanh was taken from BC Children’s Hospital where he was receiving treatment when he was abducted by his mother 11 hours before the amber alert was issued.
The amber alert has since been resolved as Phaivanh was found with his mother near Calgary by RCMP officers early this morning.
Vancouver Police said his mother was arrested and is in custody of RCMP officers in Alberta.
Phaivanh is receiving care.
According to Vancouver Police the investigation is ongoing.
#VPDNews: Phaivanh Correia-Chanthabouala, the three-year-old child that was the subject of an Amber Alert, has been found near Calgary, Alberta. The child is now receiving care and a suspect has been arrested. https://t.co/3p18G2A38d
One man is in custody after he shot at Nanaimo RCMP officers multiple times Sunday night.
The incident began around 6 p.m. September 18th, in a wooded area between Schook Road and Dover Road in Nanaimo.
RCMP officers responded to the area after receiving reports of a man walking with a long gun in his possession.
“This is a busy area with an off-leash dog park, sports fields and a skateboard park,” RCMP said in a media release.
Shortly after the call, one of the officers located the suspect sitting on a rock on Schook Road. He pointed his gun directly at the officer’s patrol car.
Nanaimo RCMP said the officer was able reverse their vehicle to a safe distance, exit the vehicle and take a tactical position behind the car.
The suspect shot at the police cruiser which caused the bullet to deflect, striking the officer in the leg.
Police said “the officer immediately checked themself for any physical injuries and realized they had been struck with a BB pellet.”
As more officers arrived, the suspect hid behind a large rock and continued to discharge his weapon toward police—striking a couple police cruiser, which damaged the windshield of one of the police vehicles.
Police said the suspect then ran across the sports fields and was pursued and captured by the police dog, Luthor.
The suspect fought with Luthor and was stopped and restrained by the other officers, including the officer shot in the leg.
A black airgun, a tin of BB pellets and a box of CO2 canisters were seized at the scene.
Daniel Mcclintock, 35, has been charged with assaulting three police officers, mischief for damaging a police cruiser, possession of a dangerous weapon and failing to comply with a release order.
Mcclintock is being held in remand until Tuesday, September 20th.
“No one comes to work expecting to get shot,” said Cst WADE of the Nanaimo RCMP.
“We come to work knowing that our training can keep us safe and secure in the knowledge that our fellow officers will have our backs. We feel fortunate that none of the officers involved were seriously injured.”
Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral was held at 2 a.m. PST this morning at Westminster Abbey in London.
Here in BC, we honoured her memory and her service to Canada in a procession and commemorative memorial service.
At about 10 a.m., Victorians who had been given the day off to mourn the death of The Queen gathered at the Parliament Building for the beginning of the procession.
The Netherlands Centennial Carillon–the bell tower outside the Royal BC Museum–chimed 96 times; one for each year of Queen Elizabeth’s life to start off the procession.
(Curtis Blandy/@burtclandy)
Then, Lieutenant Governor Janet Austin and Premier John Horgan came down the Parliament Building’s steps to a military marching band playing on the front lawn.
Next, a 21-gun salute by the 5th (BC) Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery fired their first round, and the procession began the 1.4 km journey to Christ Church Cathedral by way of Government Street.
(Curtis Blandy/@burtclandy)
The procession was made up of the band leading the way, then members of the military followed. Horse mounted police from Vancouver Police followed them and in the rear of the procession was Premier Horgan, Lieutenant Governor Austin and several other dignitaries.
Victorians lined the streets and followed behind the police escort that was along to protect the procession.
(Curtis Blandy/@burtclandy)
The 21-gun salute continued as the procession marched toward the cathedral.
Once the procession arrived at the steps of the Christ Church Cathedral, the members of the military and marching band did a special salute and a ceremonial march back toward parliament.
All members of the procession and many members of the public were then admitted to the cathedral and took their seats while an angelic adult choir sang a peaceful entrance hymn. Once everyone was seated the choir sang O’ Canada and the public joined them.
The Very Reverend, M. Ansley Tucker began the service with a territorial acknowledgement and an opening prayer.
Dignitaries such as the Honourable Mike Farnworth, Deputy Premier and Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, H. Walford Davies, the Honourable Mitzi Dean, Minister of Children and Family Development read bible verses and psalms for Her Majesty The Queen.
Victoria’s Children’s Choir and Young Choristers of Christ Church Cathedral then sang an anthemic hymn.
(Curtis Blandy/@burtclandy)
Then Lieutenant Governor Janet Austin took the podium to say some words about her role in regards to Queen Elizabeth II.
Austin remarked upon The Queen’s oath she swore 70 years ago to serve the nations she reigned as sovereign. “The things which I have here before promised, I will perform and keep. So help me God,” said Her Majesty The Queen in 1953 when she ascended the throne.
As longest reigning monarch, she never wavered in her devotion to the throne, her people and the oath she swore all those years ago.
Lieutenant Governor Austin spoke to that dedication and The Queen’s “willingness, grace and undying devotion to her people.”
To end her speech, Austin said she is confident King Charles III will show the same devotion his mother did, and ended her speech with a simple “long live The King.”
(Curtis Blandy/@burtclandy)
Premier John Horgan was the last speaker of the service. He kept his speech short and sweet.
Horgan remembered fondly as a child when he’d occasionally see a coin with a man on it and thought in his youth that, “it must be worth less than the coin with The Queen on it.”
The Premier told the cathedrals guests about all the times the Queen visited our humble province and how she not only loved BC’s beautiful mountains, valleys and forests but she also had a true affinity for it’s people which, “added to the beauty the province has to offer.”
Horgan also remembered when The Queen went to Rogers arena to drop the puck for a Vancouver Canucks game against the San Jose Sharks.
“She came out with her little purse clutched in one hand and a puck in the other,” said Premier Horgan.
He said it was one of the most Canadian things he has ever seen.
(Curtis Blandy/@burtclandy)
Now that the service is over, Tuesday, September 20th will be the last day for members of the public to sign one of the condolence books.
(Curtis Blandy/@burtclandy)
One condolence book open to the public is at the main entrance to Government House at 1401 Rockland Avenue, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. The other book is in the Hall of Honour and will be available to sign from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
After September 20th the messages will be collected.
Beginning today, Tuesday September 20th, our daily things to do is returning after coming to a halt over two years ago due to COVID-19.
The plan is to have the things to do list released the day before so you can plan ahead, but also, to ensure it is on our daily newsletter- if you aren’t one of our 10,000 subscribers yet, make sure to sign up to see our daily list of events and stories!
Without further ado, here are 5 things to do today in and around Victoria on Tuesday, September 20th.
Paddle board or not – take part in this Tuesday night tour. Free if you have a board. Just $25 includes a board, paddle, leash and PFD. You must register online to join and sign an e-waiver.
The tour group usually paddle from Willows Beach this time of the year. These tours are rated recreational to intermediate level.
When: Tuesday, September 20th – 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Where: Bamfield Park public dock near the end of Styles Road
Head to the Loghouse Pub and make a wine bottle fairy light lantern. The corks have fairy lights attached and you decorate your lantern with decals. There are many decals to choose from to suit your style. No experience required! All supplies included.
When: Tuesday, September 20th – starting at 6:30 p.m.
Are you dripping with useless random knowledge like state capitals, movie quotes, company jingles and guitar solos from the 80’s, Betty White’s health secrets in how she lived to 99?
Well none of that is useless at a Sixty Watt Trivia show, according to Heckler’s!
This is a FREE to play event where you can gather as many as eight people to a team and battle for four fun rounds each week against other like minded people who also are full of random WWII or Celebrity Blood Type Facts.
When: Tuesday, September 20th – starting at 7 p.m.
If you’re looking to prove your athletic prowess this fall, look no further than Victoria’s latest and greatest sports-themed entertainment – Iron & Wood Golf Simulators.
And no, it’s not just golf you can try your hand at; Iron & Wood features 12 multi-sport games to choose from, ranging from hockey, baseball & even zombie dodgeball.
While still slightly different this year, the Luxton Fall Fair is returning to Langford this weekend.
Celebrating 112 years of fall fairs in the western communities, the three day event will feature everything from antique farm equipment with demonstrations, blacksmithing, 4H Club animal shows, and plenty of food.
And yes, the midway rides will be returning, courtesy of West Coast Amusement.
If you’re a regular to the Luxton Fall Fair, you’ll want to note there is a change to the parking layout. This year, at the fairgrounds, the entrance will now be located off Highway 14 across from Ronald Road.
Admission to the fairgrounds will be free from noon on Saturday, September 24th from noon to 7 p.m., and Sunday, September 25th from noon to 6 p.m.
The midway rides will open a day earlier on Friday, September 23rd from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m., as well as from noon to 10 p.m. on the 24th and noon to 6 p.m. on the 25th.
Ride wristbands are $45 per day, while ticket books range from $25 to $45. Rides take between three and seven tickets each without a wristband.
The BC Wildfire Service will be lifting campfires bans on Vancouver Island this week.
As of noon Tuesday, September 20th, all campfire bans in the Coastal Fire Centre’s jurisdiction will be lifted. This includes Vancouver Island, the Sunshine Coast and the Lower Mainland.
Along with campfires, this means the use of tiki torches, chimineas, stoves and portable campfire apparatuses will also be permitted.
There is still a ban on Category 2 and Category 3 fires. These include:
stubble or grass burning of any size
the use of sky lanterns
the use of fireworks (including firecrackers)
the use of burn barrels or burning cages of any size or description
the use of binary exploding targets (e.g. for target practice)
“Although the fire danger has declined in the Coastal Fire Centre due to recent rainfall and cooler, more seasonal temperatures, the public is strongly encouraged to continue exercising extreme caution with any campfire,” the BC Wildfire Service said in a statement.
“It is the responsibility of the individual to ensure that burning is done in a safe and responsible manner and in accordance with regulations. Before lighting any fire, check with local government authorities to see if any local burning restrictions are in place.”
The fire ban on Vancouver Island has been in place since August 4th, following several prolong heatwaves. At the time, the prohibition was to remain in effect until October 15th.
As of this publication, there are 174 active wildfires in the province, including 46 in the Coastal Fire Centre.
It happened in a flash, but this Friday marks the Victoria Royals’ first home game of the season.
The boys in blue will hit the ice for their home opener at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre this Friday, September 23rd versus the Spokane Chiefs.
Puck drop is at 7:05 p.m., and from connecting with Marty himself, to high-fives with the players and even an exclusive deal on tickets, there’s a ton in store that evening that you won’t want to miss.
The cherry on top?
We here at Victoria Buzz have scored you an exclusive deal on tickets to the game—only $15 each!—but there’s only a limited amount available, so make sure you grab yours today.
The tickets are only available online, and are valid in sections 104 to106 and 112 to 114. You can snag yours here!
The Royals are starting off their 12th season with a team made up of some veterans and some fresh faces.
San Jose Sharks draft pick, Gannon Laraque is the team’s new captain following Tarun Fizer aging out of the WHL and moving on to play in the American Hockey League for the Colorado Eagles.
Austin Zemlak, Brayden Schuurman and Kalem Parker are another three players who will bring their collective experiences into leadership roles with the team this year.
Shuurman and Parker both represented Canada at the IIHF U18 World Hockey Championships this summer while Zemlak was named to Team Canada’s Selection Camp roster for the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
A two game homestand against the Spokane Chiefs will open the regular season for the Royals this year.
After their home opener the Royals will have 15 promotional nights and other themed games including their annual Canadian Forces Appreciation night on November 19th, Pink in the Rink on February 10th and Star Wars Day on March 26th.
Come cheer on the boys in blue this as they kick off their 2022 /23 season this weekend—we’ll see you there!
After a four year hiatus, Rifflandia came back stronger than ever!
Over 100 performers came together to rock nine stages around Royal Athletic Park, dubbed ‘The Park’, and Phillips backyard area, aka ‘Electric Avenue’.
From country to comedy, punk rock and electronic, Rifflandia 2022 really brought a little bit of everything to cap off an amazing summer of festivals, music and debauchery.
Here’s some of our highlights!
Day one of Rifflandia was all about starting off the festival with some good vibes and some better bass.
Most notably, this was the evening Shaq, aka DJ Diesel took the stage. It was the only night that ended up being fully sold out, and it was pretty clear who everyone was there to see.
Unfortunately the Victoria Buzz crew could not make it into Shaq’s mosh pit to snap some pictures because we almost got trampled in our attempt to do so. It sounded insane though.
We did share a VicPD post of officers chillin’ with the one and only!
For those who were too anxious or claustrophobic to get in his mosh pit, we were lucky to have The Jins to give us some good ol’ fashioned punk rock!
Here’s bbno$ pre-wardrobe malfunction. He ripped a big ol’ hole in his crotch. Thankfully, he was wearing underwear which he promptly stripped down to. He even threw his socks into the crowd before the end of his set.
If you missed the boat on this Rifflandia, take it from a satisfied first customer, make sure Riff 2023 super passes are on your Christmas/birthday/begging your parents for lists.
Canadians across the country will observe a national holiday on Monday to mourn the death of Queen Elizabeth II, and here’s what you need to know about it if you live in Victoria.
The date will be marked as an official federal holiday in Canada to coincide with the queen’s funeral in London, UK.
Millions of people will be watching Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral from around the world, however, Victorian’s will need be to be up at 3 a.m. PT, if you plan to watch the first British monarch have her funeral.
A ceremonial procession and commemorative service will also be held in Victoria for Queen Elizabeth II starting at 9:30 a.m. on Monday.
The province released further details Thursday about the ceremonial procession and provincial commemorative service for Queen Elizabeth II on Monday.
In a media release, the province said procession will form in front of the BC Parliament Buildings and the service will be at the Christ Church Cathedral.
The procession will start at 9:45 a.m. with the Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy and a 100-person Guard of Honour made up of members of Maritime Forces Pacific.
They cortège will be marching from Menzies Street, then head east on Belleville, and march to the front of the Parliament Buildings in Victoria.
Beginning at 10 a.m., the Netherlands Centennial Carillon will chime 96 times, one for every year of the Queen’s life.
Shortly after, Lieutenant Governor Janet Austin and Premier John Horgan will walk down the steps of the Parliament Building’s ceremonial and join the procession with other dignitaries following.
A 21-gun salute by the 5th Field Battery, Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery, will take place on Belleville Street.
The procession will depart the legislature at around 10:15 a.m. and make its way towards the Christ Church Cathedral.
They are expected to arrive at 10:40 a.m., and the commemorative service is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m., here is the route procession will travel:
will start by heading down the east driveway past the Cenotaph
then travel north along Government Street
turn east on Fort Street
and proceed south on Quadra Street to Christ Church Cathedral
The service is open to the public, however, seating is very limited.
Forensic officers with VicPD are investigating a “suspicious circumstance” on Esquimalt Road after large trail of blood was found.
“We’re investigating, but right now it is too early to say what actually occurred, if anyone is injured, or if there’s anything criminal here,” Bowen Osoko, spokesperson for VicPD said in an email statement.
Witnesses tell Victoria Buzz the blood splatters run down Esquimalt Road on either side, from the Tudor House Liquor Store to just past the Esquimalt Plaza.
Some of the larger splatters are roped off with police tape and there are a couple police cars present.
VicPD said they would release more information once it becomes available.
At around 5:40 a.m. on Friday morning, VicPD patrol officers were called to a shooting at a multi-unit housing complex in the 3000-block of Douglas Street.
Upon arrival, officers discovered the victim’s injuries were non-lethal, but had a lower leg wound that is potentially life-altering.
Officers proceeded to secure the area and evacuated other residents, while the man who was shot was transported to the hospital by paramedics.
Patrol officers on scene began searching the area for suspects with the assistance of the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team (GVERT).
Shortly after their search began, officers identified two suspects. Given the threat of armed suspects in a well populated area, officers flooded the area and moved in for an arrest at gunpoint.
Witnesses sought: 2 suspects arrested, victim has potentially life-altering gunshot wound after Patrol officers called to 3000-block Douglas St multi-unit residential temporary housing facility this morning. #yyj | https://t.co/TQrcZjYxy2
(Highway 4 Kennedy Hill improvements / Province BC)
Drivers are being warned to expect delays along Highway 4 at Kennedy Hill as extensive, ongoing road upgrades enter the final stretch this fall.
In a media statement Friday, the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure said that commuters should be prepared for delays starting Tuesday, September 20th, through the fall.
Starting next week, drivers travelling to and from Ucluelet and Tofino should expect single-lane-alternating traffic seven days a week from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and hourly closures — with traffic queues that will be released at the top of each hour — from 5 a.m. until 3 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, the Kennedy Hill section will be fully closed to traffic in both directions between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. to allow crews to place girders and deck-panels.
The Highway 4 – Kennedy Hill improvement project, which began in May 2018, will be substantially complete this fall, with finishing touches outside of the roadway continuing throughout the winter.
“Once complete, the project will create a safer, more reliable connection between Port Alberni and the west coast of Vancouver Island,” the province said in a media release.
The Kennedy Hill section is about 14 kilometres northeast of the Tofino-Ucluelet junction of Highway 4, which connects the two communities with Port Alberni.
The safety improvements over the 1.5 kilometre project length include:
Widening the highway to accommodate two full lanes and paved shoulders, including roadside barrier along the lakeside of the highway
Horizontal realignments to the highway to remove the sharp blind corners, straightening the road and eliminating the 30km/hr speed advisory curves
Vertical realignments to the highway to reduce the existing 12% grade along the hill
Blasting and excavating bedrock to accommodate the above, and eliminating the existing overhanging rock above the road surface that is a hazard to larger transport vehicles currently requiring them to cross centreline
Providing for rock slope stabilization and slope meshing to mitigate rock fall onto the highway, including a rock catchment ditch
Installing two cantilever bridge structures to straighten the alignment and reduce rock excavation volumes
The provision of a rest area with viewpoint on the lake side of the new highway, including an intersection to safely access the new facility by passenger vehicle, RV, bus, and transport truck
A second major headliner has announced they’ve had to drop out of playing at Rifflandia this weekend.
At around 12:30 p.m. Rifflandia announced on the day of their show that the Russian Feminist band, Pussy Riot will not be taking the stage this Friday.
Pussy Riot started as a performance art project and protest group to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s views on LGBTQ+ rights. Initially they were a punk band made up of 11 women.
The band evolved and started playing a more accessible brand of pop/rock, but stayed true to their roots in activism and protest. They have been imprisoned and arrested numerous times for their protests in Russia.
They were slated to be the secondary headliner to Bikini Kill on the main stage at The Park located at Royal Athletic Park.
The schedule has been adjusted with no replacement for Pussy Riot.
Friday Update: We regret to announce that @pussyrrriot will not be performing today. Please see the updated daily schedule for Friday in The Park and get ready to kick your weekend off with an awesome day of live music ????
The reason is unclear why the Russian band had to drop out of the festival with such late notice.
The band tweeted saying, ”due to some circumstances out of our control, I won’t be able to make it to the festival this year. Stay tuned for news because I hope to see all your faces soon!!”
RIFFLANDIA. Due to some circumstances out of our control, I won’t be able to make it to the festival this year ????
Stay tuned for news because I hope to see all your faces soon!! ????
— ???????????????????? ???????????????????? (@pussyrrriot) September 16, 2022
This is the second big band to drop out of the festival without being replaced following the Black Pumas cancelling upcoming tour dates that included Rifflandia.
It’s back! One of the most highly anticipated music festivals in Victoria is returning to the city this weekend after a four-year hiatus.
The four-day event features performances by nearly 100 acts on eight stages throughout downtown Victoria, including Lorde and Charli XCX headlining, and performances by Lauv, Cypress Hill, Black Pumas, Shaquille O’Neal as DJ Diesel, Ben Harper and more!
Where: 1014 Caledonia Avenue, Royal Athletic Park, Electric Avenue at Discovery Street, Pembroke Street and Store Street
When: Thursday, September 15th to Sunday, September 18th
Seven-time Juno Award winner Serena Ryder is coming to Victoria this weekend. The tour is named in support of her award-winning album “The Art of Falling Apart”. With the Art of Falling Apart, Serena invites listeners to join her mental wellness journey and helps us understand the importance of sitting with the uncomfortable moments and the wisdom in their messages.
Over a driving pop sound bursting with irresistible rhythms, pulsing bass lines, and the full range of her powerful and expressive voice, she pulls listeners through her own winding, transformational journey, detailing despair, toxic relationships, and breakdowns, alongside hope, joy, and big big love.
Where: McPherson Playhouse, 3 Centennial Square
When: Saturday, September 17th – opener starts at 7:30 p.m.
Olav & Lefty are an energetic acoustic duo from Victoria BC that cover a wide variety of genres. They live to play, and it shows in their performance including hits from Bruno Mars, Johnny Cash, Led Zeppelin and The Beatles to name a few.
Where: The Rose, 592 Ledsham Road
When: Saturday, September 17th – starting at 8 p.m.
The Hills are alive with art, light, and music! The Westhills community is hosting their sixth annual Light Up the Hills festival which brings over 3,000 people to the Westhills community.
Light Up the Hills is a family-friendly outdoor festival of light held after dark, that features illuminated artworks that creates a spectacular glowing effect throughout the community. Event participants walk along a designated path, passing by various performances and artworks, and bring their own hand-made lanterns to guide their way.
Where: Belmont Secondary School and Westhills Park
When: Saturday, September 17th – 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Head to the Tillicum Centre parking lot this Saturday for an end of summer celebration! There will be live music, market vendors, and entertainment for the whole family.
There will also be some special guests from Sesame Street making an appearance (around 11:30 a.m.)! Free admission.
Where: Tillicum Centre in Saanich
When: Saturday, September 17th – 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
After a two-year hiatus, the Broadmead Community Day event returns to Broadmead Village Shopping Centre. The purpose of the event is to bring together Broadmead residents and businesses alike to celebrate this unique community. The celebration includes music, food, door prizes, children’s activities, and Village merchant sidewalk sale for those interested in participating.
Where: Broadmead Village Shopping Centre, 777 Royal Oak Drive
The James Bay Market has been in operation for 28 years. Visitors can still support local farms, food producers and craft vendors when they visit the James Bay staple.
When: Saturdays from May 7th to September 24th – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Celebrate Vic West and Spiral Cafe’s 21 st Anniversary on Raynor Street at Craigflower
Road with local music, food and fun! Munch on delicious roasted and boiled corn, sip fresh apple juice made from Vic West apples, visit with friends and neighbours while local musicians perform, and so much more!
Summer 2022 marks the 31st season of the Moss Street Market. The family favourite offers local and organic produce, handmade crafts, artisan clothing as well as community education.
Moss Street Market now offers an online market with delivery and pick up options. The organization also runs a Winter Market (November through April).
When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., every Saturday May through October
Where: 401 Moss Street, Sir James Douglas school grounds, surrounding boulevards and Porter Park
The Peninsula Country Market has more than 50 vendors weekly offering farm fresh products, jams and jellies, honey, homemade bread, cut flowers, assorted meats, organic produce and a fine selection of arts and crafts.
The James Bay Market has been in operation for 28 years. Visitors can still support local farms, food producers and craft vendors when they visit the James Bay staple.
When: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays from May 7th to September 24th
Everything at the Goldstream Farmers Market is homemade, handmade or home grown.
Vendors offer local fruits and vegetables, fresh-baked breads and goodies, unique and quality crafts and textile creations. There is also live music, a water park and food trucks.
When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturdays from May to October
Summer 2022 marks the 31st season of the Moss Street Market. The family favourite offers local and organic produce, handmade crafts, artisan clothing as well as community education.
Moss Street Market now offers an online market with delivery and pick up options. The organization also runs a Winter Market (November through April).
When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., every Saturday May through October
Where: 401 Moss Street, Sir James Douglas school grounds, surrounding boulevards and Porter Park
The Peninsula Country Market has more than 50 vendors weekly offering farm fresh products, jams and jellies, honey, homemade bread, cut flowers, assorted meats, organic produce and a fine selection of arts and crafts.
One man is in custody after he randomly attacked a forensic officer with a skateboard during a stabbing investigation in Victoria last night.
VicPD were initially called to a stabbing incident at around 9:30 p.m. Thursday September 15th, at a residence in the 1400-block of Harrison Street.
It was later determined the incident occurred in the 1000-block of Pandora Avenue and MCU investigators, Integrated Canine Service (ICS) and VicPD’s Forensic Identification Section (FIS) attended the scene to search for evidence.
A couple hours into the investigation, a FIS officer was processing the stabbing scene near the intersection of Pandora Avenue and Vancouver Street— an area blocked off by police tape.
The officer, who was in full duty uniform, was approached by a man as he walked back into the crime scene and was verbally confronted by the individual.
Police said without warning, the man raised a skateboard and swung it at the FIS officer’s head.
The FIS officer was able to fight off the attack and when he told the suspect he was under arrest, the suspect attempted to flee the area.
When the suspect was transported to VicPD cells, police learned that the he had an outstanding warrant from another department.
This warrant was also executed while the man was in VicPD cells.
The FIS officer was able to continue to process the scene with alternate equipment.
The suspect was later released with future court dates.
MCU investigators are asking anyone who witnessed the incident to come forward. If you have information about this incident, call VicPD at (250) 995-7654.
A surprise mass power outage overtook Greater Victoria Friday afternoon that might have made for a short workday.
A reported transmission circuit failure caused at least 42 outages in the southern Vancouver Island area.
At one point this mass outage affected nearly 100,000 BC Hydro customers.
Downtown Victoria and Esquimalt are two of the few municipalities that were not affected by the outage.
The outage is being blamed on a transmission circuit failure.
According to BC Hydro’s website, If your power goes out, you should turn off electric heaters, major appliances, and unplug sensitive electronics. This helps reduce the load on their system and protects your equipment from damage.
They also recommend turning off all lights except one indoors or outdoors depending on where you are so you know when power returns.
VicPD’s Major Crime Unit (MCU) is asking witnesses to come forward after a victim sustained injuries in a stabbing that’s believed to be a random act of violence.
At around 9:30 p.m. on Thursday night, VicPD were called to a residence in the 1400-block of Harrison Street. Victoria Fire Department firefighters were already on scene administering first aid to a victim of multiple stab wounds.
The victim was treated and transported to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
It is believed the incident occurred in the 1000-block of Pandora Avenue and MCU investigators, Integrated Canine Service (ICS) and VicPD’s Forensic Identification Section (FIS) attended the scene looking for evidence.
According to investigators, the victim was sitting on a bench in that area when a man confronted them and randomly attacked them.
The victim reportedly fled the scene, got to safety and discovered they had been stabbed several times.
VicPD describes the suspect in the investigation as a male who stands 5’5”, has a medium build, facial hair, hair past his ears, and an “unkempt appearance”.
No arrests have been made thus far.
MCU investigators are asking anyone with information about this incident to call the VicPD Report Desk at (250) 995-7654.
If so, you could get that pup on a can of beer from Yellow Dog Brewing, and it’s all for a good cause, the BC SPCA.
Even though the fundraiser is being done by Yellow Dog Brewing, they don’t discriminate against other pets. If you’ve got a cat, a chameleon or a horse you want them to slap on the label of their limited beer, you can enter them into the contest too.
There is one small caveat however, along with submitting a photo of your pet, you also have to raise $100, then you’ll be entered into the contest where your furry or scaly pal will be featured on the beer label of a special limited release 4-pack from Yellow Dog Brewing.
Or, if you are one of the top three fundraisers, you’ll guarantee your pet’s place.
Here is the current leaderboard. If you think your animal is cuter than the leaders so far, you best get fundraising!
(BC SPCA)
This is the first year that Yellow Dog Brewing is putting on this fundraiser for the BC SPCA and already animal lovers have raised over $90,000 to help save animals in distress.
There is only one week left to enter their contest, submissions close on September 23rd.
Photo courtesy of Greater Victoria School District
The BC government says it doesn’t want to stand by when it comes to bullying and has tools available for students who are being bullied for their sexual orientation and gender identity.
School is back in session, and that means awareness surrounding bullying is coming back to the forefront of educators minds, specifically when it comes to sexual orientation and gender identity.
On behalf of several parental, educator, LGBTQ2IA+ and Indigenous committees, Jennifer Whiteside, Minister of Education and Child Care gave a statement about how children will be embraced and supported for being themselves as they step back into the classroom.
“We know that each child expresses themselves in their own unique way and some have been bullied and ostracized in the past,” said Whiteside in a media release.
“All of BC’s provincial education partners for K-12 schools–public and independent–are standing together in solidarity to ensure every school is a place where all students deserve to be welcomed, included and respected in a safe learning environment, while being fully and completely themselves.”
“No student should be excluded or bullied because of their sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.”
The BC Human Rights code was amended in 2016 so that gender identity and gender expression are protected.
Across all 60 school districts in BC, schools have implemented sexual orientation and gender identity inclusive codes of conduct and policies to protect students as they make their way through the education system.
Minister Whiteside says she wants to commit to creating learning environments that are safe, respectful and welcoming for all BC students.
“Students deserve to have the complete support of teachers, administrators, support staff, trustees, parents, guardians, caregivers and their community.”
ERASE works to build safe and caring school communities. Their goal is to empower students, parents, educators and community partners to support students to get help with challenges, report concerns to schools and learn about complex issues.
Through ERASE, students can get help with online safety, mental health and well-being, bullying, racism, school safety, sexual orientation and gender idenity, substance abuse and compassionate systems leadership.
