VICTORIA, BC – Beginning Monday, lane reductions will be in place on the Point Ellice (Bay Street) Bridge impacting east and west bound traffic. Flag persons will be in place to assist with traffic flow as crews conduct assessments of the bridge to inform future capital planning. Lane reductions will be in place throughout the week with work expected to be complete by Thursday, September 18. Motorists are advised to take alternate routes to avoid delays.

On the Johnson Street Bridge, westbound traffic will be reduced to a single lane beginning Monday. Lane reductions will continue be in place on the west side of the Johnson Street Bridge through September and October as crews finalize the new intersection of Harbour and Esquimalt Roads.

Later in September, the pedestrian and cyclists temporary access path at Harbour Road will be relocated and widened and cyclists will no longer be required to dismount. Harbour Road will remain closed to vehicles at Esquimalt Road until the end of the September.

In November and December, BC Hydro will work on the east side of the bridge to realign a hydro duct which will provide power to the new bridge.

The new bridge is expected to open to traffic in 2016. For more information, visit JohnsonStreetBridge.com.

Throughout the afternoon of Sunday, September 7, a total of six people were arrested in relation to an ongoing drug investigation.

With the assistance of members from VICPD, CFSEU, and RCU, the Saanich Police Department Street Crime Unit gathered sufficient information to establish that there appeared to be an active illicit drug distribution operation stemming from an apartment located in the 100 block of Gorge Road West.

During the investigation, it was determined that persons of interest identified throughout the course of the investigation had apparent connection to criminal affiliations in the Lower Mainland.

A 41 year old female, a resident of Saanich, was held in custody and faces recommended charges of: three counts of Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking , one count of Unsafe Storage of a Firearm, two counts of Breach of Recognizance, one count of Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm, and one count of Possession of Credit Card Data

A 36 year old male, a resident of Saanich, was held in custody and faces charges of Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking.

A 35 year old female, a resident of Saanich, was released. Charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance have been recommended to Crown.

A 22 year old male, a resident of Sooke, was arrested for Breach of Recognizance and held to appear in court.

A 29 year old male, from the Vancouver area, was arrested and held on outstanding warrants from a jurisdiction in the Lower Mainland, and held to appear in court. The warrants were for Theft and Obstructing a Police Officer.

A 31 year old female, from the Vancouver area, was released from custody. Investigators are considering a charge of Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking against this female.

A search warrant was executed on the apartment where activity was observed, and included the search of three vehicles related to the investigation. Included in the list of items found during the searches were:

– a .22 calibre semi-automatic rifle, complete with loaded magazine

– two replica handguns

– two canisters of bear spray

– approximately 26 litres of suspected GHB or precursor.

– 100 grams of suspected crystal meth (4 ounces)

– 100 grams of suspected heroin (4 ounces)

– 16 grams of suspected marihuana

– approximately $20,000 Canadian currency

– suspected stolen property, including credit card info

– records of sales, scales, and packaging materials consistent with packaging illicit drugs for sale

While the investigation is ongoing, it is expected that the 41 year old female and the 35 year old male will appear in court today.

“This is a significant file that involved the arrest of suspects that were conducting drug transactions in a well populated neigbourhood” Sgt. Steve Eassie said. “It was a culmination of efforts and information from several area police resources, including VICPD, CFSEU, and members from RCU. The sharing of information and collaboration of resources led to the removal of a drug operation from this neighbourhood”.

Victoria BC – A high number of abandoned 911-calls are continuing to plague VicPD’s Communication Centre.

During the last 14 hours, between 5:30 p.m. last night and 7:30 a.m. this morning, VicPD’s Communications Centre had to answer, trace, and ensure the safety of 21 people when their abandoned calls were received.

Abandoned calls make up almost 30% of all 911 calls received by VicPD’s Communication Centre and tie up phone lines and resources needed for actual emergencies.

Please remember to lock your cell phone before putting it in your pocket, bag or purse. If you accidentally dial 911, please stay on the line so our staff can quickly ensure your safety. Finally, if your child is playing with an old cell phone, remember, disconnected cell phones can still dial 911.

VICTORIA, BC – Today work begins on new bicycle lanes on Cook Street, one of the areas identified by the community for improvements in the City’s cycling network.

This spring over 1,300 people provided input on how to improve cycling infrastructure in Victoria over the next 25 years. The new bicycle network was informed by this feedback and identifies the specific routes that will be the focus of these cycling improvements.

The new north and south bike lanes on Cook Street between Maplewood Road and Lang Street will connect with Saanich’s new bike lanes that will continue north on Cook, for a combined route of 1.2 km. These improvements will also make it easier for cyclists to access Finlayson Street, an east/west route with existing bike lanes. Bicycle detection loops will be installed on both sides of Finlayson and Cook, so cyclists approaching the intersection will trigger the light to change. Work will take approximately five weeks. Some parking restrictions and lane closures are expected during construction hours, however access will be maintained for pedestrians and vehicles at all times.

Also responsive to public feedback, 14 new bike parking spaces have been added at City Hall. There are now 46 bike parking spaces, with additional areas for staff parking. These improvements correspond with recent renovations to the Public Service Centre at City Hall.

Other cycling improvements this fall will include:

• Improved access onto Vancouver Street in the 900 block of Convent Street
• Improved access onto Quadra Street in the 900 block of Collinson Street
• Paving of the pedestrian path on the Galloping Goose Trail, south of Selkirk Trestle
• New bike lanes on Skinner Street, from Bay Street to Catherine Street
• Path realignment on Doncaster Drive, between Myrtle Street and Hillside Avenue

The high volume of public input received this spring will now inform an overhaul of the Bike Master Plan itself. The focus will be on developing actions to guide cycling in Victoria over the next 25 years. At this time, it is anticipated an updated Bicycle Master Plan will be presented to Council for consideration in March 2015.

For more information about the new Bicycle Network and other routes that have been identified as priorities over the next five years visit: www.victoria.ca/cycling.

VICTORIA – BC Transit and the Victoria Regional Transit Commission (VRTC) are pleased to announce more service hours are being directed at post-secondary schools. Late night service on Fridays and Saturdays will be added to the West Shore and Gordon Head. Service to Esquimalt will be restructured to enhance destination choices. A total of 5,000 annual service hours will be added to the Victoria Regional Transit System. These changes support the goals of the region’s 25 year Transit Future Plan.

Effective September 2, 2014, late night service on Friday and Saturday nights, currently available on routes 4, 6 and 14 will be extended to routes 15X Dockyard/UVic, 27 Gordon Head, 28 Majestic and 50 Langford/Downtown. Extra late night runs leave the downtown core at 12:30 a.m., 1 a.m. and 1:30 a.m. The added late night service comes at the request of BC Transit customers following extensive public consultations last fall.

Service hours are being expanded on Route 4 Hillside/UVic, Route 8 Interurban/Oak Bay and Route 39 UVic/Royal Roads to better serve customers who are travelling to the region’s largest post-secondary institutions.

The current Route 6 Royal Oak/Esquimalt is being restructured. Esquimalt residents will now be better served by the Route 15X Dockyard/UVic with direct access to UVic, Camosun College Lansdowne campus and the Royal Jubilee Hospital. The new Route 6 Downtown/Royal Oak will travel from the downtown core to the Royal Oak exchange along Quadra Street.
The fall improvements align with both the findings of the public consultation process and the recently completed service review of the Victoria Regional Transit System.

“Reliable and efficient connections to campuses, health services and workplaces are a hallmark of an effective transportation network,” said Todd Stone, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure. “As a funding partner, the province is pleased to support the growing demand for transit service in the Capital Region.”

“We listened to the more than six thousand customers who participated in public consultations asking for more late night runs and added trips to the Camosun College Interurban campus,” said Susan Brice, Chair of the Victoria Regional Transit Commission. “Ridership is on the rise in the Victoria region and we hope these investments continue to encourage people to make transit their transportation choice.”
“With these increased service hours and changes, we will be better able to meet the growing demands of the region and our customers,” said BC Transit President and CEO Manuel Achadinha. “We are pleased to work with our partners at the Victoria Regional Transit Commission and our customers to make these significance improvements to the system.”

For more information on routes and schedules please call 250.382.6161 or visit www.bctransit.com/regions/vic

Victoria, BC – VicPD detectives are looking for four men after a home invasion left a five-year-old boy and his parents suffering from the effects of pepper spray.

Officers responded to a townhouse in the 300-block of Robert Street just after 4 a.m. on the morning of Saturday, August 16th after the victims awoke to masked men kicking their way into the home. The father of the family confronted the assailants and was pepper sprayed in the face. His wife called police and screamed out her bedroom window for help, awakening and alerting neighbours, causing the assailants to flee. The couple and their young son were all in the home at the time of the incident and all suffered from the effects of the pepper spray. They were treated by B.C. Ambulance Service paramedics. Nothing appears to have been taken and investigators have yet to determine a reason why this family was targeted.

“It is possible that the suspects simply got the wrong house,” said Detective Cst. Kris Rice. “What is deeply concerning about this attack is the impact on this young boy and his family.”

Witnesses described the four assailants fleeing the scene in a dark green or black SUV, similar to a Jeep Cherokee, with “flashy” wheels and a loud engine exhaust. While persons of interest have been identified, investigators are asking anyone with information to come forward.

“Right now, there are four individuals out there who entered a family’s home in the middle of the night and terrorized them, leaving behind a five-year-old boy suffering from the effects of pepper spray,” Detective Cst. Rice said. “We need anyone who saw something in the area that night or who may have information about this incident to come forward.”

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to call police, either by calling the VicPD non-emergency line at (250) 995-7654, anonymously thorough Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or through the VicPD Detective Tip Line at 250-995-7444.

Today, Thursday August 14^th, 2014, all proceeds from every Blizzard^® Treat purchased at participating DQ^® store in British Columbia will be donated to BC Children’s Hospital to help children in need.

Together we can provide hope and healing to sick and injured children in your community.

Share and Care: [easy-share buttons=”facebook,twitter,love” counters=1 counter_pos=”inside” native=”no” total_counter_pos=”left”]

DQ^® and Children’s Miracle Network^®: Celebrating 30 Years

2014 marks an exciting milestone! The DQ^® brand is celebrating 30 years of collaborative sponsorship with Children’s Miracle Network^® and $100 million raised in support of member hospitals across North America.

Thank you to all DQ^® Fans for helping us reach this incredible milestone. Let’s make this Miracle Treat Day the most successful yet and continue to help make miracles happen for children in our community.

About Children’s Miracle Network^®

Children’s Miracle Network^® raises funds for 170 children’s hospitals, 14 of which are in Canada. These hospitals, in turn, use the money where it’s needed the most. When a donation is given, it stays in the community, ensuring that every dollar is helping local children.

Funds raised have gone to support research and training, purchase life-saving equipment, and ensure excellence in care, all to save and improve the lives of as many children as possible.

Learn more at: http://www.miracletreatday.ca/

Over the course of this past week, there have been several break and enters to residences throughout Saanich.

In the early morning hours of Wednesday, August 6th, an unknown suspect entered an unlocked residence in the 2800 block of Admirals Road. One of the occupants of the home departed from the residence at 12:30 a.m., leaving the home unlocked. A female and a dog were asleep inside the home. Taken from the home were numerous items including a cellular phone, two laptop computers, an X-Box gaming system, and several credit cards. Upon return to the home at 2:30 a.m., the occupant observed some items had been disturbed but believed the other person in the home had moved the items. The thefts were not confirmed until later that morning.

On August 6th, between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., a residence in the 4700 block of Elk Lake Drive was entered and a large number of items were stolen. The residence was entered through an unlocked sliding glass door. Based on the number of items missing from the home, it would appear that a vehicle was likely used, and that the suspect(s) would have spent a considerable amount of time within the home. Included in the list of missing items were two laptop computers, a 40 inch flat screen television, a Nintendo Wii gaming system, a Takamine semi-acoustic guitar, a Gibson electric guitar, a Yamaha keyboard, and some jewellery.

On August 10th, between the hours of 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., an apartment on the ground floor in the 3900 block of Shelbourne Street was entered. A screen was removed from an unlocked window, allowing the suspect to enter the apartment. The occupant of the apartment had left the suite and was visiting another apartment within the same building. When the occupant returned, it was evident that someone had been inside the apartment. Less than $50 cash was taken from the residence.

Also on August 10th, and again between the hours of 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., a residence in the 1100 block of Union Street was entered. A screen covering an open second storey window was removed, after the suspect used a lawn chair to gain access to the roof leading to the second level of the home. The only item missing from the home was several hundred dollars in cash. Given the mode of entry and the times of these two break-ins on this date, it is strongly believed that these two incidents are likely related.

On August 11th, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:45 p.m., an apartment in the 900 block of Inverness was entered. Investigation has revealed that the suspect likely used a pry tool of some description to defeat the deadbolt lock on the entry door to the apartment. The suspect likely left the residence by way of the balcony which was only a short distance from the ground. Missing from the residence was a laptop computer and several thousand dollars in cash.

“Residents are reminded of the importance of locking all windows and doors upon leaving their residences, even if only for a short period of time” Sgt. Steve Eassie said. “If windows must be left open due to the warmer weather, locking mechanisms that allow the window slider to be locked while partially open would be suggested. These are readily available at hardware stores and can be easily installed.”

While it is difficult to say for certain whether these incidents are all related, there are some similarities amongst these incidents. Police are asking all area residents to be aware and to report any suspicious activity that may be observed.

Victoria BC – A sharp-eyed citizen put the brakes on a one-man crime spree early Monday, which all started with the theft of a bicycle.

A distraught bike owner called VicPD at approximately 3 p.m. Sunday when her bike was stolen from the bike rack on the back of her parked car in the area of Douglas and Yates streets. The victim of the theft had left her car momentarily, and came back to find the bike gone.

Moments later, and a mere two blocks away, a report of a robbery with a knife occurred at a business in the 900-block of Yates Street. The Loss Prevention Officer attempted to stop the suspect after he had taken an item from the store. When confronted, the suspect pulled a knife, threatened the LPO, and fled on a bicycle (later thought to be the recently stolen bike). Thankfully, the Loss Prevention Officer was able to get a detailed description of the man and relayed that to officers.

At approximately 8:15 p.m., officers were called to the 900-block of Humboldt Street for an interrupted break and enter to an unoccupied apartment. An employee in the building was made aware of this and confronted the suspect, who fled the scene.

Early Monday morning, at around 1 a.m., the sharp-eyed employee from the break and enter spotted the suspect near Quadra and Fort streets. Officers quickly converged on the scene and arrested the man. He was riding the stolen bike, and matched the descriptions from the other two crimes.

“This is another great example of how citizens in our communities help us every day,” said VicPD Chief Elsner. “If this person had not seen the suspect, we may still be searching for him.”

The 32-year-old Victoria man was lodged in jail for court today and officers are recommending charges of robbery, possession of break-in instruments, theft under $5000, possession of stolen property and break and enter.

Officers are looking forward to reuniting the bike with its owner.

4 pets have died in the 3900 block of Carey Road in less than a week…2 cats were found deceased and a cat and dog both passed away after suffering seizures…no cause has been confirmed but it sounds suspiciously like poison. Please keep a close eye on your pets and don’t let them out unsupervised. We just received this information. More details to come as we get more information.

UPDATE FROM Danielle Charles: I live on Carey and my dog is the one who passed away. My neighbours cat also passed away the day before and had the same symptoms as my dog.(Completely fine to seizure by nonstop..) Vets did an autopsy but nothing obvious was found. Another cat was found deceased by my neighbor(who lost her cat) and has put signs up looking for owner. Cat is at McKenzie vet. No tattoo or microchip and is all white

UPDATE FROM Krystal Scherling: ” My cat was one who passed away due to the poisoning. The white cat was found next door to me, both cats were deceased within hours of each other and the third animal, the dog, within another 12 hours. What happened was terribly unfortunate and my hearts go out to all who were affected by this. Please beware and use caution with your pets in this area, the fact that the poisonings took place within hours from each other lead me to believe they were not an accident. Thank you, Danielle for doing your best to find the owner of the white cat, my condolences are with you and your family during this difficult time. Also a big thank you to Victoria Buzz for sharing this and making the situation known.”

Sgt. Steve Eassie with Saanich Police says officers have been canvassing the neighbourhood to determine if there is any source to cause these animals to become sick. “At this point we don’t know whether it is an intentional act on somebody’s part, or whether this is accidental.”

UPDATE:  CHEK News coverage: http://www.cheknews.ca/saanich-police-investigating-pet-deaths/

From Chek News: We’re hoping to do more on this story today and we understand there are pet owners affected who haven’t yet come forward. If your pet – or the pet of someone you know – appears to have been poisoned please call Tess van Straaten in the CHEK newsroom at  250-480-3700 .

Link to Facebook warning post: http://bit.ly/petsoncareyrd

The largest full moon of 2014 rises tonight (Aug. 10). August’s full moon, a so-called “supermoon,” rises when the natural satellite is at perigee — the closest point to Earth in its orbit. It is the second of three supermoons this summer.

While both July and September also play host to perigee full moons, this month’s supermoon is the bigger and better than the others this year, according to one NASA scientist.

The moon orbits about 238,855 miles (384,400 kilometers) from Earth on average. Today’s supermoon brings the moon about 31,000 miles (50,000 km) closer to Earth than it is during its farthest point from the planet. The moon will only be “10s of kilometers” closer to Earth than other full moons this year, according to Petro.

Sunday’s full moon will be 30 percent brighter and 14 percent larger than the smallest full moon of the year. Although casual observers of the moon might not notice a difference between the supermoon and other moons this year, regular skywatchers might be able to spot a subtle change in brightness, according to Petro.

One of the best times to see the supermoon is just after sunset tonight. “If you have a clear horizon, get out and check it out,” Petro added. “It should be a great show. Of course, any time of night when the moon is high in the sky is a great time as well.”

If you snap an amazing lunar photo of August’s “supermoon” and would like to share it with Victoria Buzz, you can send images to info@victoriabuzz.com or post to our Facebook wall.

Source

Victoria has been voted the 3rd friendliest city in the world ….. so give yourselves a pat on the back and if you can’t do it yourself,  get that friendly person next to you, to do it!

Victoria BC Canada was named the 3rd friendliest city in the world by Conde Nast Traveler magazine’s list of the world’s friendliest cities

Auckland, New Zealand and Melbourne, Australia, tied for first place. Only two North American cities made it to the friendliest cities list.

The ranking was based on the magazine’s reader generated reviews and also includes the world’s unfriendliest cities.

Conde Nast Traveler 2014 World’s Friendliest Cities

1/2= Auckland, New Zealand
1/2= Melbourne, Australia
3. Victoria, British Columbia
4. Charleston, South Carolina
5/6= Dublin, Ireland
5/6= Sydney, Australia
7. SIEM Reap, Cambodia
8. Cape Town, South Africa
9/10= Savannah, Georgia
9/10= Seville, Spain
11/12= Budapest, Hungary
11/12= Salzburg, Austria

Conde Nast Traveler 2014 World’s Unfriendliest Cities

1. Johannesburg, South Africa
2. Cannes, France
3. Moscow, Russia
4. Paris, France
5. Marseille, France
6. Beijing, China
7. Frankfurt, Germany
8. Milan, Italy
9. Monte Carlo, Monaco
10. Nassau, Bahamas

On our Facebook page, we asked our fans if they agree Victoria is one of the friendliest… some said yes, while others strongly disagreed. Add your input:

What do 25,000 cigarette butts look like?

The City of Victoria, Downtown Victoria Business Association and Surfrider Foundation celebrated a goal today of 20 cigarette disposal canisters installed downtown. This program has taken 25,000 butts off our streets and away from our stormdrains that would take them out to our beaches and oceans. The waste is then recycled into plastic pellets by TerraCycle and Progressive Waste Solutions.

In late April 2014, Surfrider Foundation, the Downtown Victoria Business Association and the City of Victoria announced they were teaming up for a pilot program to keep cigarette butts off our streets, out of the stormwater system and off beaches by installing easily identifiable cigarette disposal canisters in downtown Victoria, offering the public a responsible cigarette disposal option.

Cigarette butts make up a large percentage of litter on city streets.  Having cleaner streets is the most direct goal of this program, but the beaches will also benefit.  The journey of cigarette butts from the streets, through the stormwater system and out to Victoria’s beaches isn’t top of mind for many people, but when the butts are blown or flushed into the over 5,700 catchbasins and storm drains throughout Victoria, the shoreline is where they end up.  Beyond littering the beaches, the toxins in cigarettes leach out when wet and pose a threat to marine life.

The Downtown Victoria Business Association (DVBA) and the City of Victoria are sponsoring the purchase of the canisters and the DVBA’s Clean Team empty the canisters as part of their daily rounds throughout the downtown.  This pilot program has been led by members of the Vancouver Island chapter of the Surfrider Foundation. They saw the cigarette butt receptacles in use while attending a Surfrider conference in California and were inspired by how the simple program kept cigarette butts contained and off urban streets and beaches.

For more information visit: http://vancouverisland.surfrider.org

For information about other City of Victoria downtown beautification programs, click here.

Victoria BC – VicPD Detectives are requesting the public’s assistance in solving this summer’s series of suspicious fires.

While already investigating over a dozen fires from an earlier series starting in April, this long weekend, eight more fires were set, all of which are suspicious in nature. Detectives, Patrol, Forensic Identification Section and K9 officers have been scouring the area in a search for clues, but are hoping the public can help with any information as well.

This weekend’s series started at approximately 11 p.m. on Sunday night as a brush fire in the 600-block of Fernhill Road. Thankfully the Esquimalt Fire Department (EFD) was quick on scene and doused the flames before the fire could spread. Officers attended after EFD stated the fire may be suspicious.

Just over two hours later, early Monday morning at approximately 1:30 a.m. VicPD and EFD responded to a structure fire in the 1100-block of Colville Road where a garden shed was destroyed by a fire. EFD was quick on scene and put the fire out before it could spread to any neighbouring structures.

Moments later, at 1:45 a.m. another call of a shed on fire in the 1200-block of Lockley Street was received. Again, the fire was doused by EFD and VicPD Patrol and K9 officers scoured the scene. Residents in the area reported a grey SUV near the fire site and investigators are hoping to identify the car and occupants.

Another grass fire was reported in VicWest, in the area of Wilson and Alston streets just before 3 a.m. This time it was the Victoria Fire Department who arrived and doused the flames as patrol officers searched the area and Forensic Identification Services scoured the scene.

The fifth fire of the night was reported just after 3:30 a.m. in the 2700-block of Prior Street for a fire at a vacant house.  VFD and VicPD arrived to find the basement of the house fully engulfed.  The fire was eventually put out, but caused extensive damage.

A residence under construction in the 3000-block of Fifth Street was on fire just after 4 a.m. Again, the fire was contained.

In a disturbing turn, a fire was discovered in an occupied residence in the 2900-block of Prior Street by the on-duty road Sergeant as he was searching for the suspect. The occupants had awoken to the sound of their fire alarm and found the steps to the rear porch on fire. The pair quickly used the garden hose to extinguish the fire. VFD was quickly on scene and ensured the fire would not reignite.

The final suspicious fire in this two-day series was at an abandoned, boarded up house in the 600-block of Speed Street. Officers arrived to find a fire engulfing a section of the building.  Again, VFD was quick on scene and extinguished the fire.

In total VicPD Detectives are investigating over 30 suspicious fires this year.  Detectives cannot confirm that the fires are all related, but are looking at any fire that occurs in the Victoria or Esquimalt area very closely.  They are also hoping that members of the public will be able to come forward with information to help them solve this series, specifically the identification of the grey SUV and its occupants that were in the area of the fire in the 1200-block of Lockley Street.

If you have any information about these fires or possible suspects, please call the VicPD non-emergency line at 250-995-7654, or report anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

Earlier this year VicPD Detectives and Victoria Fire Department Fire Investigators participated in an ‘Ask Me Anything’ on reddit.com/r/VictoriaBC about the suspicious fires. Many questions were answered there, if you’re interested in a read, check it out here.

From Times Colonist: The Cowichan Valley was awash with country music over the weekend as more than 40,000 fans made their way to the Sunfest country music festival in Duncan.

The sold-out festival, which ran Thursday through Sunday at the Cowichan Exhibition Grounds, notched its biggest four-day audience to date with help from sets by Tim McGraw, Cassadee Pope, Dean Brody and Jake Owen, among others.

“Without a doubt, it was our busiest Sunfest ever,” said Charlotte Fisher of Wideglide Entertainment, the Duncan-based company that produces the event.

“Before, we were on the radar. Now we’re firmly planted on the map.”
– See more at: http://www.timescolonist.com/entertainment/sunfest-country-music-festival-in-duncan-attracts-massive-crowd-1.1295378#sthash.Im94LQSw.dpuf

However, now that the event is over, photos below show why many people are unimpressed with the mess left behind by festival goers.

Melissa Louie, who drove by Sunfest on her way home from a trip up island,  posted on her Facebook wall: “Drove by the Sunfest grounds on the way home from up island this weekend – pretty disheartening to see all the garbage and personal belongings left behind. As they say at Tall Tree – be responsible, respectful, and kind. If you wouldn’t do it in your own home, don’t do it here. Have fun, but not at the expense of others. Make your Mom proud. Leave as little trace of yourself as possible. Take only photos and leave only footprints.”

Apparently the mess was far worse then the photos show below. Some of it had already been cleaned up before these photos were taken. If you have photos you would like to add, please email to: info@victoriabuzz.com

Photos taken by Chris Lehmann Thompson

Sunfest Country Updates:

The annual Victoria Symphony Splash is a spectacular event that sees Victoria’s beautiful Inner Harbour transformed into an outdoor concert stage. Symphony Splash 2014 will take place on August 3rd, 2014!

Victoria Symphony Splash is the largest annual outdoor symphony event in Canada, attracting up to 40,000 Victoria residents and visitors. It includes musical entertainment, food, souvenirs and the evening’s highlight: a live performance by the Victoria Symphony.

The concert concludes with a performance of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, complete with bells, cannons, and fireworks.

Splash Day Events:

1:00 – 4:00 pm – Family Zone on the Empress Grounds

1:00  & 2:15 pm – Naden Band performing on the Legislature steps

2:00 – 4:00 pm – Scavenger Hunt starting at the Media tents on Government Street

3:00 pm – Splash Culinary Corner opens

4:00 – 5:30 pm – Timebenders on the main barge. Victoria Ballroom Dance Society is leading the dance party on Belleville Street!

6:20 pm – Orchestra parade

7:30 – 9:30 pm is the Victoria Symphony concert on the Main Barge

Event website: http://victoriasymphony.ca/splash/

Victoria Buzz is a proud Social Media Sponsor for the upcoming
Canucks Alumni vs Cougars Junior Hockey Club in Support of the Tour de Rock: Tickets On Sale Now!

The Cougars Junior Hockey Club and Esquimalt Parks and Recreation have partnered with the Canadian Cancer Society to present this fundraising event in support of the Canadian Cancer Society’s Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock. Esquimalt’s own Cougars Junior Hockey Club will take on the Vancouver Canucks Alumni Club (players to be announced as the event approaches) in a charity game.  Tickets are on sale now at the Esquimalt Recreation Centre.

What: Vancouver Canucks Alumni vs. Cougars Junior Hockey Club Charity Game and Silent Auction

Where: Esquimalt’s Archie Browning Sports Centre, 1151 Esquimalt Road

When: Sunday, September 7th, 2014, 2:00 p.m. Doors open at 1:00 p.m. (Silent Auction opens at 1:00 p.m. in the Esquimalt Curling Club)

Tickets:  Available through the Esquimalt Recreation Centre, 527 Fraser Street, Kirby’s Source for Sports and Sports Traders. Minimum $15.00 donation per ticket.

An early sell out is expected, so be sure to purchase your tickets early.

Bonus offer: Canucks Alumni tickets will also be valid for the September 11, 2014 game between the Cougars and the Saanich Braves at the Archie Browning Sports Centre.

The Vancouver Canucks Alumni is made up of former hockey players, coaches and administrators and has over 100 members and associates in the Greater Vancouver area. The mandate of the alumni association is “to work for the improvement of personal relationships among all members of the hockey fraternity, to provide financial and other forms of assistance to members of the hockey community and their families, when in need, to support charitable causes, primarily youth orientated, and to generally promote the game of ice hockey at all levels”.

The alumni interacts with the NHL Canucks in most of the team’s charitable and community fundraisers and operates a schedule of its own benefit hockey games and golf tournaments throughout the Lower Mainland and beyond.

UPDATE: LOCATED | The missing 59-year-old man who was the subject of a VicPD alert earlier today has been located by a keen-eyed member of the public. He is safe and being reunited with family.

Victoria BC – VicPD officers are requesting the public’s assistance in locating Terry Anderson, a 59-year-old Esquimalt man.

Officers were called by family members of Terry this morning to report he was missing. Throughout the investigation officers were able to discern that he was likely last seen at approximately 8:30 a.m. near the Country Grocer on Esquimalt Road. Terry requires medication for various health ailments and both officers and family are concerned for his well-being if he does not take the medication.

Terry recently moved, but frequents the Esquimalt Road area.

Terry is described as a 59-year-old man who is approximately 5-foot-4 tall. He is balding and has greying short hair and a grey beard. He was likely wearing a grey or blue short sleeve shirt, beige Tilly hat and tan coloured pants. Terry also uses a blue walker to aide his mobility.  The walker has a red identification tag on it.

If you see Terry, please call 911. If you have information on where he may be, please call VicPD on the non-emergency line at 250-995-7654.

The Saturday Victoria Harbour Ferry Water Ballet showcased the newly-wrapped #exploreBC boats!

If you see one of these blue boats around the harbour, take a closer look and try and guess what beach is pictured on the roof!

Victoria Flying Club at The Victoria International Airport welcomes the historic WWII Bomber B-25J, Maid in the Shade. The iconic aircraft will be on display for the public to tour through the aircraft from July 28 to August 3. Enjoy a flight, breath in the history, and learn about the unique roll these aircraft played in military aviation history.

The B25 Mitchell was made famous by the Doolittle Raiders on April 18, 1942. Sixteen B25s took off from the deck of the USS Hornet and bombed Tokyo just four months after Pearl Harbour. The B25 served in many roles from bomber to transport. In the post war years, it became best known for its role as a fire bomber.

Maid in the Shade is available for public viewing from 8am to 4pm daily at the Victoria Flying Club, located at 1852 Canso Road at the Victoria International Airport.

Cockpit tours are available for $5, or a family rate of $10. If you’re looking to cross an item off your bucket list, there’s a limited number of flights available.

UPDATE :

Earlier this morning a Central Saanich resident found the C2A2 Military Marine Smoke Marker while out walking her dog in an isolated area near the 6700 block of Danica Place.

On July 28^th, 2014 the Department of National Defense (DND) reported the highly flammable and dangerous device as missing after a witness saw it fall from a Sea King Helicopter during a routine flight over Central Saanich.

DND Explosive Ordinance Disposal technicians have attended the scene and safely recovered the flare, which had been damaged but was still live.

The Central Saanich Police would like to thank all the members of the community who assisted in the search for this item over the past two weeks; particularly the members of the Central Saanich Volunteer Fire Department.

 Original Story on the Missing Flare posted July 28, 2014:

At approximately 5:15 pm on Monday July 28^th 2014 the Central Saanich Police Service was notified by the Department of National Defense that a C2A2 Marine Smoke Flare (see photo) fell from a Sea King Helicopter as it flew over Central Saanich. Witnesses saw the flare descending in the area of the Patricia Bay Highway and Keating Cross Road.  The Central Saanich Police Service and the Central Saanich Volunteer Fire Department are currently searching the area for the marker.

The Marine Smoke Marker is potentially dangerous as it is highly flammable and is activated by water. It will disperse a small flame and a very large white smoke cloud. The flare will burn at very high temperatures.

The flare is an aluminum cylinder, 16 inches in length by 3 inches (approx 40 cm by 8 cm) in diameter.

If located, the marker should not be touched or moved in any way. Any person that locates the marker should immediately contact the Central Saanich Police Service at (250) 652-4441

Sidney, B.C.;   The Town of Sidney’s Fire Department is 100 years old this August and to mark the occasion, the community is putting on a big celebration. On Saturday, August 2^nd, beginning at 11:00 a.m., a parade of new and vintage fire vehicles will roll down Beacon Avenue. Following the parade, the Fire Hall and the Sidney Museum will host live demonstrations and displays.

The Town of Sidney is proud of the Fire Department’s milestone and is encouraging everyone to come out to the parade on Saturday morning and show their appreciation for the men and woman who help keep Sidney safe. A downloadable, printable, simple sign reading “Thank you Sidney Fire Department” can be found on the Town’s website on the homepage. People are also welcome to stop by the Town Hall’s Administration department to pick up a sign. Another option, would be to get creative and make your own signs to display along the parade route.

Following the day’s festivities, fire fighters will attend the Annual Fire Fighters Banquet where Mayor Larry Cross will act as Master of Ceremonies. Long service awards will be given and a few other surprises are in store.

Sidney’s Fire Department became an official fire protection unit on August 7^th, 1914 with a handful of men and the purchase of the first firefighting equipment.  The Fire Department was initially sponsored by the Sidney Board of Trade until the community incorporated into a village in 1952 and operations were established.  Now, 100 years later, the Fire Department consists of 5 career members and approximately 35 dedicated volunteer members with a mandate to provide fire protection, rescue services, backup emergency medical services and education.

A helpful Metchosin octogenarian was the victim of an orchestrated theft when she stopped to offer help to two scammers posing as lost tourists.

The victim was at the shopping plaza at Fort Street and Foul Bay Road around mid-day last Friday, when she was approached by a man and a woman who were holding a map and asking directions. The woman, who noticed the pair’s map did not even have their current location, took out a map of her own.

During the way-finding, the man asked to sit down in the victim’s car, and, being the helpful natured woman she was, she obliged.

Directions were exchanged and the pair took off, the victim thinking nothing of the fact that her purse was in her car when the scammers were sitting there.

It wasn’t until hours later, when the woman went to purchase groceries that she realized her debit and credit cards were missing and money had been withdrawn.

Officers are investigating the incident and following up on any leads. At this time, the best description of the pair of wayward scammers is a French-speaking man in his 20’s, who was short in stature and had brown hair. His accomplice was a Caucasian woman, also in her 20’s who had dark hair and was wearing a black hat.

It is unfortunate that scams prey on those who are willing to help. There are several ways to protect yourself while not shutting out the outside world

1. Educate yourself
   – Check out the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre for information on the latest scams and frauds or visit VicPD.ca/fraud

2. Pay attention to your instincts
   – Don’t be afraid to question things you’re not sure about.

3. Be aware of your surroundings
   – Fruadsters often use distraction to defraud their victims. Be aware of where you are, who you’re with and where your personal property is.

4. Stand up for yourself, use your voice
   – If you’re not comfortable saying ‘no’ find a trusted friend or family member who can help you.

5. Keep your personal information –ID, financial, etc. secure
   – Don’t give out personal information to anyone.

6.       If it’s too good to be true, it is!

Vancouver developer Nat Bosa and wife Flora have purchased the historic Fairmont Empress.

The Empress has been a focal point of Victoria’s Inner Harbour since it opened in 1908.

The hotel was purchased from Ivanhoe Cambridge and will continue to be managed by Fairmont Hotels.

No word yet what, if any, changes the sale will mean for the historic hotel.  The terms of the sale were not disclosed.

Sidney will be celebrating Canada day over a 2 day period. Please see schedule below. If we missed anything, please email us at info@victoriabuzz.com

PLEASE NOTE  – Fireworks Extravaganza to Music is at 10pm – June 30th and Canada Day Parade in Sidney has a NEW start time at 11:30am

Jun 30 Schedule:

4pm – 6pm – Thrifty Foods Community Barbecue at Beacon Park – in front of the Pier Hotel
7:45pm – Canada Day BIG Cake & Live Entertainment in Beacon Park

July 1st Schedule:

9am – Sidney Lions Pancake Breakfast at Mary Winspear Centre
11:30am – Canada Day Parade along Beacon Ave
Noon – Kids inflatable obstacle course and fun fair in Iroquois Park
Noon – Slegg Lumber Build-A-Boat in Beacon Park
1:00pm – Road Hockey in Iroquois Park
1:30pm – Dog Show and contest in Iroquois Park
4:30pm – Slegg Lumber Quick Boat Race Launch at Diver’s Point

Lesson of the day: Just because your friends are daring you to pose yourself inside a giant, marble vagina doesn’t mean you have to do it.

An American exchange student who got stuck in a giant vagina sculpture was freed by firefighters in southwestern Germany.

Tuebingen fire service official Markus Mozer said Monday that the young man slipped as he tried to climb into the stone sculpture to pose for a photo.

“It was a dare,” he told NBC News. “The young man had tried to pose for an unusual photo and climbed into the artwork.”

He couldn’t free himself, so the fire service was called. Four firefighters eased him out of the sculpture on the Tubingen Microbiology Institute campus.

The incident happened on Friday and the student’s name wasn’t released.

“He just wanted to take a funny picture,” Erick Guzman wrote under a photo he posted on Imgur. He claims he is a friend of the student. “The fire department was not really amused, and he was really embarrassed.”

Mozer says no damage was done to the sculpture, created by Peruvian-born artist Fernando de la Jara.

“I hope one of the rescuers at least shouted, ‘It’s a boy!’ when he was pulled out,” a reddit user wrote after a photo of the incident was uploaded to the website.

Peruvian artist Fernando de le Jara created the sculpture, named Chacán-Pi (or Making Love, in English).

Twenty-two German firefighters arrived on scene to deliver the student from the giant, stone structure. Guzman said that the fire department was “not really amused.” The name of the student has not been released — and that’s probably for the best.

SOURCE

If you never thought to hold on to your old-school discontinued two dollar bills, prepare to kick yourself, because the one you used to buy a pack of gum with in ’95 could now be worth $20, 000, if someone is willing to pay, that is.

Not all two dollar bills are worth ten thousand times their original market price. Only 1986-series bill with an AUH-prefix on the seven digit serial number below the bill’s pic is worth the whopping 20 grand. One of the five still remaining was sold in Toronto a few months back, with $20, 00 as the starting price. The bill itself was actually sold for 10, 000.

For those youngins who have no clue what a two-dollar bill is, they were the precursor to the toonie. Once the two-dollar coin came about, printing of the two-dollar bill ended on February 18, 1996. The worth of a two-dollar bill can fluctuate, depending on year and condition, with the AUH-version being the cream of the cash crop.

Start flipping cushions and excavating your grandparents’ money jars, ‘cuz who knows what kind of cash you could find.

Be aware, only these incredibly rare $2 bills are valued anywhere near $20, 000. Most are not. Use this site as a reference to value your own bill, because contrary to popular belief, I am not an appraiser of rare items.

Source

The BCTF has released the schedule for the third week of rotating strikes in B.C. schools.

On Wednesday, BCTF President Jim Iker said teachers will take a vote next Monday and Tuesday to decide whether or not to escalate job action, up and including a full-scale strike.

Tuesday, June 10

61—Greater Victoria

Wednesday, June 11

62—Sooke

64—Gulf Islands

68—Nanaimo

79—Cowichan Valley

Thursday, June 12

69—Qualicum

70—Alberni

72—Campbell River

84—Vancouver Island West

Friday, June 13

63—Saanich

71—Comox

85—Vancouver Island North

Is Port Alberni Canada’s Happiest City? If you don’t think so then watch this video!!

Pat Little says, “it was their 10th anniversary owning the Hollies Golf Course. I had seen how many cities had adapted the Happy song, but no golf courses. We loved the lyrics and the music of Pharrell Williams. It seemed a logical way to promote our little course, our city, and uplift the game of golf.”

The Victoria Airport Authority (VAA) is warning airport customers and local residents about a scam involving phone calls from people claiming to be from the Victoria International Airport.

The scammers will call you and identify themselves as being representatives of the Victoria International Airport and say that you have won up to a $1000.00 towards your next trip.  You simply only need to meet a couple of eligibility requirements and then you’re asked for personal financial information.

Please do not give out any personal information.  We are investigating to see if we have any other options than to make this public warning however, it appears that we are not the only Canadian airport being affected and there is not much we can do to stop it.  Most important to note is that the VAA would never solicit any of our customers in this way or ever request any confidential information.

About Victoria International Airport

Victoria International Airport (Airport Code: YYJ) is the 10th busiest airport in Canada with over 1.5 million passengers per year.  Victoria is well served with more than 120 daily flights throughout North America and was most recently rated among the top ten most-loved airports in the world by CNNGo and named the 2012 Best Regional Airport in North America by Airports Council International.

If you’re a New York Rangers fan, watching your team take on the Los Angeles Kings on home ice will cost you the same as it would to fly out to LA and see the game.

The Rangers are trying to win their first Stanley Cup since 1994, and the price tag for seats at Madison Square Garden has skyrocketed.

Tickets for Game 3, the first game of the series in New York, are starting at $1,045.50 on StubHub. The lowest price for Game 4 is a cool $1,196.85.

On the other coast, however, a ticket to Game 1 on Wednesday is only $420.00. According to Kayak, if you flew from JFK to Long Beach Airport on Wednesday morning, only a half-hour drive to the Staples Center, and then flew back the next morning after the game, you’d only spend $456.00.

For airfare and the game ticket, it would be cheaper for a fan to fly from New York to LA to watch the game than see it in his hometown arena. According to FiveThirtyEight, the Kings are favored over the Rangers.

Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2014/06/02/stanley-cup-tickets-at-new-york-are-going-for-insane-prices/#ixzz33bUSxVZL

Wednesday June 4, 2014 is Camp Day. This is the one day each year when Tim Hortons restaurant owners donate 100 per cent of the proceeds from coffee sales to the Tim Horton Children’s Foundation (THCF), making it the Foundation’s largest fundraiser each year.

What One Cup of Coffee Can Do

Thanks to the generous support of Tim Hortons Restaurant Owners and their loyal guests, Camp Day in 2013 was a huge success, raising an incredible $11.8 million for the Tim Horton Children’s Foundation. Our goal is to raise even more this year to help send over 17,000 economically disadvantaged children on a camp experience of a lifetime.

All children who attend one of the Foundation’s six camps are selected from within the communities where Tim Hortons Restaurants are located. Camp with the Tim Horton Children’s Foundation is more than a fun trip away from home.  Camp programs are designed to change the way young people from low-income homes think about themselves and the opportunities that exist for them.

“It’s overwhelming each year to see how our guests come together to support the Foundation,” says Bill Moir, President, Tim Horton Children’s Foundation. “On Camp Day, buying a cup of coffee and participating in the many activities helps contribute to a positive change in a child’s life. And that’s a good feeling.”

Additional Fundraising and Special Guests

On Camp Day, guests can expect additional fundraising activities at many of their local Tim Hortons Restaurants. For example, funds are also raised at Restaurants through the ‘Rent-a-Tent’ and ‘Rent-a-Cabin’ program where guests can personalize paper cut-out tents and cabins and post them in the restaurant for a donation. Other activities may include: indoor and outdoor games; silent auctions; face-painting; and drive-thru window washing. Some restaurants will invite special guests, including sports and media personalities, to greet guests and pour coffee throughout the day.

For full details and how you can send a kid to camp: http://www.timhortons.com/ca/en/difference/camp_day.html

More than 70 years after a Second World War aircraft disappeared on a training flight over B.C., the wreckage has been found and four servicemen have been identified.

It was during World War 2, October 30th 1942, when the Avro Anson plane took off from Patricia Bay airbase, now Victoria Internaional Airport. A Canadian and three British airmen were aboard. Foggy weather set in, a radio call went out to recall the plane but the aircraft disappeared.

I Love Vancouver Island fan, Georgia Andrews, says her dad, Sgt. George Topp, was scheduled to be on a flight from Pat Bay during WWII. He was called off , and into a meeting, just as he was setting foot on the aircraft. He often told the story about his missing plane that was never found and that it was fate that he lived to tell the story. Could this have been his flight? Her father passed away in 2007.

The BC Coroners Service says what was left of the Avro Anson was discovered last October by a logging crew working on a remote mountainside near Port Renfrew, B.C., on the west coast of Vancouver Island.

Human remains were found at the scene, but bad weather prevented recovery of Royal Canadian Air Force Sgt. William Baird and British air force Pilot Officer Charles Fox, Pilot Officer Anthony Lawrence and Sgt. Robert Luckock.

Officials with the coroners service and Department of National Defence returned to the heavily-forested mountainside on May 5 and removed, analysed and identified the remains.

Canadian military officials and Britain’s Ministry of Defence have contacted surviving family members, and plans for an interment ceremony are under discussion.

(Mashable)  You know you’re an influential company when even the slightest change to your logo causes people to take notice.

Google updated its logo with an almost imperceivable tweak over the weekend, which was noticed by users on Reddit and quickly picked up by multiple publications.

Just how slight is the change? Google moved the second “g” slightly to the right and the “l” slightly to the right and lower. Here’s a GIF of the logo, before and after:

The search giant acknowledged the change. “Great to see people notice and appreciate even single-pixel changes — we tweaked the logo a little while ago to make sure it looks its sharpest regardless of your screen resolution.”

This isn’t the first time Google has made a slight tweak to its logo. Here’s a quick look back at how the logo has evolved — barely — over time:

If something isn’t broken, don’t fix it. Or at least don’t fix it too much.

True to his name he launches this ceremonial first pitch of the Mets-Pirates game, 50 feet outside. We haven’t seen a musician shame the opening of a ballgame like this since Carly Rae Jepsen.

[via Larry Brown Sports]

This is crazy! Watch what happens when you mix Coke and Milk together!! A cool little experiment to try with the kids?!

The Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit and VicPD are investigating the suspicious death of an infant yesterday morning.

An Esquimalt man has been charged with manslaughter after the suspicious death of an infant Saturday, according to Victoria police.

VicPD was called at approximately 8 a.m. to assist the Provincial Ambulance Service for a call of an infant that was not breathing. Officers responded to a restaurant in the 1200-block of Douglas Street where the infant was. All attempts to save the infant were unsuccessful.

A 21-year-old Esquimalt man was taken into custody. Detectives learned that the man traveled with the infant from a residence in Esquimalt to downtown by bus. It is not known what relationship the man had with the infant, if any. No information on the victim has been released.

The man remains in custody and has since been charged with manslaughter.

Detectives continue to investigate and are asking anyone who may have been riding on BC Transit double decker bus route #14 between 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m., from the 800-block of Craigflower Road to the downtown bus stop at View and Douglas streets to come forward. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Constable Phil Davies at 250-380-6273..