Peninsula Co-op donated $100,000 to the United Way Greater Victoria (UWGV) for their Blue Love Campaign, designed to help individuals facing mental health challenges. Peninsula Co-op will also match every dollar raised up to $100,000 for the campaign. To donate, visit uwgv.ca/bluelovecampaign.
Victoria’s West Coast Trail Express and Wilson’s Transportation are two companies receiving funding to help inter-city bus operators recover from the impacts of the pandemic. West Coast Trail Express will get almost $705,000 and Wilson’s will receive just over $1,467,000.
The province recently announced that cellular service is going to expand past Sooke to Port Renfrew along a 70-kilometre stretch of Highway 14. The project, part of the Connecting British Columbia program in BC’s Economic Recovery Plan, is anticipated to reach over 1,200 homes in the region. It will bring cellular service to residents in Port Renfrew, Shirley, Otter Point, Jordan River and some Pacheedaht First Nation communities. Rogers Communications has been granted up to $4.9 million towards infrastructure costs. The project is expected to be complete by the end of October.
Pauquachin First Nation has purchased the former Glen Meadows Golf and Country Club in North Saanich for $5.38 million. The sale will be their second large land acquisition following their 2020 purchase of Ardmore Golf Course, also in North Saanich.
Victoria Foundation’s Community Recovery Program is open for applications from eligible organizations responding to impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. Last year, the Community Recovery Program provided over $2.3 million for 126 organizations, from a variety of sectors. This year, applications are accepted until April 30th. To apply, donate, or view the full list of past supported organizations, visit www.victoriafoundation.ca.
In December 2019, council unanimously approved a pilot project to have food trucks parked at several parks in March 2020, including Beckwith, Cadboro-Gyro, Gorge Waterway, Mount Douglas and Mount Tolmie.
Blackfish Networks and Host 250 have built an online platform for restaurants and pubs on Vancouver Island to promote their patio spaces. Over 100 eateries from Victoria to Ladysmith are already listed on www.VictoriaPatios.ca. Restaurants can list descriptions about their food, links and contact information, number of patio seats, takeout options and a photo.
The BC government is spending more than $4 million on 12 mass timber demonstration projects in an effort to accelerate the adoption of mass timber construction in BC. The province is also establishing a new advisory council on mass timber construction to research and highlight the potential of the all-wood construction process. Among the projects IS the redevelopment of the Saanich #2 Fire Hall.
Sooke District Council has given the green light to allow food trucks to set up shop in Ed Macgregor, Broomhill Playground, and John Phillips Memorial Park on weekends under a pilot project that would run through spring and summer. Whiffin Spit as also a potential future location.
Canadian Tire announced a $12 million commitment to the Jumpstart Sport Relief Fund to help support around 300 organizations nationally. So far $68,200 has gone towards funding the Victoria YMCA-YWCA, Victoria Synchro Swim Club, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Victoria and Area, Central Saanich Little League, Gorge Narrows Rowing and Paddling Club, and Salt Spring Island Rowing Club. Also, courtesy of Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities and local Canadian Tire dealers, a $1.2 million multi-sport court is planned for the Panorama Recreation Centre in North Saanich. It will include 13,200 square feet of outdoor hoops, nets, play areas and bleachers.
The Victoria Gyro Club celebrated its 100th anniversary on April 5th. On May 7, 1921 thirty-seven Victoria men became charter members of the Victoria club, the fifteenth club chartered by the organization and the forth club chartered in Canada.
Victoria businesses hit by vandalism and break-ins since January 1st can apply for reimbursements on the repairs. The Downtown Victoria Business Association said $60,000 is available through grants from the city. To be eligible, businesses must submit proof of the insurance deductible amount, receipts for completed repair work and the police file number associated with the incident. Businesses that want to apply can email info@downtownvictoria.ca.
Victoria-based Macaloney’s Caledonian Distillery & Twa Dogs Brewery’s Glenloy whisky won Canadian Best Single Malt at the World Whiskies Awards 2021.
Central Saanich Council signed off on funding for permanent, full-time climate action and natural environment coordinator. The budget impact of the position is $87,400 in 2021 and an additional $28,700 in 2022, or tax increases of 0.48 percent and an additional 0.16 per cent tax increase in 2021 and 2022 respectively. The municipality’s overall operating budget is dropping by 0.4 per cent in 2021, despite the additional post.
Camosun College has announced its new electric vehicle (EV) maintenance training program which will be offered at the Camosun College Interurban campus in Saanich. The trades program, which will also be offered at the Okanagan College Kelowna campus and the College of New Caledonia Prince George campus, was established in partnership with Trades Training BC. The province’s CleanBC Go Electric program also contributed $440,000 to the new training courses.
Victoria Buyers Cannabis Club confirmed that their landlord, Skipper Properties Ltd., has agreed to renew their lease at 826 Johnson Street for four more years.
Sidney Museum will close to the public in June to refurbish its floor after securing a $57,000 grant from Heritage BC, part of the CERIP Unique Heritage Infrastructure. The museum will re-open in September with the Icelandic Connections to Canada exhibit from Articulation Textile Group.
Budget airline Swoop recently announced it will be adding flights into Victoria from Toronto and Edmonton beginning May 20th, offering six flights from Toronto to Victoria, along with seven flights from Edmonton every week.
BC Housing has purchased a building at 225 Russell Street Victoria West to temporarily house 70 residents who are experiencing homelessness, before the end of April. The newly secured indoor shelter spaces come one month before Victoria prepares to reinstate a bylaw banning daytime public camping on May 1st. The shelter will be open for 18 months, with a possible extension of another six months. Our Place Society will operate the building and provide supports.
Justo’s Craft Dips is a finalist in two Small Business BC Awards categories, Best Youth Entrepreneur and Premier’s People’s Choice. The vegan craft dip company launched at the end of 2019. Photo: Justin Kopetzki (middle), CEO and co-owner, and co-owners Eric Taccogna (left) and Adam Conlin (right). justos.ca
The Maritime Museum of BC has withdrawn from its planned involvement in the proposed Pacific Maritime Centre (PMC) development in Langford due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The federal and provincial governments announced $9.4 million in funding for 15 new natural gas buses in Victoria and transit infrastructure improvements at the University of Victoria.
The BC government announced a $100-million loan towards the Hudson Place 2 development at 1700 Blanshard Street in Victoria, which will feature 245 residential homes. 227 of the units will be rented at or below 30 percent of median household income. Construction is on track to be completed summer of 2022.
Costa Canna cannabis store will soon open at 4-4144 Wilkinson Road in Saanich. Current locations include Colwood, Cowichan Commons and Duncan Village.
Victoria City Council voted recently to keep the 1000-block of Broad Street closed to vehicle traffic through 2021. Part of the successful motion included calls to include the ongoing pedestrianization of the block on city staff’s 2022 work plans, and to have investments in animation and infrastructure be part of future capital planning and budget discussions.
Slegg Building Materials is hiring in Victoria and other BC locations. Visit their career page at www.slegg.com/content/careers for more information.
Dr. Janet McElhaney, who recently moved to the Island, received the Jonas Salk Lifetime Achievement Award for her work on immunization. Dr. McElhaney has dedicated the last 30 years to studying influenza and the role vaccinations play in preventing disability in older adults.
Habitat for Humanity Victoria is looking for artists, designers, and people from the community to re-imagine doors as part of Habitat for Humanity’s “Open a Door … to a brighter future” initiative. Registration is open, with the auction scheduled between May 28th and June 13th. Visit this link for details.
Heathen Smokehouse at 3517 Honeycrisp Avenue in Langford is offering a multitude of smoked meats and cheeses, like hickory-smoked gouda, Bourbon and mesquite pork back ribs, and much more. Visit their e-shop at www.heathensmokehouse.com/shop.
The Capital Investment Network (CIN) and CINdicates have signed a 3.5-year lease agreement for the entire second floor of VIATEC’s Fort Tectoria at 777 Fort Street. They will be joined by a variety of companies they work with in the co-working space. CINdicates is a new Victoria-based Venture Capital Corporation fund focused on providing early funding to local startups and supporting the local tech economy. The Capital Investment Network is a nonprofit angel investor network connecting the local angel investor community in Victoria.
Nexii Building Solutions has announced that it will be opening a new $50 million green manufacturing plant on the southern end of Vancouver Island, which will be used to develop its breakthrough green building products. The plant will be called Alexzi Building Solutions, and will create more than 200 jobs in the area.
Victoria was ranked 11th on the list of most open cities in North America for 2020 by PSD Research Consulting Software. The list examines how well cities have implemented open data systems and to what extent that published data, which could range from air quality to construction contracts to crime statistics, has been used for the benefit of the community. North Vancouver and Squamish were the only other BC cities to make the top 20 list as well.
Renovations continue at the Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre in Colwood. The rink floor has been fully excavated, and all of the bleachers have been removed. The arena floor surface will receive a full refurbish, the old spectator benches will be replaced by single seating stands, and the player boxes will be moved to the side of the rink closest to the dressing rooms. The $1.9 million project is expected to be complete by June. Costs of the renovations were funded primarily by a federal grant, as well as a $700,000 contribution from the owners.
Pearkes Recreation Centre’s Gold Arena is set to have a new ice slab ready for use by fall. Demolition and replacement of the arena’s 53-year-old ice slab is set to start in April. The $2.6 million project is among a series of upgrades planned for the Gold Arena, with the ice melt pit, rink boards and glass, elevator, nets and flooring slated to be replaced.
Ecole Beausoleil students will have a temporary home in Saanich when the school year begins in September. The province is giving the Conseil Scolaire Francophone (BC’s French school board) $9.9 million to build a temporary, 12-unit modular school on the grounds of Braefoot Elementary. Ecole Beausoleil’s lease with the Greater Victoria School District (SD61) for Sundance Elementary in Victoria, ends in June.
Hockley House, a new six-storey rental building on Hockley Avenue in Langford, will be open to renters struggling to find a home in Greater Victoria’s housing market this coming April. The building is managed by the Capital Region Housing Corporation (CRHC), which is accepting applications for the affordable units.
A North Saanich resident has asked the municipality to consider purchasing the former Glen Meadows Golf and Country Club property to create further green space rather than additional residential development. 129 acres of the property lies inside the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) with 2.3 acres zoned residential. Devoncore Reality currently lists the property at $5.12 million as part of a court-ordered sale.
The BC government announced plans to bring 192 homes with 24/7 support for those dealing with homelessness to Victoria. The province, in partnership with the City of Victoria and BC Housing, is moving forward with four new supportive housing projects to provide permanent housing in the region. The plans include 45 homes at 865 Catherine Street, 50 homes at 1053 and 1075 Meares Street, and 37 homes at 1176 Yates Street. Construction is also set to begin for 60 homes at 953 and 959 Balmoral Road this winter.
Sydney Council voted 6-1 to contract the City to Victoria for their tower crane rescue services. The municipality’s current arrangement with Saanich, which includes four other communities, expires on April 30th.
The federal government is putting $13.1 million via the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s rapid housing initiative into creating up to 91 affordable housing units in Saanich and Central Saanich. The funding will see 52 supportive units built in the 2900-block of Albina Street in Saanich and approximately 39 units at 1909 Prosser Road in Saanichton. Construction is scheduled to begin this spring in Central Saanich and this summer in Saanich.
Sooke residents Joshua and Mela Perina have bought the historic, 34-hectare Woodside Farm, recently sold by the Wilford family. The farm, located at 7117 West Coast Road, had an asking price of $3.75 million. The buyers plan to maintain the farm legacy while also opening it up to the public. Peter Wilford, who’s operated the family farm for more than 40 years, will help the Perinas for the next six months. The farm was built in 1851 by pioneer John Muir and his wife, Anne.
The lower gallery of the Sidney Museum and Archives has been named the Peter Garnham Gallery, after long-time executive director Peter Garnham. Peter is retiring after more than 25 years with the museum, including more than two decades as its executive director.
Dan Hayes (left) and Art Napolean, stars of Moosemeat & Marmalade, now in its third season, will soon film in the Greater Victoria region for a trio of shows. Shooting wrapped recently in Saanich and Sooke, with a third show planned for Port Renfrew in April. Moosemeat & Marmalade chronicles the food-centric adventures of Canadian bush cook, Art, and classically trained UK-born chef Dan while they hunt, forage and learn new cooking methods in unfamiliar places.
Saanich council has voted unanimously in favour of bringing forward the district’s checkout bag regulation bylaw for final adoption, bringing the city one step closer to a ban on plastic bags at local stores. Once adopted, the bylaw would come into effect in 60 days.
The provincial government announced the Launch Online Grant program will receive an additional $30 million. The program was launched in February with $12 million to help businesses build or expand e-commerce capabilities. The extra funds will support 4,000 more businesses, including the 1,500 that have already benefited from grants of up to $7,500. The program is being administered by Alacrity Canada and money is re-invested in BC-based website development companies.
Victoria’s Elate Cosmetics has been featured in Forbes Magazine, highlighting their sustainable business practices. The article focuses on their innovation in reducing overconsumption, including moving away from bamboo packaging in favour of a Bento Box style palette. Elate was a finalist in the 2020 Business Awards for their sustainable business practices. elatebeauty.com.
The Storage Room at 658 Redington Avenue opens in April. They’re offering the first four weeks free, and are also hiring.
Mayor Fred Haynes and Councillor Susan Brice are looking to pursue a potential casino in Saanich. The BC Lottery Corporation (BCLC) reached out to Saanich council last March expressing interest in discussing options to bring a gaming and entertainment facility to the municipality. A casino could increase the district’s economic resilience, as ten percent of the profits from the facility would go to Saanich, an amount that could range from $2.5 million to $3 million.
Bapu Ji Vegan Cuisine located at 810 Cormorant Street in Victoria is open. They offer salads, sandwiches, cookies, smoothies and more, including a vegan buffet.
Saanich will sell the roughly 10-hectare Willis Point Road property to the Capital Regional District (CRD) for $1.75 million, who plan to use it as a buffer for Hartland Landfill and ongoing operational work. Once Saanich receives payment, the funds will be placed in the land sales reserve fund for future use for land acquisition, building construction and improvements, and other capital assets.
The BC Economic Development Association and FortisBC recently recognized the City of Langford with its inaugural Economic Recovery and Resiliency Award for communities with a population exceeding 20,000 for its “I am Langford” campaign.
Buds Cannabis is opening a second location in downtown Sydney at 9775 Second Street in April. They are currently located at 6765 Veyaness Road in Saanichton.
Michael Barnes has joined Holmes Realty in Sydney. The Southern Alberta-native moved to Vancouver Island in 2008.
Sidney-based Cascadia Seaweed has received $12,500 through a joint federal-provincial program to develop a traceability system for its business. The system will help document where the company grew, harvested and processed each variety as the food makes its way to consumers. Public health officials use this documentation to limit the spread of foodborne illness, raise brand reputation and help businesses become more efficient. Cascadia plans to expand its varieties as part of a larger push to popularize seaweed as a food.
