Saanich News, January 23, 2013

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Gardens rebuild Horticulture centre to break ground on Couvelier building. Page A5

NEWS: Maintenance backlog at B.C. Transit /A11 ARTS: Coming of age album for Chris Ho /A12 SPORTS: Crimson Tide vies for McKenchnie Cup /A14

SAANICHNEWS Wednesday January 23, 2013

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Uptown slated for city’s first high-speed car charger Edward Hill News staff

B.C. Hydro has targeted Uptown for a fast-charging electric vehicle station, which is part of an emerging network of stations between California and Whistler. The direct current fast-charger can “fuel up” an electric vehicle (EV) battery in less than an hour. It would be the first high-voltage station in the Capital Region and one of the first in Canada. Duncan and Nanaimo are also on B.C. Hydro’s list of 13 Island and Mainland communities designated for fast chargers. Greater Victoria has a handful of Level 2 EV stations at major downtown hotels, parkades and a few retail outlets, such as Thrifty Foods on Quadra Street. Those mid-level stations might take four to eight hours to fully recharge a battery, and are typically aimed at those who need their EV topped-up while shopping. Most of the fast-chargers will be on public land and leased to their respective municipalities, except for the Uptown station. In that case, B.C. Hydro will lease the station to Saanich, which in turn will lease the location from Uptown. Alec Tsang, the senior technology strategist with B.C. Hydro, said locations were selected for their high visibility and heavy traffic load. While fast-chargers are now widespread in the U.S., these will be the first batch available for the public in Canada, he said. PLEASE SEE: Many EV chargers, Page A4

When drinking and driving hits the wallet Reporter Kyle Slavin looks at the costs that come with the immediate roadside prohibition program. See the story on A3. Sharon Tiffin/News staff

Saanich police Sgt. Steve Eassie holds an approved screening device, used to test breath alcohol concentration on drivers suspected of being drunk. Drivers who blow over the legal limit can avoid a criminal charge with an immediate roadside prohibition, but face steep financial penalties for driver education, the ignition interlock and reactivating their licence.

Toxic algae found at Beaver Lake Kyle Slavin News staff

The Capital Regional District is warning park users at Beaver and Elk lakes to keep their pets out of the water after pockets of blue-green algae have popped up along the shore. The CRD confirmed the presence of the toxic algae last Friday morning.

Larisa Hutcheson, the CRD’s acting general manager for parks and community services, said signs notifying users of the algae will be posted around the park. Blooms of blue-green algae, also known as pond scum, appeared on Elk Lake in winter 2009 and 2011. According to Health Canada, blue-green algae usually forms in “shallow, warm, slow-moving or still water.” Human health concerns regarding

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ingested blue-green algae include headaches, fever, diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. Health Canada says animals can get extremely sick or die, as a result of ingesting blue-green algae. For the most up-to-date water quality advisories for CRD lakes, visit crd.bc.ca/ parks/index.htm. kslavin@saanichnews.com

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