Oak Bay News, June 13, 2024

Already known for its investment in community through housing, healthcare and supporting youth, the Kiwanis Club of Oak Bay added a jolt to its iconic beachside eatery this summer.

The club saved up to purchase an automatic external defibrillator (AED) now installed at the Kiwanis Tea Room at Willows Beach Park.

“The club just felt, there have been (cardiac) arrests on the beach, and you do CPR but you’re wait-

ing for first response from the fire department or B.C. Ambulance, so we felt over the last year and a bit it would be advisable and beneficial to the community if we had one accessible at the tea room,” said past president Gerry Adam.

A former Oak Bay fire chief –as is the current Kiwanis president Dave Cockle –Adam recalls the days of dispatching an ambulance from the hall on Monterey Avenue. Calls for kids were the hardest. While they don’t anticipate

needing it, the club purchased a defibrillator that can be used by an untrained responder on both adults and children.

“Knowing that unit has that ability, it’s just a good warm feeling,” Adam said, adding summer staff and club members will get a demonstration on the equipment.

“It’s very user friendly and it talks to you … it walks you through the whole process.”

Funds raised through the tea room, originally built in 1949,

support community causes and functions including parks projects, scouts, scholarships, a dementia care home and lower-income seniors’ housing.

The tea room at Willows Beach Park in Oak Bay is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. right through the end of September.

“On a sunny day the place is busy,” Adam said. “The regulars rain or shine, they’re walking the beach or the path and they’ll come in for coffee. It’s a nice little hub.”

Christine van Reeuwyk

(Courtesy Oak Bay Kiwanis Club)

Oak Bay Kiwanis Club

President Dave Cockle, also a former Oak Bay fire chief, and Kiwanis International Governor Nickolas Hafez install a new automatic external defibrillator (AED) at the Willows Beach Tearoom.

http://www.sylviatherrien.ca/ TheValueofExperience

Oak Bay raises Canadian flag at cenotaph to honour D-Day

Oak Bay marked the 80th anniversary of D-Day, raising a Canadian flag that once flew over Juno Beach.

The flag was hoisted over the district’s historic cenotaph on Beach Drive June 6, with an event that included the Canadian Scottish Regiment, mayor and council, and the Oak Bay police and fire departments.

About 14,000 Canadians landed on Juno Beach –one of several along the coastline of France that were the site of D-Day invasions –on June 6, 1944, and 381 of them were killed. The subsequent Battle of Normandy claimed a further 5,500 Canadians.

The Juno Beach Centre in Normandy, France flies the Canadian

Sips, sights and sounds,

The festivities of the Oak Bay street market kicked off to the tunes of Nice Verdes on Wednesday (June 12) evening.

The first Oak Bay Village Night Market of the year featured nearly 100 vendors offering the broadest range of offerings in the market’s

flag every day, replacing it regularly to keep it in acceptable shape. People can purchase the used flags through the centre’s flag sponsorship program for a minimum $500 donation.

Council plans to consider displaying the flag in the community or donating it to a worthy organization or individual.

night market returns to Oak Bay Avenue

history, said organizer Heather Leary.

The market fills Oak Bay Avenue from municipal hall to Monterey Avenue the second Thursday of each month through September. Vendors include fresh produce to preserved goods such as sauces, salad dressings and con-

diments to baked goods ranging from bread to macarons. In the non-edible category, several jewellers, potters and artisans making a variety of housewares will appear alongside sales of personal care products such as soaps and bath treats. A variety of family activities fill the front

lawn of municipal hall including games, a photo booth and crafts. The Monterey Recreation Centre is open from 5 to 7 p.m. with public seating and washroom access. Markets will also be held July 10, Aug. 14 and Sept. 11.

Oak Bay raises a flag in honour of the 80th anniversary of D-Day and those who served. (District of Oak Bay)

Cadboro Bay looking at two years of roadwork

Long-awaited redesign of Sinclair Road expected to eventually make life better for visitors and residents

Sometime in the near future University of Victoria students will have an easier trip to the beach — but it is likely to get more difficult before is gets better.

After many years of pushing and prodding by the local community, Saanich is finally fixing up Sinclair Road between the university and Cadboro Bay. The project is expected to take up to two years to complete.

“It’s been a long time coming,”said Eric Dahli, former president of the Cadboro Bay Residents Association. “The Residents Association has been working diligently for this for a number of years.”

Dahli — who has lived in the area for almost 50 years — said the hill portion of the road has gained the nickname of “The Goat Trail,” with the only sidewalk being a gravel path on one side, no bike lanes on either side, and plentiful potholes running up the centre where vehicles travel.

The planned work will install sidewalks, protected bike lanes, three pedestrian crossings and a mini roundabout at the intersection with Cadboro Bay Road. The district has contracted Donn Mann Excavating Ltd. to do the work.

“There’s lots of good features to it that will make the village area look a lot better,”said Brian Dunn, who owns the local Smugglers’ Cove Pub.

Dunn and others are quite happy to see the upgrades finally getting underway, even if they are a bit apprehensive about how long the road could be torn up for.

“In the long run, it’ll be an excellent solution for the for the area,” said Scott Zaichkowsky, longtime manager of the Pepper’s Foods grocery store. “I think in the interim, it’s gonna be a lot of growing pains.”

Zaichkowsky hopes this will eventually bring more students to his store and the neighbouring shops.

“It’ll definitely be more user friendly,” he said.

“Hopefully driving more traffic from UVic up the hill, down to the beach or village.”

Saanich Mayor Dean Murdock highlighted both the safety and aesthetic improvements in a phone call with Black Press Media on Monday (June 10).

“This has been a much anticipated project,” he said. “When it’s completed, it’ll be a much more pleasant and safer experience for everybody using Sinclair.”

Pre-work is already beginning this month and crews are scheduled to be onsite sometime around the end of June to the beginning of July,

2023AnnualReport

AsrequiredbytheCommunityCharter,noticeisherebygiventhattheCorporationoftheDistrictofOakBay2023Annual ReportwillbeconsideredattheCouncilmeetingtobeheldonMonday,June24,2024,at7:00PM.intheCouncil Chambers,2167OakBayAvenue,Victoria,BC.

Thismeetingwillbewebcastliveandcanbeviewedat oakbay.civicweb.net.Submissionsandquestionsfromthe publicinrelationtotheAnnualReportwillbeconsideredatthismeeting.

ThedraftAnnualReportisavailableforinspectiononthemunicipalwebsiteat www.oakbay.ca/municipal-hall/plansand-reports/annual-reports orattheMunicipalHallattheaddressnotedabove,betweenthehoursof8:30AMand4:30 PM,MondaythroughFriday,excludingholidays.

according to a district spokesperson. The work is anticipated to take between 18 and 24 months. In addition to the road surface upgrades, plans include replacing 1,100 metres of water main, 300 metres of sewer and 500 metres of storm drain, while also doing landscaping work on the sides of the road and relocating utilities. It is the adding in of this underground work that is making the project take so much time, and with the work going on for as long as it will, some locals are getting a bit concerned about the impact on their lives.

“I’m just a bit concerned about getting to and from anywhere myself personally,” said Tara McHugh, who manages the Smugglers’ Bar and lives halfway up the hill. “Getting in and out of the driveway if I need to go somewhere.”

But McHugh and others are still happy to see it happen so they can stop beating up their cars hitting potholes and patch-worked pavement, and maybe eventually see some increased business. As long as they can get through the difficulties of the construction phase.

An email from Barry Andruschak, the current president of the Resident’s Association, said the group has looked at the plans and believe it to be a well-designed project that will benefit the community in the end.

The Association’s vice-president Nina Sutic Bata is herself an engineer with the City of Victoria and relayed her approval of the design through Andruschak, as well as the need for — and the difficulty of — upgrading the underground infrastructure.

“She confirmed that it is much needed and will hopefully last at least 80 years,” Andruschak wrote.

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Mark Page/Saanich News

Scott Zaichkowsky manages Pepper’s Foods in Cadboro Bay. He is hopeful the improvements will lead to more customers from the university area at local businesses.

Ice sculpting, food and fun on menu for Oak Bay Village Spring Nosh

Taking place on Oak Bay Avenue, the event highlights local talent plus sweet and savoury bites

The Oak Bay Village Spring Nosh returns June 15 with family fun, ice sculpting, and of course, food.

Attendees to the event, which runs 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., can purchase a variety of bites while supporting local Oak Bay businesses. These include Oak Bay Beach Hotel’s mobile pizza oven, a barbecue with The Whole Beast, KulaPops created by 49 Below Ice Cream, sweet and savoury baked goods from Cobs Bread, Tapas on Oak, and Chef on the Run. Beyond the food, there will be live music (including Los Gringos Locos), giant games and something cool in the summer heat: live-action ice sculpting to enjoy.

The four ice carvers are all professionals from Vancouver Island who have heated up the ice sculpting scene internationally.

Ken Harper, a pastry chef and teacher at Vancouver Island University, used his finesse with sugar and chocolate sculptures to excel in larger international ice sculpting events.

Aaron Grant is the owner of Cool as Ice, the only ice sculpture business operating on Vancouver Island.

Mike Dunlop, who was part of the culinary team at Chateau Victoria, Vista 18 and Clive’s Classic Lounge, is passionate about ice sculpting because of the glamour it adds to his events.

And lastly, Mike Richards, who has competed in Canada and the USA and won both gold and people’s choice awards in some competitions.

New this year to the market, Lazy Susan’s is hosting a Vintage Fair from 9:30 - 4 p.m. at 2039 Oak Bay Ave. with over a dozen guest vendors in attendance.

The Oak Bay Village Spring Nosh is a free event presented by the Oak Bay Business Improvement Association and Oak Bay Village businesses.

Details are posted at visitoakbayvillage.ca and on the Facebook page www.facebook. com/oakbaybia

Watching your family member or loved one navigate the symptoms of dementia can be difficult. We are here for you. We invite you to join us at Amica Jubilee House, a senior lifestyles residence, for an informative event.

Our panel of experts will share supportive options, provide resources and discuss Amica’s best-in-class Memory Care program. Our Wellness team will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Chef-prepared refreshments and tours of our premium suites will be provided.

Saturday, June 22 2:00 – 4:00 PM

Please RSVP by June 18 to Max or Denise at 250-592-1200.

We look forward to seeing you.

Sam Duerksen

Corey Pelan, of The Whole Beast at a past Oak Bay Village Spring Nosh. (Christine van Reeuwyk/Oak Bay)

OAK BAYNEWS

Wage hike won’t help working poor catch up

British Columbia’s minimum wage increased to $17.40 an hour on June 1, up from $16.75. The 3.9 per cent increase is consistent with the province’s rate of inflation.

The province has indexed its minimum wage to the Consumer Price Index so those earning minimum wage do not lose buying power. However, an overall 3.9 per cent price increase does not mean all prices will increase by this amount.

According to Statistics Canada data, transportation costs rose by 0.9 per cent, as a result of lower gasoline prices. Natural gas prices decreased by 4.2 per cent. At the same time, shelter costs increased by 5.6 per cent and food costs increased by 7.5 per cent. These two categories make up significant portions of a household budget.

The province is working to address high housing costs across B.C. while the federal government is examining the increase in food costs. These efforts are worthwhile, but they will not bring about immediate changes.

More importantly, while the minimum wage increase is intended to ensure those on minimum wage do not see their buying power reduced, it does not fix the problems associated with poverty in this province.

According to a report from the B.C. office of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, more than one-third of paid employees, or around 740,000 people, earn less than the living wage in their community. The living wage is the hourly wage for two parents working full-time to support a family of four.

According to Food Banks Canada, 21.7 per cent of those using food banks in British Columbia had job income as their primary source of income. This means their wages alone were not enough to meet their needs.

In order for working people to earn a living wage, and in order to reduce the need for food banks, something needs to change.

Until the increase to the minimum wage is greater than the rate of inflation the ranks of the working poor will only continue to swell.

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Greater Victoria watershed vulnerable to wildfire

CRD staff and the Regional Water Commission are committed to preserving the quality and safety of the Capital Region’s water supply.

But that quality and safety face multiple challenges: climate change, rapid growth, drought. But the most immediate threat is on our doorstep: wildfires.

We have over 8,600 hectares of forested watershed surrounding Sooke Lake Reservoir. The vulnerability to wildfire is not to be ignored nor downplayed. It is, in fact, the number one risk to our watershed. While we may be slightly less vulnerable than much of the rest of the province, it is a question not if but when.

So, what will be the impact of wildfires in the watershed?

It would be challenging to extinguish a fire during the dry hot summers we’ve been having, especially on windy days, when the likelihood of major fire damage is greatest. The immediate impact would be on air quality.

But wildfires impact water quality too. Materials that normally remain on land, can move into the water, including soil, sediment, nutrients, naturally occurring chemicals, metals, and woody debris. This can upset the balance of water ecosystems.

With the destruction of vegetation, intense rainfall events become a threat, with the ground unable to absorb the water, creating soil erosion and significant runoff into streams and reservoirs. Algae blooms, turbidity events and the need for more frequent boil water advisories could occur after a big wildfire as the current treatment system does not have the capacity to remove sediment, harmful chemicals, algae, and microorganisms from the water.

The loss of tree canopy can further impact water quality by affecting water temperature and nutrient concentrations.

While the CRD continues to remain vigilant monitoring and preparing for the risk of wildfires we need to continue to invest in our water quality systems to plan for wildfire impacts. An investment like our planned filtration system.

The new proposed filtration plant is part of the CRD’s Regional Water Supply Master Plan and is estimated to cost approximately $1.1 billion. By adding filtration, we can ensure that drinking water meets health and regulatory requirements, as we add new water sources or if the water characteristic change over time due to climate change or after a significant event like a wildfire. A filtration system can filter

out sediment, harmful chemicals, algae, and microorganisms, reduce the likelihood and length of boil water advisories, and preserve the safety of water.

The CRD intends to partially fund the filtration system and other important water projects through Development Cost Charges (DCCs). DCCs are fees paid by developers to help pay for infrastructure required to support growth. While the CRD continues to remain vigilant, monitoring and preparing for the risk of wildfires inside the watershed, we need to continue to invest in projects and facilities that will help counter the impacts of wildfire on our drinking water supply.

The need to plan for a filtration system cannot be overstated, and while we all hope that wildfire won’t be an issue, hope is not a plan. As a water commissioner, I support plans for the most probable future, so that we are ready for a myriad of outcomes. Those plans will be assessed and reviewed before going ahead. But, without a proper water supply, we can’t live here. Water is priceless. We need to ensure that our water supply is resilient and sustainable.

Karen Harper, vice-chair Regional Water Supply Commission

Gordon Pritchard took this photo of a house sparrow feeding her chick in Oak Bay. If

photo

COMMUNITY CAMERA

Green team hauls invasive plants out of Uplands Park

In a double-whammy of events, Greater Victoria Green Team hauled 14 cubic metres of invasive plants from two communities June 7 and 8.

On the Friday, volunteers and 40 students from View Royal Elementary cleared two cubic metres of English ivy from about 200 square metres of Portage Park in View Royal.

The next day, a team headed for Oak Bay with 25 community members removed 12 cubic metres of invasive English ivy and daphne from 115 square metres of Uplands Park.

Next up, the team plans to remove English ivy from the University of Victoria campus while celebrating the life of beloved Campus View Elementary School teacher Zara Blue on Sunday, June 23.

The Greater Victoria Green Team is a regional environmental volunteer program where people get together to help restore the local environment across the Capital Regional District.

enough staff, refreshments and tools based on the number of people signed up.

Leaders ask volunteers to RSVP so they can plan for

Visit meetup.com/greater-victoria-green-team/ for details on how to register for events.

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(Courtesy Greater Victoria Green Team)

Community members remove 12 cubic metres of invasive English ivy and daphne from 115 square metres of Uplands Park in Oak Bay during a June 8, 2024 work party.

(Courtesy Greater Victoria Green Team)

Community members remove 12 cubic metres of invasive English ivy and daphne from 115 square metres of Uplands Park in Oak Bay during a June 8, 2024 work party.

Unconfirmed cougar sighting in Oak Bay a reminder wildlife is among us

Christine van Reeuwyk

A potential cougar sighting in Oak Bay serves as a reminder the wild cats are common in some areas of Greater Victoria.

A resident reported seeing a cougar in roughly the 1700block of Beach Drive near Glenlyon Norfolk School early Thursday (June 7) morning. It was also reported to police and the BC Conservation Service.

Conservation was unable to confirm it was a cougar observed from about 150 metres away and described as the size of a medium dog.

Oak Bay police patrolled the area, but no further sightings were reported.

Both mistaken reports and actual sightings are not common but do occur in more urban areas of Oak Bay, Victoria and Saanich.

VicPD killed a cougar in November 2023 after it was spotted twice in the Selkirk Waterfront neighbourhood.

Victoria police say there were multiple reasons that the cougar was dispatched Tuesday (Nov. 21).

Closer to Oak Bay, in 2015 a cougar led officials on a wild goose chase in James Bay.

After being chased through backyards in the 200-blocks of Michigan, Ontario and Superior streets near the legislature for several hours, the cougar was finally tranquilized and taken into care by conservation officers.

Usually encountered near dusk and dawn when cougars are most active, the animals are generally elusive and rarely attack humans, a hungry cougar may come into contact with people during its search for

food, In the event of a cougar encounter, WildSafeBC advises picking up any children, acting big and slowly backing away to give the cougar a clear escape route. If a cougar follows, respond aggressively by making loud noises, maintaining eye contact and grabbing any nearby sticks and rocks to use as weapons. If a cougar attacks, fight back. To report cougars in conflict, sightings in urban areas, or a cougar showing unusual or aggressive behaviour, call the Conservation Officer Service at 1-877-952-7277.

A cougar reported in Oak Bay June 7 serves as a reminder wildlife is not uncommon in urban neighbourhoods.

Saanich’s Christmas Hill earns milestone biodiversity distinction

Jake Romphf

As adventurous school kids roamed across rocky outcrops and through grassy meadows, Cara Gibson kindly calls on them to return to Christmas Hill’s marked trails as she shares the importance of the rare plants growing all around.

“Christmas Hill is actually really special so we have to try and stay on the trails … I know it doesn’t look like much but some of these lichens occur nowhere else in Canada,” the Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary’s executive director tells the students as they climb off a rocky mound, some thanking her for the brief ecological education.

The teachable moment reflects the sanctuary’s daily mission, as the self-described “living classroom” aims to foster more understanding about the importance of its natural systems –from its Garry oak woodlands to the vernal ponds that were shaped by glacial activity.

That mission recently got a boost as the Christmas Hill side has been recognized as a Key Biodiversity Area (KBA), an official distinction handed out to pockets of nature that contribute to the persistence of biodiversity nationally and globally.

The designated zones – which aim to promote conservation as they support rare or threatened species and ecosystems – must meet certain criteria to be deemed a KBA.

“It’s a real delight, so many hands and hearts have been a part of this place, and so to see the recognition of all of that labour is really beautiful,” said Gibson, noting the thousands of volunteer hours that go into maintaining the site every year.

Christmas Hill’s productive ecosystem sup-

ports around 250 plant species and an array of animals, while the wider sanctuary hosts roughly 10 per cent of Saanich’s rare, threatened and endangered species.

The site’s ecological resilience is rooted in its Indigenous stewardship. Practices like prescribed burning helped shape the Garry oak system, along with the Camas plants that still grow along Christmas Hill’s natural walkways. Today, the natural area is tucked into what will be an increasingly developed area, and that urban interface is evident as the sounds of birds chirping in the afternoon mix with the buzz coming from nearby vehicles and power tools. Despite the urban pressures, Gibson says the sanctuary represents a backyard for many in the community as the bastion of biodiversity

includes some of the country’s most exceptional habitat. That helps the hill house species of mosses and insects in an abundance not seen anywhere else in Canada, the entomologist says.

But the flourishing plant life can also attract uninvited guests, like invasive wall lizards that rustle the trail-side flora. Other species like Scotch broom are kept at bay by the sanctuary’s network of volunteers. Gibson said that invasive plant could radically alter the landscape as it out competes native plants for soil, nutrients or light.

“It really is that integration of community and community work to steward this place to keep the integrity of it,” the executive director said of the efforts that were vital to obtaining KBA status.

Other aspects of Christmas Hill may look concerning, but actually reflect a well-functioning system. Gibson points to Garry oak leaves that have been extensively snacked on by caterpillars. Those insects are a key food source for the many birds that flock to the sanctuary – helping to spur a diverse mix of plants cascading from overhead tree branches all the way down to the soil.

“In many instances, this defoliation is a key part of the cycle where it’s letting light down to the understory and all the plants down here are expecting that to happen, so that’s what helps them grow,” Gibson said.

She highlights how Christmas Hill is one of the region’s last spots supporting a Garry oak system.

“I think they have just incredible character and they’re this beautiful indicator of place,” the scientist said.

Gibson has watched on as Christmas Hill and the sanctuary has brought people of all ages together to get excited about nature.

That’s come in the form of birders taking in the more than 200 species that visit the site annually, local organizations engaging those living with disabilities at the site and helping youth filled with eco-anxiety alleviate their concerns by giving them hands-on conservation opportunities.

As the sanctuary aims to inspire the preservation of nature, Gibson said involving the community in that pursuit is one of her favourite parts of the job.

“I think we all have a part to play in that.”

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Saanich’s Christmas Hill has earned the distinction of being a Key Biodiversity Area.

Pictured is Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary executive director Cara Gibson during a walk through of the site on June 7.

(Jake Romphf/Saanich News)

Drone show and fireworks to cap Victoria’s Canada Day events

Canada Day in B.C.’s capital city will be marked by the first ever drone show in Victoria’s Inner Harbour, but fireworks are still set to blast off during the July 1 festivities.

Besides the drone and firework shows lighting up the skies, the Canada Day event schedule also features an array of music performances, multicultural aspects and family-friendly activities.

“This July 1, bring your family and friends to Victoria’s spectacular waterfront for an exciting, inclusive Canada Day celebration,” Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto said in a news release.

“Taste your way around the world, dance the afternoon and night away with some of Canada’s most talented musicians, be taken on Indigenous and multicultural journeys through storytelling and cultural performances, and stay for the spectacular drone and fireworks finale that will light up the night sky.”

Then seven-minute luminous drone show will see the high flying machines create mesmerizing formations, all

curated by Indigenous artist Rande Cook. The show will then be culminated by a fireworks display.

That show will follow a headlining performance from Juno-winning artist, DJ Shub.

The city said the Mohawk electronic music performer is considered the godfather of PowWowStep. The main stage will also host performances by Hey Ocean, Mauvey, Posh Coat, Yvonne Kushe and the Le-

kwungen traditional dancers.

The city is also inviting people to an International Food Village on Belleville Street that will offer a variety of local food trucks dishing out global cuisines on Canada Day.

The B.C. legislatures lawn will have a Family Zone with kid-friendly activities being put on by the Victoria Fire Department, Victoria Bug Zoo and the Royal British Columbia Museum.

Victoria’s Canada Day event schedule will include a drone show, musical performances, international cuisines and more. (Courtesy Canada Day Victoria)

CFB Esquimalt technicians looking to change perceptions amid record-low navy recruitment

Bailey Seymour

As the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) continues to face record-low recruitment, marine technicians are hoping for change as the trade continues to see some of the highest attrition rates among the navy.

In November, the navy’s official Youtube account posted a video where navy commander vice-admiral Angus Topshee spoke about ongoing recruitment and retention issues the navy has faced post-pandemic, and what they are doing in an attempt to up recruitment rates.

Topshee said many trades are seeing shortages of up to 20 per cent, with Naval Communicators seeing an average shortage of 29 percent, and Marine Technicians are seeing shortages of up to 40 per cent for some ranks. He said there is a “simple reason” for the shortage - the Canadian Forces Recruiting Group has not delivered the required intake for the RCN

for over a decade.

“While our overall attrition is generally good, a [marine technician] leaves us every two days,” he said. “Our west coast fleet is beset with a shortage of qualified techs constraining our ability to maintain and operate our ships and causing us to prioritize our Halifax class [ships] at the expense of our Kingston class.”

He also mentioned that the lack of techs to work on the new Harry Dewolfe class Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessels means they can only sail one at a time right now.

In an attempt to up recruitment numbers, they started the Naval Experience Program in April 2023, which allows recruits to join the navy for one year and try different trades to find the best fit for them before signing a long-term contract. As of March, 160 sailors have been successfully enroled and another 490 have applied and are

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going through the recruitment process. They are also offering signing bonuses of up to $20,000 and are allowing permanent residents without Canadian citizenship to join the Canadian Armed Forces.

“We have been clear that the Canadian Armed Forces needs to grow. [The Canadian Armed Forces] is currently looking at how to improve the way in which we recruit and retain people in our forces. That includes looking at expanding eligibility for recruitment,

abolishing outdated medical requirements where they are no longer relevant and streamlining the security clearance process,” noted a statement from the Department of National Defence.

As of April, the total number of CAF members working at CFB Esquimalt, including members of the air force and army, is just over 3,780, whereas in 2015 around 4,720 CAF members worked at the base.

“The Royal Canadian Navy continues to work towards identifying particular

attrition challenges and is developing initiatives to improve retention. In general, over the past 10 years, the attrition rate of the CAF has remained relatively stable, usually in the eight to nine per cent range for the regular and primary reserve forces. Similar patterns have been observed in the Royal Canadian Navy, although the attrition rates are slightly lower than for the CAF overall, usually in the seven to eight per cent range,” noted the statement.

New,longer

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CFB Esquimalt sailors are facing hardships amid recruitment and retainment issues in the Royal Canadian Navy. (Black Press Media file photo)

Marine technician wants to see more qualifications for civilian equivalencies

In 2017, the marine technician trade was created, combining marine engineers, hull technicians and electrical technicians under one trade, which S1 Nathan Hartley, a marine technician stationed at CFB Esquimalt, says has grown to be an issue as of late and contributes to the retention and recruitment problem within the marine technician trade.

He said when there were three distinct technical trades, sailors could gain qualifications that were transferable to the civilian world should they leave the navy, however, those opportunities have shrunk since the amalgamation.

And since the trades combined, there have been little change in pay as their skill sets continue to diversify and their workload continues to grow.

“They give us the entire shift to study and work on and practice and learn and at the end of the day, we’re getting the exact same pay, we’re getting the exact same opportunities and the exact same monetary rewards as some of the other trades that are just camping around, doing nothing all day,”said Hartley. “It’s hard to keep a positive outlook on how the navy actually cares for the marine technicians on ship and it definitely plays a role in the retention issue. Is that the only reason? Not at all, but a lot of people don’t feel like they’re getting heard as marine technicians.”

It’s hard to want to keep on growing in that trade knowing that there’s no outright equivalency outside of the military.

— Nathan Hartley

training and qualifications limit the employment of technicians between ships.

Another issue technicians face is when they gain more experience and pass more qualifications, they have less control over where they sail and when they work as their trade becomes more in demand, which can be “strenuous” on family relationships and the life they have built outside of the navy.

Hartley said he hopes to see more qualifications for civilian equivalencies for easier integration to the civilian world, and he hopes for more initiatives catered specifically for the trades that have faced significant recruitment and retention issues.

According to the DND, attrition in the marine technician trade has reduced the qualified technicians that can be drawn upon to build technical departments for both Halifax-class and Harry Dewolf-class ships because unique

“It’s hard to want to keep on growing in that trade knowing that there’s no outright equivalency outside of the military,” he said. “Having a little bit more control and having a little bit more direction on where we want to go, a little bit more of a say on what we want to do with our career as a marine technician would go a long way towards, one, boosting the morale, and two, boosting their retention problem.” From A12

Aswehavenowfinishedthislegislativesession,I’mhappyto sharetheongoingworkthatwearedoing.Wecontinuetoaddress thecost-of-living,healthcare,andhousing-issuesIroutinelyhear aboutfromconstituents.

•Investmentsince2017,nearly78,000unitsofhousinghavebeen builtorareunderway.Inthepastweek,ourBCNDPannounced over1100below-marketunitsthatareunderconstruction, completed,orprotected!

•Wehavecommittedaprovincialinvestmentofupto$151million tosupportclimateactioninBCandhelplowandmiddle-income BritishColumbiansreducetheirenergycosts.

•OnJune1,thegeneralminimumwageincreasesfrom$16.75to $17.40anhour.Theincreasewillhelpapproximately240,000 workers.

•We’reinvesting$500-millionintheRentalProtectionFund,to allowcommunitynon-profitstopurchaseolderbuildingsand keeppeoplehousedandpreventspeculatorsfrombuyingthese propertiesandevictingtenantsorraisingrents.

•Budget2024-25includesmorethan$538milliontosupportthe continuedimplementationofprimarycarestrategyinitiatives, includingPrimaryCareNetworks,UrgentandPrimaryCare Centres,communityhealthcentres,andfamilyphysicianand nursepractitioner-ledclinics.

Thisworkwe’vebeendoingisallforyou,thepeopleofB.C.whoknowthese issuesdeeplyandpersonally.We’regoingtocontinuethisworktomakelife betterfortheeverydaypeopleinB.C.,hereinourcommunityandbeyond.

A water quality warning posted at Esquimalt Gorge Park on June 5. Fecal contamination was found to bealmost33times the maximum level. (Mark Page/ News Staff)

Public warned of bacteria contamination at beaches

Evidence of fecal contamination especially bad at Gorge Park where sample was over 33 times the limit

Seasonal water quality testing has begun at Vancouver Island beaches, with samples taken at five Greater Victoria locations coming in over the limit for bacteria.

Resulting water quality advisories are now in place for Esquimalt Gorge Park, Saanich Inlet at Clarke Road, Coles Bay Beach, Langford Lake and Ross Bay Beach.

At Gorge Park the test came up almost 33

times over the recommended maximum level of the enterococci bacteria, an indicator of fecal contamination.

Canadian government standards say there should be less than 70 enterococci per 100 millilitre sample. The sample at Gorge Park turned up 2,300.

The other areas had poor results, but nowhere near as bad as at Gorge Park. For Saanich Inlet at Clarke road the sample came in slightly over the limit with 85 enterococci, Coles Bay at Inverness Road had 165, and Ross Bay at the end of Eberts Street had 95 enterococci in a sample.

Beach sampling is conducted by Island Health between mid-May and September each year.

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Monthsofconsistentbalanceispositivefor buyersandsellers…

Asarealtorforseventeen years,EliMavrikos,from theMavrikosCollective atPembertonHolmes, enjoysanexceptional understandingof Victoria’slocalmarket. Specializinginresidential realestateservicesandasarealtorwhobelieveswholeheartedly thatasuccessfulcareerisbuiltwithanunderstandingofpeople,Eli ensuresheiseducatedincurrentmarketconditions.“Ibuildandbase mybusinessonlifelongrelationshipsandaimtoeducatemyclients, sotheyfeelempoweredtomakeinformeddecisions,”Elireflects. MLSstatsfromtheVictoriaRealEstateBoardreport763properties soldinMay2024,whichwas1.5percentfewerthanthose775 propertiesthatsoldinMay2023,anda12.5percentincreasefrom April2024.“SpringishistoricallyourbusiesttimeoftheyearandMay istypicallywhenweareatorclosetothepeakofourmarketactivity,” notesEli.Withmoreinventorytochoosefrom,consumershavethe benefitoftimetomaketheirchoicesanddotheirduediligence. “MorelistingsmeansabalancedmarketandMaywasanotherstable monthwithsteadysalesandlesspressureonpricing,”saysEli.After manyyearsofbothbuyersandsellersalikenavigatingachallenging andunbalancedmarket,it’sapositivetoseesomeconsistencyand stabilityinthemarket.“Alotofclientsthathavebeenwatchingthe marketarefindingthatnowisagoodtimeforthemtomakeamove, soweexpecttoseesteadyactivitymovingthroughthesummer,” notesEli.Manyotheroutsidefactorsalsoworktoimpactcurrent marketconditions.

Mostnotably,theBankofCanadajustannouncedtheirfirstratedrop in4years!“Aftersixstraightrateholds,wefinallyhavethefirstdrop inalongtimeandthisshoulddefinitelybringsomeconfidenceback toconsumers,”saysEli.Thenextannouncementisscheduledfor JulyandiftheBankofCanadadecidestodroptheratesagain,more movementfrombuyersshouldcarrythroughthesummermonths. “Currently,buyersareverypatient,andthisnewsmayprovidethem achancetojumpatanopportunitythey’vebeenwaitingfor,”notes

Eli.Withadaptingmarketconditionsandareturntoseasonalmarket patterns,it’simportantforSellersandBuyerstoberealisticwith theirexpectationsandhavepatiencewiththeirplans.Additional implicationssuchasthenewpropertytransfertaxexemptionsand adjustmentstoshorttermrentalrules,canaffectconsumersplans, therefore,theservicesandguidanceofaRealtor®areinvaluable. 3338activelistingswererecordedattheendofMay2024,whichwas anincreaseof10.6percentoverthetotalavailableattheendofApril 2024anda52.5percentincreasefromthe2189activelistingsforsale attheendofMay2023.ComparingmonthendtomonthendofMay 2023andMay2024,salesofcondominiumsweredownby5.2per centandsingle-familyhomesaleswereexactlymatchedwith399 homessold.MLSstatsindicatethatthebenchmarkvalueforasinglefamilyhomeinMay2024increasedby0.7percentto$1,309,700. ThevalueisslightlyupfromtheApril2024valueof$1,301,800.Stats alsoshowthatthebenchmarkvalueforcondominiumsincreased by1.2percentto$569,500.“It’simportanttorememberthatthe statisticsprovidedarereflectiveofwhatoccurredinthemarketlast monthandweknowthatconditionsconstantlychange,”saysEli.That said,stabilizationofbenchmarkvalueswithonlyslightvariationsisa furtherindicationthatweareworkingthroughabalancedmarket. TheMavrikosCollectivetakesanopressureapproachtotheir businessandfocuseswholeheartedlyontheirclient’sindividual needs.“Weknowallourclientshavedifferentgoals,soweaimto educatethemandstrategizewiththeminordertomakethemfeel confidentintheirdecisions,”notesEli.TheMavrikosCollectiveis workingthroughabusySpringmarketandismorethanappreciative foranyonewhoinstillstrustintheirteamtohelpthemthrougha transition.“WeareavailableanytimetochataboutyourRealEstate needs!Ifyou’relookingtogetintothemarketandneedsome guidance,we’dlovetohostyouatourpersonalofficeforacoffee,” saysEli.

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Astronaut who showed Earth to humanity killed in plane crash near Victoria

Jake Romphf

A former Apollo 8 astronaut who took one of the most famous photos of Earth died in a Washington State plane crash not far from Greater Victoria on Friday (June 7).

The family of William Anders confirmed the 90-year-old was piloting the two-seat plane that plummeted into the waters near the San Juan Islands, about 20 kilometres east of Sidney.

Anders was the lunar module pilot for the Apollo 8 mission that made his three-man crew the first humans to orbit the moon. The 1968 endeavour saw Anders take the famed Earthrise photo, which allowed humanity to look back on itself in colour for the first time.

The photo is credited with sparking the global environmental movement for showing how delicate and isolated Earth appeared from space.

“Oh my god, look at that picture over there. There’s the Earth coming’ up. Wow, is that pretty,” Anders is heard saying in a recording from the module before he quickly swaps colour film into his camera to capture Earth hovering over the moon’s crest.

In a statement on the astronaut’s passing, NASA administrator Bill Nelson called Anders a hero who, through taking the legendary photo, offered the world the deepest gift an explorer can give.

“Bill was the first to show us, through looking back at the Earth

from the threshold of the moon, that stunning image – the first of its kind – of the Earth suspended in space, illuminated in light and hidden in darkness: the Earthrise,”Nelson said.

“At every step of Bill’s life was the iron will of a pioneer, the grand passion of a visionary, the cool skill of a pilot, and the heart of an adventurer who explored on behalf of all of us.”

Anders said the image of the blue planet made him realize Earth was small, delicate and not the centre of the universe.

“We came all this way to explore the moon, and the most important thing is that we discovered the Earth” Anders famously said.

The San Juan County Sheriff’s office first received reports about the plane crash shortly before noon on June 7. The county’s dispatch centre was told an older model of plane was flying southward before it went into the water near the north end of Jones Island and sunk, San Juan County Sheriff Eric Peter said in a statement. The United States Coast Guard Pacific Northwest division alerted the public around 1 p.m. that it and other agencies were responding to the crash with search and rescue efforts. Good Samaritans also joined the more than four-hour search effort, which ended Friday afternoon after a dive team recovered the pilot’s body.

“Our thoughts are with the family following the tragic loss of their loved one,” Capt. Mark McDonnell, commander of U.S. Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound, said in a statement.

Anders was also the backup pilot for Gemini 11 and backup command module pilot for Apollo 11, the 1969 moon landing that was informed by the Apollo 8 crew’s photographs of lunar landing sites.

In 2018, a moon crater that’s visible in the astronaut’s iconic image was named Anders’ Earthrise.

After leaving NASA, Anders and his wife, Valerie, founded the Heritage Flight Museum at Bellingham International Airport in 1996 with

several vintage planes and has hosted several visits from famed World War II bombers. The museum was moved to Skagit Regional Airport in 2013.

The couple moved to Orcas Island, in the San Juan archipelago, in 1993, and kept a second home in their hometown of San Diego, according to a biography on the museum’s website. Their current Washington home was in Anacortes. They had six children and 13 grandchildren.

“The family is devastated,” the astronaut’s son, retired Air Force Lt. Col. Greg Anders, told the Associated Press. “He was a great pilot and we will miss him terribly.”

With files from the Canadian Press

Apollo 8 astronaut William Anders was killed in a plane crash in the San Juan Islands on June 7. (Courtesy of NASA)

Apollo 8 William Anders gifted humanity with the legendary Earthrise photo, an image he captured while being among the first crew to orbit the moon in 1968. (Courtesy of NASA)

FINDING BALANCE

A

Study names Victoria second most walkable Canadian city for tourists

A new study from Preply, a language learning platform, found Victoria was the second most walkable city in Canada for tourists, based on the distances between the city’s top attractions.

The study analyzed 21 cities in the country using Tripadvisor listings to find the five top tourist attractions in each city; and Google Maps to find out the distance, time and number of steps required to visit the destinations on foot in one day.

The top attractions in Victoria according to

Tripadvisor are Craigdarroch Castle, the Royal B.C. Museum, the Inner Harbour pathway, the B.C. legislature, and Beacon Hill Park, which have an average of 4.4 kilometres between them.

The study notes that walking between all of the locations should take about one hour and about 5,720 steps.

Halifax managed to beat Victoria, with an average distance of 3.3 kilometres between attractions.

group practises Tai Chi in Willows Park. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

Man given 3.5 years for role in 2022 beating and torture in supportive housing unit

Mark Page

Douglas Wayne Hughes was sentenced on Wednesday (June 5) to a three-and-a-half year prison term for his role in the beating and torture of a man at a Cool Aid supportive housing unit on Douglas Street just over two years ago.

Oliver Nicholson was beaten, branded with a hot penny and set alight using lighter fluid by a group of five individuals on the night of April 2, 2022.

B.C. Supreme Court Justice Anita Chan pointed out the “cruel nature of the torture” in delivering her sentence.

“This conduct must be denounced,” Chan said. “A strong message must be sent that individuals must not resort to violence and assault to settle their differences.”

All five people accused for roles in the assault have now been given jail time for charges ranging from unlawful confinement to assault causing bodily harm.

Chan laid out the chain of events that led to the attack in her October 2023 conviction ruling.

On the evening of April 2, 2022, Chan said a man by the name of Alemayehu ‘Dante’ Townsend had concocted a plan to corner Nicholson over a drug debt.

Townsend brought together Hughes, Hughes’s girlfriend Christine Berryman and a man named Ty McLaughlin to lure Nicholson to a room in the supportive housing unit in the former Tally Ho Motel Inside, the group punched and kicked Nicholson before

duct-taping him to a chair with so much tape he could hardly breath.

They ripped open his shirt and branded him with a heated penny held at the end of a set of pliers.

After putting a hood over his head, they held up a speaker and blared loud music in his ears. They poured lighter fluid on his shoulder and set him on fire.

This was all because he owed $190 for opiates to Townsend, an 18-year-old who went by ‘Dante.’

Chan called Townsend (‘Dante’) the “mastermind” behind the premeditated attack. Townsend received four years in prison for this, while McLaughlin got three and Berryman got 23 months.

Another person, Alexander Formosa, had come onto the scene later and only received a one-year sentence.

Nicholson survived the attack and was able to testify in court during Hughes’s trial in 2023, but on April 9, 2024 he was killed in a stabbing in the 2900-block of Douglas, not far from where the beating happened at the Tally Ho almost exactly two years earlier.

Nicholson’s killing remains unsolved, and a spokesperson for the Victoria Police Department said they were unable to provide any update on the investigation on Wednesday.

Justification for Hughes’s sentence

Giving her reasoning for Hughes’s sentence, Chan noted many of the challenges he has had in his life, including mental health issues, sexual abuse and

a car accident when he was 14.

Hughes, 43, is also part Indigenous, and Chan said that the difficulties facing Indigenous people in Canada must be taken into account.

But Chan also said Hughes has a long criminal history that includes 42 adult convictions, six of which were for violent offences.

Chan said Hughes’s sentence should be most similar to McLaughlin’s as neither man planned the attack. They had simply acted as “muscle” for Townsend. McLaughlin did not have a previous criminal record to take into account though.

Hughes sat in court wearing a red jumpsuit as Chan read out the sentence. His head hung almost below the banister of the prisoner’s dock as she announced he would be given three and a half years.

The courtroom gallery was empty except for Hughes’s parents.

His father Wayne, who says he has over 30 years of sobriety, has offered to take Hughes in after he gets out of jail and aid him in seeking substance abuse treatment.

“Drug addition treatment and counselling would be better than jail,” Wayne Hughes said outside the courtroom.

“He regrets what happened,” his mother Kimberly Romich added.

Hughes will also serve a year of probation after his jail term, and will have to meet conditions such as a lifetime firearms ban, DNA sampling and a ban on associating with his co-accused.

Group ready for ‘all hands on deck’ fight against invasive crabs

Christine van Reeuwyk

A growing South Island water habitat restoration non-profit is joining the battle to nip the spread of invasive European green crabs.

Known as an aggressive and dominant predator with a voracious appetite, the European green crab is known to be in B.C. waters.

They’re present all the way up the west coast in a slow invasion underway for more than two decades according to Fisheries and Oceans Canada data.

First found on the east coast in 1951 in the waters off New Brunswick, they have expanded to many locations in the Atlantic. In west coast waters, the European green crab likely arrived in the late 1990s through larval drift, according to DFO. They were first reported on the U.S. side of the border in fall 2016; Now they’re found along the entire west coast of Vancouver Island.

Unfortunately, the invasive crab is highly resilient. It lives four to seven years, feasts on a wide variety of plants and animals and the females can release up to 185,000 eggs once or twice within a year.

They’re known for destroying beds of shellfish, and feasting on native bivalves and small fish while beating out the local species for the grub.

Peninsula Streams and Shorelines recently finished training with the Port Alberni-based Coastal Restoration Society to take up arms against the small Salish Sea invaders.

The fight is an “all hands on deck” situation, says Chloe Kraemer who started as a biologist support technician with the society this spring. She’s among those set to embark on the society’s second summer of early detection monitoring – sampling once a month at two sites from June through September. The monitoring program fits

in perfectly with the Peninsula Streams and Shorelines Society’s goal of getting people out and interested in their local environment. “We want people who live here to be connected to their ecosystems, especially in their backyard,” Kraemer said.

The two-day training was a fun, hands-on experience that entailed a day of setting

Anyone who finds a European green crab on Vancouver Island shorelines should report the invasive species with photos and the exact location by calling 1-888-356-7525 or email AISPACIFIC@dfo-mpo.gc.ca. (Courtesy Fisheries and Oceans Canada)

traps, then 24 hours later, retrieving them to identify all the species captured. At the end, the team leads were established, trained and ready to roll out the second season of monitoring, while working on the details of where and when to sample.

Residents can expect to see calls for volunteers to join the cause in the coming days, Kraemer said.“You don’t have to be a part of these organizations to help with this,” she said. “We need these community stewards to help us.

“Invasive species in general

are often spotted by walkers, fishers and other beachgoers.”

The European green crab can reach 10 centimetres in width, is usually green but can be red or yellow, and is distinguished by five distinct spines on the outer side of each eye. Anyone who thinks they have discovered any aquatic invasive species can take photos, and note the exact location with GPS coordinates, the date and identifying features. That information can be reported by email to DFO. AISPacific-EAEPacifique. MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

Peninsula Streams and Shorelines crews identify native species and look to spot the invaders during recent European green crab identification training. (Courtesy Peninsula Streams and Shorelines)

Staff at Victoria watering hole embrace brief wildlife encounter

An unusual visitor popped in for a pint at Spinnakers Brew Pub on Sunday (June 2) evening, making for a stunning photo op.

A peahen appeared on the patio, and staff of the Victoria establishment promptly provided a beer.

“We have named her Marjory, she loves beer and getting her photograph taken,”Spinnakers said on social media.

Marjory did not advise whether it was the

view or the brew that brought her in, but she made herself at home according to staff. With the sun shining, patrons were on the patio all day, and the peahen appeared to wait for guests to clear out.

“Then [she] decided they were taking too long, so very confidently made her way back to her claimed spot,” the post reads. “Don’t worry we called animal control and they said not to feed her and she will move along.”

Victoria MS Walk raises nearly $45K

$3.5 million was raised across the nation for

MS Canada

Sam Duerksen

The Victoria MS Walk on Sunday, May 26, raised $44,563 in donations to help Canadians living with multiple sclerosis.

“These funds raised help connect people affected by MS to information and resources and fund ground-breaking research to find the cause and cure for the disease, ultimately moving us one step closer to creating a world

CONGRATULATIONS

NORMAN

free of MS,”Nadia Di Spirito and the MS Walk Team wrote in a letter to Black Press Media. Coast-to-coast, 12,000 participants raised just over $3.4 million collectively. In Victoria, 18 teams fundraised for the cause.

While there is no known cure for MS, Gabrielle Veto, one of the team leaders fundraising for the Victoria walk said in her almost 30 years of living with MS, money raised through fundraising efforts through MS Canada has led to substantial progress.

“The changes I’ve seen have been amazing in research,” she said in a May interview with Black Press Media.

CARRIEROFTHEMONTHFOR

JUNE

Tellussomethingaboutschoolthisyear Myfavouritesubjectatschoolismath. Whatplansdoyouhaveforthissummer? Myplanforthesummeristogoplacesand dolotsoffishing.

Hobbiesandactivitiesthatyouenjoy? Ilikesoccerandfishing.

WhatisyourfavouriteplaceinOakBay? MyfavouritespotinOakBayis pebblebeach.

HowaboutdeliveringtheOakBayNews? Ilikehavingawalk,talkingtotheneighbours andgettingtoseeallthehouses (andmakingmoney).

Inrecentsummers,theCapitalRegionalDistrict(CRD)hasseen highwaterdemandinthemorningsoflawnwateringdayswhen irrigationsystemsturnonallatonce.Thisimpactsthe drinkingwatersystem’sabilitytokeepadequateflow andpressure,andmaintainwaterquality.Tohelpaddress thisissue,theCRDaddedanewallowablewateringtimefrom 12:01amto10am fortimedirrigationsystemstotheWater ConservationBylawNo.4099. Youcanhelpbyreprogrammingyourirrigationsystemtostart between 12:01amand4am andawayfromthetopofthehour.

Learnmoreonhowyoucanprotectourwaterat: www.crd.bc.ca/water Questions? CRDstaffcanhelpyouout: waterwise@crd.bc.ca

Formoreinformationaboutfindingtherightcareintherightplace,visit islandhealth.ca/right-care-rightplace

www.islandhealth.ca/right-care-rightplace

Gabrielle Veto, far right, has attended every walk except one since her diagnosis. (Of Earth and Soul Photography)

DON’T FALL FOR AKE NEWS!

TRUST IN VERIFIED NEWS REPORTING

Because every neighbourhood has a story

Oak Bay resident out $13,000 in ‘sophisticated’ scamming scheme

Oak Bay police are investigating a sophisticated computer fraud that cost an Oak Bay resident $13,500.

The victim told police they received a phone call from a “bank inspector” from their bank who advised there were two fraudulent charges on their account, Oak Bay Police Department said in its weekly news release.

The suspected scammer, who is believed to be part of a sophisticated scamming scheme, had the resident download AnyDesk – a program scammers illegally use to gain remote access

to victims’ electronic devices. Scammers will frequently claim it’s to identify a source of the alleged fraudulent transactions.

In this case, the suspect made it appear $7,000 was deposited into the victim’s account. The suspect then instructed the victim to withdraw cash from their local bank branch and buy gift cards totalling $13,500.

The scammer provided a script for the resident to use when speaking with his bank teller to avoid them spotting the scheme.

The victim then provided the suspect with the gift card

numbers and validation codes before becoming suspicious and reporting the incident to police on May 29.

As of March 31, 7,908 people across the nation lost $123 million to fraud, according to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.

Visit antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca to learn more about common scams and ways to avoid them.

Anyone with information on this or any crime in Oak Bay is asked to call police at 250592-2424 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

(USCGPacificNorthwest/X)

The US Coast Guard credits a satellite messenger device with alerting them to kayakers in distress Sunday (June 9) off Vancouver Island.

U.S. Coast Guard rescues kayakers

The U.S. Coast Guard credits a satellite messenger device with helping crews locate kayakers in distress off Vancouver Island on Sunday (June 9).

Crews pulled four adults, a child and a dog from swamped kayaks north west of Lummi Island on Sunday. The Washington State island is part of the San Juan Islands directly east of Sidney on Vancouver Island. All individuals and the dog were wearing lifejackets.

One of the rescued individuals activated thier inReach, a satellite messenger device. The coast guard recommends satellites devices when phone service may be unavailable. The crew transferred one person to emergency medical services and everyone else was brought to Station Bellingham.

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Victoria Humane Society looking for second property

Bailey Seymour

The Victoria Humane Society is currently looking for a second property as they continue to face an unprecedented excess of dogs and cats as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Currently, the shelter is housing about 100 dogs and 200 cats, where on a normal year, they would only carry about 50 of each.

“We have our spay neuter clinic here. But unfortunately, all of our animals go into foster care,” said Penny Stone, executive director of the Humane Society. “The problem with this is people are asking us to take on animals from hoarding cases or whatever, and we don’t know anything about them. So you’re bringing animals in and asking people to take them home without any knowledge of what they’re like.”

A major factor of the overflow other than rising prices on pet food and supplies, she said, is due to people who adopted pets during the pandemic that couldn’t be spayed or neutered, and now that people are going back to work, they surrender their animals.

“The animals that weren’t spayed and neutered, are having babies who are having babies, and it’s gone crazy. It’s spiraled out of control,” she said.

They are now searching for a second property so they can better assess pets and give them the proper care needed before they go to a foster home, however, that has proven to be difficult.

Stone said although they have someone who is willing to donate funds to go towards buying a new property, they would still need a property

that could be renovated, doesn’t have close neighbours, and it would need to be zoned as a kennel.

The Humane Society is currently providing spaying and neutering services to remote communities around the island in n effort to stem the flow.

“It’s kind of too little too late. It’s sad that we can’t get this under control. We picked up a Tupperware bucket on the side of the road full of 19 puppies that are only four weeks old the other day, it just is not stopping,” said Stone. “Please spay and neuter your pets. It’s so important.”

To donate to the Victoria Humane Society, visit https://victoriahumanesociety.com/ save-animals-everyday/.

The Victoria Humane Society is looking for a second property while they experience “out of control” overflow according to executive director Penny Stone. (Black Press Media file photo)