July 30 - VicPD's '3D' downtown takedown

Good morning !

Last month, just days after downtown businesses demanded more policing, the City of Victoria unveiled a community safety plan with housing and downtown safety as major components. We’re seeing some action already. VicPD has made a slew of arrests downtown, and the business community is nodding in approval.

And late yesterday, a huge earthquake hit Russia, prompting a tsunami advisory for parts of Vancouver Island, including the Juan de Fuca Strait from Jordan River to Greater Victoria, specifically the Saanich Peninsula.

— Mark

Today’s approx. read time: 6 minutes

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NEWS

16 arrested in 2 days as VicPD operates in ‘3D’

Responding to pleas from the business community, VicPD has stepped up patrols in the downtown core, nabbing more than a dozen people in just a couple of days.

Dubbed “Project 3D” (which stands for disrupt downtown disorder) and led by VicPD’s Strike Force unit, the game plan is to disrupt criminal activity in “problematic locations downtown” and to improve safety.

Using a combination of high-visibility patrols and undercover operations, and with the help of City of Victoria bylaw officers, police are targeting, among other areas, Centennial Square and Pandora, Ellice, and Mason streets, along with Queens and Princess avenues. 

“This project is a critical, sustained effort focused on addressing what we continue to hear from the community is their number one concern: downtown street disorder,” said VicPD Chief Del Manak. 

The Downtown Victoria Business Association, which represents 1,500 businesses, has been vocal about needing policing help. In several of its recent annual surveys, the DVBA has said crime and the perception of it have hurt business.

Almost half—48% of downtown business owners who participated in the survey—said they would consider closing up shop if their lease was up next year.

“We are very pleased to see the increased police presence downtown,” DVBA executive director Jeff Bray told Capital Daily. 

“We are noticing more officers on patrol, and projects that target street disorder will have an immediate improvement for downtown.”

Among the notable arrests was a man who police said sat in a chair directly across from an Island Health supervised consumption site on Pandora. Police arrested him for trafficking cocaine to a “consistent flow of customers.” 

Another was booked after police said they observed him dealing fentanyl on Mason near Quadra. His arrest, VicPD said, came one day after he was picked up for selling cocaine one block over on Pandora. It was there, VicPD said, that they also arrested a violent offender with two outstanding warrants who recently moved to Victoria.

“These proactive, targeted interventions are essential to disrupting the cycle of problematic behaviour and creating a safer, more welcoming downtown for everyone,” Manak said.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Tsunami advisory for BC after major 8.7-magnitude quake off Russia.

Road closure: Pandora between Cook and Vancouver all this week. 7am-5pm. [City of Victoria]

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

TASTING VICTORIA

The best happy hour offerings in Victoria, as selected by our readers

We’re in the thick of summer. For some, that means hours may be a little more loosey-goosey at the office, so there's more time to head out and socialize with the gang.

Or perhaps you’re off work and have time to enjoy some tantalizing apps over cold, refreshing liquid concoctions. 

Either way, we live in a gorgeous tourist town chock-full of restaurants, bistros, and watering holes, many of which offer happy hour specials in the late afternoon.

Ahh, happy hour. Something that started more than a century ago at sea when US Navy sailors were looking to spice up their late afternoons by holding boxing and wrestling matches and watching movies, and by afternoon partiers looking to whoop it up during the Prohibition era. 

The pre-dinner imbibing has evolved into fun times, whether at a restaurant with fancy tablecloths or a backstreet dive bar.

Here in Victoria, there is so much to choose from, and these places are hardly dives. We asked our readers to list their top spots for happy hour.

Check out this article from Tasting Victoria to see what they landed on.

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⭐️ Capital Picks

⚾ HarbourCats to honour VicPD Chief Del Manak when they host the Kamloops NorthPaws tonight at 6:35. [HarbourCats]

🍵 New from Mateína: A zero-sugar, organic yerba mate that delivers clean, balanced energy — no crash, no weird ingredients. Just plant-powered fuel that works.*

🌊🎶 Victoria Symphony Splash is this BC Day holiday long weekend.

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🗞️ In Other News

YYJ airport hijacking suspect appears in court, hoping for bail
Shaheer Cassim made a brief court appearance in Richmond yesterday, not too far from the airport where he is accused of triggering a security issue two weeks ago. The former commercial pilot is charged with hijacking and with damaging or interfering with a navigation system following an incident in which a Cessna 172 allegedly was commandeered at Victoria’s airport and flown over Vancouver’s YVR. Cassim, 39, was arrested once the plane landed. His lawyer said they’re trying to work out his release on bail. Cassim has another court date in two weeks. [Yahoo! / CP]

117 Island Health staffers laid off; BC Ambulance and BC Cancer may be next
The provincial government is trying to shift more money into frontline patient care, so it’s making job cuts, and its latest round over the last month involved 117 non-contract workers. In “reducing unnecessary costs and redirecting resources to meet patient needs,” Island Health has warned that more cuts could come at BC Ambulance and BC Cancer. An employee who spoke with the TC under the condition that their name not be released said the downsizing has been done in textbook fashion of how not to treat workers. They said morale is low and workers are worried. [Times Colonist]

A garage fire in Oaklands spreads to neighbouring house
Twenty-two firefighters in eight trucks responded to the call for help when a fire broke out late Mon. evening in a detached garage on Doncaster near Cedar Hill. The flames jumped to the roof and attic of an adjacent house. Victoria Fire doused the flames shortly after midnight and remained on scene putting out hotspots until 3am. No injuries were reported, and as of yet, no cause for the blaze has been given. [CHEK] 

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🗓️ Things to do

🚴 Pedaling for Parkinson’s: Spinning Wheel Tour. Riding in 10 provinces to raise awareness of Parkinson's and the benefits of exercise in alleviating symptoms. Send-off at Parkinson Wellness Projects on Blanshard. Sat. 9-10am. [Info]

📚 Hiroshima-Nagasaki Poster Exhibition: Greater Victoria Public Library. To mark the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings in Japan, the GVPL is hosting the Hiroshima-Nagasaki Poster Exhibition at its Central Branch. Through Aug. 15. [Info]

🎵 Summer at Ship Point: From live music and lawn games to ice cream and great views. Today: All levels flow yoga 12-12:45pm. Greek n’ Go, PCM Collective, and Vegan Ice Cream 4-8pm. Live music by Penny Bell Music—folk/rock. 5-6:30pm. Feature busker 7-8pm. [Info]

 🎪 Mister Mojo and the Magic Band: Children's music and entertainment that'll have the little ones dancing and singing along in the park. Cameron Bandshell. Today. 11am-12pm. [Info]

🌅 Oaklands Sunset Market: Your neighbourhood market bringing together local vendors, fresh finds, and community spirit as the sun sets. Oaklands Community Centre. Today. 4:30-8pm. [Info]

🏳️‍🌈 Drag Bingo: Come win fun prizes while fabulous drag performers call the numbers in this high-energy twist on the classic game. The Vicious Poodle. Today. 8pm. [Info]

🎵 Eventide Music Series: Free outdoor concerts showcasing local talent and touring artists in the heart of downtown, now in its 12th year. Debt Of Nature, Witch Killer, Hail The Void, Fully Crazed, and Living Evil. Centennial Square. Today. 6-10pm. [Info]

🧢 2025 Canadian Little League Championships: Teams at the Majors level (age 11/12) compete to represent Canada at the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa. Layritz Park. Through Aug. 7. Games at 10:30am, 2pm, and 5:30pm. [Info] 

👀 In Case You Missed It

Tuesday’s headlines: Car-sharing Evo expands to Westshore; Vic man charged with hate crime at 2024 downtown demo; Cyclist struck by vehicle on Quadra. [July 29] 

Illegally camping near Tofino could cost you up to $25K. [LJI / Capital Daily]

Update: cyclist in critical condition after Quadra crash. [CHEK]

Opposition to Esquimalt townhouse proposal. [Times Colonist]

Gabriola Island fisherman gets 6 years in prison for ‘ravaging the ocean.’ [CTV]  

Hwy 17 Keating Cross flyover is open.

Japanese global apparel retailer Uniqlo is coming to Mayfair this fall.

Family time: A family of great horned owls is seen in an area favoured for training fledglings to hunt on the Island. [Facebook photos] 

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