July 4 - Island Health introduces hospital wait time tracker

Good morning !

Happy Fourth of July to our American friends. May there be more settled and peaceful times for you soon.

On the subject of times, Island Health has a new way to keep tabs on waiting times if you need to go to emerg. And Langford has developed its first Official Community Plan in almost two decades.

— Mark

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

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NEWS

Island Health hospital emergency room wait times go online

Long used to long waits at the hospital, Victorians now have a new Island Health webpage to show them what they’re in for before heading to the waiting room.

“‘How long can I expect to wait?’ is one of the most common questions we hear from people in our emergency departments,” said Dr. Ben Williams, Island Health’s chief medical officer.

“I believe this new resource will support frontline staff and physicians in focusing on providing the best care possible, while empowering people to make informed choices about the care options available to them.”

The webpage went live yesterday and includes estimated queue times to see an emergency room physician at each of Island Health’s eight major hospitals. Those not needing immediate care can view resources available to them, such as information about urgent and primary care centres and other resources, like pharmacies and home-care services. 

Estimated wait times are a calculation of ER data taken from doctor-patient meetings from the same day and time in the same facility over eight weeks. Island Health says nine of 10 patients will be seen within the estimated wait time, and most are expected to be seen sooner.

A report released last month by the Montreal Economic Institute found the median length of stay in a BC emergency waiting room—from registration to having seen a doctor—was four hours and 13 minutes in 2024. That was the longest in the country and an increase of more than an hour from 2019. Wait times in the Garden City have been among the worst in the country for years. 

A quick mid-afternoon scan yesterday showed an estimated wait time of six hours and seven minutes at the Royal Jubilee, a 6-hour-46-minute wait at Saanich Peninsula, and an 8-hour-46-minute wait at Victoria General. 

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park: Tree debris removal. [July 7-11]

Out-of-control wildfire burning outside Port Renfrew. [BC Wildfire]

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

Langford adopts new Official Community Plan for the first time in 17 years

Last week, after 18 months of engagement with thousands of residents, the City of Langford adopted a new OCP guiding growth and development. Rather than targeting a specific year like most OCPs, it plans for 100K residents. Langford, currently at 58K, is one of Canada's fastest-growing municipalities and projects to hit the century mark by 2050.

The new OCP maintains many of the priorities of the 2008 plan but updates some of the timelines and details. It focuses on tackling what it calls the “Five Crises”: climate, housing affordability, equity, public health, and rising infrastructure costs.

Plan aims to be more deliberate about where development happens

Part of the philosophy is that absorbing another 40K residents will be more feasible if they are funnelled to parts of the city that already have infrastructure and amenities. But the city also wants to respond to public concerns about growing too much and doing it haphazardly.

The city says this OCP offers a “clearer, more predictable approach to growth in general, and building height and density specifically.” It sets max heights and concentrates tall buildings in “strategic locations,” such as the core, while allowing mid-rises in most areas and moving away from “greenfield” development (i.e., sprawling subdivisions). However, pre-existing approvals mean that some such development will continue for the foreseeable future.

The OCP also aims to increase green space and pedestrian-friendliness and to move away from car reliance—a shift that the city says will reduce costs, pollution, and inefficient use of space.

Capital Daily will break down the plan's details later this month.

You can check out the new OCP here.

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⭐️ Capital Picks

☑️ BC gov't Special Committee on Democratic and Electoral Reform. Written submissions accepted until July 25.

⛳ BC Junior Girls Golf Championship at Gorge Vale GC.

🌊 Turquoise waves: Phytoplankton blooms cause the waters of Barkley Sound to look like a Caribbean paradise. [Facebook photos]

🗞️ In Other News

Man arrested for driving a car on a moving BC Ferries vessel
Officers from the Sidney/North Saanich RCMP detachment were called to the Swartz Bay terminal just before midnight on Canada Day, responding to a disturbance on a ferry arriving from Mayne Island. Witnesses said the man was trying to drive on the deck with the vessel still moving. One witness said it appeared the driver was trying to hit two people with his Tesla. Three officers eventually pulled him from the car. He faces five charges, including assault with a weapon, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, obstruction, and mischief. [Times Colonist]

Female arrested after police seize cocaine, meth, fentanyl and a Ford
VicPD’s Strike Force unit—which uses various surveillance and undercover techniques to support complex investigations—surveilled a woman they suspected of drug trafficking, and on June 26, arrested her in a home on Johnson near Quadra. Officers seized one kilogram of cocaine, a kilogram of methamphetamine, half a kilogram of fentanyl, and $7,500 in cash, along with a Ford Mustang EV, which is now subject to civil forfeiture. [VicPD]

View Royal softball team helps Team Ukraine join Canada Cup
The View Royal Vipers 09, a U-17B softball team, plays its first game at the international tournament that starts today in Surrey, but they’ve already hit a home run by raising $7K+ to support Ukraine’s national softball team’s journey and participation. With the aid of local businesses, a bottle drive, a BBQ, and a GoFundMe page, the Vipers were able to pay for the Ukrainian club’s flights to Canada. It’s not the first time softball-playing Canadians have hit it big with the Ukrainians. [CHEK]

SPONSORED BY PATH DEVELOPMENTS

Celebrate 10 years at Royal Bay

It's time to celebrate 10 years of Royal Bay with a free celebration at Quarry Park on July 12 from 1 to 4pm. Enjoy live music, artisan vendors, family-friendly fun, and exciting prizes. Explore the new bike track, grab a drink (alcoholic or non-alcoholic), and commemorate the past decade!

🗓️ Things to do

🤝 Let’s Talk Tuesdays: An hour of platonic conversation with new people. Whether you come solo or with a friend, this is a low-pressure way to meet others and share stories, ideas, or a good laugh. Spinnakers. Every Tue. until Aug. 26. 12-2pm. [Info]

🖌️ Art Gallery Paint-In: Since 1989, this event has showcased artists with a broad range of disciplines, including painting, sculpture, drawing, and ceramics. 170+ artists participating. Moss from Fort to Gorge. July 19. 11am-4pm. [Info]

🎭 Romeo and Juliet: This classic Shakespeare adaptation is set against the backdrop of Craigdarroch Castle. Through July 19. 7pm. [Info]

🎶 Phillips 2025 Backyard Music Festival: Tilt July 4-6 weekend. Three days of music outside. Phillips Backyard. Today.-Sun. [Info]

 🎵 Victoria Folk Festival: See Frazey Ford, Joel Plasket, Kacy & Clayton, and more popular folk acts at the inaugural Folk Fest at Royal Athletic Park. Tomorrow. 12pm. [Info]

🏳️‍🌈 Pride Parade: Cap off Victoria Pride Week with this fun, family-friendly parade through downtown. Sun. 11am. [Info]

🌈 Pride Festival in the Park: After the Pride Parade, head to MacDonald Park in James Bay for an afternoon of drag, dance music, food, and a kids’ area. Sun. 11am. [Info]

🍓 Strawberry Festival: Join the Saanich community for live music, a bouncy castle, arts and crafts, and fresh strawberries with ice cream at Beaver Lake. Sun. 11am-4pm. [Info]

🏍️ Wheelies 11th Anniversary Block Party: Check out vintage bikes and cars, hear live music, and enjoy some tasty BBQ at Wheelies Motorcycles. Sun. 10am-4pm. [Info] 

👀 In Case You Missed It

Thursday’s headlines: BC Hydro impersonation scams surged in May; Oak Bay residents wake up to a stranger in their kitchen; View Royal goalie makes Team BC. [July 3]

Victoria reallocates $10M to expedite the city’s Community Safety Plan. [Capital Daily]

July events roundup. [Capital Daily]

Dowler’s dollars done: North Park residents concerned about future of addictions facility as funding ended June 30. [Times Colonist] 

Before and after: See the beautiful backyard where the former Glenlyon School once stood in Oak Bay. [Facebook photos]

Library film recommendation: Sweet Summer Pow Wow, filmed in Cowichan Valley, is one of GVPL’s recommended offerings for the summer. [GVPL]

A newborn deer takes its first steps in the backyard of a construction job site in Victoria. [Video]

That’s it!

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