Jan 6 - Runaway barge makes a break for land

Good morning !

Today we cover the barge that run aground, the annual report on investigations into the public’s formal complaints about police, and a library book overdue for decades.

But first, a thank-you to you.

— Cam

Today’s approx. read time: 6 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: 🌦️ 8 / 3

Tomorrow: ⛅ 6 / 2

Day after: 🌧️ 7 / 4

7-day forecast

GOOD NEWS

Thank you for making our 4th annual holiday fundraiser a success!

It’s been four years of holiday fundraisers, and each year Capital Daily readers step up.

This year’s effort was to benefit Saanich Neighbourhood Place, and in one week the community made waves to help local families.

Read more about where your funds will go, and a special thank you from SNP.

Since starting in 2020, Cap Daily holiday fundraisers have raised nearly $500,000 for local families! Thank you ❤️ 

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

Victoria business licence renewal payments due Jan. 15.

Be careful if traveling to Whistler this weekend. Snowfall warning for Hwy 99 from Squamish.

NEWS

Runaway barge brought back after drifting ashore in Central Saanich

An adrift barge that ran aground along the Central Saanich coastline, overnighting near Lochside Drive north of Mount Newton Crossroad, has been tugged back to its mooring in Saanichton Bay.

“The barge is no longer a hazard to the public or to navigation in the area,” a spokesperson for the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) told Capital Daily.

The barge became free Thursday morning, drifting into the shoreline where it spent the next 24 hours grounded a couple of hundred metres from James Island Wharf in Bazan Bay.

The CCG received calls shortly after 10 about a barge drifting north of Saanichton Bay. It immediately tasked the Ganges Lifeboat Station to respond and issued a navigational mariners warning. It also contacted the barge owner, which dispatched two tug boats to recover the 30-year-old flatboat.

Tug operators weren’t able to do it Thursday because the tide was falling but it was easy peasy yesterday.

“All in all, the operation took about 20-30 minutes,” said Dan Virtanen director of commercial operations for Amix Marine Group, which owns the 280-feet long, 70-feet wide (70m x 21m) barge Milbanke1, which primarily is used to transport wood chips. 

The company hasn’t completed its probe into how the barge ended up onshore “and it doesn't appear that it broke free due to high winds though,” Tony Marra, president of Amix Marine Group, told Capital Daily.

“You can see that there was not a high wind environment, but it did break loose from its mooring,” said Virtanen.

NEWS

Stalking, sexual harassment, & dog bite:
Annual report outlines local police misconduct

Per its new 2022-23 yearly report, BC’s police oversight agency opened over 1,500 files this past year, including complaints, conduct investigations, and internal discipline files. The OPCC (Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner) received 706 civilian complaints against officers and assigned 256 police complaints to investigation or resolution.

Locally, these 10 investigations led to discipline.

Details below are according to the OPCC report appendices.

VicPD:
Unpaid 30-day suspension for “unwanted sexual activity” to intoxicated woman
The complaint went through multiple reviews before an adjudicator decided that while sexual assault could not be proven, the officer should have known that consent was not clear given that she was “clearly vulnerable.”

Officer reassigned for sexually harassing colleagues
For the unwanted touching and sexualized comments, toward a junior officer and a special municipal constable, the officer was also written up and re-trained on harassment policy.

Police dog bit civilian’s hand & hip
An officer was reassigned and written up, and their supervisor spoken to, for not controlling the dog—and not writing up the incident properly.

Officers written up: one for leaving early, and another for negligently firing a handgun at a gun range.
Officer suspended 4 days for blowing a “warn” level on a breathalyzer when driving, and for lying that they’d only had a glass of wine the day before. 

Central Saanich:
Supervising officer sexually harassed junior colleague
For the inappropriate comments and gestures, the officer’s service record will show a demotion—although the officer retired prior before the investigation and did not participate.

Saanich:
Dismissal for stalking former police partner 
Per the OPCC, he showed up at her home—a new address he should not have known—despite her request for no contact, and kept tabs on her and her family through unlawful use of the police database. For his “egregiously serious” actions, the Discipline Authority said “anything other than dismissal would bring the administration of police discipline into disrepute.”

Gun carried off duty, and on vacation
That officer got a 3-day suspension, and was also written up for fishing without a licence. 

Oak Bay:
Long coffee and meal breaks
The officer was written up and must complete police ethics and accountability training.

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⭐️ Capital Picks

🍜 Nominate your favourite local restaurants in the Tasting Victoria Restaurant Awards. Enter your nominations in any of the 18 categories here!

💡 Missed the Lights of Wonder in Centennial? Not to worry—here’s a video tour.

🚗 Don’t let a driving prohibition ruin your life. The lawyers at Acumen Law Corporation have successfully defended thousands of DUI/IRP cases. Contact them today.*

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🗞️ In Other News

RCMP books Oak Bay man for ‘gun’ at Langford library
Turns out it was a replica, so final charges will likely end up different than the three weapons offences that the man, 59, was originally arrested for. [RCMP]

82-year overdue book maintains the record for late returns at GVPL 
With the GVPL nixing its late fees starting Jan. 10, the current record holder for overdue books likely will not be beaten. Sunshine Sketches of a Small Town by Stephen Leaock was returned to the library 82 years after it was borrowed during the First World War. [Victoria News]

Closing the books on Sidney’s Beacon Books 
She and her late husband Clive helped turn the area into Book Town because of its many book stores, but now Christine Tanner is turning the page. She’s sold her collection of rare and first-edition books and, 30 years after opening it, will close the store at month’s end. [Times Colonist]

Dec.’s warm weather could spell salmon trouble in summer
The current El Nino has brought us higher temps and less rain, and that means snowpack levels—snow that normally would freeze and then melt to provide nurturing water—are low. That’ll also affect spawning conditions, and even the premier fears we’ll have an “awful fire season again.” [CTV]

🤝 Now Hiring

Thinking of making your next career move? Let us help!

• Tesla Advisor at Tesla

• Senior Communications Advisor at BC Ferries

• Spa Attendant (Willow Stream Spa) at Fairmont Empress

• Third Cook (Cooks Assistant) at Fairmont Empress

• Assistant Manager at Foot Locker

• Store Manager at Starbucks

Looking for more openings? See 40+ jobs open now on YYJobs.

Hiring? Post your job to have it featured here, and fill your opening fast!

🗓️ Things to do

🥁 Cuban Night: Enjoy Latin music and margarita towers at Bard & Banker. Tuesdays, 8:30pm. [Info]

🌮 La Pasadita’s grand opening: The new venture from Kattia’s Kitchen in Colwood is hosting a party featuring Mexican food, Latin music, and prizes. Today. 11am-2pm. 

🎧 Goth Nite: Dance to goth rock, EBM, postpunk music and more. Victoria Event Centre. Today. 8pm. 

🎹 Owen Chow Quintet: The award-winning trumpeter will be joined by pianist Ben Sigerson, bassist Louis Rudner, and drummer Kelby Macnayr. Hermann’s Jazz Club. Today. Doors 5:30pm. Show 7pm.

🎄 Christmas tree chipping fundraiser: Bartlett Tree Experts is hosting the fundraiser for the Outdoor Playspace Project at McKenzie Elementary School. Today and tomorrow. 10am-2pm.

👀 In Case You Missed It

Friday’s headlines: IIO clears VicPD in James Bay woman’s death; Tasting Vic’s restaurant award survey; Spongy moth news. [Newsletter]

Behind the Belfry decision. [Capital Daily]

Early spring: Rhododendrons bloom near the Inner Harbour.

GoFundMe for injured Tour de Rock cyclist hits $11K+ over goal.

That’s it!

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