Oct 24 - VicPD bringing back retired officers

Good morning !

VicPD has been looking for a few good men and women for some time. They’ll continue to recruit, but the police service is also looking into its roster to get more boots on the ground.

I can’t hide it, I’m totally buzzing already for tonight’s first game of the World Series!

— Mark

Today’s approx. read time: 6 minutes

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Today: 🌧️ 13 / 9 

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Sunday: 🌧️ 9 / 8

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NEWS

VicPD goes back to the future to shore up staffing

Facing recruitment challenges and looking hard for officer material, VicPD is bringing back some recently retired members in an important, albeit limited, capacity. 

The police force yesterday unveiled its Temporary Member Program, which is designed to strengthen frontline policing, “primarily patrol, where operational demand is highest,” VicPD Chief Const. Fiona Wilson told CHEK News. 

The demands of modern policing, coupled with a competitive labour market, have left many Canadian police forces with vacancies, and that can directly affect response times, she said.

“This program allows us to bring back highly skilled, community-minded officers who can share their experience and leadership while supporting our commitment to service excellence and member well-being,” Wilson said.

The program will also seek out officers on the cusp of retirement who can offer their experience to newer officers and act as mentors. The jobs will last a maximum of three years, and there will be a six-month probationary period. 

VicPD said it is “seeking seasoned officers” who want to address the root causes of crime, partner with health, social services, and Indigenous leaders, and lead with integrity and compassion. 

“Bringing back experienced officers through this program helps sustain service levels, support new members, and reinforce the trusted connections VicPD has built in our community,” said Micayla Hayes, chair of the Victoria and Esquimalt Police Board, which approved the program.

Over the summer, VicPD got the Victoria council’s approval to hire nine more officers, and the force has requested that it be allowed to hire 16 more.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Rain warnings issued throughout the Island: A high streamflow advisory has been placed for the South and Central Island today, with the North Island on flood watch. [BC Gov’t.]

Winter tire reminder for driving on many BC routes, including Highway 14 and the Malahat portion of Highway 1.

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

From chemo to cut-outs: Jean Paetkau's journey to her new book A Gnome With No Comb!

Victoria author Jean Paetkau has another book out.
It’s not her usual murder mystery, although there is one in the works; it’s a children’s book, and it’s the fruit of a painful time.

Enduring chemotherapy and not up to the physical and mental drain of weaving together the narrative for another novel, Paetkau put her computer aside and broke out the scissors. 

“I got some coloured paper and some design paper,” she tells Capital Daily.

“On my sort of better days from chemo, or on my slightly worse days, I would just sit there and cut pictures to go along with it, and that allowed me some distraction from, you know, the suffering that comes with chemo.”

She describes her body as being “in a storm of suffering, and I could barely write.” She says the illustrations she created allowed her to escape through her imagination.

Her new poetry picture book allows readers to do the same.
A Gnome With No Comb! is a Dr. Seuss-esque early-reader, inspired by some of the young people Paetkau has met as she continues her cancer journey. 

It was released two weeks ago.

A Gnome With No Comb! explores issues “like feeling different or left out,” its Amazon webpage says. It was written to bring joy to children who have lost their hair due to chemo or alopecia, the page says.

“I was a 54-year-old woman who lost her hair, and I thought, ‘Gosh, how hard is this for kids to lose their hair?’ You don't see a lot of, you know, bald heroes in picture books,” Paetkau tells Capital Daily.

It’s Paetkau’s fourth children’s book, but unlike the first three, which her son and daughter illustrated, the artwork in this one was created by their mother.

“So, the challenge to me was, how do I take this sort of rhyming, rollicking story and illustrate it? Because you need illustrations for kids, obviously.”

Her arts and crafts efforts prevailed.
The book’s artwork is funky and imaginative. It can draw you in and keep your attention. Its colours pop.

Meanwhile, Paetkau is working on the third installment of her Breakwater Mystery series.

Following the successful Blood on the Breakwater and the follow-up, The Sinking of Souls, the next adventure of radio reporter-sleuth Helene Unger should be completed this spring and could be ready for release in the fall, she says.

Paetkau is now on immunotherapy, a treatment where the patient's own immune system is used to fight cancer, as opposed to chemo, which directly attacks cancer cells. She says at times, she can feel “like garbage,” and chronic fatigue and migraines are her all-too-often companions.

“Being done with chemo and surgery does not mean that you're, you know, air quotes, well,” she tells Capital Daily.

Over a portion of August, Paetkau raised $10,380 for ovarian cancer research by posing in vintage dresses at the Breakwater.

“I have too much fatigue from the ongoing immunotherapy, so I can’t run or cycle in a race,” she says. “So I wanted to give back in a way that was joyous but reminded me of who I am.”

The Canadian Cancer Society plans to hold a cheque presentation next Thursday at the Vancouver Island Cancer Lodge on Richmond, near the Jubilee Hospital.

This story ran for our Insiders on Oct. 19. Consider becoming an Insider today and be the first to receive stories every Sunday.

SPONSORED BY VICTORIA FOUNDATION AND COAST CAPITAL

Greater Victoria's quality of life has been graded a 'B'

Victoria's Vital Signs' 20th anniversary edition is out! And this year, survey respondents graded the quality of life in Greater Victoria a 'B.'

When Victoria’s Vital Signs was first published in 2006, few people could predict the significance this “annual check-up” would grow to have in identifying the community’s pressing issues. Nor could they have guessed the wide-scale change it would catalyze in the capital region—from a food security network to physical literacy initiatives, and more.

Since its first edition, Vital Signs has become a steadfast watchdog for all areas of community well-being. It turns complicated statistics into easy-to-use information. It spotlights the work of courageous impact organizations. It’s relied upon by civic leaders and decision-makers for a deeper understanding of how Greater Victorians perceive their daily lives.

Delve into a fascinating retrospective called "What's Next For Victoria's Vital Signs?" in the report's online edition, filled with bonus digital content!

⭐️ Capital Picks

🦝 Fluffy intruders: Raccoons caught skulking around a security camera on an Oak Bay patio. [Facebook photo]

🤝 19th ‘State of the Island’ Economic Summit Oct. 28-30. Final day to register.

🦌 🦙 Distant cousins: A curious buck rubbed noses with Osmond the alpaca through the fence at Beacon Hill Children’s Farm. [BHCF]

🧑‍🧒 1Up Victoria Single Parent Resource Centre: Building Hope for Single Parents, One Family at a Time. Empower single-parent families to thrive by donating today.*
Sponsored Listing

🗞️ In Other News

Founder of 2 Burley Men Moving charged with sexual assault
Scott Burley, who started the company 16 years ago, faces charges of sexual assault and assault by choking. He was charged on Oct. 16 for an incident that is alleged to have happened on Oct. 1, 2019. Burley said he plans to plead not guilty. The company said Burley is no longer employed there. Burley—who, with his wife, owns Coops Chicken & Smash Burgers and Serena’s Pizzeria & Hoagies, two Victoria restaurants—is scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 10. [CHEK]

RCMP releases new images as search continues for missing Island woman
Ashley Bosma, 40, has not been heard from in 10 days and was last seen camping near Comox Lake, southwest of Courtenay. Police said the lack of communication is concerning because she is usually in close contact with her family. The RCMP has released new images of the woman, showing her hair as it was coloured at the time she was last seen. They said they are “following up on every single tip,” and there have been many. [CTV]

WCL baseball meetings in Victoria, in the shadow of Blue Jays’ World Series run
West Coast League owners are in town for baseball business, but they can be excused for being riveted to the Major League Baseball playoffs unfolding on TV. Twelve of the owners—from Washington state and Oregon—are likely a little bummed that the Blue Jays knocked off their Seattle Mariners. But the owners of the five Canadian-based clubs—Victoria, Nanaimo, Kamloops, Kelowna, and Edmonton—are all smiles as the Jays move on to the Fall Classic. [Times Colonist]

🗓️ Things To Do

🎭 Pacific Opera Victoria Presents Turn of the Screw: Experience Britten's chilling psychological thriller about a governess who believes ghosts are corrupting the children in her care. Royal Theatre. Tonight, Sunday & Tuesday. 2:30pm/7:30pm. [Info]

🍺 Small Gods Dark & Candy Beer Fest Weekend: Sample imperial stouts, brown ales, and candy-inspired brews with $7 full pours plus pumpkin cheesecake specials all weekend. Small Gods Brewing in Sidney. Today-Sunday. 11am-9pm. [Info]

🤘 Downpour at the Coda: Experience Victoria's hard rock band combining old-school grunge and psychedelic rock with metal-inspired technicality. Bar Stage, The Coda. Today. 6:30-8:30pm. [Info]

🍻 Scotoberfest: Enjoy high-energy Celtic music with the Hounds of Cuchulain, plus one food item and one drink included with admission. Victoria Scottish Community Centre. Today. 7pm-12am. [Info]

🎃 Gather and Groove Presents: Millet Monster Mash: Dance the night away with three bands, including seven-piece jazz-funk-rock MILLET at this costume-encouraged Halloween party. Encore. Today. 7:30-11pm. [Info]

🎶📑 Beyond Vimy: Live music, storytelling, dance, and art in celebration of Canadian sovereignty, unity, and world peace. Mary Winspear Centre. Tomorrow. 2pm & 7:30pm. [Info]

🎃 Halloween at Bilston Creek Farm: Hunt for the Golden Pumpkin, enjoy photo ops and games, plus the Kids’ Halloween Experience with pumpkin hunt and mini witches broom making. Bilston Creek Farm. Tomorrow & Sunday. 11am-5pm. [Info]

🔮 2025 Metchosin Bewitched Market: Connect with psychics, witches, astrologers and energy healers, plus browse bewitching vendors at this mystical gathering. Metchosin Community Hall. Tomorrow & Sunday. 10am-4pm. [Info]

🍄 Grow Your Own Mushrooms: Learn low-tech cultivation methods, including fungal biology, liquid culture, and grain spawn, then make your own straw bag with Oyster Mushroom spawn. Compost Education Centre. Tomorrow. 1-3pm. [Info]

👻 Sooke Spook: Experience spooky stories inspired by local history, scary dance and poetry readings, plus International Bat Week activities with costume-encouraged roaming. Sooke Region Museum. Tomorrow. 5-7pm. [Info]

👀 In Case You Missed It

Thursday’s headlines: Hundreds protest planned highway expansion through Goldstream; Saanich moving forward with Panama Flats plan; Oak Bay Rec Centre turns 50. [Oct. 23]

Fast times at YYJ, as the airport has its busiest quarter ever. [CHEK] 

Saanich senior managers can approve standard procurements under $500K, and directors can OK buys up to $5M. [Times Colonist]

Beaver Beach Playground closes next week for resurfacing work. [Oct. 28-Nov. 7]

Wicked Victoria on Government & Bastion Square. [Sunday 10:30am-3:30pm.]

Evil Weiner pop-up: Try some killer hot dogs and beer at this one-night event at Floyd’s Diner (Gorge). Tomorrow. [Info]

That’s it!

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