June 26 - VicPD accused of using vehicles as weapons

Good morning !

My final note on the Stanley Cup final: Three-quarters (74.7%) of respondents to our poll—930 of 1,245 votes—had faith in the Oilers and thought Edmonton would complete their epic comeback against Florida Monday night. Just 41 (3%) called the Panthers, while 108 (8%) said it was 50-50. Congrats to Florida. And congrats to The Oil. I know that’s not a popular opinion around these Canucks parts, but that was a pretty amazing near comeback.

— Mark

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

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NEWS

Documents show VicPD officers using cruisers as weapons

A cyclist is suing VicPD, claiming one of its officers intentionally used a police cruiser to knock them from their e-bike near the Gorge and Harriet intersection in January 2023—a tactic officers seem to be applying often, according to data obtained through a freedom of information (FOI) request. 

It’s one of a dozen or so occasions in the last 10 years when Victoria police used vehicles to purposely hit people riding bikes, scooters, or who were on foot, according to a report in the Times Colonist.

Alkido Pashollari says they were riding their bike around 10:30pm when they went through a red light. “A Victoria police officer turned their lights and sirens on. I assumed she was going to drive passed (sic) me so I continued biking,” Pashollari said in a notice of claim filed in provincial small claims court on Jan. 27, 2023, according to documents obtained through FOI.

“At Gorge Rd. W. between Harriet Road and Qu’Appelle St., she drove beside me, and hit me with her vehicle on my left side, knocking me to the ground,” Pashollari wrote.

In court documents, VicPD admitted a vehicle its officers were driving “collided with the Claimant” after they saw them cycle through a red light. “The Claimant refused to stop and the Defendant’s officers used their police vehicle to make contact with the E-bike’s rear-wheel in order to stop the Claimant and to prevent the Claimant from fleeing,” VicPD said.

The TC used FOI information obtained from Stephen Harrison, a Victoria resident who keeps tabs on police accountability at needsmorespikes.com.

“I would hope at a minimum that some people are surprised to learn that this is what VicPD is choosing to do and putting people at risk for,” Harrison tells Capital Daily.

Read the full story here.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Missing teen: Madison Waterhouse, 14, has gone missing for the second time in three weeks. She’s considered at risk by Campbell River RCMP.

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

Victoria will pursue fast-tracking social services projects

Council voted 6-2 and then 6-1 to have staff work on zoning amendments to pre-zone the whole city for projects that have services for unhoused people. This zoning would prevent such projects from having to go through certain approval steps, including rezoning hearings, which can often be lengthy and expensive. The four stipulations include:

• No more than 50 people sheltering overnight

• No fewer than 200m between one centre and another

• No negative effects on neighbours

• Proper property maintenance

Mayor Marianne Alto, who brought the motion, argues that the people these facilities will help are already sheltering on municipal property—just not indoors. 

City taking a more active role in homelessness services

Victoria recently helped the nonprofit SOLID set up a homelessness services centre in North Park, providing $300K for the purchase and $1.8M in funding for up to a year.

Some neighbours protested last week, saying they weren’t properly consulted about the building at 2155 Dowler. The city isn't required to do neighbourhood consultation before helping with a real estate transaction, and Alto stressed the property is not going to be used as an overdose prevention and safe-consumption site.

NEWS

MLA Adam Olsen won’t seek reelection in the fall

Saying he wants to focus on his family the MLA for Saanich North and the Islands announced his decision yesterday.

“I believe it’s the responsible and ethical thing to step aside when you can't commit fully to the job for the next four years,” he said in a release.

One of only two Green members in BC’s legislature—party leader Sonia Furstenau is the other—the Tsartlip First Nation member said he considered both his own physical and mental well-being, as well as the fact his children are going through important times in their education as reasons to withdraw from the provincial election, slated for Oct. 19.

Olsen will remain with the party as its campaign chair where he will “recruit and mentor candidates, provide platform advice, and offer strategic direction” for the coming campaign, he said.

First elected to the legislature in 2008, Olsen was reelected in 2011, 2017, and 2021. He served temporarily as party leader from 2013 to 2015. Since 2021, he has served as party house leader.

His departure leaves just Furstenau—now running in the Victoria-Beacon Hill riding—and the Greens looking for new blood. “The BC Green Party is actively engaging with potential candidates to run in Saanich North and the Islands,” the party said in a release.

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⭐️ Capital Picks

🍅 South Island FarmHub pop-up market at Vic Public Market. Today. 11:30am-2pm

🌈 ☁️ Cloud iridescence in Sooke sent in by reader Katherine Geiger:

🤝 Now hiring: Community Engagement Consultant at Sooke Region Museum & Visitor Centre

🗞️ In Other News

Former BC premier John Horgan in 3rd battle with cancer
Horgan, who stepped down as premier in 2022, has thyroid cancer and has taken a leave of absence from his job as Canadian ambassador to Germany. In a statement, the 64-year-old said doctors in Berlin were following up on his throat cancer when they discovered a separate cancer “that has proven to be complicated.” In 2008, Horgan was diagnosed with bladder cancer but eventually was declared cancer-free. [Global News]

Langford blast leaves two workers with mild injuries
The scheduled explosion at a construction site was larger than anticipated, drawing fire crews to pay a morning visit after they received several concerned calls. The workers didn’t need to go to hospital for their injuries. RCMP and WorkSafe BC are currently investigating, with some concern over the blast’s proximity to a forested area. [Vancouver Island Free Daily]

Nearly one-third of BC’s independent bookstores are on Vancouver Island
Nine of these shops operate in Victoria, with Ivy’s Bookstore in Oak Bay celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. Three can be found in the Comox Valley. Store owners say they help each other out, rather than compete with one another. They also say business for physical books remains strong despite the rising popularity of e-books. [CBC]

Snuneymuxw First Nation rolls the dice, buys Island casino
Great Canadian Entertainment has agreed to sell Casino Nanaimo to Petroglyph Development Group Ltd., which is wholly owned by the Snuneymuxw First Nation. The nation says the historic purchase will help its economy thrive. It marks the nation’s entry into the casino industry and will see traditional land returned to it. The casino generated nearly $3M in 2022/2023. [CHEK]

🗓️ Things to do

🏀 W’Hoop It Up: Canada vs. Portugal: See Canada’s national women's basketball team take on Portugal at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre, as part of a pre-Olympic training camp. Tonight. 6pm. [Info]

⚾️ Pop it Up: Or watch some good ballplayers show you how it’s done. HarbourCats vs. Port Angeles Lefties. RAP. 6:30pm. Tonight, tomorrow & Friday. [Info]

🎷 Jazz Fest Victoria: This festival of shows will continue this week, with concerts at Bullen Park, Hermann’s, and Wicket Hall, running through Sunday. [Info]

💍 Chi Cheng Lee: See artistic jewelry made by Lee at the Avenue Gallery, available to see for free until next Tuesday. [Info]

🎵 Goin’ Underwater: Catch this live music show, featuring local bands at the Victoria Event Centre. Tomorrow. 8pm. [Info]

💄 Peaches’ Palace: This monthly show is back at Friends of Dorothy tomorrow, featuring drag, comedy, and burlesque. 8:30pm. [Info]

🎭 Entertainment Village: Head to The Mint for this improv comedy show hosted by OK Dope. Tomorrow. 8pm. [Info]

🎶 Laketown Shakedown: The music festival will take place this weekend at Laketown Ranch in Youbou, with headliners Gwen Stefani, Busta Rhymes, and Jesse Roper. Fri-Sun. [Info]

😂 Bruce McCulloch: Tales of Bravery and Stupidity. The Kids in the Hall legend will take the stage at the McPherson Playhouse to perform his solo work. Sat. 8pm. [Info]

🎸 Hollow Coves: See the Australian indie rockers at the Capital Ballroom. Sun. 7:30pm. [Info]

🍁 Victoria Canada Day: Join in on the celebration at the legislature and Inner Harbour, with live music, food vendors, and a special drone and firework show. Mon. 11am-10:30pm. [Info]

👀 In Case You Missed It

Tuesday headlines: BC ombudsperson says appointees got great gov’t gigs; BC family benefit boosted starting next month; Things looking up for Vic hockey player Down Under; And more. [June 25]

In James Bay, waiting is not a gas, gas, gas. [Capital Daily] 

Wrestling with a twist—and it’s a Riot, Grrrrls. [Capital Daily] 

Prepare for possible roadblocks on 🍁 Day long weekend. [CHEK]

BC Parks reservation fee draws class-action lawsuit. [Times Colonist]

Community Food Support needs July volunteers. [Info]

Strawberry moon pics from Cadboro Bay and Cecile Brisebois Guillemot.

That’s it!

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