The Victoria Police Department is beefing up security for the Canada 150 festivities downtown this weekend.
Officers and reserve constables will be out Friday (June 30) and Saturday (July 1) patrolling in and around the Inner Harbour during the Spirit of 150 Victoria celebrations, which include musical performances, a family zone and food village.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a safe, fun, family event. WeB次元官网网址檙e going to be working to make sure thatB次元官网网址檚 the case,B次元官网网址� said VicPD civilian spokesperson, Bowen Osoko. B次元官网网址淚t really is a chance to celebrate some of the things that make Canada, Canada.B次元官网网址�
Officers from the Oak Bay and Saanich departments, plus West Shore RCMP, will provide onsite assistance while the Capital Regional DistrictB次元官网网址檚 Integrated Road Safety Unit will be watching for drinking and driving.
In addition, police will install temporary cameras in public spaces, which will be taken down following the events.
Osoko said the department has monitored various incidents around the world and are confident in the security plans for the event, which is expected to draw thousands to the downtown core for the final two days of Canada 150 festivities.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e really aware of mitigating the concerns people have about the safety of these types of events,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲e actively plan our approaches to these events based on whatB次元官网网址檚 happening in the world, based on realities happening all around the globe B次元官网网址� WeB次元官网网址檙e doing all we can to keep people safe.B次元官网网址�
Last year on Canada Day, police received 156 calls and made 22 arrests. There were roughly two dozen reports of public intoxication, and fights or assaults. Police also conducted a number of alcohol pour outs. VicPD encourages anyone who sees anything suspicious during the festivities to call 911, tell an officer or use #VicPDhelps on Twitter.
Transit schedule adjusted for Canada Day weekend
BC Transit will add buses as needed on June 30 and Canada Day, which includes buses standing by along the Douglas Street corridor to depart from downtown after the fireworks on July 1. Some bus routes will run later; the last buses will leave downtown Victoria between 1:15 a.m. and 1:30 a.m. Alcohol will not be permitted on city buses. For details on service adjustments visit bctransit.com.
There will also be a number of road closures downtown and around the Inner Harbour on Friday, June 30, between 4:30 and 11 p.m., as well as Saturday, July 1 from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Visit for full details.
Activities aplenty this Canada Day weekend
Leading up to Canada Day, which this year celebrates the countryB次元官网网址檚 sesquicentennial, concerts and other performances have been taking place nightly at Ship Point. Headlining this yearB次元官网网址檚 main stage concerts on the lawns of the legislature are Tegan and Sara (Friday, 8:30 p.m.) and the Arkells (Saturday, 9:15 p.m.).
Delhi2Dublin, Rococode and Carmanah precede Tegan and Sara on Friday, while other acts scheduled for Saturday include Funk Hunters, En Karma, De Temps Antan and Dirty Mountain. A family zone is available on the lawn from noon to 5 p.m. both days, as is an international food village on a closed-off Belleville Street (in front of the legislature) from noon until dusk.
The annual fireworks display is scheduled to start at 10:20 p.m.
