Latest news with #Esquimalt
CTV News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
‘Unlike anything I'd ever seen!': B.C. man captures footage of ‘fairy' on security camera
Adam meets a man who captured a seemingly supernatural creature on his security camera. ESQUIMALT, B.C. — Before he ever imagined seeing something magical, Steve McBeath installed security cameras to be purely practical. 'There was a bit of comfort in having them,' Steve says. 'To be able to see who's been wandering around your place.' Whenever the camera is triggered, Steve immediately gets a notification on his phone saying if it's a human or an animal. 'All sorts of critters are constantly moving past it,' Steve says, adding he's seen countless cats, dogs, raccoons and deer. But there have been a couple times when the camera captured people – including someone who tried to open his car and turn the handle on his back door. 'They had actually done some break-ins that same evening,' he says. So, when Steve got a similar notification the other night, he feared the worst. 'It said it saw a person,' Steve says. '(But) it wasn't a person.' And it wasn't one of the usual animals either. 'It was unlike anything I've ever seen before,' Steve says. It appeared as a bright dot crossing the black and white video, before suddenly turning up and flying straight at the camera. 'It was bizarre,' Steve says. 'It looked kind of humanoid.' It looked like a fairy with a glowing set of wings. 'It was very eerily lit,' Steve says of the footage. 'It was a shimmering silver colour.' While that magical moment was quickly replaced by a mundane explanation – it was likely some sort of insect – it was still wonderful. 'I just thought other people would get a kick out of it as well,' Steve says. So, Steve took the time to post the fairy video on his local community page. 'The very first guy (who commented) said a rolled-up newspaper would take care of that,' Steve says. But after that, more than a couple people mentioned the creatures looked like Tinker Bell from Peter Pan. Hundreds expressed their appreciation, and tens of thousands watched the magic unfold. 'I was just stunned with the response to this,' Steve says. But even better was seeing one his granddaughters Isabelle watching the fairy footage for the first time in awe. 'They'll always remember the time their goofy old grandad got himself on TV because a fly flew by his security camera!' Steve laughs. Or they will never forget that time their couldn't-be-more-wonderful grandad captured a fairy on camera and made the effort to make his world — if just for a moment — feel like magic. 'Just look for things that are unusual,' Steve smiles. 'You never know where something like this is going to pop up and be a bit of fun.'
Cision Canada
25-06-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
Pomerleau Awarded the Belleville Terminal Redevelopment Project
VICTORIA, BC, June 25, 2025 /CNW/ - Pomerleau is pleased to announce the close of contract negotiations with the Province of British Columbia for the second phase of the Belleville Terminal Redevelopment Project, a major infrastructure initiative that will transform the international marine gateway in Victoria's Inner Harbour. The Belleville Terminal Redevelopment Project – Phase II will create a safe, secure, and state of the art international gateway for both passengers and goods traveling between British Columbia and the United States. Designed to comply with Canada-U.S. Land, Rail, Marine and Air Transport Preclearance Agreement, the terminal will make travel faster and easier by allowing passengers to complete the customs and immigration process in Victoria prior to disembarking in the U.S. Pomerleau will work closely with the Province, Indigenous Nations, and key project stakeholders to finalize the terminal design and deliver this critical infrastructure. " At Pomerleau, we believe great infrastructure builds great communities", said Philippe Adam, President and Chief Executive Officer at Pomerleau. " The Belleville Terminal Redevelopment Project is critical to the region and will provide a safe and secure modern port of entry - we are very proud to bring our technical expertise and collaborative approach to the table". " Securing the Belleville Terminal Redevelopment Project marks a significant milestone in our continuous efforts to enhance infrastructure in the region. This project exemplifies our dedication to delivering high-quality construction solutions that positively impact our communities." confirmed Stephan Lacombe, Regional Vice President - Buildings West, at Pomerleau. About the Belleville Terminal Redevelopment Project Located in the heart of Victoria's Inner Harbour, the Belleville Terminal Redevelopment Project – Phase II will build a modern preclearance terminal in Victoria's Inner Harbour, making travel more convenient and enhancing security and trade between Vancouver Island and Washington State. The redevelopment will create a modern terminal that meets current safety, security, and accessibility standards, with enhanced amenities for travelers and improved integration with Victoria's downtown and regional transportation networks. The project will also support economic development, tourism, and reconciliation with the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations through meaningful engagement and partnership opportunities. About Pomerleau Pomerleau is one of Canada's largest construction companies, with approximately $6 billion in revenues. It delivers buildings, civil engineering works, and major infrastructure projects using collaborative models. With its research and development lab, Pomerleau integrates innovation in a vast majority of its projects and works in a sustainable way to build the living environments of tomorrow. Its subsidiary Borea executes close to 50% of the country's renewable construction projects, and its subsidiary ITC Construction Group is one of the largest residential construction companies in the West. Its investment arm, Pomerleau Capital, specializes in private infrastructure investment and financing. Founded almost 60 years ago, Pomerleau has over 5,000 employees and workers at over 200 sites from coast to coast. The company has been named among Canada's Top 100 Employers since 2020.
Vancouver Sun
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Vancouver Sun
Welcome to šxʷməθkʷəy̓əmasəm Street: Vancouver's newest street name is also its first using alphabet other than English
Vancouver's newest street name is set to be the city's first officially named in an alphabet other than English: šxʷməθkʷəy̓əmasəm Street. The new name, which comes from the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ language of the Musqueam First Nation, will replace Trutch Street on Vancouver's West Side if city council approves a staff report at a meeting next week. The report says the Musqueam First Nation has long advocated for removing the name of B.C.'s first lieutenant-governor, Joseph Trutch, from the street as a way to 'acknowledge Trutch's racist legacy, reduce the prominence of his name, and advance reconciliation efforts.' Trutch denied the existence of Inidegnous rights and reduced the size of reserve lands, the city website says, and the politician is now 'acknowledged as being openly racist and hostile to First Nation Peoples.' Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. In July 2021, Vancouver's then-mayor Kennedy Stewart proposed removing the Trutch name and choosing another picked by the Musqueam chief and council, a move that was unanimously supported by council. In September 2022, the Musqueam Nation, or xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, provided the name ' šxʷməθkʷəy̓əmasəm Street ,' which translated into English as 'Musqueamview Street.' Some Vancouver neighbourhoods, including Chinatown and the Punjabi Market, have street signs featuring other languages along with the official street name, such as Pender or Main Street. The difference in the new proposal would be that šxʷməθkʷəy̓əmasəm will be the street's sole official name. 'In accordance with xʷməθkʷəy̓əm wishes, the legal name of the street will be solely šxʷməθkʷəy̓əmasəm Street, making this Vancouver's first street named in hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓,' the city report says. 'With no fluent speakers left, this change is a landmark moment for the revitalization of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm language, weaving the display of hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ into the public fabric of city life.' Because this is the first Vancouver street named in an alphabet other than English, the city requested input from several entities, including the city's legal department, Vancouver Police Department, Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services, B.C. Emergency Health Services, and others. Emergency service providers raised concerns about 'way-finding and ease of pronunciation for callers in distress on the street,' the report states. To address these concerns, city staff recommended posting two street signs on each post along the street, one with 'šxʷməθkʷəy̓əmasəm St.' and another below with 'Musqueamview St.' In 2022, the City of Victoria also changed all of its Trutch Street signs to Su'it Street, which means 'truth' for the Esquimalt and Songhees First Nations. If council approves the staff report next week, the new šxʷməθkʷəy̓əmasəm Street signs are scheduled to be officially revealed at an event on June 20 at St. James Community Square. dfumano@
CBC
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
A million acts of love later, I found a way to keep my sister's spirit alive
Lexi is my inspiration First Person columns are personal stories and experiences from kids written in their own words. For more information and to learn how to submit your own piece, scroll to the bottom of the page. At nine years old, I had no idea how my sister Lexi's death would shape the rest of my life. My name is Felix Townsin and I live in Esquimalt, British Columbia. Lexi died unexpectedly on Oct. 19, 2019, just before her seventh birthday, from complications of a rare illness. I didn't know how I could go on without her. But now, at 15, I've found ways to carry my grief while turning it into something meaningful. Lexi, right, spent a lot of time in hospital due to a rare disease, called Blau syndrome, that she was born with. Her brother, Felix, left, has found a way to honour her since she died in 2019. (Image credit: Cheryl-Lynn Townsin) Lexi's story Lexi had a rare auto inflammatory disease called Blau syndrome. It caused pain in all her joints, as well as stomach aches, headaches and serious vision problems. Even though she was in pain every day, you would never know it by looking at her. She was the strongest person I knew. She had a bubbly, mischievous personality and her laughter was contagious. Lexi always put others before herself and was especially kind to animals. She made friends with every kid in her kindergarten class and even convinced them all to rescue baby spiders on the playground. Lexi was my best friend. Everyone who met her fell instantly in love with her. Me included. How A Million Acts of Love came together I didn't want Lexi's story to end with her death. I wanted people to know how she lived — with courage, joy, love and kindness. That is how A Million Acts of Love was born. It is a project I created to honour Lexi's memory by spreading kindness around the world. I chose this idea because Lexi spread so much love in her life and would have wanted it to continue. The idea is simple: anyone can sign up on our website to do acts of love and kindness in Lexi's name. We tracked all those acts. Our goal was to reach one million acts of love by what would have been Lexi's 12th birthday on Dec. 16, 2024. This was the most challenging project I have taken on. I felt overwhelmed and stressed but I never wanted to give up. Every day, I kept pushing to raise awareness and get more people involved. I created a line of merchandise using a logo made from Lexi's hand-drawn hearts. I organized a benefit concert in Victoria, B.C. I worked with mayors from multiple communities in B.C. to get official proclamations declaring Nov. 16 to Dec. 16, 2024, as A Million Acts of Love Month. Lexi was my inspiration and my parents were the most helpful partners I could ask for, encouraging me and supporting me in every way. Felix, top right, organized a benefit concert in Victoria, B.C., to raise awareness about his initiative, A Million Acts of Love. (Image credit: Trish Glab) My favourite part of the campaign has been hearing the amazing stories of the acts of kindness people have been doing. People have shared their acts of love with us by email and on social media. Some were small acts and some were huge. A student on Vancouver Island cooked 1,000 homemade meals and treats for kids in his school with the help of his educational assistant; they called it Cal and Amanda's Cookin' for Lexi. Trees were planted in India, driveways shovelled in Eastern Canada. Kids stood up in front of their classes and their schools to share Lexi's story and to encourage even more good deeds. Every time I hear one of these stories, I feel like Lexi has helped bring more goodness into the world. Achieving my goal and continuing my work On Lexi's birthday, we gathered to announce the final tally for A Million Acts of Love. I was second-guessing myself and imagining how disappointed everyone would be if we didn't make it. But to my great surprise, we had achieved 1,016,012 acts of love. I couldn't believe it. I was overwhelmed with appreciation for all the people who helped and for all the kindness that was spread in Lexi's name. Felix, holding his dog Max, says his parents, Troy Townsin, left, and Cheryl-Lynn Townsin, right, have supported him throughout his campaign. (Image credit: Trish Glab) While working on this campaign, I kept Lexi's memory in my heart and grew even more connected with her. While Lexi will never come back, it helps me know that she won't be forgotten and that she continues to make such a positive impact. One thing I've learned is that kids aren't powerless. We have the ability to inspire huge change in the world. I am now turning A Million Acts of Love into a foundation to continue inspiring acts of love and to help support kids with grants so they can make a bigger impact. I am also working with scientists to help find a cure for Blau syndrome. I didn't set out to change the world — I just couldn't stand the thought of Lexi being forgotten. Now I know, because of all this love, she never will be. Do you have a First Person piece you'd like to share with the CBC Kids News audience? Here's what we're looking for: A First Person columnist highlights a specific experience they have been through and how it affected them. The column has a clear focus, is backed up by personal experiences and facts, is tied to something happening in the news and will be of interest to other kids in Canada. To read previous submissions, click here. Do you want to write a personal story for CBC Kids News? Pitch your idea here! Have more questions? Want to tell us how we're doing? Use the 'send us feedback' link below. ⬇️⬇️⬇️
CBC
02-06-2025
- General
- CBC
Daughter of First Nations woman missing 20 years remembers her mother's 'warm hands'
Stephanie Cameron-Johnson was 11 and in foster care when she learned her mother had gone missing on Vancouver Island, after a friend showed her a photo in a newspaper. What followed would be two decades of challenging racial stereotypes surrounding her mom, undoing shame, and repairing identity disconnection caused by the child welfare system, Cameron-Johnson says. "The narrative that's been spoken about missing, murdered Indigenous women and two-spirit folks… I really feel like it's my responsibility to change that," said Cameron-Johnson. Her mother Belinda Cameron, a Sixties Scoop survivor from Peguis First Nation in Manitoba, was 42 when she was last seen at a Shoppers Drug Mart in Esquimalt, B.C., on Esquimalt Rd near Head St., on May 11, 2005. She suffered from a mental illness and was prescribed medication, to be picked up at Shoppers daily, but failed to attend the pharmacy in the days following. She wasn't reported missing until June 4. Police consider disappearance suspicious Det. Colin Hanninen of the Victoria Police Department said Cameron was a person of routine and a fixture in Esquimalt in 2005. She was considered a vulnerable person by police due to addiction and mental health issues, said Hanninen, and her disappearance is considered suspicious. Cameron was initially reported missing by a man who she'd been involved with, but the man told Victoria Police he had not seen her in over a month. Police used a polygraph test to question if the man had harmed Cameron; he denied doing so and passed the test. "At the time there was a robust investigation involving this person, and a polygraph was part of that," said Hanninen. Investigators conducted over 100 interviews and an extensive forensic examination of Cameron's Cairn Road apartment near Old Esquimalt Road, said Hanninen, as well as canine and helicopter searches. "Unfortunately, you know, it had been potentially three to four weeks from the time we can confirm she was last seen to her being reported, which puts you at a disadvantage," said Hanninen. "In 2005, it would have been a lot more challenging than it would be today to find clues of where she could have gone or, you know, if she was with anybody." A 2010 report from the Native Women's Association of Canada said British Columbia had the highest number of cases of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls in the country, according to its database. B.C. also had the highest percentage of suspicious death cases: nine per cent of the cases in its database from B.C. fell under the category of suspicious deaths, compared to four per cent nationally, the report said. 'Ripple effect' Cameron-Johnson said police and media reports her mother used drugs or may be doing sex work don't fit with the way she remembers her mother. "It's a stereotype… that's not all who she was," said Cameron-Johnson. "I remember speaking to some social workers, and they said that she was just always so sweet and kind but that could also kind of get taken advantage of." Cameron-Johnson and her younger sister Zoe were living in foster care at the time of their mother's disappearance. Social workers told the sisters their mother voluntarily put them into care, said Cameron-Johnson, but she remembers being abruptly removed by ministry workers from her Grade 1 classroom in 1999. 'When she went missing, my foster mom told me that it was essentially, like, her fault," Cameron-Johnson said. "They really did make her look like she was in the wrong." She and her sister being put in care was the beginning of her mother's downward spiral, Cameron-Johnson said. "I feel like that really kind of did have that ripple effect on my mom's self worth, and going missing," said Cameron-Johnson. "I don't think she was surrounded with care and love and support. I feel that someone did, like, harm her in a terrible way, and I think that people knew her... know things." Kirsten Barnes, director of clinical legal services at the B.C. First Nations Justice Council, said women like Cameron faced less access to legal recourse and understanding around systemic barriers in the '90s and early 2000s than today, with improvements still needed. "Indigenous women, a lot of them would have felt incredibly alone. They would have felt incredible power imbalance… she probably felt a great deal of pressure," said Barnes. Federal and provincial sanctioned policies such as residential schools and the Sixties Scoop were "created deliberately to destroy the family unit," said Barnes, and have led to the ongoing overrepresentation of Indigenous children in care, known as the Millennial Scoop. As of January 2024, 68 per cent of the 4,835 children and youth in care in B.C. were Indigenous, according to the province. "In this case with Belinda, had she had those [family] connections her whole entire life, things may have been different, right? She may have had all of the support that she would have needed," Barnes said. "No parent wants to ever voluntarily give their children up… and that may not have happened if she had not been taken as a child herself. It wasn't really voluntary if you think about the circumstances that she was probably dealing with at the time." Cameron-Johnson said she and her sister are still looking for answers on what happened to their mother, and can feel their mom guiding them. Belinda Cameron was a mother, a homemaker, a baker, enjoyed beading group nights at the Victoria Friendship Centre, and was a skilled thrifter with incredible style, said Cameron-Johnson. "I just remember her warm hands. She just had a really lovely, warm presence," Cameron-Johnson said. "She was there. She was present. I can't really ask more for that, as a parent, to have in your life." Belinda Cameron is described as a five feet, eight inches tall with a medium to large build, long, dark brown hair at the time of her disappearance, and dark brown eyes. She is also known as Belinda Ann Engen.
