Current Sections: ----------------------------------------
News
-----------------------------------
-----------------------------------
Photos
 -----------------------------------
Food
 -----------------------------------
Music
-----------------------------------
'B'-ing
-----------------------------------
Special Features:
-----------------------------------
|
News
|
|
|
June 26, 2010
Filmed by Andrew Ainsley, B Channel News at Trinity St. Paul’s United Church.Goodman was in town to cover the 2010 Toronto G20 Summit for her radio/tv/web news program Democracy Now, the War and Peace report. |
September 3, 2010
Over 60 people attended the City of Victoria’s Governance and Priorities Committee meeting, on the morning of September 2. The Agenda topic that drew in the crowds was a motion to amend the streets and traffic bylaw.
The changes to this by-law would prohibit overnight camping on medians and boulevards in the City of Victoria.
Council, which describes the Pandora Green (900 block) as a boulevard, is citing ‘safety reasons’ for this action.
Click here for audio, photos and links to other local media coverage.
|
Central Saanich Council Votes in Favour of Vantreight Development
August 23, 2010
The proposal by Vantreight Farms to develop 13 hectares of their land into 57 family dwellings has passed third reading by Central Saanich council and will now be heard at a 4th reading.
In this video series, B Channel speaks with Ryan Vantreight, who explains the development his family is putting forward, the reasons they are intending to build on their land and how they see it benefiting the community. We also speak with Gordon O’Connor from the Dogwood Initiative, which has launched an information campaign against this development.
|
|
 Bill Vander Zalm, spokesperson for the Fight HST Campaign, has issued a statement that says, 'acting Chief Electoral Officer, Craig James, said that the Initiative to End the Harmonized Sales Tax in BC has successfully
passedthe required 10% threshold in all 85 ridings'. Vander Zalm added, that 'James has decided not to act upon the results'.
The Fight HST organization announced that they will launch a “total recall” campaign against all BC Liberal MLAs. The campaign will start on November 15th.
|
|
July 30, 2010
In 2009, the Victoria Police Department responded to 2806 calls in the area of the 900 Block of Pandora St. in downtown Victoria. In a recent report available to the public, the VicPD outlined the types of calls, volumes, and provided their own analysis of what the numbers indicate.
B Channel News spoke to Constable Mike Massine, Acting Media Relations Officer - VicPD about the report and we bring you this video.
|
July 14, 2010
The District of Central Saanich held a forum on July 14, to consult the public on a development proposal made by Vantreight Farms.
The public forum, which lasted over six hours, saw speakers providing council with public opinion both for and against the development. |
|
In response to numerous reports that members of the queer community were segregated from other prisoners at a detention centre during the G20 Summit protests, a group of over 60 people gathered outside a Pride function attended by Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair and demanded accountability for the actions of the police during the summit.
Watch Videos Here
|
|
June 30, 2010
Among those caught up in what has become the largest mass arrest in Canadian history were a number of journalists, working for both the mainstream and alternative media.
On Monday, June 28, journalists working out of the Alternative Media Centre held a press conference to describe their treatment by Toronto Police while covering the protests at the G20 Summit.
In these videos we hear from journalists and community organizers, followed by a question an answer period.
|
|
June 29, 2010
Originally scheduled to happen at the University of Toronto, the Shout Out for Global Justice was moved to Massey Hall when the U of T campus was shut down for the duration of the G20.
The event, held on June 25, 2010, was organized by the Council of Canadians and included a star-studded list of high profile speakers representing opposition to the G20, including Dr. Vandana Shiva, Maude Barlow, Amy Goodman and Naomi Klein.
Hosted by veteran Canadian actor R.H. Thompson, the event was one of the most anticipated events during the activist convergence during the G8 and G20 Summits.
B Channel News brings you video of this event in 8 parts, followed by an interview before the event with Dr. Vandana Shiva, founder of Navdanya, an environmental justice organization that counts 5,000,000 farmer families in sixteen states of India among its members.
|
The Beautification of Pandora Green
June 28, 2010
In April of 2009 the City of Victoria approved plans to develop and beautify the boulevard on the 900 block of Pandora Ave., between Quadra and Vancouver.
B Channel began coverage of the issue in June of 2009, interviewing city staff, business owners, and other people effected by or concerned with this project. We spoke with some that were consulted during the process and those that were not. The following video series and articles presents the experiences and the diverse opinions of those involved. Not a clear answer or detailed time-line, but a little closer look at the human element and the politics of one small project, on one small block, in one small city.
|
Activists Report Police Targeting and Intimidation
June 27, 2010
Community Organizers with migrant justice organization No One is Illegal and activist convergence organizers Toronto Community Mobilization Network held a press conference on Sunday, June 27 to share their concerns in regards to the arrests of activists and community organizers opposed to the G8/G20.
In the past 24 hours, over 600 people, including mainstream and independent media workers, have been arrested following several large marches. During one of the protest marches on Saturday, several police vehicles were set aflame and hundreds of shop windows were smashed. The bulk of the arrests this weekend happened during peaceful protest on Sunday.
The Integrated Security Unit, the RCMP-led force responsible for security during the summits, have announced that several of the arrests, including that of 4 activists who were arrested as part of a house raid, were part of a year long investigation in which police infiltrated anarchist planning meetings.
|
|
June 26, 2010
Social networking is an online method of sharing and receiving information
all over the globe. Sites like Facebook, Twitter, Youtube (video) and Flickr (photos) allow the public to spread information relevant to them andtheir followers at real time, to be read by anyone anywhere in the world.
During the G8 – G20 summits, users have been posting a variety of information ranging for public opinion, to information on what is happening at the summit but also on the streets.
In the following interview, B Channel News speaks with Sergeant Tim Burrows, Toronto Police, with the Integrated Security Unit, who speaks to us about the ISU’s use of social networking and provides advice for people who utilize these sites to obtain information about the G8-G20 Summits in Toronto.
|
|
June 24, 2010
In the days leading up to the G8/G20 Summits, activists and community organizers have been co-ordinating events and actions around Themed Days of Resistance, which highlight different issues each day, as a build-up to the Days of Action that are scheduled for June 25-27.
The theme for June 24 was Indigenous Sovereignty and the streets of Toronto saw a First Nations led march of over 1500 people.
Later that day a press conference was held, and members of Defenders of the Land and No One is Illegal (two groups involved in the march) spoke to reporters in front of the three kilometre, $5.5 million security fence that has encircled the area around the summit site in downtown Toronto. Watch Videos
|
|
Carrie Lester on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
June 24, 2010
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) wrapped up the first of seven National Events on June 19, 2010 at The Forks National Historic Site in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
During the 2010 People's Summit, which was held in Toronto as a lead-up to the G8/G20 Summits, a panel discussion was held at Ryerson University entitled "World Economic Disorder and the G20 Summits." One of the speakers was Carrie Lester, a social activist involved in issues of the environment and indigenous rights. Lester talked on the subject of the residential school system and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Watch video here.
|
|
Independent Media and International Solidarity
June 22, 2010
B Channel News Producer and Videographer Andrew Ainsley traveled to Toronto a week ahead of the G20 to cover the events of the People's Summit. The night before the Opening Night Launch, he attended a lecture by Journalist and Community Organizer Stefan Christoff at Ontario Institute for Studies in Education.
Christoff talked about the relationship of independent media makers to the social movements opposing the G8/G20, and of the relationship that corporate media outlets like CBC, CTVglobemedia and Canwest have with the the government.
|
|
NDP Challenge G20 Priorities
June 22, 2010
The New Democrat Party has challenged G8 and G20 leaders to move global poverty and climate change to the top of their summit agendas.
“If the G8 and G20 summits are to be successful, Stephen Harper and other world leaders need to take real and immediate action on poverty eradication, climate change and financial reforms”, says the New Democrat Party website.
B Channel News Editor Lisa Nickol will be in Ontario this weekend covering the G8/G20 Summits. In this article she talks to NDP Foreign Affairs Critic Paul Dewar on that party's response to the upcoming summits.
|
|
Inside the G8/G20: Canada Shown as Example for Economic Performance
June 22, 2010
Yesterday, Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance for Canada held a briefing session in New York on the upcoming G-8 and G-20 meetings and Canada's economic performance.
“Canada has weathered the deepest, most synchronized global downturn since the 1930’s in better shape than other industrialized countries. The decline in output in our country was the smallest of our G7 counterparts, as you can see in that slide, Canada on the left. Canada’s economic recovery has also been remarkable. We have virtually recouped a recession’s worth of economic decline. No other G7 country can say that,” said Flaherty.
B Channel News Editor Lisa Nickol will be in Ontario this weekend to cover the G8/G20 Summits. In this article we get a glimpse of the message that the Canadian government hopes to deliver during these summits.
|
|
Wonder why people are protesting the G8/G20? The Toronto Community Mobilization Network fills us in on some of the issues that will bring bringing people to the fence. Video clips from a press conference held on June 21, 2010. This was also the opening day of the Alternative Media Centre. Some of the independent journalists involved with this project also speak.
|
|
Stories and Solutions from North and South
June 19, 2010
B Channel News has sent a team of journalists to cover the G8/G20 Summits in Huntsville and Toronto.
Leading up to the actual summits, which take place from June 25-27, 2010, are a series of events that are billed as the 'People's Summit'. The opening night launch, called Stories and Solutions from North and South, was held on June 18, 2010 at The Carlu in Toronto. B Channel News was there and filmed the event to share with our viewers back home.
There were 8 speakers, including comedian Mary Walsh, and Maude Barlow, National Chairperson, Council of Canadians.
|
Honey-bee keepers on Vancouver Island are opposed to the Ministry of Agriculture's decision on May 1 to end a quarantine-like policy that began in 1990 to stop the import of bees from within Canada.
The policy changed because the Ministry says it does not have scientific or legal
justification anymore. "It really blindsided the beekeepers," said Saanich MLA Lana
Popham. The Capital Region Beekeepers Association has more than 100 members with
bee-product businesses or home-project hives.
Click here to read this article.
|
June 9, 2010
Two days after arriving home to a hero’s welcome, human rights activist Kevin Neish held a press conference at the Velox Rugby Club.
Neish was one of over 600 other activists who were part of the Gaza Freedom Flotilla when it was attacked by Israeli commandos.
In these videos he describes the events leading up to the attack on the flotilla, and his experience being detained for several days in an Israeli prison.
Click here to watch.
|
|
June 1, 2010
Victoria resident Kevin Neish was one of 700 people manning an aid flotilla of boats which attempted to break the 3 year Israeli blockade of Gaza, when they were boarded in international waters by Israeli Defense Force commandos.
Reports say nine to twenty people on the boats were killed and dozens were wounded. Here in Victoria people reacted in a demonstration of solidarity with the people on the boats in front of the Cenotaph at the Legislature Building.
|
Bratzer Speaks
 May 24, 2010
At the 1st Annual Nanaimo Cannabis Convention, Constable David Bratzer, member of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, spoke about drug legalization; a talk he couldn’t give in his own jurisdiction.
Bratzer, a police officer with the Victoria Police Department, was instructed by the Chief of Police, Jamie Graham not to speak at the City Council’s March forum on Harm Reduction, while off duty. The decision, which is still under review by the Victoria Police Board, extended to any other speaking engagement in the city of Victoria.
|
Canada’s ‘Prince of Pot’ Extradited to U.S.
May 21, 2010
A Canadian citizen has been extradited to the United States for running a mail order marijuana seed business.
Canada’s ‘Prince of Pot’, Marc Emery, has been extradited to the United States and has pled guilty to charges of a single count of conspiracy to manufacture marijuana. Emery faces up to five years in prison.
Click here to see an interview that B Channel News recently did with Marc Emery, read a B Channel News article on his extradition, and browse links from other media sources on these events.
|
Walk for Wild Salmon Wraps Up May 14, 2010
The lawns of the legislature were filled with wild salmon supporters on May 8th , where a rally was held to celebrate the end of a two week walk across Vancouver Island. The walk and rally, called ‘Get out Migration’ was led by Alexandra Morton was organized to send a message to the government that they want ‘wild salmon to take higher priority than farm salmon’. Get out Migration began in Sointula, at the north end of Vancouver Island and ended in Victoria spanning a distance of about 500 KM. |
 April 19, 2010
Hundreds came by land and water, to protest the proposed Mega Yacht Marina at the Selkirk Waterway on Saturday.
The rally, organized by Save Our Harbour, included a vivid demonstration by kayakers and paddlers who rowed in through the passage way under the Johnson St. Bridge and settled in a formation to illustrate the seismic impact of the proposed project. Yellow balloons and tape were strung down the causeway to show the length and height. |
 April 6, 2010
At the March 25 City Council meeting, Councillor Philippe Lucas made a motion to City Council requesting that ‘The Victoria City Council requests that the Victoria Police Board: consider passing a motion in support of harm reduction in principle and practice and consider initiating a strategy of regular harm reduction training for members and employees of the Victoria Police Department’.
|
 April 2, 2010
A five day Petition for Judicial Review of a controversial Langford re-zoning bylaw took place in the BC Supreme Court from March 22 to 26, 2010.
Attorneys Irene Faulker and Robin Gage argued on behalf of the Vancouver Island Community Forest Action Network (VIC FAN) and various residents of Langford. The petitioners alleged that the City of Langford failed to disclose documents relevant to the rezoning of the south side of Skirt Mountain, and that members of the public were intimidated and insulted by council members during a public hearing on the rezoning.
|
 March 23, 2010
An incident outside the Social Club on Store St. involving the use of force by Victoria Police officers was captured on video by a member of the public early Sunday morning and posted on youtube.com. Just over 24 hours after being posted, the video had been viewed over 92,000 times. The 56 second video clip showing Victoria Police Officers kicking and kneeing a man as they arrest him has led to a number of complaints to the Victoria Police.
|
|
A Special Press briefing was held on March 10, 2010 at the Victoria Police headquarters to announce that charges had been laid against two VicPD officers who are accused of assaulting two brothers while they were in custody.
B Channel News brings you full video coverage of the Special Press Briefing held at Victoria Police headquarters to announce these charges. |
 |
|
On February 25, 2010, the Halalt First Nation erected a road block in front of it’s band offices to bring attention to what the Halalt feel has been a lack of consultation over municipal wells being drilled into the Chemainus aquifer.
Click here for Part One of our B Channel News coverage of this issue. |
 |
 |
Even though the 2010 Winter Olympics are happening on the other side of the Salish Sea, the movement to oppose the games has a large contingent here in Victoria.
B Channel News previously brought you coverage of the protests surrounding the start of the Torch Relay. Our cameras were once again out on the streets to capture the ‘Evict Vanoc’ march and rally.
Click here for videos, an article and links to related local news |
|
|
Victoria Police held a special press briefing on January 25, 2010, which Chief Constable Jamie Graham began with this statement:
“Late last week, as the result of a self-disclosure from a jail supervisor to their watch commander, I became aware of an incident in our cell block where a prisoner was injured…
In this video series Chief Graham and VicPD spokesperson Sgt. Grant Hamilton brief the media on this incident. |
|
|
Premier Gordon Campbell Addresses Truck Logger’s Luncheon
The 67th Annual Truck Logger’s Association Convention and Trade Show took place in Victoria from January 20-21. Premier Gordon Campbell gave a luncheon address on the first day of the convention. B Channel News brings you his speech in it’s entirety. Watch Campbell talk about the future of forestry in British Columbia; the opening of new markets in Asia, the potential for biomass harvesting, the new Wood First legislation and the push to have more domestic use of wood in public and private structures.
Click here to see this three video series, including comments from Premier Campbell and TLA Executive Director Dave Lewis, and links to related media articles. |
 |
A Report on the Prorogation of Parliament
Stephen Harper, prorogued Parliament until March 2010. To prorogue Parliament is to end that session of Parliament. When Parliament is prorogued all orders cease; bills, motions, committee’s work ends. This is not a break, or a holiday in which government can return and pick up where they left off. Bills that have not received royal assent die when Parliament is prorogued. These bills must go through the entire parliamentary process again in order to be voted on, unless the House makes exception. The ability to prorogue Parliament is one of the key powers centralized within the Prime Minister’s office. |
|
|
Volunteers Creating Therapeutic Community For Homeless
A dream is taking shape on the Saanich Peninsula. Inspired by the work of the San Patrignano farm in Italy, Richard LeBlanc and a team of dedicated volunteers are converting a piece of farmland in Central Saanich into a therapeutic community that will become a refuge for people experiencing homelessness.
Click here for video, article and related news links |
 |
Second Annual Homeless Person’s Memorial Day
With a cold wind blowing to mark the first day of winter, local homeless advocates gathered to honour those who have died on the streets of Victoria this past year.
Members of the Committee to End Homelessness joined with former CTEH member and now City Councillor Phillipe Lucas, and other members of the community, to stand vigil on December 21, 2009, as part of International Homeless Person’s Memorial Day.
Click here to read this article |
|
|
As a follow up to our coverage of the December 10, 2009 Victoria City Council meeting on the Johnson Street Bridge replacement, B Channel brings you this coverage of the January 7, 2009 Special Meeting.
In this video series we hear the results of a successful counter-petition process that has led to a referendum, and hear remarks for each member of council .
Click here to watch this video series, and to see links to local related news articles. |
|
|
Homeless Rights Advocates Celebrate Human Rights VictoryLocal homeless rights activists are celebrating a victory today in a four year court battle for the right to camp in city parks.B Channel News brings you this article, with several video clips, and links to court documents and other local media coverage of this event. |
|
|
Award Winning Journalist Speaks of her Detainment at Canadian BorderAward-winning independent journalist Amy Goodman made a stop at the University of Victoria on November 28 to address a packed crowd at the Michelle Pujo room.B Channel is pleased to bring you the complete lecture in nine parts. Click here for this video series. |
|
Click here to read the full article and watch more videos |
Thousands of people lined the streets of Victoria on October 30 for the beginning of the 2010 Olympic Torch Relay. B Channel cameras were there morning to night to bring you this video series.
|
B Channel News is proud to bring you this Special Report, which includes footage of the rally, an interview with Denise Savoie, and an interview with former BC premier Bill Vander Zalm at his Delta home entitled “20 Questions with Bill Vander Zalm on HST” |
|
|
|
 photos by: Pete Rockwell Advocacy groups and supporters in 80 cities came together on October 4, 2009 to hold Sisters in Spirit vigils, urging action be taken by all levels of government to address the growing number of missing and murdered aboriginal women in Canada. Pete Rockwell photos accompany a B Channel article. |
|
|
|
Footage and article from on August 17th, with VicPD Chief Jamie Graham explaining the statistics related to call for service in Esquimalt, and the funding formula on which shared policing in the two municipalities is based.
|
|
Every year for the past 24 years, Victoria has held an event to remember the events and the outcomes of the bombings on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The year’s event, which was held on the Gorge Waterway, was organized by the Raging Grannies and sponsored by the Physicians for Global Survival, the Victoria Nikkei Cultural Society and the Council of Canadians. Watch the video series here.
|
When City Councillors Sonya Chandler and Phillipe Lucas, along with local Permaculture expert Geoff Johnson planted a small garden near the front door of city hall this spring, they became one of several groups turning lawns and flower beds into edible landscapes around the city.
Includes several video clips, article and related links
|
B Channel footage of a CRD Core Area Liquid Waste Management Committee meeting, links to relevant websites, and an extensive list of media articles related to the issue of sewage and wastewater treatment, and the CRD’s plans for a new wastewater treatment system.
|
|
Diversity of culture and heritage was the theme of the grand opening of the new Centennial Square/Spirit Square. Representatives of the City of Victoria, the Province of British Columbia, the Songhees Nation, The Esquimalt Nation and Victoria’s Chinese community took part in a ceremony on June 23, 2009 to unveil the new features of the city’s public square.
|
Over a hundred cities around the world participated in the United for Iran – Global Day of Action. In Victoria, the Iranian community and supporters gathered on the lawns of the legislature. Speeches were given, signs held high and a human chain formed in song and dance around the fountain. People came to show their solidarity with the protestors contesting the legitimacy of the June election results in Iran.
|
A grassroots organization advocating for the rights and health of poor, homeless, and marginalized people has established a “guerrilla” clean needle exchange for intravenous drug users, at the corner of Vancouver and Pandora. The action, organized by Harm Reduction Victoria, draws attention to the lack of a permanent fixed needle exchange site in Victoria. Click here for article and video series.
|
|