Islanders safely hit the beaches — mostly
Tempted by record-breaking heat on Mother’s Day, Islanders flocked to beaches and parks on the first weekend since the B.C. government announced its restart plan.
It was a major test of people’s commitment to physical distancing, particularly ahead of the Victoria Day long weekend. While most people avoided large groups during the day, Victoria police had to break up beach fires and parties four times on Friday and Saturday.
Saxe Point, Willows Beach, Cadboro-Gyro Park, Beacon Hill Park and other popular parks were busy.
Mother’s Day was a chance for extended families to expand their bubble after seven weeks of limiting interactions to only immediate family.
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has said people can increase their social circles to 60 per cent of normal. Henry said Monday she saw lots of people socializing outside, and, with the exception of a “small minority of people who were having too much fun … the vast majority of people were doing the right thing.”
However, Victoria police found that after dark, some people were flouting recommendations against larger groups. On Friday, police responded to a report of a bonfire on Gonzales Beach, and when officers arrived at 10 p.m., they saw a “stream of people” departing, said department spokesman Bowen Osoko.
An hour later, the department received a noise complaint related to a party in the 900-block of Esquimalt Road. The partiers dispersed when police showed up.
Officers responded to two more nuisance calls on Saturday, including several people gathered around a beach fire at the foot of Cook Street and Dallas Road. The fire was extinguished by Victoria Fire Department and the person who started it was escorted off the beach, Osoko said.
Esquimalt Fire extinguished a fire in the 600-block of Esquimalt Road at 11 p.m. and the group of revellers dispersed before police arrived.
Esquimalt Mayor Barb Desjardins described a scene from her walk at Esquimalt Gorge Park on Friday that convinced her people are acting responsibly.
“The parking lot was full and I immediately went ‘Oh no.’ As I looked around the park, everyone had picked their spot and stayed apart, even within their groups.”
Desjardins said people seem to be well-versed in the “ballet of physical distancing,” where walkers and joggers step aside on sidewalks or narrow paths to give others space.
Butchart Gardens reopened on May 1 with new physical-distancing measures. CEO Dave Cowen said admissions on Mother’s Day 2020 were down 86 per cent from the same day last year.
“Regardless, our visitors have been wonderfully patient while social distancing and have greatly appreciated our colourful spring display,” Cowen said.
Most of the Island’s provincial parks will reopen for day use on Thursday, except for Juan de Fuca Provincial Park and MacMillan Provincial Park near Nanaimo, home to Cathedral Grove. As long as COVID-19 cases continue to remain low, provincial campgrounds are set to reopen in June.
Premier John Horgan last week reminded people to stay within their regions and avoid long road trips or weekend getaways.
B.C. Ferries continues to advise people to avoid non-essential travel, especially over the Victoria Day weekend.
Traffic on the minor routes last weekend was down by 60 per cent for foot passengers and 50 per cent for vehicles compared with the same period last year, said spokesperson Deborah Marshall.
Traffic on major routes was down by 75 per cent for foot passengers and 60 per cent for vehicles.
Ticket agents are asking drivers and passengers if their travel is essential. On any routes longer than 30 minutes, B.C. Ferries will screen all customers for COVID-19 symptoms.
B.C. reported 23 new cases of COVID-19 since Saturday with no new cases on Vancouver Island. One more person has died, bringing the province’s total to 130 deaths. Of the 634 active cases, 66 people are in hospital, including 18 in critical care.