After an overnight snow storm left the South Island blanketed under 30 centimetres of snow in some areas, services and public facilities like recycling and rec centres have shut down for the day and mail delivery has been suspended for the region.
Local and provincial governments as well as first responders like police and fire departments are urging drivers to avoid all non-essential travel after the massive snowfall.
For those who are venturing out Tuesday, even just to put out your blue bins, check the list below to see whether there’s a service interruption or facility closure in your area.
See something we missed? Email us at [email protected].
Ferries
- BC Ferries has resumed service on major routes as of 3 p.m. Tuesday, while the following sailings remain cancelled for the day:
- Brentwood Bay – Mill Bay
- Tsawwassen – Southern Gulf Islands
- Campbell River – Quadra Island: Starting with the 7:30 p.m. from Campbell River and 8 p.m. departing Quadra Island
- Service to Mayne Island not available via Swartz Bay-Southern Gulf Islands due to Village Bay road conditions
Flights
- Many flights are delayed, but a trio of departing flights were reported as cancelled by Victoria International Airport as of 3:30 p.m:
- AC8160 to Vancouver (3:40 p.m.)
- AC8166 to Vancouver (6:05 p.m.)
- AC8170 to Vancouver (9:30 p.m.)
- Only half of Harbour Air’s scheduled seaplane flights from Victoria’s Inner Harbour to Vancouver Harbour ended up departing Tuesday, with ice and snow conditions to blame for the cancellations.
Buses
- BC Transit has cancelled all bus service in the Capital Region as well as the Cowichan Valley Tuesday.
- HandyDART service is running, but with essential service only for passengers needing to make a medical appointment. Today all users of the service ride free, BC Transit says.
- Bus service remains operational in Nanaimo and the Comox Valley, but with delays.
⚠️❄️Attention #VictoriaBC #handyDART Riders – Due to snowfall, service is running essential service only for medical appointments. Fares will not be collected.
HandyDART will be contacting customers. Drivers have shovels and will try to get as close to driveways as they can.
— BC Transit (@BCTransit) December 20, 2022
Mail delivery
- Canada Post has issued a red delivery service alert for parts of B.C. including the South Island, specifically Duncan, Sidney and Victoria.
- It means delivery has been suspended for the day and mail personnel are not being sent out.
- The rest of Vancouver Island is under a yellow delivery service alert, meaning deliveries are still going out but recipients should expect delays.
- Canada Post is encouraging customers to “clear the ice from their walkways, stairs, and driveways, to ensure safe access to the front door for both their visitors, as well as their mail carriers, when service resumes.”
Recycling and landfill
- The Capital Regional District has announced all curbside recycling pick-up is suspended due to road conditions. People who usually have their blue bins picked up today are asked instead to hold their recycling until the next collection day or drop it off at a depot when it’s safe to do so.
- The Hartland Landfill remains open to residential and commercial customers as of 9 a.m. but the CRD is still recommending you delay your trip because roads are snowy and icy.
- Esquimalt garbage pickup is also cancelled for the day. Those who were scheduled for pickup are asked to leave garbage out until tomorrow as crews catch up.
Recreation centres
- Victoria: Crystal Pool and Fitness Centre will close at 1 p.m. due to snow.
- Saanich: All four rec centres (Cedar Hill, G.R. Pearkes, Gordon Head, Commonwealth Place) are closed, but are planning to open as usual on Wednesday. The District of Saanich will provide updates if that changes.
- Cedar Hill Golf Course and Churchill Drive are also closed.
- Oak Bay: Henderson and Monterey Recreation Centres are closed. Oak Bay Rec remains open as of 11 a.m., however a number of programs have been cancelled. Check Oak Bay’s website for info.
- Esquimalt Rec Centre remains open but with program cancellations. The pool is also closed. More info here.
- West Shore: Centennial Centre is closed. Juan de Fuca Daycare and Golf Course are also closed, but Juan de Fuca rec centre remains open for drop-in.
- Saanich Peninsula: Greenglade Community Centre is closed. Panorama Rec Centre remains open. Latest info here.
Attractions
- The Royal BC Museum, including the BC Archives and IMAX Victoria, is closed.
- Butchart Gardens is closed. Anyone who purchased tickets for today can redeem them any other day the gardens are open.
- The Malahat Skywalk is closed.
- Butterfly Gardens is closed.
**CLOSED TODAY**
Due to the snowfall in Victoria, the Royal BC Museum, BC Archives and IMAX® Victoria are closed today, Tuesday, 20 December, 2022 for the safety of our visitors and our team.Check website for further updates.
Beacon Hill Park, 1949. BC Archives: I-29841. pic.twitter.com/v9VZrgcTyP— Royal BC Museum (@RoyalBCMuseum) December 20, 2022
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