3426 replies to this topic

[Rob Randall]

District officials in Lantzville have launched legal action against the owner of a Clark Rd. property, arguing it’s home to an illegal amusement park and cannabis dispensary.

 

 

The contested amusement park features large, life-sized dinosaurs which move their arms and growl. The dispensary on his upper Lantzville property, which backs onto Hwy. 19, isn’t licensed by the province’s Liquor Cannabis and Regulation branch.

 

“No where [sic] is it written that my hobby of collecting dino stuff is against the law and allowing people (kids) to use my property to marvell [sic] the dino’s now up to 50 is some how unlawful.”

 

 

 

 

https://nanaimonewsn...ion-is-illegal/

[Victoria Watcher]

august 2020:

 

 

 

 

A creature from the cretaceous period has been brought to life in Lantzville.

 

Businessman and former mayoral candidate Stan Pottie was one of the successful buyers of an animatronic dinosaur at an auction earlier this month, and now proudly displays his amargasaurus at the entrance to his property on Clark Drive West where he owns Country Buds CBD health store and operates an excavating company.

 

More than 50 life-size dinosaurs were sold in a widely publicized auction Aug. 6 in Langley.

 

 

 

https://www.vancouve...ronic-dinosaur/

 

 

 

“You look out the window of the office and you see kids here all the time and we’re giving them free freezies and stuff and they come here and they’re playing with the dinosaur,” he said. “A lot of them know all about what it is and what period it [lived] in.”

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 05 August 2021 - 06:35 AM.

[Nparker]

Stan Pottie runs a cannabis dispensary? You just can't make this stuff up folks.

[Victoria Watcher]

“We’re busy now with Canadian travellers, but in a matter of weeks when Canadians go back to school, our demand’s going to fall off a cliff,” Nursey said.

Destination Greater Victoria is considering a class action suit against the Canadian government for damages sustained to its hotel and tourist attraction members, he added.


https://www.vicnews....r-victoria-ceo/



pretty sure nobody is afraid of Paul Nursey’s bite. Give me a break.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 10 August 2021 - 06:12 PM.

[vortoozo]

FFS. Lawsuits are not what the tourism industry needs.

[Barrrister]

I have to admit that I have not missed the tourists at all, The city has become more than crowded enough as it is with all the new condos, 

[kitty surprise]

FFS. Lawsuits are not what the tourism industry needs.

 

Criminals and addiction acquired brain injured roaming downtown streets unchecked are not what the tourism industry needs either, but here we are.

[Victoria Watcher]

In a typical year, Clipper Vacations and MV Coho deliver 750,000 visitors and are responsible for 800 to 1,400 room nights per month.

 

 

https://www.timescol...land-1.24349330

 

 

why does that hotel room count seem very low?  if they deliver us 31,250 couples per month (750,000 / 2 people / 12 months) on average why do we only get 800 to 1200 hotel nights out of them?  are the other 30,000 couples just day-tripping or passing through to sleep outside victoria?

 

something is not right.

[Rob Randall]

^Do those figures include Airbnb and RV parks and campgrounds?

[Victoria Watcher]

^Do those figures include Airbnb and RV parks and campgrounds?

 

i'd be inclined to think it's a typo but it's from a piece written by the tourism/business professionals.  three of them.  surely they would catch any error.

 

the clipper unloads 545 people and the coho up to 1,000 each day in the height of the summer and we only get 40 hotel rooms (1200/30 days) booked out of it?

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 11 August 2021 - 07:15 AM.

[Mike K.]

Maybe that’s all it is. The rest get picked up by friends and family, others continue on to other locations on the Island.

[vortoozo]

In a typical year, Clipper Vacations and MV Coho deliver 750,000 visitors and are responsible for 800 to 1,400 room nights per month.

 

 

https://www.timescol...land-1.24349330

 

 

why does that hotel room count seem very low?  if they deliver us 31,250 couples per month (750,000 / 2 people / 12 months) on average why do we only get 800 to 1200 hotel nights out of them?  are the other 30,000 couples just day-tripping or passing through to sleep outside victoria?

 

something is not right.

 

Possibly the number reflects only the hotel rooms booked directly through Clipper Vacations / Blackball as a package.

Although, those are extremely seasonal outside of May - September. 

[theboss]

i'd be inclined to think it's a typo but it's from a piece written by the tourism/business professionals.  three of them.  surely they would catch any error.

 

the clipper unloads 545 people and the coho up to 1,000 each day in the height of the summer and we only get 40 hotel rooms (1200/30 days) booked out of it?

Specifically, this would be room nights booked through the companies.

Not through other means such as direct or third party booking sites. 

[Victoria Watcher]

it seems the ferry routes were left off the border reopening plan for no discernible reason. except maybe CBSA staffing issues.

[Mike K.]

Laurel Collins should be raising a stink.

[vortoozo]

it seems the ferry routes were left off the border reopening plan for no discernible reason. except maybe CBSA staffing issues.

 

I would suspect it's more to do with US CBP than Canadian CBSA.

Of the 9 international ferry routes in Canada, 8 are to the US. The other (to Saint-Pierre & Miquelon) has restarted.

Since the Americans have no interest in reopening the land border to non-essential travel, I very much doubt they are ready to staff the sea ports.

[Victoria Watcher]

Well known and established Big Bus Victoria opened since 2007. Successful brand operate world wide. Exclusive rights to routes and licenses in Victoria. Big bus Victoria one of the popular sight seeing tour bus service. Hop on hop off with all the tourist attraction sites including Butchart Gardens. Other exclusive agreement with cruise ships as well. Sale includes all buses and marketing materials. Seller training provided as well. 

 

 

$399,000

 

https://www.realtor....ctoria-downtown

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 18 September 2021 - 01:44 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Well known and established Big Bus Victoria opened since 2007. Successful brand operate world wide. Exclusive rights to routes and licenses in Victoria. Big bus Victoria one of the popular sight seeing tour bus service. Hop on hop off with all the tourist attraction sites including Butchart Gardens. Other exclusive agreement with cruise ships as well. Sale includes all buses and marketing materials. Seller training provided as well.

 

https://www.realtor....ctoria-downtown

[Victoria Watcher]

I find the whale watching boats can be a bit expensive, and long for kids etc.  Also some get seasick in the open ocean.

 

I wonder if it would make sense to being in some trained seals or dolphins or sea lions and pen them into the Gorge.  And have them give daily shows for smaller, shorter boat rides there? 

 

Maybe once a year before tourist season, you open the gate and let them decide for themselves if they like the free food the gig provides, or if they want to head out to open ocean on their own  They can come back next year when you open the gate again, if they change their minds.  

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 20 January 2022 - 06:47 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

A small cable railway that would whisk riders to and from homes supported by stilts has been proposed as part of a 16-unit development on a steep hillside in Tofino.

 

The trip on the funicular from bottom to top would take 45 seconds, Bridget Reichert told Tofino council. She is one of three owners of two adjacent lots at 711 and 712 Campbell St. where the project would be built. The funicular would be “very quiet, very easy on the environment, on the topography that is already existing.”

 

After purchasing the lots, the partners looked at how to work with the property they have named Tofino Highlands. “We started looking at some creative ideas and came back with a funicular,” Reichert said.

 

The owners are seeking a rezoning to allow the lots to be consolidated to permit construction of 16 homes under a comprehensive development zone. Each home would have one parking spot at the foot of the property. A staircase would also be built.

 

 

https://www.timescol...illside-5023200