More than 100 BC Transit bus trips in Capital Region cancelled this weekend due to employee illness
Dozens of BC Transit buses in Greater Victoria were cancelled on Saturday, and dozens more cancellations were expected on Sunday.
Alerts on the regional transit system's website indicated "service disruptions" on number 6, 7, 11, 14, 15, 21 and 50 bus routes on Saturday, with a total of 78 trips listed as cancelled across the seven routes.
As of 5 p.m. Saturday, 57 Sunday trips had already been cancelled across 10 different routes. The routes with disruptions scheduled for Sunday were numbers 4, 7, 11, 14, 15, 21, 26, 27, 28 and 50.
The alerts do not provide a reason for the cancellations, but a spokesperson for BC Transit confirmed to CTV News that they are due to "employee illness," as the Omicron variant of COVID-19 continues to spread rapidly in the community.
"Like many other customer-facing organizations, BC Transit is currently experiencing service challenges due to employee illness," the spokesperson said in an email.
"These service challenges have resulted in the need to alter schedules on short notice and has led to the temporary suspension of some of this weekend’s scheduled service."
BC Transit encourages riders to sign up to receive route-specific alerts via email, or to use NextRide or Transit App to check on service alerts.
"BC Transit sincerely apologizes to riders for any inconvenience caused by these cancellations," the spokesperson said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trudeau 'absolutely' best person to lead the Liberals in next election: LeBlanc says
Cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc insists he's not planning a leadership campaign to head the Liberal party, should current leader and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau resign, seemingly quashing rumours he's planning to make a move for his boss' job.
Pastrnak scores winner, Bruins down Leafs 2-1 in overtime in Game 7
Sheldon Keefe told his players hockey history would remember them one way or another.
King Charles III’s openness about cancer has helped him connect with people in year after coronation
King Charles III's decision to be open about his cancer diagnosis has helped the new monarch connect with the people of Britain and strengthened the monarchy in the year since his dazzling coronation at Westminster Abbey.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Bombarded with spam texts? Stats show the problem is getting worse in Canada
In particular, messages that involve phishing — an attack where a scammer tries to trick the recipient into clicking a malicious link, downloading malware or sharing sensitive information — are on the rise.
The American paradox of protest: Celebrated and condemned, welcomed and muzzled
Americans cherish the right to assemble, to speak out, to petition for the redress of grievances. It's enshrined in the first of the constitutional amendments. They laud social actions of the past and recognize the advances toward equality that previous generations made, often at risk of life and limb. But those same activities can produce anger and outright opposition when life's routines are interrupted, and wariness that those speaking out are outsiders looking to sow chaos and influence impressionable minds.
William Shatner says he would consider 'Star Trek' return: 'Here comes Captain Kirk!'
The Montreal-born actor, famed for his portrayal of Captain Kirk in "Star Trek," says he is open to reprising the iconic role in the sci-fi franchise as long as the storytelling is stellar.
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
A driver dies after crashing into a security barrier around the White House complex, authorities say
A driver died after a vehicle crashed into an outer perimeter gate of the White House complex, and the incident late Saturday was being investigated as a traffic crash, police said. U.S. President Joe Biden was spending the weekend in Delaware, and the Secret Service said there was no threat to the White House.