Road closures, temporary surveillance planned for Victoria Santa Claus parade
Police and event organizers are putting the finishing touches on their preparations for Victoria's annual Santa Claus light parade.
The 40th Peninsula Co-Op Santa Claus Parade will hit the streets of downtown Victoria Saturday evening at 5 p.m., but road closures will begin several hours earlier.
Victoria police say Belleville Street will be closed between Douglas and Menzies streets from 2:30 p.m. until approximately 7:30 p.m.
Government Street will be closed between Humboldt and Superior streets during that same window, as will Menzies Street between Belleville and Superior streets, police say.
Several other roads will be closed for a shorter span, from 5 p.m. to roughly 7:30 p.m. They are:
- Humboldt Street between Government and Douglas streets
- Douglas Street between Belleville and Bay streets
- The Johnson Street Bridge, Esquimalt Road at Tyee Road and Esquimalt Road at Harbour Road
"Emergency vehicles and BC Transit will be permitted to cross the bridge when officers determine it is safe to do so," the Victoria Police Department says in a statement.
The route for the 40th Peninsula Co-Op Santa Claus Parade is shown in this map from the Greater Victoria Festival Society. (gvfs.ca)
Police also say they'll be deploying their temporary, monitored surveillance cameras during the parade.
VicPD often deploys the cameras during planned gatherings in and around the B.C. legislature and the downtown core. The department encourages anyone with questions about the cameras to email engagement@vicpd.ca.
"The deployment of these cameras is part of our operations to help keep the event safe, peaceful and family-friendly and is in keeping with both provincial and federal privacy laws," police say. "Temporary signs are up in the area to ensure that the public is aware. The cameras will be taken down once the events have concluded."
More information on the Santa Claus Parade can be found on the Greater Victoria Festival Society website.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. seeks ban on using drugs in 'all public spaces,' shifting approach to decriminalization
The B.C. government is moving to have drug use banned in 'all public spaces,' marking a major shift in the province's approach to decriminalization.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Air traveller complaints to Canadian Transportation Agency hit new high
The Canadian Transportation Agency has hit a record high of more than 71,000 complaints in a backlog. The quasi-judicial regulator and tribunal tasked with settling disputes between customers and the airlines says the backlog is growing because the number of incoming complaints keeps increasing.
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid says he has Bell's palsy
Philadelphia 76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a form of facial paralysis he says has affected him since before the play-in tournament.
U.S. flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.