Victoria offering free meals, Government House picnic prize to support local restaurants
Local tourism and hospitality groups are coming together and offering free meals in Greater Victoria to help support the restaurant industry through the final stretch of the pandemic.
From June 8 to 30, people who visit a local restaurant on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays may find that someone has picked up their tab for them.
Members of six B.C. organizations will be scattered across restaurants in Greater Victoria paying for random customers meals throughout June.
The organizations involved include the City of Victoria, the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce, the Downtown Victoria Business Association, Destination Greater Victoria, the B.C. Restaurant and Food Services Association-Victoria Chapter, and Vancity.
At the same time, people who prefer to order take-out during the pandemic can enter to win a catered picnic lunch for two at the Government House in Victoria.
To enter the picnic contest, islanders need to tag their favourite restaurant and two friends on any Picnics and Patios social media post.
"There are so many great dining options in the core of our city," said Jeff Bray, executive director of the Downtown Victoria Business Association on Monday.
"We need to support these businesses at a time when many did not generate significant revenue in the past few months," he said.
The groups add that "a local celebrity" will also be visiting some restaurants and celebrating with winners if their tab is picked up by the tourism organizations.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.