Friday April 15, 2022 | LANGFORD, BC [Update April 17, 2022: Statements by Prime Minister & BC Premier on Easter Sunday 2022]
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
For many folks this is a four-day long weekend, starting today April 15 on Good Friday and running through Monday April 18.
So far as movement within and between communities:
- BC Ferries is having some shortfall on sailings due to staff shortages and some mechanical challenges on some of the ships, one of which yesterday caused a four-hour delay over the usual 1.5-hour trip. Reservations are recommended – see BC Ferries Schedules.
- Street parking in downtown Victoria is free today.
- Branches of the Vancouver Island Regional Library are closed today on Good Friday, and will also be closed on Easter Monday. Open regular hours on Saturday, April 16 and Sunday, April 17.
- Government and banking all closed today, as well as Saturday/Sunday.
- Most retail is closed today, but likely open through the rest of the long weekend.
- Many people are expected to be travelling and camping, or otherwise just taking time off.
Recycling services:
There *will* be CRD curbside bluebox pickup on Easter Monday, if Monday is your regular pickup day.
Team sports:
For sports fans there’s a rugby weekend in Vancouver, as the Men’s Canada Sevens team plays through matches on Saturday and Sunday.
Here in Langford on Sunday April 17 is the second Pacific FC home-game, with the Langford-based team playing against Winnipeg’s Valour FC which will likely be happy to be out of the aberrant spring snowfall that hit their city a few days ago.
Stadiums in BC are allowed to host fans at full capacity, even with the continuing pandemic.
Weather and gardening:
Otherwise, for outdoor activities — which are recommended during the continuing COVID pandemic (now in a sixth wave), the weather is holding up. Today is sunny, bright and dry in the west shore of south Vancouver Island. Some rain is in the forecast for tomorrow, but forecasters are showing Sunday as sunny again. Great for trailing walking and enjoying the many outdoor areas and activities that the Greater Victoria area has to offer.
Gardeners have seen a relatively slow start to the spring planting season, due to temperatures reaching near-zero several times in the last couple of weeks. Days also remain relatively cool. April has been a wet month, lots of rain, so that’s a plus for soil conditions come May.
COVID-smart:
People doing indoor activities are reminded to wear masks when in close proximity to others, especially if spaces are not well ventilated.
British Columbians are encouraged to be fully vaccinated (which officially is two doses of COVID vaccine, but a third booster dose has been recommended for several months now by the BC Provincial Health Officer, with a fourth dose or second booster available to seniors in the community who are over age 70).
Masks are encouraged on public transit and BC Ferries, but not required. | See current status of BC COVID restrictions (most of which have been eliminated).
BC Health says that individual businesses and event organizers can choose to continue requiring masks on their premises, saying it’s important to respect the choices of people, businesses and one another.
Fun for kids:
Kids are likely enjoying a lot of candy and treasure hunts this weekend, for some family fun.
‘Hoppy’ Easter!
