Devon Bidal

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Bennett Dean turned two on May 28 and his family has planned a surprise car parade the following afternoon at 3 p.m. on Garnet Road in honour of his big day. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)

PHOTOS: Car parade for Saanich tot’s second pandemic birthday a roaring success

Sports cars, motorcycles, a garbage truck rolled down Garnet Road for Bennett Dean’s second birthday

Bennett Dean turned two on May 28 and his family has planned a surprise car parade the following afternoon at 3 p.m. on Garnet Road in honour of his big day. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)
Karan Yadav, a security guard with Footprints Security, assisted residents at the property tax drive-thru located outside Saanich municipal hall in 2020. (Black Press Media file photo)

Saanich property tax drive-thru returns, district promotes remote payments

Municipal hall open, but mayor recommends paying online, by mail, at drop-off

Karan Yadav, a security guard with Footprints Security, assisted residents at the property tax drive-thru located outside Saanich municipal hall in 2020. (Black Press Media file photo)
Bennett Dean turns two on May 28 and his family has planned a surprise car parade the following afternoon at 3 p.m. on Garnet Road in honour of his big day. (Photo courtesy Cameron Dean)

Saanich family plans car parade for toddler’s second pandemic birthday

Vintage car owners, truck drivers commit to making Bennett Dean’s second birthday special

Bennett Dean turns two on May 28 and his family has planned a surprise car parade the following afternoon at 3 p.m. on Garnet Road in honour of his big day. (Photo courtesy Cameron Dean)
Will and Stacey Sparling, owners of Moka House, are getting ready to open a new location in Cadboro Bay – in the same space Starbucks left in October 2020 after some 16 years in the neighbourhood. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)

Local coffeehouse owners branch out to Saanich, transforming former Starbucks

Opening day fast-approaching for Moka House location in Cadboro Bay

Will and Stacey Sparling, owners of Moka House, are getting ready to open a new location in Cadboro Bay – in the same space Starbucks left in October 2020 after some 16 years in the neighbourhood. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)
Teale Phelps Bondaroff presented a petition signed by over 540 Greater Victoria residents opposed to gas-powered leaf blowers. (Black Press Media file photo)

Mayor calls for ban on gas-powered leaf blowers in Saanich

Council will consider motion calling for staged approach to a ban May 31

Teale Phelps Bondaroff presented a petition signed by over 540 Greater Victoria residents opposed to gas-powered leaf blowers. (Black Press Media file photo)
(Black Press Media file photo)

Saanich council adopts new procedure bylaw, changes committee of the whole business items

Consent agenda introduced, land use matters reassigned to council meetings for efficiency, staff say

(Black Press Media file photo)
Lenny Ross, the Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary’s volunteer photojournalist, admired the wildlife at the lake early on May 15, 2021. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)

Saanich man spends pandemic year capturing Swan Lake in photos, witty tales

Retired teacher Lenny Ross steps into role as nature sanctuary’s volunteer photojournalist

Lenny Ross, the Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary’s volunteer photojournalist, admired the wildlife at the lake early on May 15, 2021. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)
A transaction is made at the Hugs Donuts vendor during the Greater Vancouver Drive-Thru Food Truck Festival at the Chilliwack Coliseum parking lot on Saturday, March 27, 2021. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)

Lottery will drive selection of 10 food trucks for Saanich parks pilot

Vendors to be drawn May 31 for summer stint in Beckwith, Cadboro-Gyro, Gorge Waterway parks

A transaction is made at the Hugs Donuts vendor during the Greater Vancouver Drive-Thru Food Truck Festival at the Chilliwack Coliseum parking lot on Saturday, March 27, 2021. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)
Cadboro Bay beach on June 18, 2020. (Black Press Media file photo)

Police remind Saanich park users to follow bylaws, public health orders over long weekend

Wood fires, open alcohol not permitted in Saanich parks

Cadboro Bay beach on June 18, 2020. (Black Press Media file photo)
Yana Hempler (left) completed her 21st consecutive marathon on May 21 – part of her 30-in-30 fundraiser for the Victoria Hospital Foundation – with running companion Dr. Jeff Eisen, an emergency room physician at Royal Jubilee Hospital and Victoria General Hospital. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)

Saanich company donates $10K to runner doing 30 marathons in 30 days for healthcare

Yana Hempler completes 21st marathon in effort to raise $500K for Victoria Hospitals Foundation

Yana Hempler (left) completed her 21st consecutive marathon on May 21 – part of her 30-in-30 fundraiser for the Victoria Hospital Foundation – with running companion Dr. Jeff Eisen, an emergency room physician at Royal Jubilee Hospital and Victoria General Hospital. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)
The District of Saanich is moving forward with Paws in Parks – a pilot project that will see pop-up off-leash dog areas in various parks over the summer. The project will help determine whether a permanent designated dog run is appropriate for the municipality. (Black Press Media file photo)

Fenced dog parks to ‘pup-up’ in various Saanich parks this summer

Saanich council approves roving off-leash dog park pilot project for July, August

The District of Saanich is moving forward with Paws in Parks – a pilot project that will see pop-up off-leash dog areas in various parks over the summer. The project will help determine whether a permanent designated dog run is appropriate for the municipality. (Black Press Media file photo)
Sheba, Spencer, Bronson and Sasha (left to right) peeked outside hoping for playtime outside Uplands Park in 2011. (Black Press Media file photo)

Pooches now permitted on Cadboro-Gyro Park paths in Saanich, pop-up dog parks in works

Council to consider mandatory leashing in parks with sensitive environments May 31

Sheba, Spencer, Bronson and Sasha (left to right) peeked outside hoping for playtime outside Uplands Park in 2011. (Black Press Media file photo)
(Left to right) Cory Davits, general manager of Peppers Foods, Don Way, store manager, and Scott Zaichkowsky, grocery manager, juggled the store’s growing collection of awards after nabbing bronze in the Canadian Independent Grocer of the Year Small Surface category on May 11. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)

Saanich grocery store takes home bronze at national independent grocer awards

Pepper’s Foods nabs Small Surface category award for top-notch customer service in 2020

(Left to right) Cory Davits, general manager of Peppers Foods, Don Way, store manager, and Scott Zaichkowsky, grocery manager, juggled the store’s growing collection of awards after nabbing bronze in the Canadian Independent Grocer of the Year Small Surface category on May 11. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)
Saanich council took an extended recess during a meeting on Monday, May 17, due to a medical emergency. (Screenshot via saanich.ca)

Saanich council meeting put on pause for medical incident

First responders called to care for individual, meeting resumed afterward

Saanich council took an extended recess during a meeting on Monday, May 17, due to a medical emergency. (Screenshot via saanich.ca)
Howard English Hatchery volunteer Joscilyn Jupp poured one of many buckets of salmon fry into Douglas Creek on May 11, 2021. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)

35,000 salmon fry released in Saanich park during closed event

Chum from Goldstream Hatchery trucked in to restore Douglas Creek salmon spawning

Howard English Hatchery volunteer Joscilyn Jupp poured one of many buckets of salmon fry into Douglas Creek on May 11, 2021. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)
A seniors housing complex proposed for Cedar Hill Road in Saanich was supported by council after a public hearing on May 12. (Rendering by Jenson Group Architects)

New 85-unit seniors housing development gets green light from Saanich council

Four-storey rental complex would be located on Cedar Hill Road

A seniors housing complex proposed for Cedar Hill Road in Saanich was supported by council after a public hearing on May 12. (Rendering by Jenson Group Architects)
Junior rowers with the Victoria City Rowing Club, (left to right) Teagan Zecher, Eryn Whale, Hui-Lin Shan, Willow Tzonev, Quinn Parfitt and Stella Graham, won the Rowing Canada Aviron Row to Tokyo challenge and are looking forward to getting back in the crew boats after the pandemic. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)

Young Greater Victoria rowers find community during solitary training sessions

Rowers train virtually, social distanced at Elk Lake amid COVID-19 restrictions

Junior rowers with the Victoria City Rowing Club, (left to right) Teagan Zecher, Eryn Whale, Hui-Lin Shan, Willow Tzonev, Quinn Parfitt and Stella Graham, won the Rowing Canada Aviron Row to Tokyo challenge and are looking forward to getting back in the crew boats after the pandemic. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)
Commonwealth Place recreation centre was shut down before 8 a.m. on Friday following a power outage. (Saanich Parks, Recreation and Community Services/Twitter)

Saanich Commonwealth Place closed due to power outage, outdoor classes still running

Indoor classes, programs at pool and weight room halted

Commonwealth Place recreation centre was shut down before 8 a.m. on Friday following a power outage. (Saanich Parks, Recreation and Community Services/Twitter)
An elderly man having a medical emergency in Mount Douglas Park on May 13 was rescued by firefighters and paramedics with the help of ATVs. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)

Rescue team uses ATVs to get man in medical distress out of Saanich park and to hospital

Cedarhill Road closed as firefighters, paramedics rescue man in Mount Douglas Park

An elderly man having a medical emergency in Mount Douglas Park on May 13 was rescued by firefighters and paramedics with the help of ATVs. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)
Janitors at Uptown Shopping Centre voted to strike April 20, citing the increased risk from the pandemic, low wages and no paid sick days. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)

Petition to support Uptown Shopping Centre janitors who’ve voted to strike has more than 300 signatures

Union calls on mall management to pressure its contractor to ‘provide workers with a fair deal’

Janitors at Uptown Shopping Centre voted to strike April 20, citing the increased risk from the pandemic, low wages and no paid sick days. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)