Justin Samanski-Langille

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The City of Colwood is bringing back its annual Clean Up event this April after being on hold for the past two years and discussions around its cancellation for budget reasons. (Black Press Media file photo)

Colwood Clean Up survives budget chopping block

Council votes to include the large waste dropoff event, last held in 2019, in the 2022 budget

The City of Colwood is bringing back its annual Clean Up event this April after being on hold for the past two years and discussions around its cancellation for budget reasons. (Black Press Media file photo)
Langford will officially be the first community on Vancouver Island to host a Tesla Centre and the West Shore RCMP will be the first detachment in Canada to operate a front-line electric police car. Both announcements were made Thursday at a groundbreaking ceremony for the Tesla centre. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

Langford gets Island’s first Tesla centre, RCMP’s first EV cruiser

The centre is expected to open June 2023 with the police car set to arrive later this year

Langford will officially be the first community on Vancouver Island to host a Tesla Centre and the West Shore RCMP will be the first detachment in Canada to operate a front-line electric police car. Both announcements were made Thursday at a groundbreaking ceremony for the Tesla centre. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
Royal Roads University has purchased 798 Goldstream Ave. in central Langford, which is currently home to Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church. While the school said plans have yet to be finalized, Mayor Stew Young said he is confident the property will be developed into a long-desired university or college campus in the city. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

Mayor confident Langford will see university campus after Royal Roads University land purchase

New campus would get students out of Highway 1 commute, could include performing arts centre

Royal Roads University has purchased 798 Goldstream Ave. in central Langford, which is currently home to Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church. While the school said plans have yet to be finalized, Mayor Stew Young said he is confident the property will be developed into a long-desired university or college campus in the city. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
Local artist Jim Dodd’s rendering of a potential $30-million arts facility, including a performance hall, rehearsal space, green rooms, gift shop and art gallery in Colwood. (Courtesy Juan de Fuca Performing Arts Centre Society)

Colwood earmarks $30k to further study performing arts centre idea for city

Funds will be used to update 2013 study by Juan de Fuca Performing Arts Centre Society

Local artist Jim Dodd’s rendering of a potential $30-million arts facility, including a performance hall, rehearsal space, green rooms, gift shop and art gallery in Colwood. (Courtesy Juan de Fuca Performing Arts Centre Society)
The owners of RidgeView Place, formerly known as Danbrook One, are looking to welcome residents again as soon as May 1, pending an occupancy permit being issued by the City of Langford. The building has sat empty since late 2019 due to structural defects. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

Troubled Langford apartment block could see tenants again under new name

Owners of former Danbrook One list May 1 move-in date, but occupancy permit from city pending

The owners of RidgeView Place, formerly known as Danbrook One, are looking to welcome residents again as soon as May 1, pending an occupancy permit being issued by the City of Langford. The building has sat empty since late 2019 due to structural defects. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
Rachael Sansom of Grayland Consulting speaks with a group of around 30 residents Saturday about a proposed rezoning of 350 Lone Oak Pl. in Langford. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

Residents share concerns with developer on proposed Langford rezoning

Rezoning application would allow for apartment proposal on Lone Oak Place

Rachael Sansom of Grayland Consulting speaks with a group of around 30 residents Saturday about a proposed rezoning of 350 Lone Oak Pl. in Langford. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
Tia Nunn spars during a practice Feb. 23 at the Sooke Boxing Club’s new location. (Justin Samanski-Langille - Sooke News Mirror)

Sooke Boxing Club back in ring despite recent blows

A new home means the club will be in better shape when it sends a team to Mexico in March

Tia Nunn spars during a practice Feb. 23 at the Sooke Boxing Club’s new location. (Justin Samanski-Langille - Sooke News Mirror)
The City of Colwood is planning for the launch of a new app to help residents car pool or bike together, as a way of easing congestion in the community. (Courtesy of City of Colwood)

Colwood aims to make ride sharing simple with new app

GOCO app, coming this spring, will help drivers arrange car pools, cyclists to find fellow riders

The City of Colwood is planning for the launch of a new app to help residents car pool or bike together, as a way of easing congestion in the community. (Courtesy of City of Colwood)
A visual showing BC Alta Developments’ proposed plans for one of two properties straddling both sides of Veterans Memorial Parkway on the northern border of Havenwood Park in Colwood. (Photo Courtesy of BC Alta Developments)

Havenwood Park area rezoning moved along by Colwood council

Controversial development proposal has drawn ire of neighbours, more consultation coming

A visual showing BC Alta Developments’ proposed plans for one of two properties straddling both sides of Veterans Memorial Parkway on the northern border of Havenwood Park in Colwood. (Photo Courtesy of BC Alta Developments)
The Sooke Region Museum is developing a play which will tell the stories of interesting Sooke historical figures using a mix of videos, live performance and shadow puppets. (Sooke Region Museum and Visitor Centre/YouTube)

Sooke historical figures star in new museum play

Production features vignettes exploring the community’s interesting past

The Sooke Region Museum is developing a play which will tell the stories of interesting Sooke historical figures using a mix of videos, live performance and shadow puppets. (Sooke Region Museum and Visitor Centre/YouTube)
The Sooke District Lioness Lions Club is gearing up for its largest-ever fundraising sale at the end of the month, featuring three trailers full of antiques and collectables. (Photos Courtesy of Gunny Tennese)

Sooke Lioness Club hosting largest-ever fundraiser sale

On Feb. 26 and 27, three trailers worth of antiques and collectables will be up for sale

The Sooke District Lioness Lions Club is gearing up for its largest-ever fundraising sale at the end of the month, featuring three trailers full of antiques and collectables. (Photos Courtesy of Gunny Tennese)
The City of Colwood has begun its budget discussions, and an early draft presented to the council’s committee of the whole Feb. 8 shows the city expects to increase revenue from property tax by 5.48 per cent to cover expected expenses. (Black Press Media file photo)

Colwood proposes 5.48-per-cent property tax increase in early draft budget

Five-year financial plan set to be discussed in multiple meetings heading into spring

The City of Colwood has begun its budget discussions, and an early draft presented to the council’s committee of the whole Feb. 8 shows the city expects to increase revenue from property tax by 5.48 per cent to cover expected expenses. (Black Press Media file photo)
James Bay Athletic Association’s Keith Graham runs past the Vancouver Rowing Club Rowers Saturday during Premier League play for the Cox Cup at MacDonald Park in Victoria. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

Century-old rugby rivalry revived in James Bay

James Bay Athletic Association and Vancouver Rowing Club squads face off for a trio of cups

James Bay Athletic Association’s Keith Graham runs past the Vancouver Rowing Club Rowers Saturday during Premier League play for the Cox Cup at MacDonald Park in Victoria. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
Colwood City Council will soon consider a staff reccomendation which will see significant changes to the way Colwood Fire Rescue operates, aimed at improving response time and firefighter compensation. (Black Press Media file photo)

Colwood considering pay upgrades for volunteer firefighters

Proposed changes would improve firefighter compensation, 24-hour response times: fire chief

Colwood City Council will soon consider a staff reccomendation which will see significant changes to the way Colwood Fire Rescue operates, aimed at improving response time and firefighter compensation. (Black Press Media file photo)
Sooke Shelter staff and residents are ready to get to work. Each day for the past two years, residents head out to perform simple acts of community service such as picking up litter and tidying up areas around the community. (Kevin Laird - Sooke News Mirror)

Shelter residents help keep Sooke clean

Each day, residents at the Sooke Shelter Society are walking the community to pick up trash

Sooke Shelter staff and residents are ready to get to work. Each day for the past two years, residents head out to perform simple acts of community service such as picking up litter and tidying up areas around the community. (Kevin Laird - Sooke News Mirror)
The Coldest Night of the Year fundraiser is back again on Feb. 26 to raise funds for the Sooke Shelter Society. (Facebook - Sooke Shelter Society)

Coldest Night of the Year back to raise $20k for Sooke Shelter Society

Taking place on Feb. 26, the walk will raise funds to help buy food, blankets and clothes

The Coldest Night of the Year fundraiser is back again on Feb. 26 to raise funds for the Sooke Shelter Society. (Facebook - Sooke Shelter Society)
Ethan Ostropolski has been finding great success in his first two years in the workforce, securing jobs at Pizzability and as a newspaper carrier for the Sooke News Mirror. (Contributed - Melissa MacEwan)

Sooke man, 20, with autism gets job boost

Ethan Ostropolski is finding purpose and connection through work

Ethan Ostropolski has been finding great success in his first two years in the workforce, securing jobs at Pizzability and as a newspaper carrier for the Sooke News Mirror. (Contributed - Melissa MacEwan)
Mayor Maja Tait and Coun. Jeff Bateman checking out features of Sooke’s new library, currently under construction, in this 2021 file photo. Tait said projects such as the new library were planned in anticipation of Sooke’s population growth, which the latest census data shows roase by 16 per cent between 2016 and 2021 and now sits at 15,086. (File - Black Press Media)

Census 2021: Sooke grows 16 per cent, tops 15,000 residents

Mayor Maja Tait said the increased population will bring increased costs, but the district is ready

Mayor Maja Tait and Coun. Jeff Bateman checking out features of Sooke’s new library, currently under construction, in this 2021 file photo. Tait said projects such as the new library were planned in anticipation of Sooke’s population growth, which the latest census data shows roase by 16 per cent between 2016 and 2021 and now sits at 15,086. (File - Black Press Media)
The Sooke Arts Council gallery will close its doors this month as the building’s new owners have served an eviction notice. (Justin Samanski-Langille - Sooke News Mirror)

Sooke art gallery forced to close after 18 months

The Sooke Arts Council will continue its mission, however, and is on the hunt for a new location

The Sooke Arts Council gallery will close its doors this month as the building’s new owners have served an eviction notice. (Justin Samanski-Langille - Sooke News Mirror)
Jasmine Family Restaurant owner Judy Wong said the restaurant is closing its doors in March after more than 20 years on the West Shore. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

‘A lot of sadness’: Jasmine Family Restaurant closing its doors in Colwood

After more than 20 years, local staple to close in March to make way for new development

Jasmine Family Restaurant owner Judy Wong said the restaurant is closing its doors in March after more than 20 years on the West Shore. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)