Community

Seattle Mariners field coordinator Carson Vitale before a game at T-Mobile Park during the 2020 season. Vitale, who grew up in Victoria, has pledged to run 10 miles a day for 2021 and to donate 50 cents per mile to the United Way of King County. (Ben Van Houten/Seattle Mariners)

Mariners coach running 10 miles a day for United Way

Saanich-raised Carson Vitale, Seattle Mariners field coordinator, plans to run 3,650 miles in 2021

Trish and Steve Connor of Deep Cove are stoking a friendly competition among neighbourhoods with the help of NextDoor app to help raise money for the Saanich Peninsula Lions Food Bank. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

North Saanich entrepeneurs issue online challenge to help local food bank

Trish and Chris Connor use NextDoor app to raise funds for Saanich Lions Peninsula Food Bank

George Roberts, 95, published his second and third books of poetry amid the pandemic. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)

Saanich senior turned to poetry in 2020, published two books of limericks at 94 years old

George Roberts celebrated his 95th birthday on Dec. 31, 2020

January 13, 2021 - Boys get soaked as they play in waves crashing over the railing along Dallas Road next to the Ogden Point breakwater. High winds created the big waves on an otherwise sunny day. (Don Denton/Black Press Media)

PHOTOS: Wind breaks for sunshine in Greater Victoria

Forecast looks brighter after overnight wind storm

January 13, 2021 - Boys get soaked as they play in waves crashing over the railing along Dallas Road next to the Ogden Point breakwater. High winds created the big waves on an otherwise sunny day. (Don Denton/Black Press Media)
Sooke’s Jim Bottomley is among a handful of futurists based in Canada. “I want to help people understand the future of humanity.” (Aaron Guillen - Sooke News Mirror)

Sooke man reveals how he made a living predicting the future

63-year-old has worked with politicians, car brands, and cosmetic companies

Sooke’s Jim Bottomley is among a handful of futurists based in Canada. “I want to help people understand the future of humanity.” (Aaron Guillen - Sooke News Mirror)
John Scheeren died at 64 following a workplace incident. Scheeren oversaw several of the region’s biggest construction projects, including the new Oak Bay High School and several projects on Skirt Mountain. (Courtesy of Rob Scheeren)

Longtime Greater Victoria construction supervisor remembered for hard work, love of trades

John Scheeren died at 64 following a workplace accident

John Scheeren died at 64 following a workplace incident. Scheeren oversaw several of the region’s biggest construction projects, including the new Oak Bay High School and several projects on Skirt Mountain. (Courtesy of Rob Scheeren)
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Saanich’s 2020 fall leaf collection saw more than 9,000 cubic yards of mulched leaves collected between Oct. 26 and Jan. 5. (Black Press Media file photo)

Saanich collects, mulches more than 9,000 cubic yards of fallen foliage

District Public Works staff aim to end fall leaf collection program by Jan. 11

Saanich’s 2020 fall leaf collection saw more than 9,000 cubic yards of mulched leaves collected between Oct. 26 and Jan. 5. (Black Press Media file photo)
Myla Bui (right) presented a handmade mobile made up of 1,001 paper cranes to Dez Young (left) on Saturday, Jan. 9. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)

PHOTOS: Young Saanich philanthropist raises $31,031 for sick kids, folds thousands of paper cranes

Sister of Leila Bui completes four mobiles with 1,001 cranes each, 27 still to be made

Myla Bui (right) presented a handmade mobile made up of 1,001 paper cranes to Dez Young (left) on Saturday, Jan. 9. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)
Walter Craveiro, who immigrated to Canada from Portugal as a teen and worked for the Saanich Police Department for 29 years, died at the age of 74 on Jan. 5. (Photo provided by Nico Craveiro)

Saanich police sergeant who survived ’80s car bomb explosion dies at 74

Walter Craveiro remembered as ‘remarkable man,’ who was always helping others

Walter Craveiro, who immigrated to Canada from Portugal as a teen and worked for the Saanich Police Department for 29 years, died at the age of 74 on Jan. 5. (Photo provided by Nico Craveiro)
Sgt. Erin Lench of the RCMP presents her husband Darren Lench, out-going deputy chief of Central Saanich Police Service, with a bouquet of flowers in recognizing his retirement after 40 years of service. (Central Saanich Police Service/Twitter)

Top cops drive devoted Central Saanich deputy chief into retirement with parade

Darren Lench to retire after 40 years in policing, including five years with Central Saanich

Sgt. Erin Lench of the RCMP presents her husband Darren Lench, out-going deputy chief of Central Saanich Police Service, with a bouquet of flowers in recognizing his retirement after 40 years of service. (Central Saanich Police Service/Twitter)
Unlike in previous years, this year’s VIATEC Foundation Food Bank Challenge mainly took place online, with tech companies raising more than $72,000. (VIATEC/Submitted)

Greater Victoria tech companies upload more than $72,000 in food bank donations

VIATEC Foundation Food Bank Challenge benefits Mustard Seed Food Bank

Unlike in previous years, this year’s VIATEC Foundation Food Bank Challenge mainly took place online, with tech companies raising more than $72,000. (VIATEC/Submitted)
Mikes (Michal) Patterson has no plans to slow down after recently logging her 3,000th volunteer hour at Sidney’s Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Volunteer at Sidney’s Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea marks major milestone

Mikes (Michal) Patterson completed 3,000 hour of volunteer work at the non-profit aquarium

Mikes (Michal) Patterson has no plans to slow down after recently logging her 3,000th volunteer hour at Sidney’s Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Lizanne Chicanot, Parkland Secondary School principal (second from left), here seen with prospective IB students in 2018, says the program offers “education with a purpose.” (Black Press Media File)

International Baccalaureate at North Saanich school offers ‘education with a purpose’

Parkland Secondary School to host virtual info session on Jan. 13

Lizanne Chicanot, Parkland Secondary School principal (second from left), here seen with prospective IB students in 2018, says the program offers “education with a purpose.” (Black Press Media File)
Yolanda Meijer (left), CEO of Habitat for Humanity Victoria, and Sean Thompson, duty manager of the Saanich ReStore, are reminding the community that the ReStore donation centre on Oak Street is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)

Giving season extends into new year as Habitat for Humanity Victoria ReStores call for donations

Furniture, light fixtures, appliances among items accepted at Westshore and Uptown ReStores

Yolanda Meijer (left), CEO of Habitat for Humanity Victoria, and Sean Thompson, duty manager of the Saanich ReStore, are reminding the community that the ReStore donation centre on Oak Street is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)
(Left to right) Spectrum Community School Principal Bruce Bidney poses with two members of the U16AAA South Island Royals, Carter Dyck and Colby Robinson, after the team donated $1,200 to the school’s winter fundraiser. (Photo courtesy Bruce Bidney)

Spectrum Community School winter fundraiser generates $10K for families in need

High school shifts to monetary donations as COVID-19 puts damper on annual hamper drive

(Left to right) Spectrum Community School Principal Bruce Bidney poses with two members of the U16AAA South Island Royals, Carter Dyck and Colby Robinson, after the team donated $1,200 to the school’s winter fundraiser. (Photo courtesy Bruce Bidney)
Saanich uses it’s dog licence registrations as a pup census to track the top names and breeds in the municipality. (Black Press Media file photo)

Max, Charlie and Molly among top names for Saanich pups in 2020

District’s dog licence registration tracks most popular names, breeds

Saanich uses it’s dog licence registrations as a pup census to track the top names and breeds in the municipality. (Black Press Media file photo)
The Regional District of Nanaimo collected approximately 10,000 old waste and garbage bins to be repurposed or reused. (PQB News file photo)

10,000 old Nanaimo-area garbage bins repurposed elsewhere on the Island

Used containers donated to school districts, communities to be reused

The Regional District of Nanaimo collected approximately 10,000 old waste and garbage bins to be repurposed or reused. (PQB News file photo)
Last year’s Coldest Night of the Year walk raised more than $17,000 in Sooke. (Facebook - Sooke Shelter Society)

Coldest Night of the Year walk returns to Sooke for second year

Walk for homeless set for Feb. 22

Last year’s Coldest Night of the Year walk raised more than $17,000 in Sooke. (Facebook - Sooke Shelter Society)
View Royal councillors judged 43 nominations to pick their five favourites in the inaugural competition. (Black Press Media file photo)

View Royal names winners of inaugural light up contest

Residents compete for chocolate prize

View Royal councillors judged 43 nominations to pick their five favourites in the inaugural competition. (Black Press Media file photo)
A Blue Jay, commonly found in the Central and Eastern United States and the southeastern coast of Canada, was spotted in Sooke on Dec. 27. (Contributed – Robin Robinson)

Blue jay, usually found in southeastern Canada, spotted in Sooke

Around 80 birders counted 118 different species within a single day

A Blue Jay, commonly found in the Central and Eastern United States and the southeastern coast of Canada, was spotted in Sooke on Dec. 27. (Contributed – Robin Robinson)