Community

Peers Victoria is fundraising to replace their outreach van, which is in poor shape after serving nightly for six years. (Peers Victoria/Facebook)

Peers Victoria fundraising to replace outreach van

The organization provides support to vulnerable sex workers in the community

Cpl. Pat Bryant of the Central Saanich Police Service cleans a car Saturday during a fundraiser car wash in support of this year’s Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock fundraiser. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

PHOTOS: Central Saanich car wash brings Tour de Rock team closer to $800k goal

The Saturday event saw a steady stream of both cars and donations

The Spinning Wheels Tour team members dip their bike wheels in the Pacific Ocean Saturday morning as they start their cross-Canada bike ride in support of people living with Parkinson’s. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

Cyclists depart Victoria on cross-Canada tour for Parkinson’s awareness

The Spinning Wheels Tour is raising funds and awareness in support of those loving with the disease

Olivia Freisen, left, and Ines Ciccateri earned the Merit Cup during the 2022 annual awards at Oak Bay High. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

PHOTOS: Oak Bay High celebrates students with awards

Merit Cup winners appreciate efforts of teachers, staff

Olivia Freisen, left, and Ines Ciccateri earned the Merit Cup during the 2022 annual awards at Oak Bay High. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
A new piece of wall art at the James Bay branch of the Greater Victoria Public Library was unveiled in June to help tell the stories and history of B.C.’s Black pioneers. (Courtesy of B.C. Black History Awareness Society)

New James Bay wall art helps tell story of B.C. Black pioneers

The new artwork connects to a virtual exhibition by the B.C. Black History Awareness Society

A new piece of wall art at the James Bay branch of the Greater Victoria Public Library was unveiled in June to help tell the stories and history of B.C.’s Black pioneers. (Courtesy of B.C. Black History Awareness Society)
Camosun College 2022 graduate Gretta de Carvalho Kawahara was awarded the B.C. Lieutenant Governor’s Medal for combining high grades and promoting inclusion, democracy and reconciliation at the college and in her community. (Courtesy Camosun College)

Camosun College honours its top students with 2022 awards

Lieutenant-Governor Medal for grades and citizenship; top academic awards handed out

Camosun College 2022 graduate Gretta de Carvalho Kawahara was awarded the B.C. Lieutenant Governor’s Medal for combining high grades and promoting inclusion, democracy and reconciliation at the college and in her community. (Courtesy Camosun College)
Reynolds secondary teacher Heather Coey was presented with the Long Term Achievement award as part of the 2022 Saanich Environmental Awards handed out at the June 20 council meeting. (Courtesy District of Saanich)

Saanich environmental champions honoured with awards

Winners recognized in multiple categories for environmental stewardship

Reynolds secondary teacher Heather Coey was presented with the Long Term Achievement award as part of the 2022 Saanich Environmental Awards handed out at the June 20 council meeting. (Courtesy District of Saanich)
A couple travelled from Osoyoos to Penticton on Friday, June 24, to pick up their new vehicle after winning a Canada-wide contest, courtesy of General Motors. (Logan Lockhart- Western News)

PHOTOS: B.C. couple presented with new car after winning Canada-wide contest

‘We thought it was some scam when we found out we won,’ they said

A couple travelled from Osoyoos to Penticton on Friday, June 24, to pick up their new vehicle after winning a Canada-wide contest, courtesy of General Motors. (Logan Lockhart- Western News)
The Sooke Fall Fair Guide 2022 is available at a variety of locations and online at sookefallfair.ca. (File - Sooke News Mirror)

Sooke Fall Fair releases competitions guide

Guide gives you everything you need to know to enter competitions in this year’s fair

The Sooke Fall Fair Guide 2022 is available at a variety of locations and online at sookefallfair.ca. (File - Sooke News Mirror)
After going missing on Mother’s Day, Diggity has been reunited with his Colwood family after being found in the Duncan area. (Courtesy of Anne-Sophie Dumetz)

VIDEO: Colwood family reunited with beloved therapy animal

Diggity had been missing for more than a month before being found in Duncan

After going missing on Mother’s Day, Diggity has been reunited with his Colwood family after being found in the Duncan area. (Courtesy of Anne-Sophie Dumetz)
The City of Victoria is now offering a bike valet program, located at city hall near the Pandora Avenue bike lanes. (Black Press Media file photo)

New bike valet program opens in downtown Victoria

Free service allows users to leave bikes, strollers, scooters in secure storage

The City of Victoria is now offering a bike valet program, located at city hall near the Pandora Avenue bike lanes. (Black Press Media file photo)
Canada Day celebrations will return to Sooke and Port Renfrew on July 1 for the first time in two years. (Metro-Creative)

Canada Day celebrations return to Sooke, Port Renfrew

No fireworks for July 1 event in Sooke

Canada Day celebrations will return to Sooke and Port Renfrew on July 1 for the first time in two years. (Metro-Creative)
Military veteran Yance Sheehan and his service dog Ryder. (Courtesy BC and Alberta Guide Dogs)

Islanders going the distance to support service dogs

BC and Alberta Guide Dogs’ third annual Woof-A-Thon Virtual Challenge goes Sunday

Military veteran Yance Sheehan and his service dog Ryder. (Courtesy BC and Alberta Guide Dogs)
Artist Mario Labonte shows off some of his work in a garden during a previous edition of Esquimalt’s Urban Art Tour. (Courtesy of Esquimalt Community Arts Hub)

Esquimalt Urban Arts Tour returns Saturday

Visitors can tour local gardens and artists throughout the township

Artist Mario Labonte shows off some of his work in a garden during a previous edition of Esquimalt’s Urban Art Tour. (Courtesy of Esquimalt Community Arts Hub)
Saanich’s food truck program will be back this summer at two parks with six vendors. (Black Press Media file photo)

Food trucks roll back into Saanich parks next week

Program returns with six vendors rotating between Cadboro-Gyro and Beckwith parks

Saanich’s food truck program will be back this summer at two parks with six vendors. (Black Press Media file photo)
Honey needs new wheels after being found paralyzed on the side of a road. (GVAC/Facebook)

Greater Victoria animal rescue fundraises for paralyzed, abandoned pup

The organization plans to try physiotherapy but says: ‘Honey needs wheels’

Honey needs new wheels after being found paralyzed on the side of a road. (GVAC/Facebook)
Arnie Hamilton reached out to his friend who owns a printing company and designed the car decals himself. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)

Colwood resident takes to streets for Ukraine

Arnie Hamilton is selling car decals, stickers to raise funds for Ukrainian refugees

Arnie Hamilton reached out to his friend who owns a printing company and designed the car decals himself. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)
Local musicians will perform at Shirley Day on Aug. 21. Having missed Shirley Day for two years due to the COVID pandemic, organizers look forward to welcoming everyone back to the hamlet. (Contributed - Shannon Lee Rae)

Organizers planning the return of Shirley Day

Community event coming back after two-year hiatus

  • Jun 22, 2022
Local musicians will perform at Shirley Day on Aug. 21. Having missed Shirley Day for two years due to the COVID pandemic, organizers look forward to welcoming everyone back to the hamlet. (Contributed - Shannon Lee Rae)
The newly expanded public dock in Banfield Park. (Courtesy City of Victoria)

Vic West dock project provides more access to Gorge Waterway

Project doubles popular dock space just in time for summer weather

The newly expanded public dock in Banfield Park. (Courtesy City of Victoria)
Charles Elliot, left, designed the Salish house post unveiled on Tuesday morning at the Saanich School District offices in Central Saanich. As lead carver, Elliott’s son Chazz (far right) received help from brother Matt Parlby and sister Cedar Shackelly to complete the piece. The unveiling coincided with National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Salish house post unveiled in Central Saanich sends message of reconciliation

Saanich School District commissioned the piece from Charles Elliot in 2018

Charles Elliot, left, designed the Salish house post unveiled on Tuesday morning at the Saanich School District offices in Central Saanich. As lead carver, Elliott’s son Chazz (far right) received help from brother Matt Parlby and sister Cedar Shackelly to complete the piece. The unveiling coincided with National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)