Community

A view of Lytton on Friday, July 9, nine days after a wildfire ripped through the village on June 30. (Jenna Hauck/ Black Press Media)

Greater Victoria rallies for residents who fled fire in Lytton

Fill a truck with supplies July 17 at Barnes Harley-Davidson

A view of Lytton on Friday, July 9, nine days after a wildfire ripped through the village on June 30. (Jenna Hauck/ Black Press Media)
Sooke district council eyes a development plan for John Phillips Memorial Park. (File - Sooke News Mirror)

Lions eye community centre at John Phillips Park in Sooke

Council cannot OK a lease without the approval of electors

Sooke district council eyes a development plan for John Phillips Memorial Park. (File - Sooke News Mirror)
The Habitat Acquisition Trust’s campaign to raise $1.4 million toward the purchase of Mountain Road Forest in Saanich for a new regional park is in its final days. (Black Press Media file photo)

Campaign to buy Saanich’s Mountain Road Forest nears deadline

Habitat Acquisition Trust hopeful of raising final $368,000 of $1.4-million goal by July 20

The Habitat Acquisition Trust’s campaign to raise $1.4 million toward the purchase of Mountain Road Forest in Saanich for a new regional park is in its final days. (Black Press Media file photo)
Close up of Daydreamer by Debra Smith which exhibited in the 2020 Sooke Fine Arts Show. (Contributed - Sooke Fine Arts Society)

Sooke Fine Arts Show launches online, July 23

Online interactive gallery complemented with limited in-person events

Close up of Daydreamer by Debra Smith which exhibited in the 2020 Sooke Fine Arts Show. (Contributed - Sooke Fine Arts Society)
A two-hour kayaking trip is one of three prizes awarded in the Sooke Transition Society Staycation in Victoria raffle. (Pixabay.com)

Staycation in Victoria raffle aids women’s transition house in Sooke

Online draw date July 29

A two-hour kayaking trip is one of three prizes awarded in the Sooke Transition Society Staycation in Victoria raffle. (Pixabay.com)
A red pashmina walk begins at the BC legislature on July 17 to raise awareness for women in Afghanistan and their rights. (Black Press Media file photo)

Victoria walk aims to raise awareness for women in Afghanistan

Participants invited to wear red pashminas on 3K route around harbour July 17

A red pashmina walk begins at the BC legislature on July 17 to raise awareness for women in Afghanistan and their rights. (Black Press Media file photo)
The Victoria Native Friendship Centre is the beneficiary of a fundraiser done by residents at Amica Somerset House in Victoria, to support youth aging out of care at Raven’s House. (Facebook/Victoria Native Friendship Centre)

Victoria retirement community raises over $20,000 to help Indigenous youth

Amica Somerset House residents help Native Friendship Centre support youth aging out of care

The Victoria Native Friendship Centre is the beneficiary of a fundraiser done by residents at Amica Somerset House in Victoria, to support youth aging out of care at Raven’s House. (Facebook/Victoria Native Friendship Centre)
76-year-old Eijo Toyonaga chants for world peace and happiness for humanity daily at the BC Legislature. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)

At nearly 300 days and counting, Saanich man prays for world peace daily

Eijo Toyonaga has been a fixture on the BC Legislature steps for much of the past year

76-year-old Eijo Toyonaga chants for world peace and happiness for humanity daily at the BC Legislature. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)
Canadian Football League commissioner Randy Ambrosie will speak at an Aug. 4 fundraising dinner in Victoria at the Union Club of B.C. (Courtesy John Donnelly)

Grey Cup champion talks during Victoria fundraiser for Lytton residents

Randy Ambrosie provides keynote for Aug. 4 dinner at Union Club of B.C.

Canadian Football League commissioner Randy Ambrosie will speak at an Aug. 4 fundraising dinner in Victoria at the Union Club of B.C. (Courtesy John Donnelly)
Visitors attending the Esquimalt Community Arts Council garden and arts tour Aug. 7 can plan their own route using an online map that can also be printed out. (Courtesy Esquimalt Community Arts Council)

Walkable garden and art tour in Esquimalt to feature over 40 artists

Four different neighbourhoods, 30 stops will keep visitors busy viewing displays

Visitors attending the Esquimalt Community Arts Council garden and arts tour Aug. 7 can plan their own route using an online map that can also be printed out. (Courtesy Esquimalt Community Arts Council)
Alexander Mackie Lodge garden club members relax in the sun. Seated (from left) are Ted Buchanan, Mary-Lou Konrath and Ted McMaster; standing are Gordon Knill and Elsa Bryan. (Photo Gary Wilson)

Garden’s bounty a delight for residents of Langford retirement community

Residents at Alexander Mackie Lodge create a growing concern

Alexander Mackie Lodge garden club members relax in the sun. Seated (from left) are Ted Buchanan, Mary-Lou Konrath and Ted McMaster; standing are Gordon Knill and Elsa Bryan. (Photo Gary Wilson)
Saanich resident Jason Whyte figures he lost 50 to 60 pounds by walking and eating healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Jason Whyte photo)

Saanich film buff drops the weight with five-hour walks during pandemic

Silver City staffer loads up on podcasts then hits the trails around Greater Victoria

Saanich resident Jason Whyte figures he lost 50 to 60 pounds by walking and eating healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Jason Whyte photo)
Students make a “tiny home” sign with their hands as part of the Tiny Home Challenge at John Paul II Catholic School. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)

Vancouver Island school gets visit from Netflix show hosts for tiny home competition

Pilot Tiny Home elective was offered for Grades 4-7

Students make a “tiny home” sign with their hands as part of the Tiny Home Challenge at John Paul II Catholic School. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)
Margaret Lidkea shows the crow garlic volunteers will start to weed out of Uplands Park. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

Crow garlic flies in Oak Bay’s Uplands Park

Invasive plant dimishes camas’ capability to grow

Margaret Lidkea shows the crow garlic volunteers will start to weed out of Uplands Park. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
Colwood city hall. (File photo courtesy of City of Colwood)

Good Neighbour program aims to keep Colwood connected

City hosting a Zoom presentation on July 14

Colwood city hall. (File photo courtesy of City of Colwood)
The annual Victoria HarbourCats sock toss for Anawim House goes Thursday, July 15 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park. (Black Press Media file photo)

Victoria HarbourCats host annual sock toss for Anawim House

Cash, socks colleced July 15 for North Park non-profit

The annual Victoria HarbourCats sock toss for Anawim House goes Thursday, July 15 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park. (Black Press Media file photo)
Reb Stevenson, general director of the Gorge Tillicum Community Association, started off their neighbourhood’s amateur art installation event with an Ode to Canadian short film, the Log Driver’s Waltz. (Courtesy of Gorge Tillicum Community Association)

Ode to Log Driver’s Waltz among art installations popping up in Saanich neighbourhood

Gorge Tillicum Community Association calling for amateur front yard art

Reb Stevenson, general director of the Gorge Tillicum Community Association, started off their neighbourhood’s amateur art installation event with an Ode to Canadian short film, the Log Driver’s Waltz. (Courtesy of Gorge Tillicum Community Association)
Dr. Bonnie Henry will speak at Royal Roads’ changemaker series on July 13 at 7 p.m. free to watch online. (Courtesy of Royal Roads University)

Colwood-based series features Dr. Bonnie Henry on pandemic perseverance

Royal Roads University hosting free online speaker series event on July 13

Dr. Bonnie Henry will speak at Royal Roads’ changemaker series on July 13 at 7 p.m. free to watch online. (Courtesy of Royal Roads University)
Passersby can now enjoy a view of the ocean along the McNeill Bay bluff with the clearing of invasive species underway. (Evert Lindquist/News Staff)

Volunteers beat back invasive species along McNeill Bay bluff in Oak Bay

Massive project follows three decades of ecosystem restoration

Passersby can now enjoy a view of the ocean along the McNeill Bay bluff with the clearing of invasive species underway. (Evert Lindquist/News Staff)
Oak Bay Four Pillars of Excellence Award recipients Anna Friesen (middle left), Orla Scott, and Jasper Calder, with members of the Oak Bay Fire Department during the Oak Bay High awards ceremony in June. (Evert Lindquist/News Staff)

Oak Bay High students earn life-changing post-secondary funding

A peek at a handful of significant scholarship winners for 2021

Oak Bay Four Pillars of Excellence Award recipients Anna Friesen (middle left), Orla Scott, and Jasper Calder, with members of the Oak Bay Fire Department during the Oak Bay High awards ceremony in June. (Evert Lindquist/News Staff)