Community

Metchosin and Sc’ianew First Nation recently received a grant for $280,000. (Metchosin Fire Department Facebook)

Metchosin and Beecher Bay First Nation receive substantial grant

$280,000 grant designated for FireSmart community projects and emergency supports

Metchosin and Sc’ianew First Nation recently received a grant for $280,000. (Metchosin Fire Department Facebook)
Businesses bring the bloom back to the Inner Harbour. (Courtesy Greater Victoria Harbour Authority)

Inner Harbour’s Welcome to Victoria garden will bloom after all

Hanging baskets also back in the budget for Greater Victoria Harbour Authority

Businesses bring the bloom back to the Inner Harbour. (Courtesy Greater Victoria Harbour Authority)
“Taste The Bread!” declares Walter Rasmussen, the mayor of fictional Windward, Washington (Haig Sutherland) during filming of The Baker’s Son in Chemainus Friday. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Parallels between Island community and fictional town evident in Hallmark movie

Tourism boost likely down the road for Chemainus from publicity after a week of filming

“Taste The Bread!” declares Walter Rasmussen, the mayor of fictional Windward, Washington (Haig Sutherland) during filming of The Baker’s Son in Chemainus Friday. (Photo by Don Bodger)
Habitat For Humanity Victoria has completed 24 homes since 1990. (Habitat for Humanity photo)

Habitat for Humanity Victoria opens doors

Artists, designer and creative folks wanted for latest campaign

Habitat For Humanity Victoria has completed 24 homes since 1990. (Habitat for Humanity photo)
Pirate Excavating volunteered its services to prep Art Morris Park for the coming fastball season. (Contributed - Sooke Minor Fastball Association)

Sooke businesses come together to repair ballfield

Diamonds ‘fluffed up’ for coming season

Pirate Excavating volunteered its services to prep Art Morris Park for the coming fastball season. (Contributed - Sooke Minor Fastball Association)
Dr. Omar Ahmad (left), Island Health’s department head of emergency and critical care medicine, Avery Brohman, Island Health’s executive director and Joe O’Rourke, Seaspan Victoria Shipyards vice president and general manager, announced a $2.65 million donation toward the Its Critical campaign on Nov. 17, 2020. (Victoria Hospitals Foundation photo)

Victoria Hospitals Foundation campaign $1 million shy of $7 million goal

It’s Critical aims to build Vancouver Island’s first high acuity unit

Dr. Omar Ahmad (left), Island Health’s department head of emergency and critical care medicine, Avery Brohman, Island Health’s executive director and Joe O’Rourke, Seaspan Victoria Shipyards vice president and general manager, announced a $2.65 million donation toward the Its Critical campaign on Nov. 17, 2020. (Victoria Hospitals Foundation photo)
Carmen Hou joined BC Cancer’s Personalized Onco-Genomics Program, where scientists sequenced her DNA to match her to the best treatment possible for her cancer. Today, she nears the three-year mark of being on a trial drug that’s kept her cancer stable.

Facing Stage IV breast cancer at 36

One in eight Canadian women develop breast cancer in their lifetime.

  • Mar 22, 2021
Carmen Hou joined BC Cancer’s Personalized Onco-Genomics Program, where scientists sequenced her DNA to match her to the best treatment possible for her cancer. Today, she nears the three-year mark of being on a trial drug that’s kept her cancer stable.
Construction is underway for the 1930-built bungalow at Monterey and Central roads in Oak Bay. It was lifted by Nickle Bros. and a new foundation is in already place. (Travis Paterson/News Staff)

Need a lift?

Oak Bay home gets a new foundation

  • Mar 21, 2021
Construction is underway for the 1930-built bungalow at Monterey and Central roads in Oak Bay. It was lifted by Nickle Bros. and a new foundation is in already place. (Travis Paterson/News Staff)
The Victoria Admirals U-13 hockey team is the 2021 Chevrolet Good Deeds Cup champion. (Facebook/Victoria Admirals)

Victoria Admirals win public’s hearts, capture 2021 Chevrolet Good Deeds Cup

Minor hockey team wins $100,000 for the Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island

  • Mar 20, 2021
The Victoria Admirals U-13 hockey team is the 2021 Chevrolet Good Deeds Cup champion. (Facebook/Victoria Admirals)
Tim Szo, who is in Grade 12 of Stelly’s Secondary School’s French immersion program, says in-person teaching has helped him value being able to speak French face-to-face. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Central Saanich student values face-to-face teaching en francais

Tim Szo feels grateful for having had in-person instruction

Tim Szo, who is in Grade 12 of Stelly’s Secondary School’s French immersion program, says in-person teaching has helped him value being able to speak French face-to-face. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Jacob Baggott, 4, is raising money for his favourite train conductor, Claude Jolivet, and Heritage Acres after a fire March 17 damaged the family attraction. (Courtesy of Ali Baggott)

Four-year-old Saanich boy raises thousands for Heritage Acres following fire

Heritage Acres is Jacob Baggott’s favourite place to ride trains

Jacob Baggott, 4, is raising money for his favourite train conductor, Claude Jolivet, and Heritage Acres after a fire March 17 damaged the family attraction. (Courtesy of Ali Baggott)
Welcome to Oak Bay sign on McNeill Avenue at Foul Bay Road. (Black Press Media File Photo)

What do you call someone from Oak Bay?

Chemaniacs have the coolest name in B.C.

  • Mar 20, 2021
Welcome to Oak Bay sign on McNeill Avenue at Foul Bay Road. (Black Press Media File Photo)
Neill Wakefield, who appeared primarily on season five of the Discovery Channel TV show Highway Thru Hell, recently moved to Langford with his wife Tiffany. The couple, who met through the towing industry and married four years ago, wanted to settle here to live closer to family. (Photo courtesy of Neill Wakefield)

Highway Thru Hell tow truck driver shifts gears, moves to Langford

Neill Wakefield and wife, Tiffany, settle on West Shore to be closer to family

Neill Wakefield, who appeared primarily on season five of the Discovery Channel TV show Highway Thru Hell, recently moved to Langford with his wife Tiffany. The couple, who met through the towing industry and married four years ago, wanted to settle here to live closer to family. (Photo courtesy of Neill Wakefield)
Gardeners are preparing for the second spring during COVID-19. Business is already picking up at some Greater Victoria nurseries, including Elk Lake Garden Centre. (Nina Grossman/News Staff)

Greater Victoria garden centres preparing for busy season

Businesses stocking up for second gardening season during COVID-19 pandemic

Gardeners are preparing for the second spring during COVID-19. Business is already picking up at some Greater Victoria nurseries, including Elk Lake Garden Centre. (Nina Grossman/News Staff)
Saanich and the Capital Regional District are offering free leak detection kits at municipal hall on Vernon Avenue until March 26 in honour of Fix-a-leak Week. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)

Free leak detection kits available to Saanich residents to reduce water waste, save money

CRD Fix-a-leak Week runs March 15-21, kits available until March 26

Saanich and the Capital Regional District are offering free leak detection kits at municipal hall on Vernon Avenue until March 26 in honour of Fix-a-leak Week. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)
Const. Alex Bérubé, media relations officer with the West Shore RCMP, says he has encountered a wide-range of unusual incidents where people have been driving while distracted. (Shutterstock)

Caught in the act: West Shore RCMP share drivers’ bizarre distractions

Shaving, eating cereal, even removing a bra are just some of the infractions observed by police

Const. Alex Bérubé, media relations officer with the West Shore RCMP, says he has encountered a wide-range of unusual incidents where people have been driving while distracted. (Shutterstock)
Ruth Bartesko gives some love to Fanny the Shetland pony during an Equine Assisted Learning session at Heart Lake Farm on March 8. Bartesko is one of several participants from the Victoria Brain Injury Society to take part in the new program. (Nina Grossman/News Staff) Ruth Bartesko gives some love to Fanny the Shetland pony during an Equine Assisted Learning session at Heart Lake Farm March 8. Bartesko is one of several participants from the Victoria Brain Injury Society to take part in the new program. (Nina Grossman/News Staff)

Greater Victoria brain injury survivors harness power of equine connection

Humble Hooves, Heart Lake Farm and Victoria Brain Injury Society team up for new program

Ruth Bartesko gives some love to Fanny the Shetland pony during an Equine Assisted Learning session at Heart Lake Farm on March 8. Bartesko is one of several participants from the Victoria Brain Injury Society to take part in the new program. (Nina Grossman/News Staff) Ruth Bartesko gives some love to Fanny the Shetland pony during an Equine Assisted Learning session at Heart Lake Farm March 8. Bartesko is one of several participants from the Victoria Brain Injury Society to take part in the new program. (Nina Grossman/News Staff)
Kara Sorensen was diagnosed with lung cancer in July, after experiencing symptoms of discomfort in her left shoulder. An online auction has been started on Sorensen’s behalf, and has so far raised over $10,000 of it’s $20,000 goal. (Photo courtesy of Karen Sorensen)

Auction helps fund cancer treatment for Metchosin woman

Online auction runs until March 20, features wide variety of unique gifts to bid on

Kara Sorensen was diagnosed with lung cancer in July, after experiencing symptoms of discomfort in her left shoulder. An online auction has been started on Sorensen’s behalf, and has so far raised over $10,000 of it’s $20,000 goal. (Photo courtesy of Karen Sorensen)
The Vancouver Island Regional Library is partnering with Lazarus Esports to offer a first-of-its-kind North American competitive esports golf showdown. (Pixabay photo)

Game on: Vancouver Island library offers gaming golf challenge

Competition will help VIRL expand into new markets and attract new audiences, say officials

The Vancouver Island Regional Library is partnering with Lazarus Esports to offer a first-of-its-kind North American competitive esports golf showdown. (Pixabay photo)
The new Meadow Park Green playground in Royal Bay is constructed of timber, which includes a zip-line, climbing structures, swings, slides, a bridge and a colourful play mound. Colwood mayor Rob Martin, members of council, GableCraft staff and their children celebrated the park’s grand opening this week. (Photo contributed/Jennifer Callioux)

PHOTOS: Colwood celebrates grand opening of unique playground in Royal Bay

Meadow Park Green playground is made of timber; fits with community’s natural feel

The new Meadow Park Green playground in Royal Bay is constructed of timber, which includes a zip-line, climbing structures, swings, slides, a bridge and a colourful play mound. Colwood mayor Rob Martin, members of council, GableCraft staff and their children celebrated the park’s grand opening this week. (Photo contributed/Jennifer Callioux)