Community

Santa and Mrs. Claus take a well-deserved break after reading through all the Black Press Media papers in Greater Victoria to update the naught and nice list. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

10 questions with Santa and Mrs. Claus

Black Press Media staffers put together a line of questioning for the…

Santa and Mrs. Claus take a well-deserved break after reading through all the Black Press Media papers in Greater Victoria to update the naught and nice list. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
Eric LAST NAME, the manager stands by the fire place in a cosy corner of the restaurant. (Hollie Ferguson/News Staff)

More Victoria restaurants staying open for Christmas as diners seek options

Steamship Bar and Grill will offer a holiday menu that features turkey, ham and prime rib: oh my!

Eric LAST NAME, the manager stands by the fire place in a cosy corner of the restaurant. (Hollie Ferguson/News Staff)
Save-On-Foods regional manager Roger Junker and store managers Lionel Gjerde, George Clarke, Josh Martell, Dave Alexander, Paul Anacleto, and Ross Prendergast, representing the eight Greater Victoria stores, dropped by Jeneece Place Dec. 16 with food and gift cards. Seen here with Veronica Carroll (left), CEO, and Cory Herrera (right), board chair, Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island. (Courtesy of Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island)

Jeneece Place gets food donation once again from Save-On-Foods

The donated food and gift cards will help families staying there have one less thing to worry about

Save-On-Foods regional manager Roger Junker and store managers Lionel Gjerde, George Clarke, Josh Martell, Dave Alexander, Paul Anacleto, and Ross Prendergast, representing the eight Greater Victoria stores, dropped by Jeneece Place Dec. 16 with food and gift cards. Seen here with Veronica Carroll (left), CEO, and Cory Herrera (right), board chair, Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island. (Courtesy of Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island)
After you have found the perfect gift, consider some waste-free ways to wrap it, including wrapping paper and ribbons from years previous. (Pixabay photo)

Tips to curb recycling needs this Christmas with Greater Victoria pickup on hold

Capital Regional District curbside recycling hit hard by winter weather

After you have found the perfect gift, consider some waste-free ways to wrap it, including wrapping paper and ribbons from years previous. (Pixabay photo)
While moving their native seed field, Satinflower Nurseries offered community members the opportunity to dig up and keep large quantities of plants that wouldn’t be making the move, free of charge. Some now grow adjacent to Bowker Creek in Oak Bay. (Bowker Creek Salmon Recovery/Facebook)

Free plants boost biodiversity of Bowker Creek banks in Oak Bay

Volunteers plant camas bulbs, wildlife seeds to burst forth come spring

While moving their native seed field, Satinflower Nurseries offered community members the opportunity to dig up and keep large quantities of plants that wouldn’t be making the move, free of charge. Some now grow adjacent to Bowker Creek in Oak Bay. (Bowker Creek Salmon Recovery/Facebook)
Kala Doneyhue pictured inside her 2010 Chevrolet Equinox, after winning Penticton’s Huber Bannister Christmas car giveaway on Dec. 23, 2022. (Logan Lockhart- Western News)

VIDEO: Working 7 days a week with 2 kids, B.C. single mom surprised with car

Huber Bannister Chevrolet held its second annual Christmas car giveaway on Dec. 23

Kala Doneyhue pictured inside her 2010 Chevrolet Equinox, after winning Penticton’s Huber Bannister Christmas car giveaway on Dec. 23, 2022. (Logan Lockhart- Western News)
A Salvation Army kettle donation stand with no volunteer on a busy Saturday morning. Volunteers have been hard to find for the organization. (Rebecca Willson/ Salmon Arm Observer)

Salvation Army kettle donations way down as Christmas arrives

Severe winter weather may be causing the decline, but online donations can keep the magic flowing

A Salvation Army kettle donation stand with no volunteer on a busy Saturday morning. Volunteers have been hard to find for the organization. (Rebecca Willson/ Salmon Arm Observer)
Bird count coordinator Ann Nightingale says extreme weather is likely to blame for lower than average numbers in 2022. (Courtesy of Ann Nightingale )

Victoria Christmas Bird Count brings out record number of participants

Bird lovers united to tally the number of different birds and species flying around in the area

Bird count coordinator Ann Nightingale says extreme weather is likely to blame for lower than average numbers in 2022. (Courtesy of Ann Nightingale )
100+ Women Who Care Victoria donate more than $20,000 to Habitat for Humanity Victoria, Dec. 15. (Courtesy of Jenessa Mattson)

100+ Women Who Care Victoria donates $20,000 to Habitat for Humanity

The donation will help the local chapter of Habitat for Humanity provide aid for those who need it

100+ Women Who Care Victoria donate more than $20,000 to Habitat for Humanity Victoria, Dec. 15. (Courtesy of Jenessa Mattson)
The Happy Christmas Tree Co. selling trees off the Luxton Fairgrounds just didn’t see the shopping traffic this year and now has 300 trees left when they should be sold out. (Happy Christmas Tree Co./Facebook)

‘Heartbreaking’: 300 fresh-cut B.C. Christmas trees need homes for the holidays

Sales down 37 per cent for West Shore family business

The Happy Christmas Tree Co. selling trees off the Luxton Fairgrounds just didn’t see the shopping traffic this year and now has 300 trees left when they should be sold out. (Happy Christmas Tree Co./Facebook)
Sooke Region Communities Health Network and Sooke Seniors Activity Society have restarted the Sooke Seniors’ activity bus. (Shutterstock.com)

Sooke agencies merge to get seniors bus rolling

Trips begin in January with outings to the Victoria Health Fair and Victoria Art Gallery

Sooke Region Communities Health Network and Sooke Seniors Activity Society have restarted the Sooke Seniors’ activity bus. (Shutterstock.com)
Gladys Vallee worked in a number of bookstores and saw overbought books can often end up in the landfill. (Courtesy of Terrier Books)

Eco-conscious online bookstore opens in Sooke

Terrier Books has a unique angle: they sell books that would otherwise be headed for the landfill

Gladys Vallee worked in a number of bookstores and saw overbought books can often end up in the landfill. (Courtesy of Terrier Books)
On the expansive glass canvas of a Beacon Avenue business, Santa blows snow as one might a kiss in the mural by Renee Audy. (Photo by Renee Audy)

Meet the artist behind glass canvas magic across Greater Victoria

Saanich artist Renee Audy’s work graces walkways and windows throughout the region

On the expansive glass canvas of a Beacon Avenue business, Santa blows snow as one might a kiss in the mural by Renee Audy. (Photo by Renee Audy)
The Greater Victoria Coffee Ride Cyclists, or the Cycling Santas, gifted eight-year-old Ramsey Frombach with a new bike after seeing her riding every day, in every weather. (Courtesy of Joyce LaRose)

Christmas comes early for determined Saanich Peninsula cyclist

Cycling Santas gift eight-year-old with new bike

The Greater Victoria Coffee Ride Cyclists, or the Cycling Santas, gifted eight-year-old Ramsey Frombach with a new bike after seeing her riding every day, in every weather. (Courtesy of Joyce LaRose)
The inflatable unicorn snow-blower is a Sooke tradition that brings joy to all. (Courtesy of Kiya Carscadden)

Sooke snow-blowing unicorn returns, bringing smiles along the way

The unusual snow-fall is second on the list of magical things you might see in Sooke today

The inflatable unicorn snow-blower is a Sooke tradition that brings joy to all. (Courtesy of Kiya Carscadden)
The “mischievous cow” in action Dec. 3. Photo courtesy Campbell River RCMP

RCMP on the lookout for a … ‘troublesome cow’

‘Cow’ left footprints, not hoof prints, in Island city after ringing doorbell earlier this month

  • Dec 20, 2022
The “mischievous cow” in action Dec. 3. Photo courtesy Campbell River RCMP
A worker gets creative amid Victoria’s snowstorm on Dec. 20 and uses a wooden sign to clear a path. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)

PHOTOS: Greater Victoria enjoys a snow day

Share your photos, email newsroom@vicnews.com

A worker gets creative amid Victoria’s snowstorm on Dec. 20 and uses a wooden sign to clear a path. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)
Royal Canadian Legion Branch 91 youth coordinator Gerry Brennan presents Belmont Secondary School student Wendy Tran with the first-ever custom branch greeting card, featuring a design by Tran which won the branch’s logo competition in the spring. (Courtesy of Royal Canadian Legion branch 91)

West Shore legion branch gets custom greeting card courtesy of Belmont student

Wendy Tran won the branch’s logo contest in the spring

Royal Canadian Legion Branch 91 youth coordinator Gerry Brennan presents Belmont Secondary School student Wendy Tran with the first-ever custom branch greeting card, featuring a design by Tran which won the branch’s logo competition in the spring. (Courtesy of Royal Canadian Legion branch 91)
A cackling goose (Aleutian, with white collar) and two greater white-fronted geese, from the Arctic spotted Nov. 17 at the Victoria Golf Club in Oak Bay. (Photo by Jacques Sirois)

Birders delight in unusual fall flock in Victoria Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary

Four trumpeter swans spotted chilling in Oak Bay

A cackling goose (Aleutian, with white collar) and two greater white-fronted geese, from the Arctic spotted Nov. 17 at the Victoria Golf Club in Oak Bay. (Photo by Jacques Sirois)
Give the gift of flight this Christmas with a series of stuffed birds that make noise courtesy of the BC SPCA. (Wild ARC/Facebook)

Feed a bird in need this holiday season with BC SPCA gift program

Adopt an owl at Wild ARC and get a stuffed great horned owl to keep

Give the gift of flight this Christmas with a series of stuffed birds that make noise courtesy of the BC SPCA. (Wild ARC/Facebook)