Community

The Oak Bay Recreation Centre is a hub of activity, including free community events on Jan. 1. (Black Press Media file photo)

Kick off 2023 with an Oak Bay neighbourhood walk

Free swimming, skating, jazzercize and tennis, with donations to KidSport encouraged

The Oak Bay Recreation Centre is a hub of activity, including free community events on Jan. 1. (Black Press Media file photo)
Markus Meyer, the group's Beaver Leader, holds a box of socks collected for the drive. (Courtesy of Sandra Meyer)

Esquimalt youth sock the competition with a snowball fight – and donations

The 14th JDF Scouting Group collected socks for those in need, having fun while they helped

Markus Meyer, the group's Beaver Leader, holds a box of socks collected for the drive. (Courtesy of Sandra Meyer)
Merilyn Lentz serves up dinner during the annual Monterey centre Christmas dinner on Dec. 15 in Oak Bay. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

PHOTOS: Monterey Minstrels sing in Christmas at Oak Bay centre

Annual dinner event brings music, merriment to Monterey Avenue

Merilyn Lentz serves up dinner during the annual Monterey centre Christmas dinner on Dec. 15 in Oak Bay. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
Meanwhile in Sooke members have raised $20,000 for a local food charity. (MIN/Facebook)

Sooke Facebook group raises $20,000 for food bank

‘I’m amazed by the generosity of people in this community’

Meanwhile in Sooke members have raised $20,000 for a local food charity. (MIN/Facebook)
John Muir Elementary School students Kahlan Thornton (left), Callie Watson, Sophia Smith, Konnor May, Weston Cole, and Carly Clare hold up envelopes with their prizes for the Sooke Legion’s Remembrance Day Poster and Literary Contest. School principal John Muir and Legion member Ken Levert stand behind the students with the trophy that goes to the school with the highest percentage of participation in the contest. (Rick Stiebel - Sooke News Mirror)

Sooke students salute veterans, soldiers

John Muir students take trophy for highest participation in Legion’s Remembrance Day contest

John Muir Elementary School students Kahlan Thornton (left), Callie Watson, Sophia Smith, Konnor May, Weston Cole, and Carly Clare hold up envelopes with their prizes for the Sooke Legion’s Remembrance Day Poster and Literary Contest. School principal John Muir and Legion member Ken Levert stand behind the students with the trophy that goes to the school with the highest percentage of participation in the contest. (Rick Stiebel - Sooke News Mirror)
Alex Lavoie was even able to feed cat food to a raven that flew alongside his Jeep on the Dempster Highway in Yukon. Youtube video screenshot

VIDEO: Raven flies alongside Quadra Island couple travelling frigid Yukon highway

23 minute video with Raven garners over 5,000 views on Youtube

Alex Lavoie was even able to feed cat food to a raven that flew alongside his Jeep on the Dempster Highway in Yukon. Youtube video screenshot
Shirley Lou Hansen, a resident of Parkwood Place, helps a student place her gingerbread house in the village. (Courtesy of Cheryl Chalifour)

Victoria seniors and students work together for Habitat for Humanity

Local seniors and students spread holiday spirit, building an intergenerational gingerbread village

Shirley Lou Hansen, a resident of Parkwood Place, helps a student place her gingerbread house in the village. (Courtesy of Cheryl Chalifour)
Craigflower bridge is the site where Reena Virk was murdered by a pack of teenagers in 1997. (Dunc Malcolm/News staff)

Hulu producing TV show about 1997 murder of Reena Virk

The show is titled Under The Bridge

Craigflower bridge is the site where Reena Virk was murdered by a pack of teenagers in 1997. (Dunc Malcolm/News staff)
Cathy Gouk of Cathy’s Corner Cafe prepares a Christmas meal. (File - Sooke News Mirror)

In Sooke, Cathy’s Corner Cafe offers free Christmas dinner for all

It’s an annual tradition for the restaurant and community

Cathy Gouk of Cathy’s Corner Cafe prepares a Christmas meal. (File - Sooke News Mirror)
Shannon Bellamy and Tom Andrews of the Chemainus Festival of Murals Society form their own arch with help from their shadowy friends at the site in Waterwheel Park where a new welcome arch will go up by next fall. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Island community’s arch another means for bridging cultural divides

Illuminated permanent art piece will allow people to see the light

Shannon Bellamy and Tom Andrews of the Chemainus Festival of Murals Society form their own arch with help from their shadowy friends at the site in Waterwheel Park where a new welcome arch will go up by next fall. (Photo by Don Bodger)
A handful of trees along Granite Street feature a swatch of what looks like cling wrap wrapped around their trunks, a few feet from the ground to stop winter moths climbing the trunk to lay eggs. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

Oak Bay trees banded to battle 1 of 3 pests on parks’ least-wanted list

Trunks banded to stop moths climbing the trunk to lay eggs that become loopers and devour trees

A handful of trees along Granite Street feature a swatch of what looks like cling wrap wrapped around their trunks, a few feet from the ground to stop winter moths climbing the trunk to lay eggs. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
Kindergartener Lucille McKenzie and her Grade 7 buddy Eliza Gedischk build tiny bundles of candy with a warm message during the years-old tradition of Christmas Cracker Day at St. Patrick’s School. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

PHOTOS: Kids craft Christmas crackers for those facing homelessness in Greater Victoria

Students start by donating Halloween candy in November

Kindergartener Lucille McKenzie and her Grade 7 buddy Eliza Gedischk build tiny bundles of candy with a warm message during the years-old tradition of Christmas Cracker Day at St. Patrick’s School. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
Oak Bay birders hope to spot a rock sandpiper during the 2022 Christmas Bird Count. (Photo Geoffrey Newell)

Birders hunt the elusive blue jay in Victoria this Christmas count

South Island backyard enthusiasts welcome to count the birds from their window

Oak Bay birders hope to spot a rock sandpiper during the 2022 Christmas Bird Count. (Photo Geoffrey Newell)
Zero Waste Sooke hosts a demonstration on Furoshiki – the ancient Japanese art of cloth gift wrapping – at the Sooke library on Sunday (Dec. 18) from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. (Shutterstock.com)

You can wrap Christmas gifts more cheaply and with less waste

Zero Waste Sooke hosts demonstration on Sunday

  • Dec 12, 2022
Zero Waste Sooke hosts a demonstration on Furoshiki – the ancient Japanese art of cloth gift wrapping – at the Sooke library on Sunday (Dec. 18) from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. (Shutterstock.com)
Firefighters of Greater Victoria use their latest calendar as a venue to highlight how members cope with the cumulative stress of being first responders. (Saanich Firefighter Charitable/Facebook)

Greater Victoria calendar sales inspire mental health, help hospice

Greater Victoria firefighters calendar sales support the Victoria Hospitals Foundation

Firefighters of Greater Victoria use their latest calendar as a venue to highlight how members cope with the cumulative stress of being first responders. (Saanich Firefighter Charitable/Facebook)
The Town of View Royal wants residents to nominate their favourite holiday display between now and Dec. 23. (Black Press Media file photo)

Light Up View Royal contest looking for the coolest displays

Residents encouraged to nominate their favourite decorative display

The Town of View Royal wants residents to nominate their favourite holiday display between now and Dec. 23. (Black Press Media file photo)
A man pauses while digging out snow from under a car stuck on a street in the aftermath of a snowstorm, in Vancouver, on Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

QUIZ: Are you ready for winter weather?

Winter begins later this month, but is already on the ground in many parts of the country

A man pauses while digging out snow from under a car stuck on a street in the aftermath of a snowstorm, in Vancouver, on Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Members of the West Shore RCMP, including mascot Safety Bear, stand in front of the 35-foot canoe they filled with donated food Saturday (Dec. 10) during the detachment’s annual food drive. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

PHOTOS: West Shore RCMP fills canoe during annual food drive

The detachment was aiming to beat 2021’s nearly $10K in donations for Goldstream Food Bank

Members of the West Shore RCMP, including mascot Safety Bear, stand in front of the 35-foot canoe they filled with donated food Saturday (Dec. 10) during the detachment’s annual food drive. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
During rutting season, bucks like this fella on Beach Drive in Oak Bay tend to rub their antlers on trees and bushes, and it’s not unusual to get tangled in Christmas lights, garden netting or other low-hanging strings. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

Christmas decor dangers lurk for wildlife, warns Greater Victoria rehab centre

BC SPCA Wild ARC offers tips to safe decor, where to go for help

During rutting season, bucks like this fella on Beach Drive in Oak Bay tend to rub their antlers on trees and bushes, and it’s not unusual to get tangled in Christmas lights, garden netting or other low-hanging strings. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
St. Paul's United Church will host new group aimed at helping LGBTQ2+ connect. (Courtesy of St. Paul's United Church)

Sidney church to host support group for LGBTQ+ seniors

St. Paul’s United Church aims to fill gap in providing LGBTQ+ seniors with resources and information

St. Paul's United Church will host new group aimed at helping LGBTQ2+ connect. (Courtesy of St. Paul's United Church)