Community

Fran Hunt-Jinnouchi, executive director of the Aboriginal Coalition to End Homelessness, appreciates what grants from the Victoria Foundation do to help her organization achieve its goals. (Aboriginal Coalition to End Homelessness/YouTube)

Victoria Foundation channels nearly $2.4 million to hard-hit community organizations

Funding grants help non-profits continue to provide services to communuty through pandemic

Fran Hunt-Jinnouchi, executive director of the Aboriginal Coalition to End Homelessness, appreciates what grants from the Victoria Foundation do to help her organization achieve its goals. (Aboriginal Coalition to End Homelessness/YouTube)
Anita and Randy Madhar, owners of the recently reopened Kuku’s Restaurant in Saanich, are pleased to welcome customers back for home-cooked Indian meals and desserts. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)

Saanich Indian restaurant reopens more than a year after SUV driver crashed through the building

Kuku’s Restaurant happy to see customers again, enjoys modern touches of renovation

Anita and Randy Madhar, owners of the recently reopened Kuku’s Restaurant in Saanich, are pleased to welcome customers back for home-cooked Indian meals and desserts. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)
Colwood’s Herm Williams Park features a brilliant display of lights for nearby residents to enjoy the entire month. (Melanie MacAuley photo)

Colwood sparkles with Christmas lights for second year

Lights on display until end of the year

Colwood’s Herm Williams Park features a brilliant display of lights for nearby residents to enjoy the entire month. (Melanie MacAuley photo)
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Sooke resident Kimberly Elkas has started creating wreaths made from fallen branches, twigs, and leaves she finds along Sooke’s waterfront and forest trails. (Aaron Guillen/News Staff)

Sooke woman launches wreath-making side hustle amid shuttered business

“I’m now waking up with purpose,” says owner of Fresh Foraged Wreaths Sooke

Sooke resident Kimberly Elkas has started creating wreaths made from fallen branches, twigs, and leaves she finds along Sooke’s waterfront and forest trails. (Aaron Guillen/News Staff)
Victoria Cool Aid Society and Sandy Merriman House are asking the public to purchase gift cards for those in need this holiday season. COVID-19 has left the organization with a shortage in seasonal donatons. (Nina Grossman/News Staff)

Victoria emergency women’s shelter faces shortage of holiday donations

Sandy Merriman House, Cool Aid Society ask public to help out

Victoria Cool Aid Society and Sandy Merriman House are asking the public to purchase gift cards for those in need this holiday season. COVID-19 has left the organization with a shortage in seasonal donatons. (Nina Grossman/News Staff)
Jackie Kightly’s Sooke home is in the spirit. Located at 7020 West Coast Road, Kightly’s display includes a garage door snowman, hanging “icicles” and candy light-filled shrubs. (Courtesy of Jackie Kightly)

PHOTOS: Greater Victoria homes illuminated with holiday cheer

Residents send in pictures of Christmas light displays

Jackie Kightly’s Sooke home is in the spirit. Located at 7020 West Coast Road, Kightly’s display includes a garage door snowman, hanging “icicles” and candy light-filled shrubs. (Courtesy of Jackie Kightly)
Eliska Polivkova strings red and orange arbutus berries onto a thread to craft a necklace. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)

VIDEO: Saanich students craft arbutus berry necklaces to fundraise for Leila Bui

Oaklands kids sell necklaces for $5 through school website

Eliska Polivkova strings red and orange arbutus berries onto a thread to craft a necklace. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)
Driftwood artist Paul Lewis is placing the final touches on the newest driftwood art installation at the intersection of Veterans Memorial Parkway and Kelly Road. Colwood mayor Rob Martin says the new sign will be lit up for the holidays. (Aaron Guillen/News Staff)

Driftwood artist crafts custom sign in Colwood

Art installation located at Veterans Memorial Parkway and Kelly Road to get lit up

Driftwood artist Paul Lewis is placing the final touches on the newest driftwood art installation at the intersection of Veterans Memorial Parkway and Kelly Road. Colwood mayor Rob Martin says the new sign will be lit up for the holidays. (Aaron Guillen/News Staff)
Saanich’s 2020 fall leaf collection sees nearly 6,2000 cubic yards of mulched leaves collected between Oct. 26 and Dec. 1. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)

Saanich crews collect a mountain of leaves

Public works crews collected 6,150 cubic yards of leaves from 1,450 streets by Dec. 1

Saanich’s 2020 fall leaf collection sees nearly 6,2000 cubic yards of mulched leaves collected between Oct. 26 and Dec. 1. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)
A new 275-metre trail connector has been added to the Sunriver Nature Trail, which is the next step to improve walkability across the District of Sooke. (District of Sooke)

Sooke takes next step to expand trail across district

New 275-metre trail connection added to Sunriver Nature Trail

A new 275-metre trail connector has been added to the Sunriver Nature Trail, which is the next step to improve walkability across the District of Sooke. (District of Sooke)
A Colwood man has recreated Whoville, complete with the Grinch, Max the Dog and Cindy Lou Who. Spectators can admire the spectacle at 2416 Sarah Place. (Aaron Guillen/News Staff)

PHOTOS: Whoville pops up in Colwood neighbourhood

Spectators can spot the Grinch and Max the Dog along Sarah Place

A Colwood man has recreated Whoville, complete with the Grinch, Max the Dog and Cindy Lou Who. Spectators can admire the spectacle at 2416 Sarah Place. (Aaron Guillen/News Staff)
Humpback whales seen frolicking near Comox, Dec. 5. Photo courtesy Peter Hamilton/Lifeforce Ocean Friends

VIDEO: Half a dozen humpback whales have play day near Vancouver Island shoreline

Peter Hamilton, founder of Life Force Ocean Friends, submitted this video of…

Humpback whales seen frolicking near Comox, Dec. 5. Photo courtesy Peter Hamilton/Lifeforce Ocean Friends
Deer in disguise A pair of deer stop for a rest on a Saanich lawn among some wooden reindeer decorations. On Saturday, Dec. 5, Chris Nation spotted a buck and doe lounging alongside reindeer decorations set out for the holidays and snapped a quick photo to capture the moment. The deer look right at home with their wooden friends. (Photo submitted by Chris Nation)

Deer in disguise: Saanich resident finds deer lounging among Christmas decorations

Stag, doe rest next to wooden reindeer figures in Saanich yard

Deer in disguise A pair of deer stop for a rest on a Saanich lawn among some wooden reindeer decorations. On Saturday, Dec. 5, Chris Nation spotted a buck and doe lounging alongside reindeer decorations set out for the holidays and snapped a quick photo to capture the moment. The deer look right at home with their wooden friends. (Photo submitted by Chris Nation)
You can wave back to Santa at 2952 Severne St. in Chemainus on weekday afternoons and weekends from late morning until early afternoon. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Visiting hours set for socially-distanced Santa greetings in Chemainus

Walkers and drive-bys welcome at 2952 Severne St. in Chemainus until Dec. 20

You can wave back to Santa at 2952 Severne St. in Chemainus on weekday afternoons and weekends from late morning until early afternoon. (Photo by Don Bodger)
Greater Victoria Public Library is reminding cardholders to check out the free selection of holiday eBooks, audiobooks, movies and family activities available through the library’s digital platforms. (Black Press Media file photo)

Greater Victoria library highlights free digital entertainment offerings for at-home holiday season

Holiday audiobooks, Christmas movies available online through Greater Victoria Public Library

Greater Victoria Public Library is reminding cardholders to check out the free selection of holiday eBooks, audiobooks, movies and family activities available through the library’s digital platforms. (Black Press Media file photo)
A woodpecker has been released back into the wild after being treated at BCSPCA’s Wild Animal Rehabilitation Centre due to a mild brain injury caused by slamming into a window. (Facebook/Wild ARC)

Woodpecker flies again after mild brain injury after slamming into window

Bird had bruised ears, blood coming from her mouth and vision problems

A woodpecker has been released back into the wild after being treated at BCSPCA’s Wild Animal Rehabilitation Centre due to a mild brain injury caused by slamming into a window. (Facebook/Wild ARC)
Comox Valley resident Gogs Gagnon book will be distributed to new prostate cancer patients in B.C. Photo supplied.

B.C. man’s book will be distributed to new prostate cancer patients throughout the province

Gogs Gagnon’s book to be included in Prostate Cancer Foundation BC’s kits

Comox Valley resident Gogs Gagnon book will be distributed to new prostate cancer patients in B.C. Photo supplied.
Maureen Stevens, a volunteer with the West Shore RCMP's Keep In Touch program, chats with a client to ensure everything is fine. (Photo courtesy of Heather Allan)

West Shore RCMP’s Keep In Touch Program connects with clients despite pandemic

KIT program ensures human contact and companionship

Maureen Stevens, a volunteer with the West Shore RCMP's Keep In Touch program, chats with a client to ensure everything is fine. (Photo courtesy of Heather Allan)
The West Shore Firefighters Association dropped off a cheque on Nov. 28 for the Goldstream Food Bank. (Photo contributed by View Royal Firefighters Association)

West Shore firefighters give food bank a big boost

Four departments collaborate on initiative for Goldstream Food Bank

The West Shore Firefighters Association dropped off a cheque on Nov. 28 for the Goldstream Food Bank. (Photo contributed by View Royal Firefighters Association)
The Digital Divide–Community Technology Help Desk program looks to provide vulnerable Victoria residents with access to technology. (Black Press Media)

Technology lending library and help desk now available in Victoria

United Way Greater Victoria hopes the program will help close the digital divide

The Digital Divide–Community Technology Help Desk program looks to provide vulnerable Victoria residents with access to technology. (Black Press Media)