Community

Ron Nicolaye and the pole on the Island Highway at the Campbell River bridge that a drunk driver crashed into in 1983, changing his life forever. Photo by Marc Kitteringham – Campbell River Mirror

Impaired driving survivor implores people to not drink and drive this holiday season

Campbell River man looks back on 37th anniversary of life-changing incident

Ron Nicolaye and the pole on the Island Highway at the Campbell River bridge that a drunk driver crashed into in 1983, changing his life forever. Photo by Marc Kitteringham – Campbell River Mirror
The team at Rather Be Plumbing will work for free on Dec. 18, 19 and 20 to give back to the community. (Photo courtesy Jarod Hughes)

Saanich plumbing company offers free services for those in need ahead of Christmas

Rather Be Plumbing to help those in need for free, pandemic protocols in place

The team at Rather Be Plumbing will work for free on Dec. 18, 19 and 20 to give back to the community. (Photo courtesy Jarod Hughes)
The Town of View Royal is looking for the best Christmas light displays until Dec. 23. Then, five winners will receive a prize from a local chocolate shop. (Black Press Media file photo)

View Royal offers prize for best Christmas light displays

Nominate a home, business or yourself until Dec. 23

The Town of View Royal is looking for the best Christmas light displays until Dec. 23. Then, five winners will receive a prize from a local chocolate shop. (Black Press Media file photo)
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Fourth-year Camosun College automotive students Xin Chen from Forward Automotive (left) and Kevin Ishizaki from Glen Oak Ford (right) show off two of the 12 new tool kits donated to the program by the Ed Coates Memorial Foundation. (Photo courtesy Camosun College)

Foundation donates $25K worth of tools to Camosun automotive program

Ed Coates Memorial Foundation purchases 12 new kits to reduce tool sharing amid pandemic

Fourth-year Camosun College automotive students Xin Chen from Forward Automotive (left) and Kevin Ishizaki from Glen Oak Ford (right) show off two of the 12 new tool kits donated to the program by the Ed Coates Memorial Foundation. (Photo courtesy Camosun College)
Sangster Elementary Grade 4 students Ryker de Ruiter (right), Temperance Walker, Lyla Wiltse and Ella Baxter-Mohrmann show the artwork that their class created to spread positivity in Colwood. (Aaron Guillen/News Staff)

Colwood elementary students pin artwork to school fence to spread positivity

Artwork free to take for passersby at Sangster Elementary

Sangster Elementary Grade 4 students Ryker de Ruiter (right), Temperance Walker, Lyla Wiltse and Ella Baxter-Mohrmann show the artwork that their class created to spread positivity in Colwood. (Aaron Guillen/News Staff)
In 2021, Saanich will resume management of the building in Braefoot Park which housed the Braefoot Community Association for many years. (Google Streetview)

UPDATED: Community group stunned as Saanich takes over Braefoot building

Braefoot Community Association to transition to new location, sports programs to continue in park

In 2021, Saanich will resume management of the building in Braefoot Park which housed the Braefoot Community Association for many years. (Google Streetview)
Goldsmith Lainey Rae won News Business of the Year at the annual Sooke Region Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards on Tuesday night. (Contributed photo)

Sooke Region Chamber of Commerce honours top businesses

Castle Beer and Wine Store named Business of the Year

Goldsmith Lainey Rae won News Business of the Year at the annual Sooke Region Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards on Tuesday night. (Contributed photo)
Cathy Gouk, at Cathy’s Corner Cafe, expects to hand out 400 free Christmas dinners this week. The meals are available at her Sooke restaurant for takeout only from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Aaron Guillen - Sooke News Mirror)

Sooke restaurant handing out free Christmas meals this week

Cathy’s Corner Cafe offers turkey dinner from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Dec. 15 and 16

Cathy Gouk, at Cathy’s Corner Cafe, expects to hand out 400 free Christmas dinners this week. The meals are available at her Sooke restaurant for takeout only from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Aaron Guillen - Sooke News Mirror)
Grade 8 students Ava Piasta and Luke Housden won the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund annual Fire Prevention Week art contest. Piasta, first, gets a new iPad and Housden, second, a $75 gift certificate. (Travis Paterson/News Staff)

Two Saanich students nab top prizes in province-wide fire safety poster contest

Glanford Middle School, Saanich Fire Department help mark students’ big win

Grade 8 students Ava Piasta and Luke Housden won the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund annual Fire Prevention Week art contest. Piasta, first, gets a new iPad and Housden, second, a $75 gift certificate. (Travis Paterson/News Staff)
Santa will join the Colwood Fire Department in spreading socially distanced holiday cheer and collecting donations for the Goldstream Food Bank on Sunday, Dec. 20 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Colwood City Hall. (Black Press Media file photo)

Santa Go Round still a go, Colwood COVID style

City hall sees drive-thru style visits with Santa, donations to food bank

Santa will join the Colwood Fire Department in spreading socially distanced holiday cheer and collecting donations for the Goldstream Food Bank on Sunday, Dec. 20 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Colwood City Hall. (Black Press Media file photo)
Volunteers Denny Byrne and Shelley Bloomfield help organize donations during a previous BC Transit Stuff the Bus charity event. This year’s event, featuring COVID safety measures, happens Dec. 19 outside Save-On-Foods at Tillicum Centre. (Black Press Media file photo)

Safety measures ready to roll for BC Transit’s Stuff the Bus in Saanich

Non-perishable food items and new unwrapped toys accepted at Tillicum Mall on Dec. 19

Volunteers Denny Byrne and Shelley Bloomfield help organize donations during a previous BC Transit Stuff the Bus charity event. This year’s event, featuring COVID safety measures, happens Dec. 19 outside Save-On-Foods at Tillicum Centre. (Black Press Media file photo)
Bev Elder, executive director of the Saanich Peninsula Lions Food Bank, said people can help shelves at the food bank by donating online following modifications to various food drives because of COVID-19 restrictions. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Saanich Peninsula Lions Food Bank faces higher demand, fewer donations

Applications for Christmas Hampers up more than 10 per cent

Bev Elder, executive director of the Saanich Peninsula Lions Food Bank, said people can help shelves at the food bank by donating online following modifications to various food drives because of COVID-19 restrictions. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
A group of View Royal residents collected over 60 grocery bags for the Goldstream Food Bank on Saturday, Dec. 5. (Sylvia May photo)

View Royal residents, kids collect more than 60 grocery bags full for food bank

Residents wore masks, social-distanced and avoided knocking on doors

A group of View Royal residents collected over 60 grocery bags for the Goldstream Food Bank on Saturday, Dec. 5. (Sylvia May photo)
A Christmas tree that mysteriously appeared on Lagoon Road in Colwood is gathering a host of decorations, memories and messages. Many of the ornaments have names on them, and there’s a plaque that pays tribute to the province’s chief medical officer and includes her message to all of ‘be kind, be calm, and be safe.’ (Joan Stiebel/Black Press Media)

Mysterious memory tree pops up in Colwood

Tree gathering ornaments, messages, mementos

A Christmas tree that mysteriously appeared on Lagoon Road in Colwood is gathering a host of decorations, memories and messages. Many of the ornaments have names on them, and there’s a plaque that pays tribute to the province’s chief medical officer and includes her message to all of ‘be kind, be calm, and be safe.’ (Joan Stiebel/Black Press Media)
The annual Turkey Run organized by CFB Esquimalt Diving Unit Pacific to help the less fortunate will be virtual this year due to COVID-10 restrictions. (Photo contributed by CFB Esquimalt Diving Unit Pacific)

Turkey Run Virtual 5K set to fly

Fundraiser supports Goldstream Food Bank

The annual Turkey Run organized by CFB Esquimalt Diving Unit Pacific to help the less fortunate will be virtual this year due to COVID-10 restrictions. (Photo contributed by CFB Esquimalt Diving Unit Pacific)
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)
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)