Greater Victoria

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)
Investigators are asking for the public’s help in locating missing 38-year-old Melissa McDevitt, after she failed to board a flight from Victoria to Vancouver on Saturday (Dec. 10). (Courtesy Victoria Police Department)

MISSING: Police find 38-year-old woman’s car near Sooke Potholes

Melissa McDevitt was supposed to fly from Victoria to Vancouver, but never got on the plane

Investigators are asking for the public’s help in locating missing 38-year-old Melissa McDevitt, after she failed to board a flight from Victoria to Vancouver on Saturday (Dec. 10). (Courtesy Victoria Police Department)
Morrell Andrews said she’s hopeful the bill might become legislation in the new year. (Courtesy of Morrell Andrews)

Federal committee backs B.C. women’s calls for change to publication ban rules

Recommendations include informing victims of publication bans before implementation

Morrell Andrews said she’s hopeful the bill might become legislation in the new year. (Courtesy of Morrell Andrews)
James Lee Busch is charged with the first-degree murder of Martin Payne. (Corrections Service Canada)

Metchosin murder trial hears of ‘lethal’ stab, chop wounds

James Lee Busch is charged with the first-degree murder of Martin Payne

James Lee Busch is charged with the first-degree murder of Martin Payne. (Corrections Service Canada)
CRD asked residents not to decorate trees in public parks. (Courtesy of Capital Regional District/Twitter)

CRD warns residents not to decorate trees in parks this Christmas

Regional authority said decorations can get blown off trees and become garbage

CRD asked residents not to decorate trees in public parks. (Courtesy of Capital Regional District/Twitter)
Protestors gathered outside Government House in Victoria on Dec. 7, 2022 to fight against proposals that would see an expansion in the fossil-fuel industry in B.C. (Hollie Ferguson/News Staff)

Environmental alliance calls for end to fracking as Eby swears in new cabinet

Members staged demonstration at Government House in Victoria ahead of swearing-in ceremony

Protestors gathered outside Government House in Victoria on Dec. 7, 2022 to fight against proposals that would see an expansion in the fossil-fuel industry in B.C. (Hollie Ferguson/News Staff)
Three-time Olympic medalist and 10-time Canadian National Champion Patrick Chan performs the first of two routines at the Campbell River Skating Club back in March 2020. (Black Press Media file)

Patrick Chan performing in Victoria with Stars on Ice

Show on May 16, 2023, tickets go on sale Friday (Dec. 9)

Three-time Olympic medalist and 10-time Canadian National Champion Patrick Chan performs the first of two routines at the Campbell River Skating Club back in March 2020. (Black Press Media file)
Ocean Networks Canada sensors could’ve given recipients in Victoria and Vancouver 35 seconds notice about a Nov. 25 earthquake near Tofino about seismic waves reaching the two cities. (Photo courtesy of Ocean Networks Canada)

UVic monitoring could’ve warned Victoria about Tofino earthquake

Ocean Networks Canada ocean and land sensors registered the 4.8-magnitude quake

Ocean Networks Canada sensors could’ve given recipients in Victoria and Vancouver 35 seconds notice about a Nov. 25 earthquake near Tofino about seismic waves reaching the two cities. (Photo courtesy of Ocean Networks Canada)
Greater Victoria’s unemployment rate dropped to 3.5 per cent in November as key sectors added jobs. (Black Press Media file photo)

Unemployment in Greater Victoria remains low

Regional unemployment dropped to 3.5 per cent in November

Greater Victoria’s unemployment rate dropped to 3.5 per cent in November as key sectors added jobs. (Black Press Media file photo)
James Lee Busch (left) and Zachary Armitage are charged with the first-degree murder of 60-year-old Martin Payne after they escaped William Head institution on July 7, 2019. (Correctional Service of Canada/Facebook)

RCMP analyst confirms three sets of DNA found on Metchosin murder scene evidence

James Lee Busch and Zachary Armitage are charged with the first-degree murder of Martin Payne

James Lee Busch (left) and Zachary Armitage are charged with the first-degree murder of 60-year-old Martin Payne after they escaped William Head institution on July 7, 2019. (Correctional Service of Canada/Facebook)
The family hosts a memorial service on Dec. 18 for Victoria man Scott Graham, 67, who died while travelling in Spain. (Courtesy Georgia Graham)

Family hosts memorial for Victoria man who disappeared, died in Spain

Memorial service for Scott Graham is Dec. 18 in Victoria

The family hosts a memorial service on Dec. 18 for Victoria man Scott Graham, 67, who died while travelling in Spain. (Courtesy Georgia Graham)
Two inmates who escaped William Head prison in Metchosin were caught after commenting on the size of Lewis the Great Dane. He was being walked by John Ferguson, who was an off-duty officer at the time. (Black Press Media file photo)

Court hears of off-duty officer’s encounter with Metchosin inmates, and their arrest

James Lee Busch and Zachary Armitage charged with killing 60-year-old Metchosin man

Two inmates who escaped William Head prison in Metchosin were caught after commenting on the size of Lewis the Great Dane. He was being walked by John Ferguson, who was an off-duty officer at the time. (Black Press Media file photo)
Country superstar Blake Shelton has been announced as the headline for next summer’s Sunfest Country Music Festival, running Aug. 3 to 6, 2023. (Courtesy of Sunfest Country Music Festival)

Blake Shelton announced as Sunfest headliner

The Cowichan country music festival returns to Laketown Ranch Aug. 3 to 6, 2023

Country superstar Blake Shelton has been announced as the headline for next summer’s Sunfest Country Music Festival, running Aug. 3 to 6, 2023. (Courtesy of Sunfest Country Music Festival)
Zachary Armitage, charged along with James Lee Busch in killing Metchosin’s Martin Payne, is no longer a part of a trial associated with the case. (Correctional Service of Canada/Facebook)

Metchosin murder trial continues without one of the escaped inmates

Jury hears Zachary Armitage no longer part of these court proceedings

Zachary Armitage, charged along with James Lee Busch in killing Metchosin’s Martin Payne, is no longer a part of a trial associated with the case. (Correctional Service of Canada/Facebook)
Victoria General Hospital’s current intensive care unit patient monitoring system is more than 17 years old. (Victoria Hospitals Foundation/Facebook)

Victoria Hospitals Foundation launches fundraiser on Giving Tuesday for new ICU patient monitors

‘More than Just a Monitor’ campaign aims to raise $500,000 for critical equipment

Victoria General Hospital’s current intensive care unit patient monitoring system is more than 17 years old. (Victoria Hospitals Foundation/Facebook)
Bill Okell shows off his gold medal with Flatout Motorsport’s 1994 Mazda Miata, after a surprise GTL class victory at the Sports Car Club of America 29th American Road Race of Champions. (Courtesy Bill Okell)

Saanich driver wins gold south of the border at 29th American Road Race of Champions

Bill Okell was nearly certain he had finished in second place

Bill Okell shows off his gold medal with Flatout Motorsport’s 1994 Mazda Miata, after a surprise GTL class victory at the Sports Car Club of America 29th American Road Race of Champions. (Courtesy Bill Okell)
The Victoria Shoebox Project is looking for donations to help fill more than 700 shoeboxes by Dec. 16, with each and everyone of them destined for a woman in need. (Courtesy Victoria Shoebox Project/Facebook)

Victoria Shoebox Project looking to fill 735 shoeboxes

Each box is designed to brighten a woman’s day and is filled with $50 of personal care, comfort items

The Victoria Shoebox Project is looking for donations to help fill more than 700 shoeboxes by Dec. 16, with each and everyone of them destined for a woman in need. (Courtesy Victoria Shoebox Project/Facebook)
Pepper’s Foods management and staff celebrate their bronze Independent Grocer of the Year small surface award, placing it in the top three independent grocery stores in Canada in its category. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)

Independently owned Saanich grocery store makes top 3 in all of Canada

Pepper’s Foods named third best independently owned grocery retailer in small surface category, again

Pepper’s Foods management and staff celebrate their bronze Independent Grocer of the Year small surface award, placing it in the top three independent grocery stores in Canada in its category. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)
Community-based team FIX IT from Victoria featuring Kai Williams (from left), Amren Kareer and Bryce Kong prepares to compete at a FIRST Tech Challenge at St. Margaret’s School. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)

Greater Victoria students compete in robotics competition

Local event geared to inspire youth to be innovators in science, technology

Community-based team FIX IT from Victoria featuring Kai Williams (from left), Amren Kareer and Bryce Kong prepares to compete at a FIRST Tech Challenge at St. Margaret’s School. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)
Santa and Mrs. Claus smile and wave to the thousands of people who lined Government and Douglas streets Saturday (Nov. 26) to take in the 40th annual Peninsula Co-op Santa Claus Parade, stopping occasionally to serenade the crowds with a quick Christmas carol. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

PHOTOS: Santa arrives in Victoria with 40th annual Peninsula Co-op Santa Claus Parade

Thousands lined downtown to take in the sights despite rain

Santa and Mrs. Claus smile and wave to the thousands of people who lined Government and Douglas streets Saturday (Nov. 26) to take in the 40th annual Peninsula Co-op Santa Claus Parade, stopping occasionally to serenade the crowds with a quick Christmas carol. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
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