Aaron Guillen

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Kim Metzger, president of the Sooke Food Bank Society, said she’s pleasantly surprised to find out that Sooke council voted to gift a $10,000 donation to the food bank. (File - Sooke News Mirror)

Council donates $10,000 to food bank

Donation comes from $80,000 contingency fund

Kim Metzger, president of the Sooke Food Bank Society, said she’s pleasantly surprised to find out that Sooke council voted to gift a $10,000 donation to the food bank. (File - Sooke News Mirror)
Sooke musician Katrica Kadoski is releasing After the Shipwreck, an album in honour of her former partner who tragically died from a sudden heart attack in 2018. (Cathryn E. Tremain photo)

Sooke musician releases album for former partner who tragically died from heart attack

“This album has been Buckley’s cough syrup for my soul,” says singer-songwriter

Sooke musician Katrica Kadoski is releasing After the Shipwreck, an album in honour of her former partner who tragically died from a sudden heart attack in 2018. (Cathryn E. Tremain photo)
Sooke council is set to discuss whether they want to give themselves a five per cent pay hike in 2021. They will also talk about whether they should launch an advisory committee for future mayor and council salary hikes on Dec. 16. (Black Press Media file photo)

Sooke councillor raises idea of five per cent wage hike

Grumpy Taxpayer$ say potential move is ‘outrageous and tone-deaf’

Sooke council is set to discuss whether they want to give themselves a five per cent pay hike in 2021. They will also talk about whether they should launch an advisory committee for future mayor and council salary hikes on Dec. 16. (Black Press Media file photo)
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)
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)
Some form of large cat (not necessarily the cougar pictured here) was spotted in a private garden in Langley City on Thanksgiving Day. Local residents who saw it, reported to authorities and want to get the word out to others in the area. (Black Press Media files)

Cougar walks away after being hit by driver in Sooke

Roughly 10 to 20 cougars hit by vehicles in CRD each year, says B.C. Conservation

Some form of large cat (not necessarily the cougar pictured here) was spotted in a private garden in Langley City on Thanksgiving Day. Local residents who saw it, reported to authorities and want to get the word out to others in the area. (Black Press Media files)
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)
The Canadian Border Services Agency has directed the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada to hold an admissibility hearing for Timothy Durkin, the Sooke man who has been fighting a 2017 deportation order from Canada due to alleged involvement with serious and organized criminality in the U.S. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh)

Decision to deport former owner of Sooke Harbour House on hold

Timothy Durkin’s lawyer revealed the Sooke man applied for citizenship in January

The Canadian Border Services Agency has directed the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada to hold an admissibility hearing for Timothy Durkin, the Sooke man who has been fighting a 2017 deportation order from Canada due to alleged involvement with serious and organized criminality in the U.S. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh)
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)
The homeless shelter in Sooke has added two more beds, bringing a total of 19 individuals that it can house during the cold winter months. (Aaron Guillen/News Staff)

Sooke homeless shelter adds two more beds, continue search for permanent home

‘We need long term security and we don’t have that right now,’ says shelter operations manager

The homeless shelter in Sooke has added two more beds, bringing a total of 19 individuals that it can house during the cold winter months. (Aaron Guillen/News Staff)
A group of forest activists have created a new blockade along Bugaboo Creek, near Port Renfrew, where logging company Teal Jones Group is working to clear cut another section of old-growth trees on the southern part of Vancouver Island. (Facebook/Fairy Creek Blockade)

Protesters add new blockade to stop old-growth logging near Port Renfrew

Bugaboo Creek protesters demands B.C. to immediately stop old-growth logging on Island

A group of forest activists have created a new blockade along Bugaboo Creek, near Port Renfrew, where logging company Teal Jones Group is working to clear cut another section of old-growth trees on the southern part of Vancouver Island. (Facebook/Fairy Creek Blockade)
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)
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)
A Colwood couple has set up over 140 Christmas inflatable decorations around their property at 555 Girdou Rd. The home is lit with Christmas music playing from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. (Aaron Guillen/News Staff)

PHOTOS: Colwood house decorated to the nines with Christmas inflatables

Display on Girou Road open to spectators from 3 to 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday

A Colwood couple has set up over 140 Christmas inflatable decorations around their property at 555 Girdou Rd. The home is lit with Christmas music playing from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. (Aaron Guillen/News Staff)
Wild Wise Sooke is pushing to get local waste management companies to hop on board to provide bear-resistant bins as an option for residents. On Nov. 23, Sooke council voted to write a letter of support for Wild Wise to send to companies such as GFL Environmental Inc. and Sooke Disposal Ltd. (Black Press Media file photo)

Wild Wise Sooke continues push for bear-resistant bins as option for residents

Bins could cost anywhere from $150 to $300 or more, according to 2019 study

Wild Wise Sooke is pushing to get local waste management companies to hop on board to provide bear-resistant bins as an option for residents. On Nov. 23, Sooke council voted to write a letter of support for Wild Wise to send to companies such as GFL Environmental Inc. and Sooke Disposal Ltd. (Black Press Media file photo)
The Sooke School District is actively looking for more bus drivers after they had to cancel a handful of bus routes in late November. (Black Press Media file photo)

Bus driver shortage cancels routes in Sooke School District

More drivers needed to accomodate expanding bus routes amid pandemic

The Sooke School District is actively looking for more bus drivers after they had to cancel a handful of bus routes in late November. (Black Press Media file photo)
The Sooke Santa Run will feature their youngest members as Santas, an annual tradition for the firefighters in Sooke, East Sooke, Shirley and Otter Point. The drive-by event takes place throughout the Sooke neighbourhood on Dec. 12. (File - Sooke News Mirror)

No one outside fire hall allowed to help volunteer for Sooke Santa Run

Drive-by event takes place on Dec. 12, with goal to raise $15,000

The Sooke Santa Run will feature their youngest members as Santas, an annual tradition for the firefighters in Sooke, East Sooke, Shirley and Otter Point. The drive-by event takes place throughout the Sooke neighbourhood on Dec. 12. (File - Sooke News Mirror)
A West Shore man has been handed two tickets for failing to wear a mask after verbally abusing staff at a coffee shop in View Royal and gas station in Langford. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)

Man ticketed twice for refusing to wear mask in same day, say West Shore RCMP

Police ask businesses to report incidences when they occur

A West Shore man has been handed two tickets for failing to wear a mask after verbally abusing staff at a coffee shop in View Royal and gas station in Langford. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)
Ellen Connor says the decision to not allow sparring since they re-opened in June lost a few customers, but was worth keeping the safety of the rest of her team from a potential COVID outbreak. (Aaron Guillen/News Staff)

Strict ‘no sparring’ rule keeps boxers safe during pandemic

Sooke Boxing Club keeps pace with new health regulations

Ellen Connor says the decision to not allow sparring since they re-opened in June lost a few customers, but was worth keeping the safety of the rest of her team from a potential COVID outbreak. (Aaron Guillen/News Staff)
Mike Thomas (right) and Ben Molesky, co-chairs of Sooke Christmas Bureau say they’ve already received 140 applications for holiday hampers and expect to hand out up to 90 more this year compared to 2019. (Black Press Media file photo)

Sooke Christmas Bureau to hand out up to 90 extra hampers this year

Application deadline ends on Dec. 1

Mike Thomas (right) and Ben Molesky, co-chairs of Sooke Christmas Bureau say they’ve already received 140 applications for holiday hampers and expect to hand out up to 90 more this year compared to 2019. (Black Press Media file photo)