Columnists

Hundreds of demonstrators block access to the BC Legislature in Victoria on Feb. 11, 2020 in support of the First Nations hereditary chiefs who are fighting a natural gas pipeline in northern B.C. (Nina Grossman/News Staff)

B.C. VIEWS: Inaction on pipeline protests not a viable response

Columnist Frank Bucholtz on how the Coastal GasLink pipeline dispute got so bad

Hundreds of demonstrators block access to the BC Legislature in Victoria on Feb. 11, 2020 in support of the First Nations hereditary chiefs who are fighting a natural gas pipeline in northern B.C. (Nina Grossman/News Staff)
GUEST COLUMN: Make uniforms mandatory in schools

GUEST COLUMN: Make uniforms mandatory in schools

Once thought of as a bad idea, the writer now thinks differently about school uniforms

  • Feb 13, 2020
GUEST COLUMN: Make uniforms mandatory in schools
President Donald Trump laughs while delivering comments during the North Carolina Opportunity Now Summit in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Feb. 7, 2020. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

Rickter Scale: The White House lies ahead

The Rickter Scale is a regular column

  • Feb 12, 2020
President Donald Trump laughs while delivering comments during the North Carolina Opportunity Now Summit in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Feb. 7, 2020. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
Jessica Peters is a reporter at the Chilliwack Progress.

COLUMN: Models of care have varied greatly between ICBC and WorkSafe

Fighting to prove serious injuries doesn’t help anybody

Jessica Peters is a reporter at the Chilliwack Progress.
COLUMN: Self-service is just a matter of greed

COLUMN: Self-service is just a matter of greed

It recently occurred to me that I’m doing a lot of work…

COLUMN: Self-service is just a matter of greed
Three major projects have taken centre stage in B.C.: the Coastal GasLink pipeline project (top), the Trans Mountain expansion project (left) and the Site C dam (right). (Black Press Media files)

B.C. VIEWS: The glacial pace of resource development

As delays continue, costs climb and confusion reigns

Three major projects have taken centre stage in B.C.: the Coastal GasLink pipeline project (top), the Trans Mountain expansion project (left) and the Site C dam (right). (Black Press Media files)
A car navigates around a truck that stalled while driving up a hill. (Black Press Media file photo)

Rickter Scale: Driving in the snow lane

The Rickter Scale is a regular column

  • Feb 5, 2020
A car navigates around a truck that stalled while driving up a hill. (Black Press Media file photo)
Cannabis buds lay along a drying rack at the CannTrust Niagara Greenhouse Facility in Fenwick, Ont., on Tuesday, June 26, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Tijana Martin

B.C. VIEWS: Cannabis challenges hurt B.C. economy

It’s a mishmash of rules for cannabis sales in B.C.’s municipalities

Cannabis buds lay along a drying rack at the CannTrust Niagara Greenhouse Facility in Fenwick, Ont., on Tuesday, June 26, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Tijana Martin
Swimmers and lifeguards assembled the newest addition to the team during the recent snowfall. (Photo courtesy of Esquimalt Rec Centre)

Column: Meet Esquimalt Recreation Centre’s newest member

Small acts of kindness bring out the best in community members

  • Jan 31, 2020
Swimmers and lifeguards assembled the newest addition to the team during the recent snowfall. (Photo courtesy of Esquimalt Rec Centre)
Leia is ruffly 30 pounds of Australian Miniature Shepherd and a welcomed guest in the Stiebel household. (Photo courtesy of Rick Stiebel)

Rickter Scale: Brushing off a royal visitor

The Rickter Scale is a regular column

  • Jan 29, 2020
Leia is ruffly 30 pounds of Australian Miniature Shepherd and a welcomed guest in the Stiebel household. (Photo courtesy of Rick Stiebel)
Passengers wear masks to prevent an outbreak of a new coronavirus in a subway station, in Hong Kong, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2020. The first case of coronavirus in Macao was confirmed on Wednesday, according to state broadcaster CCTV. The infected person, a 52-year-old woman, was a traveller from Wuhan. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

B.C. VIEWS: New coronavirus outbreak an important reminder

Walking the line between cautious and alarmist

Passengers wear masks to prevent an outbreak of a new coronavirus in a subway station, in Hong Kong, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2020. The first case of coronavirus in Macao was confirmed on Wednesday, according to state broadcaster CCTV. The infected person, a 52-year-old woman, was a traveller from Wuhan. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Jeff Bray is the executive director of the Downtown Victoria Business Association. (rickcollinsphotography.com)

Downtown Dialogue: Downtown Victoria building on its momentum

There’s no doubt 2019 was a significant year for Downtown Victoria with…

  • Jan 24, 2020
Jeff Bray is the executive director of the Downtown Victoria Business Association. (rickcollinsphotography.com)
MLA REPORT: Ferry terminal protest divides community

MLA REPORT: Ferry terminal protest divides community

MLA Adam Olsen says Wet’suwet’en supporters have democratic right to protest

  • Jan 22, 2020
MLA REPORT: Ferry terminal protest divides community
The Sir John A. Macdonald statue being removed from Victoria’s City Hall. (Black Press Media file photo)

Rickter Scale: Where art thou, Sir John A?

The Rickter Scale is a regular column

  • Jan 22, 2020
The Sir John A. Macdonald statue being removed from Victoria’s City Hall. (Black Press Media file photo)
Laura Jones, Chief Strategic Officer of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (submitted)

COLUMN: Governments should modernize their processes, get with the times for 2020

Laura Jones is the chief strategic officer at the Canadian Federation of Independent Business

  • Jan 22, 2020
Laura Jones, Chief Strategic Officer of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (submitted)
Black Press Media in Greater Victoria has carriers from the age of seven all the way to 70s. (Courtesy of Katie Pinilla)

PHOTOS: Neither rain, nor sleet, nor snow stopped paper carriers

More than 180 carriers brave the snow for deliveries

Black Press Media in Greater Victoria has carriers from the age of seven all the way to 70s. (Courtesy of Katie Pinilla)
Premier John Horgan leaves the podium following his first press conference of the year as he comments on various questions from the media in the Press Gallery at B.C. Legislature in Victoria, B.C., on Monday, January 13, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

B.C. VIEWS: Few clouds on Horgan’s horizon

Horgan’s biggest challenge in the remainder of his term will be to keep the economy humming along

Premier John Horgan leaves the podium following his first press conference of the year as he comments on various questions from the media in the Press Gallery at B.C. Legislature in Victoria, B.C., on Monday, January 13, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
‘Ex’ is a term now used to describe more than just a former spouse. (Pixabay stock photo)

Rickter Scale: The ex marks the start

The Rickter Scale is a regular column

  • Jan 15, 2020
‘Ex’ is a term now used to describe more than just a former spouse. (Pixabay stock photo)
COLUMN: Home ownership is more than a mortgage

COLUMN: Home ownership is more than a mortgage

Buying a home has always been something that I associate with becoming…

COLUMN: Home ownership is more than a mortgage
B.C. VIEWS: Finding hope for B.C.’s salmon

B.C. VIEWS: Finding hope for B.C.’s salmon

Is enough being done to save the iconic species?

B.C. VIEWS: Finding hope for B.C.’s salmon