Columnists

Andrey Goncharuk, 68, a member of the territorial defense stands in the backyard of a house damaged by a Russian airstrike, according to locals, in Gorenka, outside the capital Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, March 2, 2022. Russia renewed its assault on Ukraine's second-largest city in a pounding that lit up the skyline with balls of fire over populated areas, even as both sides said they were ready to resume talks aimed at stopping the new devastating war in Europe. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

CAMERON: What freedom truly looks like

Canadians are often portrayed as polite, decent, unassuming, and hard to anger.…

  • Mar 2, 2022
Andrey Goncharuk, 68, a member of the territorial defense stands in the backyard of a house damaged by a Russian airstrike, according to locals, in Gorenka, outside the capital Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, March 2, 2022. Russia renewed its assault on Ukraine's second-largest city in a pounding that lit up the skyline with balls of fire over populated areas, even as both sides said they were ready to resume talks aimed at stopping the new devastating war in Europe. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Murray Rankin is the MLA for Oak Bay - Gordon Head. (Courtesy of Murray Rankin’s office)

MLA REPORT: Finding solutions to bring long-lasting change

Murray Rankin MLA for Oak Bay-Gordon Head In the coming days, the…

  • Feb 21, 2022
Murray Rankin is the MLA for Oak Bay - Gordon Head. (Courtesy of Murray Rankin’s office)
Bruce Cameron has been a pollster and strategist for over 35 years, working initially for Gallup Polls, Decima Research and the Angus Reid Group before founding his own consultancy, Return On Insight. (Black Press Media files)

CAMERON: Bleeding hearts, lawlessness and leadership: ‘Just Watch Me’

Scrolling through my social media feed last week, I came across a…

  • Feb 17, 2022
Bruce Cameron has been a pollster and strategist for over 35 years, working initially for Gallup Polls, Decima Research and the Angus Reid Group before founding his own consultancy, Return On Insight. (Black Press Media files)
(Nature Conservancy of Canada photo)

World Wetlands Day: Nature needs us to do more

Canada’s largest land conservation organization says there has never been a more important time for nature conservation

  • Feb 4, 2022
(Nature Conservancy of Canada photo)
Lantern decorations are hung on trees on the Olympic Green near the Olympic Tower at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2022, in Beijing. Millions of people in China and beyond are celebrating the Lunar New Year holiday on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

CAMERON: Is it time to get tough with China?

When the torch is lit in Beijing National Stadium February 4, marking…

  • Feb 1, 2022
Lantern decorations are hung on trees on the Olympic Green near the Olympic Tower at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2022, in Beijing. Millions of people in China and beyond are celebrating the Lunar New Year holiday on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Adam Olsen is the MLA for Saanich North and the Islands. (Government of British Columbia)

MLA REPORT: Building back better starts in the legislature

B.C. seeing expansion of a two-tier health care system

  • Jan 29, 2022
Adam Olsen is the MLA for Saanich North and the Islands. (Government of British Columbia)
According to University of Toronto Global Journalism Fellow Anthony Fong, sexually aggressive online behaviours, affects 88 per cent of all Canadian university undergraduate women. THE CANADIAN PRESS

FONG: Legal reform needed to protect young women from growing online sexual violence

Liberals promised to rework online harms legislation within 100 days of Parliament’s Nov. 22 return

According to University of Toronto Global Journalism Fellow Anthony Fong, sexually aggressive online behaviours, affects 88 per cent of all Canadian university undergraduate women. THE CANADIAN PRESS
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we grieve. (File photo)

Hay: We can’t let the pandemic put grief on hold

‘I have learned the difference between fear and hope is focus’

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we grieve. (File photo)
Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps encourges the community to live well together in 2022. (Black Press Media file photo)

Mayor’s message: 2021 comes full circle in Victoria, but not quite

Lisa Helps encourages more listening, having difficult conversations and co-existing in 2022

  • Dec 31, 2021
Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps encourges the community to live well together in 2022. (Black Press Media file photo)
Esquimalt Mayor Barb Desjardins proudly lists the accomplishments in developments and community amenities the municipality saw in 2021. (Black Press Media file photo)

Mayor takes a look back, a look ahead in Esquimalt

Barbara Desjardins voices pride in community’s accomplishments through difficult times in 2021

  • Dec 31, 2021
Esquimalt Mayor Barb Desjardins proudly lists the accomplishments in developments and community amenities the municipality saw in 2021. (Black Press Media file photo)
MLA Mitzi Dean looks back at a year filled with health care crises and accomplishments, housing victories and challenges and other key themes for her Esquimalt-Metchosin riding. (Photo Don Craig/BC government communications)

MLA takes a look back at 2021 in Esquimalt-Metchosin

Mitzi Dean applauds the way people have supported each other in a challenging year

  • Dec 30, 2021
MLA Mitzi Dean looks back at a year filled with health care crises and accomplishments, housing victories and challenges and other key themes for her Esquimalt-Metchosin riding. (Photo Don Craig/BC government communications)
Premier John Horgan and Education Minister Rob Fleming read stories to kids at the James Bay Library in Victoria on July 3. (Greater Victoria Public Library photo)

COLUMN: Province improved the ways people get around this year

MLA Rob Fleming looks back at 2021

  • Dec 30, 2021
Premier John Horgan and Education Minister Rob Fleming read stories to kids at the James Bay Library in Victoria on July 3. (Greater Victoria Public Library photo)
Al Smith, executive director of the Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, encourages residents to shop local to help merchants through the next wave of the pandemic. (Photo courtesy of Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce)

Saanich Peninsula business association looks ahead to 2022

Executive director Al Smith proud of how businesses adapted to changing realities through pandemic

  • Dec 30, 2021
Al Smith, executive director of the Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, encourages residents to shop local to help merchants through the next wave of the pandemic. (Photo courtesy of Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce)
Victoria-Beacon Hill MLA Grace Lore is parliamentary secretary for gender equity in the BC NDP government. (Courtesy of Grace Lore)

Victoria-Beacon Hill MLA reflects on 2021

Grace Lore looks back at the accomplishments and challenges of the past year

  • Dec 30, 2021
Victoria-Beacon Hill MLA Grace Lore is parliamentary secretary for gender equity in the BC NDP government. (Courtesy of Grace Lore)
Saanich South MLA Lana Popham at the B.C. legislature. (Black Press Media file photo)

COLUMN: The word resiliency best sums up 2021, says agriculture minister

MLA grateful to be part of the Saanich community

  • Dec 30, 2021
Saanich South MLA Lana Popham at the B.C. legislature. (Black Press Media file photo)
It’s important for all parties in the legislature to work together on shared objectives for the province, Saanich North and the Islands MLA Adam Olsen says. (Photo courtesy of Adam Olsen)

Saanich North/Islands MLA column: Good public policy, not optics, should be government’s goal

NDP have a great opportunity to work collaboratively on shared goals, Green MLA Adam Olsen says

  • Dec 30, 2021
It’s important for all parties in the legislature to work together on shared objectives for the province, Saanich North and the Islands MLA Adam Olsen says. (Photo courtesy of Adam Olsen)
Randall Garrison is MP for Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke. (Courtesy Randall Garrison)

COLUMN: MP set to fight for federal investments in housing in 2022

Randall Garrison, MP for Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke, takes a look back at 2021

  • Dec 30, 2021
Randall Garrison is MP for Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke. (Courtesy Randall Garrison)
Victoria MP Laurel Collins, together with her infant daughter Alora, speaks during debate in November on whether MPs should have the option of working virtually during the pandemic. (Twitter/Laurel Collins)

COLUMN: Residents hit hard in 2021 on various fronts

MP Laurel Collins looks to focus on climate actions, the opioid crisis and other issues come 2022

  • Dec 30, 2021
Victoria MP Laurel Collins, together with her infant daughter Alora, speaks during debate in November on whether MPs should have the option of working virtually during the pandemic. (Twitter/Laurel Collins)
People wear face masks to curb the spread of COVID-19 while visiting the Christmas Market in Vancouver, on Thursday, December 23, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

FINLAYSON: B.C.’s economy has largely healed, thankfully

Over the last 18 months, overall economic production has rebounded, writes Jock Finlayson

  • Dec 24, 2021
People wear face masks to curb the spread of COVID-19 while visiting the Christmas Market in Vancouver, on Thursday, December 23, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
This image provided by Abbott Laboratories in August 2020 shows the company’s BinaxNOW rapid COVID-19 nasal swab test. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Abbott Laboratories via AP

How to use rapid testing to keep you and yours safe during the holiday season

Experts say rapid tests are one more tool in our toolbox to stay safe

This image provided by Abbott Laboratories in August 2020 shows the company’s BinaxNOW rapid COVID-19 nasal swab test. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Abbott Laboratories via AP
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