Local News

Victoria Police’s Explosive Disposal Unit came to Oak Bay April 10 to destroy a potentially dangrous explosive device that washed up on shore. (Oak Bay RCMP photo)

Washed-up explosive device destroyed by VicPD bomb squad

An Oak Bay resident called in the potentially dangerous debris

The Capital Regional District Arts Commission approved $118,450 in funding towards 14 local non-profit arts organizations. Grant recipients will offer various events, both in-person and virtually, throughout the year. Some of the events include an experimental musical and performance art festival, the Victoria BC Ska and Reggae Festival, the Sooke Fine Arts Show, and more. (Black Press Media file)

CRD gives $118,000 financial boost to local arts organizations

The upcoming deadline for project grant applications is April 22

  • Apr 11, 2021
April 11 to 17 is Emergency Management BC’s Tsunami Preparedness Week. (Black Press Media file photo)

Tsunami preparation in the forefront across Greater Victoria

Tsunami Preparedness Week runs April 11 to 17

A vehicle that was driven through the wall of a parkade at Uptown Shopping Centre and into the nearby Walmart on April 9 was removed through another hole in the wall later that night. (Photo via Saanich Police Department and Ayush Kakkar)

PHOTOS: Vehicle driven into Saanich Walmart removed after two trapped workers rescued

Crews cut new hole in parkade wall to remove vehicle safely

A vehicle that was driven through the wall of a parkade at Uptown Shopping Centre and into the nearby Walmart on April 9 was removed through another hole in the wall later that night. (Photo via Saanich Police Department and Ayush Kakkar)
Food trucks will be allowed to operate in several Sooke parks beginning May 1. (Black Press Media file photo)

Sooke’s food truck pilot project under scrutiny

Councillor questions impact food trucks will have on nearby restaurants

Food trucks will be allowed to operate in several Sooke parks beginning May 1. (Black Press Media file photo)
New hours went into effect at Saanich Parks and Public Works Yard for spring and summer seasons on April 6. (District of Saanich/Twitter)

Spring, summer hours in effect at Saanich Public Works Yard

Residents reminded to practise social distancing, prepare to unload without staff help

New hours went into effect at Saanich Parks and Public Works Yard for spring and summer seasons on April 6. (District of Saanich/Twitter)
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B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix and Premier John Horgan describe vaccine rollout at the legislature, March 29, 2021. (B.C. government)
1,262 more COVID-19 infections in B.C. Friday, 9,574 active cases
A man wearing a protective face mask to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 checks his phone as the sun sets in English Bay in Vancouver, B.C., Monday, April 5, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
From now on, all COVID-19 cases in B.C. presumed to be more infectious variants: Henry
A server clears a table on a patio at a restaurant, in Vancouver, on Friday, April 2, 2021. B.C. has banned indoor dining at restaurants and bars as part of a three-week measure to curb the spread of COVID-19 amid growing concern about the spread of COVID-19 variants. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
B.C. businesses hurt by COVID ‘circuit breaker’ can apply for grants up to $10K
The video showcases a handful of individuals in honour of Autism Acceptance Month. (Video screenshot)
Amplifying autistic voices during World Autism Month
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The 10-part Netflix series Maid, which is being exclusively shot in Greater Victoria, was filming near Prospect Lake in Saanich last month. (Photo courtesy Fred Haynes)

Province announces $150,000 investment into movie studio study at Camosun College

South Island NDP candidates promised funding to develop business plan during 2020 election

The 10-part Netflix series Maid, which is being exclusively shot in Greater Victoria, was filming near Prospect Lake in Saanich last month. (Photo courtesy Fred Haynes)
Kit Thornton, chief aquarist at the Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea, plays with Wanda, the female Giant Pacific octopus currently residing at the centre. The centre will release Wanda back into the wild next month. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

An octopus named Wanda will soon say goodbye to Sidney

Wanda’s personality is ‘complete opposite’ of previous octopus named after Dr. Bonnie Henry

Kit Thornton, chief aquarist at the Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea, plays with Wanda, the female Giant Pacific octopus currently residing at the centre. The centre will release Wanda back into the wild next month. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Tiny packets of carrots ready to be distributed in Victoria. (Submitted/Victoria Seed Share)

Free Victoria seed sharing collective bags work experience funding

Fully volunteer run Victoria Seed Share will get a boost from provincial grant

Tiny packets of carrots ready to be distributed in Victoria. (Submitted/Victoria Seed Share)
Saanich Fire Department on the scene after a car crashed into the Walmart in Uptown. (Photo courtesy Dan Wood)

UPDATED: Saanich firefighters free trapped workers at Uptown Walmart

Incident reported as explosion after driver rammed through wall

Saanich Fire Department on the scene after a car crashed into the Walmart in Uptown. (Photo courtesy Dan Wood)
Oak Bay is funding projected revenue shortfalls in its parks, recreation and culture department with the government COVID-19 restart grant. (Photo courtesy Oak Bay Parks, Recreation and Culture)

Oak Bay parks, recreation, culture shortfall covered by COVID-19 restart grant

Budget projects a 6.49 % property tax increase for 2021

Oak Bay is funding projected revenue shortfalls in its parks, recreation and culture department with the government COVID-19 restart grant. (Photo courtesy Oak Bay Parks, Recreation and Culture)
A dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is given to a recipient at a vaccination site in Vancouver on March 11, 2021. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward)

Colwood pharmacy vaccinating those aged 55 to 65 this weekend with special clinic

Appointments must be pre-booked online

A dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is given to a recipient at a vaccination site in Vancouver on March 11, 2021. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward)
Saanich police hope to identify a suspect caught on camera entering a building in the 3300-block of Whittier Avenue in Saanich on March 12 and leaving with a stolen package. (Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers photo)

Suspect caught on camera pinching parcel from Saanich building

Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers share images to help identify suspect

Saanich police hope to identify a suspect caught on camera entering a building in the 3300-block of Whittier Avenue in Saanich on March 12 and leaving with a stolen package. (Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers photo)
Staff at the Chabad Centre for Jewish Life and Learning discovered anti-Semitic graffiti on April 6. As soon as the public was aware, notes of love appeared instead. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

Suspect identified in anti-Semitic graffiti incident at Victoria Jewish centre

Police still looking to identify a second suspect

Staff at the Chabad Centre for Jewish Life and Learning discovered anti-Semitic graffiti on April 6. As soon as the public was aware, notes of love appeared instead. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
Local emergency officials are pleased with the public’s response to a new platform promises improved access to emergency alerts through Saanich Peninsula Alert. (Black Press Media file photo)

Emergency officials on Saanich Peninsula pleased with transition to new alert platform

New platform has retained 83 per cent of previous subscribers

Local emergency officials are pleased with the public’s response to a new platform promises improved access to emergency alerts through Saanich Peninsula Alert. (Black Press Media file photo)
The CRD is working on a solid waste management plan to reduce the amount of material sent to Hartland Landfill. (Black Press Media file photo)

No time to waste: Greater Victoria closes in on plan for garbage

CRD board to consider final draft solid waste management plan in May

The CRD is working on a solid waste management plan to reduce the amount of material sent to Hartland Landfill. (Black Press Media file photo)
A car crash in Esquimalt resulted in a power outage affected some 151 customers on April 9. (BC Hydro/Outage Map)

UPDATED: Excavator takes out power lines leaving more than 150 without power in Esquimalt

BC Hydro crews restored power to residents, intersection around 3 p.m.

A car crash in Esquimalt resulted in a power outage affected some 151 customers on April 9. (BC Hydro/Outage Map)
Current unmarked residential streets are 50 km/h, but some Greater Vancouver municipalities might consider dropping that to 30 km/h. (Black Press Media file photo)

False alarm: Oak Bay not considering faster speed limits

Twitter got it wrong, thought speed increase was proposed, expressed disgust

Current unmarked residential streets are 50 km/h, but some Greater Vancouver municipalities might consider dropping that to 30 km/h. (Black Press Media file photo)
BC Transit announced updates to the Victoria Regional Transit System on a variety of routes, which came in to effect on April 5. (Black Press Media file photo)

BC Transit announces updates to Greater Victoria routes

Additional service added to various routes in the region, including West Shore

  • Apr 9, 2021
BC Transit announced updates to the Victoria Regional Transit System on a variety of routes, which came in to effect on April 5. (Black Press Media file photo)
Two new school exposures were reported by the Greater Victoria School District on April 8, one at Mount Douglas Secondary School and one at Victoria High School (students currently attend classes at the former SJ Willis school. (Google Streetview/Screenshot)

Two more Greater Victoria schools report COVID-19 exposures

Victoria High School and Mount Douglas Secondary School added to growing list

Two new school exposures were reported by the Greater Victoria School District on April 8, one at Mount Douglas Secondary School and one at Victoria High School (students currently attend classes at the former SJ Willis school. (Google Streetview/Screenshot)