beaches

One of the spectacular sculptures in this year's Quality Foods Sand Sculpting Competition, a focal point of the Parksville Beach Festival. See the sculptures at Parksville Community Park through Aug. 21. Photos courtesy Parksville Beach Festival

Your go-to guide: 8 ways to enjoy Parksville Beach Festival this August!

Activities for all ages continue at Parksville’s Community Park through Aug. 21

  • Aug 1, 2022

 

Dance duo Funkanometry dances surrounded by a cheering crowd Saturday during Colwood’s Eats and Beats Beach Party on the Esquimalt Lagoon. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

PHOTOS: Eats and Beats Beach Party brings funky fun to Colwood

Thousands spent the afternoon and evening enjoying music, food, and more

 

Sienna Lalari of Gobind Farms passes a box of berries to a customer Saturday at the Peninsula Country Market. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

PHOTOS: Greater Victoria kicks off the long weekend with fun in the sun

The region’s parks, beaches, and markets were busy Saturday

 

A temporary access road and construction stakes rim what has been a popular North Saanich beach, off Madrona Drive and Norris Road. A retaining wall project underway at the rear of a Madrona Drive property has made the beach much less desirable spot, residents say. (Photo by Dave Spencer)

North Saanich beach lovers dismayed at condition of site amid construction project

Retaining wall project to address extensive erosion leaves Norris Beach a mess

A temporary access road and construction stakes rim what has been a popular North Saanich beach, off Madrona Drive and Norris Road. A retaining wall project underway at the rear of a Madrona Drive property has made the beach much less desirable spot, residents say. (Photo by Dave Spencer)
Bruce Waugh, from B.C., works on his masterpiece during the 2022 Quality Foods Sand Sculpting Competition in Parksville on July 17. (Kevin Forsyth photo)

VIDEO: 2022 winners declared at Parksville’s international sand sculpting event

Sculptures remain open for viewing through Aug. 21

Bruce Waugh, from B.C., works on his masterpiece during the 2022 Quality Foods Sand Sculpting Competition in Parksville on July 17. (Kevin Forsyth photo)
Crowds lounge on the beach as Pulse Radio performs at the Esquimalt Lagoon Saturday (July 9) as part of Colwood’s weekly beach food weekends and Saturday music. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

PHOTOS: Pulse Radio brings the groove to Esquimalt Lagoon

Colwood’s beach food weekends and music Saturdays continue until Sept. 2

Crowds lounge on the beach as Pulse Radio performs at the Esquimalt Lagoon Saturday (July 9) as part of Colwood’s weekly beach food weekends and Saturday music. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
A Mystic Beach sunset. The beach was named one of the top 50 beaches in the world by an international travel website. (Black Press Media file photo)

Vancouver Island beach named one of the best in the world

Mystic Beach named on top 50 list by bigseventravel.com

A Mystic Beach sunset. The beach was named one of the top 50 beaches in the world by an international travel website. (Black Press Media file photo)
A great blue heron, which is listed on the Species at Risk Act, waits for breakfast on an early morning in South Oak Bay between Kitty Islet and the Victoria Golf Club. (Evert Lindquist/News Staff)

Federal report deems dogs the greatest risk to migratory birds

Off-leash dogs, disturbed birds throughout Victoria Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary

A great blue heron, which is listed on the Species at Risk Act, waits for breakfast on an early morning in South Oak Bay between Kitty Islet and the Victoria Golf Club. (Evert Lindquist/News Staff)
Dick Brown at 16. (Submitted photo)

Victoria man surprised to learn he authored 1966 note in B.C. beach time capsule

Letter found 56 years later by Rathtrevor Beach tourists

Dick Brown at 16. (Submitted photo)
Leah discovered a small glass cream bottle that contained a note written more than 50 years ago. (Submitted photo)

Victoria family discovers 56-year-old message in bottle on Parksville beach

Buried treasure inadvertently dug out of 4-foot deep hole in sand

Leah discovered a small glass cream bottle that contained a note written more than 50 years ago. (Submitted photo)
Leah discovered a small glass cream bottle that contained a note written more than 50 years ago. (Submitted photo)

B.C. family discovers 56-year-old message in bottle on Vancouver Island beach

Buried treasure inadvertently dug out of 4-foot deep hole in sand

Leah discovered a small glass cream bottle that contained a note written more than 50 years ago. (Submitted photo)
At the heart of the Parksville Beach Festival is the Sand Sculpting Competition, attracting professional sculptors from all over the world.

Sun, sand + celebrations: Festival brings international sand sculptors to Parksville

Parksville Beach Festival returns July 14 to Aug. 21 with activities for all ages

  • Jun 13, 2022
At the heart of the Parksville Beach Festival is the Sand Sculpting Competition, attracting professional sculptors from all over the world.
Several garbage bags filled with medication was cleared up by City of Colwood parks staff on Monday morning. (Courtesy of City of Colwood)

Colwood cleans up bags of medication that washed up on Lagoon Beach

City contacted West Shore Health Unit for safe disposal, potential identification of medication

Several garbage bags filled with medication was cleared up by City of Colwood parks staff on Monday morning. (Courtesy of City of Colwood)
People are pictured walking their leashed dogs along Willows Beach, where dogs are restricted from May to September, on May 18, 2022. Dog and wildlife advocates continue to disagree over how much beach access dog owners should get in Greater Victoria’s migratory bird sanctuaries. (Evert Lindquist/News Staff)

Unleashing the hounds: Conflict over dogs on Greater Victoria beaches persists

Federal report targets dispute about bird sanctuary in Oak Bay, Saanich

People are pictured walking their leashed dogs along Willows Beach, where dogs are restricted from May to September, on May 18, 2022. Dog and wildlife advocates continue to disagree over how much beach access dog owners should get in Greater Victoria’s migratory bird sanctuaries. (Evert Lindquist/News Staff)
Privacy screen on beach at Strathcona Beach Park (Photo/Jake Courtepatte)

Missing man located dead in Okanagan Lake

Foul play is not suspected

Privacy screen on beach at Strathcona Beach Park (Photo/Jake Courtepatte)
King tides encroach on Imperial Lane homes in Ucluelet on Jan. 2.

King tides surge along Tofino and Ucluelet coastline

Pacific Rim National Park Reserve urges residents and visitors to be CoastSmart

King tides encroach on Imperial Lane homes in Ucluelet on Jan. 2.
The bottom section of the concrete stairs leading to Mount Douglas Beach are listing, with soil underneath undermined by high water flows from Mount Douglas Creek and the ocean. (Photo courtesy of Darrell Wick)

Saanich park watchdog calls for replacement of Mount Douglas beach stairs

Erosion from water flows causing safety concerns, says Darrell Wick

The bottom section of the concrete stairs leading to Mount Douglas Beach are listing, with soil underneath undermined by high water flows from Mount Douglas Creek and the ocean. (Photo courtesy of Darrell Wick)
2018’s first-place winner in the sand-sculpting solo division was Peter Vogelaar’s ‘Hendrix Live - Wild Thing’. (Photo courtesy Parksville Beach Festival)

Sand sculpting time: Parksville Beach Festival expected to return in 2022

Event typically attracts visitor count of 125,000 during five-week period

2018’s first-place winner in the sand-sculpting solo division was Peter Vogelaar’s ‘Hendrix Live - Wild Thing’. (Photo courtesy Parksville Beach Festival)
Federal regulations state dogs must be leashed below the high tide mark on Willows Beach. (Black Press Media file photo)

Oak Bay reminds pet owners to leash before you beach as dogs return to Willows

Environment and Climate Change Canada received complaints over interactions with off-leash dogs

Federal regulations state dogs must be leashed below the high tide mark on Willows Beach. (Black Press Media file photo)
Victoria city staff are recommending a ban on unleashed pets at Gonzales Beach following a letter from the Canadian Wildlife Service. (Black Press Media file photo)

UPDATE: No dogs allowed off-leash at Gonzales Beach as Victoria aligns with federal regulations

Allowing dogs to run free endangered migratory birds, violated bird sanctuary laws

Victoria city staff are recommending a ban on unleashed pets at Gonzales Beach following a letter from the Canadian Wildlife Service. (Black Press Media file photo)