City of Victoria

Saanich council will consider a report from the mayor requesting that the District step back from the study of amalgamation with Victoria due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Black Press Media file photo)

COVID-19: Saanich council to consider closing the door on amalgamation with Victoria

‘It’s uncertainty we don’t need’ during the pandemic, Saanich mayor says

Saanich council will consider a report from the mayor requesting that the District step back from the study of amalgamation with Victoria due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Black Press Media file photo)
Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps is bringing a motion to council asking for the province to help with creating indoor sheltering for the city’s vulnerable people. (City of Victoria/Facebook)

Homeless will not be asked to take down tents during COVID-19 pandemic: Victoria Mayor

Mayor Helps pushes for provincial support to allocate indoor sheltering

Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps is bringing a motion to council asking for the province to help with creating indoor sheltering for the city’s vulnerable people. (City of Victoria/Facebook)
Parking tickets are issued everyday in Victoria – but some people have yet to realize Sunday street parking is no longer free. (Nicole Crescenzi/News Staff)

Parking tickets back to being issued after brief hiatus

The City of Victoria was giving out warning tickets as meters were adjusted to new rates

Parking tickets are issued everyday in Victoria – but some people have yet to realize Sunday street parking is no longer free. (Nicole Crescenzi/News Staff)
Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps provided an update to the COVID-19 situation on April 14. (Screenshot/ Facebook City of Victoria – local government).

City of Victoria turns to the arts for COVID-19 update

Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps said arts, culture and music will ‘carry us through’ hard times

Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps provided an update to the COVID-19 situation on April 14. (Screenshot/ Facebook City of Victoria – local government).
Cherry blossoms line the streets in Vic West. (Nicole Crescenzi/News Staff)

City of Victoria has a map for all the cherry blossoms

People can practise social distancing while enjoying the colours of spring

Cherry blossoms line the streets in Vic West. (Nicole Crescenzi/News Staff)
Financial relief for Victoria residents includes no 2020 property tax increase

Financial relief for Victoria residents includes no 2020 property tax increase

‘Significant and long-awaited decisions’ made by council, mayor says

Financial relief for Victoria residents includes no 2020 property tax increase
Parking fees will now be reduced across the City of Victoria. (Black Press Media file photo)

Victoria reduces parking fees during COVID-19 health emergency

Parkades, parking lots and on-street parking to see reduced fees

Parking fees will now be reduced across the City of Victoria. (Black Press Media file photo)
A blue heron sits on the shore of Good Acre Lake in Beacon Hill Park. (Kendra Crighton/News Staff)

Victoria closes streets near Beacon Hill Park, Dallas Road to encourage social distancing

Changes to road patterns and parking begin this weekend

A blue heron sits on the shore of Good Acre Lake in Beacon Hill Park. (Kendra Crighton/News Staff)
Victoria’s vulnerable community members will be moved to indoor shelter spaces during the COVID-19 crisis. (Arnold Lim/Black Press Media)

Royal Athletic Park will not be a shelter site during COVID-19 crisis: Victoria mayor

Indoor sites to be coordinated with Island Health, BC Housing

Victoria’s vulnerable community members will be moved to indoor shelter spaces during the COVID-19 crisis. (Arnold Lim/Black Press Media)
Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps said the City is working on a financial plan that will provide some relief to residents and continue to provide for necessary services. (Facebook)

COVID-19: Victoria hopes to provide financial relief through property taxes, utility bills

A number of city projects could be deferred in light of pandemic

Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps said the City is working on a financial plan that will provide some relief to residents and continue to provide for necessary services. (Facebook)
Victoria city council will consider new policies for an appeals process in regards to short-term rental application. (Black Press Media file photo).

Victoria to consider new appeals process for rejected short-term rental applications

There is not an established process in place for people seeking to reapply

Victoria city council will consider new policies for an appeals process in regards to short-term rental application. (Black Press Media file photo).
Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps provided an update to the COVID-19 situation on April 6. (Screenshot/ Facebook City of Victoria – local government).

City of Victoria looks to shift tens of millions in 2020 budget due to COVID-19

Mayor Lisa Helps offers her daily municipal, provincial and federal updates

Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps provided an update to the COVID-19 situation on April 6. (Screenshot/ Facebook City of Victoria – local government).
March 25, 2020: The streets of downtown Victoria are quieter than usual in the wake of physical isolation mandates from the provincial and federal governments. (Arnold Lim / Black Press)

Victoria company compares drone footage of city streets between August and now

Fewer cars, people seen on streets and at landmarks

March 25, 2020: The streets of downtown Victoria are quieter than usual in the wake of physical isolation mandates from the provincial and federal governments. (Arnold Lim / Black Press)
Parkades will keep their fees for now. (Black Press Media file photo)

Victoria fears people would take advantage of free parking, votes to keep fees in place

Councillors send motion back to staff for review

Parkades will keep their fees for now. (Black Press Media file photo)
Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps provided an update to the COVID-19 situation on April 1. (Screenshot/ Facebook City of Victoria – local government).

Victoria to plant up to 75,000 food seedlings; staff explore measures to help construction projects

Vancouver Island records its first deaths related to COVID-19

Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps provided an update to the COVID-19 situation on April 1. (Screenshot/ Facebook City of Victoria – local government).
Greenhouses used by the City’s Parks and Recreation department are being eyed for food production. (Black Press Media file photo)

Victoria councillors want city greenhouses used for food production during COVID-19

Couns. Ben Isitt and Jeremy Loveday are proposing new food security strategies

Greenhouses used by the City’s Parks and Recreation department are being eyed for food production. (Black Press Media file photo)
Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps provided an update to the COVID-19 situation on March 31. (Screenshot/ Facebook City of Victoria – local government).

Victoria to reassess 2020 budget in light of COVID-19; more hotel rooms found for the homeless

Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps provided an update on municipal measures on March 31

Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps provided an update to the COVID-19 situation on March 31. (Screenshot/ Facebook City of Victoria – local government).
A motion coming to the comittee of the whole April 2 proposes free downtown parkade parking for the month of April. (Black Press Media file photo)

Victoria councillors propose waiving parkade fees to support essential workers

Motion coming to committee of the whole for consideration

A motion coming to the comittee of the whole April 2 proposes free downtown parkade parking for the month of April. (Black Press Media file photo)
Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps during her daily COVID-19 update on March 30. (Facebook)

COVID-19: Victoria moves homeless into 35 hotel rooms across the city

Mayor pleads with residents to stay inside during pandemic

Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps during her daily COVID-19 update on March 30. (Facebook)
Winnie Cooper plays her flute at the Dallas Road beach. The Victoria musician normally plays at long-term care centres with an ensemble called Voice of the Heart. Since social isolation protocols were initiated in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Cooper has been unable to play her normal gigs. She said she wanted to go down to the beach and bring the joy of music to others during a difficult time. (Nina Grossman/News Staff)

PHOTOS: Life goes on – Victorians enjoy the outdoors amid COVID-19 pandemic

Many take to Dallas Road while implementing social distancing measures

Winnie Cooper plays her flute at the Dallas Road beach. The Victoria musician normally plays at long-term care centres with an ensemble called Voice of the Heart. Since social isolation protocols were initiated in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Cooper has been unable to play her normal gigs. She said she wanted to go down to the beach and bring the joy of music to others during a difficult time. (Nina Grossman/News Staff)