Greater Victoria

Vanessa Sjo organized an anti-racism rally through the streets of Victoria in June 2020. (Black Press Media file photo)

71% BIPOC experience racism in Greater Victoria, report finds

Residents report feeling undervalued, isolated and unsafe due to race, ethnicity

Vanessa Sjo organized an anti-racism rally through the streets of Victoria in June 2020. (Black Press Media file photo)
The Capital Regional District is hoping families will take on the biodiversity challenge this long weekend by getting out and discovering local plants, animals and fungi. (Black Press Media file photo)

Stop and smell the flowers: Greater Victorians asked to take on biodiversity challenge

CRD to create dashboard of flora and fauna in region with resident-collected data

The Capital Regional District is hoping families will take on the biodiversity challenge this long weekend by getting out and discovering local plants, animals and fungi. (Black Press Media file photo)
The Greater Victoria Placemaking Network has launched Little Free Library Bingo – a pandemic-friendly game is complete with bingo cards encouraging players to check out the mini-libraries in the region, read and win prizes. (Photo submitted by Teale Phelps Bondaroff)

Greater Victoria book bingo game launched by Little Free Library operators

Placemaking group encourages players to explore region, fall in love with reading

The Greater Victoria Placemaking Network has launched Little Free Library Bingo – a pandemic-friendly game is complete with bingo cards encouraging players to check out the mini-libraries in the region, read and win prizes. (Photo submitted by Teale Phelps Bondaroff)
In place of its usual Homecoming Gala, the Victoria Cool Aid Society has launched a fundraising matching challenge with a goal of raising $100,000 (Victoria Cool Aid Society/Facebook)

Victoria Cool Aid Society aims to raise $100,000 through matching challenge

First $50,000 raised will be matched from May 17 to 31

In place of its usual Homecoming Gala, the Victoria Cool Aid Society has launched a fundraising matching challenge with a goal of raising $100,000 (Victoria Cool Aid Society/Facebook)
Dog trainer Sharon Labossiere at play with her dogs. AnimalKind, the BC SPCA’s animal welfare accreditation and referral program, has granted accreditation to Sooke's Hanging with Hounds. (Contributed - BC SPCA)

Hanging With Hounds digs its paws into AnimalKind accreditation

Local dog trainer earns special BC SPCA status

Dog trainer Sharon Labossiere at play with her dogs. AnimalKind, the BC SPCA’s animal welfare accreditation and referral program, has granted accreditation to Sooke's Hanging with Hounds. (Contributed - BC SPCA)
‘Nindanikoobijiganag: We are Star People’ by Mississauga Nishnaabe Lucbanin artist Estrella Whetung. (Jane Skrypnek/News Staff)

Victoria beadwork exhibit speaks to evolving, enduring nature of Indigenous art

On Beaded Ground features work from West Coast artists and a Cedar Hill Middle School group

‘Nindanikoobijiganag: We are Star People’ by Mississauga Nishnaabe Lucbanin artist Estrella Whetung. (Jane Skrypnek/News Staff)
The Capital Regional District has approved its plan that aims to reduce its total waste by about a third by 2030. (Black Press Media file photo)

CRD board approves plan aimed at cutting waste by a third by 2030

Solid Waste Management Plan to start tackling Greater Victoria’s largest waste sources

The Capital Regional District has approved its plan that aims to reduce its total waste by about a third by 2030. (Black Press Media file photo)
Passengers onboard WestJet flight 3116 from Victoria to Calgary May 5 may have been exposed to a case of COVID-19. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh)

New flight exposure reported between Calgary and Victoria

Passengers on WestJet flight 3116 May 5 affected

Passengers onboard WestJet flight 3116 from Victoria to Calgary May 5 may have been exposed to a case of COVID-19. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh)
Gwen Spencer Hethey is one of four athletes being inducted into the Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame this year. Here, she is pictured with her mentor Major Frederick Richardson. (Courtesy of Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame)

Four new names added to Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame

Matt Pettinger, Gwen Spencer Hethey, Peter Lawless and Roger Skillings being inducted

Gwen Spencer Hethey is one of four athletes being inducted into the Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame this year. Here, she is pictured with her mentor Major Frederick Richardson. (Courtesy of Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame)
Individuals and businesses are encouraged to bring their unwanted electronics to Tillicum Centre May 14 to be shredded, recycled or donated. (Black Press Media file photo)

Greater Victoria residents can shred, donate electronics safely

Vancouver Island Better Business Bureau hosts event May 14 at Tillicum Centre

Individuals and businesses are encouraged to bring their unwanted electronics to Tillicum Centre May 14 to be shredded, recycled or donated. (Black Press Media file photo)
The Greater Victoria School District came under fire last week after their budget survey asked participants to rank Indigenous learners’ success against that of non-Indigenous learners. The question has since been removed. (Black Press Media file photo)

SD61 budget survey question ranks Indigenous learners’ success against others

Question since removed following public backlash

The Greater Victoria School District came under fire last week after their budget survey asked participants to rank Indigenous learners’ success against that of non-Indigenous learners. The question has since been removed. (Black Press Media file photo)
Allayah Yoli Thomas had recently turned 12 years old when she died of a suspected drug overdose April 15. (Courtesy of Adriana Londono)

Suspected overdose death of Saanich girl, 12, speaks to lack of supports, says mom

Allayah Yoli Thomas was found dead by her friend the morning of April 15

Allayah Yoli Thomas had recently turned 12 years old when she died of a suspected drug overdose April 15. (Courtesy of Adriana Londono)
The number of passengers through the Victoria International Airport has plummeted since COVID-19 hit. (Black Press Media file photo)

Passengers through Victoria International Airport plummet to a tenth of 2019 numbers

Only domestic flights allowed through YYJ in 2021

The number of passengers through the Victoria International Airport has plummeted since COVID-19 hit. (Black Press Media file photo)
Passengers onboard WestJet flights 3115 April 27 and 3295 April 29 from Calgary to Victoria may have been exposed to a case of COVID-19. (Black Press Media file photo)

Two flight exposures reported from Calgary to Victoria

Passengers on WestJet flights 3115 April 27 and 3295 April 29 affected

Passengers onboard WestJet flights 3115 April 27 and 3295 April 29 from Calgary to Victoria may have been exposed to a case of COVID-19. (Black Press Media file photo)
Saanich author Hannalora Leavitt hopes her new book, This Disability Experience, helps to dispel the ‘otherness’ that often surrounds people with disabilities. (Jane Skrypnek/News Staff)

Saanich author pens empowering, informative book on disability

Hannalora Leavitt, who lives with a visual impairment, wants to change how people look at disability

Saanich author Hannalora Leavitt hopes her new book, This Disability Experience, helps to dispel the ‘otherness’ that often surrounds people with disabilities. (Jane Skrypnek/News Staff)
The Royal B.C. Museum has added a tamba dining set, used by a Punjabi man on his voyage to Canada in 1927, to its ‘100 Objects of Interest’ online collection. (Courtesy of Royal B.C. Museum)

Punjabi dining set added to Royal B.C. Museum’s ‘100 Objects of Interest’ collection

Set used by Indar Singh Gill on his voyage from Punjab to Canada in 1927

The Royal B.C. Museum has added a tamba dining set, used by a Punjabi man on his voyage to Canada in 1927, to its ‘100 Objects of Interest’ online collection. (Courtesy of Royal B.C. Museum)
Launching May 1, the BC Ale Trail's Victoria Ale Trail Passport program encourages locals to visit the region’s participating breweries and treat themselves to homegrown craft beer. Photo courtesy BC Ale Trail.

Pick up your passport to the Victoria Ale Trail

Locals invited to support Victoria’s craft breweries this May for a chance to win prizes

Launching May 1, the BC Ale Trail's Victoria Ale Trail Passport program encourages locals to visit the region’s participating breweries and treat themselves to homegrown craft beer. Photo courtesy BC Ale Trail.
B.C.’s construction industry continues to be the No. 1 employer in B.C.’s goods sector, with more than 219,500 people relying directly on construction for a paycheque. (Black Press Media file photo)

Survey shows B.C. construction industry building career opportunities

Estimated 11,331 construction jobs in B.C. will go unfilled by 2030 due to labour shortages

B.C.’s construction industry continues to be the No. 1 employer in B.C.’s goods sector, with more than 219,500 people relying directly on construction for a paycheque. (Black Press Media file photo)
(Black Press Media file photo)

Victoria renters have reason for optimism as rents drop

PadMapper says Victoria is now the fifth most expensive market in the country

(Black Press Media file photo)
(Black Press Media file photo)

Greater Victoria firefighters, police left searching for leftover COVID-19 vaccines

Departments still waiting despite being identified as a priority, leadership concerned about safety

(Black Press Media file photo)