Victoria

Victoria Fire Chief Paul Bruce and Mayor Lisa Helps tour the fire hall site. (Courtesy of City of Victoria)

Former Victoria mayor to advise premier on housing solutions

Lisa Helps appointed Premier David Eby’s housing solutions adviser

 

Victoria police are investigating a Jan. 20 Richardson Street house fire as arson and have arrested one person in relation to the incident. (File photo courtesy of Ray Bernoties)

One arrested amid arson investigation into Victoria house fire

Nobody was home at the time but Richardson Street residence extensively damaged

 

Alan Parfett won $100,000 after playing the British Columbia Lottery Corporation’s bingo grand scratch-and-win game. (Courtesy of the BCLC)

Victoria man wins $100K from scratch ticket

Alan Parfett bought the winning ticket at the Save-On-Foods on Pandora Avenue

  • Jan 26, 2023

 

James Allin was arrested in the Rock Bay area after he was wanted Canada-wide since November 2022, following his statutory release being suspended. (Courtesy of VicPD)

Man wanted since November on Canada-wide warrant arrested in Victoria

Police said last year that he was a risk to public safety

James Allin was arrested in the Rock Bay area after he was wanted Canada-wide since November 2022, following his statutory release being suspended. (Courtesy of VicPD)
The small Holland Point Park public washroom received the worst possible accessibility rating in a recent audit as it has no accessible stalls, its doors are too narrow and the ramp to it doesn’t meet requirements. The city plans to have all park washrooms fully accessible by 2030. (Jake Romphf/ News Staff)

Victoria’s aging park washrooms must be accessible by 2030 as substantial work needed

15 of 18 facilities need moderate to extensive accessibility improvements

The small Holland Point Park public washroom received the worst possible accessibility rating in a recent audit as it has no accessible stalls, its doors are too narrow and the ramp to it doesn’t meet requirements. The city plans to have all park washrooms fully accessible by 2030. (Jake Romphf/ News Staff)
Julian West, founder of Urban Thrive, outside 633 Belton Avenue where his development company and Lapis Homes are looking to add a six-unit home that would have no off-street parking, but would aim to advance more sustainable urban transportation options. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)

Innovative zero-parking houseplex moves ahead in possible first for Victoria

Vic West proposal scores public hearing as it aims to advance site’s sustainable transportation

Julian West, founder of Urban Thrive, outside 633 Belton Avenue where his development company and Lapis Homes are looking to add a six-unit home that would have no off-street parking, but would aim to advance more sustainable urban transportation options. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)
Block Kitchen + Bar opened in Victoria Friday (Jan. 13). (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)

Hip ‘designed to share’ restaurant opens doors in downtown Victoria

But Block Kitchen + Bar has no connection to predecessors Chuck’s Burger Bar or Lumberjack’s Bar and Grill

Block Kitchen + Bar opened in Victoria Friday (Jan. 13). (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)
A group fishing off Greater Victoria had a once-in-a-lifetime encounter with a trio of young orcas on Jan. 17. (Courtesy Craig Twidale)

VIDEO: Young orcas caught showboating off Greater Victoria

Group fishing near Race Rocks films rare encounter with killer whales

A group fishing off Greater Victoria had a once-in-a-lifetime encounter with a trio of young orcas on Jan. 17. (Courtesy Craig Twidale)
A road sign on Blanshard Street in Downtown Victoria. (Chris Campbell photo)

Opinion: This is why downtown Victoria traffic is ‘bloody painful’

But are Victoria drivers actually spoiled compared to other areas?

A road sign on Blanshard Street in Downtown Victoria. (Chris Campbell photo)
The Victoria Police department will seek a 9.55 per cent increase to its budget in 2023, which would be a bump of just over $6 million. (Black Press Media file photo)

Victoria police board proposes 9.55% budget hike

Staff salaries, benefits make up majority of draft budget increase

The Victoria Police department will seek a 9.55 per cent increase to its budget in 2023, which would be a bump of just over $6 million. (Black Press Media file photo)
CSL Tecumseh moved into Pier B on Jan. 17 at Ogden Point in the Breakwater District. (Greater Victoria Harbour Authority/Twitter)

Bustling Victoria breakwater sees ships on the move with a break-in reported

Container ship GSL Eleni moved out and CSL Tecumseh moved in at Pier B

CSL Tecumseh moved into Pier B on Jan. 17 at Ogden Point in the Breakwater District. (Greater Victoria Harbour Authority/Twitter)
Kathryn Camfield is the general manager of The Makehouse, a Victoria sewing business that recently became employee-owned. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)

PHOTOS: The Makehouse threads community, creativity at Victoria sewing studio

The fabric shop and sewing lesson business recently became employee-owned

Kathryn Camfield is the general manager of The Makehouse, a Victoria sewing business that recently became employee-owned. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)
The Victoria area saw average adjusted housing prices rise by 2.3 per cent while Canada saw a 12 per cent decline from 2021 to 2022, the Canadian Real Estate Association said on Jan. 16. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)

Greater Victoria housing prices rise in 2022 despite Canada seeing a decline

Local real estate officials talk about region’s sales, supply and housing forecast

The Victoria area saw average adjusted housing prices rise by 2.3 per cent while Canada saw a 12 per cent decline from 2021 to 2022, the Canadian Real Estate Association said on Jan. 16. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)
The Trial Islands Ecological Reserve off Oak Bay was the first designated Key Biodiversity Area in all of Canada. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)

Greater Victoria’s Trial Islands, Fort Rodd touted as key biodiversity areas

South Island’s important ecological sites highlighted at UN’s biodiversity conference

The Trial Islands Ecological Reserve off Oak Bay was the first designated Key Biodiversity Area in all of Canada. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)
Martin Ouellet (left, front), Sonya Marchand, Scott Rose, Jennifer, Jen Bolster (left, back), Nicolas D’Anjou and Chris Millar attend the BC Emergency Health Services’ Vital Link Award presentation on Sunday (Jan. 15) afternoon. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)

Victoria trio recognized for saving friend’s life after sudden cardiac arrest

Three receive Vital Link Award for life-saving emergency medical response

Martin Ouellet (left, front), Sonya Marchand, Scott Rose, Jennifer, Jen Bolster (left, back), Nicolas D’Anjou and Chris Millar attend the BC Emergency Health Services’ Vital Link Award presentation on Sunday (Jan. 15) afternoon. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)
Ciara Curran, assistant general manager at Frankie’s Modern Diner. (Ella Matte photo)

‘It’s slow’: Victoria restaurants innovate to deal with post-holidays crash

Food delivery apps provide a lifeline to local eateries

  • Jan 14, 2023
Ciara Curran, assistant general manager at Frankie’s Modern Diner. (Ella Matte photo)
Dine Around and Stay in Town Victoria returns to the B.C. capital Jan. 20 to Feb. 5, featuring more than 40 restaurants and 11 hotels.

Dine Around, Stay in Town Victoria brings delicious deals to the B.C. capital

Featuring over 40 restaurants, the program gives restaurants a chance to shine

Dine Around and Stay in Town Victoria returns to the B.C. capital Jan. 20 to Feb. 5, featuring more than 40 restaurants and 11 hotels.
Leslie Robinson and her gang of “grannies” sang their concerns about gentrification on Pandora Avenue to Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto to get their point across. (Ella Matte photo)

VIDEO: ‘Grannies’ serenade Victoria mayor to take action on gentrification downtown

Change needed to provide services for people experiencing homelessness

  • Jan 13, 2023
Leslie Robinson and her gang of “grannies” sang their concerns about gentrification on Pandora Avenue to Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto to get their point across. (Ella Matte photo)
A rendering of a floating sauna business pitched for Victoria’s Ship Point. (Courtesy of Havn Saunas)

Victoria approves floating sauna, despite resident calling it a ‘monstrosity’

Company CEO says the look will be improved

A rendering of a floating sauna business pitched for Victoria’s Ship Point. (Courtesy of Havn Saunas)
Havn’s floating sauna business being worked on at Ogden Point on Jan. 11. The company wants to moor and run the relaxation-based business from the Inner Harbour. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)

PHOTOS: Public can float thoughts on sauna business proposed for Victoria’s Inner Harbour

Havn Saunas wants to bring its moored barge with a relaxation, socializing business to Ship Point

Havn’s floating sauna business being worked on at Ogden Point on Jan. 11. The company wants to moor and run the relaxation-based business from the Inner Harbour. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)