West Shore

Koko Farion (left) and Justin Holmes are both starring in their first film, a short independent romance called Sandcastles. (Courtesy of Susan Ko)

‘I want to be a superstar’: Two Islanders make acting debut in indie film

Sandcastles is a romance between two characters with learning disabilities

 

Provincial Environment Minister George Heyman announces $10 million in funding for the BC Parks Foundation outside Goldstream Nature House in Goldstream Provincial Park on June 1. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)

B.C. gives $10M to parks foundation to expand programs

Money will fund programming, including park ambassadors

 

Four raccoon kits are in care at the BC SPCA site in Metchosin. (Wild ARC/Facebook)

VIDEO: Orphaned newborn raccoons thrive at Vancouver Island wildlife rehab

With trapping and relocating, abandoned kits are not unusual, says Wild ARC

 

Following an incident at Thetis Lake which sent two to hospital, B.C. Emergency Health Services is reminding residents of some key water safety tips ahead of the long weekend. (Courtesy CRD)

B.C residents warned to stay safe as long weekend kicks off summer fun on the water

Ambulance service urges caution as warm weather will likely see people flock to lakes and beaches

Following an incident at Thetis Lake which sent two to hospital, B.C. Emergency Health Services is reminding residents of some key water safety tips ahead of the long weekend. (Courtesy CRD)
Revellers enjoy the first Friday at the Station pop-up beer and music event organized by the Victoria Beer Society and held at Langford Station Friday, May 12. At the event, the society announced the popular Langford Beer Festival is returning larger than ever July 15 to Starlight Stadium. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

Sprawling Langford Beer Festival tapped to return bigger than ever this summer

The Victoria Beer Society announced its return at the first Fridays at the Station pop-up of 2023

Revellers enjoy the first Friday at the Station pop-up beer and music event organized by the Victoria Beer Society and held at Langford Station Friday, May 12. At the event, the society announced the popular Langford Beer Festival is returning larger than ever July 15 to Starlight Stadium. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
Crews work outside a multi-unit build in the Royal Bay development in Colwood. (Katherine Engqvist/News Staff)

Demise of single-family starter homes: Greater Victoria’s municipal policies not helping

Government policies not geared towards multi-unit builds warns advocate

Crews work outside a multi-unit build in the Royal Bay development in Colwood. (Katherine Engqvist/News Staff)
Rory Smith celebrates after winning his race during the final race night at the Westshore Motorsports Park Saturday, Sept. 17 2022, as the track shuts down permanently. Smith said in a lot of ways the fact the speedway is gone has not quite hit him yet, but as what would normally be the start of his racing season approaches, the reality of the loss of such a unique and storied space is expected to sink in. (Black Press Media file photo)

One year after the final Western Speedway season start, racers begin to mourn

Work progressing on finding property for a new track location

Rory Smith celebrates after winning his race during the final race night at the Westshore Motorsports Park Saturday, Sept. 17 2022, as the track shuts down permanently. Smith said in a lot of ways the fact the speedway is gone has not quite hit him yet, but as what would normally be the start of his racing season approaches, the reality of the loss of such a unique and storied space is expected to sink in. (Black Press Media file photo)
Homes under construction in the Royal Bay development in Colwood. (Katherine Engqvist/News Staff)

Demise of single-family starter homes: Residents driven out of Victoria for decades

‘It’s going to take us a long time to build out of this in a meaningful way’

Homes under construction in the Royal Bay development in Colwood. (Katherine Engqvist/News Staff)
A row of single-family homes under construction in Colwood's Royal Bay development. The listing at 3376 Ryder Hesjedal Way starts at $1,047,134. (Katherine Engqvist/News Staff)

Requiem for a single-family starter: Why first-time homebuying is dying in B.C.’s capital

Young adults will need to save for 22 years for a down payment, and have a household income of $216K

A row of single-family homes under construction in Colwood's Royal Bay development. The listing at 3376 Ryder Hesjedal Way starts at $1,047,134. (Katherine Engqvist/News Staff)
The 19-rider 2023 Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock team includes five West Shore RCMP officers, two from Saanich and one from the Canadian Military Police based in Esquimalt. The team that will ride the Island to raise funds for the Canadian Cancer Society this fall was announced May 12 at St. Margaret’s School in Saanich. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

Cops for Cancer team features 19 riders from across Vancouver Island

26th annual Tour de Rock team named, training jerseys issued

The 19-rider 2023 Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock team includes five West Shore RCMP officers, two from Saanich and one from the Canadian Military Police based in Esquimalt. The team that will ride the Island to raise funds for the Canadian Cancer Society this fall was announced May 12 at St. Margaret’s School in Saanich. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
Brian Le Lievre with his wife Michelle in Mexico, before he was stranded for more than a month as his family searches for a way to bring him home to Langford. (Courtesy of Arielle Boivin)

Unwanted vacation: family desperate to bring B.C. man home from Mexico

Week-long holiday turns into a month-long ordeal, with bills piling up for Victoria area family

Brian Le Lievre with his wife Michelle in Mexico, before he was stranded for more than a month as his family searches for a way to bring him home to Langford. (Courtesy of Arielle Boivin)
Artist submissions for the Sooke Fine Arts Show is June 1. Three jurors are expected to judge more than 300 art pieces from portraits to woodworks. (File - Sooke News Mirror)

Deadline approaching for Sooke Fine Arts Show

Artists must submit work by June 1

Artist submissions for the Sooke Fine Arts Show is June 1. Three jurors are expected to judge more than 300 art pieces from portraits to woodworks. (File - Sooke News Mirror)
Te Jessie (left) and Kieran Poissant are both set to take part in the BC Lions training camp starting May 10. (Westshore Rebels/Facebook)

Two Westshore Rebels headed to BC Lions training camp

Te Jessie and Kieran Poissant training with the CFL team

Te Jessie (left) and Kieran Poissant are both set to take part in the BC Lions training camp starting May 10. (Westshore Rebels/Facebook)
An apartment fire in View Royal at around 11:30 p.m. Monday (May 8) sent two people to hospital. (Courtesy of Paul Hurst)

Two people hospitalized in Greater Victoria apartment fire

Cat killed, residents displaced by early morning blaze

An apartment fire in View Royal at around 11:30 p.m. Monday (May 8) sent two people to hospital. (Courtesy of Paul Hurst)
OakTree Naturals owner Aman Jiwani packs up shop before moving to a space on Hillside Avenue. (Black Press Media file photo)

Former Vancouver Island business owner wants rate cap on commercial rent increases

Statistics Canada says rents for commercial space in B.C. have grown the second most in the country

OakTree Naturals owner Aman Jiwani packs up shop before moving to a space on Hillside Avenue. (Black Press Media file photo)
A marine conservation area around the Gulf Islands is not currently on the horizon, according to Parks Canada. (Black Press Media file photo)

Gulf Island marine conservation area not on Parks Canada’s radar

First pitched in 2011, proposal could create area off limits to shipping

A marine conservation area around the Gulf Islands is not currently on the horizon, according to Parks Canada. (Black Press Media file photo)
A cellphone tower. The Sooke to Port Renfrew cellphone project received nearly $5 million in funding from the province and $695,000 from Rogers Communications. (Shutterstock)

Vancouver Island’s south coast finally gets long-awaited wireless coverage

A 70-km stretch of Highway 14 between Sooker and Port Renfrew finally has service

A cellphone tower. The Sooke to Port Renfrew cellphone project received nearly $5 million in funding from the province and $695,000 from Rogers Communications. (Shutterstock)
The West Shore RCMP is looking for the driver and any passengers who were in this white car and may have witnessed a carjacking incident in Colwood on April 15. (Courtesy West Shore RCMP)

UPDATE: Rugby Canada cuts ties with player after video released of violent Colwood carjacking

West Shore RCMP releases video in hopes of finding witnesses

The West Shore RCMP is looking for the driver and any passengers who were in this white car and may have witnessed a carjacking incident in Colwood on April 15. (Courtesy West Shore RCMP)
The BC SPCA Wild Animal Rehabilitation Centre in Metchosin suggests checking out its critter cam to catch glimpses of an eagle currently in care. (Wild ARC/Facebook)

Metchosin wildlife rehab centre launches latest eagle cam star

Wild ARC critter cam streams live from flight pen B, currently home to a bald eagle

The BC SPCA Wild Animal Rehabilitation Centre in Metchosin suggests checking out its critter cam to catch glimpses of an eagle currently in care. (Wild ARC/Facebook)
Belmont Bulldogs lineman Dontae Bull back in 2017 before he suited up with Fresno State University. (Black Press Media file photo)

Vancouver Islander Dontae Bull picked first overall in CFL draft

Belmont grad set to join Ottawa Redblacks after playing 5 years for Fresno State University

Belmont Bulldogs lineman Dontae Bull back in 2017 before he suited up with Fresno State University. (Black Press Media file photo)