Saanich Peninsula

A horse that had slipped into a ditch sometime overnight Thursday was on the road again Friday morning, thanks to the efforts of volunteers and Central Saanich firefighters. (Central Saanich Fire/Twitter)

Firefighters use hose to lift stranded horse from Central Saanich ditch

Animal had slipped into a ditch, but was pulled out safe and sound

 

Valerii Didenko is seen with Paul Fussell and Cathy Jansen’s dog, named Lucy. (Black Press Media)

Ukrainian couple, daughter land in B.C. with hopes of building a ‘big, happy family’

The Didenkos hope to rent a unit nearby as their 5-year-old daughter enters kindergarten

 

Conservation officer Peter Pauwels recently retired after 30 years of service, the vast majority of which was spent working in the Capital Region and southern Vancouver Island. (Courtesy Peter Pauwels)

The inconvenient truths about black bears in Greater Victoria

Think again if you believe development drives bears away, says former conservation officer

 

The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. has cleared police of any wrongdoing in the death of a Saanich teen. (Black Press Media file photo)

Watchdog clears south Island RCMP officers of wrongdoing in Saanich teen’s death

19-year-old man died after driving off the road into the ocean in North Saanich

The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. has cleared police of any wrongdoing in the death of a Saanich teen. (Black Press Media file photo)
Canadian and U.S. responders resuscitated a man near Sidney on July 15 after a couple found him unresponsive in the water. (Courtesy of Sidney/North Saanich RCMP)

Kayakers pull unresponsive man from B.C. waters before responders revive him

Man was face down in the waters off Greater Victoria when paddling couple found him

Canadian and U.S. responders resuscitated a man near Sidney on July 15 after a couple found him unresponsive in the water. (Courtesy of Sidney/North Saanich RCMP)
Field Five farmers Kyle Michell and Mike Doehnel are among the latest beer farmers, growing and malting quality, consistent product to several breweries on the south Island. Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

Beer Farmers: Peninsula operation brews up mega malting machine in Central Saanich

Field Five Farm malts enough grain for 4,000 litres of beer in eight months of operation

Field Five farmers Kyle Michell and Mike Doehnel are among the latest beer farmers, growing and malting quality, consistent product to several breweries on the south Island. Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
Two goats running loose in Central Saanich. (Courtesy of Central Saanich police)

Are ewe looking for two sheep on the lam in Central Saanich?

After animals were on the loose Friday morning, they’re now with animal control

Two goats running loose in Central Saanich. (Courtesy of Central Saanich police)
The Central Saanich Police Service is asking the public to help locate Nathaniel Watters, who was last seen early Friday morning. (Courtesy Central Saanich Police Service)

Potential sighting of missing man the focus of search between Sooke, Cowichan

Organizers call for boots on the ground, all-terrain vehicles, 4x4s, to help find Nathaniel Watters

The Central Saanich Police Service is asking the public to help locate Nathaniel Watters, who was last seen early Friday morning. (Courtesy Central Saanich Police Service)
Honey gets around with a wheelchair on loan from a Greater Victoria Animal Crusaders supporter. (Courtesy GVAC)

VIDEO: Animal crusader loans wheelchair to abandoned, paralyzed Vancouver Island pup

French bulldog Honey recovering with significant ongoing care

Honey gets around with a wheelchair on loan from a Greater Victoria Animal Crusaders supporter. (Courtesy GVAC)
Central Saanich Fire is warning motorists about discarding cigarettes from their vehicles as they can cause rapidly spreading fires as was the case two years along Highway 17. (Central Saanich Fire/Twitter)

Vancouver Island firefighters warn motorists about carelessly butting out

Outdoor fires caused by discarded cigarettes continue to cause economic damage

Central Saanich Fire is warning motorists about discarding cigarettes from their vehicles as they can cause rapidly spreading fires as was the case two years along Highway 17. (Central Saanich Fire/Twitter)
Mark Adamson, here seen off Sidney’s Lochside Drive, has been swimming in the ocean since last July at least once a week. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Ocean swimming off Sidney gives Greater Victoria man whale of a time

Mark Adamson had a close encounter with an orca last year during one of his weekly swims

Mark Adamson, here seen off Sidney’s Lochside Drive, has been swimming in the ocean since last July at least once a week. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Tyson Elder, operations manager for the Saanich Peninsula Lions Food Bank, said the situation is getting desperate in face of food shortages and growing demand as inflation has cut into the budgets of more and more people. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Desperate for food: Food banks in dire need as demand surges across B.C., Canada

Skyrocketing housing prices, inflation forcing more people to access food bank services

Tyson Elder, operations manager for the Saanich Peninsula Lions Food Bank, said the situation is getting desperate in face of food shortages and growing demand as inflation has cut into the budgets of more and more people. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Victoria International Airport is warning of long pre-board screening waits on June 27. (Black Press Media file photo)

Long pre-board waits expected at Victoria International Airport Monday

Travellers urged to allow for lots of time before their scheduled departure

Victoria International Airport is warning of long pre-board screening waits on June 27. (Black Press Media file photo)
Vancouver Island residents who became mothers between March 2020 and March 2022 are encouraged to take part in a study into their experiences. (Black Press Media file photo)

Study explores pandemic experiences of new moms on Vancouver Island

Master’s student diving into where mothers found resiliency, community

Vancouver Island residents who became mothers between March 2020 and March 2022 are encouraged to take part in a study into their experiences. (Black Press Media file photo)
Honey needs new wheels after being found paralyzed on the side of a road. (GVAC/Facebook)

‘Honey needs wheels’: Island animal rescue fundraises for paralyzed, abandoned pup

The organization plans to try physiotherapy but says: ‘Honey needs wheels’

Honey needs new wheels after being found paralyzed on the side of a road. (GVAC/Facebook)
This picture taken by cellphone from a distance shows a juvenile eagle that is receiving care at Wild ARC in Metchosin, after leaving its nest and later appearing on the driveway of a nearby Sidney home in a troubled state on Tuesday. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Distressed juvenile eagle receiving care after leaving urban Vancouver Island nest

It’s not clear why eagle left the nest, animal rehab crews hopeful it can be returned

This picture taken by cellphone from a distance shows a juvenile eagle that is receiving care at Wild ARC in Metchosin, after leaving its nest and later appearing on the driveway of a nearby Sidney home in a troubled state on Tuesday. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Save Old Growth demonstrators blocked the northbound Pat Bay Highway on June 13. (Courtesy of Save Old Growth/Twitter)

VIDEO: Four arrested after protesters block highway near Greater Victoria ferry terminal

Save Old Growth demonstrator taken to hospital after fall from ladder

Save Old Growth demonstrators blocked the northbound Pat Bay Highway on June 13. (Courtesy of Save Old Growth/Twitter)
Greater Victoria has the highest proportion of trans and non-binary folks in Canada, home to about one million people who self-identify as LGBTQ2+. Shown is the crowd from the 2018 Victoria Pride parade. (Photo courtesy of Victoria Pride Society)

LGBTQ2+ community of 1 million in Canada continue to face serious obstacles

LGBTQ2+ community in Canada three times more likely to report being assaulted in 2018

Greater Victoria has the highest proportion of trans and non-binary folks in Canada, home to about one million people who self-identify as LGBTQ2+. Shown is the crowd from the 2018 Victoria Pride parade. (Photo courtesy of Victoria Pride Society)
Al Smith, executive director of the Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, shows where a homeless person living behind the building plugged in electric bike, a move that blew up the battery of the bicycle and set part of the building on fire. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Charging e-bike battery explodes, sets fire to Vancouver Island building

RCMP took e-biker into custody, after blaze at the Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce

Al Smith, executive director of the Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, shows where a homeless person living behind the building plugged in electric bike, a move that blew up the battery of the bicycle and set part of the building on fire. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Victoria Airport Authority president/CEO Geoff Dickson, joined by transport minister parliamentary secretary Annie Koutrakis, speaks about new federal funding for the airport. The Wednesday announcement at YYJ came less than 24 hours after the airport was shut down for several hours upon discovery of a suspicious package at the departures check-in. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Victoria International Airport receives $1.3 million for safety upgrades

Pandemic-spurred federal help for YYJ over $4 million, including past relief funding

Victoria Airport Authority president/CEO Geoff Dickson, joined by transport minister parliamentary secretary Annie Koutrakis, speaks about new federal funding for the airport. The Wednesday announcement at YYJ came less than 24 hours after the airport was shut down for several hours upon discovery of a suspicious package at the departures check-in. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)