Saanich Peninsula

Sidney/North Saanich RCMP says the fire-related death of a man early Saturday morning is not suspicious, but the investigation is ongoing. (Black Press Media file photo)

UPDATE: Man in his early 70s dies in Greater Victoria fire

Fire is not considered suspicious, investigation ongoing

Sidney/North Saanich RCMP says the fire-related death of a man early Saturday morning is not suspicious, but the investigation is ongoing. (Black Press Media file photo)
VIRL announced Saturday afternoon that it has re-engaged the assigned mediator in its labour dispute with librarians represented by BCGEU. The Sidney/North Saanich branch of VIRL was the site of pickets as late as April 8. (Black Press Media file photo)

VIRL announces it is going back to the table with a mediator in library strike

Announcement came Saturday afternoon following job escalation in dispute with BCGEU librarians

VIRL announced Saturday afternoon that it has re-engaged the assigned mediator in its labour dispute with librarians represented by BCGEU. The Sidney/North Saanich branch of VIRL was the site of pickets as late as April 8. (Black Press Media file photo)
Emergency crews are responding to a multi-vehicle crash on West Shore Parkway. Northbound lanes are closed. (@28tory/Twitter)

Five sent to hospital after fiery multi-vehicle pile-up in Langford

Pat Bay Highway crash also sends one woman to hospital in a string of Friday morning crashes

Emergency crews are responding to a multi-vehicle crash on West Shore Parkway. Northbound lanes are closed. (@28tory/Twitter)
This home, located in the 9600-block of Fifth Street, is currently listed for $1.350 million with two nearby properties listed for the same price. New figures from VREB show the benchmark for single-family homes in Sidney was just over $1 million in March. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Homeownership a $1 million dream in most of Greater Victoria

3 communities left in Greater Victoria with single-family home benchmarks below $1 million

This home, located in the 9600-block of Fifth Street, is currently listed for $1.350 million with two nearby properties listed for the same price. New figures from VREB show the benchmark for single-family homes in Sidney was just over $1 million in March. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
North Saanich Coun. Patricia Pearson, here seen with daughter Emma Pearson, husband Aaron Pearson and son Addysen, hopes that her decision to take a parental level will inspire further changes to help reconcile personal lives with public service. (Krystle Schofield/Submitted)

B.C. councillor hopes her parental leave sets trends, removes barriers

North Saanich councillor taking three-month family leave after adopting infant son

North Saanich Coun. Patricia Pearson, here seen with daughter Emma Pearson, husband Aaron Pearson and son Addysen, hopes that her decision to take a parental level will inspire further changes to help reconcile personal lives with public service. (Krystle Schofield/Submitted)
A woman holds a dog while crossing the Irpin River on an improvised path under a bridge as people flee the town of Irpin, Ukraine. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

B.C. author in western Ukraine says potential for greater conflict very real

Ukrainians appreciate international support, lament lack of physical military aid

A woman holds a dog while crossing the Irpin River on an improvised path under a bridge as people flee the town of Irpin, Ukraine. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Anthony Thomas was found guilty <strong></strong>March 28 of impaired and dangerous driving causing death, related to an August 2018 crash in Central Saanich. (Black Press Media file photo)

Island driver guilty of impaired, dangerous driving for hitting dogwalking sisters

Anthony Thomas convicted for 2018 crash that killed Kim Ward, critically injured sister

Anthony Thomas was found guilty <strong></strong>March 28 of impaired and dangerous driving causing death, related to an August 2018 crash in Central Saanich. (Black Press Media file photo)
Central Saanich council will request that the Farm Industry Review Board permit growers to immediately raise their prices to reflect the current cost of production, in the face of past and current inflationary pressures including the war in Ukraine. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. chicken farmers plead for permission to raise prices as inflation pecks at profits

Costs steadily increasing, but producers unable to increase price of chicken meat and eggs

Central Saanich council will request that the Farm Industry Review Board permit growers to immediately raise their prices to reflect the current cost of production, in the face of past and current inflationary pressures including the war in Ukraine. (Black Press Media file photo)
Librarian Sharon Walker greets passing motorists Thursday while on picket duty outside the Sidney-North Saanich branch of Vancouver Island Regional Library, which is closed for a third straight day. Negotiations held Wednesday failed to produce an agreement between BCGEU representing librarians and VIRL. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Vancouver Island Regional Library strike to ramp up after talks fail to produce deal

Sidney/North Saanich branch closed again; Sooke, four other branches shut Thursday

Librarian Sharon Walker greets passing motorists Thursday while on picket duty outside the Sidney-North Saanich branch of Vancouver Island Regional Library, which is closed for a third straight day. Negotiations held Wednesday failed to produce an agreement between BCGEU representing librarians and VIRL. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Members of BCGEU on strike outside the Sidney/North Saanich branch of VIRL last week. The facility also closed Tuesday and Wednesday as part of labour actions with negotiations set to resume Wednesday evening. (Black Press Media file photo)

Vancouver Island Regional Library strike shuts down Sidney branch for second day

Wednesday evening sees resumption of negotiations between VIRL and BCGEU

Members of BCGEU on strike outside the Sidney/North Saanich branch of VIRL last week. The facility also closed Tuesday and Wednesday as part of labour actions with negotiations set to resume Wednesday evening. (Black Press Media file photo)
CUPE’s Lisa Wilson (left) and Jennifer Collison (right) were among the union members showing solidarity with BCGEU member Sharon Walker in front of the Sidney/North Saanich branch of the Vancouver Island Regional Library, which was closed due to job action on Tuesday (March 22). Branches in Nanaimo and Campbell River were also the site of rotating job action. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Job action affecting Island library system hits Sidney, Campbell River, Nanaimo

BCGEU, Vancouver Island Regional Library set to resume negotiations Tuesday evening

CUPE’s Lisa Wilson (left) and Jennifer Collison (right) were among the union members showing solidarity with BCGEU member Sharon Walker in front of the Sidney/North Saanich branch of the Vancouver Island Regional Library, which was closed due to job action on Tuesday (March 22). Branches in Nanaimo and Campbell River were also the site of rotating job action. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Standing near the BC Ferries terminal in Brentwood Bay on Vancouver Island, Saanich North and the Islands MLA Adam Olsen largely questions proposed changes to legislation governing B.C. Ferries, but also finds some positives. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Government accountability for BC Ferries must be maintained, BC Green MLA says

Adam Olsen says oversight board has power to issue directives, but also to point fingers

Standing near the BC Ferries terminal in Brentwood Bay on Vancouver Island, Saanich North and the Islands MLA Adam Olsen largely questions proposed changes to legislation governing B.C. Ferries, but also finds some positives. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
BC General Employees’ Union president Stephanie Smith joined union members including two librarians Tuesday on a picket line outside the Sidney/North Saanich branch of the Vancouver Island Regional Library. The strike, part of a series of rotating job actions, closed the facility for the day. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Union president raises possibility of Vancouver Island Regional Library system-wide strike

BCGEU job action targets Sidney/North Saanich branch librarians Tuesday in one-day strike

BC General Employees’ Union president Stephanie Smith joined union members including two librarians Tuesday on a picket line outside the Sidney/North Saanich branch of the Vancouver Island Regional Library. The strike, part of a series of rotating job actions, closed the facility for the day. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Olympic gold medalist Andrea Proske is sharing her story of determination and resiliency to help inspire others to greater things. (Photo by Kevin Light Photography)

Fast in a straight line backwards: Islander took an unusual gold medal trajectory

Olympic gold medal rower Andrea Proske took a different kind of path to the podium

Olympic gold medalist Andrea Proske is sharing her story of determination and resiliency to help inspire others to greater things. (Photo by Kevin Light Photography)
The late Elton Keshane as a young man. (Courtesy Tina Savea)

B.C. woman finds healing even as graves found in schoolyard where she played

Indigenous woman Tina Savea gives voice to her late father, sharing childhood abuses he faced

The late Elton Keshane as a young man. (Courtesy Tina Savea)
Washington State Ferries has confirmed it will not resume sailings between Anacortes in Washington State and Sidney this spring. (Black Press Media file photo)

Spring sailings cancelled between Vancouver Island, San Juans; summer sailings unlikely

Washington State Ferries cites lack of crew for cancellation

Washington State Ferries has confirmed it will not resume sailings between Anacortes in Washington State and Sidney this spring. (Black Press Media file photo)
Sidney B.C.'s harbour on the chilly morning of Feb. 23, 2022. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Oil spill ‘not matter of if, but when’: Gulf Islands renew call for rescue tug

American and Canadian officials join forces to make plea for Sidney-based ship

Sidney B.C.'s harbour on the chilly morning of Feb. 23, 2022. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Michael Bociurkiw, photographed last fall in Sidney, is currently in western Ukraine, where the situation is getting more tense as that country continues to weather Russian attacks. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C.-based author feels increasingly under siege in Ukrainian city of Lviv

Global affairs analyst and author Michael Bociurkiw has been in Ukraine almost a month

Michael Bociurkiw, photographed last fall in Sidney, is currently in western Ukraine, where the situation is getting more tense as that country continues to weather Russian attacks. (Black Press Media file photo)
A cougar deemed responsible for killing four goats in North Saanich was put down Tuesday. (Black Press Media file photo)

Cougar euthanized in North Saanich after killing four goats

Conservation officers report cougar was in poor health

A cougar deemed responsible for killing four goats in North Saanich was put down Tuesday. (Black Press Media file photo)
The mother of two sisters who were struck by a vehicle in Central Saanich in 2018, is suing the car dealership, owner and driver. The civil trial is underway at the Victoria courthouse. (Black Press Media file photo)

Vancouver Island dogwalker crash victims’ mom sues dealership, buyer and driver

Trial focusing on who owned Jeep involved in fatal crash, who had consent to drive it

The mother of two sisters who were struck by a vehicle in Central Saanich in 2018, is suing the car dealership, owner and driver. The civil trial is underway at the Victoria courthouse. (Black Press Media file photo)