‘Nature’s Mona Lisa’: How Greater Victoria’s autumn rains bring ‘second spring’ and spur global plant rarities

University of Victoria researcher and biodiversity expert Brian Starzomski on the hunt for tiny plant treasures at Oak Bay’s Harling Point in early October. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)
Harling Point is one of the few remaining habitats for the threatened species

Thursday, Oct. 21 is Count Your Buttons Day. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)

Unofficial holidays: Here’s what people are celebrating for the week of Oct. 17 to 23
Vancouver Canucks’ Thatcher Demko, left, blocks a shot by Philadelphia Flyers’ Nate Thompson during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Pettersson, Miller score in shootout as Canucks edge Philadelphia Flyers 5-4
Overwhelmed by illegal pot, Oregon county declares emergency

Overwhelmed by illegal pot, Oregon county declares emergency
Crown and defence made sentencing arguments in the Clinton Armstrong case in B.C. Supreme Court in Courtenay on Friday. Black Press file photo

Crown seeks 10-plus years for Island man in box cutter attack

Bears can come onto people’s yards and their patios for pumpkin and candies, like this bear in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, who just went for the pumpkin. (Christy Mabe/Special to The News)

Keep your tricks, treats and bears separate, WildSafe BC says
British Columbia’s provincial flag flies on a flagpole in Ottawa, Friday July 3, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Two B.C. women file constitutional challenge of vaccine card
The Human Rights Tribunal of Alberta has ordered the Alberta Pipe Trade College to pay $35,000 to Branka Turnbull, shown in this undated handout image, after she was fired as an instructor of the technical college in Edmonton in 2013 because of a pregnancy. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO

Alberta technical college ordered to pay former teacher who was fired for pregnancy
Commissioner Austin Cullen, back centre, listens to introductions before opening statements at the Cullen Commission of Inquiry into Money Laundering in British Columbia in Vancouver on Monday, February 24, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Closing submissions in B.C. money laundering inquiry include call to work together
Video
A vial of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is shown at a clinic in Toronto on Thursday, January 7, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Kids as young as 5 could get COVID vaccine next month, must wear masks: Dr. Henry

Retired astronaut Col. Chris Hadfield talks about his own extraordinary stories of leadership as one of the keynote speakers at the Greatness in Leadership business management event in Lethbridge, Alberta on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/David Rossiter

Chris Hadfield to Captain Kirk: Astronaut urges William Shatner to ‘soak up’ space

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks with Obaidullah Rahimi, right, his wife Arezoo, and daughter Hawa, 2 months, after assembling care packages for the recently resettled Afghan family for Thanksgiving in Ottawa, on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021. Obaidullah Rahimi worked at the Canadian Embassy in Afghanistan; his family is one of 22 resettled Afghan families in the Ottawa area. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Prime minister marks start of Thanksgiving holiday by meeting Afghan refugee family

Aiyana Branyik mounts a horse once a week at Victoria Therapeutic Riding Association, surrounded by supporters and instructors. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)

Saanich Peninsula therapeutic horse riding provides social interaction, riding skills to members

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News
Fraser Health hosts same-day vaccine clinic at Newton Recreation Centre in Surrey, June 1, 2021. (Photo: City of Surrey)

B.C. reports 13 more COVID-19 deaths, 667 new cases Friday

Infection rate remains high in Northern Health region

B.C.’s updated legislation does not limit a landlord’s ability to alter rental rates after work on a unit is complete. Victoria council is waiting to see how changes to the Rental Tenancy Act could impact local bylaws. (Black Press Media file photo)

Victoria delays action on renoviction protection bylaw

Council waiting to see impact of provincial legislation changes

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Community
From left: Royal Jubilee Hospital clinical operations director Jason Price, Saanich Mayor Fred Haynes and site operations manager Edgar Dittmer deliver sunflowers and chocolates to healthcare workers in the hospital’s patient care centre. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)

Chocolates and sunflowers brighten up Royal Jubilee Hospital workers’ day

Gifts to show appreciation for Greater Victoria hospital workers experiencing burnout

The Victoria Cool Aid Society is fundraising to deliver 10,000 pairs of socks to south Island residents in need. (Victoria Cool Aid Society/Facebook)

Sock fundraiser promises some comfort for Greater Victoria residents in need

Cool Aid Society aiming for 10,000 pairs of socks by Nov. 30

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Obituaries

Jean Francis Carol Phillips (nee Armstrong)

Oct 14th, 2021

Caroline Phoebe Harding (nee Klitz)

Sep 24th, 2021

Father Harry Donald

Sep 23rd, 2021

Kori Freeman Crow

Sep 21st, 2021

Elizabeth ‘Betty’ Jameson

Sep 9th, 2021

Douglas Clifford Copp

Sep 9th, 2021

See Celebrations of Life See More Obituaries 

Sports
Screenshot of Tri-Port Minor Hockey Association website.

Island hockey organization giving cold shoulder to COVID restriction scofflaws

Vancouver Island Amateur Hockey Association makes volunteer vaccinations mandatory

The Abbotsford Farm Podcast will feature local discussion surrounding the Abbotsford Canucks American Hockey League franchise. (Chris Dickert logo design)

Local Abbotsford Canucks podcast launches first episode

The Abbotsford Farm Podcast set to drop weekly episodes covering the new AHL hockey team

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Opinion

LETTER SIG

LETTER: Sooke councillor’s response revealing

    LETTER SIG

    LETTER: Listen to informed people rather than fashionable alarmists

      eEdition

      Sooke News Mirror, Oct 14

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      Trending Now
      Containers of hand sanitizer have become commonplace during the COVID-19 pandemic. Oct. 15 is Global Handwashing Day, a day to raise awareness of the importance of good hand washing. (Shutterstock) Containers of hand sanitizer have become commonplace during the COVID-19 pandemic. Oct. 15 is Global Handwashing Day, a day to raise awareness of the importance of good hand washing. (Shutterstock)

      QUIZ: Do you have clean hands?

      Oct. 15 is Global Handwashing Day. How much do you know about hands and hygiene?

      (BC Hydro image)

      ‘End of the Peace’: Site C documentary opens Toronto film festival

      Film features various Indigenous people talking about how the dam theatens their communities

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      Entertainment
      Stacey Chomiak’s queer, illustrated, young-adult memoir ‘Still Stace: My Gay Christian Coming-of-Age Story’ is being released on Oct. 19, 2021. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)

      B.C. author says being gay and Christian is OK

      Stacey Chomiak’s memoir aimed at LGBTQ youth makes peace with faith community and queer community

      In this handout photo provided by Sotheby's Auction House, the auction for Banksy's "Love is the Bin" takes place in London, Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021. A work by British street artist Banksy that sensationally self-shredded just after it sold for $1.4 million has sold again for $25.4 million at an auction on Thursday. “Love is in the Bin” was offered by Sotheby’s in London, with a presale estimate of $5.5 million to $8.2 million. (Haydon Perrior/Sotheby's Auction House via AP)

      Shredded Banksy artwork sells for $25.4 million at auction

      Price a record for the artist, and close to 20 times the piece’s pre-shredded price

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      Life
      Ann Squires Ferguson of Western Design + Build. Lia Crowe photography

      Secrets and Lives with CEO Ann Squires Ferguson

      Reshaping the construction and design industries

        Daniel Caicedo, owner of Victoria Restorations, sits next to a fireplace his company provided the chimney finish for in a Sidney home. Don Denton photograph

        Transforming spaces with Venetian plastering and more

        Daniel Caiceda’s Victoria Restorations changes the ordinary to extraordinary

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          Impress
          Innovate BC green photo

          B.C. businesses can get up to $10,000 per employee by providing jobs for underrepresented people

          B.C. companies that are hiring for a tech position can get up…

            Jaswinder Athwal packs cedar shakes at the Teal Jones mill in Surrey. On Sep. 30, Teal Jones is halting operations across the province in honour of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. (Photo: Shawn Hall)

            BC lumber company pauses operations to honour National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

            Family-owned company encourages employees to take time to attend local events, pay respect

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