Devon Bidal

Willow, a kitten belonging to a Victoria family, was rescued by firefighters on Thursday after she got stuck in a basement drain pipe. (City of Victoria/Twitter)

Victoria kitten stuck in basement drain pipe rescued by firefighters

Willow the cat on the mend, owner feeling ‘enormous gratitude’

Willow, a kitten belonging to a Victoria family, was rescued by firefighters on Thursday after she got stuck in a basement drain pipe. (City of Victoria/Twitter)
A fire sparked at an encampment between the Pat Bay Highway and McKenzie Avenue early Thursday morning. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)

Residents of Pat Bay Highway encampment to be relocated after early morning fire, site secured for clean up

Eviction notice issued in 2020, not enforced to allow BC Housing to connect with campers

A fire sparked at an encampment between the Pat Bay Highway and McKenzie Avenue early Thursday morning. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)
(Black Press Media file photo)

Saanich repeals, reschedules two public hearings for consideration of new information

Move to hold public hearings for second time ‘very rare,’ mayor says

(Black Press Media file photo)
Staff at Artemis Place Secondary were shocked to find that one of the student-built greenhouses on the campus was stolen overnight on Jan. 11. (Artemis Place Society/Facebook)

Saanich school hopes to catch greenhouse thief red-handed

Student-built greenhouses stolen from Artemis Place Secondary on Jan. 11

Staff at Artemis Place Secondary were shocked to find that one of the student-built greenhouses on the campus was stolen overnight on Jan. 11. (Artemis Place Society/Facebook)
A fire sparked at an encampment between the Pat Bay Highway and McKenzie Avenue early Thursday morning left one man displaced. Jan. 14, 2021 (Devon Bidal/News Staff)
A fire sparked at an encampment between the Pat Bay Highway and McKenzie Avenue early Thursday morning left one man displaced. Jan. 14, 2021 (Devon Bidal/News Staff)
George Roberts, 95, published his second and third books of poetry amid the pandemic. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)

Saanich senior turned to poetry in 2020, published two books of limericks at 94 years old

George Roberts celebrated his 95th birthday on Dec. 31, 2020

George Roberts, 95, published his second and third books of poetry amid the pandemic. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)
(Left to right) Michelle, Matthew and Simon Gowing stand on their Ernest Avenue property in front of the pit where their house once stood. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)

Couple’s long battle with Saanich over a $300,000 storm drain ends with a win

Council approves rock pit drainage system instead of asking residents to buy municipal storm drain

(Left to right) Michelle, Matthew and Simon Gowing stand on their Ernest Avenue property in front of the pit where their house once stood. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)
Saanich Mayor Fred Haynes and Katie Blake, executive director of the Habitat Acquisition Trust, are calling on the community to help raise $1 million by April 22 to purchase the Mountain Road Forest and create a new regional park. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)

Saanich mayor, Habitat Acquisition Trust call on residents to help raise $1M for new regional park by Earth Day

100-day deadline set to secure CRD’s $3.4-million urban forest purchase

Saanich Mayor Fred Haynes and Katie Blake, executive director of the Habitat Acquisition Trust, are calling on the community to help raise $1 million by April 22 to purchase the Mountain Road Forest and create a new regional park. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)
(Black Press Media file photo)
(Black Press Media file photo)
Saanich police stopped a driver going more than 60 km/h over the posted speed limit on the Pat Bay Highway on Jan. 11. (Saanich Police Traffic Safety Unit/Twitter)

Driver caught going 144 km/h on Pat Bay Highway slapped with hefty fines

Vehicle impounded after driver caught speeding more than he thought

Saanich police stopped a driver going more than 60 km/h over the posted speed limit on the Pat Bay Highway on Jan. 11. (Saanich Police Traffic Safety Unit/Twitter)
Saanich’s 2020 fall leaf collection saw more than 9,000 cubic yards of mulched leaves collected between Oct. 26 and Jan. 5. (Black Press Media file photo)

Saanich collects, mulches more than 9,000 cubic yards of fallen foliage

District Public Works staff aim to end fall leaf collection program by Jan. 11

Saanich’s 2020 fall leaf collection saw more than 9,000 cubic yards of mulched leaves collected between Oct. 26 and Jan. 5. (Black Press Media file photo)
Saanich uses it’s dog licence registrations as a pup census to track the top names and breeds in the municipality. (Black Press Media file photo)

Max, Charlie and Molly among top names for Saanich pups in 2020

District’s dog licence registration tracks most popular names, breeds

Saanich uses it’s dog licence registrations as a pup census to track the top names and breeds in the municipality. (Black Press Media file photo)
(Left to right) Spectrum Community School Principal Bruce Bidney poses with two members of the U16AAA South Island Royals, Carter Dyck and Colby Robinson, after the team donated $1,200 to the school’s winter fundraiser. (Photo courtesy Bruce Bidney)

Spectrum Community School winter fundraiser generates $10K for families in need

High school shifts to monetary donations as COVID-19 puts damper on annual hamper drive

(Left to right) Spectrum Community School Principal Bruce Bidney poses with two members of the U16AAA South Island Royals, Carter Dyck and Colby Robinson, after the team donated $1,200 to the school’s winter fundraiser. (Photo courtesy Bruce Bidney)
Yolanda Meijer (left), CEO of Habitat for Humanity Victoria, and Sean Thompson, duty manager of the Saanich ReStore, are reminding the community that the ReStore donation centre on Oak Street is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)

Giving season extends into new year as Habitat for Humanity Victoria ReStores call for donations

Furniture, light fixtures, appliances among items accepted at Westshore and Uptown ReStores

Yolanda Meijer (left), CEO of Habitat for Humanity Victoria, and Sean Thompson, duty manager of the Saanich ReStore, are reminding the community that the ReStore donation centre on Oak Street is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)
Myla Bui (right) presented a handmade mobile made up of 1,001 paper cranes to Dez Young (left) on Saturday, Jan. 9. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)

PHOTOS: Young Saanich philanthropist raises $31,031 for sick kids, folds thousands of paper cranes

Sister of Leila Bui completes four mobiles with 1,001 cranes each, 27 still to be made

Myla Bui (right) presented a handmade mobile made up of 1,001 paper cranes to Dez Young (left) on Saturday, Jan. 9. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)
Walter Craveiro, who immigrated to Canada from Portugal as a teen and worked for the Saanich Police Department for 29 years, died at the age of 74 on Jan. 5. (Photo provided by Nico Craveiro)

Saanich police sergeant who survived ’80s car bomb explosion dies at 74

Walter Craveiro remembered as ‘remarkable man,’ who was always helping others

Walter Craveiro, who immigrated to Canada from Portugal as a teen and worked for the Saanich Police Department for 29 years, died at the age of 74 on Jan. 5. (Photo provided by Nico Craveiro)
Central Saanich police responded to reports of a drowning in Brentwood Bay on the morning of Jan. 8. The investigation has been taken over by the B.C. Coroners Service. (Google Maps)

One person dead after drowning near Brentwood Bay Ferry Terminal

B.C. Coroners Service investigating, Central Saanich police say incident not suspicious

Central Saanich police responded to reports of a drowning in Brentwood Bay on the morning of Jan. 8. The investigation has been taken over by the B.C. Coroners Service. (Google Maps)
A second boat washed ashore in Cadboro Bay this week following the Jan. 5 windstorm and was quickly removed from the beach the following day. (Photo courtesy Eric Dahli)

Second boat washes ashore in Cadboro Bay in less than a week

Residents work quickly to have vessels secured

A second boat washed ashore in Cadboro Bay this week following the Jan. 5 windstorm and was quickly removed from the beach the following day. (Photo courtesy Eric Dahli)
(Black Press Media file photo)

Greater Victoria politicians’ travel activities come under fire

‘Do as I say, not as I do, is the worst example of behaviour,’ says Saanich mayor

(Black Press Media file photo)
On Jan. 3, families with children who attend the Cloverdale Childcare facility at 3427A Quadra St. received an email informing them several members had tested positive for COVID-19. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)

Families warned of positive COVID-19 cases at Saanich daycare

Cloverdale Childcare facility closed Jan. 4, 5

On Jan. 3, families with children who attend the Cloverdale Childcare facility at 3427A Quadra St. received an email informing them several members had tested positive for COVID-19. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)
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