Don Descoteau

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Standardized foundation skills assessment tests in B.C. schools will be going ahead later than usual, from Feb. 16 to March 12 for students in Grades 4 and 7. (Black Press Media file photo)

COVID-affected school year perfect time to end standardized tests: Greater Victoria teacher union

Foundational skills testing of Grade 4 and 7 students planned for February ad March

Standardized foundation skills assessment tests in B.C. schools will be going ahead later than usual, from Feb. 16 to March 12 for students in Grades 4 and 7. (Black Press Media file photo)
Rendering shows murals decorating the proposed tiny home community in the Caledonia/Vancouver street parking lot next to Royal Athletic Park. (Courtesy Aryze Developments)

Tiny homes project on Victoria parking lot gets boost from council

Shipping container neighbourhood stems from Aryze Development idea

Rendering shows murals decorating the proposed tiny home community in the Caledonia/Vancouver street parking lot next to Royal Athletic Park. (Courtesy Aryze Developments)
Air conditioning units atop The Summit at Quadra Village have been the source of a hum that made life at home miserable in summer for some nearby residents. The Capital Regional Hospital Board is investing in more technology to help remedy the problem. (Photo dHK Architects)

Work to resolve The Summit hum in Victoria continues through winter

Neighbours of Hillside Avenue care facility won’t know until spring whether solutions work

Air conditioning units atop The Summit at Quadra Village have been the source of a hum that made life at home miserable in summer for some nearby residents. The Capital Regional Hospital Board is investing in more technology to help remedy the problem. (Photo dHK Architects)
Idle tour buses lined up at Ogden Point on a sunny afternoon at the Victoria waterfront. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)

B.C. motor coach industry at the breaking point, says Victoria operator

John Wilson wants province to know bus companies are critical to B.C.’s tourism economy

Idle tour buses lined up at Ogden Point on a sunny afternoon at the Victoria waterfront. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)
The 13th annual Cool Aid Coat Drive, on through Jan. 15, 2021, seeks donations of warm clothing items for passing along to people in need. (Courtesy Victoria Cool Aid Society)

Cool Aid coat drive keeps Victoria’s vulnerable residents warmer

Donate your unused coats, jackets, gloves, mittens and sweaters by Jan. 15

The 13th annual Cool Aid Coat Drive, on through Jan. 15, 2021, seeks donations of warm clothing items for passing along to people in need. (Courtesy Victoria Cool Aid Society)
The Juan de Fuca pool opens up again Jan. 20, after being closed since last March due to ongoing public health restrictions due to the pandemic. (West Shore Parks and Recreation)

Juan de Fuca pool to reopen in Colwood after 10-month shutdown for COVID

West Shore Parks and Recreation using federal/provincial restart funding to reopen facility

The Juan de Fuca pool opens up again Jan. 20, after being closed since last March due to ongoing public health restrictions due to the pandemic. (West Shore Parks and Recreation)
Nominations are open for the 2021 Greater Victoria Business Awards, hosted by the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce. (Courtesy The Chamber)

Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce kicks off 2021 award season

John Espley named Chamber Member of the Year, business category nominations open through Jan. 25

Nominations are open for the 2021 Greater Victoria Business Awards, hosted by the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce. (Courtesy The Chamber)
Discarded construction materials make up nearly 40 per cent of all materials sent to the landfill from sources in the city of Victoria. The Zero Waste Victoria program aims to reduce the total of these and other materials going to Hartland Landfill. (Zero Waste Victoria)

City of Victoria on the road to zero waste

Long-term plan aims to cut landfilled waste from city sources by 50 per cent in 20 years

Discarded construction materials make up nearly 40 per cent of all materials sent to the landfill from sources in the city of Victoria. The Zero Waste Victoria program aims to reduce the total of these and other materials going to Hartland Landfill. (Zero Waste Victoria)
The Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria’s Tools for Equity received $30,000 from the City of Victoria to do a bystander intervention training program, in the latest round of participatory budgeting. Twenty-six project applications were voted on by the public and seven received funding. (ICA Greater Victoria)

Residents give green light to seven projects funded by City of Victoria

Latest round of participatory budgeting sees $50,000 awarded for newcomer initiatives

The Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria’s Tools for Equity received $30,000 from the City of Victoria to do a bystander intervention training program, in the latest round of participatory budgeting. Twenty-six project applications were voted on by the public and seven received funding. (ICA Greater Victoria)
View Royal residents and local history fans can find the late Maureen Duffus’ book, Craigflower Country, An illustrated history of View Royal 1850-1950, at the town hall. (maureenduffus.com)

Town hopes to rekindle interest in View Royal history

Craigflower Country talks about the area’s past to 1950

View Royal residents and local history fans can find the late Maureen Duffus’ book, Craigflower Country, An illustrated history of View Royal 1850-1950, at the town hall. (maureenduffus.com)
Victoria Royals winger Keanu Derungs will suit up for team Switzerland at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championships in Edmonton this holiday season. (Kevin Light/Courtesy Victoria Royals)

Victoria Royals winger wearing the red and white of Switzerland at world juniors

Keanu Derungs looks to help his country medal for just the second time in seasonal hockey favourite

Victoria Royals winger Keanu Derungs will suit up for team Switzerland at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championships in Edmonton this holiday season. (Kevin Light/Courtesy Victoria Royals)
Santa Claus made an appearance at the recent Christmas hamper night in Esquimalt. (Photo by Terry Hopkins)

Visit from Santa adds excitement to hamper night in Esquimalt

Celebration of Lights volunteers and others assemble, hand out Christmas groceries

Santa Claus made an appearance at the recent Christmas hamper night in Esquimalt. (Photo by Terry Hopkins)
Being prepared for snowy or slippery driving conditions on the Malahat is the responsibility of drivers. (Facebook/Milaine Berard)

Being proactive when snow hits can help avoid messes on the Malahat

Road maintenance crew boss says setting up tire check stations earlier would have helped Monday

Being prepared for snowy or slippery driving conditions on the Malahat is the responsibility of drivers. (Facebook/Milaine Berard)
Greater Victoria magician Jason Verners is performing an online show Jan. 5, using a new high-tech format. (Courtesy Jason Verners)

Virtual magic takes Victoria’s Verners to the next level

Interactive Jan. 5 show via Moment House aims to stretch beyond typical streaming platform

Greater Victoria magician Jason Verners is performing an online show Jan. 5, using a new high-tech format. (Courtesy Jason Verners)
The Northstar Organics team takes a break during the growing season in Saanichton. The South Island FarmHub program has enhanced the notion of food security and connected residents with their local farms. (Courtesy CR FAIR)

Fresh regional produce available for Christmas in Victoria

South Island FarmHub helps maintain connection between local farmers and consumers

The Northstar Organics team takes a break during the growing season in Saanichton. The South Island FarmHub program has enhanced the notion of food security and connected residents with their local farms. (Courtesy CR FAIR)
(Black Press Media file photo)

Greater Victoria tries again on regional transportation strategy

CRD board requests priority list to improve people-moving, reduce emissions in region

(Black Press Media file photo)
Rendering of the turf fields proposed to be constructed next to Spectrum Community School, a project spearheaded by the Vancouver Island Soccer League (VISL) and the Greater Victoria School District. (Courtesy VISL)

Spectrum turf project built around Greater Victoria partnerships

Vancouver Island Soccer League sees twin fields as a new home for association

Rendering of the turf fields proposed to be constructed next to Spectrum Community School, a project spearheaded by the Vancouver Island Soccer League (VISL) and the Greater Victoria School District. (Courtesy VISL)
The development proposed for the corner of Cook and Pendergast streets in Cook Street Village will be reconsidered by Victoria council in January, but not before potential changes are made to how the project or developer would create housing affordability. (Courtesy City of Victoria)

Cook Street Village project back on table, after Victoria mayor invokes Community Charter

Council to revisit development in January with affordability issues addressed

The development proposed for the corner of Cook and Pendergast streets in Cook Street Village will be reconsidered by Victoria council in January, but not before potential changes are made to how the project or developer would create housing affordability. (Courtesy City of Victoria)
Volunteers Denny Byrne and Shelley Bloomfield help organize donations during a previous BC Transit Stuff the Bus charity event. This year’s event, featuring COVID safety measures, happens Dec. 19 outside Save-On-Foods at Tillicum Centre. (Black Press Media file photo)

Safety measures ready to roll for BC Transit’s Stuff the Bus in Saanich

Non-perishable food items and new unwrapped toys accepted at Tillicum Mall on Dec. 19

Volunteers Denny Byrne and Shelley Bloomfield help organize donations during a previous BC Transit Stuff the Bus charity event. This year’s event, featuring COVID safety measures, happens Dec. 19 outside Save-On-Foods at Tillicum Centre. (Black Press Media file photo)
Cruise ships at Ogden Point tower above pedestrians and scuba divers walking along the breakwater. The Greater Victoria Harbour Authority, which manages the facilities, plans to install shore power in future as a way to reduce the ships’ emissions while in port. (Black Press Media file photo)

Greater Victoria Harbour Authority planning for greener future

Decision to pursue shore power a step toward significantly reducing cruise ship emissions

Cruise ships at Ogden Point tower above pedestrians and scuba divers walking along the breakwater. The Greater Victoria Harbour Authority, which manages the facilities, plans to install shore power in future as a way to reduce the ships’ emissions while in port. (Black Press Media file photo)