Don Descoteau

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A peacock struts by a pair of lamb siblings at the Beacon Hill Children’s Farm, which remains closed to the public. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)

VIDEO: Victoria petting zoo optimistic about future after 13 months closed

Public helps non-profit Beacon Hill Children’s Farm with nearly $100,000 influx

A peacock struts by a pair of lamb siblings at the Beacon Hill Children’s Farm, which remains closed to the public. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)
Capital Regional District headquarters entrance on Fisgard Street in Victoria. (Black Press Media file photo)

Greater Victoria regional services get a $575,000 boost from Safe Restart Grant

CRD allocates latest grants to help service areas affected by pandemic challenges

Capital Regional District headquarters entrance on Fisgard Street in Victoria. (Black Press Media file photo)
Father Marinaldo Batista, who served at Catholic parishes in Saanich and Sooke, died April 1 in Brazil from complications of COVID-19. (Facebook/St. Elizabeth Church)

Brazilian priest who served in Saanich and Sooke dies from COVID-19

Father Marinaldo Batista, 53, went to Brazil to visit his parents and died there April 1

Father Marinaldo Batista, who served at Catholic parishes in Saanich and Sooke, died April 1 in Brazil from complications of COVID-19. (Facebook/St. Elizabeth Church)
A rider crosses a “skinny” on the newly opened trail known as 90s Jank, built within the Hartland system by volunteers with the South Island Mountain Bike Society. (Youtube/MTB Matt)

Mountain bikers celebrate first new trail in years on Saanich’s Mount Work

90s Jank trail a product of licence agreement between CRD and mountain bike society

A rider crosses a “skinny” on the newly opened trail known as 90s Jank, built within the Hartland system by volunteers with the South Island Mountain Bike Society. (Youtube/MTB Matt)
The hiring of out-of-province workers by the Canadian Red Cross to staff the vaccination centre in Langford has raised eyebrows. (Black Press Media file photo)

Red Cross hires out-of-province workers to staff Langford vaccination centre

Staffer worries local jobs weren’t offered to local people

The hiring of out-of-province workers by the Canadian Red Cross to staff the vaccination centre in Langford has raised eyebrows. (Black Press Media file photo)
The Capital Regional Hospital District has approved awarding a tender to QM Environmental for the demolition and hazardous materials disposal of the Oak Bay Lodge. (Black Press Media File)

Winning bidder approved for Oak Bay Lodge demolition

Capital Regional Hospital District board approves $4.266 million budget for project

The Capital Regional Hospital District has approved awarding a tender to QM Environmental for the demolition and hazardous materials disposal of the Oak Bay Lodge. (Black Press Media File)
Victoria’s property tax policy for 2021 will save business owners a little money. (Jane Skrypnek/News Staff)

Victoria gives businesses a tax break for 2021

Council decreases tax burden to support pandemic-hit merchants

Victoria’s property tax policy for 2021 will save business owners a little money. (Jane Skrypnek/News Staff)
Rendering of the floating market space that is part of one of the two proposals for the Turkey Head and Oak Bay Marina properties. (Courtesy District of Oak Bay)

Oak Bay Marina questionnaire nets hundreds of responses

Mayor Kevin Murdoch impressed by the quality, quantity of input on two proposals

Rendering of the floating market space that is part of one of the two proposals for the Turkey Head and Oak Bay Marina properties. (Courtesy District of Oak Bay)
Police escorts for Victoria bylaw workers entering encampments in parks will continue for this month, after council approved a $25,000 budget request from VicPD. (Black Press Media file photo)

Victoria bylaw staff encampment work to include police escort through April

Taxpayers to see modest increase in property taxes for 2021

Police escorts for Victoria bylaw workers entering encampments in parks will continue for this month, after council approved a $25,000 budget request from VicPD. (Black Press Media file photo)
Esquimalt is working on a new bylaw that would legalize detached accessory suites on residential properties. (Black Press Media file photo)

Esquimalt moves along path of legalizing detached suites

More than 1,400 properties could be eligible for backyard dwellings

Esquimalt is working on a new bylaw that would legalize detached accessory suites on residential properties. (Black Press Media file photo)
The Latoria South section of the Royal Bay development in Colwood could include a new long-term care facility. (Black Press Media file photo)

Colwood’s Royal Bay could be home to new long-term care facilities

Capital Regional Hospital District board approves $8M land purchase for purpose

The Latoria South section of the Royal Bay development in Colwood could include a new long-term care facility. (Black Press Media file photo)
Supporter Gordy Dodd cheers on HeroWork Victoria executive director Trevor Botkin, who will be in a lift for 36 hours beside Dodd’s Furniture and Mattress on April 16 and 17 to raise funds for the organization’s next project, a makeover of the Salvation Army’s Addiction and Rehabilitation Centre on Johnson Street. (Courtesy HeroWork Victoria)

HeroWork Victoria tackles makeover of Salvation Army rehab centre

Executive director to spend 36 hours living in a lift as fundraiser

Supporter Gordy Dodd cheers on HeroWork Victoria executive director Trevor Botkin, who will be in a lift for 36 hours beside Dodd’s Furniture and Mattress on April 16 and 17 to raise funds for the organization’s next project, a makeover of the Salvation Army’s Addiction and Rehabilitation Centre on Johnson Street. (Courtesy HeroWork Victoria)
New programs and services aimed at helping the unhoused find shelter or housing in Victoria, and to take advantage of support services of various kinds, could be funded if a City of Victoria grant application is successful. (Black Press Media file photo)

Victoria seeks $3M to $4M in grant funds to enhance community services for unhoused population

Various supports, services for unhoused population part of broad-based funding application

New programs and services aimed at helping the unhoused find shelter or housing in Victoria, and to take advantage of support services of various kinds, could be funded if a City of Victoria grant application is successful. (Black Press Media file photo)
Paramedic Matthew Schlatter of Victoria is living a fuller life today due to the double lung transplant he received in 2019. He encourages B.C. residents to register as an organ donor and let their families know their wishes. (Instagram/Matthew Schlatter)

Victoria man living a full, active life after double lung transplant

Matt Schlatter encourages people to register as an organ donor to help others live

Paramedic Matthew Schlatter of Victoria is living a fuller life today due to the double lung transplant he received in 2019. He encourages B.C. residents to register as an organ donor and let their families know their wishes. (Instagram/Matthew Schlatter)
Sign outside the currently closed McPherson Playhouse in Victoria. The Capital Regional District wants to determine how a regional performing arts venue service would operate and benefit current and future facilities in the CRD. (Black Press Media file photo)

Form, function of new Greater Victoria arts venue service to be determined

Majority at CRD board can approve select committee, final approval of service needs unanimous vote

Sign outside the currently closed McPherson Playhouse in Victoria. The Capital Regional District wants to determine how a regional performing arts venue service would operate and benefit current and future facilities in the CRD. (Black Press Media file photo)
Oak Bay is funding projected revenue shortfalls in its parks, recreation and culture department with the government COVID-19 restart grant. (Photo courtesy Oak Bay Parks, Recreation and Culture)

Oak Bay parks, recreation, culture shortfall covered by COVID-19 restart grant

Budget projects a 6.49 % property tax increase for 2021

Oak Bay is funding projected revenue shortfalls in its parks, recreation and culture department with the government COVID-19 restart grant. (Photo courtesy Oak Bay Parks, Recreation and Culture)
Lorne Carnes, a member at the Canadian Pacific Lawn Bowling Club in Victoria, says new members are always welcome at this club and others around the region. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)

Lawn bowling pitched as a safe pandemic activity for Greater Victoria residents

Clubs in Victoria, Saanich, Oak Bay and more welcome new members

Lorne Carnes, a member at the Canadian Pacific Lawn Bowling Club in Victoria, says new members are always welcome at this club and others around the region. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)
Rogers telecommunications equipment atop the former Oak Bay Lodge will be replaced temporarily by a 22-metre monopole tower based where the gazebo currently sits. (Black Press Media file photo)

Telecom tower at Oak Bay Lodge raises questions at council

Rogers equipment would replace rooftop antenna structure after lodge demolition

Rogers telecommunications equipment atop the former Oak Bay Lodge will be replaced temporarily by a 22-metre monopole tower based where the gazebo currently sits. (Black Press Media file photo)
Victoria mural artists Joshua Lundrigan (from left) and Paul Archer join Rob Chyzowski, co-owner of Belleville’s Watering Hole and Diner in front of an Archer-designed mural that went up on Thursday at the Inner Harbour restaurant. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)

Positivity rules with new outdoor mural from Victoria artist

Paul Archer teams with Belleville’s Watering Hole and Diner for patio project

Victoria mural artists Joshua Lundrigan (from left) and Paul Archer join Rob Chyzowski, co-owner of Belleville’s Watering Hole and Diner in front of an Archer-designed mural that went up on Thursday at the Inner Harbour restaurant. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)
Willows Beach, which is also known as Sitchanalth, is one of many points in Oak Bay that have traditional Indigenous names. A plan to work with the Songhees and Esquimalt nations to add Lekwungen place names to frequently visited areas around the municipality was approved by Oak Bay council on Monday. (Black Press Media file photo)

Oak Bay looks to add Lekwungen place names

District will take guidance from Songhees, Esquimalt for potential place names

Willows Beach, which is also known as Sitchanalth, is one of many points in Oak Bay that have traditional Indigenous names. A plan to work with the Songhees and Esquimalt nations to add Lekwungen place names to frequently visited areas around the municipality was approved by Oak Bay council on Monday. (Black Press Media file photo)