Don Descoteau

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Crew members from AstroTurf work on a section of new turf being installed on the Gorge Soccer Club field this week at Hampton Park in Saanich. The project took place over a number of days and sees the old turf recycled and used as infill for the new one. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)

Saanich soccer turf replacement project close to wrapping up

Hampton Park a beehive of activity of late

Crew members from AstroTurf work on a section of new turf being installed on the Gorge Soccer Club field this week at Hampton Park in Saanich. The project took place over a number of days and sees the old turf recycled and used as infill for the new one. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)
The topic of election signs rules came back to Saanich council after two years, with the result being a decision to reduce the maximum size and the amount of time they can be up on municipal property. (Black Press Media file photo)

Municipal election signs to shrink to address public complaints

Saanich limits sign size, time frame to 28 days before election day

The topic of election signs rules came back to Saanich council after two years, with the result being a decision to reduce the maximum size and the amount of time they can be up on municipal property. (Black Press Media file photo)
Offices, schools, homes and more offer protection in the event of an earthquake. The Great BC ShakeOut is slated for Oct. 15, but individuals and socially distanced groups can practice earthquake drills anytime. (Black Press media file photo)

Great BC ShakeOut takes a COVID-safe approach for 2020

Public encouraged to host socially distanced earthquake drills Oct. 15 or anytime

Offices, schools, homes and more offer protection in the event of an earthquake. The Great BC ShakeOut is slated for Oct. 15, but individuals and socially distanced groups can practice earthquake drills anytime. (Black Press media file photo)
The construction of garden suites in Saanich backyards is now officially legal in the District of Saanich. (Black Press Media file photo)

Garden suites get final approval from Saanich council

Backyard detached housing units expected to increase affordability options in the district

The construction of garden suites in Saanich backyards is now officially legal in the District of Saanich. (Black Press Media file photo)
This abandoned boat is one of several boats currently washed up on the shore in Cadboro Bay. The local residents’ association is part of a move to enlist the Capital Regional District’s help in remedying the problem. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)

Greater Victoria’s coastal communities take derelict boat issue to the CRD

Group looking for regional body to partner on regulation recommendations

This abandoned boat is one of several boats currently washed up on the shore in Cadboro Bay. The local residents’ association is part of a move to enlist the Capital Regional District’s help in remedying the problem. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)
Morning commuters inch along the Trans Canada Highway near the Helmcken Road overpass in View Royal. South Island transportation issues are among the focuses of a questionnaire sent by 11 local mayors to the three main party leaders and all regional candidates in the Oct. 24 provincial election. (Black Press Media file photo)

Greater Victoria mayors want concrete answers from party leaders, local candidates

Questions focus on child care; mental health, addictions and treatment, and transportation

Morning commuters inch along the Trans Canada Highway near the Helmcken Road overpass in View Royal. South Island transportation issues are among the focuses of a questionnaire sent by 11 local mayors to the three main party leaders and all regional candidates in the Oct. 24 provincial election. (Black Press Media file photo)
Island Outfitters staffer Megan White stocks the fishing lures section of the new store in View Royal. The outdoors retailer opens its new store this week, nine months after its previous store in Saanich was destroyed by fire. (Michelle Cabana/Black Press Media)

Outdoors store operators happy in new West Shore home

Island Outfitters opens the doors this week on Island Highway in View Royal

Island Outfitters staffer Megan White stocks the fishing lures section of the new store in View Royal. The outdoors retailer opens its new store this week, nine months after its previous store in Saanich was destroyed by fire. (Michelle Cabana/Black Press Media)
Wesbild’s plans to redevelop the University Heights Shopping Centre lands may be in jeopardy over anchor retail tenant Home Depot’s requests for a major expansion and cash compensation in exchange for allowing construction to occur on a portion of the site. (Photo courtesy Wesbild Holdings Ltd.)

All work stops on Saanich’s University Heights project while developer negotiates with Home Depot

Financial implications of retailer’s requests put $230-million mixed-use project in jeopardy

Wesbild’s plans to redevelop the University Heights Shopping Centre lands may be in jeopardy over anchor retail tenant Home Depot’s requests for a major expansion and cash compensation in exchange for allowing construction to occur on a portion of the site. (Photo courtesy Wesbild Holdings Ltd.)
A new report entitled Child Care in Victoria states that a shortage of more than 4,200 spaces exists in the region’s second-largest municipality. (B.C. government photo)

Victoria lacks more than 4,200 child care spaces within city: report

Eastern neighbourhoods face the largest child care shortages

A new report entitled Child Care in Victoria states that a shortage of more than 4,200 spaces exists in the region’s second-largest municipality. (B.C. government photo)
Pickleball action during the 2019 55+ B.C. Games in Kelowna. While the 2020 Games in Richmond were cancelled due to COVID-19, the Greater Victoria organizing committee has begun planning for hosting the 2021 competition next September. (Rosemary Kean/55+ BC Games Society)

Greater Victoria’s 55+ BC Games committee planning for safe 2021 competition

Richmond cancelled 2020 Games due to COVID, but local organizers optimistic about next year

Pickleball action during the 2019 55+ B.C. Games in Kelowna. While the 2020 Games in Richmond were cancelled due to COVID-19, the Greater Victoria organizing committee has begun planning for hosting the 2021 competition next September. (Rosemary Kean/55+ BC Games Society)
The City of Victoria recently opened protected two-way bike lanes on Harbour Road, linking the Galloping Goose Trail with the Johnson Street bridge. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)

Growth of Victoria’s bike lane network continues from downtown heart

City staff work toward a full buildout of 32-kilometre network by 2022

The City of Victoria recently opened protected two-way bike lanes on Harbour Road, linking the Galloping Goose Trail with the Johnson Street bridge. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)
Dotted line shows the border of property in the Cedar Hill neighbourhood donated to the District of Saanich from the estate of the late Brian Patriquin, whose residence at 1360 Queensbury St. has been the family home for three generations. (Photo courtesy District of Saanich)

Wetland property next to Saanich home donated for parkland through will

Brian Patriquin gained a love of nature and the environment spending time at Cedar Hill property

Dotted line shows the border of property in the Cedar Hill neighbourhood donated to the District of Saanich from the estate of the late Brian Patriquin, whose residence at 1360 Queensbury St. has been the family home for three generations. (Photo courtesy District of Saanich)
Oxford Foods, for decades a fixture in Victoria’s Cook Street Village neighbourhood, has been sold. The new owners, The Root Cellar Green Grocer, take over the space Dec. 1 and are expected to do a complete renovation of the building’s interior and exterior. (Don Descoteau/News staff)

Cook Street Village grocery icon closing, new owners plan major renovation

Louie family has operated Oxford Foods and predecessor for five decades at Cook and Oxford streets

Oxford Foods, for decades a fixture in Victoria’s Cook Street Village neighbourhood, has been sold. The new owners, The Root Cellar Green Grocer, take over the space Dec. 1 and are expected to do a complete renovation of the building’s interior and exterior. (Don Descoteau/News staff)
GMC Projects CEO Jordan Milne, left, and vice-president of development, Tonny Kiptoo flank a Lydia Beauregard art piece that will embrace future tenants of the Adelphi Block building in downtown Victoria. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)

Heritage revitalization project in downtown Victoria a labour of love for developers

The tiny Adelphi Block offers unique living spaces, urban lifestyle on busy Old Town corner

GMC Projects CEO Jordan Milne, left, and vice-president of development, Tonny Kiptoo flank a Lydia Beauregard art piece that will embrace future tenants of the Adelphi Block building in downtown Victoria. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)
Saanich councillor and Capital Regional District director Ned Taylor wants the CRD to consider expanding its engagement with and local government education opportunities for area youth. (Black Press Media file photo).

More engagement with youth could bring fresh ideas to CRD: Saanich councillor

Young politician provides a good example of youth leadership in the region

Saanich councillor and Capital Regional District director Ned Taylor wants the CRD to consider expanding its engagement with and local government education opportunities for area youth. (Black Press Media file photo).
Westview, one of the newest targeted apartment complexes opened by the Capital Regional District Housing Corporation, came in $700,000 under budget. That money can now be used for another project, possibly in Greater Victoria. (Derk Ford/crd.bc.ca)

Cost savings on CRD housing project in Saanich could be passed on to tenants

Affordable housing project on Carey Road came in $700,000 under budget

Westview, one of the newest targeted apartment complexes opened by the Capital Regional District Housing Corporation, came in $700,000 under budget. That money can now be used for another project, possibly in Greater Victoria. (Derk Ford/crd.bc.ca)
Rendering shows the concrete materials storage silo proposed for the new Trio Ready Mix waterfront plant in Rock Bay on the Gorge Waterway. On Thursday, Victoria councillors recommended sending the proposal to public hearing for more input. (Courtesy City of Victoria)

Victoria councillors like company’s light-covered waterfront silo idea

The public will have a chance to weigh in on Trio Ready Mix’s industrial waterway project soon

Rendering shows the concrete materials storage silo proposed for the new Trio Ready Mix waterfront plant in Rock Bay on the Gorge Waterway. On Thursday, Victoria councillors recommended sending the proposal to public hearing for more input. (Courtesy City of Victoria)
Rendering of the concrete materials storage silo and loading wharf proposed for the new Trio Ready Mix waterfront plant in Rock Bay on the Gorge Waterway. (Courtesy City of Victoria)

Proposal for 32-metre illuminated silo up for discussion in Victoria

Silo would form part of Trio Ready Mix’s environmentally friendly waterfront concrete plant

Rendering of the concrete materials storage silo and loading wharf proposed for the new Trio Ready Mix waterfront plant in Rock Bay on the Gorge Waterway. (Courtesy City of Victoria)
Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps hoped to find an alternative that could see Oak Bay Lodge used for short-term housing, but she found little support for the idea at a CRD hospital and housing committee meeting Wednesday. (Black Press Media file photo)

CRD committee rejects plea to revisit temporary shelter proposal for Oak Bay Lodge

Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps’ request to find creative way to make it work finds little support

Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps hoped to find an alternative that could see Oak Bay Lodge used for short-term housing, but she found little support for the idea at a CRD hospital and housing committee meeting Wednesday. (Black Press Media file photo)
Eagle Wing Tours is one of 33 commercial tenants of the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority whose April to August rent is being retroactively reduced to 25 per cent of normal, thanks to federal emergency funding. (Black Press Media file photo)

Federal rent help eases COVID sting for Victoria’s commercial waterfront businesses

Greater Victoria Harbour Authority played key role in securing emergency funding

Eagle Wing Tours is one of 33 commercial tenants of the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority whose April to August rent is being retroactively reduced to 25 per cent of normal, thanks to federal emergency funding. (Black Press Media file photo)