Jake Romphf

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The City of Victoria has adopted its missing middle housing initiative, which aims to boost the supply of multi-unit homes falling between single-family homes and apartments. (Courtesy of City of Victoria)

Victoria adopts its missing middle housing initiative in bid to retain residents

Aims to boost supply of multi-unit homes falling between single-family homes and apartments

The City of Victoria has adopted its missing middle housing initiative, which aims to boost the supply of multi-unit homes falling between single-family homes and apartments. (Courtesy of City of Victoria)
The College of Massage Therapists of B.C. has handed a 25-year ban to a Saanich massage therapist who secretly videoed women undressing. (Unsplash photo)

Former Saanich massage therapist receives 25-year ban for secretly recording women

Gilles-Phillipe Lavoie set up a cell phone to video his female patient disrobing

The College of Massage Therapists of B.C. has handed a 25-year ban to a Saanich massage therapist who secretly videoed women undressing. (Unsplash photo)
The CRD landfilled its Class A biosolids on more than 300 days in 2022 when its backup plans only envision doing so a max of 35 times annually. Its environmental services committee has chosen to recommend the CRD board approve continuing biosolid landfilling while other short-term solutions are considered. (Black Press Media file photo)

CRD landfilled almost nine times as much treated sewage as it’s supposed to in 2022

Directors defy staff on short-term contingency plan, will keep landfilling if board approves

The CRD landfilled its Class A biosolids on more than 300 days in 2022 when its backup plans only envision doing so a max of 35 times annually. Its environmental services committee has chosen to recommend the CRD board approve continuing biosolid landfilling while other short-term solutions are considered. (Black Press Media file photo)
RCMP major crimes superintendent Sanjaya Wijayakoom speaks during a press conference where the Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit released its investigation findings into the June 28, 2022, Saanich bank shootout. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)

Brothers aimed to kill police, didn’t expect to survive Saanich bank shootout

22-year-old Cowichan Valley brothers were killed in the June 2022 gunbattle outside BMO branch

RCMP major crimes superintendent Sanjaya Wijayakoom speaks during a press conference where the Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit released its investigation findings into the June 28, 2022, Saanich bank shootout. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)
The Victoria Police department will seek a 9.55 per cent increase to its budget in 2023, which would be a bump of just over $6 million. (Black Press Media file photo)

Victoria police board proposes 9.55% budget hike

Staff salaries, benefits make up majority of draft budget increase

The Victoria Police department will seek a 9.55 per cent increase to its budget in 2023, which would be a bump of just over $6 million. (Black Press Media file photo)
Kathryn Camfield is the general manager of The Makehouse, a Victoria sewing business that recently became employee-owned. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)

PHOTOS: The Makehouse threads community, creativity at Victoria sewing studio

The fabric shop and sewing lesson business recently became employee-owned

Kathryn Camfield is the general manager of The Makehouse, a Victoria sewing business that recently became employee-owned. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)
The Victoria area saw average adjusted housing prices rise by 2.3 per cent while Canada saw a 12 per cent decline from 2021 to 2022, the Canadian Real Estate Association said on Jan. 16. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)

Greater Victoria housing prices rise in 2022 despite Canada seeing a decline

Local real estate officials talk about region’s sales, supply and housing forecast

The Victoria area saw average adjusted housing prices rise by 2.3 per cent while Canada saw a 12 per cent decline from 2021 to 2022, the Canadian Real Estate Association said on Jan. 16. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)
The Trial Islands Ecological Reserve off Oak Bay was the first designated Key Biodiversity Area in all of Canada. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)

Greater Victoria’s Trial Islands, Fort Rodd touted as key biodiversity areas

South Island’s important ecological sites highlighted at UN’s biodiversity conference

The Trial Islands Ecological Reserve off Oak Bay was the first designated Key Biodiversity Area in all of Canada. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)
The Victoria Royals, donning special Lunar New Year jersey, beat the Kelowna Rockets on Jan. 14. The team has now won four of their last five games. (Courtesy of Victoria Royals)

Playoff spot in reach after Victoria Royals stay hot with weekend sweep

Local team beat Kelowna twice, could leapfrog them in Western Conference standings on Jan. 18

The Victoria Royals, donning special Lunar New Year jersey, beat the Kelowna Rockets on Jan. 14. The team has now won four of their last five games. (Courtesy of Victoria Royals)
Residents are invited to help deposit salmon carcasses in PKOLS’ Douglas Creek on Jan. 14. The public portion of the 2021 Salmon Carcass Transplant event was cancelled due to COVID-19 but the District workers, along with Darrell Wick, president of the Friends of Mount Douglas Park Society, ensured 120 salmon bodies still arrived in the creek. (Photo Courtesy Darrell Wick)

‘Simulating nature’: Saturday event in Saanich putting dead salmon into creek

Event starts at 10 a.m. on Saturday at PKOLS (Mount Douglas Park)

Residents are invited to help deposit salmon carcasses in PKOLS’ Douglas Creek on Jan. 14. The public portion of the 2021 Salmon Carcass Transplant event was cancelled due to COVID-19 but the District workers, along with Darrell Wick, president of the Friends of Mount Douglas Park Society, ensured 120 salmon bodies still arrived in the creek. (Photo Courtesy Darrell Wick)
Zachary Armitage was sentenced to life in jail on Jan. 11 for the first-degree murder of a 60-year-old Metchosin father in 2019. (Correctional Service of Canada/Facebook)

Second escaped inmate who murdered Metchosin man sentenced to life in jail

Family haunted by how Martin Payne’s last moments were marked by horror

Zachary Armitage was sentenced to life in jail on Jan. 11 for the first-degree murder of a 60-year-old Metchosin father in 2019. (Correctional Service of Canada/Facebook)
The City of Victoria will study a number of measures that relate to adding housing. (Black Press Media file photo)

‘We are on fire’: Victoria to study measures to ease housing crisis

A host of existing and new policies will be looked at before a report goes to council

The City of Victoria will study a number of measures that relate to adding housing. (Black Press Media file photo)
The Canada sign in Victoria’s Inner Harbour is pictured in early 2023. Canada accepted a record number of immigrants in 2022. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)

Immigration key to Greater Victoria’s economy as Canada set record in 2022

Quicker recognition of international credentials still needed, says Chamber of Commerce

The Canada sign in Victoria’s Inner Harbour is pictured in early 2023. Canada accepted a record number of immigrants in 2022. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)
A B.C. Supreme Court Judge gave a lesser sentence to a Fairy Creek protester after police moved and ran over $1,600 worth of the individual’s camping gear. (Contributed - BC RCMP)

Fairy Creek protester gets lesser sentence after $1,600 in camping gear crushed

Citizens have a right to expect property will be safeguarded, Supreme Court judge says

A B.C. Supreme Court Judge gave a lesser sentence to a Fairy Creek protester after police moved and ran over $1,600 worth of the individual’s camping gear. (Contributed - BC RCMP)
Condos and townhomes in the City of Victoria will have 2023 assessed values 13 per cent higher compared to 2022, with single-family homes coming in at an 8 per cent increase this year. (Courtesy of City of Victoria)

Victoria homeowners see increased property assessments this year

Esquimalt single-family homes surpass $1-million assessment

Condos and townhomes in the City of Victoria will have 2023 assessed values 13 per cent higher compared to 2022, with single-family homes coming in at an 8 per cent increase this year. (Courtesy of City of Victoria)
The Capital Regional District’s new wastewater treatment facility at McLoughlin Point in Esquimalt. The CRD is about to award the project completion funds as a two-year performance period wraps up in January. (CRD image)

CRD to pay bonus to wastewater plant builder despite smell complaints

Consultant says plant meets requirements, but CRD board reduces $1-million incentive by half

The Capital Regional District’s new wastewater treatment facility at McLoughlin Point in Esquimalt. The CRD is about to award the project completion funds as a two-year performance period wraps up in January. (CRD image)
Martin Payne was murdered in his Metchosin home on July 12, 2019. He’s remembered by family and friends for spreading joy, love and kindness to everyone he met. (Facebook/Martin Payne)

Loved ones remember joyous Metchosin man as his killer is sentenced

Martin Payne’s family say they’ll never recover from the thought of his traumatic final moments

Martin Payne was murdered in his Metchosin home on July 12, 2019. He’s remembered by family and friends for spreading joy, love and kindness to everyone he met. (Facebook/Martin Payne)
James Lee Busch and Zachary Armitage were charged with the first-degree murder of Martin Payne after the pair escaped William Head institution on July 7, 2019. (Correctional Service of Canada/Facebook)

Escaped inmate found guilty of first-degree murder of Metchosin man

But jury wasn’t told of fate of second escaped inmate in killing of Martin Payne

James Lee Busch and Zachary Armitage were charged with the first-degree murder of Martin Payne after the pair escaped William Head institution on July 7, 2019. (Correctional Service of Canada/Facebook)
The lawyer for one of two escaped William Head inmates said his client should be acquitted as he blamed a 2019 murder solely on Zachary Armitage. William Head Institution is shown through a security fence in Victoria, B.C., on Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2008. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Lam

Only one escaped inmate committed Metchosin murder, defence claims in closing remarks

James Lee Busch’s lawyer puts murder blame solely on Zachary Armitage

The lawyer for one of two escaped William Head inmates said his client should be acquitted as he blamed a 2019 murder solely on Zachary Armitage. William Head Institution is shown through a security fence in Victoria, B.C., on Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2008. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Lam
Metchosin man Martin Payne was discovered July 12, 2019. He was described by family as “exceptionally gentle” and “caring.” James Lee Busch and Zachary Armitage are charged with the first-degree murder of Payne. (Facebook/Martin Payne)

Crown says inmates worked together to murder Metchosin man

James Lee Busch and Zachary Armitage charged with first-degree murder of Martin Payne

Metchosin man Martin Payne was discovered July 12, 2019. He was described by family as “exceptionally gentle” and “caring.” James Lee Busch and Zachary Armitage are charged with the first-degree murder of Payne. (Facebook/Martin Payne)