Community

Olympic gold medalist Andrea Proske is sharing her story of determination and resiliency to help inspire others to greater things. (Photo by Kevin Light Photography)

Central Saanich’s Andrea Proske shares unusual gold medal trajectory as inspiration for others

Olympic gold medal rower has put down roots on the Saanich Peninsula

Olympic gold medalist Andrea Proske is sharing her story of determination and resiliency to help inspire others to greater things. (Photo by Kevin Light Photography)
UVic president Kevin Hall, left, Elder Skip Dick and Camosun College president Lane Trotter gather during the March 2 paddle gifting ceremony. (Courtesy of Camosun College)

Greater Victoria post-secondary schools mark 50 years with Indigenous paddle ceremony

UVic, Camosun celebrate relationship and shared goals for Indigenous education

UVic president Kevin Hall, left, Elder Skip Dick and Camosun College president Lane Trotter gather during the March 2 paddle gifting ceremony. (Courtesy of Camosun College)
Bear wearing a life jacket to get ready for a kayak ride (Kris Stewart)

The cat comes back: Kelowna woman cloning pet

About $50,000 to clone adventurous cat

Bear wearing a life jacket to get ready for a kayak ride (Kris Stewart)
James Coates, bike education coordinator, displays two of the balance bikes available at Capital Bike’s new lending library. (Jane Skrypnek/News Staff)

‘Breaking down barriers’: New Victoria lending library offers kids bikes, not books

Bikes for kids aged two to four currently available, with more options coming soon

James Coates, bike education coordinator, displays two of the balance bikes available at Capital Bike’s new lending library. (Jane Skrypnek/News Staff)
Jazzercise instructor Mandy Webb (left) poses with daughter Sam Wilkinson after leading her last class on Feb. 28. (Courtesy of Mandy Webb)

Metchosin dance fitness leader takes final bow

Jazzercise instructor Mandy Webb led her groups for 18 years

Jazzercise instructor Mandy Webb (left) poses with daughter Sam Wilkinson after leading her last class on Feb. 28. (Courtesy of Mandy Webb)
Cloth Castle owner Sylvia Ratcliffe and floor manager Natasha Cloutier show off the stack of donations bound for a children’s medical and trauma centre on the border between Poland and Ukraine. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

Donations pile up in Langford business to help fleeing Ukrainians

Container filled with supplies heading to children’s medical centre in Poland

Cloth Castle owner Sylvia Ratcliffe and floor manager Natasha Cloutier show off the stack of donations bound for a children’s medical and trauma centre on the border between Poland and Ukraine. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
Mayor Bob Day moonlights as a jr B hockey announcer for the Lake Cowichan Kraken. (Kevin Rothbauer/Gazette)

Kraken gig all in a Day’s work for Lake Cowichan mayor

Bob Day the play-by-play voice of jr. B hockey team

Mayor Bob Day moonlights as a jr B hockey announcer for the Lake Cowichan Kraken. (Kevin Rothbauer/Gazette)
Patrons and vendors enjoy the Sooke Night Market in this file photo from 2018. The market will start on June 2 this year. (Sooke News Mirror File Photo)

Sooke set for suite of summer events

Some details are still to be confirmed, but a number of annual events returning

Patrons and vendors enjoy the Sooke Night Market in this file photo from 2018. The market will start on June 2 this year. (Sooke News Mirror File Photo)
A climber scales a rock wall in the Sooke Potholes Regional Park, the management of which falls under the Regional Parks Strategic Plan. (Photo by TJ Watt)

CRD seeks Greater Victoria, Gulf Islands residents’ input on proposed parks plan

Previous plan called for biodiversity protection, increased trail connections around CRD

A climber scales a rock wall in the Sooke Potholes Regional Park, the management of which falls under the Regional Parks Strategic Plan. (Photo by TJ Watt)
Pauline Finn, executive director of the Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea in Sidney, worked for almost 15 years for Science World British Columbia before coming to Sidney in 2018. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Calm, people-focused leadership guides Sidney’s Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea

Executive director Pauline Finn at the helm of marine-based centre since 2018

Pauline Finn, executive director of the Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea in Sidney, worked for almost 15 years for Science World British Columbia before coming to Sidney in 2018. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
One of Sooke’s former library locations on Sooke Road. Sooke’s newest library, which opens officially on March 26 is located at Waddams Way. (Sooke Region Museum)

HISTORY: Sooke’s first library started in a bookmobile

Community has hosted library in five different locations

  • Mar 10, 2022
One of Sooke’s former library locations on Sooke Road. Sooke’s newest library, which opens officially on March 26 is located at Waddams Way. (Sooke Region Museum)
Lynda Dowling in her field at Happy Valley Lavender Farm. Dowling began her love and adventures with lavender in 1987. (Contributed - Sooke News Mirror)

SOOKE GARDEN CLUB: Cultivating lavender is a gardener’s dream

Lavender farmer Lynda Dowling guest speaker at next Sooke Garden Club meeting

  • Mar 10, 2022
Lynda Dowling in her field at Happy Valley Lavender Farm. Dowling began her love and adventures with lavender in 1987. (Contributed - Sooke News Mirror)
Tara Munro’s counselling business has been expanding by adding more in-person and online counsellors. (Contributed - Tara Munro)

Sooke counselling centre expanding to meet community needs

Tara Munro said she wasn’t able to keep up with community’s needs on her own

Tara Munro’s counselling business has been expanding by adding more in-person and online counsellors. (Contributed - Tara Munro)
Michele Holmes, realtor and owner of Holmes Realty, joins treasurer Caroline Paterson and co-founder Dr. Mitra Hashemi of the ORCCA Dental Clinic Society, outside Coast Dental Care. The society offers affordable dental care for children and adolescents under 19 for low-income families on the Saanich Peninsula. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Sidney entrepreneurs help fill service gap by supporting affordable dental care

ORCCA helps Saanich Peninsula families in need make oral care part of their routines

Michele Holmes, realtor and owner of Holmes Realty, joins treasurer Caroline Paterson and co-founder Dr. Mitra Hashemi of the ORCCA Dental Clinic Society, outside Coast Dental Care. The society offers affordable dental care for children and adolescents under 19 for low-income families on the Saanich Peninsula. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Langford Mayor Stew Young (right) and Coun. Matt Sahlstrom try out the new and improved play structure at Ernhill Park following its official reopening. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

Transformed Ernhill Park reopens in Langford

It’s the first of a few parks targetted for upgrades or new builds this year

Langford Mayor Stew Young (right) and Coun. Matt Sahlstrom try out the new and improved play structure at Ernhill Park following its official reopening. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
The concrete pour on Sooke’s new multi-sport box begins March 14. (District of Sooke)

Work resumes on multi-sport box

$1.3-million project delayed due to weather, pandemic

The concrete pour on Sooke’s new multi-sport box begins March 14. (District of Sooke)
Canadian Tire store owners were recognized in November for their overall contribution of $1 million to the cardiac unit at Royal Jubilee Hospital since 2003. In 2021, $79,000 was raised as part of a renewed 10-year commitment. (Black Press Media file photo)

Greater Victoria Fix-a-Heart campaign rallies community to bring in $79,000

2021 proceeds to help purchase echocardiography ultrasound unit for Royal Jubilee Hospital

Canadian Tire store owners were recognized in November for their overall contribution of $1 million to the cardiac unit at Royal Jubilee Hospital since 2003. In 2021, $79,000 was raised as part of a renewed 10-year commitment. (Black Press Media file photo)
Members of Langford Fire Rescue, including former fire chief Bob Beckett (second from right) in Afghanistan in 2004. (Courtesy of Langford Fire Rescue)

Langford humanitarians working to help Afghan firefighters, families stay alive

Former fire chief Bob Beckett working to help colleagues in Afghanistan

Members of Langford Fire Rescue, including former fire chief Bob Beckett (second from right) in Afghanistan in 2004. (Courtesy of Langford Fire Rescue)
Improvements in the near future aim to make Victoria riders feel more secure about locking their bikes up downtown. (Black Press Media file photo)

Bike parking improvements expected to roll out in downtown Victoria soon

City set to roll out several initiatives to help riders lock up bikes securely

Improvements in the near future aim to make Victoria riders feel more secure about locking their bikes up downtown. (Black Press Media file photo)
The Goldstream Food Bank received a large donation of feminine hygiene products and more than $6,500 in cash on Tuesday (March 8) thanks to a spur of the moment initiative by City of Langford staff and local businesspeople. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

Goldstream Food Bank thrilled by spontaneous donation from Langford staff, others

More than $6,500 and much-needed feminine hygiene supplies donated on International Women’s Day

The Goldstream Food Bank received a large donation of feminine hygiene products and more than $6,500 in cash on Tuesday (March 8) thanks to a spur of the moment initiative by City of Langford staff and local businesspeople. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)