Community

This fluffy feline was first reported missing about five years ago by his vet tech human. Now he’s headed for his orignal owner and a new home. (FLEC/Facebook)

Colwood cat found 5 years after going missing makes case for chip technology

Fluffy feline headed back to original owner and a new home in Ontario

This fluffy feline was first reported missing about five years ago by his vet tech human. Now he’s headed for his orignal owner and a new home. (FLEC/Facebook)
Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce board chair John Wilson (left), Destination Greater Victoria CEO Paul Nursey, Horticultural Centre of the Pacific general manager Deborah Donahue, chamber CEO Bruce Williams and Saanich Mayor Fred Haynes celebrate the start of the 2022 Greater Victoria Flower Count, happening March 9 to 16. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)

‘Let’s start counting those blooms’: Greater Victoria Flower Count launches this week

Saanich mayor, tourism and business reps stress annual event’s importance to economy

Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce board chair John Wilson (left), Destination Greater Victoria CEO Paul Nursey, Horticultural Centre of the Pacific general manager Deborah Donahue, chamber CEO Bruce Williams and Saanich Mayor Fred Haynes celebrate the start of the 2022 Greater Victoria Flower Count, happening March 9 to 16. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)
Canada Day celebrations return to the Sooke River Flats on July 1. (File - Sooke News Mirror)

Canada Day celebrations returning to Sooke

Canada Day celebrations will return to Sooke this year after a two-year…

Canada Day celebrations return to the Sooke River Flats on July 1. (File - Sooke News Mirror)
Harvey George with the model of a table seiner he carved for the Charters River Salmon Centre in 2012. He named the boat Agnews Rose for his grandmother Agnes George and Rose Dumont’s cousin. (Contributed - Jack Most)

Harvey George, master carver of fish boats, dies

T’Sou-ke Nation member also a fisher and logger

  • Mar 7, 2022
Harvey George with the model of a table seiner he carved for the Charters River Salmon Centre in 2012. He named the boat Agnews Rose for his grandmother Agnes George and Rose Dumont’s cousin. (Contributed - Jack Most)
Students from Panama are enjoying positive experiences learning English and more at Camosun College’s Lansdowne campus. (Photo courtesy of Camosun College)

Panamanian students enjoy transformative learning experience in Greater Victoria

Camosun College offers cultural learning opportunities for international students

Students from Panama are enjoying positive experiences learning English and more at Camosun College’s Lansdowne campus. (Photo courtesy of Camosun College)
Longtime friends Annette Quan, Brenda Yanchuk, and Connie Scheurer ham it up during the 2020 Hike for Hospice. The trio has participated since 2013 in honour of a passed colleague. (Courtesy of Victoria Hospice)

Actively celebrate missed loved ones May 1 when Hike for Hospice returns to Victoria

Walk centred at Fisherman’s Wharf supports patients, families in hospice circle of care

Longtime friends Annette Quan, Brenda Yanchuk, and Connie Scheurer ham it up during the 2020 Hike for Hospice. The trio has participated since 2013 in honour of a passed colleague. (Courtesy of Victoria Hospice)
Cooper (left) and Lucas Lidstone share a special brotherly moment. Lucas, a child with special needs, has been greatly helped by a program called Bear Essentials. (Photo courtesy of Laura Lidstone)

Pot of Gold raffle supports Vancouver Island kids with health challenges

Bear Essentials program bridging the gap for children with complex healthcare needs

Cooper (left) and Lucas Lidstone share a special brotherly moment. Lucas, a child with special needs, has been greatly helped by a program called Bear Essentials. (Photo courtesy of Laura Lidstone)
Oak Bay student Ella Hostad sorts donations gathered by her peers at Monterey Middle School ahead of packing bags of comfort to give out to people experiencing homelessness. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

VIDEO: Oak Bay students pack bags of comfort for those experiencing homelessness

Monterey community donates more than 100 packages to Our Place Society

Oak Bay student Ella Hostad sorts donations gathered by her peers at Monterey Middle School ahead of packing bags of comfort to give out to people experiencing homelessness. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
Special Olympics BC athlete Sheenagh Morrison and Victoria police Const. Dan Galano took a preliminary dip at Willows Beach before a previous Polar Plunge fundraiser event. The 2022 Polar Plunge remains virtual. (Courtesy of VicPD)

Victoria police team Royal Plungers makes a splash for Special Olympics BC

10 tips for taking the Polar Plunge that runs March 5 to 20

Special Olympics BC athlete Sheenagh Morrison and Victoria police Const. Dan Galano took a preliminary dip at Willows Beach before a previous Polar Plunge fundraiser event. The 2022 Polar Plunge remains virtual. (Courtesy of VicPD)
Vital Vittles opens its doors to the dining room on March 18. (File - Sooke News Mirror)

Vital Vittles reopens doors after pandemic

First meal served up on March 18

Vital Vittles opens its doors to the dining room on March 18. (File - Sooke News Mirror)
Mediterranean and Asian diets are among the best, writes Ron Cain. (File - Sooke News Mirror)

FITNESS: Intermittent fasting – to eat or not to eat

The only ‘diet’ that makes sense is an eating pattern that is part of a healthy lifestyle

  • Mar 4, 2022
Mediterranean and Asian diets are among the best, writes Ron Cain. (File - Sooke News Mirror)
Andrea Proske, who won Olympic rowing gold with Canada’s women’s coxed eight in Tokyo last summer, draws a crowd as she donates blood at Sidney’s Mary Winspear Centre. (Photo courtesy of Ann Chabert/ Canadian Blood Services)

Olympic medalist in Central Saanich hopes to inspire life-giving blood donations

Andrea Proske, who won rowing gold in Tokyo last July, recently donated in Sidney

Andrea Proske, who won Olympic rowing gold with Canada’s women’s coxed eight in Tokyo last summer, draws a crowd as she donates blood at Sidney’s Mary Winspear Centre. (Photo courtesy of Ann Chabert/ Canadian Blood Services)
Adopted into the family four years ago, Orion, an orange and white tabby with white paws with distinctive sunken eyes left home Feb. 16 and didn’t return to his home near Majestic Park. (Courtesy Florence Cougoulat)

Saanich couple calls in a dog to track missing beloved cat

Orion the tabby has a medical condition and needs daily medication

Adopted into the family four years ago, Orion, an orange and white tabby with white paws with distinctive sunken eyes left home Feb. 16 and didn’t return to his home near Majestic Park. (Courtesy Florence Cougoulat)
The 600-kilometre Wounded Warriors BC fundraiser and awareness campaign that started Feb. 27 on the North Island wraps Sunday in Victoria. (John Penner WWRBC photographer)

Wounded Warriors BC races for Victoria finish line to raise funds, awareness

600-kilometre relay finishes with finale March 6 in Market Square

The 600-kilometre Wounded Warriors BC fundraiser and awareness campaign that started Feb. 27 on the North Island wraps Sunday in Victoria. (John Penner WWRBC photographer)
The District of Sooke wants to thank volunteers with a recognition program. (File - Sooke News Mirror)

Sooke looks to establish volunteer recognition program

Aim is to acknowledge residents contributing to community through volunteer efforts

The District of Sooke wants to thank volunteers with a recognition program. (File - Sooke News Mirror)
A student uses Innovaton for Learning’s TutorMate software to improve their reading skills. Submitted photo/ Innovation for Learning

Island school first in province to adopt new early literacy program

Campbell River elementary has a tutor giving a leg up on reading to 20 K-1 students

A student uses Innovaton for Learning’s TutorMate software to improve their reading skills. Submitted photo/ Innovation for Learning
Catherine getting ready for the next round of chemo, with her three kids for support. (GoFundMe/Special to The News)

B.C. family in need of support after mother’s stage 4 breast cancer diagnosis

Seek funds to cover treatment and care for their three autism-diagnosed kids

Catherine getting ready for the next round of chemo, with her three kids for support. (GoFundMe/Special to The News)
The new library is for all ages. (Bailey Moreton - Sooke News Mirror)

PHOTOS: Sooke residents explore new library for first time

The new $7.5-million, circular venue had a soft opening on Feb. 21

The new library is for all ages. (Bailey Moreton - Sooke News Mirror)
Governor General award-winning author and Otter Point resident Darrel McLeod will be mentoring Cree author Joseph Kakwinokanasum as part of the Writer’s Trust of Canada’s Rising Stars program. (Contributed - Douglas & McIntyre)

Sooke writer mentors aspiring author

Darrel McLeod mentoring with Writer’s Trust

Governor General award-winning author and Otter Point resident Darrel McLeod will be mentoring Cree author Joseph Kakwinokanasum as part of the Writer’s Trust of Canada’s Rising Stars program. (Contributed - Douglas & McIntyre)
Cadboro Bay resident Gerald Graham shares videos of a recent grey whale visitor online in a bid to educate, learn more about the marine mammal. (Courtesy Gerald Graham)

VIDEO: Watch 14 clips of a grey whale at play near Victoria

Saanich resident brings land-based whale watching to the living room

Cadboro Bay resident Gerald Graham shares videos of a recent grey whale visitor online in a bid to educate, learn more about the marine mammal. (Courtesy Gerald Graham)