Community

Saanich’s 2020 fall leaf collection saw more than 9,000 cubic yards of mulched leaves collected between Oct. 26 and Jan. 5. (Black Press Media file photo)

Saanich collects, mulches more than 9,000 cubic yards of fallen foliage

District Public Works staff aim to end fall leaf collection program by Jan. 11

Saanich’s 2020 fall leaf collection saw more than 9,000 cubic yards of mulched leaves collected between Oct. 26 and Jan. 5. (Black Press Media file photo)
John Scheeren died at 64 following a workplace incident. Scheeren oversaw several of the region’s biggest construction projects, including the new Oak Bay High School and several projects on Skirt Mountain. (Courtesy of Rob Scheeren)

Longtime Greater Victoria construction supervisor remembered for hard work, love of trades

John Scheeren died at 64 following a workplace accident

John Scheeren died at 64 following a workplace incident. Scheeren oversaw several of the region’s biggest construction projects, including the new Oak Bay High School and several projects on Skirt Mountain. (Courtesy of Rob Scheeren)
Saanich uses it’s dog licence registrations as a pup census to track the top names and breeds in the municipality. (Black Press Media file photo)

Max, Charlie and Molly among top names for Saanich pups in 2020

District’s dog licence registration tracks most popular names, breeds

Saanich uses it’s dog licence registrations as a pup census to track the top names and breeds in the municipality. (Black Press Media file photo)
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(Left to right) Spectrum Community School Principal Bruce Bidney poses with two members of the U16AAA South Island Royals, Carter Dyck and Colby Robinson, after the team donated $1,200 to the school’s winter fundraiser. (Photo courtesy Bruce Bidney)

Spectrum Community School winter fundraiser generates $10K for families in need

High school shifts to monetary donations as COVID-19 puts damper on annual hamper drive

(Left to right) Spectrum Community School Principal Bruce Bidney poses with two members of the U16AAA South Island Royals, Carter Dyck and Colby Robinson, after the team donated $1,200 to the school’s winter fundraiser. (Photo courtesy Bruce Bidney)
Yolanda Meijer (left), CEO of Habitat for Humanity Victoria, and Sean Thompson, duty manager of the Saanich ReStore, are reminding the community that the ReStore donation centre on Oak Street is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)

Giving season extends into new year as Habitat for Humanity Victoria ReStores call for donations

Furniture, light fixtures, appliances among items accepted at Westshore and Uptown ReStores

Yolanda Meijer (left), CEO of Habitat for Humanity Victoria, and Sean Thompson, duty manager of the Saanich ReStore, are reminding the community that the ReStore donation centre on Oak Street is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)
Lizanne Chicanot, Parkland Secondary School principal (second from left), here seen with prospective IB students in 2018, says the program offers “education with a purpose.” (Black Press Media File)

International Baccalaureate at North Saanich school offers ‘education with a purpose’

Parkland Secondary School to host virtual info session on Jan. 13

Lizanne Chicanot, Parkland Secondary School principal (second from left), here seen with prospective IB students in 2018, says the program offers “education with a purpose.” (Black Press Media File)
Myla Bui (right) presented a handmade mobile made up of 1,001 paper cranes to Dez Young (left) on Saturday, Jan. 9. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)

PHOTOS: Young Saanich philanthropist raises $31,031 for sick kids, folds thousands of paper cranes

Sister of Leila Bui completes four mobiles with 1,001 cranes each, 27 still to be made

Myla Bui (right) presented a handmade mobile made up of 1,001 paper cranes to Dez Young (left) on Saturday, Jan. 9. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)
Walter Craveiro, who immigrated to Canada from Portugal as a teen and worked for the Saanich Police Department for 29 years, died at the age of 74 on Jan. 5. (Photo provided by Nico Craveiro)

Saanich police sergeant who survived ’80s car bomb explosion dies at 74

Walter Craveiro remembered as ‘remarkable man,’ who was always helping others

Walter Craveiro, who immigrated to Canada from Portugal as a teen and worked for the Saanich Police Department for 29 years, died at the age of 74 on Jan. 5. (Photo provided by Nico Craveiro)
Mikes (Michal) Patterson has no plans to slow down after recently logging her 3,000th volunteer hour at Sidney’s Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Volunteer at Sidney’s Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea marks major milestone

Mikes (Michal) Patterson completed 3,000 hour of volunteer work at the non-profit aquarium

Mikes (Michal) Patterson has no plans to slow down after recently logging her 3,000th volunteer hour at Sidney’s Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Unlike in previous years, this year’s VIATEC Foundation Food Bank Challenge mainly took place online, with tech companies raising more than $72,000. (VIATEC/Submitted)

Greater Victoria tech companies upload more than $72,000 in food bank donations

VIATEC Foundation Food Bank Challenge benefits Mustard Seed Food Bank

Unlike in previous years, this year’s VIATEC Foundation Food Bank Challenge mainly took place online, with tech companies raising more than $72,000. (VIATEC/Submitted)
Sgt. Erin Lench of the RCMP presents her husband Darren Lench, out-going deputy chief of Central Saanich Police Service, with a bouquet of flowers in recognizing his retirement after 40 years of service. (Central Saanich Police Service/Twitter)

Top cops drive devoted Central Saanich deputy chief into retirement with parade

Darren Lench to retire after 40 years in policing, including five years with Central Saanich

Sgt. Erin Lench of the RCMP presents her husband Darren Lench, out-going deputy chief of Central Saanich Police Service, with a bouquet of flowers in recognizing his retirement after 40 years of service. (Central Saanich Police Service/Twitter)
The Regional District of Nanaimo collected approximately 10,000 old waste and garbage bins to be repurposed or reused. (PQB News file photo)

10,000 old Nanaimo-area garbage bins repurposed elsewhere on the Island

Used containers donated to school districts, communities to be reused

The Regional District of Nanaimo collected approximately 10,000 old waste and garbage bins to be repurposed or reused. (PQB News file photo)
Last year’s Coldest Night of the Year walk raised more than $17,000 in Sooke. (Facebook - Sooke Shelter Society)

Coldest Night of the Year walk returns to Sooke for second year

Walk for homeless set for Feb. 22

Last year’s Coldest Night of the Year walk raised more than $17,000 in Sooke. (Facebook - Sooke Shelter Society)
View Royal councillors judged 43 nominations to pick their five favourites in the inaugural competition. (Black Press Media file photo)

View Royal names winners of inaugural light up contest

Residents compete for chocolate prize

View Royal councillors judged 43 nominations to pick their five favourites in the inaugural competition. (Black Press Media file photo)
SIG

MAYOR’S MESSAGE: There are a lot of great things ahead

As we turn the page on our calendars, an exciting year awaits

  • Jan 7, 2021
SIG
A Blue Jay, commonly found in the Central and Eastern United States and the southeastern coast of Canada, was spotted in Sooke on Dec. 27. (Contributed – Robin Robinson)

Blue jay, usually found in southeastern Canada, spotted in Sooke

Around 80 birders counted 118 different species within a single day

A Blue Jay, commonly found in the Central and Eastern United States and the southeastern coast of Canada, was spotted in Sooke on Dec. 27. (Contributed – Robin Robinson)
Ron Cain, left, working with Sooke News Mirror editor Kevin Laird. “Every journey is started with a single forward step,” says Cain, a personal trainer. (Sooke News Mirror)

COLUMN: What is a personal trainer anyway?

News Mirror launches new fitness column

  • Jan 6, 2021
Ron Cain, left, working with Sooke News Mirror editor Kevin Laird. “Every journey is started with a single forward step,” says Cain, a personal trainer. (Sooke News Mirror)
The 13th annual Cool Aid Coat Drive, on through Jan. 15, 2021, seeks donations of warm clothing items for passing along to people in need. (Courtesy Victoria Cool Aid Society)

Cool Aid coat drive keeps Victoria’s vulnerable residents warmer

Donate your unused coats, jackets, gloves, mittens and sweaters by Jan. 15

The 13th annual Cool Aid Coat Drive, on through Jan. 15, 2021, seeks donations of warm clothing items for passing along to people in need. (Courtesy Victoria Cool Aid Society)
Participants in the Bateman Foundation’s Nature Sketch program work on their art. The Bateman Foundation is offering courses online for juniors, teens and adult watercolour artists beginning in January. (Photo courtesy of the Bateman Foundation)

Bateman sketch classes come alive online

Range of classes begin Jan. 8, 9 and 11

Participants in the Bateman Foundation’s Nature Sketch program work on their art. The Bateman Foundation is offering courses online for juniors, teens and adult watercolour artists beginning in January. (Photo courtesy of the Bateman Foundation)
(Black Press Media file photo)

From arts to environment, nominate your West Shore hero

Nominations for the Goldstream Gazette’s Local Hero awards are open

  • Jan 4, 2021
(Black Press Media file photo)