Community

A new bottle drop was created for Wild ARC by Elite Self Storage, so the animal rehabilitation centre can now accept donations in the form of bottles and cans. (Facebook/Wild ARC)

New bottle drop created to support work of Wild ARC in Metchosin

Animal rehabilitation centre can now accept donations in form of bottles and cans

A new bottle drop was created for Wild ARC by Elite Self Storage, so the animal rehabilitation centre can now accept donations in the form of bottles and cans. (Facebook/Wild ARC)
Families in Sooke are awaiting celebrations with family, says one resident, as the pandemic put Christmas on hold in 2020. (Pam Weir photo)

Christmas celebrations remain on pause across Greater Victoria

Readers respond to observation lights, decor remain up into spring

Families in Sooke are awaiting celebrations with family, says one resident, as the pandemic put Christmas on hold in 2020. (Pam Weir photo)
The Capital Regional District art commission has awarded grants to 14 non-profit arts groups in Greater Victoria. (Black Press Media file photo)

Capital Regional District paints better picture for 2021 with $118,000 in arts grants

Funds support event producing and presenting, running programs in-person or virtually

The Capital Regional District art commission has awarded grants to 14 non-profit arts groups in Greater Victoria. (Black Press Media file photo)
Residents in rural Saanich are permitted to burn yard waste in a pile no larger than three feet in diameter on Fridays from sunrise to sunset and Saturdays from sunrise to noon without a permit. For larger fires or to burn any day, a $10 permit is required. (Photo submitted by Sean Lillis)

Open-air burning season in rural Saanich ends April 30

Yard waste fires permitted outside Urban Containment Boundary, guidelines must be followed

Residents in rural Saanich are permitted to burn yard waste in a pile no larger than three feet in diameter on Fridays from sunrise to sunset and Saturdays from sunrise to noon without a permit. For larger fires or to burn any day, a $10 permit is required. (Photo submitted by Sean Lillis)
Saanich’s Deputy Fire Chief Dan Wood shared an image of a 1940s firefighting recruit exam that he said wasn’t nearly as complex as the assessments in 2021. (Black Press Media file photo)

Name three parts of a ladder among the 40 questions Saanich’s 1940s firefighter recruit exam

1949 firefighter recruit exam no match for modern-day assessments

Saanich’s Deputy Fire Chief Dan Wood shared an image of a 1940s firefighting recruit exam that he said wasn’t nearly as complex as the assessments in 2021. (Black Press Media file photo)
Seven-year-old Rowan Walroth (right) donated just shy of $3,000 to a Vernon food bank in March 2021. (Contributed)

B.C. 7-year-old discovers locals are struggling, raises $3K for food bank

Rowan Walroth read a book about boys who dared to make a difference, and decided to become one

Seven-year-old Rowan Walroth (right) donated just shy of $3,000 to a Vernon food bank in March 2021. (Contributed)
Janet Morningstar, vice-president of the Kiwanis Pavilion Foundation, hopped over to the Pavilion this week to deliver hundreds of chocolate Easter eggs. (Jane Skrypnek/News Staff)

Victoria care home residents delighted by ‘Easter bunny’, freshly hatched chicks

Kiwanis Pavilion residents hunted for Easter eggs and pet newborn chicks Thursday

Janet Morningstar, vice-president of the Kiwanis Pavilion Foundation, hopped over to the Pavilion this week to deliver hundreds of chocolate Easter eggs. (Jane Skrypnek/News Staff)
Farmers markets across the region are getting their ducks in a row for opening day. Most are planning a modified setup to continue complying with provincial health restrictions. (Photo courtesy of the Goldstream Market)

West Shore and Sooke farmers’ markets gear up for opening day

Markets modified to comply with health restrictions

Farmers markets across the region are getting their ducks in a row for opening day. Most are planning a modified setup to continue complying with provincial health restrictions. (Photo courtesy of the Goldstream Market)
Brenda Houston, one of the founders of Cycling Without Aging Society (left) takes Rose Marie Gibbons out for a Thursday afternoon spin. The society resumes offering free rides for the less able starting April. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Sidney’s free bike riding program back in the saddle

Cycling Without Aging Society resumes free rides to the less able

Brenda Houston, one of the founders of Cycling Without Aging Society (left) takes Rose Marie Gibbons out for a Thursday afternoon spin. The society resumes offering free rides for the less able starting April. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
B.C. Hydro Tree Canada Community ReGreening Program will provide native trees to be planted in three Sooke green spaces this spring, including DeMamiel Creek Park. (Kevin Laird - Sooke News Mirror)

More trees coming to Sooke parks

B.C. Hydro provides grant to plant native trees in three parks

B.C. Hydro Tree Canada Community ReGreening Program will provide native trees to be planted in three Sooke green spaces this spring, including DeMamiel Creek Park. (Kevin Laird - Sooke News Mirror)
A sign celebrating Ayre Manor staff outside the seniors’ housing complex. Ayre Manor received a ‘seal of approval’ from Accreditation Canada. (Kevin Laird - Sooke News Mirror)

Sooke’s Ayre Manor hits gold standard

Senior housing facility earns national accreditation

A sign celebrating Ayre Manor staff outside the seniors’ housing complex. Ayre Manor received a ‘seal of approval’ from Accreditation Canada. (Kevin Laird - Sooke News Mirror)
OPINION SIG

CURATOR’S CORNER: I heard it through the grapevine …

Sooke Region Museum has a collection of bound newspapers available for use in research

  • Mar 31, 2021
OPINION SIG
Shea Smith chats with a couple Beacon Hill Park campers who came by the community care tent for some hot soup. The tent was taken down March 31.(Jane Skrypnek/News Staff)

Here’s what Victoria’s community care tent meant to those who ran and used it

Volunteers, campers say care tent is proof peer support works

Shea Smith chats with a couple Beacon Hill Park campers who came by the community care tent for some hot soup. The tent was taken down March 31.(Jane Skrypnek/News Staff)
The tribute to Fenwick Lansdowne officially lands in Oak Bay on March 29. (Courtesy Community Association of Oak Bay)

Grassroots project lands artist legacy in Oak Bay park

Tribute to famed bird painter Fenwick Lansdowne greets visitors to Queens’ Park

The tribute to Fenwick Lansdowne officially lands in Oak Bay on March 29. (Courtesy Community Association of Oak Bay)
A Twitter user sparked a conversation about potential future uses for James Houlihan Park in Saanich after noting that the large, empty field is underused. (@QuenchWines/Twitter)

Residents, councillors dig into potential uses for empty park in Saanich

James Houlihan Park a 1.9-hectare open field with paved walking path

A Twitter user sparked a conversation about potential future uses for James Houlihan Park in Saanich after noting that the large, empty field is underused. (@QuenchWines/Twitter)
Sooke artist Jessica Ruth Freedman is one of nine virtual in-residence artists who share the creative process, conduct webinars, write and offer sage advice with artsUNITE, a free online wayfinding platform for artists. (Contributed - Jessica Ruth Freedman)

Sooke artist joins artsUNITE, getting creative through pandemic

National program brings much-needed support to arts community

Sooke artist Jessica Ruth Freedman is one of nine virtual in-residence artists who share the creative process, conduct webinars, write and offer sage advice with artsUNITE, a free online wayfinding platform for artists. (Contributed - Jessica Ruth Freedman)
Sunrise of Victoria retirement community resident Mini Alexander poses next to Michelle Obama. Residents were asked to compare themselves to a powerful woman of history for Women’s History Month. (Courtesy of Sunrise of Victoria)

Victoria retirement community residents model alongside women of history

Sunrise Victoria residents posed alongside photos of their female role models

Sunrise of Victoria retirement community resident Mini Alexander poses next to Michelle Obama. Residents were asked to compare themselves to a powerful woman of history for Women’s History Month. (Courtesy of Sunrise of Victoria)
Dr. Janet McElhaney received the Jonas Salk Lifetime Achievement Award in February for her work on immunization. (Courtesy of Dr. Janet McElhaney)

Saanich researcher receives prestigious lifetime award for work on immunization

Dr. Janet McElhaney studies the relationship between vaccines, age and the immune system

Dr. Janet McElhaney received the Jonas Salk Lifetime Achievement Award in February for her work on immunization. (Courtesy of Dr. Janet McElhaney)
Sean Brown in Commercial Alley downtown Victoria with some of the skateboards and wheels donated for his Youth on Board project, which will see him put boards together to be passed on to local youth. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)

Getting youth at risk on skateboards is a passion project for Victoria man

Former skateboarder rallies community to collect equipment for street youth

Sean Brown in Commercial Alley downtown Victoria with some of the skateboards and wheels donated for his Youth on Board project, which will see him put boards together to be passed on to local youth. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)
SENCOTEN language revitalizationist and filmmaker Renee Sampson’s short film, Bringing Our Language Back to LIfe, shows online during the Reel 2 Real International Youth Film Festival, April 14-23. (Photo courtesy Wapikoni)

SENCOTEN language featured in short film created on Saanich Peninsula

Renee Sampson film highlights importance of passing on traditional languages to youth

SENCOTEN language revitalizationist and filmmaker Renee Sampson’s short film, Bringing Our Language Back to LIfe, shows online during the Reel 2 Real International Youth Film Festival, April 14-23. (Photo courtesy Wapikoni)