CRD

The Habitat Acquisition Trust’s fundraising efforts to acquire the nearly-50-acre Mountain Road Forest, in partnership with the CRD, have accomplished their purpose. (Black Press Media file photo)

Late donations help HAT reach goal to buy Saanich’s Mountain Road Forest with CRD

Community bands together to protect wooded property; 1,400-plus donors contribute over $1 million

The Habitat Acquisition Trust’s fundraising efforts to acquire the nearly-50-acre Mountain Road Forest, in partnership with the CRD, have accomplished their purpose. (Black Press Media file photo)
The Habitat Acquisition Trust’s campaign to raise $1.4 million toward the purchase of Mountain Road Forest in Saanich for a new regional park is in its final days. (Black Press Media file photo)

Campaign to buy Saanich’s Mountain Road Forest nears deadline

Habitat Acquisition Trust hopeful of raising final $368,000 of $1.4-million goal by July 20

The Habitat Acquisition Trust’s campaign to raise $1.4 million toward the purchase of Mountain Road Forest in Saanich for a new regional park is in its final days. (Black Press Media file photo)
Coun. Ben Isitt resigned this week as vice-chair of the Capital Regional District’s First Nations relations committee over concerns voiced about his presence at the Fairy Creek watershed blockades. (File contributed/City of Victoria)

Victoria Coun. Ben Isitt resigns from CRD First Nation committee vice-chair role

Resignation came after he “reflected on the concerns” made by Pacheedaht First Nation Chief

Coun. Ben Isitt resigned this week as vice-chair of the Capital Regional District’s First Nations relations committee over concerns voiced about his presence at the Fairy Creek watershed blockades. (File contributed/City of Victoria)
The Capital Regional District Art Commission is handing out $121,000 in its second round of grant allocations to local arts groups. (Photo by Pexels)

Greater Victoria not-for-profit arts groups to receive over $121,000 from CRD

Funding to support projects such as a community arts hub, choir program, mural festival and more

The Capital Regional District Art Commission is handing out $121,000 in its second round of grant allocations to local arts groups. (Photo by Pexels)
Vehicles sit parked along the onramp to the Trans-Canada Highway in View Royal on Monday afternoon. The hot weather is driving people to Thetis Lake Regional Park, for which the designated parking lot fills up quickly. (Zoe Ducklow/News Staff)

View Royal neighbours furious as Thetis Lake visitors overflow CRD parking lots

Hot weather escalates annual parking problems at popular park

Vehicles sit parked along the onramp to the Trans-Canada Highway in View Royal on Monday afternoon. The hot weather is driving people to Thetis Lake Regional Park, for which the designated parking lot fills up quickly. (Zoe Ducklow/News Staff)
CRD parks and trails water fountains and water bottle filling stations will remain closed, despite soaring temperatures forecast for the coming days in Greater Victoria, due to lack of resources to clean them to COVID-19 public health standards. (Black Press Media file photo)

Water fountains, refill stations to remain shut off in CRD parks despite heatwave

Hourly cleaning to current public health standards not manageable at this point: CRD spokesperson

CRD parks and trails water fountains and water bottle filling stations will remain closed, despite soaring temperatures forecast for the coming days in Greater Victoria, due to lack of resources to clean them to COVID-19 public health standards. (Black Press Media file photo)
Capital Regional District parks staff are encouraging the public to consider alternative times or less busy parks when planning visits this summer, given the huge increase in visitors this year so far. (Black Press Media file photo)

Capital Regional District asks regional park visitors to consider alternatives

Park visits nearly reached 3 million in first three months of 2021, a 20-per-cent jump over 2020

Capital Regional District parks staff are encouraging the public to consider alternative times or less busy parks when planning visits this summer, given the huge increase in visitors this year so far. (Black Press Media file photo)
More than $10 million will go into upping the level of care at Salt Spring Island’s Lady Minto Hospital. (Courtesy of Google Streetview)

Salt Spring Island’s Lady Minto Hospital to receive $10.4-million expansion

Project will double the hospital’s acute and primary care capacity

More than $10 million will go into upping the level of care at Salt Spring Island’s Lady Minto Hospital. (Courtesy of Google Streetview)
Aerial view of the Capital Regional District’s wastewater treatment facility at McLoughlin Point, which began service late in 2020. (Photo courtesy CRD)

CRD putting finishing touches on five-year wastewater project

Treatment plant, other elements came into service on time, under budget: board chair

Aerial view of the Capital Regional District’s wastewater treatment facility at McLoughlin Point, which began service late in 2020. (Photo courtesy CRD)
Greater Victoria’s environment enthusiasts can spend the long weekend taking in the area’s abundant nature by joining the Capital Regional District’s biodiversity challenge. (Black Press Media file photo)

CRD challenges residents to get out in nature over long weekend

The challenge encourages people to explore, photograph and log the region’s flora and fauna

Greater Victoria’s environment enthusiasts can spend the long weekend taking in the area’s abundant nature by joining the Capital Regional District’s biodiversity challenge. (Black Press Media file photo)
The playground at Hamsterly Beach on Elk Lake was closed in mid-May so crews could begin dismantling the old structure to make way for a new nature playground. (Image via the Capital Regional District)

CRD replacing Saanich playground with new nature play area

Existing Hamsterly Beach structure dismantled, construction expected to conclude in late fall

The playground at Hamsterly Beach on Elk Lake was closed in mid-May so crews could begin dismantling the old structure to make way for a new nature playground. (Image via the Capital Regional District)
The Capital Regional District is hoping families will take on the biodiversity challenge this long weekend by getting out and discovering local plants, animals and fungi. (Black Press Media file photo)

Stop and smell the flowers: Greater Victorians asked to take on biodiversity challenge

CRD to create dashboard of flora and fauna in region with resident-collected data

The Capital Regional District is hoping families will take on the biodiversity challenge this long weekend by getting out and discovering local plants, animals and fungi. (Black Press Media file photo)
Juan de Fuca Electoral Area director Mike Hicks said sometimes you need to boil water. (File - Sooke News Mirror)

Turbidity main culprit for East Sooke water woes

The ultraviolet treatment method needs clear water to kill bacteria

Juan de Fuca Electoral Area director Mike Hicks said sometimes you need to boil water. (File - Sooke News Mirror)
Areas shaded in blue are under a boil water advisory as of May 19, 2021. (CRD image)

Boil water advisory initiated in Port Renfrew

Residents warned to boil water for a full minute

Areas shaded in blue are under a boil water advisory as of May 19, 2021. (CRD image)
Local cyclist Max McCulloch catches air off a jump in the newly redesigned Organ Donor trail at Mount Work mountain biking park. The Capital Regional District approved its regional parks mountain biking guidelines and a list of short-term actions at the CRD board’s May 12 meeting. (Black Press Media File Photo)

CRD approves mountain biking guidelines that drove spoke between advocates, environmentalists

Guidelines aim to find new biking opportunites in region, while protecting park ecology

Local cyclist Max McCulloch catches air off a jump in the newly redesigned Organ Donor trail at Mount Work mountain biking park. The Capital Regional District approved its regional parks mountain biking guidelines and a list of short-term actions at the CRD board’s May 12 meeting. (Black Press Media File Photo)
The orange parcel was bought by the CRD for $1.1 million to add to Mount Work Regional Park. (CRD map)

Capital Regional District expands Mount Work land for $1.1 million

Privately-owned 13.8 hectares in the Highlands is ecologcically valuable

The orange parcel was bought by the CRD for $1.1 million to add to Mount Work Regional Park. (CRD map)
From May 21 to 24, the Capital Regional District hosts a virtual Biodiversity Challenge in honour of the International Day for Biological Diversity, May 22.

Picture this: Discover the biodiversity in your own backyard

CRD hosts a virtual Biodiversity Challenge … and the chance to win some awesome prizes!

  • May 17, 2021
From May 21 to 24, the Capital Regional District hosts a virtual Biodiversity Challenge in honour of the International Day for Biological Diversity, May 22.
The Capital Regional District has approved its plan that aims to reduce its total waste by about a third by 2030. (Black Press Media file photo)

CRD board approves plan aimed at cutting waste by a third by 2030

Solid Waste Management Plan to start tackling Greater Victoria’s largest waste sources

The Capital Regional District has approved its plan that aims to reduce its total waste by about a third by 2030. (Black Press Media file photo)
Langford Fire Rescue (Black Press Media file photo)

Langford looks to strike out on its own for emergency fire dispatch services

Mayor Stew Young says the city is large enough to negotiate solo

Langford Fire Rescue (Black Press Media file photo)
The province is pitching in to tackle toxicity in Elk and Beaver Lake, popular swimming and rowing spots for Greater Victoria. (Black Press Media file photos)

Province funds $750k to help CRD tackle toxic algae blooms in Saanich lakes

Technology expected to be installed by April 1, 2022, and cost about $1.4 million

The province is pitching in to tackle toxicity in Elk and Beaver Lake, popular swimming and rowing spots for Greater Victoria. (Black Press Media file photos)