District of Saanich

Saanich emergency crews and FortisBC staff are on the scene of a gas leak, with Douglas Street expected to be closed for several hours on Dec. 23. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)

UPDATED: Gas leak in Saanich following ‘proactive maintenance’

Northbound lanes of Douglas were closed from Cloverdale to Audley

Saanich emergency crews and FortisBC staff are on the scene of a gas leak, with Douglas Street expected to be closed for several hours on Dec. 23. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)
A rendering shows what the Doral Forest Park development would look like from the southwest. (Rendering via D’AMBROSIO Architecture & Urbanism)

Saanich sends 11-storey proposal to public hearing despite criticism from residents

Concerns raised about housing development abutting Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park

A rendering shows what the Doral Forest Park development would look like from the southwest. (Rendering via D’AMBROSIO Architecture & Urbanism)
Neil Salmond and his wife Michelle decided to bring back their infamous Tuxedo Drive Christmas display for one more year to bring joy amid the COVID-19 pandemic. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)

Famous Saanich ‘Christmas House’ returns with encore display amid pandemic

Tuxedo Drive Christmas display lit up nightly from 5-11 p.m. until Jan. 1

Neil Salmond and his wife Michelle decided to bring back their infamous Tuxedo Drive Christmas display for one more year to bring joy amid the COVID-19 pandemic. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)
McKenzie Elementary’s junior choir was excited to find out that they’d won first place in their category – $3,000 worth of instruments and a plaque – in the 2020 CBC Music Class Challenge with their medley performance. (Photos by Matt Schmitz)

VIDEO: Saanich students nab big prizes in CBC’s 2020 Canadian Music Class Challenge

McKenzie Elementary junior choir, Fraser Campbell Music School earn first place in their categories

McKenzie Elementary’s junior choir was excited to find out that they’d won first place in their category – $3,000 worth of instruments and a plaque – in the 2020 CBC Music Class Challenge with their medley performance. (Photos by Matt Schmitz)
The Braefoot Community Association built the Braefoot Park clubhouse in the mid-1980s and continued to add on over the years. (Photo courtesy Lee Richardson)

UPDATED: Saanich council supports new use for Braefoot building, termination of 34-year lease

Community association launches letter-writing campaign

The Braefoot Community Association built the Braefoot Park clubhouse in the mid-1980s and continued to add on over the years. (Photo courtesy Lee Richardson)
Saanich staff are reviewing a court decision that casts doubt on the municipality’s ban of single use plastic bag. Coun. Susan Brice has been among its leading voices. (Black Press File). Coun. Susan Brice says it is a matter of time until Saanich bans single-use plastic bags. Wolf Depner/News Staff

Saanich prepares to implement bylaw banning plastic checkout bags in April

District aligns with Victoria bylaw timeline for consistency across region

Saanich staff are reviewing a court decision that casts doubt on the municipality’s ban of single use plastic bag. Coun. Susan Brice has been among its leading voices. (Black Press File). Coun. Susan Brice says it is a matter of time until Saanich bans single-use plastic bags. Wolf Depner/News Staff
Graeme Macaloney, whisky maker and owner of Macaloney’s Caledonian Distillery, explains how the distilled spirits flow through the pot stills before being transferred into barrels to age. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)

Saanich distillery’s whiskies ready for tasting after three years aging

Macaloney’s Caledonian Distillery spirits officially considered ‘whisky’

Graeme Macaloney, whisky maker and owner of Macaloney’s Caledonian Distillery, explains how the distilled spirits flow through the pot stills before being transferred into barrels to age. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)
The team at Rather Be Plumbing will work for free on Dec. 18, 19 and 20 to give back to the community. (Photo courtesy Jarod Hughes)

Saanich plumbing company offers free services for those in need ahead of Christmas

Rather Be Plumbing to help those in need for free, pandemic protocols in place

The team at Rather Be Plumbing will work for free on Dec. 18, 19 and 20 to give back to the community. (Photo courtesy Jarod Hughes)
Saanich emergency crews responded to a collision at the intersection of Quadra Street and Tattersall Drive on the evening of Dec. 14 – the seventh crash at the intersection since January. (Photo courtesy Sarah Schenck)

Minor crash marks seventh this year at Saanich intersection

More than 90 collisions reported at Quadra Street and Tattersall Drive since 2015

Saanich emergency crews responded to a collision at the intersection of Quadra Street and Tattersall Drive on the evening of Dec. 14 – the seventh crash at the intersection since January. (Photo courtesy Sarah Schenck)
In 2021, Saanich will resume management of the building in Braefoot Park which housed the Braefoot Community Association for many years. (Google Streetview)

UPDATED: Community group stunned as Saanich takes over Braefoot building

Braefoot Community Association to transition to new location, sports programs to continue in park

In 2021, Saanich will resume management of the building in Braefoot Park which housed the Braefoot Community Association for many years. (Google Streetview)
The Capital Regional District and Island Health has advised against swimming in or drinking water from both Elk and Beaver Lakes after toxic blue-green algae blooms were reported. (Black Press Media file photo)

CRD expands blue-green algae alert to include Elk Lake

Blue-green algae can cause health complications in humans, pets

The Capital Regional District and Island Health has advised against swimming in or drinking water from both Elk and Beaver Lakes after toxic blue-green algae blooms were reported. (Black Press Media file photo)
A three-vehicle collision interrupted traffic at the intersection of Shelbourne and Pear streets on the morning of Dec. 12. (Image via Google Maps)

Three-vehicle crash in Saanich interrupts morning traffic

Minor injuries reported, street cleared quickly, firefighter says

A three-vehicle collision interrupted traffic at the intersection of Shelbourne and Pear streets on the morning of Dec. 12. (Image via Google Maps)
Large logs that once bordered Mount Douglas Park were recently chopped up and removed from the park – despite bylaws banning the actions – leaving behind a trail of sawdust. (Photo courtesy Darrell Wick)

Wood snatchers illegally chop, smuggle logs out of Saanich park

Parks bylaw prohibits removing wood, using chainsaws in parks

Large logs that once bordered Mount Douglas Park were recently chopped up and removed from the park – despite bylaws banning the actions – leaving behind a trail of sawdust. (Photo courtesy Darrell Wick)
Saanich recreation centres will continue to offer bookings for singles racket sports under new provincial health orders. (Pixabay)

Singles racket sports allowed to continue at Saanich recreation centres

One player on each side of net, no doubles, district says

Saanich recreation centres will continue to offer bookings for singles racket sports under new provincial health orders. (Pixabay)
Anita and Randy Madhar, owners of the recently reopened Kuku’s Restaurant in Saanich, are pleased to welcome customers back for home-cooked Indian meals and desserts. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)

Saanich Indian restaurant reopens more than a year after SUV driver crashed through the building

Kuku’s Restaurant happy to see customers again, enjoys modern touches of renovation

Anita and Randy Madhar, owners of the recently reopened Kuku’s Restaurant in Saanich, are pleased to welcome customers back for home-cooked Indian meals and desserts. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)
Saanich will implement a $1/hour charge for use of the municipality’s public EV charging stations. (Black Press Media file photo)

Saanich starts charging to charge at municipal EV stations in 2021

Fee of $1/hour goes into effect Jan. 4, three-hour charge limit remains

Saanich will implement a $1/hour charge for use of the municipality’s public EV charging stations. (Black Press Media file photo)
Island Ultrasound location in Munro Centre on Saanich Road closed due to an August flood. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)

Island Ultrasound in Saanich closed for repairs after August flood

Service temporarily relocating to Glanford Avenue Dec. 14

Island Ultrasound location in Munro Centre on Saanich Road closed due to an August flood. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)
Eliska Polivkova strings red and orange arbutus berries onto a thread to craft a necklace. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)

VIDEO: Saanich students craft arbutus berry necklaces to fundraise for Leila Bui

Oaklands kids sell necklaces for $5 through school website

Eliska Polivkova strings red and orange arbutus berries onto a thread to craft a necklace. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)
Saanich’s 2020 fall leaf collection sees nearly 6,2000 cubic yards of mulched leaves collected between Oct. 26 and Dec. 1. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)

Saanich crews collect a mountain of leaves

Public works crews collected 6,150 cubic yards of leaves from 1,450 streets by Dec. 1

Saanich’s 2020 fall leaf collection sees nearly 6,2000 cubic yards of mulched leaves collected between Oct. 26 and Dec. 1. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)
Crews have been working to install a 25,000-watt solar panel system on the roof of Torquay Elementary School in Saanich since late November. (Photos courtesy of Lisa McPhail)

$60K solar panel installation begins at Saanich elementary school

Panels to reduce Torquay elementary’s footprint, provide learning opportunities, board chair says

Crews have been working to install a 25,000-watt solar panel system on the roof of Torquay Elementary School in Saanich since late November. (Photos courtesy of Lisa McPhail)