Sidney

Sidney Shutterbugs Camera Club president David Milner and vice-president Ron MacDonnell stand in the new photographers GALLERY, which will host an exhibition of photos by club members starting May 6. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Sidney Shutterbugs Camera Club’s work showcased in first of its kind gallery show

Club formed 30 years in 1992 and is open to anyone with an interest in photography

Sidney Shutterbugs Camera Club president David Milner and vice-president Ron MacDonnell stand in the new photographers GALLERY, which will host an exhibition of photos by club members starting May 6. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Russell Nursery in North Saanich is celebrating its 30th year in business. Co-owner Laurel Rassenti is preparing for blossoming gardeners when the weather gets a little warmer. (Wolfgang Depner/News Staff)

Weather slows early gardening season but boom expected across Greater Victoria

Warmer weather will bring the green thumbs out of hibernation, businesses predict

Russell Nursery in North Saanich is celebrating its 30th year in business. Co-owner Laurel Rassenti is preparing for blossoming gardeners when the weather gets a little warmer. (Wolfgang Depner/News Staff)
Coun. Jack McClintock says North Saanich has not done enough to engage and consult the public on North Saanich’s involvement with a new roundabout in Sidney near the future Amazon facility. (Black Press Media file photo)

North Saanich to fund its share of new roundabout in Sidney out of reserves

Coun. Jack McClintock questions substance, process behind $1-million contribution

Coun. Jack McClintock says North Saanich has not done enough to engage and consult the public on North Saanich’s involvement with a new roundabout in Sidney near the future Amazon facility. (Black Press Media file photo)
Food bank demand is up in Greater Victoria, spurred largely by inflation and high gas prices. Pictured is the Goldstream Food Bank warehouse in November 2021. (Black Press Media file photo)

Rise in food bank demand fueled by inflation, high gas prices in Greater Victoria

Local food banks had 3 to 4 times the new patrons in March than the typical month

Food bank demand is up in Greater Victoria, spurred largely by inflation and high gas prices. Pictured is the Goldstream Food Bank warehouse in November 2021. (Black Press Media file photo)
Adrian Bogdan, assistant director and archivist, Alyssa Gerwing, executive director, and Sydney Fuhrman, education and outreach coordinator, have already left or are leaving the Sidney Museum and Archives. (Amanda Cribdon Photography/Submitted)

Sidney Museum and Archives says goodbye to a trio of staff

Executive director Alyssa Gerwing leads list of depatures

Adrian Bogdan, assistant director and archivist, Alyssa Gerwing, executive director, and Sydney Fuhrman, education and outreach coordinator, have already left or are leaving the Sidney Museum and Archives. (Amanda Cribdon Photography/Submitted)
Randy Evans, second-vice president of Unit 302 of the Army, Navy and Air Force Veterans, stands outside the club’s offices. A fundraiser scheduled for May 7 will raise funds in support for Ukraine as defends itself against Russia’s war of choice. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Sidney veterans club to host May 7 fundraiser for Ukraine

Full-day fundraising event will include musical offerings, dance

Randy Evans, second-vice president of Unit 302 of the Army, Navy and Air Force Veterans, stands outside the club’s offices. A fundraiser scheduled for May 7 will raise funds in support for Ukraine as defends itself against Russia’s war of choice. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Long-time CBC host Grant Lawrence joins musicians Kathryn Calder, Jay Malinowski and Ashleigh Ball on stage in Sidney on May 4 to celebrate the release of Return To Solitude, the long-awaited follow-up book to Lawrence’s bestselling debut. (Courtesy of Mary Winspear Centre)

Grant Lawrence to regale Sidney audience with colourful tales of Desolation Sound

Musical guests Kathryn Calder, Jay Malinowski and Ashleigh Ball join longtime CBC host

Long-time CBC host Grant Lawrence joins musicians Kathryn Calder, Jay Malinowski and Ashleigh Ball on stage in Sidney on May 4 to celebrate the release of Return To Solitude, the long-awaited follow-up book to Lawrence’s bestselling debut. (Courtesy of Mary Winspear Centre)
Owner Kathy Banks (front), employees Kaylyn Paterson (left) and Sherry Bell (right), and Banks’ husband James Anson were all smiles earlier this spring when Sidney councillors signalled support for zoning and OCP changes that could have allowed the business to operate in an industrial-zoned space. However, a legislative reversal led Banks to seek space elsewhere. (Black Press Media file photo)

Dog grooming business digs up new home in Central Saanich

Pooch Parlour had previously operated illegally out of Sidney industrial zone

Owner Kathy Banks (front), employees Kaylyn Paterson (left) and Sherry Bell (right), and Banks’ husband James Anson were all smiles earlier this spring when Sidney councillors signalled support for zoning and OCP changes that could have allowed the business to operate in an industrial-zoned space. However, a legislative reversal led Banks to seek space elsewhere. (Black Press Media file photo)
Changes to firefighting staffing that have standardized response times to structure fires prompted Sidney council to lift certain restrictions on the design of homes and buildings. (Black Press Media file photo)

Fire-related restrictions on building design lifted in Sidney

Rules for windows, doorways in new builds relaxed with increased firefighter staffing

Changes to firefighting staffing that have standardized response times to structure fires prompted Sidney council to lift certain restrictions on the design of homes and buildings. (Black Press Media file photo)
Alyssa Gerwing, who became executive director of the Sidney Museum and Archives in September 2020, will leave her position effective May 14 to pursue new career opportunities. (Amanda Cribdon Photography/submitted).

Executive director moving on from Sidney Museum and Archives

Set to leave May 14, Alyssa Gerwing followed long-time director Peter Garnham

Alyssa Gerwing, who became executive director of the Sidney Museum and Archives in September 2020, will leave her position effective May 14 to pursue new career opportunities. (Amanda Cribdon Photography/submitted).
Sidney council formally approved a development permit for a four-storey development in downtown Sidney that has sparked a debate around the municipality’s approach toward preserving trees. (Black Press Media file photo)

Debate about Sidney’s tree policy sprouts from council development discussion

Merit of protecting single trees debated, Coun. O’Keeffe suggests possible bylaw review

Sidney council formally approved a development permit for a four-storey development in downtown Sidney that has sparked a debate around the municipality’s approach toward preserving trees. (Black Press Media file photo)
Several music-themed events are returning to Sidney’s Beacon Park for 2022, but the costs of portable toilets has led some organizers to withdraw applications. (Black Press Media file photo)

Special events set to return to Sidney parks starting in May

Cost, availability of portable toilets a roadblock for some smaller events

Several music-themed events are returning to Sidney’s Beacon Park for 2022, but the costs of portable toilets has led some organizers to withdraw applications. (Black Press Media file photo)
Members of Canada’s women’s rugby sevens squad arrive at Swartz Bay terminal Tuesday, having won the Rugby Americas North qualifying tournament in the Bahamas, which gave the team a berth in the Rugby World Cup Sevens. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)

PHOTOS: Women’s rugby 7’s land on Island ahead of Langford tournament

Team back from qualifying for World Cup berth at Bahamas tournament

Members of Canada’s women’s rugby sevens squad arrive at Swartz Bay terminal Tuesday, having won the Rugby Americas North qualifying tournament in the Bahamas, which gave the team a berth in the Rugby World Cup Sevens. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)
A special Sidney council meeting scheduled to deal with the official community plan won’t take place as originally scheduled on April 28. Unfinished work by the municipality’s OCP advisory committee has pushed the council meeting to May 5. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Special council meeting for OCP pushed into May by Sidney

Despite delay, June remains target date completion, says town CAO

A special Sidney council meeting scheduled to deal with the official community plan won’t take place as originally scheduled on April 28. Unfinished work by the municipality’s OCP advisory committee has pushed the council meeting to May 5. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Sidney Volunteer Fire Department responded to a collision near the Sidney/North Saanich branch of Vancouver Island Regional Library that sent one cyclist to hospital. (Black Press Media file photo)

Cyclist struck in Sidney near library

Man in his 30s sent to hospital

Sidney Volunteer Fire Department responded to a collision near the Sidney/North Saanich branch of Vancouver Island Regional Library that sent one cyclist to hospital. (Black Press Media file photo)
Sidney resident Gladys Pfeffer (right) celebrated her 100th birthday on April 30. She is pictured with her granddaughter Jessica Pfeffer and her great-grandchild. (Photo courtesy of Jessica Pfeffer)

Lifetime of selfless volunteerism recalled as Sidney woman reaches 100

Gladys Pfeffer has long supported immigrants and refugees to Canada

Sidney resident Gladys Pfeffer (right) celebrated her 100th birthday on April 30. She is pictured with her granddaughter Jessica Pfeffer and her great-grandchild. (Photo courtesy of Jessica Pfeffer)
Ryan Cootes, Erin Bremner-Mitchell, Bill Collins and Mike Williamson of Cascadia Seaweed Corporation are here seen holding up seaweed grown in Barkley Sound in July 2020. The company will receive up to $533,475 to determine the potential of three types of seaweed as an alternative feedstock for cattle. (Cascadia Seaweed Corporation/Submitted)

Sidney company to study seaweed as a cattle feed alternative

Cascadia Seaweed will receive up to $533,475 from federal government

Ryan Cootes, Erin Bremner-Mitchell, Bill Collins and Mike Williamson of Cascadia Seaweed Corporation are here seen holding up seaweed grown in Barkley Sound in July 2020. The company will receive up to $533,475 to determine the potential of three types of seaweed as an alternative feedstock for cattle. (Cascadia Seaweed Corporation/Submitted)
Sidney has yet to receive official confirmation that senior spheres of government have agreed to pick up 911 dispatching costs. (Black Press Media file photo)

Sidney still waiting on official word on 911 cost downloading

8 affected Vancouver Island communities would have faced significant tax increases

Sidney has yet to receive official confirmation that senior spheres of government have agreed to pick up 911 dispatching costs. (Black Press Media file photo)
Saanich–Gulf Islands MP Elizabeth May is repeating calls for the federal government to seize a North Saanich property linked to a Russian oligarch. The estate, located at the end of Towner Road, previously hosted Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld)

Saanich–Gulf Islands MP calls for seizure of property used by Harry and Meghan

Elizabeth May says Russian oligarch still benefitting from North Saanich estate

Saanich–Gulf Islands MP Elizabeth May is repeating calls for the federal government to seize a North Saanich property linked to a Russian oligarch. The estate, located at the end of Towner Road, previously hosted Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld)
letter to the editr

LETTER: High cost of housing affecting Sidney, like all towns and cities

Much has been written over the years about homeless people and it…

  • Apr 15, 2022
letter to the editr