Sidney

The draft of Sidney’s new climate action plans points to the municipality’s southeast near the municipal boundary with North Saanich as an area with high flooding risk through severe coastal storm surges caused by climate change. (Black Press Media file photo)

Coordinated effort needed for Sidney to reach ambitious climate change goals

New report highlights Sidney’s high risk of severe coastal storm surges and heatwaves

The draft of Sidney’s new climate action plans points to the municipality’s southeast near the municipal boundary with North Saanich as an area with high flooding risk through severe coastal storm surges caused by climate change. (Black Press Media file photo)
Sidney Coun. Scott Garnett fears the loss of multiple trees, including the Douglas fir in the background, just off the proposed site of a new 19-unit condominium building. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Sidney councillor laments potential loss of trees near proposed development

Neighbours worried about safety while Coun. Scott Garnett calls on developers to save trees

Sidney Coun. Scott Garnett fears the loss of multiple trees, including the Douglas fir in the background, just off the proposed site of a new 19-unit condominium building. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Sylvia Miles, who lives in the area and walked through Resthaven Park Tuesday morning with Merv, the Brussels Griffon terrier, cheered council’s decision. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Plans buried for off-leash dog park in Sidney’s Resthaven Park

Plans won’t fly because of proximity to bird sanctuary, other concerns

Sylvia Miles, who lives in the area and walked through Resthaven Park Tuesday morning with Merv, the Brussels Griffon terrier, cheered council’s decision. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Sidney’s council meeting as committee-of-the-whole has started the process of gathering public input for plans by Beacon Brewing to expand liquor service. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Sidney’s Mary Winspear Centre, Beacon Brewing tap province for expanded service

Public consultation about changes to happen before council offers its support

Sidney’s council meeting as committee-of-the-whole has started the process of gathering public input for plans by Beacon Brewing to expand liquor service. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
This rendering (looking northwest) shows the five-storey building proposed by Kothari Group for the corner of Beacon Avenue and Highway 17. (Courtesy Kothari Group)

Sidney councillors hear OCP criticism and park five-storey Pat Bay proposal

Public criticism of project focuses on height and traffic among other issues

This rendering (looking northwest) shows the five-storey building proposed by Kothari Group for the corner of Beacon Avenue and Highway 17. (Courtesy Kothari Group)
Atlantic Eagle, one of two Canadian Coast Guard emergency towing vessels rotated across B.C. (Canadian Coast Guard/Contributed photo)

Oil spill ‘not matter of if, but when’: Island councils renew call to Canada for Sidney rescue tug

Tugs were only present in Juan de Fuca, Haro or Boundary Pass 30 per cent of the time in 2019

Atlantic Eagle, one of two Canadian Coast Guard emergency towing vessels rotated across B.C. (Canadian Coast Guard/Contributed photo)
Andrea Proske, who won Olympic rowing gold with Canada’s women’s coxed eight in Tokyo last summer, draws a crowd as she donates blood at Sidney’s Mary Winspear Centre. (Photo courtesy of Ann Chabert/ Canadian Blood Services)

Olympic medalist in Central Saanich hopes to inspire life-giving blood donations

Andrea Proske, who won rowing gold in Tokyo last July, recently donated in Sidney

Andrea Proske, who won Olympic rowing gold with Canada’s women’s coxed eight in Tokyo last summer, draws a crowd as she donates blood at Sidney’s Mary Winspear Centre. (Photo courtesy of Ann Chabert/ Canadian Blood Services)
Michael Bociurkiw, photographed last fall in Sidney, is currently in western Ukraine, where the situation is getting more tense as that country continues to weather Russian attacks. (Black Press Media file photo)

Sidney-based author says Ukrainian city of Lviv feels increasingly under siege

Global affairs analyst and author Michael Bociurkiw has been in Ukraine almost a month

Michael Bociurkiw, photographed last fall in Sidney, is currently in western Ukraine, where the situation is getting more tense as that country continues to weather Russian attacks. (Black Press Media file photo)
As climate change threatens Sidney’s shoreline, the 2022 budget includes the first annual contribution of $50,000 toward the municipality’s new climate action reserve fund. (Black Press Media file photo)

Sidney’s 2022 budget includes money for new RCMP officer and for fight against climate change

Sidney’s 2022 budget is making history by including the first of what…

As climate change threatens Sidney’s shoreline, the 2022 budget includes the first annual contribution of $50,000 toward the municipality’s new climate action reserve fund. (Black Press Media file photo)
Pending approval from council, the public will have a chance to weigh in on Sidney’s draft Official Community Plan between March 1 and April 8. (Screencap)

Sidney draft OCP set for public input

Document spelling out future land use calls for new limits on building heights in downtown Sidney

Pending approval from council, the public will have a chance to weigh in on Sidney’s draft Official Community Plan between March 1 and April 8. (Screencap)
Sidney Mayor Cliff McNeil-Smith says raising property tax revenues by 3.74 per cent will help the municipality return to normal funding levels while making additional investments. (Photo courtesy of the Town of Sidney).

2022 budget for Sidney increases revenue from property taxes by 3.76 per cent

Increase designed to help Sidney reach normal revenue levels

Sidney Mayor Cliff McNeil-Smith says raising property tax revenues by 3.74 per cent will help the municipality return to normal funding levels while making additional investments. (Photo courtesy of the Town of Sidney).
Sidney is looking into prohibiting the discharge of consumer fireworks in or adjacent to the designated established environmentally sensitive areas of Roberts Bay (seen here) and Reay Creek. (Black Press Media file photo)

Motion to ban discharge of consumer fireworks in Sidney goes bust

Staff now investigating more limited ban in or adjacent to environmentally sensitive areas

Sidney is looking into prohibiting the discharge of consumer fireworks in or adjacent to the designated established environmentally sensitive areas of Roberts Bay (seen here) and Reay Creek. (Black Press Media file photo)
Crime within the jurisdiction of the Sidney/North Saanich RCMP dropped 12 per cent, but the number of mental health calls rose 11 per cent. (Black Press Media file photo)

Crime, collisions down in Sidney/North Saanich RCMP jurisdiction

Mental health calls rise 11 per cent in 2021 compared to 2020

Crime within the jurisdiction of the Sidney/North Saanich RCMP dropped 12 per cent, but the number of mental health calls rose 11 per cent. (Black Press Media file photo)
As Sidney council debates this year’s proposed increase in revenue from property taxes, Coun. Peter Wainwright warned of cutting the increase by too much in light of future, yet-to-be-known costs. (Town of Sidney/Submitted)

Sidney staff expect additional budget cuts as councillors debate best taxation approach

Councillors cut the proposed increase to 4.73 per cent with more cuts to come

As Sidney council debates this year’s proposed increase in revenue from property taxes, Coun. Peter Wainwright warned of cutting the increase by too much in light of future, yet-to-be-known costs. (Town of Sidney/Submitted)
Sidney/North Saanich RCMP detachment plans to step awareness of scams in March after new figures show losses rose by 73 per cent in 2021. (Black Press Media file photo)

Fraud losses in Sidney, North Saanich rose by 73 per cent in 2021

Victims lost more than $664,000 in 2021 as number of fraud cases rose by 48 per cent

Sidney/North Saanich RCMP detachment plans to step awareness of scams in March after new figures show losses rose by 73 per cent in 2021. (Black Press Media file photo)
Sidney Volunteer Fire Department Chief Brett Mikkelsen convinced council members of the value in purchasing a used ladder truck to better service the town’s increasingly dense, compact urban structure. (Black Press Media file photo)

Fire department purchase of used ladder truck to save Sidney more than $1 million

New ladder truck would have cost $2.45 million in 2022, would incur debt for town

Sidney Volunteer Fire Department Chief Brett Mikkelsen convinced council members of the value in purchasing a used ladder truck to better service the town’s increasingly dense, compact urban structure. (Black Press Media file photo)
Sidney Mayor Cliff McNeil-Smith is encouraging residents to help fill out a survey as the municipality develops an economic strategy. (Black Press Media file photo)

Sidney opens economic development strategy for input

Online survey part of a larger engagement process

Sidney Mayor Cliff McNeil-Smith is encouraging residents to help fill out a survey as the municipality develops an economic strategy. (Black Press Media file photo)
Sidney staff recommended the municipality approve the smaller version of plans for an off-leash dog park proposed for Resthaven Drive. (Black Press Media file photo)

Report recommends dogs run off-leash in Sidney’s Resthaven Park

Plans for off-leash dog park move forward in budget discussions

Sidney staff recommended the municipality approve the smaller version of plans for an off-leash dog park proposed for Resthaven Drive. (Black Press Media file photo)
Greg Strange, left, and Peter Blacker stand in the front of the Ardwell Avenue house damaged during Sunday’s fire. The two men helped to fight the flames before and after the arrival of firefighters. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Neighbours help to fight Sidney fire that left mother and son in urgent need

Fundraising campaign underway for displaced victims of Sunday fire

Greg Strange, left, and Peter Blacker stand in the front of the Ardwell Avenue house damaged during Sunday’s fire. The two men helped to fight the flames before and after the arrival of firefighters. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Edward Paul Mittelsteadt, a former community policing officer with the Sidney/North Saanich RCMP, was charged with assault relating to an on-duty incident in Saanich in July 2020. (Black Press Media file photo)

Former RCMP officer charged with assault relating to July 2020 incident in Saanich

Former Sidney/North Saanich RCMP constable Edward Paul Mittelsteadt appears in court Feb. 21

Edward Paul Mittelsteadt, a former community policing officer with the Sidney/North Saanich RCMP, was charged with assault relating to an on-duty incident in Saanich in July 2020. (Black Press Media file photo)