vancouverisland

The Sooke Potholes is a series of deep, naturally carved rock pools. A small parking area with facilities is managed by the District of Sooke. (Contributed - District of Sooke)

Sooke Potholes receives $350,000 upgrade, boosting accessibility + signage

Provincial funding to include accessible toilet, signage and visitor information kiosk

The Sooke Potholes is a series of deep, naturally carved rock pools. A small parking area with facilities is managed by the District of Sooke. (Contributed - District of Sooke)
Bear Henry was lost in the Vancouver Island woods for 74 days. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)

Months in the Vancouver Island forest felt like a week for Bear Henry

Henry’s body began shutting down and went into survival mode

Bear Henry was lost in the Vancouver Island woods for 74 days. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)
Black Press reporter and NFL insider Erin Haluschak. (Black Press file photo)

NFL podcast: Black Press preview for Super Bowl LVI clash between Rams, Bengals

Haluschak, Wolf offer game predictions, MVP selections

Black Press reporter and NFL insider Erin Haluschak. (Black Press file photo)
The population of Greater Nanaimo, based on Nanaimo Regional District which also includes Qualicum Beach, Parksville and Lantzville, rose by 9.4 per cent to 170,367 between 2016 and 2021. (Black Press Media file photo)

Vancouver Island adds more than 65,000 people between 2016 and 2021

Greater Victoria and Nanaimo Regional District together account for 67 per cent of Island’s growth

The population of Greater Nanaimo, based on Nanaimo Regional District which also includes Qualicum Beach, Parksville and Lantzville, rose by 9.4 per cent to 170,367 between 2016 and 2021. (Black Press Media file photo)
Travis Dezall, owner of Reel Life Charters in Sooke, shows off a pair of recent catches. Dezall said it is not surprising Vancouver Island was recently named a top fishing destination by fishingbooker.com. (Photo Courtesy of Travis Dezall)

Vancouver Island named to top fishing destinations list

Fishbooker.com named the region one of Canada’s best, with special a call-out to the Sooke region

Travis Dezall, owner of Reel Life Charters in Sooke, shows off a pair of recent catches. Dezall said it is not surprising Vancouver Island was recently named a top fishing destination by fishingbooker.com. (Photo Courtesy of Travis Dezall)
Black Press reporter and NFL insider Erin Haluschak. (Black Press file photo)

NFL report: Are you ready for some playoff football?

Podcast: Haluschak, Wolf look ahead to first round, back at a rough season for the Seattle Seahawks

Black Press reporter and NFL insider Erin Haluschak. (Black Press file photo)
The warming centre in Tahsis, where people have been without power since early Tuesday morning. Photo courtesy SRD

Remote Island communities pull together in the face of no power, deep snow

Zeballos, Tahsis, Gold River cut off from rest of Island; spend days without power

The warming centre in Tahsis, where people have been without power since early Tuesday morning. Photo courtesy SRD
‘Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants’ by Robin Wall Kimmerer topped the list for most borrowed e-audiobooks at the Vancouver Island Regional Library in 2021. (VIRL photo)

Vancouver Island Regional Library releases list of top borrowed books for 2021

Included are titles by Indigenous authors, murder mysteries from world-famous authors

‘Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants’ by Robin Wall Kimmerer topped the list for most borrowed e-audiobooks at the Vancouver Island Regional Library in 2021. (VIRL photo)
Kristian McIntyre and Karen Thompson in the old Knox Church, where his parents and sister were previously married. The wedding ceremony was conducted by Parksville marriage commissioner Carol Nelson. (Michael Briones photo)

Couple travels thousands of miles to marry in Vancouver Island heritage church

Couple wanted to continue a sentimental family tradition

Kristian McIntyre and Karen Thompson in the old Knox Church, where his parents and sister were previously married. The wedding ceremony was conducted by Parksville marriage commissioner Carol Nelson. (Michael Briones photo)
The VIRL board has permanently removed fines on all young adult materials, and extended the adult fine moratorium for another year. File photo

Vancouver Island Regional Library board removes fines for young adult material

Library fines can mean the difference between accessing materials or not

  • Dec 22, 2021
The VIRL board has permanently removed fines on all young adult materials, and extended the adult fine moratorium for another year. File photo
Tickets are now available for the Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue 50/50 draw.(News Bulletin file photo)
Tickets are now available for the Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue 50/50 draw.(News Bulletin file photo)
The Butchart Gardens celebrates the holiday season. Jen Blyth photo

12 days, 12 ways to celebrate Christmas around the Capital

Snow may be a rarity in British Columbia’s capital city, but the…

The Butchart Gardens celebrates the holiday season. Jen Blyth photo
The Vancouver Island Regional Library is the fifth largest library system in British Columbia and serves a population of more than 450,000. File photo

Vancouver Island Regional Library mandating vaccines for all employees

The Vancouver Island Regional Library (VIRL) is adopting a Vaccination Operational Policy…

The Vancouver Island Regional Library is the fifth largest library system in British Columbia and serves a population of more than 450,000. File photo
Sean Baxandall was driving south of Campbell River when he saw a bright flash of light (centre of screen) moving fast through the sky on Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021. (SCREENSHOT FROM VIDEO)

VIDEO: Loud boom, bright light likely a meteor, says Vancouver Island seismologist

Island-wide reports are tell-tale signs of an exploding meteor

Sean Baxandall was driving south of Campbell River when he saw a bright flash of light (centre of screen) moving fast through the sky on Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021. (SCREENSHOT FROM VIDEO)
Mount Arrowsmith on Vancouver Island. (Nancy Randall photo)

Was bright light and loud boom over Vancouver Island caused by a meteor?

People from Victoria to Campbell River and Tofino report flash of light in sky on Dec. 12

Mount Arrowsmith on Vancouver Island. (Nancy Randall photo)
Cape Beale Lighthouse today is owned and operated by the Canadian Coast Guard. The grounds are open for public visits. Photo Courtesy Kraid Anderson, lighthousefriends.com

A Vancouver Island shipwreck heroine

The story of Minnie Paterson’s heroic hike

  • Dec 9, 2021
Cape Beale Lighthouse today is owned and operated by the Canadian Coast Guard. The grounds are open for public visits. Photo Courtesy Kraid Anderson, lighthousefriends.com
Oceanside RCMP are looking for a suspect, right, following the Dec. 2 robbery at the French Creek Shell gas station, located in the 800-block of Island Highway West. (Submitted photo)

RCMP seek public’s help after knife-wielding bandit robs Vancouver Island gas station

Incident took place Dec. 2 at Shell outlet in French Creek

Oceanside RCMP are looking for a suspect, right, following the Dec. 2 robbery at the French Creek Shell gas station, located in the 800-block of Island Highway West. (Submitted photo)
Black Press reporter and NFL expert Erin Haluschak. (Peter McCully photo)

NFL report: Erin Haluschak breaks down what’s wrong with the Seattle Seahawks

Podcast: Discussion includes Russell Wilson’s future, predicted Super Bowl winner

Black Press reporter and NFL expert Erin Haluschak. (Peter McCully photo)
(File photo)

RCMP: Man, 41, faces charges after pickup’s wild ride along Vancouver Island highway

Residents in Qualicum Bay and Bowser called police; replica gun recovered

(File photo)
The federal government announced Tuesday that Victoria International Airport, among eight airports across Canada, can reopen for international air travel effective Nov. 30. (Black Press Media file photo)

Victoria International Airport cleared for take-off on international travel

Cross-border trips cleared for Nov. 30, but it may take some time to see flights resume

The federal government announced Tuesday that Victoria International Airport, among eight airports across Canada, can reopen for international air travel effective Nov. 30. (Black Press Media file photo)
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