Christine van Reeuwyk

Welland Orchard in View Royal is run by the non-profit LifeCycles Project. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

VIDEO: Energy ready to burst in Vancouver Island public orchard

Lifecycles land near Victoria cultivates community connections to land, each other

Welland Orchard in View Royal is run by the non-profit LifeCycles Project. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
Police are searching for Nicolas West, 26, (left), and Daniel MacAlpine, 36, (right) who went missing while kayaking between Island View Beach and D’Arcy Island on April 20. (Courtesy Sidney/North Saanich RCMP)

UPDATE: Bodies of 2 men found in U.S. waters in wake of missing Canadian kayakers

Empty kayak located Sunday off Henry Island

Police are searching for Nicolas West, 26, (left), and Daniel MacAlpine, 36, (right) who went missing while kayaking between Island View Beach and D’Arcy Island on April 20. (Courtesy Sidney/North Saanich RCMP)
Searchers are looking for Daniel MacAlpine, 36, (right) and Nicolas West, 26, (left), who went missing while kayaking between Island View Beach and D’Arcy Island on April 20th, 2024. (Courtesy Sidney/North Saanich RCMP)

U.S., Canadian searchers scour south B.C. waters for missing kayakers

Pair last known to be paddling off Central Saanich on Saturday

Searchers are looking for Daniel MacAlpine, 36, (right) and Nicolas West, 26, (left), who went missing while kayaking between Island View Beach and D’Arcy Island on April 20th, 2024. (Courtesy Sidney/North Saanich RCMP)
A swimmer emerges from the ocean near Ogden Point after a record-breaking hot day. (Black Press Media file photo)

Hot Topic: UVic, CRD extreme heat study gathers personal stories

Extreme heat stories, survey data to inform service providers, Island Health and CRD

A swimmer emerges from the ocean near Ogden Point after a record-breaking hot day. (Black Press Media file photo)
The Texas clouds disperse Monday (April 8) in time for for Saanich father and son Steve Hickton and Connor Hickton to experience the full solar eclipse. (Photo by Steven Hickton)

PHOTOS: Saanich pair races to clear skies in Texas for total solar eclipse

4 a.m. start, traffic dodging lands father-son duo in Goldthwaite in the path of totality

The Texas clouds disperse Monday (April 8) in time for for Saanich father and son Steve Hickton and Connor Hickton to experience the full solar eclipse. (Photo by Steven Hickton)
Emerson, a two-year-old elephant seal, makes his way from the shoreline of the Gorge Waterway into traffic. (Eli Katz/Facebook)

VIDEO: Fisheries relocates famed Vancouver Island elephant seal to remote beach

Dubbed Emerson by locals, the seal repeatedly returns to Greater Victoria

Emerson, a two-year-old elephant seal, makes his way from the shoreline of the Gorge Waterway into traffic. (Eli Katz/Facebook)
De Havilland Canada is amping up local production of parts for the DHC 515 firefighter water bomber at its North Saanich site. (Courtesy De Havilland Canada)

Wildfire demand pushes production at North Saanich water bomber parts site

De Havilland ups to 300 staff in preparation for 24 European planes

De Havilland Canada is amping up local production of parts for the DHC 515 firefighter water bomber at its North Saanich site. (Courtesy De Havilland Canada)
Connor Hickton (left) and Steve Hickton of Saanich are set to chase an eclipse, travelling to Texas ahead of the April 8 event. (Courtesy Steve Hickton)

B.C. father and son chasing total solar eclipse to Texas

Steve and Connor Hickton took the same UVic astronomy course 20 years apart

Connor Hickton (left) and Steve Hickton of Saanich are set to chase an eclipse, travelling to Texas ahead of the April 8 event. (Courtesy Steve Hickton)
Steph Brulot-Sawchyn snapped a pic of this siphonophore while snorkelling near Clover Point in Victoria on March 19 and later identified it using iNaturalist. (Photo by Steph Brulot-Sawchyn)

PHOTOS: 2-foot long deep sea creature spotted off Victoria shores

‘Once you get your head under the water it’s a whole different world’

Steph Brulot-Sawchyn snapped a pic of this siphonophore while snorkelling near Clover Point in Victoria on March 19 and later identified it using iNaturalist. (Photo by Steph Brulot-Sawchyn)
Langford warns residents to avoid contact, leash pets at toxic rough-skinned newts appear in Westhills. (City of Langford/Facebook)

Toxic amphibians gather in Langford, common across B.C. coast

Rough-skinned newts gather in large numbers around wetlands from February to April

Langford warns residents to avoid contact, leash pets at toxic rough-skinned newts appear in Westhills. (City of Langford/Facebook)
A decade ago, 72 professional sand sculptors set out to carve 30,000 tonnes of sand into a small town. Halfway through the project, a rainstorm hit. (Photo by Damon Langlois)

PHOTOS: B.C. sand sculptor’s book inspired by 3-days of rain in Kuwait

Stories in Sand - The Arabian Nights bound for book form after successful kickstarter

A decade ago, 72 professional sand sculptors set out to carve 30,000 tonnes of sand into a small town. Halfway through the project, a rainstorm hit. (Photo by Damon Langlois)
Gary Powe, left, serves as project lead on the Avro Lancaster FM104 restoration underway at the BC Aviation Museum adjacent to the Victoria International Airport. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

VIDEO: Personal connections help B.C. museum Lancaster restoration soar

Aviation museum hopes to have visitors sitting in the cockpit by August

Gary Powe, left, serves as project lead on the Avro Lancaster FM104 restoration underway at the BC Aviation Museum adjacent to the Victoria International Airport. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
Victoria father and son, Adonis Puentes and Jordan Puentes are featured in the first episode of the second season of How I Got Here a show that documents second generation children accompanying their parents back to their country of origin. The second season begins on Heart & Home on Mar. 4. (Courtesy FORTÉ Entertainment/Super Channel)

TV show helps B.C. father, son forge bond in Cuba after 11 years apart

Adonis was 21 when he left Cuba; Jordan was 21 when the pair returned

Victoria father and son, Adonis Puentes and Jordan Puentes are featured in the first episode of the second season of How I Got Here a show that documents second generation children accompanying their parents back to their country of origin. The second season begins on Heart & Home on Mar. 4. (Courtesy FORTÉ Entertainment/Super Channel)
A rendering offers the first look at what up to seven new ferries could look like when they enter operation starting in 2029. (Courtesy BC Ferries)

Retirement planning: BC Ferries launches concept images for new vessels

New boats expected to run cleaner and carry more passengers

A rendering offers the first look at what up to seven new ferries could look like when they enter operation starting in 2029. (Courtesy BC Ferries)
Amalea Smithson shoots footage of an eagle struggling to get airborne with a heavy load in its talons on Feb. 21 in the Interurban area of Saanich. (Screengrab)

Bird-eat-bird world: B.C. couple wowed by eagle seen snatching ‘lunch’ in city

Resident captures bird’s slow ascent carrying its catch before ducking out of sight

Amalea Smithson shoots footage of an eagle struggling to get airborne with a heavy load in its talons on Feb. 21 in the Interurban area of Saanich. (Screengrab)
Pilot-in-training Morrison Stewart explores the B.C. Aviation Museum by pedal plane Saturday Aug. 19, 2023. Kids can get in the cockpit for photos again on Feb. 18 with admission by donation. (Black Press Media file photo)

Pilots of all ages can climb into the cockpit at BC Aviation Museum

By-donation event runs Sunday, Feb. 18 at the North Saanich museum

Pilot-in-training Morrison Stewart explores the B.C. Aviation Museum by pedal plane Saturday Aug. 19, 2023. Kids can get in the cockpit for photos again on Feb. 18 with admission by donation. (Black Press Media file photo)
A Victoria squirrel may be out looking for love this February. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)

B.C. squirrels, skunks and raccoons are all looking for love this Valentine’s

Desire to mate brings critters out, then nesting puts attics and sheds at risk

A Victoria squirrel may be out looking for love this February. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)
The Victoria-based Pony Communications team is passionate about what it does, even when working on a space toilet campaign. (Courtesy Pony Communications)

Lunar Loo-nacy: B.C. firm clinches award after NASA space toilet campaign

Founder adamant team spirit earned Pony Communications an Inc. business award

The Victoria-based Pony Communications team is passionate about what it does, even when working on a space toilet campaign. (Courtesy Pony Communications)
This tiny stuffy has yet to be reunited with its family, but is drawing a lot of attention and creating community on the Oak Bay Lost & Found Facebook page.(Courtesy Cyndra Townley)

Reuniting people with mitts and more builds online B.C. community

‘Even little things make a difference’ says woman running online lost and found

This tiny stuffy has yet to be reunited with its family, but is drawing a lot of attention and creating community on the Oak Bay Lost & Found Facebook page.(Courtesy Cyndra Townley)
Victoria toymaker Matt Hiebert’s new puzzle technically has no solution, or endless solutions, depending on perspective. (Courtesy of Aroundsquare)

B.C. toymaker’s puzzle with no solution offers ‘joy of open-ended building’

‘Because they can fit together in any arrangement there’s no frustration’

Victoria toymaker Matt Hiebert’s new puzzle technically has no solution, or endless solutions, depending on perspective. (Courtesy of Aroundsquare)