Rick Stiebel

The Juan de Fuca Trail is on the west side of Vancouver Island. B.C. Parks says hikers should be prepared for uneven ground and slippery conditions. (Landon Copplestone/Contributed)

Hikers help free man trapped in waist-deep mud on popular B.C. trail

A hiker’s ordeal on the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail ends with help from strangers

The Juan de Fuca Trail is on the west side of Vancouver Island. B.C. Parks says hikers should be prepared for uneven ground and slippery conditions. (Landon Copplestone/Contributed)
Sooke Realtor Tim Ayres was elected as the British Columbia Real Estate Association’s 2024-2025 chair at its annual meeting on March 26. (Submitted)

Vancouver Island Realtor elected as B.C. real estate board chair

Tim Ayres has also served with the Canadian Real Estate Association as a committee member

Sooke Realtor Tim Ayres was elected as the British Columbia Real Estate Association’s 2024-2025 chair at its annual meeting on March 26. (Submitted)
A chaotic sequence of events unfolded Friday morning (March 22, 2024) on East Sooke Road in Sooke on Vancouver Island, resulting in the arrest of two individuals following a crash, an assault, and the discovery of an explosive device.

2 arrested after crash, assault and bomb scare on Vancouver Island

Bomb squad called in police told of explosive device while arresting woman suspect

A chaotic sequence of events unfolded Friday morning (March 22, 2024) on East Sooke Road in Sooke on Vancouver Island, resulting in the arrest of two individuals following a crash, an assault, and the discovery of an explosive device.
A captive African lion stares out from behind cage bars, a powerful image from Raincoast Dog Rescue Society’s daring mission led by Jesse Adams to rescue nine lions from a war-torn zoo in Ukraine.

Noah-like mission: B.C. dog rescue saves 9 lions from war-torn Ukrainian zoo

Raincoast Dog Rescue Society leads daring mission showcasing commitment beyond canine companions

A captive African lion stares out from behind cage bars, a powerful image from Raincoast Dog Rescue Society’s daring mission led by Jesse Adams to rescue nine lions from a war-torn zoo in Ukraine.
The Pacheedaht First Nation and Parks Canada signed a ground-breaking agreement on Wednesday that returns the use of Middle Beach to the First Nation in advance of treaty settlement. (Facebook)

B.C. First Nation reclaims stewardship of prominent West Coast Trail beach

Middle Beach in Pacific Rim National Park is important area in Pacheedaht traditional territory

The Pacheedaht First Nation and Parks Canada signed a ground-breaking agreement on Wednesday that returns the use of Middle Beach to the First Nation in advance of treaty settlement. (Facebook)
A black bear is creating havoc at French Beach Provincial Park. Officials will close the park until the bear is captured. (Photo by Gary Schroyen)

Bear rips through tent, breaks into vehicle, closing B.C. campground

Black bear wanders into French Beach Provincial Park campsite west of Sooke

A black bear is creating havoc at French Beach Provincial Park. Officials will close the park until the bear is captured. (Photo by Gary Schroyen)
Carey Newman is one of the driving forces behind a project that will add sounds of Indigenous cultures to the Witness Blanket he first began working on in 2012. (University of Victoria/Photo Services)

B.C. Indigenous artist collecting sounds across Canada for virtual Witness Blanket

Carey Newman, creator of world-renowned Witness Blanket, seeks sounds from residential schools

Carey Newman is one of the driving forces behind a project that will add sounds of Indigenous cultures to the Witness Blanket he first began working on in 2012. (University of Victoria/Photo Services)
Local MLA John Horgan and T’Sou-ke Nation Chief Gordie Planes listen to an explanation from Synergraze founder and CEO Tamara Loiselle on how the spore tank works at a demonstration project in a greenhouse that’s home to an innovative project aimed at reducing methane gas emissions from livestock. (Rick Stiebel-Sooke News Mirror)

B.C. cow fart reduction project seeks to clear the air with seaweed

Partners in an innovative methane reduction method want to set the record straight with neighbours

Local MLA John Horgan and T’Sou-ke Nation Chief Gordie Planes listen to an explanation from Synergraze founder and CEO Tamara Loiselle on how the spore tank works at a demonstration project in a greenhouse that’s home to an innovative project aimed at reducing methane gas emissions from livestock. (Rick Stiebel-Sooke News Mirror)
Prince Charles leaves a roundtable event with business leaders in Ottawa, during the Canadian Royal tour, on May 18, 2022. Heritage Canada says an official Canadian portrait of King Charles III will be released “in due course.” (Justin Tang - The Canadian Press)

Coming soon to a public office near you: King Charles III’s face?

Government offices, municipal halls not required to display royal portraits, new one not ready yet

Prince Charles leaves a roundtable event with business leaders in Ottawa, during the Canadian Royal tour, on May 18, 2022. Heritage Canada says an official Canadian portrait of King Charles III will be released “in due course.” (Justin Tang - The Canadian Press)
A black bear lumbers along the banks of the Sooke River. A wildlife advocate says that weather impacts bears’ behaviour because it affects their food source. (Contributed - Gary Schroyen)

Bears need personal space as they prepare for winter, says B.C. wildlife advocate

Spring and summer weather affecting black bear hibernation schedule

A black bear lumbers along the banks of the Sooke River. A wildlife advocate says that weather impacts bears’ behaviour because it affects their food source. (Contributed - Gary Schroyen)
Peter Pauwels, a retired conservation officer, says the job offers many interesting and rewarding moments, but there are many challenges. “We have to do many unpleasant things in this job. The amount of animals I’ve had to kill is staggering. (Contrtibuted - Peter Pauwels)

We don’t enjoy ‘killing animals,’ says former B.C. conservation officer

Peter Pauwels discusses the challenges and rewards of 30 years on the job

Peter Pauwels, a retired conservation officer, says the job offers many interesting and rewarding moments, but there are many challenges. “We have to do many unpleasant things in this job. The amount of animals I’ve had to kill is staggering. (Contrtibuted - Peter Pauwels)
Conservation officer Peter Pauwels recently retired after 30 years of service, the vast majority of which was spent working in the Capital Region and southern Vancouver Island. (Courtesy Peter Pauwels)

The inconvenient truths about black bears in Greater Victoria

Think again if you believe development drives bears away, says former conservation officer

Conservation officer Peter Pauwels recently retired after 30 years of service, the vast majority of which was spent working in the Capital Region and southern Vancouver Island. (Courtesy Peter Pauwels)
B.C. Premier John Horgan and T’Sou-ke Nation Chief Gordie Planes listen to an explanation from Synergraze founder and CEO Tamara Loiselle on how the spore tank works at a demonstration project in a greenhouse that’s home to an innovative project aimed at reducing methane gas emissions from livestock. (Rick Stiebel - Sooke News Mirror)

B.C. premier pitches plan for less gas from cattle

Innovative technology could drastically reduce cattle methane emissions

B.C. Premier John Horgan and T’Sou-ke Nation Chief Gordie Planes listen to an explanation from Synergraze founder and CEO Tamara Loiselle on how the spore tank works at a demonstration project in a greenhouse that’s home to an innovative project aimed at reducing methane gas emissions from livestock. (Rick Stiebel - Sooke News Mirror)
A team jumped to the rescue of a baby porpoise in distress at Whiffin Spit. (Submitted)

Stranded baby porpoise rescued after Vancouver Island hiker splashes into action

Sooke residents start rescue before professional reinforcements arrive by air

A team jumped to the rescue of a baby porpoise in distress at Whiffin Spit. (Submitted)
A CRD master plan proposed to secure the future of water in the region is pegged at $2 billion. (File - Sooke News Mirror)

Greater Victoria waterworks improvement plan could top $2 billion

New filtration plant at Sooke Reservoir front and centre

A CRD master plan proposed to secure the future of water in the region is pegged at $2 billion. (File - Sooke News Mirror)
The Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit is investigating a homicide that occurred over the weekend in Sooke. (File - Sooke News Mirror)

Police have ‘person of interest’ in Sooke murder probe

Parties involved known to each other, police say

The Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit is investigating a homicide that occurred over the weekend in Sooke. (File - Sooke News Mirror)