Saanich Peninsula

George Burnside shows off his own personalized hell on wheels, a 1965 Ford Fairlane 500 Sport Coupe. For the soft-spoken chef, the vehicle has become a tool to overcome his alcoholism. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

B.C. man drives scary clown car to his own personal redemption story

George Burnside’s vintage vehicle brings out the joy of Halloween, anchors his battle with alcoholism

George Burnside shows off his own personalized hell on wheels, a 1965 Ford Fairlane 500 Sport Coupe. For the soft-spoken chef, the vehicle has become a tool to overcome his alcoholism. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Cpt. Jered Blaikie of Central Saanich Fire Department holds up the male tabby he and his colleagues helped rescue Saturday afternoon. (Central Saanich Fire Department/Facebook)

With Pickles: McDonald’s-bound B.C. girl hears cat stuck in engine, sparks 2-year reunion

Young girl on way to McDonald’s helps rescue cat from parked car in Central Saanich

Cpt. Jered Blaikie of Central Saanich Fire Department holds up the male tabby he and his colleagues helped rescue Saturday afternoon. (Central Saanich Fire Department/Facebook)
Sherry Brydson, owner of De Havilland Canada and Suromitra Sanatani, Canada Post’s chair of the board of directors, unveil the DHC-2 Beaver postage stamp at Viking Air Ltd. (Courtesy of CNW Group/De Havilland Aircraft of Canada)

New stamp featuring iconic bush plane unveiled at B.C.’s Viking Air

The stamp, featuring the DHC-2 Beaver, joins the new Canadians in Flight series

Sherry Brydson, owner of De Havilland Canada and Suromitra Sanatani, Canada Post’s chair of the board of directors, unveil the DHC-2 Beaver postage stamp at Viking Air Ltd. (Courtesy of CNW Group/De Havilland Aircraft of Canada)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized just under 650 kilograms of methamphetamine, in addition to a loaded 9mm pistol in May. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Alberta man faces prison time for attempting to smuggle boatload of meth into Canada

U.S. authorities intercepted Ted Karl Faupel before he returned to Canadian waters

U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized just under 650 kilograms of methamphetamine, in addition to a loaded 9mm pistol in May. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Local MP Elizabeth May is once running for the leadership of the federal Greens on a platform proposing to share leadership with Jonathan Pedneault. (Courtesy of Green Party of Canada)

Elizabeth May takes team approach in comeback Green Party leadership bid

Saanich Gulf Islands MP plans to lead the Greens again with Jonathan Pedneault as co-leader

Local MP Elizabeth May is once running for the leadership of the federal Greens on a platform proposing to share leadership with Jonathan Pedneault. (Courtesy of Green Party of Canada)
Pierre Poilievre, who is leading the race for the leadership of the Conservative Party of Canada, filled the main hall at Sidney’s Mary Winspear Centre Sunday afternoon with an estimated 1,200 poeple in the crowd. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Tory leadership hopeful promises economic autonomy, housing during B.C. stop

Pierre Poilievre speaks to a crowd of more than 1,200 people in Greater Victoria suburb

Pierre Poilievre, who is leading the race for the leadership of the Conservative Party of Canada, filled the main hall at Sidney’s Mary Winspear Centre Sunday afternoon with an estimated 1,200 poeple in the crowd. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Jared VanderMeer shares tips in creative photography while sharing iconic scenes of Victoria such as Fisherman’s Wharf. (Jared VanderMeer/Instagram)

Vancouver Island inspires North Saanich creator to go pro on TikTok

Jared VanderMeer hopes to hit 1M followers by month’s end

Jared VanderMeer shares tips in creative photography while sharing iconic scenes of Victoria such as Fisherman’s Wharf. (Jared VanderMeer/Instagram)
The historic De Havilland Beaver, retrofitted in 2019 to operate using 100 per cent electricity, flew 45 miles from Richmond to North Saanich on Aug. 18. (Harbour Air/Twitter)

Historic electric seaplane successfully completes flight across B.C.’s Georgia Strait

Harbour Air’s E-Beaver soars closer to regular runs with test from Richmond to Vancouver Island

The historic De Havilland Beaver, retrofitted in 2019 to operate using 100 per cent electricity, flew 45 miles from Richmond to North Saanich on Aug. 18. (Harbour Air/Twitter)
Valerii Didenko is seen with Paul Fussell and Cathy Jansen’s dog, named Lucy. (Black Press Media)

Ukrainian couple, daughter land in B.C. with hopes of building a ‘big, happy family’

The Didenkos hope to rent a unit nearby as their 5-year-old daughter enters kindergarten

Valerii Didenko is seen with Paul Fussell and Cathy Jansen’s dog, named Lucy. (Black Press Media)
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)
Canadian and U.S. responders resuscitated a man near Sidney on July 15 after a couple found him unresponsive in the water. (Courtesy of Sidney/North Saanich RCMP)

Kayakers pull unresponsive man from B.C. waters before responders revive him

Man was face down in the waters off Greater Victoria when paddling couple found him

Canadian and U.S. responders resuscitated a man near Sidney on July 15 after a couple found him unresponsive in the water. (Courtesy of Sidney/North Saanich RCMP)
Tyson Elder, operations manager for the Saanich Peninsula Lions Food Bank, said the situation is getting desperate in face of food shortages and growing demand as inflation has cut into the budgets of more and more people. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Desperate for food: Food banks in dire need as demand surges across B.C., Canada

Skyrocketing housing prices, inflation forcing more people to access food bank services

Tyson Elder, operations manager for the Saanich Peninsula Lions Food Bank, said the situation is getting desperate in face of food shortages and growing demand as inflation has cut into the budgets of more and more people. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Honey needs new wheels after being found paralyzed on the side of a road. (GVAC/Facebook)

‘Honey needs wheels’: Island animal rescue fundraises for paralyzed, abandoned pup

The organization plans to try physiotherapy but says: ‘Honey needs wheels’

Honey needs new wheels after being found paralyzed on the side of a road. (GVAC/Facebook)
Greater Victoria has the highest proportion of trans and non-binary folks in Canada, home to about one million people who self-identify as LGBTQ2+. Shown is the crowd from the 2018 Victoria Pride parade. (Photo courtesy of Victoria Pride Society)

LGBTQ2+ community of 1 million in Canada continue to face serious obstacles

LGBTQ2+ community in Canada three times more likely to report being assaulted in 2018

Greater Victoria has the highest proportion of trans and non-binary folks in Canada, home to about one million people who self-identify as LGBTQ2+. Shown is the crowd from the 2018 Victoria Pride parade. (Photo courtesy of Victoria Pride Society)
Passengers with their luggage wait outside the arrivals area at Victoria International Airport on Tuesday afternoon. The airport was closed to commercial traffic for several hours after an RCMP bomb squad was called. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

UPDATE: Greater Victoria man faces mischief charges after attempting to fly with hand grenades

Police still investigating after decommissioned devices cause closure of Victoria airport

Passengers with their luggage wait outside the arrivals area at Victoria International Airport on Tuesday afternoon. The airport was closed to commercial traffic for several hours after an RCMP bomb squad was called. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
A Sidney/North Saanich RCMP police vehicle parked in front of the terminal building at Victoria International Airport. Police are clearing out passengers from the building and informing others that upcoming flights are cancelled at the present time. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

UPDATE: Victoria airport back to normal operations after ‘incendiary item’ found Tuesday

Flights were cancelled over a six-hour span, many travellers headed for ferry terminal

A Sidney/North Saanich RCMP police vehicle parked in front of the terminal building at Victoria International Airport. Police are clearing out passengers from the building and informing others that upcoming flights are cancelled at the present time. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
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)

Elizabeth May calls for seizure of B.C. property used by Harry and Meghan

Former Green leader says Russian oligarch may still be benefitting from Vancouver Island 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)
Sidney/North Saanich RCMP says the fire-related death of a man early Saturday morning is not suspicious, but the investigation is ongoing. (Black Press Media file photo)

UPDATE: Man in his early 70s dies in Greater Victoria fire

Fire is not considered suspicious, investigation ongoing

Sidney/North Saanich RCMP says the fire-related death of a man early Saturday morning is not suspicious, but the investigation is ongoing. (Black Press Media file photo)
North Saanich Coun. Patricia Pearson, here seen with daughter Emma Pearson, husband Aaron Pearson and son Addysen, hopes that her decision to take a parental level will inspire further changes to help reconcile personal lives with public service. (Krystle Schofield/Submitted)

B.C. councillor hopes her parental leave sets trends, removes barriers

North Saanich councillor taking three-month family leave after adopting infant son

North Saanich Coun. Patricia Pearson, here seen with daughter Emma Pearson, husband Aaron Pearson and son Addysen, hopes that her decision to take a parental level will inspire further changes to help reconcile personal lives with public service. (Krystle Schofield/Submitted)
A woman holds a dog while crossing the Irpin River on an improvised path under a bridge as people flee the town of Irpin, Ukraine. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

B.C. author in western Ukraine says potential for greater conflict very real

Ukrainians appreciate international support, lament lack of physical military aid

A woman holds a dog while crossing the Irpin River on an improvised path under a bridge as people flee the town of Irpin, Ukraine. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)