Saanich

Tim Naimi is the director of the University of Victoria’s Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research and the lead of a program that grades Canadian jurisdictions on their alcohol policies. The updated grading recently gave B.C. a failing grade. (Courtesy of Amanda Farrell-Low)

B.C. gets failing grade on alcohol policies from national project

Project’s lead flags alcohol’s impact on public health in call for strengthened regulations

Tim Naimi is the director of the University of Victoria’s Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research and the lead of a program that grades Canadian jurisdictions on their alcohol policies. The updated grading recently gave B.C. a failing grade. (Courtesy of Amanda Farrell-Low)
Jessica Tuomela with her golden retriever Lucy, who she has been training to work as a discriminant scent-trailing canine. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)

Blind Paralympian finds missing Greater Victoria resident with the help of her dog

Lucy, a discriminant scent-trailing canine, found a missing person around Elk Lake

Jessica Tuomela with her golden retriever Lucy, who she has been training to work as a discriminant scent-trailing canine. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)
The 12-and-a-half metre totem pole carved by about 160 inmates which stands outside the Vancouver Island Regional Corrections Centre in Saanich. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)

Inmates say totem pole they helped carve at B.C. jail a catalyst for remarkable change

About 160 at Vancouver Island Regional Corrections Centre participated in first-of-its-kind project

The 12-and-a-half metre totem pole carved by about 160 inmates which stands outside the Vancouver Island Regional Corrections Centre in Saanich. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)
Prototype testing with the UVic-led Blind Channel off-grid tidal power project, near West Thurlow Island, is successfully demonstrating the potential for harnessing tidal currents to power off-grid communities. (Courtesy of the Institute for Integrated Energy Systems at UVic)

$84M for UVic-led program looks to accelerate local energy transitions

7-year project aims to see rapid shift to renewable energy in small to mid-sized communities

Prototype testing with the UVic-led Blind Channel off-grid tidal power project, near West Thurlow Island, is successfully demonstrating the potential for harnessing tidal currents to power off-grid communities. (Courtesy of the Institute for Integrated Energy Systems at UVic)
Police seized more than $100,000 in vaping products being sold to youth at local schools after executing a search warrant at a Saanich business Friday (March 6). (Courtesy Saanich Police Department)

$100K in vaping products sold to kids via Snapchat on Vancouver Island seized

Federal Tobacco and Vaping Products Act prohibits sale of vaping products to anyone under age 18

Police seized more than $100,000 in vaping products being sold to youth at local schools after executing a search warrant at a Saanich business Friday (March 6). (Courtesy Saanich Police Department)
A class action suit has been certified against the former Saanich grocery store assistant manager who secretly filmed his naked coworkers in the bathroom, while the Red Barn grocery location is also named after being accused of a toxic and sexualized work environment. (Black Press Media file photo)

Lawsuit targets B.C. grocery store and man who secretly filmed naked co-workers

Plaintiffs accuse Red Barn location’s former management of enabling a misogynist workplace

A class action suit has been certified against the former Saanich grocery store assistant manager who secretly filmed his naked coworkers in the bathroom, while the Red Barn grocery location is also named after being accused of a toxic and sexualized work environment. (Black Press Media file photo)
A Saanich school teacher has been disciplined for his behaviour. (Pixabay photo) Classroom chairs (Pixabay photo)

B.C. teacher disciplined for telling Grade 3 kids he would ‘rip out’ their vocal cords

Teacher also said non-verbal children are ‘dumb’

A Saanich school teacher has been disciplined for his behaviour. (Pixabay photo) Classroom chairs (Pixabay photo)
Convicted of conspiring to kill his mother and grandmother more than 30 years ago, Darren Gowen – formerly Huenemann – is on day parole, extended six more months in a recent parole board decision. (Parole Board of Canada photo)

B.C. man who planned gruesome murders of mom, grandmother gets extended day parole

Darren Huenemann was 18 when he convinced his classmates to kill his family over inheritance

Convicted of conspiring to kill his mother and grandmother more than 30 years ago, Darren Gowen – formerly Huenemann – is on day parole, extended six more months in a recent parole board decision. (Parole Board of Canada photo)
The College of Massage Therapists of B.C. has handed a 25-year ban to a Saanich massage therapist who secretly videoed women undressing. (Unsplash photo)

25-year ban for former B.C. massage therapist who secretly recorded women disrobing

Gilles-Phillipe Lavoie set up a cell phone to video his patients prior to a massage

The College of Massage Therapists of B.C. has handed a 25-year ban to a Saanich massage therapist who secretly videoed women undressing. (Unsplash photo)
RCMP major crimes Superintendent Sanjaya Wijayakoom speaks during a press conference where the Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit released its investigation findings into the June 28, 2022, Saanich bank shootout. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)

Brothers aimed to kill police, didn’t expect to survive Saanich bank shootout

22-year-old Cowichan Valley brothers were killed in the June 2022 gunbattle outside BMO branch

RCMP major crimes Superintendent Sanjaya Wijayakoom speaks during a press conference where the Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit released its investigation findings into the June 28, 2022, Saanich bank shootout. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)
Police are looking to identify and speak to two men they feel may who may have information to help them find a missing Saanich teen. (Courtesy Saanich Police Department)

UPDATE: Police seek 2 men in search for missing high-risk Vancouver Island teen

17-year-old last seen Dec. 19 in Metro Vancouver

Police are looking to identify and speak to two men they feel may who may have information to help them find a missing Saanich teen. (Courtesy Saanich Police Department)
Saanich police Chief Dean Duthie speaks to the media Wednesday (Dec. 21) following the release of the IIO report into the June 28 shooting incident at a bank in Saanich which left six officer injured and two suspects dead. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

Officers called ‘heroes who put lives on the line’ in wake of B.C. bank shootout report

Chiefs say report ‘paints a clear picture’ of what Victoria area officers faced, 4 still recovering

Saanich police Chief Dean Duthie speaks to the media Wednesday (Dec. 21) following the release of the IIO report into the June 28 shooting incident at a bank in Saanich which left six officer injured and two suspects dead. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
Police have evacuated one building at the University of Victoria. (Nick Csillag/Twitter)

University of Victoria shooting threat found on bathroom wall sparks evacuation

Saanich police said the threat was written on a bathroom wall in Cornett building

Police have evacuated one building at the University of Victoria. (Nick Csillag/Twitter)
Sarah Fennell, along with several Greater Victoria parents, is speaking out after paying a $1,100 deposit for a daycare spot. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)

Saanich daycare kerfuffle reveals dire state of childcare in Greater Victoria

Non-refundable deposit not returned once parents learned of provider’s criminal history

Sarah Fennell, along with several Greater Victoria parents, is speaking out after paying a $1,100 deposit for a daycare spot. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)
Members of the University of Victoria women’s field hockey team celebrating their national championship win on Saturday. (Courtesy AP Shutter)

Sweet 15: B.C. coach ends generational run with another national field hockey title

UVic’s Lynne Beecroft retires on top while coaching daughter of player from her 1st championship

Members of the University of Victoria women’s field hockey team celebrating their national championship win on Saturday. (Courtesy AP Shutter)
A bison scapula and rib bones were found buried underneath a construction site in Saanich. The bones, which date back at least 12,000 years, were discovered on Oct. 19 and recovered Wednesday (Nov. 2). (Courtesy Broadmead Care)

Bison bones thousands of years old unearthed at Greater Victoria construction site

Bones estimated to be between 12,000 to 14,000 years old

A bison scapula and rib bones were found buried underneath a construction site in Saanich. The bones, which date back at least 12,000 years, were discovered on Oct. 19 and recovered Wednesday (Nov. 2). (Courtesy Broadmead Care)
The woman was struck while crossing the intersection of Quadra Street and Lily Avenue. (Google Maps)

B.C. woman pushing stroller seriously injured after being struck in intersection

The woman’s injuries are serious but not critical, the two children in the stroller were not injured

The woman was struck while crossing the intersection of Quadra Street and Lily Avenue. (Google Maps)
Krystal Janicki (left) and Tiare Boyes pose for a photo with a lobster during a dive in the waters of Gros Morne National Park on the west coast of Newfoundland. (Russell Clark/RCGS)

B.C. divers help uncover Newfoundland’s lost Liberator, ending 80-year search

International team of researchers, divers confirm discovery of crashed Second World War bomber

Krystal Janicki (left) and Tiare Boyes pose for a photo with a lobster during a dive in the waters of Gros Morne National Park on the west coast of Newfoundland. (Russell Clark/RCGS)
First responders lines up outside Victoria General Hospital on Sept. 7as the last of six officers injured in a June 28 shooting outside a Saanich bank was released from the hospital. (submitted photo)

2 months later, final officer hurt in B.C. bank shootout released from hospital

Saanich police member was seriously injured in the June 28 shootout, will now recover at home

First responders lines up outside Victoria General Hospital on Sept. 7as the last of six officers injured in a June 28 shooting outside a Saanich bank was released from the hospital. (submitted photo)
It’s easy to miss the public waterfront access at Hollywood Crescent and Wildwood Avenue in Victoria with not much signage in the area. A new guide looks to empower British Columbians to get back into public lands. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)

Groups call on British Columbians to know their rights to access public, natural spaces

UVic law centre teams up with outdoor council to empower residents to get out in nature

It’s easy to miss the public waterfront access at Hollywood Crescent and Wildwood Avenue in Victoria with not much signage in the area. A new guide looks to empower British Columbians to get back into public lands. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)