Sooke

Many dentists are worried about the Canadian Dental Care Plan’s cumbersome administrative procedures and a lack of transparent information. (Unsplash)

Vancouver Island dentist worried about hurdles in federal dental plan

Practitioners encounter bureaucratic hurdles and unclear guidelines

 

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

 

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

 

A man with a history of offences that includes attempted kidnapping of a minor has been sentenced in voyeurism case stemming from a 2022 incident in Sooke. (Nina Grossman/News Staff)

Man gets 18 months in jail for voyeurism offence at Vancouver Island pool

Mark Istephan has a history of offences including attempted kidnapping and indecent acts

A man with a history of offences that includes attempted kidnapping of a minor has been sentenced in voyeurism case stemming from a 2022 incident in Sooke. (Nina Grossman/News Staff)
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.
This Christmas display prompted one person to write and complain to the homeowner. (Screenshot/Facebook)

Neighbours rally after a Grinch calls B.C. display a ‘Christmas abortion’

Sooke’s Cheryl Dinse was sent an angry letter about her Christmas lights display

This Christmas display prompted one person to write and complain to the homeowner. (Screenshot/Facebook)
Melissa McDevitt, 38, went missing on Dec. 10, 2022 in the Sooke Potholes area. Her body was discovered Wednesday by hikers. (Courtesy Victoria Police Department)

Hikers find body of missing woman in dense brush on Vancouver Island

Group discovers Melissa McDevitt’s body in Sooke where her car was found a year ago

Melissa McDevitt, 38, went missing on Dec. 10, 2022 in the Sooke Potholes area. Her body was discovered Wednesday by hikers. (Courtesy Victoria Police Department)
A partially loaded crude oil tanker is guided out of Burrard Inlet from Burnaby’s Westridge Terminal next to the Chevron oil refinery. (File - Black Press Media)

Vancouver Island communities seek oil tanker ban during rough seas

Concerns raised over spill response, more resources requested

A partially loaded crude oil tanker is guided out of Burrard Inlet from Burnaby’s Westridge Terminal next to the Chevron oil refinery. (File - Black Press Media)
A Sooke teacher has been banned from teaching. (Pixabay photo)

B.C. gym teacher banned after sexually exploiting teen student

Ian McKenzie admitted to using his position of power

A Sooke teacher has been banned from teaching. (Pixabay photo)
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)
Levi Choo recovering from burns on his hands at B.C. Children’s Hospital. The Choo family received support from B.C. Children’s Hospital and the B.C. Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund in dealing with the ordeal that dates back six years. (Photo submitted by family)

B.C. family shares harrowing story to raise funds for burn survivors

Hometown Heroes Lottery supports burn survivors and transform lives

Levi Choo recovering from burns on his hands at B.C. Children’s Hospital. The Choo family received support from B.C. Children’s Hospital and the B.C. Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund in dealing with the ordeal that dates back six years. (Photo submitted by family)
James Sails reached the summit of Mount Everest on May 24. (Submitted by James Sails)

Retired B.C. soldier conquers Mount Everest, fulfilling lifelong dream

East Sooke resident journeys to top of world in mountaineering quest

James Sails reached the summit of Mount Everest on May 24. (Submitted by James Sails)
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)
Samantha Geiger says she’s been harassed in the street, had her house broken into multiple times and, on one occasion, was nearly run down by someone with a vehicle. (Courtesy of Samantha Geiger)

‘It was like I needed permission from my rapist to talk’: B.C woman says ban turned town against her

Sooke’s Samantha Geiger says court-ordered publication ban prevented her from defending herself

Samantha Geiger says she’s been harassed in the street, had her house broken into multiple times and, on one occasion, was nearly run down by someone with a vehicle. (Courtesy of Samantha Geiger)
Kelly Favro, a 39-year-old Victoria mother went to the provincial supreme court to get her publication ban lifted. (Courtesy of Kelly Favro)

B.C. women push to end court-ordered silence placed on sexual assault victims

Group wants victims to have a say on publication bans for sexual assault cases

Kelly Favro, a 39-year-old Victoria mother went to the provincial supreme court to get her publication ban lifted. (Courtesy of Kelly Favro)
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)
A defaced road sign of a logging truck is seen near the protest site of Fairy Creek on southern Vancouver Island on Oct. 4, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

BC Supreme Court rejects old growth protesters application to combine their cases

Application called for court to join and stay proceedings due to RCMP’s “alleged systemic misconduct”

A defaced road sign of a logging truck is seen near the protest site of Fairy Creek on southern Vancouver Island on Oct. 4, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward