Austin Westphal

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Bill Okell shows off his gold medal with Flatout Motorsport’s 1994 Mazda Miata, after a surprise GTL class victory at the Sports Car Club of America 29th American Road Race of Champions. (Courtesy Bill Okell)

Saanich driver wins gold south of the border at 29th American Road Race of Champions

Bill Okell was nearly certain he had finished in second place

Bill Okell shows off his gold medal with Flatout Motorsport’s 1994 Mazda Miata, after a surprise GTL class victory at the Sports Car Club of America 29th American Road Race of Champions. (Courtesy Bill Okell)
Pepper’s Foods management and staff celebrate their bronze Independent Grocer of the Year small surface award, placing it in the top three independent grocery stores in Canada in its category. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)

Independently owned Saanich grocery store makes top 3 in all of Canada

Pepper’s Foods named third best independently owned grocery retailer in small surface category, again

Pepper’s Foods management and staff celebrate their bronze Independent Grocer of the Year small surface award, placing it in the top three independent grocery stores in Canada in its category. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)
The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Dragon cargo spacecraft lifts off from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Nov. 26, on the company’s 26th commercial resupply services mission for the agency to the International Space Station. (Kim Shiflett/NASA)

Mission accomplished: UVic satellite reaches International Space Station

ORCASat to measure how earth’s atmosphere affects light

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Dragon cargo spacecraft lifts off from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Nov. 26, on the company’s 26th commercial resupply services mission for the agency to the International Space Station. (Kim Shiflett/NASA)
The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. has cleared law enforcement officers of any wrongdoing after a Feb. 21 incident that left a Saanich man dead. (Black Press Media file photo)

Watchdog absolves officers after Saanich man dies during police encounter

IIO finds no wrongdoing after investigation into man who fatally shot himself with crossbow

The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. has cleared law enforcement officers of any wrongdoing after a Feb. 21 incident that left a Saanich man dead. (Black Press Media file photo)
The B.C. and transgender flags fly together at the B.C. legislature in Victoria on Sunday (Nov. 20) in recognition of Transgender Day of Remembrance. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)

B.C. legislature marks Transgender Day of Remembrance in Victoria

Transgender flag raised to commemorate lives lost to violence

The B.C. and transgender flags fly together at the B.C. legislature in Victoria on Sunday (Nov. 20) in recognition of Transgender Day of Remembrance. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)
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)
HeroWork hosts its big reveal of Victoria Cool Aid Society’s new and improved downtown community centre on Saturday (Nov. 12), which has been under construction since early August. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)

Cool Aid Society’s downtown Victoria community centre gets a new look

HeroWork reveals progress on latest ‘radical renovation’

HeroWork hosts its big reveal of Victoria Cool Aid Society’s new and improved downtown community centre on Saturday (Nov. 12), which has been under construction since early August. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)
Wreaths ornamented with poppies are laid at the cenotaph at Memorial Park during Esquimalt’s Remembrance Day ceremony on Friday (Nov. 11) morning. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)

PHOTOS: Esquimalt honours Canada’s fallen, veterans on Remembrance Day

Hundreds take part in parade, ceremony at Memorial Park cenotaph

Wreaths ornamented with poppies are laid at the cenotaph at Memorial Park during Esquimalt’s Remembrance Day ceremony on Friday (Nov. 11) morning. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)
Retired Warrant Officer Theresa ‘Terri’ Lynn Orser remembers the peacekeepers at the Langford Cenotaph. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)

Langford veteran recalls psychological toll of peacekeeping in the Balkans

Terri Orser witnessed action, horror in her 27 years in the Canadian Armed Forces

Retired Warrant Officer Theresa ‘Terri’ Lynn Orser remembers the peacekeepers at the Langford Cenotaph. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)
Saanich mayoral candidate Fred Haynes (left) and Victoria council candidate Janice Williams both face fines from Elections BC for sponsoring election advertising without a proper authorization statement in the 2022 municipal elections. (Submitted file photos)

Greater Victoria municipal election candidates face fines for violating advertising rules

Fred Haynes, Janice Williams issued monetary penalties for breaking campaign financing rules

Saanich mayoral candidate Fred Haynes (left) and Victoria council candidate Janice Williams both face fines from Elections BC for sponsoring election advertising without a proper authorization statement in the 2022 municipal elections. (Submitted file photos)
The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. has cleared law enforcement of any misconduct after a man experiencing a mental health crisis sustained severe injuries while being apprehended by a member of the Integrated Canine Service last year. (Black Press Media file photo)

Watchdog finds no wrongdoing after Saanich man injured by police canine during mental health call

IIO finds no wrongdoing after investigation into October 2021 incident

The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. has cleared law enforcement of any misconduct after a man experiencing a mental health crisis sustained severe injuries while being apprehended by a member of the Integrated Canine Service last year. (Black Press Media file photo)
BC Hydro’s power outages map, just after 9 a.m on Saturday, Nov. 5. (BC Hydro)

UPDATE: Thousands in Greater Victoria still without power after major windstorm

More than 100 crews continue to repair damaged power lines, power poles

BC Hydro’s power outages map, just after 9 a.m on Saturday, Nov. 5. (BC Hydro)
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 Saanich 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)
Campus View Elementary in Saanich has a new soft, non-slip playground surface made from 281 recycled B.C. scrap tires. (Courtesy Tire Stewardship BC)

Old tires give one Saanich elementary school’s playground a sustainable makeover

Campus View Elementary installs new playground surface made from recycled tires

Campus View Elementary in Saanich has a new soft, non-slip playground surface made from 281 recycled B.C. scrap tires. (Courtesy Tire Stewardship BC)
The District of Saanich reached a tentative settlement with municipal workers represented by CUPE Local 2011 on Tuesday (Oct. 25) morning. (Black Press Media file photo)

District of Saanich, labour union reach tentative agreement after nearly a year

Municipal workers to vote on terms of agreement Nov. 3

The District of Saanich reached a tentative settlement with municipal workers represented by CUPE Local 2011 on Tuesday (Oct. 25) morning. (Black Press Media file photo)
A provincial court has ruled that a judicial recount is not required for a close council race, the District of Saanich announced on Oct. 25. (Black Press Media file photo)

There won’t be a recount in tight Saanich council race

Rishi Sharma requested the recount after falling short of Teale Phelps Bondaroff by only 11 votes

A provincial court has ruled that a judicial recount is not required for a close council race, the District of Saanich announced on Oct. 25. (Black Press Media file photo)
Retired Staff Sgt.-Maj. Kathy Rochlitz (left), Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin, Craig Thompson, Dave Sinclair and Norm Scott pose for a photo after presenting the first poppy at Government House on Oct. 25. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)

B.C. lieutenant governor presented with first poppy to kick off 2022 campaign

Funds raised from annual Royal Canadian Legion poppy campaign supports veteran

Retired Staff Sgt.-Maj. Kathy Rochlitz (left), Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin, Craig Thompson, Dave Sinclair and Norm Scott pose for a photo after presenting the first poppy at Government House on Oct. 25. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)
Victoria police officers are reaching out to hair salons and spas in downtown as they continue to investigate a string of break-ins and robberies that stretch back to Aug. 31. (Black Press Media file photo)

Victoria police warn downtown spas, salons amid string of break-ins, robberies

Nine incidents of break-in, theft have been identified since Aug. 31

Victoria police officers are reaching out to hair salons and spas in downtown as they continue to investigate a string of break-ins and robberies that stretch back to Aug. 31. (Black Press Media file photo)
B.C.’s director of police services says the Township of Esquimalt needs to pay its share of the Victoria Police Department 2022 budget increase. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)

Esquimalt ordered to pony up its portion of 2022 Victoria police budget increase

Esquimalt council voted against police budget expansion in March

B.C.’s director of police services says the Township of Esquimalt needs to pay its share of the Victoria Police Department 2022 budget increase. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)
Saanich mayoral candidate Dean Murdock explodes into excitement after winning a race that what nothing short of suspenseful. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)

Dean Murdock edges out Fred Haynes for Saanich mayor

Colin Plant tops the vote for councillor, one of six incumbents to be re-elected

Saanich mayoral candidate Dean Murdock explodes into excitement after winning a race that what nothing short of suspenseful. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)