Austin Westphal

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)
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 Sidney

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)
Fred Haynes (left) and Dean Murdock (right) are running for the mayor’s seat in the District of Saanich. (Submitted file photos)

Saanich mayoral candidates face off in feisty debate

Housing is a key issue for incumbent Fred Haynes and challenger Dean Murdock

Fred Haynes (left) and Dean Murdock (right) are running for the mayor’s seat in the District of Saanich. (Submitted file photos)
Police have cordoned off a section of Haynes Road in addition to a section of the Swan Lake trail in Saanich. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)

Police incident closes section of Swan Lake trail in Saanich

Detectives on scene for investigation

Police have cordoned off a section of Haynes Road in addition to a section of the Swan Lake trail in Saanich. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)
Scott Adams (left) poses for a picture with several players from the Victoria Cougars Junior Hockey Club after donating blood. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)

Local hockey enthusiast inspires next generation of players to give blood in Saanich

Blood donors helped save Adam Scott after life-changing car accident

Scott Adams (left) poses for a picture with several players from the Victoria Cougars Junior Hockey Club after donating blood. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)
The University of Victoria’s Mirai Hayashi takes a shot at the Cordova Bay Golf Course in Saanich. Vikes men’s and women’s golf teams earned two medal in team competition and two medals in individual competition at the 2022 Canada West Championship, Oct. 3 and 4. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)

Vikes men take gold, women win silver at Canada West Golf Championships in Saanich

Athletes from nine universities across Western Canada competed in teams, individually

The University of Victoria’s Mirai Hayashi takes a shot at the Cordova Bay Golf Course in Saanich. Vikes men’s and women’s golf teams earned two medal in team competition and two medals in individual competition at the 2022 Canada West Championship, Oct. 3 and 4. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)