Don Descoteau

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GMG Projects vice-president of development, Tonny Kiptoo, perches atop the loft ladder in a suite in the Adelphi Block. An original back-of-building cigarette ad was discovered and preserved and adds a unique decorative element to the room. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)

Heritage revitalization project in downtown Victoria a labour of love for developers

The tiny Adelphi Block offers unique living spaces, urban lifestyle on busy Old Town corner

GMG Projects vice-president of development, Tonny Kiptoo, perches atop the loft ladder in a suite in the Adelphi Block. An original back-of-building cigarette ad was discovered and preserved and adds a unique decorative element to the room. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)
Saanich councillor and Capital Regional District director Ned Taylor wants the CRD to consider expanding its engagement with and local government education opportunities for area youth. (Black Press Media file photo).

More engagement with youth could bring fresh ideas to CRD: Saanich councillor

Young politician provides a good example of youth leadership in the region

Saanich councillor and Capital Regional District director Ned Taylor wants the CRD to consider expanding its engagement with and local government education opportunities for area youth. (Black Press Media file photo).
Westview, one of the newest targeted apartment complexes opened by the Capital Regional District Housing Corporation, came in $700,000 under budget. That money can now be used for another project, possibly in Greater Victoria. (Courtesy crd.bc.ca)

Cost savings on CRD housing project in Saanich could be passed on to tenants

Affordable housing project on Carey Road came in $700,000 under budget

Westview, one of the newest targeted apartment complexes opened by the Capital Regional District Housing Corporation, came in $700,000 under budget. That money can now be used for another project, possibly in Greater Victoria. (Courtesy crd.bc.ca)
Rendering of the concrete materials storage silo and loading wharf proposed for the new Trio Ready Mix waterfront plant in Rock Bay on the Gorge Waterway. (Courtesy City of Victoria)

Proposal for 32-metre illuminated silo up for discussion in Victoria

Silo would form part of Trio Ready Mix’s environmentally friendly waterfront concrete plant

Rendering of the concrete materials storage silo and loading wharf proposed for the new Trio Ready Mix waterfront plant in Rock Bay on the Gorge Waterway. (Courtesy City of Victoria)
Eagle Wing Tours is one of 33 commercial tenants of the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority whose April to August rent is being retroactively reduced to 25 per cent of normal, thanks to federal emergency funding. (Black Press Media file photo)

Federal rent help eases COVID sting for Victoria’s commercial waterfront businesses

Greater Victoria Harbour Authority played key role in securing emergency funding

Eagle Wing Tours is one of 33 commercial tenants of the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority whose April to August rent is being retroactively reduced to 25 per cent of normal, thanks to federal emergency funding. (Black Press Media file photo)
Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps hoped to find an alternative that could see Oak Bay Lodge used for short-term housing, but she found little support for the idea at a CRD hospital and housing committee meeting Wednesday. (Black Press Media file photo)

CRD committee rejects plea to revisit temporary shelter proposal for Oak Bay Lodge

Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps’ request to find creative way to make it work finds little support

Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps hoped to find an alternative that could see Oak Bay Lodge used for short-term housing, but she found little support for the idea at a CRD hospital and housing committee meeting Wednesday. (Black Press Media file photo)
Businesses in Greater Victoria’s hospitality and retail industries have not rebounded from the effects of COVID-19 restrictions as quickly as sectors such as construction and development. Recommendations released Thursday (Aug. 27) by the South Island Prosperity Partnership address the challenges faced by certain industries and steps to be taken to accelerate the region’s overall economic recovery. (Black Press Media file photo)

Roadmap to recovery: South Island Prosperity Partnership releases 40-point plan

Recommendations provide broad strategies to jump-start economy in Greater Victoria and beyond

Businesses in Greater Victoria’s hospitality and retail industries have not rebounded from the effects of COVID-19 restrictions as quickly as sectors such as construction and development. Recommendations released Thursday (Aug. 27) by the South Island Prosperity Partnership address the challenges faced by certain industries and steps to be taken to accelerate the region’s overall economic recovery. (Black Press Media file photo)
The sights and sounds of the midway at the Saanich Fair will be absent this year. (Courtesy Saanich Fair)

Saanich Fair takes an online turn, keeps the kids in mind

A community staple since the 1860s, Labour Day weekend icon keeps low profile due to COVID

The sights and sounds of the midway at the Saanich Fair will be absent this year. (Courtesy Saanich Fair)
Purple ribbons line sections of Broughton Street in Victoria to remind about International Overdose Awareness Day, Aug. 31. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)

Victoria group hosting online candlelight vigil for Overdose Awareness Day

Public invited to remember loved ones lost to overdose and to join social media event Aug. 31

Purple ribbons line sections of Broughton Street in Victoria to remind about International Overdose Awareness Day, Aug. 31. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)
Loss of storage space leads to 25-cent bargains for Victoria comic book fans

Loss of storage space leads to 25-cent bargains for Victoria comic book fans

Nostalgic customers take a trip back to their youth as downtown shop owner unloads boxes of comics

Loss of storage space leads to 25-cent bargains for Victoria comic book fans
Vehicle traffic contributed approximately 46 per cent to the total greenhouse gas emissions in the Capital Region in 2018, according to a CRD staff report discussed by the board Wednesday. (Black Press Media files)

Greater Victoria hardly making a dent in greenhouse gas emissions target

One-per-cent drop from 2007 to 2018 a far cry from the 33-per-cent goal for 2020

Vehicle traffic contributed approximately 46 per cent to the total greenhouse gas emissions in the Capital Region in 2018, according to a CRD staff report discussed by the board Wednesday. (Black Press Media files)
The wood frame, mass timber commercial building in Esquimalt Town Square utilizes green technologies and features 10-foot, ground-floor ceilings. It will eventually be home to a new library and a neighbourhood pub/restaurant. (Don Descoteau/Black Press Media)

Excitement building around Esquimalt Town Square

Residential, commercial and library project will add vibrancy, amenities to area, mayor says

The wood frame, mass timber commercial building in Esquimalt Town Square utilizes green technologies and features 10-foot, ground-floor ceilings. It will eventually be home to a new library and a neighbourhood pub/restaurant. (Don Descoteau/Black Press Media)
The 800-block of Fisgard Street in downtown Victoria sits partially blocked by police Wednesday morning (Aug. 12). Emergency crews responded to a small fire that sent one man to hospital with severe injuries. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)

One man in hospital with severe injuries after small fire in Victoria apartment building

Man was found by firefighters responding to multiple 911 calls about smoke on third floor

The 800-block of Fisgard Street in downtown Victoria sits partially blocked by police Wednesday morning (Aug. 12). Emergency crews responded to a small fire that sent one man to hospital with severe injuries. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)
The Greater Victoria real estate market this summer is showing major sales increases over last year, especially in the area of single family homes. But inventory remains low, says the president of the Victoria Real Estate Board. (File photo)

Greater Victoria real estate sales numbers tell two stories for July

Real estate board president Sandi-Jo Ayers talks about pent-up spring demand, low inventory

The Greater Victoria real estate market this summer is showing major sales increases over last year, especially in the area of single family homes. But inventory remains low, says the president of the Victoria Real Estate Board. (File photo)
View Royal Mayor David Screech found himself victimized this week by a CERB scammer who managed to access Screech’s Canada Revenue Agency account. (File photo)

Vancouver Island mayor hacked by CERB identity theft scammer

View Royal’s David Screech shocked to find CRA account accessed, banking information changed

View Royal Mayor David Screech found himself victimized this week by a CERB scammer who managed to access Screech’s Canada Revenue Agency account. (File photo)
Ian Robertson, CEO of the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority stands at the Ogden Point Breakwater on a warm May day, where, in a world without COVID-19, thousands would have disembarked from arriving cruise ships. (Nina Grossman/News Staff)

Hard-hit Victoria harbour tenants get a hand from their landlord

Greater Victoria Harbour Authority doing what it can to help operators get through COVID-19 summer

Ian Robertson, CEO of the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority stands at the Ogden Point Breakwater on a warm May day, where, in a world without COVID-19, thousands would have disembarked from arriving cruise ships. (Nina Grossman/News Staff)
BC Ferries is projecting major financial losses this fiscal year, due to the drastic reduction in traffic during the first few months of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the lack of provincial or federal bailout funding. (Black Press Media file photo)

BC Ferries’ COVID-related financial woes compounded by lack of transit bailout funding

Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Claire Trevena insists no fare increases on the way

BC Ferries is projecting major financial losses this fiscal year, due to the drastic reduction in traffic during the first few months of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the lack of provincial or federal bailout funding. (Black Press Media file photo)
A mid-block sign on Humboldt Street between Blanshard and Quadra streets gives motorists and cyclists instruction on how to use the newly reconfigured roadway. (Don Descoteau/Black Press)

VIDEO: New bike lanes on Victoria street leave some drivers confused

Drivers in single centre lane must yield to cyclists when moving over for oncoming vehicles

A mid-block sign on Humboldt Street between Blanshard and Quadra streets gives motorists and cyclists instruction on how to use the newly reconfigured roadway. (Don Descoteau/Black Press)
The Capital Regional District aims to expand the lifespan of the Hartland landfill to 2100. Part of that expansion includes a move to shift the commercial vehicle access from Hartland Road to Willis Point Road. (Facebook/Capital Regional District)

Victoria landfill commercial access shift would have major impact: CRD director

Willis Point representative says cumulative effect on neighbourhood being understated

The Capital Regional District aims to expand the lifespan of the Hartland landfill to 2100. Part of that expansion includes a move to shift the commercial vehicle access from Hartland Road to Willis Point Road. (Facebook/Capital Regional District)
Student Reese Emde takes part in a Vic High tradition and signs the brick wall in the school’s attic in 2018. While onsite group tours of the school won’t happen ahead of the seismic upgrade construction project due to start this year, a 3-D virtual tour is now available online. (Courtesy Vic High)

See historic Victoria High one last time

Online tour gives last look at 1914 school destined for temporary closure due to seismic upgrades

Student Reese Emde takes part in a Vic High tradition and signs the brick wall in the school’s attic in 2018. While onsite group tours of the school won’t happen ahead of the seismic upgrade construction project due to start this year, a 3-D virtual tour is now available online. (Courtesy Vic High)