Ella Matte

Grapes grown at the Symphony Vineyard in Central Saanich. (Ella Matte/News Staff)

How weather impacts Vancouver Island’s wine industry

‘On the whole global warming is bad for humanity, but not so bad for our local grape industry’

Grapes grown at the Symphony Vineyard in Central Saanich. (Ella Matte/News Staff)
Victoria author Jean Paetkau with her new book Blood on the Breakwater at the Breakwater in James Bay. (Ella Matte/News Staff)

Victoria children’s book author writes murder mystery set in James Bay

This is the author’s ‘first book for grownups’ after writing three children’s books

Victoria author Jean Paetkau with her new book Blood on the Breakwater at the Breakwater in James Bay. (Ella Matte/News Staff)
Forest ecologist Becky Miller showing the flammability of a grand fur tree. (Ella Matte/News Staff)

Parks Canada responds to backlash about Sidney Island deer eradication

Questions are answered about the process and timeline of the project

Forest ecologist Becky Miller showing the flammability of a grand fur tree. (Ella Matte/News Staff)
Kurtis Bunnett getting a haircut at Project Reconnect in Royal Athletic Park on Tuesday, Aug. 22. (Ella Matte/News Staff)

Service providers come together to support Victoria’s homeless population

‘Homelessness is an issue that affects everyone,’ says event organizer

Kurtis Bunnett getting a haircut at Project Reconnect in Royal Athletic Park on Tuesday, Aug. 22. (Ella Matte/News Staff)
Upcoming Tombo restaurant is under renovations while the Agrius sign still hangs above on Yates Street. (Ella Matte/News Staff)

Wave of new Victoria restaurants taking over space of closed eateries

La Taqueria on Fort Street is the latest to close down

Upcoming Tombo restaurant is under renovations while the Agrius sign still hangs above on Yates Street. (Ella Matte/News Staff)
BC Transit user scanning their monthly transit pass on the mobile app Umo to ride the bus. (Ella Matte/News Staff)

BC Transit rolls out $23.2M electronic fare system – starting in Victoria

Nanaimo and other BC transit regions will adopt the fare system in the future

BC Transit user scanning their monthly transit pass on the mobile app Umo to ride the bus. (Ella Matte/News Staff)
(Left to right) West Shore RCMP media relations officer Cpl. Nancy Saggar with hikers Gabe Kingston and Kyle Hadley. (Courtesy of the West Shore RCMP)

Teenage hikers find and save girl crying for help in Vancouver Island woods

The teens received a certificate of appreciation from the West Shore RCMP

(Left to right) West Shore RCMP media relations officer Cpl. Nancy Saggar with hikers Gabe Kingston and Kyle Hadley. (Courtesy of the West Shore RCMP)
Wife, mother and Petty Officer 2nd Class Andrea Chabassol with her children and their signs in front of the HMCS Vancouver. (Ella Matte/News Staff)
Wife, mother and Petty Officer 2nd Class Andrea Chabassol with her children and their signs in front of the HMCS Vancouver. (Ella Matte/News Staff)
Healthy baby Lone Jackman, who spent 32 days in the NICU, in the arms of her mother Dana and father Dillion. (Ella Matte/News Staff)

VIDEO: ‘Miracle babies’ gather at Victoria General Hospital for NICU reunion

Families and hosptial staff joined together to celebrate the NICU

Healthy baby Lone Jackman, who spent 32 days in the NICU, in the arms of her mother Dana and father Dillion. (Ella Matte/News Staff)
Jordan Reichert, campaign director of Animal Alliance of Canada, is displeased with the eradication of fallow deer on Sidney Island. (Ella Matte/News Staff)

Plan to eradicate fallow deer population on Sidney Island faces backlash

Animal Alliance of Canada has spoken out about alternative methods to preserve the ecosystem

Jordan Reichert, campaign director of Animal Alliance of Canada, is displeased with the eradication of fallow deer on Sidney Island. (Ella Matte/News Staff)
Rylie Tarry stands in front of the downtown Victoria Value Village where she says she was accused of switching tags. (Ella Matte/News Staff)

Victoria bargain shoppers say they were falsely accused of ‘switching tags’

Woman says items were seized in store and then given higher prices

Rylie Tarry stands in front of the downtown Victoria Value Village where she says she was accused of switching tags. (Ella Matte/News Staff)
Elvis tribute artist Eddie Powers poses for a photo with newlyweds Rob and Kelly Roznowski after he married them at the Welcome to Las Vegas sign in Las Vegas. (Black Press Media File Photo)

Flair Airlines launches $39 flights from Victoria to Vegas

Passengers can fly to Sin City starting this winter

Elvis tribute artist Eddie Powers poses for a photo with newlyweds Rob and Kelly Roznowski after he married them at the Welcome to Las Vegas sign in Las Vegas. (Black Press Media File Photo)
Left to right, Bud Hobbs and his son Bryce Hobbs. (Ella Matte/News Staff)

Racing cars, collecting trash – retired Langford garbage man has seen it all

Bud Hobbs retires from garbage man after 35 years of joyful memories

Left to right, Bud Hobbs and his son Bryce Hobbs. (Ella Matte/News Staff)
Graphic anti-abortion leaflets have been delivered to homes across Greater Victoria. (Black Press Media file photo)

‘Very disturbing’: Greater Victoria residents disgusted by anti-abortion flyers

‘I feel like it’s a dangerous piece of literature going out’

Graphic anti-abortion leaflets have been delivered to homes across Greater Victoria. (Black Press Media file photo)
Screenshot from a video of a passerby scaring away a black bear that attacked a herd of sheep. (Courtesy of Markus Anastasiades)

VIDEO: Passerby chases off bear after Saanich sheep herd attacked

This month this is the first bear sighting reported in this area

Screenshot from a video of a passerby scaring away a black bear that attacked a herd of sheep. (Courtesy of Markus Anastasiades)
One of BC Transit’s 150 new battery powered electric buses facing the side and back. (Ella Matte/News Staff)

Feds, B.C. fund BC Transit to add more Greater Victoria electric buses

Some electric buses will be in service on July 27

One of BC Transit’s 150 new battery powered electric buses facing the side and back. (Ella Matte/News Staff)
Left to right, Jaden Lee, Matthew O’Connell and Samantha Paluch, members of the youth action team holding up their harm reduction awards. (Courtesy of Island Health)

Promoting drug prevention wins Greater Victoria kids an Island Health award

‘The momentum of the youth action team continues to have positive ripple effects’

Left to right, Jaden Lee, Matthew O’Connell and Samantha Paluch, members of the youth action team holding up their harm reduction awards. (Courtesy of Island Health)
Tara Mathur and Jeremy Laceey standing in front of the yellow home Laceey currently lives at in Saanich. (Ella Matte/News Staff)

High rents have young people in Victoria, Saanich eyeing moving in to save

‘I realized that moving in with someone was definitely a big benefit’

Tara Mathur and Jeremy Laceey standing in front of the yellow home Laceey currently lives at in Saanich. (Ella Matte/News Staff)
Passengers stand on the top outside deck of the BC Ferries’ vessel Coastal Celebration in Active Pass during a sailing from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay. (Black Press Media Photo File)

8 sailings a day cancelled on Swartz Bay-Tsawwassen route after boat breaks

Coastal Celebration sailings won’t return until late next week, says BC Ferries

Passengers stand on the top outside deck of the BC Ferries’ vessel Coastal Celebration in Active Pass during a sailing from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay. (Black Press Media Photo File)
Wildwood Sauna user Sam Tyson before pulling the dump bucket of ice cold water on himself at Bilston Creek Farm in Metchosin. (Ella Matte/News Staff)

VIDEO: Wildwood Saunas finds new home at scenic lavender farm in Metchosin

‘Just by the beach and the forest, it’s just very peaceful here.’

Wildwood Sauna user Sam Tyson before pulling the dump bucket of ice cold water on himself at Bilston Creek Farm in Metchosin. (Ella Matte/News Staff)