Tim Collins

Andrea Inness, a forest campaigner with the Ancient Forest Alliance, stands next to an old-growth Sitka spruce near Port Renfrew. (Contributed)

Public outcry wins reprieve (at least temporarily) for old-growth forest near Port Renfrew

Forests Ministry says auction for seven cutblocks will be reviewed

Andrea Inness, a forest campaigner with the Ancient Forest Alliance, stands next to an old-growth Sitka spruce near Port Renfrew. (Contributed)
Marcus Plante and Isla McNicholls having fun at the Playland Daycare in Sooke. (Tim Collins/Sooke News Mirror)

Two new daycare centres slated for Sooke

New facilities will help fill much-needed gap in services

Marcus Plante and Isla McNicholls having fun at the Playland Daycare in Sooke. (Tim Collins/Sooke News Mirror)
Gas prices have fueled debate in Greater Victoria about the causes and probable effects of the price increases. (File photo)

Fuel prices smacking Island drivers, big and small

B.C. Transit, Ferries feel brunt of rising prices

Gas prices have fueled debate in Greater Victoria about the causes and probable effects of the price increases. (File photo)
A popular section of the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail is closed until the end of June for repairs and maintenance. (Sooke News Mirror)

Juan de Fuca Marine Trail closure leaves Port Renfrew in the cold

Lack of communication and planning panned by businesses, politicians

A popular section of the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail is closed until the end of June for repairs and maintenance. (Sooke News Mirror)
A Sooke RCMP officer cleans out a damaged police cruiser after it was involved in a serious collision with another police car. (Tim Collins / Sooke News Mirror)

Sooke RCMP car crash crumples cruiser

No one hurt in accident, Mounties say

A Sooke RCMP officer cleans out a damaged police cruiser after it was involved in a serious collision with another police car. (Tim Collins / Sooke News Mirror)
Racheal Boston and Paul Campbell are the leads in a Hallmark film currently shooting in Sooke. (Tim Collins / Sooke News Mirror)

The Last Bridesmaid’ uses Sooke as a backdrop

Hallmark film uses local crew for production

Racheal Boston and Paul Campbell are the leads in a Hallmark film currently shooting in Sooke. (Tim Collins / Sooke News Mirror)
A proposed plastic bag ban would bring Sooke in step with several other Greater Victoria municipalities. (File photo)

Sooke prepares to revisit plastic bag debate

Zero Waste Sooke sticks to plastic bag ban request

A proposed plastic bag ban would bring Sooke in step with several other Greater Victoria municipalities. (File photo)
Chris and Kathryn Linford are the national ambassadors to Wounded Warriors Canada and have recently presented a PTSD program in Sooke. (Contributed)

COPE program helps Vancouver Island residents with PTSD

The national program takes a family-based approach

Chris and Kathryn Linford are the national ambassadors to Wounded Warriors Canada and have recently presented a PTSD program in Sooke. (Contributed)
Volunteers work to transfer salmon smolts to pens where they will stay for 20 days before being released. (contributed)

Vancouver Island volunteers work to save salmon and whales

A half million fish will be released as anglers continue conservation efforts

Volunteers work to transfer salmon smolts to pens where they will stay for 20 days before being released. (contributed)
Shaen Driver with one of his classic car projects. Driver hopes to create a vintage lot that will help draw tourists to the region. (Tim Collins / Sooke News Mirror)

A passion for classic cars propels Shawn Driver

Shawn Driver hopes Sooke can one day become a destination associated with classic cars

Shaen Driver with one of his classic car projects. Driver hopes to create a vintage lot that will help draw tourists to the region. (Tim Collins / Sooke News Mirror)
Premier John Horgan announced an $85-million improvement project for Highway 14. (Tim Collins /Sooke News Mirror )

Province announces $85-million Highway 14 upgrade

Project to improve Sooke connection made possible through federal funding support

Premier John Horgan announced an $85-million improvement project for Highway 14. (Tim Collins /Sooke News Mirror )
Students at the West Coast Adventure College practice their kayaking skills. (contributed)

Sooke kayak incident could have been averted: expert

Training is key, says local trainer

Students at the West Coast Adventure College practice their kayaking skills. (contributed)
Tourist operators in the Port Renfrew area argue that the standing trees have more value than the clear-cut lumber. (contributed)

Plans to clear-cut old-growth near Port Renfrew causes an environmental outcry

Groups call logging a provincial government ‘blind spot’

Tourist operators in the Port Renfrew area argue that the standing trees have more value than the clear-cut lumber. (contributed)
DFO announced new limits on recreational chinook fishing on Tuesday. File photo

Limits on chinook sport fishing could cause devastating economic ripples

Vancouver Island fishing guides concerned over salmon sport catch reductions to save declining stock

DFO announced new limits on recreational chinook fishing on Tuesday. File photo
Ryan Chamberlain points out one of the boats used for his fishing charter business. (Tim Collins / Sooke News Mirror)

Vancouver Island fishing guides nervously awaiting DFO decision

Summer chinook ban remains possible as federal salmon decision looms

Ryan Chamberlain points out one of the boats used for his fishing charter business. (Tim Collins / Sooke News Mirror)
The rocky escarpment made it difficult to get the boating accident victim up to the waiting ambulance. (Kara Arden)

Kayaker rescued in rough seas off of Sooke

Victim was treated by local mariners before emergency services arrived

The rocky escarpment made it difficult to get the boating accident victim up to the waiting ambulance. (Kara Arden)
Premier John Horgan. (Tim Collins / Sooke News Mirror)

Premier unapologetic about Highway 14 development plans

John Horgan points out you have to ‘break an egg to make an omelette’

Premier John Horgan. (Tim Collins / Sooke News Mirror)
Seattle Washington’s flag looks suspiciously like a Starbuck’s ad, and there is some question of where the City of Goodwill might be. Is it a suburb?

Sooke’s ‘foreign flag’ flies proudly in the town’s centre

Mayor asked why flag fluttering in Sooke

Seattle Washington’s flag looks suspiciously like a Starbuck’s ad, and there is some question of where the City of Goodwill might be. Is it a suburb?
EDITORIAL: Municipal budgets are what you make them

EDITORIAL: Municipal budgets are what you make them

Municipal budgets are perhaps the most democratic of all the forms of taxation

EDITORIAL: Municipal budgets are what you make them
Mary-Anne Bowcott, the owner of Westcom Plumbing and Gas, is on the governance committee for the B.C. Construction Association. (File)

‘A force of nature in steel-toed boots’

Sooke plumber a champion for women in trades

Mary-Anne Bowcott, the owner of Westcom Plumbing and Gas, is on the governance committee for the B.C. Construction Association. (File)