Community

Accent Inns employees Skyler Asher (from left), Laura Sutton and Morgan Gregory hold puppies at the puppy play date at the Saanich location on Nov. 29. (Hollie Ferguson/News Staff)

Foster puppies awaiting adoption get a holiday treat at Saanich hotel

BC Humane Society partners with Accent Inns in an effort to drive adoptions, donations

Gold River B.C. Photo by Marc Kitteringham/Campbell River Mirror

Construction beginning on Connected Coast project in Gold River

Backbone for fibre optic network installation underway

Victoria General Hospital’s current intensive care unit patient monitoring system is more than 17 years old. (Victoria Hospitals Foundation/Facebook)

Victoria Hospitals Foundation launches fundraiser on Giving Tuesday for new ICU patient monitors

‘More than Just a Monitor’ campaign aims to raise $500,000 for critical equipment

Ladysmith’s Festival of Lights began with the Light Up parade Thursday, Nov. 24. (Sean McCue/News Bulletin)

Lights get switched on to start holiday season in Ladysmith

Festival of Lights begins with Light Up night

Ladysmith’s Festival of Lights began with the Light Up parade Thursday, Nov. 24. (Sean McCue/News Bulletin)
The Victoria Shoebox Project is looking for donations to help fill more than 700 shoeboxes by Dec. 16, with each and everyone of them destined for a woman in need. (Courtesy Victoria Shoebox Project/Facebook)

Victoria Shoebox Project looking to fill 735 shoeboxes

Each box is designed to brighten a woman’s day and is filled with $50 of personal care, comfort items

The Victoria Shoebox Project is looking for donations to help fill more than 700 shoeboxes by Dec. 16, with each and everyone of them destined for a woman in need. (Courtesy Victoria Shoebox Project/Facebook)
Pharmasave Sooke’s Christmas Trees of Wishes is on again to support those in need. You can also get a photo of your child with Santa on Dec. 23 for $10 in support of the Sooke Food Bank. (File - Sooke New Mirror)

In Sooke, Christmas charities shine for those in need

Many businesses and organizations have stepped up with fund-raising initiatives

Pharmasave Sooke’s Christmas Trees of Wishes is on again to support those in need. You can also get a photo of your child with Santa on Dec. 23 for $10 in support of the Sooke Food Bank. (File - Sooke New Mirror)
Laura Myers, Taylor Trapp, and their pup Sitka take in one of the final days of the 2022 salmon run in Goldstream Provincial Park, during a visit from Thunder Bay on Nov. 25. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

PHOTOS: Visitors take in last days of salmon run at Goldstream Provincial Park

Salmon are at the end of their journey, spawning in the same stream they were born in

Laura Myers, Taylor Trapp, and their pup Sitka take in one of the final days of the 2022 salmon run in Goldstream Provincial Park, during a visit from Thunder Bay on Nov. 25. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
This is the artwork of 20 year old Ezekiel, who is the oldest son of Shashi’s cousin Pascal and wife. He has captured a picture of life in a refugee camp as an aspiring artist. What this picture doesn’t tell you is that food from the NGO each month only lasts half the month, with no opportunity for work - they can only hope to find something to trade or sell to buy additional food. There is no school for the children in the refugee camp. This family had to escape for their safety from Congo to a Uganda refugee camp over a year ago. Photo supplied by Campbell River Christian Life Fellowship Church

Only about $2,000 left to bring refugee family to Campbell River

Family of seven has been in Ugandan refugee camp for three years

This is the artwork of 20 year old Ezekiel, who is the oldest son of Shashi’s cousin Pascal and wife. He has captured a picture of life in a refugee camp as an aspiring artist. What this picture doesn’t tell you is that food from the NGO each month only lasts half the month, with no opportunity for work - they can only hope to find something to trade or sell to buy additional food. There is no school for the children in the refugee camp. This family had to escape for their safety from Congo to a Uganda refugee camp over a year ago. Photo supplied by Campbell River Christian Life Fellowship Church
Community-based team FIX IT from Victoria featuring Kai Williams (from left), Amren Kareer and Bryce Kong prepares to compete at a FIRST Tech Challenge at St. Margaret’s School. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)

Greater Victoria students compete in robotics competition

Local event geared to inspire youth to be innovators in science, technology

Community-based team FIX IT from Victoria featuring Kai Williams (from left), Amren Kareer and Bryce Kong prepares to compete at a FIRST Tech Challenge at St. Margaret’s School. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)
Canada’s Scott Kennedy, left, and El Salvador’s Nelson Bonilla compete for the ball during a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 at Cuscatlan stadium in San Salvador, El Salvador, Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)

QUIZ: How much do you know about world cup soccer?

Soccer is enjoyed around the world and is played by people of all ages

Canada’s Scott Kennedy, left, and El Salvador’s Nelson Bonilla compete for the ball during a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 at Cuscatlan stadium in San Salvador, El Salvador, Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
Santa and Mrs. Claus smile and wave to the thousands of people who lined Government and Douglas streets Saturday (Nov. 26) to take in the 40th annual Peninsula Co-op Santa Claus Parade, stopping occasionally to serenade the crowds with a quick Christmas carol. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

PHOTOS: Santa arrives in Victoria with 40th annual Peninsula Co-op Santa Claus Parade

Thousands lined downtown to take in the sights despite rain

Santa and Mrs. Claus smile and wave to the thousands of people who lined Government and Douglas streets Saturday (Nov. 26) to take in the 40th annual Peninsula Co-op Santa Claus Parade, stopping occasionally to serenade the crowds with a quick Christmas carol. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
Saanich Mayor Dean Murdoch joins Darrell Wick and Murray Rankin at the end of the new Douglas Creek bridge. (Hollie Ferguson/News Staff)

30 trees for 30 years: Volunteers celebrate PKOLS Mount Douglas Park

The celebration included unveiling new interpretive signage, a bridge and learning area for students

Saanich Mayor Dean Murdoch joins Darrell Wick and Murray Rankin at the end of the new Douglas Creek bridge. (Hollie Ferguson/News Staff)
Oak Bay resident Michael Hardiman reminds others to play it safe while hanging holiday lights after he fell, Saturday, Nov. 12 and returned home from the hospital the next Tuesday with a fractured vertebra. (Courtesy Michael Hardiman)

Oak Bay man with fractured spine warns of dangers in hanging holiday lights

It’s no day at the beach, as partner heads off solo for an already twice-delayed Mexican vacation

Oak Bay resident Michael Hardiman reminds others to play it safe while hanging holiday lights after he fell, Saturday, Nov. 12 and returned home from the hospital the next Tuesday with a fractured vertebra. (Courtesy Michael Hardiman)
A tasting at the 2020 Victoria Whisky Festival, which returns to the Hotel Grand Pacific in January. (Orlando Carillo/Victoria Whisky Festival)

Greater Victoria spirits are high with the return of whisky fest

Tickets on sale now for Victoria Whisky Festival, Jan. 19 to 22, 2023

A tasting at the 2020 Victoria Whisky Festival, which returns to the Hotel Grand Pacific in January. (Orlando Carillo/Victoria Whisky Festival)
Jude Sommers solidifies a gentleman’s seat in her edible theatre on display in Habitat for Humanity Victoria’s 14th annual Gingerbread Showcase. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

VIDEO: Oak Bay baker spurs conversation with cookie theatre

Habitat for Humanity Victoria’s Gingerbread Showcase runs now through Jan. 2

Jude Sommers solidifies a gentleman’s seat in her edible theatre on display in Habitat for Humanity Victoria’s 14th annual Gingerbread Showcase. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
Greater Victoria School District student’s light switch art. (Courtesy of SD61)

Greater Victoria students create art to promote energy conservation

SD61 students design stickers to encourage others to turn out lights when no one is in classroom

Greater Victoria School District student’s light switch art. (Courtesy of SD61)
Left: Ann Patterson displays the Comfort Food Cookbook that celebrates 30 years of the Saanich Volunteers Services Society and shares time-tested recipes of clients, family and friends. Right: Louise Taylor with buffet table showcasing several recipes from the cookbook during its launch Nov. 17. (Photos courtesy Saanich Volunteers)

Saanich service celebrates 30 years with comfort food

Cookbook sales support programs, preserve time-tested recipes

Left: Ann Patterson displays the Comfort Food Cookbook that celebrates 30 years of the Saanich Volunteers Services Society and shares time-tested recipes of clients, family and friends. Right: Louise Taylor with buffet table showcasing several recipes from the cookbook during its launch Nov. 17. (Photos courtesy Saanich Volunteers)
A plane parked at the BC Aviation Museum. (Courtesy BC Aviation Museum)

BC Aviation Museum seeking donations for a new exhibit

Donations will be used in a new exhibit dedicated to float planes during the 1950s

A plane parked at the BC Aviation Museum. (Courtesy BC Aviation Museum)
The “eight maids a milking” display is one of a dozen 12 Days of Christmas installations at the Butchart Gardens’ Magic of Christmas. The garden-wide display opens Dec. 1 and runs to Jan. 6. (Black Press Media file photo)

Butchart Garden lights up for the holidays in Central Saanich, Sidney to sparkle with parade

Sidney Sparkles Parade returns Dec. 4, Butchart Gardens lights up Dec. 1

The “eight maids a milking” display is one of a dozen 12 Days of Christmas installations at the Butchart Gardens’ Magic of Christmas. The garden-wide display opens Dec. 1 and runs to Jan. 6. (Black Press Media file photo)
A pair of clues to the spring scavenger hunt included, on the left: ‘my favourite to walk in. Walk further and you may find the live rock.’ And on the right: ‘The live rock is hidden somewhere in this area. Get out and enjoy spring.’ (Saanich Peninsula mom‘s group scavenger hunt/Facebook)

Mom creates Saanich Peninsula scavenger hunt to get families out exploring

Sidney woman set to hide Christmas rock for Dec. 23 hunt

A pair of clues to the spring scavenger hunt included, on the left: ‘my favourite to walk in. Walk further and you may find the live rock.’ And on the right: ‘The live rock is hidden somewhere in this area. Get out and enjoy spring.’ (Saanich Peninsula mom‘s group scavenger hunt/Facebook)