Community

Residents enjoy a block party gathering Aug. 4 on Elm Street in Saanich, organized as a way to help people come together and continue healing following the June 28 shootout at the nearby BMO Bank of Montreal branch on Shelbourne Street. (Courtesy of Rebecca Kirkwood)

Saanich neighbourhood block party helps residents heal after bank shootout

ER nurse who cared for 2 wounded officers, is married to ERT member, organized event

Early morning sea fog rolls in over boats moored in Oak Bay at low tide. (Don Denton/Black Press Media)

PHOTOS: Foggy Oak Bay shoreline a sign of cooling weather on its way

Temperatures dip Wednesday to hit average norms in the 20s

Jessica MacNiel. (photo submitted)

PODCAST: Jessica MacNiel – is the reigning Miss Teenager World

TODAY IN B.C.: White Rock teen has made it her mission to separate beauty from appearance

Marion Cumming shows off her Carey Newman-designed orange shirt under sunny skies in her Oak Bay garden on July 29. (Photo by Arifin Graham)

Oak Bay artist, activist remembered in part for her final gift of reconciliation

Marion Cumming died peacefully at home Aug. 1, surrounded by friends, loved ones

Marion Cumming shows off her Carey Newman-designed orange shirt under sunny skies in her Oak Bay garden on July 29. (Photo by Arifin Graham)
The winners of Saanich’s 2022 Arts, Culture and Heritage awards gather with Mayor Fred Haynes in front of municipal hall. They received certificates of recognition Aug. 8 in the council chambers. (Courtesy District of Saanich)

Saanich Arts, Culture and Heritage award winners honoured by municipality

Community volunteers, non-profit group recognized for exceptional contributions

The winners of Saanich’s 2022 Arts, Culture and Heritage awards gather with Mayor Fred Haynes in front of municipal hall. They received certificates of recognition Aug. 8 in the council chambers. (Courtesy District of Saanich)
The Fibrations Festival, held last year in Fairfield’s Porter Park, returns Aug. 21 to a new location at Stevenson Park in Fernwood. Organizers expect this 11th edition to be bigger than ever. (Courtesy of Ryan Davis)

Fibrations festival relocates to Victoria’s Fernwood neighbourhood

Fibre artists, crafters and more gather in Stevenson Park for 11th festival Aug. 21

The Fibrations Festival, held last year in Fairfield’s Porter Park, returns Aug. 21 to a new location at Stevenson Park in Fernwood. Organizers expect this 11th edition to be bigger than ever. (Courtesy of Ryan Davis)
Efforts to host refugees from Ukraine in local communities got a cash boost from members of the Oak Bay Lawn Bowling Club. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

Oak Bay lawn bowlers pitch in $2,300 for Ukrainian refugees

Last-minute call for donations leads to housing help

Efforts to host refugees from Ukraine in local communities got a cash boost from members of the Oak Bay Lawn Bowling Club. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
The entrance to the Elk Falls Canyon on the Campbell River as pink salmon school in the thousands on Aug. 5, 2022. Photo by Alistair Taylor/Campbell River Mirror

Pink salmon schooling by the thousands in the Campbell River

Natural phenomena visible from the beginning of the Canyon View Trail

The entrance to the Elk Falls Canyon on the Campbell River as pink salmon school in the thousands on Aug. 5, 2022. Photo by Alistair Taylor/Campbell River Mirror
There is a 60-year reunion on Aug. 27 for all classmates of Courtenay High School in 1962. Photos supplied

Courtenay High School celebrating a 60th anniversary reunion for 1962 classmates

The 60th Courtenay High School Reunion committee is inviting all classmates from…

  • Aug 10, 2022
There is a 60-year reunion on Aug. 27 for all classmates of Courtenay High School in 1962. Photos supplied
Michelle Williams with tickets to the Cowichan Craft Beer & Food Festival that are like liquid gold. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Abundant craft beer and food for consumption at Cowichan festival

Chemainus preparing for a large influx of people for popular event

Michelle Williams with tickets to the Cowichan Craft Beer & Food Festival that are like liquid gold. (Photo by Don Bodger)
A beautiful sunset over Crofton in July. (Sandra Smith photo)

Island rainfall way above normal despite heatwave during latter part of July

Minimal amount of precipitation expected well into August

A beautiful sunset over Crofton in July. (Sandra Smith photo)
Capt. David Hickman and Community Ministries director Pat Humble show off some of the school supplies already donated to the West Shore Salvation Army for its school supplies drive. (Courtesy of Capt. David Hickman)

Salvation Army collecting school supplies for West Shore families

The organization is anticipating a 30-per-cent increase in need this year

Capt. David Hickman and Community Ministries director Pat Humble show off some of the school supplies already donated to the West Shore Salvation Army for its school supplies drive. (Courtesy of Capt. David Hickman)
Sooke resident Melanie Cunningham and retired mental health and substance use counsellor Ben Goerner are advocates for Moms Stop the Harm, one of several organizations involved in an International Overdose Awareness Day event at Ed Macgregor Park on Aug. 31.

Moms search for ways to stop the harm

International Overdose Awareness Day event on Aug. 31

Sooke resident Melanie Cunningham and retired mental health and substance use counsellor Ben Goerner are advocates for Moms Stop the Harm, one of several organizations involved in an International Overdose Awareness Day event at Ed Macgregor Park on Aug. 31.
A candlelight vigil is set for this Friday (Aug. 12) in Sooke. (File - Sooke News Mirror)

Candlelight vigil aims to unite community

Taking place at the Evergreen Centre in Sooke, the ceremony begins at 8 p.m.

A candlelight vigil is set for this Friday (Aug. 12) in Sooke. (File - Sooke News Mirror)
A community effort brought replacement Christmas cut-outs of Charlie Brown, Sally and Snoopy, as well as Lucy, back to Entrance Park last December. A resident recently noticed the original Charlie Brown, Sally and Snoopy cutouts had been returned to the park, notifying municipal staff of the “early Christmas miracle.” (Courtesy of Whitney Davis)

‘Early Christmas miracle’: Missing Peanuts characters returned to Oak Bay home

Charlie Brown, Sally and Snoopy safe and sound after eight months gone

A community effort brought replacement Christmas cut-outs of Charlie Brown, Sally and Snoopy, as well as Lucy, back to Entrance Park last December. A resident recently noticed the original Charlie Brown, Sally and Snoopy cutouts had been returned to the park, notifying municipal staff of the “early Christmas miracle.” (Courtesy of Whitney Davis)
Crowds perused the displays along Beacon Avenue during the Torque Masters Sidney Summer Car Show on Aug. 7. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)

Residents stroll down memory lane at annual car show in Sidney

The Torque Masters Sidney Summer Car Show took over Beacon Avenue

Crowds perused the displays along Beacon Avenue during the Torque Masters Sidney Summer Car Show on Aug. 7. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)
Sand sculptors spent multiple days working on their sculptures at the Cadboro Bay Festival in Cadboro-Gyro Park. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)

Sand sculpting competition returns to Cadboro Bay

Sun, sand, singing and bouncy castles

Sand sculptors spent multiple days working on their sculptures at the Cadboro Bay Festival in Cadboro-Gyro Park. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)
A Canadian and Ukrainian shared flag inside the village’s common meeting area. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)

PHOTOS: Seniors home reopens for Ukrainian newcomers

Cook Street site is offering temporary residence for vulnerable Ukrainians fleeing war

A Canadian and Ukrainian shared flag inside the village’s common meeting area. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)
The Peach ice cream had become a major tourists attraction onto itself. But city staff awarded the license for the next three years to Alberta-based company. (The Peach Facebook) The Peach, on the shore of Okanagan Lake in Penticton, has become an iconic landmark of Penticton’s lakefront. (The Peach Facebook)

QUIZ: A celebration of the fruit harvest

In orchards around British Columbia, fruit pickers are hard at work

The Peach ice cream had become a major tourists attraction onto itself. But city staff awarded the license for the next three years to Alberta-based company. (The Peach Facebook) The Peach, on the shore of Okanagan Lake in Penticton, has become an iconic landmark of Penticton’s lakefront. (The Peach Facebook)
Colwood Fire Rescue’s 1955 Dodge Power Wagon firetruck is seen inside the Colwood Firefighters Historical Museum as it opened to the public on Saturday allowing the community and its firefighters to connect and share a common history. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

PHOTOS: Colwood fire museum brings community, firefighters together

The museum was opened to the public on Saturday

Colwood Fire Rescue’s 1955 Dodge Power Wagon firetruck is seen inside the Colwood Firefighters Historical Museum as it opened to the public on Saturday allowing the community and its firefighters to connect and share a common history. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)