Community

Meghan Page, programmer of volunteers and events at the Monterey centre with a selection of items that bargain hunters could find at the annual rummage sale Feb. 29. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

Bargain hunters rejoice, Oak Bay rummage sale returns to Monterey

Monterey Recreation Activity Association sale runs Feb. 25 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Meghan Page, programmer of volunteers and events at the Monterey centre with a selection of items that bargain hunters could find at the annual rummage sale Feb. 29. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
The volunteers who maintain Penticton’s outdoor rink on 107 Martin Street. Front row from left to right: Frank Gair, Mark Hammerquist, Cathy Terris, Chris Terris, John Buckley, Lance Zablotney, Patrick Meyer, Chris Araki. Back row from left to right: Gord Barnes, Dave Burgoyne. Missing from picture: Ralph Consolo, Kent Fiske, Lloyd Lindsay, and crew chief Cam Gunning. (Contributed)

Meet the volunteers who make the Okanagan’s newest outdoor rink a reality 7 days a week

‘All of them just want to do something that makes our community better to live in,’ said Gord Barnes

The volunteers who maintain Penticton’s outdoor rink on 107 Martin Street. Front row from left to right: Frank Gair, Mark Hammerquist, Cathy Terris, Chris Terris, John Buckley, Lance Zablotney, Patrick Meyer, Chris Araki. Back row from left to right: Gord Barnes, Dave Burgoyne. Missing from picture: Ralph Consolo, Kent Fiske, Lloyd Lindsay, and crew chief Cam Gunning. (Contributed)
Project Mama Duck is a new pedestrian safety program run by the Ridge Meadows RCMP Road Safety Target Team, which is seen here crouching next to a goose. (Ridge Meadows RCMP/Special to The News)

RCMP launches new Project Mama Duck pedestrian safety program in B.C. city

The RSTT educational program focuses on the Maple Ridge area of Lougheed Highway

Project Mama Duck is a new pedestrian safety program run by the Ridge Meadows RCMP Road Safety Target Team, which is seen here crouching next to a goose. (Ridge Meadows RCMP/Special to The News)
The 2022 National Retriever Championship winner, NFTCH-AFTCH Baypoint Thanksgiving Dream ‘Cooper’ QFTR-JFTR, owned and handled by Bernard Landry. Photo supplied

Tails wagging as Vancouver Island set to host nation’s finest retrievers

Comox Valley to welcome Canada’s National Retriever Championship

  • Feb 9, 2023
The 2022 National Retriever Championship winner, NFTCH-AFTCH Baypoint Thanksgiving Dream ‘Cooper’ QFTR-JFTR, owned and handled by Bernard Landry. Photo supplied
Search and rescue volunteers from Alberni Valley Rescue Squad and Comox Valley Search and Rescue participate in an Organized Avalanche Response Training course in January 2023. (PHOTO COURTESY AVRS)

Alberni Valley Rescue Squad volunteers training for avalanche rescue

Half of squad specializing for backcountry emergencies

Search and rescue volunteers from Alberni Valley Rescue Squad and Comox Valley Search and Rescue participate in an Organized Avalanche Response Training course in January 2023. (PHOTO COURTESY AVRS)
Protesters held a rally at the B.C. Legislature Feb. 7 to call for action, awareness and services for adults who have eating disorders. (Hollie Ferguson/News Staff)

VIDEO: ‘Huge gaps’ in care for adults with eating disorders, say advocates at Victoria protest

Protesters at the B.C. Legislature called for better care for adults with eating disorders

Protesters held a rally at the B.C. Legislature Feb. 7 to call for action, awareness and services for adults who have eating disorders. (Hollie Ferguson/News Staff)
Nathaniel Stoffelsma enjoys a swim with his 11 and eight-year-old sons, Alex (left) and Jens, at Panorama Recreation Centre in North Saanich. (Courtesy Nathaniel Stoffelsma)

North Saanich dad swims 1,000 metres a day to honour son’s cancer battle

Nathaniel Stoffelsma’s overall goal is to do this for 365 days, donate money to charity

Nathaniel Stoffelsma enjoys a swim with his 11 and eight-year-old sons, Alex (left) and Jens, at Panorama Recreation Centre in North Saanich. (Courtesy Nathaniel Stoffelsma)
Sgt. Kirstin Stuart tests the waters at Willows Beach. The Oak Bay officer is among those who will take the plunge to support Special Olympics athletes during an event in Saanich Feb. 19. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
Sgt. Kirstin Stuart tests the waters at Willows Beach. The Oak Bay officer is among those who will take the plunge to support Special Olympics athletes during an event in Saanich Feb. 19. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
Tania Amaral will lead a storytelling session, including African folk tales, at the Nanaimo Harbourfront Library on Saturday, Feb. 4, as part of African Connections’ celebrations for Black History Month. (Submitted photo)

African Connections series provides cultural education during Black History Month

Several events planned in Nanaimo including storytelling, workshops and discussion panels

Tania Amaral will lead a storytelling session, including African folk tales, at the Nanaimo Harbourfront Library on Saturday, Feb. 4, as part of African Connections’ celebrations for Black History Month. (Submitted photo)
Dell Marie Wergeland, president of the CRW Society and Dr. Bridget Stirling, president of ICROSS Canada during the Jan. 25 packing of the latest container headed from Greater Victoria to help those living in Ukraine. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

VIDEO: Greater Victoria finds 5 generators to help people in war-torn Ukraine

Compassionate Resource Warehouse ships container to Poland for on-the-ground aid

Dell Marie Wergeland, president of the CRW Society and Dr. Bridget Stirling, president of ICROSS Canada during the Jan. 25 packing of the latest container headed from Greater Victoria to help those living in Ukraine. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
Ben Baker died of an accidental overdose on Jan. 23, 2023. The family is fundraising for two memorial benches to make a monetary donation in Ben’s name to The Last Door in New Westminster. (Ben Baker’s Legacy/GoFundMe)

Benches in West Kelowna, Lower Mainland help keep man’s legacy alive

All additional donations will be donated to the treatment facility Ben stayed at

  • Feb 2, 2023
Ben Baker died of an accidental overdose on Jan. 23, 2023. The family is fundraising for two memorial benches to make a monetary donation in Ben’s name to The Last Door in New Westminster. (Ben Baker’s Legacy/GoFundMe)
Sean Babchuk holds up a painting that he can finally hang in his new home. Photo by Marc Kitteringham/Campbell River Mirror

New Habitat for Humanity home is ‘quite the weight’ off owner’s shoulders

‘Now I can hang that picture on the wall’ — Sean Babchuk

Sean Babchuk holds up a painting that he can finally hang in his new home. Photo by Marc Kitteringham/Campbell River Mirror
A new stairway down to the beach at PKOLS is now complete after the old deteriorating set was removed over public safety concerns. (Courtesy of the District of Saanich)

Safer stairs now leading visitors down to the beach at PKOLS in Saanich

Old concrete stairs were cracking and falling into the ocean

A new stairway down to the beach at PKOLS is now complete after the old deteriorating set was removed over public safety concerns. (Courtesy of the District of Saanich)
Avery Baillie-Dix and Kyla Williams at the 2022 qualifiers. (Courtesy Victoria Artistic Swimming)

Dads take the plunge to help Victoria artistic swimmers compete

Victoria Artistic Swimming Club hosts its annual water show on Sunday, Feb. 5

Avery Baillie-Dix and Kyla Williams at the 2022 qualifiers. (Courtesy Victoria Artistic Swimming)
There’s always a baseball tournament in early June at Chemainus that bears Hopwo’s name. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Volunteering goes way beyond the norm for Hopwo

More than 50 years of commitment to Chemainus baseball as president

There’s always a baseball tournament in early June at Chemainus that bears Hopwo’s name. (Photo by Don Bodger)
WorkBC Centre Sooke hosts a career and volunteers fair on Saturday, Feb. 11, at Edward Milne Community School. (Contributed photo)

WorkBC in Sooke hosts career and volunteer fair

Event takes place Saturday, Feb. 11 at Edward Milne Community School

WorkBC Centre Sooke hosts a career and volunteers fair on Saturday, Feb. 11, at Edward Milne Community School. (Contributed photo)
Saanich resident Adelaide Clark, 10, plates her award-winning roasted pork belly and vegetables with pear ginger sauce. The Frank Hobbs student won third place in the BC junior-level students category of the 2022 Field to Fork Challenge (Courtesy of Dominique Rochefort)

Saanich kid cooks up award-winning meal from the freezer and late-season garden

Frank Hobbs elementary student scores $200 and a swag bag of prizes in provincial competition

Saanich resident Adelaide Clark, 10, plates her award-winning roasted pork belly and vegetables with pear ginger sauce. The Frank Hobbs student won third place in the BC junior-level students category of the 2022 Field to Fork Challenge (Courtesy of Dominique Rochefort)
Jess Duncan holds Toque the shy chicken at Bear ‘N Bee Therapeutic Farm. (Hollie Ferguson/News Staff)

VIDEO: ‘Everybody’s farm’ in Greater Victoria offers kids a safe place to learn and explore

Jess Duncan of Bear ‘N Bee Farm wanted to make purposeful use of her land and animals

Jess Duncan holds Toque the shy chicken at Bear ‘N Bee Therapeutic Farm. (Hollie Ferguson/News Staff)
Ann Makosinski is currently collecting perspectives to inform her pending book The Inventing Mindset, alongside finishing that degree at UVic and judging a major Samsung STEM competition. (Christine van Reeuwk/News Staff)

Saanich’s Google science wonder kid is now a modern Renaissance woman

10 years later, Ann Makosinski looks to pen her first book – The Inventing Mindset

Ann Makosinski is currently collecting perspectives to inform her pending book The Inventing Mindset, alongside finishing that degree at UVic and judging a major Samsung STEM competition. (Christine van Reeuwk/News Staff)
View of the Cottage City steamship run aground just off the coast of Willow Point in 1911. MCR 8694, Yeatman Collection

The wreck of the steamer Cottage City

A Look Back into the History of the Campbell River Area

  • Jan 30, 2023
View of the Cottage City steamship run aground just off the coast of Willow Point in 1911. MCR 8694, Yeatman Collection