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Llamas at the Llama Sanctuary have found a new home at the Recline Ridge EcoPark in Tappen. (Llama Sanctuary photo- Facebook)

Shuswap-based Llama Sanctuary makes second move in one month

Camelids and caretakers settling into permanent home in Tappen, hosting welcome-back event

Llamas at the Llama Sanctuary have found a new home at the Recline Ridge EcoPark in Tappen. (Llama Sanctuary photo- Facebook)
Penticton’s Mae Smith celebrated her 100th birthday at the Concorde Retirement Community on Wednesday, May 3. (Logan Lockhart- Western News)

‘I’m so fortunate’: Penticton’s Mae Smith celebrates 100th birthday

The Penticton resident was joined by family and friends to mark the milestone Wednesday

Penticton’s Mae Smith celebrated her 100th birthday at the Concorde Retirement Community on Wednesday, May 3. (Logan Lockhart- Western News)
The BC SPCA Wild Animal Rehabilitation Centre in Metchosin suggests checking out its critter cam to catch glimpses of an eagle currently in care. (Wild ARC/Facebook)

Metchosin wildlife rehab centre launches latest eagle cam star

Wild ARC critter cam streams live from flight pen B, currently home to a bald eagle

The BC SPCA Wild Animal Rehabilitation Centre in Metchosin suggests checking out its critter cam to catch glimpses of an eagle currently in care. (Wild ARC/Facebook)
The Animal Lifeline Emergency Response Team helped to rescue a horse that had fallen in Oliver's canal just days after training for livestock rescue. (ALERT Facebook)

VIDEO: 2 days after training, ALERT helps with rescue of horse in Oliver canal

The horse was escorted safely back to dry land

The Animal Lifeline Emergency Response Team helped to rescue a horse that had fallen in Oliver's canal just days after training for livestock rescue. (ALERT Facebook)
Louis Salvino, who worked 33 years for Watkin Motors and 29th St. Auto Shine, gives tips to Janis Lauman, Carol Schroeder, Anne Clarke, and Sue Ulmer in the art of car washing for Grannies à Gogo car wash, Sat, May 6.”

Vernon Grannies ready to get dirty sudsing up support

Car wash raising funds for Gogos

Louis Salvino, who worked 33 years for Watkin Motors and 29th St. Auto Shine, gives tips to Janis Lauman, Carol Schroeder, Anne Clarke, and Sue Ulmer in the art of car washing for Grannies à Gogo car wash, Sat, May 6.”
Nikki Toxopeus prepares to cut Scotch broom along the rail line in Ladysmith. She is hoping to get a corps of volunteers together to take on the invasive plant that is taking over many special spaces in Ladysmith and surrounding areas. (Duck Paterson photo)

Volunteers cutting broom to try to keep it out of Vancouver Island’s ‘special places’

BroomBusters looking to boost efforts in Ladysmith, Cedar, Cassidy and elsewhere

  • May 3, 2023
Nikki Toxopeus prepares to cut Scotch broom along the rail line in Ladysmith. She is hoping to get a corps of volunteers together to take on the invasive plant that is taking over many special spaces in Ladysmith and surrounding areas. (Duck Paterson photo)
Nanaimo’s Brenton Lalonde said he was “vibrating” after winning $75,000 from a B.C./49 lottery ticket last month. (Submitted photo)

Nanaimo man wins $75,000 playing the lottery

Brenton Lalonde said he was ‘vibrating’ from excitement after B.C./49 win

Nanaimo’s Brenton Lalonde said he was “vibrating” after winning $75,000 from a B.C./49 lottery ticket last month. (Submitted photo)
Dover Bay Secondary School robotics students Hiroki Nariyoshi, left, Scott Wiebe, Marina Pelletier, Xiaorui Liu, Mark Ratzlaff and Rhys Arden, not pictured, will represent B.C. in the Skills Canada national competition May 25-26 in Winnipeg. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)

High school students from Nanaimo will represent B.C. in national robotics competition

Dover Bay Secondary School team to compete at Skills Canada event in Winnipeg

Dover Bay Secondary School robotics students Hiroki Nariyoshi, left, Scott Wiebe, Marina Pelletier, Xiaorui Liu, Mark Ratzlaff and Rhys Arden, not pictured, will represent B.C. in the Skills Canada national competition May 25-26 in Winnipeg. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)
Timberline's Andrew Hrybko worked his way to a Cabinetmaking Silver at the Skills Canada Provincials in Abbotsford on April 19. Photo courtesy Paul Klein/School District 72

Trio of Campbell River students are heading to Skills Canada Nationals

Five students competed in province wide event in Abbotsford April 19

  • May 2, 2023
Timberline's Andrew Hrybko worked his way to a Cabinetmaking Silver at the Skills Canada Provincials in Abbotsford on April 19. Photo courtesy Paul Klein/School District 72
The Luxton Spring Fair is back May 18-21, bringing plenty of fun for all ages. (Black Press Media file photo)

Luxton Spring Fair returns to Langford for Victoria Day weekend

May 18, 19, 20, 21 to have no shortage of fun for the whole family

The Luxton Spring Fair is back May 18-21, bringing plenty of fun for all ages. (Black Press Media file photo)
Artist Marcela Strasdas shows art in her home during the Hills to Shore Artists Tour, which runs over Mother’s Day weekend. (Carol Sherwood photo) Artist Marcela Strasdas shows art in her home during the Hills to Shore Artists Tour which runs over Mother’s Day weekend.

Five ways to treat mom this Mother’s Day in Victoria

High tea, gardens, annual art tours and more

Artist Marcela Strasdas shows art in her home during the Hills to Shore Artists Tour, which runs over Mother’s Day weekend. (Carol Sherwood photo) Artist Marcela Strasdas shows art in her home during the Hills to Shore Artists Tour which runs over Mother’s Day weekend.
John Hillman kicks off his fourth annual walk to raise funds for Save the Children on May 1 alongside Oak Bay Mayor Kevin Murdoch. Over 10 days, the Oak Bay man plans to walk 104 laps of his Carlton House courtyard – one for each year he’s been alive. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

VIDEO: 104-year-old Oak Bay veteran embarks on 4th fundraiser for Save the Children

John Hillman started with $20,000 toward his $104,000 fundraising goal

John Hillman kicks off his fourth annual walk to raise funds for Save the Children on May 1 alongside Oak Bay Mayor Kevin Murdoch. Over 10 days, the Oak Bay man plans to walk 104 laps of his Carlton House courtyard – one for each year he’s been alive. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
Loci #113 carrying spectators between Woss Camp and Woss Lake on the second annual Woss Lake Logger Sports Day. Photo dated June 14, 1969. (Photo supplied)

The history behind the first Woss Lake Logger Sports event goes way back to 1968

The Port McNeill Logger Sports Society is hosting its annual show on May 27 at the waterfront

Loci #113 carrying spectators between Woss Camp and Woss Lake on the second annual Woss Lake Logger Sports Day. Photo dated June 14, 1969. (Photo supplied)
Veronica Carroll, CEO of the Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island, picks a smile cookie to kick off the smile cookie campaign at Tim Hortons. The campaign, which runs May 1 to 7, has raised $362,585 for the foundation in the last nine years. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

VIDEO: Smile cookies raise cash for Island kids, families facing health crises

May 1 to 7 marks 10th year of Tim Horton’s smile cookie campaign

Veronica Carroll, CEO of the Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island, picks a smile cookie to kick off the smile cookie campaign at Tim Hortons. The campaign, which runs May 1 to 7, has raised $362,585 for the foundation in the last nine years. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
Kelly Kurta and her family pose with her mother Gail Stewart, who lived with dementia and is being honoured at this year’s IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer’s in Victoria.

Islanders honour people affected by dementia to boost supports

Key Alzheimer Society of B.C. fundraiser in communities across Vancouver Island on Sunday, May 28

  • May 1, 2023
Kelly Kurta and her family pose with her mother Gail Stewart, who lived with dementia and is being honoured at this year’s IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer’s in Victoria.
The annual Regional Emergency Preparedness Fair and Display is returning May 7 to West Shore Parks and Recreation after its pandemic hiatus, promising a day full of fun activities and important emergency preparedness information for residents. (Black Press Media file photo)

Emergency preparedness fair returns to Colwood after pandemic break

West Shore Parks and Recreation hosting free event filled with activities, important information

The annual Regional Emergency Preparedness Fair and Display is returning May 7 to West Shore Parks and Recreation after its pandemic hiatus, promising a day full of fun activities and important emergency preparedness information for residents. (Black Press Media file photo)
The CRD watershed tour explores the surrounding forests and Rithet Creek – the main tributary to Sooke Lake Reservoir. (Courtesy CRD)

CRD brings back watershed tours for the summer

Tours begin June 1 and will run through the month

The CRD watershed tour explores the surrounding forests and Rithet Creek – the main tributary to Sooke Lake Reservoir. (Courtesy CRD)
Ella Oldaker and Ellianna Dyble. Photo by Sean Poole

Two Comox Valley chefs cooking was golden at Skills provincial competition

Ella Oldaker and Ellianna Dyble both topped their respective categories in Culinary Arts

Ella Oldaker and Ellianna Dyble. Photo by Sean Poole
Artist Tanya Bub and Breanne Beckette, senior manager of Wild Animal Rehabilitation Centre, celebrate more than $10,000 raised through Bub’s sculpture show to support the BC SPCA site in Metchosin. (Courtesy Tanya Bub)

Driftwood wildlife raises more than $10K to help the real deal in Metchosin

Artist funds BC SPCA Wild ARC with Victoria showcase

Artist Tanya Bub and Breanne Beckette, senior manager of Wild Animal Rehabilitation Centre, celebrate more than $10,000 raised through Bub’s sculpture show to support the BC SPCA site in Metchosin. (Courtesy Tanya Bub)
Leave a Legacy Month marks a time for donors to consider options for legacy giving and what matters to them. (Image supplied by Victoria Foundation)

‘Everyone has been touched by somebody else’s generosity’: May marks Leave a Legacy Month

As Canadians see largest generational transfer of wealth, local charities say legacy giving has huge impact

Leave a Legacy Month marks a time for donors to consider options for legacy giving and what matters to them. (Image supplied by Victoria Foundation)