Community

Victoria’s interactive map shows where blooming trees can be found across the city. (Courtesy of the City of Victoria)

City of Victoria’s interactive map pinpoints blooming trees for flower followers

Trees can be clicked on to see what kind they are and when they bloom

Victoria’s interactive map shows where blooming trees can be found across the city. (Courtesy of the City of Victoria)
Now a welder, Alicia Johnstone has been pursuing a career in trades since the age of 20. However, only four per cent of welders across Canada were female, according to 2022 statistics. Photo courtesy Alicia Johnstone/Instagram

Campbell River female welder has battled sexism, adversity in building career

Despite numbers increasing, tradeswomen numbers still relatively low.

Now a welder, Alicia Johnstone has been pursuing a career in trades since the age of 20. However, only four per cent of welders across Canada were female, according to 2022 statistics. Photo courtesy Alicia Johnstone/Instagram
The Victoria petting zoo welcomes its first two baby goats of the season – Jupiter and Solaris. (Beacon Hill Children’s Farm/Facebook)

Baby goats are back: Victoria petting zoo celebrates celestial kids after loss

Goat run returns to Beacon Hill Park as children’s farm welcomes spring babies

The Victoria petting zoo welcomes its first two baby goats of the season – Jupiter and Solaris. (Beacon Hill Children’s Farm/Facebook)
Gael, an Irish setter from North Saanich, was the overall winner of the Vancouver Island Dogs Calendar Contest last year. Image by Pauliina Saarinen Photography.

Vancouver Island Dogs Calendar Contest underway

Proceeds from contest and calendar sales benefit Operation Freedom Paws Canada Service Dog Program

  • Mar 20, 2023
Gael, an Irish setter from North Saanich, was the overall winner of the Vancouver Island Dogs Calendar Contest last year. Image by Pauliina Saarinen Photography.
Clay Johnson at Stephenson Point on his 191st day of jumping into the ocean to raise awareness for people that struggle with eating disorders. (Bailey Seymour/News Bulletin)

Nanaimo teen jumping into the ocean every day for eating disorder awareness

Clay Johnson is nearing his 200th daily dip

Clay Johnson at Stephenson Point on his 191st day of jumping into the ocean to raise awareness for people that struggle with eating disorders. (Bailey Seymour/News Bulletin)
The Victoria Flying Club hanger at Victoria International Airport. The club will be the host site of a special event on Monday, March 20, geared toward helping more young women get involved in the aviation industry. (File photo courtesy Victoria Flying Club)

Women working in aviation highlighted in Saanich Peninsula event geared to teens

Cross-country tour hopes to inspire more young women to enter the industry

The Victoria Flying Club hanger at Victoria International Airport. The club will be the host site of a special event on Monday, March 20, geared toward helping more young women get involved in the aviation industry. (File photo courtesy Victoria Flying Club)
Central Saanich Fire Lt. Alex Levitt (left) and Oak Bay Fire Lt. Jason Joynson carry the flags of fallen Greater Victoria firefighters Forrest Owens and Ken Gill at a memorial service for B.C. firefighters at the legislature in Victoria on March 6, 2023. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)

Esquimalt to host memorial hockey game for two Greater Victoria firefighters

Event meant to bring awareness to mental health, cancer incidences affecting fire service members

Central Saanich Fire Lt. Alex Levitt (left) and Oak Bay Fire Lt. Jason Joynson carry the flags of fallen Greater Victoria firefighters Forrest Owens and Ken Gill at a memorial service for B.C. firefighters at the legislature in Victoria on March 6, 2023. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)
Miss Earth Canada Layanna Robinson, a Victoria resident, works alongside the students and community members March 9 in Mystic Vale at the University of Victoria. (Courtesy Greater Victoria Green Team)

PHOTOS: Miss Earth Canada pulls weeds with Greater Victoria Green Team

Of the 133 volunteers, 34 visited Mystic Vale for the first time

Miss Earth Canada Layanna Robinson, a Victoria resident, works alongside the students and community members March 9 in Mystic Vale at the University of Victoria. (Courtesy Greater Victoria Green Team)
Courtenay residents included in the city���s residential curbside collection program can now participate in weekly food waste collection. File photo

Quadra Island community’s answer to climate change? Feed everyone

Volunteers combing discarded food for nutrition, getting it to those who need it

Courtenay residents included in the city���s residential curbside collection program can now participate in weekly food waste collection. File photo
Crofton Elementary School students learned about a wide variety of invisible disabilities through a school project and shared the findings with the public. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Uncovering the facts about invisible disabilities

Crofton Elementary students take project findings to heart

Crofton Elementary School students learned about a wide variety of invisible disabilities through a school project and shared the findings with the public. (Photo by Don Bodger)
Shamrocks are associated with Ireland, but a four-leaf clover is much more rare. Do you know the odds of finding a four-leaf clover? (Pixabay.com)

QUIZ: How Irish are you?

St. Patrick’s Day, on March 17, is a celebration of Ireland and Irish culture

Shamrocks are associated with Ireland, but a four-leaf clover is much more rare. Do you know the odds of finding a four-leaf clover? (Pixabay.com)
A West Coast kid examines a killer whale vertebrae at a past Build-A-Whale event during Maritime Kids Day. (Pacific Rim Whale Festival photo)

Island’s west coast celebrates return of the Pacific Rim Whale Festival

“It’s going to be wild, crazy, fun!”

A West Coast kid examines a killer whale vertebrae at a past Build-A-Whale event during Maritime Kids Day. (Pacific Rim Whale Festival photo)
Sidney flower counters submit 7.58 billion blossoms to take the top honours in the 2023 Greater Victoria Flower Count. (Black Press Media file photo)

Sidney dethrones Colwood as ‘bloomingest’ community in Greater Victoria

Saanich Peninsula town documents 7.58 billion blossoms for 48th Greater Victoria Flower Count

Sidney flower counters submit 7.58 billion blossoms to take the top honours in the 2023 Greater Victoria Flower Count. (Black Press Media file photo)
Oak Bay artist Myra Baynton is among the Victoria Sketch Club members with works on display during the annual show and sale that opens at Glenlyon Norfolks School on Beach Drive March 18. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

114-year-old arts club opens doors to annual Oak Bay show and sale

Victoria Sketch Club show opens March 21 in Glenlyon-Norfolk School gym

Oak Bay artist Myra Baynton is among the Victoria Sketch Club members with works on display during the annual show and sale that opens at Glenlyon Norfolks School on Beach Drive March 18. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
Crew members aboard the HMCS Ottawa frigate ready the Canadian Naval ship as it departs Port Alberni down the Alberni Inlet on March 9, 2023. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Navy ships visit Port Alberni waterfront

HMCS Ottawa and HMCS Winnipeg make a ‘maintenance’ stop in Port Alberni

Crew members aboard the HMCS Ottawa frigate ready the Canadian Naval ship as it departs Port Alberni down the Alberni Inlet on March 9, 2023. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
The new high school under construction in Duncan will be named Quw'utsun Secondary. (Photo courtesy SD79)

From Cowichan to Quw’utsun: Duncan area replacement high school gets name tweak

New spelling for rebuilding former Cowichan Secondary school a nod to reconciliation

The new high school under construction in Duncan will be named Quw'utsun Secondary. (Photo courtesy SD79)
For her father’s birthday, Christine Fritz made a donation at the Canada Blood Services Clinic in Walnut Grove on Saturday, March 11. It was her eighth contribution. (Dan Ferguson/Langley Advance Times)

Daughter donates blood for dad’s birthday

‘If I’m out there donating, someone else is donating for him’ B.C. woman says

For her father’s birthday, Christine Fritz made a donation at the Canada Blood Services Clinic in Walnut Grove on Saturday, March 11. It was her eighth contribution. (Dan Ferguson/Langley Advance Times)
Construction of a fire hall for Mount Washington has been delayed. File photo

Construction of Mount Washington fire hall suffers setback

Construction of the proposed Mount Washington fire hall has had a setback.…

Construction of a fire hall for Mount Washington has been delayed. File photo
Threatened yellow-montane violets in the Mt. Tuam protected area on Salt Spring Island. (Photo by Laura Mattias)

Islands conservancy receives funding to address biodiversity loss

Three-year funding boost ensures the continuation of species-at-risk program

Threatened yellow-montane violets in the Mt. Tuam protected area on Salt Spring Island. (Photo by Laura Mattias)
Leaders from Vancouver Island grocery brands announce a fundraising campaign to bring life-saving diagnostic equipment to BC Cancer – Victoria. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

Vancouver Island grocers come together for blooming good cancer campaign

Shoppers can buy flowers and fund cutting-edge tools for those facing cancer

Leaders from Vancouver Island grocery brands announce a fundraising campaign to bring life-saving diagnostic equipment to BC Cancer – Victoria. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)