beaches

An Island Health warning is in place for water activities near Willows and Cadboro Bay beaches after testing high for bacteria. (Black Press Media file photo)

Waters off popular Saanich, Oak Bay beaches test high for bacteria

Swimming and other contact not recommended for Willows, Cadboro Bay beaches

 

The boat was engulfed in flames at around 4:30 p.m on July 16, 2023. (Photo supplied by Liz Johnston)

‘Boats everywhere’: derelict vessels continue to pollute B.C. waters

Derelict vessel that caught fire after washing ashore on Denman Island just tip of a large iceberg

 

Rachel Stanford is recovering from a broken neck after using the rope swing at Gyro Beach in Kelowna. (Contributed/Ben Stanford)

Zipline to stay at Gyro Beach after Kelowna mom breaks her neck

Rachel Stanford was caught on video flipping off the swing and screaming upon resurfacing

  • May 31, 2023

 

The red area on this map shows where dogs are not allowed during the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve’s temporary dog ban. (Pacific Rim National Park Reserve image) The red area on this map shows where dogs are not allowed during the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve’s temporary dog ban. (Pacific Rim National Park Reserve image)

Pacific Rim National Park Reserve announces temporary dog ban to protect shorebirds

Combers Beach, near Tofino and Ucluelet, is a dog-free zone for the next six months

The red area on this map shows where dogs are not allowed during the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve’s temporary dog ban. (Pacific Rim National Park Reserve image) The red area on this map shows where dogs are not allowed during the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve’s temporary dog ban. (Pacific Rim National Park Reserve image)
File photo

Senior saves son from near drowning during Family Day surf trip in Tofino

RCMP, Canadian Coast Guard, BC Ambulance and Volunteer Fire Department respond at Chesterman Beach

File photo
A Rubbermaid container full of cigarette butts that were collected in Tofino and recycled thanks to Surfrider Pacific Rim’s Hold On To Your Butts campaign. (Photo courtesy of Surfrider Pacific Rim)

Hold On To Your Butts campaign a smoking success in Tofino-Ucluelet

Over 1.2 million cigarette butts collected

A Rubbermaid container full of cigarette butts that were collected in Tofino and recycled thanks to Surfrider Pacific Rim’s Hold On To Your Butts campaign. (Photo courtesy of Surfrider Pacific Rim)
Jody Kirk, Tourism Tofino’s visitor and member services manager, says the beach wheelchairs are easy to assemble and easy to manoeuvre. (Nora O’Malley photo)

Free beach wheelchairs create opportunity Victoria couple thought gone forever

Accessibility grant making lives better, organizations encouraged to chase theirs

Jody Kirk, Tourism Tofino’s visitor and member services manager, says the beach wheelchairs are easy to assemble and easy to manoeuvre. (Nora O’Malley photo)
Guy-Olivier Deveau’s sculpture, “The Algorithm”, won in the People’s Choice solo category. (Parksville Beach Festival Society photo via Facebook)

Parksville Beach Festival marks successful comeback in 2022 with record visitor numbers

Sandsculpting exhibition saw 115,217 visitors, higher than 2019

Guy-Olivier Deveau’s sculpture, “The Algorithm”, won in the People’s Choice solo category. (Parksville Beach Festival Society photo via Facebook)
Dance duo Funkanometry dances surrounded by a cheering crowd Saturday during Colwood’s Eats and Beats Beach Party on the Esquimalt Lagoon. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

PHOTOS: Eats and Beats Beach Party brings funky fun to Colwood

Thousands spent the afternoon and evening enjoying music, food, and more

Dance duo Funkanometry dances surrounded by a cheering crowd Saturday during Colwood’s Eats and Beats Beach Party on the Esquimalt Lagoon. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
Sienna Lalari of Gobind Farms passes a box of berries to a customer Saturday at the Peninsula Country Market. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

PHOTOS: Greater Victoria kicks off the long weekend with fun in the sun

The region’s parks, beaches, and markets were busy Saturday

Sienna Lalari of Gobind Farms passes a box of berries to a customer Saturday at the Peninsula Country Market. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
A temporary access road and construction stakes rim what has been a popular North Saanich beach, off Madrona Drive and Norris Road. A retaining wall project underway at the rear of a Madrona Drive property has made the beach much less desirable spot, residents say. (Photo by Dave Spencer)

North Saanich beach lovers dismayed at condition of site amid construction project

Retaining wall project to address extensive erosion leaves Norris Beach a mess

A temporary access road and construction stakes rim what has been a popular North Saanich beach, off Madrona Drive and Norris Road. A retaining wall project underway at the rear of a Madrona Drive property has made the beach much less desirable spot, residents say. (Photo by Dave Spencer)
Bruce Waugh, from B.C., works on his masterpiece during the 2022 Quality Foods Sand Sculpting Competition in Parksville on July 17. (Kevin Forsyth photo)

VIDEO: 2022 winners declared at Parksville’s international sand sculpting event

Sculptures remain open for viewing through Aug. 21

Bruce Waugh, from B.C., works on his masterpiece during the 2022 Quality Foods Sand Sculpting Competition in Parksville on July 17. (Kevin Forsyth photo)
Ted ‘Guido’ Siebert puts the finishing touches on godfather Al Capone which part of their mob scene theme. (Michael Briones photo)

Sand sculptures a big draw as competition returns to Parksville for 2022

Winners will be declared Sunday

Ted ‘Guido’ Siebert puts the finishing touches on godfather Al Capone which part of their mob scene theme. (Michael Briones photo)
Crowds lounge on the beach as Pulse Radio performs at the Esquimalt Lagoon Saturday (July 9) as part of Colwood’s weekly beach food weekends and Saturday music. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

PHOTOS: Pulse Radio brings the groove to Esquimalt Lagoon

Colwood’s beach food weekends and music Saturdays continue until Sept. 2

Crowds lounge on the beach as Pulse Radio performs at the Esquimalt Lagoon Saturday (July 9) as part of Colwood’s weekly beach food weekends and Saturday music. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
A Mystic Beach sunset. The beach was named one of the top 50 beaches in the world by an international travel website. (Black Press Media file photo)

Vancouver Island beach named one of the best in the world

Mystic Beach named on top 50 list by bigseventravel.com

A Mystic Beach sunset. The beach was named one of the top 50 beaches in the world by an international travel website. (Black Press Media file photo)
A great blue heron, which is listed on the Species at Risk Act, waits for breakfast on an early morning in South Oak Bay between Kitty Islet and the Victoria Golf Club. (Evert Lindquist/News Staff)

Federal report deems dogs the greatest risk to migratory birds

Off-leash dogs, disturbed birds throughout Victoria Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary

A great blue heron, which is listed on the Species at Risk Act, waits for breakfast on an early morning in South Oak Bay between Kitty Islet and the Victoria Golf Club. (Evert Lindquist/News Staff)
Dick Brown at 16. (Submitted photo)

UPDATE: Victoria man surprised to learn he authored 1966 note in Parksville time capsule

Letter found 56 years later by Rathtrevor Beach tourists

Dick Brown at 16. (Submitted photo)
Leah discovered a small glass cream bottle that contained a note written more than 50 years ago. (Submitted photo)

Victoria family discovers 56-year-old message in bottle on Parksville beach

Buried treasure inadvertently dug out of 4-foot deep hole in sand

Leah discovered a small glass cream bottle that contained a note written more than 50 years ago. (Submitted photo)
Several garbage bags filled with medication was cleared up by City of Colwood parks staff on Monday morning. (Courtesy of City of Colwood)

Colwood cleans up bags of medication that washed up on Lagoon Beach

City contacted West Shore Health Unit for safe disposal, potential identification of medication

Several garbage bags filled with medication was cleared up by City of Colwood parks staff on Monday morning. (Courtesy of City of Colwood)
People are pictured walking their leashed dogs along Willows Beach, where dogs are restricted from May to September, on May 18, 2022. Dog and wildlife advocates continue to disagree over how much beach access dog owners should get in Greater Victoria’s migratory bird sanctuaries. (Evert Lindquist/News Staff)

Unleashing the hounds: Conflict over dogs on Greater Victoria beaches persists

Federal report targets dispute about bird sanctuary in Oak Bay, Saanich

People are pictured walking their leashed dogs along Willows Beach, where dogs are restricted from May to September, on May 18, 2022. Dog and wildlife advocates continue to disagree over how much beach access dog owners should get in Greater Victoria’s migratory bird sanctuaries. (Evert Lindquist/News Staff)