Greater Victoria

Two inmates who escaped William Head prison in Metchosin were caught after commenting on the size of Lewis the Great Dane. He was being walked by John Ferguson, who was an off-duty officer at the time. (Black Press Media file photo)

Court hears of off-duty officer’s encounter with Metchosin inmates, and their arrest

James Lee Busch and Zachary Armitage charged with killing 60-year-old Metchosin man

 

Country superstar Blake Shelton has been announced as the headline for next summer’s Sunfest Country Music Festival, running Aug. 3 to 6, 2023. (Courtesy of Sunfest Country Music Festival)

Blake Shelton announced as Sunfest headliner

The Cowichan country music festival returns to Laketown Ranch Aug. 3 to 6, 2023

 

Zachary Armitage, charged along with James Lee Busch in killing Metchosin’s Martin Payne, is no longer a part of a trial associated with the case. (Correctional Service of Canada/Facebook)

Metchosin murder trial continues without one of the escaped inmates

Jury hears Zachary Armitage no longer part of these court proceedings

 

Victoria General Hospital’s current intensive care unit patient monitoring system is more than 17 years old. (Victoria Hospitals Foundation/Facebook)

Victoria Hospitals Foundation launches fundraiser on Giving Tuesday for new ICU patient monitors

‘More than Just a Monitor’ campaign aims to raise $500,000 for critical equipment

Victoria General Hospital’s current intensive care unit patient monitoring system is more than 17 years old. (Victoria Hospitals Foundation/Facebook)
Bill Okell shows off his gold medal with Flatout Motorsport’s 1994 Mazda Miata, after a surprise GTL class victory at the Sports Car Club of America 29th American Road Race of Champions. (Courtesy Bill Okell)

Saanich driver wins gold south of the border at 29th American Road Race of Champions

Bill Okell was nearly certain he had finished in second place

Bill Okell shows off his gold medal with Flatout Motorsport’s 1994 Mazda Miata, after a surprise GTL class victory at the Sports Car Club of America 29th American Road Race of Champions. (Courtesy Bill Okell)
The Victoria Shoebox Project is looking for donations to help fill more than 700 shoeboxes by Dec. 16, with each and everyone of them destined for a woman in need. (Courtesy Victoria Shoebox Project/Facebook)

Victoria Shoebox Project looking to fill 735 shoeboxes

Each box is designed to brighten a woman’s day and is filled with $50 of personal care, comfort items

The Victoria Shoebox Project is looking for donations to help fill more than 700 shoeboxes by Dec. 16, with each and everyone of them destined for a woman in need. (Courtesy Victoria Shoebox Project/Facebook)
Pepper’s Foods management and staff celebrate their bronze Independent Grocer of the Year small surface award, placing it in the top three independent grocery stores in Canada in its category. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)

Independently owned Saanich grocery store makes top 3 in all of Canada

Pepper’s Foods named third best independently owned grocery retailer in small surface category, again

Pepper’s Foods management and staff celebrate their bronze Independent Grocer of the Year small surface award, placing it in the top three independent grocery stores in Canada in its category. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)
Community-based team FIX IT from Victoria featuring Kai Williams (from left), Amren Kareer and Bryce Kong prepares to compete at a FIRST Tech Challenge at St. Margaret’s School. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)

Greater Victoria students compete in robotics competition

Local event geared to inspire youth to be innovators in science, technology

Community-based team FIX IT from Victoria featuring Kai Williams (from left), Amren Kareer and Bryce Kong prepares to compete at a FIRST Tech Challenge at St. Margaret’s School. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)
Santa and Mrs. Claus smile and wave to the thousands of people who lined Government and Douglas streets Saturday (Nov. 26) to take in the 40th annual Peninsula Co-op Santa Claus Parade, stopping occasionally to serenade the crowds with a quick Christmas carol. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

PHOTOS: Santa arrives in Victoria with 40th annual Peninsula Co-op Santa Claus Parade

Thousands lined downtown to take in the sights despite rain

Santa and Mrs. Claus smile and wave to the thousands of people who lined Government and Douglas streets Saturday (Nov. 26) to take in the 40th annual Peninsula Co-op Santa Claus Parade, stopping occasionally to serenade the crowds with a quick Christmas carol. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
James Lee Busch and Zachary Armitage are charged with the first-degree murder of Martin Payne after their escape from William Head Institution on July 7, 2019. (Correctional Service of Canada/Facebook)

Blood spatter analyst explains where Metchosin man was struck in his home

James Lee Busch and Zachary Armitage are charged with the first-degree murder of Martin Payne

James Lee Busch and Zachary Armitage are charged with the first-degree murder of Martin Payne after their escape from William Head Institution on July 7, 2019. (Correctional Service of Canada/Facebook)
Premier David Eby has announced the province is scrapping controversial plans to eliminate individualized autism funding, which was scheduled to be phased out by 2025. (Black Press Media file photo)

Premier announces about-turn on B.C. autism funding cuts

David Eby says individualized funding will continue past 2025

Premier David Eby has announced the province is scrapping controversial plans to eliminate individualized autism funding, which was scheduled to be phased out by 2025. (Black Press Media file photo)
James Lee Busch and Zachary Armitage are back in police custody after their escape from William Head institution on July 7. (Correctional Service of Canada/Facebook)

Jury sees items from scene of Metchosin homicide, others found with escaped inmates

James Lee Busch and Zachary Armitage charged with the first-degree murder of Martin Payne

James Lee Busch and Zachary Armitage are back in police custody after their escape from William Head institution on July 7. (Correctional Service of Canada/Facebook)
Camosun College’s anthropology department is hosting an event on Nov. 29 designed to help the residents of Greater Victoria think more about death. (Black Press Media file photo)

Camosun College invites Greater Victoria to learn more about death

The school’s anthropology department hosting an event Nov. 29

Camosun College’s anthropology department is hosting an event on Nov. 29 designed to help the residents of Greater Victoria think more about death. (Black Press Media file photo)
Santa and Mrs. Claus wave to onlookers as they make their way up Government Street during the 2021 Peninsula Co-Op Santa Light Parade. (Black Press Media file photo)

Event Roundup: Seasonal magic returns to Greater Victoria

Greater Victoria gears up for the holiday season with family-friendly festivities

Santa and Mrs. Claus wave to onlookers as they make their way up Government Street during the 2021 Peninsula Co-Op Santa Light Parade. (Black Press Media file photo)
James Lee Busch and Zachary Armitage are charged with killing Martin Payne after the inmates escaped William Head institution on July 7, 2019. (Correctional Service of Canada/Facebook)

Defence lawyers critical of items examined at Metchosin homicide scene

James Lee Busch and Zachary Armitage are charged with the first-degree murder of Martin Payne

James Lee Busch and Zachary Armitage are charged with killing Martin Payne after the inmates escaped William Head institution on July 7, 2019. (Correctional Service of Canada/Facebook)
The Better Business Bureau is warning shoppers of the risk of online shopping scams as the busy holiday shopping season gets underway. (Courtesy of Better Business Bureau)

BBB warning of online shopping scams this holiday season

Online shopping scams reached record highs last year, and are on track to match or surpass this year

The Better Business Bureau is warning shoppers of the risk of online shopping scams as the busy holiday shopping season gets underway. (Courtesy of Better Business Bureau)
Martin Payne’s red Ford F150 pickup truck was found in Oak Bay in 2019. A lawyer defending one of the men accused of killing Payne asked about how the truck and the slain Metchosin man’s home were examined. (West Shore RCMP photo)

Defence lawyer questions evidence examination during trial for escaped Metchosin inmates

Zachary Armitage’s lawyer cross-examined RCMP forensics investigator on Tuesday

Martin Payne’s red Ford F150 pickup truck was found in Oak Bay in 2019. A lawyer defending one of the men accused of killing Payne asked about how the truck and the slain Metchosin man’s home were examined. (West Shore RCMP photo)
James Lee Busch (left) and Zachary Armitage are charged with the first-degree murder of 60-year-old Martin Payne after they escaped William Head institution on July 7, 2019. (Correctional Service of Canada/Facebook)

Bloody shoes found in bags linked to prints at Metchosin crime scene

Escaped inmates Zachary Armitage and James Lee Busch are charged with killing Martin Payne

James Lee Busch (left) and Zachary Armitage are charged with the first-degree murder of 60-year-old Martin Payne after they escaped William Head institution on July 7, 2019. (Correctional Service of Canada/Facebook)
LETTER SIG

Letter: A simple way to collect trash and cut carbon emissions

After having lived in four Greater Victoria municipalities and now Sooke, I…

  • Nov 21, 2022
LETTER SIG
Greater Victoria is set to host the new Northwestern Francophone Games next summer as a replacement for the now cancelled Canadian Francophone Games, originally set to be held here in 2020. (Photo courtesy of Canadian Francophone Games)

Greater Victoria to host Northwestern Francophone Games next summer

The event will run from July 11 to 15, 2023, with most events being held in Oak Bay

Greater Victoria is set to host the new Northwestern Francophone Games next summer as a replacement for the now cancelled Canadian Francophone Games, originally set to be held here in 2020. (Photo courtesy of Canadian Francophone Games)