parks

Saanich Mayor Fred Haynes and Katie Blake, executive director of the Habitat Acquisition Trust, are calling on the community to help raise $1 million by April 22 to purchase the Mountain Road Forest and create a new regional park. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)

Saanich mayor, Habitat Acquisition Trust call on residents to help raise $1M for new regional park by Earth Day

100-day deadline set to secure CRD’s $3.4-million urban forest purchase

 

Former park warden George Mercer has turned to writing fiction since his retirement and move to Vancouver Island. Photograph by Lia Crowe

Into The Wild With Writer George Mercer

A passion for parks sets the backdrop for novel series

  • Jan 6, 2021

 

Saanich police are investigating a report of a sexual assault that occurred on Dec. 29 at Glanford Park. (Black Press Media file photo)

Saanich police investigating sexual assault in Glanford Park

A 19-year-old woman was attacked Dec. 29

 

The City of Victoria is closing Central Park for ‘remediation’ on Jan. 4. (Black Press Media file photo)

Victoria closing Central Park for remediation following campers, wet weather

Park will be closed Jan. 4 until further notice

The City of Victoria is closing Central Park for ‘remediation’ on Jan. 4. (Black Press Media file photo)
The Capital Regional District and Island Health has advised against swimming in or drinking water from both Elk and Beaver Lakes after toxic blue-green algae blooms were reported. (Black Press Media file photo)

CRD expands blue-green algae alert to include Elk Lake

Blue-green algae can cause health complications in humans, pets

The Capital Regional District and Island Health has advised against swimming in or drinking water from both Elk and Beaver Lakes after toxic blue-green algae blooms were reported. (Black Press Media file photo)
Large logs that once bordered Mount Douglas Park were recently chopped up and removed from the park – despite bylaws banning the actions – leaving behind a trail of sawdust. (Photo courtesy Darrell Wick)

Wood snatchers illegally chop, smuggle logs out of Saanich park

Parks bylaw prohibits removing wood, using chainsaws in parks

Large logs that once bordered Mount Douglas Park were recently chopped up and removed from the park – despite bylaws banning the actions – leaving behind a trail of sawdust. (Photo courtesy Darrell Wick)
Parking fees at Sooke Potholes Regional Park will be going up at some point, but not without further discussion. Capital Regional District directors asked CRD staff to come back with alternatives after they proposed increasing the $2.25 per day rate to $7 for 2021. (TJ Watt photo)

Greater Victoria politicians ditch plan for $7 daily parking at two regional parks

Capital Regional District directors fear backlash from parks users

Parking fees at Sooke Potholes Regional Park will be going up at some point, but not without further discussion. Capital Regional District directors asked CRD staff to come back with alternatives after they proposed increasing the $2.25 per day rate to $7 for 2021. (TJ Watt photo)
Mark’s Nature Park in Parksville has been closed following a fire on Thursday, Nov. 26, 2020. (PQB News file photo)

Parksville nature park closed following ‘extensive’ blaze

City crews conducting hazard assessment

Mark’s Nature Park in Parksville has been closed following a fire on Thursday, Nov. 26, 2020. (PQB News file photo)
The aftermath of a fire that occurred early morning Thursday, Nov. 26, 2020 in Mark's Nature Park in Parksville. (Mandy Moraes photo)

UPDATE: No injuries reported, Parksville nature park closed following early morning blaze

City crews conducting hazard assessment

The aftermath of a fire that occurred early morning Thursday, Nov. 26, 2020 in Mark's Nature Park in Parksville. (Mandy Moraes photo)
The City of Victoria announced the official opening of Agamemnon and Eleni Kasapi Park in the South Jubilee neighbourhood on Nov. 18. (Courtesy of Jeremy Loveday)

Purchase of South Jubilee park funds new UVic scholarships

Victoria residents have a new park and UVic has two new scholarships

The City of Victoria announced the official opening of Agamemnon and Eleni Kasapi Park in the South Jubilee neighbourhood on Nov. 18. (Courtesy of Jeremy Loveday)
The Friends of Mount Douglas Park Society is reminding park-users that damaging plants or removing mushrooms or anything else from the park is against Saanich bylaws. (Photo courtesy Darrell Wick)

Fungi filchers target Greater Victoria park

Park-users cannot damage plants, remove things from greenspace, advocate says

The Friends of Mount Douglas Park Society is reminding park-users that damaging plants or removing mushrooms or anything else from the park is against Saanich bylaws. (Photo courtesy Darrell Wick)
Every year, piles of abandoned jack-o-lanterns appear in Mount Douglas Park after Halloween and advocates are urging residents to be responsible when displaying their pumpkin art. (Photo courtesy Darrell Wick)

The great Saanich pumpkin dump: Advocates advise against abandoning carved gourds in park

Removal of rotten pumpkins costs up to $800 annually, district says

Every year, piles of abandoned jack-o-lanterns appear in Mount Douglas Park after Halloween and advocates are urging residents to be responsible when displaying their pumpkin art. (Photo courtesy Darrell Wick)
A sneaky otter made its way into the salmon containment area in the Saanich fish fence during the fall salmon count. (Photo courtesy Dorothy Chambers)

Otters foil annual salmon count at Saanich fish fence

Seasonal tally ends early with 176 coho passing up Colquitz River to spawn

A sneaky otter made its way into the salmon containment area in the Saanich fish fence during the fall salmon count. (Photo courtesy Dorothy Chambers)
The Victoria Police Department arrested a man Nov. 3 after receiving reports that he had set a fire inside a Beacon Hill Park tent. (Black Press Media file photo)

VicPD arrests man who set fire in Beacon Hill tent

The man had previously been prohibited from entering Victoria parks

The Victoria Police Department arrested a man Nov. 3 after receiving reports that he had set a fire inside a Beacon Hill Park tent. (Black Press Media file photo)
Saanich council will consider a report from Coun. Zac de Vries calling for up to six park shelters to be added across the municipality to extend park-use into the rainy season. (Black Press Media file photo)

Saanich looks at adding park shelters for safe outdoor socializing during adverse weather

Covered areas would permit safe socializing during ‘endless rain’ season, resident says

Saanich council will consider a report from Coun. Zac de Vries calling for up to six park shelters to be added across the municipality to extend park-use into the rainy season. (Black Press Media file photo)
The Churchill Drive gate just past the parking lot in Mount Douglas Park will be closed over the Labour Day long weekend due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. (Friends of Mount Douglas Park Society/Twitter)

Mount Douglas Park closed to vehicle traffic over Labour Day long weekend

Churchill Drive gate to close Sept. 5 to 7

The Churchill Drive gate just past the parking lot in Mount Douglas Park will be closed over the Labour Day long weekend due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. (Friends of Mount Douglas Park Society/Twitter)
A discarded syringe found in Rutledge park in January. More safe disposal options are needed for discarded syringes, says SOLID operations coordinator Fred Cameron, after another needle was found, this time after poking a 15-year-old Sooke boy. (Black Press Media file photo)

Sooke mother calls for action after 15-year-old poked by discarded syringe in Saanich park

Discarded needle poke in Saanich park points to need for safe disposal options: SOLID

A discarded syringe found in Rutledge park in January. More safe disposal options are needed for discarded syringes, says SOLID operations coordinator Fred Cameron, after another needle was found, this time after poking a 15-year-old Sooke boy. (Black Press Media file photo)
Lavington resident Dave Pope chained himself to a tree in the park across from the local elementary school Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020, in protest against use of park space for the construction of a child care facility. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star) Lavington resident Dave Pope chained himself to a tree in the park across from the local elementary school Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020, in protest against use of park space for the construction of a child care facility. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)

North Okanagan man chains himself to tree in protest of construction

Crews began work clearing space for a new facility Thursday, Aug. 6

Lavington resident Dave Pope chained himself to a tree in the park across from the local elementary school Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020, in protest against use of park space for the construction of a child care facility. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star) Lavington resident Dave Pope chained himself to a tree in the park across from the local elementary school Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020, in protest against use of park space for the construction of a child care facility. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)
Joffre Lakes Provincial Park.. (Black Press Media files)

BC Parks considering a day-use pass system for popular locations to avoid overcrowding

Although some parks have reopened, B.C.’s busiest parks have remained shut

Joffre Lakes Provincial Park.. (Black Press Media files)
The public is asked to follow guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19 when visiting Nanaimo’s water parks this summer. All water parks across the city opened Thursday for the summer season. (News Bulletin file photo)

Nanaimo’s water parks open today

Water parks across the city open for the summer; users asked to follow COVID-19 precautions

The public is asked to follow guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19 when visiting Nanaimo’s water parks this summer. All water parks across the city opened Thursday for the summer season. (News Bulletin file photo)