Don Descoteau

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Saskatoon resident liajah Pidskalny poses with his bike near the University of Victoria after putting on thousands of kilometres to raise awareness of the overdose and mental health crisis. (Courtesy Iliajah Pidskalny)

Saskatoon cyclist winds up mental health and overdose awareness ride in Victoria

Iliajah Pidskalny braves prairie winter conditions to get word out to communities

Saskatoon resident liajah Pidskalny poses with his bike near the University of Victoria after putting on thousands of kilometres to raise awareness of the overdose and mental health crisis. (Courtesy Iliajah Pidskalny)
Sooke Lake Reservoir, shown here, is the primary storage site for Greater Victoria’s drinking water supply. The Capital Regional District just purchased a property on the north edge of the water supply area to help further protect the supply. (Photo courtesy CRD)

CRD acquires 58.7-hectare watershed to further protect Greater Victoria drinking water supply

Forested area near Grant Lake is part of the Cowichan Valley Regional District

Sooke Lake Reservoir, shown here, is the primary storage site for Greater Victoria’s drinking water supply. The Capital Regional District just purchased a property on the north edge of the water supply area to help further protect the supply. (Photo courtesy CRD)
The Habitat Acquisition Trust has secured a biodiverse 23-hectare parcel of land in Highlands through a donation from Anne and Jim Ganns, who owned the property for 50 years. (Photo by Jeremy Da Silva/Courtesy Habitat Acquisition Trust)

23-hectare land donation in Highlands extends permanent habitat protection

Anne and Jim Ganns pass on property purchased 50 years ago to the Habitat Acquisition Trust

The Habitat Acquisition Trust has secured a biodiverse 23-hectare parcel of land in Highlands through a donation from Anne and Jim Ganns, who owned the property for 50 years. (Photo by Jeremy Da Silva/Courtesy Habitat Acquisition Trust)
Landis Carmichael is the Goldstream Gazette 2021 Local Hero as the Emergency Services Award winner. (Photo courtesy Landis Carmichael)

29-year-old firefighter has spent almost half his life with Langford department

Landis Carmichael is the 2021 recipient of the Emergency Services Award

Landis Carmichael is the Goldstream Gazette 2021 Local Hero as the Emergency Services Award winner. (Photo courtesy Landis Carmichael)
The construction zone remains for now at Clover Point, but plans for a new pedestrian zone and partially closed traffic loop were approved by Victoria councillors on Thursday. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)

Victoria council compromises with partial closure of Clover Point

Option preserves parking 14 spots facing ocean, creates more pedestrian space

The construction zone remains for now at Clover Point, but plans for a new pedestrian zone and partially closed traffic loop were approved by Victoria councillors on Thursday. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)
Soloman and Zev Nagler enjoy time on the beach at Witty’s Lagoon Regional Park on a summer day. The Capital Regional District is in the process of determining whether to institute parking fees at this and eight other CRD parks. (Black Press Media file photo)

CRD parks committee rejects new Greater Victoria parking fees – again

More arguments against fee hikes, pay parking at nine parks, brought forward by committee members

Soloman and Zev Nagler enjoy time on the beach at Witty’s Lagoon Regional Park on a summer day. The Capital Regional District is in the process of determining whether to institute parking fees at this and eight other CRD parks. (Black Press Media file photo)
Greg Chow is the 2021 Local Hero of the Year. (Don Denton/Black Press Media)

Fighting fire a family affair for Colwood Assistant Chief Greg Chow

With 38 years of service, Greg Chow is the 2021 Hero of the Year

Greg Chow is the 2021 Local Hero of the Year. (Don Denton/Black Press Media)
A placard featuring a poster from an online petition opposing a proposed development next to Havenwood Park is attached to a handrail at the top of the park’s iconic stairway. These and other types of non-approved information signs are prohibited by a City of Colwood bylaw. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)

‘Signgate’ springs up in Colwood over Havenwood area development proposal

Residents group, developer at odds, bylaw prohibits signs on vacant or parkland

A placard featuring a poster from an online petition opposing a proposed development next to Havenwood Park is attached to a handrail at the top of the park’s iconic stairway. These and other types of non-approved information signs are prohibited by a City of Colwood bylaw. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)
The challenging rental accommodation market in Greater Victoria, combined with the effects of the pandemic, leaves some renters on the edge of losing stable housing. A new rent bank program aims to help provide a buffer for those facing short-term cash flow shortages. (Courtesy Victoria Foundation)

Financial help on its way for at-risk Greater Victoria renters

Community Social Planning Council leads way on program offering interest-free, short-term loans

The challenging rental accommodation market in Greater Victoria, combined with the effects of the pandemic, leaves some renters on the edge of losing stable housing. A new rent bank program aims to help provide a buffer for those facing short-term cash flow shortages. (Courtesy Victoria Foundation)
VicPD officers will continue to accompany city bylaw officers on their morning rounds in encampments in parks. (Black Press Media file photo)

Bylaw work risks convince Victoria council to approve extra police funding

VicPD will continue to accompany bylaw officers into encampment parks for morning check-ins

VicPD officers will continue to accompany city bylaw officers on their morning rounds in encampments in parks. (Black Press Media file photo)
St. Margaret’s School student Lois Harnett-Shaw, enjoying a safe visit with Veterans Memorial Lodge resident Carol Cluff, delivered 225 handmade valentine’s, one for each resident, to the Saanich care home on Friday. (Courtesy Broadmead Care)

Kindness 101: Saanich student rallies St. Margaret’s group to show care to seniors

Lois Harnett-Shaw spends hours on valentines project, Random Acts of Kindness continues Feb. 17

St. Margaret’s School student Lois Harnett-Shaw, enjoying a safe visit with Veterans Memorial Lodge resident Carol Cluff, delivered 225 handmade valentine’s, one for each resident, to the Saanich care home on Friday. (Courtesy Broadmead Care)
Mayor Barb Desjardins, performing official groundbreaking duties at Esquimalt Gorge Park in 2020, says doing regular reviews of salaries for mayor and councils would help municipalities stay current and avoid the need to play catchup. (Courtesy Township of Esquimalt)

Greater Victoria municipalities inconsistent in reviewing elected officials’ salaries

Esquimalt’s Barb Desjardins explains discrepancy between her pay and that of other mayors

Mayor Barb Desjardins, performing official groundbreaking duties at Esquimalt Gorge Park in 2020, says doing regular reviews of salaries for mayor and councils would help municipalities stay current and avoid the need to play catchup. (Courtesy Township of Esquimalt)
Lights twinkle downtown over the 1000 block of Broad Street, which was closed to traffic and seating areas and a stage set up in 2020, to allow for physical distancing and also to create a walkable environment. It was one of the placemaking initiatives that received money from the City of Victoria’s’s My Great Neighbourhood grant program. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)

Victoria serves up $180,000 in neighbourhood grants for community projects

Program provides matching funds for 51 initiatives

Lights twinkle downtown over the 1000 block of Broad Street, which was closed to traffic and seating areas and a stage set up in 2020, to allow for physical distancing and also to create a walkable environment. It was one of the placemaking initiatives that received money from the City of Victoria’s’s My Great Neighbourhood grant program. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)
Barbara Hudlin, left, and aunt Bernice Alexander get together for a photo on Doug Hudlin Day at Jerry Hale Field, the home of National Little League baseball in Victoria. Doug Hudlin, a Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame umpire, and Bernice were cousins and all three are descendants of Charles and Nancy Alexander, two of the first Black pioneers to arrive in Victoria in 1858. (Photo courtesy Barbara Hudlin)

Black family matriarch hopes to pass down stories of Greater Victoria heritage

Sidney’s Bernice Alexander encourages everyone to look into Black history this month

Barbara Hudlin, left, and aunt Bernice Alexander get together for a photo on Doug Hudlin Day at Jerry Hale Field, the home of National Little League baseball in Victoria. Doug Hudlin, a Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame umpire, and Bernice were cousins and all three are descendants of Charles and Nancy Alexander, two of the first Black pioneers to arrive in Victoria in 1858. (Photo courtesy Barbara Hudlin)
Victoria non-profits opened more shelter spaces for those wanting indoor shelter during the ongoing cold snap. (Black Press Media file photo)

More shelter spaces open for Victoria homeless during cold snap

Organizations collaborated, says Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness

Victoria non-profits opened more shelter spaces for those wanting indoor shelter during the ongoing cold snap. (Black Press Media file photo)
Wendy Stone, coat drive co-ordinator for the Victoria Cool Aid Society, accepts a blanket from Gordy Dodd of Dodd’s Furniture. The Finlayson Street store donated 30 new blankets to the society for distribution and is a drop-off point for public donations of warm unused outerwear through Feb. 28. (Courtesy Dodd’s Furniture)

Victoria Cool Aid Society works to keep people warm and sheltered during cold snap

Shelter accepts donated tarps, tents and sleeping bags, opens up 15 temporary shelter mats

Wendy Stone, coat drive co-ordinator for the Victoria Cool Aid Society, accepts a blanket from Gordy Dodd of Dodd’s Furniture. The Finlayson Street store donated 30 new blankets to the society for distribution and is a drop-off point for public donations of warm unused outerwear through Feb. 28. (Courtesy Dodd’s Furniture)
The District of Metchosin learned more about its housing needs through a study released recently. (Black Press Media file photo)

Aging residents, more renters, unaffordability key points in Metchosin housing study

Median age of residents increased from 45.5 to 51.5 between 2006 and 2016

The District of Metchosin learned more about its housing needs through a study released recently. (Black Press Media file photo)
Plans for Clover Point Park will be determined at a later date, after Victoria council asked staff to bring back more options for the site. (Black Press Media file photo)

Victoria council wants more options for Clover Point Park redesign

Discussion on closing loop section to traffic fails to achieve consensus, more discussion coming

Plans for Clover Point Park will be determined at a later date, after Victoria council asked staff to bring back more options for the site. (Black Press Media file photo)
Aerial shot of Esquimalt Lagoon and Ocean Boulevard, which separates it from the Salish Sea. The City of Colwood is in the beginning stages of creating a plan to improve and enhance the public realm along the waterfront between the boulevard bridge and Royal Beach. (Black Press Media file photo)

Ambitious plans for Colwood waterfront improvements underway

Design options expected to be available for public input by this summer

Aerial shot of Esquimalt Lagoon and Ocean Boulevard, which separates it from the Salish Sea. The City of Colwood is in the beginning stages of creating a plan to improve and enhance the public realm along the waterfront between the boulevard bridge and Royal Beach. (Black Press Media file photo)
Installation of a traffic light at Jutland and Cecelia roads, metres away from the property being proposed for this residential complex on Cecelia Road in Victoria, will be mostly covered by the developer. (Courtesy City of Victoria)

Victoria settles traffic light contribution question for subsidized housing project

City to contribute $50,000 to estimated $350,000 cost of lights at Jutland and Cecelia roads

Installation of a traffic light at Jutland and Cecelia roads, metres away from the property being proposed for this residential complex on Cecelia Road in Victoria, will be mostly covered by the developer. (Courtesy City of Victoria)