Community

From left: Royal Jubilee Hospital clinical operations director Jason Price, Saanich Mayor Fred Haynes and site operations manager Edgar Dittmer deliver sunflowers and chocolates to healthcare workers in the hospital’s patient care centre. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)

Chocolates and sunflowers brighten up Royal Jubilee Hospital workers’ day

Gifts to show appreciation for Greater Victoria hospital workers experiencing burnout

Sidney Museum to host jack-o’-lantern hunt

Event runs Oct. 22 to 31 as part of Sidney Business Improvement Area Society’s Halloween Spooktacular

Bella, the foal, was born chestnut and changed colour as she aged. (Courtesy Paula Leweke)

Metchosin-born horse leaps grand prix hurdles

Paula Leweke of Paula’s Horses has high hopes for Bella

Sooke’s annual Santa Parade returns on Dec. 5, but with pandemic protocols in place. (File - Sooke News Mirror)

Traditional Sooke Santa Parade to return, for now, with COVID precautions

Holiday event planned for Dec. 5

Sooke’s annual Santa Parade returns on Dec. 5, but with pandemic protocols in place. (File - Sooke News Mirror)
The Victoria Cool Aid Society is fundraising to deliver 10,000 pairs of socks to south Island residents in need. (Victoria Cool Aid Society/Facebook)

Sock fundraiser promises some comfort for Greater Victoria residents in need

Cool Aid Society aiming for 10,000 pairs of socks by Nov. 30

The Victoria Cool Aid Society is fundraising to deliver 10,000 pairs of socks to south Island residents in need. (Victoria Cool Aid Society/Facebook)
Colwood Creek Park is the site of two of several pop-up public parks feedback sessions in the city. (Photo courtesy City of Colwood)

Colwood asking residents for their take on its parks management

Four in-person sessions and one online to be held between Oct. 16 and 27

Colwood Creek Park is the site of two of several pop-up public parks feedback sessions in the city. (Photo courtesy City of Colwood)
An Oak Bay firefighter and child hose down the massive Halloween fire in Firefighter’s Park during a previous event. (Black Press Media file photo)

COVID-19 pandemic douses Halloween bonfire in Oak Bay

Annual Oct. 31 gathering in Firefighter’s Park cancelled for second consecutive year

An Oak Bay firefighter and child hose down the massive Halloween fire in Firefighter’s Park during a previous event. (Black Press Media file photo)
A glimpse from a previous Massive Marine Garage Sale to benefit the museum. (Maritime Museum of British Columbia/Facebook)

Massive Marine Garage Sale returns this weekend

Dozens of vendors bring marine goods to Victoria to raise funds for the Maritime Museum of B.C.

A glimpse from a previous Massive Marine Garage Sale to benefit the museum. (Maritime Museum of British Columbia/Facebook)
Black Press Media social media specialist Tegwyn Hughes and friend Nathan Rideout enjoy sample brews during the Victoria Beer Society’s Lager Than Life event in the city’s brewery district last weekend. (Tegwyn Hughes/News Staff)

Victoria Beer Society delights patrons with back-to-back weekend events

In-person tastings invited locals to try a range of lager and fresh-hopped beers

Black Press Media social media specialist Tegwyn Hughes and friend Nathan Rideout enjoy sample brews during the Victoria Beer Society’s Lager Than Life event in the city’s brewery district last weekend. (Tegwyn Hughes/News Staff)
Volunteers with Schneider Electric work in partnership with Tree Canada and the District of Oak Bay to restore a pocket of the Garry oak meadow ecosystem in Anderson Hill Park. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

VIDEO: Volunteers clear corner of Oak Bay park for new native growth

Anderson Hill Park privvy to upgrades thanks to business, Tree Canada

Volunteers with Schneider Electric work in partnership with Tree Canada and the District of Oak Bay to restore a pocket of the Garry oak meadow ecosystem in Anderson Hill Park. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
There were long lines at this year’s drive-thru Blackberry Festival at St. Mary’s Church in Metchosin. (Photo courtesy David McArthur)

Community welcomes back St. Mary’s Metchosin Blackberry Festival

Popular event saw lines of cars extend down the street before doors even opened Oct. 9

There were long lines at this year’s drive-thru Blackberry Festival at St. Mary’s Church in Metchosin. (Photo courtesy David McArthur)
(Black Press Media file photo)

Fireworks permit required in Greater Victoria

A timely reminder regarding fireworks ahead of Oct. 31

(Black Press Media file photo)
Stop by the Uptown ReStore or the West Shore location to grab a free steam punk’in kit. Use the kit to create your very own steam punk’ins this Halloween. (Facebook/Restore Victoria)

Greater Victoria gourds get their steampunk on thanks to free ReStore kits

Crafty kits create steampunk aesthetic on pumpkins

Stop by the Uptown ReStore or the West Shore location to grab a free steam punk’in kit. Use the kit to create your very own steam punk’ins this Halloween. (Facebook/Restore Victoria)
Volunteers removed invasive species on Oct. 1 as part of the Pulling Together restoration project across Saanich. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)

Volunteers gather to pull invasive species at Saanich’s Marigold Park

Pulling Together program emphasizes many hands making light work

Volunteers removed invasive species on Oct. 1 as part of the Pulling Together restoration project across Saanich. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)
The Langford-based market hopes to support vendors with some additional wintertime sales opportunities. (Black Press Media file photo)

Goldstream Farmers Market extending its season until November

Popular outdoor market adding holiday cheer to the calendar

The Langford-based market hopes to support vendors with some additional wintertime sales opportunities. (Black Press Media file photo)
The women behind Mosaic Tastes have been recognized with a national award for their entrepreneurial efforts. (Photo courtesy of Camosun College)

Entrepreneurship from women at Camosun College recognized with national award

$1,000 will go towards growing spice business

The women behind Mosaic Tastes have been recognized with a national award for their entrepreneurial efforts. (Photo courtesy of Camosun College)
Lorraine Fracy, manager of business development and client services for the Royal Oak Burial Park, stands with a newly implemented statue in the Little Spirits Garden – one that is both raw and captures a mother’s love, she said. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)

Little Spirits Garden offers a space to remember lost pregnancies or infants in Saanich

Royal Oak Burial Park section set in a beautiful natural space

Lorraine Fracy, manager of business development and client services for the Royal Oak Burial Park, stands with a newly implemented statue in the Little Spirits Garden – one that is both raw and captures a mother’s love, she said. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)
The X-ray room at Saanich Peninsula Hospital is in need of upgrades and the Saanich Peninsula Hospital and Healthcare Foundation has launched a campaign to address the need. (Photo courtesy of Saanich Peninsula Hospital and Healthcare Foundation)

Saanich Peninsula hospital foundation launches fundraising campaign for new X-ray machine

Current machine long overdue for a replacement

The X-ray room at Saanich Peninsula Hospital is in need of upgrades and the Saanich Peninsula Hospital and Healthcare Foundation has launched a campaign to address the need. (Photo courtesy of Saanich Peninsula Hospital and Healthcare Foundation)
Josh Waters and his one-year-old English Staffy cross, Rocky. (Twila Amato/Black Press Media)

COVID, heartbreak among speedbumps in Australian’s road to residency in Kelowna

Josh Waters shares his experience in the hopes to help others like him

Josh Waters and his one-year-old English Staffy cross, Rocky. (Twila Amato/Black Press Media)
SookePoint Ocean Cottage features two bedrooms and two bathrooms plus the package includes a 2021 BMW x3 xDrive 30i and $1.85 million in cash. (Courtesy Millionaire Lottery)

Sooke cliffside suite among Millionaire Lottery prizes

$2.9M prize package includes BMW, cash

SookePoint Ocean Cottage features two bedrooms and two bathrooms plus the package includes a 2021 BMW x3 xDrive 30i and $1.85 million in cash. (Courtesy Millionaire Lottery)