Christine van Reeuwyk

A 40-foot shipping container stuffed to the brim brings smiles to faces in a Syrian refugee camp in Lebanon after surviving a massive explosion in the Port of Beirut. (Compassionate Resource Warehouse/Facebook)

Miracle container filled with B.C. charity donations survives Beirut blast

Found 40-foot container provides Syrian refugees skills training, school

A 40-foot shipping container stuffed to the brim brings smiles to faces in a Syrian refugee camp in Lebanon after surviving a massive explosion in the Port of Beirut. (Compassionate Resource Warehouse/Facebook)
A female raccoon dragging a leg trap is sedated for examination at the Wild Animal Rehabilitation Centre in Metchosin. It was later put down. (Courtesy Wild ARC)

Raccoon drags leg trap around for days, dies at B.C. wild animal rehab centre

Animal had crushed front leg, was beyond rehabilitation

A female raccoon dragging a leg trap is sedated for examination at the Wild Animal Rehabilitation Centre in Metchosin. It was later put down. (Courtesy Wild ARC)
A trio dances in the street while awaiting their turn to traverse the Malahat on Tuesday. (Video courtesy Arnold Lim)

VIDEO: Trio dances in traffic to ease stress of waiting on the Malahat

Film crew rolls back into Greater Victoria after a night stranded at summer camp

A trio dances in the street while awaiting their turn to traverse the Malahat on Tuesday. (Video courtesy Arnold Lim)
A Saanich police officer fired over misconduct is among the substantiated allegations investigated by the Office of the Police Complaints Commissioner over the last year. Officers from Central Saanich Police Service, Oak Bay Police Department and VicPD also received various forms of disciplinary action. (Black Press Media file photo)

Vancouver Island cop retroactively fired for faking drug expert re-certifications

Case headlines annual Police Complaints Commissioner report

A Saanich police officer fired over misconduct is among the substantiated allegations investigated by the Office of the Police Complaints Commissioner over the last year. Officers from Central Saanich Police Service, Oak Bay Police Department and VicPD also received various forms of disciplinary action. (Black Press Media file photo)
Claire Handley erected aerial circus apparatus in her Oak Bay yard this summer. She admits it’s a ‘crazy hobby’ but loves the fitness and thrill. (Alana Norie photo)

‘Cirque de So Aged’ springs up in Vancouver Island backyard

50-something Oak Bay couple turning their lives upside-down in backyard circus rigging

Claire Handley erected aerial circus apparatus in her Oak Bay yard this summer. She admits it’s a ‘crazy hobby’ but loves the fitness and thrill. (Alana Norie photo)
Co-founder Alexis Cobham in the Cheese Maker office set in a historic Oak Bay home – the one where she grew up. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

VIDEO: Oak Bay cheese kit business feeds Do It Yourself culture

Poutine, vegan kits round out traditional mozzarella/ricotta, farmhouse cheddar options

Co-founder Alexis Cobham in the Cheese Maker office set in a historic Oak Bay home – the one where she grew up. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
An Anna’s hummingbird in care at the Wild Animal Rehabilitation Centre in Metchosin this spring. (Courtesy Wild ARC)

If the feeder’s out, you’re committed: hummingbird care in a B.C. winter

B.C. biologist floats tips to keeping hummingbirds fed, safe this season

An Anna’s hummingbird in care at the Wild Animal Rehabilitation Centre in Metchosin this spring. (Courtesy Wild ARC)
A new residence with 45 housing units will be built at 865 Catherine St., and run by the Aboriginal Coalition to End Homelessness Society. (Google Maps)

$11.3M to create Island homes for Indigenous people experiencing homelessness

Aboriginal Coalition to End Homelessness housing to offer 24/7 culturally-appropriate supports

A new residence with 45 housing units will be built at 865 Catherine St., and run by the Aboriginal Coalition to End Homelessness Society. (Google Maps)
Thomas and Bentley look up as the Meraki sails under the Golden Gate Bridge. (Kate Coles/Cruising Meraki)

B.C. sailing family survives stormy seas off California coast on epic voyage

Coles family heads for Mexico aiming to grant son’s birthday wish

Thomas and Bentley look up as the Meraki sails under the Golden Gate Bridge. (Kate Coles/Cruising Meraki)
Wind blows many leaves into bike lanes at this time of year, and heavy rains make leaf-filled pathways slick, say Greater Victoria cycling advocates. Some homeowners may also not know that moving leaves into the street is illegal in most local jurisdictions. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)

Cyclists: Slick leaves piled on Vancouver Island streets puts us at risk

Leaving leaves in Oak Bay roadways can lead to fines from $25 to $10,000

Wind blows many leaves into bike lanes at this time of year, and heavy rains make leaf-filled pathways slick, say Greater Victoria cycling advocates. Some homeowners may also not know that moving leaves into the street is illegal in most local jurisdictions. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)
In his new book, Sidney author Grant Hayter-Menzies explores the life of local historical celebrity Muggins. (Courtesy Heritage House)

Muggins, B.C.’s famous wartime charity hound, celebrated in new book

Author Grant Hayter-Menzies also looks at the use of animals in war – at home and on the battlefield

In his new book, Sidney author Grant Hayter-Menzies explores the life of local historical celebrity Muggins. (Courtesy Heritage House)
The Dead Boat Disposal Society, Songhees Nation and Ralmax (Salish Sea Industrial Services) remove eight boats from the waters off Oak Bay. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

VIDEO: Partnership mining Vancouver Island coastal graveyard for sunken vessels

Sunken derelict removed as group targeting 100 ships from Victoria to Telegraph Cove

The Dead Boat Disposal Society, Songhees Nation and Ralmax (Salish Sea Industrial Services) remove eight boats from the waters off Oak Bay. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
A jellyfish floats seemingly weightless, in this image taken from a video shot in the waters off the Ogden Point breakwater by diver Justin Gross. (YouTube/Justin Gross)

VIDEO: A peek under the Salish Sea off the shores of Vancouver Island

Greater Victoria diver shares first-person perspective of the wonders of kelp forest

A jellyfish floats seemingly weightless, in this image taken from a video shot in the waters off the Ogden Point breakwater by diver Justin Gross. (YouTube/Justin Gross)
Residents are encouraged to take precautions at this time of year around male deer, which can be unpredictable during rutting season. (Black Press Media file photo)

Vancouver Island bucks less wary, more daring as they focus on procreation

Deer populations ready to rut across the Island, human populations should be wary

Residents are encouraged to take precautions at this time of year around male deer, which can be unpredictable during rutting season. (Black Press Media file photo)
A map pinpoints unfelt tremors online at pnsn.org. (Pacific Northwest Seismic Record)

Vancouver Island slides west, tremors could signal tectonic shifting

More than 2,000 recent tiny tremors a reminder to be earthquake ready on Vancouver Island

A map pinpoints unfelt tremors online at pnsn.org. (Pacific Northwest Seismic Record)
Tour de Rock alumni Jack McClintock, Lori Lumley, Rob House, Alan Neville, Robin Farrell (along with Bob MacDonald) did the Victoria to Sidney leg of the 2020 edition Tour de Rock. The annual fundraiser for pediatric cancer patients and their families hosts its 2021 finale Oct. 1 in Sidney. (Courtesy Tour de Rock)

Music, food and memories on tap as Tour de Rock ready to wrap tomorrow in Sidney

Cops for Cancer fundraiser marks 24 years with in-person event, remote options

Tour de Rock alumni Jack McClintock, Lori Lumley, Rob House, Alan Neville, Robin Farrell (along with Bob MacDonald) did the Victoria to Sidney leg of the 2020 edition Tour de Rock. The annual fundraiser for pediatric cancer patients and their families hosts its 2021 finale Oct. 1 in Sidney. (Courtesy Tour de Rock)
A deer, sporting a neck collar, stands along Beach Drive near the Victoria Golf Club in Oak Bay. (Don Denton/Black Press Media)

Plant-based diets makes of deer, rabbit poop fair game in garden compost

Nutrient-rich feces can work safely as fertilizer, say Vancouver Island wildlife veternarians

A deer, sporting a neck collar, stands along Beach Drive near the Victoria Golf Club in Oak Bay. (Don Denton/Black Press Media)
This photo shows a Narcan nasal device. (AP File Photo/Mary Altaffer)

Horgan promises B.C. will fund naloxone kits for police

Pledge comes in the wake of revelation funding and supplies had dried up in multiple locations

This photo shows a Narcan nasal device. (AP File Photo/Mary Altaffer)
Police departments no longer receive funding for naloxone kits. (Courtesy Oak Bay Police Department)

Province cuts funding for police naloxone kits amid B.C. opioid pandemic

Three Greater Victoria departments say their funding has dried up, unclear if other forces affected

Police departments no longer receive funding for naloxone kits. (Courtesy Oak Bay Police Department)
Tai Caverhill died at Camp Barnard in 2019 when a tree fell on him during a school field trip. (Photo from GoFundMe campaign)

Coroner: death of Saanich teen who warned friends of falling tree an accident

Tai Caverhill was killed during a Lansdowne school trip to Camp Barnard in Sooke

Tai Caverhill died at Camp Barnard in 2019 when a tree fell on him during a school field trip. (Photo from GoFundMe campaign)