Wolf Depner

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A new rural physician incentive program has been launched by the Alberta government. (Black Press file photo)

Vancouver Island officials call on the province to treat doctor shortage

About a third of Saanich Peninsula residents were without their own GP in 2019

A new rural physician incentive program has been launched by the Alberta government. (Black Press file photo)
Lucas Gentina holds up the Chilean flag with the name of his home town scrawled on it. (Courtesy of Robert Borthwick/Cold Ocean Diver)

Vancouver Island’s ‘Aquaman’ makes waves across Saanich Inlet to benefit hospital

Lucas Gentina continues to raise funds for Saanich Peninsula long-term care unit

Lucas Gentina holds up the Chilean flag with the name of his home town scrawled on it. (Courtesy of Robert Borthwick/Cold Ocean Diver)
While the population grew in Greater Victoria during the last census period thanks to migration from inside and outside Canada, it is also aging. (Black Press Media file photo)

Aging boomers have turned southern Vancouver Island’s age pyramid upside down

Future demographics will change the type of services needed

While the population grew in Greater Victoria during the last census period thanks to migration from inside and outside Canada, it is also aging. (Black Press Media file photo)
Colin Plant, board chair of the Capital Regional District, is calling on the federal and provincial governments to work closely with local government to help improve the supply of affordable housing, which he cites as the largest reason for the region’s low fertility rate. (Black Press Media file photo)

Lack of affordable housing blamed for Vancouver Island’s low fertility rate

Capital Regional District says its a key factor in a fertility rate ranked as the lowest in Canada

Colin Plant, board chair of the Capital Regional District, is calling on the federal and provincial governments to work closely with local government to help improve the supply of affordable housing, which he cites as the largest reason for the region’s low fertility rate. (Black Press Media file photo)
Calculations by Canadian demographer show Victoria CMA had a fertility rate of 0.95 in 2020, the lowest in all of Canada. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

B.C. delivering some of the lowest fertility rates in Canada

Eastern Fraser Valley bucks B.C. trend with Chilliwack recording country’s highest fertility rates

Calculations by Canadian demographer show Victoria CMA had a fertility rate of 0.95 in 2020, the lowest in all of Canada. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
This was the aftermath after a vehicle hit the Oceanna building in downtown Sidney. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Too-tall garbage truck fails to squeeze under Vancouver Island apartment complex

‘Somebody didn’t pay attention’: 91-unit Sidney rental building damaged in collision

This was the aftermath after a vehicle hit the Oceanna building in downtown Sidney. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Bill Singer checks for proof of vaccination at the doors of the Rumrunner Pub, which he owns and manages in Sidney. His decision to keep the vaccination requirement in place has sparked online criticism but also earned praise from customers. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Vancouver Island pub still checking vaccine passports getting support from patrons

Owner Bill Singer thought other establishments would make the same decision

Bill Singer checks for proof of vaccination at the doors of the Rumrunner Pub, which he owns and manages in Sidney. His decision to keep the vaccination requirement in place has sparked online criticism but also earned praise from customers. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Nine municipalities on Vancouver Island, including six Greater Victoria communities, won’t have to pick up RCMP dispatching costs for another three years. (Black Press Media file photo)

9 Vancouver Island communities officially get 3-year reprieve on police dispatching costs

Downloading of RCMP call taking, dispatching costs delayed until 2025

Nine municipalities on Vancouver Island, including six Greater Victoria communities, won’t have to pick up RCMP dispatching costs for another three years. (Black Press Media file photo)
Premier John Horgan as seen during Question Period on April 25, 2022. (Screenshot/Hansard)

‘Fuddle duddle’: Horgan adds to a litany of unparliamentary words in Canada

B.C. premier apologizes after using f-word in the chamber April 25

Premier John Horgan as seen during Question Period on April 25, 2022. (Screenshot/Hansard)
Ryan Cootes, Erin Bremner-Mitchell, Bill Collins and Mike Williamson of Cascadia Seaweed Corporation are here seen holding up seaweed grown in Barkley Sound in July 2020. The company will receive up to $533,475 to determine the potential of three types of seaweed as an alternative feedstock for cattle. (Cascadia Seaweed Corporation/Submitted)

B.C. company chewing on the possibilities of seaweed as cattle feed

Vancouver Island’s Cascadia Seaweed will receive up to $533,475 from federal government

Ryan Cootes, Erin Bremner-Mitchell, Bill Collins and Mike Williamson of Cascadia Seaweed Corporation are here seen holding up seaweed grown in Barkley Sound in July 2020. The company will receive up to $533,475 to determine the potential of three types of seaweed as an alternative feedstock for cattle. (Cascadia Seaweed Corporation/Submitted)
Green Party of Canada interim leader Amita Kuttner says despite leadership problems in the past, the party’s membership is strong. (CPAC/Amita Kuttner/Twitter)

Federal Green interim leader tours B.C., hopes to help party recover after turmoil

Amita Kuttner is the first person of East Asian descent, first trans person to lead a federal party

Green Party of Canada interim leader Amita Kuttner says despite leadership problems in the past, the party’s membership is strong. (CPAC/Amita Kuttner/Twitter)
Saanich–Gulf Islands MP Elizabeth May is repeating calls for the federal government to seize a North Saanich property linked to a Russian oligarch. The estate, located at the end of Towner Road, previously hosted Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld)

Elizabeth May calls for seizure of B.C. property used by Harry and Meghan

Former Green leader says Russian oligarch may still be benefitting from Vancouver Island estate

Saanich–Gulf Islands MP Elizabeth May is repeating calls for the federal government to seize a North Saanich property linked to a Russian oligarch. The estate, located at the end of Towner Road, previously hosted Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld)
The B.C. General Employees Union announced Tuesday that it has reached tentative agreement with the Vancouver Island Regional Library to end the current labour dispute. (Black Press Media file photo).

BCGEU announces tentative agreement with Vancouver Island Regional Library

Announcement comes after resumption of mediation between the two parties

The B.C. General Employees Union announced Tuesday that it has reached tentative agreement with the Vancouver Island Regional Library to end the current labour dispute. (Black Press Media file photo).
Sidney/North Saanich RCMP says the fire-related death of a man early Saturday morning is not suspicious, but the investigation is ongoing. (Black Press Media file photo)

UPDATE: Man in his early 70s dies in Greater Victoria fire

Fire is not considered suspicious, investigation ongoing

Sidney/North Saanich RCMP says the fire-related death of a man early Saturday morning is not suspicious, but the investigation is ongoing. (Black Press Media file photo)
VIRL announced Saturday afternoon that it has re-engaged the assigned mediator in its labour dispute with librarians represented by BCGEU. The Sidney/North Saanich branch of VIRL was the site of pickets as late as April 8. (Black Press Media file photo)

VIRL announces it is going back to the table with a mediator in library strike

Announcement came Saturday afternoon following job escalation in dispute with BCGEU librarians

VIRL announced Saturday afternoon that it has re-engaged the assigned mediator in its labour dispute with librarians represented by BCGEU. The Sidney/North Saanich branch of VIRL was the site of pickets as late as April 8. (Black Press Media file photo)
This home, located in the 9600-block of Fifth Street, is currently listed for $1.350 million with two nearby properties listed for the same price. New figures from VREB show the benchmark for single-family homes in Sidney was just over $1 million in March. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Homeownership a $1 million dream in most of Greater Victoria

3 communities left in Greater Victoria with single-family home benchmarks below $1 million

This home, located in the 9600-block of Fifth Street, is currently listed for $1.350 million with two nearby properties listed for the same price. New figures from VREB show the benchmark for single-family homes in Sidney was just over $1 million in March. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Assistant captain Logan Speirs (centre) scored a hat-trick including the winning overtime goal to help the Panthers win the VIJHL title Friday. Captain Riley Braun (left), league MVP and leading scorer, made a crucial save during a Generals power-play late in the game, while his brother Payton, VIJHL rookie of the year, made important contributions throughout the season, including Friday’s game witnessed by 500-plus fans. (Courtesy Christian J. Stewart Photography)

Peninsula Panthers claim VIJHL crown with emotional overtime victory

Victory comes almost four months after death of teammate Grant Gilbertson

Assistant captain Logan Speirs (centre) scored a hat-trick including the winning overtime goal to help the Panthers win the VIJHL title Friday. Captain Riley Braun (left), league MVP and leading scorer, made a crucial save during a Generals power-play late in the game, while his brother Payton, VIJHL rookie of the year, made important contributions throughout the season, including Friday’s game witnessed by 500-plus fans. (Courtesy Christian J. Stewart Photography)
North Saanich Coun. Patricia Pearson, here seen with daughter Emma Pearson, husband Aaron Pearson and son Addysen, hopes that her decision to take a parental level will inspire further changes to help reconcile personal lives with public service. (Krystle Schofield/Submitted)

B.C. councillor hopes her parental leave sets trends, removes barriers

North Saanich councillor taking three-month family leave after adopting infant son

North Saanich Coun. Patricia Pearson, here seen with daughter Emma Pearson, husband Aaron Pearson and son Addysen, hopes that her decision to take a parental level will inspire further changes to help reconcile personal lives with public service. (Krystle Schofield/Submitted)
A woman holds a dog while crossing the Irpin River on an improvised path under a bridge as people flee the town of Irpin, Ukraine. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

B.C. author in western Ukraine says potential for greater conflict very real

Ukrainians appreciate international support, lament lack of physical military aid

A woman holds a dog while crossing the Irpin River on an improvised path under a bridge as people flee the town of Irpin, Ukraine. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Central Saanich council will request that the Farm Industry Review Board permit growers to immediately raise their prices to reflect the current cost of production, in the face of past and current inflationary pressures including the war in Ukraine. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. chicken farmers plead for permission to raise prices as inflation pecks at profits

Costs steadily increasing, but producers unable to increase price of chicken meat and eggs

Central Saanich council will request that the Farm Industry Review Board permit growers to immediately raise their prices to reflect the current cost of production, in the face of past and current inflationary pressures including the war in Ukraine. (Black Press Media file photo)