British Columbia

The Malahat SkyWalk will open to visitors in July 2021. (Malahat SkyWalk photo)

Malahat SkyWalk to welcome visitors this July

Highly anticipated attraction will take guests 250m above sea level

 

Robyn Sealy of Parks Canada and carver Charles Elliot look at the new interpretive display unveiled May 4 at SMONECTEN, the new name of the former McDonald Campground in Gulf Islands National Park Reserve just north of Sidney. (Parks Canada/Submitted)

Campground near Sidney renamed to recognize First Nations

SMONECTEN is new name of former McDonald Campground in Gulf Islands National Park Reserve

 

The Royal BC Museum exhibit begins by pulling visitors underwater, immersing them in the orca’s world. (Photo: Shane Lighter/Royal BC Museum)

Royal BC Museum exhibit dives into the world of orcas

Deep inside the belly of the Royal BC Museum’s much-anticipated new exhibit,…

  • May 4, 2021

 

FILE – Pharmacist Barbara Violo shows off a vile of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine at the Junction Chemist, an independent pharmacy in Toronto, Friday, March 12, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Looking for the nearest COVID shot? Tech entrepreneur creates texting software in B.C

Zain Manji says app took just one or two hours to create

FILE – Pharmacist Barbara Violo shows off a vile of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine at the Junction Chemist, an independent pharmacy in Toronto, Friday, March 12, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
Abbotsford councillor Brenda Falk has joined the End the Lockdowns caucus, a group of politicians from across the country that believe the lockdowns placed on citizens by the government are worse than the COVID-19 virus. (File photo)

Lockdowns more harmful than COVID-19, claims B.C. councillor on hospital board

Coun. Brenda Falk has joined End the Lockdowns caucus, believes lockdowns long-term are worse than the virus

Abbotsford councillor Brenda Falk has joined the End the Lockdowns caucus, a group of politicians from across the country that believe the lockdowns placed on citizens by the government are worse than the COVID-19 virus. (File photo)
Launching May 1, the BC Ale Trail's Victoria Ale Trail Passport program encourages locals to visit the region’s participating breweries and treat themselves to homegrown craft beer. Photo courtesy BC Ale Trail.

Pick up your passport to the Victoria Ale Trail

Locals invited to support Victoria’s craft breweries this May for a chance to win prizes

Launching May 1, the BC Ale Trail's Victoria Ale Trail Passport program encourages locals to visit the region’s participating breweries and treat themselves to homegrown craft beer. Photo courtesy BC Ale Trail.
As of April 23, B.C. residents will not be able to book accommodations or a camping site outside of their local health region, in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19. Whistler BC, by Courtney & Colin Adams. Amateur Photographer of the Year entry

Camping close to home still permitted under B.C. travel ban: Dr. Henry

People will not be able to book a campsite outside of their health region – although Vancouver Coastal Health and Fraser Health are being treated as one zone

As of April 23, B.C. residents will not be able to book accommodations or a camping site outside of their local health region, in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19. Whistler BC, by Courtney & Colin Adams. Amateur Photographer of the Year entry
Mealshare’s annual food fundraiser festival, Poutine With Purpose, continues through May 1 in three Western Canadian cities: Victoria, Vancouver and Calgary, as well as Hamilton, Ont. In Victoria, the Very Good Butcher offers a Plant-Based Poutine – housemade cashew-based cheeze curds with an exceptional homemade gravy topped with cheeze shreds and green onions.

Dig in, guilt-free: This Poutine has Purpose!

Mealshare’s annual food fundraiser continues to May 1 in Victoria, Greater Vancouver and Calgary.

Mealshare’s annual food fundraiser festival, Poutine With Purpose, continues through May 1 in three Western Canadian cities: Victoria, Vancouver and Calgary, as well as Hamilton, Ont. In Victoria, the Very Good Butcher offers a Plant-Based Poutine – housemade cashew-based cheeze curds with an exceptional homemade gravy topped with cheeze shreds and green onions.
Expectant British Columbians are only prioritized for a vaccine if they also have a serious heart condition – congenital or acquired – that requires them to see a cardiac specialist during their pregnancy. (AP Photo/Teresa Crawford)

Pregnant Ontarians move up vaccine priority list, while British Columbians wait their turn

B.C. only prioritizing pregnant people who also have serious heart condition

Expectant British Columbians are only prioritized for a vaccine if they also have a serious heart condition – congenital or acquired – that requires them to see a cardiac specialist during their pregnancy. (AP Photo/Teresa Crawford)
The Sidney waterfront walkway. Don Denton photo

On the sea side of Sidney

By Hans Tammemagi Sitting on a bench in Sidney’s Tulista Park, I’m…

  • Apr 22, 2021
The Sidney waterfront walkway. Don Denton photo
B.C. Representative for Children and Youth Jennifer Charlesworth. (Black Press files)

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder gets ‘meagre’ support compared to other conditions: B.C. report

Children should be assessed on their needs, not their diagnoses

B.C. Representative for Children and Youth Jennifer Charlesworth. (Black Press files)
A hooded oriole was spotted visiting a feeder in Sidney, by resident Stan Coe. The photo has been flagged on the BC Rare Bird Alert website. (Photo courtesy of Stan Coe)

Rare bird spotted at Vancouver Island backyard feeder

You never know what kind of flying friend you might draw in,…

A hooded oriole was spotted visiting a feeder in Sidney, by resident Stan Coe. The photo has been flagged on the BC Rare Bird Alert website. (Photo courtesy of Stan Coe)
Live concerts could return to venues such as Blue Frog Studios in White Rock by year’s end - provided immunizations make a diference and COVID variants are held in check - according to a recent round table including provincial health officer Dr Bonnie Henry and reprsentatives of performing arts groups. (Submitted photo)

B.C. performing arts groups could see gradual return of live events

Round table between Dr. Bonnie Henry and arts groups gives rise to cautious optimism

Live concerts could return to venues such as Blue Frog Studios in White Rock by year’s end - provided immunizations make a diference and COVID variants are held in check - according to a recent round table including provincial health officer Dr Bonnie Henry and reprsentatives of performing arts groups. (Submitted photo)
Boaters must stay 200 metres away from orcas, like these Southern Resident Killer Whales. Stay 400 metres away in protected areas, including Southern British Columbia coastal waters between Campbell River and Ucluelet. (Photo: Ocean Wise)

Spotted a whale? Here’s what to do

Brush up on the rules before your next boat ride to protect BC’s whales

  • Apr 6, 2021
Boaters must stay 200 metres away from orcas, like these Southern Resident Killer Whales. Stay 400 metres away in protected areas, including Southern British Columbia coastal waters between Campbell River and Ucluelet. (Photo: Ocean Wise)
Now anglers can use what Davies describes as a quick and convenient electronic method to record their catch, under NRLS.

New digital recording tool available for fishing licence sales in B.C.

Anglers can now use an online system to take note of fish they have caught, as per DFO rules

  • Apr 3, 2021
Now anglers can use what Davies describes as a quick and convenient electronic method to record their catch, under NRLS.
<em>SS Valencia: ‘A Theatre of Horror’</em> continues at the Maritime Museum of BC to Sept. 2 2021. The shipwreck remains one of the worst maritime disasters in an area along Vancouver Island’s west side known as ‘The Graveyard of the Pacific.’<em></em>

Victoria museum exhibit dives into shipwreck’s ‘Theatre of Horror’

The tale of the SS Valencia’s sinking off the coast of southern…

<em>SS Valencia: ‘A Theatre of Horror’</em> continues at the Maritime Museum of BC to Sept. 2 2021. The shipwreck remains one of the worst maritime disasters in an area along Vancouver Island’s west side known as ‘The Graveyard of the Pacific.’<em></em>
Canadian currency. (File photo)

Victoria has the most cash-paying customers: Report

Number of Canadian businesses selling online jumps by 20 per cent

Canadian currency. (File photo)
Cecilia Dick, cultural tourism supervisor for the Songhees Nation, stands at the top of Beacon Hill Loop in Meeqan, one of 12 significant cultural sites along the new Songhees Indigenous Marine Trail. Nina Grossman/Victoria News photo

Songhees marine trail celebrates living history of Greater Victoria’s Indigenous people

Provincial funding boosts 12-stop marine tourism program set to open in 2022

Cecilia Dick, cultural tourism supervisor for the Songhees Nation, stands at the top of Beacon Hill Loop in Meeqan, one of 12 significant cultural sites along the new Songhees Indigenous Marine Trail. Nina Grossman/Victoria News photo
Ken Winchester, a recently retired master distiller, received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Canadian Whisky Awards last month. (Black Press Media File Photo)

Canadian Whisky Awards raise a glass to Vancouver Island’s Devine Distillery

A Saanich Peninsula distillery will have to slide the bottles over and…

Ken Winchester, a recently retired master distiller, received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Canadian Whisky Awards last month. (Black Press Media File Photo)
Craigdarroch Castle (Black Press Media File Photo)

Victoria’s Craigdarroch Castle takes restoration into the kitchen – 19th Century style

The castle’s $288,000 restoration is funded by the province and B.C. Heritage

Craigdarroch Castle (Black Press Media File Photo)