Princess Anne saluted Canadian veterans and current forces members today during a ceremony at British Columbia’s legislature cenotaph commemorating the Second World War’s Battle of the Atlantic. The princess, King Charles’s sister, laid a wreath during the ceremony to mark the war’s largest and longest battle, during which Canada lost 24 warships and more than 4,300 Canadian forces and merchant marine members. The ceremony was part of a three day Royal visit to the West Coast that concludes today. Previous stops saw her take part in the commissioning of the first Arctic patrol...… Princess Anne saluted Canadian veterans and current forces members today during a ceremony at British Columbia’s legislature cenotaph commemorating the Second World War’s Battle of the Atlantic. The princess, King Charles’s sister, laid a wreath during the ceremony to mark the war’s largest and longest battle, during which Canada lost 24 warships and more than 4,300 Canadian forces and merchant marine members. The ceremony was part of a three day Royal visit to the West Coast that concludes today. Previous stops saw her take part in the commissioning of the first Arctic patrol...WW…

Victoria Compost Education Centre sale turns Haegert Park into gardener’s paradise Greater Victoria green thumbs will converge on Fernwood Saturday (May 11) as the Victoria Compost Education Centre hosts its annual May plant sale. Haegert Park (1202 Yukon St.) will be filled with a large selection of organically grown heirloom tomato varieties, native plants for your low-maintenance and water-conscious garden, organically grown vegetables starts from arugula to zucchini, perennial edibles like berry bushes and other fruiting shrubs, medicinal and culinary herbs and much more to get...…Victoria Compost Education Centre sale turns Haegert Park into gardener’s paradise Greater Victoria green thumbs will converge on Fernwood Saturday (May 11) as the Victoria Compost Education Centre hosts its annual May plant sale. Haegert Park (1202 Yukon St.) will be filled with a large selection of organically grown heirloom tomato varieties, native plants for your low-maintenance and water-conscious garden, organically grown vegetables starts from arugula to zucchini, perennial edibles like berry bushes and other fruiting shrubs, medicinal and culinary herbs and much more to get...WW…

I am writing in response to the April 30 public hearing in Saanich. Like others, I am not in favour of the Official Community Plan going forward in its current form. Both the local area plans and the OCP are riddled with inconsistencies and lack accuracy. It’s hard to believe that the draft version of the OCP has no environmental framework, nor does it include the State of Biodiversity Strategy or Urban Forest Report. I heard Mayor Dean Murdock say that trees and the environment will be protected from development. How can this be true when we are already seeing hundreds of trees...… I am writing in response to the April 30 public hearing in Saanich. Like others, I am not in favour of the Official Community Plan going forward in its current form. Both the local area plans and the OCP are riddled with inconsistencies and lack accuracy. It’s hard to believe that the draft version of the OCP has no environmental framework, nor does it include the State of Biodiversity Strategy or Urban Forest Report. I heard Mayor Dean Murdock say that trees and the environment will be protected from development. How can this be true when we are already seeing hundreds of trees...WW…

Powell River’s name currently reflect a man whose main goal was to assimilate Indigenous people It was first in May 2021 that the idea for Powell River to change its name was brought forward to city officials in the coastal B.C. community. What followed, however, were bureaucratic delays and heightened tension among residents, leaving some wondering if their recommendations toward reconciliation becoming more than just words would ever actually become reality. For Harmony Johnson, changing the name of the community she is from – which currently reflects a man whose main goal was to...…Powell River’s name currently reflect a man whose main goal was to assimilate Indigenous people It was first in May 2021 that the idea for Powell River to change its name was brought forward to city officials in the coastal B.C. community. What followed, however, were bureaucratic delays and heightened tension among residents, leaving some wondering if their recommendations toward reconciliation becoming more than just words would ever actually become reality. For Harmony Johnson, changing the name of the community she is from – which currently reflects a man whose main goal was to...WW…

Spring is the start of gardening season in Canada. Whether you are planning to plant a garden this year or spend the day at an immaculately groomed public garden, this is the time to watch as the plants grow. Or, for those who choose to participate, World Naked Gardening Day is held on the first Saturday of May each year. How much do you know about gardens and gardening? Put your knowledge to the test with these 10 questions. Good luck. READ ALSO: QUIZ: How much do you know about democracy? READ ALSO: QUIZ: How much do you know about Canada’s growing population? READ ALSO: QUIZ: A...… Spring is the start of gardening season in Canada. Whether you are planning to plant a garden this year or spend the day at an immaculately groomed public garden, this is the time to watch as the plants grow. Or, for those who choose to participate, World Naked Gardening Day is held on the first Saturday of May each year. How much do you know about gardens and gardening? Put your knowledge to the test with these 10 questions. Good luck. READ ALSO: QUIZ: How much do you know about democracy? READ ALSO: QUIZ: How much do you know about Canada’s growing population? READ ALSO: QUIZ: A...WW…

The Victoria Native Friendship Centre (VNFC) primary care centre opened on Thursday, May 9 in Victoria and for those involved in the long battle to bring equity to Indigenous healthcare, it is a victory. “It is a dream come true,” said Bruce Parisin, Executive director at VNFC. The new primary care centre has a patient list of over 2,000 and will soon be able to see over 4,500 people, said Grey Shower, director of wellness and health. “There’s a huge need,” Shower said. Approximately 20,000 urban Indigenous people live in South Island. The primary care centre is the region’s...… The Victoria Native Friendship Centre (VNFC) primary care centre opened on Thursday, May 9 in Victoria and for those involved in the long battle to bring equity to Indigenous healthcare, it is a victory. “It is a dream come true,” said Bruce Parisin, Executive director at VNFC. The new primary care centre has a patient list of over 2,000 and will soon be able to see over 4,500 people, said Grey Shower, director of wellness and health. “There’s a huge need,” Shower said. Approximately 20,000 urban Indigenous people live in South Island. The primary care centre is the region’s...WW…

Saanich police opens assault investigation, protesters say same man involved in 3 incidents Anti-war protesters who have been camped out at the University of Victoria say they’ve been the target of several assaults in recent days, leading to a man being barred from the campus. The demonstrators on Thursday (May 9) said a man attacked students in the encampment on three occasions over May 7 and 8. The pro-Palestinian activists said they’ve alerted campus security and the Saanich and Oak Bay police departments about alleged incidents. Saanich police has opened an assault...…Saanich police opens assault investigation, protesters say same man involved in 3 incidents Anti-war protesters who have been camped out at the University of Victoria say they’ve been the target of several assaults in recent days, leading to a man being barred from the campus. The demonstrators on Thursday (May 9) said a man attacked students in the encampment on three occasions over May 7 and 8. The pro-Palestinian activists said they’ve alerted campus security and the Saanich and Oak Bay police departments about alleged incidents. Saanich police has opened an assault...WW…

Victoria residents are attempting to garner support and raise funds for floods that have devastated the southern state of Rio Grande do Sol in Brazil. Originally from Brazil, Thamy Soares and Matt Silva have been actively working to spread awareness through social media platforms, with a recent video that has amassed over 20,000 views, illustrating the severity of the situation that has affected over 300 cities. “The scale of devastation is immense; it’s like nothing we’ve seen before. Rio Grande do Sul is as big as Germany, and seeing it under water is shocking,” said Soares in...… Victoria residents are attempting to garner support and raise funds for floods that have devastated the southern state of Rio Grande do Sol in Brazil. Originally from Brazil, Thamy Soares and Matt Silva have been actively working to spread awareness through social media platforms, with a recent video that has amassed over 20,000 views, illustrating the severity of the situation that has affected over 300 cities. “The scale of devastation is immense; it’s like nothing we’ve seen before. Rio Grande do Sul is as big as Germany, and seeing it under water is shocking,” said Soares in...WW…

Main portion of hearing now over, tentatively scheduled to reconvene for closing arguments on July 9 The public hearing into the police-involved death of 43-year-old Lisa Rauch wrapped up witness testimony on May 8, with Kevin Cyr, an RCMP expert on police tactics, calling the decision to fire an anti-riot weapon at her the “least-worst choice.” The incident occurred on Christmas Day of 2019, when Rauch had holed up in a supportive housing unit on Pandora Avenue, allegedly high on methamphetamine and wielding a knife. She died after being hit with rounds from an Anti-Riot Weapon...…Main portion of hearing now over, tentatively scheduled to reconvene for closing arguments on July 9 The public hearing into the police-involved death of 43-year-old Lisa Rauch wrapped up witness testimony on May 8, with Kevin Cyr, an RCMP expert on police tactics, calling the decision to fire an anti-riot weapon at her the “least-worst choice.” The incident occurred on Christmas Day of 2019, when Rauch had holed up in a supportive housing unit on Pandora Avenue, allegedly high on methamphetamine and wielding a knife. She died after being hit with rounds from an Anti-Riot Weapon...WW…

As far as temperatures go, so far the spring is average on Vancouver Island from Gonzales in Victoria to Campbell River and north. Precipitation, however has shown a different spring trend with weather drier than normal for much of the province as rainfall was spotty on the Island throughout April. Northeast coast communities such as Campbell River generally get more rain than other areas of the Island For April, the temperature norm is 8 C and recorded a relatively similar mean of 7.4 C, but precipitation, usually with a norm of 92.1 millimetres, only saw 40.7 mm, or 44.2 per...… As far as temperatures go, so far the spring is average on Vancouver Island from Gonzales in Victoria to Campbell River and north. Precipitation, however has shown a different spring trend with weather drier than normal for much of the province as rainfall was spotty on the Island throughout April. Northeast coast communities such as Campbell River generally get more rain than other areas of the Island For April, the temperature norm is 8 C and recorded a relatively similar mean of 7.4 C, but precipitation, usually with a norm of 92.1 millimetres, only saw 40.7 mm, or 44.2 per...WW…