Greater Victoria

Whistle Buoy master brewer Matt West-Patrick (left) and Isaiah Archer are brewing a new batch with an AI-generated recipe. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)

Can I pour you a cold Robo Beer? B.C. brewery uses AI to craft its latest brew

Victoria’s Whistle Buoy Brewing’s new hazy pale ale recipe developed with ChatGPT

Whistle Buoy master brewer Matt West-Patrick (left) and Isaiah Archer are brewing a new batch with an AI-generated recipe. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)
Several Feb. 3 sailings aboard the Queen of New Westminster have been cancelled amid gale-force wind warnings impacting the marine areas between Vancouver Island and mainland. (Black Press Media file photo)

Friday BC Ferries sailings cancelled as gale-force winds expected to thrash marine areas

Two trips impacted, more at risk between Victoria and the Lower Mainland

Several Feb. 3 sailings aboard the Queen of New Westminster have been cancelled amid gale-force wind warnings impacting the marine areas between Vancouver Island and mainland. (Black Press Media file photo)
Property tax rates range from 0.24 per cent to more than 0.6 per cent in a list of B.C. municipalities compiled by a Canadian brokerage. (Black Press Media file photo)

Powell River, Whistler, top list of B.C.’s highest and lowest property tax rates

Powell River $1 million homeowner would fork over more than $4k in taxes than in Whistler

Property tax rates range from 0.24 per cent to more than 0.6 per cent in a list of B.C. municipalities compiled by a Canadian brokerage. (Black Press Media file photo)
Rich Harden's 949 strikeouts and 17.9 WAR rank sixth all-time among Canadian big league pitchers. (Courtesy of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame)

B.C.-born major-league pitcher Rich Harden headed to Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame

Former Oakland Athletic ranks sixth all-time among Canadian big league pitchers

Rich Harden's 949 strikeouts and 17.9 WAR rank sixth all-time among Canadian big league pitchers. (Courtesy of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame)
Cameron Lizotte, a former hockey enforcer and now a Victoria-based fashion designer, will have his story shared during Hockey Day in Canada. (Atelier Coin/Instagram)

NHL prospect turned B.C. fashion designer featured on Hockey Day in Canada

Cameron Lizotte shares his story from the ice in Ontario to Paris Fashion Week

Cameron Lizotte, a former hockey enforcer and now a Victoria-based fashion designer, will have his story shared during Hockey Day in Canada. (Atelier Coin/Instagram)
Police respond to gunfire at the Bank of Montreal in Saanich, B.C., on Tuesday, June 28, 2022. Police will release the results of their investigation into the dramatic shootout in which two gunmen were killed outside the bank. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Police to release their findings of B.C. bank shootout where two suspects died

Twin brothers from Duncan died outside a Bank of Montreal branch in Saanich.

Police respond to gunfire at the Bank of Montreal in Saanich, B.C., on Tuesday, June 28, 2022. Police will release the results of their investigation into the dramatic shootout in which two gunmen were killed outside the bank. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
Zachary Armitage was sentenced to life in jail on Jan. 11 for the first-degree murder of a 60-year-old Metchosin father in 2019. (Correctional Service of Canada/Facebook)

Second escaped inmate who murdered Greater Victoria man sentenced to life in jail

Family haunted by how Martin Payne’s last moments were marked by horror

Zachary Armitage was sentenced to life in jail on Jan. 11 for the first-degree murder of a 60-year-old Metchosin father in 2019. (Correctional Service of Canada/Facebook)
An aerial view over downtown Victoria and the Inner Harbour. Victoria has been named the 10th friendliest city in the world by the readers of Conde Nast Traveler magazine. (Black Press Media file photo)

Victoria named the world’s 10th-friendliest city by prestigious travel magazine

The readers of Conde Nast Traveler voted in the 35th Readers’ Choice awards

An aerial view over downtown Victoria and the Inner Harbour. Victoria has been named the 10th friendliest city in the world by the readers of Conde Nast Traveler magazine. (Black Press Media file photo)
Kamila Nowak, director and instructor at The Lab Westshore yoga studio, practices some poses Thursday, Dec. 15. The studio expects a busy new year as people make new year’s resolutions, but UVic psychology professor Frederick Grouzet cautions people to ensure they are finding personal motivation for a resolution, rather than an external motivation, if they want to succeed. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

Right motivations key for New Year’s resolutions, says University of Victoria professor

Wanting to start anew is natural for humans, but pressure to do so makes it harder to succeed

Kamila Nowak, director and instructor at The Lab Westshore yoga studio, practices some poses Thursday, Dec. 15. The studio expects a busy new year as people make new year’s resolutions, but UVic psychology professor Frederick Grouzet cautions people to ensure they are finding personal motivation for a resolution, rather than an external motivation, if they want to succeed. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
BC Hydro said it is taking reports of increased power grid attacks in the U.S. seriously, and has enhanced the security of its infrastructure in response. (Black Press Media file photo)

BC Hydro taking ‘additional steps’ to protect grid after string of U.S. attacks

The power utility said it can’t go into details of what security enhancements have been made

BC Hydro said it is taking reports of increased power grid attacks in the U.S. seriously, and has enhanced the security of its infrastructure in response. (Black Press Media file photo)
An unidentified member of the United States Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles aircrew pets a dog on board his helicopter after the dog was airlifted from a sailboat that had washed onto rocks off Vancouver Island in a Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2022, handout photo. A sailor and his two dogs are recovering on Vancouver Island thanks to life-saving action by the USCG. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-United States Coast Guard

U.S. Coast Guard rescues man, 2 dogs, from stricken sailboat off Vancouver Island

Sailor was left in a risky situation after his boat lost power and ran into some rocks Wednesday

An unidentified member of the United States Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles aircrew pets a dog on board his helicopter after the dog was airlifted from a sailboat that had washed onto rocks off Vancouver Island in a Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2022, handout photo. A sailor and his two dogs are recovering on Vancouver Island thanks to life-saving action by the USCG. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-United States Coast Guard
Jay Cook (left) and Tanya Van Cuylenborg of Vancouver Island were found slain in Washington in 1987.

US high court reinstates guilty verdicts in 1987 murders of B.C. couple

The state Supreme Court announced a 9-0 ruling on alleged juror bias Thursday in the double murder case against William Talbott.

  • Dec 23, 2022
Jay Cook (left) and Tanya Van Cuylenborg of Vancouver Island were found slain in Washington in 1987.
Martin Payne was murdered in his Metchosin home on July 12, 2019. He’s remembered by family and friends for spreading joy, love and kindness to everyone he met. (Facebook/Martin Payne)

Loved ones remember joyous B.C. man as his killer is sentenced

Martin Payne’s family say they’ll never recover from the thought of his traumatic final moments

Martin Payne was murdered in his Metchosin home on July 12, 2019. He’s remembered by family and friends for spreading joy, love and kindness to everyone he met. (Facebook/Martin Payne)
James Lee Busch and Zachary Armitage were charged with the first-degree murder of Martin Payne after the pair escaped William Head institution on July 7, 2019. (Correctional Service of Canada/Facebook)

Escaped B.C. inmate found guilty of murder of Vancouver Island man

But jury wasn’t told of fate of second escaped inmate in killing of Martin Payne

James Lee Busch and Zachary Armitage were charged with the first-degree murder of Martin Payne after the pair escaped William Head institution on July 7, 2019. (Correctional Service of Canada/Facebook)
BC Hydro said there is no cause for concern after Greater Victoria residents took to social media to report crackling and popping sounds coming from power lines in recent weeks. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

Snap, crackle, pop: Salt spray blamed for odd sounds from B.C. power lines

Residents in Victoria region have been taking to social media to report odd sounds on powerlines

BC Hydro said there is no cause for concern after Greater Victoria residents took to social media to report crackling and popping sounds coming from power lines in recent weeks. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
The lawyer for one of two escaped William Head inmates said his client should be acquitted as he blamed a 2019 murder solely on Zachary Armitage. William Head Institution is shown through a security fence in Victoria, B.C., on Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2008. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Lam

Only one escaped inmate committed B.C. murder, defence claims in closing remarks

James Lee Busch’s lawyer puts murder blame solely on Zachary Armitage

The lawyer for one of two escaped William Head inmates said his client should be acquitted as he blamed a 2019 murder solely on Zachary Armitage. William Head Institution is shown through a security fence in Victoria, B.C., on Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2008. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Lam
Metchosin man Martin Payne was discovered July 12, 2019. He was described by family as “exceptionally gentle” and “caring.” James Lee Busch and Zachary Armitage are charged with the first-degree murder of Payne. (Facebook/Martin Payne)

Crown says escaped inmates worked together to murder B.C. man

James Lee Busch and Zachary Armitage charged with first-degree murder of Martin Payne

Metchosin man Martin Payne was discovered July 12, 2019. He was described by family as “exceptionally gentle” and “caring.” James Lee Busch and Zachary Armitage are charged with the first-degree murder of Payne. (Facebook/Martin Payne)
Morrell Andrews said she’s hopeful the bill might become legislation in the new year. (Courtesy of Morrell Andrews)

Federal committee backs B.C. women’s calls for change to publication ban rules

Recommendations include informing victims of publication bans before implementation

Morrell Andrews said she’s hopeful the bill might become legislation in the new year. (Courtesy of Morrell Andrews)
The Frack Free BC protest was held during Premier David Eby’s cabinent swearing-in ceremony on Dec. 7, 2022. (Hollie Ferguson/News Staff)

Environmental alliance calls for end to fracking as Eby swears in new cabinet

Members staged demonstration at Government House in Victoria ahead of swearing-in ceremony

The Frack Free BC protest was held during Premier David Eby’s cabinent swearing-in ceremony on Dec. 7, 2022. (Hollie Ferguson/News Staff)
Country superstar Blake Shelton has been announced as the headline for next summer’s Sunfest Country Music Festival, running Aug. 3 to 6, 2023. (Courtesy of Sunfest Country Music Festival)

Blake Shelton coming to Vancouver Island as Sunfest headliner

The Cowichan country music festival returns to Laketown Ranch Aug. 3 to 6, 2023

Country superstar Blake Shelton has been announced as the headline for next summer’s Sunfest Country Music Festival, running Aug. 3 to 6, 2023. (Courtesy of Sunfest Country Music Festival)