Greater Victoria

A demonstrator takes a drag out of a comically large joint Wednesday during a 4/20 demonstration at the legislature. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

PHOTOS: 4/20 rally at B.C. Legislature calls for reduced cannabis regulation

About 100 people gathered to celebrate legalization, call for fewer restrictions

A demonstrator takes a drag out of a comically large joint Wednesday during a 4/20 demonstration at the legislature. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
A view from inside the large vessel overlooking Victoria’s Breakwater District. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)

PHOTOS: First cruise ship since start of pandemic lands in Victoria

Greater Victoria hasn’t seen cruise ship tourism since October 2019

A view from inside the large vessel overlooking Victoria’s Breakwater District. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)
Princess Cruises vessel Caribbean Princess is seen in this promotional image. The ship was scheduled to dock in Victoria on April 6, marking the first time a cruise ship has docked in Canadian waters since the pandemic began, but ship maintenance schedule changes have cancelled the visit. (Photo Courtesy of Princess Cruises)

First B.C. cruise ship port call cancelled due to maintenance changes

The start of the cruise season will now be delayed from April 6 to April 9

Princess Cruises vessel Caribbean Princess is seen in this promotional image. The ship was scheduled to dock in Victoria on April 6, marking the first time a cruise ship has docked in Canadian waters since the pandemic began, but ship maintenance schedule changes have cancelled the visit. (Photo Courtesy of Princess Cruises)
Oak Bay High students Kaelyn Bonner and Katherine Lee do preflight checks at the Victoria Flying Club, ahead of their discovery flight as part of the aviation and design program offered through the Greater Victoria School District. (Tom Aerts/Twitter)

Oak Bay student among those high on aviation possibilities

Greater Victoria School District helps kids fly with aviation and design program

Oak Bay High students Kaelyn Bonner and Katherine Lee do preflight checks at the Victoria Flying Club, ahead of their discovery flight as part of the aviation and design program offered through the Greater Victoria School District. (Tom Aerts/Twitter)
Canadian research vessel Sir John Franklin returned to Victoria after a month in the Pacific Ocean. (Jane Skrypnek/News Staff)

Science team returns from winter expedition with boatful of new info on Pacific salmon

Researchers studying impact of changing climate on decreasing salmon population

Canadian research vessel Sir John Franklin returned to Victoria after a month in the Pacific Ocean. (Jane Skrypnek/News Staff)
Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Sheila Malcolmson announced the implementation of 500 new complex-care housing spaces across the province on Tuesday (March 22). (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito)

$164 million health-care linked, eviction-free housing project coming to B.C.

100 complex-care spaces to be created in Greater Victoria, among 500 across B.C. by 2023

Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Sheila Malcolmson announced the implementation of 500 new complex-care housing spaces across the province on Tuesday (March 22). (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito)
A basic training course at CFB Esquimalt near Victoria was terminated March 11 after multiple incidents of sexual harassment and racism were brought to staff’s attention. (Black Press Media file photo)

Acts of racism, sexual harassment end Canadian Armed Forces training course in B.C. capital

3 individuals kicked out of course, those responsible for racist messages yet to be identified

A basic training course at CFB Esquimalt near Victoria was terminated March 11 after multiple incidents of sexual harassment and racism were brought to staff’s attention. (Black Press Media file photo)
While Greater Victoria residents showed their support for Black Lives Matter in 2020, new figures show the number of police-reported hate crimes in the metropolitan area rose by 97 per cent in 2020 over the previous year. (Black Press Media file photo).

B.C. leads country in hate crimes as Canada hits highest reported totals ever

Police-reported hate crimes per capita rose by nearly 200 cases in 2020

While Greater Victoria residents showed their support for Black Lives Matter in 2020, new figures show the number of police-reported hate crimes in the metropolitan area rose by 97 per cent in 2020 over the previous year. (Black Press Media file photo).
HMCS Yellowknife sails in the Pacific Ocean on April 11, 2019. Crews aboard helped in an 800-kilogram cocaine bust in the eastern Pacific Ocean on March 6. (Courtesy of navy Capt. Annie Morin)

B.C. military helps scuttle ship carrying more than 1,700 pounds of cocaine

HMCS Yellowknife working with U.S. Coast Guard on security concerns in eastern Pacific Ocean

HMCS Yellowknife sails in the Pacific Ocean on April 11, 2019. Crews aboard helped in an 800-kilogram cocaine bust in the eastern Pacific Ocean on March 6. (Courtesy of navy Capt. Annie Morin)
Members of Greater Victoria’s Ukrainian community gathered outside the B.C. legislature on Feb. 24 to stand against Russia’s invasion. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)

B.C. experts offer tips on talking with kids about Russia’s war on Ukraine

Open conversations, screentime limits, taking action locally among suggestions

Members of Greater Victoria’s Ukrainian community gathered outside the B.C. legislature on Feb. 24 to stand against Russia’s invasion. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)
Using a specialized chamber, UVic microbiology professor Caroline Cameron works with the bacterium that causes syphilis. She’s researching a better diagnostic test and vaccine for the STI. (Courtesy UVic Photo Services)

B.C. researcher working to develop world’s first syphilis vaccine after case spike

More than 1,400 B.C. residents contracted the STI in 2021

Using a specialized chamber, UVic microbiology professor Caroline Cameron works with the bacterium that causes syphilis. She’s researching a better diagnostic test and vaccine for the STI. (Courtesy UVic Photo Services)
Members of the Vancouver Island Painted Rocks Facebook group are painting sunflowers in solidarity with Ukraine. (Betty Young/Facebook)

PHOTOS: B.C. group stands with Ukraine through sunflower rock paintings

Sunflowers have become a symbol of resistance to Russia’s war on Ukraine

Members of the Vancouver Island Painted Rocks Facebook group are painting sunflowers in solidarity with Ukraine. (Betty Young/Facebook)
A sea pig swimming in the Cascadia Basin depths off Vancouver Island in summer 2021. (Photo courtesy of Ocean Networks Canada)

When pigs swim: B.C. deep water cameras capture rare footage of swimming sea pig

The deep-sea creatures are usually found scavenging on the ocean floor

A sea pig swimming in the Cascadia Basin depths off Vancouver Island in summer 2021. (Photo courtesy of Ocean Networks Canada)
Thousands of foreign-trained doctors are unable to practise medicine in Canada, despite severe doctor shortages. (Unsplash)

Regulations prevent foreign-trained B.C. doctor from practising

Despite severe doctor shortage, international medical graduates face years of barriers in Canada

Thousands of foreign-trained doctors are unable to practise medicine in Canada, despite severe doctor shortages. (Unsplash)
Anyone who finds a European green crab like this one on Vancouver Island shorelines should report the invasive species to DFO, with photos and the exact location. (Courtesy of Fisheries and Oceans Canada)

Extreme weather could help invasive green crab crawl along B.C. coast

European green crab is identifiable by five spines on the side of each eye

Anyone who finds a European green crab like this one on Vancouver Island shorelines should report the invasive species to DFO, with photos and the exact location. (Courtesy of Fisheries and Oceans Canada)
Krista Fox, right, Lindsey Bishop and a large group of supporters gather for a group photo before walking to the legislature in Victoria. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

Women depart Victoria for nationwide walk to honour missing, murdered Indigenous women

Saskatchewan women come west to start initiative at Mile Zero

Krista Fox, right, Lindsey Bishop and a large group of supporters gather for a group photo before walking to the legislature in Victoria. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
Researchers aboard the vessel Noctiluca monitor southern resident killer whale behavior. (Photo courtesy of Northwest Fisheries Science Center/North Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries)

US review emphasizes uncertain future for B.C.’s southern resident killer whales

Boats, food decline, pollution threats as researchers recommend continued endangered status

Researchers aboard the vessel Noctiluca monitor southern resident killer whale behavior. (Photo courtesy of Northwest Fisheries Science Center/North Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries)
Greater Victoria School District trustees Diane McNally and Rob Paynter have been censured by the board and suspended from their duties until October for misconduct relating to bullying and harassment complaints. (Black Press Media file photos)

B.C. school district suspends 2 trustees after bullying complaints

Greater Victoria’s Diane McNally, Rob Paynter suspended until October after investigation

Greater Victoria School District trustees Diane McNally and Rob Paynter have been censured by the board and suspended from their duties until October for misconduct relating to bullying and harassment complaints. (Black Press Media file photos)
Freya Keddie holds a sign at the B.C. legislature to show her support for vaccination, amidst demonstrators against mandates. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)

Anti-mandate rally met with counter-demonstrators in front of B.C. legislature

Saturday’s counter-demonstration was organized on Reddit, receiving wide support from respondees

Freya Keddie holds a sign at the B.C. legislature to show her support for vaccination, amidst demonstrators against mandates. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)
Victoria resident Stephen Fearing is one of the latest recording artists to pull their music from Spotify in protest of COVID misinformation on the streaming platform. (Photo courtesy of Mary Maryanovich)

B.C. musician Stephen Fearing joins Neil Young in pulling music from Spotify

Musicians protesting spread of COVID misinformation by Joe Rogan

Victoria resident Stephen Fearing is one of the latest recording artists to pull their music from Spotify in protest of COVID misinformation on the streaming platform. (Photo courtesy of Mary Maryanovich)