Local News

Jackson Butchart works on his shark-themed mural at the corner of Bay Street and Rock Bay Avenue as part of the City of Victoria’s “Concrete Canvas” project. Nicole Crescenzi/VICTORIA NEWS

Victoria’s mural project wraps up with a brewery party

The ‘Concrete Canvas’ project had 16 artists painting around the Rock Bay neighbourhood

Jackson Butchart works on his shark-themed mural at the corner of Bay Street and Rock Bay Avenue as part of the City of Victoria’s “Concrete Canvas” project. Nicole Crescenzi/VICTORIA NEWS
Amy Vincent and Andrew Engqvist from Silver Rill Berry Farm help a customer pick out some locally grown produce at the Goldstream Farmers Market at Veterans Memorial Park in Langford. James MacKenzie/BLACK PRESS

B.C. Farmers’ Market Trail a one-stop virtual guide to the goods

New website assembles, profiles 145+ farmers’ markets throughout B.C.

Amy Vincent and Andrew Engqvist from Silver Rill Berry Farm help a customer pick out some locally grown produce at the Goldstream Farmers Market at Veterans Memorial Park in Langford. James MacKenzie/BLACK PRESS
Cyclist in the 100 km and 60 km races in Tour de Victoria took off at 8:30 a.m. Nicole Crescenzi/VICTORIA NEWS

PHOTOS: Tour de Victoria takes off

1,800 cyclists took off in the Ryder Hesjedal’s Tour de Victoria for a city-wide loop

Cyclist in the 100 km and 60 km races in Tour de Victoria took off at 8:30 a.m. Nicole Crescenzi/VICTORIA NEWS
Victoria’s 8th annual Pet-a-palooza is coming to town this weekend! File contributed

Pet-A-Palooza a good reason to ‘pawse’ this weekend in Victoria

Puppies, goats, wiener dog races and more on the grounds of St. Ann’s Academy Aug. 18-19

Victoria’s 8th annual Pet-a-palooza is coming to town this weekend! File contributed
The creation of cannabis lounges in Victoria, after marijuana is legalized this fall was discussed at yesterday’s city council meeting.                                File photo

Cannabis lounge idea to be floated at Victoria council meeting

Coun. Ben Isitt wants to explore smoking area options for marijuana users after legalization

The creation of cannabis lounges in Victoria, after marijuana is legalized this fall was discussed at yesterday’s city council meeting.                                File photo
The 26 foot long pole on display outside the Royal BC Museum will be carved publicly by Perry and Tom LaFortune, brothers and carvers from the Tsawout Nation, until October as part of the museum’s new carving program, a partnership with the BC Ministry of Health and Timber West. Kristyn Anthony/VICTORIA NEWS

WATCH: Indigenous carvers bring art to the people outside Victoria’s Royal BC Museum

Crossing Cultures and Healing totem pole meant to move conversation beyond reconciliation

The 26 foot long pole on display outside the Royal BC Museum will be carved publicly by Perry and Tom LaFortune, brothers and carvers from the Tsawout Nation, until October as part of the museum’s new carving program, a partnership with the BC Ministry of Health and Timber West. Kristyn Anthony/VICTORIA NEWS
The Fiesta Latina Folklore Dancers will perform as part of Viva! Victoria Latin Fest, Aug. 4 at Centennial Square. Kristyn Anthony/VICTORIA NEWS

Viva! Victoria Latin Fest to inspire city’s Latino communities

Organizer: “There are more than 22 countries in Latin America. Each one has a unique and rich culture.”

The Fiesta Latina Folklore Dancers will perform as part of Viva! Victoria Latin Fest, Aug. 4 at Centennial Square. Kristyn Anthony/VICTORIA NEWS
Performers from Aeriosa rehearse last year in Saxe Point Park. The Vancouver-based acrobat group return to Esquimalt for a series of performances Aug. 10 and 11. Photo contributed

Aeriosa swings from Island trees

Aerial dance group returns to Esquimalt with new program dedicated to Salish Sea

Performers from Aeriosa rehearse last year in Saxe Point Park. The Vancouver-based acrobat group return to Esquimalt for a series of performances Aug. 10 and 11. Photo contributed
The YMCA-YWCA building at 851 Broughton St. has been sold for $21.9 million. Nicole Crescenzi/VICTORIA NEWS

YMCA-YWCA eyes the future after selling downtown Victoria property

The Y to lease existing space for up to seven years while looking for new downtown home

The YMCA-YWCA building at 851 Broughton St. has been sold for $21.9 million. Nicole Crescenzi/VICTORIA NEWS
Southbound traffic is heavily delayed outside Mill Bay after a multi-vehicle crash on the Malahat late Sunday afternoon. Katherine Engqvist/BLACK PRESS
Southbound traffic is heavily delayed outside Mill Bay after a multi-vehicle crash on the Malahat late Sunday afternoon. Katherine Engqvist/BLACK PRESS
American comedian, musician, beatboxer and singer Reggie Watts told the Victoria crowd growing up in Montana he caught a lot of “Lethbridge programming” before closing his set with a reference to Bob and Doug McKenzie. Kristyn Anthony/VICTORIA NEWS

PHOTO GALLERY: Phillips Backyard Weekender hits all the right notes

Local and international acts keep Victoria crowd cutting a rug

American comedian, musician, beatboxer and singer Reggie Watts told the Victoria crowd growing up in Montana he caught a lot of “Lethbridge programming” before closing his set with a reference to Bob and Doug McKenzie. Kristyn Anthony/VICTORIA NEWS
Kat Sark (right) walks with the Victoria chapter of the Women’s March in the 2018 Pride Parade. The group is organizing a Women’s March Symposium at UVic slated for July 21 to keep the momentum of the movement going with guest speakers and discussion panels. Photo contributed

Women’s March Victoria keeps movement going with UVic symposium

Discussions, community building and fundraising event highlights women of colour, LGBTQ, immigrants

Kat Sark (right) walks with the Victoria chapter of the Women’s March in the 2018 Pride Parade. The group is organizing a Women’s March Symposium at UVic slated for July 21 to keep the momentum of the movement going with guest speakers and discussion panels. Photo contributed
Cast and crew of Once Upon a Prince filming on Taylor Road in Metchosin. (Photo contributed)

Slow year for film productions on the West Shore

Local film commission says there’s still been lots of interest

Cast and crew of Once Upon a Prince filming on Taylor Road in Metchosin. (Photo contributed)
It was a sea of colour at the 25th Annual Victoria Pride Parade Sunday. Kristyn Anthony/VICTORIA NEWS

Victoria Pride Parade celebrates 25 years

Thousands line downtown streets as city bursts with LGBTQ pride

It was a sea of colour at the 25th Annual Victoria Pride Parade Sunday. Kristyn Anthony/VICTORIA NEWS
The 26th annual Great Canadian Beer Festival at Royal Athletic Park runs Sept. 7 and 8. Photo contributed

Pass a pint: Great Canadian Beer Festival tickets on sale now

Over 200 brews and ciders will be featured at this year’s craft celebration

The 26th annual Great Canadian Beer Festival at Royal Athletic Park runs Sept. 7 and 8. Photo contributed
B.C. Finance Minister and Victoria-Beacon Hill MLA Carole James speaks at an announcement for $6 million in provincial funding for the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria’s Next Gallery Project expansion, shown in a rendering behind her. Don Descoteau/Victoria News

Art Gallery of Greater Victoria expansion gets $6M boost from province

Project many years in the making, but planned for current Rockland site

B.C. Finance Minister and Victoria-Beacon Hill MLA Carole James speaks at an announcement for $6 million in provincial funding for the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria’s Next Gallery Project expansion, shown in a rendering behind her. Don Descoteau/Victoria News
The B.C. SPCA is recommending a ban on horse-drawn trolleys, and asking that carriage tours be limited to quite city areas. (File photo)

UPDATE: BC SPCA recommends ban of horse-drawn carriages from downtown Victoria streets

Letter to city council cites accident at Ogden Point that caused horses to fall

The B.C. SPCA is recommending a ban on horse-drawn trolleys, and asking that carriage tours be limited to quite city areas. (File photo)
Local and visiting Indigenous marchers sing and drum in leading a protest parade Thursday evening along Wharf Street, opposing the Kinder Morgan pipeline buyout by the federal government. After a series of speeches in front of the Visitor’s Information Centre, hundreds of marchers made their way to Centennial Square, where they met many more participants. Don Descoteau/Victoria News

PIPELINE PROTEST: Trans Mountain project buyout fails to respect First Nations, speakers say

Victoria MP hosting emergency town hall on topic Friday evening at Vic High

Local and visiting Indigenous marchers sing and drum in leading a protest parade Thursday evening along Wharf Street, opposing the Kinder Morgan pipeline buyout by the federal government. After a series of speeches in front of the Visitor’s Information Centre, hundreds of marchers made their way to Centennial Square, where they met many more participants. Don Descoteau/Victoria News
Riders on The Urban Sustainable Food Tour will venture through the city, tasting samples from eateries with local, sustainable food practices while learning about Victoria’s growing urban agriculture movement.                                Kristyn Anthony/VICTORIA NEWS

Take a ride through Victoria’s growing urban agriculture movement

Bike Tours Victoria, Food Eco District host adventures through city’s sustainable food projects

Riders on The Urban Sustainable Food Tour will venture through the city, tasting samples from eateries with local, sustainable food practices while learning about Victoria’s growing urban agriculture movement.                                Kristyn Anthony/VICTORIA NEWS
Penny Parker (left) has tutored Bryant Moncrief since August at the Victoria Literacy Connection. Nicole Crescenzi/VICTORIA NEWS

Reading between the lines: the many roles of the Victoria Literacy Connection

Saturday fundraiser to help volunteer-run organization teach people to read, write and more

Penny Parker (left) has tutored Bryant Moncrief since August at the Victoria Literacy Connection. Nicole Crescenzi/VICTORIA NEWS