Wolf Depner

Sidney/North Saanich RCMP says the fire-related death of a man early Saturday morning is not suspicious, but the investigation is ongoing. (Black Press Media file photo)

UPDATE: Man in his early 70s dies in Greater Victoria fire

Fire is not considered suspicious, investigation ongoing

Sidney/North Saanich RCMP says the fire-related death of a man early Saturday morning is not suspicious, but the investigation is ongoing. (Black Press Media file photo)
North Saanich Coun. Patricia Pearson, here seen with daughter Emma Pearson, husband Aaron Pearson and son Addysen, hopes that her decision to take a parental level will inspire further changes to help reconcile personal lives with public service. (Krystle Schofield/Submitted)

B.C. councillor hopes her parental leave sets trends, removes barriers

North Saanich councillor taking three-month family leave after adopting infant son

North Saanich Coun. Patricia Pearson, here seen with daughter Emma Pearson, husband Aaron Pearson and son Addysen, hopes that her decision to take a parental level will inspire further changes to help reconcile personal lives with public service. (Krystle Schofield/Submitted)
A woman holds a dog while crossing the Irpin River on an improvised path under a bridge as people flee the town of Irpin, Ukraine. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

B.C. author in western Ukraine says potential for greater conflict very real

Ukrainians appreciate international support, lament lack of physical military aid

A woman holds a dog while crossing the Irpin River on an improvised path under a bridge as people flee the town of Irpin, Ukraine. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Central Saanich council will request that the Farm Industry Review Board permit growers to immediately raise their prices to reflect the current cost of production, in the face of past and current inflationary pressures including the war in Ukraine. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. chicken farmers plead for permission to raise prices as inflation pecks at profits

Costs steadily increasing, but producers unable to increase price of chicken meat and eggs

Central Saanich council will request that the Farm Industry Review Board permit growers to immediately raise their prices to reflect the current cost of production, in the face of past and current inflationary pressures including the war in Ukraine. (Black Press Media file photo)
Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations have seen some of the highest job vacancy increases in Canada between 2019 and 2021. (Black Press Media file photo)

5 of the 10 jobs with highest vacancy rates in Canada pay less than $20/hour

Nurses, cooks, construction workers among those with highest jump in job openings

Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations have seen some of the highest job vacancy increases in Canada between 2019 and 2021. (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).
Standing near the BC Ferries terminal in Brentwood Bay on Vancouver Island, Saanich North and the Islands MLA Adam Olsen largely questions proposed changes to legislation governing B.C. Ferries, but also finds some positives. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Government accountability for BC Ferries must be maintained, BC Green MLA says

Adam Olsen says oversight board has power to issue directives, but also to point fingers

Standing near the BC Ferries terminal in Brentwood Bay on Vancouver Island, Saanich North and the Islands MLA Adam Olsen largely questions proposed changes to legislation governing B.C. Ferries, but also finds some positives. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Michael Bociurkiw, photographed last fall in Sidney, is currently in western Ukraine, where the situation is getting more tense as that country continues to weather Russian attacks. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C.-based author feels increasingly under siege in Ukrainian city of Lviv

Global affairs analyst and author Michael Bociurkiw has been in Ukraine almost a month

Michael Bociurkiw, photographed last fall in Sidney, is currently in western Ukraine, where the situation is getting more tense as that country continues to weather Russian attacks. (Black Press Media file photo)
Spirits, along with ciders and coolers, are starting to gain market share on beer and wine among Canadian drinkers of alcohol. (Black Press Media file photo)

Adult Canadians put back almost 10 alcoholic drinks a week in 2020-21

Statistics Canada figures show largest increase in alcohol spending in a decade

Spirits, along with ciders and coolers, are starting to gain market share on beer and wine among Canadian drinkers of alcohol. (Black Press Media file photo)
Under current CO2 budget scenarios, Canada would have to reach net-zero emissions by 2024 or 2026 if it wants to limit the future rise in temperature to 1.8 C. It has no way of reaching the 1.5 C goal. (showyourbudgets.org chart)

Watchdog says emissions mean Canada can no longer reach its 1.5 C climate goal

US blew its carbon budget in 2021 while other G7 countries have only years left to reach goals

Under current CO2 budget scenarios, Canada would have to reach net-zero emissions by 2024 or 2026 if it wants to limit the future rise in temperature to 1.8 C. It has no way of reaching the 1.5 C goal. (showyourbudgets.org chart)
A new federal-provincial program promises to help farmers’ markets deal with emergencies. (Black Press Media file photo)

New program promises to help B.C. farmers’ markets deal with emergencies, growing challenges

First-come, first-served program offers a total of $475,000 in funding

A new federal-provincial program promises to help farmers’ markets deal with emergencies. (Black Press Media file photo)
The Peninsula Panthers and the hockey community at large are mourning the death of 18-year-old Grant Gilbertson, who died in a collision Monday night near the intersection of Sooke and Humpback roads. (Courtesy Christian J. Stewart Photography)

Icy roads near Victoria claim life of 18-year-old junior hockey player

VIJHL junior B team planning special ceremony Friday to honour Grant Gilbertson, who was 18

The Peninsula Panthers and the hockey community at large are mourning the death of 18-year-old Grant Gilbertson, who died in a collision Monday night near the intersection of Sooke and Humpback roads. (Courtesy Christian J. Stewart Photography)
In 2020, Canadians consumed seven million whole turkeys, according to the Turkey Farmers of Canada. (Special to Black Press Media)

Canadians gobbling up turkey, eggnog this Christmas

Cranberries and Christmas trees also rank among top seasonal Canadian exports

In 2020, Canadians consumed seven million whole turkeys, according to the Turkey Farmers of Canada. (Special to Black Press Media)
Paul Davidson, left, of Paul’s Farm Stand, Andrew Engqvist of Andrew’s Farm Stand and Clayton Fox of Silver Rill Corn show off some of the recent harvest produced on south Vancouver Island, possibly the only region in Canada right now where carrots are still being pulled directly out of the ground. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Vancouver Island farmers still pulling carrots out of the ground

Mild climatic conditions responsible for strong late fall harvest

Paul Davidson, left, of Paul’s Farm Stand, Andrew Engqvist of Andrew’s Farm Stand and Clayton Fox of Silver Rill Corn show off some of the recent harvest produced on south Vancouver Island, possibly the only region in Canada right now where carrots are still being pulled directly out of the ground. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
(Pixabay)

B.C. alcohol consumption rates hit a 20-year peak in 2021

University of Victoria researcher says increased availability leads to people drinking more

(Pixabay)
A five-year Statistics Canada survey on victimization found rates of respondents self-reporting physical and/or sexual violence in their spousal or partner relationships came down between 1999 and 2019. (Pixabay)

Survey: spousal violence on decline in Canada; women still more likely to suffer

Findings capture conditions before COVID-19 pandemic sent many into isolation

A five-year Statistics Canada survey on victimization found rates of respondents self-reporting physical and/or sexual violence in their spousal or partner relationships came down between 1999 and 2019. (Pixabay)
According to Statistics Canada, prices at the gas pump rose 32.8 per cent in September 2021 compared with September last year as inflation rose 4.4 per cent on a year-over-year basis in September, the fastest pace since February 2003. (Black Press Media File)

Gas prices fuel highest inflation rate in nearly two decades

Gas prices jumped 32.8 % while inflation rose 4.4 % on a year-over-year basis in September

According to Statistics Canada, prices at the gas pump rose 32.8 per cent in September 2021 compared with September last year as inflation rose 4.4 per cent on a year-over-year basis in September, the fastest pace since February 2003. (Black Press Media File)
Adam Olsen, MLA for Saanich North and the Islands, speaks about drug use during a speech in the legislature. (Government of British Columbia)

Greater Victoria MLA Adam Olsen reveals past drug use in an attempt to end stigma

MLA for Saanich North and the Islands talks about cocaine, other substance use in his 20s

Adam Olsen, MLA for Saanich North and the Islands, speaks about drug use during a speech in the legislature. (Government of British Columbia)
Nuu-chah-nulth and Kwakwaka’wakw drummers sing the Grease Trail Song during a totem pole unveiling ceremony in Port Alberni. Canada’s Indigenous population is expected to grow faster than the country’s non-Indigenous population in the next 20 years, including in B.C. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. could be home to 500,000 Indigenous people by 2041

Canada’s Indigenous population growth projected to outpace non-Indigenous in next 20 years

Nuu-chah-nulth and Kwakwaka’wakw drummers sing the Grease Trail Song during a totem pole unveiling ceremony in Port Alberni. Canada’s Indigenous population is expected to grow faster than the country’s non-Indigenous population in the next 20 years, including in B.C. (Black Press Media file photo)
Victoria Police Department (VicPD) Chief Del Manak said he is still processing an incident Saturday afternoon during which a woman poured liquid on him from behind. (Black Press Media file)

5 people arrested after Victoria police chief assaulted at memorial for Chantel Moore

VicPD Chief Del Manak says he is still processing the incident

Victoria Police Department (VicPD) Chief Del Manak said he is still processing an incident Saturday afternoon during which a woman poured liquid on him from behind. (Black Press Media file)