Don Descoteau

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Royal B.C. Museum conservator Megan Doxsey-Whitfield kneels next to a carved stone pillar believed to have significance as a First Nations cultural marker by local Indigenous people. The pillar was discovered on the beach at Dallas Road last summer. Museum curatorial staff have been working with Songhees and Esquimalt Nation representatives to gain a clearer picture of its use. (Photo courtesy Royal BC Museum)

Stone carving found on Victoria beach confirmed Indigenous ritual pillar

Discussion underway with the Esquimalt and Songhees about suitable final home for the artifact

Royal B.C. Museum conservator Megan Doxsey-Whitfield kneels next to a carved stone pillar believed to have significance as a First Nations cultural marker by local Indigenous people. The pillar was discovered on the beach at Dallas Road last summer. Museum curatorial staff have been working with Songhees and Esquimalt Nation representatives to gain a clearer picture of its use. (Photo courtesy Royal BC Museum)
The cost of potentially counting deer regionwide was among the issues that prompted Capital Regional District committee members to vote against pursuing a greater CRD role in deer management. (Black Press Media file photo)

Expanded deer management a non-starter for Greater Victoria

Capital Regional District committee maintains current level of support

The cost of potentially counting deer regionwide was among the issues that prompted Capital Regional District committee members to vote against pursuing a greater CRD role in deer management. (Black Press Media file photo)
Standardized foundation skills assessment tests in B.C. schools will be going ahead later than usual, from Feb. 16 to March 12 for students in Grades 4 and 7. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. teachers say COVID-affected school year perfect time to end standardized tests

Foundational skills testing of Grade 4 and 7 students planned for February and March

Standardized foundation skills assessment tests in B.C. schools will be going ahead later than usual, from Feb. 16 to March 12 for students in Grades 4 and 7. (Black Press Media file photo)
Idle tour buses lined up at Ogden Point on a sunny afternoon at the Victoria waterfront. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)

B.C. motor coach industry at the breaking point, says Victoria operator

John Wilson wants province to know bus companies are critical to B.C.’s tourism economy

Idle tour buses lined up at Ogden Point on a sunny afternoon at the Victoria waterfront. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)
Victoria-based driving instructors are concerned for their own and the community’s safety with the continued number of residents from COVID hotspots in the Lower Mainland coming to the city to take their driving road tests. (Black Press Media file photo)

Students from COVID hotspots travel to Vancouver Island for driving tests

Union leader calls on government to institute stronger travel ban

Victoria-based driving instructors are concerned for their own and the community’s safety with the continued number of residents from COVID hotspots in the Lower Mainland coming to the city to take their driving road tests. (Black Press Media file photo)
Offices, schools, homes and more offer protection in the event of an earthquake. The Great BC ShakeOut is slated for Oct. 15, but individuals and socially distanced groups can practice earthquake drills anytime. (Black Press media file photo)

Great BC ShakeOut takes a COVID-safe approach for 2020

Public encouraged to host socially distanced earthquake drills Oct. 15 or anytime

Offices, schools, homes and more offer protection in the event of an earthquake. The Great BC ShakeOut is slated for Oct. 15, but individuals and socially distanced groups can practice earthquake drills anytime. (Black Press media file photo)
Pickleball action during the 2019 55+ B.C. Games in Kelowna. While the 2020 Games in Richmond were cancelled due to COVID-19, the Greater Victoria organizing committee has begun planning for hosting the 2021 competition next September. (Rosemary Kean/55+ BC Games Society)

Greater Victoria’s 55+ BC Games committee planning for safe 2021 competition

Richmond cancelled 2020 Games due to COVID, but local organizers optimistic about next year

Pickleball action during the 2019 55+ B.C. Games in Kelowna. While the 2020 Games in Richmond were cancelled due to COVID-19, the Greater Victoria organizing committee has begun planning for hosting the 2021 competition next September. (Rosemary Kean/55+ BC Games Society)
Crooner classics past and present in spotlight, courtesy of Ken Lavigne

Crooner classics past and present in spotlight, courtesy of Ken Lavigne

Island tenor prepares for upcoming concert tour of Let Me Be Frank!

Crooner classics past and present in spotlight, courtesy of Ken Lavigne
Ken Lavigne will be Playing Favourites on a six-date concert tour on Vancouver and Saltspring islands later this month. Courtesy kenlavigne.com

Ken Lavigne sings your favourites (and his) on Islands concert tour

Popular tenor performing seven concerts at six venues over six days

Ken Lavigne will be Playing Favourites on a six-date concert tour on Vancouver and Saltspring islands later this month. Courtesy kenlavigne.com
Director Arnold Lim takes a look at the shot on the set of the All-in Madonna short film shot on Piers Island in November 2017. (Photo by Robyn Thomas)

Black Press videographer to direct full-length feature, wins Telefilm grant worth $125,000

Arnold Lim to expand story of All-In Madonna with writer Susie Winters, producer Ana de Lara

Director Arnold Lim takes a look at the shot on the set of the All-in Madonna short film shot on Piers Island in November 2017. (Photo by Robyn Thomas)
Haven’t got your end-of-life arrangements settled yet? The Victoria HarbourCats baseball club is giving away a complete funeral, cremation and wills package during their home game against the Corvallis Knights this Wednesday (July 18). Don Descoteau/Black Press

B.C. baseball team offers funeral prize pack

Wednesday’s West Coast League game in Victoria features draw for end-of-life package

Haven’t got your end-of-life arrangements settled yet? The Victoria HarbourCats baseball club is giving away a complete funeral, cremation and wills package during their home game against the Corvallis Knights this Wednesday (July 18). Don Descoteau/Black Press
Victoria police are on the lookout for a man who showed up at a woman’s home on Friday morning claiming to be from the Canada Revenue Agency and threatening to arrest her if she didn’t hand over money immediately. (Pixabay)

CRA scammer shows up at B.C. woman’s door with handcuffs

Victoria police warning public to not let such people in and call 911 immediately

Victoria police are on the lookout for a man who showed up at a woman’s home on Friday morning claiming to be from the Canada Revenue Agency and threatening to arrest her if she didn’t hand over money immediately. (Pixabay)
Rod Hurst stands next to a chair from the old Boston Garden at his collectibles shop soon to open in Coombs. The Colwood resident auctioned off the chair last weekend for $5,800 with the intention of donating the entire proceeds to the Humboldt Broncos hockey club, who lost players, coaches and other team staff in the tragic bus crash April 6. Photo contributed

Boston Garden chair nets $5,800 for Humboldt Broncos fund

Like many Canadians, West Shore resident Rod Hurst just wanted to help in some way

Rod Hurst stands next to a chair from the old Boston Garden at his collectibles shop soon to open in Coombs. The Colwood resident auctioned off the chair last weekend for $5,800 with the intention of donating the entire proceeds to the Humboldt Broncos hockey club, who lost players, coaches and other team staff in the tragic bus crash April 6. Photo contributed
Body found near Victoria harbour

Body found near Victoria harbour

Police and divers had been looking in the same area for a missing man earlier this month

Body found near Victoria harbour
Commodore Buck Zwick, Commander of the Pacific Fleet of the Royal Canadian Navy, addressed the media on Sunday at CFB Esquimalt. (Facebook/Maritime Forces Pacific)

Investigation continues into naval fuel spill off B.C.’s West Coast

“As far as we’re concerned, any spill is one spill too many”

Commodore Buck Zwick, Commander of the Pacific Fleet of the Royal Canadian Navy, addressed the media on Sunday at CFB Esquimalt. (Facebook/Maritime Forces Pacific)
A plastics industry lobby group has challenged the City of Victoria in court over its upcoming ban on the provisional of single-use plastic bags by merchants. iStock photo

Group threatens legal action over Victoria’s plastic bag ban

Petition the latest move by plastics industry association to overturn Canadian bag bans

A plastics industry lobby group has challenged the City of Victoria in court over its upcoming ban on the provisional of single-use plastic bags by merchants. iStock photo
Mattias Peemoeller and his crew at Balance Home Cleaning walked away from the Business Excellence Awards on Thursday with the Best Small Business honours, for companies with less than 50 employees. Photo by Joshua Lawrence Studios

2018 Vancouver Island Business Awards honour industry-leading companies

Island retailer Dodd’s Furniture, Saanich-based Balance Home Cleaning named businesses of year

Mattias Peemoeller and his crew at Balance Home Cleaning walked away from the Business Excellence Awards on Thursday with the Best Small Business honours, for companies with less than 50 employees. Photo by Joshua Lawrence Studios
The folks from Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort proudly hold their Business Excellence award from the 2017 gala. This year’s event happens tonight (Jan. 25) at the Delta Ocean Pointe Resort and Spa. Photo courtesy Tigh-Na-Mara

Tonight’s the night for Vancouver Island businesses to shine

Annual Business Excellence awards being handed out in Victoria

The folks from Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort proudly hold their Business Excellence award from the 2017 gala. This year’s event happens tonight (Jan. 25) at the Delta Ocean Pointe Resort and Spa. Photo courtesy Tigh-Na-Mara
The potential strike announced to start as early as Monday by operators and staff of BC Transit’s handyDART serviced has been delayed until at least next Thursday due to action by contractor First Canada. Black Press files

UPDATE: BC Transit’s handyDart service strike in Victoria delayed

LRB application by contractor means new strike notice must be issued by union

The potential strike announced to start as early as Monday by operators and staff of BC Transit’s handyDART serviced has been delayed until at least next Thursday due to action by contractor First Canada. Black Press files
Island Health: No need for alarm in wake of Victoria needle-prick incidents

Island Health: No need for alarm in wake of Victoria needle-prick incidents

Three incidents in a week prompts meeting between health authority, city service providers

Island Health: No need for alarm in wake of Victoria needle-prick incidents