Jake Romphf

Victoria fire crews battle a blaze at View Towers in Victoria on Friday, April 29. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)

PHOTOS: Victoria firefighters pluck man from balcony in apartment building fire

Smoke billows from building at View and Quadra streets

Victoria fire crews battle a blaze at View Towers in Victoria on Friday, April 29. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)
Successful collaboration between CFB Esquimalt and the Esquimalt and Songhees nations provides a good example of how non-Indigenous military members across Canada can be educated, according to an expert panel. (Black Press Media file photo)

Report says military not dealing well with race, but B.C. base ahead of the curve

As Canada’s military struggles relating to First Nations, Esquimalt navy base offers a better example

Successful collaboration between CFB Esquimalt and the Esquimalt and Songhees nations provides a good example of how non-Indigenous military members across Canada can be educated, according to an expert panel. (Black Press Media file photo)
Victoria will create a bylaw aiming to reduce the amount of single-use plastics being used in the city. (Photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS)

Victoria looks at adding 25-cent surcharge to every single-use takeout cup

Plastic items by request only part of proposed bylaw to address city’s 75,000 throwaway items a day

Victoria will create a bylaw aiming to reduce the amount of single-use plastics being used in the city. (Photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS)
Victoria has passed what some are calling an unprecedented affordable housing policy. (Black Press Media file photo)

Victoria adopts ‘historic’ permit process to kickstart more affordable housing

Policy allows certain projects to bypass council, looks to spur housing creation

Victoria has passed what some are calling an unprecedented affordable housing policy. (Black Press Media file photo)
The province has extended its pandemic patio program until next spring. The patios in the 1300-block of Gladstone Avenue serve as a pilot program as Victoria explores permanently allowing street and sidewalk dining spaces. (Courtesy Build Back Victoria)

B.C. extends pandemic patio program until next spring as summer season looms

Victoria mayor applauds the move as many still easing out of COVID-19 life

The province has extended its pandemic patio program until next spring. The patios in the 1300-block of Gladstone Avenue serve as a pilot program as Victoria explores permanently allowing street and sidewalk dining spaces. (Courtesy Build Back Victoria)
Auto worker Angely Labo works in the body shop producing the Chevrolet Silverado, at the GM Assembly plant in Oshawa, Ont. A new report co-authored by the UVic-based Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions found Canada has a narrow window to insert itself as a leader in making larger electric vehicles. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young)

UVic institute report finds Canada must act now to prosper in net-zero marketplace

Coordinated effort needed as country risks losing opportunities to trading partners

Auto worker Angely Labo works in the body shop producing the Chevrolet Silverado, at the GM Assembly plant in Oshawa, Ont. A new report co-authored by the UVic-based Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions found Canada has a narrow window to insert itself as a leader in making larger electric vehicles. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young)
Pacific FC CEO Rob Friend (middle) speaks at a season kickoff event. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)

Pacific FC already looking to the future after Canadian Premier League title

The Langford-based team held a season kickoff event Thursday

Pacific FC CEO Rob Friend (middle) speaks at a season kickoff event. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)
Photos of Payton MacDonald, who has been missing for two weeks, pinned up during a news conference in Victoria on March 31. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)

RCMP makes appeal as dad still refusing to talk about missing B.C. girl’s location

Payton MacDonald, 13, was last seen on Harbour View Road in Ladysmith two weeks ago

Photos of Payton MacDonald, who has been missing for two weeks, pinned up during a news conference in Victoria on March 31. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)
Vancouver Island RCMP Cpl. Alex Berube speaks at a news conference in Victoria on March 31. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)

UPDATE: Missing Ladysmith girl found safe, say RCMP

Payton MacDonald, 13, was last seen on Harbour View Road in Ladysmith two weeks ago

Vancouver Island RCMP Cpl. Alex Berube speaks at a news conference in Victoria on March 31. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)
A celebration for a couple making a lifelong commitment to each other led to revellers being asked to make a lifelong commitment to environmental stewardship. (pixabay photo)

Unsanctioned Gulf Island wedding leads to restorative justice

Sensitive habitat mowed and trampled, revellers asked to commit to “lifelong stewardship’

A celebration for a couple making a lifelong commitment to each other led to revellers being asked to make a lifelong commitment to environmental stewardship. (pixabay photo)
Niobe Thompson, left, is the co-director of Carbon – The Unauthorised Biography. (Photo courtesy of Carbon - The Unauthorised Biography)

Island filmmaker’s new doc explores the ‘wonderful and horrible irony’ of carbon

Carbon transitions from foundational element for life to one everyone loves to hate

Niobe Thompson, left, is the co-director of Carbon – The Unauthorised Biography. (Photo courtesy of Carbon - The Unauthorised Biography)
Victoria council voted Thursday to suspend its relationship with the Russian city of Khabarovsk in response to the deadly military invasion of Ukraine. (Jane Skrypnek/News Staff)

Victoria suspends ties with Russian twin city over Ukraine invasion

B.C.’s capital urges Khabarovsk to call for peace, oppose President Vladimir Putin’s war

Victoria council voted Thursday to suspend its relationship with the Russian city of Khabarovsk in response to the deadly military invasion of Ukraine. (Jane Skrypnek/News Staff)
Greater Victoria School District trustees Diane McNally and Rob Paynter were censured by the board in early February and suspended from their duties until October for misconduct relating to bullying and harassment complaints. Both filed civil suits against the board on Feb. 28. (Black Press Media file photos)

Suspended Victoria school trustees take court action to get action overturned

Diane McNally and Rob Paynter’s punishments related to bullying, harassment complaints

Greater Victoria School District trustees Diane McNally and Rob Paynter were censured by the board in early February and suspended from their duties until October for misconduct relating to bullying and harassment complaints. Both filed civil suits against the board on Feb. 28. (Black Press Media file photos)
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)
Nataliia Kuksa, left, was born in Kyiv and was up through the night contacting everybody she knows back home. Members of Greater Victoria’s Ukrainian community at a solidarity gathering outside the B.C. legislature on Feb. 24, less than a day after Russia’s military attacked Ukraine on multiple fronts. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)

Ukrainian community gathers for anti-war demonstration outside B.C. Legislature

Hurt, concern, anxiety felt among those with Ukraine ties as they showed solidarity at legislature

Nataliia Kuksa, left, was born in Kyiv and was up through the night contacting everybody she knows back home. Members of Greater Victoria’s Ukrainian community at a solidarity gathering outside the B.C. legislature on Feb. 24, less than a day after Russia’s military attacked Ukraine on multiple fronts. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)
Some child care costs in B.C. will drop to an average of $20 per day by the end of this year. (Photo courtesy of B.C. government)

B.C. Budget: Child care fees for infants, toddlers dropping to $20 per day by 2023

Province expects 40,000 new spots to open in next seven years

Some child care costs in B.C. will drop to an average of $20 per day by the end of this year. (Photo courtesy of B.C. government)
B.C. moving to a community hub model for those with autism and other support needs will cost $172 million over three years. Participants at an event outside the B.C. legislature on Feb. 9 that called for the province to end its planned phase-out of individualized autism funding. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)

B.C. Budget: Transition to controversial autism funding model to cost $172M

Province says funding to help cover costs of essential medical equipment, transition

B.C. moving to a community hub model for those with autism and other support needs will cost $172 million over three years. Participants at an event outside the B.C. legislature on Feb. 9 that called for the province to end its planned phase-out of individualized autism funding. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)
Homelessness supports will remain for those sheltered during the pandemic. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. Budget: Renter rebate off the table, but $600 rent supplements coming for vulnerable groups

Long-awaited renters rebate left out of 2022 budget

Homelessness supports will remain for those sheltered during the pandemic. (Black Press Media file photo)
A petition, with hundreds of signatures, wants to see those violating Victoria’s noise bylaw at convoy events get ticketed. Pictured are vehicles driving through downtown on route to the B.C. legislature for a demonstration against pandemic health measures. (Black Press Media file photo)

Petition calls for B.C. capital to enforce noise bylaw on Freedom Convoy

More than 600 people sign online petition, which says constant honking affecting residents

A petition, with hundreds of signatures, wants to see those violating Victoria’s noise bylaw at convoy events get ticketed. Pictured are vehicles driving through downtown on route to the B.C. legislature for a demonstration against pandemic health measures. (Black Press Media file photo)
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)