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North Cowichan has committed $3,000 towards the repairs of the wildlife viewing platform in the Somenos Marsh that was vandalized in April. Pictured is the platform while under construction. (File photo)

North Cowichan donates $3,000 for viewing tower repairs

Platform in Somenos Marsh vandalized in April

North Cowichan has committed $3,000 towards the repairs of the wildlife viewing platform in the Somenos Marsh that was vandalized in April. Pictured is the platform while under construction. (File photo)
FILE - In this Monday, July 19, 2021 file photo, people walk in Oxford Circus, in London. The British government has sought to ease food supply pressures in England by exempting more than 10,000 workers from quarantine rules that had led to staff shortages and empty shelves and fears of panic-buying. However, it has come under criticism Friday , July 23, 2021 for the way it has lifted coronavirus restrictions in England and for not doing more to help other crucial sectors, such as transport, the emergency services and energy industry. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali, File)

England, Scotland exclude Canadians from new exception to quarantine measures

Visiting Canadians must quarantine at home or in the place they are staying for 10 days

FILE - In this Monday, July 19, 2021 file photo, people walk in Oxford Circus, in London. The British government has sought to ease food supply pressures in England by exempting more than 10,000 workers from quarantine rules that had led to staff shortages and empty shelves and fears of panic-buying. However, it has come under criticism Friday , July 23, 2021 for the way it has lifted coronavirus restrictions in England and for not doing more to help other crucial sectors, such as transport, the emergency services and energy industry. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali, File)
Kristy Sivorot and her son Griffin with Juniper, a lame, pregnant cow she bought from a large dairy operation to nurse back to health. Juniper gave birth to Junior, a bull calf, on July 21 and is doing well. (Zoe Ducklow - Sooke News Mirror)

Vancouver Island’s women hobby farmers part of a growing food revolution

Raising livestock and families: the young women farmers of Sooke share their stories

Kristy Sivorot and her son Griffin with Juniper, a lame, pregnant cow she bought from a large dairy operation to nurse back to health. Juniper gave birth to Junior, a bull calf, on July 21 and is doing well. (Zoe Ducklow - Sooke News Mirror)
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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau listens as Chief Public Health Officer of Canada Dr. Theresa Tam is seen via videoconference during a news conference on the COVID-19 pandemic in Ottawa on Friday, June 4, 2021. Federal officials are warning that Canada could be on the brink of a fourth wave of COVID-19 driven by the highly contagious Delta variant if the country opens too fast before enough people have been vaccinated. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
Federal modelling warns of 4th COVID wave driven by Delta if reopening is too fast
Visitors to the Calgary Stampede line up for tickets in Calgary on Sunday, July 18, 2021. Alberta Health says 71 people likely acquired COVID-19 while attending the Stampede. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Alberta to end isolation rules for COVID-19 cases, close contacts as cases rise
The North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre’s senior bear Knut and caretaker Robin Campbell had a special relationship. (NIWRA photo)
Beloved black bear ‘Knut’ dies at North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre at age 25
Mary Simon speaks during an announcement at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Que., on Tuesday, July 6, 2021. Simon, an Inuk leader and former Canadian diplomat, has been named as Canada's next governor general — the first Indigenous person to serve in the role. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
VIDEO: Mary Simon becomes Canada’s 1st Indigenous governor general
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Health Minister Adrian Dix and Dr. Bonnie Henry will be providing an update on COVID-19 in the Interior Health region on Wednesday, July 28. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward)

Mask mandate returns to Central Okanagan, COVID-19 outbreak declared

The Interior Health region leads recent provincial COVID-19 case counts

Health Minister Adrian Dix and Dr. Bonnie Henry will be providing an update on COVID-19 in the Interior Health region on Wednesday, July 28. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward)
Attendees at the 2020 Women’s March in Victoria carry signs with messages of empowerment. (Black Press Media file photo)

Police missteps leave Greater Victoria sexual assault survivor without justice

Police made several mistakes in handling of case, lawyer says

Attendees at the 2020 Women’s March in Victoria carry signs with messages of empowerment. (Black Press Media file photo)
Officers from DFO’s Conservation and Protection branch (C&P) from Powell River, Nanaimo, Duncan, Victoria, and Annacis Island were involved in the operation. (DFO photo)

DFO enforcement blitz of Southern Gulf Islands ‘highly successful’

Detachment Commander Derek Chung says more education and awareness needed

Officers from DFO’s Conservation and Protection branch (C&P) from Powell River, Nanaimo, Duncan, Victoria, and Annacis Island were involved in the operation. (DFO photo)
After a heat dome melted temperature records for Greater Victoria earlier this summer, the region is now approaching its all-time record for days without rain. (Black Press Media file)

Greater Victoria approaching its rainless days record

Region embroiled in one of the harshest droughts currently facing B.C.

After a heat dome melted temperature records for Greater Victoria earlier this summer, the region is now approaching its all-time record for days without rain. (Black Press Media file)
Oliver RCMP Const. Walsh feeds a very hungry pig that was without a food source during recent evacuations from the Nk’Mip fire. (contributed)

Oliver Mountie helps hungry pig left behind during Nk’Mip fire evacuations

The officer brought produce to the pig for two days

Oliver RCMP Const. Walsh feeds a very hungry pig that was without a food source during recent evacuations from the Nk’Mip fire. (contributed)
Another heat wave in the Cowichan Valley, and across much of B.C., will last through Saturday. (File photo)

Heat wave expected to last through Saturday in Cowichan Valley

Public advised to take precautions

  • Jul 28, 2021
Another heat wave in the Cowichan Valley, and across much of B.C., will last through Saturday. (File photo)
(File photo)

Fraser Valley boater urges caution on the water after saving group of 5 from drowning

James Hogg estimates at least two people were minutes away from dying

(File photo)
Metis and Cree mother Cindy Gladue is shown in a photo presented as a court exhibit in this undated handout photo. An Ontario trucker found guilty for killing a woman in his Edmonton hotel room a decade ago is to learn his sentencing Tuesday. Bradley Barton was convicted in February in the manslaughter of Cindy Gladue, a 36-year-old Metis and Cree woman, who died in his room at the Yellowhead Inn in June 2011. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta

Family of woman killed in hotel says justice served, but killer to appeal conviction

Reasons for the appeal include admissibility of evidence from killer’s laptop search history

Metis and Cree mother Cindy Gladue is shown in a photo presented as a court exhibit in this undated handout photo. An Ontario trucker found guilty for killing a woman in his Edmonton hotel room a decade ago is to learn his sentencing Tuesday. Bradley Barton was convicted in February in the manslaughter of Cindy Gladue, a 36-year-old Metis and Cree woman, who died in his room at the Yellowhead Inn in June 2011. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta
A man wears a mask as he enters the Calgary Courts Centre on Oct. 30, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sentencing arguments for a Calgary pastor and his brother found guilty of contempt after deliberately violating COVID-19 health orders has been put over until September. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Sentencing delay for men found guilty of flouting Alberta COVID-19 rules

Alberta Health Services has indicated it is seeking 21 days of jail time for the Pawlowskis

A man wears a mask as he enters the Calgary Courts Centre on Oct. 30, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sentencing arguments for a Calgary pastor and his brother found guilty of contempt after deliberately violating COVID-19 health orders has been put over until September. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks during an announcement in Gatineau, Que., on Tuesday, July 6, 2021. Trudeau says his government is withholding millions of dollars in health-care transfers to New Brunswick because that province is limiting access to abortion services.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Trudeau says Ottawa withholding health-care transfers to N.B. over abortion access

New Brunswick law bans government funding for abortions conducted outside three approved hospitals

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks during an announcement in Gatineau, Que., on Tuesday, July 6, 2021. Trudeau says his government is withholding millions of dollars in health-care transfers to New Brunswick because that province is limiting access to abortion services.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Lifeworks’ Mental Health Index measures current data against pre-pandemic benchmarks. (Pexels)

COVID-19 isolation has impacted mental health of 1-in-5 Canadians, survey finds

Report also found some workers are struggling with their employers’ unclear return to work plans

Lifeworks’ Mental Health Index measures current data against pre-pandemic benchmarks. (Pexels)
Cherries at Pravin Dhaliwal’s family farm in Oliver, B.C., are seen cooked on their trees, when the temperature hit a record 41.5 C in a June 2021 handout photo. Dhaliwal is trying to maintain his passion as a third-generation farmer while dealing with the reality of climate change and says farmers need more support from provincial and federal governments. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Pravin Dhaliwal

Farmers say heat wave, drought show vulnerable agricultural sector needs support

Farmers across Canada look to provincial and the federal governments for help

Cherries at Pravin Dhaliwal’s family farm in Oliver, B.C., are seen cooked on their trees, when the temperature hit a record 41.5 C in a June 2021 handout photo. Dhaliwal is trying to maintain his passion as a third-generation farmer while dealing with the reality of climate change and says farmers need more support from provincial and federal governments. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Pravin Dhaliwal
A classroom is shown at Hunter’s Glen Junior Public School in Scarborough, Ont., on Monday, September 14, 2020. An advocacy group is calling for Canada to fully integrate child-care and early childhood education into its school systems THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Group calls for integration of early childhood education and school systems

People for Education says there are clear benefits to early childhood education

A classroom is shown at Hunter’s Glen Junior Public School in Scarborough, Ont., on Monday, September 14, 2020. An advocacy group is calling for Canada to fully integrate child-care and early childhood education into its school systems THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
Labour Minister Filomena Tassi responds to a question during Question Period in the House of Commons Thursday December 3, 2020 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Liberals look to fall for movement on having free tampons, pads in federal workplaces

A 100-per-cent take-up rate would put the cost at about $2.3 million annually.

Labour Minister Filomena Tassi responds to a question during Question Period in the House of Commons Thursday December 3, 2020 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Stuart LePage, of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, sprints to place a salmon in a vessel to be lifted by a helicopter and transported up the Fraser River past a massive rock slide near Big Bar, west of Clinton, B.C., Wednesday July 24, 2019. Officials say thousands of migrating salmon are making their way past an area of British Columbia’s Fraser River that was the scene of waterway restructuring efforts following a massive rock slide more than two years ago. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Salmon getting through Fraser River slide zone as officials ponder permanent fix

Protected fishway at the slide site is allowing salmon to make it upstream

Stuart LePage, of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, sprints to place a salmon in a vessel to be lifted by a helicopter and transported up the Fraser River past a massive rock slide near Big Bar, west of Clinton, B.C., Wednesday July 24, 2019. Officials say thousands of migrating salmon are making their way past an area of British Columbia’s Fraser River that was the scene of waterway restructuring efforts following a massive rock slide more than two years ago. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
An aerial photo from the White Rock Lake wildfire. (BC Wildfire Service)

BC Wildfire: ‘Wind is our greatest enemy’ for Okanagan blazes

High temperatures but lack of wind seen as favourable to progress on wildfires

An aerial photo from the White Rock Lake wildfire. (BC Wildfire Service)
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix update B.C.’s COVID-19 situation from the Vancouver cabinet offices, Sept. 17, 2020. (B.C. government)

B.C.’s COVID-19 daily cases jump to 150 Tuesday, mostly in Interior

Now 783 active infections province-wide as walk-in clinics gear up

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix update B.C.’s COVID-19 situation from the Vancouver cabinet offices, Sept. 17, 2020. (B.C. government)