Nicole Crescenzi

Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps has apologized for not including more people in the decision to remove the statue of Sir John A. MacDonald from the front of Victoria’s City Hall. Nicole Crescenzi/VICTORIA NEWS

B.C. mayor apologizes: more consultation needed in removal of Macdonald statue

The mayor of Victoria apologized on her municipal campaign website for not consulting enough people before removing a statue of John A. MacDonald from city hall

Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps has apologized for not including more people in the decision to remove the statue of Sir John A. MacDonald from the front of Victoria’s City Hall. Nicole Crescenzi/VICTORIA NEWS
Inmates at the Nanaimo Correctional Centre participate in the Hose Wash Program, as part of the BC Corrections Fire Suppression Program. In 2017, inmates processed and repaired over 40,000 hoses. File contributed. (Province of BC)

Inmates help fight B.C. wildfires with hose repair program

Over 40,000 hoses are cleaned and repaired at a Vancouver Island correctional centre each year

Inmates at the Nanaimo Correctional Centre participate in the Hose Wash Program, as part of the BC Corrections Fire Suppression Program. In 2017, inmates processed and repaired over 40,000 hoses. File contributed. (Province of BC)
Drought level ratings on Vancouver Island have been elevated to the highest level. File photo

Province elevates Vancouver Island to highest drought rating

Extremely dry conditions have pushed many parts of B.C. to a level 4 drought rating

Drought level ratings on Vancouver Island have been elevated to the highest level. File photo
Tara Levis struggled with substance abuse for several years. She is sharing her story as a part of the “We Are Human” project, put on by AIDS Vancouver Island in honour of International Overdose Awareness Day, Aug. 31. Photo contributed

Islanders share painful experience with opioid addiction

BIG READ: People reach out as International Overdose Awareness Day approaches

Tara Levis struggled with substance abuse for several years. She is sharing her story as a part of the “We Are Human” project, put on by AIDS Vancouver Island in honour of International Overdose Awareness Day, Aug. 31. Photo contributed
Jeremie White designed the jerseys the Canucks wore from 1989-1997. These two jerseys hang in White’s home, they were part of his payment for doing the design in 1989. The design has been nominated as the “retro jersey” the Canucks will wear sporadically in their 50th anniversary season, from 2019-2020. File contributed.

B.C. man designer behind Canucks’ retro jersey

Jeremie White was 20 years old when he told Canucks assistant GM Brian Burke he had a design

Jeremie White designed the jerseys the Canucks wore from 1989-1997. These two jerseys hang in White’s home, they were part of his payment for doing the design in 1989. The design has been nominated as the “retro jersey” the Canucks will wear sporadically in their 50th anniversary season, from 2019-2020. File contributed.
Defence Minister Harjit S. Sajjan announced a $115 million investment in to the Royal Canadian Navy. File contributed

Federal government announces over $115 million to Royal Canadian Navy

Defence Minister Harjit S. Sajjan was at Victoria’s CFB Esquimalt to announce missile system upgrades

Defence Minister Harjit S. Sajjan announced a $115 million investment in to the Royal Canadian Navy. File contributed
Police say women working in Victoria businesses have been targets of unwanted, sexually explicit phone calls (Pexel)

Victoria police say explicit calls continue to target women

Over 50 reports of unwanted, sexually explicit calls have come in

Police say women working in Victoria businesses have been targets of unwanted, sexually explicit phone calls (Pexel)
The plaque that replaced the Sir John A. Macdonald statue in front of Victoria’s city hall was vandalized within the first day that it was up. Kristyn Anthony/VICTORIA NEWS

Plaque that replaced Macdonald statue at Victoria city hall vandalized

Less than 24 hours after plaque was installed, an ‘X’ had been scratched through the centre

The plaque that replaced the Sir John A. Macdonald statue in front of Victoria’s city hall was vandalized within the first day that it was up. Kristyn Anthony/VICTORIA NEWS
Phoebe Ramsay (left), Samantha, and Lucy Gunn supported the removal of the Sir John A. Macdonald statue from the front steps of Victoria’s City Hall. Nicole Crescenzi/VICTORIA NEWS

PHOTOS: Hundreds gather at a B.C. City Hall after removal of Sir John A. Macdonald Statue

People rallied in support and in protest of the removal, carrying signs and chanting

Phoebe Ramsay (left), Samantha, and Lucy Gunn supported the removal of the Sir John A. Macdonald statue from the front steps of Victoria’s City Hall. Nicole Crescenzi/VICTORIA NEWS
Kate Loomer (left), Bradley Clements, Reuben Rose-Redwood, and Lisa Kadonaga held up signs in support of the removal of the Sir John A. Macdonald Statue. Nicole Crescenzi/VICTORIA NEWS

Removal of John A. Macdonald statue at B.C. City Hall met with divided crowd

People debated race and politics while Sir John A. Macdonald was removed from Victoria’s City Hall

Kate Loomer (left), Bradley Clements, Reuben Rose-Redwood, and Lisa Kadonaga held up signs in support of the removal of the Sir John A. Macdonald Statue. Nicole Crescenzi/VICTORIA NEWS
BC Proud has organized a rally for Saturday afternoon to protest the removal of the statue of Sir John A. Macdonald from the front of Victoria’s City Hall. Nicole Crescenzi/VICTORIA NEWS

Protestors to rally against removal of Sir John A. Macdonald statue from a BC city hall

BC Proud has organized a protest after learning the statue will be removed Saturday morning

BC Proud has organized a rally for Saturday afternoon to protest the removal of the statue of Sir John A. Macdonald from the front of Victoria’s City Hall. Nicole Crescenzi/VICTORIA NEWS
John Dann (second from left) as he placed the his sculpture of John A. Macdonald in front of Victoria’s City Hall in 1981. File contributed

John A. Macdonald sculptor says B.C. city is doing reconciliation wrong

John Dann created the sculpture in 1981, and recently found out about Victoria’s plan to remove it

John Dann (second from left) as he placed the his sculpture of John A. Macdonald in front of Victoria’s City Hall in 1981. File contributed
ICBC encourages people who have held their driver’s licence for some time to take a refresher test online. Results from the quiz revealed that over 40 per cent of drivers would fail their learner’s licence test. File photo

40% of B.C. drivers fail ICBC refresher course: results

Crosswalk, school zone and road obstruction signs confuse; texting and driving questions a breeze

ICBC encourages people who have held their driver’s licence for some time to take a refresher test online. Results from the quiz revealed that over 40 per cent of drivers would fail their learner’s licence test. File photo
A man who was sleeping in a dumpster has died after being picked up by a garbage disposal truck. Ragnar Haagen/BLACK PRESS

B.C. man believed to be sleeping crushed in garbage truck accident

A Victoria man sleeping in a garbage dumpster was accidently killed Wednesday morning

A man who was sleeping in a dumpster has died after being picked up by a garbage disposal truck. Ragnar Haagen/BLACK PRESS
The Ministry of Public Safety announced a three-year study into cannabis and driving, three months before marijuana is legalized. File photo

In a haze: Cannabis impairment still unclear for drivers in B.C.

Feds launch three-year study with mere months to go before legalization across Canada

The Ministry of Public Safety announced a three-year study into cannabis and driving, three months before marijuana is legalized. File photo
Anglers are organizing a peaceful protest July 29 against the expansion of a fin-fish closure in Juan de Fuca Strait between Otter Point in Sooke to East Point, near Port Renfrew. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans’ ban had previously only stretched from East Point to Sheringham Point, seen here. But anglers say the seven-kilometre extension that came into effect June 1 happened without discussion. Photo contributed/Bruce Webber

Organizers of West Coast sport fishing ban troll for attention

Hook-less anglers hitting Sooke area waters July 29 to protest DFO’s summer fin-fish ban

Anglers are organizing a peaceful protest July 29 against the expansion of a fin-fish closure in Juan de Fuca Strait between Otter Point in Sooke to East Point, near Port Renfrew. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans’ ban had previously only stretched from East Point to Sheringham Point, seen here. But anglers say the seven-kilometre extension that came into effect June 1 happened without discussion. Photo contributed/Bruce Webber
Blake Handley had to put additional labels and ribbons on his stuffed toy, Rory, after his car was broken into to ‘save’ a dog. Facebook/Blake Handley

From hot dog to not dog: stuffed toy prompts car break in

Victoria couple said dog toy had been in the backseat for 18 years without problems

Blake Handley had to put additional labels and ribbons on his stuffed toy, Rory, after his car was broken into to ‘save’ a dog. Facebook/Blake Handley
The BC Nurses Union wants the federal government to decriminalize opioids. As front line workers, like paramedics and firefighters, they see the effects illicit drugs are having on a growing number of people. File photo.

BC Nurses Union calls for decriminalization of opioids

BCNU president wants the federal government to do more to reduce preventable deaths

The BC Nurses Union wants the federal government to decriminalize opioids. As front line workers, like paramedics and firefighters, they see the effects illicit drugs are having on a growing number of people. File photo.
Campfire bans will come into effect on Wednesday. File photo

Campfire ban coming into effect across West Coast

The Coastal Fire Centre says bans will begin on Wednesday

Campfire bans will come into effect on Wednesday. File photo
A 73-year old man was unresponive when members of the US Coast Guard pulled him from the water. He had fallen overboard from the Seven Seas Mariner cruise ship around 4:30 this morning.(File contributed)

UPDATE: Coast Guard recovers cruise ship passenger who went overboard near Juan de Fuca Strait

The 73-year old man was aboard a ship heading to Victoria, and fell overboard around 4:30 a.m.

A 73-year old man was unresponive when members of the US Coast Guard pulled him from the water. He had fallen overboard from the Seven Seas Mariner cruise ship around 4:30 this morning.(File contributed)