Local News

An attack of coughing might be to blame for a driver crashing into a building in Saanich’s Uptown shopping mall early this morning, according to Saanich police. No one was injured in the single-vehicle crash that occurred at about 6:30 a.m.

When it comes to Christmas displays, Don Moore of Saanich goes big and goes home. Moore, 60, starts decorating his basement in September. This weekend marks the start of his display’s 29th consecutive year.

He’s unsure how or when his quest for knowledge began. Dylan Collins, the latest Rhodes Scholar out of the University of Victoria, only knows that he was always someone who asked a lot of questions.

A request for information sheds new light on the ferry-pass program for thousands of B.C. Ferries employees and retirees — just weeks after the corporation announced it is replacing seniors’ free weekday fares with half-price fares.

B.C. Transit should test a bus service that loops around downtown Victoria as early as this summer, say Mayor Dean Fortin and Coun. Marianne Alto. They also want consideration given to making it free.

James Bay resident Bruce Campbell marched up to Paul Mathews at the Victoria Sky Ride Gondola open house Wednesday and offered to trade houses with him.

Having been part of one of the region’s key integrated police units, the Emergency Response Team, Saanich Insp. Scott Green sees opportunities for further co-operation between departments.

West Shore RCMP are working to determine if someone deliberately set fire to an abandoned building Tuesday. Around 6:15 p.m. a man who lives in the neighbourhood saw smoke coming from the roof of an empty townhouse at 554 Goldstream Ave.

The Comox Valley RCMP and Victim Services warn the public against allowing strangers into their homes. There are at least two reports this past week of a woman convincing people to let her into their homes, while looking for her lost dog.

A man who broke into a home one block from the Victoria police station yesterday was interrupted by the homeowner and then cornered by cops despite hopping fences and dodging through alleys while trying to get away.