Local News

Gulf Islanders are 15 times as likely to reject smart meters as are Vancouverites, and you are not surprised. Nor does it amaze you to learn that Vancouver Island in general skews relatively high in opposition to the devices.

Debbie Vermaning adopted her dog 12 years ago from the Victoria branch of the B.C. SPCA and enjoyed speaking to manager Penny Stone about animal welfare. When she found out Stone had been fired last Tuesday, she was upset.

Saanich police are investigating two stabbings that took place in the Tillicum Centre area on Saturday night. Police were called to Tillicum Road, near Regent Avenue and Hampton Road, at 5:20 p.m.

Alastair McCollum loves Harleys, slings beers and likes to listen to Ozzy Osbourne after a long day at work. He’s also the newest rector at St. John the Divine Anglican Church on Quadra Street.

Two people who were flown to hospital with serious injuries after a fatal plane crash near Tofino are in stable condition, the Vancouver Island Health Authority said Saturday.

The fate of Sir John Franklin — who hoped to map the final details of the Northwest Passage in 1845 — and his 128 crewmembers has spawned songs, books and essays discussing the impact of the two lost ships on Canadian history.

The family of a veteran is thrilled that his war medals are going to an Ontario museum, but unhappy about the way they got there from an estate sale in North Saanich.

When Lisa Ross was diagnosed with two rare bone-marrow disorders seven years ago, doctors didn’t believe she was ill. Since then, she has used dragon-boat racing as a way of raising awareness about aplastic anemia and myelodysplasia.

A fire early Saturday gutted a building that houses a well-known restaurant and tourism businesses on San Juan Island’s waterfront in Friday Harbor. Fire crews responded about 2:40 a.m.

The Westshore RCMP Major Crime Unit and Colwood firefighters are investigating a fire that damaged a Colwood home early Saturday morning. No one was seriously injured, but two cats died in the fire. Firefighters responded to a fire just before 3 a.m.