Island News

Crews work to clean up Pandora Avenue Sunday. (CTV)

'Arrests made' at Pandora Avenue homeless camp, VicPD says

Police in Victoria say they have made more than one arrest as part of the ongoing effort to move those who had been living in tents on Pandora Avenue into hotel rooms secured by the provincial government.

Fire forces evacuation of Victoria hotel purchased to house homeless

Firefighters were called to a Victoria hotel early Sunday morning for reports of a fire in one of the rooms currently housing people who were relocated from tent cities in Topaz Park and along Pandora Avenue.

Al Ferraby speaks to CTV News Vancouver Island after completing his solo half marathon Sunday. (CTV)

'I wasn't that fast, but I did it': CFAX host completes charity half marathon

CFAX 1070's Al Ferraby completed his annual charity half marathon Sunday morning with a little less company than usual.

Heavily armoured Emergency Response Team officers were called to the scene on Yates Street near Ormond Street, where the man had reportedly barricaded himself inside an apartment. (CTV)

Man arrested after firing gun through apartment wall in Victoria, police say

Police in Victoria have arrested one man after a standoff at a downtown apartment building Sunday morning. 1

Another bear sighting in Saanich, as police renew warning

Another bear has been spotted in Saanich, not far from where sightings of a bear and cub prompted a warning from local police last week.

The Canadian Forces Snowbirds jets are seen in the background as Canadian flags are attached to the fence at the Kamloops airport in Kamloops, B.C., Monday, May 18, 2020. Capt. Jenn Casey died Sunday after the Snowbirds jet she was in crashed shortly after takeoff. The pilot of the aircraft is in hospital with serious injuries. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

'Will never be forgotten': Procession honours Capt. Jennifer Casey

A Canadian Forces Snowbirds aerobatic team member who was killed in a plane crash returned to her hometown to her final resting place. 2

A man wearing a protective face mask walks through a sparsely occupied open-air shopping mall amid concerns about the coronavirus, in Richmond, B.C., on Sunday, March 15, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

10 more cases, 2 more deaths from COVID-19 in B.C.

British Columbia's top doctor has announced 10 more confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the province and two more deaths from the coronavirus. 3

Charley's plan was to set up a stand outside on the lawn and sell her artwork to raise money for the local food bank. (Zoë Urquhart)

6-year-old raises more than $1,100 for food bank

Charley Urquhart spent her sixth birthday sitting outside in the rain, flagging down neighbours and strangers to ask them to donate money to help those in need.

Firefighters rescue 3 people from balconies during early-morning apartment fire

Victoria fire crews rescued three people from their balconies while responding to an apartment fire shortly before 5 a.m. Saturday.

Dr. Bonnie Henry t-shirts raise more than $10K for charity

A t-shirt that immortalizes the face of B.C.'s top doctor has raised thousands of dollars for a charity that gives free meals to those in need. 1

Ottawa's help needed so travellers follow quarantine plans, Henry says

British Columbia's top doctor says she strongly encourages the federal government to use its resources to monitor international travellers entering the province instead of providing any help with contact tracing. 1

A man is shown washing his hands in this 2009 file photo. (AP Photo/Rob Carr)

COVID-19 steps cutting down on spread of other diseases

Meagan Brame says it’s remarkable how few toddlers at her daycare, Saxe Point Daycare, have gotten sick this spring. She attributes much of that good health to COVID-19 related measures, including extra hand-washing and physical distancing. 1

The Komagata Maru is seen in this file photo.

B.C. premier says lessons to learn from past racism during response to pandemic

British Columbia's premier is paying tribute to nearly 400 South Asians who were forced to leave Canada due to discriminatory policies more than a century ago.

A beloved doll that was lost in West Vancouver turned up on the beach of a tiny Gulf Island. (CTV)

The mystery of the lost doll: child's beloved toy turns up on Gulf Island beach

Lost in West Vancouver in January, Florence the doll was found on tiny Wise Island months later. "To see the smile on the child's face when she saw the doll, that made it worth it." 1

A state of local emergency has been declared in Cache Creek, British Columbia, as a powerful river threatens to breach its banks. (Google Maps satellite image)

Surging river prompts state of local emergency in Cache Creek, B.C.

About 175 properties along the Bonaparte River corridor in the village were put back on evacuation alert Thursday.

Juls Budau poses in this undated handout photo. Budau says her boyfriend faced discrimination and confusion when trying to access a legal, safe supply of drugs in B.C. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - Juls Budau

Northern B.C. has highest rate of overdose deaths, but drug users struggle to access safe supply

When B.C. rolled out its new guidelines to provide a safe supply of prescription drugs, Juls Budau thought it would provide a measure of relief and help wean her boyfriend off a potentially toxic drug supply. That hasn't happened.

Island collector celebrates PacMan's 40th birthday

Courtenay's Erik Aase, a realtor who collects vintage arcade machines, says PacMan had universal appeal.

Magnitude 4.9 earthquake detected off Vancouver Island

A magnitude 4.9 earthquake was detected off the coast of Vancouver Island Friday night, according to Earthquakes Canada.

Camosun College has been offering classes exclusively online for roughly two months due to COVID-19: (CTV News)

Camosun to resume in-class instruction for some students

For the past two months, Camosun College has only been offering courses online due to COVID-19. But, that may soon change.

A researcher works in a lab at the BC Centre for Disease Control during the COVID-19 pandemic. (CTV)

18 new COVID-19 cases in B.C., 3 more deaths

B.C. health officials are expected to provide a written update on COVID-19 cases in the province Friday afternoon.

"I don't know if they're comedians living there, but they're really good!" Adam finds out the story behind a pair of chalkboards that have been filled with more than 100 jokes during the pandemic.

Retired physician fills chalkboards with puns to provide smiles during pandemic

Maddie and Emily are peering across the street at what appears to be a pair of puns written on a couple of chalkboards. 1

John Philip Stirling was arrested after his boat was seized off the Oregon coast on April 9, 2019. (Multnomah County Sheriff's Office)

Vancouver Island drug boat captain sentenced to 40 months, claims duress from Colombian cartel

A notorious Vancouver Island drug smuggler has been sentenced to more than three years behind bars after he was arrested aboard a sailboat loaded with methamphetamine destined for Canada.

Police received multiple reports of suspicious activity Friday morning: (File Photo)

Victoria man nabbed with several guns in Sooke

A Victoria man is in police custody following a suspicious occurrence involving firearms in the Sooke area Friday morning.

An Esquimalt building's final moments were caught on camera Friday: (Leah DeForrest)

Caught on cam: Pedestrian nearly struck with debris during Esquimalt building demolition

A pedestrian was sent running during a building demolition in Esquimalt Friday. 1

The majority of the new sites will be in the Lower Mainland, Vancouver, Okanagan and Kootenay regions.

B.C. bans non-residents from campsites at provincial parks

As B.C. begins the second phase of its restart plan, the province will soon be opening its reservation system for overnight camping, but only for British Columbia residents.

Friday's bear sighting marks the third time a bear was spotted in Saanich this month: (File Photo)

Saanich police warn of 3rd bear sighting this month

Saanich police are warning the community of another bear sighting near Beaver Lake Regional Park Friday afternoon.

A young fawn was reunited with its mother by conservation officers near Port Alberni: (Conservation Officer Service)

B.C. Conservation reunites young deer with family on Vancouver Island

The B.C. Conservation Officer Service (COS) reunited a young deer with its family after it was scooped up by a concerned resident near Port Alberni. 1

Surveillance video of the incident - shot between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. on May 15 at NUKO's office at 60 Needham St. - shows a man "using a long stick to fish out" a pair of Nike high-tops from a slot in the building's door, police said. (Nanaimo RCMP)

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Man sticks pole through mail slot to steal shoes from Nanaimo children's charity

Police on Vancouver Island are asking the public for help identifying a man seen on surveillance video stealing shoes from a charitable organization.

Businesses in B.C.'s hospitality sector can now apply for a temporary expansion of their outdoor seating areas amid the pandemic: (CTV News)

B.C. restaurants, pubs can now apply for expanded patio space

The B.C. government is now allowing for businesses in the province’s hospitality industry to temporarily expand their outdoor service areas amid the COVID-19 pandemic.