Aaron Guillen

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A Blue Jay, commonly found in the Central and Eastern United States and the southeastern coast of Canada, was spotted in Sooke on Dec. 27. (Contributed – Robin Robinson)

Blue jay, usually found in southeastern Canada, spotted in Sooke

Around 80 birders counted 118 different species within a single day

A Blue Jay, commonly found in the Central and Eastern United States and the southeastern coast of Canada, was spotted in Sooke on Dec. 27. (Contributed – Robin Robinson)
Registration for French immersion and nature kindergarten programs in the Sooke School District start at 8 a.m. on Jan. 11. Regular kindergarten registration begins on Jan. 25. (File - iStock)

Lottery system continues for nature, French immersion kindergarten

Registration began today in Sooke school district

Registration for French immersion and nature kindergarten programs in the Sooke School District start at 8 a.m. on Jan. 11. Regular kindergarten registration begins on Jan. 25. (File - iStock)
The body of missing Langford teen Andre Courtmanche, 16, was found in Goldstream Provincial Park on the evening of Jan. 9. Police do not suspect foul play and the cause of death is still under investigation. (Courtesy of West Shore RCMP)

Body of missing 16-year-old Langford teen found in Goldstream Provincial Park

Discovery made by search and rescue teams on Saturday evening

The body of missing Langford teen Andre Courtmanche, 16, was found in Goldstream Provincial Park on the evening of Jan. 9. Police do not suspect foul play and the cause of death is still under investigation. (Courtesy of West Shore RCMP)
Sooke’s Keith VanEyk will be headed to Toronto in mid-January to surgically remove one lung due to mesothelioma, a rare cancer caused by asbestos. (Keith VanEyk photo)

Vancouver Island man needs a lung removed, here’s why

Keith VanEyk diagnosed with mesothelioma, a rare cancer caused by asbestos

Sooke’s Keith VanEyk will be headed to Toronto in mid-January to surgically remove one lung due to mesothelioma, a rare cancer caused by asbestos. (Keith VanEyk photo)
Although 533 properties were sold in Sooke in 2020, there has been a low inventory in the market since the summer months. (Black Press Media file photo)

Sooke has ‘virtually no inventory’, according to real estate agents

Just over 100 active listings, around 40 per cent as vacant land

Although 533 properties were sold in Sooke in 2020, there has been a low inventory in the market since the summer months. (Black Press Media file photo)
(Black Press Media file photo)

Island mayor says travelling politicians need to meet highest possible standards

Greater Victoria politicians’ travel activities come under fire

(Black Press Media file photo)
Colwood Mayor Rob Martin is pitching the idea of a gondola on a 10-acre lot in Royal Bay, which could connect to a commuter ferry to downtown Victoria along the city’s waterfront. Currently, there is no funding in place for the gondola project and no discussion have taken place at council meetings. (Twitter/@PortlandTram)

Colwood mayor pitches 10 acres for gondola, parking

Project dependent on province approving commuter ferry to downtown Victoria

Colwood Mayor Rob Martin is pitching the idea of a gondola on a 10-acre lot in Royal Bay, which could connect to a commuter ferry to downtown Victoria along the city’s waterfront. Currently, there is no funding in place for the gondola project and no discussion have taken place at council meetings. (Twitter/@PortlandTram)
The District of Metchosin’s city hall. (Black Press Media file photo)

Metchosin councillor travelled to Mexico in December

Protocols followed, mayor and council were made aware before trip for wedding of business partner

The District of Metchosin’s city hall. (Black Press Media file photo)
Bacon, an eight-month-old puppy, is in a splint after she was kicked by a random stranger on Christmas Day on Beecher Bay Reserve in East Sooke. (Facebook/Ronnie Marie Tejano)

Puppy kicked by stranger in East Sooke on Christmas Day

Dog currently in splint, X-ray and surgery bill to cost around $5,700

Bacon, an eight-month-old puppy, is in a splint after she was kicked by a random stranger on Christmas Day on Beecher Bay Reserve in East Sooke. (Facebook/Ronnie Marie Tejano)
Victoria’s Christmas Bird Count has finished with a total of 142 individual bird species spotted within a single day. (Mark Byrne photo)

Rare bird usually found between Oregon and South America spotted on Vancouver Island

Greater Victoria birders spot more than 140 bird species within a single day

Victoria’s Christmas Bird Count has finished with a total of 142 individual bird species spotted within a single day. (Mark Byrne photo)
Langford’s Heather Charlton had dozens of her custom cookies featured in two Hallmark holiday movies. (Aaron Guillen/News Staff)

How one Langford baker got her homemade cookies featured in Hallmark films

Film company ended up ordering over 11 dozen cookies

Langford’s Heather Charlton had dozens of her custom cookies featured in two Hallmark holiday movies. (Aaron Guillen/News Staff)
Sooke musician Katrica Kadoski is releasing After the Shipwreck, an album in honour of her former partner who tragically died from a sudden heart attack in 2018. (Cathryn E. Tremain photo)

Island musician releases album for former partner who tragically died from heart attack

“This album has been Buckley’s cough syrup for my soul,” says singer-songwriter

Sooke musician Katrica Kadoski is releasing After the Shipwreck, an album in honour of her former partner who tragically died from a sudden heart attack in 2018. (Cathryn E. Tremain photo)
Colwood’s Nevaeh Bowman, 10, rewrote the lyrics to Jingle Bells to fit what she calls the theme song of 2020. (Chantelle Bowman photo)

VIDEO: Colwood girl rewrites Christmas classic into ‘theme song of 2020’

Songwriter hopes for microphone or MP3 player for Christmas

Colwood’s Nevaeh Bowman, 10, rewrote the lyrics to Jingle Bells to fit what she calls the theme song of 2020. (Chantelle Bowman photo)
The Royal Beach waterfront in Colwood, owned by Seacliff Properties, has been temporarily closed to the public after stormwater runoff has eroded the foreshore. (Chelsea Garrod photo)

Heavy erosion closes Colwood’s Royal Beach access to waterfront walkway

Resident estimates significant drops, around six feet

The Royal Beach waterfront in Colwood, owned by Seacliff Properties, has been temporarily closed to the public after stormwater runoff has eroded the foreshore. (Chelsea Garrod photo)
Newborn Kenneth Louie received burns along his right foot and ankle after being in care at Victoria General Hospital. His mother, Tracy Louie, says he is slowly recovering and will return back to hospital for a check up in a week. (Tracy Louie photo)

Newborn severely burned after being wrapped by hot towel at Victoria hospital

‘It was the loudest cry I’ve ever heard,’ said mom, Island Health investigating

Newborn Kenneth Louie received burns along his right foot and ankle after being in care at Victoria General Hospital. His mother, Tracy Louie, says he is slowly recovering and will return back to hospital for a check up in a week. (Tracy Louie photo)
Grade 4 student Ella Baxter-Mohrmann (left), vice-principal Georgie Walker and Lyla Wiltse show the artwork that their Sangster Elementary class created to spread positivity in Colwood. (Aaron Guillen/News Staff)

Colwood elementary students pin artwork to school fence to spread positivity

Artwork free to take for passersby at Sangster Elementary

Grade 4 student Ella Baxter-Mohrmann (left), vice-principal Georgie Walker and Lyla Wiltse show the artwork that their Sangster Elementary class created to spread positivity in Colwood. (Aaron Guillen/News Staff)
Sooke resident Kimberly Elkas has started creating wreaths made from fallen branches, twigs, and leaves she finds along Sooke’s waterfront and forest trails. (Aaron Guillen/News Staff)

Sooke woman launches wreath-making side hustle amid shuttered business

“I’m now waking up with purpose,” says owner of Fresh Foraged Wreaths Sooke

Sooke resident Kimberly Elkas has started creating wreaths made from fallen branches, twigs, and leaves she finds along Sooke’s waterfront and forest trails. (Aaron Guillen/News Staff)
Some form of large cat (not necessarily the cougar pictured here) was spotted in a private garden in Langley City on Thanksgiving Day. Local residents who saw it, reported to authorities and want to get the word out to others in the area. (Black Press Media files)

Cougar walks away after being hit by driver in Sooke

Roughly 10 to 20 cougars hit by vehicles in CRD each year, says B.C. Conservation

Some form of large cat (not necessarily the cougar pictured here) was spotted in a private garden in Langley City on Thanksgiving Day. Local residents who saw it, reported to authorities and want to get the word out to others in the area. (Black Press Media files)
A Colwood man has recreated Whoville, complete with the Grinch, Max the Dog and Cindy Lou Who. Spectators can admire the spectacle at 2416 Sarah Place. (Aaron Guillen/News Staff)

PHOTOS: Whoville pops up in Colwood neighbourhood

Spectators can spot the Grinch and Max the Dog along Sarah Place

A Colwood man has recreated Whoville, complete with the Grinch, Max the Dog and Cindy Lou Who. Spectators can admire the spectacle at 2416 Sarah Place. (Aaron Guillen/News Staff)
The Canadian Border Services Agency has directed the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada to hold an admissibility hearing for Timothy Durkin, the Sooke man who has been fighting a 2017 deportation order from Canada due to alleged involvement with serious and organized criminality in the U.S. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh)

Decision to deport former owner of Sooke Harbour House on hold

Timothy Durkin’s lawyer revealed the Sooke man applied for citizenship in January

The Canadian Border Services Agency has directed the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada to hold an admissibility hearing for Timothy Durkin, the Sooke man who has been fighting a 2017 deportation order from Canada due to alleged involvement with serious and organized criminality in the U.S. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh)