Austin Westphal

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Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth announces B.C.’s $150-million investment to fund upgrades to province’s 911 emergency communication system during a press conference at a fire hall in Saanich. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)

B.C. eyes $150M spend for 911 upgrades, including texting

Upgrades to provide new options for British Columbians to reach emergency services

Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth announces B.C.’s $150-million investment to fund upgrades to province’s 911 emergency communication system during a press conference at a fire hall in Saanich. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)
Construction on the Pat Bay Highway’s Keating Cross Road flyover could begin as early as this spring. (Province of British Columbia/flickr)

Construction on $77M Keating flyover in Central Saanich begins this spring

Overpass at Highway 17 and Keating Cross Road expected to be completed in spring 2025

Construction on the Pat Bay Highway’s Keating Cross Road flyover could begin as early as this spring. (Province of British Columbia/flickr)
Sara Ellison looks at a basket star while snorkelling off the coast of northern Vancouver Island. (Courtesy Sara Ellison)

UVic astronomer writes ultimate Vancouver Island, Gulf Islands snorkelling guide

Snorkelling Adventures Around Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands hits shelves March 11

Sara Ellison looks at a basket star while snorkelling off the coast of northern Vancouver Island. (Courtesy Sara Ellison)
The Island Rail Corridor has been left to deteriorate since passenger service ended in 2011. (Black Press Media file photo)

Regional districts call on feds to fund Vancouver Island rail revival

Federal government has until March 14 to decide fate of Island Rail Corridor

The Island Rail Corridor has been left to deteriorate since passenger service ended in 2011. (Black Press Media file photo)
Whistle Buoy master brewer Matt West-Patrick (left) and Isaiah Archer are brewing a new batch with an AI-generated recipe. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)

Victoria brewery uses AI to generate latest beer recipe

Whistle Buoy Brewing’s new hazy pale ale Robo Beer recipe developed with ChatGPT

Whistle Buoy master brewer Matt West-Patrick (left) and Isaiah Archer are brewing a new batch with an AI-generated recipe. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)
The Island Rail Corridor has been left to deteriorate since passenger service ended in 2011. (Black Press Media file photo)

Regional districts call on feds to fund Vancouver Island rail revival

Federal government has until March 14 to decide fate of Island Rail Corridor

The Island Rail Corridor has been left to deteriorate since passenger service ended in 2011. (Black Press Media file photo)
The Saanich Inlet Protection Society will be hosting a public forum on Feb. 17 on two controversial expansion projects on the Bamberton lands that are being proposed by Malahat Nation. (Black Press Media file photo)

Society addresses public concern over contentious Malahat projects

Environmental Assessment Office says Saanich Inlet expansion projects don’t meet threshold for review

The Saanich Inlet Protection Society will be hosting a public forum on Feb. 17 on two controversial expansion projects on the Bamberton lands that are being proposed by Malahat Nation. (Black Press Media file photo)
Pandora Avenue’s 900-block near downtown Victoria as seen on Tuesday, Feb. 14. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)

Point in Time count to take ‘snapshot’ of homelessness in Greater Victoria

March 2020 survey found at least 1,523 experiencing homelessness throughout capital region

Pandora Avenue’s 900-block near downtown Victoria as seen on Tuesday, Feb. 14. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)
Rogers Elementary in Saanich as seen on Friday, Feb. 10. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)

‘We are devastated’: SD61 boots Saanich child-care centre after 32 years

School district hasn’t given child-care operator a reason

Rogers Elementary in Saanich as seen on Friday, Feb. 10. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)
Black Press Media reporter Austin Westphal scopes the firearms on display at the Victoria Police Department to weed the real from the fake during a VicPd show and tell Feb. 9. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

‘Like clockwork’: VicPD says fake guns almost as common as the real thing

Victoria police officers seize average of 8 firearms per month in 2022

Black Press Media reporter Austin Westphal scopes the firearms on display at the Victoria Police Department to weed the real from the fake during a VicPd show and tell Feb. 9. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
The Capital Regional District is taking action to cut down on the local goose population. (Black Press Media file photo)

CRD gives green light to start culling Greater Victoria’s Canada goose population

Regional Canada goose management service to include egg addling, strategic culls

The Capital Regional District is taking action to cut down on the local goose population. (Black Press Media file photo)
Nathaniel Stoffelsma enjoys a swim with his 11 and eight-year-old sons, Alex (left) and Jens, at Panorama Recreation Centre in North Saanich. (Courtesy Nathaniel Stoffelsma)

North Saanich dad swims 1,000 metres a day to honour son’s cancer battle

Nathaniel Stoffelsma’s overall goal is to do this for 365 days, donate money to charity

Nathaniel Stoffelsma enjoys a swim with his 11 and eight-year-old sons, Alex (left) and Jens, at Panorama Recreation Centre in North Saanich. (Courtesy Nathaniel Stoffelsma)
KELA_EKE Kingfisher Forest, named for its abundance of belted kingfishers, as seen from above. (Alex Harris/Raincoast Conservation Foundation)

Rare Pender Island habitat slated for ‘mega-mansions’ to become nature preserve

KELA_EKE Kingfisher Forest secured for wildlife conservation in joint land acquisition

KELA_EKE Kingfisher Forest, named for its abundance of belted kingfishers, as seen from above. (Alex Harris/Raincoast Conservation Foundation)
Jeff Buziak (right) leads last year’s march for Lindsay Buziak. This year’s walk begins at Saanich Municipal Hall at 10 a.m. Feb. 2. (Black Press Media file photo)

‘Someone out there slaughtered my daughter’: Lindsay Buziak’s father still seeks answers

Fifteen years after Greater Victoria realtor’s murder, Jeff Buziak continues quest for justice

Jeff Buziak (right) leads last year’s march for Lindsay Buziak. This year’s walk begins at Saanich Municipal Hall at 10 a.m. Feb. 2. (Black Press Media file photo)
Stress dog Beacon is the newest member to join the Saanich Police Department. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)

‘He gives you a few kisses’: Saanich police’s newest recruit is a good boy

Black lab named Beacon will serve as operational stress intervention dog

Stress dog Beacon is the newest member to join the Saanich Police Department. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) shows decreased functional connectivity in the human brain after exposure to traffic pollution. (Courtesy UBC Faculty of Medicine)

Traffic pollution can impair brain function, say UVic and UBC researchers

Groundbreaking study finds even brief exposures have adverse effects on human brain

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) shows decreased functional connectivity in the human brain after exposure to traffic pollution. (Courtesy UBC Faculty of Medicine)
Saanich councillor Teale Phelps Bondaroff is pushing to make higher-income earners pay more for traffic violations. (Black Press Media file photo)

Make ‘ultra-wealthy’ speeders pay greater fines, says Saanich councillor

Coun. Teale Phelps Bondaroff hopes provincial government will take bold proposals to heart

Saanich councillor Teale Phelps Bondaroff is pushing to make higher-income earners pay more for traffic violations. (Black Press Media file photo)
A case involving a Victoria police officer is under investigation. (Black Press Media file photo)

OPCC orders conduct review of VicPD officer who took ‘inappropriate’ videos and shared them

Special Municipal Constable Foster Martin was the subject of a disciplinary conduct investigation

A case involving a Victoria police officer is under investigation. (Black Press Media file photo)
Martin Ouellet (left, front), Sonya Marchand, Scott Rose, Jennifer, Jen Bolster (left, back), Nicolas D’Anjou and Chris Millar attend the BC Emergency Health Services’ Vital Link Award presentation on Sunday (Jan. 15) afternoon. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)

Victoria trio recognized for saving friend’s life after sudden cardiac arrest

Three receive Vital Link Award for life-saving emergency medical response

Martin Ouellet (left, front), Sonya Marchand, Scott Rose, Jennifer, Jen Bolster (left, back), Nicolas D’Anjou and Chris Millar attend the BC Emergency Health Services’ Vital Link Award presentation on Sunday (Jan. 15) afternoon. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)
The Victoria courthouse as seen on Jan. 8. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)

‘Dangerous’: City of Victoria takes dog owner to court, cites alleged bylaw offences

Court documents reveal Michael Evans did not license his dog last year

The Victoria courthouse as seen on Jan. 8. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)