Don Descoteau

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Bill Okell of Saanich navigates a turn on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course during Thursday qualifying for the Oct. 1 Sports Car Club of America National Championship Runoffs race. Okell qualified 11th in the 44-car H Production class field. (Photo by Mark Webber)

Saanich sports car driver to start 11th in 44-car field at Indy

Bill Okell making his second national runoffs appearance at the famed U.S. track

Bill Okell of Saanich navigates a turn on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course during Thursday qualifying for the Oct. 1 Sports Car Club of America National Championship Runoffs race. Okell qualified 11th in the 44-car H Production class field. (Photo by Mark Webber)
Island Health says tents are a far cry from a proper isolation space. (Black Press Media file photo)

Island Health confirms positive COVID-19 cases among community facing homelessness

Call for the return of proper isolation spaces in hotels and shelters

Island Health says tents are a far cry from a proper isolation space. (Black Press Media file photo)
Clipper Vacations resumes its Seattle to Victoria passenger ferry service on Friday (Sept. 17), for U.S.-based passengers. (Clipper Vacations/Facebook)

Victoria Clipper ferries visitors to town for first time in 18 months

Company resumes weekend service for U.S.-based passengers Sept. 17

Clipper Vacations resumes its Seattle to Victoria passenger ferry service on Friday (Sept. 17), for U.S.-based passengers. (Clipper Vacations/Facebook)
George Manning (right), seen here in the pressroom of one of the publications he oversaw, was a legendary figure and mentor in the local community newspaper industry. He passed away last week at age 81. (Facebook/Gail Manning)

Gazette founder leaves a legacy on Greater Victoria, Island journalism

George Manning dies at 81, was key figure in the growth of Black Press on Vancouver Island

George Manning (right), seen here in the pressroom of one of the publications he oversaw, was a legendary figure and mentor in the local community newspaper industry. He passed away last week at age 81. (Facebook/Gail Manning)
Headliner Jesse Roper of Metchosin performs with his band at the All Ways Home music festival in Langford at Starlight Stadium on Sunday. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)

Jesse Roper thrilled to wind up first All Ways Home festival in Langford

Metchosin bluesman brings his A game to Starlight Stadium on second day of festival Sept. 5

Headliner Jesse Roper of Metchosin performs with his band at the All Ways Home music festival in Langford at Starlight Stadium on Sunday. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)
Sports Car Club of America U.S. Majors Tour second-place finisher Jerry Olsen, left, joins H Production class race winner Bill Okell on the podium at High Plains Raceway near Denver on Aug. 22. (Photo courtesy Bill Okell/Colorado Region SCCA)

Saanich sports car driver qualifies for Indy, and then some during Denver races

Bill Okell chalks up a first and a second, needing only to complete 50 per cent of laps

Sports Car Club of America U.S. Majors Tour second-place finisher Jerry Olsen, left, joins H Production class race winner Bill Okell on the podium at High Plains Raceway near Denver on Aug. 22. (Photo courtesy Bill Okell/Colorado Region SCCA)
The late Neil Montgomery stands proudly with a motor he built in his shop behind Malahat Auto Parts. The longtime supporter and participant in auto racing at the former Western Speedway will be memorialized there on Aug. 20. The service coincides with Daffodil Cup weekend at the track, one of Montgomery’s favourite events of the season. (Photo by Donna Rand)

Longtime friend to Vancouver Island auto racers to be memorialized Aug. 20

Neil Montgomery wore many hats in his race career: builder, hall 0f fame president and more

The late Neil Montgomery stands proudly with a motor he built in his shop behind Malahat Auto Parts. The longtime supporter and participant in auto racing at the former Western Speedway will be memorialized there on Aug. 20. The service coincides with Daffodil Cup weekend at the track, one of Montgomery’s favourite events of the season. (Photo by Donna Rand)
Bill Okell manoeuvres his MG Midget around a corner at Buttonwillow Speedway in Bakersfield, Calif. during a February 2020 race. Okell will be in Denver this month attempting to qualify for the Sports Car Club of America nationals in Indianapolis this fall. (Photo by Cali Photography)

Dream to race at Indianapolis one last time close to reality for Saanich driver

Bill Okell aims to be in the U.S. auto racing mecca this fall

Bill Okell manoeuvres his MG Midget around a corner at Buttonwillow Speedway in Bakersfield, Calif. during a February 2020 race. Okell will be in Denver this month attempting to qualify for the Sports Car Club of America nationals in Indianapolis this fall. (Photo by Cali Photography)
Amy Jones and her uncle, Phil Dagger, take a break outside an RV at Galaxy Motors. Dagger, who built the company from a single dirt lot on Island Highway to a multi-store entity on Vancouver Island, passed away earlier this week. (Black Press Media file photo)

Island auto entrepreneur remembered for humble spirit, perseverance in business

Galaxy Motors owner Phil Dagger passes away in North Saanich home at age 69

Amy Jones and her uncle, Phil Dagger, take a break outside an RV at Galaxy Motors. Dagger, who built the company from a single dirt lot on Island Highway to a multi-store entity on Vancouver Island, passed away earlier this week. (Black Press Media file photo)
Rendering of the modern treatment involving the existing Northern Junk warehouses on Wharf Street. Council narrowly approved the Reliance Properties proposal for the site on Thursday (Aug. 5). (Courtesy of Reliance Properties)

Waterfront heritage buildings, apartments to become centrepiece of Victoria greenspaces

Northern Junk proposal approved in a narrow 5-4 vote, no ‘unicorn proposal’ available

Rendering of the modern treatment involving the existing Northern Junk warehouses on Wharf Street. Council narrowly approved the Reliance Properties proposal for the site on Thursday (Aug. 5). (Courtesy of Reliance Properties)
Rendering of the proposed residential and commercial building on the Northern Junk property on Wharf Street. A long public hearing July 29 saw Victoria council postpone the discussion and vote on the application until their Aug. 5 meeting. (Courtesy of the City of Victoria)

Public commentary on Northern Junk proposal pushes Victoria vote to next week

Public hearing cut off at 11:30 p.m., council to make decision on proposal at Aug. 5 meeting

Rendering of the proposed residential and commercial building on the Northern Junk property on Wharf Street. A long public hearing July 29 saw Victoria council postpone the discussion and vote on the application until their Aug. 5 meeting. (Courtesy of the City of Victoria)
Greater Victoria physicians stand atop the pedestrian overpass over the Pat Bay Highway in Saanich on Wednesday morning, calling for an end to construction on the Trans Mountain pipeline project. Doctors groups here, in Vancouver and Seattle staged events July 28 in solidarity, citing the effects of climate change. (Photo by Magritte Gordaneer)

Greater Victoria physicians group likens pipeline expansion to addiction

Doctors greet motorists on Pat Bay Highway during morning commute

Greater Victoria physicians stand atop the pedestrian overpass over the Pat Bay Highway in Saanich on Wednesday morning, calling for an end to construction on the Trans Mountain pipeline project. Doctors groups here, in Vancouver and Seattle staged events July 28 in solidarity, citing the effects of climate change. (Photo by Magritte Gordaneer)
Scott McMillan and fellow volunteers with the Esquimalt Firefighters Charitable Foundation hope to resume their fundraising through the Esquimalt Ribfest, scheduled for Sept. 10 to 12 in Bullen Park. (Black Press Media file photo)

Esquimalt Ribfest organizers licking their lips for September festival

Event chair cautiously optimistic popular outdoor event will happen Sept. 10 to 12

Scott McMillan and fellow volunteers with the Esquimalt Firefighters Charitable Foundation hope to resume their fundraising through the Esquimalt Ribfest, scheduled for Sept. 10 to 12 in Bullen Park. (Black Press Media file photo)
Performers from Theatre Skam entertain in Royal Athletic Park last year. The North Park Neighbourhood Association hosts Picnic in the Park, with Skam performing outdoors, this summer on Thursday evenings. (Photo courtesy North Park Neighbourhood Association)

Victoria neighbourhood benefits from opening up of Royal Athletic Park

Free community programs at stadium aim to further connect North Park residents

Performers from Theatre Skam entertain in Royal Athletic Park last year. The North Park Neighbourhood Association hosts Picnic in the Park, with Skam performing outdoors, this summer on Thursday evenings. (Photo courtesy North Park Neighbourhood Association)
The Maritime Museum of BC moves into a nearby space on Douglas Street behind the Empress Hotel this month. SS Valencia: ‘A Theatre of Horror’ continues at the museum to Sept. 2 in the new space. (Courtesy of Maritime Museum of BC)

Maritime Museum of BC moves around corner to Victoria storefront

Expanded space allows more options for exhibits, public programming

The Maritime Museum of BC moves into a nearby space on Douglas Street behind the Empress Hotel this month. SS Valencia: ‘A Theatre of Horror’ continues at the museum to Sept. 2 in the new space. (Courtesy of Maritime Museum of BC)
Five discarded flagpoles, property of the Oak Bay Rotary Club and used for Canadian flags through its charitable rental program, lay in the gutter at McNeill Bay. (Photo courtesy Joan Peggs)

Oak Bay homes targeted for Canadian flag thefts ahead of July 1

Oak Bay Rotary Club flag program chair says about 50 of its flags, some poles, removed from lawns

Five discarded flagpoles, property of the Oak Bay Rotary Club and used for Canadian flags through its charitable rental program, lay in the gutter at McNeill Bay. (Photo courtesy Joan Peggs)
Victoria police said Paisley Dawson has been found safe after she was the subject of a missing person alert on Wednesday. (Black Press File Photo)

UPDATED: Paisley Dawson found safe

She was the subject of a missing person alert on June 23

Victoria police said Paisley Dawson has been found safe after she was the subject of a missing person alert on Wednesday. (Black Press File Photo)
An SUV sits where it crashed through the front window of the 2:18 Run store in Fairfield Plaza, after the driver appeared to lose control on Monday afternoon. (Photo by Phil Nicholls)

Driver crashes through front window of Victoria running store in Fairfield

Phil Nicholls of 2:18 Run said crash sounded like an earthquake at first

An SUV sits where it crashed through the front window of the 2:18 Run store in Fairfield Plaza, after the driver appeared to lose control on Monday afternoon. (Photo by Phil Nicholls)
The closure of Government Street to vehicle traffic between Broughton and View streets began June 11. The corridor will be pedestrian-only between noon and 10 p.m. daily until at least this fall. (Don Denton/Black Press Media)

Downtown Victoria timed closure of Government Street begins

Pedestrian priority times part of city’s Build Back Victoria program

The closure of Government Street to vehicle traffic between Broughton and View streets began June 11. The corridor will be pedestrian-only between noon and 10 p.m. daily until at least this fall. (Don Denton/Black Press Media)
The potential renaming of Trutch Street in Fairfield to Truth Street will wait until fall, after Victoria councillors voted to get more information on the effects of such a move. (Google Maps)

Victoria street renaming proposal to have moment of truth this fall

City council will await details on implications for Trutch residents, First Nations input

The potential renaming of Trutch Street in Fairfield to Truth Street will wait until fall, after Victoria councillors voted to get more information on the effects of such a move. (Google Maps)