City of Victoria

A cyclist rides down the Fort Street protected bike lanes in the late morning on April 14. Victoria is expanding the protected AAA bike lanes on Fort Street from Cook Street to Foul Bay Road in 2023. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)

Victoria school thrilled as $11.7M in bike lanes, traffic elements coming to Fort Street

The busy corridor is getting revamped with safety additions from Cook Street to Oak Bay

A cyclist rides down the Fort Street protected bike lanes in the late morning on April 14. Victoria is expanding the protected AAA bike lanes on Fort Street from Cook Street to Foul Bay Road in 2023. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)
The doors to Victoria City Hall have been locked since late October 2022. Visitors can get in using a doorbell. (Hollie Ferguson/News Staff)

Victoria locking city hall doors during day, mayor says it won’t impact accessibility

Mayor Marianne Alto says the doorbell system is common among government buildings

The doors to Victoria City Hall have been locked since late October 2022. Visitors can get in using a doorbell. (Hollie Ferguson/News Staff)
Oak Bay High will be home to hundreds of young French-speaking as the Francophone Games land in the community this summer. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

French-speaking youth set to inspire with Francophone Games in Oak Bay

Community events planned for Oak Bay, Saanich and Victoria during July 11 to 15 Games

Oak Bay High will be home to hundreds of young French-speaking as the Francophone Games land in the community this summer. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
Victoria’s Inner Harbour was packed as crowds gathered to celebrate the return of in-person Canada Day activities with live music, food, and vendors in 2022. Council has approved at least $245,000 in funding for downtown revitalization events set for summer 2023. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

New summer events eyed for downtown Victoria with $245K in funding

Councillor says plans still in the works but events could include mix of interests

Victoria’s Inner Harbour was packed as crowds gathered to celebrate the return of in-person Canada Day activities with live music, food, and vendors in 2022. Council has approved at least $245,000 in funding for downtown revitalization events set for summer 2023. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
A rendering of Starlight Developments’ proposal for a 1,600-unit rental project on Yates Street from Quadra to Cook streets. Victoria council could give final approval to the project on April 6. (Courtesy of Starlight Developments)

Victoria’s Harris Green Village project wants more parking than council requested

1,600-unit rental and two-block revamp is on the cusp of final approval

A rendering of Starlight Developments’ proposal for a 1,600-unit rental project on Yates Street from Quadra to Cook streets. Victoria council could give final approval to the project on April 6. (Courtesy of Starlight Developments)
Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto and Saanich Mayor Dean Murdock after a joint meeting on the process of organizing a citizen’s assembly that will study amalgamating the two communities or certain services. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)

Victoria, Saanich mayors say amalgamation study will reveal best service-providing model

Work continues on organizing a diverse 48-person citizens’ assembly

Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto and Saanich Mayor Dean Murdock after a joint meeting on the process of organizing a citizen’s assembly that will study amalgamating the two communities or certain services. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)
The Telus Ocean building will be a zero-carbon structure when it rises from this construction site in downtown Victoria. More new buildings in the capital and across the province will soon have to be built to produce lower emissions as the province is set to bring its Zero Carbon Step Code. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)

‘Long overdue’: B.C. introducing new powers to limit emissions of new buildings

Zero Carbon Step Code comes into effect May 1

The Telus Ocean building will be a zero-carbon structure when it rises from this construction site in downtown Victoria. More new buildings in the capital and across the province will soon have to be built to produce lower emissions as the province is set to bring its Zero Carbon Step Code. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)
City of Victoria electric vehicle chargers n Store Street. The city will need to ramp up the number of public chargers it builds in the coming years to keep up with the expected demand and its own timelines. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)

Jolt needed in Victoria’s electric vehicle charger rollout as city misses first target

Goal to build 650 over six years, but only 67 installed in 2022

City of Victoria electric vehicle chargers n Store Street. The city will need to ramp up the number of public chargers it builds in the coming years to keep up with the expected demand and its own timelines. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)
Members of the B.C. Community Safety Unit raid the Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club’s new location on Quadra Street on March 23. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)

Victoria cannabis club gets third raid, already facing $6.5 million in fines

CSU officers seizing product from the unlicensed medical cannabis store

Members of the B.C. Community Safety Unit raid the Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club’s new location on Quadra Street on March 23. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)
The City of Victoria is looking at extending paid parking hours to 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. in a bid to cut its property tax increase. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)

Victoria looks to further cut tax hike with longer paid parking hours

Money topping up some reserves to be reduced

The City of Victoria is looking at extending paid parking hours to 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. in a bid to cut its property tax increase. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)
A patio structure in Cook Street Village in March. Victoria is set to bring in a bylaw transition from its pandemic patio program. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)

Victoria poised to pass its pandemic patio bylaw as B.C. extends them through 2024

Bylaw outlines transition to permanent use of public spaces for new, existing patios

A patio structure in Cook Street Village in March. Victoria is set to bring in a bylaw transition from its pandemic patio program. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)
Council has resurrected the planning process for the Crystal Pool’s replacement, but the final say could come from a proposed city referendum possibly set in late 2024. (Black Press Media file photo)

Victoria to fund $1.78M work studying possible Crystal Pool referendum

City sets tentative late 2024 timing for referendum, should it go ahead

Council has resurrected the planning process for the Crystal Pool’s replacement, but the final say could come from a proposed city referendum possibly set in late 2024. (Black Press Media file photo)
A piece of plastic along the Dallas Road waterfront in March, 2023. Victoria is looking at a bylaw to curb single-use products, but it won’t involve a fee. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)

Victoria council won’t bring in fees on single-use cups, takeout containers

220,000 single-use items disposed of every day in the capital

A piece of plastic along the Dallas Road waterfront in March, 2023. Victoria is looking at a bylaw to curb single-use products, but it won’t involve a fee. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)
The Victoria and Esquimalt police board has said it won’t be coming down from its proposed 9.55 per cent budget increase after the city asks it to also bring their hike in line with inflation. (Black Press Media file photo)

Police board says it won’t follow suit after Victoria looks to reduce budget hike

9.55 per cent increase pitched by police board, city aims for inflation-matching plan

The Victoria and Esquimalt police board has said it won’t be coming down from its proposed 9.55 per cent budget increase after the city asks it to also bring their hike in line with inflation. (Black Press Media file photo)
Jordan Peterson speaks to a crowd during a stop in Sherwood Park Alta, on Sunday Feb. 11, 2018. Peterson is a controversial Canadian psychologist known for his views on cultural and political issues. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

Petition calls on City of Victoria to cancel upcoming Jordan Peterson event

Controversial psychologist to speak live at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre May 19

Jordan Peterson speaks to a crowd during a stop in Sherwood Park Alta, on Sunday Feb. 11, 2018. Peterson is a controversial Canadian psychologist known for his views on cultural and political issues. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
Stella the three-year-old Yellow Lab wrestles a stick from her owner at the Dallas Road waterfront on Feb, 6. A review of the city’s off-leash parks could be cut to lower the proposed property tax increase. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)

Victoria budget moves eye extending paid parking hours, cutting off-leash review

Several measures could help city go from 9 to 7 per cent property tax hike

Stella the three-year-old Yellow Lab wrestles a stick from her owner at the Dallas Road waterfront on Feb, 6. A review of the city’s off-leash parks could be cut to lower the proposed property tax increase. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)
A rendering of Starlight Developments’ proposal for a 1,600-unit rental project on Yates Street from Quadra to Cook streets. (Courtesy of Starlight Developments)

‘Showpiece’: Victoria signals strong support for 1,600-unit Harris Green Village

Eight of nine councillors said they will vote in favour of adopting the proposal

A rendering of Starlight Developments’ proposal for a 1,600-unit rental project on Yates Street from Quadra to Cook streets. (Courtesy of Starlight Developments)
Commercial, institutional, industrial and multi-unit residential buildings combined make up about a third of Victoria’s total emissions and use natural gas for 88 per cent of their heating needs. New construction will have to produce zero emissions as of July 2025. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)

As natural gas use rises in Victoria, the city says it isn’t a clean energy source

No fuel source pollutes more than natural gas in the capital city

Commercial, institutional, industrial and multi-unit residential buildings combined make up about a third of Victoria’s total emissions and use natural gas for 88 per cent of their heating needs. New construction will have to produce zero emissions as of July 2025. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)
A rendering of Starlight Developments’ proposal for a 1,600-unit rental project on Yates Street from Quadra to Cook streets. (Courtesy of Starlight Developments)

Council weighing 1,600-unit Harris Green Village project decision on Thursday

Public hearing showed concerns about height, excitement over housing influx

A rendering of Starlight Developments’ proposal for a 1,600-unit rental project on Yates Street from Quadra to Cook streets. (Courtesy of Starlight Developments)
The future of Crystal Pool and Fitness Centre’s replacement could go to a city-wide referendum. (Black Press Media file photo)

Victoria to explore potential referendum on Crystal Pool replacement

Council directs staff to review reviving planning process for a new rec centre

The future of Crystal Pool and Fitness Centre’s replacement could go to a city-wide referendum. (Black Press Media file photo)