oak bay

Swimmers sporting festive New Year’s attire enjoy a chilly dip at Willows Beach in Oak Bay on Sunday (Jan. 1). (Austin Westphal/News Staff)

PHOTOS: Greater Victoria polar bear swimmers plunge into 2023

Cold Water Addicts’ inaugural polar bear swim drew huge turnout at Willows Beach

Swimmers sporting festive New Year’s attire enjoy a chilly dip at Willows Beach in Oak Bay on Sunday (Jan. 1). (Austin Westphal/News Staff)
The Wildwood trailer saunas seat six to eight folks and appear most weekends at Willows Beach in Oak Bay. (Courtesy Wildwood Saunas)

Builder brings saunas to Oak Bay beach popular with cold-water swimmers

Travelling trailers popular with Willows Beach visitors

The Wildwood trailer saunas seat six to eight folks and appear most weekends at Willows Beach in Oak Bay. (Courtesy Wildwood Saunas)
Oak Bay police hope to reunite a ring found near Uplands Park on Christmas Day with its rightful owner. (Oak Bay Police/Twitter)

Return of precious family heirloom brightens the holidays for Victoria woman

Lost family ring found atop the snow in Uplands Park on Christmas Day

Oak Bay police hope to reunite a ring found near Uplands Park on Christmas Day with its rightful owner. (Oak Bay Police/Twitter)
Paul Redchurch hopes someone will return the baby Jesus figure swiped from his Oak Bay nativity scene days after Christmas. (Photo by Paul Redchurch)

‘Some knucklehead’ abducted baby Jesus from Oak Bay nativity scene

Hand-painted cutout disappears from Christmas display near Oak Bay police and fire building

Paul Redchurch hopes someone will return the baby Jesus figure swiped from his Oak Bay nativity scene days after Christmas. (Photo by Paul Redchurch)
Wild weather delayed Oak Bay leaf pickup in 2022 which means residents will see staff out and about picking up into the new year. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff) Delays to the 2022 Oak Bay leaf pickup program means residents will see staff out and about collecting into the new year. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

Fall leaf pickup rolls right into winter for Oak Bay residents

Leaf pickup started in mid October and continues into January

Wild weather delayed Oak Bay leaf pickup in 2022 which means residents will see staff out and about picking up into the new year. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff) Delays to the 2022 Oak Bay leaf pickup program means residents will see staff out and about collecting into the new year. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
Oak Bay birders counted 90 species – a new record high in the more than 50-year history of the count – on Dec. 17 including a townsend’s solitaire (Photo by Geoffrey Newell)

Oak Bay birders break 50-year-old record in species count

Greater Victoria Christmas Bird Count saw 290 people document 138 species on Dec. 17

Oak Bay birders counted 90 species – a new record high in the more than 50-year history of the count – on Dec. 17 including a townsend’s solitaire (Photo by Geoffrey Newell)
Oak Bay artist Jo-Anne Silverman opens her show Jan. 7. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

Cataract surgery inspires Oak Bay artist to go ‘crazy with colour’ for Victoria show

Seeing (with new eyes) runs Jan. 3 to 22 at Gage Gallery in Bastion Square

Oak Bay artist Jo-Anne Silverman opens her show Jan. 7. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
While moving their native seed field, Satinflower Nurseries offered community members the opportunity to dig up and keep large quantities of plants that wouldn’t be making the move, free of charge. Some now grow adjacent to Bowker Creek in Oak Bay. (Bowker Creek Salmon Recovery/Facebook)

Free plants boost biodiversity of Bowker Creek banks in Oak Bay

Volunteers plant camas bulbs, wildlife seeds to burst forth come spring

While moving their native seed field, Satinflower Nurseries offered community members the opportunity to dig up and keep large quantities of plants that wouldn’t be making the move, free of charge. Some now grow adjacent to Bowker Creek in Oak Bay. (Bowker Creek Salmon Recovery/Facebook)
Things ground to a halt Tuesday morning after 25 to 30 centimetres of snow fell over Greater Victoria the night before. Now is a good time to check on neighbours, says Oak Bay Fire Chief Frank Macdonald. (Sonica Parmar/News Staff)

Stay home if you can and check on neighbours, suggests Oak Bay fire chief

Firefighters, other emergency personnel called out for several calls in challenging conditions

Things ground to a halt Tuesday morning after 25 to 30 centimetres of snow fell over Greater Victoria the night before. Now is a good time to check on neighbours, says Oak Bay Fire Chief Frank Macdonald. (Sonica Parmar/News Staff)
A cackling goose (Aleutian, with white collar) and two greater white-fronted geese, from the Arctic spotted Nov. 17 at the Victoria Golf Club in Oak Bay. (Photo by Jacques Sirois)

Birders delight in unusual fall flock in Victoria Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary

Four trumpeter swans spotted chilling in Oak Bay

A cackling goose (Aleutian, with white collar) and two greater white-fronted geese, from the Arctic spotted Nov. 17 at the Victoria Golf Club in Oak Bay. (Photo by Jacques Sirois)
The Oak Bay Recreation Centre is a hub of activity, including free community events on Jan. 1. (Black Press Media file photo)

Kick off 2023 with an Oak Bay neighbourhood walk

Free swimming, skating, jazzercize and tennis, with donations to KidSport encouraged

The Oak Bay Recreation Centre is a hub of activity, including free community events on Jan. 1. (Black Press Media file photo)
Merilyn Lentz serves up dinner during the annual Monterey centre Christmas dinner on Dec. 15 in Oak Bay. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

PHOTOS: Monterey Minstrels sing in Christmas at Oak Bay centre

Annual dinner event brings music, merriment to Monterey Avenue

Merilyn Lentz serves up dinner during the annual Monterey centre Christmas dinner on Dec. 15 in Oak Bay. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
Two Oak Bay trees, one dead and the other dying, were removed and a third was trimmed for road clearance. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

2 dead, dying trees cut down near former Oak Bay Lodge site

Tree trimming is not associated to work at the Cadboro Bay Road lot

Two Oak Bay trees, one dead and the other dying, were removed and a third was trimmed for road clearance. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
A handful of trees along Granite Street feature a swatch of what looks like cling wrap wrapped around their trunks, a few feet from the ground to stop winter moths climbing the trunk to lay eggs. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

Oak Bay trees banded to battle 1 of 3 pests on parks’ least-wanted list

Trunks banded to stop moths climbing the trunk to lay eggs that become loopers and devour trees

A handful of trees along Granite Street feature a swatch of what looks like cling wrap wrapped around their trunks, a few feet from the ground to stop winter moths climbing the trunk to lay eggs. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
Whitehart Anointings #2 by Joe Coffey at Madrona Gallery.

At the Galleries: Glittery sales at Oak Bay gallery support Victoria Hospice

2022 Indigenous Emerging Artist Program exhibition runs through February

  • Dec 11, 2022
Whitehart Anointings #2 by Joe Coffey at Madrona Gallery.
Chris Hyde-Lay, manager of the parks department for Oak Bay, empties the mailbox at municipal hall to get them on their way to St. Nick himself. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

Oak Bay mailbox stuffed with letters to Santa

Canada Post volunteers get 1.5 million letters from around the world to Santa in 2021

Chris Hyde-Lay, manager of the parks department for Oak Bay, empties the mailbox at municipal hall to get them on their way to St. Nick himself. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
(Black Press Media file photo)

40 frames stolen in second Oak Bay sunglasses smash-and-grab

Stolen catalytic converter among the 68 calls for police last week

(Black Press Media file photo)
Nicole Canuel says the constant battle for parking, despite being a resident of the street, is just one more irritant when considering a move out of Oak Bay, Greater Victoria and B.C. in general. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

Oak Bay renter stressed out by windshield notes, parking tickets

Renter says homeowners put up barriers to consider when looking at living in Greater Victoria

Nicole Canuel says the constant battle for parking, despite being a resident of the street, is just one more irritant when considering a move out of Oak Bay, Greater Victoria and B.C. in general. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
Rory Humphries and Ethan Bell (pictured) along with Max Boquist (not pictured) created a board game, similar to snakes and ladders with spaces where players learn facts about the Salish Sea. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

PHOTOS: Students spread Salish Sea stewardship messages

Educational partnership with Eagle Wing tours results in Salish Sea Museum

Rory Humphries and Ethan Bell (pictured) along with Max Boquist (not pictured) created a board game, similar to snakes and ladders with spaces where players learn facts about the Salish Sea. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
Oak Bay vocalist Stephanie Greaves rings out 2022 at the Oaks Restaurant and Grill. (Black Press File Photo)

Oak Bay rings in 2023 with a pair of musical parties

December music includes lunchtime interludes at St. Mary’s

Oak Bay vocalist Stephanie Greaves rings out 2022 at the Oaks Restaurant and Grill. (Black Press File Photo)