vancouverisland

The remotely operated vehicle ROPOS is lowered into the water during the expedition to the proposed Tang. ɢwan-hacxwiqak-Tsig̱is Marine Protection Area. (Nicole Holman/Fisheries and Oceans Canada)

Expedition explores supervolcanoes and deep-sea firsts in B.C. waters

Footage of superheated geysers, novel images of species behaviour caught off Vancouver Island

The remotely operated vehicle ROPOS is lowered into the water during the expedition to the proposed Tang. ɢwan-hacxwiqak-Tsig̱is Marine Protection Area. (Nicole Holman/Fisheries and Oceans Canada)
The top microscopic image shows a pteropod with shell dissolution, the white areas, that were exposed to acidic water while the bottom image shows the usual translucent appearance of the sea snail in non-acidic water. It’s part of what helped a UVic researcher question pteropods being a bioindicator for the effects of ocean acidification. (Courtesy of Matt Miller)

UVic sea butterfly study challenges their ocean acidification indicator role

Pteropod shells could be more resilient to, but still face risks from increasingly acidic waters

The top microscopic image shows a pteropod with shell dissolution, the white areas, that were exposed to acidic water while the bottom image shows the usual translucent appearance of the sea snail in non-acidic water. It’s part of what helped a UVic researcher question pteropods being a bioindicator for the effects of ocean acidification. (Courtesy of Matt Miller)
Western Brook Lamprey Morrison Creek population– “silver form” (top) and non-silver, traditional looking Western Brook Lamprey. Photo by Jay Wade

Community effort protects rare fish species found only in Vancouver Island watershed

Morrison Creek Headwaters, home of the western brook lamprey, now a protected area

Western Brook Lamprey Morrison Creek population– “silver form” (top) and non-silver, traditional looking Western Brook Lamprey. Photo by Jay Wade
The Univesity of Victoria received a $2.4-million boost for its cycling, walking and active transportation infrastructure from the federal government on May 17. (Courtesy of UVic)

Feds pump up UVic’s cycling, active transportation infrastructure

Almost $11 million in funding for active transportation projects coming to the Island

The Univesity of Victoria received a $2.4-million boost for its cycling, walking and active transportation infrastructure from the federal government on May 17. (Courtesy of UVic)
The Sooke Fine Arts Show showcases unique artworks from Vancouver Island and B.C.’s coastal island artists from July 29 to Aug. 7. (File - Black Press Media)

Sooke Fine Arts Show seeks submissions from Vancouver Island artists

Submissions are accepted until June 1

  • Apr 5, 2023
The Sooke Fine Arts Show showcases unique artworks from Vancouver Island and B.C.’s coastal island artists from July 29 to Aug. 7. (File - Black Press Media)
Saanich North and the Islands MLA Adam Olsen plans to introduce legislation Wednesday designed to ensure permanent funding for the Island Coastal Economic Trust. The provincial government Wednesday announced $10 million for the fund, but Olsen says this announcement does not resolve the long-term future of the fund. (Black Press Media file photo)

Three rural B.C. economic development trust funds get $10M injections

Money welcomed, but some concerned money not enough to ensure trust’s future

Saanich North and the Islands MLA Adam Olsen plans to introduce legislation Wednesday designed to ensure permanent funding for the Island Coastal Economic Trust. The provincial government Wednesday announced $10 million for the fund, but Olsen says this announcement does not resolve the long-term future of the fund. (Black Press Media file photo)
Saanich North and the Islands MLA Adam Olsen plans to introduce legislation Wednesday designed to ensure permanent funding for the Island Coastal Economic Trust. The provincial government Wednesday announced $10 million for the fund, but Olsen says this announcement does not resolve the long-term future of the fund. (Black Press Media file photo)

Vancouver Island’s ICET economic trust gets $10M, far short of the $150M it wanted

BC Green MLA Adam Olsen says funding kicks the future of ICET ‘down the road’

Saanich North and the Islands MLA Adam Olsen plans to introduce legislation Wednesday designed to ensure permanent funding for the Island Coastal Economic Trust. The provincial government Wednesday announced $10 million for the fund, but Olsen says this announcement does not resolve the long-term future of the fund. (Black Press Media file photo)
Saanich North and the Islands MLA Adam Olsen Monday (March 27) said he remains concerned about funding for the Island Coastal Economic Trust (ICET), which supports economic development on Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast. (Black Press Media file photo)

Critics fear B.C. poised to freeze $300 million Vancouver Island development fund

ICET has asked for $150 million funding but not yet received an answer from government

Saanich North and the Islands MLA Adam Olsen Monday (March 27) said he remains concerned about funding for the Island Coastal Economic Trust (ICET), which supports economic development on Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast. (Black Press Media file photo)
Gael, an Irish setter from North Saanich, was the overall winner of the Vancouver Island Dogs Calendar Contest last year. Image by Pauliina Saarinen Photography.

Vancouver Island Dogs Calendar Contest underway

Proceeds from contest and calendar sales benefit Operation Freedom Paws Canada Service Dog Program

  • Mar 20, 2023
Gael, an Irish setter from North Saanich, was the overall winner of the Vancouver Island Dogs Calendar Contest last year. Image by Pauliina Saarinen Photography.
The federal government and B.C. announced the Island Rail Corridor segment running through the Snaw-Naw-As First Nation will return to the community. (Photo by Mike Bonkowski for Island Corridor Foundation)

Canada, B.C. announce Island Rail Corridor lands being returned to First Nation

Snaw-Naw-As First Nation claimed their land was expropriated for rail services no longer in use

The federal government and B.C. announced the Island Rail Corridor segment running through the Snaw-Naw-As First Nation will return to the community. (Photo by Mike Bonkowski for Island Corridor Foundation)
Oak Bay Fire Lt. Jason Joynson holds the flag of fallen colleague chaplain Kenneth Gill, who took his own life in 2018, at the south lawn of the legislature in Victoria Monday (March 6). (Austin Westphal/News Staff)

PHOTOS: B.C. firefighters honour fallen colleagues with Victoria parade

The same gear that’s supposed to protect first responders is also killing them due to cancer, says firefighter

Oak Bay Fire Lt. Jason Joynson holds the flag of fallen colleague chaplain Kenneth Gill, who took his own life in 2018, at the south lawn of the legislature in Victoria Monday (March 6). (Austin Westphal/News Staff)
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

The same sense of curiosity that first inspired Sara Ellison to look…

Sara Ellison looks at a basket star while snorkelling off the coast of northern Vancouver Island. (Courtesy Sara Ellison)
The federal government must state its intention for the future of the Vancouver Island Rail Corridor by mid-March. (Photo by Mike Bonkowski for Island Corridor Foundation)

Vote on future of Island rail corridor prompts First Nation board members to resign

Members sought non-rail uses after provincial report flags First Nations concerns

The federal government must state its intention for the future of the Vancouver Island Rail Corridor by mid-March. (Photo by Mike Bonkowski for Island Corridor Foundation)
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 Mount Fisher Bluffs on Saturna Island have been protected thanks to a recent land purchase. (Courtesy of the Nature Trust of British Columbia)

Ecologically important Gulf Island bluffs off Greater Victoria now protected

The Saturna Island land is home to threatened, at-risk and endangered species

The Mount Fisher Bluffs on Saturna Island have been protected thanks to a recent land purchase. (Courtesy of the Nature Trust of British Columbia)
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 federal government must state its intention for the future of the Vancouver Island Rail Corridor by mid-March. (Photo by Mike Bonkowski for Island Corridor Foundation)

‘Strategically important’: Feds weighing $431M Vancouver Island Rail Corridor future as deadline looms

Rail return could be Island’s needed transportation alternative: corridor foundation

The federal government must state its intention for the future of the Vancouver Island Rail Corridor by mid-March. (Photo by Mike Bonkowski for Island Corridor Foundation)
Tundra and Gary Allen are shown in the film Part of the Pack, airing Feb. 10 at the Victoria Film Festival. (Photo: Isabelle Groc)

Film exploring complexity of wolf-human interactions airing at Victoria Film Fest

Part of the Pack explores the challenges of domesticating the wild, mostly shot on Vancouver Island

Tundra and Gary Allen are shown in the film Part of the Pack, airing Feb. 10 at the Victoria Film Festival. (Photo: Isabelle Groc)