John McKinley

Gord Downie. (Tim Fitzgerald photo)
Gord Downie. (Tim Fitzgerald photo)
Premier John Horgan embraces one of the most powerful members of his caucus, Finance Minister Carole James during Tuesday’s swearing-in. The Vancouver Island-based premier named five Island MLAs to his cabinet.

The Vancouver Island is strong in B.C.’s new government

With the Premier, five cabinet ministers and all the Greens, the Island has unheard-of influence

Premier John Horgan embraces one of the most powerful members of his caucus, Finance Minister Carole James during Tuesday’s swearing-in. The Vancouver Island-based premier named five Island MLAs to his cabinet.
Courtenay man wins a half-million on the Extra

Courtenay man wins a half-million on the Extra

Barry Manning of Courtenay will use his $500,000 to travel

Courtenay man wins a half-million on the Extra
A tribute hockey game was hosted by the Victoria Grizzlies on Jan. 8, 2016 to honour the memory of Reid Kyfiuk, a Saanich minor hockey player who had died two weeks earlier in a snowboarding accident. victoriagrizzlies.com photo

Saanich teen’s 2015 snowboarding death ruled an accidental drowning

Coroner says Reid Kyfiuk asphyxiated after falling face-first into a deep snow hole

A tribute hockey game was hosted by the Victoria Grizzlies on Jan. 8, 2016 to honour the memory of Reid Kyfiuk, a Saanich minor hockey player who had died two weeks earlier in a snowboarding accident. victoriagrizzlies.com photo
While a love and respect for nature is a good thing, it is also important to remember that wolves, bears and cougars are dangerous predators and not just noble symbols of the majesty of the wild.

When people and predators share the same Island, sometimes the people have to protect themselves

Feel bad for the animals, but don’t forget people need protection too

While a love and respect for nature is a good thing, it is also important to remember that wolves, bears and cougars are dangerous predators and not just noble symbols of the majesty of the wild.
ELECTION 2017: Parties look to change B.C.’s ferry system

ELECTION 2017: Parties look to change B.C.’s ferry system

Tax breaks, freezing fares or ‘wholesale change’ on the table for BC Ferries

ELECTION 2017: Parties look to change B.C.’s ferry system
UPDATE: Fatal Tofino boat accident under investigation

UPDATE: Fatal Tofino boat accident under investigation

Two Albertans died in the incident while the other three have been released from hospital

UPDATE: Fatal Tofino boat accident under investigation
(File photo)

Ferry tax break, Commonwealth Games bid among BC Liberals promises for Vancouver Island

Victoria area amalgamation investigation, Malahat fix, Cathedral Grove protection also on the agenda

(File photo)
The Spirit of Vancouver Island.

Mechanical difficulties reduce ferry schedule

Spirit of Vancouver in for repairs, 11 sailings cut on this busy weekend

The Spirit of Vancouver Island.
Jeff Dunham and his cast of puppets are coming to Victoria's Save on Foods Memorial Centre on March 22.

Jeff Dunham: how to offend critics and please fans

World's most popular ventriloquist brings his Perfectly Unbalanced tour to Victoria March 22

Jeff Dunham and his cast of puppets are coming to Victoria's Save on Foods Memorial Centre on March 22.
Tom Cochrane has shows scheduled for Trail

Tom Cochrane’s highway still rolling through this mad, mad world

Zest for spinning musical stories still powers Canadian songwriting icon as he celebrates his most successful album in 25th anniversary tour

Tom Cochrane has shows scheduled for Trail
Royal Winnipeg Ballet dancers bring the classic tale of The Nutcracker to life with the addition of Canadian elements such as polar bears during performances at Victoria’s Royal Theatre

Get into the Christmas spirit

A guide to some of the many Vancouver Island festivities that can help you get into the mood for the holidays

Royal Winnipeg Ballet dancers bring the classic tale of The Nutcracker to life with the addition of Canadian elements such as polar bears during performances at Victoria’s Royal Theatre
Island Health is warning all drug consumers to not use without having help close at hand after seven overdose deaths on the Island in past week

Urgent plea to drug users: please don’t do it alone

Seven Vancouver Island deaths in seven days and a fresh batch of social services cheques have health providers on high alert for the weekend

Island Health is warning all drug consumers to not use without having help close at hand after seven overdose deaths on the Island in past week
Parliamentary secretary Jonathan Wilkinson (right) after announcing Vancouver Island components of Justin Trudeau's Oceans Protection Plan Tuesday morning in Victoria.

New facilities for Port Hardy, Port Renfrew and Victoria part of Oceans Protection Plan

Federal government also pledging better navigational data and tools to protect killer whales and several Vancouver Island waterways

Parliamentary secretary Jonathan Wilkinson (right) after announcing Vancouver Island components of Justin Trudeau's Oceans Protection Plan Tuesday morning in Victoria.
Courtenay work crews will be deploying aqua dams on Thursday to prepare for possible flooding.

Hydro crews battling about 7,000 outages as windstorm mark II hits Vancouver Island

Forecasters expect stormy conditions to ease this afternoon before third storm arrives tomorrow

Courtenay work crews will be deploying aqua dams on Thursday to prepare for possible flooding.
John Cleese

Idle thoughts and Cleese observations on comedy legends

Monty Python's Eric Idle and John Cleese open the latest leg of the their Together Again At Last...For The Very First Time tour in Victoria

John Cleese
Amanita phalloides

Victorian poisoned after eating death cap mushrooms picked in a backyard

Island Health issues warning after harvester taken out of province for treatment

Amanita phalloides
Pockets of power outages dot Vancouver Island following the fall's first windstorm.

UPDATED: Hydro crews restore power to all but 500 Vancouver Island customers

First storm of the season batters Vancouver Island's east coast

Pockets of power outages dot Vancouver Island following the fall's first windstorm.
Court upholds conviction after Nanaimo man claims 42-month wait for verdict unreasonable

Court upholds conviction after Nanaimo man claims 42-month wait for verdict unreasonable

William Michael Curry drug case among the first to respond to a new Supreme Court 30-month ceiling on trial delays

Court upholds conviction after Nanaimo man claims 42-month wait for verdict unreasonable
Mount Tolmie offers a fantastic view of Saanich

Saanich ranked Vancouver Island’s best city

MoneySense statistical analysis says immigrant-friendly community offers employment, health care, low crime and many amenities

Mount Tolmie offers a fantastic view of Saanich