Greater Victoria

Two inmates who escaped William Head prison in Metchosin were caught after commenting on the size of Lewis the Great Dane. He was being walked by John Ferguson, who was an off-duty officer at the time. (Black Press Media file photo)

Court hears of off-duty officer’s encounter with Metchosin inmates, and their arrest

James Lee Busch and Zachary Armitage charged with killing 60-year-old Metchosin man

 

Oak Bay High School. (Black Press Media file photo)

Bathroom door gun threat sends Greater Victoria high school students home

Police find no evidence of anyone having a firearm at school

 

Country superstar Blake Shelton has been announced as the headline for next summer’s Sunfest Country Music Festival, running Aug. 3 to 6, 2023. (Courtesy of Sunfest Country Music Festival)

Blake Shelton coming to Vancouver Island as Sunfest headliner

The Cowichan country music festival returns to Laketown Ranch Aug. 3 to 6, 2023

 

Zachary Armitage, charged along with James Lee Busch in killing Metchosin’s Martin Payne, is no longer a part of a trial associated with the case. (Correctional Service of Canada/Facebook)

Metchosin murder trial continues without one of the escaped inmates

Jury hears Zachary Armitage no longer part of these court proceedings

Zachary Armitage, charged along with James Lee Busch in killing Metchosin’s Martin Payne, is no longer a part of a trial associated with the case. (Correctional Service of Canada/Facebook)
James Lee Busch and Zachary Armitage are charged with the first-degree murder of Martin Payne after their escape from William Head Institution on July 7, 2019. (Correctional Service of Canada/Facebook)

Blood spatter analyst explains where Metchosin man was struck in his home

James Lee Busch and Zachary Armitage are charged with the first-degree murder of Martin Payne

James Lee Busch and Zachary Armitage are charged with the first-degree murder of Martin Payne after their escape from William Head Institution on July 7, 2019. (Correctional Service of Canada/Facebook)
Premier David Eby has announced the province is scrapping controversial plans to eliminate individualized autism funding, which was scheduled to be phased out by 2025. (Black Press Media file photo)

Premier announces about-turn on B.C. autism funding cuts

David Eby says individualized funding will continue past 2025

Premier David Eby has announced the province is scrapping controversial plans to eliminate individualized autism funding, which was scheduled to be phased out by 2025. (Black Press Media file photo)
James Lee Busch and Zachary Armitage are back in police custody after their escape from William Head institution on July 7. (Correctional Service of Canada/Facebook)

Jury sees items from scene of Metchosin homicide, others found with escaped inmates

James Lee Busch and Zachary Armitage charged with the first-degree murder of Martin Payne

James Lee Busch and Zachary Armitage are back in police custody after their escape from William Head institution on July 7. (Correctional Service of Canada/Facebook)
James Lee Busch and Zachary Armitage are charged with killing Martin Payne after the inmates escaped William Head institution on July 7, 2019. (Correctional Service of Canada/Facebook)

Defence lawyers critical of items examined at Metchosin homicide scene

James Lee Busch and Zachary Armitage are charged with the first-degree murder of Martin Payne

James Lee Busch and Zachary Armitage are charged with killing Martin Payne after the inmates escaped William Head institution on July 7, 2019. (Correctional Service of Canada/Facebook)
Martin Payne’s red Ford F150 pickup truck was found in Oak Bay in 2019. A lawyer defending one of the men accused of killing Payne asked about how the truck and the slain Metchosin man’s home were examined. (West Shore RCMP photo)

Defence lawyer questions evidence examination during trial for escaped Metchosin inmates

Zachary Armitage’s lawyer cross-examined RCMP forensics investigator on Tuesday

Martin Payne’s red Ford F150 pickup truck was found in Oak Bay in 2019. A lawyer defending one of the men accused of killing Payne asked about how the truck and the slain Metchosin man’s home were examined. (West Shore RCMP photo)
James Lee Busch (left) and Zachary Armitage are charged with the first-degree murder of 60-year-old Martin Payne after they escaped William Head institution on July 7, 2019. (Correctional Service of Canada/Facebook)

Bloody shoes found in bags linked to prints at Metchosin crime scene

Escaped inmates Zachary Armitage and James Lee Busch are charged with killing Martin Payne

James Lee Busch (left) and Zachary Armitage are charged with the first-degree murder of 60-year-old Martin Payne after they escaped William Head institution on July 7, 2019. (Correctional Service of Canada/Facebook)
Layanna Robinson was awarded a crown and sash after being named Miss Earth Canada 2023. (Courtesy Layanna Robinson)

Victoria woman crowned Miss Earth Canada 2023

Layanna Robinson will represent Canada at Miss Earth 2023 in Vietnam

Layanna Robinson was awarded a crown and sash after being named Miss Earth Canada 2023. (Courtesy Layanna Robinson)
Sarah Fennell, along with several Greater Victoria parents, is speaking out after paying a $1,100 deposit for a daycare spot. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)

Saanich daycare kerfuffle reveals dire state of childcare in Greater Victoria

Non-refundable deposit not returned once parents learned of provider’s criminal history

Sarah Fennell, along with several Greater Victoria parents, is speaking out after paying a $1,100 deposit for a daycare spot. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)
James Lee Busch and Zachary Armitage are charged with the first-degree murder of 60-year-old Martin Payne after they escaped William Head institution on July 7, 2019. (Correctional Service of Canada/Facebook)

Forensics expert testifies inmates’ fingerprints found in home, truck of slain Metchosin man

Escaped inmates Zachary Armitage and James Lee Busch are charged with killing Martin Payne

James Lee Busch and Zachary Armitage are charged with the first-degree murder of 60-year-old Martin Payne after they escaped William Head institution on July 7, 2019. (Correctional Service of Canada/Facebook)
The body of Metchosin man Martin Payne was discovered July 12, 2019. Family described him as “exceptionally gentle” and “caring.” Two escaped inmates from William Head Institution have been charged with his murder. (Facebook/Martin Payne)

Murder trial hears of prison escapees’ attempts to get off Vancouver Island

Zachary Armitage and James Lee Busch are charged with killing 60-year-old Martin Payne of Metchosin

The body of Metchosin man Martin Payne was discovered July 12, 2019. Family described him as “exceptionally gentle” and “caring.” Two escaped inmates from William Head Institution have been charged with his murder. (Facebook/Martin Payne)
BC Ferries is using the one-year anniversary of the 2021 storm that washed out highways connecting Greater Victoria with the rest of Vancouver Island to highlight the role the crew on board the Klitsa played in keeping the community connected. (Courtesy of BC Ferries)

BC Ferries celebrates Mill Bay ferry crew on anniversary of 2021 floods

Brentwood Bay route’s Klitsa and her crew provided a lifeline for stranded travellers

BC Ferries is using the one-year anniversary of the 2021 storm that washed out highways connecting Greater Victoria with the rest of Vancouver Island to highlight the role the crew on board the Klitsa played in keeping the community connected. (Courtesy of BC Ferries)
Brandon Baker, a member of the Victoria Flying Club, got an experience of a lifetime when he got to fly a borrowed plane around Burning Man this summer, with the highlight being a surprise airborne pizza delivery. (Courtesy Brandon Baker)

Greater Victoria pilot takes to the skies to bring pizza to Burning Man

Brandon Baker was at the desert festival when an opportunity arose to rent a plane

Brandon Baker, a member of the Victoria Flying Club, got an experience of a lifetime when he got to fly a borrowed plane around Burning Man this summer, with the highlight being a surprise airborne pizza delivery. (Courtesy Brandon Baker)
Retired Warrant Officer Theresa ‘Terri’ Lynn Orser remembers the peacekeepers at the Langford Cenotaph. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)

Greater Victoria veteran recalls psychological toll of peacekeeping in the Balkans

Terri Orser witnessed action, horror in her 27 years in the Canadian Armed Forces

Retired Warrant Officer Theresa ‘Terri’ Lynn Orser remembers the peacekeepers at the Langford Cenotaph. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)
The McLoughlin Point Wastewater Treatment Plant in Esquimalt, B.C., is seen on Friday, January 8, 2021. The Greater Victoria area no longer uses surrounding ocean waters to flush away raw effluent now that a $775 million sewage plant has started treating the equivalent of 43 Olympic-sized pools of waste daily. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

For its neighbours, Greater Victoria’s wastewater plant woes flow through the nose

Those living nearby say CRD hasn’t kept its promise of an odour-free McLoughlin treatment facility

The McLoughlin Point Wastewater Treatment Plant in Esquimalt, B.C., is seen on Friday, January 8, 2021. The Greater Victoria area no longer uses surrounding ocean waters to flush away raw effluent now that a $775 million sewage plant has started treating the equivalent of 43 Olympic-sized pools of waste daily. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
The emergency entrance at Royal Jubilee Hospital. (Black Press Media file photo)

IIO finds Victoria officer didn’t use excessive force in hospital shooting

Man shot once in the abdomen while holding a knife

The emergency entrance at Royal Jubilee Hospital. (Black Press Media file photo)
Langford resident, and UVic staffer, John Fowler was sent home during the Nov. 6 episode of The Great Canadian Baking Show. (Carmen Cheung/Courtesy CBC)

Culture fusion proves fruitful for Victoria doctor on televised baking competition

Langford baker bumped from the tent in The Great Canadian Baking show

Langford resident, and UVic staffer, John Fowler was sent home during the Nov. 6 episode of The Great Canadian Baking Show. (Carmen Cheung/Courtesy CBC)