How U.S. Tariffs Could Reshape Tourism in Canada – A Boon or a Bust?

Tofino just changed their downtown parking rules from parking to paid parking. While some concerns over affordability for residents were raised before the change was made, the expected $220,000+ in city revenue was too large to pass up for most of the City Council. “Frankly, people paying downtown will largely be tourists. There will be some residents, but most likely residents have the opportunity to avoid the downtown because they’re not here on holiday, and they can make other choices,” said Aaron Rodgers, Tofino’s Director of Infrastructure and Public Works, in a meeting. However, new concerns have been raised now that paid parking has been implemented. Residents from Hesquiaht, Tla-o-qui-aht, and Ahousaht communities rely on the 110 allocated offshore parking spots to safely leave their vehicles while they travel home by boat or seaplane. Forty of these spots are given to Tla-o-qui-aht, according to the District of Tofino. However, new signage has led to confusion for both locals and tourists. To avoid the pay parking, some tourists park in the offshore spots, which were previously clearly indicated as such. “Even if we have a valid permit hanging on our rearview mirror, we have nowhere to park,” lamented Ahousaht resident Curt McLeod to Ha-Shilth-Sa. He has even seen vehicles with Washington and Alberta plates using these spots. Until recently, residents could park almost anywhere if the offshore spots were taken, but now all other parking spots are paid, so offshore residents run the risk of tickets or towing. In response to the concerns, the District of Tofino has said they know of the limited parking in the downtown core and are committed to working with offshore communities for a long-term solution. However, in an email, the city stated it is “aware that parking is limited in the downtown core and cannot meet the demands of everyone.” They emphasized that all drivers must comply with the posted time restrictions. Offshore permits are free and valid for one year, and residents can obtain them at the Tofino municipal office or register online with their license plate number and proof of offshore residency. But there is not much point in having an offshore permit if tourists fill the allotted spaces. The offshore parking spaces are available on a “first come, first served” basis. Permit holders may park in unrestricted areas or time-limited spots with the applicable fee if there is no offshore parking. McLeod highlighted the importance of the offshore areas for residents. “If there weren’t offshore areas…we wouldn’t be able to park in Tofino. That’s really our parking lot down there.” The change has confused everyone, and offshore residents hope for a resolution soon.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, underwater cinematographer and editor John Roney’s travel plans were shelved. So the Parksville resident decided to take his camera and capture local marine life. “I realized I had the opportunity to just hone in and film our local wildlife rather than travelling abroad and capturing the more famous tropical creatures,” says Roney. After two years of documenting the waters off of Vancouver Island comes the short film Beneath the Pacific Northwest. “It was filmed all over Vancouver Island, a lot in Victoria, up in Nanaimo and Nanoose Bay area, some even in the north island,” says Roney. “Really what made the cut for me was trying to fit in the animals that people didn’t already know about.” Just weeks after its release on YouTube and other online platforms the video is already drawing rave reviews. “The reception’s been awesome from both locals and around the world, so that’s been really cool,” says Roney. Roney hopes that the project helps educate islanders and British Columbians alike about the beauty that lies beneath the waves. “I think people don’t realize that we do have some of the best scuba diving in the world,” says Roney. “Most people think of Vancouver Island as having murky dark waters and the visibility is pretty poor, but at the same time the amount of colour is just amazing.” To see the full video and to see more of Roney’s work, visit his website [https://www.roneydives.com/].

Whether you love it or hate it, of all the sports news, none seems to generate funnier headlines than Pickleball does. The exciting mix of tennis and ping pong has a generous fan club in the gulf islands – and a just as prominent group of haters. The reason for so many people’s vehement distaste for what most would simply view as a fun game is the record level of noise it can generate. Unlike tennis, which uses a relatively soft and furry ball, pickle palls are made of hard plastic, producing an almost gunshot-like sound with every hit. The noise can be so bad that it induces some pretty crazy behaviour from those living near a court – a Chilliwack couple just went so far as a week-long hunger strike in protest of the pickleball courts near them. Yikes. While no one has yet had to resort to a hunger strike, residents across the Island have staged their own forms of protest. On Mayne Island, a BC Supreme Court judge recently dismissed a case involving a group of tennis players who had tried to take over two tennis courts to prevent people from playing Pickleball there. Although the case has gone away, the struggle over the courts created a genuine rift between Mayne Islanders. “It’s been quite devastating,” Adrian Gowing, Mayne Island Tennis Association president, told CBC News. “You know, we’re in our little village here. At times we get on the ferries to go places, and now you’re sort of looking around going, ‘Oh, I don’t want to talk to that person, I don’t want to talk to that person.’ It’s become quite uncomfortable,” said Gowing. On the other hand, Pickleball has been gaining a massive following in the Comox Valley and seems to be bringing the community together. “Pickleball is fun….. Pickleball is competitive….. Pickleball is recreational….. Pickleball is social; Pickleball is anything you want it to be!.. YOU WILL LOVE IT!” says the uber-enthusiastic Comox Valley Pickleball [https://www.facebook.com/cvpickleball.ca] group on their Facebook page. They host weekly skill sessions and don’t seem to have gotten any public flack over generating noise – likely because the courts are mainly indoors and out of residential earshot. In recognition of National Pickleball Day, the Comox Valley group is hosting an Open House at the Rotary Highlands Pickleball Courts for their 500 group members and anyone else that would like to join! Will this be your new favourite sport? Or do you hate Pickleball just as much as pickles? Let us know in the comments.

October 3, 1936 – October 22, 2025 With broken hearts we announce the peaceful passing of Frank Andrew Herman on October 22nd in Nanaimo, B.C. at the age of 89. Above all else, Frank loved his family and will be deeply missed by his children Craig (Tina) and Lynda (Larry), and his two grandsons, Liam and Dawson. He is survived by his sister, Sharon and preceded in death by his loving wife of 60 years, Patricia, his brother, Edison, and his dear friend, Joan. Born in Nanaimo to his parents John and Josephine (Andre), Frank graduated from NDSS in 1956. Frank met Pat in 1958, and they married in 1959. Frank was trained as a Registered Industrial Accountant and his career with McMillan Bloedel began in 1957 in Port Hardy. As his career progressed, he became a Logging Division Manager, and lived in Ucluelet, Port Alberni and Campbell River. Frank retired from McMillan Bloedel in 1991. As a side endeavor, in 1970, Frank, together with 3 partners, developed Arbutus Point Estates (now known as Madrona Point in Nanoose B.C.) Having been successful with that venture, they then went on to build a development at Fairwinds, including the Fairwinds Golf Club in 1979. Frank and Pat loved to travel the world, with his favorite destination being Australia. One of his highlights was being able to brand cattle on the Australian Outback! Another favorite pastime was fishing, where he enjoyed many adventures with Craig. Frank will be remembered as a loving, kind, generous and devoted father, Bubba and friend to many. His quick wit will be missed by all. His family is grateful for the incredible care and support from the staff members at Berwick on the Lake in Nanaimo. At Franks’s request, there will be no funeral service, but a celebration of life will take place at a later date.

It is with deep sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Kelly Brian McKenzie on October 14th, 2025, at the age of 66. He was predeceased by his beloved grandparents who raised him, Hugh and Bessie McKenzie; his father, Rex McKenzie; and his uncles Doug and Hughie McKenzie, and Clint Unwin. He is survived by his partner of 14 years, Kathy Sarrasin; her children, Jeremy (and family) and Jaclyn Sarrasin; his brothers, Michael, Sean, Collin, Kevin (Rebecca), Graham, and Aaron; and his aunt, Nita Unwin, whom he always thought of as a big sister. He is also lovingly remembered by numerous other family members and friends. Also missing him deeply is his Chihuahua, Eli — they were inseparable. Kelly drove transit in Nanaimo for 36 years. He retired 8 years ago and enjoyed every minute of it. Kelly loved animals, the outdoors, Island drives and adventures, kayaking at Spider Lake, and playing his guitars. Kelly will be laid to rest at Cedar Memorial Cemetery at a later date. Family and close friends will be notified.

For the second year in a row, the UVic Vikes women’s rugby team came up just short in the U Sports national championship, losing 15-13 to the UBC Thunderbirds on Nov. 2. The low-scoring final was a nail-biter, and fourth-overall meeting on the season between UVic and UBC. The Vikes had beat the Thunderbirds in all of those occasions, including a 18-17 win in the Canada West final on Oct. 19. But, on Nov. 2, the host Thunderbirds got the upper-hand. In the dying seconds, Claremont Secondary School graduate Adia Pye scored the game-winning try for UBC, sealing the Vikes’ fate. > The crowd goes wild!???? Adia Pye scores a breathtaking try, putting UBC ahead! > > La foule est en délire!????Adia Pye marque un essai époustouflant, mettre > @ubctbirds [https://twitter.com/ubctbirds?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw] avant ! > > > > > > > Watch live ???? Regardez en direct : https://t.co/B2EnlWxShC > [https://t.co/B2EnlWxShC] > > UBC: 15 > UVic: 13#ChaseTheGlory > [https://twitter.com/hashtag/ChaseTheGlory?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw] | > #ViserHaut > [https://twitter.com/hashtag/ViserHaut?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw] > pic.twitter.com/j2BVYfIOlR [https://t.co/j2BVYfIOlR] > > — U SPORTS Rugby (@USPORTS_Rugby) November 3, 2025 > [https://twitter.com/USPORTS_Rugby/status/1985159087705792577?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw] “I want to start off by saying that UVic are an absolutely outstanding team,” said UBC head coach Dean Murten. “They’ve got some world-class players, they’re well-coached, they’re aggressive defensively and knew it was going to come down to the wire, but not the last play of the game, absolutely not.” The Vikes entered the tournament with strong credentials, coming in as the number one ranked team in the country. On the individual side, Olympic silver medalist, Carissa Norsten was named U Sports player of the year, while head coach Brittany Waters received U Sports coach of the year. “She comes to practice early, she works as hard as anyone in this league,” Waters said before the tournament. “You often see the superstars get the recognition, and with this one, it really is so well-deserved. She’s a leader for our group in more ways than one.” Norsten, along with Olivia Newsome, Justine Blatt-Janmaat, Emily Findlay and Sierra Gillis, earned spots on the tournament all-star team. Victoria opened the U Sports Final 8 tournament with a 41-8 victory over the University of Ottawa, followed by a 42-0 semifinal win against the University of Guelph.

The Nanaimo African Herage Society put fairy tales front and centre in royal tea party, at which attendees got to dance and hear stories about women of colour who have contributed to B.C.’s heritage. On Oct. 19, Elsa from Frozen, Ariel from The Little Mermaid, Snow White and more gave local children a show, joining them for tea and activities. Queen Shalema’s Princess Tea Party is an annual event hosted by the society, giving opportunities for children to hang out with their movie heroes – including not only princesses, but also a guest apperance from Spider-Man. In a press release following the event, Shalema Gantt, founder of the the Nanaimo African Heritage Society, said the event was well-attended.

When Ladysmith artist Sarah Leo began fainting without warning, she didn’t know if she’d ever get her health — or her rhythm — back. For two months, she lost consciousness regularly. Doctors never found a clear cause, but the experience forced her to rebuild from the inside out. “It took everything in my power to get myself back healthy,” she said, sitting in the cosy studio of her Ladysmith home. “This is the next chapter of my life because of that.” This chapter is one filled with art. Her creative projects span music, poetry and painting, but it’s her custom jean jackets that have become Ladysmith legends. Born in New Westminster and raised mostly in Edmonton, Leo’s family moved to Vancouver Island when she was 10. She later earned a Bachelor of Arts followed by a Bachelor of Education. She went on to teach high school, but the realities of the classroom and long evenings of marking left no time for her own creative practice. “I loved encouraging kids to believe in themselves,” she says. “But I realized I needed to take my own advice.” Then her body forced the issue. Leo began fainting several times a day. Once, when she collapsed at home, she called out to her Alexa smart speaker for help. The device connected her with her husband at work, who called a neighbour to help. Those were dark days filled with health issues and uncertainty, but Leo leaned on music to stay grounded. “I had never really listened to blues music before,” she said. “It’s people singing about their pain, and yet when they leave the stage, they’ve done something. They’ve transmuted that negative feeling and they’ve helped other people feel human.” That process of taking pain and turning it into something that helps others became central to her own recovery. “Art has always given me a way to feel better. Every challenge I’ve gone through, art has helped me get to a healthy place.” She painted, she sang, she took photos and she created a different kind of lesson plan: not one for her students, but for herself. She built what she calls her Bliss Checklist [https://sarahleoartist.weebly.com/-bliss-checklist.html], which includes music first thing in the morning, gratitude before coffee, a deep, slow breathing practice and more. That shift set the stage for an artistic breakthrough that started, quite literally, in her closet. On a previous vacation to Tofino, she had fallen in love with a thrifted jean jacket that made her feel amazing when she tried it on. She brought it home, hung it up and forgot about it. Fast forward to postpartum depression, health issues and a closet full of clothes that no longer fit. One day she came across the jacket and remembered how good it had felt in that moment in Tofino. “I found it, put it on, and I breathed the biggest sigh of relief that I’d felt in a very long time,” she recalled. “I wore it around the house like a lunatic for two weeks. I felt great. I felt like myself. I started going out again. I was going for walks. I thought to myself, ‘I have to give other people this feeling.’ Then I was like, ‘Hey, I could paint on these.’” And she did. The result is custom-painted jean jackets that make the wearer feel like a rock star. Each jacket order begins with a questionnaire Leo sends to her new client. “I ask, How do you want to feel in it?” she said. Clients provide their own jacket or choose from her inventory. Leo creates each piece digitally, projects her design onto the fabric, and then paints it with acrylics mixed with a fabric medium. Her signature style features text above and below a central image, with colour that seems to glow. Her clients are mostly local, and when she has stock, she sells in stores, but most of her business is direct and through her website [https://sarahleoartist.weebly.com/]. For now, her creations turn heads around town, but she’d love to see one on a red carpet someday and dreams of creating jackets for celebrity clients. The jackets range from $120 to $220 per jacket, but the real currency is emotional. Leo lives for the moment when a customer sees her completed work for the first time. She usually mails her creations, but not always. “Sometimes I drive the extra mile just to see the reaction,” she said. “They dance around, they scream, their eyes start tearing. It makes me feel so fulfilled to provide something that makes somebody feel that comfortable in their own skin.” That feeling is something Leo fought hard to attain for herself, always via her art. In addition to her jean jacket business, Leo is now an in-demand singer. She performs at venues across Vancouver Island, from galleries and universities to restaurants and bars. Her goal has never been about recognition. “It’s about how much impact I can leave in the places I’ve been.” Now thriving in both life and art, Leo makes her home a creative haven with her husband, Chek TV journalist Tchadas Leo [https://tchadasleo.ca/], and their young son. The family stays rooted in Ladysmith, a community Sarah credits for both inspiration and support. “It was the first place I really felt accepted,” she said. “People here take care of each other.” Surrounded by a caring community, Leo found the safety and support to care for herself. Now she’s inspiring others to do the same. “If I take care of me, I take care of everybody,” she said. It’s a philosophy that turned her own healing into art, and her art into healing for others, one song, one poem, one jacket at a time. web1_sarah-leo-before-and-after-sized [https://www.bpmcdn.com/f/files/shared/feeds/gps/2025/11/web1_sarah-leo-before-and-after-sized.jpg;w=960]Now and then. Artist Sarah Leo stands with two of her hand-painted jean jackets — one created during a period of illness and depression, and another made after she found healing through art.

A Campbell River author has added another award to her resume. Shari Green was awarded the Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People at a gala event in Toronto on Oct. 27 for her novel, Song of Freedom, Song of Dreams. “Green’s gripping novel in verse explores the familial, personal, and political complexities of living in late 1980s communist East Germany,” the jury wrote. Song of Freedom, Song of Dreams was published by Andrews McMeel Publishing, and was also a finalist for the Governor General’s Literary Award and the Sheila A. Egoff Children’s Literature Prize. The novel is centered around a 16-year-old pianist living in Leipzig, who tries to pursue her dreams during the months of protest preceding the fall of the Berlin Wall. The book begins in August 1989, and explores the pianist’s (Helena) hopes and dreams of becoming a conductor, disrupted by politics, such as the East Germany government’s ban on music such as Italian operas, Russian folk songs, and music from the United States, and even the Beatles. Her father is also a dreamer, inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King, and organizes protests when he is not teaching his university students to think critically about the world they live in. “When I was writing this book,” Green said during her acceptance speech,” I was struck by how often the events and themes of the time were so similar to what I was seeing in the news currently. And it reaffirmed for me the importance of listening to and sharing the stories of history.” In an interview with the Campbell River Mirror last October, Green said the book follows Helena as she is drawn into the protest movement known as the Peaceful Revolution, also known as Die Wende (“the turning point”) in Germany. The Peaceful Revolution began with a series of protests called the Monday demonstrations, which started in Leipzig on Sept. 4, 1989, outside St. Nicholas Church. Despite the Stasi’s attempts to crush the movement, the rest of the country soon followed suit.

It doesn’t happen often that a musical group comes along that redefines an entire genre and sets a new standard to which others can aspire, but that’s precisely what Gogo Penguins has done. The Manchester trio manages to seamlessly blend jazz, electronic and classical music in a way that is both exhilarating and wildly entertaining and their most recent album release, Necessary Fiction, is their most adventurous record to date. They’ve managed to retain their understated, cinematic sound while injecting expansive piano riffs, spectacularly sharp percussion and fluid baselines that set them apart from their counterparts. And that unforgettable sound is coming to Victoria on Nov. 17 when Gogo Penguins take the stage at the Royal Theatre. For those of you who haven’t yet experienced the amazing sound of Gogo Penguin, here’s a little background. They are an English jazz fusion band from Manchester, consisting of pianist Chris Illingworth, double bassist Nick Blacka, and drummer Jon Scott. They formed in 2012 and, as of 2025, they have released seven studio albums, two EPs, and three live albums. That’s the basics, but the band itself is so much more, which explains its exploding popularity in the U.K., France and across Europe. Their music features backbeats, minimalist piano melodies, and powerful baselines that have led to comparisons with modern classical composers Shostakovich and Debussy or contemporary minimal music composers like Philip Glass. “There were actually a lot of influences that we wanted to draw from,” said Blacka in a recent interview with Monday Magazine. “We’re from different backgrounds and each brings our own musical influences into the mix. Chris (Illingworth), for example, started out as a classical musician. I studied jazz double bass at Leeds College of Music and Jon (Scott) is a genius on the drums who has played for years and has this creative and flexible style that is just amazing.” “Really, though, we create music to feel the emotion of the sound, but it’s not an explicit meaning. People listen to us, and they bring their own meaning. They listen to it, and I’ve had people come and tell me how a track meant so much to them because it was the soundtrack of a particular event or crisis in their life. The same song can bring a sense of joy or hope or any of a dozen emotions out in different people.” The group has, to date, been able to create those feelings in their audience without any lyrical or vocal accompaniment, but on their most recent album, Necessary Fictions, they featured their first song with a vocalist, featuring British-Ugandan singer-songwriter Daudi Matsiko, whose smoky voice blends perfectly with the trio’s signature styles. “Daudi’s voice has been a friend for years. His voice is quite dark and gentle, and it really resonates with our music,” said Blacka. Victoria is the first stop for Gogo Penguin’s upcoming tour that will see them perform in a series of cities across Canada and the U.S. before returning to Europe for a tour that will take them across the continent for what’s sure to be sold-out crowds. “Success for me is to be able to do what we’re doing. Sure, money is always a part of success, but real success is that you get to bring something to the world that you want to say. We’re very grateful that we have that opportunity,” said Blacka. Tickets for Gogo Penguin’s Victoria appearance are available at www.rmts.bc.ca/production-detail-pages/2025-royal-theatre/gogo-penguin/.

ECHO Players is preparing to welcome theatre lovers to the Vancouver Island One Act Play Festival, running Nov. 5 to Nov. 9 at the Village Theatre in Qualicum Beach. This adjudicated festival showcases a mix of established works and fresh new voices from across central and northern Vancouver Island, according to a news release by ECHO Players. Each evening features two one-act plays, followed by public remarks from adjudicators Eliza Gardiner and Ward Norcutt, with a final awards ceremony on Sunday afternoon. Festival Lineup: Nov. 5 – 7:30 p.m. · Yesterday by Colin Campbell Clements, directed by Alistair McVey (ECHO Players) A Lady and a British officer, late of the Indian Army, find themselves alone, after escaping from a party. They begin to talk about their past, only to discover that they had met, long ago. · Going Avocado by Marian Buechert, directed by Gail Tisdale (ECHO Players) Five women find themselves in a holding cell after being arrested at a protest. They share the cell with a cynical stranger whose assertions force them to re-examine their moral assumptions. Nov. 6 – 7:30 p.m. · After Effects by Brian March, directed by Barbara Metcalf (Yellow Point Drama Group) On Remembrance Day, two men meet in a city park. Both of their fathers fought in the war on different sides, and the repercussions are felt years later. · The First to Stand written and directed by Leila Sadeghi A gripping psychosexual drama about a young actress on the brink of her off-Broadway debut. As she navigates an increasingly volatile relationship with a powerful partner, the play she rehearses begins to mirror her life. What unfolds is a haunting exploration of passion, vulnerability and ambition. Nov. 7 – 7:30 p.m. They Glowed Green written and directed by Kelly Barnum and Sarah Kielly (NDSS Performing Arts) Based on the lives of the “Radium Girls” — female factory workers who contracted radiation poisoning from painting radium watch dials using the “lip dip paint” technique. Poptart! written and directed by Ashera Richard (ECHO Youth Theatre) Tia’s excited to introduce her boyfriend Nick to her quirky, unpredictable family — but Nick quickly realizes this is no ordinary meet-the-parents night. From awkward dinners and bizarre family games to mysterious ‘energy jam’ and confusing rules, Nick struggles to keep up without losing his mind. With a secret safe word and plenty of laughs, this one-act comedy explores the chaos and charm of family, love, and learning to fit in — one wild moment at a time. Nov. 8 – 7:30 p.m. · Laundry and Bourbon by James McClure, directed by Dennis Hawkins-Bogle (Rivercity Players Society) The setting is the front porch of Roy and Elizabeth’s home in Maynard, Texas. Elizabeth and her friend Hattie are whiling away the time folding laundry, watching TV, sipping bourbon and Coke, and gossiping about the many open secrets which are so much a part of small-town life. They are joined by the self-righteous Amy Lee who, among other tidbits, can’t resist blurting out that Roy has been seen around town with another woman. · Poetry in Motion by director Mary Littlejohn (Nanaimo Theatre Group) Four fictional characters from famous poems show up in a waiting room, unsure of their purpose for being there. When the truth comes to light, they suddenly must fight for their existence. An awards ceremony is set to follow on Nov. 9. Come celebrate bold storytelling, passionate performances and the vibrant spirit of community theatre. Tickets are available at echoplayers.ca or at the Village Theatre box office.

An 18-year-old from Nanaimo is dead as the result of a fiery collision south of Nanaimo on the weekend. According to RCMP B.C. Highway Patrol, the crash happened in South Wellington, south of Nanaimo, near Morden Road in the northbound lanes of the Trans-Canada Highway at about 10:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 2. An Audi sedan crashed and caught fire. Witnesses told police that a second dark-coloured car was also driving in the area at the time, but did not stop when the first car crashed. B.C. Highway Patrol is looking for witnesses and dash camera video because criminality hasn’t been ruled out. “We need to know more about that second dark car, possibly a black Honda Civic, that was driving in close proximity to the black Audi in the moments before it crashed,” said Cpl. Michael McLaughlin, B.C. Highway Patrol spokesperson. “Dash-camera video and witnesses will be key to learning exactly what caused this collision.” The 19-year-old Nanaimo man who was driving the crashed Audi went to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. His 18-year-old male passenger died at scene. Anyone who has information about the dark-coloured car that drove away from the scene is asked to call the RCMP B.C Highway Patrol in Duncan at 250-746-2751 and quote file No. 7001 2025-2168.

In Animal Farm, George Orwell warned what happens when those in power rewrite the rules: “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” Here in Saanich, that line feels uncomfortably familiar. Rules that once seemed firm are suddenly open to interpretation — depending on who’s asking. At the centre of the controversy is the Planning Department, which applies bylaws for everything from small home renovations to major projects. Residents are seeing a pattern of inconsistency and weak accountability that’s eroding trust in local government. A striking example sits in Ten Mile Point. A new home – nicknamed the “Observation Tower” – rises almost a full storey higher than the bylaw allows. Like The Emperor’s New Clothes, the result is obvious to anyone who looks. Yet the city insists all is well. Saanich’s zoning bylaw once left little room for doubt, ensuring fairness and predictability for everyone – builders, planners, and neighbours alike. When the plans for this house first came across the counter, city staff denied a height variance. But days later, a permit was granted after officials quietly invented an off-books interpretation that stretched the meaning of “height” like an elastic band. When neighbours asked where this new logic was authorized, no one could point to any line in the bylaw. Yet the same explanation was repeated up the chain — by the directors, the chief administrative officer, and even the mayor. Each defended the decision, but none cited an actual rule. A mistake could have been corrected. Instead, it is becoming a policy. The department closed ranks, construction continued, and what began as an error is hardening into a precedent. The deeper problem is not just bureaucratic overreach – it’s the refusal to admit error and the willingness to mislead the public about what the bylaw actually says. Some will shrug and say, “It’s just a few feet.” But bylaws aren’t about inches – they’re about fairness. Every homeowner and builder should face the same rules. When staff can quietly bend those rules, the entire planning system loses credibility. Everyone agrees Saanich needs more housing. But growth must happen through transparent planning, not through rule-bending behind closed doors. Bylaws exist to create balance: encouraging density in some areas, preserving character in others, and ensuring everyone plays by the same standards. As Orwell might remind us, corruption rarely begins with bad intent. It starts when words are twisted to serve power. If Saanich wants to live up to its own principles of fairness and transparency, it must prove that all residents are equal under the bylaw – and none are more equal than others. Sign the petition: Stop the Rule-Bending: Demand Accountability in Saanich’s Planning Department https://change.org/Stop-Saanich-Rule-Bending [https://change.org/Stop-Saanich-Rule-Bending]. Franke James Saanich

A new opportunity to demonstrate your generosity and caring will be landing at the Tillicum Mall on Nov. 14. Although the concept was first developed in 2017 and has been popular in the United States, New Zealand, the U.K., Spain and even Tokyo, it’s the first time that the Light the World Giving Machine campaign has been run in B.C., and only the second time it’s operated in Canada. Essentially, the idea is that folks can use a giant, seven-foot-tall, touch screen to browse a host of items that are badly needed by a variety of charities. Then, much like the touch screens that you might have become accustomed to while doing your online shopping or at a fast-food outlet, you simply browse through the items, add your selections to your ‘cart’ and then cash out. This is where the twist comes in. “Instead of getting something, you’re giving,” said Joyce Thomson, Giving Machine City co-lead. “It’s a chance to raise community spirit and awareness and help those who so badly need our help.” The campaign is the work of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and operates in partnership with local and international charities. One hundred per cent of the donation goes directly to the charities involved, as the church covers all overhead costs and receives no financial benefit from this initiative. “I want to make it very clear that this project involves absolutely no proselytizing or religious advocacy,” said Thomson. “We will have some volunteers there with the machines in case people have some trouble navigating the screens, but they will only be there to help with those screens and to answer questions about the specific charities.” In fact, Thomson explained that the project is a cooperative effort of her church, the charities and that other faiths, churches and groups have been invited to join in the project. “All we want is to help people,” she said. In Victoria, the machines will provide 25 giving options for five local charities, as well as an additional five giving options for two international charities. “The way this is set up, a family in Victoria may choose to buy chickens for a family in a Third World country, or provide groceries for families in need locally,” said Thomson. “Other items include things such as water purification tablets, vaccine packs, emergency shelters, kids’ lunches, meals for seniors, hot meals for the homeless, wellness and fitness classes, garden supplies, postpartum newborn care, hygiene kits, and fresh linens. And the good thing is that neither the church or the charities retain any portion of the donations. One hundred per cent of everything donated goes to those who need it most.” Since its inception in 2017, more than two million people have visited a Giving Machine and have donated more than $60 million in goods and services. In the 2024 campaign alone, about 600,000 people visited a Giving Machine and purchased more than 350,000 items. The machines will be at Tillicum Mall until Dec. 3, when they will be moved to Vancouver’s Tsawwassen Mills mall.

Every time Canada’s budget season rolls around, I hear the same question: Why send money overseas when we have problems right here at home? I get that question. I live and work in communities where poverty, racism, and inequality are very real. But after more than 20 years of working with Indigenous and systemically marginalized youth through the Victoria International Development Education Association (VIDEA), I’ve seen firsthand that international aid isn’t charity — it’s connection. It’s a two-way exchange that builds strength, opportunity, and leadership both abroad and here at home. At VIDEA, a Victoria-based human rights organization, we run programs that connect Indigenous youth from across Canada with communities in Zambia, and Uganda. These youth travel, work alongside local peers, and share traditional knowledge, environmental skills, and leadership approaches rooted in Indigenous ways of knowing. What comes back is powerful: confidence, perspective, and renewed commitment to making change here in Canada. This is not “aid,” it’s about solidarity — mutual learning between communities who have both survived oppression, colonization, and systemic barriers. When Indigenous youth and youth with barriers to employment from Canada exchange knowledge with youth abroad, both sides grow stronger. They learn how to tackle climate impacts, gender inequality, and community healing in ways that honour culture and land. And the benefits don’t stop there. Studies show that every dollar spent on conflict prevention can save up to $60 in military costs, and every dollar of development assistance generates more than a dollar in Canadian exports. But the real return is human — the leadership, creativity, and global awareness our youth bring home. When Canada retreats from international cooperation, we don’t just abandon people overseas — we shrink the possibilities for our own young people. We cut off chances for them to learn, to lead, and to see themselves as part of something bigger. International cooperation helps build a safer, fairer world. It strengthens the very systems – health, education, climate resilience – that make global and local communities thrive. So as we head into another federal budget and hear talk of cuts, I hope we look beyond the numbers. Because this isn’t about charity. It’s about shared humanity – and about investing in the kind of future our youth, here and everywhere, deserve. Lynn Thornton, executive director Victoria International Development Education Association

Host Thunderbirds flock to win over Vikes in rugby final For the second year in a row, the UVic Vikes women’s rugby team came up just short in the U Sports national championship, losing 15-13 to the UBC Thunderbirds on Nov. 2. The low-scoring final was a nail-biter, and fourth-overall meeting on the season between UVic and UBC. The Vikes had beat the Thunderbirds in all of those occasions, including a 18-17 win in the Canada West final on Oct. 19. But, on Nov. 2, the host Thunderbirds got the upper-hand. In the dying seconds, Claremont Secondary School graduate Adia Pye scored the game-winning try for UBC, sealing the Vikes’ fate. > The crowd goes wild!???? Adia Pye scores a breathtaking try, putting UBC ahead! > > La foule est en délire!????Adia Pye marque un essai époustouflant, mettre > @ubctbirds [https://twitter.com/ubctbirds?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw] avant ! > > Watch live ???? Regardez en direct : https://t.co/B2EnlWxShC > [https://t.co/B2EnlWxShC] > > UBC: 15 > UVic: 13#ChaseTheGlory > [https://twitter.com/hashtag/ChaseTheGlory?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw] | > #ViserHaut > [https://twitter.com/hashtag/ViserHaut?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw] > pic.twitter.com/j2BVYfIOlR [https://t.co/j2BVYfIOlR] > > — U SPORTS Rugby (@USPORTS_Rugby) November 3, 2025 > [https://twitter.com/USPORTS_Rugby/status/1985159087705792577?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw] “I want to start off by saying that UVic are an absolutely outstanding team,” said UBC head coach Dean Murten. “They’ve got some world-class players, they’re well-coached, they’re aggressive defensively and knew it was going to come down to the wire, but not the last play of the game, absolutely not.” The Vikes entered the tournament with strong credentials, coming in as the number one ranked team in the country. On the individual side, Olympic silver medalist, Carissa Norsten was named U Sports player of the year, while head coach Brittany Waters received U Sports coach of the year. “She comes to practice early, she works as hard as anyone in this league,” Waters said before the tournament. “You often see the superstars get the recognition, and with this one, it really is so well-deserved. She’s a leader for our group in more ways than one.” Norsten, along with Olivia Newsome, Justine Blatt-Janmaat, Emily Findlay and Sierra Gillis, earned spots on the tournament all-star team. Victoria opened the U Sports Final 8 tournament with a 41-8 victory over the University of Ottawa, followed by a 42-0 semifinal win against the University of Guelph. Vikes historic field hockey run ended by York University Lions Victoria’s hopes of a seventh consecutive field hockey national title ended in heartbreak on Nov. 2, as the Canada West champions fell 1-0 to York University in Charlottetown, PEI. The Vikes went 2-0-1 in round-robin play, starting with a 0-0 draw against York before defeating Dalhousie 3-0 and the University of Prince Edward Island 4-0. Juliet Redelaar of York broke through with just three minutes remaining in the national championship, scoring the only goal of the match past Victoria goalkeeper Anais Chace. It was the only goal that the Vikes conceded in the entire tournament. Libby Hogg, a fifth-year defender and Oak Bay High graduate, was named the U Sports Liz Hoffman player of the year prior to the tournament. Hogg, who led the conference with 10 points in 2025, leaves UVic with a storied career that includes five Canada West championships, four U Sports titles, five conference all-star nods, and three U Sports all-Canadian selections. Hogg was named a tournament all-star alongside Julia Boraston. Midfielder Maeve Connorton, a Lambrick Park graduate, also earned U Sports all-Canadian honours.