Times Colonist

A little bit of lemon can lift up the flavour of a wide range of savoury dishes. In this recipe by Eric Akis, it provides that support in an Italian-style dish called piccata.

Three people have been taken to hospital with serious injuries after a three-vehicle crash on the Duke Point Highway Tuesday morning, Nanaimo RCMP say.

Andy Bernhart has noticed a lot of new faces joining his cold-water ritual since the pandemic upended lives, keeping people cooped up at home and making social connection difficult.

Habitat Acquisition Trust has teamed up with the Capital Regional District to purchase the Saanich property, located near Prospect Lake, unofficially known as the Mountain Road forest.

The Blue Monday formula might be bogus, but the January Blahs are real. This year, that’s magnified by COVID-19. People are weary, and it shows... The question is: What are we going to do to chase those blues away? Jack Knox has some ideas.

Duncan Christian School is closing temporarily after several people tested positive for COVID-19.

Enter the TC10K Contest for your chance to win a race entry and a 14 week VIRTUAL training clinic led by Lucy Smith!

Nick Rivers had a plan to get to the man stranded on a log in the middle of the river just metres above the waterfall in Little Qualicum Falls Park. Then the man lost his grip and fell off the log.

There are more than 200 displays on our Christmas Lights Map, and more being added daily! Check out the map at timescolonist.com/christmaslights, use it to create your own lights tour real or virtual and vote for your favourite in the Light Up the City contest at timescolonist.com/contests. Have a display of your own? It's not too late to enter!

Victoria firefighters jackhammered, sledgehammered, clawed and cut their way into a basement drain pipe to rescue Willow the cat.

Making Christmas dinner for two this year? Eric Akis Author, Chef and Food Writer would like to make a suggestion...

The decision to call of stand down part of the search for missing kayaker Timothy Ross was made at 5 p.m. Monday, putting the case in the hands of Sooke RCMP.

The Geminid meteor shower peaks tonight and tomorrow morning and is considered by many skywatchers to be the finest of the meteor showers. This year clear skies permitting the viewing will be better than usual. A new moon will ensure dark skies, increasing our chances of seeing up to 150 shooting stars per hour.

Cowichan Tribes, North Cowichan and other members of the Cowichan Leadership Group are standing together to condemn racism and call for unity as the First Nation faces a COVID-19 outbreak.

A woman's complaints about being asked about a "walk of shame" by a Saanich police officer after reporting an alleged sexual assault has prompted British Columbia's police complaints commissioner to call for provincial standards for sex crimes investigations.

Every holiday season, the basement of the Stan Hagen Centre on Quadra Street is transformed into a pop-up toy store, with colourful toys stacked high on tables. Families receiving Christmas hampers can choose from among toys, books, games, puzzles and science kits based on their children’s interests and ages. The Salvation Army is one of the organizations that receives money from the Times Colonist Christmas Fund. To make a donation, go to www.timescolonist.com/donate

At a tense council meeting Monday night, Metchosin’s mayor stood behind Coun. Kyara Kahakauwila even as some frustrated residents called on her to step down as deputy mayor because of her decision to travel internationally.

An unusual duck is fluttering the hearts of capital region birdwatchers after flying far off course during its migration between Europe or Asia and the waterways of Southeast Asia or Japan.

Residents were relieved when Langford Mayor Stew Young signed a letter promising that an overwhelming majority of residents would have to approve a comprehensive compensation plan before council rezoned the land. That didn't happen.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry on why there hasn't been an order mandating the use of face coverings in B.C.: "Some people are asking when we will see masks mandated in B.C. The answer is that they already are. The mandate to use masks appropriately is a cornerstone of businesses’ and organizations’ COVID-19 safety plans, and is embedded in our health-care facilities’ operational policies and restart protocols in other public institutions."

Former television journalist Stephen Andrew, who campaigned on a promise to bring some balance back to the left-leaning council, finished well ahead of the other 10 candidates.

A sedum has caught Helen Chesnut's eye this fall as its leaves changed from dark apricot-pink to a lively peach-hued red.

A storm has knocked out power to thousands of B.C. Hydro customers on Vancouver Island. How's the weather been where you are?

THANK YOU! The money poured on Friday, as more Times Colonist readers offered helping hands to those in need. By the end of the day we had counted $30,700, the highest one-day total ever collected by the Times Colonist Christmas Fund. That brings us to $133,700. The COVID-19 pandemic has created an unprecedented need in our community. Donations to the Christmas Fund will help those who are less fortunate. Our goal is $700,000 but the more money that you give, the more peopl...e will be helped. Please, please keep it coming. Donate at timescolonist.com/donate

A COVID-19 outbreak has been declared in a Port Alberni long-term care home, the Island’s first in a residential care facility.

A Nanaimo woman recounts the three days she spent stranded in a broken-down pickup on a snowy road. I had a funny thought when I was in the truck: ‘If I cry, I’m losing my moisture. I’ve got to preserve my water.’

A Christmas drive-in light and music show at Ogden Point in December has sold out just days after online tickets went on sale.

There are still a few business travellers deemed essential amid COVID-19 and, up until Thursday, the Grand Pacific was catering to a scattering of guests from up-Island here to do some shopping, and from the Lower Mainland on quick getaways. But with the province asking British Columbians to avoid non-essential travel, cancellations are rolling in.