Jeff Lawrence

1 week ago | cheknews.ca | Jeff Lawrence

It was a western-themed celebration on Victoria’s waterfront Sunday as the Royal Canadian Navy marked the 30th anniversary of HMCS Calgary — complete with pancakes, cowboy hats and a glimpse inside life aboard a Canadian warship. Though HMCS Calgary herself is currently undergoing maintenance, the anniversary was celebrated in full force at Ogden Point with public tours aboard HMCS Vancouver, a fellow Halifax-class frigate.

1 week ago | cheknews.ca | Jeff Lawrence

A fawn that appeared to be orphaned after getting struck by a car near Victoria is back in the wild with its mother, thanks to a successful rescue and reunion effort by BC SPCA’s Wild Animal Rehabilitation Centre (Wild ARC). The fawn was brought to the Metchosin-based wildlife rehab centre after sustaining head and internal injuries in a vehicle collision.

1 week ago | cheknews.ca | Jeff Lawrence

With summer swimming season approaching, the City of Nanaimo will begin its annual water quality testing at lakes, lagoons and beaches on June 17 to ensure the safety of swimmers and wildlife. Each week through the summer, staff will collect 24 water samples from six outdoor swimming locations across the city: Brannen Lake, Colliery Dam Park, Departure Bay, Long Lake, Swy-A-Lana Lagoon at Maffeo Sutton Park and Westwood Lake. The samples are tested for fecal coliforms — specifically, E.

1 week ago | cheknews.ca | Jeff Lawrence

New data shows pet disappearances on Vancouver Island surge during the summer months — part of a national trend that sees missing pet reports nearly double compared to winter. July marks National Lost Pet Prevention Month, and fresh statistics from PetRadar reveal that 34 per cent of all missing pet cases in Canada occur during summer, more than any other season. Spring accounts for 28 per cent of cases, followed by fall at 22 per cent and winter at just 16 per cent.

2 weeks ago | cheknews.ca | Jeff Lawrence

A bush fire that broke out near a rail line in Nanaimo Tuesday afternoon was quickly knocked down by fire crews, but officials say it’s a troubling reminder of the region’s high fire risk. Crews with Nanaimo Fire Rescue responded to multiple reports of smoke in the area of Junction Avenue and 10th Street at around 11 a.m. Tuesday. When firefighters arrived, they discovered a 30-by-30 metre fire burning roughly 100 metres into the brush.