Dr. Reka Gustafson, Chief Medical Health Officer for Vancouver Island and the former Medical Health Officer for the City of Vancouver. (Island Health photo)

PODCAST: Dr. Reka Gustafson talks COVID in a one-on-one interview

TODAY IN B.C.: Medical Officer says review of pandemic response should be global

Dr. Reka Gustafson, Chief Medical Health Officer for Vancouver Island and the former Medical Health Officer for the City of Vancouver. (Island Health photo)
Susan Haddon of the Quadra Cedar Hill Community Association happily reports that Rutley will remain in ‘pink elephant park’ after park upgrades that include a new playground, splash park and restroom building. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

Meet Rutley, trashcan-turned-icon of Vancouver Island’s ‘pink elephant park’

Saanich, advocates expect coming revamp will celebrate the 1960s concrete critter

Susan Haddon of the Quadra Cedar Hill Community Association happily reports that Rutley will remain in ‘pink elephant park’ after park upgrades that include a new playground, splash park and restroom building. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
Isabel, left, Spencer and Simon take a break on the steps of their Oak Bay home.
The Hoskins family hopes to raise awareness of Simon’s condition ahead of International MPS Awareness Day on May 15. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
Isabel, left, Spencer and Simon take a break on the steps of their Oak Bay home.
The Hoskins family hopes to raise awareness of Simon’s condition ahead of International MPS Awareness Day on May 15. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
Yulia, an endangered Mediterranean monk seal rests on the beach in Tel Aviv, Israel, Tuesday, May 16, 2023. The seal cow first appeared south of Tel Aviv’s main beachfront last Friday, drawing clusters of curious onlookers to the rocky beach south of Jaffa’s historic center on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

A rare, endangered seal named Yulia basking on beach in Israel drawing eyes

Sunbathing Mediterranean monk seal one of an estimated 350 left in the wild

Yulia, an endangered Mediterranean monk seal rests on the beach in Tel Aviv, Israel, Tuesday, May 16, 2023. The seal cow first appeared south of Tel Aviv’s main beachfront last Friday, drawing clusters of curious onlookers to the rocky beach south of Jaffa’s historic center on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
Ross Peterson, board chair, and Regan McKeever, program manager of VIU Elder College. (Peter McCully photo)

PODCAST: VIU Elder College celebrates 30 years of community courses

PQBEAT: A wide range of topics offered for those 50+

Ross Peterson, board chair, and Regan McKeever, program manager of VIU Elder College. (Peter McCully photo)
Montreal restaurants dominate Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants List with 27 eateries on the annual ranking, led by Mon Lapin, shown in this handout image, in the number one spot. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Dominique Lafond

Vancouver the place to be in B.C. if you want to eat in one of Canada’s best restaurants

Montreal restaurants dominate Canada’s 100 Best list, including top pick

Montreal restaurants dominate Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants List with 27 eateries on the annual ranking, led by Mon Lapin, shown in this handout image, in the number one spot. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Dominique Lafond
Rifflandia released its 2023 lineup on Tuesday. Pictured is confetti shooting out into the crowd as Lorde performs during the final day of Rifflandia 2022 at Royal Athletic Park. (Black Press Media file photo)

Rifflandia bringing Iggy Pop, Diplo, Salt-N-Pepa, Paris Hilton to Victoria

Festival returning with two weekends in September as tickets go on sale this week

Rifflandia released its 2023 lineup on Tuesday. Pictured is confetti shooting out into the crowd as Lorde performs during the final day of Rifflandia 2022 at Royal Athletic Park. (Black Press Media file photo)
Shaun St-Amour, Clay Construction. (HAVAN photo)

PODCAST: Passive House Passion

TODAY IN BC: HAVAN’s podcast ‘Measure Twice, Cut Once’

Shaun St-Amour, Clay Construction. (HAVAN photo)
Milo Judd plays in the family’s garden, holding a toy that matched the size of his body when he was born. (Connor McDowell/Comox Valley Record)

Born weighing two pounds, toddler Milo now an Island child development ambassador

Comox Valley Child Development Association announces ambassador family

Milo Judd plays in the family’s garden, holding a toy that matched the size of his body when he was born. (Connor McDowell/Comox Valley Record)
The Armstrong Tulip Festival opened on March 17, 2023 (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)

Heat wave fries Armstrong tulips, forcing closure of festival

Monday, May 15 is the last day that it will be open

The Armstrong Tulip Festival opened on March 17, 2023 (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)
This image provided by Guinness World Records shows Bobi. Guinness World Records says the world’s oldest dog recently celebrated his 31st birthday. Bobi’s owner says a party was held Saturday, May 13, 2023 for the purebred Rafeiro do Alentejo, a breed of Portuguese dog. (Guinness World Records via AP)

World’s oldest dog celebrates 31st birthday, according to Guinness World Records

Bobi, a purebred Rafeiro do Alentejo celebrated during a party Saturday at his home in Portugal

This image provided by Guinness World Records shows Bobi. Guinness World Records says the world’s oldest dog recently celebrated his 31st birthday. Bobi’s owner says a party was held Saturday, May 13, 2023 for the purebred Rafeiro do Alentejo, a breed of Portuguese dog. (Guinness World Records via AP)
Mechanic Jon Guthrie inspects the underside of a 2014 Honda Ridgeline pickup truck at Japanese Auto Professional Service in Ann Arbor, Michigan. People are keeping their vehicles longer due to shortages of new ones and high prices. That drove the average U.S. vehicle age up to a record 12.5 years in 2022, according to S&P Global Mobility. (AP Photo/Tom Krisher)

Repelled by high car prices, Americans are holding on to their vehicles longer than ever

Average age of a passenger vehicle on the road hit a record 12.5 years in the U.S. this year

Mechanic Jon Guthrie inspects the underside of a 2014 Honda Ridgeline pickup truck at Japanese Auto Professional Service in Ann Arbor, Michigan. People are keeping their vehicles longer due to shortages of new ones and high prices. That drove the average U.S. vehicle age up to a record 12.5 years in 2022, according to S&P Global Mobility. (AP Photo/Tom Krisher)
Thrifters discover a trove of art belonging to late artist Victor Reece in an abandoned storage locker 13 years after his passing. (Photo submitted)

‘So blessed’: TV show finds trove of art belonging to B.C. woman’s late father

The collection was slated for a Richmond garbage dump when “pickers” found it

Thrifters discover a trove of art belonging to late artist Victor Reece in an abandoned storage locker 13 years after his passing. (Photo submitted)
(104-year-old veteran John Hillman)(05/12/23)(Courtesy of Ella Matte)

‘He’s an inspiration’: 104-year-old B.C. veteran marching for Save the Children

John Hillman has been raising funds annually by walking a lap for every year of his life

(104-year-old veteran John Hillman)(05/12/23)(Courtesy of Ella Matte)
Mother’s Day will be held on Sunday, May 14. How much do you know about the customs of the day? (Pixabay.com)

QUIZ: How much do you know about Mother’s Day?

Sunday, May 14 is a day set aside to honouring mothers

Mother’s Day will be held on Sunday, May 14. How much do you know about the customs of the day? (Pixabay.com)
The 12-and-a-half metre totem pole carved by about 160 inmates which stands outside the Vancouver Island Regional Corrections Centre in Saanich. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)

Inmates say totem pole they helped carve at B.C. jail a catalyst for remarkable change

About 160 at Vancouver Island Regional Corrections Centre participated in first-of-its-kind project

The 12-and-a-half metre totem pole carved by about 160 inmates which stands outside the Vancouver Island Regional Corrections Centre in Saanich. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)
Abby Tow, a Sexual Health Peer Educator at the University of Oklahoma, dumps condoms into a container at the health center on campus, Wednesday, May 10, 2023, in Norman, Okla. Tow said she wonders if helicopter parenting has played a role in what she calls the “baby-fication of our generation”. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Sex? Sexual intercourse? Neither? Teens weigh in on evolving definitions – and habits

Situationships and evolving views on what constitutes sex revealed in American study

Abby Tow, a Sexual Health Peer Educator at the University of Oklahoma, dumps condoms into a container at the health center on campus, Wednesday, May 10, 2023, in Norman, Okla. Tow said she wonders if helicopter parenting has played a role in what she calls the “baby-fication of our generation”. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
FILE - The toes of a baby are seen DHR Health, July 29, 2020, in McAllen, Texas. Dutton and Wrenlee are on the rise but they’re no match for champs Liam and Olivia as the top baby names in the U.S. last year. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)

Liam and Olivia continue to reign atop the list of baby names in the U.S.

Dynamic duo tops the charts of social security registrations for the fourth straight year

FILE - The toes of a baby are seen DHR Health, July 29, 2020, in McAllen, Texas. Dutton and Wrenlee are on the rise but they’re no match for champs Liam and Olivia as the top baby names in the U.S. last year. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)
Jason Schreurs will hold a book launch for his memoir Scream Therapy: A Punk Journey through Mental Health on May 14 at Nanaimo’s Windowseat Books. (Photo submitted)
Jason Schreurs will hold a book launch for his memoir Scream Therapy: A Punk Journey through Mental Health on May 14 at Nanaimo’s Windowseat Books. (Photo submitted)
Melissa Pearce and her daughter Abigail pose with their dog Millie and 10 of the 16 puppies she birthed in Mission six weeks ago. Six puppies have already been adopted. /Dillon White Photo

Sweet 16: B.C. dog gives birth to huge litter of puppies

The Mission puppies are six weeks old and a Bernese Mountain and Old English Sheepdog mix

Melissa Pearce and her daughter Abigail pose with their dog Millie and 10 of the 16 puppies she birthed in Mission six weeks ago. Six puppies have already been adopted. /Dillon White Photo