Kevin Laird

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A forest of seaweed floats in the ocean. Synergraze Sustainable Agriculture and T’Sou-ke Nation have partnered to develop a process for turning seaweed into an additive for cattle feed. Still, it hasn’t come without controversy in East Sooke. (Shutterstock)

Island chief defends seaweed cow-fart reduction project as ‘environmentally friendly’

T’Sou-ke Synergraze plan to make methane-reducing cattle feed additive faces environmental criticism

A forest of seaweed floats in the ocean. Synergraze Sustainable Agriculture and T’Sou-ke Nation have partnered to develop a process for turning seaweed into an additive for cattle feed. Still, it hasn’t come without controversy in East Sooke. (Shutterstock)
HMCS Calgary returns to CFB Esquimalt from an overseas operation. The ship will be one of many using Whiskey Hotel to conduct surface gunnery training beginning this year. (Cpl. Jay Naples – Canadian Armed Forces)

Navy gunnery training to resume in Juan de Fuca Strait after whale study interruption

Whiskey Hotel firing range located between Sooke and Port Renfrew firing up after years-long break

HMCS Calgary returns to CFB Esquimalt from an overseas operation. The ship will be one of many using Whiskey Hotel to conduct surface gunnery training beginning this year. (Cpl. Jay Naples – Canadian Armed Forces)
Ryan Albert was last seen on May 11. His family continues to search for him. (Handout) Shutterstock.com

‘We have no idea where he might be’: Vancouver Island woman searches for missing son

Family hasn’t been in contact with Sooke man since May

Ryan Albert was last seen on May 11. His family continues to search for him. (Handout) Shutterstock.com
The serval is a wild cat native to Africa. It is widespread in sub-Saharan countries, except in rainforest regions. (Shutterstock.com)

Another escaped exotic cat spotted roaming Island neighbourhood

African serval cat missing since Sunday, latest in a recent string in various communities

The serval is a wild cat native to Africa. It is widespread in sub-Saharan countries, except in rainforest regions. (Shutterstock.com)
Members of Cowichan Search and Rescue and RCMP work to transport residents to higher ground during November 2021 flooding in the Duncan area. The 845 mm of rain Victoria sees annually is well below many other parts of the Island, including Tahsis (4,261 mm) and Port Renfrew (3,455 mm). (Black Press Media file photo)

Islanders brace for rainy November

The gloomiest month of the year is also the wettest

Members of Cowichan Search and Rescue and RCMP work to transport residents to higher ground during November 2021 flooding in the Duncan area. The 845 mm of rain Victoria sees annually is well below many other parts of the Island, including Tahsis (4,261 mm) and Port Renfrew (3,455 mm). (Black Press Media file photo)
The construction of seven towers to expand cellular service on a 70-kilometre stretch of Highway 14 from Sooke to Port Renfrew has begun, says Rogers Communications. (File - Shutterstock)

South Island cell service upgrade making its way west to Port Renfrew

First cell tower west of Sooke went into service at the end of May, more coming

The construction of seven towers to expand cellular service on a 70-kilometre stretch of Highway 14 from Sooke to Port Renfrew has begun, says Rogers Communications. (File - Shutterstock)
An altercation between an on-shore angler and another man led to the first man being seriously injured, Sooke RCMP say. (File - Sooke News Mirror)

Police say man whacked with driftwood after pair clash over Sooke fishing hole

RCMP investigating after Victoria man injured in attack on Sooke beach

An altercation between an on-shore angler and another man led to the first man being seriously injured, Sooke RCMP say. (File - Sooke News Mirror)
A distinctive-looking yellow wheelbarrow and blue shovel was left behind by thieves. (Contributed - Brian Holowaychuk)

Thieves plague Vancouver Island property dedicated to helping Ukrainian refugees.

Owner offers $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest

A distinctive-looking yellow wheelbarrow and blue shovel was left behind by thieves. (Contributed - Brian Holowaychuk)
Twenty-three cats ranging in age from newborn to five weeks old were rescued from a Sooke-based animal welfare group. (Contributed - SAFARS)

23 kittens rescued from ‘hoarding situation’ in Vancouver Island home

Cats left without water and food, says animal welfare group

Twenty-three cats ranging in age from newborn to five weeks old were rescued from a Sooke-based animal welfare group. (Contributed - SAFARS)
The District of Sooke’s police budget is $2,443,607 but only covers the regular operations of the RCMP. Major crimes, such as murders, terrorism and cocaine trafficking, are handled differently, say officials. (File - Sooke News Mirror)

Why catching a killer could mean a big tax hike for one Vancouver Island community

Hefty bill for homicide investigation could lead to tax hike, warns Sooke Mayor Maja Tait

The District of Sooke’s police budget is $2,443,607 but only covers the regular operations of the RCMP. Major crimes, such as murders, terrorism and cocaine trafficking, are handled differently, say officials. (File - Sooke News Mirror)
The last remaining payphone in Sooke is in its last days. (Kevin Laird - Sooke News Mirror)

Changing times hanging up Sooke’s last payphone

Communities last payphone being unplugged next month as dying service fades on Vancouver Island

The last remaining payphone in Sooke is in its last days. (Kevin Laird - Sooke News Mirror)
Firefighters respond to a house fire on Church Road on Wednesday afternoon. (Kevin Laird - Sooke News Mirror)

6 people flee Vancouver Island house fire

Residents heard a loud bang, saw smoke, firefighters say propane bottle exploded

Firefighters respond to a house fire on Church Road on Wednesday afternoon. (Kevin Laird - Sooke News Mirror)
The dromedary jumping-slug has a multi-coloured hump concealing a partial shell. The slug is red-listed provincially and listed as threatened under the federal Species at Risk Act. (Contributed - Kristiina Ovaska)

Scientist leaping to the defence of Vancouver Island’s dwindling jumping slug

Mapping project tracks this important indicator of the health of B.C. rainforest

The dromedary jumping-slug has a multi-coloured hump concealing a partial shell. The slug is red-listed provincially and listed as threatened under the federal Species at Risk Act. (Contributed - Kristiina Ovaska)
Two tugboats and a supply vessel will be part of East Sooke’s Western Canada Marine Response base. The tugs will escort oil tankers through the Strait of Juan de Fuca. (Contributed - Trans Mountain)

Deal inked for tugs to escort oil tankers through Strait of Juan de Fuca

East Sooke-based vessels part of $150-million expansion by Western Canada Marine Response Centre

Two tugboats and a supply vessel will be part of East Sooke’s Western Canada Marine Response base. The tugs will escort oil tankers through the Strait of Juan de Fuca. (Contributed - Trans Mountain)
Conservation photographer TJ Watt has won the Trebek Initiative grant and named a National Geographic Explorer and Royal Geographic Society Explorer for his work to protect B.C.’s old-growth forests. (Contributed - TJ Watt)

Champion of Vancouver Island old-growth forests wins prestigious honours

Photographer TJ Watt earns Trebek Initiative grant, named a National Geographic Explorer

Conservation photographer TJ Watt has won the Trebek Initiative grant and named a National Geographic Explorer and Royal Geographic Society Explorer for his work to protect B.C.’s old-growth forests. (Contributed - TJ Watt)
Gerald Kearney, 61, has not been in contact with family or friends. (Contributed - RCMP)

Sooke RCMP renew call for help finding man missing in Fairy Creek watershed area

Gerald Kearney has been missing since Oct. 13

Gerald Kearney, 61, has not been in contact with family or friends. (Contributed - RCMP)
The water off Port Renfrew could be threatened without a federally-funded search and rescue and environmental response service in Port Renfrew, says the Pacheedaht First Nation. (File - Sooke News Mirror)

B.C. First Nation wants feds to expedite plans for marine rescue centre

Vancouver Island’s Pacheedaht chief says talks stalled on $22-million project for Port Renfrew

The water off Port Renfrew could be threatened without a federally-funded search and rescue and environmental response service in Port Renfrew, says the Pacheedaht First Nation. (File - Sooke News Mirror)
Timothy Durkin is pictured in a photograph filed in Federal Court. The B.C. Securities Commission claims the Sooke man defrauded an investor out of $1 million. (Federal Court)

B.C. man accused of selling fake ownership in world-renowned Sooke Harbour House

Timothy Durkin faces B.C. Securities Commission in November

Timothy Durkin is pictured in a photograph filed in Federal Court. The B.C. Securities Commission claims the Sooke man defrauded an investor out of $1 million. (Federal Court)
Tour de Rock riders visited Sooke on Sept. 29. (Kevin Laird - Sooke News Mirror)

Sooke Tour de Rock visit ‘pretty fantastic’

Thousands raised locally for pediatric cancer research

Tour de Rock riders visited Sooke on Sept. 29. (Kevin Laird - Sooke News Mirror)
Members of the black-tailed deer family appear to be most severely affected by adenovirus hemorrhagic disease. (Photo - Veronika Andrews)

Fast-spreading disease has ‘100s’ of deer dropping dead on Vancouver Island

Never seen before in B.C. Adenovirus hemorrhagic disease poses no risk to humans, livestock or pets

Members of the black-tailed deer family appear to be most severely affected by adenovirus hemorrhagic disease. (Photo - Veronika Andrews)
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