The past year has brought stories that reveal issues the community cares about and highlight everyday and unexpected threats around the Saanich Peninsula.
From otters attacking dogs and a small business threatened with fines, to the rising cost of living and working in Sidney and a community coming together to preserve Indigenous culture, these are some of 2024’s most viewed stories by Peninsula News Review readers online.
1. Otters fatally injure dog, threaten another at Central Saanich beach – Aug. 19
Dog owners were alarmed after aggressive river otters attacked some dogs at Island View Beach in the summer.
A golden retriever was attacked by otters on July 31, biting it and holding it underwater. A couple witnessed the attack and tried to help the dog, which was euthanized later due to its injuries. The incident left the couple shaken, with the husband experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder.
Two weeks later, on Aug.11, James Younger and his dog Lou, a white Labrador retriever, were confronted by five aggressive river otters at the same beach. Younger tried to defend himself and his dog by swinging a big log and yelling at the otters, whom he described as "vile, evil and nasty creatures." He believed they were targeting dogs resembling golden retrievers, a learned behaviour from previous generations of the same otter family.
Otter attacks in Greater Victoria are not uncommon. Wildlife experts warn that river otters can be aggressive, especially when protecting their young. When wild animals are having babies, people and dogs may be perceived as threats.
BC SPCA advises owners to keep dogs on a leash and practice an "emergency recall" with their animals.
2. Sidney is a great place to live, but working there may be out of reach – Sept. 9
Sidney by the Sea, a peaceful retirement destination, is facing challenges due to the lack of affordable housing. Many workers cannot afford to live in the area, as 67 per cent of people must commute daily, affecting businesses by forcing them to pay a salary premium to attract and retain staff.
Despite the town's beautiful beaches, friendly people, and affordable prices, many staff at local shops and restaurants have given up on the idea of moving to Sidney.
From 2001 to 2021, the average income in the region increased from $44,000 to $77,000 while the median house price jumped from $215,000 to $1.06 million. The monthly mortgage payment also increased from $1,100 to $4,858.
"At least part of the housing costs can be directly linked to supply and demand," said Al Smith, executive director of the Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce.
“The price of housing is where it is because local governments have stifled supply by aggressive zoning bylaws that have discouraged the building of affordable housing,” he explained.
Mayor Cliff McNeil-Smith is aware of the housing concerns and said that the town has been working on the problem.
The housing shortage in Peninsula communities has led to increased home values, but businesses argue it's unsustainable. Workers may demand higher wages or find work elsewhere if they can't live in the community.
“People want the services in town and if businesses can’t survive, then the risk to the character of the community is as great as higher-density housing. That much is certain, ” Smith added.
3. Entrepreneur pumped up to be bringing gas station to West Sidney – Oct. 1
Steve Weller learned about personalized customer service from his father's gas station in a small town in New South Wales.
This same brand of customer service is what he has envisioned for his newly opened gas station in West Sidney.
After 22 years of running various businesses including a restaurant, body shops, gyms, hotels and liquor stores, the gas station owner says, "The only successful businesses in Sidney are those that provide good and honest service."
The West Side Gas Bar operates as an independent outlet, pumping fuel from any distributor in the area. The station is located at 9429 Canora Rd. next to Clair Downey Service, an automotive repair and maintenance shop that has been in operation since 1951.
Weller believes the west side of town should have the same convenient services as the rest of the city.
4. VIDEO: Thousands gather in North Saanich for legendary Martin Mars final landing – Aug. 12
Thousands gathered on North Saanich's Patricia Bay for the Hawaii Martin Mars' last landing, including Martin and Kristine Van Zyl and their son Sebastian.
The event was especially significant for the couple, who grew up on Sproat Lake and watched the water bomber take off.
“It was a great end cap to a beautiful part of history,” they said.
Rick Smerch, a former airplane mechanic at Coulson Aviation, was thrilled to see the largest water bomber in the world fly one last time.
Tourists Marti Grudes and Fred Craft from Eugene, Ore., got a first-hand story from a gentleman who worked with the plane. “We feel like we've had an enormous history (lesson about) this aircraft.”
Graham Johnson, a history enthusiast, attended the historic Hawaii Martin Mars event in Ladner, despite the limited runtime. “It was too bad that they couldn't make it run longer, but this was a fitting goodbye at least,” Johnson said. “I didn't realize there would be so many people here, but it's the kind of human event that everybody comes together to witness.”
5. Property sale, threat of fine chases small business from North Saanich – June 24
Adam Benning, a 25-year-old construction industry veteran, started Westcoast Container Homes renovating shipping containers (seacans) using upcycled and environmentally friendly building materials to add to existing structures.
To reduce the commute for its employees, who were mostly from Greater Victoria, the start-up company decided to relocate from Chemainus to a temporary location on Mills Road in North Saanich. However, the landlord decided to sell the land they just moved on to and the company was given until November to move out.
Undeterred, Benning began searching for another location only to receive yet another shock: an email from the planner in North Saanich with three bylaw violation notices. The first two notices involved signages and setbacks, but the third one, according to the business owner, “was a killer for our fledgling business.”
The company was informed they needed to have a permanent structure on the property to conduct their business and that their renovated seacans were not acceptable. “It was in the foyer of the municipal hall where he told me that our units were considered a ‘nuisance’,” Benning said. “To hear him say that in front of a bunch of people was just offensive.”
Benning was ordered to vacate the property immediately or his firm would face fines of $500 a day. He said the order to vacate was unreasonable as the firm had not yet secured a new location and had several half-constructed units that couldn’t be moved in their existing state.
He expressed his frustration with the bureaucratic hurdles and the uncertainty of the future for Westcoast Container Homes.
6. Community rallies in Brentwood Bay after Indigenous teens accosted for singing – Jul 10
Around 200 people in Brentwood Bay rallied on July 9 after two First Nations youths were accosted for singing an Indigenous song outside a store.
The demonstration was in response to a video captured the day before, where a man approached a teen named Kingston and his friend, asking if they were trying to annoy people. Kingston replied that he was just singing, and the man walked away. The confrontation occurred on West Saanich Road.
Kingston's aunt posted the video on Facebook, which was viewed 146,000 times. The rally started with Kingston and his cousin finishing the song he was told to stop singing the day before.
Attendees sang, danced and drummed to various Indigenous songs throughout the evening.
7. This is my home: Hope sinks for Greater Victoria derelict boat owner – Feb. 29
The Canadian Coast Guard is cracking down on derelict boats, with dozens of watercraft owners now in the crosshairs.
One of them is 64-year old Mark Crocker, who has spent 35 years living on various boats in the Greater Victoria area. His blue metal sailboat, Illusie, became stuck on a breakwater in North Saanich.
Crocker’s problems began during the pandemic when he was booted out of multiple marinas. He searched for a dock or mooring buoy but ran out of options. When he arrived at the marina in North Saanich, he wanted to anchor inside the breakwater but feared his anchor would get tangled. He set up outside instead.
Then his mother fell ill and he tried hard to get the boat out of the water before heading back to Ontario to see his mother. His efforts were unsuccessful.
With no help in sight, and a funeral to arrange, he had no choice but to leave his "pride and joy" and everything he owned inside.
When he got a call about his boat drifting into the rocks, the Coast Guard had already knocked off the locks to ensure there was no health-related emergency or gas spill inside.
Since then, Crocker has been told to get the boat out of the water or be fined, $15,000 or worse, his boat will be seized.
“This my home,” Crocker said. “Everything I own is on board and as far as I know, it’s been looted and vandalized. I’m really in trouble,” he said.
