Wolf Depner

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Chrissy Olsen, second from left, says she is not sure yet what she will do after Sassy’s Restaurant closes this Saturday, but she will miss owner Cory Porter (left) as well as Barry McGarvy and Rich Nelson, who have also worked decades at the restaurant. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Staff says goodbye to Sassy’s Restaurant in Central Saanich

Chrissy Olsen will miss her colleagues and the Porters as the iconic restaurant closes this Saturday

Chrissy Olsen, second from left, says she is not sure yet what she will do after Sassy’s Restaurant closes this Saturday, but she will miss owner Cory Porter (left) as well as Barry McGarvy and Rich Nelson, who have also worked decades at the restaurant. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
The Salish Sea Lantern Festival is underway on the Saanich Peninsula for the first time since 2019. The windup event happens this Saturday (Aug. 20) in Sidney. (Photo by Bob Orchard)

Salish Sea Lantern Festival lights up Sidney

Organized by ArtSea, event celebrates art, culture, light and community

The Salish Sea Lantern Festival is underway on the Saanich Peninsula for the first time since 2019. The windup event happens this Saturday (Aug. 20) in Sidney. (Photo by Bob Orchard)
Long-time employees of Sassy’s Restaurant (from left) Rich Nelson (30 years), Chrissy Olsen (25 years) and Barry McGarvy join owner Cory Porter outside the restaurant as it prepares to closes its doors on Saturday (Aug. 20). (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Long-time family restaurant to close its doors in Central Saanich

Cory Porter opened Sassy’s 43 years ago as a Smitty’s, before rebranding

Long-time employees of Sassy’s Restaurant (from left) Rich Nelson (30 years), Chrissy Olsen (25 years) and Barry McGarvy join owner Cory Porter outside the restaurant as it prepares to closes its doors on Saturday (Aug. 20). (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
A colour guard led the procession of firefighters and other emergency crews representing various departments during Sunday’s memorial in honour of Forrest Owens, who had served as Central Saanich’s assistant chief during a career that spanned 35 years in firefighting. The procession, which featured some 200 people, started from Stelly’s Secondary School on the way to the Saanich Fairgrounds. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

PHOTOS: Central Saanich remembers long-time firefighter, community leader Forrest Owens

Some 800 people including hundreds of firefighters and other emergency crews took part in memorial

A colour guard led the procession of firefighters and other emergency crews representing various departments during Sunday’s memorial in honour of Forrest Owens, who had served as Central Saanich’s assistant chief during a career that spanned 35 years in firefighting. The procession, which featured some 200 people, started from Stelly’s Secondary School on the way to the Saanich Fairgrounds. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Firefighters carry the helmet and uniform of Forrest Owens into the RCMP Barn at the Saanich Fairgrounds. Some 800 people joined the memorial service Sunday. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Central Saanich remembers former assistant fire chief Forrest Owens at Saanich Fairgrounds

Hundreds attended Sunday’s memorial for Forrest Owens

Firefighters carry the helmet and uniform of Forrest Owens into the RCMP Barn at the Saanich Fairgrounds. Some 800 people joined the memorial service Sunday. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Adam Bland of the Victoria Junior ‘A’ Shamrocks stopped 37 of the 45 shots as the Victoria Junior ‘A’ Shamrocks beat the Langley Thunder 11-8 to win the BC Junior A Lacrosse League finals and clinch a trip to the Minto Cup in Ontario to compete for top honours in Canadian junior lacrosse. (Courtesy Langley Events Centre)

Lacrosse title on the line as Victoria Junior ‘A’ Shamrocks compete for Minto Cup

Victoria Junior ‘A’ Shamrocks to represent British Columbia in national tournament

Adam Bland of the Victoria Junior ‘A’ Shamrocks stopped 37 of the 45 shots as the Victoria Junior ‘A’ Shamrocks beat the Langley Thunder 11-8 to win the BC Junior A Lacrosse League finals and clinch a trip to the Minto Cup in Ontario to compete for top honours in Canadian junior lacrosse. (Courtesy Langley Events Centre)
Flanked by Coun. Carl Jensen (left) and Coun. Zeb King, Mayor Ryan Windsor cuts a ribbon July 20 to open the rainbow crosswalk near Bayside middle school. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

LGBTQIA2S+ community receives signal of support from Central Saanich

Rainbow crosswalk at Bayside follows painting of benches at other area schools

Flanked by Coun. Carl Jensen (left) and Coun. Zeb King, Mayor Ryan Windsor cuts a ribbon July 20 to open the rainbow crosswalk near Bayside middle school. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Sander Eijgenraam, president of the Central Saanich Community Gardens Society (far right), speaks during Saturday’s garden opening on Clarke Road. (Photo courtesy Central Saanich Community Gardens Society)

Central Saanich community garden grows into reality with recent opening

Gardens located in Brentwood Bay neighbourhood feature 19 beds for households

Sander Eijgenraam, president of the Central Saanich Community Gardens Society (far right), speaks during Saturday’s garden opening on Clarke Road. (Photo courtesy Central Saanich Community Gardens Society)
Ollie, the mascot of the Sidney’s Shaw Centre for Salish Sea, has been making in the rounds in Sidney in recent days promoting the centre, which is currently accepting name submissions for its newest giant Pacific octopus. The centre is accepting creative submissions at oceaneer1@salishseacentre.org until 10 a.m. July 25. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Sidney aquarium getting creative for naming newest giant Pacific octopus

Multimedia submission deadline July 25, winner to be announced in August

Ollie, the mascot of the Sidney’s Shaw Centre for Salish Sea, has been making in the rounds in Sidney in recent days promoting the centre, which is currently accepting name submissions for its newest giant Pacific octopus. The centre is accepting creative submissions at oceaneer1@salishseacentre.org until 10 a.m. July 25. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Organizer Angel Sampson’s grandnephew Benjamin George, here seen in 2015 holding his son Carlisle, is expected to be among the dancers during the Yellow Wolf Intertribal powwow happening July 22 to 24 at Stelly’s secondary in Central Saanich. (Photo courtesy of Angel Sampson)

Yellow Wolf Intertribal powwow returns to Saanich Peninsula

Multifaceted Indigenous cultural event takes place July 22 to 24 at Stelly’s secondary

Organizer Angel Sampson’s grandnephew Benjamin George, here seen in 2015 holding his son Carlisle, is expected to be among the dancers during the Yellow Wolf Intertribal powwow happening July 22 to 24 at Stelly’s secondary in Central Saanich. (Photo courtesy of Angel Sampson)
Sidney faces a high risk of severe coastal storm surges and heatwaves, according to the municipality’s updated Climate Action Plan. (Black Press Media file photo)

Updated climate action plan approved in Sidney

But community association president says complacency remains among residents

Sidney faces a high risk of severe coastal storm surges and heatwaves, according to the municipality’s updated Climate Action Plan. (Black Press Media file photo)
SERVING UP Breakfast Spencer Barkley of the North Saanich Fire Department works with colleagues Chuck Hanan and Kurt Barner to unload 300 boxes of cereal and other in-demand breakfast items purchased with a $5,000 donation by CFAX Santas Anonymous Society to the Saanich Peninsula Lions Food Bank. See story on page A8. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

$5,000 donation serves up breakfast for Saanich Peninsula Lions Food Bank

Santas Anonymous Society donation goes a long way, firefighters deliver the goods

SERVING UP Breakfast Spencer Barkley of the North Saanich Fire Department works with colleagues Chuck Hanan and Kurt Barner to unload 300 boxes of cereal and other in-demand breakfast items purchased with a $5,000 donation by CFAX Santas Anonymous Society to the Saanich Peninsula Lions Food Bank. See story on page A8. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Sidney is tweaking bylaws that govern overnight camping in public areas amid concerns that homelessness is proliferating. Sidney / North Saanich RCMP, however, have said that homelessness has decreased with about 10 people or so experiencing homelessness. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Regular enforcement of overnight camping rules in Sidney set to resume

Numbers fluctuate, but 10 or so people currently experiencing homelessness in Sidney

Sidney is tweaking bylaws that govern overnight camping in public areas amid concerns that homelessness is proliferating. Sidney / North Saanich RCMP, however, have said that homelessness has decreased with about 10 people or so experiencing homelessness. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
BC Ferries has cancelled the 8 p.m. sailing departing Swartz Bay for Tsawwassen and the 10 p.m. departing Tsawwassen for Swartz Bay Sunday. (Black Press Media file photo)

Crew shortage causes BC Ferries to cancel sailings

8 p.m. sailing departing for Tsawwassen and 10 p.m. sailing departing for Swartz Bay cancelled

BC Ferries has cancelled the 8 p.m. sailing departing Swartz Bay for Tsawwassen and the 10 p.m. departing Tsawwassen for Swartz Bay Sunday. (Black Press Media file photo)
The family of Nathaniel Watters is asking for privacy after announcing that he has passed away. The family said in a statement on social media that they were able to locate him in the evening hours of July 16 in Nitinat Lake area. (Courtesy of Central Saanich Police Service)

Family of Central Saanich’s Nathaniel Watters appeals for privacy after announcing his passing

Family said on social media they had located Watters in Nitinat Lake area

The family of Nathaniel Watters is asking for privacy after announcing that he has passed away. The family said in a statement on social media that they were able to locate him in the evening hours of July 16 in Nitinat Lake area. (Courtesy of Central Saanich Police Service)
Michael Goodchild, executive director of the Sidney Museum and Archives, stands next to one of the pieces of the museum’s new Little Black Dress exhibit that runs through Oct. 3. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Michael Goodchild seeks to build on legacy as new executive director of Sidney Museum

Goodchild has previously worked at Royal Ontario Museum and Calgary’s Military Museums

Michael Goodchild, executive director of the Sidney Museum and Archives, stands next to one of the pieces of the museum’s new Little Black Dress exhibit that runs through Oct. 3. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
The median after-tax income of a household in Greater Victoria was $75,500, up 14.4 per cent from 2015 with considerable regional variation. (Black Press Media File)

Households in Highlands have the highest median incomes in Greater Victoria

The median after-tax income for a Greater Victoria household was $75,500 in 2020

The median after-tax income of a household in Greater Victoria was $75,500, up 14.4 per cent from 2015 with considerable regional variation. (Black Press Media File)
According to Statistics Canada, one-third of all households in Greater Victoria (33.7 per cent) are one-person households, ahead of the national rate of 29.3 per cent. (Black Press Media file photo)

Flying solo the norm for a third of households in Greater Victoria

Households composed of roomates on the rise across Canada with Greater Victoria ahead of curve

According to Statistics Canada, one-third of all households in Greater Victoria (33.7 per cent) are one-person households, ahead of the national rate of 29.3 per cent. (Black Press Media file photo)
Rendering shows a four-storey mixed-use building (in centre) proposed for 2060 White Birch Rd. Current plans call for 63 rental units as well commercial space. (Screencap)

Public, councillors ask tough questions about proposed Sidney waterfront development

White Birch Road plan calls for 63 rental units, but all at market rate, councillors hear

Rendering shows a four-storey mixed-use building (in centre) proposed for 2060 White Birch Rd. Current plans call for 63 rental units as well commercial space. (Screencap)
Central Saanich, North Saanich and Sidney host an information session for would-be municipal council candidates at Greenglade Community Centre. (Black Press Media file photo)

Saanich Peninsula municipalities host joint information session for potential candidates

Session scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. July 14 at Greenglade Community Centre

Central Saanich, North Saanich and Sidney host an information session for would-be municipal council candidates at Greenglade Community Centre. (Black Press Media file photo)