Jane Skrypnek

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The BC Supreme Court ordered former Langford construction company owner Kyle Mostowy to pay close to $1 million in damages in a sexual assault-related civil suit decision Oct. 1. (Black Press Media file photo)

Civil case against former boss nets B.C. sexual assault survivor nearly $1 million

Kyle Mostowy found guilty in 2016 of assaulting five employees, including civil suit plaintiff

The BC Supreme Court ordered former Langford construction company owner Kyle Mostowy to pay close to $1 million in damages in a sexual assault-related civil suit decision Oct. 1. (Black Press Media file photo)
Wallace Driving School owner Steve Wallace is set to appear in court on Nov. 25, an undertaking notice obtained by Black Press Media shows. (Jane Skrypnek/News Staff)

Former B.C. mayor-turned-driving-instructor arrested for alleged sexual assault

Steve Wallace accused of inappropriate comments, touching during private lessons

Wallace Driving School owner Steve Wallace is set to appear in court on Nov. 25, an undertaking notice obtained by Black Press Media shows. (Jane Skrypnek/News Staff)
Engel and Volkers Vancouver Island and two of its previously employed real estate agents are being sued for damages related to the alleged drugging and sexual assault of one of their clients in 2018. (Google Streetview)

Woman sues B.C. real estate agents over alleged drugging, sexual assault

Realtors Bowman Rutledge and Andy Rogers have not responded to the civil claim

Engel and Volkers Vancouver Island and two of its previously employed real estate agents are being sued for damages related to the alleged drugging and sexual assault of one of their clients in 2018. (Google Streetview)
Nanaimo Indian Hospital survivor Melven <ins>(Sx̄wen)</ins> Jones recounts the abuse he endured at six years old, as he sits outside his home in Victoria. (Arnold Lim/Black Press Media)

‘It has to be heard’: Nanaimo Indian Hospital survivor recounts torture he endured

Melven (Sx̄wen) Jones was forcibly held for two years

Nanaimo Indian Hospital survivor Melven <ins>(Sx̄wen)</ins> Jones recounts the abuse he endured at six years old, as he sits outside his home in Victoria. (Arnold Lim/Black Press Media)
A second-grader has her mask adjusted before heading into school for the day. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. parents crowdsourcing COVID-19 school exposures in lieu of provincial information

Health ministry choosing to only publicly report outbreaks, clusters

A second-grader has her mask adjusted before heading into school for the day. (Black Press Media file photo)
San Francisco’s Street Crisis Response Team was created in 2020 to find meaningful solutions to homelessness and addiction. Victoria is in the process of creating a similar team, drawing on the lived experience of peers. (Courtesy San Francisco Department of Public Health)

Island peer-assisted crisis team looks to be difference-maker in a mental health crisis

Pilot project in development aims to offer alternative to police-only response by 2022

San Francisco’s Street Crisis Response Team was created in 2020 to find meaningful solutions to homelessness and addiction. Victoria is in the process of creating a similar team, drawing on the lived experience of peers. (Courtesy San Francisco Department of Public Health)
Canadian comic Norm Macdonald arrives at the NBC Universal Summer Press Day at The Langham Huntington Hotel on April 2, 2015, in Pasadena, Calif. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Invision - Chris Pizzello)

Norm Macdonald’s passing recalls memories of nightmare visit to B.C.

Macdonald joked about terrible bed-and-breakfast experience on Vancouver Island

Canadian comic Norm Macdonald arrives at the NBC Universal Summer Press Day at The Langham Huntington Hotel on April 2, 2015, in Pasadena, Calif. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Invision - Chris Pizzello)
Wallace Driving School owner Steve Wallace is being investigated for numerous allegations of sexual harassment against his students. (Jane Skrypnek/News Staff)

Former Quesnel mayor under investigation after sexual harassment allegations from driving students surface

Steve Wallace accused of inappropriate comments, touching during private lessons

Wallace Driving School owner Steve Wallace is being investigated for numerous allegations of sexual harassment against his students. (Jane Skrypnek/News Staff)
Wildfires raging through Interior B.C., including at Nk’Mip Creek, are expected to become more frequent and severe as climate change progresses and heat waves increase. A new report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says reducing carbon emissions is the only way out. (BC Wildfire photo)

‘See it as a call to action’: B.C. scientists rally behind UN climate change report

Cutting carbon emissions only way to stop global warming, report concludes

Wildfires raging through Interior B.C., including at Nk’Mip Creek, are expected to become more frequent and severe as climate change progresses and heat waves increase. A new report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says reducing carbon emissions is the only way out. (BC Wildfire photo)
Saanich Police Chief Scott Green and Mayor Fred Haynes issued a statement in response to a Black Press Media article, apologizing for the inadequate treatment a sexual assault survivor received in 2016. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. police force apologizes for botched handling of sexual assault complaint

Saanich mayor and police chief issue public apology over how they handled 2016 case

Saanich Police Chief Scott Green and Mayor Fred Haynes issued a statement in response to a Black Press Media article, apologizing for the inadequate treatment a sexual assault survivor received in 2016. (Black Press Media file photo)
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry is among 16 people honoured with the 2021 Order of B.C. Aug. 2 for their contributions to the province. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito)

Dr. Bonnie Henry among 16 awarded Order of B.C.

2021 honourees include Indigenous leaders, artists, doctors

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry is among 16 people honoured with the 2021 Order of B.C. Aug. 2 for their contributions to the province. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito)
On Aug. 3, Pender Island residents Chris Hall and Stef Lowey will have officially completed a year of only eating what they can grow, harvest, catch or raise themselves. (Courtesy of Chris Hall and Stef Lowey)

From salt to stevia: B.C. couple nears full year without buying food

Pender Island’s Chris Hall and Stef Lowey have produced everything they’ve eaten since Aug. 3, 2020

On Aug. 3, Pender Island residents Chris Hall and Stef Lowey will have officially completed a year of only eating what they can grow, harvest, catch or raise themselves. (Courtesy of Chris Hall and Stef Lowey)
Attendees at the 2020 Women’s March in Victoria carry signs with messages of empowerment. (Black Press Media file photo)

Police missteps leave Greater Victoria sexual assault survivor without justice

Police made several mistakes in handling of case, lawyer says

Attendees at the 2020 Women’s March in Victoria carry signs with messages of empowerment. (Black Press Media file photo)
Kaela Mehl was convicted of murdering her 18-month-old daughter, Charlotte Cunningham, in October 2017. On June 30, the Court of Appeal ordered a new trial, citing juror and lawyer missteps. (Submitted photo)

Mother’s conviction overturned in killing of Victoria toddler

New trial order after Court of Appeal found missteps by juror, trial counsel

Kaela Mehl was convicted of murdering her 18-month-old daughter, Charlotte Cunningham, in October 2017. On June 30, the Court of Appeal ordered a new trial, citing juror and lawyer missteps. (Submitted photo)
The Nature of Us is a non-profit storytelling platform for marginalized and underrepresented voices. (Courtesy of Winnie Weston)

B.C.-based storytelling platform provides space for marginalized voices

The Nature of Us shares underrepresented stories, like residential school survivor Eddy Charlie

The Nature of Us is a non-profit storytelling platform for marginalized and underrepresented voices. (Courtesy of Winnie Weston)
The findings of a nearly year-long investigation into allegations of racism and toxic workplace culture at the Royal B.C. Museum in Victoria, released in a report Tuesday, were followed by an admission of wrongdoing and promises to do better. (Twitter/RBCM)

Royal B.C. Museum releases results of racism report, apologizes for mistreatment

Indigenous employees at Victoria institution have faced racism and discrimination: report

The findings of a nearly year-long investigation into allegations of racism and toxic workplace culture at the Royal B.C. Museum in Victoria, released in a report Tuesday, were followed by an admission of wrongdoing and promises to do better. (Twitter/RBCM)
Kelly Favro, a 37-year-old Victoria mother, believes she is the first sexual assault survivor to have a publication ban overturned in B.C. history. (Courtesy of Kelly Favro)

Victoria sexual assault survivor achieves rare overturning of publication ban

Kelly Favro only learned of ban in 2020, four years after assault conviction

Kelly Favro, a 37-year-old Victoria mother, believes she is the first sexual assault survivor to have a publication ban overturned in B.C. history. (Courtesy of Kelly Favro)
Gwen Spencer Hethey with her uncle and mentor Major Frederick Richardson. (Courtesy of Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame)

‘She was a killer’: The B.C. woman who pioneered female sharpshooting

Gwen Spencer Hethey made military men ‘look like turkeys’ says her son

Gwen Spencer Hethey with her uncle and mentor Major Frederick Richardson. (Courtesy of Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame)
A motion coming this week asks councillors to consider renaming Trutch Street to Truth Street. Trutch Street is named after Joseph Trutch, now recognized for his racist policies towards Indigenous people. (Google Maps)

Victoria council to consider switching Trutch Street to Truth Street

Name change recommended due to Joseph Trutch’s racist policies affecting Indigenous people

A motion coming this week asks councillors to consider renaming Trutch Street to Truth Street. Trutch Street is named after Joseph Trutch, now recognized for his racist policies towards Indigenous people. (Google Maps)
A fundraiser intended to fund the search of Vancouver Island’s five residential school for children’s remains topped $100,000 Friday (June 4). Pictured is a church at Chawathil First Nation on Highway 1, on May 31, 2021. (Black Press Media file photo)

Fundraiser to search more B.C. residential schools tops $100,000

Indigenous leaders hope to use radar technology to search for lost children on Vancouver Island

A fundraiser intended to fund the search of Vancouver Island’s five residential school for children’s remains topped $100,000 Friday (June 4). Pictured is a church at Chawathil First Nation on Highway 1, on May 31, 2021. (Black Press Media file photo)