Sarah Simpson

  • 141 Stories | 
  • Page 1 of 8
Josh Mellor has COVID-19 and is fighting for his life in an ICU in Victoria. (Submitted by Miranda Mellor)

Young Cowichan farmer with COVID-19 battling for his life

Josh Mellor is in the ICU at Royal Jubilee Hospital

Josh Mellor has COVID-19 and is fighting for his life in an ICU in Victoria. (Submitted by Miranda Mellor)
Honeymoon Bay Fire Chief Raymond Wear. (Gazette file)

Float plane crashes into Cowichan Lake

The pilot was “very lucky from the sounds of it”

Honeymoon Bay Fire Chief Raymond Wear. (Gazette file)
The aftermath of a fire at the Four Cedars townhouse complex on Dingwall Street that injured several, including a six-year-old boy. (Rebecca Benard photo)

6-year-old suffers serious burns in Duncan townhouse fire, families displaced

GoFundMe accounts set up for multiple townhouse residents

The aftermath of a fire at the Four Cedars townhouse complex on Dingwall Street that injured several, including a six-year-old boy. (Rebecca Benard photo)
Flames tear through a housing block on Dingwall Street late Wednesday night, Aug. 25. (Submitted by Daniel Hudson)

UPDATE: Six sent to hospital as fire tears through Duncan housing complex

Emergency Services helps residents find alternate beds for the night

Flames tear through a housing block on Dingwall Street late Wednesday night, Aug. 25. (Submitted by Daniel Hudson)
Purple hay bales are the colour of choice for many area farmers. When you see them you know that the farmer has paid extra to support of BC Children’s Hospital. (Sidney Venier photo)

Column: Cowichan farmers making hay for charity

Have you ever noticed the coloured hay bales?

Purple hay bales are the colour of choice for many area farmers. When you see them you know that the farmer has paid extra to support of BC Children’s Hospital. (Sidney Venier photo)
Jeffrey Purych (RCMP handout)

RCMP ask for help to locate missing Cowichan man

Jeffrey Purych was last seen in June

Jeffrey Purych (RCMP handout)
While the RCMP Air services helicopter quickly spotted the hikers, there wasn’t a good spot to land so the Mounties utilized teams from both Cowichan and North Shore Search and Rescue. (Citizen file)

Dehydrated hikers rescued from Lake Cowichan’s Bald Mountain

With the temperature above 30 degrees Celsius, a pair of thirsty hikers…

While the RCMP Air services helicopter quickly spotted the hikers, there wasn’t a good spot to land so the Mounties utilized teams from both Cowichan and North Shore Search and Rescue. (Citizen file)
The Lake Cowichan RCMP confirm missing persons Nadia Elkouni and Helmy Sherif have been safely located. (RCMP handout)

Missing elderly couple last seen near Honeymoon Bay found safe

Victoria residents had been heading from Lake Cowichan to Port Renfrew

The Lake Cowichan RCMP confirm missing persons Nadia Elkouni and Helmy Sherif have been safely located. (RCMP handout)
All four North Cowichan fire departments responded to a blaze on Hall Road Tuesday night. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)

North Cowichan man dies in house fire

GoFundMe campaign launched to support family of Nate Haslam

All four North Cowichan fire departments responded to a blaze on Hall Road Tuesday night. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)
All four North Cowichan fire departments responded to a blaze on Hall Road Tuesday night. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)

VIDEO: North Cowichan man dies in house fire

GoFundMe campaign launched to support family of Nate Haslam

All four North Cowichan fire departments responded to a blaze on Hall Road Tuesday night. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)
Must of eastern Vancouver Island is in the red at Drought Level 4. (B.C. Drought Information Portal)

Most of eastern Vancouver Island now at Drought Level 4

Low spring rainfall amounts and extreme heat wave to blame for early summer drought

Must of eastern Vancouver Island is in the red at Drought Level 4. (B.C. Drought Information Portal)
An old home on Maple Bay Road goes up in flames despite the best efforts of firefighters. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)

Five halls, Forest Service put down fire on Maple Bay Road in Cowichan Valley

Structure fire spread to nearby brush, helicopter ordered

An old home on Maple Bay Road goes up in flames despite the best efforts of firefighters. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)
A totem burned atop the Malahat Drive in the early morning hours of July 2, is believed to be retaliation for the statue of Captain James Cook that anti-colonial activists allegedly toppled into Victoria’s Inner Harbour on July 1. (Odessa Strom photo)

Fire set to Malahat totem

Police believe action was retaliation for toppled Captain Cook statue

A totem burned atop the Malahat Drive in the early morning hours of July 2, is believed to be retaliation for the statue of Captain James Cook that anti-colonial activists allegedly toppled into Victoria’s Inner Harbour on July 1. (Odessa Strom photo)
The Malahat SkyWalk will open to visitors in July 15. (Malahat SkyWalk photo)

Malahat Skywalk to open July 15

Visit Vancouver Island’s newest ‘ultimate natural high’

The Malahat SkyWalk will open to visitors in July 15. (Malahat SkyWalk photo)
Things are looking up for Vancouver Island as zero COVID-19 cases have been reported for the first time since October. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Island records zero new COVID-19 cases for the first time since October

For the first time since October, the province is reporting zero new…

Things are looking up for Vancouver Island as zero COVID-19 cases have been reported for the first time since October. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
The body of Thomas Turner was found in the Cowichan River on May 21. (Facebook)

Cowichan River victim identified, family looking for help with funds for funeral

Donations can be made to North Cowichan’s Norcross Return-It centre

The body of Thomas Turner was found in the Cowichan River on May 21. (Facebook)
Police are at Ecole Mount Prevost Elementary but the students have been evacuated. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)

Gardener finds buried explosives, sparking evacuation of Cowichan school

Students removed from school in an ‘abundance of caution’

Police are at Ecole Mount Prevost Elementary but the students have been evacuated. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)
The site of Sunfest, Laketown Ranch, will be open for camping this summer. (Citizen file)

Sunfest country music bash won’t be shining on B.C. in 2021

Annual Vancouver Island Festival cancelled due to COVID-19, along with Laketown Shakedown

The site of Sunfest, Laketown Ranch, will be open for camping this summer. (Citizen file)
A police car at the scene of a child’s death Friday, April 9, at the Falcon Nest Motel in Duncan. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)

RCMP investigating child’s death at Duncan’s Falcon Nest Motel

First responders attended to a call about an unresponsive child at the…

A police car at the scene of a child’s death Friday, April 9, at the Falcon Nest Motel in Duncan. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)
The CVRD’s main office was closed Monday after flooding damaged multiple floors. (Sarah Simpson/Citizen)

Burst pipe shutters Cowichan Valley Regional District headquarters

‘Significant’ water damage to at least two floors

The CVRD’s main office was closed Monday after flooding damaged multiple floors. (Sarah Simpson/Citizen)