Author: Daniel Rivera

View Royal Mayor Sid Tobias has announced he will not seek re-election in the upcoming 2026 municipal election. The mayor revealed his decision on Oct. 14 during a committee of the whole meeting, saying it is a personal choice and an opportunity to pursue academic and consulting projects after his term ends. Tobias encouraged prospective candidates to step forward. “If the future of the town matters to you, step forward, run for mayor and run for council,” he said, offering his time and experience to those interested in public service. Elected in 2022 after defeating former mayor David Screech by…

View Royal goalkeeper Callie Turpin is taking her game to the national stage. Fresh off a provincial championship with Spectrum Community School, the soon-to-be Grade 12 athlete has been named to Team BC for the 2025 Canada Summer Games in St. John’s, Newfoundland, running August 8–17. Turpin is one of two Vancouver Island Wave players selected for the provincial squad, joining teammate Katharina Cronkhite. Her rise has been rapid, especially considering she only began playing soccer at age 11. “I just thought it looked fun, and then I became a goalkeeper – I’ve always wanted to play that position. I’ve…

Thetis Lake drowning recovery has brought both heartbreak and relief for the family of a young man whose body was recovered after days of searching. The 19-year-old, identified by family as Anthony, went missing on Thursday, September 4, after entering the waters of Upper Thetis Lake near View Royal. Witnesses saw him go under but he did not resurface. Despite attempts from bystanders, no one was able to reach him in time. Authorities confirmed that emergency services were quickly alerted following the incident. West Shore RCMP officers, along with BC Emergency Health Services, regional parks staff, and members of the…

British Columbia’s Infrastructure Minister, Bowinn Ma, has responded to criticism from the town of View Royal over the province’s new Infrastructure Projects Act, also known as Bill 15. The town raised concerns about the bill in an open letter on May 14, claiming it could reduce local decision-making and public accountability. Bill 15 aims to speed up approvals for major public-sector projects, including schools, hospitals, and post-secondary facilities, by streamlining permitting and environmental assessments. The legislation also covers “provincially significant” private-sector projects. View Royal’s council warned that the bill could centralize power in Victoria, weakening the influence of municipal governments…

A View Royal artist has gained recognition from both judges and fellow sculptors at a major sandcastle competition in Parksville. Damon Langlois impressed with his solo creation, T.G.I.F., featuring a sandy, bikini-clad elephant lounging on a beach towel. The piece stood out for its life-like expression and playful humour. Langlois earned third place from the judges and the coveted Sculptor’s Choice award in the solo category. His peers praised the work for its energy, gesture, and sculptural quality. “It always feels good to get positive feedback from your peers,” Langlois said. Langlois, an industrial product designer, began his journey in…

View Royal goalkeeper Callie Turpin is taking her soccer career to the national stage. The soon-to-be Grade 12 student has been selected to represent Team BC at the 2025 Canada Summer Games, running from August 8-17 in St. John’s, Newfoundland. Turpin is one of two Vancouver Island Wave players chosen for the provincial squad, joining teammate Katharina Cronkhite. Her rapid rise is impressive, especially since she began playing soccer at age 11. “I just thought it looked fun, and then I became a goalkeeper. I’ve always wanted that position. I’ve never been interested in all the running,” Turpin said with…

Callie Turpin, a standout goalkeeper from View Royal, is moving from provincial success to the national stage. Fresh from winning a provincial title with Spectrum Community School, the soon-to-be Grade 12 athlete has been selected to represent Team BC at the 2025 Canada Summer Games in St. John’s, Newfoundland, from August 8 to 17. Turpin is one of two Vancouver Island Wave players chosen for the provincial squad, joining teammate Katharina Cronkhite. Her rise in soccer has been swift, especially given she started playing at age 11. “I just thought it looked fun, and then I became a goalkeeper,” Turpin…

A creative beach sculpture by View Royal resident Damon Langlois has drawn both laughs and praise at this year’s Parksville sandcastle competition. The international event, known for its stunning displays of sand art, featured Langlois’ creation titled T.G.I.F. — a playful sculpture of a relaxed elephant wearing a bikini and lying on a beach towel. The design was full of life and motion, earning Langlois third place from the judges. But even more special to him was winning the Sculptor’s Choice award in the solo category, voted by fellow master sculptors. This award reflects how much other artists admired his…