Jake Romphf

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The College of Massage Therapists of B.C. has handed a 25-year ban to a Saanich massage therapist who secretly videoed women undressing. (Unsplash photo)

25-year ban for former B.C. massage therapist who secretly recorded women disrobing

Gilles-Phillipe Lavoie set up a cell phone to video his patients prior to a massage

The College of Massage Therapists of B.C. has handed a 25-year ban to a Saanich massage therapist who secretly videoed women undressing. (Unsplash photo)
RCMP major crimes Superintendent Sanjaya Wijayakoom speaks during a press conference where the Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit released its investigation findings into the June 28, 2022, Saanich bank shootout. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)

Brothers aimed to kill police, didn’t expect to survive Saanich bank shootout

22-year-old Cowichan Valley brothers were killed in the June 2022 gunbattle outside BMO branch

RCMP major crimes Superintendent Sanjaya Wijayakoom speaks during a press conference where the Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit released its investigation findings into the June 28, 2022, Saanich bank shootout. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)
Zachary Armitage was sentenced to life in jail on Jan. 11 for the first-degree murder of a 60-year-old Metchosin father in 2019. (Correctional Service of Canada/Facebook)

Second escaped inmate who murdered Greater Victoria man sentenced to life in jail

Family haunted by how Martin Payne’s last moments were marked by horror

Zachary Armitage was sentenced to life in jail on Jan. 11 for the first-degree murder of a 60-year-old Metchosin father in 2019. (Correctional Service of Canada/Facebook)
A B.C. Supreme Court Judge gave a lesser sentence to a Fairy Creek protester after police moved and ran over $1,600 worth of the individual’s camping gear. (Contributed - BC RCMP)

Fairy Creek protester gets lesser sentence after camping gear crushed

Citizens have a right to expect property will be safeguarded, Supreme Court judge says

A B.C. Supreme Court Judge gave a lesser sentence to a Fairy Creek protester after police moved and ran over $1,600 worth of the individual’s camping gear. (Contributed - BC RCMP)
Martin Payne was murdered in his Metchosin home on July 12, 2019. He’s remembered by family and friends for spreading joy, love and kindness to everyone he met. (Facebook/Martin Payne)

Loved ones remember joyous B.C. man as his killer is sentenced

Martin Payne’s family say they’ll never recover from the thought of his traumatic final moments

Martin Payne was murdered in his Metchosin home on July 12, 2019. He’s remembered by family and friends for spreading joy, love and kindness to everyone he met. (Facebook/Martin Payne)
James Lee Busch and Zachary Armitage were charged with the first-degree murder of Martin Payne after the pair escaped William Head institution on July 7, 2019. (Correctional Service of Canada/Facebook)

Escaped B.C. inmate found guilty of murder of Vancouver Island man

But jury wasn’t told of fate of second escaped inmate in killing of Martin Payne

James Lee Busch and Zachary Armitage were charged with the first-degree murder of Martin Payne after the pair escaped William Head institution on July 7, 2019. (Correctional Service of Canada/Facebook)
The lawyer for one of two escaped William Head inmates said his client should be acquitted as he blamed a 2019 murder solely on Zachary Armitage. William Head Institution is shown through a security fence in Victoria, B.C., on Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2008. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Lam

Only one escaped inmate committed B.C. murder, defence claims in closing remarks

James Lee Busch’s lawyer puts murder blame solely on Zachary Armitage

The lawyer for one of two escaped William Head inmates said his client should be acquitted as he blamed a 2019 murder solely on Zachary Armitage. William Head Institution is shown through a security fence in Victoria, B.C., on Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2008. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Lam
Metchosin man Martin Payne was discovered July 12, 2019. He was described by family as “exceptionally gentle” and “caring.” James Lee Busch and Zachary Armitage are charged with the first-degree murder of Payne. (Facebook/Martin Payne)

Crown says escaped inmates worked together to murder B.C. man

James Lee Busch and Zachary Armitage charged with first-degree murder of Martin Payne

Metchosin man Martin Payne was discovered July 12, 2019. He was described by family as “exceptionally gentle” and “caring.” James Lee Busch and Zachary Armitage are charged with the first-degree murder of Payne. (Facebook/Martin Payne)
The McLoughlin Point Wastewater Treatment Plant in Esquimalt, B.C., is seen on Friday, January 8, 2021. The Greater Victoria area no longer uses surrounding ocean waters to flush away raw effluent now that a $775 million sewage plant has started treating the equivalent of 43 Olympic-sized pools of waste daily. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

For its neighbours, Greater Victoria’s wastewater plant woes flow through the nose

Those living nearby say CRD hasn’t kept its promise of an odour-free McLoughlin treatment facility

The McLoughlin Point Wastewater Treatment Plant in Esquimalt, B.C., is seen on Friday, January 8, 2021. The Greater Victoria area no longer uses surrounding ocean waters to flush away raw effluent now that a $775 million sewage plant has started treating the equivalent of 43 Olympic-sized pools of waste daily. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
Southern resident killer whale calf, named K45, has been identified as a girl. (Courtesy of Fisheries and Oceans Canada)

New southern resident killer whale a female

The whale, named K45, is the first born to K-pod since 2011

Southern resident killer whale calf, named K45, has been identified as a girl. (Courtesy of Fisheries and Oceans Canada)
A demonstrator who showed up outside the B.C. legislature on Oct. 3, the first day of the fall session, to call for an end to old-growth logging. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)

Old-growth forest supporters greet MLAs at B.C. legislature ahead of fall session

Groups calling for an end to all logging in the old-growth ecosystems

A demonstrator who showed up outside the B.C. legislature on Oct. 3, the first day of the fall session, to call for an end to old-growth logging. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)
Southern resident killer whale L89 has been pronounced dead after not being seen at all in 2022. The male is seen here in a photograph taken in 2020. (Courtesy of the Centre for Whale Research)

Southern resident killer whale population falls to 73: U.S. researchers

Three males pronounced dead since mid-2021, at least two calfs born since

Southern resident killer whale L89 has been pronounced dead after not being seen at all in 2022. The male is seen here in a photograph taken in 2020. (Courtesy of the Centre for Whale Research)
MeepMeep co-founder Eve Olynyk tosses a disc during a round of disc golf. (Courtesy of MeepMeep)

MeepMeep’s chirping disc golf tracker looks to grow game, end player frustration

B.C. company’s app-driven unit aims to open sport to the visually impaired, help find lost discs

MeepMeep co-founder Eve Olynyk tosses a disc during a round of disc golf. (Courtesy of MeepMeep)
The Aleutian Isle sees the surface for the first time on Sept. 17, over a month after it sank off of San Juan Island. (Courtesy of U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Northwest)

Fuel-leaking fishing boat pulled to surface one month after sinking near Victoria

Ongoing response looks to move the boat without releasing remaining fuel

The Aleutian Isle sees the surface for the first time on Sept. 17, over a month after it sank off of San Juan Island. (Courtesy of U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Northwest)
Statistics Canada released new census data on Sept. 21 showing renters face starker shelter-related costs increases than homeowners. (Black Press Media file photo)

Canada’s renters facing higher monthly costs than homeowners: census

One-third of first-time B.C. home buyers chose a condo in 2020

Statistics Canada released new census data on Sept. 21 showing renters face starker shelter-related costs increases than homeowners. (Black Press Media file photo)
Trees line a Cook Street sidewalk down by the Victoria waterfront. A new study looks into the equitable distribution of greenspace in Canadian cities. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)

Greenspace less accessible to millenials and the poor across Canadian cities

UBC study looks into equitable greenspace distribution across country’s urban spaces

Trees line a Cook Street sidewalk down by the Victoria waterfront. A new study looks into the equitable distribution of greenspace in Canadian cities. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)
A little boy dresses up to watch on Quadra Street as the ceremonial procession and provincial commemorative service for Queen Elizabeth II passes along. (Arnold Lim/Black Press Media)

PHOTOS: Victoria procession, ceremony, as B.C. pays tribute to Queen Elizabeth II

Longest-serving monarch died on Sept. 8 after 70 years on the throne

A little boy dresses up to watch on Quadra Street as the ceremonial procession and provincial commemorative service for Queen Elizabeth II passes along. (Arnold Lim/Black Press Media)
Pictured is traffic on the Hollywood Freeway in Los Angeles. A UVic researcher found carbon pricing mixed with subsidies for drivers to choose cleaner options was one of the most effective mixes at reducing transportation emission in Europe. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)

B.C. researcher recommends carrot-and-stick to curb transportation emissions

Study shows how big greenhouse gas cuts are possible as world pushes to meet climate goals

Pictured is traffic on the Hollywood Freeway in Los Angeles. A UVic researcher found carbon pricing mixed with subsidies for drivers to choose cleaner options was one of the most effective mixes at reducing transportation emission in Europe. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)
Ocean Network Canada field services manager Dirk Brussow and senior project engineer Nicolai Bailly with the recovered wave glider from the seafloor geodesy system project. (Courtesy of Ocean Networks Canada)

Research off B.C. coast aims to shake our understanding of megathrust earthquakes

Ocean Networks Canada team measuring tectonic plate movements underwater

Ocean Network Canada field services manager Dirk Brussow and senior project engineer Nicolai Bailly with the recovered wave glider from the seafloor geodesy system project. (Courtesy of Ocean Networks Canada)
Photos of loved ones outside the Ministry of Health office during an International Overdose Awareness Day event in Victoria. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)

Pleas for safe drug supply mark International Overdose Awareness Day in B.C. capital

10,000 people have died of toxic drug poisoning in B.C. since 2016

Photos of loved ones outside the Ministry of Health office during an International Overdose Awareness Day event in Victoria. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)