Harry Corro

JOURNALIST

Human Interest & Community

Maple Ridge News •

Wishes on the wind: prayer bottles and kindness warm Mother's Day without mom - Maple Ridge News

It was a Friday morning, May 9 — a week after Gwen Marie McLennan's death.
Gwen's son, Lincoln, and his dog, Dexter, visited a makeshift memorial near the Dairy Queen in the picturesque seaside community of Sidney on Vancouver Island, where his mother had worked for nearly two decades.
The spot has become a place for residents to pay their respects, leaving flowers and cards in remembrance of a woman who touched countless lives.
A familiar figure known for her warm smile and friendly service, Gw...
Victoria News •

Community cooks up ‘hug in a bowl’ for North Saanich woman battling cancer - Victoria News

Soup has been called a hug in a bowl – one that is welcomed when you want something hearty and filling, especially when your taste buds crave nothing else.
For North Saanich resident Andrea Paget, who's battling cancer, she never expected these hugs in a bowl to be coming her way after a simple online post a couple of weeks ago.
"Looking for a delicious soup maker," her post began. "I'm currently wheelchair-bound while I'm going through treatment for cancer. My go-to for lunch is soup, but I'm g...
The Northern View •

Canadian runner helps visually impaired American chase Boston Marathon dream - The Northern View

Kyle Coon, a visually impaired athlete from Colorado, is gearing up to compete in the Boston Marathon on April 21, marking his return to the gruelling race after a seven-year hiatus. This time, however, he will navigate the 42.2-kilometre course with the invaluable support of his Canadian running guide and friend, Nico Lightbody, from Sidney, B.C.
Coon, 33, has been completely blind since the age of six, but that hasn't stopped him from pursuing his passion for endurance sports.
This year's Bost...
Vernon Morning Star •

VIDEO: B.C. sculptor puts heart and soul into driftwood art - Vernon Morning Star

Paul Lewis describes himself as a multimedia artist who also loves to paint.
"I’m nowhere near Robert Bateman’s realistic wildlife and nature paintings but I know my stuff looks like a photograph. It's pretty good.”
Seven years ago, he traded his canvas paint brushes for drills and screws creating art from driftwood – his new favourite medium.  
Lewis stumbled upon driftwood art in 2018 while walking around Esquimalt Lagoon. There, he saw the ‘McGnarly the Beach Ent’ sculpture by fellow artist A...
Victoria News •

VIDEO: Ride It Forward restores bikes to let Victoria kids roll into summer - Victoria News

Thirteen-year-old Mateo Evangelista, like many other students in Greater Victoria, is starting his summer break with a newfound sense of freedom, thanks to the Ride It Forward (RIF) program.
Evangelista received a refurbished bicycle just weeks before school let out, a gift that brought a wide smile to his face.
"It just feels really nice to have my own bike now," he exclaimed.
RIF, a volunteer-run initiative, has been collecting and restoring used bicycles since December for deserving students...
Oak Bay News •

VIDEO: Great search leads to Saanichton Black pioneer’s resting place - Oak Bay News

Darleene Horricks, a Saanich resident whose ancestors were part of the Black Pioneers who relocated from San Francisco, California to Victoria, had been attempting to piece together her family tree since 2010.
However, one important piece was missing: her maternal great-grandmother, Elizabeth Whims, whose grave was said to be in Shady Creek Cemetery behind Central Saanich United Church.
“Oral history in our family always had said she was at Shady Creek where a lot of other black folks are,” she...
Campbell River Mirror •

Snow day heroes: Vancouver Islanders save stranded, struggling seagull - Campbell River Mirror

An injured seagull stranded on the cold water at Haro Strait in Port Sidney Marina was rescued on Monday (Feb. 3) morning.
Around 8:30 a.m., harbour master Casey Pullen saw the seagull struggling in the water with its right wing broken as he made his way down the marina dock.
The seagull was eventually brought inside the marina office after Pullen's friend, boater Chloe Parson, rescued it from the water after a few hours.
"It looked like it'd flown into something," said port administrator Jackie...
Lake Cowichan Gazette •

Sidney's forgotten Chinatown, a history awaiting rediscovery - Lake Cowichan Gazette

Jenny Lam, who owns Sidney Harbour Chinese Restaurant on Beacon Avenue, was surprised to discover that there used to be a small but bustling Chinatown two streets away. 
"I only know of one Chinatown and that's in downtown Victoria." 
She's not totally off-base. 
"There's hardly any evidence of the old Chinese immigrant town in Sidney, which makes its history a bit of a challenge to research and interpret,” says Michael Goodchild, executive director of Sidney Museum and Archives. 
"Beyond archiv...
Victoria News •

Cyber-bullying: Victoria Cybertruck owner caught up in Tesla backlash - Victoria News

While Tesla recently recalled thousands of Cybertrucks due to a faulty trim panel that could detach and pose a safety hazard, one Victoria business owner is facing a different kind of problem: public backlash fuelled by CEO Elon Musk's controversial political involvement.
Hiro Fang, owner of the popular Japanese restaurants Toro and Uni, considers himself fortunate that his Cybertruck has not had any issues with the delaminating panel. 
However, he's increasingly concerned about the negative rea...
Victoria News •

'Mom felt loved': outpouring of comfort cheers Vancouver Island widow - Victoria News

Liz Sinclair-Kruth had no idea her simple plea to help her mother cope with the grief of her father’s sudden passing would trigger an avalanche of kindness from the community.
A day after her father, John Sinclair, died in his sleep, Sinclair-Kruth posted on Central Saanich Talks, a Facebook community page, hoping people would be willing to send her mother a card to help her get through a tough time.
Her father had advanced Parkinson's disease but was in relatively good health. He spent some tim...
Victoria News •

PHOTOS: Pearson College alumnus completes cross-country bicycle journey - Victoria News

On Sept. 14, on a beautiful sunny Saturday afternoon, Aengus Finnan cycled down the winding roads of Lester B. Pearson United World College in Metchosin.
He arrived quietly with surprisingly little fanfare considering he just completed an epic road trip. 
"Returning to the Narnia-like campus surrounded by pine, cedar, and arbutus trees always feels like coming home," he shared on his Instagram.
The 52-year-old folk musician and arts organizer had just finished a solo cross-country bike ride span...
Peninsula News Review •

Saanichton women's book club turns pages for a cause - Peninsula News Review

They are Saanichton’s longest running women’s book club, but instead of focusing solely on their own reading selections, the group dedicates their time to collecting, sorting and distributing gently used children's picture books to young children and families across the Saanich Peninsula.
Saanich Peninsula Children’s Book Recycling Society, comprised of 11 dedicated women, meets every Thursday at the Individual Learning Centre (ILC) on Mount Newton Cross Road.
There, they transform donated books...
Peninsula News Review •

Bridge resident built in North Saanich park runs into troubled waters - Peninsula News Review

What began as a simple passion project to access hidden trails has turned into a potential point of contention for North Saanich resident Chris Maier.
For 39 years, Maier has called North Saanich home and volunteers with Friends of North Saanich Parks and the Peninsula Streams Society.
During the pandemic, while exploring a seemingly inaccessible forest tucked between Reay Creek Park and Pat Bay Highway, Maier uncovered a hidden gem he affectionately calls his "Eden."
"Back in February 2020, I w...