About Us

The Victoria News is your comprehensive source for award-winning coverage of city news, community events and issues. From the wildflowers in Beacon Hill Park to its numerous beaches and shorelines, Victoria is a destination cherished for its quality of life. Victoria also boasts a rich cultural and architectural history as well as a wealth of news, intriguing characters and voices. The Victoria News brings those voices to you, covering breaking news, keeping track of provincial issues at the Legislature, and making sure you are up to date on local sports and entertainment. Now, the paper that keeps its readers informed and entertained is making its mark on the Internet. Check us out and let us know what you think.

Your Community News Team

	Publisher Penny Sakamoto 250-381-3633 ext 259	Penny Sakamoto is group publisher for Black Press-Greater Victoria, leading a team of about 65 staff and approximately 1,200 newspaper carriers. She graduated from journalism school in Winnipeg and has spent her career in the newspaper business in Canada and the U.S. She served as president of the B.C. and Yukon Community Newspaper Association and on the board of the Canadian Community Newspaper Association. In 2008, Sakamoto was awarded the Silver Quill Award for more than 25 years of distinguished service to the industry. Sakamoto works out of the Broughton Street office in downtown Victoria.
	Sales Manager Jody Epp 250-381-3633 ext 236	Jody Epp is a true Victoria resident. Born and raised in the heart of Metchosin, he has been a Victoria resident all his life. He has been with Black Press since 2000 as a sales rep, and moved into the role of sales manager in the summer of 2006. He is married, lives in the West Shore and enjoys golfing, fishing, curling and spending time with family.
	Editor Kevin Laird 250-381-3633 (Ext. 293)	Kevin Laird has been editorial director for Black Press-Greater Victoria and editor of the Victoria News since September 2007. Previous to that he was editor of the Nanaimo News Bulletin and worked at community and daily newspapers in Alberta and B.C. Laird and the newsroom staff he has led have won numerous national, provincial and regional awards. He's been in the newspaper business since 1981 and has a degree in journalism.
	Director of circulation Bruce Hogarth 250-360-0817	Bruce Hogarth has spent 25 years in the newspaper business and has extensive community newspaper experience. Most recently he worked for six years for the Vancouver Sun and Province before relocating to take the position as director of circulation for Black Press Greater Victoria. The native of Vancouver enjoys photography and tennis in his spare time.
	Assistant editor Don Descoteau 250-381-3633 ext 243	Don Descoteau has worked with Black Press since 1991, making stops in Williams Lake and Campbell River before joining the News staff in 2001. He has been sports editor in all three locations and took on assistant editor duties with Victoria in October 2007.
	Photo supervisor Don Denton 250-381-3663 (Ext. 271)	Don Denton is the photo supervisor for Black Press's Victoria News, Saanich News and Oak Bay News. He has worked as a photographer and photo editor for newspapers throughout Western Canada as well as for the British news agency Reuters based in Brussels, Belgium. He has taught photography at Mount Royal College in Calgary and currently teaches at the Western Academy of Photography in Victoria.