Michael Briones

The Regional District of Nanaimo collected approximately 10,000 old waste and garbage bins to be repurposed or reused. (PQB News file photo)

10,000 old Nanaimo-area garbage bins repurposed elsewhere on the Island

Used containers donated to school districts, communities to be reused

The Regional District of Nanaimo collected approximately 10,000 old waste and garbage bins to be repurposed or reused. (PQB News file photo)
The Snaw-Naw-As First Nation’s Tim Hortons store reported on Jan. 6, 2021, that a staff member tested positive for COVID-19. (Snaw-Naw-As Photo)

Worker at mid-Island highway Tim Hortons store tests positive for COVID-19

Snaw-Naw-As First Nation in Lantzville reports contact tracing initiated, store disinfected

The Snaw-Naw-As First Nation’s Tim Hortons store reported on Jan. 6, 2021, that a staff member tested positive for COVID-19. (Snaw-Naw-As Photo)
(PQB News photo file)

RCMP arrest suspect after reports of naked man running through Qualicum Beach forest

Police say 23-year-old suspect appeared intoxicated

(PQB News photo file)
Fire, ambulance and other emergency personnel were on hand dealing with an early-morning fire in Coombs on Jan. 3, 2021. (Peter McCully photo)

Massive early-morning blaze destroys building, home in Coombs

Nine fire departments called to battle the flames

Fire, ambulance and other emergency personnel were on hand dealing with an early-morning fire in Coombs on Jan. 3, 2021. (Peter McCully photo)
Jean Brien is assisted from a dinghy by members of the Arrowsmith Search and Rescue. She is one of a number of residents told to vacate their homes on Martindale Road in Parksville due to flooding on Jan. 2, 2021. (Michael Briones photo)

Rescue crews evacuate residents stranded due to Parksville flooding

UPDATE: Flood waters breach banks of the Englishman River

Jean Brien is assisted from a dinghy by members of the Arrowsmith Search and Rescue. She is one of a number of residents told to vacate their homes on Martindale Road in Parksville due to flooding on Jan. 2, 2021. (Michael Briones photo)
Parksville’s Christiana Conway, left, husband Chris Conway, right, and friend Elizabeth Doell write letters designed to bring Christmas cheer to senior residents at area care homes. (Submitted photo)

Vancouver Island woman helps create special messages of Christmas cheer for seniors

Hand-written letters designed to help lonely residents during holiday season

Parksville’s Christiana Conway, left, husband Chris Conway, right, and friend Elizabeth Doell write letters designed to bring Christmas cheer to senior residents at area care homes. (Submitted photo)
Two giant grizzly bears engaged in a territorial fight. (Wayne Duke photo)

Trouble’s a bruin: B.C. photographer’s images of grappling grizzlies garner international acclaim

Amazing photos taken on trip to Tahumming River in Toba Inlet picked up by Daily Mail in Britain

Two giant grizzly bears engaged in a territorial fight. (Wayne Duke photo)
A house built on Bluff Drive will have a notice on the property unless owners correct the height of the building. (PQB News file photo)

Retirement dream home turns into 16-inch nightmare for Vancouver Island woman

Qualicum Beach council: ‘hardline is totally warranted’ in denying occupancy over house height

A house built on Bluff Drive will have a notice on the property unless owners correct the height of the building. (PQB News file photo)
Qualicum Beach Coun. Robert Filmer. (PQB News file photo)

Qualicum Beach councillor takes medical leave, citing ‘toxic’ town hall environment

Filmer to step away for two months to reflect and get ‘re-energized’

Qualicum Beach Coun. Robert Filmer. (PQB News file photo)
Dolly’s Home Hardware closed its doors for a day on Nov. 18, 2020, to conduct a major cleanup after an employee tested positiv for COVID-19. (Michael Briones photo)
Dolly’s Home Hardware closed its doors for a day on Nov. 18, 2020, to conduct a major cleanup after an employee tested positiv for COVID-19. (Michael Briones photo)
The Qualicum Beach Royal Canadian Legion Branch 76 will be closed for 10 days. (RCL Branch 76 Photo)

COVID-19: Legion branch closed on Vancouver Island for 10 days after low-risk exposure

Island Health advises members and public to closely monitor themselves

The Qualicum Beach Royal Canadian Legion Branch 76 will be closed for 10 days. (RCL Branch 76 Photo)
Members of the Arrowsmith Search and Rescue hoist a man (yellow helmet) who fell down a deep and very tight crevasse near the edge of Little Mountain in Errington on Oct. 8. (Ken Neden photo)

Search and rescue crews extricate man who fell down deep crevasse on Vancouver Island

Difficult terrain made rescue tricky for Arrowsmith SAR team

Members of the Arrowsmith Search and Rescue hoist a man (yellow helmet) who fell down a deep and very tight crevasse near the edge of Little Mountain in Errington on Oct. 8. (Ken Neden photo)
The team of riders of 2020 the Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock make their way to Save-On-Foods in Parksville on Friday, Sept. 25, 2020. (Michael Briones photo)

Vancouver Island Tour de Rock riders roll into Parksville Qualicum Beach

Saturday’s schedule includes Port Alberni, Ucluelet and Tofino, followed by Nanaimo on Sunday

The team of riders of 2020 the Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock make their way to Save-On-Foods in Parksville on Friday, Sept. 25, 2020. (Michael Briones photo)
Eagle expert David Hancock, left, and Myles Lamont check the treetop where they would build the eagle’s nest at the French Creek Estuary. (Michael Briones photo)

Artificial nest for bald eagles the first of its kind on Vancouver Island

New home replaces current nest located in decaying tree in French Creek

Eagle expert David Hancock, left, and Myles Lamont check the treetop where they would build the eagle’s nest at the French Creek Estuary. (Michael Briones photo)
Save French Creek Estuary Land has documented eagles nesting on a Douglas Fir tree near the French Creek Marina. (SFCEL photo)

Bald eagle family in French Creek to get a new home

Artificial nest will be a first of its kind on Vancouver Island

Save French Creek Estuary Land has documented eagles nesting on a Douglas Fir tree near the French Creek Marina. (SFCEL photo)
Andy Phillips shows the spot near his home in Qualicum Beach where he had an close encounter with an angry cougar. (Submitted photo)

Close encounter with angry cougar no garden party for Vancouver Island artist

What he thought was two cats fighting in his garden ended up a lot more cat than he bargained for

Andy Phillips shows the spot near his home in Qualicum Beach where he had an close encounter with an angry cougar. (Submitted photo)
A house fire on Leffler Road in Errington early Friday morning. (Trina Sisco photo)

Early-morning blaze destroys house in Errington

Fire officials say couple and their family pet managed to get out of Leffler Road home safely

A house fire on Leffler Road in Errington early Friday morning. (Trina Sisco photo)
James Smith, who died in a July 5 skydiving incident in Nanoose Bay, with wife Marlena, daughter Cedar, 3, and eight-month-old son Bodhi. (Photo via GoFundMe)

Campaign aims to raise $50K for young family of deceased Vancouver Island skydiver

James Smith, 34, died July 5 following incident in Nanoose Bay

James Smith, who died in a July 5 skydiving incident in Nanoose Bay, with wife Marlena, daughter Cedar, 3, and eight-month-old son Bodhi. (Photo via GoFundMe)
James Smith, an experienced skydiver, died in a mishap in Nanoose Bay on Sunday, July 5. (Submitted photo)

UPDATE: Vancouver Island skydiving community mourns loss of one of its own

James Smith, 34, of Victoria, dies in Nanoose Bay incident

James Smith, an experienced skydiver, died in a mishap in Nanoose Bay on Sunday, July 5. (Submitted photo)
Arrowsmith Search and Rescue helped locate a cyclist who got lost in a trail in Nanoose Bay on June 1, 2020. (ASAR photo)

Search and rescue crews help locate 62-year-old Nanoose Bay mountain biker

RCMP: Man got lost on trail and did right thing by calling for assistance

Arrowsmith Search and Rescue helped locate a cyclist who got lost in a trail in Nanoose Bay on June 1, 2020. (ASAR photo)
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