Columnists

(THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)

The B.C. Liberal leadership race: Rebirth or reckoning?

The B.C. Liberals have always been an uneasy coalition of conservative and liberal voters,

A towering structure of girders marks the spot where Imperial Cannery used to be located along the Steveston Waterfront. Marine industrial machinery and other material have been incorporated into the Lower Mainland community’s boardwalk. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

QUINN’S QUIPS: Steveston is a perfect blend of history and trendiness

This is something that could be done here in Port Alberni

Michael Yellowlees and his Alaskan Husky dog Luna enjoy a break in Ottawa’s Andrew Haydon Park during a picnic put on by the Scottish Society of Ottawa in late September. (FACEBOOK PHOTO)

QUINN’S QUIPS: Michael and Luna connect Canada’s landscape one step at a time

Scottish visitor and his sled dog are walking from coast to coast for climate change

Trees burnt by the White Rock Lake wildfire earlier this month are seen in Monte Lake, B.C., on Thursday, Aug. 26, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Analysis: Wildfire and flood disasters are causing ‘climate migration’ within Canada

Polticians need to implement environmental policies or people will go elsewhere

Trees burnt by the White Rock Lake wildfire earlier this month are seen in Monte Lake, B.C., on Thursday, Aug. 26, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
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Vaccine Politics: Will COVID-19 affect the outcome of the federal election in B.C.?

Week 3 of federal election analysis by columnist Bruce Cameron focuses on the effects of COVID-19

  • Sep 9, 2021
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<strong>It’s not easy being Green: Erosion of overall support for Paul could impact outcome in many B.C. ridings</strong>Federal Green party leader Annamie Paul cuts the ribbon of her campaign office in Toronto Centre on Thursday, July 22, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston Federal Green party leader Annamie Paul cuts the ribbon of her campaign office in Toronto Centre on Thursday, July 22, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston

It’s not easy being Green: Erosion of overall support for Paul could impact many B.C. ridings

At the federal level, the Green Party led by Elizabeth May held three of the 42 seats in B.C. not so long ago

  • Aug 30, 2021
<strong>It’s not easy being Green: Erosion of overall support for Paul could impact outcome in many B.C. ridings</strong>Federal Green party leader Annamie Paul cuts the ribbon of her campaign office in Toronto Centre on Thursday, July 22, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston Federal Green party leader Annamie Paul cuts the ribbon of her campaign office in Toronto Centre on Thursday, July 22, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston
B.C. Premier John Horgan said on June 3 that COVID-19 restrictions won't be eased regionally, “If people want to book arrangements at their favourite place in B.C, you can certainly do that now, but there’s no guarantee you’ll be able to get there,” Horgan said. (NEWS file photo)

FINLAYSON: Time for a ‘health check’ on the tourism industry as summer winds down

To revive the economy, this piece in the strategy is integral, writes Jock Finlayson

  • Aug 26, 2021
B.C. Premier John Horgan said on June 3 that COVID-19 restrictions won't be eased regionally, “If people want to book arrangements at their favourite place in B.C, you can certainly do that now, but there’s no guarantee you’ll be able to get there,” Horgan said. (NEWS file photo)
The very first issue of the Alberni Valley News rolls off the press at our Ladysmith Press plant in time for delivery on Aug. 25, 2006. We were a Friday paper at the time. (ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS FILE PHOTO)

QUINN’S QUIPS: 15 years of Alberni Valley News have flown by

Your community news source is celebrating an anniversary

The very first issue of the Alberni Valley News rolls off the press at our Ladysmith Press plant in time for delivery on Aug. 25, 2006. We were a Friday paper at the time. (ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS FILE PHOTO)
Federal election campaign stops across Canada in the second week of August 2021. (Canadian Press photos)

Poised for majority or upset? Hopes and fears in 1st week of Canada’s election campaign

First week of this short five-week federal election campaign kicked off with appearances in B.C.

  • Aug 23, 2021
Federal election campaign stops across Canada in the second week of August 2021. (Canadian Press photos)
Alberni Valley News editor Susie Quinn’s cousin, Lianne Cameron, celebrating a birthday with Quinn’s mother Judy in Ottawa a few years ago, died suddenly Aug. 7, 2021. (SUSIE QUINN PHOTO)

QUINN’S QUIPS: Searching for the right words to express grief

When personal losses pile up, how do you mourn loved ones?

Alberni Valley News editor Susie Quinn’s cousin, Lianne Cameron, celebrating a birthday with Quinn’s mother Judy in Ottawa a few years ago, died suddenly Aug. 7, 2021. (SUSIE QUINN PHOTO)
A tasty breakfast treat. (Philip Wolf photo)

COLUMN: Does your guilty pleasure involve a captain, a tiger or a cartoon monster?

WOLF: The siren song of sugary breakfast cereals remains hard to resist

A tasty breakfast treat. (Philip Wolf photo)
Pat Kokura loves to visit the Somass River at Clutesi Haven Marina. Kokura is home in Port Alberni after spending 20 years as a missionary in Mbarara, Uganda. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

QUINN’S QUIPS: Port Alberni missionary’s heart remains in Uganda

Pat Kokura still advocates for Ugandan boys’ home from halfway around the world

Pat Kokura loves to visit the Somass River at Clutesi Haven Marina. Kokura is home in Port Alberni after spending 20 years as a missionary in Mbarara, Uganda. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
Retired Port Alberni journalist Shayne Morrow’s (left) book The Bulldog and the Helix details the hard work that retired RCMP Staff Sgt. Dale Djos, retired Cpl. Dan Smith, forensic scientist Hiron Poon and a team of general investigation officers put in to solve a pair of historical murders. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

QUINN’S QUIPS: Journalist Shayne Morrow’s career comes full circle

Morrow’s book on two high-profile Port Alberni murder cases leads to RCMP awards

Retired Port Alberni journalist Shayne Morrow’s (left) book The Bulldog and the Helix details the hard work that retired RCMP Staff Sgt. Dale Djos, retired Cpl. Dan Smith, forensic scientist Hiron Poon and a team of general investigation officers put in to solve a pair of historical murders. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
A motorhome sits amid the burnt debris in the Village of Lytton, B.C. on Friday, July 9, 2021 following a massive wildfire that tore through the town destroying 90 per cent of it. (Jenna Hauck/ Black Press Media)

OPINION: The Village of Lytton turned to ashes in moments

‘We drive by piles of ash and crumbled brick. What used to be there?’ writes Jenna Hauck

A motorhome sits amid the burnt debris in the Village of Lytton, B.C. on Friday, July 9, 2021 following a massive wildfire that tore through the town destroying 90 per cent of it. (Jenna Hauck/ Black Press Media)
“Occupy the Shelter” protesters set up a covered area, propane heaters and some tents in front of Our Home on Eighth, Port Alberni’s multi-service shelter, to protest the way homelessness is being dealt with. Oct. 25, 2020 (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

QUINN’S QUIPS: Alberni’s homeless housing issue is on mute

Now is the time to talk about housing homeless, not once winter hits

“Occupy the Shelter” protesters set up a covered area, propane heaters and some tents in front of Our Home on Eighth, Port Alberni’s multi-service shelter, to protest the way homelessness is being dealt with. Oct. 25, 2020 (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
Contractors continue to work on the low energy housing project being built on Maitland Street at Eighth Avenue in Port Alberni. Feb. 19, 2021 (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

QUINN’S QUIPS: Who’s buying homes in Port Alberni? You’d be surprised

Housing has many facets in the Alberni Valley, popular with Island buyers

Contractors continue to work on the low energy housing project being built on Maitland Street at Eighth Avenue in Port Alberni. Feb. 19, 2021 (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
A map created by the Ministry of Forests shows the activity of the Bea Fire in Beaverdell, B.C. in 1989, including one house in particular (at bottom right) that was nearly completely surrounded by flames. (Ministry of Forests)

COLUMN: Looking back on historic fire that nearly destroyed a B.C. town

Enormous firefighting effort saved Beaverdell from destruction in 1989

A map created by the Ministry of Forests shows the activity of the Bea Fire in Beaverdell, B.C. in 1989, including one house in particular (at bottom right) that was nearly completely surrounded by flames. (Ministry of Forests)
Smoke from wildfires burning in the U.S. fills the air as the Grouse Mountain tram transports people down the mountain, in North Vancouver, B.C,, on Saturday, September 12, 2020. The World Air Quality Index, a non-profit that tracks air quality from monitoring stations around the world, rated Vancouver’s air quality as the second worst in the world Saturday. Environment Canada has issued a special air quality statement for Metro Vancouver, showing a very high risk to health due to wildfire smoke from Washington and Oregon. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Prepare for the worst: 10 steps to get ready for wildfire smoke

The summer of 2021 has the potential to be worse than any wildfire season before it

Smoke from wildfires burning in the U.S. fills the air as the Grouse Mountain tram transports people down the mountain, in North Vancouver, B.C,, on Saturday, September 12, 2020. The World Air Quality Index, a non-profit that tracks air quality from monitoring stations around the world, rated Vancouver’s air quality as the second worst in the world Saturday. Environment Canada has issued a special air quality statement for Metro Vancouver, showing a very high risk to health due to wildfire smoke from Washington and Oregon. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
River Bend Bridge has gone through different iterations since it was first built circa 1910. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

QUINN’S QUIPS: How much does a name matter?

The debate about the Orange Bridge in Port Alberni isn’t new…

River Bend Bridge has gone through different iterations since it was first built circa 1910. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
Trooper Douglas Mar (family name Mah) of Port Alberni, pictured in his Royal Canadian Forces uniform in 1944, is Robinson (Rob) Mah's brother. (PHOTO COURTESY MAH FAMILY)

QUINN’S QUIPS: Second Mah brother known for efforts in Second World War

Douglas Mah was part of secret unit of Chinese Canadian soldiers

Trooper Douglas Mar (family name Mah) of Port Alberni, pictured in his Royal Canadian Forces uniform in 1944, is Robinson (Rob) Mah's brother. (PHOTO COURTESY MAH FAMILY)