Community

The Royal Bank of Canada, pictured here on Third Avenue in 1950, is celebrating 75 years in Port Alberni. (PHOTO COURTESY RBC ROYAL BANK)

LOOK BACK: RBC celebrates 75 years in Port Alberni

Drop by RBC on Thursday, July 29 to join the celebration

Neil Clement, president of the Beaver Creek Community Club, stands in the newly-renovated kitchen at the hall on Beaver Creek Road. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)

Beaver Creek Community Club looking for new members

Club is applying for accessibility improvements to Beaver Creek Hall

2020 DAY IN YOUR LIFE WINNER —11:12 A.M. Frank Holm, a volunteer with the Alberni Pacific Railway, measures the area where he wants to install a grab bar on a 1909 CN Caboose at the APR’s Roundhouse behind Smitty’s on Third Avenue. Holm has put hundreds of hours into restoring the caboose, which used to sit outside a McDonald’s Restaurant in Nanaimo. (RICHARD SPENCER PHOTO)

July 21 is a Day in the Life of Port Alberni

Send us your photos and you could win a prize

RBC presents $80,000 cheque to North Island College. From left to right: Kathleen Kuhnert, NIC vice-president, Students & Community Engagement; Rick Eigler, RBC branch manager, Comox Valley; Kelly Bissell, RBC regional vice-president; Kelly Shopland, NIC executive director Indigenous Education; Aubrey Lively, RBC assistant branch manager; and Katharina Schulte-Bisping, RBC assistant branch manager.

RBC gives $80,000 to support Indigenous students at North Island College

Indigenous students at North Island College will be able to access expanded…

RBC presents $80,000 cheque to North Island College. From left to right: Kathleen Kuhnert, NIC vice-president, Students & Community Engagement; Rick Eigler, RBC branch manager, Comox Valley; Kelly Bissell, RBC regional vice-president; Kelly Shopland, NIC executive director Indigenous Education; Aubrey Lively, RBC assistant branch manager; and Katharina Schulte-Bisping, RBC assistant branch manager.
John Mayba of Port Alberni and his wife are concerned enough about the threat of wildfires in their community that they have moved any important documents to a safe deposit box. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

Port Alberni climate group takes temperature of region with online survey

Aim is to gather residents’ concerns about local impact of climate change

John Mayba of Port Alberni and his wife are concerned enough about the threat of wildfires in their community that they have moved any important documents to a safe deposit box. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
Students make a “tiny home” sign with their hands as part of the Tiny Home Challenge at John Paul II Catholic School. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)

Port Alberni school hosts pilot tiny homes competition

Competition had help from hosts of Netflix series Tiny House Nation

Students make a “tiny home” sign with their hands as part of the Tiny Home Challenge at John Paul II Catholic School. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)
A memorial tribute to Police Service Dog Gator is growing at a the foot of a flagpole in front of the Campbell River RCMP detachment on July 9, 2021. Photo by Alistair Taylor/Campbell River Mirror

Memorial for Campbell River police dog killed in line of duty grows

VIDEO: Emergency personnel conduct vehicle parade memorial for Gator

A memorial tribute to Police Service Dog Gator is growing at a the foot of a flagpole in front of the Campbell River RCMP detachment on July 9, 2021. Photo by Alistair Taylor/Campbell River Mirror
West Coast General Hospital, as depicted sometime between 1913-1915, was a two-storey building with two wings connected by a central piece. The hospital was located near the spot where the Port Alberni RCMP building is today, and underwent a few renovations over the years. This is one of 24,000 photos contained in the Alberni Valley Museum's online archives, available at https://portalberni.pastperfectonline.com. (PHOTO PN00108 COURTESY ALBERNI VALLEY MUSEUM)

LOOK BACK: Alberni Valley hit by Spanish flu in 1918

Some things change, while others stay the same

West Coast General Hospital, as depicted sometime between 1913-1915, was a two-storey building with two wings connected by a central piece. The hospital was located near the spot where the Port Alberni RCMP building is today, and underwent a few renovations over the years. This is one of 24,000 photos contained in the Alberni Valley Museum's online archives, available at https://portalberni.pastperfectonline.com. (PHOTO PN00108 COURTESY ALBERNI VALLEY MUSEUM)
A team of volunteers exhibit some of the plastics retrieved from the Alberni Inlet and shoreline during a recent ocean cleanup. The items were sorted and data recorded. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

Ocean clean-up collects thousands of pieces of garbage in Port Alberni

Debris collects in the Somass Estuary

A team of volunteers exhibit some of the plastics retrieved from the Alberni Inlet and shoreline during a recent ocean cleanup. The items were sorted and data recorded. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
John Hillman, 102, marks down the last lap for the day hitting 80 on July 6. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

VIDEO: Donations lag as 102-year-old veteran laps Oak Bay courtyard for cause

John Hillman set to take his last laps Thursday morning

John Hillman, 102, marks down the last lap for the day hitting 80 on July 6. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
Eight young men and eight young women are seen in formal dress in a photo taken during the “graduation dance” in 1964. In back: David Smith, Douglas Bogdanski, Clayton Ward, Jim Crowden, Greg McInnes, Martin Segger, Gerry Mennard, Felix Joseph. Middle row: Connie Vandernoler, Sandra Rourke, Florence Carriere, Anne Stegman. Front row: Suzanne Watson, Barbara McLaughlin, Sharon McNeil, Sherry Lee Edwards.

LOOK BACK: Graduation at Port Alberni’s Smith School

Take a peek at Alberni Valley history with the Alberni Valley Museum

Eight young men and eight young women are seen in formal dress in a photo taken during the “graduation dance” in 1964. In back: David Smith, Douglas Bogdanski, Clayton Ward, Jim Crowden, Greg McInnes, Martin Segger, Gerry Mennard, Felix Joseph. Middle row: Connie Vandernoler, Sandra Rourke, Florence Carriere, Anne Stegman. Front row: Suzanne Watson, Barbara McLaughlin, Sharon McNeil, Sherry Lee Edwards.
A decorated school float from May 1958, with the words “”Jr. Council”, “Cheerleaders”, “Totem Tour”, “Track”, “ADSS”, “Spring Prom”, is seen with the river in the background, a few parked cars and people at the side of the road. At least six young people are riding on the float. This and 24,000 other historical photos can be seen on the Alberni Valley Museum’s online photo archive at https://portalberni.pastperfectonline.com. (PHOTO PN12838 COURTESY ALBERNI VALLEY MUSEUM)

LOOK BACK: Prom 1958 in the Alberni Valley

Take a peek into Alberni Valley history with the Alberni Valley Museum

A decorated school float from May 1958, with the words “”Jr. Council”, “Cheerleaders”, “Totem Tour”, “Track”, “ADSS”, “Spring Prom”, is seen with the river in the background, a few parked cars and people at the side of the road. At least six young people are riding on the float. This and 24,000 other historical photos can be seen on the Alberni Valley Museum’s online photo archive at https://portalberni.pastperfectonline.com. (PHOTO PN12838 COURTESY ALBERNI VALLEY MUSEUM)
Maren Longman delivers a compelling valedictory speech in front of her family and a few other people at the ADSS Theatre on June 18, 2021. Her speech (which she did in one take) was recorded to be included in the 2021 graduation video. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Class of 2021 can heal the world, says Alberni valedictorian

Valedictorian Maren Longman talks of loss and hope in her speech to classmates

Maren Longman delivers a compelling valedictory speech in front of her family and a few other people at the ADSS Theatre on June 18, 2021. Her speech (which she did in one take) was recorded to be included in the 2021 graduation video. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
Alberni District Secondary School graduates and longtime friends Paige Maher, left, and Cortney Cameron have fun recording their MC speeches as part of the 2021 graduation ceremonies on June 18, 2021. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Alberni grad MCs ‘do everything together’

Paige Maher and Cortney Cameron said it was fitting they could MC 2021 ceremony

Alberni District Secondary School graduates and longtime friends Paige Maher, left, and Cortney Cameron have fun recording their MC speeches as part of the 2021 graduation ceremonies on June 18, 2021. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
A husband accidentally locked his wife and dog on their Vernon rooftop patio Tuesday morning, June 29, went to work and posted the event to social media which drew hilarious reaction and helpful hints for the husband. The wife and dog were rescued. (Facebook photo)

Vernon man accidentally locks wife, dog on rooftop in heat wave; lives to post about it on social media

The man left for work and jokingly asked friends to ‘send up water’ to stranded pair who were safely unlocked from patio

A husband accidentally locked his wife and dog on their Vernon rooftop patio Tuesday morning, June 29, went to work and posted the event to social media which drew hilarious reaction and helpful hints for the husband. The wife and dog were rescued. (Facebook photo)
North Island College graduates gathered at the Campbell River campus in early June to have their photo taken in their regalia. The photos are part of the virtual grad celebration, which is now live online. Photo supplied

North Island College launches Virtual Grad 2021

COVID-19 restrictions force second virtual graduation at NIC

North Island College graduates gathered at the Campbell River campus in early June to have their photo taken in their regalia. The photos are part of the virtual grad celebration, which is now live online. Photo supplied
Port Alberni’s public health unit has relocated to 202-4152 Redford Street, behind McDonald’s. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Port Alberni’s public health unit moves to Redford Street

New building is bigger, more services available in one spot

Port Alberni’s public health unit has relocated to 202-4152 Redford Street, behind McDonald’s. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
Marjorie Jarret (left) and Rosemarie Buchanan are board members with Abbeyfield. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

VALLEY SENIORS: How Port Alberni seniors have been coping with COVID-19

Abbeyfield Board of Directors and staff ensure there’s always something for seniors to do

  • Jun 27, 2021
Marjorie Jarret (left) and Rosemarie Buchanan are board members with Abbeyfield. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
Tricia McAuley (far right) stands with her former students and a pair of cheques that will be delivered to the Salvation Army and the North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)

Students at an Alberni school raise funds through craft fair

EJ Dunn classmates originally held fundraiser for wildfire relief in Australia

Tricia McAuley (far right) stands with her former students and a pair of cheques that will be delivered to the Salvation Army and the North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)
Operation Freedom Paws Canada, in partnership with Pauliina Saarinen Photography, has announced the 2022 Calendar Contest featuring Vancouver Island Dogs, and they are looking for submissions. Photo courtesy pauliinasaarinen.com

Vancouver Island dog calendar seeking submissions for fundraising initiative

Contest will raise funds for Operation Freedom Paws Canada

Operation Freedom Paws Canada, in partnership with Pauliina Saarinen Photography, has announced the 2022 Calendar Contest featuring Vancouver Island Dogs, and they are looking for submissions. Photo courtesy pauliinasaarinen.com