Community

Students from Tim Crosby’s Environmental Sciences class plant trees and shrubs in the Somass Estuary on Oct. 5, 2021 under the guidance of volunteers from the Alberni Valley Nature Club. (PHOTO COURTESY SANDY MCRUER)

Alberni Valley Nature Club, ADSS students plant hope with wetland project

Ducks Unlimited provide funding for planting project at Somass Estuary

Devynn Holst won first prize at the Alberni District Fall Fair for her quilt. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

Curiosity for quilting pays off for Port Alberni student in the form of a blue ribbon

‘Genius’ project at elementary school gave student time to learn a new skill

NIC is celebrating Thrive Month throughout October with a range of activities to support mental health and well-being. Photo by Kim Stallknecht

North Island College Thrive Month supports student mental health

Thrive Month is taking place at North Island College through the month…

Harry Sperber, left, receives his winnings from Alberni Valley Tyee Club’s Carolyn Jasken after his 30.3-pound earned him top prize for the 2021 ladder season. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

Magic number was 30 lbs. for Alberni Valley Tyee Club’s biggest fish of 2021

Anglers had a strong season despite COVID-19 challenges

Harry Sperber, left, receives his winnings from Alberni Valley Tyee Club’s Carolyn Jasken after his 30.3-pound earned him top prize for the 2021 ladder season. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
Josh Waters and his one-year-old English Staffy cross, Rocky. (Twila Amato/Black Press Media)

COVID, heartbreak among speedbumps in Australian’s road to residency in Kelowna

Josh Waters shares his experience in the hopes to help others like him

Josh Waters and his one-year-old English Staffy cross, Rocky. (Twila Amato/Black Press Media)
Volunteers with the BC Thanksgiving Food Drive stand in front of a pile of donations. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

Port Alberni’s food drive collects more than 8,000 pounds of food in 2021

Food donations will stay in the Alberni Valley

Volunteers with the BC Thanksgiving Food Drive stand in front of a pile of donations. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
Greg Penny picks up recycling bins on Sixth Avenue in Port Alberni on Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021. This week will be his final week with the previous recycling truck, as the City of Port Alberni is switching to a new three-cart system as of Sept. 13. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Eagle-eyed blue-box collector says goodbye to Port Alberni customers

New automated waste system diverts garbage from Alberni Valley Landfill

Greg Penny picks up recycling bins on Sixth Avenue in Port Alberni on Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021. This week will be his final week with the previous recycling truck, as the City of Port Alberni is switching to a new three-cart system as of Sept. 13. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
Valley Vonka winners from left to right: Ike Dokter, Wendy Haas, Jim Doiron, Jensen Warson Castley and MaryLee Castley. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)

Second Valley Vonka fundraiser raises more than $5K for Literacy Alberni

The fundraiser was inspired by the Golden Ticket contest from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Valley Vonka winners from left to right: Ike Dokter, Wendy Haas, Jim Doiron, Jensen Warson Castley and MaryLee Castley. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)
Leona Horvath, branch manager for RBC, and Nicole Sendey of the Coulson Group of Companies stand in front of the newly-decorated windows on Third Avenue with the cheque that will be delivered to the winning business. (SONJA DRINKWATER / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)

Coulson Group offers window into Port Alberni non-profits

Windows of Hope contest draws attention to important community work

Leona Horvath, branch manager for RBC, and Nicole Sendey of the Coulson Group of Companies stand in front of the newly-decorated windows on Third Avenue with the cheque that will be delivered to the winning business. (SONJA DRINKWATER / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)
Lighting the way Jeanette Carnell finishes her lantern at the New Horizons Clubhouse prior to participating in the Canadian Mental Health Association’s walk for World Suicide Prevention Day Sept. 10, 2021. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Canadian Mental Health Association lights the way in Port Alberni

Sept. 10 was World Suicide Awareness Day

Lighting the way Jeanette Carnell finishes her lantern at the New Horizons Clubhouse prior to participating in the Canadian Mental Health Association’s walk for World Suicide Prevention Day Sept. 10, 2021. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
The Elks Valleyettes drill team stands in a semi-circle with British actor, singer and comedian Dame Gracie Fields in front of the CJAV radio station in April 1950. The Port Alberni Lodge of the BPO Elks sponsored Fields's appearance in Port Alberni, a stop on her tour across the United States and Canada following the end of the Second World War. This photo is one of 24,000 contained in the Alberni Valley Museum's digital archives at https://portalberni.pastperfectonline.com. (PHOTO PN15835 COURTESY ALBERNI VALLEY MUSEUM)

LOOK BACK: British acting royalty once visited the Alberni Valley

The Elks Valleyettes drill team were on hand to greet Dame Gracie Fields

The Elks Valleyettes drill team stands in a semi-circle with British actor, singer and comedian Dame Gracie Fields in front of the CJAV radio station in April 1950. The Port Alberni Lodge of the BPO Elks sponsored Fields's appearance in Port Alberni, a stop on her tour across the United States and Canada following the end of the Second World War. This photo is one of 24,000 contained in the Alberni Valley Museum's digital archives at https://portalberni.pastperfectonline.com. (PHOTO PN15835 COURTESY ALBERNI VALLEY MUSEUM)
Chantal Lafontaine prepares to cut Taylor Pointon Huth’s hair. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)

Port Alberni youth donates foot of hair to cancer wig program

She will be donating her hair to Angel Hair for Kids

Chantal Lafontaine prepares to cut Taylor Pointon Huth’s hair. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)
The Tree to Sea loop is a 1,000 km bikepacking route around the north end of Vancouver Island. Photo courtesy Miles Arbor

1,000 km route opens northern Vancouver Island to bikepackers

Bikepacking combines ultralight backpacking and bicycle touring

The Tree to Sea loop is a 1,000 km bikepacking route around the north end of Vancouver Island. Photo courtesy Miles Arbor
Tour de Rock riders visited Sooke on Sept. 29. (Kevin Laird - Sooke News Mirror)

Sooke Tour de Rock visit ‘pretty fantastic’

Thousands raised locally for pediatric cancer research

Tour de Rock riders visited Sooke on Sept. 29. (Kevin Laird - Sooke News Mirror)
Keiran Veilleux, age 14, starts out on the 5-km run. He finished with a time of 25 minutes. (SONJA DRINKWATER / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)

Port Alberni’s Terry Fox Run beats the rain

Run on Sept. 19 raised $730

Keiran Veilleux, age 14, starts out on the 5-km run. He finished with a time of 25 minutes. (SONJA DRINKWATER / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)
Sid Morton is one of the regular walkers at Bob Dailey Stadium. At 98 years old he enjoys both the daily exercise and the socializing with fellow walkers. (ORLANDO DELANO/ Special to the AV News)

VALLEY SENIORS: Sid Morton walks for health and friendship

Outdoor track at Port Alberni facility has been a lifesaver through pandemic

Sid Morton is one of the regular walkers at Bob Dailey Stadium. At 98 years old he enjoys both the daily exercise and the socializing with fellow walkers. (ORLANDO DELANO/ Special to the AV News)
Adventurous senior Walter Martens took his first flying lesson as a 101st birthday present, taking off from the Langley airport on Saturday, Sept. 25. (Special to Langley Advance Times)

VIDEO: B.C. Senior, 101, takes first flying lesson

It was a birthday present for ‘adventurous’ Walter Martens

Adventurous senior Walter Martens took his first flying lesson as a 101st birthday present, taking off from the Langley airport on Saturday, Sept. 25. (Special to Langley Advance Times)
Wahmeesh Ken Watts, second from right, Chief councillor for Tseshaht First Nation, accepts a donation of $7,750 from Alberni Valley Drag Racing Association members Roger Haggerty, left, Dave Beecroft, Deb Haggerty and Dave Mikkelson. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Port Alberni drag racers donate nearly $16K to pair of charities

Residential school memorial, hospital expansion both benefit from Aug. charity cruise

Wahmeesh Ken Watts, second from right, Chief councillor for Tseshaht First Nation, accepts a donation of $7,750 from Alberni Valley Drag Racing Association members Roger Haggerty, left, Dave Beecroft, Deb Haggerty and Dave Mikkelson. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
Three Fall Fair goers were among the first people to use the new bike valet provided by Alberni Valley Transition Towns in order to give secure bike parking to cyclists attending community events in the Alberni Valley. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

Go by bike in Port Alberni this fall

GoByBike event will last two weeks from Sept. 27 to Oct. 10

Three Fall Fair goers were among the first people to use the new bike valet provided by Alberni Valley Transition Towns in order to give secure bike parking to cyclists attending community events in the Alberni Valley. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
Tour de Rock rider and Nanaimo RCMP Const. Cydney MacNeill has her hair cut by Dan Awalt, co-owner of Heavy D’s Barbershop, outside the Coach and Horses Pub on Sunday, Sept. 26. (Greg Sakaki)

VIDEO: Riders motivated by the cause as Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock rolls down Island

RCMP constable gets head shaved at event hosted by Island Corridor Foundation

Tour de Rock rider and Nanaimo RCMP Const. Cydney MacNeill has her hair cut by Dan Awalt, co-owner of Heavy D’s Barbershop, outside the Coach and Horses Pub on Sunday, Sept. 26. (Greg Sakaki)