Community

Helma Swinkels started Pot Luck Ceramics with her friend Val Startup and a group of forward-thinking volunteers 10 years ago. She is embracing the profit-for-non-profit’s successes as she faces closing the Pot Luck cottage on Gertrude Street in Port Alberni in September 2020. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Pot Luck Ceramics closes ground-breaking social enterprise

Port Alberni store celebrates successes in face of COVID-19

Helma Swinkels started Pot Luck Ceramics with her friend Val Startup and a group of forward-thinking volunteers 10 years ago. She is embracing the profit-for-non-profit’s successes as she faces closing the Pot Luck cottage on Gertrude Street in Port Alberni in September 2020. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
Fred Warren sits at a machine in Port Alberni’s first printing shop, front right, in 1914, while Williams Venebles stands at the press at the back of the room. The press room belonged to the Port Alberni News, which came into being in March 1912. As of Sept. 1, 2020, the Alberni Valley News will move into a new home at 4918 Napier Street, where Houle Printing operates a print shop in shared space. The building was once home to a different newspaper, the AV Times, and housed a large press at one time. This photo is one of 24,000 in the Alberni Valley Museum’s collection. See more at https://portalberni.pastperfectonline.com/. (PHOTO PN00238 COURTESY ALBERNI VALLEY MUSEUM)

LOOK BACK: Port Alberni’s first printing press

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

Fred Warren sits at a machine in Port Alberni’s first printing shop, front right, in 1914, while Williams Venebles stands at the press at the back of the room. The press room belonged to the Port Alberni News, which came into being in March 1912. As of Sept. 1, 2020, the Alberni Valley News will move into a new home at 4918 Napier Street, where Houle Printing operates a print shop in shared space. The building was once home to a different newspaper, the AV Times, and housed a large press at one time. This photo is one of 24,000 in the Alberni Valley Museum’s collection. See more at https://portalberni.pastperfectonline.com/. (PHOTO PN00238 COURTESY ALBERNI VALLEY MUSEUM)
On Labour Day, Canadians will pay tribute to the accomplishments of workers. This year, Labour Day falls on Sept. 7. (File photo)

QUIZ: How much do you really know about work and labour

The Labour Day weekend, in early September, is a time to celebrate workers

On Labour Day, Canadians will pay tribute to the accomplishments of workers. This year, Labour Day falls on Sept. 7. (File photo)
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Nicole and Ben Stringer have spent the summer working to bring awareness to life-saving medication for cystic fibrosis patients. (Twila Amato - Black Press Media)

‘Nothing’s working anymore’: West Kelowna woman shares her fight with cystic fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disease that affects the lungs and intestines among other organs

Nicole and Ben Stringer have spent the summer working to bring awareness to life-saving medication for cystic fibrosis patients. (Twila Amato - Black Press Media)
Volunteers with the Salvation Army prepare some of the 2,343 meals that volunteers with the COVID-19 response team distributed the week of Aug. 27, 2020 in Port Alberni. The team has served or delivered 55,000 meals to people in the Alberni Valley since the coronavirus pandemic hit in March. (PHOTO COURTESY MICHAEL RAMSAY)

Alberni Valley charities receive emergency funding

Alberni Valley Community Foundation lends a hand to 12 organizations

Volunteers with the Salvation Army prepare some of the 2,343 meals that volunteers with the COVID-19 response team distributed the week of Aug. 27, 2020 in Port Alberni. The team has served or delivered 55,000 meals to people in the Alberni Valley since the coronavirus pandemic hit in March. (PHOTO COURTESY MICHAEL RAMSAY)
Gay Bell, left, and Michelle Kalve, two residents of High View Apartments on 14th Avenue, take care of a number of garden boxes that the building’s owners donated. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Residents, landlords in Port Alberni complex team up to find gardening solution

Affordable housing complex plants garden boxes to keep residents in fresh vegetables

Gay Bell, left, and Michelle Kalve, two residents of High View Apartments on 14th Avenue, take care of a number of garden boxes that the building’s owners donated. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
Tanner Provencal was in first place on the juniors’ side of the Alberni Valley Tyee Club ladder with this 24.8-pounder, but Kayden Jasken unseated Tanner with a 25.9 whopper. The juniors are giving the adults a run for their money this year. ((PHOTO COURTESY CAROLYN JASKEN, AV TYEE CLUB)

Alberni Valley Tyee Club’s ladders see late-season action

Biggest fish so far weighs in at 28 pounds in Alberni Inlet

  • Aug 31, 2020
Tanner Provencal was in first place on the juniors’ side of the Alberni Valley Tyee Club ladder with this 24.8-pounder, but Kayden Jasken unseated Tanner with a 25.9 whopper. The juniors are giving the adults a run for their money this year. ((PHOTO COURTESY CAROLYN JASKEN, AV TYEE CLUB)
Black bears are found in every Canadian province and territory except one. Do you know which part of Canada has no black bears? (Jill Hayward photo)

QUIZ: The bare facts about bears

As summer ends, bear sightings will become more common. How much do you know about bears?

Black bears are found in every Canadian province and territory except one. Do you know which part of Canada has no black bears? (Jill Hayward photo)
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)

A Day in the Life of Port Alberni 2020

See photos taken across the Alberni Valley on July 23, 2020

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)
A Mosaic employee releases a northern goshawk rehabilitated by Mountainaire Avian Rescue Society after it was found as chick injured from a fall from its nest near Mount Washington. Mosaic Forest Management photo

VIDEO: Rescued Northern Goshawk takes flight on Vancouver Island

Raptor fell from nest as a chick; rehabilitated by Mountainaire Avian Rescue Society

  • Aug 27, 2020
A Mosaic employee releases a northern goshawk rehabilitated by Mountainaire Avian Rescue Society after it was found as chick injured from a fall from its nest near Mount Washington. Mosaic Forest Management photo
The Beaufort Café, inside the Beaufort Hotel on Third Avenue in Port Alberni, was the place to be seen in 1944. Standing at the counter on this particular day are Mr. Hugh Lee, left, and his wife Phyllis, waitresses Mollie, Jacky Mulcaster, Cathy Peterson and Sylvia McMillan, and bookkeeper Birdie. Historian Glen Mofford was gifted with this photograph by Jacquelyn R. Zambon (née Mulcaster) in 2013. (PHOTO COURTESY GLEN MOFFORD)

LOOK BACK: The historic Beaufort Hotel in Port Alberni

Taking a peek at Alberni Valley history with historian Glen Mofford

The Beaufort Café, inside the Beaufort Hotel on Third Avenue in Port Alberni, was the place to be seen in 1944. Standing at the counter on this particular day are Mr. Hugh Lee, left, and his wife Phyllis, waitresses Mollie, Jacky Mulcaster, Cathy Peterson and Sylvia McMillan, and bookkeeper Birdie. Historian Glen Mofford was gifted with this photograph by Jacquelyn R. Zambon (née Mulcaster) in 2013. (PHOTO COURTESY GLEN MOFFORD)
A Glassair, left, and Citabria aircraft are parked beside the taxiway at the Alberni Valley Regional Airport on Sunday, Aug. 16, 2020. (WARWICK PATTERSON/ Special to the News)

New ‘fly-out’ series attracts general aviation pilots to Port Alberni’s airport

Event is designed to introduce recreational pilots to B.C.-based airports

A Glassair, left, and Citabria aircraft are parked beside the taxiway at the Alberni Valley Regional Airport on Sunday, Aug. 16, 2020. (WARWICK PATTERSON/ Special to the News)
Artist Shayne Lloyd adds some finishing touches to an image of the moon on the ‘building relationships’ mural he is painting on the side of the Canadian Maritime Engineering building on Harbour Road in Port Alberni. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)

Mural near Harbour Quay entrance completed

Artists in the ‘touch-up’ stage after rain delay

Artist Shayne Lloyd adds some finishing touches to an image of the moon on the ‘building relationships’ mural he is painting on the side of the Canadian Maritime Engineering building on Harbour Road in Port Alberni. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)
Island Health posts alert of possible COVID-19 exposure at Courtenay restaurant

Island Health posts alert of possible COVID-19 exposure at Courtenay restaurant

Island Health has posted an advisory of possible exposure to COVID-19 at…

Island Health posts alert of possible COVID-19 exposure at Courtenay restaurant
The World Wide Web was released to the public 29 years ago, in August, 1991. Since that time, it has revolutionized life for many. (File photo: Black Press Media)

QUIZ: Exploring the World Wide Web

On Aug. 23, 1991, the World Wide Web was released to the public. How much do you know about the web?

The World Wide Web was released to the public 29 years ago, in August, 1991. Since that time, it has revolutionized life for many. (File photo: Black Press Media)
Taimi Rose is a popular school teacher and a popular senior in Port Alberni. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

VALLEY SENIORS: Popular teacher, volunteer shares her passion for Port Alberni

Taimi Rose loves where she lives

  • Aug 23, 2020
Taimi Rose is a popular school teacher and a popular senior in Port Alberni. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
In 1940, the west side of Third Avenue between Angus and Argyle Street boasts businesses like Lavers, Homewood’s, Dr. Hiltons and Dr. Martinzer, Isabelle’s Ladies Wear, Hub Confectionary (Anderson), Flanagan’s Meat Market, Overwaitea, Fawcett’s Shoes, George Harris Shoes and Stirzaker’s. This photo is one of 24,000 in the Alberni Valley Museum’s collection. See more at https://portalberni.pastperfectonline.com/. (PHOTO PN06717 COURTESY ALBERNI VALLEY MUSEUM)

LOOK BACK: Port Alberni’s Third Avenue circa 1940

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

In 1940, the west side of Third Avenue between Angus and Argyle Street boasts businesses like Lavers, Homewood’s, Dr. Hiltons and Dr. Martinzer, Isabelle’s Ladies Wear, Hub Confectionary (Anderson), Flanagan’s Meat Market, Overwaitea, Fawcett’s Shoes, George Harris Shoes and Stirzaker’s. This photo is one of 24,000 in the Alberni Valley Museum’s collection. See more at https://portalberni.pastperfectonline.com/. (PHOTO PN06717 COURTESY ALBERNI VALLEY MUSEUM)
Shayne Lloyd does some shading work on a mural on the side of Canadian Maritime Engineering, near the entrance to Harbour Quay. Lloyd began painting on Aug. 3, and he is hoping to have the project finished by the end of August. Part of Harbour Road will remain closed to traffic during painting, Monday through Friday from 5:30 a.m. to noon and 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)

Painting progresses on mural near Harbour Quay

Portraits have been added, representing five Tseshaht First Nation elders

Shayne Lloyd does some shading work on a mural on the side of Canadian Maritime Engineering, near the entrance to Harbour Quay. Lloyd began painting on Aug. 3, and he is hoping to have the project finished by the end of August. Part of Harbour Road will remain closed to traffic during painting, Monday through Friday from 5:30 a.m. to noon and 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)
A collage of photos taken at Darby Farms in the Alberni Valley. (PHOTOS COURTESY HEATHER DARBY)

Alberni Valley family celebrates 100 years of farming

The Darby family has been working the soil at their family farm near Stamp Falls Provincial Park

A collage of photos taken at Darby Farms in the Alberni Valley. (PHOTOS COURTESY HEATHER DARBY)
Telephone operators Enid Garrard (Mrs. L.M. Rosenborough) and Minnie Mundy (Mrs. Colin Martin) (possibly this is Margaret Watson (Mrs. E. Kierstead) sit in front of a large panel of telephone circuits and ‘cables’ at the B.C. Telephone office on Fourth Avenue, sometime after 1912. Manual switchboards, or ‘cordboards’ were used for decades in the early 20th century. This photo is one of 24,000 in the Alberni Valley Museum’s collection. See more at https://portalberni.pastperfectonline.com/. (PHOTO PN04334 COURTESY ALBERNI VALLEY MUSEUM)

LOOK BACK: Telephone communications in Port Alberni

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

Telephone operators Enid Garrard (Mrs. L.M. Rosenborough) and Minnie Mundy (Mrs. Colin Martin) (possibly this is Margaret Watson (Mrs. E. Kierstead) sit in front of a large panel of telephone circuits and ‘cables’ at the B.C. Telephone office on Fourth Avenue, sometime after 1912. Manual switchboards, or ‘cordboards’ were used for decades in the early 20th century. This photo is one of 24,000 in the Alberni Valley Museum’s collection. See more at https://portalberni.pastperfectonline.com/. (PHOTO PN04334 COURTESY ALBERNI VALLEY MUSEUM)