Local News

Wolfgang Zimmermann, president of Pacific Coast University of Workplace Health Sciences, introduces one of the speakers during a virtual convocation ceremony for graduates of the Bachelor of Disability Management program. (SCREENSHOT)

Second class graduates from Pacific Coast University in Port Alberni

Convocation ceremony took place via Zoom

Wolfgang Zimmermann, president of Pacific Coast University of Workplace Health Sciences, introduces one of the speakers during a virtual convocation ceremony for graduates of the Bachelor of Disability Management program. (SCREENSHOT)
Gerald Kearney, 61, has not been in contact with family or friends. (Contributed - RCMP)

Sooke RCMP renew call for help finding man missing in Fairy Creek watershed area

Gerald Kearney has been missing since Oct. 13

Gerald Kearney, 61, has not been in contact with family or friends. (Contributed - RCMP)
Kayla Garcia walks her dogs daily at Dry Creek Park, and says she finds drug paraphernalia and other garbage in the park every day. She is concerned pop-up warming centres will add to the problem. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Warming centres cause some concern for neighbours in Port Alberni

Grassroots Homelessness Coalition will provide pop-up outdoor warming places for city’s unsheltered

Kayla Garcia walks her dogs daily at Dry Creek Park, and says she finds drug paraphernalia and other garbage in the park every day. She is concerned pop-up warming centres will add to the problem. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
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Public Safety Minister and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth, and Princeton Mayor Spencer Coyne, toured flood areas Friday, Dec. 2. Photo Andrea DeMeer
‘It’s just unbelievable’: Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth tours Princeton flood
Flood waters surround a farm in Abbotsford, B.C., Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
B.C.’s year of extreme weather ‘consistent’ with climate change, meteorologist says
FILE – A COVID-19 rapid testing area is seen on the international arrivals level at Vancouver International Airport, in Richmond, B.C., on Friday, July 30, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Non-U.S. air travellers must take COVID test, isolate as feds try to slow Omicron spread
Rescue crews prepare to escort a group of stranded travellers on the Lougheed Highway near Agassiz (Photo/Vancouver Fire Rescue Services)
VIDEO: CFB Comox 442 Squadron recaps B.C. flood rescue mission
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The suspect who was spotted on camera tagging the Port Posh Wash. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

Port Alberni RCMP looking for graffiti tagger

Suspect spotted on video camera at Port Posh Wash

The suspect who was spotted on camera tagging the Port Posh Wash. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
Ships continue to work to control a fire onboard the MV Zim Kingston about eight kilometres from the shore in Victoria, B.C., on Monday, October 25, 2021. A special weather statement was issued for the Greater Victoria area as southeasterly winds gusting up to 90km per hour were forecasted. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Vancouver Island MPs want immediate federal oversight in container ship clean-up

More than 100 containers went overboard from the MV Zim Kingston near Victoria last week

Ships continue to work to control a fire onboard the MV Zim Kingston about eight kilometres from the shore in Victoria, B.C., on Monday, October 25, 2021. A special weather statement was issued for the Greater Victoria area as southeasterly winds gusting up to 90km per hour were forecasted. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
Courtenay-Alberni NDP MP Gord Johns in the House of Commons. File photo

Courtenay-Alberni MP Gord Johns appointed mental health and addictions critic

Johns calls for reforms in face of opioid overdose crisis

Courtenay-Alberni NDP MP Gord Johns in the House of Commons. File photo
Cities across B.C. experienced record-breaking temperatures during the heat dome that hit much of the province at the end June, 2021. (Black Press Media file photo)

Summer heat dome killed 48 on Vancouver Island: BC Coroners Service

A total of 595 people died due to summer heat waves across B.C.

Cities across B.C. experienced record-breaking temperatures during the heat dome that hit much of the province at the end June, 2021. (Black Press Media file photo)
Staff and students at EJ Dunn Elementary School celebrate the grand opening of two new playgrounds by singing the school district’s Nuu-chah-nulth celebration song. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)

Students at a Port Alberni elementary school have a new place to play

EJ Dunn celebrates opening of two playgrounds

Staff and students at EJ Dunn Elementary School celebrate the grand opening of two new playgrounds by singing the school district’s Nuu-chah-nulth celebration song. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)
Crews from Port Alberni Fire Dept. and BC Wildfire Services work together to contain a fire near Rogers Creek on the Redford Extension (Highway 4) early on Aug. 25, 2021. The fire was held to approximately 30 feet by 40 feet. (PHOTO COURTESY PAFD)

City of Port Alberni adapts to climate change in city planning

Council declares a state of climate emergency

Crews from Port Alberni Fire Dept. and BC Wildfire Services work together to contain a fire near Rogers Creek on the Redford Extension (Highway 4) early on Aug. 25, 2021. The fire was held to approximately 30 feet by 40 feet. (PHOTO COURTESY PAFD)
Thursday’s total of 114 new cases topped the previous record of 107 new COVID-19 cases for Island Health, set on Oct. 5. (Courtesy of Island Health)

Island Health hits new record for single-day COVID-19 cases

Vancouver Island new caseload nearly doubles previous days in Thursday report

Thursday’s total of 114 new cases topped the previous record of 107 new COVID-19 cases for Island Health, set on Oct. 5. (Courtesy of Island Health)
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Murder-suicide behind 2 bodies found in Osoyoos: RCMP

One body was found in an abandoned vehicle and another in a home

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Ships work to control a fire onboard the MV Zim Kingston about eight kilometres from the shore in Victoria, B.C., on Sunday, October 24, 2021. The container ship caught fire on Saturday and 16 crew members were evacuated and brought to Ogden Point Pier. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Drifting shipping containers leave Vancouver Island communities with many questions

Containers spotted as far north as Cape Scott, as of Wednesday, none had been retrieved

Ships work to control a fire onboard the MV Zim Kingston about eight kilometres from the shore in Victoria, B.C., on Sunday, October 24, 2021. The container ship caught fire on Saturday and 16 crew members were evacuated and brought to Ogden Point Pier. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
Courthouse in Nanaimo. (News Bulletin file)

Man who assaulted sex trade workers in Nanaimo sentenced to 6 years

Stephen Bradley Ewing previously pleaded guilty to offences from 2018

Courthouse in Nanaimo. (News Bulletin file)
City of Port Alberni councillors Deb Haggard, left, Helen Poon and Ron Corbeil accept a cheque for $300,000 from board members of the Alberni Valley Community Forest at the AVCF annual general meeting Sept. 8, 2021 at Rollin Art Centre. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

City of Port Alberni receives $300,000 from community forest

There were no timber sales in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic

City of Port Alberni councillors Deb Haggard, left, Helen Poon and Ron Corbeil accept a cheque for $300,000 from board members of the Alberni Valley Community Forest at the AVCF annual general meeting Sept. 8, 2021 at Rollin Art Centre. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
John Howitt Elementary School is located off of Tebo Avenue in Port Alberni. (AV NEWS FILE PHOTO)

John Howitt Elementary School in Port Alberni to receive new playground

The school will receive $165,000 in provincial funding

John Howitt Elementary School is located off of Tebo Avenue in Port Alberni. (AV NEWS FILE PHOTO)
A construction crew sets up a length of sanitary-sewer line along Seventh Avenue in Port Alberni as part of an infrastructure project to separate water and sewer lines. (SHAYNE MORROW/ Special to the AV News)

Melrose Street neighbourhood gets used to pipe work in infrastructure project

Sewer, storm line separation is part of a long-term project for City of Port Alberni

  • Oct 26, 2021
A construction crew sets up a length of sanitary-sewer line along Seventh Avenue in Port Alberni as part of an infrastructure project to separate water and sewer lines. (SHAYNE MORROW/ Special to the AV News)
Port Alberni RCMP responded to a fatal collision on Bamfield Road on Oct. 24. (AV NEWS FILE PHOTO)

Deadly Bamfield road claims another victim a week after safety improvements begin

One killed, three others taken to hospital in early morning crash

Port Alberni RCMP responded to a fatal collision on Bamfield Road on Oct. 24. (AV NEWS FILE PHOTO)
Officials from Huu-ay-aht First Nations, Mosaic Forest Management, Tseshaht First Nation join Courtenay-Alberni MP Gord Johns and Alberni-Pacific Rim MLA Josie Osborne for the official groundbreaking for the Bamfield Main Road resurfacing project, Oct. 18, 2021 at Blenheim Pit. (PHOTO COURTESY HUU-AY-AHT FIRST NATIONS)

$31M Bamfield Road project breaks new ground for First Nation, Province of B.C.

Huu-ay-aht First Nations the first Indigenous community to lead major infrastructure project

  • Oct 25, 2021
Officials from Huu-ay-aht First Nations, Mosaic Forest Management, Tseshaht First Nation join Courtenay-Alberni MP Gord Johns and Alberni-Pacific Rim MLA Josie Osborne for the official groundbreaking for the Bamfield Main Road resurfacing project, Oct. 18, 2021 at Blenheim Pit. (PHOTO COURTESY HUU-AY-AHT FIRST NATIONS)
John Jack (Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District board chair) and Wahmeesh Ken Watts (Tseshaht First Nation elected Chief Councillor) sign a government-to-government accord at the Tseshaht Administration Building on Oct. 19. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)

Tseshaht First Nation, ACRD build relationship of respect, communication

New agreement with builds framework of government-to-government dealings

John Jack (Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District board chair) and Wahmeesh Ken Watts (Tseshaht First Nation elected Chief Councillor) sign a government-to-government accord at the Tseshaht Administration Building on Oct. 19. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)
The potentially historic storm should have de-escalated by the time it makes landfall. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

‘Potentially historic’ storm brewing off Vancouver Island should calm before landfall

Environment Canada expects most intense winds to dissipate before storm arrives on B.C. shores

The potentially historic storm should have de-escalated by the time it makes landfall. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)