Community

Alberni Valley News publisher Teresa Bird opens the first Valley Vonka bar of 2021 (don’t worry: it wasn’t a winner). There are three golden tickets hidden in the bars. Will you uncover one? (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Scrumpdiddlyumtious Valley Vonka chocolate bars are back!

In the words of Willie Wonka, “Hold your breath, make a wish,…

  • Sep 2, 2021
Alberni Valley News publisher Teresa Bird opens the first Valley Vonka bar of 2021 (don’t worry: it wasn’t a winner). There are three golden tickets hidden in the bars. Will you uncover one? (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
A beautiful new kayak was given to Abbotsford mom Nikki Jensen after hers was stolen from her. She was also given cash to replace it, so she’s sending birthday supplies to a child in Nunavut. (Nikki Jensen photo/ Facebook)

Theft of cherished kayak led to several acts of giving, says Abbotsford mother

Woman sponsoring birthday party for a child in Nunavut after overwhelming community support

A beautiful new kayak was given to Abbotsford mom Nikki Jensen after hers was stolen from her. She was also given cash to replace it, so she’s sending birthday supplies to a child in Nunavut. (Nikki Jensen photo/ Facebook)
Nanaimo’s Michael Suiker is trying to track down family members who might like 10 photo albums he salvaged at an estate sale in 2018. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)

B.C. man who once had personal mementos stolen wants to unite family with old photos

Nanaimo’s Michael Suiker salvaged 10 photo albums at estate sale three years ago

Nanaimo’s Michael Suiker is trying to track down family members who might like 10 photo albums he salvaged at an estate sale in 2018. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)
Ted Puska reveals the name of the winning entry for the Doug Bodger autographed hockey jersey from his own collection that he made available in a draw for those who provided financial support to help with medical expenses. (Photo by Don Bodger)

8 years waiting for kidney transplant ends in success for Vancouver Island man

Surgery has active Ladysmith resident Puska back to his old self

Ted Puska reveals the name of the winning entry for the Doug Bodger autographed hockey jersey from his own collection that he made available in a draw for those who provided financial support to help with medical expenses. (Photo by Don Bodger)
Peter Hudson and Tyler Bob (from left) are the organizers of Orange Day in the Bay. (Photo submitted)

Mid-Island festival offering music, comedy and support for residential school survivors

‘Orange Day in the Bay’ taking place on Canada Day in Snaw-Naw-As First Nation

Peter Hudson and Tyler Bob (from left) are the organizers of Orange Day in the Bay. (Photo submitted)
Greysen Miller is loving the response to his campaign for gates to be installed on the gaga ball pits at Chemainus Elementary School and others across the school district. (Photo by Robyn Plumsteel)

Donors go gaga for Vancouver Island youngster’s ball pit fundraiser

People get on board with Chemainus student’s idea to make wheelchair accessible

Greysen Miller is loving the response to his campaign for gates to be installed on the gaga ball pits at Chemainus Elementary School and others across the school district. (Photo by Robyn Plumsteel)
Reunited and it feels so good, Stefan and Josh are back together again. (Photo by Cim MacDonald)

Snipe hunting brothers reunited in Chemainus (and it feels so good)

Ten long years of fundraising leads to replacement of bronze figure in signature downtown artpiece

Reunited and it feels so good, Stefan and Josh are back together again. (Photo by Cim MacDonald)
Queen Elizabeth II and Clive Holland, deputy commonwealth president of the Royal Life Saving Society, top left, virtually present Dr. Steve Beerman, top right, with the King Edward VII Cup for his drowning-prevention work. Tanner Gorille and Sarah Downs were honoured with Russell Medals for their life-saving resuscitation. (Buckingham Palace photo)

Queen presents Vancouver Island doctor with award for global drowning prevention

Dr. Steve Beerman receives Royal Life Saving Society’s King Edward VII Cup at virtual ceremony

Queen Elizabeth II and Clive Holland, deputy commonwealth president of the Royal Life Saving Society, top left, virtually present Dr. Steve Beerman, top right, with the King Edward VII Cup for his drowning-prevention work. Tanner Gorille and Sarah Downs were honoured with Russell Medals for their life-saving resuscitation. (Buckingham Palace photo)
City workers from Duncan were busy recently putting up street signs in both Hul’q’umi’num’ and English. (Submitted photo)

Hul’q’umi’num street signs installed in downtown Duncan

Partnership with Cowichan Tribes sees English street names twinned with Indigenous language

  • Apr 14, 2021
City workers from Duncan were busy recently putting up street signs in both Hul’q’umi’num’ and English. (Submitted photo)
Joe Sommer of Chilliwack reaches toward a killdeer on its nest on his property, in March 2021. The red marking is to alert the neighbouring farm to avoid the area. (Submitted photo)

Chilliwack man has close encounter with killdeer after marking nest

Killdeer nest near farm fields and other high danger areas, but man is intent on saving birds

Joe Sommer of Chilliwack reaches toward a killdeer on its nest on his property, in March 2021. The red marking is to alert the neighbouring farm to avoid the area. (Submitted photo)
Devin Meads planned to walk 150 kilometres from Langford to Qualicum Beach in support of the Victoria Humane Society and homeless animals. (Contributed photo)

Vancouver Island walk to help homeless animals takes detour

Devin Meads forced to quit 24-hour fundraiser at 100-kilometre mark due to injury

Devin Meads planned to walk 150 kilometres from Langford to Qualicum Beach in support of the Victoria Humane Society and homeless animals. (Contributed photo)
Cowichan Valley’s W. Jeff Leggat is an organizer of the Community Rally to Raise the Rates for Persons living with Permanent Disabilities in B.C. that will take place on the grounds of the legislature building in Victoria on March 18. (Submitted photo)

Islanders rally in Victoria to urge disability pay raise up to the poverty level

Payments currently below poverty level

Cowichan Valley’s W. Jeff Leggat is an organizer of the Community Rally to Raise the Rates for Persons living with Permanent Disabilities in B.C. that will take place on the grounds of the legislature building in Victoria on March 18. (Submitted photo)
A GoFundMe account has been set up to help the Weir family who lost their Errington home in a fire. (Facebook page photo)

Neighbours, friends quick to assist Vancouver Island family that lost home in raging fire

GoFundMe accounts set up for Weir family

A GoFundMe account has been set up to help the Weir family who lost their Errington home in a fire. (Facebook page photo)
Willow Street Cafe is going to be looking good as the central building in filming of a movie in Chemainus next week. (Photo by Pete Cavanaugh)

Hallmark movie crews moving into Chemainus for the week

Filming of The Baker’s Sons being conducted downtown

Willow Street Cafe is going to be looking good as the central building in filming of a movie in Chemainus next week. (Photo by Pete Cavanaugh)
The City of Duncan will implement a new pilot project targeting vandalism this spring. (File photo)

Graffiti trouble? Duncan will give you the brush and the paint to remove it

Initiative based on a successful project to protect Port Alberni from unwanted spray paint

The City of Duncan will implement a new pilot project targeting vandalism this spring. (File photo)
Kim McGregor died in the Feb. 14 hit-and-run accident in Chemainus. (Photo submitted)

Victim identified in Valentine’s Day Chemainus hit-and-run

Kim McGregor grew up in Chemainus and had recently returned to be close to his parents

Kim McGregor died in the Feb. 14 hit-and-run accident in Chemainus. (Photo submitted)
Chemainus Festival of Murals Society president Tom Andrews displays the Chemainus Dollars $10 bill with the same scene on it as The Native Heritage mural. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Chemainus Dollars revert to being strictly souvenirs on April 5

Unique currency spendable in Chemainus becoming a collectible only

Chemainus Festival of Murals Society president Tom Andrews displays the Chemainus Dollars $10 bill with the same scene on it as The Native Heritage mural. (Photo by Don Bodger)
Paula Charlie hopes a suitable kidney donor can be found in the community. (Submitted photo)

Vancouver Island woman needs a kidney donation

Paula Charlie hopes a match will be found

Paula Charlie hopes a suitable kidney donor can be found in the community. (Submitted photo)
Greater Victoria high school student Josiah Plett, 18, unofficially broke the Guinness World Record for most Rubik’s cubes solved while hula hooping on Feb. 13 at Pacific Christian School in Saanich. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)

B.C. teen unofficially breaks world record for Rubik’s cubes solved while hula hooping

Josiah Plett, 18, solves 1010 cubes in six hours

Greater Victoria high school student Josiah Plett, 18, unofficially broke the Guinness World Record for most Rubik’s cubes solved while hula hooping on Feb. 13 at Pacific Christian School in Saanich. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)
Grief is intricately woven into palliative care, and Alberni Valley Hospice is available to help both those facing a life-limiting illness and those who care about them, says Bereavement Counsellor Marianne Bauml-Murray.

Hospice supports those living through loss

Alberni Valley Hospice Society serves community members who are grieving

  • Feb 15, 2021
Grief is intricately woven into palliative care, and Alberni Valley Hospice is available to help both those facing a life-limiting illness and those who care about them, says Bereavement Counsellor Marianne Bauml-Murray.