Alberni Valley

Family and friends reported James Vezina of Port Alberni missing on May 31, 2022. (FACEBOOK PHOTO)

UPDATE: Missing Port Alberni man found safe by search and rescue volunteers

Family and friends reported that James Vezina has been missing since May 31

 

Two wooden barns that are part of the Alberni District Fall Fairgrounds go up in flames in the early morning hours of May 17, 2022. (PHOTO COURTESY PETER HESSE)

Suspicious fire destroys two empty horse barns at Port Alberni’s fall fairgrounds

It’s the third suspicious fire in the past six months at the site, officials say

 

Asger Bentzen and his friend Liz Huff were walking on the grounds at Tsawaayuus Rainbow Gardens on April 26, 2022 when Asger spotted this special ‘adventure’ rock along the path. The rock originated in Port Angeles, Wash. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Retired geologist discovers travelling ‘adventure rock’ in Port Alberni

Rock originated in Port Angeles, travels Vancouver Island

 

There were nearly 400 earthquakes recorded in Canada in the month of April 2022. (MAP COURTESY EARTHQUAKES CANADA)

400 and counting: Vancouver Island epicentre of a busy earthquake month in Canada

Few regions in Canada escape Earth’s shake, rattle and roll, says seismologist

There were nearly 400 earthquakes recorded in Canada in the month of April 2022. (MAP COURTESY EARTHQUAKES CANADA)
Clare Twiddy, left, and Kaylar Chan form the Vancouver-based rage-funk band Raincity. They’re coming to Port Alberni’s Rainbow Room for a show on April 30, 2022. (PHOTO COURTESY RAINCITY)

Raincity launching 5-date tour funkifying Vancouver Island

Vancouver Island tour a homecoming for Parksville singer

Clare Twiddy, left, and Kaylar Chan form the Vancouver-based rage-funk band Raincity. They’re coming to Port Alberni’s Rainbow Room for a show on April 30, 2022. (PHOTO COURTESY RAINCITY)
An air ambulance takes off from Highway 4 on Wednesday, April 6. (PHOTO COURTESY PA FIRE DEPARTMENT)

Two sent to hospital after Highway 4 crash on Vancouver Island

Highway was closed for several hours between Port Alberni and Qualicum

An air ambulance takes off from Highway 4 on Wednesday, April 6. (PHOTO COURTESY PA FIRE DEPARTMENT)
Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council leaders are demanding immediate action in response to toxic drug deaths. (AV NEWS FILE PHOTO)

Vancouver Island First Nations demand overdose crisis action

Addiction clinic and detox centre needed on Island’s West Coast, says Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council

Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council leaders are demanding immediate action in response to toxic drug deaths. (AV NEWS FILE PHOTO)
Gaylene Ruel, left, and owner Brad DeClercq from Starboard Grill, and former Little Bavaria owner Kathy Krznaric prepare pierogi for the final stretch of the Ukrainian feast at Starboard on Tuesday, March 22, 2022. (ELLIOT DREW/ Alberni Valley News)

5,000 Island pierogi and 2,000 Island cabbage rolls raise $16,000 for Ukrainian aid

Starboard Grill week-long fundraiser creates special meals to help in humanitarian effort

Gaylene Ruel, left, and owner Brad DeClercq from Starboard Grill, and former Little Bavaria owner Kathy Krznaric prepare pierogi for the final stretch of the Ukrainian feast at Starboard on Tuesday, March 22, 2022. (ELLIOT DREW/ Alberni Valley News)
Provincial government staff host public engagement session over Cathedral Grove safety at the Port Alberni Friendship Center in 2019. (MIKE YOUDS/ Special to the AV News)

Future of Cathedral Grove’s high-alert parking lot pushed back onto the front-burner

Visitor safety and traffic congestion back under consideration after talks stalled in 2019

Provincial government staff host public engagement session over Cathedral Grove safety at the Port Alberni Friendship Center in 2019. (MIKE YOUDS/ Special to the AV News)
Ukrainian members of the 2008-09 Canada World Youth exchange dress in their traditional clothing for an event in Port Alberni 13 years ago. (PHOTO COURTESY BEN SCHEIDEGGER)

Canada-Ukraine exchange students return to B.C. town to help and to remember

2008-09 Canada World Youth students spent three months in Ukraine and three months in Alberni

Ukrainian members of the 2008-09 Canada World Youth exchange dress in their traditional clothing for an event in Port Alberni 13 years ago. (PHOTO COURTESY BEN SCHEIDEGGER)
The Port Alberni Wounded Warriors team, led by Dave Nesbitt in front, runs down Third Avenue during a practice run in 2021. The team will be arriving in Port Alberni on March 3, 2022 for a fundraiser dinner at the Legion. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)

Pair of Vancouver Island first responders run with Wounded Warriors

Maria Marciano, Dave Nesbitt and team taking part in annual Island-wide mental health trek

The Port Alberni Wounded Warriors team, led by Dave Nesbitt in front, runs down Third Avenue during a practice run in 2021. The team will be arriving in Port Alberni on March 3, 2022 for a fundraiser dinner at the Legion. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)
Fire crews attempt to extinguish a cabin fire on Beaver Creek Road. (SCREENSHOT COURTESY PA FIRE DEPARTMENT)

One person taken to hospital after cabin fire near Port Alberni

All four Alberni Valley fire departments responded to Beaver Creek blaze

Fire crews attempt to extinguish a cabin fire on Beaver Creek Road. (SCREENSHOT COURTESY PA FIRE DEPARTMENT)
Emergency responders on scene at an apartment fire on Port Alberni’s Gertrude Street. Susie Quinn/Alberni Valley News

Residents displaced after Port Alberni apartment fire

One unit receives ‘extensive’ damage, two cats perish, fire chief said

Emergency responders on scene at an apartment fire on Port Alberni’s Gertrude Street. Susie Quinn/Alberni Valley News
Brad Cyr is a third-generation logger from Port Hardy who began working a union job as a grapple yarder in Port Alberni in December. He brought his concerns and a freshly cut slice from a stump to the ‘Stand Up for Forestry’ rally on Johnston Road Dec. 9, 2021. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

B.C. loggers rally to protest government deferral plan for old-growth logging

Forestry workers, families mass in Port Alberni to speak out about move’s far-reaching effects

Brad Cyr is a third-generation logger from Port Hardy who began working a union job as a grapple yarder in Port Alberni in December. He brought his concerns and a freshly cut slice from a stump to the ‘Stand Up for Forestry’ rally on Johnston Road Dec. 9, 2021. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
‘Road flooded’ signs in the 3500-block of Fourth Avenue caution drivers who are trying to get around in heavy rain on Sept. 17, 2021. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Heavy rainfall in Port Alberni came close to setting records

First real storm of September overwhelmed waterways in central Island city

‘Road flooded’ signs in the 3500-block of Fourth Avenue caution drivers who are trying to get around in heavy rain on Sept. 17, 2021. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
Carver Tim Paul, left, talks with a collaborator prior to the ‘closing the eyes’ ceremony for n’aasn’aas?aqsa Aug. 13, 2021 at the Maritime Discovery Centre. The totem will be unveiled in its final resting place near Victoria Quay on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

New home for Indigenous language totem pole in Port Alberni

Language pole was a joint carving project in partnership with the United Nations

Carver Tim Paul, left, talks with a collaborator prior to the ‘closing the eyes’ ceremony for n’aasn’aas?aqsa Aug. 13, 2021 at the Maritime Discovery Centre. The totem will be unveiled in its final resting place near Victoria Quay on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
A team member from Alberni Valley Rescue Squad pauses at the Mount 5040 summit after successfully rescuing an injured hiker, Aug. 8, 2021. (PHOTO COURTESY RICHARD JOHNS, AVRS)

Volunteer searchers from Port Alberni rescue injured hiker on Island mountain

Helicopter called to evacuate hiker from 5040 Peak, southwest of city

A team member from Alberni Valley Rescue Squad pauses at the Mount 5040 summit after successfully rescuing an injured hiker, Aug. 8, 2021. (PHOTO COURTESY RICHARD JOHNS, AVRS)
The MV Frances Barkley ties up at Lady Rose Marine Services in this undated file photo. SUSAN QUINN PHOTO

End of an era for Vancouver Island as Lady Rose Marine Services announces closing

Final voyage between Port Alberni and Bamfield scheduled for Aug. 31

The MV Frances Barkley ties up at Lady Rose Marine Services in this undated file photo. SUSAN QUINN PHOTO
Naomi Pope’s ‘Magical Macktush’ won Mosaic Forest Management’s 2020 photo contest. Whose entry will win this year? (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

Capture west coast’s beauty this summer and win camping passes with Mosaic

Last year’s photo contest drew 450 entries as people headed outdoors

  • May 21, 2021
Naomi Pope’s ‘Magical Macktush’ won Mosaic Forest Management’s 2020 photo contest. Whose entry will win this year? (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
A poignant Pandemic Postcard Project submission has led Lesley Wright and Graham Hughes of Literacy Alberni on a new path toward anti-racism education. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

‘I am not a virus’: How one postcard sparked a Vancouver Island pushback against racism

Literacy Alberni receives $50K in funding to create web-driven system for reporting racism

A poignant Pandemic Postcard Project submission has led Lesley Wright and Graham Hughes of Literacy Alberni on a new path toward anti-racism education. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)