Susie Quinn

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Tim Sutherland Sr. likes to go down to Harbour Quay and feel the breeze on his face. On stormy days when the wind whips the rain into his face, he thinks of his son Tim Sutherland Jr., and wonders whether he is warm and dry. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Finding shelter from the storm

Search for housing a journey of false hope for Alberni father and adult son

Tim Sutherland Sr. likes to go down to Harbour Quay and feel the breeze on his face. On stormy days when the wind whips the rain into his face, he thinks of his son Tim Sutherland Jr., and wonders whether he is warm and dry. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
A sign at the entrance to Ty-Histanis asks visitors to stay out of the community during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Andrew Bailey photo)

Nuu-chah-nulth nations on Vancouver Island hit hard by COVID-19

Eight nations dealing with positive tests, hospitalizations and death

A sign at the entrance to Ty-Histanis asks visitors to stay out of the community during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Andrew Bailey photo)
Tsawaayuus Rainbow Gardens is located on Russell Place in Port Alberni. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)

Third case of COVID-19 confirmed at Tsawaayuus Rainbow Gardens

Second resident diagnosed with illness from Nov. 16 outbreak

Tsawaayuus Rainbow Gardens is located on Russell Place in Port Alberni. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)
Port Alberni Fire Department firefighters respond to a second alarm call from Jericho Road Church complex at 5100 Tebo Avenue on Friday, Nov. 27, 2020. A small fire set off some of the sprinklers overnight. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Sprinklers contain small fire in second storey of Port Alberni church complex

Water damage forces temporary closure of building

Port Alberni Fire Department firefighters respond to a second alarm call from Jericho Road Church complex at 5100 Tebo Avenue on Friday, Nov. 27, 2020. A small fire set off some of the sprinklers overnight. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
The School District 70 administration office in Port Alberni. AV NEWS FILE PHOTO

Four Alberni schools reporting COVID-19 exposures

Exposures occurred between Nov. 19 and Nov. 25 depending on the school

The School District 70 administration office in Port Alberni. AV NEWS FILE PHOTO
Public washrooms are now open in West Kelowna. (City of West Kelowna)

Quinn: When nature calls, where do you go when you’re homeless?

When you’ve gotta go, where do you go?

Public washrooms are now open in West Kelowna. (City of West Kelowna)
‘Homelessness’ means many things to people with no permanent place to sleep. For some, the challenge to find safe shelter is greater than for others. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Port Alberni mother battles to find housing for her son

Mary Elles fears her middle-age son will die on the street before he will find safe housing

‘Homelessness’ means many things to people with no permanent place to sleep. For some, the challenge to find safe shelter is greater than for others. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
Randy Brown, owner of Wintergreen Apartments on Fourth Avenue, has five trailers and a motorhome at the back of his property that he is renting to people who had been previously homeless. He wants to put 15 trailers on his property, hooked up to city sewer and water and BC Hydro. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Another ‘deplorable’ Port Alberni property slapped with remediation order

Wintergreen Apartments and the impromptu trailer park in its grounds attract city attention

Randy Brown, owner of Wintergreen Apartments on Fourth Avenue, has five trailers and a motorhome at the back of his property that he is renting to people who had been previously homeless. He wants to put 15 trailers on his property, hooked up to city sewer and water and BC Hydro. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
Volunteers gather at Third Avenue and Mar Street on Friday, Nov. 20, 2020 to walk the streets of Uptown Port Alberni searching for people sleeping in alleys to hand out food and Naloxone kits. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

Port Alberni tent city evicted again

Campers took over gazebo at Roger Creek Park

Volunteers gather at Third Avenue and Mar Street on Friday, Nov. 20, 2020 to walk the streets of Uptown Port Alberni searching for people sleeping in alleys to hand out food and Naloxone kits. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
Coombs Country Candy founders Lenore Bailey and Murray Lawlor, left, manager Leanne Hewitt, Community Futures Alberni-Clayoquot executive director Lori Camire and CFAC board chair Susan Payne celebrate the sale of the famed candy shop to CFAC on Nov. 1, 2020. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

Coombs Country Candy sold

Unique deal with Community Futures Alberni-Clayoquot will ensure store stays open

Coombs Country Candy founders Lenore Bailey and Murray Lawlor, left, manager Leanne Hewitt, Community Futures Alberni-Clayoquot executive director Lori Camire and CFAC board chair Susan Payne celebrate the sale of the famed candy shop to CFAC on Nov. 1, 2020. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
For the first time in two years, the No. 7 steam train steamed up and passed inspection. The locomotive has been out of commission since 2018. (PHOTO COURTESY WVI INDUSTRIAL HERITAGE SOCIETY))

Port Alberni-based locomotive steams up for first time in two years

No. 7 Baldwin steam locie has been dormant since a boiler problem halted train trips

For the first time in two years, the No. 7 steam train steamed up and passed inspection. The locomotive has been out of commission since 2018. (PHOTO COURTESY WVI INDUSTRIAL HERITAGE SOCIETY))
Recreational vehicles parked behind a building on Fourth Avenue are behind used as temporary housing, contravening City of Port Alberni zoning bylaws. (CARA GIENI/ Special to the AV News)

Port Alberni property owner ticketed for using motorhomes as shelters for homeless

City bylaw officers ticket owner for contravening zoning laws

Recreational vehicles parked behind a building on Fourth Avenue are behind used as temporary housing, contravening City of Port Alberni zoning bylaws. (CARA GIENI/ Special to the AV News)
Alberni District Secondary School is located on Roger Street in Port Alberni. (GOOGLE)

Person from Alberni high school tests positive for COVID-19

No information released on whether person is student or teacher

Alberni District Secondary School is located on Roger Street in Port Alberni. (GOOGLE)
The boat ramp and parking lot at Clutesi Haven Marina are flooded as a king tide and storm force the Somass River up and over its banks on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2020. (ELENA RARDON/ Alberni Valley News)

King tide causes flooding at Port Alberni marina

Somass River spills over boat ramp at popular marina

The boat ramp and parking lot at Clutesi Haven Marina are flooded as a king tide and storm force the Somass River up and over its banks on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2020. (ELENA RARDON/ Alberni Valley News)
Ten tents and piles of belongings covered in tarps sit in the wet grass of Island Health-owned property beside Our Home on Eighth shelter, Nov. 13, 2020. Island Health on Friday evicted protesters who set up a ‘tent city’ three weeks earlier. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

BC Housing hires third-party contractor to review Port Alberni’s shelter

Review could take several weeks to complete

Ten tents and piles of belongings covered in tarps sit in the wet grass of Island Health-owned property beside Our Home on Eighth shelter, Nov. 13, 2020. Island Health on Friday evicted protesters who set up a ‘tent city’ three weeks earlier. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
The day of his re-retirement from the Jack James and crew Old-Time Logging Show june 9, 2017 at McLean Mill National Historic Site, Jack James oversees his crew. James died Nov. 1, 2020, closing the book on more than 50 years working in the woods. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Quinn: A final story for ‘boss of the woods’, Jack James

James was one of the biggest voices in coastal B.C. logging for last half-century

The day of his re-retirement from the Jack James and crew Old-Time Logging Show june 9, 2017 at McLean Mill National Historic Site, Jack James oversees his crew. James died Nov. 1, 2020, closing the book on more than 50 years working in the woods. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
Island Health workers, volunteers and occupants on Nov. 13, 2020 clean up a ‘tent city’ in front of Our Home on Eighth shelter that has been there since Oct. 23. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Port Alberni ‘tent city’ campers evicted from Island Health property

Camp began as a protest against the Port Alberni Shelter

Island Health workers, volunteers and occupants on Nov. 13, 2020 clean up a ‘tent city’ in front of Our Home on Eighth shelter that has been there since Oct. 23. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
Bryce Casavant of Port Alberni is a former BC NDP candidate in the 2017 provincial election<ins> and graduated with a doctorate in social sciences from Royal Roads University in 2020</ins>. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

QUINN: Former NDP candidate wonders if B.C. election legal to begin with

Casavant says chief electoral officer incorrectly exercised emergency powers under Election Act

Bryce Casavant of Port Alberni is a former BC NDP candidate in the 2017 provincial election<ins> and graduated with a doctorate in social sciences from Royal Roads University in 2020</ins>. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
A community group wants to re-open the previous shelter building, located on the corner of Eighth Avenue and Maitland Street, as temporary housing for the homeless. The PA Shelter Society owns the building. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Emergency housing idea pitched to solve Port Alberni’s growing tent city

Protester Graham Hughes wants former shelter opened, but society says it is in use

A community group wants to re-open the previous shelter building, located on the corner of Eighth Avenue and Maitland Street, as temporary housing for the homeless. The PA Shelter Society owns the building. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
Port Alberni Mayor Sharie Minions, centre, and councillor Deb Haggard speak with Graham Hughes and others at a protest in front of the Port Alberni Shelter (Our Home on Eighth). Hughes and supporters have been at the shelter since Friday, Oct. 23, 2020. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

BC Housing agrees to review of Port Alberni shelter

City’s mayor, shelter’s executive director welcome news of independent review

Port Alberni Mayor Sharie Minions, centre, and councillor Deb Haggard speak with Graham Hughes and others at a protest in front of the Port Alberni Shelter (Our Home on Eighth). Hughes and supporters have been at the shelter since Friday, Oct. 23, 2020. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)