Local News

City of Port Alberni workers and contractors replace a section of the city’s main water supply pipe the morning of March 10, 2023. A logging truck left Franklin River Road the previous afternoon and crashed on top of the pipe, severing it and damaging approximately 10 metres of the waterpipe. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

City crews work through the night to repair break in Port Alberni’s main water supply

Watermain has been repaired; all restrictions lifted with exception of some Franklin River homes

City of Port Alberni workers and contractors replace a section of the city’s main water supply pipe the morning of March 10, 2023. A logging truck left Franklin River Road the previous afternoon and crashed on top of the pipe, severing it and damaging approximately 10 metres of the waterpipe. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
Council has resurrected the planning process for the Crystal Pool’s replacement, but the final say could come from a proposed city referendum possibly set in late 2024. (Black Press Media file photo)

Victoria to fund $1.78M work studying possible Crystal Pool referendum

City sets tentative late 2024 timing for referendum, should it go ahead

Council has resurrected the planning process for the Crystal Pool’s replacement, but the final say could come from a proposed city referendum possibly set in late 2024. (Black Press Media file photo)
Salmon make their way up stream to spawn in Goldstream Provincial Park on Friday, Nov. 25, during the 2022 salmon run. (Black Press Media file photo)

‘Somebody needs to speak for the fish’: Tsartlip man protesting impact of Malahat widening project

Carl Olsen is organizing weekly demonstrations over concerns the project will impact salmon spawning

Salmon make their way up stream to spawn in Goldstream Provincial Park on Friday, Nov. 25, during the 2022 salmon run. (Black Press Media file photo)
Val Napoleon, acting dean of law, along with Patricia Barkaskas, strategic advisor to the dean for the National Centre for Indigenous Laws, show a rendering of the future building at the University of Victoria Thursday (March 9). (Austin Westphal/News Staff)

Construction gets underway for National Centre for Indigenous Laws at UVic

Building to house joint degree program in Canadian Common Law, Indigenous legal orders

Val Napoleon, acting dean of law, along with Patricia Barkaskas, strategic advisor to the dean for the National Centre for Indigenous Laws, show a rendering of the future building at the University of Victoria Thursday (March 9). (Austin Westphal/News Staff)
VicPD is looking for witnesses and a suspect after a father reported a man offered him money for his three-year-old daughter. (Black Press Media file photo)

Victoria police look to identify man reported for trying to buy toddler

Suspicious man described as Caucasian, in his 70s, about 6’2” with a heavy build and balding

VicPD is looking for witnesses and a suspect after a father reported a man offered him money for his three-year-old daughter. (Black Press Media file photo)
A doctor speaks with a patient. (Pixabay stock photo)

Mental Health Act expansion unlikely to reduce Victoria ER wait times, says NP

Patient rights advocate deem safe-guards a priority over who can assess for involuntary admission

A doctor speaks with a patient. (Pixabay stock photo)
Emergency crews respond to a logging truck crash on Franklin River Road on March 9, 2023. (SUSAN QUINN / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)

Port Alberni under water restrictions after logging truck crash

City under Stage 3 water restrictions ‘until further notice’

Emergency crews respond to a logging truck crash on Franklin River Road on March 9, 2023. (SUSAN QUINN / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)
A doctor who formerly worked in Duncan is wanted on a Canada-wide warrant for contempt in divorce proceedings. (File photo)

Former Vancouver Island doctor wanted on Canada-wide warrant

Dr. Sujay Ishwarlall, who lived in Victoria and worked in Duncan, wanted for contempt of court

A doctor who formerly worked in Duncan is wanted on a Canada-wide warrant for contempt in divorce proceedings. (File photo)
Doug Ettinger, president and CEO of Canada Post, speaks at a press conference announcing that Nanaimo’s Canada Post depot is the first in the country to boast an all-electric corporate delivery fleet. (Karl Yu/News Bulletin)

Canada Post announces its first all-electric delivery fleet is in Nanaimo

Crown corporation making announcement today at East Wellington Road depot

Doug Ettinger, president and CEO of Canada Post, speaks at a press conference announcing that Nanaimo’s Canada Post depot is the first in the country to boast an all-electric corporate delivery fleet. (Karl Yu/News Bulletin)
From left to right: Dallas Smith, spokesperson for the Coalition and Tlowitsis Nation, Fisheries Minister Joyce Murray and Chief Chris Roberts of the Wei Wai Kum First Nation. (Supplied photo)

First Nations coalition urges Ottawa to stop closing salmon farms where they’re wanted

Coastal group says rights and title, food affordability and jobs impacted, want minister replaced

  • Mar 9, 2023
From left to right: Dallas Smith, spokesperson for the Coalition and Tlowitsis Nation, Fisheries Minister Joyce Murray and Chief Chris Roberts of the Wei Wai Kum First Nation. (Supplied photo)
West Shore RCMP vehicles behind the detachment in Langford. (Black Press Media file photo)
West Shore RCMP vehicles behind the detachment in Langford. (Black Press Media file photo)
Markus Batraki, a formerly incarcerated student, is one of many students who have had their lives transformed by an ‘inside-out’ program. (Vancouver Island University photo)

VIU given more than $1 million to expand prison education program

Donation will allow ‘inside-out program’ to expand educational opportunities across B.C.

Markus Batraki, a formerly incarcerated student, is one of many students who have had their lives transformed by an ‘inside-out’ program. (Vancouver Island University photo)
Weighing five pounds, nine ounces, a baby boy was born in a minivan Feb. 28, en route to the hospital in Williams Lake. (Photo submitted)

Cariboo woman delivers baby in minivan en route to hospital

It was a third baby for Brittany Lee of Likely, B.C.

Weighing five pounds, nine ounces, a baby boy was born in a minivan Feb. 28, en route to the hospital in Williams Lake. (Photo submitted)
Anyone with information on any of these individuals is asked to call 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or visit the website victoriacrimestoppers.ca for more information.

Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers wanted list for the week of March 7

Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers is seeking the public’s help in locating the…

Anyone with information on any of these individuals is asked to call 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or visit the website victoriacrimestoppers.ca for more information.
WorkSafe BC has concluded that the death of the driver of a dump truck was likely distracted before rolling the truck into a water-filled ditch on a gravel lane near Boys Road in October, 2021, killing him. (WorkSafe BC photo)
WorkSafe BC has concluded that the death of the driver of a dump truck was likely distracted before rolling the truck into a water-filled ditch on a gravel lane near Boys Road in October, 2021, killing him. (WorkSafe BC photo)
A sign on the wall outside the Save-on-Foods at Colwood Corners informs customers of the new parking rules. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)

‘Ridiculous’: Customers vent, shop elsewhere as Colwood mall adds pay parking

Warnings in March, then tickets for customers who don’t register their license plate

A sign on the wall outside the Save-on-Foods at Colwood Corners informs customers of the new parking rules. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)
A piece of plastic along the Dallas Road waterfront in March, 2023. Victoria is looking at a bylaw to curb single-use products, but it won’t involve a fee. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)

Victoria council won’t bring in fees on single-use cups, takeout containers

220,000 single-use items disposed of every day in the capital

A piece of plastic along the Dallas Road waterfront in March, 2023. Victoria is looking at a bylaw to curb single-use products, but it won’t involve a fee. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)
A Southern Resident female orca leaps from the water while breaching in Puget Sound, west of Seattle. Females examined in a new study were capturing less prey and spent less time hunting than their male counterparts, contrary to previously understood gender behaviour among southern residents. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File)

Study finds endangered orcas hunting longer, catching less than northern B.C. counterparts

Possible hunting gender flip in Southern Resident killer whales as keystone females save energy

A Southern Resident female orca leaps from the water while breaching in Puget Sound, west of Seattle. Females examined in a new study were capturing less prey and spent less time hunting than their male counterparts, contrary to previously understood gender behaviour among southern residents. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File)
Mowi Canada West salmon farm. (Mowi photo)

North Island First Nations reject continued fish farming in the Broughton Archipelago

Three First Nations announce their call on region’s last 7 fish farms through consent-based processes

Mowi Canada West salmon farm. (Mowi photo)
Residents at the VIP Motel temporary housing are concerned the facility will close its doors on March 31.(PQB News file photo)

Residents and staff worry as deadline to close Parksville temporary housing looms

BC Housing says it is working with community partners on a solution for VIP Motel situation

Residents at the VIP Motel temporary housing are concerned the facility will close its doors on March 31.(PQB News file photo)