Alberni Valley

An Ascent Helicopters rotor aircraft lifts off on Canada Day 2023 to assist Alberni Valley Rescue Society volunteers and Totem Tree Service with rescuing a paraglider stuck in a tree. (AVRS INSTAGRAM PHOTO)

Alberni Valley Rescue Society volunteers responding to paraglider stuck in tree

New helicopter hoist team works with Ascent Helicopters, Totem Tree arborists

An Ascent Helicopters rotor aircraft lifts off on Canada Day 2023 to assist Alberni Valley Rescue Society volunteers and Totem Tree Service with rescuing a paraglider stuck in a tree. (AVRS INSTAGRAM PHOTO)
Workers put finishing touches on protective barriers along a two-kilometre stretch of Highway 4 where the Cameron Bluffs wildfire reached the highway. The Vancouver island highway has been closed since June 6, 2023. (PHOTO COURTESY MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTATION)

Highway 4 reopens east of Port Alberni

Drivers told to expect long lineups, single-lane traffic around 2-km construction zone

Workers put finishing touches on protective barriers along a two-kilometre stretch of Highway 4 where the Cameron Bluffs wildfire reached the highway. The Vancouver island highway has been closed since June 6, 2023. (PHOTO COURTESY MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTATION)
Crews install mesh barriers along Cameron Bluffs on Highway 4 to protect the road from falling debris. (PHOTO COURTESY MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE)

Preparations continue for Highway 4 re-opening east of Port Alberni

Cathedral Grove, other scenic stops will remain closed until Highway 4 is fully open

Crews install mesh barriers along Cameron Bluffs on Highway 4 to protect the road from falling debris. (PHOTO COURTESY MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE)
Helijet will fly once a day between Port Alberni and Nanaimo while Highway 4 is closed due to the Cameron Bluffs wildfire. (File photo)

Helijet adds special flights between Port Alberni, Nanaimo during Highway 4 closure

‘Essential service’ flights start June 19 to Alberni Valley Regional Airport

Helijet will fly once a day between Port Alberni and Nanaimo while Highway 4 is closed due to the Cameron Bluffs wildfire. (File photo)
Brynn Waisman, left, and Bruce Patterson are ready with information for travellers who have inundated the Alberni Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Visitors’ Centre since Highway 4 closed due to wildfire. (JOLLEEN DICK PHOTO)

Alberni Valley visitors’ centre handles hundreds of requests from stranded travellers

First full day of Highway 4 closure due to wildfire saw 300 people stop at centre

Brynn Waisman, left, and Bruce Patterson are ready with information for travellers who have inundated the Alberni Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Visitors’ Centre since Highway 4 closed due to wildfire. (JOLLEEN DICK PHOTO)
Lisa John—plus one—crosses the stage to receive her Early Childhood Care and Education certificate, June 22, 2022 at the NIC graduation. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

North Island College postpones graduation ceremonies due to wildfire near Port Alberni

New date will be selected in fall for Alberni Valley, west coast graduates to celebrate

Lisa John—plus one—crosses the stage to receive her Early Childhood Care and Education certificate, June 22, 2022 at the NIC graduation. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
An aerial photo shows the forest fire burning on Cameron Bluffs along Highway 4 by Cameron Lake. The fire was first discovered late Saturday night, June 3, 2023. (COASTAL FIRE CENTRE PHOTO)

Helicopters, initial attack crews tackle wildfire east of Port Alberni

Cameron Bluffs fire near Cameron Lake on Highway 4 estimated at 20 hectares

An aerial photo shows the forest fire burning on Cameron Bluffs along Highway 4 by Cameron Lake. The fire was first discovered late Saturday night, June 3, 2023. (COASTAL FIRE CENTRE PHOTO)
A passenger took this photo of the Cameron Bluffs fire on Tuesday (June 6) morning. (PHOTO COURTESY TONY SHUMUK)

Highway 4 closes again east of Port Alberni as wildfire grows to 109 hectares

Cameron Bluffs fire east of Port Alberni has been burning since June 3

A passenger took this photo of the Cameron Bluffs fire on Tuesday (June 6) morning. (PHOTO COURTESY TONY SHUMUK)
Wahmeesh Ken Watts, left, elected Chief Councillor with Tseshaht First Nation, and Evan Cook, Huu-ay-aht First Nations councillor, on May 11, 2023 announce a partnership between the nations to build a new hotel in the Alberni Valley. (MELISSA BIGMORE PHOTO)

First Nations agree to build first new hotel in Port Alberni since 1980

Huu-ay-aht, Tseshaht Nations partnering with MasterBUILT Hotels to build Microtel hotel

Wahmeesh Ken Watts, left, elected Chief Councillor with Tseshaht First Nation, and Evan Cook, Huu-ay-aht First Nations councillor, on May 11, 2023 announce a partnership between the nations to build a new hotel in the Alberni Valley. (MELISSA BIGMORE PHOTO)
The Penticton Vees battle the Alberni Valley Bulldogs in the 2023 Fred Page Cup Finals. The mayors of the B.C. cities have made a friendly bet ahead of the series. (Photo- Jack Murray)

Mayors of Penticton, Port Alberni make bet ahead of BCHL Finals

Losing mayor will have to wear the opposing city’s jersey at an upcoming council meeting

The Penticton Vees battle the Alberni Valley Bulldogs in the 2023 Fred Page Cup Finals. The mayors of the B.C. cities have made a friendly bet ahead of the series. (Photo- Jack Murray)
Colleen Peters (with umbrella) and her granddaughters, Alannah and Tatianna Peters, walk along Victoria Quay in the MMIWG2+ Walk of Remembrance, May 5, 2023 in Port Alberni. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Walkers remember missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people

Tla-o-qui-aht invited to lead walk in Nuu-chah-nulth territory, in Port Alberni

Colleen Peters (with umbrella) and her granddaughters, Alannah and Tatianna Peters, walk along Victoria Quay in the MMIWG2+ Walk of Remembrance, May 5, 2023 in Port Alberni. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
A fire in the bottom floor of a two-storey home on First Avenue in Port Alberni got into the roof and caused heavy damage, Tuesday, April 25, 2023. (ELENA RARDON/ Alberni Valley News)

House fire in central Vancouver Island sends two to hospital

Port Alberni Fire Dept. answers call to two structure fires in one night

A fire in the bottom floor of a two-storey home on First Avenue in Port Alberni got into the roof and caused heavy damage, Tuesday, April 25, 2023. (ELENA RARDON/ Alberni Valley News)
Brad DeClercq, owner of Starboard Grill at Harbour Quay, is frustrated at the lack of commercial recycling in Port Alberni. (April 21, 2023) (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Restaurateur laments lack of commercial Port Alberni recycling service

Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District says Recycling BC doesn’t offer collection stream for businesses

Brad DeClercq, owner of Starboard Grill at Harbour Quay, is frustrated at the lack of commercial recycling in Port Alberni. (April 21, 2023) (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
Theresa Szymanis shows a garbage pile near Devli’s Den Lake to another member of the AV Nature Club. Volunteers spent a couple of hours on Thursday, April 6, 2023 cleaning up most of the pile and hauling it to the Alberni Valley Landfill. (MIKE YOUDS PHOTO)

Alberni Valley Nature Club hauls 140 Kg of trash out of ecologically sensitive area

Devil’s Den Bluffs under threat from multi-modal overuse, says outdoorsman

Theresa Szymanis shows a garbage pile near Devli’s Den Lake to another member of the AV Nature Club. Volunteers spent a couple of hours on Thursday, April 6, 2023 cleaning up most of the pile and hauling it to the Alberni Valley Landfill. (MIKE YOUDS PHOTO)
Pope Francis says vespers in the Roman Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls on the solemnity of the conversion of St. Paul, in Rome on Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022. An Indigenous delegation is to meet with the Pope at the Vatican in early spring to discuss reconciliation and healing after a visit was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Andrew Medichini

Papal repudiation only the first step, says Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council

NTC president Judith Sayers asks Canada to acknowledge repudiation

Pope Francis says vespers in the Roman Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls on the solemnity of the conversion of St. Paul, in Rome on Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022. An Indigenous delegation is to meet with the Pope at the Vatican in early spring to discuss reconciliation and healing after a visit was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Andrew Medichini
Firefighters from multiple departments quickly extinguish a fire in a bedroom of a small home on Mann Road in north Port Alberni on Tuesday, March 28, 2023. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

Resident saved, pet missing after Port Alberni house fire

Crews weren’t able to save contents of home despite knocking flames down quickly: chief

Firefighters from multiple departments quickly extinguish a fire in a bedroom of a small home on Mann Road in north Port Alberni on Tuesday, March 28, 2023. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
Roman Waitr, left, Dan Goddard, Kevin Berard and Dave Badovinac model the Port Alberni Cubs uniforms for the 2023 season. The Cubs will host the Canadian National Old Timers Baseball Federation championships in August 2023. (PHOTO COURTESY DWAYNE STERN)

Port Alberni primed to welcome Canada for the Old Timers Baseball Nationals

Vancouver Island city will host two ages groups of old timers’ baseball championships Aug. 4–7

Roman Waitr, left, Dan Goddard, Kevin Berard and Dave Badovinac model the Port Alberni Cubs uniforms for the 2023 season. The Cubs will host the Canadian National Old Timers Baseball Federation championships in August 2023. (PHOTO COURTESY DWAYNE STERN)
In 2015, young volunteers Casey Greggain, left, and Rod Gledhill attach the refurbished bell onto its place of pride on the Two Spot locomotive. (DAVID HOOPER PHOTO)

Iconic brass bell stolen from heritage Two Spot locomotive in Port Alberni

Two Spot was the first steam locomotive to work in the forests of the Alberni Valley

In 2015, young volunteers Casey Greggain, left, and Rod Gledhill attach the refurbished bell onto its place of pride on the Two Spot locomotive. (DAVID HOOPER PHOTO)
A member of Alberni Valley Rescue Squad traverses the snowy slopes of 5040 Peak during a rescue of three stranded skiers, March 8, 2023. (AVRS INSTAGRAM PHOTO)

Alberni Valley Rescue Squad helps stranded skiers off mountainside

Trio called for help after trying to find safe descent on Vancouver Island mountain

A member of Alberni Valley Rescue Squad traverses the snowy slopes of 5040 Peak during a rescue of three stranded skiers, March 8, 2023. (AVRS INSTAGRAM PHOTO)
BC Housing won’t be renewing the Port Alberni Shelter Society’s contract to operate Our Home on Eighth shelter. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Port Alberni Friendship Center takes over operation of city shelter

New operators takes over Our Home on Eighth from Port Alberni Shelter Society

BC Housing won’t be renewing the Port Alberni Shelter Society’s contract to operate Our Home on Eighth shelter. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)