PORT ALBERNI

Our Home on 8th, the Port Alberni Shelter that opened in March 2019, has 27 extra ‘extreme weather’ spaces for people who need a place to get out of the cold. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Port Alberni’s shelter is ‘out of control’, neighbours say

Ninth Avenue residents say fence would curb illicit activity behind shelter

 

Poppy the puppy sits in the Alberni-Clayoquot SPCA branch in Port Alberni after being left outdoors overnight at the centre. (BC SPCA PHOTO)

Puppy dumped in planter box at Port Alberni branch of BC SPCA

Three-month-old ‘Poppy’ is recovering from mange, infections with foster family

 

Kenn Whiteman takes a trip down memory lane sorting through his collection of 263 nutcrackers in his dining room. The collection takes up three rooms in his home. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Fine craftsmanship in a nutcracker leads to 45-year obsession for Port Alberni man

‘Nutcracker king’ hopes to find new home for his expansive collection

 

Alberni Pacific Division (APD) Sawmill, owned by Western Forest Products, is located on Port Alberni’s waterfront. (AV NEWS FILE PHOTO)

Western Forest Products shuts Port Alberni sawmill for six months

Extended curtailment was unexpected, says Steelworkers Union rep

Alberni Pacific Division (APD) Sawmill, owned by Western Forest Products, is located on Port Alberni’s waterfront. (AV NEWS FILE PHOTO)
The Port Alberni RCMP’s vessel is tied up at a wharf near the Maritime Discovery Centre. (PORT ALBERNI RCMP PHOTO)

Pair of boaters rescued after vessel sinks in Alberni Inlet

Bystanders watched as boat sank 30 metres from shore near waterfront park

The Port Alberni RCMP’s vessel is tied up at a wharf near the Maritime Discovery Centre. (PORT ALBERNI RCMP PHOTO)
A group of people in orange shirts gathers on Pacific Rim Highway on the Tseshaht First Nation reserve. (PHOTO COURTESY TSESHAHT FIRST NATION)

Vancouver Island First Nation seeks compensation for historical construction of highway

Nation claims Canada failed to protect its rights over highway between Port Alberni and Tofino

A group of people in orange shirts gathers on Pacific Rim Highway on the Tseshaht First Nation reserve. (PHOTO COURTESY TSESHAHT FIRST NATION)
The sun sets behind the Somass River at Victoria Quay in Port Alberni. (Elena Rardon / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)

Port Alberni continues to lead B.C’s October heat parade and shatter many records

Century-old records fall away as mid-Island city sees temperatures in upper 20s Celsius

The sun sets behind the Somass River at Victoria Quay in Port Alberni. (Elena Rardon / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)
Port Alberni’s Richard Spencer (front) takes off from the starting line at Rumble on the Runway in Port McNeill on July 17, 2022. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)

Island drag racers looking to establish new permanent track in Port Alberni

Alberni drag racing association working with other associations on Vancouver Island

Port Alberni’s Richard Spencer (front) takes off from the starting line at Rumble on the Runway in Port McNeill on July 17, 2022. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)
John Howitt Elementary School is located off of Tebo Avenue in Port Alberni. (AV NEWS FILE PHOTO)

RCMP determine abduction report near Port Alberni school was ‘unfounded’

RCMP say they have found no evidence to support the report

John Howitt Elementary School is located off of Tebo Avenue in Port Alberni. (AV NEWS FILE PHOTO)
Robbie Jai, left, unit chief for the Parksville Ambulance Station, presents Ed Francoeur, centre, and Tyler Ruel of Port Alberni with Vital Links awards for saving golfer Fred Fredrickson after he collapsed at Alberni Golf Course on Sept. 13, 2020. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Island golfers honoured saving man who went into cardiac arrest on the course

Ed Francoeur, Tyler Ruel saved fellow golfer after he went into cardiac arrest in 2020

Robbie Jai, left, unit chief for the Parksville Ambulance Station, presents Ed Francoeur, centre, and Tyler Ruel of Port Alberni with Vital Links awards for saving golfer Fred Fredrickson after he collapsed at Alberni Golf Course on Sept. 13, 2020. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
A hiker who suffered injuries while on Mount Arrowsmith’s Judge’s Route trail is rescued due to the combined efforts of Alberni Valley and Arrowsmith volunteer rescuers. (PHOTO COURTESY ALBERNI VALLEY RESCUE SQUAD)

Volunteers rescue hiker in medical distress from steep slopes of Mount Arrowsmith

Multiple agencies involved in complicated retrieval from Judges Route on Island peak

A hiker who suffered injuries while on Mount Arrowsmith’s Judge’s Route trail is rescued due to the combined efforts of Alberni Valley and Arrowsmith volunteer rescuers. (PHOTO COURTESY ALBERNI VALLEY RESCUE SQUAD)
The ‘Every child matters’ barricade painted at the entrance to the ‘Orange Bridge’ (Riverbend Bridge) was vandalized sometime in the evening of Friday, Sept. 30, 2022. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Vandals paint racial slur on Port Alberni’s ‘Orange Bridge’ hours after reconciliation walk

Tseshaht First Nation denounces act, says there is ‘zero tolerance’ for racism in community

The ‘Every child matters’ barricade painted at the entrance to the ‘Orange Bridge’ (Riverbend Bridge) was vandalized sometime in the evening of Friday, Sept. 30, 2022. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
A locked gate prevents access to a logging road on Mosaic Forests land in 2017. (ELENA RARDON/ Alberni Valley News)

Vancouver Island pilot project hopes to increase public use of forest lands

Mosaic Forest Management partners with user groups on access plans

A locked gate prevents access to a logging road on Mosaic Forests land in 2017. (ELENA RARDON/ Alberni Valley News)
Students from Tammi Greenwood’s Grade 5/6 class at Haahuupayak School wave to drivers from the newly painted portion of the Orange Bridge (Riverbend Bridge) over the Somass River, Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2002. (PHOTO COURTESY TAMMI GREENWOOD)

Port Alberni’s iconic ‘Orange Bridge’ turns orange again for Truth and Reconciliation

Tseshaht First Nation hopes bright orange accents will change narrative of bridge

Students from Tammi Greenwood’s Grade 5/6 class at Haahuupayak School wave to drivers from the newly painted portion of the Orange Bridge (Riverbend Bridge) over the Somass River, Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2002. (PHOTO COURTESY TAMMI GREENWOOD)
Brandon Cairney was declared missing in October 2017. He was found alive in September 2022 in Burnaby, B.C., but claims he is not Cairney. (RCMP PHOTO)

Port Alberni man missing for five years resurfaces, but denies he is Brandon Cairney

Mystery unfolds in Island Crime podcast update on men missing from Vancouver Island

Brandon Cairney was declared missing in October 2017. He was found alive in September 2022 in Burnaby, B.C., but claims he is not Cairney. (RCMP PHOTO)
Firefighters attend the Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation Memorial Ceremony in Ottawa. (PHOTO COURTESY PA FIRE DEPARTMENT)

Trio of Alberni Valley firefighters who died of job-related causes honoured in Ottawa

Canadian Firefighters Memorial took place on Sept. 11, 2022

Firefighters attend the Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation Memorial Ceremony in Ottawa. (PHOTO COURTESY PA FIRE DEPARTMENT)
A stream of water from the Harbour Chieftain fireboat can be seen as crews fight a fire aboard a 35-foot aluminum work vessel in the Alberni Harbour on Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022. (PHOTO COURTESY JOANNA STANGOWITZ)

Man forced to jump into Alberni Harbour after boat explodes

Black smoke, flames were visible for kilometres

A stream of water from the Harbour Chieftain fireboat can be seen as crews fight a fire aboard a 35-foot aluminum work vessel in the Alberni Harbour on Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022. (PHOTO COURTESY JOANNA STANGOWITZ)
(Black Press Media stock photo)

Fall Fair in Port Alberni marred by bear spray attack

Fall Fair weekend sees increase in calls for service, say Port Alberni RCMP

(Black Press Media stock photo)
First responders from BC EHS, Port Alberni Fire Department and Alberni Valley Rescue Squad retrieve a woman who had fallen around 30 metres at Stamp River Provincial Park on Monday, Sept. 5, 2022. (ALBERNI VALLEY RESCUE SQUAD PHOTO)

Tourist airlifted to hospital after falling 40 feet down embankment at Stamp River Provincial Park

Rope rescue teams from Port Alberni, Qualicum Beach extricate woman from bank by Stamp Falls

First responders from BC EHS, Port Alberni Fire Department and Alberni Valley Rescue Squad retrieve a woman who had fallen around 30 metres at Stamp River Provincial Park on Monday, Sept. 5, 2022. (ALBERNI VALLEY RESCUE SQUAD PHOTO)
Jasmine Wilson, with a hand-painted fish, takes a turn at the wheel from the Salmon Enhancement Society while Shirley Shiner looks on. (SONJA DRINKWATER / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)

Teenage angler nets $10,000 top prize at Port Alberni salmon derby

Derby took place over Labour Day long weekend

Jasmine Wilson, with a hand-painted fish, takes a turn at the wheel from the Salmon Enhancement Society while Shirley Shiner looks on. (SONJA DRINKWATER / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)