PORT ALBERNI

The letters “A.W. Neill” were removed from a Port Alberni elementary school on Sept. 8, 2021. The new name, Tsuma-as, will go up on Sept. 29. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)

Island school named for racist getting new name on Truth and Reconciliation Day

Port Alberni’s former A.W. Neill School to formally receive new name Sept. 29

 

‘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

 

A totem pole, called n’aasn’aas?aqsa, is unveiled at Victoria Quay on Saturday, Sept. 18. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)

First Nations language pole unveiled in Port Alberni

The FNEF/ United Nations totem pole, called n’aasn’aas?aqsa, has found its home

 

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)
Enjoying a beverage on a restaurant patio in Port Alberni comes with some new COVID-19 conditions as of Sept. 13, 2021. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Island businesses grapple with threats as new COVID-19 vaccine passports start

‘These things are beyond our control…there is no option to opt out.’

Enjoying a beverage on a restaurant patio in Port Alberni comes with some new COVID-19 conditions as of Sept. 13, 2021. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
Family, friends and supporters gathered for a quiet memorial behind the Port Alberni Friendship Center on Sept. 1, 2021 to remember Russell Seeber, whose life ended tragically at the same location a few days earlier. A cross has been erected as a physical memorial. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

‘Helpful’, ‘lost’: friends, family recall victim of Port Alberni tree tragedy

Advocates say Russell Seeber’s death underlines need for 24-hour crisis response

Family, friends and supporters gathered for a quiet memorial behind the Port Alberni Friendship Center on Sept. 1, 2021 to remember Russell Seeber, whose life ended tragically at the same location a few days earlier. A cross has been erected as a physical memorial. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
Close to 75 protesters with signs marched between FIr Park Village and Echo Village long-term care homes in Port Alberni on Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2021 to advocate for better conditions and management at the facilities. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Supporters protest conditions at two Port Alberni care homes as grievances pile up

Staff shortages are compromising care, says Echo Village resident

Close to 75 protesters with signs marched between FIr Park Village and Echo Village long-term care homes in Port Alberni on Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2021 to advocate for better conditions and management at the facilities. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
The fishing was quiet for these two participants in the annual Port Alberni Salmon Derby. They tried to catch a bite in Alberni Harbour to see if they bring in the winning fish for the annual Labour Day derby. (SONJA DRINKWATER/ Special to the AV News)

Nanaimo fisher nets 31-pound salmon, $10,000 at Port Alberni Salmon Derby

More than 1,700 tickets sold for Labour Day weekend derby

The fishing was quiet for these two participants in the annual Port Alberni Salmon Derby. They tried to catch a bite in Alberni Harbour to see if they bring in the winning fish for the annual Labour Day derby. (SONJA DRINKWATER/ Special to the AV News)
Port Alberni RCMP have released a photo from a security video of the man who urinated at the front counter of the Dairy Queen on Aug. 27, 2021, hoping someone will identify him. (PHOTO COURTESY BC RCMP)

Man urinates in Port Alberni business after being asked to put on a mask

RCMP are searching for the suspect that caused a disturbance at Dairy Queen

Port Alberni RCMP have released a photo from a security video of the man who urinated at the front counter of the Dairy Queen on Aug. 27, 2021, hoping someone will identify him. (PHOTO COURTESY BC RCMP)
Numerous emergency personnel were on standby for several hours behind the Port Alberni Friendship Center on Friday, Aug. 27, 2021 as an RCMP crisis negotiator and other healthcare officials attempted to talk a person out of a tree. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Standoff between distraught man in tree and Port Alberni RCMP ends tragically

RCMP, mental health workers spent two days trying to coax man from 14-metre-high perch

Numerous emergency personnel were on standby for several hours behind the Port Alberni Friendship Center on Friday, Aug. 27, 2021 as an RCMP crisis negotiator and other healthcare officials attempted to talk a person out of a tree. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
An RCMP cruiser sits in front of a home on 18th Avenue near Argyle Street in Port Alberni where a man was shot to death Sunday, Aug. 29, 2021. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

One man fatally shot in residential neighbourhood in Port Alberni

RCMP say there is no threat to people living in the community

An RCMP cruiser sits in front of a home on 18th Avenue near Argyle Street in Port Alberni where a man was shot to death Sunday, Aug. 29, 2021. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
Greg Willmon, left, from Devon Transport Ltd. of Nanaimo meets with Mike Surrell to talk about the transfer of ownership of Lady Rose Marine Services to Willmon and his partner Barrie Rogers. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

New owner says ‘business as usual’ after rescuing marine service to Bamfield

Greg Willmon said decision to purchase ailing Lady Rose Marine Services was easy

Greg Willmon, left, from Devon Transport Ltd. of Nanaimo meets with Mike Surrell to talk about the transfer of ownership of Lady Rose Marine Services to Willmon and his partner Barrie Rogers. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
The BC SPCA is raising funds for Toki, an injured dog who was found abandoned outdoors in Port Alberni. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

SPCA raising funds for injured dog found abandoned in Port Alberni

Toki, a one-year-old Golden Retriever mix, was recently brought into the BC SPCA’s care

The BC SPCA is raising funds for Toki, an injured dog who was found abandoned outdoors in Port Alberni. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
The MV Frances Barkley can be seen in the harbour in Bamfield in this undated photo. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

New owners rescue Vancouver Island’s iconic Lady Rose ferry service

Marine passenger and cargo service will continue between Port Alberni, Bamfield

The MV Frances Barkley can be seen in the harbour in Bamfield in this undated photo. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
Diane Proctor of Port Alberni is so upset about city council’s recent decision to increase wages that she has been picketing with a sign out front of city hall and other locations. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Port Alberni senior rages against city council voting itself a 40% pay hike

Decision made to get pay in line with other municipalities goes into effect after next election

Diane Proctor of Port Alberni is so upset about city council’s recent decision to increase wages that she has been picketing with a sign out front of city hall and other locations. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
Lauren Spencer-Smith’s first original song became an overnight TikTok sensation after she posted a 45-second clip on the social media site. She released her song in early July and it has already been streamed 1.5 million times. (MICAH SUAREZ PHOTO)

Vancouver Island singer’s new song becomes TikTok sensation

Lauren Spencer-Smith has released her first original song

Lauren Spencer-Smith’s first original song became an overnight TikTok sensation after she posted a 45-second clip on the social media site. She released her song in early July and it has already been streamed 1.5 million times. (MICAH SUAREZ PHOTO)
Retired RCMP Staff Sgt. Dale Djos was in Port Alberni on Wednesday, July 21, 2021 to receive a Commanding Officer’s Commendation, presented by Port Alberni RCMP Inspector Eric Rochette, left. Retired journalist Shayne Morrow, right, wrote a book titled The Bulldog and the Helix about Djos’s efforts to solve a pair of murders in the city. Djos was one of three people to receive similar awards. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Island RCMP officers honoured for cracking pair of high-profile cold case murders

Carolyn Lee and Jessica States murders happened 20 years apart in Port Alberni

Retired RCMP Staff Sgt. Dale Djos was in Port Alberni on Wednesday, July 21, 2021 to receive a Commanding Officer’s Commendation, presented by Port Alberni RCMP Inspector Eric Rochette, left. Retired journalist Shayne Morrow, right, wrote a book titled The Bulldog and the Helix about Djos’s efforts to solve a pair of murders in the city. Djos was one of three people to receive similar awards. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
Workers secure equipment on a flatdeck at the Somass Sawmill site on Friday, July 15, 2021. The mill has not been in operation since 2017. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

City of Port Alberni looks at options for Somass Sawmill property

No word on negotiations, but sawmill has been busy with activity

Workers secure equipment on a flatdeck at the Somass Sawmill site on Friday, July 15, 2021. The mill has not been in operation since 2017. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
Commercial gillnetter Lily M. is tied up at Centennial Pier on June 24, 2021 so her captain, Ryan Daynes, can repair some holes in his net. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Commercial salmon fishers left high and dry over sudden DFO closures

Island MP calls on federal fisheries minister to provide financial relief

Commercial gillnetter Lily M. is tied up at Centennial Pier on June 24, 2021 so her captain, Ryan Daynes, can repair some holes in his net. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
A firefighter with Port Alberni Fire Department mops up a fire in Dry Creek Park early Tuesday, July 13, 2021. It was the second fire crews attended in a few hours in Dry Creek. (PHOTO COURTESY PAFD)

Vancouver Island man arrested for arson as RCMP investigate rash of wildfires

Charges ‘not necessarily’ connected to human-caused fires in forested areas

A firefighter with Port Alberni Fire Department mops up a fire in Dry Creek Park early Tuesday, July 13, 2021. It was the second fire crews attended in a few hours in Dry Creek. (PHOTO COURTESY PAFD)