Community

Interpretive Skills Workshop participants discussing opportunities for young Interpreters on the West Coast. (Marianne Paquette photo)

Youth workshop inspires the next generation of interpreters

West Coast N.E.S.T. teaches Tofino-Ucluelet youth about working in tourism education

  • Jan 28, 2023
Interpretive Skills Workshop participants discussing opportunities for young Interpreters on the West Coast. (Marianne Paquette photo)
Kayla Castellarin of the BC SPCA Alberni-Clayoquot Branch feeds Herby the cat some treats on his first birthday, Friday, Jan. 20, 2023. Staff decorated Herby’s living quarters for the occasion. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Herby the black cat seeks fur-ever home on Vancouver Island

Alberni-Clayoquot SPCA staff throw party for one-year old cat who has spent 70-plus days in care

Kayla Castellarin of the BC SPCA Alberni-Clayoquot Branch feeds Herby the cat some treats on his first birthday, Friday, Jan. 20, 2023. Staff decorated Herby’s living quarters for the occasion. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
Celebrations for Lunar New Year feature a lion dance, which is a way to cleanse spaces of bad vibes and bring in good luck for the new year. This lion and drum are used to by the Wong Sheung Kung Fu Club to practice for performances. (Hollie Ferguson/News Staff)

VIDEO: Island leaps into year of the rabbit with celebrations in Victoria’s Chinatown

Lunar New Year celebrations will include lion dancing, music, lucky red envelopes and lots of food

Celebrations for Lunar New Year feature a lion dance, which is a way to cleanse spaces of bad vibes and bring in good luck for the new year. This lion and drum are used to by the Wong Sheung Kung Fu Club to practice for performances. (Hollie Ferguson/News Staff)
Cake was served at the retirement celebration for the BC Ferries’ vessel M.V. Powell River Queen at the Quathiaski Cove ferry terminal on Quadra Island Tuesday, Jan. 17. Photo by Alistair Taylor/Campbell River Mirror

58-year-old Quadra Island ferry unable to complete last day as retirement party gets underway

Powell River Queen taken out of service due to mechanical failure while being celebrated by community

Cake was served at the retirement celebration for the BC Ferries’ vessel M.V. Powell River Queen at the Quathiaski Cove ferry terminal on Quadra Island Tuesday, Jan. 17. Photo by Alistair Taylor/Campbell River Mirror
Crime Stoppers in Nanaimo has reorganized to improve the safety of tipsters and now receives information from across the central Island and Gulf Islands. (File photo)

Police and volunteers on the mid-Island recognize National Crime Stoppers Month

Restructured chapter to receive tips from across the central Vancouver Island region

Crime Stoppers in Nanaimo has reorganized to improve the safety of tipsters and now receives information from across the central Island and Gulf Islands. (File photo)
Left to right: Penticton Vees Bradly Nadeau, Ryan Hopkins, Aydar Suniev and Josh Nadeau will be participating in BCHL’s 60th Anniversary Prospects game at the SOEC Friday night. The weekend All Star and Alumni games continue Saturday at the outdoor rink. (Logan Lockhart Western News)

Expect large crowds, road closure near Penticton’s outdoor rink for BCHL all-star games

Martin Street partially closed Saturday while alumni, skills and all star games take place

Left to right: Penticton Vees Bradly Nadeau, Ryan Hopkins, Aydar Suniev and Josh Nadeau will be participating in BCHL’s 60th Anniversary Prospects game at the SOEC Friday night. The weekend All Star and Alumni games continue Saturday at the outdoor rink. (Logan Lockhart Western News)
Members of staff place the copies of the new book by Prince Harry called “Spare” at a book store in London, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023. Prince Harry’s memoir “Spare” went on sale in bookstores on Tuesday, providing a varied portrait of the Duke of Sussex and the royal family. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

QUIZ: How well do you know the royals?

Prince Harry’s book, Spare, has been attracting plenty of attention

Members of staff place the copies of the new book by Prince Harry called “Spare” at a book store in London, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023. Prince Harry’s memoir “Spare” went on sale in bookstores on Tuesday, providing a varied portrait of the Duke of Sussex and the royal family. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
The Tofino Ucluelet Culinary Guild (TUCG) carries products like kelp seasoning made by Tofino-based, Indigenous owned Naas Foods. (Naas Foods photo)

Tofino Ucluelet Culinary Guild brings local food to local tables

The non-profit links local food producers with West Coast restaurants

  • Jan 11, 2023
The Tofino Ucluelet Culinary Guild (TUCG) carries products like kelp seasoning made by Tofino-based, Indigenous owned Naas Foods. (Naas Foods photo)
The 40-acre Maris Estates oceanfront property has been gifted to the Comox Valley Regional District through the federal Ecological Gifts Program. Photo supplied

40 acres of oceanfront property donated to Comox Valley Regional District to create a park

The Comox Valley Regional District has received a donation of 40 acres…

The 40-acre Maris Estates oceanfront property has been gifted to the Comox Valley Regional District through the federal Ecological Gifts Program. Photo supplied
First Link® Dementia Helpline can provide you with the support and answeres you need.

Stand up against dementia stigma this Alzheimer’s Awareness Month

Jana Schulz of Cranbrook, B.C. – a registered social worker, working as…

  • Jan 9, 2023
First Link® Dementia Helpline can provide you with the support and answeres you need.
Team Canada forward Marie-Philip Poulin (29) celebrates with her gold medal after defeating the United States in women’s hockey gold medal game action at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing on Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022. How many medals did Canada win in the 2022 Winter Olympics? THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

QUIZ: How much do you know about the news of 2022?

A lot happened during the past 12 months

Team Canada forward Marie-Philip Poulin (29) celebrates with her gold medal after defeating the United States in women’s hockey gold medal game action at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing on Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022. How many medals did Canada win in the 2022 Winter Olympics? THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
Santa and Mrs. Claus take a well-deserved break after reading through all the Black Press Media papers in Greater Victoria to update the naught and nice list. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

10 questions with Santa and Mrs. Claus

Black Press Media staffers put together a line of questioning for the…

Santa and Mrs. Claus take a well-deserved break after reading through all the Black Press Media papers in Greater Victoria to update the naught and nice list. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
Kala Doneyhue pictured inside her 2010 Chevrolet Equinox, after winning Penticton’s Huber Bannister Christmas car giveaway on Dec. 23, 2022. (Logan Lockhart- Western News)

VIDEO: Working 7 days a week with 2 kids, B.C. single mom surprised with car

Huber Bannister Chevrolet held its second annual Christmas car giveaway on Dec. 23

Kala Doneyhue pictured inside her 2010 Chevrolet Equinox, after winning Penticton’s Huber Bannister Christmas car giveaway on Dec. 23, 2022. (Logan Lockhart- Western News)
Food Bank on the Edge volunteers celebrate another successful Christmas Hamper drive.

GIVING BACK COLUMN: Good tidings from Food Bank on the Edge

West Coasters reach holiday goal of raising over 100 Christmas hampers

Food Bank on the Edge volunteers celebrate another successful Christmas Hamper drive.
The “mischievous cow” in action Dec. 3. Photo courtesy Campbell River RCMP

RCMP on the lookout for a … ‘troublesome cow’

‘Cow’ left footprints, not hoof prints, in Island city after ringing doorbell earlier this month

  • Dec 20, 2022
The “mischievous cow” in action Dec. 3. Photo courtesy Campbell River RCMP
CBT invites West Coasters to Give Local through online Giving Catalogue.

CBT relaunches Giving Catalogue

Donors are invited to give to the charity of their choice at this ‘one-stop-shop’ virtual hub

  • Dec 17, 2022
CBT invites West Coasters to Give Local through online Giving Catalogue.
Alex Lavoie was even able to feed cat food to a raven that flew alongside his Jeep on the Dempster Highway in Yukon. Youtube video screenshot

VIDEO: Raven flies alongside Quadra Island couple travelling frigid Yukon highway

23 minute video with Raven garners over 5,000 views on Youtube

Alex Lavoie was even able to feed cat food to a raven that flew alongside his Jeep on the Dempster Highway in Yukon. Youtube video screenshot
The Ucluelet Co-op’s Riz Gumpac recently received the BC Pharmacy Association’s 2022 New Practitioner Award for being a champion of health services in a small community. (Nora O’Malley photo)

West Coast pharmacist honoured with New Practitioner Award

Ucluelet Co-op pharmacy manager Riz Gumpac received the honour from the BC Pharmacy Association

The Ucluelet Co-op’s Riz Gumpac recently received the BC Pharmacy Association’s 2022 New Practitioner Award for being a champion of health services in a small community. (Nora O’Malley photo)
Shannon Bellamy and Tom Andrews of the Chemainus Festival of Murals Society form their own arch with help from their shadowy friends at the site in Waterwheel Park where a new welcome arch will go up by next fall. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Island community’s arch another means for bridging cultural divides

Illuminated permanent art piece will allow people to see the light

Shannon Bellamy and Tom Andrews of the Chemainus Festival of Murals Society form their own arch with help from their shadowy friends at the site in Waterwheel Park where a new welcome arch will go up by next fall. (Photo by Don Bodger)
A man pauses while digging out snow from under a car stuck on a street in the aftermath of a snowstorm, in Vancouver, on Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

QUIZ: Are you ready for winter weather?

Winter begins later this month, but is already on the ground in many parts of the country

A man pauses while digging out snow from under a car stuck on a street in the aftermath of a snowstorm, in Vancouver, on Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck