Olivier Laurin

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‘B.C.’s strongest man’, Sean B. Hayes (left), alongside Kalem Nygren, will be heading to Duncan on July 1 for B.C.’s first-ever professional strongman show. The two men can be seen at Hayes’ home gym on the afternoon of June 1. (Olivier Laurin / Comox Valley Record)

Two of B.C.’s strongest set to lift B.C.’s first pro strongman show

‘B.C.’s strongest man’, Sean B. Hayes, alongside Kalem Nygren, will be chasing title July 1 in Duncan

‘B.C.’s strongest man’, Sean B. Hayes (left), alongside Kalem Nygren, will be heading to Duncan on July 1 for B.C.’s first-ever professional strongman show. The two men can be seen at Hayes’ home gym on the afternoon of June 1. (Olivier Laurin / Comox Valley Record)
Courtenay couple Anne Doyle and David Laverton invented Dice Hockey Challenge, a family-friendly board game for all ice hockey fans. Photo submitted.

Amidst Stanley Cup playoffs, B.C. couple creates hockey-themed board game

The new board game is now available online across Canada

Courtenay couple Anne Doyle and David Laverton invented Dice Hockey Challenge, a family-friendly board game for all ice hockey fans. Photo submitted.
The CF Snowbirds returned to the Comox Valley for its first airshow of the 2024 season on May 18. Photo courtesy of Kirk Friedlich

PHOTOS & VIDEO: 2024 Comox Airshow celebrates 100th anniversary of the RCAF

Thousands of spectators attended the admission-free event

The CF Snowbirds returned to the Comox Valley for its first airshow of the 2024 season on May 18. Photo courtesy of Kirk Friedlich
Nick Chowdhury (right) was in his early twenties when he lost his wallet while fishing in 1991. More than 30 years later, on May 10, 2024, Jamie Lee, aged 14, would return his wallet, finding it at roughly the same location where Chowdhury last saw it. (Olivier Laurin / Comox Valley Record)

‘A blast from the past’: Lost wallet returns to B.C. man after 33 years

Nick Chowdhury was in his early twenties when he lost his wallet while fishing in 1991

Nick Chowdhury (right) was in his early twenties when he lost his wallet while fishing in 1991. More than 30 years later, on May 10, 2024, Jamie Lee, aged 14, would return his wallet, finding it at roughly the same location where Chowdhury last saw it. (Olivier Laurin / Comox Valley Record)
Katherine Kirk (front), owner of Yummies & Gyros Greek Cafe, started a pay-it-forward promotion to help those in need on April 8. (Olivier Laurin / Comox Valley Record)

Yes B.C., there is indeed such a thing as a free lunch

Vancouver Island restaurant owner starts pay-it-forward promotion to help feed those in need

Katherine Kirk (front), owner of Yummies & Gyros Greek Cafe, started a pay-it-forward promotion to help those in need on April 8. (Olivier Laurin / Comox Valley Record)
Ross Lane, 76, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in early 2023. He poses beside Jet, his 12-year-old black poodle. (Olivier Laurin / Comox Valley Record)

‘My muscles forget’: B.C. people talk about the impact of Parkinson’s

April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month in Canada, disease affects 17,500 people in B.C.

Ross Lane, 76, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in early 2023. He poses beside Jet, his 12-year-old black poodle. (Olivier Laurin / Comox Valley Record)
Junyi Liu, 41, saved an elderly woman from the flames during the Comox Esso fire in May 2023. A few months later, he was awarded the Courage & Bravery Local Hero Award. Liu (middle) poses surrounded by firefighters of the Comox Fire Rescue during the award ceremony on Sept. 6. (Connor McDowell / Comox Valley Record)

B.C. man awarded ‘highest honour for civilian heroism in North America’

Junyi Liu, 41, received the Carnegie Medal for saving an elderly woman from the flames

Junyi Liu, 41, saved an elderly woman from the flames during the Comox Esso fire in May 2023. A few months later, he was awarded the Courage & Bravery Local Hero Award. Liu (middle) poses surrounded by firefighters of the Comox Fire Rescue during the award ceremony on Sept. 6. (Connor McDowell / Comox Valley Record)
File Photo

The tumultuous history of daylight time and the debate over its necessity

It was in 1784 that Benjamin Franklin first suggested the concept of time change

File Photo
On Wednesday morning, March 6, Canada’s NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh visited the Comox Valley to advocate for a national school lunch program to be implemented in the upcoming budget. (Olivier Laurin / Comox Valley Record)

Singh pushes for national school food program during B.C. food security stop

Singh criticizes Liberals for delays and the Conservatives’ opposition

On Wednesday morning, March 6, Canada’s NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh visited the Comox Valley to advocate for a national school lunch program to be implemented in the upcoming budget. (Olivier Laurin / Comox Valley Record)
Steve Squires (photo) of Cumberland has been charged with murder and leaving the scene of an accident in connection with the fatal hit-and-run of Courtenay resident Rod Kelly. The incident happened on Feb. 8. Squires made his first court appearance on Feb. 11. Photo via Facebook

1st-degree murder charge in fatal hit-and-run of cyclist on Vancouver Island

Steve Squires of Cumberland has been charged with murder and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death

Steve Squires (photo) of Cumberland has been charged with murder and leaving the scene of an accident in connection with the fatal hit-and-run of Courtenay resident Rod Kelly. The incident happened on Feb. 8. Squires made his first court appearance on Feb. 11. Photo via Facebook
Comox Valley mother Isabelle Piper allegedly found a pill inside a Starbucks cake pop on the morning of Feb. 1, 2024. (Source: Facebook)

Starbucks recalls cake pops after B.C. mom allegedly finds a pill in one

The RCMP and Starbucks Canada are currently investigating the incident

Comox Valley mother Isabelle Piper allegedly found a pill inside a Starbucks cake pop on the morning of Feb. 1, 2024. (Source: Facebook)
The Holmes family from the Comox Valley spent 13 months at sea, sailing across the Atlantic Ocean, navigating more than 21,000 kilometres. Photo supplied

B.C. family completes epic 13-month Atlantic Ocean sailing odyssey

For the Comox Valley’s Holmes family, journey was the realization of long-time dream

The Holmes family from the Comox Valley spent 13 months at sea, sailing across the Atlantic Ocean, navigating more than 21,000 kilometres. Photo supplied
9:07 p.m. - Jack enjoys a warm cup of coffee at the Connect Centre before venturing outside for the night due to limited shelter space. (Olivier Laurin / Comox Valley Record)

Out cold: B.C. journalist spends coldest night of the year with the homeless

Life from dusk to dawn in the Comox Valley with a windchill of -18C

9:07 p.m. - Jack enjoys a warm cup of coffee at the Connect Centre before venturing outside for the night due to limited shelter space. (Olivier Laurin / Comox Valley Record)
On Nov. 3, outreach workers, bylaws, and RCMP officers were supervising the teardown of a homeless encampment, also known as street sweep, in the parking lot beside Connect Centre in downtown Courtenay. (Connor McDowell/Comox Valley Record)

OPINION: B.C. street sweeps perpetuate an endless cycle of misery

Dispossessing the homeless of their belongings does nothing to address the address

On Nov. 3, outreach workers, bylaws, and RCMP officers were supervising the teardown of a homeless encampment, also known as street sweep, in the parking lot beside Connect Centre in downtown Courtenay. (Connor McDowell/Comox Valley Record)
On the afternoon of Dec. 17, numerous communities throughout B.C. felt the shockwave of a magnitude 4.9 earthquake. The epicentre was located 137 kilometres northwest of Pemberton at 3:23 p.m. (Credit: Earthquakes Canada)

Hundreds report feeling 4.9-magnitude quake in B.C.

Epicentre located northwest of Pemberton

On the afternoon of Dec. 17, numerous communities throughout B.C. felt the shockwave of a magnitude 4.9 earthquake. The epicentre was located 137 kilometres northwest of Pemberton at 3:23 p.m. (Credit: Earthquakes Canada)
Mikala Wheeler (left) diligently prepares data sheets as Simon George converses with fellow team members just moments before the two suit up in their dry suits for a day of snorkelling to monitor the salmon population present in the Theodosia River. (Olivier Laurin / Comox Valley Record)

B.C. conservation team patrols remote salmon streams by foot and by snorkel

Comox Valley environmental consultant provides DFO with invaluable data

Mikala Wheeler (left) diligently prepares data sheets as Simon George converses with fellow team members just moments before the two suit up in their dry suits for a day of snorkelling to monitor the salmon population present in the Theodosia River. (Olivier Laurin / Comox Valley Record)
Water buffalo. ADOBE STOCK IMAGE

By the horns: B.C. farm one of Canada’s few specializing in buffalo dairy

It’s much richer’: Comox Valley’s McClintock’s Farm producing a unique product from a unique animal

Water buffalo. ADOBE STOCK IMAGE
Calls for a last-minute moratorium are intensifying as the start of Pacific herring season in the Straight of Georgia (SoG) approaches on Nov.24. (Courtesy of Ian McAllister)

Red herring? Facing off over the sustainability of B.C.’s herring fishery

Healthy and well-monitored, or ripe for a total closure? That depends on who you talk to

Calls for a last-minute moratorium are intensifying as the start of Pacific herring season in the Straight of Georgia (SoG) approaches on Nov.24. (Courtesy of Ian McAllister)
Nicole Harvda poses next to her car following a race. (Photo courtesy of Nicole Havrda)

B.C. teen becomes first woman ever to win US Formula 3 racing title

At 17, Comox Valley driver Nicole Havrda is chasing her dream of a spot on the F1 circuit

Nicole Harvda poses next to her car following a race. (Photo courtesy of Nicole Havrda)
A mother bear and her cub perched in a tree at Bear James Park, near a popular salmon fishing spot along the Puntledge River, on October 9, 2023. (Olivier Laurin / Comox Valley Record)

A vital linchpin: celebrating the life cycle of the B.C. salmon

A female salmon can lay up to 5,000 eggs, but only two may reach maturity and successfully reproduce

A mother bear and her cub perched in a tree at Bear James Park, near a popular salmon fishing spot along the Puntledge River, on October 9, 2023. (Olivier Laurin / Comox Valley Record)