Comox Valley

Hundreds of winged smaller yellow ants (Lasius claviger) are ready to take off for their nuptial flight. (Photo courtesy of Aaron Fairweather)

Love is in the air: Flying ants meet to mate on Vancouver Island

For a few hours, millions of ants simultaneously swarmed the region for their yearly mating ritual

Hundreds of winged smaller yellow ants (Lasius claviger) are ready to take off for their nuptial flight. (Photo courtesy of Aaron Fairweather)
Roger (right) and Tristan Thomas pose for a shot at the Alpine Lodge parking lot at the completion of their ascent up Mount Washington on Aug. 3. The father and son completed the ride in celebration of Roger’s 82nd birthday. Photo supplied.

B.C. cyclist celebrates 82nd birthday by pedalling up a mountain

Roger Thomas went up Vancouver Island’s Mount Washington in less than 2 hours

Roger (right) and Tristan Thomas pose for a shot at the Alpine Lodge parking lot at the completion of their ascent up Mount Washington on Aug. 3. The father and son completed the ride in celebration of Roger’s 82nd birthday. Photo supplied.
Westjet Passenger and Twitter user Andre Gagne posted this photo of the damage from the incident. WestJet flight 334 from Comox to Edmonton was aborted after the jet made contact with a CC-130H Hercules while taxiing for departure, resulting in the damaged wing-tip. Photo by Andre Gagne

WestJet aircraft collides with parked Hercules at B.C. airport

No injuries as Westjet plane makes contact with military aircraft on Comox Valley Airport tarmac

Westjet Passenger and Twitter user Andre Gagne posted this photo of the damage from the incident. WestJet flight 334 from Comox to Edmonton was aborted after the jet made contact with a CC-130H Hercules while taxiing for departure, resulting in the damaged wing-tip. Photo by Andre Gagne
The boat was engulfed in flames at around 4:30 p.m on July 16, 2023. (Photo supplied by Liz Johnston)

‘Boats everywhere’: derelict vessels continue to pollute B.C. waters

Derelict vessel that caught fire after washing ashore on Denman Island just tip of a large iceberg

The boat was engulfed in flames at around 4:30 p.m on July 16, 2023. (Photo supplied by Liz Johnston)
<em>Tadpoles: The Big Little Migration,</em> a movie shot on Vancouver Island, documents the daily migration of the western toad tadpoles. It is now being featured in a new Netflix series. Photo courtesy Maxwel Hohn.

‘Our Planet II’ Netflix series includes tadpole segment by B.C. filmmakers

Maxwel Hohn and Russell Clark revisit acclaimed Tadpoles film for international audience

  • Jun 28, 2023
<em>Tadpoles: The Big Little Migration,</em> a movie shot on Vancouver Island, documents the daily migration of the western toad tadpoles. It is now being featured in a new Netflix series. Photo courtesy Maxwel Hohn.
Thrifters discover a trove of art belonging to late artist Victor Reece in an abandoned storage locker 13 years after his passing. (Photo submitted)

‘So blessed’: TV show finds trove of art belonging to B.C. woman’s late father

The collection was slated for a Richmond garbage dump when “pickers” found it

Thrifters discover a trove of art belonging to late artist Victor Reece in an abandoned storage locker 13 years after his passing. (Photo submitted)
A group of nurses and doctors, all members of the group Doctors and Nurses for Planetary Health, rallied in front of Nelson City Hall in a demonstration to urge governments for action on climate change and environmental degradation. Photo: Bill Metcalfe

OUR PLANETARY HEALTH: Nurses have an ethical duty to advocate for climate justice

Why would nurses care about climate change? This is a question I…

  • Apr 28, 2023
A group of nurses and doctors, all members of the group Doctors and Nurses for Planetary Health, rallied in front of Nelson City Hall in a demonstration to urge governments for action on climate change and environmental degradation. Photo: Bill Metcalfe
Raylene Watts, left, and Alex Tuele, both from Fanny Bay, visit the Port Alberni waterfront looking for treasure on Wednesday, March 9, 2023. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Treasure seekers scour British Columbia for pot of ‘gold’

B.C.-based scavenger hunt offered $1,000 if someone could solve five riddles

Raylene Watts, left, and Alex Tuele, both from Fanny Bay, visit the Port Alberni waterfront looking for treasure on Wednesday, March 9, 2023. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
Comox Valley RCMP detachment. File photo

B.C. RCMP detachment cleared of any wrongdoing in death of man while in custody

IIO director calls for changes to the system in his report

Comox Valley RCMP detachment. File photo
Daniel Mazey sets up the cones for his attempt to beat the Guinness Book of Records world record for the fastest 20-cone slalom dribbling a soccer ball. Each cone had to be exactly 50 cm apart. Photo by Terry Farrell

VIDEO: B.C. man shatters Guinness record for slalom soccer dribbling

Daniel Mazey celebrated his 36th birthday in unique fashion: by setting a…

Daniel Mazey sets up the cones for his attempt to beat the Guinness Book of Records world record for the fastest 20-cone slalom dribbling a soccer ball. Each cone had to be exactly 50 cm apart. Photo by Terry Farrell
’Buttercup’ was rescued after being spotted running loose in Comox. Among other injuries, the dog had her muzzle taped shut. Photo courtesy BC SPCA

Dog named Buttercup found running loose with muzzle taped shut, broken leg: BC SPCA

A severely abused dog is in the care of the SPCA after…

  • Feb 16, 2023
’Buttercup’ was rescued after being spotted running loose in Comox. Among other injuries, the dog had her muzzle taped shut. Photo courtesy BC SPCA
An image created more than a decade ago by Northwest Coast artist Andy Everson was given an added touch this week to honour the passing of Vancouber Canucks’ enforcer Gino Odjick. Image by Andy Everson

B.C. Northwest Coast artist honours Canucks’ legend Gino Odjick with image

Comox Valley artist reworks 2011 work in popular late hockey player’s honour

An image created more than a decade ago by Northwest Coast artist Andy Everson was given an added touch this week to honour the passing of Vancouber Canucks’ enforcer Gino Odjick. Image by Andy Everson
Werner Karsten shows one of the two turtlepod prototypes he brought with him for display at the Walk With Me event in Courtenay, on Nov. 26. The insulated, mobile pods are intended to provide safe shelter for those experiencing homelessness. Photo by Terry Farrell

B.C. man designs ‘turtlepods’ – mobile personal shelter prototypes to assist the unhoused

‘I think of it as supporting urban nomadism.’

Werner Karsten shows one of the two turtlepod prototypes he brought with him for display at the Walk With Me event in Courtenay, on Nov. 26. The insulated, mobile pods are intended to provide safe shelter for those experiencing homelessness. Photo by Terry Farrell
Mental Health and Addictions Minister Sheila Malcolmson was among the nearly three dozen participants at Saturday’s (Nov. 26) Walk With Me event in Courtenay. Photo by Terry Farrell

B.C.’s mental health minister hopes more people listen to stories of toxic drug crisis

Sheila Malcolmson says listening could change the way people view those impacted

Mental Health and Addictions Minister Sheila Malcolmson was among the nearly three dozen participants at Saturday’s (Nov. 26) Walk With Me event in Courtenay. Photo by Terry Farrell
The Habitat for Humanity build at 1375 Piercy Ave. in Courtenay continues to take shape. When completed the project will house 12 families. Photo by Yana Dimitrova.

Habitat for Humanity survey reveals housing affordability as a top concern for Canadians

A new survey released Nov. 10 by Habitat for Humanity Canada finds…

The Habitat for Humanity build at 1375 Piercy Ave. in Courtenay continues to take shape. When completed the project will house 12 families. Photo by Yana Dimitrova.
File photo of a bear that wound up in a backyard of a Courtenay home.

What happens when a bear gets between a Vancouver Island man and his clothes

Comox Valley incident a reminder there are bears out there and you should minimize interactions

File photo of a bear that wound up in a backyard of a Courtenay home.
Judi Hills tied a ribbon to a tree in the Puntledge Park neighbourhood in memory of her son and of all the people who have struggled in silence. Photo supplied

B.C. mom uses ribbons to honour late son, shed light on mental illness

Judi Hills says we need to do more to end the stigma associated with mental illness

Judi Hills tied a ribbon to a tree in the Puntledge Park neighbourhood in memory of her son and of all the people who have struggled in silence. Photo supplied
Kelly Everill’s latest community mural is a spectacular tribute to our veterans. The two-storey design is on the outer wall of the Royal Canadian Legion Courtenay Branch 17. Photo by Terry Farrell

B.C. artist’s latest community mural a spectacular tribute to veterans

Courtenay artist Kelly Everill is well known for her community murals. They…

Kelly Everill’s latest community mural is a spectacular tribute to our veterans. The two-storey design is on the outer wall of the Royal Canadian Legion Courtenay Branch 17. Photo by Terry Farrell
Galen Rupp, of the United States, and Cam Levins of Canada (right) compete during the men’s marathon at the World Athletics Championships Sunday, July 17, 2022, in Eugene, Ore. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Patrick Smith/Pool Photo via AP

B.C. marathoner Cam Levins finishes historic 4th at world championships

Black Creek-born runner beat his previous Canadian record by about 2 minutes

Galen Rupp, of the United States, and Cam Levins of Canada (right) compete during the men’s marathon at the World Athletics Championships Sunday, July 17, 2022, in Eugene, Ore. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Patrick Smith/Pool Photo via AP
Lewis Green, of Courtenay, qualified to represent Canada at the IMG Junior World Golf Championships, after shooting a one-under-par 35 at a nine-hole tournament at the Golden Eagle Golf Club in Pitt Meadows. Photo submitted

B.C. golfer, 8, breaks par, qualifies for World Junior Golf Championships

Lewis Green invited to represent Canada at the IMG Junior World Golf Championships in July

Lewis Green, of Courtenay, qualified to represent Canada at the IMG Junior World Golf Championships, after shooting a one-under-par 35 at a nine-hole tournament at the Golden Eagle Golf Club in Pitt Meadows. Photo submitted