Good News

Chris Harker. (Courtesy Chris Harker)

‘They’re survivors’: B.C. man wants to build new dorm for Tanzanian students

Successful girls dorm already built by Canadian Harambe Education Society, Stelly’s Secondary School

 

Ten years ago, Aileen Ingram raised money for a local boy so he could replace his stolen bike, a single act of goodwill that turned into a kindness-fuelled movement and touched all areas of the East Kootenays. Ingram, right, stands with bike-owner Kobe and owner of Gerick Sports Mike Stephen (photo courtesy of Aileen Ingram)

Kindness in the East Kootenays: group can still Pay it Forward 10 years later

Charitable group has touched nearly every community in the region with acts of kindness and service.

 

Good news stories happened all throughout B.C. this year, from young and old. (Black Press Media files)

Here are some of B.C.’s good news stories in 2023

Highlights this year included a woman racing – and rolling – down a hill to win cheese

 

Abbotsford truck driver Kevin Boese has been named Driver of the Year in North America by Shell. He drives for Scamp Transport in Langley. (Submitted photo)

B.C. man named Shell’s North American Driver of the Year

Scamp Transport driver recognized for contributing to community when he’s not behind the wheel

Abbotsford truck driver Kevin Boese has been named Driver of the Year in North America by Shell. He drives for Scamp Transport in Langley. (Submitted photo)
Jim Lawrence, 84, starts most mornings with a walk/ run, often meeting up with a group of friends well before most of the world is awake. (Jacqueline Gelineau/Capital News)

‘Clinically dead’: Kelowna senior comes back to lead the pack by example

Jim Lawrence, 84, has not let a cardiac arrest stop him from walk/running races

Jim Lawrence, 84, starts most mornings with a walk/ run, often meeting up with a group of friends well before most of the world is awake. (Jacqueline Gelineau/Capital News)
Friends and family welcomed members of HMCS Edmonton back home on April 28 as the ship returned to CFB Esquimalt. The vessel was on a two-and-a-half month deployment involved in a multi-nation narcotics-combatting operation off of Central America. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)

PHOTOS: Loved ones reunite as navy ship returns to Greater Victoria after months at sea

HMCS Edmonton helped make $50-million drug bust during Central American narcotics operation

Friends and family welcomed members of HMCS Edmonton back home on April 28 as the ship returned to CFB Esquimalt. The vessel was on a two-and-a-half month deployment involved in a multi-nation narcotics-combatting operation off of Central America. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)
Jonathan Neufeld (right) and the mobility scooter he donated to Wayne Pavich on March 31, 2023 after finding out Pavich’s scooter was stolen from a shed at his home. (Paul Henderson/ Chilliwack Progress)

VIDEO: Chilliwack man donates mobility scooter to senior who had his stolen

Chilliwack Progress story last week prompted 2 offers to help Wayne Pavich

Jonathan Neufeld (right) and the mobility scooter he donated to Wayne Pavich on March 31, 2023 after finding out Pavich’s scooter was stolen from a shed at his home. (Paul Henderson/ Chilliwack Progress)
Nixen Baidwan celebrated his own birthday by donating pizza to the homeless at Seasons House. (Bindy Baidwan photo)

Quesnel boy uses birthday to donate pizzas to those in need

Boy turns nine, donates pizza to Seasons House

Nixen Baidwan celebrated his own birthday by donating pizza to the homeless at Seasons House. (Bindy Baidwan photo)
Suhaandeep Gill spent last week delivering special treat bags to shelters in Abbotsford, Maple Ridge and Mission. (Jessica Peters/Abbotsford News)

Kid Cupid: Young Abbotsford boy delivers love to the streets with Valentine’s Day bags

Suhaandeep Gill, 7, created thoughtful bags of much-needed items to give to three city shelters

Suhaandeep Gill spent last week delivering special treat bags to shelters in Abbotsford, Maple Ridge and Mission. (Jessica Peters/Abbotsford News)
A Kelowna woman is cloning her cat Bear after he was killed at only five years old (Kris Stewart/ Facebook)

Kelowna woman to soon receive kittens cloned after her beloved late cat

A Kelowna woman is replicating her beloved cat Bear

A Kelowna woman is cloning her cat Bear after he was killed at only five years old (Kris Stewart/ Facebook)
Autumn Lott at Gilman’s point, Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. At seven years old, she’s the youngest Canadian to have ever summitted the infamous peak. (Francesca Lott photo)

Good news stories from 2022 to reflect on in 2023

These British Columbians were lifting spirits across the province

Autumn Lott at Gilman’s point, Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. At seven years old, she’s the youngest Canadian to have ever summitted the infamous peak. (Francesca Lott photo)
Justin Eveline and his wife, Amy Bracken. The couple, known for their generosity, redirected GoFundMe donations given to Eveline after he broke his leg to fund a Christmas dinner for the homeless in Salmon Arm. (Contributed)

After breaking leg, B.C. man to pay kindness forward to people in greater need

Justin Eveline to host Christmas Eve dinner for those living rough

Justin Eveline and his wife, Amy Bracken. The couple, known for their generosity, redirected GoFundMe donations given to Eveline after he broke his leg to fund a Christmas dinner for the homeless in Salmon Arm. (Contributed)
Cornerstone Christian School now has therapy bunnies to help students with difficult times. (Submitted image)

Therapy bunnies melting worries away for B.C. students

Abbotsford’s Cornerstone Christian School introduces lop-eared rabbits as newest members of staff

Cornerstone Christian School now has therapy bunnies to help students with difficult times. (Submitted image)
A 'monster spray' prescription filled by a Sooke pharmacy is catching attention on social media. Black Press Media has altered this image to remove the name of a child. (The Dad/Instagram)

B.C. pharmacy has a prescription for banishing the monsters under the bed

‘Monster spray’ in the Greater Victoria area delighting social media users

A 'monster spray' prescription filled by a Sooke pharmacy is catching attention on social media. Black Press Media has altered this image to remove the name of a child. (The Dad/Instagram)
An Abbotsford police officer got an assist from a resident when he ran out of gas in a residential neighbourhood recently. (Facebook/Tara Lee MacLeod)

One good turn: Good Samaritan voluntarily fills Abbotsford police officer’s gas tank

Woman offers up gas to stranded officer even as prices at the pump stay high

An Abbotsford police officer got an assist from a resident when he ran out of gas in a residential neighbourhood recently. (Facebook/Tara Lee MacLeod)
Saanich resident Mary Gresham, left, and husband Ray received a random act of kindness May 24 when Gresham fell ill in a Mount Douglas Park washroom and her husband couldn’t drive the car. (Courtesy of Gwen Patterson)

‘Angel in disguise’: Saanich woman looks for mystery Good Samaritan after medical incident

The woman not only called 911 but also drove Mary Gresham’s husband home from Mount Douglas Park

  • May 31, 2022
Saanich resident Mary Gresham, left, and husband Ray received a random act of kindness May 24 when Gresham fell ill in a Mount Douglas Park washroom and her husband couldn’t drive the car. (Courtesy of Gwen Patterson)
The only one from the community to win the award, good citizen Lori Girard, was recognized for taking community service initiatives in 2021 when COVID cases were on the rise. (Special to The News)

Pitt Meadows resident among 2021 Medal of Good Citizenship recipients

Minister of Citizens’ Services presented the award to one of her constituents

The only one from the community to win the award, good citizen Lori Girard, was recognized for taking community service initiatives in 2021 when COVID cases were on the rise. (Special to The News)
A wayward goat at Abbotsford School of Integrated Arts. (Facebook photo)

Wayward goat enjoying B.C. family’s hospitality until owner is located

Goatee was found at an Abbotsford school on March 24 and is now at his own ‘Air BnB’

A wayward goat at Abbotsford School of Integrated Arts. (Facebook photo)
Eighteen-year-old Sydney Sunderland has published a children’s book that tackles gender identity. ‘I am Everything In Between’ highlights kids who don’t fit into stereotypical gender ideals. This book celebrates children and how they gender identify by sending a positive message. Photos via source

B.C. teen publishes children’s book on gender identity

‘I am Everything In Between’ sends a positive message to children about just being themselves

Eighteen-year-old Sydney Sunderland has published a children’s book that tackles gender identity. ‘I am Everything In Between’ highlights kids who don’t fit into stereotypical gender ideals. This book celebrates children and how they gender identify by sending a positive message. Photos via source
The BC SPCA 2023 Calendar Contest is open for submissions.

BC SPCA accepting submissions for 2023 Calendar Contest

The BC SPCA is accepting submissions for its 2023 animal calendar. Entering…

The BC SPCA 2023 Calendar Contest is open for submissions.