PORT ALBERNI

Jim Hiller behind the bench with the Toronto Maple Leafs. (PHOTO COURTESY ALBERNI VALLEY BULLDOGS)

B.C.’s Jim Hiller named head coach of the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings

Hiller is a former coach of the BCHL’s Alberni Valley Bulldogs

 

The family of Dontay-Patrick Lucas sings and drums outside of the Port Alberni courthouse on Thursday, May 16. (ELENA RARDON / Alberni Valley News)

Mother, stepfather get 15 years in prison for death of six-year-old Port Alberni boy

Both Mitchell and Rykel Frank pleaded guilty to manslaughter in 2018 incident

 

Firefighters with Cherry Creek Volunteer Fire Department practice drafting and pumping techniques at McLean Mill National Historic Site in March 2024. (PHOTO COURTESY CHERRY CREEK VFD)

B.C. volunteer firefighters, SAR teams get tax break in federal budget

Fire chiefs say MP Gord Johns’ advocating for higher benefits will help with recruitment, retention

 

Courtenay-Alberni MP Gord Johns, right, talks to protesters in front of the Port Alberni Friendship Center on Sunday, March 24, 2024. (PHOTO COURTESY CHARLAINE LACROIX)

Police called after protesters, MP clash over carbon tax in Port Alberni

RCMP called after threats made to Courtenay-Alberni MP Gord Johns at city’s Friendship Centre

Courtenay-Alberni MP Gord Johns, right, talks to protesters in front of the Port Alberni Friendship Center on Sunday, March 24, 2024. (PHOTO COURTESY CHARLAINE LACROIX)
The Hawaii Mars will arrive at its new home, BC Aviation Museum in North Saanich, in October 2024. (SUSIE QUINN / Alberni Valley News)

Martin Mars finds new home at North Saanich’s BC Aviation Museum

The B.C. government provided a $250,000 grant for the plane to ‘protect and preserve’ it

The Hawaii Mars will arrive at its new home, BC Aviation Museum in North Saanich, in October 2024. (SUSIE QUINN / Alberni Valley News)
The Port Alberni Fire Department responds as smoke pours from a building on Burde Street on March 27, 2024. (ELENA RARDON / Alberni Valley News)

RCMP detonate homemade explosive device in Port Alberni building

Firearms, ammunition and homemade bombs found at Burde Street residence

The Port Alberni Fire Department responds as smoke pours from a building on Burde Street on March 27, 2024. (ELENA RARDON / Alberni Valley News)
The big wave that came up the Alberni Inlet lifted houses off their moorings and shifted heavy items like cars and boats, leaving them in odd places when the water receded. (JAN JANSMA PHOTO)

Good Friday, 1964: remembering when the tsunami slammed Port Alberni

‘We could see houses and garages and stuff going down the river, there were boats up on the road’

The big wave that came up the Alberni Inlet lifted houses off their moorings and shifted heavy items like cars and boats, leaving them in odd places when the water receded. (JAN JANSMA PHOTO)
(Jacek Halicki - Wikimedia Commons)

B.C. nurse banned for five years following sex assault conviction

B.C. College of Nurses and Midwives signs joint agreement on ban with Colin R. Hall

(Jacek Halicki - Wikimedia Commons)
School District 70-Pacific Rim’s head office is located in Port Alberni, B.C. (AV NEWS FILE PHOTO)

Port Alberni teacher suspended after student injured with pool noodle

This is the third time teacher has been suspended by School District 70 in past three years

School District 70-Pacific Rim’s head office is located in Port Alberni, B.C. (AV NEWS FILE PHOTO)
The ADSS Armada Wall of Fame. (AV NEWS FILE PHOTO)

B.C. high school says it’s time to sink the Armada, moves to change name

Alberni District Secondary School plans to switch to a nickname more representative of school values

The ADSS Armada Wall of Fame. (AV NEWS FILE PHOTO)
Helen Poon, 2020 BC Liberal candidate, Mid Island Pacific Rim. (FILE PHOTO)

Former Port Alberni city councillor dies after car crash overseas

World renowned car enthusiast Helen Poon was touring New Zealand’s North Island

Helen Poon, 2020 BC Liberal candidate, Mid Island Pacific Rim. (FILE PHOTO)
For three decades, Larry Horvath has managed to (mostly) keep his identity as the Cameron Lake Santa a secret. He used to spend Christmas Day with his furry companion. (FACEBOOK PHOTO)

Driver narrowly misses injury during Christmas Day rock slide on Highway 4

Tree damages pickup truck as it came down the slope, says Vancouver Island man

For three decades, Larry Horvath has managed to (mostly) keep his identity as the Cameron Lake Santa a secret. He used to spend Christmas Day with his furry companion. (FACEBOOK PHOTO)
What do you do when it’s a balmy 10 degrees outside and all you want is a snow day? Find out from the teachers at École Alberni Elementary in their annual holiday rap, which premiered online last week. (SCREENSHOT COURTESY JEFF BORDAL)

B.C. elementary school teachers ‘hoping for snow’ in holiday music video

Annual holiday rap music video stars school staff members

What do you do when it’s a balmy 10 degrees outside and all you want is a snow day? Find out from the teachers at École Alberni Elementary in their annual holiday rap, which premiered online last week. (SCREENSHOT COURTESY JEFF BORDAL)
Brent Fedirchuk, right, receives the 2016 Wayne Demoskoff Volunteer of the Year award from sponsor Peter Mugleston of the Best Western Barclay Plus Hotel at the Funtastic Alberni/ Okee Dokee Slopitch tournament. (PHOTO COURTESY FUNTASTIC ALBERNI)

Defect discovered in fatal Vancouver Island helicopter crash: TSB probe

Pilot from Port Alberni killed in 2022 crash near Port McNeill, flaw found in manufacturing process

Brent Fedirchuk, right, receives the 2016 Wayne Demoskoff Volunteer of the Year award from sponsor Peter Mugleston of the Best Western Barclay Plus Hotel at the Funtastic Alberni/ Okee Dokee Slopitch tournament. (PHOTO COURTESY FUNTASTIC ALBERNI)
Sam Gentleman kiteboards at China Creek Marina just outside of Port Alberni. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

B.C. teen kiteboarder chasing the wind around the world

Exclusive scholarship puts Sam Gentleman in World Class Kiteboard Academy for Grade 12 year

Sam Gentleman kiteboards at China Creek Marina just outside of Port Alberni. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
An aerial view of Angel Rock at Cameron Lake Bluffs on Highway 4. (PHOTO COURTESY MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE)

B.C. Highway 4 near Port Alberni open after months of wildfire repair

Section reopens to two-way traffic after an extended stretch of full and partial closures

An aerial view of Angel Rock at Cameron Lake Bluffs on Highway 4. (PHOTO COURTESY MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE)
Linden Zoet, 7, and Dallas Fraser, 9, have fun at the Sproat Lake Water Sports Association on July 19, 2023. Sproat Lake has been named B.C.’s best lake in a CBC competition. (SONJA DRINKWATER / Special to the AV News)

‘Vote Sproat!’: Vancouver Island lake basking in vote declaring it best in B.C.

Sproat Lake, west of Port Alberni, edges Shuswap Lake in CBC competition

Linden Zoet, 7, and Dallas Fraser, 9, have fun at the Sproat Lake Water Sports Association on July 19, 2023. Sproat Lake has been named B.C.’s best lake in a CBC competition. (SONJA DRINKWATER / Special to the AV News)
RCMP-GRC crest

Port Alberni RCMP shoot dog after attack

Sproat Lake campers hear commotion, gunshot

RCMP-GRC crest
A land-based airtanker from Conair Aerial Firefighting drops retardant on a wildfire on Arbutus Mountain behind Shoemaker Bay, Thursday, Aug. 3, 2023. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Airtankers attack wildfire behind old log sort near Port Alberni

Fire still listed as less than one hectare; ground crews work on containment

A land-based airtanker from Conair Aerial Firefighting drops retardant on a wildfire on Arbutus Mountain behind Shoemaker Bay, Thursday, Aug. 3, 2023. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
A photo of Clifton Johnston is placed against a rock in front of the Port Alberni Friendship Center during a candlelight vigil for the young man. (SUSAN QUINN/Alberni Valley News)

Teenager convicted in 2021 case of man found stabbed to death on B.C. lawn

The body of 20-year-old Clifton Johnston was found in front of the Port Alberni Friendship Centre

A photo of Clifton Johnston is placed against a rock in front of the Port Alberni Friendship Center during a candlelight vigil for the young man. (SUSAN QUINN/Alberni Valley News)