Valley Heartbeat! by Kristi Dobson
July 19, 2016
Ever since the passing of her mother in 2002, Jody Roberts has been a devoted fundraiser for the Canadian Cancer Society. Roberts watched her mother, Barbara Johnson fight a physically and emotionally exhausting battle with colorectal cancer and has been determined to do what she can so other...
July 15, 2016
Youth in Port Alberni are doing something proactive about the problem of “having nothing to do”. A group, led by Samuel Tsai, is volunteering with Parks and Recreation to create events for young people throughout the summer. They started out small last month with a coffee house, but Samuel has...
July 12, 2016
Drum making, storytelling and crafts, all with a First Nations theme, are taking place at the Alberni Valley United Church this week. It is all part of the Intergenerational Family Camp to raise awareness about and share the culture of Nuu-chah-nulth people. The church is an Affirming Ministry and...
July 8, 2016
For more photos from Laurie Morphet of a student trip to Japan in 2014, see links at the end of the story.
Thirty years ago the cities of Port Alberni and Abashiri, Japan, signed a declaration to become Sister Cities. At the time, Gillian Trumper was mayor and a delegation, including the Mayor of...
July 6, 2016
Employees at Canada Post are at work this week, but at this point, they do not know for how long. With the latest round of negotiations underway, local posties are wondering, just as much as homeowners are, about the future of the service they provide each day. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers...
July 1, 2016
Sarah Thomas has had a busy year between work and volunteer commitments, as well as maintaining a healthy life balance with the majority of her travels being accomplished by bike. As president of the Port Alberni Folkfest Multicultural Society she is looking forward to celebrating Canada’s birthday...
June 28, 2016
The Healthy Harvest Farm has been well up and running this month, offering sales of fresh vegetables during the week and volunteer opportunities for work experience. The initiative has been a project of the Canadian Mental Health Association for the past eight years and is a win-win situation for...
June 24, 2016
The Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) at Alberni District Secondary School had a busy June, and recognize the significance as Pride Month. The group was formed in September to provide a place for support and a safe environment. Open to all students regardless of sexual orientation, the group’s numbers...
June 21, 2016
It isn’t a truck and it doesn’t drive by with the familiar tune that neighbourhoods all over the country look forward to hearing every summer, but it does the same job of delivering cool treats on a hot day. Chelsea Jansma recently created a sweet summer job for herself and it looks as though her...
June 17, 2016
As a young girl, Carole was always fascinated by horses. She lived in the country with her parents, Johnny and Mary Murray, where the family had work horses. Their jobs included pulling the mowers and hay, while the entrepreneurial Murray's ran a drive-in restaurant on Beaver Creek Road. The Brite...
June 14, 2016
A Nanaimo organization has found a way to save an incredible amount of edible food from going to the landfill, help grocery stores reduce their own waste and adequately feed anyone in the city who needs some extra help. Now a local advocate for community food access has a goal of doing the same in...
June 10, 2016
Are schools in the Alberni Valley prepared for an emergency? Students had a chance this week to learn what to do in various situations and how to prepare for the unexpected. Working alongside Vancouver’s urban rescue search and rescue team for the Exercise Coastal Response, a few elementary...
June 7, 2016
As the year winds down for dancers at Stage West School of Performing Arts this month, there are exciting changes happening for both staff and students. From new faces to new classes, the staff hope to build on what they have provided to artistic youth and support their goals both on and off the...
June 3, 2016
It has been a couple of years of planning, funding and renovating, but the long-awaited Alberni Aquarium and Stewardship Centre has opened its doors at Harbour Quay. Open for the past month, the aquarium has received a positive response from visitors and staff will be celebrating with a grand...
May 31, 2016
We don’t know when or if the Big One will hit Vancouver Island, but experts believe it is “about time” and people living on the West Coast should be prepared.
Over the years, a series of small quakes have been shaking the tectonic plate on which North America sits. Part of the plates have become...
May 27, 2016
On Thursday morning, Gary and Louis Swann, along with Aaron Woodward, held a barrel compost demonstration behind the Nuu-Chah-Nulth Tribal Council office. The purpose was two-fold: to explain the benefits of biodynamic farming and to help bring positive energy into the surrounding area.
Biodynamic...
May 24, 2016
When Nitanis Desjarlais spent time with her family living “off the grid”, she learned more about her own values, heritage and the way she wants to live. She realized her passion lies in foraging for Indigenous foods and learning how the Nuu-chah-nulth language plays an integral role in...
May 20, 2016
Wind, water and warm weather. Those are the three things the sport of kiteboarding needs and what Port Alberni has. That is what brought Nicole Eden here with her kiteboard school and what took her away from the nine to five life of Vancouver.
Nicole was working in the city as an investment advisor...
May 17, 2016
Two years ago Richard Michalenko would not have believed he would be where he is today. After working for others most of his life and overcoming challenges, the entrepreneur has just opened his own business and is on the right path to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. The two successes go hand-in-...
May 13, 2016
Sabrina Ross is just getting her feet wet in Port Alberni and is looking to expand her network, get involved in the community and, ultimately, represent the community in the Miss, Mrs. And Miss Teen BC Pageant this summer.
Like many new residents, Sabrina and her fiancé were attracted to Port...
