Valley Heartbeat! by Kristi Dobson
December 9, 2016
With only two weekends left before the BIG weekend, there are a few more events and activities to take part in over the next few days to get you into the Christmas spirit.
Tonight is the night. Do you want to warm up with the comfort of chocolate and the sweet smells of Christmas? It is the ninth...
December 6, 2016
You might recognize Jessica May from her former yoga studio, Live Breathe Yoga. She has been teaching in Port Alberni since 2011 until taking a break to focus on raising her family, an 18 month old girl and eight-year old boy.
That isn’t to say she has abandoned yoga…far from it. In the past three...
December 2, 2016
Students of North Island College’s Human Services Program are inviting the public to a candlelight vigil and walk on Monday. It is a part of the violence against women campaign which consists of sixteen days of activism from November 25 to December 10.
If you have noticed the display of purple...
November 29, 2016
A few local organizations are making it easy to help community causes for today’s GivingTuesday event. GivingTuesday is an American initiative that was launched following the shopping frenzy of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but has been embraced by Canadians. For the first time in Port Alberni,...
November 25, 2016
The holidays are always a good chance to give back to the community and this year is no different. This weekend is the final two days of the season that James and Elaine McLeod will open the doors of their home, known as the Magic Cottage this time of year, and shoppers have an opportunity to win...
November 22, 2016
Do you like the rustic, simple look in your home? If so, you might want to attend a workshop starting this week to create some homemade Christmas crafts inspired by Swedish traditions. Gittan Klemetsrud is bringing her talents to the Art Matters Arts Centre to share her culture and get the Valley...
November 18, 2016
Two local sales reps are using their networks, products and own commissions to help other local women in need over the holidays.
Laurel Seabrook and Trena Carpenter are putting together “Winter Warm Up” bags to help warm the hearts of others. As a Jamberry rep, Laurel started a fundraising...
November 15, 2016
Last Christmas, two local women made a difference by putting a smile on the faces of single seniors who spent the holidays alone. They did not stop there and immediately planned for a bigger and better donation drive for this year. Michelle Gard and Shari Fast already have many donations in hand...
November 11, 2016
Winnie Koal was born and raised in Port Alberni. She has spent most of her life here, save for a few years spent during the peacekeeping years in Germany. The experiences she and her family underwent during the war are incomprehensible, but they also allowed her to become a proud, patriotic...
November 8, 2016
When Margaret Groeneveld (nee Fowlie) signed up as a member of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #169 (now Branch #293) in 1990, she was following in a long-standing family tradition. She went one evening to play crib with her father and met Bill at the same time. Little did she know then that they...
November 4, 2016
What was originally planned as a one-of-a-kind show for Port Alberni audiences has been cancelled, much to the disappointment of organizers. The Billy and Elton: The Legacy concert, scheduled for Sunday, was going to be a fundraiser for the Port Alberni Youth Centre, but lack of ticket sales forced...
November 1, 2016
Saturday night’s Wham Bam at Glenwood Centre was one of the largest to date and brought together a group of like-minded skateboarders, bmx’ers and scooter riders. As an integral part of raising funds for the skate park off of Wood Avenue, these fall and winter events are organized by a small...
October 28, 2016
Although this was the final week of farm gate stand sales at the Healthy Harvest garden, produce will still be available, thanks to a dedicated volunteer.
Frank Howie just moved to Port Alberni in June, but he jumped right into the community with helping hands. Raised as a farm boy, he has a strong...
October 25, 2016
Without donations from the community, many non-profit organizations would struggle to provide their services and uphold regular maintenance. That is why the Kiwanis Hilton Children’s Centre recently thanked the Work of Heart Christmas Craft Fair for its generous donation.
The craft fair, a long-...
October 21, 2016
About 250 cyclists are expected to be at Farmer Bill’s farm this Sunday for the annual Cross on the Rock cyclocross race. The race is not only open to all ages and abilities, but is an exciting spectator sport. Picture athletes riding through a muddy course, carrying bikes over obstacles and...
October 18, 2016
Although she was born and raised in Port Alberni, Nancy Bachmeier is well-traveled and believes seeing the world is an eye-opener that she would recommend to anyone. Nancy’s parents both immigrated to Canada for new opportunities, leaving their families behind in Europe. Her mother, of Dutch...
October 11, 2016
Usually seen behind the camera, local video journalist Jenny Fortin has a wide range of interests, skills and talents. One thing she is sure of is her passion for storytelling, something she developed at a young age.
Born and raised in Port Alberni, Jenny has called the Valley home for most of her...
October 7, 2016
Next Saturday, Port Alberni resident Glen Mofford will be holding a book launch for a project that has been his labour of love for many years. His first work of non-fiction, Aqua Vitae, will be of interest to history buffs, saloon enthusiasts and those with a general interest in the lives of people...
October 4, 2016
The topic of the Riverbend Bridge has stirred emotions among both longtime residents and confused tourists ever since the colour went from the infamous orange to the standard grey. The bridge had not always been orange and has not always been constructed of steel, but the structure connecting River...
September 30, 2016
With the help of parents, teachers and students, there will be a lot of hee-hawing going on at A.W. Neill Elementary School tonight. The fundraising fun fair was a Gill Elementary School tradition and has been brought over to Neill for the first time this year.
The school’s PAC, the main...