Small Businesses Brace For Upcoming Highway 4 Closures
Tourism traffic dwindles, along with locals livelihoods
West Isle
313 stories
From Backyard Trees to Tables, From Branches to Plates
The Alberni Valley Gleaning Project bring the old saying "waste not, want not" to life
Highway 4 Ready to Roll Again: Limited Traffic Allowed!
Big news for WestIsle! After weeks of closure, Highway 4 is finally reopening this weekend, bringing relief to residents and businesses
Too Much Food Just Miles From Too Little
Highway closure has different effects across WestIsle
What We Love: Surf and Sun on Sombrio
Sun, sand, and surf on Sombrio. What is more West Coast, Best Coast than that?
Deep Water Shark Roams Alberni Inlet
When a new diver saw the shark, no one believed him!
Another Island Heritage Building Gets The Boot
These kids are getting kicked to the curb because of it
Want To Get Your Art Noticed?
Calling all Island creatives! Here's your chance to showcase your talent
How Far Can You Run In 20 Minutes?
After "The Big One," we'd have less than a half hour to escape a Tsunami
Beds, Beds And More Beds For The Valley
The Ahousaht Nation is demolishing an old school building to make way for 35 affordable housing units
How Much Do You Know About Our Coast?
Camps and forest walks teach about the plants and animals we're surrounded by
It Will Be Great Even Without The Maple Syrup
The Waffle Ride will generate millions of dollars in economic impact
Island Basketball Stars Bounce Through Hoops
The Hitaçu Hoops Championships had the basketball community and its fans roaring
Meet Ucluelet's New Police Chief
Sgt. Jones is hoping to break down barriers and become a part of the community.
Are We On The Brink of Another Big One?
VanIsle's recent 6.0 magnitude earthquake raises questions about how prepared we are for a potential mega-thrust quake
Setting Tourism On The Right Path
Meares Island Big Tree Trail a "work of love" for Tribal Parks Guardians
Tourism Money To Right A Historic Wrong
Tribal Park charts a new path for tourism in Tofino
What We Love: Low Angle Light on the E&N Railway
Beautiful photo of an Island landmark
Got Some Extra Love To Give?
Some "pandemic pets" are looking for their forever homes.
Celebrate Port Alberni's Most Recent Olympians
These Olympians have a lot of local supporters, too
Ladysmith Showcases Award-Winning Island Artists
There's still time to vote for art show's peoples' choice award
What Really Happened to Maggie Sutlej?
This story doesn't end up where you think it will
New Wellness Centre Coming to Ty-Histanis: Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation Re-purposes Trailers for Community Recovery
The Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation is responding to community members' needs.
Sign Up for Summer Fun
Youth Academy offers summer camps in Comox Valley, Campbell River, and Port Alberni.
Hard Work Pays Off for Juno Award Nominee from Port Alberni
Lauren Falls credits her hometown for her success
Meet Advisors Tasked with Helping the Premier Solve Our Thorniest Problems: Lisa Helps
Is it ok that a young family with two good jobs won't be ever be able to buy a home?
Meet Advisors Tasked with Helping the Premier Solve Our Thorniest Problems: Penny Ballem
The former vaccine czar has a history of leaving jobs in a controversial fashion
Meet Advisors Tasked with Helping the Premier Solve Our Thorniest Problems: Doug White
Doug White promises action — not just words — on Indigenous reconciliation.
BC's New $50 Million Fund May Help Logging Companies, But What About Our Forests?
It's more economical, but maybe not as sustainable as it sounds.
Essential Medical Transport for Seniors Gets Axed
No funding for free van for seniors to get to distant doctors
The Pro-Virus Nurses Sued Us…and LOST!
Judge found former nurses lawsuit could deter people from discussing misinformation about public health
Shawnigan Woman Pleads To Care For Her Orphaned Niece
Outdated immigration rules keep nine-year old from being cared for by family
The Ultimate Buy Local Guide
This non-profit links you with local independent farms, fishermen, and foragers
The New Pine Beetle?
This adorable alien is a lot more harmful than it looks.
Islandlink Saves The Day With New Tofino Bus
New service bringing a sigh of relief for locals
People Power Fuel's Long COVID Study
Citizen Science can answer difficult questions
Will Tofino Get A New Rec Centre?
District will have to "get creative" to meet rising costs
Water Crisis Averted—For Now
You should still bring your own water, though
Bus Shutdown Leaves Locals Stranded
People missing health appointments after only Tofino Bus connection cuts service
BC Hydro Taking Precautions in the Wake of US Attacks
Attempts to take out US infrastructure has BC Hydro's guard up
Some Good News for New Year Homebuyers
Buyers will have more time to breathe before locking in
Incredible Endangered Critters We're Forgetting About
This alien slug has powerful poop
Have A Safe And Happy New Year!
Rest, relax, and don't forget your umbrella!
Humpbacks are on a Comeback
After being hunted nearly to extinction, conservation efforts are showing big results
Does Bill C-21 Amendment Target The Wrong People?
Minister says they're going to get it right, but current amendment is far from a bullseye
The Royals Get a Demo of Cutting-Edge VanIsle Tech
Open Oceans Robotics shows off its marine-life saving solar boats
DFO's License Buy-Back Could Be a Boondoggle
The fisheries union says the license retirement program is not a just transition
Tofino Pups Getting a Christmas Miracle
Off-leash dog areas finally coming to town
She Shoots, She Scores—Big Time
Courtenay hockey player nabs dream spot on Team Canada
Bears Out On The Town
Did you get an unexpected guest this year?
Military Physician Assistants Could Help Close Healthcare Gaps
If our province would let them
Ucluelet Pharmacist Gets Some Community Love
When you care for others, they care for you too
Washington State Did It—Why Can't We?
A 2017 disaster dumped more than 250,000 Atlantic salmon into Washington State waters
Annie Lennox Sings Praises Of VanIsle Dance Duo
The iconic pop legend gives her seal of approval to "Funkanometry"
Mosaic Lands Should Have Been Included in KFN Treaty Talks
All that's left are scraps of Crown land to put together an offer
Feds Forget Local Businesses Who Stepped Up For The Cause
They did the right thing for their communities and then got forgotten
From BC to Hawaii With A Broken Back
A mother's love crosses oceans
Garbage Spill From A Year Ago Still Washing Up On Our Shores
Urinal mats and unicorns are still washing up on our beaches
How Do We Get Hydro When There's No Water?
BC Hydro says its power plants can weather the current drought
Earthquake Warning System A Go
Even seconds of warning make a difference
Ski Resort Celebrates Opening Day—With a Water Shortage
The 2022 droght isn't over yet
Hard Work From Unlikely Crew Helps Salmon To Thrive
Teamwork makes this salmon dream work
Will a Fence Solve the Toxic Drug Crisis?
If there's one thing to learn from the US, it's that walls don't stop drugs
Vandalism Leads to Lighthouse Makeover
Why are people stealing shingles?
Endangered Credibility on Endangered Species
Enviros have asked nice, and the NDP have ignored them
Scaling Up Hope, Work, and Community
Who do you know that's walking on the edge?
Get in Your Coastal Flow
Building creative community in the Valley
The Great Tsunami of 1964
It moved houses across town, flung cars into trees—but everyone helping each other saved Alberni
New International Doctor Plan is Way Overdue
We've had a whole lot of doctors available, we just weren't letting them work
Santa's Helpers Are Making Their Rounds
Student athletes are heading out in the cold so you don't have to
Sail Away This Winter!
By-donation ferry trips can take you places you've always wanted to go
Will The Bubble Burst?
1 in 10 Canadians with a mortgage are now paying only interest
Students Start Building Tiny Village
They're helping to get people off the street and into homes
Rivers Dry Up While Sea Levels Rise
The tough topic we need to keep talking about
Have You Heard of a Rent Bank?
A valuable service or the first step towards dystopia?
MP Calls for Federal Investment in More Local Media
It's not just to celebrate local stories, but it could do that too
There's a New Trail at Your Favourite Hiking Spot!
This beautiful new route will help keep folks off the roads
Who Let the Dogs Out?
Tofino's hotly contested leash laws are getting a second look
The White Kwakiutl?
Was he preserving culture or profiting from it?
Welcome to the World
The Tseshaht hold their first baby welcoming since the pandemic hit
Canada is Shooting for the Stars—in Cell Phone Costs
The feds continue to allow price gouging by the big three wireless providers
It Takes A Village…
"This project is going to save lives"
Virgin Falls is Open!
That wild washout from last November has finally been cleared away
Protection for Whales is Evaporating
Fin whales have lost their threatened status, but the threats they're facing may only be growing
Will Aquaculture Solve our Seafood Problems? Not Likely, Say These UBC Researchers
Have we maxed out farmed fish?
New Roads to Safety and Prosperity for West Coast Folks
This small town is ready for more traffic
Why We Remember
Honouring those who have fought takes more than just a moment of silence
The NDP's Party Leadership Race Stinks
Daivd Eby waltzes his way to becoming NDP leader
Bureaucracy is a Real Buzzkill
A couple tries to give land away—and has to pay to do so?
Local MP Calls Out "Greedflation"
The "price freeze" isn't all that special afterall
VanIsle's Secret Underground Worlds
Over the centuries, water has carved pockets, streams, and entire caves under the forest
These Local Heroes Get Nice New Digs
The new ASAR training facility will help the team beef up their skills
Rain = No Seafood?
The same H2O that's keeping our salmon from drying out is filling up other marine life with a whole other set of elements
My Way For The Highway
"The province of British Columbia proceeded to build the highway, taking our land without our consent”
The Good, the Bad, and the Money
New doctors have said BC's fee-for-service model keeps them from becoming family docs
Crisis Support Heading in a New Direction?
"There’s hopelessness and amazing hope in this topic”
Are Our Schools Safe?
We were told transmission wasn't really happening in schools, now we know that wasn't true
New Forestry Council Looking at High Value Instead of High Volume
The forestry industry is more diverse than you might think
Going, Going … Gone?
It's hard to believe anything DFO says these days
Are Your Ancestors Heroes?
Past veterans continue to impact the present through these kids
This Ghost Town Stands Out From The Crowd
Welcome to Paldi!
Three Dollar Spa?!!
A small donation goes a long way both for you and Indigenous land management
Is Local Democracy on Life Support?
Cumberland set the high bar with 41% voter turnout, while Tofino hit a new low at 17%
Rain is Finally Here!
Too much of a good thing will always have consequences
Parasites, Yum
More on farmed salmon means more on your plate
Federal Government Says No To Youth Voting
The bill was defeated, but the kids aren't
Canada Could Join BC Lawsuit to Get Opioid Peddlers to Pay for Their Damage
Prescription opioids are only part of the problem, but they're a big one
Is the Federal Government Muddling How Much Heat-Trapping Pollution the Forestry Industry Emits?
You can't take the good stuff and leave the bad, that's not how it works
Prices Just Keep Going Up for Ferry Riders
Can we get away from gas yet?
UK Wildlife Filmmakers Give Vancouver Island the Royal Treatment
But do the animals really need names?
Surf's Up For These Sisters
They're here to teach you how to rip
Should School Educate Our Kids About The World?
Ask this question if you don't want them learning the hard stuff from the internet
How Smelly is the Valley?
That fart smell isn't just stinky, it's pollution
Help Shape Your Reading Rainbow
It's not just for kids
The Triple Dip
It’s not an ice cream cone
Court Given Only Two Options in Historic Land Back Case
The province has left the burden of reconciliation on the court's shoulders
New Tourists? No, Thank You
Residents say not everywhere needs to be developed
Tracking the Rumbles Before "The Big One"
Thankfully, someone else is thinking about it, so you don't have to
Fish Hatcheries—What Could Possibly Go Wrong?
Turns out a lot, if we're not careful
Residential School Sites Should Be Treated As Crime Scenes
No school should have a graveyard
$%&# Airbnb!
Airbnb is a money-making machine that is making housing problems worse
What Happens If Your Mayor Doesn't Get Paid Enough to Care?
In a lot of places, only one person wants the job
Hand Over the Money!
Opioid settlement money should be used to make safe injection sites safer
Capitalism + Activism – Politics = Patagonia
Not many billionaires give away $3 billion and don't want a tax receipt
Get Ready for Some Glee-full Kids!
It's time to sign up for some creative shenanigans!
Follow Your Nose—It Works for Salmon!
How do they find their home stream after years in the open ocean?
Iskwew Air is Doing Flight Differently
Taking to the skies and walking more softly on mother earth
Investing in Pathway to Nursing Students
Access to Practical Nursing (APN) pathway program to help train more nurses on VanIsle
What We Love : Our Island Storms!
Snap! Crackle! And Pop!
Risking It All for the Perfect Facebook Photo
Don't make SAR come get you
Local Turning Old Space Into "Kayaking Mecca of Canada"
New shared space shows off the history of kayaking and promotes its future
Fish Farms Out By 2025? Not Likel
The feds promised to rid BC coastal waters of floating fish farms by 2025
The Big House Is A Big Home
More than a safe space, it will be a place of learning, and coming home to their own culture
Get Ready for a Wild Fall
Because last year wasn't stormy enough?
Ucluelet Medical Labs Closed Until Further Notice
Clinics in small places are hit the hardest
What We Love: The Gathering Place
Feeling lost? Let them guide you home
Port Alberni Residents Band Together to Protect Beloved Beaver Ponds
This community group is persistent, like the beavers they aim to protect
A Dazzling Encounter With a Gentle Giant Can Ruin Your Day—And Theirs
Unless you're ready to get tipped, stay away
Finally—We're Getting Rid of Poop Lagoon
Sludge removal can't happen soon enough
BC Hydro Pulses Great for Steelhead, Spicy for People
Watch out for high flows!
Ancient Language, Modern Mindset in Ucluelet
What if you could call Alder Street or an alder tree by its Nuu-chah-nulth name?
Why Say No to Farmed Salmon?
Farmed salmon is more than just bad for the fish, it's bad for you
Smart Buoys Do More Than Mark Crab Traps and Hazards
Curious about how our coastal waters are changing? This dream team is about to find out
What We Love: Nature's Lightshow
Northern lights, the Milky Way, and bioluminescence?
Lost Your Family Doc and Still Need That Specialist? Read This
Did you just join the million British Columbians with no doctor?
It Might Not Be Thunder, But It's Still Cool AF
We’ve got your ultimate summer throwback
Wild Pink Salmon Are Back!
Here's why it's such good news
Anyone Up for a Treasure Hunt?
If you can find this phone, you’ll get some cash and a free place to crash in Europe!
Build It And They Will Come: The ʔapsčiik t̓ašii
Why sit in traffic when you can feel the wind in your hair?
Folks Addicted to Drugs Need Detox and Long-Term Help in Port Alberni
Connection and purpose help keep folks off drugs
What's Scaring Off Docs Who Want to Work Here?
Now, Port Alberni will be forced to continue with only one pediatrician
The Story of a National Crime
Dr. Peter Bryce wrote about residential school neglect and abuse 100 years ago
If the Tseshaht Find Buried Children, Who Will Be Held Accountable for Their Deaths?
Justice delayed is justice denied
Heat Dome 2: Dome Harder?
Can the healthcare system keep up with the heatwave?
Have You Tried Canada's Most Elite Maple Syrup?
Tough to produce, but well worth the effort
How Would You Take Care of Folks Suffering From the Toxic Drug Crisis?
Or tell government to listen to the professional advice they've already gotten
Firing the CEO Won't Protect Ferry Workers from Getting COVID
Of course staff are missing, they're sick
If You Don't Want This In Your Car, Lock The Doors
Nothing will ever prepare you to see THIS in your backseat
What the Heck is This? A Stone Donut?
Lots of folks chimed in on Facebook, but do you know what this is?
Breathtaking Artwork is Washed Away by the Tide
"It's a good life lesson, nothing is permanent."
There's Magic in Those Woods
Penicillin came from fungus almost century ago. Kapoose Creek hopes to find another game-changing medicine
Our Orcas: Thriving or Surviving?
New babies are a sign of hope, but they need salmon fast
Rough Night for Small Fishing Boat in Alberni Inlet
Diesel from the sunken ship leaked into the Inlet
Babies Left on Doorstep Leave SPCA Overrun With Cats
There's only so much space for all these kittens
One $150 Million Settlement Down, 39 More to Go
Drug companies need to take responsibility, but they're only part of the problem
Tall Trees and Deep Seas
For 50 years, the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre has been a world leader in ocean research and education
Port Alberni Emergency Room Could Have Closures for Months?
Healthcare workers are burnt out and quitting, or they're getting sick—it's a perfect storm
Port Alberni Youngsters Have Their Own Pride
Small steps make the big changes
More Than Just One Nation Calls the Alberni Valley Home
Port Alberni should have invited both nations
Ferry Cancellations Between Nanaimo and Vancouver
One busted piston assembly makes for a lot of unhappy travellers
A Window Into the Future from 5,000-year-old Fisheries
Ancient fish bones give new insight into how we can adapt to warming waters
Are Ferry Cancellations Temporary Or Is This The New Normal?
BC Ferries ignored the warnings and now we're in this mess
The First of Many—We Hope
Arrest of Winnipeg priest comes 60 years after alleged sexual assault
Factory Fish Farms One Step Closer to Gone
Two-year licenses for factory farms outside the Discovery Islands
The Forestry Service De-Fanged
40 years of intentional deregulation has left the forests ministry toothless
Honouring Alec Thomas
Through honouring the past, we can make a better future
Why You Should Care About This Company You've Never Heard Of
Is Mosaic's real estate arm building inspired communities or turning working forest into suburban sprawl?
Sustainable Forestry is Possible
The Island is full of smart, innovative people. Why not innovate on logging?
A Kickass Community on the Edge of the World
The housing crisis is national, but the solutions are local, and they're awesome
Homeowners and the Hum of Mortgage Anxiety
Interest rates are going to keep going up
Feds Grant $4.5M for Hot Dog Wrappers
The investment aims to keep BC forestry sustainable and BC workers employed
Bigger Fish Better at Pooping Out Plastic
New UVic study is a tiny bit of good news
Heat Domes and Atmospheric Rivers? Climate Chaos Words Islanders Need to Know
Our weather is getting even wilder
Community Comes Together to Recover After Suspicious Fire
With Port Alberni's historic Fall Fair coming back for its 75th year, everyone is looking to help rebuild
Tiny Homes With a Lot of Heart
How to make housing a Human Right
Spotlight: Tribal Parks Guardians
Go for a hike and come back transformed
Turning Wounds Into Wisdom
“I was very emotional when I realized what it was for…it really moved my spirit to be recognized"
Nanaimo Hospital Under Fire for Mistreatment of Bone Cancer Patient
There's one Indigenous liaison nurse for all of Nanaimo General Hospital? One?
Bambi Brought to Life in Roadside Miracle
"A lot of stars had to align for this one," Sgt Bates said
Keltsmaht Kelp and a Life After Fish Farming
An Indigenous-owned kelp company is showing there's a different way in Clayoquot Sound
Could an Old School Become a New Home?
It was all support at the public hearing
Ucluelet Doctor Working Side Gigs to Make Ends Meet?
VIHA saves Ucluelet clinic—for now
Free Fallin'
A new report from the Vancouver Island Economic Alliance shows tourism and forestry have taken big hits over the past several years
How Would You Use This Historic Train Station?
It's time for the old building to live a new life
Will He Get Away With It?
Parksville bank robber still on the loose
Whose Land? The Trees Tell All
To show that they've lived here for the last 176 years, the Nuchatlaht look to the trees
Local Coast Guard Heroes Become TV Stars
“Ocean Warriors is a series about hope and heroism, tragedy and heartbreak.”
North Island College Launches its Mental Health and Well-being Strategy
Rise-and-grind culture is not sustainable
Dog Lovers Making Way for Migratory Birds
This stretch of beach is for the birds—literally
Hate Speech Sneaking into Port Alberni Homes
Port Alberni residents complain about racist and anti-vax propaganda being snuck into Alberni Valley News deliveries
Building a Housing Community Locals Are Proud Of
The housing crisis is Canada-wide, but the solutions can be local
With One of These, Who Needs a Car on the Pacific Rim?
You won't miss your car
Salvage Becomes Floating Dream House
It's amazing what you can build with stuff you find lying around
Flotilla For Fish Farm-Free Waters
Indigenous leaders and their allies gathered in Tofino to say "NO" to fish farms
What Should You Do If You See a Bear?
Here are some tips on how to keep your family safe in bear country
What's In A Name? Nanaimo
The dessert that made a city
Dasilva's Tech Fortune to Help French Creek Eagles
BC-born tech entrepreneur comes home to make biggest ever donation to the BC Parks Foundation
Best Small Town: Ucluelet Up for Top Spot in BC
It's east meets west in the CBC small town challenge
DFO Flounders Again on Fish Farm File
Research by DFO scientists showed that fish farms were infecting farmed and wild salmon with a deadly virus
What We Love: Cameron Lake Big Trestle at Dawn
Did you ever take the train to Port Alberni?
Is Ucluelet the Best in BC?
Go vote for Ucluelet in CBC's best small town competition
Huu-ay-aht and Ucluelet First Nations Celebrate Their Seat at the Table
It's a win, but there's still more work to be done
Young Humpback Tells Orcas to Back Off
Humpbacks and orcas are enemies in the sea
What We Love: Transient Killer Whales Breaching
The transients love hunting off the coast of Tofino
Parksville Air Ambulances Now Have Blood on Board
Paramedics who serve VanIsle are now better equipped to respond to emergencies
Building Connection Between the Quays
The 3.5 km path will connect Harbour Quay with Victoria Quay
Get Outside—Turns Out It's Good For You
And this drug is free
Paging Japan!
Google is working with Tseshaht, Maa-nulth, and Hupacasath Nations on the project
Hike to High Ground—With Hounds!
You could win a ride on a fire truck
What's In A Name? Tofino
Vincente Tofiño never even saw Long Beach
Seriously? – Teslas Will Soon Be Hauling Logs on Vancouver Island
But will they still look this cool after a couple of years on logging roads?
Do Great Things and Carry an Awesome Stick
Judith Sayers was given a gift to honour her leadership at VIU
Tourism Dollars Flow Into Ahousaht Rivers
Fish come back if you give them a chance
Home Grown Lumber, Home Grown Savings
San Group mill in Port Alberni wants to keep it local and sell its lumber to Vancouver Islanders for less
What We Love: Rainbows and Birds, and Herring, Oh My!
Just another day in Lotus Land.
What We Love: The Spring Herring Spawn
This exciting annual event attracts a frenzy of fish-eating birds and marine mammals.
What We Love: A Pooch on a Beach
It's that extra bit of joy
Will it be 3-Years, 6-Years, or Now?
Two parts of the federal government body are saying two different things
What We Love: Island Bison
Huge bison herds used to roam the continent, now they live mostly on farms
Look Around Rockhound
VanIsle is a gemstone hotspot thanks to complex geology, glaciation, and miles of accessible shoreline
Comeback Kid – An Ode to Fairy Creek
Local musician Luke Wallace just dropped his new music video for Comeback, but this time, with an ode to land defenders
James Bond Could Be Lurking
Pac Man – check. Psychic den – check. Disco – check
Scientist Claims Fish Farmers Dump Dead Lice in Quatsino Sound
Fish farm companies say they don't have a sea lice problem, then spend millions cleaning sea lice off farmed salmon
West Coast Boating Can Be a Dangerous Game
A water taxi carrying six people crashed into rocks near Tofino seriously injuring four people
What We Love: Seeing Ourselves from Space
A photo of VanIsle from the International Space Station.
Tour of the Taps Part 3 – The West Isle
The best places to quench your thirst on the West Isle
Pothole Pandemic
Storms and changing temperatures have wreaked havoc on Island roads
Watch: VanIsle Storm Cams Give Front Row Access
May the storm in your heart be reflected on the cam
How Much Beer Have You Been Drinking?
But who drinks the most on VanIsle?
Living the Canadian Winter Dream
Grab your skates, sticks and snow shovels and hit the ponds before it's too late
What the Hell is an Arctic Outflow?
Cold, dense air from the arctic blows down into northern BC and Alberta, where it picks up speed because the land is so flat
WATCH: The Banana Man Drags a Drone to the Top of Mount Gibson
Get there quick as it might be logged soon
WATCH: Beautiful Sunset and Waves Off Ucluelet
Take 3 minutes to chill out
Alberni Valley Bulldogs Send the Fur Flying
Stuffies from the Teddy Bear Toss will be donated to kids in need in the Alberni Valley.
Huu-ay-aht First Nation Press Pause on Most Old-Growth Logging
The BC government gave First Nations 30 days to decide whether to defer or not
Don't Mess With The Avalanche Alert
Avalanche Canada raised their avalanche alert to "extreme" for alpine areas of Vancouver Island
Mr. Chims at the Chims
A black bear tried to make a 2 am visit to the Chims Guest House
WATCH: A Moment of Zen at Virgin Falls
Drone footage of Virgin Falls is as close as you'll get right now
Arrowsmith Search & Rescue Save the Day Again
When the going gets tough, the tough put on their hip waders
Bamfield is Finally Getting Its New Sealed Road
It's a first for BC—an Indigenous community is leading on this huge and important infrastructure project
Beloved Mother Whale Sets Off for Hawaii
A huge group of local boaters saved Pinky from a trap that would have put her life in danger
Atmospheric River Targeting VanIsle – So It'll Be Wet This Weekend, Real Wet
It's time to get your Gortex out, and if your in a flood zone maybe your kayak
When Reality TV Is All Too Real
Big Timber's cast of F-bomb dropping macho loggers hit the small screen at a pivotal time
Trudeau's Tofino Time Warp
Trudeau took a pass and now he's paying the price
Courtenay-Alberni Candidates Eye The Finish Line
Gord Johns is digging into local issues, but other candidates stick to party talking points
Beaches Are for the People
Wickaninnish Inn's private crab cookout on Chesterman Beach is being questioned
Tofino Worker Campground Saved from the Brink – For Now
The housing crunch is so bad that workers live in tents, but the campground is pretty sweet
First Lumber, Now Houses
Surrey company wants to build another 2,800 houses in one of VanIsle's hottest real estate markets
How Long Would You Wait?
Five Nuu-chah-nulth fishing nations prepare to exercise their right to catch and sell fish on their own terms
2021 Election Courtenay-Alberni Cheat Sheet
The bike-riding Gord Johns faces off against a military vet and a career DFO bureaucrat
Parasites, viruses and bloody discharge in a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve – What's Up With That?
Fish factories in Clayoquot Sound are a messy toxic business
Airline Full of "Firsts" Makes First Flight to Qualicum
Feel good about your next flight to YVR
Step Aside Comox Valley, Here Comes Port Alberni
Old industry town is getting a new lease on life
Will Conservative Candidate Mary Lee Tackle VanIsle's Challenges?
Her slogan is "Secure the Future." We have a few questions about how she plans to do that
Too Much Tourism? Local Takes Action Because Governments' Haven't
First Nations youth Tim Masso says if you want to visit Tla-o-qui-aht territory you better be on best behaviour
Awarding Winning Stars Filming in Ucluelet
Award winning stars Allison Janney, Jurnee Smollett and Matt Craven are in Ucuelet to film Netflix's film Lou
Floatplane Flips in Tofino Harbour
Passengers and pilot escape with minor injuries after plane hits boat wake and crashes
Mary Lee Announced as Courtney-Alberni Conservative Candidate
Air traffic controller wants to represent Courtenay—Alberni in Ottawa
Is it a Boy or a Girl? Why the Newest Orca Calf's Gender is So Important
The healthy baby girl orca is good news for the endangered species
Cedar in a Death Spiral?
Climate change is pushing this iconic tree to the limit
What About Us? Islanders Abandoned By Political Leaders?
The status quo isn’t working. Our political leaders are missing in action. It is up to us to make Vancouver Island STRONG once again.
We're Nuts About Real Estate and It Ain't Good
Canadians may pay the price for our a real estate obsession
Big Pod of Sei Whales Spotted Swimming off VanIsle's Coast
These long whales are lean and fast, and they aren't seen that often near Canada
Want to Find an NHL Goalie? Check Out Vancouver Island
On a per-capita basis, the mid-Island produces the second most goalies in the world
First Brutal Heat Wave, Then Melting Power Cables?
Perhaps this disruption is warning to political leaders on VanIsle need to prioritize energy conservation and self reliance
Conservation Officers Fine Campers for Campfires
They aren't messing around, they will find you and fine you
New Pacific Rim Trail Opens to the Public
The new 25 km trail is still under construction, but folks can use it as long as they're careful
Tofino Church Torched by Vandals
A Tofino church is targeted by vandals, one of many across Canada in recent weeks
Think About it – Big Trees Are More Valuable Left Standing
Port Renfrew shows the economic upside of keeping old-growth standing
$500,000 in COVID Funding for Pachena Bay Campground Upgrades
"Pachena Bay Campground is our hidden jewel, it’s something that all people on Vancouver Island and the Mainland love coming to"
Search for Buried Children Begins at Port Alberni Residential School Site
Jack Thompson, Ditidaht elder and residential school survivor, says "it will help when these kids find their way back home"
What the Heck is a Heat Dome?
The heat won't last but in the meantime, check on older folks, don't leave your kids or your pets in the car and drink lots and lots of water.
Could a New Co-op Build Homes for Ucluelet?
More people want to visit Ucluelet, but where the heck are the workers going to live?
Kekinusuqs—Dr. Judith Sayers—Sworn In as Vancouver Island University's Chancellor
It was a "powerful statement of reconciliation" according to Snuneymuxw Councillor Emmy Manson
High Class Home Brew at North Island College
Maybe more of us would have gone to college if we could have studied beer
High Price of Lumber is Good for Some and Bad for Others
High lumber prices are putting money back into mills, but home builders are feeling the pinch
BC Lifts Travel Restrictions as COVID Cases Drop
People were so excited to travel they crashed the BC Ferries website
It's Not That Hard, Mr. Trudeau
Countries, including Canada, don’t like to acknowledge their buried history, so here's an ten-step guide to help Mr Trudeau investigate our grim residential…
#Vanlife Summer? Vancouver Island Locals Prepare for a Different Approach.
Thinking of visiting Tofino this summer? You better book accommodation first
There's More to this Town than Timber
Getting your feast on in Port Alberni
His Ears Are Ringing, But He's Okay
Terry Mazzei got "blasted" by a lightning bolt and lived to tell the tale
When Is Someone Going to Jail?
We're waiting for a politician to come out and pledge that they will ensure that the people responsible – wherever they are – will be tracked down and…
On the Brink of a Seaweed Boom
Seaweed farming might be an alternative for coastal communities as feds phase out controversial open-net salmon feedlots
Turning a Negative into a Positive
First Nation seeking funding demolish residential school and to build a healing centre and new gymnasium for survivors
Tofino's Triple Bottom Line
Business leaders "go above and beyond” to protect their communities
DFO Kept Secrets about Fish Mouth Rot Disease on Farms
Chamberlin said DFO knew about the potential risks this disease posed to wild salmon, but kept it secret
Different Ocean, Similar Issues
“These are the wrong people with the wrong project and the wrong technology in absolutely the wrong place” says local opponent to Maine fish farm proposal
Sweet "Love Lock" Fence Turned Foul
Because nothing says "I love you" like piles of garbage
A Chance for Change, or a Missed Opportunity
Although his talking points acknowledge the old-growth crisis, Premier Horgan hasn't taken any concrete steps to address the crisis
Island Residential School Survivors Not Waiting For Government
While Ottawa and Victoria twiddle their thumbs, Island Residential School survivors are taking matters into their own hands
Money, Money, Money – BC is Starting a $500 Million Fund for Green Businesses
The new Crown Corporation, called InBC, will invest in businesses that focus on profits, people, and the planet
Canada and the Island's Residential School Shame
VanIsle's last residential schools closed in the 1980s. They've documented 202 deaths of indigenous kids, but these are only the deaths we know about
Dry Spring and Hot, Dry Summer Could Make for a Spicy Fire Season
Hold onto your butts
BC is #2
After June 1st only Nunavut will have a higher minimum wage than BC's $15.20
Can't Afford Paradise – Campgrounds Jack Up Rents in Ucluelet
RVs are basically tiny houses on wheels. The trouble is, where do you park them?
Tofino says Bon Voyage to Beach Fires
Tofino tackles excessive beach fire burning
Island Could Open to Mainland Tourists as of June 15
If all goes well, mainlanders could start coming back to the Island as of mid-June
Clayoquot Sound Tour Operators Don't Want Cermaq Pesticides Dumped
Pesticides kill more than just sea lice
Big Trees in the Nahmint Valley Shouldn't Have Been Cut Down
If the B.C. government won't follow its own logging rules, why would anyone else?
Ucluelet Goes Green
Ucluelet is walking the talk on sustainability
COVID-19 Numbers are Coming Down, but Vancouver Island Doctors and Nurses Still Need Our Help
Doctors and nurses are nearly exhausted after a whole year of the pandemic
Tofino Here We Come? New COVID Travel Restrictions Are Tough But Welcome
Get outside this spring, just don’t go to Tofino — yet
Show Us the Money
Healthcare, Jobs, and Bikes are Gord Johns’ Priorities for Upcoming Federal Budget