Elena Rardon

Johnston Road in Port Alberni. (NEWS FILE PHOTO)

Census data shows Port Alberni’s population rose by 4.5 percent

City is moving in the right direction, says mayor

Johnston Road in Port Alberni. (NEWS FILE PHOTO)
Port Alberni firefighters respond to a fire at the Wintergreen Apartments on Fourth Avenue. (SCREENSHOT COURTESY PA FIRE DEPARTMENT)

Two trailers destroyed by fire outside controversial Port Alberni apartments

Trailers are housing some of Port Alberni’s homeless population

Port Alberni firefighters respond to a fire at the Wintergreen Apartments on Fourth Avenue. (SCREENSHOT COURTESY PA FIRE DEPARTMENT)
Mat Kelly and Gavin Purewal of the Port Alberni Black Sheep team up to take down a UVic player during BC Rugby action in Port Alberni on Feb. 5. (SONJA DRINKWATER / SPECIAL TO THE NEWS)

Port Alberni Black Sheep fall to UVic in spring rugby opener

Port Alberni team ‘shaking off the rust’ after Christmas break

Mat Kelly and Gavin Purewal of the Port Alberni Black Sheep team up to take down a UVic player during BC Rugby action in Port Alberni on Feb. 5. (SONJA DRINKWATER / SPECIAL TO THE NEWS)
The San Group celebrates a new partnership with Seaton Forest Products on Jan. 26, 2022. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)

Alberni firm strikes deal for waste wood supply to turn into value-added products

Log supply not a concern for San Group’s Port Alberni remanufacturing plant

The San Group celebrates a new partnership with Seaton Forest Products on Jan. 26, 2022. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)
The Riverbend Cafe and General Store as it stands today. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

Piece of Port Alberni history preserved with the Riverbend Store

Store on the Pacific Rim Highway has a long history in the Alberni Valley

The Riverbend Cafe and General Store as it stands today. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
Forestry workers and their supporters rally in Port Alberni on Jan. 25, 2022. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)

Vancouver Island crowd rallies in support of old growth logging

Third rally takes place on Highway 4 in Port Alberni

Forestry workers and their supporters rally in Port Alberni on Jan. 25, 2022. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)
The Hawaii Mars sits on Sproat Lake back in 2013. (SONJA DRINKWATER / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)

Historic B.C. Martin Mars waterbomber put up for sale

Coulson Aviation looks for new home for Hawaii Mars, inactive in firefighting since 2015

The Hawaii Mars sits on Sproat Lake back in 2013. (SONJA DRINKWATER / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)
Cannabis bought in British Columbia (Ashley Wadhwani/Black Press Media)

Port Alberni following Campell River path to curb cannabis odour complaints

City plans to amend nuisance abatement bylaw

Cannabis bought in British Columbia (Ashley Wadhwani/Black Press Media)
A tsunami advisory was issued Jan. 15 around 5 a.m. for coastal B.C. (U.S. Tsunami Warning System image)

Lack of tsunami advisory warning causes concern in Alberni Valley

Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District uses Voyent Alert! app for notifications

A tsunami advisory was issued Jan. 15 around 5 a.m. for coastal B.C. (U.S. Tsunami Warning System image)
This graph shows housing prices in the Alberni Valley over the past 20 years. (PHOTO COURTESY CHRIS FENTON)

Alberni Valley sees historic rise in housing prices in 2021

Rate of increase expected to slow down in 2022

This graph shows housing prices in the Alberni Valley over the past 20 years. (PHOTO COURTESY CHRIS FENTON)
Port Alberni firefighters respond to a boat fire on Jan. 11. (PHOTO COURTESY SUSAN ROTH)

Port Alberni firefighters douse boat fire in harbour

No one on board vessel at the time of the fire

Port Alberni firefighters respond to a boat fire on Jan. 11. (PHOTO COURTESY SUSAN ROTH)
Loon Lake is located north of Mount Arrowsmith and east of Port Alberni. (TERESA BIRD / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)

Campground planned for Loon Lake near Port Alberni

Mosaic and Hupacasath First Nation partner on campground

Loon Lake is located north of Mount Arrowsmith and east of Port Alberni. (TERESA BIRD / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)
Fire crews attempt to extinguish a cabin fire on Beaver Creek Road. (SCREENSHOT COURTESY PA FIRE DEPARTMENT)

One person taken to hospital after cabin fire near Port Alberni

All four Alberni Valley fire departments responded to Beaver Creek blaze

Fire crews attempt to extinguish a cabin fire on Beaver Creek Road. (SCREENSHOT COURTESY PA FIRE DEPARTMENT)
Fire crews respond to an electrical fire at Pioneer Towers on Wallace Street on January 5, 2022. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)

Electrical fire extinguished at seniors home in Port Alberni

All tenants able to return to their suites after fire

Fire crews respond to an electrical fire at Pioneer Towers on Wallace Street on January 5, 2022. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)
A “Stop Work” order was placed outside of the Kingsway Pub in Port Alberni in April 2020. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)

Port Alberni councillor apologizes for unpermitted renovations

Port Alberni residents ask for more transparency, accountability

A “Stop Work” order was placed outside of the Kingsway Pub in Port Alberni in April 2020. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)
Emergency vehicles are parked outside of the Wintergreen Apartments on Fourth Avenue. (SUSAN QUINN / Alberni Valley News)

City of Port Alberni, local First Nations form task force for ‘unsafe’ housing

The task force will identify short- and long-term supportive housing options in the Alberni Valley

Emergency vehicles are parked outside of the Wintergreen Apartments on Fourth Avenue. (SUSAN QUINN / Alberni Valley News)
Two people admire the view from one of the fourth floor apartments at Maitland Street Village on Dec. 15. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)

B.C.’s first Step 4 ‘low energy’ apartments open in Port Alberni

Alberni Low Energy Housing Society’s Maitland Street Village promises big utility savings

Two people admire the view from one of the fourth floor apartments at Maitland Street Village on Dec. 15. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)
Several Port Alberni residents are displaced after an apartment fire on Seventh Avenue in the early morning on Dec. 19, 2021. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)

Firefighters rescue 2 people from three-storey Port Alberni apartment fire

Residents displaced after second Port Alberni apartment fire in a week

Several Port Alberni residents are displaced after an apartment fire on Seventh Avenue in the early morning on Dec. 19, 2021. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)
Alberni Valley Bulldogs defenceman Braden Blace holds the puck at the blueline during a Bulldogs powerplay opportunity. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)

BCHL: Alberni Valley Bulldogs pick up close win against Victoria

3-2 win was the last Bulldogs home game before Christmas break

Alberni Valley Bulldogs defenceman Braden Blace holds the puck at the blueline during a Bulldogs powerplay opportunity. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)
The ADSS senior boys basketball team practices in the gym during Totem Media Day on Dec. 9, 2021. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)

Totem tourney back to ‘business as usual’ in Port Alberni

Annual high school basketball tournament returns for 66th year

The ADSS senior boys basketball team practices in the gym during Totem Media Day on Dec. 9, 2021. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)