Local Journalism Initiative

A dead chum salmon in the Delta River after it had returned more than 1,000 miles from the ocean to spawn. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)

Keepers of Cheewaht: Restoring a Vancouver Island ecosystem for generations to come

After years of neglect, salmon are returning to remote West Coast river system

A dead chum salmon in the Delta River after it had returned more than 1,000 miles from the ocean to spawn. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)
Resources being diverted to emergency care is disrupting scheduled surgeries across B.C. (Pixabay photo)

B.C. boy needing heart surgery waits, and waits some more

Insufficient staffing, skyrocketing respiratory illness have caused mass B.C. surgery cancellations

Resources being diverted to emergency care is disrupting scheduled surgeries across B.C. (Pixabay photo)
Victoria Police Chief Del Manak snaps a selfie with three Victoria High students who were presented with a civic service award on Friday for their actions in helping someone who was overdosing in a school washroom. (Kendra Crighton/News Staff)

Saving lives from B.C.’s overdose crisis, one bathroom at a time

Safer Bathroom Toolkit aims to help organizations make lifesaving changes to their washrooms

Victoria Police Chief Del Manak snaps a selfie with three Victoria High students who were presented with a civic service award on Friday for their actions in helping someone who was overdosing in a school washroom. (Kendra Crighton/News Staff)
Where the Harrison River in British Columbia runs deep and the mountains stand tall that is where thousands of eagles dare as salmon spawn. A bald eagle eats a chinook salmon along the Harrison River in Harrison Mills, B.C., Thursday, Nov. 24, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Lack of rainfall could mean 3-week delay for Vancouver Island salmon spawning

However, overall returns are expected to be solid despite unusual weather patterns

Where the Harrison River in British Columbia runs deep and the mountains stand tall that is where thousands of eagles dare as salmon spawn. A bald eagle eats a chinook salmon along the Harrison River in Harrison Mills, B.C., Thursday, Nov. 24, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Aquatic science biologist Howie Manchester picks a salmon to collect samples from during a Department of Fisheries and Oceans fish health audit at the Okisollo fish farm near Campbell River, B.C. Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS /Jonathan Hayward

Writing on the wall for West Coast fish farms, conservationists say after closures

Washington joins ranks with Alaska, California and Oregon in not having industrial fish farms.

Aquatic science biologist Howie Manchester picks a salmon to collect samples from during a Department of Fisheries and Oceans fish health audit at the Okisollo fish farm near Campbell River, B.C. Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS /Jonathan Hayward
Living on B.C.’s below-poverty levels of disability assistance and already in debt means every treatment brings a Vancouver woman closer to running out of money and choosing the option to die. (Pixabay photo)

‘Jump or burn?’: B.C. woman is chronically ill, but dying of poverty

System will fund Medical Assistance in Dying but not treatments that help chronic fatigue syndrome

Living on B.C.’s below-poverty levels of disability assistance and already in debt means every treatment brings a Vancouver woman closer to running out of money and choosing the option to die. (Pixabay photo)
FILE -Dean Anderson holds up a sign before a march on the first National Day of Action to draw attention to the opioid overdose epidemic, in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, B.C., on Tuesday, February 21, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C.’s overdose crisis: drugs, death and denial on the job

A recent survey of construction workers in B.C. found 1 in 3 self-reported problematic substance use

FILE -Dean Anderson holds up a sign before a march on the first National Day of Action to draw attention to the opioid overdose epidemic, in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, B.C., on Tuesday, February 21, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
The Canadian Coast Guard ship John P. Tully has been used to bring scientists to explore a large seamount region off Vancouver Island. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)

West Coast First Nations, feds reach tentative understanding on vast offshore region

Leadership mulls deal for proposed Marine Protected Area off Vancouver Island

The Canadian Coast Guard ship John P. Tully has been used to bring scientists to explore a large seamount region off Vancouver Island. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)
Someone cleared trees on the Bamfield Road after the Dec. 20 storm, cutting a big enough space for vehicles to pass through. STELLA PETERS PHOTO

Improving road access opening up opportunities for Bamfield

Huu-ay-aht sees growth in Anacla as road improvements continue on Bamfield Main

Someone cleared trees on the Bamfield Road after the Dec. 20 storm, cutting a big enough space for vehicles to pass through. STELLA PETERS PHOTO
The Canadian Coast Guard ship John P. Tully has been used to bring scientists to explore a large seamount region off Vancouver Island. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)

West Coast First Nations, feds reach tentative understanding on vast offshore region

Leadership mulls deal for proposed Marine Protected Area off Vancouver Island

The Canadian Coast Guard ship John P. Tully has been used to bring scientists to explore a large seamount region off Vancouver Island. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)
A map of the new bypass. (Courtesy of Dididaht First Nation)

Ditidaht bypass road nearing completion after years of flooding

Project aiming for late November completion

A map of the new bypass. (Courtesy of Dididaht First Nation)
The Marine Detective Jackie Hildering wades into the water next to the humpback. (Emily Cowie/MERS photo)

‘Absolutely gutting’: Mourning the death of Spike the humpback whale

Observers suspect whale may have died from blunt force trauma after being hit by a boat

The Marine Detective Jackie Hildering wades into the water next to the humpback. (Emily Cowie/MERS photo)
An Atlantic salmon is seen during a Department of Fisheries and Oceans fish health audit at the Okisollo fish farm near Campbell River, B.C. Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. The executive director of British Columbia’s salmon farmers association says a formalized consultation process for the future of the industry is welcome after several years of “ad hoc” discussions stemming from the Liberal government’s pledge in 2019 to end open-net pen salmon aquaculture off B.C.’s coast. THE CANADIAN PRESS /Jonathan Hayward

Vancouver Island First Nations worry feds flip-flopping on B.C. fish farms transition

BC Salmon Farmers Association ‘heartened’ after its round of meetings with Fisheries minister

An Atlantic salmon is seen during a Department of Fisheries and Oceans fish health audit at the Okisollo fish farm near Campbell River, B.C. Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. The executive director of British Columbia’s salmon farmers association says a formalized consultation process for the future of the industry is welcome after several years of “ad hoc” discussions stemming from the Liberal government’s pledge in 2019 to end open-net pen salmon aquaculture off B.C.’s coast. THE CANADIAN PRESS /Jonathan Hayward
Container ship MV Kingston is being escorted from its anchorage off Victoria to Duke Point in Nanaimo. (Photo: Transport Canada)

MV Zim Kingston showed West Coast it’s not prepared to handle marine cargo spills

Parliamentary committee wants response gap plugged in wake of 2021 fire and spill off Victoria

Container ship MV Kingston is being escorted from its anchorage off Victoria to Duke Point in Nanaimo. (Photo: Transport Canada)
Doug Routley is currently MLA for the Nanaimo-North Cowichan riding, which would become Nanaimo-Ladysmith under a proposed revamp. (File photo)

Proposed provincial riding revamp could reshape the mid-Island area

Electoral Boundaries Commission recommending changes for three Nanaimo area ridings

Doug Routley is currently MLA for the Nanaimo-North Cowichan riding, which would become Nanaimo-Ladysmith under a proposed revamp. (File photo)
Seaspan B.C. tugboat operations ground to a halt after unionized marine workers launched job action at noon on Thursday (Aug. 25). (Seaspan photo)

How 165 workers parked tugboats and froze a B.C. shipyard

Other unions drawn into dispute between Seaspan, tugboat staff at North Vancouver shipyard, drydock

Seaspan B.C. tugboat operations ground to a halt after unionized marine workers launched job action at noon on Thursday (Aug. 25). (Seaspan photo)
Hundreds of Chilliwack secondary students and teachers took part in their school’s Reconciliation Walk in 2019. (Jenna Hauck/ The Progress)

Truth and Reconciliation Day: Education should be the priority, says B.C. Indigenous leader

Between 1831 and 1998, more than 150,000 children were thrust into Indian Residential Schools

Hundreds of Chilliwack secondary students and teachers took part in their school’s Reconciliation Walk in 2019. (Jenna Hauck/ The Progress)
Isaiah Harris, at Ladysmith Secondary School on Saturday, May 28, for a showing of the film Tzouhalem — which he narrated —presented by the school’s land and language program. (Duck Paterson photo)

Stz’uminus youth living his storytelling dreams through Indigenous films

Emerging talent wants to share Indigenous stories in a responsible and respectful way

Isaiah Harris, at Ladysmith Secondary School on Saturday, May 28, for a showing of the film Tzouhalem — which he narrated —presented by the school’s land and language program. (Duck Paterson photo)
Plants overgrow the remnants of a door frame at the Kiixin village historic site near Bamfield on Vancouver Island’s West Coast. (John McKinley photo)

Huu-ay-aht First Nations celebrate recognition of unique Kiixin village

New plaque commemorates historic significance for Alberni Inlet First Nation

Plants overgrow the remnants of a door frame at the Kiixin village historic site near Bamfield on Vancouver Island’s West Coast. (John McKinley photo)
Port Hardy Hospital. (Island Health photo)

North Vancouver Island health care is in an `evolving state of crisis’

New leaked document shows issues in multiple North Island communities

Port Hardy Hospital. (Island Health photo)