Local Journalism Initiative

Six emergency shifts at Port Hardy Hospital remain uncovered in September, according to minutes of a recent Island Health meeting. (Island Health photo)

North Island health-care crisis threatens to escalate this fall, leaked documents show

Three doctors expected to be working in September in Port Hardy, a community that needs seven

Six emergency shifts at Port Hardy Hospital remain uncovered in September, according to minutes of a recent Island Health meeting. (Island Health photo)
Jared Towers photographed this humpback whale and four others in 2018 near Port McNeill, Alert Bay, and Hanson Island. JARED TOWERS PHOTO

Discovery Islands resurfacing as a B.C. humpback hot spot

Gentle giants returning to waters of northeastern Vancouver Island and not just passing through

Jared Towers photographed this humpback whale and four others in 2018 near Port McNeill, Alert Bay, and Hanson Island. JARED TOWERS PHOTO
Southern resident orcas off the shores of Tofino. (Photo credit: John Forde and Jennifer Steven)

$3.1 million pumped into B.C. marine noise reduction as advocates call for targets

Efforts underway to help protect endangered killer whales from increased traffic

Southern resident orcas off the shores of Tofino. (Photo credit: John Forde and Jennifer Steven)
Restaurants and other hospitality operations are struggling to find staff, but they aren’t the only industry affected, according to Vancouver Island job market watchers. (File photo by The Canadian Press)

Labour shortages felt in communities across Vancouver Island’s west coast

Businesses struggling to find answers in the wake of a shrinking pool of available workers

Restaurants and other hospitality operations are struggling to find staff, but they aren’t the only industry affected, according to Vancouver Island job market watchers. (File photo by The Canadian Press)
A pair of Port Alberni Salmon Derby participants drop their lines in Alberni Harbour during the annual Labour Day fishing derby. (SONJA DRINKWATER/ Special to the AV News)

Alberni’s Somass River sockeye return doubles its original forecast

With the sockeye run mostly past, anglers and advocates paying close attention to chinook run

A pair of Port Alberni Salmon Derby participants drop their lines in Alberni Harbour during the annual Labour Day fishing derby. (SONJA DRINKWATER/ Special to the AV News)
A giant Pacific octopus shelters on a reef near Campbell River, awaiting the return of the tide. Alistair Taylor photo

Drastic fluctuations turning B.C. West Coast intertidal zone into ‘murder scene’

Rare tides, climate change occuring at a faster rate than intertidal animals can evolve or adapt to

A giant Pacific octopus shelters on a reef near Campbell River, awaiting the return of the tide. Alistair Taylor photo
Port McNeill Hospital. (Gazette file photo)

Critics say North Island ER closures symptom of larger problem

Primary health care `collapsing’ in B.C. rural communities, critics say

Port McNeill Hospital. (Gazette file photo)
A nurse administers the coronavirus vaccine last year. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Boost now or wait? What you should know as B.C. counts down to its next COVID shots

B.C. is only officially recommending second boosters now for older and extremely vulnerable people

A nurse administers the coronavirus vaccine last year. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation master carver Joe David gifted this totem pole to the District of Tofino in 2018 to recognize the community’s presence within the First Nation’s traditional territory. (Westerly file photo)

Tla-o-qui-aht calls on regional leaders to address West Coast housing crisis

Tla-o-qui-aht members concerned housing squeeze has cost them the ability to live in their homelands

Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation master carver Joe David gifted this totem pole to the District of Tofino in 2018 to recognize the community’s presence within the First Nation’s traditional territory. (Westerly file photo)
The Canadian Coast Guard ship called John P. Tully has been used to bring scientists to the Explorer Seamount — Canada’s largest underwater mountain. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)

West Coast expedition off B.C. explores never-before-seen deep-sea habitat

‘We are going to habitats that nobody’s mapped before, that nobody’s seen before’

The Canadian Coast Guard ship called John P. Tully has been used to bring scientists to the Explorer Seamount — Canada’s largest underwater mountain. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)
Save Old Growth demonstrators blocked the northbound Pat Bay Highway early in the morning on June 13. (Courtesy of Save Old Growth/Twitter)

Save Old Growth protester shatters hip during B.C. highway blockade

Campaigners say they will continue actions until old growth logging is halted in B.C.

Save Old Growth demonstrators blocked the northbound Pat Bay Highway early in the morning on June 13. (Courtesy of Save Old Growth/Twitter)
A critical part of Campbell River Estuary restoration is the planting of native species like sedge grass to prevent erosion. (Binny Paul, Campbell River Mirror)

Campbell River estuary a showcase for the reclamation of ruined habitat

Sterile former industrial wasteland being reclaimed as prime fish habitat

A critical part of Campbell River Estuary restoration is the planting of native species like sedge grass to prevent erosion. (Binny Paul, Campbell River Mirror)
The Emergency Room entrance at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital. (John McKinley file)

Tla-o-qui-aht family files complaint for mistreatment at Nanaimo hospital

Island Health said it acknowledges man did not receive culturally safe care

The Emergency Room entrance at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital. (John McKinley file)
Sunny days are back again for businesses feeding off Ucluelet’s Wild Pacific Trail and the other attractions of Vancouver Island’s Pacific Rim. (John McKinley photo)

`Life is getting back to normal’ for tourism in Tofino/Ucluelet area

Residents remain cautious with COVID as businesses struggle with staffing as visitors flood back

Sunny days are back again for businesses feeding off Ucluelet’s Wild Pacific Trail and the other attractions of Vancouver Island’s Pacific Rim. (John McKinley photo)
Courtenay-Alberni MP Gord Johns addresses the House of Commons during Question Period on Feb. 3, 2022. Credit: Christian Diotte, House of Commons Photo Services

Pressure mounts for Liberals to back Island MP’s bill decriminalizing drug use

Gord Johns gaining support from mayors and advocates in his bid to address overdose crisis

Courtenay-Alberni MP Gord Johns addresses the House of Commons during Question Period on Feb. 3, 2022. Credit: Christian Diotte, House of Commons Photo Services
Image courtesy Creative Outlet

Nova Scotia man pleads not guilty to promoting hatred with noose sign

Sign outside of a cottage read Redneck Hangout and had an image of a noose

Image courtesy Creative Outlet
A doctor draws out vaccine during a drive-through COVID-19 vaccine clinic at St. Lawrence College in Kingston, Ont., on Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Lars Hagberg

Will B.C. be rolling up its sleeves for a fourth vaccine dose?

Officials still undecided on whether that is a necessary step in province’s pandemic-fighting path

A doctor draws out vaccine during a drive-through COVID-19 vaccine clinic at St. Lawrence College in Kingston, Ont., on Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Lars Hagberg
Citizen scientists in the Gulf Islands are worried humpback whales are being stressed by too much time with whale watching vessels. (Black Press Media file photo)

Citizen science whale observers worry humpbacks being harassed

One mother whale and her calf followed for upwards of 5 hours a day recently, says volunteer group

Citizen scientists in the Gulf Islands are worried humpback whales are being stressed by too much time with whale watching vessels. (Black Press Media file photo)
The current Tofino General Hospital was established in 1954. (Westerly News file photo)

Tofino’s diagnosis: this community needs a new hospital

Push growing to replace current West Coast health facility that is nearly 70 years old

The current Tofino General Hospital was established in 1954. (Westerly News file photo)
Kevin Hall, UVic president and vice-chancellor, UVic chancellor Marion Buller, second from left, VIU chancellor Cloy-e-iss, Judith Sayers, and Deborah Saucier, VIU president and vice-chancellor, pose with a talking stick carved by Ts’usquinuxn, William Good. (Vancouver Island University photo)

Talking stick gifted to Vancouver Island University Chancellor Judith Sayers

Hand-carved tool honours chancellor’s heritage, helps bind traditional knowledge, academia

Kevin Hall, UVic president and vice-chancellor, UVic chancellor Marion Buller, second from left, VIU chancellor Cloy-e-iss, Judith Sayers, and Deborah Saucier, VIU president and vice-chancellor, pose with a talking stick carved by Ts’usquinuxn, William Good. (Vancouver Island University photo)