Tyson Whitney

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Emergency planned power outage scheduled for late Saturday night in the North Island

Emergency repairs are needed on part of the transmission line

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Port McNeill Councillor Derek Koel enjoying some free time with his two kids. (Derek Koel photo)

Port McNeill councillor talks how to help people with young families run for office

The next municipal election is just around the corner in October

Port McNeill Councillor Derek Koel enjoying some free time with his two kids. (Derek Koel photo)
The back cover of Yvonne Maximchuk's fiction novel 'Murder Rides A Gale Force Wind.' (Submitted photo)

North Island artist-author explains how she wrote her very first fiction novel

‘I could probably write a book about everything I learned from writing this book’

The back cover of Yvonne Maximchuk's fiction novel 'Murder Rides A Gale Force Wind.' (Submitted photo)
Lonnie Hryhroka passed away after a workplace logging accident severely injured him on April 13. (Barbara Paige Labbey photo)

Man severely injured logging on northern Vancouver Island dies 2 weeks later

Lonnie Hryhroka was 46-years-old when the accident happened near Nimpkish Lake

Lonnie Hryhroka passed away after a workplace logging accident severely injured him on April 13. (Barbara Paige Labbey photo)
Port McNeill hospital. (North Island Gazette file photo)

Mayor says social media rumours of two North Island hospitals closing in June are untrue

Island Health has no plans to close Port McNeill and Alert Bay hospitals

Port McNeill hospital. (North Island Gazette file 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 CANADIAN PRESS /Jonathan Hayward

DFO handling of 10-year-old fish virus study disappoints North Island First Nations

DFO says report unreleased due to inconclusive science, Nations say valuable information suppressed

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 CANADIAN PRESS /Jonathan Hayward
District of Port Hardy municipal hall sign. (North Island Gazette file photo)

Port Hardy won’t have to pay for its own policing, says RCMP letter

Port Hardy will remain under the responsibility of the province to provide policing

District of Port Hardy municipal hall sign. (North Island Gazette file photo)
Nineteen salmon farms in the Discovery Islands were given 18 months to vacate, causing shock and uncertainty in the industry. (Photo courtesy Grieg Seafood BC)

DFO says Canada still committed to transitioning away from open-net pen salmon farming

All remaining Discovery Islands’ facilities must be cleared of fish by this coming summer

Nineteen salmon farms in the Discovery Islands were given 18 months to vacate, causing shock and uncertainty in the industry. (Photo courtesy Grieg Seafood BC)
Thomas Wamiss will be walking from Port Hardy to Victoria starting June 18 to raise funds for cancer research. (Supplied photo)

North Islander to walk from Port Hardy to Victoria to raise funds for cancer research

Thomas Wamiss is aiming to create awareness and to help ‘battle this terrible disease’

Thomas Wamiss will be walking from Port Hardy to Victoria starting June 18 to raise funds for cancer research. (Supplied photo)
Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw councillor Darryl Coon speaks out against DFO, with Elected Chief Terry Walkus Sr. and Band Manager Leslie Walkus next to him. (Tyson Whitney - North Island Gazette)

North Island First Nations tell DFO they will control fisheries in traditional waters

Former elected chief Paddy Walkus asserted the nations will now be instating their traditional laws

Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw councillor Darryl Coon speaks out against DFO, with Elected Chief Terry Walkus Sr. and Band Manager Leslie Walkus next to him. (Tyson Whitney - North Island Gazette)
The last official Orcafest was held in 2019, pre-covid. (North Island Gazette file photo)

Orcafest will be returning to the North Island this summer

The summer festival will be running for only one day on Saturday, Aug. 20

The last official Orcafest was held in 2019, pre-covid. (North Island Gazette file photo)
Port Hardy business owner Tristan Radzik pulled seven shopping carts out of the creek near Port Hardy Secondary School. (Submitted photos)

North Island business owner gives back by salvaging shopping carts from creek

All seven carts took almost an hour to free from the creek and roll back up the bank onto the street

Port Hardy business owner Tristan Radzik pulled seven shopping carts out of the creek near Port Hardy Secondary School. (Submitted photos)
Oakey’s health continues to improve daily after being attacked by a cougar on a remote North Island trail. (Jessica Shaw photo)

Go Fund Me raises nearly $7,000 for puppy attacked by cougar on remote North Island trail

Oakey’s health has continued to improve daily since the Feb. 24 attack.

Oakey’s health continues to improve daily after being attacked by a cougar on a remote North Island trail. (Jessica Shaw photo)
Oakey before the cougar attack. (Jessica Shaw photo)

Owner’s noisy charge saves 14-pound dog from North Island cougar attack

Oakey recovering from surgery to remove left eye following emergency surgery hours away in Comox

Oakey before the cougar attack. (Jessica Shaw photo)
The fire at Town Park Apartments. (Dana Rufus Facebook photo)

Port Hardy Fire Rescue knocks down structure fire near apartment building

Fire was located in a detached garage and storage shed

The fire at Town Park Apartments. (Dana Rufus Facebook photo)
North Island Gazette file photo

Doctor shortage causes the Port McNeill Hospital to shut down for the weekend

Anyone experiencing a medical emergency should call 911

North Island Gazette file photo
Black Press Media file

3 thefts from vehicles in one day causes Port Hardy RCMP to warn residents

The unlocked vehicles in the area of Highland Drive had valuables stolen from them

Black Press Media file
The 2022 Wounded Warrior Run team, various North Island emergency personnel, and Mayor Dennis Dugas and Kwakiutl First Nation chief Calvin Hunt, all stopped for a group photo bright and early in Port Hardy on Sunday, Feb. 27 before the runners left Carrot Park. (David Grainger photo)

600 kilometres: The 2022 Wounded Warrior Run leaves Port Hardy bright and early

The 600 kilometre run is held annually to raise awareness and funds for Wounded Warriors Canada

The 2022 Wounded Warrior Run team, various North Island emergency personnel, and Mayor Dennis Dugas and Kwakiutl First Nation chief Calvin Hunt, all stopped for a group photo bright and early in Port Hardy on Sunday, Feb. 27 before the runners left Carrot Park. (David Grainger photo)
St. Michaels residential school before it was torn down in 2015. (J.R. Rardon photo)

North Island First Nation launches inquiry into grounds of former residential school

St. Michael’s was active in Alert Bay on Cormorant Island from 1894 to 1974 and was torn down in 2015

St. Michaels residential school before it was torn down in 2015. (J.R. Rardon photo)
The District of Port Hardy saw a -5.6 decline in population from 2016 to 2021. (Gazette file photo)

Tri-Port communities show growth and loss in latest census population statistics

Port Hardy deals with 5.6 per cent decline in population, Port McNeill and Port Alice show growth

The District of Port Hardy saw a -5.6 decline in population from 2016 to 2021. (Gazette file photo)