Good News

Good news stories happened all throughout B.C. this year, from young and old. (Black Press Media files)

Here are some of B.C.’s good news stories in 2023

Highlights this year included a woman racing – and rolling – down a hill to win cheese

 

Jim Lawrence, 84, starts most mornings with a walk/ run, often meeting up with a group of friends well before most of the world is awake. (Jacqueline Gelineau/Capital News)

‘Clinically dead’: Kelowna senior comes back to lead the pack by example

Jim Lawrence, 84, has not let a cardiac arrest stop him from walk/running races

 

Friends and family welcomed members of HMCS Edmonton back home on April 28 as the ship returned to CFB Esquimalt. The vessel was on a two-and-a-half month deployment involved in a multi-nation narcotics-combatting operation off of Central America. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)

PHOTOS: Loved ones reunite as navy ship returns to Greater Victoria after months at sea

HMCS Edmonton helped make $50-million drug bust during Central American narcotics operation

 

Jonathan Neufeld (right) and the mobility scooter he donated to Wayne Pavich on March 31, 2023 after finding out Pavich’s scooter was stolen from a shed at his home. (Paul Henderson/ Chilliwack Progress)

VIDEO: Chilliwack man donates mobility scooter to senior who had his stolen

Chilliwack Progress story last week prompted 2 offers to help Wayne Pavich

Jonathan Neufeld (right) and the mobility scooter he donated to Wayne Pavich on March 31, 2023 after finding out Pavich’s scooter was stolen from a shed at his home. (Paul Henderson/ Chilliwack Progress)
Nixen Baidwan celebrated his own birthday by donating pizza to the homeless at Seasons House. (Bindy Baidwan photo)

Quesnel boy uses birthday to donate pizzas to those in need

Boy turns nine, donates pizza to Seasons House

Nixen Baidwan celebrated his own birthday by donating pizza to the homeless at Seasons House. (Bindy Baidwan photo)
A Kelowna woman is cloning her cat Bear after he was killed at only five years old (Kris Stewart/ Facebook)

Kelowna woman to soon receive kittens cloned after her beloved late cat

A Kelowna woman is replicating her beloved cat Bear

A Kelowna woman is cloning her cat Bear after he was killed at only five years old (Kris Stewart/ Facebook)
Autumn Lott at Gilman’s point, Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. At seven years old, she’s the youngest Canadian to have ever summitted the infamous peak. (Francesca Lott photo)

Good news stories from 2022 to reflect on in 2023

These British Columbians were lifting spirits across the province

Autumn Lott at Gilman’s point, Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. At seven years old, she’s the youngest Canadian to have ever summitted the infamous peak. (Francesca Lott photo)
Justin Eveline and his wife, Amy Bracken. The couple, known for their generosity, redirected GoFundMe donations given to Eveline after he broke his leg to fund a Christmas dinner for the homeless in Salmon Arm. (Contributed)

After breaking leg, B.C. man to pay kindness forward to people in greater need

Justin Eveline to host Christmas Eve dinner for those living rough

Justin Eveline and his wife, Amy Bracken. The couple, known for their generosity, redirected GoFundMe donations given to Eveline after he broke his leg to fund a Christmas dinner for the homeless in Salmon Arm. (Contributed)
Cornerstone Christian School now has therapy bunnies to help students with difficult times. (Submitted image)

Therapy bunnies melting worries away for B.C. students

Abbotsford’s Cornerstone Christian School introduces lop-eared rabbits as newest members of staff

Cornerstone Christian School now has therapy bunnies to help students with difficult times. (Submitted image)
A 'monster spray' prescription filled by a Sooke pharmacy is catching attention on social media. Black Press Media has altered this image to remove the name of a child. (The Dad/Instagram)

Sooke pharmacy banishing monsters with prescription

‘Monster spray’ delighting social media users

A 'monster spray' prescription filled by a Sooke pharmacy is catching attention on social media. Black Press Media has altered this image to remove the name of a child. (The Dad/Instagram)
A Nanaimo woman had her lost wallet and $1,000 cash returned after a Nanoose Bay man found it on the highway and turned it over to police. (Black Press Media file photo)

Man finds wallet containing $1,000 on highway median, turns it in to Nanaimo RCMP

Woman reunited with wallet and cash lost on shopping trip

A Nanaimo woman had her lost wallet and $1,000 cash returned after a Nanoose Bay man found it on the highway and turned it over to police. (Black Press Media file photo)
An Abbotsford police officer got an assist from a resident when he ran out of gas in a residential neighbourhood recently. (Facebook/Tara Lee MacLeod)

One good turn: Good Samaritan voluntarily fills Abbotsford police officer’s gas tank

Woman offers up gas to stranded officer even as prices at the pump stay high

An Abbotsford police officer got an assist from a resident when he ran out of gas in a residential neighbourhood recently. (Facebook/Tara Lee MacLeod)
Sahasi Erven is pictured having a laugh by his garden at 2201 Chambers St. on July 8, 2022. (Evert Lindquist/News Staff)

Victoria carpenter counters war in Ukraine with love for flowers

Sahasi Erven to unveil record-size Ukraine flower flag at Beacon Hill Park

Sahasi Erven is pictured having a laugh by his garden at 2201 Chambers St. on July 8, 2022. (Evert Lindquist/News Staff)
Saanich resident Mary Gresham, left, and husband Ray received a random act of kindness May 24 when Gresham fell ill in a Mount Douglas Park washroom and her husband couldn’t drive the car. (Courtesy of Gwen Patterson)

‘Angel in disguise’: Saanich woman looks for mystery Good Samaritan after medical incident

The woman not only called 911 but also drove Mary Gresham’s husband home from Mount Douglas Park

Saanich resident Mary Gresham, left, and husband Ray received a random act of kindness May 24 when Gresham fell ill in a Mount Douglas Park washroom and her husband couldn’t drive the car. (Courtesy of Gwen Patterson)
Sophia Olson receives a commendation from Coastal Animal Service’s Paul Toseland for finding Andre Paquette’s Aussie shepherd, Sawyer. Ronan O’Doherty photo/ Campbell River Mirror

Campbell River girl gets award for finding puppy missing for 11 days

Sophia Olson, 9, recognized Sawyer the Aussie Shepherd from missing dog posts

Sophia Olson receives a commendation from Coastal Animal Service’s Paul Toseland for finding Andre Paquette’s Aussie shepherd, Sawyer. Ronan O’Doherty photo/ Campbell River Mirror
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)
Eighteen-year-old Sydney Sunderland has published a children’s book that tackles gender identity. ‘I am Everything In Between’ highlights kids who don’t fit into stereotypical gender ideals. This book celebrates children and how they gender identify by sending a positive message. Photos via source

B.C. teen publishes children’s book on gender identity

‘I am Everything In Between’ sends a positive message to children about just being themselves

Eighteen-year-old Sydney Sunderland has published a children’s book that tackles gender identity. ‘I am Everything In Between’ highlights kids who don’t fit into stereotypical gender ideals. This book celebrates children and how they gender identify by sending a positive message. Photos via source
Eighteen-year-old Sydney Sunderland has published a children’s book that tackles gender identity. ‘I am Everything In Between’ highlights kids who don’t fit into stereotypical gender ideals. This book celebrates children and how they gender identify by sending a positive message. Photos via source

Courtenay teen publishes children’s book on gender identity

‘I am Everything In Between’ sends a positive message to children about just being themselves

Eighteen-year-old Sydney Sunderland has published a children’s book that tackles gender identity. ‘I am Everything In Between’ highlights kids who don’t fit into stereotypical gender ideals. This book celebrates children and how they gender identify by sending a positive message. Photos via source
Tarn can often be seen at events walking on stilts. Photo supplied

Vancouver Island youth getting first haircut at 16 for good causes

Tarn Blakely will donate the hair to Hair We Share while raising funds for YANA

Tarn can often be seen at events walking on stilts. Photo supplied
The BC SPCA 2023 Calendar Contest is open for submissions.

BC SPCA accepting submissions for 2023 Calendar Contest

The BC SPCA is accepting submissions for its 2023 animal calendar. Entering…

The BC SPCA 2023 Calendar Contest is open for submissions.