PORT ALBERNI

Smoke billows from a former mill building at Somass Sawmill on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023. (PHOTO COURTESY PAFD)

‘Suspicious’ fire erupts in former Somass Sawmill building in Port Alberni

Multiple departments responded to Oct. 14 blaze; RCMP is investigating cause

Smoke billows from a former mill building at Somass Sawmill on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023. (PHOTO COURTESY PAFD)
The ribbon is cut to officially mark the opening of the new chip-sealed Bamfield Main. (ELENA RARDON / Alberni Valley News)

Bamfield Road resurfacing project complete, four years after tragedy

Speakers acknowledge families of UVic students who died in bus crash on same road

The ribbon is cut to officially mark the opening of the new chip-sealed Bamfield Main. (ELENA RARDON / Alberni Valley News)
Residential school survivors raise the “Every Child Matters” flag outside of Port Alberni City Hall on Monday, Sept. 25. (ELENA RARDON / Alberni Valley News)

West Coast First Nations ready to mark 50 years since residential school closed

Anniversary celebration will take place on Sept. 30 for Orange Shirt Day in Port Alberni

Residential school survivors raise the “Every Child Matters” flag outside of Port Alberni City Hall on Monday, Sept. 25. (ELENA RARDON / Alberni Valley News)
RCMP obtained this CCTV footage of the suspect vehicle. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

UPDATE: RCMP arrest suspect in Port Alberni hit and run

Man in his 80s arrested after picture of suspect vehicle released

RCMP obtained this CCTV footage of the suspect vehicle. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
Hole in the Wall is a popular outdoor destination with tourists in Port Alberni, but parking to access the area is causing concern. (KATYA SLEPIAN/ AV News file photo)

Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District ponders the future of Hole in the Wall

Popular tourist attraction also causing safety issues

Hole in the Wall is a popular outdoor destination with tourists in Port Alberni, but parking to access the area is causing concern. (KATYA SLEPIAN/ AV News file photo)
An aerial view of Angel Rock at Cameron Lake Bluffs on Highway 4. (PHOTO COURTESY MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE)

Traffic delays expected on Highway 4 east of Port Alberni on Sept. 14

Drivers can expect delays near the Cameron Bluffs wildfire site until early afternoon

An aerial view of Angel Rock at Cameron Lake Bluffs on Highway 4. (PHOTO COURTESY MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE)
Perry Bulwer is set to publish his book, “Misguided: My Jesus Freak Life in a Doomsday Cult.” (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

Vancouver Island author recalls ‘Life in a Doomsday Cult’ in new memoir

Perry Bulwer escaped from the religious cult Children of God

Perry Bulwer is set to publish his book, “Misguided: My Jesus Freak Life in a Doomsday Cult.” (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
Port Alberni firefighters work on knocking down a house fire on Bishop Crescent the morning of Sunday, Sept.10, 2023. (JERRY FEVENS PHOTO)

House burns on Bishop Crescent in Port Alberni

Port Alberni Fire Department crews were called out to a structure fire…

Port Alberni firefighters work on knocking down a house fire on Bishop Crescent the morning of Sunday, Sept.10, 2023. (JERRY FEVENS PHOTO)
Port Alberni RCMP had the Wintergreen Apartments taped off in the 3600 block of Fourth Avenue on Aug. 8, 2023. (ELENA RARDON / Alberni Valley News)

Port Alberni man charged with murder

Victim was found with ‘significant’ injuries in area notorious for serious crime

Port Alberni RCMP had the Wintergreen Apartments taped off in the 3600 block of Fourth Avenue on Aug. 8, 2023. (ELENA RARDON / Alberni Valley News)
Dan Sexton and his fishing partners pose for a photo with the winning catch. (ELENA RARDON / Alberni Valley News)

Man wins Port Alberni’s Labour Day Salmon Derby for the second time

Annual salmon derby was organized by the Alberni Valley Tyee Club

Dan Sexton and his fishing partners pose for a photo with the winning catch. (ELENA RARDON / Alberni Valley News)
Police, including a member of the forensics unit, enter a trailer behind the Wintergreen Apartments on Friday, Sept. 1, 2023. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Man shot in suspected targeted shooting in Port Alberni

RCMP are still looking for suspect vehicle seen leaving the area

Police, including a member of the forensics unit, enter a trailer behind the Wintergreen Apartments on Friday, Sept. 1, 2023. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
Heavy equipment has been removed from around Cameron Bluffs and Highway 4 has reopened to two-way traffic. (BC TRANSPORTATION PHOTO)

Highway 4 near Port Alberni reopens to two-way traffic in time for Labour Day

Josie Osborne says more info is coming on impact of stormy weather on Cameron Bluffs

Heavy equipment has been removed from around Cameron Bluffs and Highway 4 has reopened to two-way traffic. (BC TRANSPORTATION PHOTO)
Fishing has been ‘off the charts’ in the Alberni Inlet and Barkley Sound, says Alberni Valley Tyee Club’s Carolyn Jasken. (FACEBOOK PHOTO)

Fish are biting in Alberni Inlet leading up to annual salmon derby

Fishers from all over vying for $10,000 top prize during Labour Day weekend event

Fishing has been ‘off the charts’ in the Alberni Inlet and Barkley Sound, says Alberni Valley Tyee Club’s Carolyn Jasken. (FACEBOOK PHOTO)
Sam Gentleman kiteboards at China Creek Marina just outside of Port Alberni. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

Port Alberni teen kiteboarder chasing the wind around the world

Sam Gentleman attending the World Class Kiteboard Academy for his Grade 12 year

Sam Gentleman kiteboards at China Creek Marina just outside of Port Alberni. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
Large amounts of debris continue to be removed from the Cameron Bluffs area on Highway 4 between Port Alberni and Whiskey Creek after a wildfire burned right to the highway in June 2023. (B.C. MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTATION PHOTO)

Another full-day closure Aug. 29 planned for Highway 4 at Cameron Bluffs

Closure is necessary if road will re-open fully by Labour Day: transportation ministry

Large amounts of debris continue to be removed from the Cameron Bluffs area on Highway 4 between Port Alberni and Whiskey Creek after a wildfire burned right to the highway in June 2023. (B.C. MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTATION PHOTO)
Rock scaling work underway during the first full closure on Highway 4 at Cameron Lake. (PHOTO COURTESY BC MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE)

Another closure coming for Highway 4 east of Port Alberni

Highway will be closed for a full day on Thursday, Aug. 24

Rock scaling work underway during the first full closure on Highway 4 at Cameron Lake. (PHOTO COURTESY BC MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE)
Beaver Creek VFD members ensure the department’s engine is packed for deployment to Kelowna. (BEAVER CREEK VFD PHOTO)

Vancouver Island firefighters deploy to Okanagan to fight wildfires

Alberni Valley crews part of dozens joining task groups in Kelowna, Shuswap

Beaver Creek VFD members ensure the department’s engine is packed for deployment to Kelowna. (BEAVER CREEK VFD PHOTO)
Crews install mesh barriers along Cameron Bluffs on Highway 4 to protect the road from falling debris. (PHOTO COURTESY MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE)

Island MP calls for climate emergency relief for small businesses

Courtenay-Alberni MP Gord Johns says businesses should be compensated for loss of revenue

Crews install mesh barriers along Cameron Bluffs on Highway 4 to protect the road from falling debris. (PHOTO COURTESY MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE)
A small wildfire is burning north of Lacy Lake Road northeast of Port Alberni, between the city and Cameron Lake. (BC WILDFIRE SCREENSHOT)

Ground crews, helicopter attack wildfire northeast of Port Alberni

Fire was discovered Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 16

A small wildfire is burning north of Lacy Lake Road northeast of Port Alberni, between the city and Cameron Lake. (BC WILDFIRE SCREENSHOT)
Linden Zoet, 7, and Dallas Fraser, 9, have fun at the Sproat Lake Water Sports Association on July 19, 2023. Sproat Lake has been named B.C.’s best lake in a CBC competition. (SONJA DRINKWATER / Special to the AV News)

Sproat Lake voted best lake in B.C.

Sproat Lake is located west of Port Alberni on Vancouver Island

Linden Zoet, 7, and Dallas Fraser, 9, have fun at the Sproat Lake Water Sports Association on July 19, 2023. Sproat Lake has been named B.C.’s best lake in a CBC competition. (SONJA DRINKWATER / Special to the AV News)