Community

Kayla Castellarin of the BC SPCA Alberni-Clayoquot Branch feeds Herby the cat some treats on his first birthday, Friday, Jan. 20, 2023. Staff decorated Herby’s living quarters for the occasion. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Herby the black cat seeks fur-ever home on Vancouver Island

Alberni-Clayoquot SPCA staff throw party for one-year old cat who has spent 70-plus days in care

Anthony Bucci photographed a bald eagle in Blackfish Sound last fall as it swooped down on a herring ball. (Anthony Bucci Photography)

North Island photographer’s bald eagle photo Canada’s choice for international contest

Anthony Bucci lives in the North Island and has his own wildlife touring business

Cake was served at the retirement celebration for the BC Ferries’ vessel M.V. Powell River Queen at the Quathiaski Cove ferry terminal on Quadra Island Tuesday, Jan. 17. Photo by Alistair Taylor/Campbell River Mirror

58-year-old Quadra Island ferry unable to complete last day as retirement party gets underway

Powell River Queen taken out of service due to mechanical failure while being celebrated by community

Left to right: Penticton Vees Bradly Nadeau, Ryan Hopkins, Aydar Suniev and Josh Nadeau will be participating in BCHL’s 60th Anniversary Prospects game at the SOEC Friday night. The weekend All Star and Alumni games continue Saturday at the outdoor rink. (Logan Lockhart Western News)

Expect large crowds, road closure near Penticton’s outdoor rink for BCHL all-star games

Martin Street partially closed Saturday while alumni, skills and all star games take place

Left to right: Penticton Vees Bradly Nadeau, Ryan Hopkins, Aydar Suniev and Josh Nadeau will be participating in BCHL’s 60th Anniversary Prospects game at the SOEC Friday night. The weekend All Star and Alumni games continue Saturday at the outdoor rink. (Logan Lockhart Western News)
Celebrations for Lunar New Year feature a lion dance, which is a way to cleanse spaces of bad vibes and bring in good luck for the new year. This lion and drum are used to by the Wong Sheung Kung Fu Club to practice for performances. (Hollie Ferguson/News Staff)

VIDEO: Island leaps into year of the rabbit with celebrations in Victoria’s Chinatown

Lunar New Year celebrations will include lion dancing, music, lucky red envelopes and lots of food

Celebrations for Lunar New Year feature a lion dance, which is a way to cleanse spaces of bad vibes and bring in good luck for the new year. This lion and drum are used to by the Wong Sheung Kung Fu Club to practice for performances. (Hollie Ferguson/News Staff)
Members of staff place the copies of the new book by Prince Harry called “Spare” at a book store in London, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023. Prince Harry’s memoir “Spare” went on sale in bookstores on Tuesday, providing a varied portrait of the Duke of Sussex and the royal family. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

QUIZ: How well do you know the royals?

Prince Harry’s book, Spare, has been attracting plenty of attention

Members of staff place the copies of the new book by Prince Harry called “Spare” at a book store in London, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023. Prince Harry’s memoir “Spare” went on sale in bookstores on Tuesday, providing a varied portrait of the Duke of Sussex and the royal family. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
The 40-acre Maris Estates oceanfront property has been gifted to the Comox Valley Regional District through the federal Ecological Gifts Program. Photo supplied

40 acres of oceanfront property donated to Comox Valley Regional District to create a park

The Comox Valley Regional District has received a donation of 40 acres…

The 40-acre Maris Estates oceanfront property has been gifted to the Comox Valley Regional District through the federal Ecological Gifts Program. Photo supplied
Victor’s Secret Fashion Show is returning to Port McNeill Jan. 28. (North Island Gazette file photo)

Victor’s Secret Fashion Show is returning to Port McNeill for 10th anniversary show

Organizer Cheryl Verbrugge said she’s very excited for Victor’s Secret to finally return

Victor’s Secret Fashion Show is returning to Port McNeill Jan. 28. (North Island Gazette file photo)
Whiskers and her 2022 calf. (Doug Bradshaw photo)

‘Who’s who’ of the Island’s humpback whale community surfacing around Port Alice

Region’s humpbacks catalogued and studied by the Marine Education and Research Society

  • Jan 9, 2023
Whiskers and her 2022 calf. (Doug Bradshaw photo)
First Link® Dementia Helpline can provide you with the support and answeres you need.

Stand up against dementia stigma this Alzheimer’s Awareness Month

Jana Schulz of Cranbrook, B.C. – a registered social worker, working as…

  • Jan 9, 2023
First Link® Dementia Helpline can provide you with the support and answeres you need.
Pictured from left to right: Clint Cadwallader, General Manager, Timberlands, Western Forest Products; Andy Cornell, Manager, Harvest Food Bank; Roger Briscoe, Regional Operations Manager, Western Forest Products. (Submitted photo)

Western Forest Products donates 10k to Harvest Food Bank in Port Hardy this holiday season

Western Forest Products contributed $100,000 to community groups and First Nations partners…

Pictured from left to right: Clint Cadwallader, General Manager, Timberlands, Western Forest Products; Andy Cornell, Manager, Harvest Food Bank; Roger Briscoe, Regional Operations Manager, Western Forest Products. (Submitted photo)
Team Canada forward Marie-Philip Poulin (29) celebrates with her gold medal after defeating the United States in women’s hockey gold medal game action at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing on Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022. How many medals did Canada win in the 2022 Winter Olympics? THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

QUIZ: How much do you know about the news of 2022?

A lot happened during the past 12 months

Team Canada forward Marie-Philip Poulin (29) celebrates with her gold medal after defeating the United States in women’s hockey gold medal game action at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing on Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022. How many medals did Canada win in the 2022 Winter Olympics? THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
The OCP Walk n Talk focus group in Port Alice stopped in their tracks to watch the whales. (Debra Lynn photo)

Whale sightings are becoming commonplace in the Port Alice area

Vince Devlin noticed an increase in whale sightings about three or four years ago

  • Dec 29, 2022
The OCP Walk n Talk focus group in Port Alice stopped in their tracks to watch the whales. (Debra Lynn photo)
Left to right: Marina Hargrave, the lead for Port Hardy/North Island, and her daughter Park Hargrave. (Submitted photo)

Shoebox gifts given out this holiday season to women in need in the North Island

At the end of the campaign, the project had reached about 77 per cent of their goal

Left to right: Marina Hargrave, the lead for Port Hardy/North Island, and her daughter Park Hargrave. (Submitted photo)
Santa and Mrs. Claus take a well-deserved break after reading through all the Black Press Media papers in Greater Victoria to update the naught and nice list. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

10 questions with Santa and Mrs. Claus

Black Press Media staffers put together a line of questioning for the…

Santa and Mrs. Claus take a well-deserved break after reading through all the Black Press Media papers in Greater Victoria to update the naught and nice list. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
Kala Doneyhue pictured inside her 2010 Chevrolet Equinox, after winning Penticton’s Huber Bannister Christmas car giveaway on Dec. 23, 2022. (Logan Lockhart- Western News)

VIDEO: Working 7 days a week with 2 kids, B.C. single mom surprised with car

Huber Bannister Chevrolet held its second annual Christmas car giveaway on Dec. 23

Kala Doneyhue pictured inside her 2010 Chevrolet Equinox, after winning Penticton’s Huber Bannister Christmas car giveaway on Dec. 23, 2022. (Logan Lockhart- Western News)
The “mischievous cow” in action Dec. 3. Photo courtesy Campbell River RCMP

RCMP on the lookout for a … ‘troublesome cow’

‘Cow’ left footprints, not hoof prints, in Island city after ringing doorbell earlier this month

  • Dec 20, 2022
The “mischievous cow” in action Dec. 3. Photo courtesy Campbell River RCMP
Alex Lavoie was even able to feed cat food to a raven that flew alongside his Jeep on the Dempster Highway in Yukon. Youtube video screenshot

VIDEO: Raven flies alongside Quadra Island couple travelling frigid Yukon highway

23 minute video with Raven garners over 5,000 views on Youtube

Alex Lavoie was even able to feed cat food to a raven that flew alongside his Jeep on the Dempster Highway in Yukon. Youtube video screenshot
Port McNeill RCMP stop for a photo on Saturday (Dec. 10) outside the IGA at their annual December fundraiser, Cram The Cruiser, with all the proceeds raised going directly towards supporting the A-Frame Food Distribution programs. (Derek Koel photo)

Cram The Cruiser raises over $3,400 for A-Frame Food Distribution programs

The Port McNeill RCMP would like to say thank you for all the generous acts of giving

Port McNeill RCMP stop for a photo on Saturday (Dec. 10) outside the IGA at their annual December fundraiser, Cram The Cruiser, with all the proceeds raised going directly towards supporting the A-Frame Food Distribution programs. (Derek Koel photo)
The folks who flew up to Port Hardy Airport in the 3-plane flight on Sunday, Dec. 3, stop for a photo with Gazette Hamper Fund President Natasha Griffiths. (Submitted photo)

‘Santa Flight’ gives back with much needed donations to the Gazette Christmas Hamper Fund

Five planes flew into the Port Hardy Airport with much needed toy…

The folks who flew up to Port Hardy Airport in the 3-plane flight on Sunday, Dec. 3, stop for a photo with Gazette Hamper Fund President Natasha Griffiths. (Submitted photo)