Community

More people are looking to adopt dogs, and other pets, because of pandemic: SPCA. (File image)

Pandemic sparked puppy boom in B.C., but no spike in pet returns: BC SPCA

More people are looking to adopt pets due to pandemic, SPCA

Josh Waters and his one-year-old English Staffy cross, Rocky. (Twila Amato/Black Press Media)

COVID, heartbreak among speedbumps in Australian’s road to residency in Kelowna

Josh Waters shares his experience in the hopes to help others like him

The Tree to Sea loop is a 1,000 km bikepacking route around the north end of Vancouver Island. Photo courtesy Miles Arbor

1,000 km route opens northern Vancouver Island to bikepackers

Bikepacking combines ultralight backpacking and bicycle touring

Tour de Rock riders visited Sooke on Sept. 29. (Kevin Laird - Sooke News Mirror)

Sooke Tour de Rock visit ‘pretty fantastic’

Thousands raised locally for pediatric cancer research

Tour de Rock riders visited Sooke on Sept. 29. (Kevin Laird - Sooke News Mirror)
Adventurous senior Walter Martens took his first flying lesson as a 101st birthday present, taking off from the Langley airport on Saturday, Sept. 25. (Special to Langley Advance Times)

VIDEO: B.C. Senior, 101, takes first flying lesson

It was a birthday present for ‘adventurous’ Walter Martens

Adventurous senior Walter Martens took his first flying lesson as a 101st birthday present, taking off from the Langley airport on Saturday, Sept. 25. (Special to Langley Advance Times)
Tour de Rock rider and Nanaimo RCMP Const. Cydney MacNeill has her hair cut by Dan Awalt, co-owner of Heavy D’s Barbershop, outside the Coach and Horses Pub on Sunday, Sept. 26. (Greg Sakaki)

VIDEO: Riders motivated by the cause as Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock rolls down Island

RCMP constable gets head shaved at event hosted by Island Corridor Foundation

Tour de Rock rider and Nanaimo RCMP Const. Cydney MacNeill has her hair cut by Dan Awalt, co-owner of Heavy D’s Barbershop, outside the Coach and Horses Pub on Sunday, Sept. 26. (Greg Sakaki)
Deborah Banks and Dale Miller won $500,000 in the Aug. 20, 2021 Lotto Max draw. Photo supplied.

Vancouver Island co-workers share $500,000 lottery win

Comox Valley co-workers Deborah Banks and Dale Miller are sharing feelings of…

  • Sep 23, 2021
Deborah Banks and Dale Miller won $500,000 in the Aug. 20, 2021 Lotto Max draw. Photo supplied.
Renovated and expanded Forbes Hall is a spectacular addition to the Thetis Island community. (Photo submitted)

Little Island That Could opens expanded $2 million community centre

Rejuvenated Forbes Hall a shining beacon for Thetis Island — built largely without taxpayer’s dollars

  • Sep 16, 2021
Renovated and expanded Forbes Hall is a spectacular addition to the Thetis Island community. (Photo submitted)
Kathleen Oliver works on a new mural at the Ladysmith and District Credit Union on Sept. 9. (Photo by Tyler Hay/Chronicle)

Work begins on new Ladysmith credit union mural

New art covering Tour de Rock mural

Kathleen Oliver works on a new mural at the Ladysmith and District Credit Union on Sept. 9. (Photo by Tyler Hay/Chronicle)
The plaque by the tree dedicated to Pnina Benyamini. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Tree stands as a memorial to Benyamini

Popular Chemainus resident died in October 2020 after a long cancer battle

The plaque by the tree dedicated to Pnina Benyamini. (Photo by Don Bodger)
The Penelakut mini pitch will be painted by late spring 2022 to bring it to completion. (Submitted)

First mini soccer pitch ready for play on Penelakut Island

Grand opening Monday marks a special occasion for Indigenous youth

The Penelakut mini pitch will be painted by late spring 2022 to bring it to completion. (Submitted)
Pat Smekal shares one of her poems with a small crowd at the Ladysmith Waterfront Gallery on Sept. 4. (Photo by Tyler Hay)

Vancouver Island poets share work at Ladysmith art gallery

Saturday was the first in-person poetry event in Ladysmith since the start of the pandemic.

Pat Smekal shares one of her poems with a small crowd at the Ladysmith Waterfront Gallery on Sept. 4. (Photo by Tyler Hay)
The Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock Nanaimo-Ladysmith-Chemainus community team will include Shane Coubrough, clockwise from top left, Dave Giles, Mike Sherman, Cydney MacNeill, Steve Smith and Ashley Cockle. (News Bulletin photos and photos submitted)

This year’s Tour de Rock team members know the culture and the cause

Tour starts Sept. 20 in Port Alice, winds up with finale in Sidney on Oct. 1

The Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock Nanaimo-Ladysmith-Chemainus community team will include Shane Coubrough, clockwise from top left, Dave Giles, Mike Sherman, Cydney MacNeill, Steve Smith and Ashley Cockle. (News Bulletin photos and photos submitted)
Some residents held a counter-rally at the North Island Hospital Comox Valley campus Thursday afternoon, showing their support for health care workers. Photo supplied.

Counter-rally sends messages of thanks to Vancouver Island hospital workers

Residents hold support rally one day after COVID restrictions protest at Comox Valley hospital

Some residents held a counter-rally at the North Island Hospital Comox Valley campus Thursday afternoon, showing their support for health care workers. Photo supplied.
Two-time heart transplant recipient Robbie Thompson, seen here with the family dog, Oreo, explains why mass vaccinations are important for immuno-compromised people like himself. Photo supplied.

Two-time B.C. heart transplant recipient urges COVID vaccine opponents to reconsider

Vancouver Island man asks people to consider the greater good

Two-time heart transplant recipient Robbie Thompson, seen here with the family dog, Oreo, explains why mass vaccinations are important for immuno-compromised people like himself. Photo supplied.
A surprise barbecue was a welcome break for more than 25 hungry and tired firefighters after a day working on the Mt. Hayes wildfire behind Ladysmith. Four of the tired crew, having finished their dinner, are Matt Black from McKenzie, left, and Alex MacPhail, Keaton Grunder and Ben Bouchut all from Fort St. John. (Duck Paterson photo)

Campground and community feed hungry firefighters to say thanks

Rondalyn Resort put on a barbecue for more than 25 firefighters who had been working at Mt. Hayes

  • Sep 2, 2021
A surprise barbecue was a welcome break for more than 25 hungry and tired firefighters after a day working on the Mt. Hayes wildfire behind Ladysmith. Four of the tired crew, having finished their dinner, are Matt Black from McKenzie, left, and Alex MacPhail, Keaton Grunder and Ben Bouchut all from Fort St. John. (Duck Paterson photo)
A 12-day alumni tour of community-based teams will ride different legs of the Tour de Rock for 2021. (Courtesy Cops for Cancer)

Tour de Rock embraces community teams for annual Vancouver Island cancer fundraiser

Tour starts Sept. 20 in Port Alice, winds up with finale in Sidney on Oct. 1

A 12-day alumni tour of community-based teams will ride different legs of the Tour de Rock for 2021. (Courtesy Cops for Cancer)
James Tyler, of Heavy D’s Barbershop, gives a child a fresh haircut at the Fresh Start back-to-school event at Harbourfront library branch Aug. 28. (Karl Yu/News Bulletin)

Nanaimo barbers, librarians team to help less fortunate kids get back-to-school

Fresh Start event takes place at downtown Nanaimo branch, benefiting Nanaimo-Ladysmith students

James Tyler, of Heavy D’s Barbershop, gives a child a fresh haircut at the Fresh Start back-to-school event at Harbourfront library branch Aug. 28. (Karl Yu/News Bulletin)
Organ technician and builder Jason Barnsley hands one of the 541 pipes in the pipe organ at Duncan United Church to Connie Masson, the church’s music director, for cleaning. For the full story, see page 15. (Robert Barron/Citizen)

Expert flown in to give Duncan church’s 120-year-old pipe organ a tune up

Instrument has been at Duncan United Church since 1933

Organ technician and builder Jason Barnsley hands one of the 541 pipes in the pipe organ at Duncan United Church to Connie Masson, the church’s music director, for cleaning. For the full story, see page 15. (Robert Barron/Citizen)
About 40 people took part in the Parkinson’s SuperWalk along Spadina Avenue in Chilliwack on Sept. 17, 2016. This year’s walk is virtual and takes place on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress file)

Folks step up to raise money for Parkinson Society of B.C. with SuperWalk

Annual event goes virtual for 2nd year in a row, funds go to Parkinson’s research, programming

About 40 people took part in the Parkinson’s SuperWalk along Spadina Avenue in Chilliwack on Sept. 17, 2016. This year’s walk is virtual and takes place on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress file)