Elena Rardon

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Members of Tseshaht First Nation are joined by School District 70 representatives for a song before the unveiling of Tsuma-as Elementary School’s new name on Sept. 29. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)

B.C. school renamed from racist figure in reconciliation ceremony

Tsuma-as is the new name for Port Alberni school formerly known as AW Neill

Members of Tseshaht First Nation are joined by School District 70 representatives for a song before the unveiling of Tsuma-as Elementary School’s new name on Sept. 29. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)
The letters “A.W. Neill” were removed from a Port Alberni elementary school on Sept. 8, 2021. The new name, Tsuma-as, will go up on Sept. 29. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)

Island school named for racist getting new name on Truth and Reconciliation Day

Port Alberni’s former A.W. Neill School to formally receive new name Sept. 29

The letters “A.W. Neill” were removed from a Port Alberni elementary school on Sept. 8, 2021. The new name, Tsuma-as, will go up on Sept. 29. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)
A totem pole, called n’aasn’aas?aqsa, is unveiled at Victoria Quay on Saturday, Sept. 18. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)

First Nations language pole unveiled in Port Alberni

The FNEF/ United Nations totem pole, called n’aasn’aas?aqsa, has found its home

A totem pole, called n’aasn’aas?aqsa, is unveiled at Victoria Quay on Saturday, Sept. 18. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)
The fishing was quiet for these two participants in the annual Port Alberni Salmon Derby. They tried to catch a bite in Alberni Harbour to see if they bring in the winning fish for the annual Labour Day derby. (SONJA DRINKWATER/ Special to the AV News)

Nanaimo fisher nets 31-pound salmon, $10,000 at Port Alberni Salmon Derby

More than 1,700 tickets sold for Labour Day weekend derby

The fishing was quiet for these two participants in the annual Port Alberni Salmon Derby. They tried to catch a bite in Alberni Harbour to see if they bring in the winning fish for the annual Labour Day derby. (SONJA DRINKWATER/ Special to the AV News)
Students make a “tiny home” sign with their hands as part of the Tiny Home Challenge at John Paul II Catholic School. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)

Vancouver Island school gets visit from Netflix show hosts for tiny home competition

Pilot Tiny Home elective was offered for Grades 4-7

Students make a “tiny home” sign with their hands as part of the Tiny Home Challenge at John Paul II Catholic School. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)
Fresh out of the paint shop sporting its new livery, a Sikorsky S-61 helicopter owned by Coulson Aviation leaves California to help fight wildfires in British Columbia. (FACEBOOK PHOTO)

B.C.-based Coulson Aviation signs contract to fight fires in province’s Interior

Water-bombing helicopter currently stationed near Kamloops

Fresh out of the paint shop sporting its new livery, a Sikorsky S-61 helicopter owned by Coulson Aviation leaves California to help fight wildfires in British Columbia. (FACEBOOK PHOTO)
A sheriff’s car sits out front of the Capitol Theatre on Argyle Street in Port Alberni, where a coroner’s inquest into the 2016 death of 18-year-old Jocelyn George is taking place. (June 23, 2021) (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Coroner’s inquest suggests creation of wellness centre in Port Alberni

Recommendation one of 24 made after B.C. teen’s death in 2016

A sheriff’s car sits out front of the Capitol Theatre on Argyle Street in Port Alberni, where a coroner’s inquest into the 2016 death of 18-year-old Jocelyn George is taking place. (June 23, 2021) (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
An aerial firefighting helicopter with a Bambi Bucket can be seen dropping water on a localized spot of the Cherry Creek fire off Clayton Road, Monday night. (TONY SHUMUK/ Special to the AV News)

Fire crews stop spread of wildfire near Port Alberni

Crews worked throughout the night to stop spread of the fire

An aerial firefighting helicopter with a Bambi Bucket can be seen dropping water on a localized spot of the Cherry Creek fire off Clayton Road, Monday night. (TONY SHUMUK/ Special to the AV News)
Port Alberni’s RCMP station on Morton Street. (GOOGLE EARTH PHOTO)

Guards’ timelines show gaps in care of jailed B.C. teen

Former RCMP OIC brought in change following Jocelyn George’s death

Port Alberni’s RCMP station on Morton Street. (GOOGLE EARTH PHOTO)
A sheriff’s car sits out front of the Capitol Theatre on Argyle Street in Port Alberni, where a coroner’s inquest into the 2016 death of 18-year-old Jocelyn George is taking place. (June 23, 2021) (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

B.C. teen suffered from ‘acute case’ of myocarditis due to drug use: inquest

Doctors testify to Jocelyn George’s medical state when she arrived in ICU

A sheriff’s car sits out front of the Capitol Theatre on Argyle Street in Port Alberni, where a coroner’s inquest into the 2016 death of 18-year-old Jocelyn George is taking place. (June 23, 2021) (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
A coroner’s inquest is taking place at the Capitol Theatre. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)

B.C. teen refused earlier trip to hospital, coroner’s inquest hears

RCMP were called a second time after complaint against Jocelyn George

A coroner’s inquest is taking place at the Capitol Theatre. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)
A coroner’s inquest will be taking place at the Capitol Theatre in Port Alberni for the next week. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)

Teen B.C. mom who died following police custody recalled as ‘friend to many’

Police sent Jocelyn George to hospital after intoxication had gone ‘beyond the realm’ of normal detox

A coroner’s inquest will be taking place at the Capitol Theatre in Port Alberni for the next week. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)
‘Strength from Within’ is a sculpture by artist Connie Watts that stands next to the Tseshaht Longhouse, on the site of the former Alberni Indian Residential School (AIRS). It commemorates survivors and those who did not make it home. (NEWS FILE PHOTO)

Island First Nation asks for healing centre at site of former residential school

MP Gord Johns supports Tseshaht First Nation’s request

‘Strength from Within’ is a sculpture by artist Connie Watts that stands next to the Tseshaht Longhouse, on the site of the former Alberni Indian Residential School (AIRS). It commemorates survivors and those who did not make it home. (NEWS FILE PHOTO)
Hayden Bradbury and Lauren Salmon John Paul II Catholic School with their tiny home project. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)

Vancouver Island youngsters take on Tiny Home Challenge

Port Alberni students build model homes out of recycled materials

Hayden Bradbury and Lauren Salmon John Paul II Catholic School with their tiny home project. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)
Ancient Forest Alliance campaigner Andrea Inness walks beside an enormous western red cedar stump in a BCTS-issued cutblock in the Nahmint Valley. (PHOTO COURTESY TJ WATT)

Watchdog: logging practices put Vancouver Island old growth, biodiversity at risk

Forest Practices Board has issues with BC Timber Sales practices in Nahmint Valley near Port Alberni

Ancient Forest Alliance campaigner Andrea Inness walks beside an enormous western red cedar stump in a BCTS-issued cutblock in the Nahmint Valley. (PHOTO COURTESY TJ WATT)
A family crosses the highway at Cathedral Grove. (BLACK PRESS file photo)

Cathedral Grove parking, paving at bottom of the ‘Hump’ coming soon for Highway 4

Province pauses plans to blast Angel Rock near Cameron Lake

A family crosses the highway at Cathedral Grove. (BLACK PRESS file photo)
A group of volunteers clears scotch broom outside of the Alberni Valley Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Centre. This picture was taken in 2018, prior to COVID-19. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

Broombusting season arrives across Vancouver Island

Invasive Scotch broom has spread rapidly and densely but volunteers are fighting back

A group of volunteers clears scotch broom outside of the Alberni Valley Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Centre. This picture was taken in 2018, prior to COVID-19. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
Steve Muise, an outreach legal advocate with the Port Alberni Friendship Centre, runs a regular B.C. Photo ID clinic for people needing help re-applying for lost identification. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

Overdose deaths hit hard in Central Island region

Stigma surrounding drug use needs to change, says Community Action Team

Steve Muise, an outreach legal advocate with the Port Alberni Friendship Centre, runs a regular B.C. Photo ID clinic for people needing help re-applying for lost identification. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
Bulldogs forward Josh Van Unen dishes a pass to a teammate through traffic during a Tuesday, Oct. 27 preseason game against the Victoria Grizzlies. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)

BCHL: Port Alberni to host Island Division for BCHL’s 2020-21 season

18-game Vancouver Island schedule set to start in early April at Alberni Valley Multiplex

Bulldogs forward Josh Van Unen dishes a pass to a teammate through traffic during a Tuesday, Oct. 27 preseason game against the Victoria Grizzlies. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)
Construction takes place on Bamfield Main in early February 2021. (PHOTO COURTESY CTV NEWS)

Ongoing Bamfield roadwork unrelated to planned $30M fix

Construction by Mosaic unrelated to $30M upgrade ordered in wake of fatal bus crash

Construction takes place on Bamfield Main in early February 2021. (PHOTO COURTESY CTV NEWS)