Sign In Subscribe Now the Courtenay Fire Department responded to a fire in the 200 block of Puntledge Road the building that contains Yummies and Gyros Greek Cafe Fire crews arrived shortly before 8:15 a.m to find a pile of debris burning next to the wooden staircase of a commercial building and damage to the structure was minimal.  Fire fighters caught it quickly as they spotted the smoke as they were on their way to the Courtenay Farmer’s Market The fire is believed to be human-caused and is considered suspicious The Comox Valley RCMP attended the scene and are currently investigating Dialogue and debate are integral to a free society and we welcome and encourage you to share your views on the issues of the day. We ask that you be respectful of others and their points of view, refrain from personal attacks and stay on topic. To learn about our commenting policies and how our community-based moderation works, please read our Community Guidelines Comox Valley RCMP are seeking witnesses and potential victims following an assault reported on the 2700-block of Cliffe Avenue in Courtenay Police received a report that a man was walking around the Driftwood Mall last Tuesday afternoon around 2:30pm assaulting people and had allegedly punched a customer wearing a beige hoodie with his pants around his knees and accompanied by a female wearing a blue denim jacket Responding officers located a man nearby matching the suspect description he attempted to flee but was quickly arrested without further incident While one person reportedly told a security officer they had been punched in the chest that individual left the area before police arrived investigators have not been able to locate or speak with the victim It’s possible there were other witnesses or individuals affected who have not yet come forward If you were in the area of Driftwood Mall around 2:30 p.m. on April 29, 2025, and saw what happened or have any relevant information, you are asked contact the Comox Valley RCMP at (250) 338-1321 and refer to file 2025-5700 If you wish to remain anonymous, contact Comox Valley Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) The word "éy7á7juuthem" means “Language of our People” and is the ancestral tongue of the Homalco, Tla’amin, Klahoose and K’ómoks First Nations with dialectic differences in each community It is pronounced "eye-ya-jooth-hem." The Independent Investigations Office of B.C (IIO) has opened an investigation into the Comox Valley RCMP after a motor vehicle incident sent one man to hospital According to a case report published by the IIO an officer was driving an unmarked police SUV the officer was involved in a collision with an unrelated vehicle The car crash occurred at the intersection of Piercy Avenue and 26 Street The IIO states that the officer continued driving to the initial service call but later returned to the collision scene and spoke to the man who had been driving the other vehicle The RCMP reported this separately to the IIO The man who was driving the other vehicle was taken by ambulance to the hospital for assessment and is now investigating," the report says There are two factors that the IIO takes into account at the beginning of each investigation: 1. If there has been an injury that meets the threshold of serious harm If there is a connection between the serious harm/death and police action or inaction "serious harm" is defined as  "injury that may result in death may cause serious disfigurement or may cause substantial loss or impairment of mobility of the body as a whole or of the function of any limb or organ." "When a notification from police is received the on-call Director or the Chief Civilian Director will determine whether a case is within the jurisdiction of the IIO If it is not immediately apparent if the injuries meet the threshold to be considered serious harm initial investigative steps will seek to determine this," the IIO website says If there is a connection to police action or inaction and the person’s serious harm or death the chief civilian director will determine if there are reasonable grounds to believe an offence has been committed police received a report that a man was walking around the Driftwood Mall assaulting people and had allegedly punched a customer The suspect was described as a male in his mid-30s It’s possible there were other witnesses or individuals affected who have not yet come forward Investigators are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the incident or who may have been assaulted to speak with police If you were in the area of Driftwood Mall around 2:30 p.m and saw what happened or have any relevant information please contact the Comox Valley RCMP at (250) 338-1321 and refer to file 2025-5700 About the Author: Comox Valley Record Staff You will also start receiving the Star's free morning newsletter Courtenay—Alberni 2025 federal election live results. Browse live results for all 343 ridings 275 of 275 polls are reporting as of 4:22 p.m. Follow our full coverage of the 2025 federal election 275 of 275 polls are reporting as of 4:22 p.m. Follow our full coverage of the 2025 federal election is projected to be re-elected in Courtenay—Alberni is in second place with 27,588 votes (34.58%) and Brian Cameron Johns has represented the riding since 2015 32,536 voters cast ballots at advance polls Looking for another riding? Here are the full results for the 2025 federal election. The Liberals have 169 races called in their favour They have 8,535,128 votes and 43.69 per cent of the popular vote The Conservatives have 144 races called in their favour They have 8,059,938 votes and 41.26 per cent of the popular vote The Bloc Québécois have 22 races called in their favour They have 1,232,095 votes and 6.31 per cent of the popular vote The New Democrats have seven races called in their favour They have 1,231,198 votes and 6.3 per cent of the popular vote The Greens have one race called in their favour They have 243,471 votes and 1.25 per cent of the popular vote There were three independents and four vacancies in the 338-seat Commons the Commons has grown by five ridings starting with this election This article was automatically generated using data provided by Canadian Press and will update as riding results become available Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account Simon Courtenay's recent and well-earned retirement and thanking him for his many contributions to the Faculty and beyond Resources and Sustainability (SERS) in 2013 as a faculty member and the Canadian Water Network as Scientific Director Simon spent over two decades dedicated to research and education in aquatic ecosystems and fish and invertebrates on the east coast of Canada He held a research scientist position with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans as well as academic appointments at universities in New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island Bringing his research expertise and experience with the Federal government to SERS Simon catalyzed new curriculum and experiential learning opportunities including a popular field course in the Maritimes involving former colleagues from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the broader ocean science community Simon also played an important role in welcoming SERS alumnus and long-time public servant as practitioner-in-residence to add to the school's real-world expertise on environmental governance and policy Trevor describes Simon as the ultimate class act deeply committed to science and to the environment and as keen and compassionate an educator as one will ever see Simon showed great commitment to faculty service He was also a dedicated supervisor to significant numbers of scholars from the undergraduate to post-doctoral levels he has worked with several Canadian research institutes and was named a Fellow of the Canadian Rivers Institute in recognition of his contributions to that organization "Simon exemplifies the impact you can make when you blend academic excellence and a service mindset," says Dean Bruce Frayne "Our vision for Environment 2035 is inspired by community members like him." Please join us in thanking Simon and wishing him the best in this next phase of his life Check out more of our latest news → These extreme fires can be difficult to manage and releasing significant amounts of carbon into the atmosphere Third-year Knowledge Integration students showcased their final museum-style projects touching on reimagining the future of our health and society Work for EnvironmentSupport Environment Staff directoryProvide website feedback This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Larry Kozuback has opened a new clinic in downtown Courtenay Anchor Chiropractic, located at 362A 10th St. offers both traditional and instrument-assisted techniques The clinic welcomes patients of all ages and accepts Worksafe DVA and Extended health plans and ICBC in the near future said the decision to open a new clinic stemmed from his enduring passion of helping people heal "I tried to retire and then realized" I missed treating my patients" he says with a smile.  "It's just the joy of my heart to see people who have been in extreme pain get relief.  I'm just so passionate about these good results!" The clinic's approach emphasizes the body's innate ability to heal when the nerves have the pressure relieved and the spine and extremity joints are free from interference.  "We relieve pressure on the nerve endings - we reset and everything can heal well.," Kozuback explains that's what the adjustments accomplish Anchor Chiropractic also has a global mission Kozuback and his team have volunteered all over the world including with limited access to healthcare.  "Sometimes there's no common language" That healing touch of chiropractic is effective without significant explanation The clinic's services are particularly relevant in a region where many residents work in physically demanding industries.  "In Port Alberni fishermen and mill workers with chronic pain we are seeing a lot of people coming in with similar work issues from older folks to those just getting started.  We also get many sports injuries personalized atmosphere.  "We love the people we work with" she says.  "We care for you - and it's true Anchor Chiropractic is open Tuesday through Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., with some Saturday hours available. Appointments can be booked online at anchorchiropractic.ca or by calling 778-225-3933.​ They take the calls after hours as well and acute injuries have priority "We're in it for the people,"  Kozuback says.  "We care for you!" The Operational Services department manages and maintains essential City infrastructure The department is also responsible for the City’s fleet of vehicles and equipment If you're having a problem with your water or sewer system and you don't know the cause We can help determine whether the issue is on City infrastructure which would be our responsibility to repair in which case you would need to contact a plumber Do you need the City to shut off your water temporarily Information and links for your water service The City is responsible for the sanitary sewer network up to your property line Find out about the City’s snow removal policies and practices If you spot an environmental concern or emergency notify the appropriate responders as quickly as possible Learn more about residential curbside collection for garbage Operational Services1000 Piercy Avenue,Courtenay BC V9N 3E6Phone: 250-338-1525After Hours Emergency: 250-334-2947Email: operations@courtenay.ca Hours: 7:30 am to 4:00 pmStarting January 6 The content on this page was last updated March 22 2025 at 9:57AM View current weather in Courtenay With federal election results now finalized Courtenay-Comox MLA Brennan Day calls for renewed collaboration across all levels of government to address critical local priorities and build a stronger future for the Comox Valley “Elections can be divisive — but now that the votes are counted “The people of Courtenay-Comox expect action Day extended congratulations to newly elected MPs Gord Johns and Aaron Gunn and outlined a list of shared priorities he hopes will unite federal • Public Safety and infrastructure: The local RCMP detachment is outdated and does not meet modern seismic safety standards “A purpose-built replacement is urgently needed,” said Day noting federal support's critical role in funding the project Comox Valley Ground Search and Rescue continues to operate without a permanent base — a gap he calls “unacceptable.” • Community infrastructure: From roads and public transit to recreational facilities like pools Day emphasized the urgent need for upgrades These aren’t extras — they’re essentials.” • Economic development: Supporting small businesses protecting key sectors like forestry and agriculture and embracing “Made in Canada” strategies are essential to creating a resilient local economy • Healthcare and seniors’ care: “The Comox Valley is feeling the strain,” said Day pointing to long-term care shortages and staffing challenges While healthcare is a provincial responsibility he says meaningful federal partnership is critical to closing the gap • Supporting the K’ómoks First Nation: Day reiterated his commitment to supporting K’omoks First Nation as they move through the process of establishing their final treaty ratification. “This is a historic opportunity — one that will shape our shared future for generations.” Day said he looks forward to productive collaboration with both MPs Let’s get to work — together — to deliver the outcomes our communities deserve.” and receive top headlines in your inbox Monday to Saturday The Comox Valley RCMP is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying a man who reportedly approached a student while dressed as a clown in Courtenay on April 24 The Comox Valley RCMP received a report that at approximately 2:35 p.m. a student was walking home from school along 16 Street when she was approached by a man offering her a ride and candy with shaggy brown hair that hung around his face — possibly with bright green streaks near the top or centre and had his face painted with light white makeup “This person would have likely stood out in any setting,” said Const “Even if you saw someone matching this description outside of the immediate area where the incident occurred — before or after — it could still be relevant to our investigation Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any information including his identity or surveillance footage.” conducting neighbourhood inquiries and canvassing for witnesses or surveillance footage “This is a good reminder to have age-appropriate conversations with the children in your care about personal safety and being cautious around strangers,” added Const “Conversations like these don’t have to be scary—they’re about empowering kids to trust their instincts and know what to do.” or dashcam recordings is asked to contact the Comox Valley RCMP at (250) 338-1321 and refer to file number 2025-5463 contact Comox Valley Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) The campus-community radio station of Nanaimo BC Run mostly by volunteers from Vancouver Island University Help us hit our $70,000 goal for 2023-2024. Support local journalism with our Non-Profit Newsroom Project, as well as our local arts, culture, and music programs by donating today Councillor Doug Hillian says the City of Courtenay is prioritizing shade as protection against skin cancer “Skin's the largest organ in your body and it protects you from things But if you take in too much ultraviolet radiation or UV rays from the sun it actually damages your skin cells and creates cancer which can spread and not only cause disfiguration but potentially other more significant symptoms,” said Councillor Doug Hillian The City of Courtenay is joining other municipalities across B.C and Canada in naming May 2025 as Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness Month City Councillor Doug Hillian has his own personal experience with the cause “It's interesting because the mayor asked me to read the proclamation as he often does with different counselors to share the speaking but he wasn't aware that I actually have skin cancer So I think it was an interesting coincidence,” the councillor said Hillian explained why it is important for Council to raise awareness about the risks of sun exposure “The stat that we read as part of the proclamation was that skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in Canada And that research shows that one in six Canadians born in the 1990s will develop some form of it in their lifetime for most people that will be relatively mild and treatable as long as they notice it and catch it early enough But for others it will develop into the more serious melanoma it's just another thing that we need to be very aware of and take precautions around,” he said Hillian said that while that number is the statistic for individuals born in the ‘90s he is concerned that for people of his own generation it may be much higher as they may not have known about taking precautions against sun damage growing up And when I was growing up we went out and soaked up the sun as much as we could People actually put stuff on their skin to make them tan more we now know that that isn't the best thing for your skin but there are numbers significant enough that we do need to raise that awareness,” he said Councillor Hillian shared his experience with skin cancer and melanoma and it started out with just a simple visit to the doctor's office ‘What's this little crusty bit of skin on the side of my head here?’ And I remember really clearly being in a doctor's office and the word ‘cancer’ being mentioned I'm in a doctor's office and the word cancer has just been mentioned.’ And to him it was very routine because so many people experience different forms of skin cancer,” Hillian reminisced.  “But that started a bit of a journey for me where I've had several specialist treatments and surgeries to deal with it and I've had to monitor it on an ongoing basis So I was pleased that the mayor asked me to read the proclamation so that I could do my bit to create awareness and encourage people to think about sun safety and to look out for changes in their skin that might be indications that they have something to be concerned about,” he said.  Councillor Hillian said the City is “building in shade features that give people a place to go to get out of the sun.” Photo: Heather Watson / CHLY 101.7 FM Councillor Hillian said there are many ways to protect yourself and that they are all fairly straightforward And oftentimes we get high cloud[s] that we can't really see the sun long sleeved shirts and pants and a wide-brimmed hat if in fact you are susceptible to this,” he said make sure that they do provide suitable protection Hillian said that while these are measures to protect your skin there are also things that put it at greater risk “Tanning equipment is something that is to be avoided they say there's no such thing as a healthy tan and that tanning equipment actually damages your skin and increases your risk of developing melanoma which as we've noted is the deadliest form of skin cancer if you have crusting or change in the colour or size or shape of a mole or any abnormally dark or discoloured spots or patches on your skin make sure you go and get that checked out as soon as possible,” he said Hillian said that the City of Courtenay is keeping sun exposure as well as other climate and heat related concerns in mind when planning the City’s outdoor spaces not only in relation to sun exposure and its effect on the skin but concern about heat and the impacts of excessive heat with our changing climate: we're developing shade areas but also features and structures in our parks,” he said “As we redo some of our parks and add to them we're building in shade features that give people a place to go to get out of the sun Because we certainly wanna encourage people to keep getting out there playing and enjoying our parks and our beaches but it's really important that they have places of respite to go to the exposure to the sun– they get a bit of a break from it.” Hillian said that one organization where people can learn more information about preventable health measures is the Save Your Skin Foundation which was started by people fighting their own skin cancer “It was founded by a North Vancouver resident named Kathleen Barnard back in 2003 when she had malignant melanoma And fortunately she did survive with a trial treatment but through her experience the organization was started and it's developed as a nationwide patient-led not-for-profit And they have a lot of helpful resources online.” The foundation can be found online at saveyourskin.ca for more information and resources to keep you and your loved ones safe this Summer Funding Note: This story was produced with funding support from the Local Journalism Initiative, administered by the Community Radio Fund of Canada. Reporting done in the Comox Valley is done in partnership with CVOX Our station is nonprofit and independent. We rely on listeners and readers like you to support the local programming we produce. Your support makes local news programs like Midcoast Morning available to everyone, supports our non-profit newsroom and keeps our station broadcasting the eclectic mix of music it is loved for Please give today Help us hit 1000 total donors this 2024-2025 Receive updates from our music department + more Radio Malaspina Society / CHLY 101.7FM | #2—34 Victoria Cres. Nanaimo, BC Canada V9R 5B8 | 250-716-3410 | www.chly.ca CHLY 101.7FM is Listener supported on the Salish Sea Our non-profit station is funded in part with by grants from the following sources. Learn more about our funding on our about page. CHLY 101.7FM acknowledges and thanks the Snuneymuxw First Nation as we broadcast from their traditional territory up and down the coast of Vancouver Island and across the Salish Sea to the Southern Sunshine Coast and Lower Mainland CHLY is currently not active on Facebook or Instagram due to Meta’s retaliation and banning of Canadian media organizations in response to the Online News Act. Please consider signing up for our mailing list! or podcasts by CHLY 101.7FM (The Radio Malaspina Society) is protected by copyright broadcast or podcast with funding support from the Local Journalism Initiative is Creative Commons the City of Courtenay’s Operational Services department is ready to respond 24/7 between October 1 and March 31 City crews maintain over 341 lane kilometres of paved roads working up to 14-hour shifts during snow events to keep roads clear and safe Crews are also dispatched to clear high-priority sidewalks and storm drains (catch basins) to help prevent flooding For information about automated curbside collection during a snowfall event, visit collection zones and schedules expect a single plow pass to ensure emergency access for police The City clears high-volume sidewalks where mechanical clearing is possible Everyone has a role in keeping roads and sidewalks safe Interactive map: Storm catch basin locations Snowplowing is a demanding job and City crews work around the clock Snow clearing equipment requires a wide berth and cannot be maneuvered as easily as a family vehicle emergency vehicles always have priority on City roads Vehicles may be towed if necessary to keep routes clear The content on this page was last updated March 23 2025 at 10:58AM More than 30,000 people in the Courtenay-Alberni riding have already cast their vote according to data released by Elections Canada which is just under half of the total turn out in the 2021 election though that was the lowest voter turn out since the riding was created in 2013 The North Island-Powell River riding has seen fewer advance voters 60,684 people voted, which is also the lowest turnout by a slim margin since the 2013 redistribution This election has seen the highest advance turn out with just under 7.3 million people voting so far across Canada The riding with the highest turn out so far is Carleton — Conservative Party of Canada Pierre Poilievre's riding — at 43,394 Carleton also has the record for Canada's longest ballot with 91 candidates vying for the MP position The ballot has two columns of names and is 97.08 centimetres long The riding was targeted by electoral reform advocacy group The Longest Ballot Committee which wants to establish a citizen's assembly on electoral reform The lowest advance turn out was in the Nunavut riding with 1,152 people voting before election day The riding has a total population of 36,858 Courtenay-Alberni has 107,691 electors.  Those who still need to vote can do so on Monday, April 28. Vote at your assigned polling station. Polls will be open for 12 hours. To find your polling station, check your voter information card or use Elections Canada's Voter Information Service You can still register when you go to vote at your assigned polling station," the Elections Canada website says The City of Courtenay provides residential curbside collection for garbage, recycling and organics. The City is committed to reducing the volume of waste sent to the Comox Strathcona Waste Management (CSWM) landfill by diverting collected materials through the recycling and organics collection programs.  Find out what zone you are in and view collection schedules for the year Learn more about our automated waste collection system using standardized wheeled carts Learn more about curbside garbage collection Learn more about curbside recycling collection Learn more about curbside organics collection Property owners must arrange collection service with a private contractor Public Works Services1000 Piercy AvenuePhone: 250-338-1525 Missed CollectionEmail: publicworks@courtenay.caOther inquiriesEmail: solidwaste@courtenay.ca Emterra EnvironmentalPhone: 250-336-8066Website: www.emterra.ca The content on this page was last updated March 22 2025 at 12:43PM Introduction successfully secured a regional grant of $1.093 million through the Government of Canada's and the Province of British Columbia’s Strengthening Communities’ Services program (administered by UBCM) This funding was used to implement the Increasing Vulnerable Population Supports and Connections in the Comox Valley project aimed at supporting people experiencing homelessness in the wake of COVID-19 This one-time grant was designed to provide immediate assistance to address the basic human needs of individuals without shelter during a time of unprecedented and rising homelessness While long-term solutions—such as affordable housing and complex care units—are urgently needed and are actively being pursued the Strengthening Communities’ Grant (SCG) was not intended for these purposes The primary goal of this project was to offer a lifeline to those experiencing homelessness while navigating the deteriorating effects of COVID-19 on affordability See our infographic for details of the impact of the Strengthening Communities Grant the funding supported the following initiatives: The provision of temporary and immediate services to people experiencing homelessness in the Comox Valley significantly improved health and other essential services were provided to 100-150 people daily there were 799 responses to toxic drug poisonings This project was instrumental in raising awareness about homelessness and the factors contributing to it 910 individuals—including front-line workers and government staff—attended 48 training sessions aimed at fostering understanding and promoting support for people experiencing homelessness the initiative gave People With Lived and Living Experience (PWLLE) the opportunity to have their voices heard and feel a sense of connection and belonging PWLLE are actively involved in collaborative upstream systems-change efforts alongside public and private service providers and the broader community The project has also contributed to the creation of policies aimed at reducing stigma and better supporting vulnerable populations leaving a lasting legacy of positive change Find the Staff Report here The Comox Valley Coalition to end Homelessness has created a Street Survival Guide for anyone who finds themselves experiencing homelessness The Street Survival Guide can be accessed here City of CourtenayPhone: 250-334-4441Email: info@courtenay.ca  The content on this page was last updated December 18 2024 at 7:42AM Occupation/background: I’m a trained and certified aircraft engineer living in the Comox Valley Clare and father to my five-month-old daughter I’ve lived on Vancouver Island for almost 10 years and have travelled all across the country from coast to coast to coast I’m running in this election because I think Mark Carney needs a full term as Canada’s 24th prime minister He’s the right person at the right time in this federal election Occupation/background: Former naval warfare officer and small business owner with a background in leadership He holds a bachelor of computer science and an MBA in executive management.  Why should people of Courtenay-Alberni vote for you for MP The People’s Party of Canada is the only party with the courage to say what everyone else is afraid to admit: the system is broken and tinkering around the edges won’t fix it The other parties only disagree with each other about how quickly to destroy our freedoms and the PPC is the only party offering solutions to protect them and minimizing government interference in your life What will be your priorities if you are elected I'm running for re-election because the fight is far from over especially with the aggression of Donald Trump towards our country and the challenges for workers small businesses and families because of his unfair trade war immediate relief and for long-term solutions that put people ahead of corporate profits for more affordable non-market homes like co-ops and social housing; and We have led efforts to investigate price-fixing and will continue to push for a windfall profits tax on big chains – money that should help families afford the basics.  Courtenay-Alberni needs and deserves experienced representation at the table and leadership that puts people first Being member of Parliament is not an entry-level job I know this from personal experience and I’m ready to hit the ground running for Courtenay-Alberni.  Teresa Knight, Animal Protection Party Occupation/background: An art teacher and artist I have spent many volunteer hours working for animals and curating art events centred on animal lives The Animal Protection Party has a complete platform that is forward-looking in all areas We are committed to keeping our planet and us healthy and happy and running smoothly We will work tirelessly for both us and all the creatures with whom we share this web of life Chris Markevich, Green Party of Canada Occupation/background: I work for VanillaSoft I have a master of post-production diploma from the Art Institute I was born and raised in Vancouver where I lived for more than 30 years I have a wealth of experience working for political parties and non-profits including the Douglas-Coldwell Layton Foundation North Island Pride and provincial council for the B.C The toxic drug crisis continues to be one of the most pressing issues of the past 10 years British Columbia had the dubious distinction of marking nine years of being under a public health emergency more than 16,000 people have died due to this crisis The Green Party has been calling for a national public health emergency for more than five years which would free up federal funding and intervention It would also allow the federal government to direct funds straight to organizations in communities to better serve people who need help We are also severely lacking access to family doctors particularly in the Comox Valley where there is only one walk-in clinic for more than 50,000 residents The Green Party is committed to a new primary care health act to guarantee every Canadian access to a family doctor as well as fully integrating mental health services into healthcare as an insured benefit Courtenay-Alberni is a vast and geographically diverse area and is unique in many ways There are numerous challenges facing people from safe and reliable transportation through Port Alberni to earthquake preparedness in Tofino and Ucluelet People in the riding want an MP who will address those challenges head on in Parliament and to be a tireless advocate for real progress on solving them I am committed to being Courtenay-Alberni’s voice in Ottawa and I am not afraid to make good trouble for any obstinate government whether it ends up being Liberal or Conservative  After completing a degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Victoria I joined my father and sister in the family business and have since also joined the management  team of a modular home manufacturing company (Atlas Modular Solutions) based here on Vancouver Island My wife Brandalyn and I have lived on Vancouver Island since 2008 and in Coombs since 2012 We are both actively involved in advocating for vulnerable children and families locally my priorities will be to represent Christian values in our federal political system; to champion the rights of vulnerable children and families especially children in the womb; to end the indoctrination of children in our education system; to defend the rights of parents to raise their children according to their values and beliefs; to expose and oppose the pressure on our seniors and other vulnerable hurting individuals to end their own lives through MAID; to educate lawmakers and the all Canadians on the risks costs and consequences of exposing unborn children to alcohol; to fight for lower taxes less government regulation of businesses and industry Promoting the sanctity of marriage is often viewed as naïve and old-fashioned The right of parents to raise their children based on their own values and beliefs is being eroded is seen by many as an attack on the rights and freedoms of others if Canada continues to ignore the supremacy of God and we continue to do what is right in our own eyes we will reap the inevitable consequences that we already see happening in the mental emotional and spiritual health of our citizens Sign up for free account today and start receiving our exclusive newsletters About the Author: Nanaimo Bulletin News Staff Courtenay-Alberni voters can cast their ballots in the federal election as early as today (Friday Sunday and Monday (April 19 to April 21) from 9 a.m Electors must vote only at their assigned polling place This is different from the process in some provincial elections where electors can vote at any polling location Voters can find the address for their assigned polling station on the back of their voter information card, by visiting elections.ca or by calling 1-800-463-6868 To vote, electors must prove their identity and address. The list of accepted ID can be found online Another early-voting option is to vote at any Elections Canada office by April 22 at 6 p.m. The locations in Courtenay-Alberni can be found online The offices are open seven days a week: Monday to Friday from 9 a.m Residents can also vote by mail using the special ballot process The deadline to apply to vote by special ballot is Tuesday and the marked ballot must be returned by election day – Monday Visit the Elections Canada website to apply to vote by mail Candidates running in Courtenay-Alberni are: Brian Cameron (Liberal Party), Thomas Gamble (People's Party of Canada), Gord Johns (NDP), Teresa Knight (The Animal Protection Party), Chris Markevich (Green Party) Kris McNichol (Conservative Party) and Jesse Musial (Christian Heritage Party of Canada) About the Author: Parksville Qualicum Beach News Staff Six of seven federal candidates in the Courtenay-Alberni riding took turns answering audience questions during an all candidates meeting Tuesday The forum took place at the RimRock Casino, hosted by the Alberni Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Alberni Valley Transition Town Society. Although the meeting took place in Port Alberni, the Ucluelet and Tofino chambers of commerce and Teacher's Union partnered to sponsor a live stream of the event that can be viewed on YouTube Alberni Valley Chamber of Commerce CEO Jolleen Dick explained this was done to make the meeting "more accessible" to residents across the riding An animated audience booed and cheered throughout the night as candidates rose to answer questions People in the audience could "vote" virtually to determine which questions should be asked of the candidates The questions were ultimately moderated by David Wiwchar of 93.3 The Peak and Mike Youds of the Alberni Valley Transition Town Society Multiple questions were submitted on the topics of Indigenous rights and reconciliation Liberal Party candidate Brian Cameron NDP candidate Gord Johns and Green Party candidate Chris Markevich said they supported the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and the implementation of all calls to action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission that we need to be prepared to answer on a daily basis," said Markevich While Johns acknowledged that the Liberal government passed the UNDRIP Act in 2021 but Indigenous people in many places still don't have clean drinking water some don't have adequate housing...or they're homeless." People's Party of Canada (PPC) candidate Thomas Gamble meanwhile, railed against the United Nations calling it "a bunch of unelected bureaucrats" and stated that decades of "top-down" governance from the federal level have failed Indigenous communities He said the PPC supports repealing "federal dependency structures" so Indigenous communities can have "real independence." When asked whether they would support a law criminalizing residential school denialism (similar to the criminalization of Holocaust denialism), Cameron Johns and Markevich reiterated that what happened to First Nations people in Canada was a genocide and said they would support this law Christian Heritage Party candidate Jesse Musial and Animal Protection Party candidate Teresa Knight shied away from support for such a law while Gamble said a law like this would restrict freedom of expression for Canadians "Even our hate speech laws as they currently exist probably shouldn't exist," he said He also said there are "multiple sides to the story" when it comes to Canada's history of residential schools which drew a chorus of boos from the audience In response to the topic of attracting more doctors and nurses to the riding, Cameron emphasized the importance of breaking down inter-provincial trade barriers and "levelling the playing field" by making wages even across the country "That will help keep our doctors in our province so they're not going to other provinces to make a better wage," Cameron said Markevich and Johns said their parties are pushing for a guaranteed livable income and affordable housing which will help to recruit health-care workers to the riding Johns also said that the NDP has made a priority of increasing health care transfers to provinces which will help with the recruitment of doctors and nurses, and fast-tracking immigration processes for doctors immigrating to Canada.  because now we have American doctors who are going to want to hopefully come to Canada," Johns added Gamble and Musial emphasized the need for more diversity in the healthcare system and the ability for provinces to make their own healthcare decisions Musial added that doctors need to have freedom of conscience when it comes to participating in vaccine mandate or medical assistance in dying (MAiD) When asked about women's abortion rights and access to contraception Knight and Markevich all expressed their support for a woman's right to choose what she does with her body. Gamble says the discussion about abortion needs to be re-opened which also received some boos from the crowd emphasized that the Christian Heritage Party is Canada's only pro-life political party and said this is the "single-biggest issue" for his party One of the questions was submitted by a 13-year-old Courtenay-Alberni resident who explained they have trans friends and wanted to know how candidates will stand up for trans rights Johns and Markevich identified themselves as staunch advocates of the 2SLGBTQI+ community while Knight said she believes in "everybody being themselves." Musial said he believes in advocating for the "weak and vulnerable" in society but also personally believes that God created only two genders — male and female Gamble said it's a "complicated issue" but suggested that "gender ideology is being forced on kids." Other questions were asked about seniors' taxes CBC funding and the temporary foreign worker program Markevich drew one of the biggest rounds of applause of the night by stating that capitalism needs to be dismantled  "We are always chasing the most money and it doesn't matter what the cost is to human life to animal life or to the plant life around us," Markevich said Conservative Party candidate Kris McNichol declined to attend the event on Tuesday. It was the second time McNichol had declined to participate in an all-candidates meeting in the riding, after choosing not to take part in a Courtenay event on April 8 Several audience members submitted questions about McNichol's absence although moderators chose not to ask these questions out of fairness to a candidate who wasn't present to defend himself Markevich and Johns all expressed disappointment that the Conservative candidate wasn't present to answer questions Cameron said he found McNichol's absence "very rude" to the people of the riding incumbent Johns compared the all candidates meeting to a job interview.  "Do you want to send someone to Ottawa who doesn't show up no one's stopping me from fighting for you," he said McNichol did not respond to an Alberni Valley News inquiry about his absence but he sent out a press release explaining that he had been at a town hall meeting in Nanoose Bay on the same night This town hall meeting was scheduled after the all candidates meeting McNichol also posted a video on social media stating he has chosen not to attend "some" all candidates meetings in the riding "I believe listening to the community is more important right now than delivering rehearsed speeches," he said The federal election is set for April 28, 2025. Advance voting will take place on April 18, 19, 20 and 21. For more information about when and where to vote, visit www.elections.ca The City of Courtenay is part of the Comox Valley Water System which is operated by the Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) Stage 1 water restrictions in effect starting May 1.  Courtenay’s Bylaw Services will be conducting evening and weekend patrols enforcing the water restrictions Residents using water contrary to restrictions will receive an initial notification either by a doorhanger left at their door or by a direct visit from Bylaw Services Any subsequent infractions will result in a ticket for non-compliance For full information on water restrictions, go to: www.comoxvalleyrd.ca/restrictions A person may only use a sprinkler to water a lawn or garden growing on a property with: A person may only use a sprinkler to water a lawn and garden growing on a property with: UNDER STAGE 3 RESTRICTIONS NO LAWN WATERING IS PERMITTED all use of water for any purpose other than drinking food preparation and personal hygiene is strictly prohibited if each unit has its own irrigation system use the unit number (odd vs even) to determine when to water If the irrigation system is not separated by unit it is the property address that will determine when the entire place can irrigate City of Courtenay250-334-4441bylaw@courtenay.ca The content on this page was last updated April 25 2025 at 4:13AM The Flood Management Plan is a master plan presenting solutions to reduce the risk of coastal and riverine flooding in the City of Courtenay The content on this page was last updated December 2 2024 at 2:53AM Courtenay–Alberni candidates from left to right: Chris Markevich (Green) Not pictured: Teresa Knight (Animal Protection Party) Photo collage: Jesse Woodward / CHLY 101.7 FM The 45th federal general election is in full swing across Canada, leading up to election day on Monday April 28th. This week CHLY and CVOX reached out to candidates from the Courtenay–Alberni riding for their thoughts going into the election Incumbent NDP MP Gord Johns said the first week of campaigning is already off to a good start for his team we reached hundreds of voters on the doorstep and over the phone we've had a record amount of sign requests Obviously the most frequently raised issue that we've heard from voters that have shared with us is without question affordability and the threat to our country's autonomy,” Johns said “But really we're hearing about families and seniors and people that are already feeling squeezed by the rising cost of housing but they're falling behind and they're looking for help from their government.” and is the only returning candidate in Courtenay–Alberni this election This is something he suggests is significant in the current political climate they really want to see experience in terms of representation in Parliament it's not a training on the job option for people In our riding it's really a two party race between the NDP and Conservatives and people realize that the only way to stop Pierre Poilievre in our riding at Courtenay–Alberni is to vote for the NDP I really intend to earn everybody's vote.” Running for the Green party this election is Chris Markevich who after working and volunteering for the NDP for nearly ten years is hoping to be the first Green MP elected in Courtenay–Alberni He spoke to how the start of the election has been so far so it has been a slow start to the campaign so far I've had a bit of struggle with getting things going but now that I'm officially on the ballot and I've got my materials in place I'm really excited about hitting the ground running I've already gone out with a couple volunteers to do some postering we're getting some signs put out this week and I'm engaging with more volunteers who are getting into the campaign as well I am optimistic about the road ahead and I'm looking forward to engaging with more voters and with more people in the riding,” Markevich said Related Stories: Candidates excited to start campaigning in North Island—Powell River Another new candidate this year is Teresa Knight She said running in this election is outside her comfort zone but something she feels she owes to the animals “It's personally scary for me to put myself out there I think it's a critical time to run though because with tariffs and restrictions on trade I'm not the type to run for a party at all but I do find it scary and overwhelming,” Knight said Knight said her motivation for campaigning is a desire to help animals after her own near-death experience and I thought for a few days there that my end was near And then I didn't care 'cause I was so tired 'Cause all my life I've loved animals and wanted to help them I have to help animals while I'm still alive,” she said The remaining three candidates in the Courtenay–Alberni riding did not respond to the request for comment before the publication deadline Running as the Conservative candidate is Kris McNichol, a business owner and women’s softball coach. PPC candidate Thomas Gamble’s profile notes his background in military and current work as an entrepreneur. Last to announce entry in the race on Friday March 28th was the Liberal candidate Brian Cameron whose background is in film and aviation maintenance.  The deadline for candidate nominations is April 7th, and at time of recording three of the six announced candidates are officially registered to the Courtenay–Alberni riding. According to Elections Canada the complete list of confirmed candidates will be available on Wednesday April 9th Further election coverage will continue throughout the month The City of Courtenay is working to lower greenhouse gas emissions across its municipal operations Several initiatives are underway to reduce our community’s environmental impacts Explore the topics below to learn more about these efforts Our community often experiences poor air quality during winter evenings when wood burning appliances are used to keep warm Here’s how the City of Courtenay is addressing air quality concerns The City has created a strategy and established targets to become carbon neutral Courtenay's policies and targets protecting the environment The City has a bylaw regulating the use of pesticides Reduce your carbon footprint at home and in the community removal and replacement of trees in the City of Courtenay Save water and reduce demand on the water system Development ServicesCity of CourtenayPhone: 250-703-4839Email: planning@courtenay.ca The content on this page was last updated March 21 2025 at 4:30AM Courtenay-Alberni voters can cast their ballots in the federal election as early as Friday Sunday and Monday (April 19-21) from 9 a.m The advance polling station for the Alberni Valley is the Alberni Athletic Hall Voters can find the address for their assigned polling station on the back of their voter information card by visiting elections.ca or by calling 1-800-463-6868 electors must prove their identity and address The list of accepted ID can be found online Another early-voting option is to vote at any Elections Canada office by April 22 at 6 p.m The Elections Canada office in Port Alberni is located at the corner of Third Avenue and Argyle Street at 4994 Argyle St Visit the Elections Canada website to apply to vote by mail About the Author: Alberni Valley News Staff Tazzioli says that this local downward trend is particularly exciting as other communities with similar size and geography have seen rebounds or increases in their concentrations of fine particulate matter since 2021 Editor Note: This story was originally published with a different chart from the City of Courtenay A report presented to the City of Courtenay indicates air quality has been improving in recent years.  Courtenay’s Manager of Environmental Engineering “The Comox Valley has been monitoring air quality since 2011 and at that time there was a provincial air monitoring station that was installed and we found that fine particulate matter is the source of air quality concerns in the region,” she said “And fine particulate matter originates from smoke and wood burning appliances as the key sources of fine particulate matter in our area” Tazzioli explained that over the course of the monitoring period “The primary one is that we enjoy good air quality most of the time except during winter nights and times of wildfire smoke We've also noticed that there's a very distinct pattern to this,” she pointed out we meet the air quality objectives and generally have good air quality And that aligns with the time that residents are using wood-burning appliances.” Tazzioli said that to build on provincial data the municipalities have installed PurpleAir monitors throughout the region allowing them to compare data from one neighbourhood to the next and observe any disparities in concentrations of fine particulate matter PurpleAir is a brand of real-time air quality monitor that uploads data directly to the web for anyone to observe “Older neighbourhoods that have more homes have much worse air quality than neighbourhoods with new homes that did not have wood stoves installed,” she said “So it really highlights the seasonal nature of this issue and how neighbourhood composition plays a key role.” Tazzioli said that in 2017 Courtenay had a particularly smoky year even making the list of B.C.’s top ten communities for worst air quality This was before the province introduced regulations for both commercial and residential burning practices and Tazzioli said that there has been consistent improvement every year since.  She said that this local downward trend is particularly exciting as other communities with similar size and geography A recent report shows that air quality in the City of Courtenay has been improving since 2021 “It indicates that our local initiatives are working,” Tazzioli said “There has been a considerable focus on this in recent years the region has taken such measures as installing purple air monitors the City of Courtenay has updated our nuisance bylaws We've been running a public education campaign and we've been working with our regional partners And so it's really great to see our local efforts paying off within the data that's collected from the monitoring station.” Part of this regional endeavour was the 2023 Airshed Protection Strategy developed by the Comox Valley Regional District in collaboration with its member municipalities “It created a vision for our community to have clean and healthy air all year round,” Tazzioli said “and from that it brought together a number of stakeholders and then as a city we implemented some of the recommendations within our boundary.” Tazzioli said that next steps involve continuing to educate residents about the health risks and the supports available to them such as rebates for upgrading home heating appliances with the data showing the air is getting cleaner One of the challenges that we face is that air quality is different across the city,” Tazzioli said “So while in one neighbourhood we may feel like we're making a lot of progress there could be another person who is still struggling with the smoke being generated by their neighbours and could be in a much different situation And so I think the challenge is trying to make sense of these trends while acknowledging the nuance of individual experience.” Tazzioli said that air quality is not something to scoff at as the health risks are very real and very serious have a threshold of 25 PPM for a 24 hour averaging period So it's definitely a concern,” she explained Tazzioli said that when looking at averages the concentrations are improving but in an individual moment it may be much worse with the smoke from a chimney’s concentration being quite high so the averages are not necessarily what we breathe “And so I think the main message would be that the averages are not necessarily what we breathe and what we breathe can definitely be much higher than the threshold set by the BC air quality objectives,” she said Tazzioli said that while poor air quality impacts everyone and people with pre-existing health conditions.  It impacts the health of people around the world When we hear statistics about the number of premature deaths related to air quality We're referring to fine particulate matter and it is a concern in our community as well,” she explained.  I think what people can do is take steps to limit their exposure And so what that may look like on an individual level could be different between person to person.” Tazzioli said some measures that can be taken include installing filtration systems or air purifiers within one’s home or choosing a different method for heating “Whether that be a heat pump or natural gas all other heating sources emit less fine particulate matter than wood burning and we often hear people talk about how the certified stoves emit less fine particulate matter than the old smoky stoves even the certified stoves emit much more fine particulate matter than other heating options,” she said limiting your exposure may look differently but I think just being aware of the source and starting to notice the smoke swirling under the streetlights at night is the first step to recognizing the issue that often remains hidden because the smoke is invisible at night.” Tazzioli said that while the concern is present for wildfire smoke on summer days the wood burning that largely happens at night passes under the radar for many people when it should be a concern.  To learn more about air quality in Courtenay, and for more information on wood stove rebates and alternative heating options, visit courtenay.ca/cleanair The 6th Street Active Transportation Bridge will move forward towards construction with City of Courtenay Council approving the award of the construction contract and update to the project’s cost estimate Courtenay City Council received results of a recent request for proposals for the project which will be a transportation connector for active transportation users and pedestrians council directed staff to secure $4.3 million in long-term borrowing to complete the project," a public notice from the city says "The estimated overall cost for the work has been updated to $11.2 million The City will continue to explore other funding opportunities to offset project costs." The project has been awarded $3.5 million in grant funding The balance is proposed to be paid for by long-term borrowing “The 6th Street Active Transportation Bridge is a cornerstone project for the downtown vitalization plan and an important investment in our downtown core,” said Mayor Bob Wells “We feel it’s important to continue to move this vital project forward and will continue to seek grant funding to reduce impacts to Courtenay taxpayers.” The crossing will be a four metre-wide bridge over the Courtenay River It will go from the bottom of 6th Street to Simms Millennium Park pedestrians and other people-powered transportation to have an integral east-west connection to the rest of the city It has been factored in to the city's Parks and Recreation Master Plan and is referenced in the city's Transportation Master Plan Staff will now move forward with award of the contract. The preliminary schedule at this time shows construction on site beginning in fall of 2025 and completion in summer of 2026. For more information on the project, visit courtenay.ca/6thstreetbridge The Comox Valley RCMP is seeking information and actively investigating a series of incidents that took place between the evening of March 25 and the early morning hours of March 26 police responded to reports of a group of youth chasing another group in the area of 21st Street and Piercy Avenue in Courtenay Witnesses stated that a suspect brandished what appeared to be a pellet gun and discharged it before deploying bear spray.  Some people received medical attention on the scene police received reports of theft and uttering threats; both believed to be related to the same group of youth.  police received a report of an assault on the 800-block of Willemar Avenue in Courtenay officers responded to a report of an injured male walking along Woods Avenue in Courtenay The individual was located and transported to the hospital where he remains in serious but non-life-threatening condition the evidence suggests that the most serious assault occurred on the 400-block of Willemar Avenue in Courtenay during a gathering of youth and young adults Evidence believed to be linked to one of the previous reports was recovered by investigators at the scene The Comox Valley RCMP Major Crime Unit is leading the investigation with support from the Bike Unit and the Integrated Forensic Identification Section Efforts are ongoing to locate and speak with all individuals involved Police believe these were all targeted incidents and all of the young adults and youth are known to one another There is no evidence to suggest an immediate threat to public safety "We want to reassure the community that a thorough investigation is underway and public safety remains our top priority," a release from the detachment says The Comox Valley RCMP is asking anyone with information to come forward If anyone witnessed any suspicious activity in the areas mentioned or have any relevant details please contact the Comox Valley RCMP at (250) 338-1321 Gord Johns of the NDP has won the Courtenay-Alberni seat for a fourth term The race between Johns and first-time candidate Kris McNichol of the Conservative Party was tight for much of the night with a few hundred votes separating them at times "I'm humbled," Johns said as he and his supporters celebrated in Parksville "For the people to put their trust in me is an incredibly humbling experience." Johns won the only NDP seat on Vancouver Island which in the 2021 election was mostly NDP orange The federal New Democrats had so few seats—about eight nationwide—that they have lost party status Leader Jagmeet Singh lost his seat in Burnaby Central and immediately stepped down as party leader Johns said he will take time Tuesday "to look at what happened in our riding before I even take a chance to look at what's happened nationally." "Of course it's very emotional right now," he said "It's bittersweet that Jagmeet has made his announcement to resign." The gap between Johns and McNichol widened late in the evening Johns had 22,680 votes compared to McNichol's 19,653 Johns had 31,220 votes compared to McNichol's 27,103 Liberal Party candidate Brian Cameron was in third with 17,727 votes Chris Markevich of the Green Party had 1,722 Thomas Gamble of the People's Party of Canada had 416 Teresa Knight of the Animal Protection Party had 186 and Jesse Musial of the Christian Heritage Party had 68 There are 107,691 eligible voters in the riding This was McNichol's first time running for office "It's the will of the people and if Courtenay-Alberni feels that this is what they want they voted for it and they'll get the same thing they have had for the last 10 years," he said McNichol held a gathering for his family and supporters at Parksville's Boston Pizza like I was going to do regardless," he said "The difference is I won't be going to Ottawa to represent Courtenay-Alberni I'm a worker; that's all I know and that's all I'll ever do." McNichol said he particularly feels bad for the young people in the riding who can't afford a home He expects since the Liberal Party only has a minority government there will be another election within two years  The Greens' Markevich said he feels "pretty good overall" with how the results have been "We certainly had our challenges being a small campaign with limited funds but I'm proud of our platform and I feel that the issues we talked about really resonated with voters," he said He said he is going to think about his electoral future once the final results are in "but don't be surprised if you see my name pop up again somewhere soon." The Green Party only grabbed one seat on Monday former Party leader Elizabeth May in Saanich-Gulf Islands The 2025 federal election is the first foray into politics for Teresa Knight from the Animal Protection Party She said the 174 votes she received so far in Courtenay-Alberni is "more votes than I expected and I'm glad to see it." "I'm really happy; anybody who voted for me is really giving animals a voice," she said saying he is a good representative for the riding Political pundits declared a Liberal Party win in the federal election with polls from the west still reporting The Liberals will likely not have a majority Liberal candidate Brian Cameron was happy to see support for the party grow in the riding "it's unfortunate I didn't didn't get the seat but I am happy with the the support that we've grown here from for the Liberal Party," he said "I am looking forward to continue that continuing that growth .. I believe in the last election there were just over 9,000 votes (9,222) and though there's still one poll to be counted We've nearly doubled our support here in this riding and I look forward to continuing that growth." The NDP's Singh finished a distant third in his Burnaby Central riding Singh was elected leader of the NDP nearly eight years ago He talked about the sacrifice holding public office means and he thanked his family for standing behind him for all those years He congratulated Prime Minister-elect Mark Carney on his party's win Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre was not guaranteed a seat in his hotly-contested Carleton riding Speaking to his supporters while he was sitting second in the polls Poilievre congratulated the Conservative Party for gaining their highest vote count since 1988 and winning about 25 more seats than the previous election "The Conservatives have achieved major breakthroughs tonight," he said "We gave voices to countless people across this country who have been left out and left behind for far too long." Follow live results with Black Press Media here Two seniors are safe after fleeing from an early morning house fire on April 6 in Courtenay the couple called for help shortly after 4:30 a.m ”They did phone 9-1-1 and say that the fire did start in the back area of the house and that it was fully involved as they were leaving,” MacDonald says The elderly couple was able to escape without any injuries but was assessed by paramedics at the scene.   all family members and their pets were out upon arrival so we were able to start focusing on suppressing the fire,” MacDonald says The fire was in the 2600-hundred block of Huband Road in a single-story home Crews were on the scene for several hours fighting the blaze which was mainly in the attic area and behind exterior walls things of that nature to provide access to the areas that were burning,” he says.  An investigation was expected to take place Sunday to try to determine a cause for the fire.  Caitlyn Leahy and her family embrace with poet Diana Kolpak after sharing an emotional moment National poetry month has sprung to a start in the Comox Valley, with the Downtown Courtenay Business Improvement Association and Artful : The Poets joining together once again. Last year their Poetry Walk won the 2024 “Best in the West” award from Business Improvement Areas of B.C. relationship building between business and arts with the addition of two interactive poetry booths across town The poetry booths invite passers by to engage directly with the art before they write a brand new poem right there for the patron to take home here is a transcript of poet Diana Kolpak reading out the poem she had just written for local resident Caitlin Leahy at a poetry booth outside the Courtenay Library on Saturday “I learned from Caity that today they went and took out some money to pay for their first house And her dad is happy 'cause he just had a heart surgery and everything's going great And you moved to the island just last year And so I asked her to pick a postcard from a selection I have And she also requested that I use the words ‘little red house’ in her poem.” Caitlyn Leahy holds the poem written for her by Diana Kolpak We leave behind a scattering of memoriesDream patterns in the sands of time To remind us where our footsteps have taken usLife lessons to guide us forward to futures both planned and unplanned: Hearts beating bright and strong A little red house full of sunshine So many miracles that rise As joyful songs of the everyday… Poet and event coordinator Diana Kolpak spoke to CHLY and CVOX at the library after that moment witnessed and transcribed about the Poetry Walk and the poem she read for Caity “As you've just seen it can be quite emotional and miraculous and stunning I just like to help foster creativity and bring a little joy and magic into the world,” she said Kolpak said that she calls herself a storyteller She said the motivation for adding live events to the Poetry Walk this year was “just looking for a way to make poetry more accessible to people and to help people understand that poetry isn't something that just sits in dusty books on a shelf somewhere but that it can be fun and it can actually be a very interesting and heartfelt moment of human connection.” A second Pop-Up Poetry Booth will take place on Saturday April 12th at Gladstone Brewing Company from 2:30 - 4:30 p.m.  “it'll be a different sort of crowd and I'm looking forward to whatever that adventure turns into as well.” Caitlyn Leahy and Diana Kolpak share a hug at the poetry booth outside the Courtenay Library When asked about the experience of writing poetry on the spot Kolpak said it is wonderful and a little bit terrifying… especially when they ask for rhymes “I love the challenge of it and the thrill of it And you just have those magic moments that you can't predict are gonna happen and that's what life is all about,” she said Another new addition to the Poetry Walk this year was a Poem Palooza hosted at the library following the pop up booth last Saturday where the 25 poets involved in this year’s walk each had the opportunity to perform a selection of their poetry way of bringing together business and culture,” Kolpak said “And then people can walk around all month and look at the poems on the windows Kolpak said that Artful : The Poets meet at Artful : The Gallery the first Monday of every month for live readings of poetry so if you don’t get your fill this National Poetry Month enjoy rambling the streets and reading the poems decorating storefronts throughout downtown Voters in the Courtenay-Alberni riding will have six candidates to choose from when they go to the polls April 28 in the 2025 federal election we asked each candidate to submit a short bio.  Candidates are listed in alphabetical order I was born and raised in Ottawa by my single mother developing a deep appreciation for Canada’s diversity—its cultures allowing me to visit every province and territory and gain a deeper understanding of this incredible country My respect for First Nations communities runs deep One of my most profound experiences was spending three weeks in the High Arctic filming with the Tlingit and Gwich’in First Nations That time gave me a humbling perspective on resilience and the enduring strength of Indigenous cultures I cycled solo across Canada to raise funds for the Heart and Stroke Foundation I rode 8,500 kilometres to Cape Spear completing the journey in exactly 56 days—an unintended but fitting tribute I arrived nine years to the day after losing my father lifting my bike overhead in a moment of triumph my wife and I made our home in the Comox Valley—a place that truly feels like the best part of the best country in the world Clare became a dual Australian-Canadian citizen Clare and I rent our home and face the same economic challenges as countless families I understand firsthand the struggles of rising costs and I’m ready to stand up for Canadians—to make life more affordable and protect the values that make Canada strong I carry that legacy forward with the same determination that took me across this country by bicycle I will bring that same relentless drive and unwavering passion to Ottawa I promise to pour my whole heart into this job Contact info: briancameronliberalcandidate@gmail.com Thomas Gamble is the People’s Party of Canada candidate for Courtenay-Alberni He is a former Naval Warfare Officer and small business owner with a background in leadership He holds a Bachelor of Computer Science and an MBA in Executive Management Thomas is seeking election to bring honesty accountability and a principled voice to Parliament Having served in uniform and navigated the challenges of entrepreneurship he understands the importance of responsibility He believes government should work for the people—not control them—and that this is the moment to restore common sense to Ottawa He is committed to putting ordinary Canadians first and having their voices echo in the corridors of Parliament ahead of those who have manipulated and abused their power for far too long his North Star is simple: whatever maximizes Canadians’ freedom and minimizes government interference That is why Thomas is proud to run with the People’s Party of Canada The PPC is the only federal party that stands unapologetically for freedom While legacy parties grow bureaucracy and restrict your rights The PPC wants government out of your wallet It doesn’t pander or make empty promises—its platform offers 21 principled practical solutions that reflect the values of working Canadians Thomas encourages everyone to read it and judge for themselves It’s time to reject the status quo of self-interested professional politicians and elect a government that is honest accountable and truly committed to serving the people Contact info: Email: thomas.gamble@teamppc.ca; phone: 778-909-7721; FB/IG/X: @thomasgambleppc Gord Johns was born and raised on Vancouver Island and serving as a Tofino municipal councillor and executive director of the Tofino-Long Beach Chamber of Commerce.  Gord entered federal politics in 2015 to reverse a decade of neglect by Conservative MPs historic levels of housing and infrastructure investment have created jobs and reduced the local tax burden for the people of Courtenay-Alberni.  local and regional governments in Courtenay-Alberni received an average of $18.07 million annually in federal infrastructure funding as compared to $1.7 million during the 10 years of Conservative representation in the previous in the 10 years.   His private members’ bill led to the doubling of the income tax credit for volunteer firefighters and search and rescue personnel and much-needed financial relief for these essential volunteers His motion on plastic pollution in aquatic environments passed unanimously and led to the ban of single-use plastics and the first ever ghost gear clean up fund His bill to protect unspent funds for Veterans benefits also passed unanimously.  he fought hard as the NDP critic for small business to support owners and their employees when they were required to close their doors to protect public health The Canadian Federation of independent Business recognized Gord for his role in forcing the government to require banks to lower credit card merchant fees.  Gord believes strongly in a diversified and environmentally sustainable economy and has fought hard in Parliament for the biomass tax credit the aerospace industry and the largest investment in wild salmon restoration.  he helped create the national dental care benefit the school nutrition program and worker protection legislation.  Gord has spoken in the House of Commons second-most of all MP’s representing B.C Known for his tireless work ethic and strong community engagement Gord has always prioritized people and the planet over corporate profits For more information about Gord Johns’ record in Parliament, go to: reelectgord.ca Teresa Knight (The Animal Protection Party) Teresa has worked for animals all her life She serves on the board of the Animal Defence and Anti-vivisection Society of BC and has curated animal-themed art shows like "Non-human Persons" and "Animals in Our Humanscape" shown at the McMillan Arts Centre in Parksville Teresa continues to spread the message of compassion through her own art Contact info: teresa@animalprotectionparty.ca Contact info: www.chrismarkevich.ca; chrismarkevichgpc@gmail.com I have been living in the Parksville and Nanoose Bay area for more than 30 years I’ve had the pleasure of promoting women’s sports by coaching The Rage softball team and serving as president of the Oceanside Minor Softball Association I have supported the community as the past president of the Sproat Lake Water Sports Association and have volunteered as a firefighter.  As a business owner of multiple companies over the last 23 years I have a common-sense approach and understand the importance of an effective government working on real problems I am concerned about the growing problems caused by the mismanagement of the Trudeau Liberals and the NDP through their coalition and the impacts this has on our local community and all Canadians  the Trudeau/NDP coalition has increased the cost of housing The constituents of Courtenay-Alberni are no exception to this trend The region has become an unaffordable place to call home Taxpayers deserve better and need someone who will fight back Contact info: kris@krismcnichol.com Seniors in Courtenay will have better support to age at home in their community with expanded and improved services as part of a five-year agreement with United Way BC for popular programs “We are deeply committed to helping seniors remain in their own homes and in the communities they are a part of,” said Josie Osborne “Through the programs and services delivered by United Way BC be more active and better connected to their communities we’re helping more seniors throughout our province live more independent lives.” The expansion communities for community connector positions comes to Courtenay as part of the program This will directly benefit Senior Support Society North Vancouver Island The Province is investing $304 million over five years in United Way BC to deliver and expand community-based seniors’ services These services will be delivered by non-profit agencies throughout the province to help seniors live more independently Community-based seniors’ services include non-medical home support and programming that help older adults stay physically active and to be as resilient and independent as possible want to live at home independently as long and as safely as possible,” said Susie Chant parliamentary secretary for seniors’ services and long-term care “As our older population continues to grow expanding services for seniors and their caregivers so they can receive the supports they need is vital United Way BC’s suite of programs and services helps people lead fuller more active and socially connected lives.” The new funding will go toward building upon successful programs connecting seniors to more support and expanding program staffing and co-ordination A fire which is believed to have started in a recreational vehicle has resulted in one home being extensively damaged as partial impact to a second on April 2 in the 5800 block of Bates Road north of Courtenay “There was a big explosion and then I looked out the window and the trailer was on fire and then the neighbour’s house was on fire” says Madison Hagarty who lives across from where the fire began ”I saw them coming running out and screaming that the place was on fire so I went outside and had a look and the flames were just starting to come out the door” Machin says Fire was starting to damage the side of his home and he initially grabbed a garden hose but realized there wasn’t anything he could do He says his home was spared serious damage because the wind shifted to spread the flames towards his neighbour’s house “If the wind had gone the other way it would have been our house that would be gone right now” he says heard several explosions as the fire progressed and was worried about flames spreading “It’s terrifying with all these big trees right across the road from me it was terrifying that our house would go too” McLeod says She praises the speed in which fire fighters got to the scene Twenty Five to thirty members from Oyster River Fire Rescue the Merville Fire Department and Comox Fire Department attended the blaze through a mutual-aid call but there was an issue with water according to Oyster River Fire Chief Bruce Green there’s no water and the closest hydrant is about four kilometres away we’ve got a porta-tank set up and we’ve been shuttling water from two different hydrants with two different tenders to ensure we kept a water supply here” Green says A woman who identified herself as being the daughter of the owner of the heavily damaged home says she and her father were out for a walk in nearby Seal Bay Park when they saw thick smoke and quickly returned home to find the fire and emergency crews arriving She says two dogs from the home were safe but a cat was unaccounted for Fire crews remained on the scene throughout the day to fight the flames and clean up the scene — an official cause of the start of the fire will still need to be determined Sign up below for unlimited digital access for 30 days receive our daily news alerts & breaking news Via the Comox Valley Regional District: as part of the Comox Valley Sewer Conveyance Project is required to implement a traffic pattern change on Comox Road. The traffic pattern change is being implemented for the construction of the new sewer forcemain pipe The one-way traffic pattern change is required as the width of Comox Road is insufficient to safely accommodate two lanes of traffic and the required construction Two-way traffic from Town of Comox is possible up to the construction zone A U-turn route has been identified for traffic to turn around safely (MAP 1).  Comox Road Daytime One WayBeginning on Monday Traffic along Comox Road during this time will be one-way moving west from the Town of Comox to the City of Courtenay (MAP 1) the work zone on Comox Road will be closed to all traffic including bicycles and pedestrians (MAP 1) On Sunday's the work zone will remain one-way overnight Vehicle traffic crossing the 17th Street Bridge will be unable to turn right onto Comox Road starting March 10 All vehicle traffic for the Town of Comox will be detoured onto the official detour route up Ryan Road and onto Lerwick Road (MAP 3) Traffic light timing is being monitored throughout construction to ensure that traffic continues to flow.  It is estimated that this work zone will be active from March to May 2025 (MAP 2). The area affected by one-way traffic on Comox Road will move throughout the project the start of one-way traffic will move to Rodello Street and Comox Avenue (MAP 2) MAP 3“This is a major change to how we move around in the Comox Valley this spring and the impact will be felt by everyone,” says Director Doug Hillian Chair of the Comox Valley Sewage Commission “The project team will be monitoring traffic flows closely and adjusting traffic light timing along the detour route to help keep vehicles moving we will all need to add some extra time to our commutes and perhaps consider opportunities to carpool or use transit to reduce the volume of traffic during this period.” Back Road Not an Approved DetourBack Road is not an approved detour route The CVRD has been and will continue to be monitoring traffic on Back Road the intersection of Glacier View Drive and Comox Avenue will close to public access to accommodate the construction of the new sewer forcemain and a new roundabout Bikes and PedestriansTwo-way bike and pedestrian traffic will be possible on Comox Road through the construction zone during the day no bike or pedestrian traffic will be possible through the construction zone at night Businesses OPEN During ConstructionBusinesses on Comox Road are open during construction Please follow the detour routes to continue to visit shops and businesses on Comox Road Construction is subject to suitable weather conditions or other possible construction-related delays. We apologize if timelines shift. The best way to stay up-to-date on the project is to sign up for email updates on the project website: EngageComoxValley.ca/ConveyanceProject The Comox Valley Regional District is a partnership of three electoral areas and three municipalities operating on the unceded traditional territory of the K’ómoks First Nation The members of the regional district work collaboratively on providing sustainable services for the benefit of the diverse urban and rural areas of the Comox Valley City of Courtenay Phone: 250-334-4441 Email: info@courtenay.ca    The content on this page was last updated January 29 2025 at 7:49AM Five of the seven candidates in the Courtenay-Alberni riding focused primarily on the economy and crime during a respectful all-candidates forum at North Island College in Courtenay on Tuesday (April 8) The Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce hosted the event at the Stan Hagen Theatre on campus as the Comox Valley is situated in two ridings - Courtenay-Alberni and North Island-Powell River - for the upcoming federal election on April 28 Conservative Party candidate Kris McNichol and Teresa Knight of the Animal Protection Party of Canada declined to attend the event NDP incumbent candidate Gord Johns directed some of his message to the two absent candidates and noted that "skipping out on (the forum) is disrespectful Showing up and being accountable matters." The candidates received five questions in advance of the forum and audience members were able to submit questions at the end using an interactive app Candidates spoke about potential legislative changes to reduce crime and ways to improve safety for businesses.  Both Johns and Green Party candidate Chris Markevich addressed crime and theft in small businesses as it lies in addressing the root causes: mental health Johns suggested having parity in coverage for both mental and physical health in the healthcare system and Markevich noted he supported having a guaranteed livable income Christian Heritage Party of Canada candidate Jesse Musial said he believes one of the root causes of crime in communities is the breakdown of community and family.  "(It's) one of the leading causes that lead to mental health issues And I believe that we can do more to support communities to address some of the issues that are currently facing families, whether it be affordability housing ...and more we can do in our education system." Liberal Party candidate Brian Cameron referred to his government's recent increased protection at the Canada/U.S Black Hawk helicopters and the addition of a fentanyl czar to keep streets and communities safe but the Liberal Party is going to work from the border and hone in with local communities working in concert with the provincial government as well as our local government." Thomas Gamble of the People's Party of Canada prefaced his answer by noting "This is going to be a little different than most of the others." He explained the PPC's platform does not believe in 'catch-and-release' for criminals and looks to enforce laws properly self-defence is a God-given right in this country ...the People's Party platform includes measures to promulgate the measures of self-defence as well as enabling Canadians to carry the means by which to do that." As for ways to reduce governmental red tape and encourage investment and job creation, Markevich suggested shifting away from tax and personal income to taxing excess profits of large corporations and focusing on paying employees living wages.  "We also want to look at closing loopholes on corporate taxation rules that benefit large tech companies and banks."  Musial also stated that he would advocate for tax breaks for individuals creating jobs through small and medium-sized businesses while emphasizing that he would first consult extensively with constituents to understand the concerns hindering local economic growth Cameron said he would build off the Liberal platform of breaking down inter-provincial trade barriers while Gamble advocated for a simplified tax code along with a zero per cent inclusion on the capital gains rate.  Johns spoke about his experience advocating to implement the merchant fee reduction on credit cards Never did you hear a Conservative take on Visa or MasterCard - you will never see that happen; they will never call out corporate greed." He added that Canada has the lowest corporate tax in the G7 as he noted small businesses are job creators.  the government will look like a corporate boardroom." Audience questions included protections for LGBTQ2S+ rights and inclusive workplaces and plans to address climate change in ways that support sustainable growth visit the Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce's social media pages.  Eva Szmek celebrated her special 100th birthday on April 19 in Courtenay, surrounded by family.  Szmek's family celebrated with her at Ocean Front Village with four generations of the family coming together to celebrate the very special day.  Enter your email to connect to 30 more days worth of stories by journalists living & working in Courtenay Thank you for supporting local journalism Come out and join the upcoming spring clean-up and help make Courtenay shine The City will be hosting its third annual community clean-up event on Saturday Community volunteers will meet at the Courtenay Air Park - adjacent to the Rotary Sky Park Playground at 10 a.m. City staff will distribute trash pickers/grabbers Volunteers are then invited to pick up trash in the area around the park including nearby trails To help get an idea of participation levels, volunteers are being asked to please pre-register at www.courtenay.ca/cleanup Minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian for the event.  Mayor Bob Wells encourages members of the community to join the clean-up “What began as a simple act of community spirit has grown into an inspiring annual tradition,” said Mayor Bob Wells “We’re once again calling on residents — families neighbours — to roll up their sleeves and be part of something bigger.” Garbage and debris in urban and natural environments and sidewalks clean helps keep debris out of the estuary and the ocean No One Else Covers Courtenay Like The Comox Valley Record Don’t miss out on reading the latest local provincial and national news. 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