Elena Rardon

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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)
NDP candidate Gord Johns campaigns on Johnston Road in Port Alberni for the 2021 federal election. (FACEBOOK PHOTO)

UPDATE: Gord Johns elected to third term in Courtenay-Alberni riding

Conservative Party of Canada candidate Mary Lee finishes second

NDP candidate Gord Johns campaigns on Johnston Road in Port Alberni for the 2021 federal election. (FACEBOOK PHOTO)
Bikes travel up and down Argyle Street in Port Alberni for the Port Alberni Toy Run on Sept. 18, 2021. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)

Port Alberni’s 37th annual Toy Run draws 412 riders

Community members and visitors make donations

Bikes travel up and down Argyle Street in Port Alberni for the Port Alberni Toy Run on Sept. 18, 2021. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)
Courtenay-Alberni candidates participate in an all-candidates meeting hosted by the North Island Students Union. (SCREENSHOT)

Courtenay-Alberni candidates pledge to ease students’ financial, housing worries

Four candidates answered student-led questions in virtual NISU all-candidates meeting

Courtenay-Alberni candidates participate in an all-candidates meeting hosted by the North Island Students Union. (SCREENSHOT)
Courtenay-Alberni candidates participate in an all-candidates meeting hosted by the North Island Students Union. (SCREENSHOT)

Courtenay-Alberni candidates pledge to ease students’ financial, housing worries

Four candidates answered student-led questions in virtual NISU all-candidates meeting

Courtenay-Alberni candidates participate in an all-candidates meeting hosted by the North Island Students Union. (SCREENSHOT)
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)
A new seniors housing facility is planned for the former Alberni District Secondary School site on Anderson Ave. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

‘Shovel-ready’ non-profit seniors’ housing coming to Port Alberni

Vancouver Resource Society purchases 2.5-acre lot from District Group

A new seniors housing facility is planned for the former Alberni District Secondary School site on Anderson Ave. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
Mike Slaco, owner of Electron Metalworks, works on a large-scale piece of Tseshaht First Nation-designed artwork that will be incorporated into the side of the Harbour Quay Clocktower once it is refurbished. Slaco is working with the City of Port Alberni on the project. (RACHEL THEUS PHOTO)

Central Island city applies for grants as cost to repair iconic clock tower grow

Port Alberni’s new plan is to replace clock with metal-panelled ‘story tower’

Mike Slaco, owner of Electron Metalworks, works on a large-scale piece of Tseshaht First Nation-designed artwork that will be incorporated into the side of the Harbour Quay Clocktower once it is refurbished. Slaco is working with the City of Port Alberni on the project. (RACHEL THEUS PHOTO)
Museum assistant Amy Vandal unwraps a set of traditional tattoo needles as part of a new exhibit at the Alberni Valley Museum. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)

Alberni Museum explores Indigenous tattoos in new exhibit

Body Language exhibit runs until December 2021

Museum assistant Amy Vandal unwraps a set of traditional tattoo needles as part of a new exhibit at the Alberni Valley Museum. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)
BC Grassroots Rugby coach Gavin Purewal leads young rugby players in a drill at the Black Sheep Rugby Club on Monday, July 12. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)

Grassroots rugby for kids coming to Port Alberni this summer

Camps will be hosted at the Port Alberni Black Sheep Rugby Club’s pitch

BC Grassroots Rugby coach Gavin Purewal leads young rugby players in a drill at the Black Sheep Rugby Club on Monday, July 12. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY 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)