Community

Devin Meads planned to walk 150 kilometres from Langford to Qualicum Beach in support of the Victoria Humane Society and homeless animals. (Contributed photo)

Vancouver Island walk to help homeless animals takes detour

Devin Meads forced to quit 24-hour fundraiser at 100-kilometre mark due to injury

Devin Meads planned to walk 150 kilometres from Langford to Qualicum Beach in support of the Victoria Humane Society and homeless animals. (Contributed photo)
A bottle drive to raise funds for graduating 2021 students at Kwalikum Secondary School will take place on school grounds at 266 Village Way in Qualicum Beach on Sunday, March 28 between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. (Mandy Moraes photo)

March 28 bottle drive to raise funds for graduating 2021 Kwalikum Secondary students

Event runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 266 Village Way in Qualicum Beach

A bottle drive to raise funds for graduating 2021 students at Kwalikum Secondary School will take place on school grounds at 266 Village Way in Qualicum Beach on Sunday, March 28 between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. (Mandy Moraes photo)
“Taste The Bread!” declares Walter Rasmussen, the mayor of fictional Windward, Washington (Haig Sutherland) during filming of The Baker’s Son in Chemainus Friday. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Parallels between Island community and fictional town evident in Hallmark movie

Tourism boost likely down the road for Chemainus from publicity after a week of filming

“Taste The Bread!” declares Walter Rasmussen, the mayor of fictional Windward, Washington (Haig Sutherland) during filming of The Baker’s Son in Chemainus Friday. (Photo by Don Bodger)
Carmen Hou joined BC Cancer’s Personalized Onco-Genomics Program, where scientists sequenced her DNA to match her to the best treatment possible for her cancer. Today, she nears the three-year mark of being on a trial drug that’s kept her cancer stable.

Facing Stage IV breast cancer at 36

One in eight Canadian women develop breast cancer in their lifetime.

  • Mar 22, 2021
Carmen Hou joined BC Cancer’s Personalized Onco-Genomics Program, where scientists sequenced her DNA to match her to the best treatment possible for her cancer. Today, she nears the three-year mark of being on a trial drug that’s kept her cancer stable.
Low-income residents can call SOS to register for the free Income Tax Program. Residents will primarily be assisted over the phone this year due to the pandemic. (Submitted photo)

Free income tax filing: SOS program offered to low-income residents

Call SOS at 250-248-2093 to register

Low-income residents can call SOS to register for the free Income Tax Program. Residents will primarily be assisted over the phone this year due to the pandemic. (Submitted photo)
Oceanside Grandmothers to Grandmothers website logo. (Submitted)

Grandmothers to Grandmothers to host Parksville outdoor plant sale in May

Donations of plants, tools, garden arts and crafts are welcome

Oceanside Grandmothers to Grandmothers website logo. (Submitted)
An artist’s rendition from 2018 of the outdoor performance theatre, slated for construction at the Parksville Community Park. (Photo courtesy of parksvilleoutdoortheatre.ca)

Parksville Beach Festival Society awarded $40,000 for outdoor theatre in community park

Funds come via BC Arts Council grant

An artist’s rendition from 2018 of the outdoor performance theatre, slated for construction at the Parksville Community Park. (Photo courtesy of parksvilleoutdoortheatre.ca)
Royal LePage Parksville-Qualicum Beach Realty presented a donation cheque of $17,650.50 to the Haven Society, on March 9, 2021. (Submitted photo)

Haven Society receives $17.6K donation from Royal LePage Parksville-Qualicum Beach Realty

Funds go toward programs and services in central Vancouver Island

Royal LePage Parksville-Qualicum Beach Realty presented a donation cheque of $17,650.50 to the Haven Society, on March 9, 2021. (Submitted photo)
The Seedy Sunday Farmers’ Market goes March 28 at the Coombs Fairgrounds. (Sara Couper photo)

Inaugural Seedy Sunday Market set for March 28 at Coombs Fairgrounds

Coombs Farmers’ Institute market to feature 15 vendors

The Seedy Sunday Farmers’ Market goes March 28 at the Coombs Fairgrounds. (Sara Couper photo)
The Crossroads Pregnancy Crisis Centre Baby Shower will take place the Church of Ascension parking lot from March 20-27. (CWL photo)

Parksville church group to hold ‘baby shower’ for Crossroads Crisis Pregnancy Centre

Event will be a drive-through fundraiser

The Crossroads Pregnancy Crisis Centre Baby Shower will take place the Church of Ascension parking lot from March 20-27. (CWL photo)
A GoFundMe account has been set up to help the Weir family who lost their Errington home in a fire. (Facebook page photo)

Neighbours, friends quick to assist Errington family that lost home in raging fire

GoFundMe accounts set up for Weir family

A GoFundMe account has been set up to help the Weir family who lost their Errington home in a fire. (Facebook page photo)
The Town of Qualicum Beach invites shutterbugs to take part in a photo contest. (PQB News file photo)

Town of Qualicum Beach invites shutterbugs to enter ‘Our Town’ photo contest

Top photos to win a prize and be displayed at TOSH

The Town of Qualicum Beach invites shutterbugs to take part in a photo contest. (PQB News file photo)
Mohammad Shafi of Parksville has retired after 70 years in the shoe business. (Facebook photo)

Parksville shoe store owner donates entire inventory to Salvation Army

Shafi, 91, retires after more than 70 years in the business

Mohammad Shafi of Parksville has retired after 70 years in the shoe business. (Facebook photo)
PQB News reader Mike Yip of Nanoose Bay shares this great shot. “The Varied Thrush is one of our prettiest winter birds,” he said. “It usually skulks in the forest until cold weather or snow forces it out in the open to search for food.”

YOUR PHOTOS: PQB News readers offer a sampling of their impressive photography skills

GALLERY: Submissions capture incredible wildlife, scenery shots

PQB News reader Mike Yip of Nanoose Bay shares this great shot. “The Varied Thrush is one of our prettiest winter birds,” he said. “It usually skulks in the forest until cold weather or snow forces it out in the open to search for food.”
PQB News reader Tony Markle shares this amazing shot of a great blue heron about to have a vole for lunch. If you have a photo or video you would like to share in print or online, email them to editor@pqbnews.com.

YOUR PHOTOS: Hungry heron makes a meal of poor vole

Tony Markle shares amazing wildlife shot

PQB News reader Tony Markle shares this amazing shot of a great blue heron about to have a vole for lunch. If you have a photo or video you would like to share in print or online, email them to editor@pqbnews.com.
Two transient orcas were spotted near the shores of Esquimalt Monday afternoon. (Miller Fernandez/Facebook video)

VIDEO: Orcas spotted close to shore in Esquimalt

Transient brothers give Greater Victoria residents a show

Two transient orcas were spotted near the shores of Esquimalt Monday afternoon. (Miller Fernandez/Facebook video)
PQB News reader Randy Hall set up a camera at the beach in Parksville, in the same spot every day in February, to capture the changing days and weather. (Randy Hall photo)

WATCH: Scenes from 28 days in February in Parksville

PQB News reader Randy Hall set up camera in same location each day

PQB News reader Randy Hall set up a camera at the beach in Parksville, in the same spot every day in February, to capture the changing days and weather. (Randy Hall photo)
KSS grad council members, along with a parent council, are working to raise funds for what will be a very different graduation year. (Submitted photo)

Kwalikum Secondary 2021 grads get boost from coming online auction

Event features more than 60 items

KSS grad council members, along with a parent council, are working to raise funds for what will be a very different graduation year. (Submitted photo)
(Submitted photo)

OBLT launches membership drive in Parksville Qualicum Beach

Non-profit organization provides free literacy programs

(Submitted photo)
Members of the Freshwater Fisheries Society of B.C. set up the tube where rainbow trout were released into Spider Lake on Thursday, March 4, 2021. (Michael Briones photo)

Fishing time: 1,800 rainbow trout released into Spider Lake

Society records spike in fishing licences during pandemic

Members of the Freshwater Fisheries Society of B.C. set up the tube where rainbow trout were released into Spider Lake on Thursday, March 4, 2021. (Michael Briones photo)