Our Team

Publisher

Teresa Bird has worked in the newspaper industry on Vancouver Island for more than 40 years. Starting her career as a journalist in Ucluelet, Teresa has most recently been in Port Alberni where she has served as publisher of the Alberni Valley News since 2011. Teresa enjoys travelling, especially to visit her children and grandchildren who live abroad.

Editor

Philip Wolf has been a journalist on Vancouver Island for more than 25 years. He began his career at the Cowichan Valley Citizen and was the managing editor at the Nanaimo Daily News before assuming a similar role with the Vancouver Island Free Daily and the PQB News. He enjoys coaching a variety of sports.

Reporter

Michael rejoined The NEWS team in April of 2017 from the Comox Valley Echo, having previously covered sports for The NEWS in 1997. He got his start in the newspaper business in 1981 as a proofreader for the English-language Standard in Hong Kong. Michael has since reported on police, government, sports and general assignment for newspapers in Ontario, Northern B.C. and Mid-Vancouver Island.

Multi Media Reporter

Raised on Vancouver Island, Mandy has returned to the island after moving away for school. In 2019, she received two scholarships: one from Langara College for her contribution to a Vancouver Sun story, and the second from the Jack Webster Foundation for Indigenous students. In her spare time, Mandy enjoys painting with acrylics in her home studio: Three Moon Rising.

Sales Manager

Don Barbeau has been with Black Press Media for almost 30 years. Recently Don has been working with Today's Drive and other Black Press online initiatives. Don's newspaper experience harkens back many years to Winnipeg, later, Don joined the Abbotsford News, where he had been in the Lower Mainland for many years. Don and his family had the dream of moving to the Island and were able to make that happen two years ago.

Sales Representative

Lori and her family have lived in the Parksville Qualicum Beach area for many years. Before moving to Vancouver Island, she held several positions as a sales representative and customer service representative in Vancouver. Lori is familiar with small business as she is the former owner and operator of Qualicum Window Coverings. Most days you'll see Lori around town, or find her with her family school events.

Advertising Co-ordinator

Michele joined The NEWS team in 2016, and has worked in the newspaper industry for more than 13 years. Michele coordinates the flow of advertising between sales representatives and advertisers.