Harbour Air is running a new 19 passenger flight service from Vancouver to Tofino all winter. 

The new route between Vancouver International Airport’s South Terminal (YVR) and Tofino-Long Beach Airport (YAZ) offers four weekly departures on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays, with one-way fares starting at $139. (People living in the west coast region are eligible to receive a 20 per cent discount with a valid ID; use promo code TOFINOLOCAL20.) 

Increased ACCESS, an Indigenous-led nonprofit that helps with animal management solutions, has created a new day to raise awareness about public health and safety inequities in Indigenous communities across Canada.

Nov. 1, 2025, marks the first Red Collar Day, a national day for truth, healing and shared responsibility — to ensure every community has the care, infrastructure, and respect needed to make dog culls, and the grief they cause, a thing of the past, says Increased ACCESS.

Is restorative justice a solution to B.C.’s backlogged court system? Can it reduce the overrepresentation of Indigenous people in jail?

Duncan Booth, executive director of the Alberni Valley Restorative Justice Society (AVRJS), believes the process has the potential to reduce recidivism, plus save time and money for criminal justice partners including the RCMP, Crown counsel, the courts and BC Corrections.

This past summer, a 14-year-old boy hung himself in the rural First Nations community of Pacheedaht on the southwest coast of Vancouver Island.

“It was the saddest, saddest thing ever,” said Pacheedaht Chief Councillor Arliss Jones. “He was just an innocent little kid. The youth are still really hurt about him.”

The possibility of another trial loomed over the final day of Nuchatlaht’s appearance in the B.C. Court of Appeal, an outcome that would mean the small First Nation will be fighting to gain Aboriginal title over its traditional territory for years to come. 

The Annual Health Ability Fair, hosted by the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council’s Disability Access Committee, delivered two days of helpful wellness and healthcare information at the Alberni Athletic Hall.

One of the presentations came on day two with Dr. Roger Boyer, manager of Community Health at the NTC. His presentation was called ‘Moving forward together; Self-care for mind, body and spirit through Nuu-chah-nulth values’.

Shalaya Valenzuela likes her new designation.

It was officially announced this past Saturday that Valenzuela, a Tseshaht First Nation member, has been chosen as this year’s top Indigenous female athlete in Canada.

She was presented with her national Tom Longboat Award at the Aboriginal Sport Circle (ASC) gala ceremony in Ottawa.

“That has a nice ring to it,” she said of her latest accolade.

Valenzuela had made history last year. She was a member of the Canadian women’s rugby sevens squad that captured the silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Citaapi Mahtii, Ahousaht First Nations’ new apartment building, celebrated its grand opening on Friday, October 17, with tours of the facility and acknowledgment to partners.

Citaapi Mahtii, located at 4210 Cedarwood Street in Port Alberni, is an apartment building that delivers 35 new housing units to singles and families in the Alberni Valley. The four-storey building offers a range of living unit sizes from studio apartments all the way to four-bedrooms for larger families. It includes a community space for gatherings. 

Tla-o-qui-aht carver Joe Martin was awarded the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Maritime Achievement last week, which he accepts on behalf of his ancestors.

The Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Maritime Achievement recognizes individuals and organizations along B.C.’s coast and inland waterways who have made noteworthy contributions to the province’s maritime interests. This includes the areas of science, technology, business, maritime skills, nautical heritage, culture, art and academic endeavours.