In a statement issued Apr. 1, 2021, the Port Alberni RCMP ask that the person that found the body of Clifton Johnston early Saturday morning to contact them.

“As the investigation into Port Alberni’s recent homicide continues, investigators are now looking to speak with the man that first discovered the deceased in front of the Friendship Center on Saturday March 27th,” reads the statement.

It goes on to say that the man who discovered the body was walking southbound on the east sidewalk of 4th avenue at approximately 7:15 a.m., Saturday March 27th.

Leading into Easter long weekend, the Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks has issued a release reminding visitors to respect the ongoing closure of their tribal parks. 

“Regional members and concerned families in the region have mobilized to Sutton Pass to inform travellers of the circuit-breaker lockdown,” said Saya Masso, Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation tribal administrator.

To tackle the record number of COVID-19 cases, the province announced a three-week “circuit-breaker” lockdown on Monday.

The Port Alberni RCMP have arrested a suspect in the Mar. 27 killing of an Ahousaht man, found on 4th Avenue near the Port Alberni Friendship Center.

“A suspect has been identified and arrested, however the work is not yet finished for our investigators as they continue to complete priority tasks” says Port Alberni RCMP Detachment Commander Inspector Eric Rochette in a statement issued Mar. 31, 2021.

“I just dropped him off for a visit and was supposed to pick him up,” said Iris Clarke through her tears as she clutched framed photographs her son to her heart.

Clarke is the mother of 20-year-old Clifton Johnston, who was found murdered in front of the Port Alberni Friendship Center on the morning of Saturday, Mar. 27. He had been stabbed to death.

Clarke, who lives in Abbotsford, BC, invited friends and family to a candlelight vigil on Monday, Mar. 29 to remember her son and to support one another as they grieve his loss.

Educators want to engage parents and caregivers in an online Zoom session focused on helping secondary students in Grades 8-12 get to graduation and beyond.

“We would like to increase the success and decrease the stress,” said Dave Maher, district principal of Indigenous education and Eighth Avenue Learning Centre in Port Alberni.

“We want to inform Nuu-chah-nulth families about what graduation will look like this year and what students have to do to graduate,” said Richard Samuel, NTC’s cultural development supervisor.

A spike in COVID-19 cases in the province has health officials taking preemptive action in order to protect people.

“Rising case levels, variants of concern, increased transmission and an increase in more severe cases are huge concerns,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health. “B.C. public health officials are making the tough choices now to break the chain and protect our communities.”

On Mar. 29 the province’s latest case numbers showed an additional 805 new cases, bringing the total number of cases to 98,156 with 87,866 recovered and 1,455 deaths.

The young man found deceased outside the Port Alberni Friendship Center on Saturday, Mar. 27, had been identified as 20-year-old Ahousaht member Clifton Johnston.

 – A two block section of Fourth Avenue in Port Alberni was cordoned off as police investigated the death of a man found lying near the entrance of the Port Alberni Friendship Center early Saturday morning.

In an RCMP statement issued after 4:00 p.m. on Mar. 27, 2021, officers responded to a call to assist Emergency Health Services in the 3500 block of 4th avenue.

Outside of their Port Alberni home, Hesquiaht elected chief Joshua Charleson and his wife, Letitia, were busy at work preparing herring for their smokehouse.

Having only smoked herring once before, Letitia was supported through the process by Charleson, who was taught by his mother.

Growing up in an urban setting outside her traditional territory, Letitia was never exposed to the tradition. Despite being well-versed in smoking salmon, she said herring is entirely different. 

Construction of Ahousaht First Nation’s new wellness centre has been at a stand-still for one year.

The project was brought to a halt last March due to COVID-19 restrictions but was recently resurrected. 

Since January, a crew of six Ahousaht members have been clearing the site, where the Ahousaht Indian Residential School used to stand. 

“When you are approaching Ahousaht [the wellness centre] is going to be forefront,” said John Caton, Maaqtusiis Hahoulthee Stewardship Society (MHSS) general manager and project lead.