Logs and branches that wash ashore, known as drift logs, are a common sight along the coast of Western Canada. Often used as natural benches and firewood, it’s easy to accept them as part of the scenery.

However, a recent study published by UVic biologist Dr. Tom Reimchen and two of his students, Esteban Pérez Andresen and Melanie Marchant, reveals that drift logs are a significant cause of the destruction of intertidal ecosystems over the coasts of Vancouver Island and Haida Gwaii. 

With snow on the mountain tops and cold, wet nights chilling city streets, Vancouver Island’s most vulnerable will be seeking out a warm place to sleep.

The helping agencies of Vancouver Island’s urban centres are preparing to open their warming centres and extreme weather emergency shelter beds.

Funded by the provincial government, there will be 771 extreme-weather response (EWR) shelter spaces provided. 

Port Alberni has the second lowest living wage in the province, according to a recent report by Living Wage BC.

The 2025 report shows Port Alberni’s living wage at $22.60—the hourly amount that someone needs to earn to meet their basic expenses (including rent, food and transportation). Government taxes, credits, deductions and subsidies are taken into account and it does not include debt repayment or savings for future plans.

This November B.C. MLAs punted into oblivion a pair of private members’ bills concerning First Nations.     

On Nov. 19, Independent MLA for Peace River North Jordan Kealy put forward the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Statute Repeal Act. His bill was blocked from advancing by a vote of 48-43. 

Travelers using River Road can expect delays and detours as work begins this fall on a new roundabout to be installed at the intersection of River Road and Beaver Creek Road in Port Alberni.

For years the intersection, which also involves access to Clutesi Haven Marina, has been troublesome during times of heavy traffic through the Highway 4 corridor. There are no traffic lights at the intersection, making left turns from Beaver Creek Road or the marina onto Highway 4 difficult.

While he didn’t live long enough to benefit from his win over British Columbia’s organ transplant rules, David Dennis’ victory five years after his death will benefit Indigenous people on waitlists into the future.

The Alberni Valley’s First Nation leaders are “extremely concerned, sad, frustrated and disappointed” by the temporary closure of West Coast General’s ICU, and are calling for measures to immediately restore intensive care at the hospital.

Nuu-chah-nulth caterer Lil’ Star Frank took beef off her menu after the price of roast beef climbed to $90 for a couple pieces that would only feed about 15 people.

For potlatches, she needs to create meals for upwards of 500 guests, and lately, her spending at the grocery store topples $3,000 for an event of that size. 

“Food… I can’t even explain. I feel like, is my catering even worth it?” she said. “The beef sure went up in price. Same with flour, we’d be lucky to get it for $10 a sack. Even vegetables, I can’t believe it, like $10 for a bag of apples?”

Food insecurity has reached a record high of 25.5 per cent in Canadian households, according to the latest Canadian Food Sentiment Index report published by the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University.

Another recent report from Island Health shows one in five Vancouver Island residents were concerned about food security. 

Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council dietician and diabetes educator Rachel (Dickens) Greening thinks those numbers are probably even higher for Indigenous communities.