A change in Ottawa appears likely this year, leaving some to wonder what place reconciliation will have in Canada’s next government.

With a federal election expected this spring, the Conservative Party of Canada is riding high in the polls, making Pierre Poilievre the most likely candidate to become Prime Minister. Under the leadership of Justin Trudeau, for the last decade the Liberals have tripled spending on Indigenous services compared to 2015 dollars, but the Conservatives have made so such commitment. 

A Friday night soak in an outdoor hot tub sent chills through the spines of a father and daughter as they spotted a cougar peering at them through the bush about a foot away.

Natalee Dennis was visiting her parents at their Tofino home on Friday, January 10th. It was about eight or 9 p.m. when Natalee joined her father Stephen in the hot tub. 

“Dad had already been in there for awhile,” she said.

But when Natalee got in the water with her dad, they noticed their pet cat was acting strange. 

The Sooke Edward Milne Wolverines senior boys basketball team stung Victoria’s Stelly’s on Saturday, Jan. 11 at the Alberni District Secondary School (ADSS) gymnasium with an outstanding 63-62 comeback win, soaring to Totem 69 glory and a championship banner. 

Coached by Trevor Bligh, the Wolverines are currently ranked first in the Vancouver Island Triple-A south division. 

Grieving the recent loss of his close friend Richard Lucas Jr., elected Tseshaht First Nations Chief Councillor Wahmeesh (Ken Watts) speaks with a heavy heart. 

He reflected on Justin Trudeau’s reign as the 23rd prime minister of Canada with compassion.

“The world of politics has changed a lot,” said Wahmeesh, whose late father Wameesh (George Watts) had a prolific career in First Nations politics.

Totem 69 opened with wins from Alberni’s boys and girls’ teams, as the basketball squads look to perform strongly before their lively hometown crowd over the three-day tournament.

In B.C.’s longest-running high school tournament, Alberni District Secondary’s senior girls team dominated Dover Bay in their opening game with a 71-20 win on Thursday, Jan. 9. Alberni’s Sarah Warman was named player of the game for ADSS, while Julienne Ayson was recognized for Dover Bay.

It’s called ʔuukʷinkpanač and it means ‘walking in togetherness’. 

Launched by the Vancouver Island West Coast Primary Care Initiative Health Care Society, ʔuukʷinkpanač promises to deliver services that include traditional healing and wellness options for the First Nations peoples of the Clayoquot Sound region. 

Josie Osborne, B.C.’s newly appointed minister of Health, was in Port Alberni Dec. 19 to make an announcement about the newly expanded Travel Assistance Program (TAP), which helps residents in remote communities travelling for non-emergency medical specialist appointments.

Changes to improve the TAP include free ferry service for residents of rural, remote and First Nations communities travelling for non-emergency appointments.

As the new year brings hope that some clues could surface in 2025 about the disappearance of Lisa Marie Young, information has come to light about the whereabouts of the last person seen with her over 22 years ago.

Christopher William Adair has lived in Turkey for the last several years, residing in Fethiye, a seaside tourist location since 2017. While on the Turkish Riviera Adair has run a consulting company specializing in immigration and residency matters. Adair also spends time in the Philippines, as was reported on Dec. 30 from the newspaper Türkiye Today. 

Vet staff from the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Society (VAMMRS) are on standby this week along the highway by Kennedy Lake, after a California sea lion was spotted over the holidays on several occasions by different drivers, stranded on the road.

Vet staff say the marine mammal likely followed fish up a river and into Kennedy Lake, then staggered up a path nearby the Pacific Rim Highway. Emergency crews are working alongside Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) and aquarium personnel to capture the confused sea lion.     

Basketball is a family affair for the ADSS senior girls team, who eagerly await the chance to compete in front of loved ones at B.C.’s oldest high school hoops tournament.

Totem 69 is scheduled to light up Alberni District Secondary’s court Jan. 9 – 11, drawing a dozen boys and girls teams from across Vancouver Island. The tournament began in 1955 with four boys teams, then in 1982 expanded to eight male squads. It wasn’t until 2011 that Totem included girls, but now the female teams share representation with the boys at six senior squads each.