It’s been two years since the idea of a tiny home village for Port Alberni’s most vulnerable was first floated and now opening day is finally here. Port Alberni Friendship Center Executive Director Cyndi Stevens invited Ha-Shilth-Sa to an open house on Oct. 26 to make the announcement.

In June 2022, Ha-Shilth-Sa reported that the Friendship Center, in collaboration with BC Housing, the City of Port Alberni and a housing task force that includes Tseshaht, Hupacasath, the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council and other community agencies, would develop Wałyaqił - Tiny Home Village.

A harm reduction outreach program is working to keep people alive in the midst of a spiraling illicit drug epidemic that has devastated man Nuu-chah-nulth families.

At the NTC Disability Access Awareness Committee Health Ability Fair, held Oct. 25-26 at the Alberni Athletic Hall, Gina Amos, a harm reduction outreach worker with the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council, told the crowd that in the first seven months of 2023, 1,455 people lost their lives to illicit drugs in British Columbia. In the month of July alone, 198 British Columbians died due to drug use.

By the time the summer came to a close Hayleigh Mae Watts of Tseshaht found out that she was awarded Softball B.C.’s Indigenous Minor Athlete of the Year. According to Softball BC, Watts led in the U15 B category to many achievements, and dominated all year as an elite pitcher.

“It was really exciting because I've never had an award like this before,” said Hayleigh. “So it was really nerve racking, and overall, it was just really exciting to be known that I was [Indigenous] Athlete of the Year.”

It’s been 13 years since two veteran Tofino paramedics lost their lives when the ambulance they were in went off the road and plunged more than 100 feet down the cliff into Kennedy Lake. On Oct. 19 dozens of paramedics from Tofino and around the province gathered at the site on the 13th anniversary to dedicate a memorial stone at the site of the accident.

In mid October B.C.’s Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions announced their contribution of $4.39 million to New Roads Therapeutic Recovery Community in Victoria, providing support to an additional 330 more men struggling with repeated incarceration, housing instability and addiction over the next three years.

A major change is coming for B.C.’s system of granting mining rights, but the duty to consult First Nations before a claim is granted will not be in place for another year and a half, with current stakes remaining in place.

It was a quiet, ordinary Sunday evening on September 17, when Maverick Marshall, 33, of Ditidaht, hopped on his bicycle after visiting The Bread of Life on Third Avenue in Port Alberni. It was something the experienced cyclist had done many times before.

But something went wrong barely two blocks away as Marshall headed down the Third Avenue hill. According to a family member, he somehow lost control of his bike and careened over his handlebars. He struck a utility pole headfirst. He wasn’t wearing a safety helmet.

Heavy rains coupled with high tides are wreaking havoc on industrial roads leading to Bamfield and Nitinaht.

Local motorists from Anacla, Bamfield and Nitinaht shared photos of road conditions on the way to the remote communities.

Kristen Young of Huu-ay-aht shared a photo of a slide that occurred at the 44 kilometre marker outside of Bamfield on the morning of Wednesday, Oct. 18. She reported that the debris had been mostly cleared by 9:30 that morning and drivers could get through.

It has been more than 20 years since Vic Pearson, the affable man with the slight English accent, last occupied an office at the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council building, but his long service to Nuu-chah-nulth-aht back then and even years later is being remembered by those that fortunate enough to know him.

Vic Pearson was 84 when he passed away on September 1, 2023.

According to his online obituary, he was born in Birmingham, England.