Karly Blats

Nature photographer Mike Yip spotted this white raven in Coombs last month. - Mike Yip photo

Rare white ravens spotted again on Vancouver Island

Nature photographer Mike Yip said mysterious birds back in Coombs area

Nature photographer Mike Yip spotted this white raven in Coombs last month. - Mike Yip photo
Michelle Stilwell, MLA for Parksville-Qualicum, uses the Lokomat machine at the Neuromotion Physio clinic in Victoria. - Submitted photo

VIDEO: B.C. MLA Michelle Stilwell takes first steps in nearly 30 years

‘It actually felt like walking. It’s been 27 years… but it felt realistic to me’

Michelle Stilwell, MLA for Parksville-Qualicum, uses the Lokomat machine at the Neuromotion Physio clinic in Victoria. - Submitted photo
Twenty-one-year-old Nick Major from Parksville has died from a viral rabies infection after coming into contact with a bat on Vancouver Island in May. - Facebook photo

Taekwondo instructor, 21, identified as B.C. bat rabies victim

Nick Major, 21, an instructor at Cascadia Martial Arts in Parksville

Twenty-one-year-old Nick Major from Parksville has died from a viral rabies infection after coming into contact with a bat on Vancouver Island in May. - Facebook photo
Wendy Williams, who lives in Qualicum Beach, has been named the first Canadian woman to captain a major cruise ship. - Virginvoyages.com

B.C.’s Wendy Williams named first Canadian woman to captain a major cruise ship

‘No woman should ever feel that she can’t do anything on this planet’

Wendy Williams, who lives in Qualicum Beach, has been named the first Canadian woman to captain a major cruise ship. - Virginvoyages.com
Clarke Gourlay, founder of Little Qualicum Cheeseworks and Morningstar Farm, passed away on June 29, 2019 in a hiking accident in Strathcona Provincial Park. - File photo

Founder of Little Qualicum Cheeseworks dies in mountaineering accident

Farmer, politician was hiking in Vancouver Island’s Strathcona Park

Clarke Gourlay, founder of Little Qualicum Cheeseworks and Morningstar Farm, passed away on June 29, 2019 in a hiking accident in Strathcona Provincial Park. - File photo
Ian Paton, MLA for Delta South and co-critic for agriculture, speaks to a group of concerned farmers at Rusted Rake Farm in Nanoose Bay on June 17. - Karly Blats photo

B.C. farmers concerned Agricultural Land Reserve changes choking their livelihood

Dozens voice concerns at special meeting hosted on Vancouver Island

Ian Paton, MLA for Delta South and co-critic for agriculture, speaks to a group of concerned farmers at Rusted Rake Farm in Nanoose Bay on June 17. - Karly Blats photo
A group of Canadian and Americans, including Dave Tryon, left, who was found through social media, are back together for a reunion in California after backpacking Europe in 1969. - Submitted photo

So, ‘Dave from Vancouver Island’ has reunited with his travelling pals after 50 years

B.C. man meets friends in California; group backpacked in Europe in 1969

A group of Canadian and Americans, including Dave Tryon, left, who was found through social media, are back together for a reunion in California after backpacking Europe in 1969. - Submitted photo
Two huskies, Kodi and Tigger, went missing in the Parksville area last Christmas Eve. (Mafawnwee Olivia Kenton/Facebook)

UPDATED: B.C. farmer gets death threats after two dogs shot, killed on her property

Parksville-area woman says huskies were shot after entering her yard and attacking a goat

Two huskies, Kodi and Tigger, went missing in the Parksville area last Christmas Eve. (Mafawnwee Olivia Kenton/Facebook)
Parksville Beach Festival attendees take in the Quality Foods fireworks display during the Beach Fest finale in 2017. (Adam Kveton/PQB News)

Are New Year’s Eve fireworks ‘selfish, incredibly intrusive’?

Parksville resident says her New Year’s Eve was ruined by loud displays

Parksville Beach Festival attendees take in the Quality Foods fireworks display during the Beach Fest finale in 2017. (Adam Kveton/PQB News)
The Parksville Canada Post office was evacuated on Nov. 1 around 10:30 a.m. after an employee found a powdered substance on a package. The Oceanside RCMP and a specialized drug testing team are investigating. - Karly Blats photo

B.C. post office evacuated after powdered substance found on package

No injuries reported; drug lab to investigate substance

The Parksville Canada Post office was evacuated on Nov. 1 around 10:30 a.m. after an employee found a powdered substance on a package. The Oceanside RCMP and a specialized drug testing team are investigating. - Karly Blats photo
The carcass of a male black bear was found in a popular recreation area in Qualicum Beach on Vancouver Island. - Black Press file photo

Headless bear carcass found by dog walkers in Qualicum Beach

Conservation officers believe animal was killed elsewhere and dumped near subdivision

The carcass of a male black bear was found in a popular recreation area in Qualicum Beach on Vancouver Island. - Black Press file photo
Submitted photo                                Nanoose resident Jessica McLaren, left, dresses as a bunny for Halloween in the early 90s to go trick or treating with her older sisters.

Trick-or-treating stirs up sweet memories for adults

What is your favourite Halloween candy?

Submitted photo                                Nanoose resident Jessica McLaren, left, dresses as a bunny for Halloween in the early 90s to go trick or treating with her older sisters.
Sixth generation dairy farmer Devan Toop talks to attendees at Toop Farms on Sept. 21 during the 17th annual Chilliwack Agriculture Tour. (Paul Henderson/ The Progress)

B.C. dairy farmers say new free trade deal ‘terribly weakens’ industry

Farmers slam the new U.S.-Mexico-Canada deal, despite prime minister’s praise of it

Sixth generation dairy farmer Devan Toop talks to attendees at Toop Farms on Sept. 21 during the 17th annual Chilliwack Agriculture Tour. (Paul Henderson/ The Progress)
Minister of Agriculture Lana Popham gets a tour of Parksville’s Salt & Harrow Farm by owner and operator Seann Dory on Sept. 18 before she announced a $300,000 commitment from the province to help farmers access affordable farm land. — Karly Blats photo

Ministry of Agriculture commits $300,000 to help B.C. farmers obtain land

B.C. Land Matching Program supports access to affordable farmland for young farmers

Minister of Agriculture Lana Popham gets a tour of Parksville’s Salt & Harrow Farm by owner and operator Seann Dory on Sept. 18 before she announced a $300,000 commitment from the province to help farmers access affordable farm land. — Karly Blats photo
Two-year-old Jaxon was admitted to BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver after been diagnosed with a strain of E. coli. Photo submitted by Jolene Secord.

B.C. family urges parents to follow gut after toddler contracts E.coli infection

The cause of infection is unknown, but parents suspect it came from deer feces

Two-year-old Jaxon was admitted to BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver after been diagnosed with a strain of E. coli. Photo submitted by Jolene Secord.
B.C. man, 71, builds bike that can glide along unused railroad

B.C. man, 71, builds bike that can glide along unused railroad

Island Corridor Foundation says rail use not permitted on active railroad

B.C. man, 71, builds bike that can glide along unused railroad
B.C. school closes after six year old First Nation boy dies in Port Alberni home

B.C. school closes after six year old First Nation boy dies in Port Alberni home

The Port Alberni school will be closed the rest of the week following the death of a six-year-old

B.C. school closes after six year old First Nation boy dies in Port Alberni home
Good food, fine wine and some intimate conversation: romance is is good for you, according to a Vancouver Island couples’ therapist. Image: Facebook/Quails’ Gate Estate Winery

Romance is more than fun, it’s good for you

Find out not just how to keep those Valentine’s Day fires burning, but why

Good food, fine wine and some intimate conversation: romance is is good for you, according to a Vancouver Island couples’ therapist. Image: Facebook/Quails’ Gate Estate Winery
VI FREE DAILY file                                All BC Ferries vessels and terminals will be smoke-free environments starting Monday, Jan. 22.

No crackdown, just education as BC Ferries’ enacts smoking ban

Fines and extra patrols not happening at this time as ban begins Monday

VI FREE DAILY file                                All BC Ferries vessels and terminals will be smoke-free environments starting Monday, Jan. 22.
#MeToo at work: How reporting sexual harassment works – and how it doesn’t

#MeToo at work: How reporting sexual harassment works – and how it doesn’t

British Columbians have four options to report harassment or assault, but none of them are easy

#MeToo at work: How reporting sexual harassment works – and how it doesn’t