BC Ferries is warning travellers that the wind in the forecast means a number of sailings are at risk of cancellation.

YouTube video by Just Jake

An unattended campfire at U’Mista Beach on Alert Bay is prompting a reminder about wildfire safety as conditions remain dry.

B.C. Wildfire Service and Port McNeill Fire Rescue responded to the wildfire

What are the 2024 salmon returns telling us? Homiskanis (Don Svanvik), Alexandra MortonJanuary January 2025 Figure 1. Unexpected, large returns of chum, and other salmon, occurred throughout east Vanc...

Thousands on North Vancouver Island were without power overnight after a tree damaged BC Hydro infrastructure Saturday afternoon.

The world's tallest totem pole, standing at 173 feet and recognized in the Guinness Book of World Records, was brought down in Alert Bay, British Columbia, on September 9, 2026, after more than 50 years. The pole, carved by numerous Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw carvers including Jimmy Dick and his team, was raised in 1973 as a symbol of unity among 22 Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw tribes. It represented a powerful statement of solidarity during a time when potlatch ceremonies were banned by federal law for over 60 years. The pole was dismantled due to structural safety concerns, with crews carefully taking it down over a multi-hour process. 'Na̱mǥis First Nation' leaders, including hereditary chief Ho'miskanis Don Svanvik and William Wasden Jr., reflected on the pole's significance as a beacon for cultural revival after the potlatch ban. Svanvik noted the pole symbolized the return of cultural practices and governance, while Wasden shared that the pole's dismantling was part of an ancient pattern where each generation must answer for itself. The pole was carved by a team including Dora Cook, one of few women carvers at the time, and others like Adam Dick, Andy 'Beanie' Beans, and Gus Matilpi. Community members gathered to witness the dismantling, and both leaders expressed that this was not the end but a new chapter for their people. The pole's removal follows the completion of the nearby Gukwdzi (Big House), which was also a symbol of unity for the Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw people. The dismantling process was carefully planned with safety perimeters established the evening before, and the community's emotional response highlighted the pole's deep cultural significance.