NEWS

Aboriginal Head Start program students celebrate graduation at K'omoks Big House

RCMP Investigating fatal overnight collision involving pedestrian

RCMP in the Comox Valley is investigating an incident that claimed the life of a 44-year-old man who was struck when he was walking along Ryan Road early one morning Courtenay. First responders were called to a location halfway up Ryan Road hill shortly after 3 a.m. when a northbound Mini Cooper collided with a pedestrian on its way up the hill. Const. Monika Terragni of the Comox Valley RCMP says despite the effort of those trying to rescue the man, he died at the scene. 鈥漈here is always something we can improve upon, Ryan Road is a very dark road at night because it doesn鈥檛 have lights so it鈥檚 absolutely prudent for any pedestrians that are walking along Ryan Road or any dark road in our community to be wearing things that make themselves very very visible鈥� Terragni said. 

Robots, technology take care in Comox's innovative new dementia village

Providence Living at the Views, located at 211 Rodello Street in Comox, is the country's first public, non-profit long-term care home that is based on the dementia village concept. The idea is to create a small-scale community that is designed to give residents the highest quality of life by promoting a sense of purpose and belonging. Residents at the Views will have autonomy in most of their daily decisions, and will foster a sense of community engagement through being able to safely live full lives in the facility. The facility is also equipped with location information devices. Residents wear a sensor that gives staff real-time information about a resident's whereabouts as well as their biometric data. The devices, which will either be a kind of bracelet or necklace or sewn into clothing for residents with sensory issues, allow residents to enter and exit certain doors, allowing them freedom of movement. Finally, supplies are moved around the facility by use of autonomous robots, which will deliver things like food and laundry to specific areas that need them.

Comox Valley Land trust raising $500k to save remaining parts of Puntledge forest

The Comox Valley Land Trust is looking to raise $500,000 to protect the Bevan Trails and surrounding forest ecosystem. The Bevan Trails are part of the larger Puntledge Forest area, which a release from CVLT calls a "beloved recreational area and a rare local example of a mature, biodiverse forest." The release goes on to say that the area 鈥� on BC Hydro-owned land 鈥� is not protected from logging. Timber rights are held by Manulife Investment Management (Manulife IM) on behalf of their clients. CVLT is looking to purchase the 37 hectares of forest in the area, adding to 61 hectares already purchased in 2023 and 2024. "We really hope that people will not take for granted the fact that it's just there for their enjoyment. It's not going to be if we don't protect it now," Ennis said. "We have a generational opportunity to get this thing done and that opportunity might not come around again."

Pentlatch fish trap panel on exhibit at VIU Marine Field Station

One of the largest and most complete examples of Pentlatch ingenuity is on display at Vancouver Island University's Deep Bay Marine Field Station. The significant cultural belonging was unearthed by the K鈥櫭砿oks First Nation and archaeological collaborators and was on public display at the field station in Bowser. "At 550 years old, the fish trap panel is an incredible and enduring example of Pentlatch cultural ingenuity," a release from VIU says. "It is the largest and most complete of its kind on the Northwest Coast, and potentially in the world. It measures roughly six metres long and 70 cm wide, with 13 long laths and nine vertical support laths, bound together with cordage made from plant fibres."

Courtenay/Comox become home to NA鈥檚 largest electric garbage truck fleet

The days of hearing the waste collection truck rolling down the road and rushing to put out your bins are numbered. Emterra, Mack Trucks, the City of Courtenay and the Town of Comox unveiled their new fleet of fully-electric waste collection trucks. The new Mack LR Electric trucks make up the largest fleet of its kind in North America. The three trucks at the unveiling event in Comox were seen on the streets as early as Wednesday, with the next batch of trucks will be deployed in coming weeks. The trucks are specifically designed for waste management. According to a release from Emterra, they "offer several advantages over diesel trucks, such as zero emissions and lower noise levels."

Courtenay councillors say Gaza conflict a 鈥渃omplicated issue鈥�

Courtenay City Council received a letter from Comox Valley for Palestine (CV4P), a local group who are a part of the global solidarity movement for Palestine. The letter expresses the group's "profound disappointment and frustration with the City of Courtenay's handling of the escalating crisis in Gaza," saying that though council reiterated the Canadian government's calls for a ceasefire, "this statement came far too late and only after persistent pressure from CV4P members. "We did in fact make a statement that captured the points that the delegates that we met with asked us to cover, and on that basis, I reject the accusations that are being made against this council of racism," said Councillor Doug Hillian. "It's obviously an incredibly complicated issue, and that is why it is difficult for us to stray into these waters."

K'贸moks First Nation initials Treaty with Canada, B.C.

"I know this is scary, but we can do it," were Melissa Quocksister's parting words to the gathered members of the K'贸moks First Nation at the initialling ceremony for the Nation's draft treaty with the Province of B.C. and Federal Goverment. While not the final step in the process, the ceremony marked a major milestone in the process towards ratifying a living treaty. The draft treaty's initialling essentially finalized the draft wording of the treaty, which will now be presented to members of the First Nation and taken to a ratification vote in the coming months. Federal Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations Gary Anandasangaree, and provincial minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation Murray Rankin joined Elected Chief Ken Price in the signing ceremony.

Valley welcomes new wing commander at 19 Wing Comox

19 Wing Comox has a new wing commander, as Col. J.P. Gagnon relinquished his role to Col. Chris Shapka at a formal ceremony at the base. Shapka joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1997. He began his career in the 407 Maritime Patrol Squadron in 2002 after graduating from the Royal Military College of Canada. He also completed the Aerospace Engineering Officer Basic course. At the ceremony at 19 Wing, Shapka thanked the support of his wife and daughters in his career in the armed forces.

ARTS

Musicfest

Over 8,000 people came each day to the Vancouver Island Musicfest, which just wrapped up its 30th year. Those thousands of people, from far afield to the Comox Valley, braved the heat to take part in one of the most exciting weekends of the Comox Valley calendar. With over 66 individual shows to choose from, attendees had their fair share of music to enjoy. When they weren't enjoying the acts, they were checking out vendors, food trucks and many other attractions. The event ran like a well-oiled machine, with not a scrap of garbage to be found at the end of any of the nights.