News
Children orchestrate fish rescue operation in Cumberland鈥檚 watershed\
Cumberland鈥檚 Coal Creek Historic Park was the theatre of a full-fledged rescue operation on the afternoon of May 15. A small stout-hearted troop of children, ages 4 and 5, led by Hand-In-Hand nature instructor Jody Fink, managed to save nearly 300 fish from imminent death. Armed with newfound determination, the preschoolers went up and down the creekbed, filling their tiny buckets with fresh water and emptying them into the puddles. In less than an hour, their hard work raised the puddles鈥� water levels by two inches. But when the sun hit high noon, the squad lost some of its members.
Comox Valley Residents fly kites for Palestinian Fathers
Over 30 people came down to Goose Spit park on father鈥檚 day to fly kites, albeit for a slightly different reason than the usual father's day kite event. Held just before the City of Courtenay event, Comox Valley for Palestine's event was designed to uplift the stories of Palestinian fathers and raise awareness for the ongoing genocide in Gaza. "We hear a lot about the women and the children of Palestine that are suffering," said Elmar Nabbe, one of the organizers of the event. "But there's the fathers a lot of fathers that have have died as well.鈥�
Courtenay launches Comox Road Sewer Project to safeguard marine habitats
The City of Courtenay launched construction on a new sewer project that will protect sensitive marine habitats by decommissioning an aging sewer pipe that crosses the Courtenay River. 鈥淭his is an important, proactive effort to protect the sensitive ecosystems in and around the river and estuary,鈥� said Adam Pitcher, manager of capital projects. 鈥淲e鈥檙e glad to see this project move forward knowing the long-term protection it will offer. We understand though that in the short-term, construction will be disruptive for many in the area. The city is committed to working with the contractor and coordinating schedules to reduce impact while completing the project in a timely way.鈥�
Entertainment
Addiction to artistry: Island rapper shares journey to sobriety
Scott Monk was born and raised in the Comox Valley. At seven years old, he received a cassette of Eminem鈥檚 The Marshall Mathers LP, marking his introduction to hip-hop music. This single experience would go on to forever change the life of the now 32-year-old man, sparking his dream to become a prolific rapper. However, one major obstacle would hinder him from achieving this goal for nearly two decades. Despite having "a good upbringing," Monk struggled with addiction from his early teens to his late twenties. Now drug-free and laser-focused on his music career, Monk has turned this dark period of his life into a driving creative force, imbuing his songs with meaning, resilience, and hope.
Sports
TSN airing documentary on Comox Valley teen racing sensation
Comox Valley teen racing sensation Nicole Havrda got some national attention as fans of car racing focused on Montreal and the Canadian Grand Prix. Havrda, 18, has been climbing the ranks of the racing world for a few years. In 2023 (at the age of 17) she won the American Formula 3 Championship. In May, she was featured on TSN in the Jarmain Productions documentary, The Car Knows No Difference. Havrda said the next step for her is to race on the European circuit.
Community
Couple launches new coffee shop in Courtenay
Coffee aficionados and occasional coffee drinkers seeking new tastes will be pleased to learn about Comox Valley鈥檚 new mobile coffee shop. Rise & Grind Coffee opened its doors on June 8 and is currently located at Courtenay鈥檚 Off the Rails Farm and Market, 3125 Piercy Ave., selling coffees from Saturdays to Sundays, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
