With the federal election a little more than two weeks away, knowing where to vote is as important as choosing a candidate. With 89,063 registered voters in the Vancouver Island North riding, voters have the option of voting at advance polls on April 22, 23 and 25, on election day, at an Elections Canada office or by mail.

Vancouver Island North candidates are invited to two public forums announced so far this month for the Comox Valley.

Although it wasn't the full grant Lake Trail Neighbourhood Connections was hoping for, Courtenay council increased a suggested one-time $3,850 grant to $9,000 to support the organization's budget Monday. Following a presentation to council March 21, the group requested council consider providing a grant of $18,987 towards their program budget of $30,737.

Roughly 300 women find themselves at a shelter after trying to flee abuse in their homes each year in the Comox Valley. And a new public awareness campaign that officially kicked off this week is hoping to show people that number doesn't have to be so high.

Federal NDP candidate Ronna-Rae Leonard is backing community calls for a stronger environmental assessment into the proposed coal mine in Comox Valley.

Following a lengthy police investigation, charges have been laid against two men for a violent home invasion which occurred last September in Royston.

The City of Courtenay is taking the first steps toward a major $5-million renovation and expansion of the Lewis Centre. As part of its budget discussions last week, council gave city staff the green light to begin design work for the proposed renovation and expansion project.

An early-morning blaze Monday burned through an unoccupied house on McIntyre Avenue in Courtenay, quickly spreading throughout the home by the time firefighters arrived on scene.