Mandy Moraes

Students Joanne Bob, left, and Yvonne Frenchie receive help with classroom exercises from FEATHERS Society literary program instructor Maureen Robinson on Wednesday, April 20, at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre. (Mandy Moraes/News Bulletin)

B.C.-based literacy program for Indigenous elders looks to expand across Canada

Program provides learning opportunities for elders, including residential school survivors

Students Joanne Bob, left, and Yvonne Frenchie receive help with classroom exercises from FEATHERS Society literary program instructor Maureen Robinson on Wednesday, April 20, at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre. (Mandy Moraes/News Bulletin)
RCMP cruiser. (Black Press file photo)

Vancouver Island man sentenced to time served, probation after weapons charges

Sentencing includes five-year ban on possessing firearms

RCMP cruiser. (Black Press file photo)
Simon Phillips and Karen Kenyon (left) of Royal LePage Parksville-Qualicum present a cheque of $50,000 to Shannon McRae and Lola Graham-McRae (right) as the recipient of the Dream Home Project Initiative cash award on March 18, 2022. (Mandy Moraes photo)

Nanaimo resident announced as Dream Home Project Initiative $50K recipient

Money awarded by Parksville Qualicum Beach realtors toward first-time home purchase

Simon Phillips and Karen Kenyon (left) of Royal LePage Parksville-Qualicum present a cheque of $50,000 to Shannon McRae and Lola Graham-McRae (right) as the recipient of the Dream Home Project Initiative cash award on March 18, 2022. (Mandy Moraes photo)
RCMP, BC Ambulance personnel and the Coombs-Hilliers, Errington and Qualicum fire departments responded to a report of a mobile home with a man trapped underneath along Grafton Avenue near Station Road in Coombs, on Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2022. (Mandy Moraes photo)

RCMP report one man dead after being trapped beneath Vancouver Island mobile home

Police say structure was being moved on to Coombs property

RCMP, BC Ambulance personnel and the Coombs-Hilliers, Errington and Qualicum fire departments responded to a report of a mobile home with a man trapped underneath along Grafton Avenue near Station Road in Coombs, on Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2022. (Mandy Moraes photo)
A social media post on Tuesday, Jan. 25, showing the escaped cattle entering a property on Gibbs Road. (Facebook photo)

‘Til the cows come home: Errington’s cruising cows back after adventurous escape

Owners notified animals were kept safe a short distance away; fence now beefed up

A social media post on Tuesday, Jan. 25, showing the escaped cattle entering a property on Gibbs Road. (Facebook photo)
Social media posts, dated Jan. 24, 2022, by an Errington resident who had corralled two missing cattle after their first escape. (Facebook photo)

Moo-vin’ around: Island cattle on the lam after escaping twice

Owners searching after animals slipped out through since-repaired Errington fence

Social media posts, dated Jan. 24, 2022, by an Errington resident who had corralled two missing cattle after their first escape. (Facebook photo)
An electronic road sign along Highway 19 near the Nanoose Bay warning drivers of potholes ahead, on Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022. (Mandy Moraes photo)

Island drivers say minefield of Highway 19 potholes jolting vehicles and wallets

Despite constant repairs to road, hundreds left to deal with damaged vehicles

An electronic road sign along Highway 19 near the Nanoose Bay warning drivers of potholes ahead, on Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022. (Mandy Moraes photo)
Founder and operations manager of the North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre, Robin Campbell, holds Blizzard, a rare white raven, shortly after the bird was brought into the centre in late May 2021. (Michael Briones photo)

Blizzard the white raven on the mend at North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre

Bird enjoys prime cuts of red meat and solving toy puzzles meant for toddlers

Founder and operations manager of the North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre, Robin Campbell, holds Blizzard, a rare white raven, shortly after the bird was brought into the centre in late May 2021. (Michael Briones photo)
Residents have been sharing photos of highway potholes via social media. (Devon Matheson/Facebook photo)

PQB roads: Excess moisture, ‘freeze-thaw’ conditions result in series of highway potholes

Crews work continually to deal with situation in surrounding region

Residents have been sharing photos of highway potholes via social media. (Devon Matheson/Facebook photo)
Charlee Woodruff being held by Jonathan Bennett who plays one of her adoptive fathers in the upcoming Hallmark movie ‘The Christmas House 2: Deck Those Halls’. (Submitted photo)

Doubling their fun: Vancouver Island twins appear in Hallmark Christmas movie

Qualicum Beach babies now signed with Vancouver talent agency

Charlee Woodruff being held by Jonathan Bennett who plays one of her adoptive fathers in the upcoming Hallmark movie ‘The Christmas House 2: Deck Those Halls’. (Submitted photo)
Sheldon James Johanson. (PQB News file photo)

Vancouver Island man who flipped stolen pickup sentenced to 16 months in jail

32-year-old pleads guilty to 3 charges related to March 2021 incident

Sheldon James Johanson. (PQB News file photo)
A trail at Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park. The provincial government has agreed to advance detailed designs of a multi-use trail between Rathtrevor and Parksville Community Park with expected completion by the summer. (News Bulletin file photo)

Province poised to link two of the mid-Island’s most popular beaches with new path

Multi-use path connecting Rathtrevor and Parksville Community Park expected next summer

A trail at Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park. The provincial government has agreed to advance detailed designs of a multi-use trail between Rathtrevor and Parksville Community Park with expected completion by the summer. (News Bulletin file photo)
Canada Post mailboxes. (CP photo)

COVID-19: Lasqueti Island residents see mail delivery delayed after vaccine flap

Canada Post says contingency plan has been put in place

Canada Post mailboxes. (CP photo)
The Court of Appeal in Vancouver. (Black Press file photo)

Bookkeeper who defrauded Island mill sees house arrest converted to jail time

Initial sentence was overturned in B.C. Court of Appeal

The Court of Appeal in Vancouver. (Black Press file photo)
Leah Moore, founder of the Flying Fur Animal Rescue and Refuge in Parksville, on Nov. 9, 2021, as she holds one of the many rabbits recently abandoned at her facility. (Mandy Moraes photo)

COVID-19: As restrictions ease, Vancouver Island animal rescue fills up with pets

Founder concerned with the rising trend and mounting costs

Leah Moore, founder of the Flying Fur Animal Rescue and Refuge in Parksville, on Nov. 9, 2021, as she holds one of the many rabbits recently abandoned at her facility. (Mandy Moraes photo)
The Nanaimo courthouse. (File photo)

More than a decade later, Island woman gets jail time for defrauding her boss

Jill Margaret Braun receives 22-month jail sentence for defrauding Parksville employer out of $31K

The Nanaimo courthouse. (File photo)
A fire-damaged mattress was passed through the window of a room at the Travelodge in Parksville on Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021. (Peter McCully photo)

1 person suffers burns, others evacuated after late-night blaze at Vancouver Island hotel

Parksville fire chief credits active and inspected sprinkler systems for limiting damage

A fire-damaged mattress was passed through the window of a room at the Travelodge in Parksville on Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021. (Peter McCully photo)
The back of a BC Emergency Health Services ground ambulance. (PQB News file photo)

B.C. woman says husband’s death while family waited on hold won’t ‘be put on a shelf’

Nancy Blakey says talks include ‘very progressive’ meeting with BC Emergency Health Services

The back of a BC Emergency Health Services ground ambulance. (PQB News file photo)
A Parksville resident was alarmed to find needles left in a forested area near Springwood Elementary School in 2019. (Submitted photo)

Parksville mayor jabs Island Health for needle issue inaction

Mayne tells Island Health officials problem is getting worse

A Parksville resident was alarmed to find needles left in a forested area near Springwood Elementary School in 2019. (Submitted photo)
Harry Charles (Chuck) Blakey, 72, died in his Parksville home while his family waited on hold after calling 911 for an ambulance dispatch. (Barbara Blakey photo)

B.C. man, 72, dies in home while family waits on hold with 911 dispatch

Daughter blames ‘governmental system that has allowed this to happen’

Harry Charles (Chuck) Blakey, 72, died in his Parksville home while his family waited on hold after calling 911 for an ambulance dispatch. (Barbara Blakey photo)