Author: Nathaniel Grant

A North Island College student has died nearly three weeks after being struck by a cyclist while walking home from campus in Courtenay. Max Poley, 24, was finishing an evening shift at the student union cafeteria, NISU Eats, on September 16 when the collision occurred. He was walking along Ryan Road, a route connecting the Comox Valley Airport to Highway 19A that passes the college and lacks street lights. The incident happened just before 9 p.m. near the bottom of the hill close to Back Road. Poley was immediately taken to the intensive care unit at Victoria General Hospital and…

Courtenay emergency crews responded to two motor vehicle accidents Friday afternoon, causing traffic disruptions and one hospitalization. The first incident occurred around 1:30 p.m. on Comox Road. Courtenay Fire, BC Ambulance, and RCMP were on the scene quickly. Witnesses reported a vehicle went airborne over a ditch near a used car lot and landed upside down on multiple parked vehicles. One person was immediately taken to the hospital, while another remained trapped in the vehicle and was being extricated by emergency services. BC Ambulance confirmed that one patient was transported to a site for helicopter extraction. As of 3:30 p.m.,…

Crews battled a large fire at a commercial building north of Courtenay on Wednesday morning. Multiple fire departments responded to the blaze, which engulfed a warehouse near Merville and Grantham. The Courtenay Fire Department arrived just after 10 a.m. and was joined by teams from Oyster River, Merville, Comox, and Cumberland. The property’s owner was on site when firefighters arrived. The warehouse, located at 6167 Tsolum River Road, contained solar panels on its roof and batteries inside. B.C. Hydro crews disconnected power to the building. Power remains off as emergency teams continue operations. BC Emergency Health Services also responded at…

A 67-year-old Campbell River man says he holds no ill will toward the person who attacked him in a Courtenay park. Serge Melancon had just finished a shower at a nearby recreation centre when he was backing out of a parking lot near Lewis Park. A man approached, asking to borrow a phone. He claimed someone nearby was overdosing and needed to call 911. Melancon agreed to help but refused when the man insisted on taking the phone. The disagreement quickly escalated into a violent fight. “As the ambulance answered, he said [expletive] that, opened the door, and whack —…

A mother and her young daughter, who were reported missing earlier this month, have been found safe in Alberta. Police confirmed the update after nearly two weeks of concern and search efforts. The case began when the 30-year-old woman and her daughter were last seen in Cochrane, Alberta, on July 12. Authorities launched a search after they could not be contacted by family and friends. On July 18, the woman was spotted using an ATM in Courtenay, British Columbia. This raised more concern as her movements appeared unusual and unexplained. On July 23, police issued a public alert to help…

Courtenay fire crews rushed to a large fire north of the city on Tuesday afternoon, August 12. The blaze spread quickly across a residential property and forced emergency teams to act fast. According to Courtenay Fire Chief Kurt MacDonald, the fire began shortly before 2 p.m. near a travel trailer parked on a property along the 5500 block of the North Island Highway. Strong winds pushed the flames into a nearby outbuilding before spreading further into dry grass and a small stand of trees. The heat from the burning structures was so strong that it damaged the main residence. The…

The Mayor of Courtenay is openly frustrated with the long timeline BC Housing has set for building the city’s new homeless shelter. The delay is raising concerns about the safety and well-being of people who need shelter now. Mayor Bob Wells told local media, “I’m honestly gobsmacked that we still have two more years before this shelter opens, barring any delays.” BC Housing is planning a new shelter and supportive housing complex at 925 Braidwood Road, situated between Braidwood and Ryan Road. The project will offer about 140 beds once completed. The land for the shelter was bought in March…

The B.C. police watchdog has ruled that officers acted appropriately during an eight-hour standoff in Courtenay in April 2024. The Independent Investigations Office (IIO) reviewed the incident and found no grounds to recommend charges. Chief civilian officer Jessica Berglund released the six-page report on February 6, 2025. The standoff, which occurred on April 7, 2024, involved Comox Valley RCMP and a man who was eventually arrested with several injuries. Berglund said the Emergency Response Team (ERT) used necessary and justified force under the circumstances. According to the IIO, there was no reasonable evidence that any officer committed a criminal offence.…

Outpatient laboratory services in downtown Courtenay will be temporarily closed for four days due to a staffing shortage. The closure runs from August 5 through August 8, 2025. Regular service hours are expected to resume at the downtown lab on August 11. Island Health announced the change as a way to ensure that patients still receive safe and timely service. The move comes as the organization faces limited staff availability in the region. During this brief closure, outpatient services will remain available at the North Island Hospital’s Comox Valley location. This facility will operate with its regular schedule. To handle…

Courtenay Council has given the green light to a new Lake Trail multi-use path this summer. The project aims to make west Courtenay safer for students and residents. Mayor Bob Wells says public input was key. He thanks families and community members for speaking up. The path will link Lake Trail Community School with Arden Elementary School. It will run along the north side of Lake Trail Road. A 620-metre gravel trail will form Phase 1. Council plans to tender this phase in the coming weeks. Construction should start this fall. Improved bike lanes will also be added. These lanes…