Local female welder has battled sexism, adversity in building career

Now a welder, Alicia Johnstone has been pursuing a career in trades since the age of 20. However, only four per cent of welders across Canada were female, according to 2022 statistics. Photo courtesy Alicia Johnstone/Instagram
Despite numbers increasing, tradeswomen numbers still relatively low.
An online fundraiser has been started to help out the family of Mike Leier, whose body was found near Sooke last weekend in a suspicious death that the Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit (VIIMCU) is now investigating. (Heather Leier photo)

Fundraiser set up for ‘incredible person’ as Sooke police investigate suspicious death
Nakusp RCMP responding to a break-and-enter on March. 16. (Contributed)

Nakusp man in prison following break-in, RCMP discover ‘underground bunker’ on property
7 reasons to blaze a trail to the 2023 CannExpo

7 reasons to blaze a trail to the 2023 CannExpo
Take an Alberta roadtrip in the footsteps of ‘The Last of Us’

Take an Alberta roadtrip in the footsteps of ‘The Last of Us’

Dr. Olumuyiwa Bamgbade is facing two charges of sexual assault, one for an alleged incident involving a patient at his Surrey practice reported in July of 2022, the other for a similar allegation involving a patient at his clinic’s former Delta location that occurred between July and October of 2019. (Surrey RCMP/submitted photo)

B.C. doctor facing second charge of sexual assault
RCMP crest. (Black Press Media files)

Home hit by bullets in drive-by shooting near Clearwater; police investigating
Vernon couple Nolan and Taylor had three baby girls on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023, and a fundraiser has been launched after it was discovered the triplets have medical complications. (GoFundMe photo)

Community jumps in to support Vernon couple with preterm triplets
BC Cancer Foundation - Tour De Cure

Pedal for Hope: Tour De Cure rallies cyclists to transform cancer care

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Video
FILE - Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, and Russian President Vladimir Putin enter a hall for talks in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, June 5, 2019. The Chinese government said Xi would visit Moscow from March 20, to March 22, 2023, but gave no indication when he departed. The Russian government said Xi was due to arrive at midday and meet later with Putin.(AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, Pool, File)

Putin welcomes China’s Xi to Kremlin amid Ukraine war

FILE - The cast of NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” pose on the show’s set in New York, Sept. 22, 1992. From left, front row; Chris Farley, Al Franken and Melanie Hutsell. In middle row, from left: Chris Rock, Julia Sweeney, Dana Carvey and Rob Schneider. In back row, from left: Adam Sandler, David Spade, Ellen Cleghorne, Kevin Nealon, Phil Hartman and Tim Meadows. Sandler will be honored by a host of comedic and entertainment royalty Sunday, March 19, 2023, as he receives the Kennedy Center’s Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. (AP Photo/Justin Sutcliffe, File)

Sandler to receive Mark Twain Prize for lifetime in comedy

Quebec Liberal MNA Jennifer Maccarone speaks at a news conference on Tuesday, February 21, 2023 at the legislature in Quebec City. Interligne director general Pascal Vaillancourt, left, looks on. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot

Critics allege group funded by Quebec government spreading transphobic views

FILE - Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones takes the witness stand to testify at the Sandy Hook defamation damages trial at Connecticut Superior Court in Waterbury, Conn. Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022. (Tyler Sizemore/Hearst Connecticut Media via AP, Pool, File)

Trump’s call for protests gets muted reaction by supporters

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News
The provincial government is touting various programs designed to fight inflation kicking in April 1. Inflation for various products including groceries remains but is dropping. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. families to see last topped up benefit payment before permanent increase in July

New B.C. Affordability Credit worth $500 million kicks in April 1 among other programs

Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly speaks to reporters on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Wednesday, March 8, 2023. Joly says China’s attempts to broker peace in Ukraine will likely only help Russia re-arm and prolong the conflict. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Canada’s foreign minister says China peace talks in Moscow will prolong Ukraine war

Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly says China’s attempts to broker peace in…

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Sports
VIU Mariners player Chloe Scaber gets past a Géants de Saint-Jean defender during the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association gold-medal match Saturday, March 18, in Hamilton. (Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association photo)

VIU Mariners women win national basketball championship

Program wins its first CCAA title since 1998

Tofino’s Reed Platenius gets chaired up the beach by teammates Wheeler Hasburgh and Noah Cohen after winning his first-ever WSL contest on March 12 in Florida. (Kurt Steinmetz photo)

Vancouver Island surfer tops World Surf League junior rankings

Tofino’s Reed Platenius is currently the best men’s pro junior surfer in North America

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Entertainment
This combination of photos shows promotional art for "My Kind of Country," a music competition series premiering March 24 on Apple TV+ and "Rabbit Hole," a series premiering March 26 on Paramount+. (Netflix/Hulu/Apple TV+/Paramount+ via AP)

New this week: ‘Top Gun,’ Lana Del Rey and ‘Rabbit Hole’

A look at what is becoming available this week in the world of entertainment

Taylor Swift performs during the opener of her Eras tour, Friday, March 17, 2023, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Taylor Swift kicks off US Eras Tour at Super Bowl stadium

Taylor Swift opened her U.S. concert series with a three-hour tour of…

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Opinion

Log yard at Canfor’s Houston sawmill which is closing in April 2023, idling more than 300 employees and many more in the trucking and logging sectors. (Angelique Houlihan photo/Houston Today)

Houston’s mayor makes pitch for economic assistance

The forestry-dependent community in northwestern B.C. is about to lose its major employer

Thirty and thriving?

Thoughts on turning 30, Saturn, and the chaotic nature of the universe

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Campbell River Mirror, Mar 15

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Community
This September 2015 photo provided by NOAA Fisheries shows an aerial view of adult female Southern Resident killer whale (J16) swimming with her calf (J50). (NOAA Fisheries/Vancouver Aquarium via The Associated Press, File)

An evening of conservation stories and dialogue set for Rivercity Stage

A powerful evening of ocean stories is being presented at the Rivercity…

  • 38 mins ago
Harman Singh Gill is getting trained for every role at Bandra Cafe, where he started working after graduating from a food service assistant program designed for people with diverse abilities. (Sobia Moman photo)

High demand for B.C. food service program for people with diverse abilities

Program that offers individuals cooking and safety skills once each year has a waiting list

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Obituaries

Frederick Bernard Shout

Mar 14th, 2023

Penelope (Pennie) Liebel

Mar 4th, 2023

John Ambrose Hutchins

Mar 2nd, 2023

Doreen Mae Gibbons

Mar 1st, 2023

Lorraine Maude Nissen (Nee MacMurchy)

Feb 23rd, 2023

Lorrina Kathleen Penner (Dyck)

Feb 17th, 2023

See Celebrations of Life See More Obituaries 

Trending Now
People stand outside the Royal Court of Justice in London, Friday, March 17, 2023. The Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry is suing Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL) over an article about his separate judicial review proceedings against the Home Office regarding security arrangements for himself and his family when they are in the UK. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

Prince Harry sues tabloid for defamation over security story

Harry and Meghan, lost their publicly funded U.K. police protection when they stepped down in 2020

Nixen Baidwan celebrated his own birthday by donating pizza to the homeless at Seasons House. (Bindy Baidwan photo)

Quesnel boy uses birthday to donate pizzas to those in need

Boy turns nine, donates pizza to Seasons House

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Life
Pink fashion . Photography by Darren Hull

Pretty in pink…and a little blue

Single colour dominates the fashion runways

    (Black Press Media Creative)

    Many kids are struggling in school. Do their parents know?

    Evena Joseph was unaware how much her 10-year-old son was struggling in…

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    Impress
    USED

    Used.ca celebrates 20 years of being a local legend

    Whether you’re buying or selling, this local marketplace is built on community

      “Adults should be visiting their optometrists at least every two years for regular eye exams, while children and seniors should be seeing us annually,” says Dr. Kevin Drew

      Perfect vision is only half the picture when it comes to eye health

      What is eye strain, and how can you treat it and prevent it from happening in the future?

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