Madeline Dunnett, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Author at The Discourse.

Six people in snow gear dig with small shovels into deep snow during a companion rescue course with Island Alpine Guides in December 2024. The snow has snow probes sticking out of it near where they are digging. Their skis and snowboards have been taken off and sit near them in the snow.

Winter backcountry travel: where to start

By Madeline Dunnett, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter ● Vancouver Island ● January 22, 2025

Comox Valley-based Island Alpine Guides director Jan Neuspiel shares tips from over four decades of experience in the winter backcountry.

View from inside a tent looking out towards a rocky beach with some trees in the background in front of the water.

Comox Valley camping: where to go and what to know

By Madeline Dunnett, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter ● Comox Valley ● January 15, 2025

BC Parks reservations for May long weekend open Jan. 16. The Comox Valley boasts access to many north and central-Island camping spots, but reservations go fast.

A large barge sits on a beach. It is very rainy. Scrap metal is piled up in front of it, and large tires are piled up to the right.

Deep Water Recovery fined more than $46K in relation to effluent discharge into Baynes Sound

By Madeline Dunnett, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter ● Comox Valley ● January 9, 2025

The company continues to argue it is not polluting, but the province says otherwise.

Comox Valley wood stove burns in front of a mantle

Hot topic: Comox Valley residents concerned about impact of wood stove smoke on health, environment

By Madeline Dunnett, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter ● Comox Valley ● December 18, 2024

The Comox Valley Regional District has plans to address poor air quality in the region, including the wood-burning stove smoke that contributes to it.

Two women wear palestinian keffiyehs and stand in front of a table with various posters and items

Comox Valley for Palestine raises more than $5k for children’s centre in Egypt

By Madeline Dunnett, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter ● Comox Valley ● December 11, 2024

A winter market, hosted by Comox Valley for Palestine, supported local vendors while raising funds for a centre for refugee children in Egypt.

Onions hanging up overtop of squash at Shamrock Farm in Comox for the winter market.

‘It keeps going’: How Shamrock Farm keeps growing, one experiment at at time

By Madeline Dunnett, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter ● Comox Valley ● December 4, 2024

Since 1993, Shannon and Mike Farrell have been making creative use of their 20-acre farm.

Two men in high visibility outfits stand facing away from the camera. One points at a large ship to his left.

Deep Water Recovery executives say shipbreaking operations aren’t polluting Union Bay

By Madeline Dunnett, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter ● Comox Valley ● November 27, 2024

“I just want to be left alone to run my business,” said Robert Bohn Senior, one of Deep Water Recovery’s owners.

A morning shot of the VIU Deep Bay Marine Research Centre, which has a uniquely-shaped rounded, long metal roof. It looks to be the morning, and it is sunny out.

Local ecological forum discusses shipbreaking and solutions for Baynes Sound

By Madeline Dunnett, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter ● Comox Valley ● November 21, 2024

Organizers and stakeholders gathered to discuss shipbreaking and the future of stewardship for Baynes Sound.

A serene river with calm water reflecting the sunlight. A green metal bridge spans the river on the left, while trees and buildings line the opposite bank. The sky is partially cloudy, and the sun shines high, casting a glow over the landscape.

Do you live in a floodplain? How the City of Courtenay is managing flood risk

By Madeline Dunnett, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter ● Comox Valley ● November 14, 2024

Learn about how Courtenay is working to mitigate future flood impacts

A green bridge with a river below. There are stacked rock on the banks for erosion control.

How has the City of Courtenay’s growth changed the river?

By Madeline Dunnett, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter ● Comox Valley ● October 30, 2024

The City of Courtenay is shoring up the banks of the Courtenay River to protect infrastructure from future flood events.

Madeline Dunnett, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Winter backcountry travel: where to start

Comox Valley camping: where to go and what to know

Deep Water Recovery fined more than $46K in relation to effluent discharge into Baynes Sound

Hot topic: Comox Valley residents concerned about impact of wood stove smoke on health, environment

Comox Valley for Palestine raises more than $5k for children’s centre in Egypt

‘It keeps going’: How Shamrock Farm keeps growing, one experiment at at time

Deep Water Recovery executives say shipbreaking operations aren’t polluting Union Bay

Local ecological forum discusses shipbreaking and solutions for Baynes Sound

Do you live in a floodplain? How the City of Courtenay is managing flood risk

How has the City of Courtenay’s growth changed the river?

Nanaimo Affordable Housing Society name change to Ballenas ‘in discussion’ for years,’ says CEO

10 ways to better support tenants with vulnerabilities due to income, age or disabilities

‘I want it to stop’: Tenants and advocates allege bullying by non-profit housing provider

Q and A: What are vulnerable tenants rights in non-profit housing?

Who will protect low-income seniors from dying in extreme heat?

Seniors left in distress — or dead — for days in Nanaimo Affordable Housing Society units

Madeline Dunnett, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

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