The Comox Valley Record recently welcomed guest analyst Markus Ciastkowski for a preview of the 2022 World Cup of Soccer. 

This year’s tournament host is Qatar. The 32-team competition runs from Nov. 20 — Dec. 18. 

Markus, 15, is a member of the Comox Valley United Under-16 boys select soccer team. He also coaches and officiates the sport. 

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Lewis Bartholomew is the project director of the HMCS Alberni Museum and Memorial. The museum, located on Cliffe Avenue in Courtenay, has welcomed more than 7,000 visitors to its exhibits that cover stories of Canadians in the war through present-day missions of all military and civilian service branches.

For more information on the museum's Remembrance Day service, visit alberniproject.org.

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Caila Holbrook is the manager of education and outreach with Project Watershed - an organization focusing on the protection and restoration of local watersheds and sensitive habitats

One of their largest and perhaps most eye-catching projects is Kus-Kus-Sum on Comox Road, near the 17th StreetBridge where once Field’s Sawmill stood. 

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Vince Ditrich spent 30 years as the drummer and later manager - of the hugely successful band Spirit of the West.

After a life of music on the road, Ditrich turned to writing, and in 2021 he released the first of three novels entitled the Liquor Vicar. The lead character Tony Vicar is from Tyee Lagoon, a fictional Vancouver Island town.

“He's a failed musician, he always had dreams of great to grandeur, but he was not able to achieve anything. He just wasn't sufficiently talented and he always held the dream," said Ditrich. “So many of the guys I've known through the years, they still have the same hairstyle they had when they were in Grade 11. Same pants, hearts of gold and wonderful guys but they just can't let go of that."

The second book, The Vicar’s Knickers, is named after the pub that Tony Vicar has opened and is home to an interesting and colourful cast of characters.

The author recently signed an agreement with Sugar Skull Films and together the two are actively pursuing a broadcaster for a television series for Tony Vicar and his cast of characters.

Ditrich has not retired from the music biz completely. On this edition of Today in BC, he offers listeners of the podcast a track that he recently produced for Travis Matthews, son of Gordie Matthews, guitarist for k.d. Lang and Ian Tyson. It’s an original song, entitled 'Diamonds’.

If you have suggestions or comments, send a voice message to podcast@blackpress.ca you may be part of our audio podcast mailbag segment.

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From books to thermal cameras and everything in between, libraries across the Comox Valley and Vancouver Island truly do have something for everyone, however, not everyone may know all that is inside.

Joining us  are Comox Valley librarians Allison Trumble and Kris Ward, along with David Carson, spokesperson for Vancouver Island Regional Library to talk about the future of what libraries could be, as the organization is embarking on a new strategic plan.

Valley community engagement sessions for the plan include:
Community Engagement Session: Cumberland

• October 12 @ 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Community Engagement Session: Union Bay

• October 14 @ 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
• Community Engagement Session: Courtenay
  • October 17 @ 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
  • Community Engagement Session: Hornby Island
    • October 18 @ 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

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For the next few weeks on Off The Page, we are doing something a little bit different from our usual format. With the upcoming municipal election on Oct. 15, we wanted to take a look at what you - our listeners and readers of the Comox Valley Record have to say, particularly on what you care about in this election. What is important to you?

Are you planning on voting? Why or why not? 

With the goal of finding out these answers, we’ve gathered different groups of people together to ask what’s on their minds as they prepare to cast their vote.

In this episode, we’re looking at a student perspective while talking with Carissa Wilson, North Island Students’ Union executive director.

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For the next few weeks on Off The Page, we are doing something different from our usual format.

With the upcoming municipal election on Oct. 15, we wanted to look at what you - our listeners and readers of the Comox Valley Record have to say, particularly on what you care about in this election.

With the goal of finding out these answers, we’ve gathered different groups of people together to ask what’s on their minds as they prepare to cast their votes.

In this episode, we’re talking with two business leaders - Robert Mulrooney and Tracey Clarke. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For the next few weeks on Off The Page, we are doing something a little bit different from our usual format.

With the upcoming municipal election on Oct. 15, we wanted to take a look at what you - our listeners and readers of the Comox Valley Record have to say, particularly on what you care about in this election.

With the goal of finding out these answers, we’ve gathered different groups of people together to ask what’s on their minds as they prepare to cast their vote.

In this episode, we’re talking with two seniors - Betty Donaldson and Tony Reynolds. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.