J. Mercer, Alberni Valley Times, January 13, 2012

I have a question we should be asking Raven Coal if this has not already been asked?

The question is, "Why can Raven Coal not locate their facility at the old Link Mill site out at Cameron shop area?" This site was built for a mill.

Re: "Surveys and polls often ask the wrong questions," (Alberni Valley Times, Monday, Jan. 9)

In Mr. Cole's recent letter, he speculates on an alternative route for the transport of coal as part of the proposed Raven Coal Mine Project, and also mentions Polly's Point (Coulson's mill site) as an alternative coal port location.

Selkirk McPhail, Alberni Valley Times, January 06, 2012

Most of us will agree that the truck traffic problem in Port Alberni is not new.

Ironically, now that Raven Coal is looming closer on the horizon, the movers and shakers are doing just that - moving and shaking.

Julia Caranci, Alberni Valley Times, November 10, 2011

Hundreds of area residents have voiced strong opposition to the construction of a proposed new coal mine near the Buckley Bay ferry terminal, using Port Alberni as the preferred transfer port.

And a second opportunity for public input starts Nov. 15.

Shayne Morrow, Alberni Valley Times, November 07, 2011

The Alberni Environmental Coalition has released the results of its detailed survey to establish the level of public support for the development of Port Alberni as a coal port.

Media Release, Alberni Environmental Coalition, November 3, 2011

For Immediate Distribution

For the past six months community volunteers have worked with the Alberni Environmental Coalition (AEC) to conduct a survey of Port Alberni residents to establish the level of support for the development of Port Alberni as a coal port. This survey was done under the direction of Dr. Joan Kuyek, socio-economic researcher contracted by the AEC through Participatory Funding from the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency. The survey is part of a larger socio-economic analysis of the Raven Coal proposal to establish a coal terminal in Port Alberni. This representative survey shows that Port Alberni residents are overwhelmingly against the establishing a coal port in the community. 75% of adults surveyed are against the coal port, 11.9 % support the project and 12.8% are undecided. High school students and business owners were also surveyed separately with similar results.

John Snyder, CoalWatch, September 11, 2011

The Port Alberni and District Labour Council (PADLC ) booth at the Alberni District Fall Fair in Port Alberni. This years booth spotlighted the PADLC opposition to the proposed Raven Coal Mine Project, and the proposed coal storage and shipping facility in Port Alberni. Photo taken on September 10, 2011 by John Snyder.

Stacey Gaiga, Alberni Valley Times, August 09, 2011

Even if a coal port facility was located "outside city limits," it wouldn't solve or prevent the toxic effects it would have on ocean life.

Chris Massop, Alberni Valley Times, July 25, 2011

A lot of voices recently about coal - the pros and cons, the yes and the no and a lot of people just don't care (the very typical apathetic norm).

Once we step into this we're not going to wash it away with a garden hose. Environmental risks are not uncommon in many communities, but are the adverse effects of new industrial activity so close to one of our main tourist areas worth it?

Jane Martin, Alberni Valley Times, July 21, 2011

I am dead set against bringing a legacy energy substance like coal in to tarnish Port Alberni's slowly improving reputation.

The use of coal-fired ovens near the harbour created a very dirty town for decades, and now is the time for moving forward.

Stacey Gaiga, Alberni Valley Times, July 18, 2011

City council may think they've finally taken a step in the right direction after several delegations asked them to submit a letter to the Canadian Environmental Assessment agency, requesting the current comprehensive environmental review process for Raven Coal be referred to an independent review panel with public hearings, however this same request had already been submitted by thousands of people over the past year and it has already been denied by the Environmental Assessment Office.

Stacey Gaiga, Alberni Valley Times, June 22, 2011

Re: "Exports will create jobs," (Alberni Valley Times, June 21)

How much more clear do we have to be, to get Mr. Tapics to comprehend that his coal project is not welcomed here?

By Wawmeesh G. Hamilton, Alberni Valley News, June 16, 2011

The Alberni Clayoquot Regional District has a chip in the high stakes coal shipping game in Port Alberni.

The ACRD board appointed its chief administrative officer Russell Dyson as their representative to the projects joint working group.

Rosemary Baxter, Comox Valley Echo, June 14, 2011

We've had to make six trips over the twisting road to Port Alberni over the last month and the traffic has been constantly heavy and challenging.

Marusha Taylor, Alberni Valley Times, June 10, 2011

At the public meeting held here, the president and CEO of Compliance Coal seemed uncertain of the number of jobs which would be generated by his project. Asked several times about this, his estimates ranged from "two full-time equivalents" to several hundreds in spinoff jobs. The preliminary report, which many of us saw, put the estimate at about 20, a paltry number for a project which will last 16 years.

Bill Randles, Alberni Valley Times, June 09, 2011

There has been much debate in our community over a proposed coal storage and shipping facility on our waterfront. There have been a number of meetings and presentations and many groups and individuals have researched and shared information regarding the project.

Keri Sculland, Alberni Valley Times, June 9, 2011

After three public meetings, I'd say the citizens of Courtenay, Port Alberni and Union Bay spoke their opinions loud and clear on the environmental aspect of coal.

Media Release, CoalWatch and Wilderness Committee, June 6, 2011

About 1,500 people attended last week’s public meetings.

The proposal for a massive underground coal mine in the Comox Valley met
overwhelming opposition at all three environmental assessment public meetings that took place last week in Courtenay, Port Alberni, and Union Bay.

“It’s obvious the public has deep concerns about the proposed coal mine and the approval process,” said CoalWatch Comox Valley president John Snyder after the final public meeting concluded in Union Bay Friday night.

Keri Sculland, Alberni Valley Times, June 06, 2011

The public coal environmental assessment meeting held Thursday evening at the Alberni Athletic Hall sent a clear message that coal is not welcome in the Alberni Valley.

Keri Sculland, Alberni Valley Times, June 02, 2011

Residents fill Alberni Athletic Hall Thursday afternoon to learn more about proposed coal project and voice concerns

From the moment the Alberni Athletic Hall opened its doors to the public, the high number of people streaming in was a clear reflection of just how important the coal meeting is to the residents of the Alberni Valley.

Walking through the front doors, representatives from the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency were prepared to greet people and hand off a number of printed documents for them to read. A box, situated near the entrance to the gym, let people sign up to ask their questions to a panel of experts from the provincial and federal governments, along with representatives from the Raven Underground Coal Project.

CoalWatch News, June 3, 2011

Hundreds came to the public meeting to tell the environmental assessment agencies and Compliance Coal Corp that the don't want the Raven coal mine and they don't want their harbour and streets used as a shipping port for the coal.

Shayne Morrow, Alberni Valley Times, June 01, 2011

If the public meeting held Monday night in Courtenay-Comox is any indication, Thursday evening's event to discuss the Raven Underground Coal Project should be a spirited affair.