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Port McNeill Logger Sports goes big for 15th anniversary
By Kathy O'Reilly, North Island Eagle, May 29 2026
Port McNeill Logger Sports marked its 15th annual competition in 2026, drawing a record field of competitors and highlighting the event’s continued growth.
“When we held our first competition in 2010, we had 22 competitors and 13 events. In 2026, we had 55 competitors and 27 events,” said Dawn Briscoe. Competitors travelled from across British Columbia and Alberta, as well as from New Zealand. “We would like to give special acknowledgment to Roger Briscoe, Anita Jezowski, Dave MacLeod, Sarah Mooney and Nicholas Russell, who have never missed a Port McNeill competition,” Briscoe said.
This year, PMLS hosted five Canadian championship events. The winners were:
• Novice 1 Board Springboard - Chase Gundersen
• Intermediate Underhand - Thomas Symons
• Open Jack & Jill - Stirling Hart and Allison Briscoe
• Open 140cc - Dave MacLeod
• Open Ladies Single Buck - Allison Briscoe
Six records were broken or set this year.
Broken records:
Open Ladies Double Buck - Allison Briscoe and Dawn Briscoe 0:09.53, 46cm. Previous record Allison Briscoe and Dawn Briscoe (2025) 0:11.50, 46cm.
Intermediate Underhand - Thomas Symons, 0:31.22, 32 cm. Previous record: Luke Bischoff (2025), 0:33.09, 32 cm.
New records set:
Open Underhand - Stirling Hart 0:28.48, 35cm. “This was a new record for us because it was the largest wood size PMLS has offered for this event,” she said. New events this year included Open/Intermediate Standing Butcher Block, won by Nick Hall and Matt Little in 0:50.08 on 35 cm wood.
Intermediate Jack & Jill - Erinn Constantine and Brad Constantine, 0:13.52, 38 cm.
Intermediate Ladies Single Buck - Meghan Hall, 0:34.44, 40 cm.
The overall winners were:
Dan Knapp - Novice Overall
Stirling Hart - Open Overall
Allison Briscoe - Open Ladies Overall
All of the results and records can be found on the PMLS website, pmloggersports.com
The competition concluded with a relay event for the first time.
“There were four teams made up of people who have attended PMLS for more than six years and/or supported the competition. In total, 28 competitors filled the field,” Briscoe said.
The relay began with a stock saw, followed by an open ladies’ single buck and an underhand butcher block chop. Once the block was severed, the Jack and Jill team took off. The relay ended with an axe throw, with teams allowed five throws or 15 points. The time stopped when the final thrower raised their hands and called time. “It was a close race, but the hometown team won the relay,” she said. “Port McNeill Logger Sports Society would like to thank all the volunteers, sponsors, competitors and community members who made this event possible. Without your contributions, we would not have reached 15 years. We are deeply appreciative and look forward to next year.”
Photo — Kelsea Taylor
Port McNeill Logger Sports marked its 15th annual competition May 23 drawing a record field of competitors and featuring new events.
Street kitchen set to open in Port McNeill
By Kathy O'Reilly, North Island Eagle, May 29 2026
You may not be able to climb Mount Everest, but you can soon get a taste of the Himalayas at Port McNeill’s newest eatery.
Pemba Doma is preparing to open Pemba’s Coastal Kitchen, a new food truck across from the PetroCanada on Mine Road after being unable to find space for a sit-down restaurant.
This is a second location for the Alert Bay chef.
“A mobile kitchen lets us serve locals and visitors where they are while offering fast, casual food with restaurant-quality cooking,” Pemba said.
“Port McNeill has incredible energy, and the community support has been one of the warmest welcomes I’ve experienced,” she said.
Pemba’s Coastal Kitchen will focus on vibrant, comforting coastal cuisine inspired by both the Pacific Northwest and Himalayan flavours.
Guests can expect dishes ranging from fresh local seafood and beer-battered halibut to chow mein, curries, momos (a type of steamed filled dumpling in Tibetan and Nepali cuisine), bao buns, and other globally inspired comfort foods.
Pemba will continue to operate her restaurant at the Nimpkish Hotel in Alert Bay.
Doma came to Canada in 2006 and has since launched several restaurants and food trucks, including Tibetan Kitchen in Victoria, Potstickers & Curry in Campbell River, and Pemba’s Kitchen in Alert Bay.
Before moving to Canada, she worked for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines for 12 years, and she has also been featured on Food Network Canada’s ‘You Gotta Eat Here’.
Photo — Submitted
Pemba Doma is opening Pemba’s Coastal Kitchen, a new food truck across from the PetroCanada on Mine Road will officially open Monday, June 1st at 11:30 a.m. and will be serving until 8 p.m.