Port Alberni, B.C., Canada- August 11th 2019:  Bryer Schmegelsky's family home where he lived with his grandmother. Kam McLeod, 19 and Bryer Schmegelsky, 18 left the small sleepy mill town of Port Alberni on a road trip to find work up north. What ended u
Port Alberni, B.C., Canada- August 11th 2019:  The Walmart where Mcleod and Schmegelsky worked for 5 weeks before their departure. Kam McLeod, 19 and Bryer Schmegelsky, 18 left the small sleepy mill town of Port Alberni on a road trip to find work up nort

I spent 5 days in Port Alberni for @nytimes tracing the last days of the teenagers who went on a killing spree in Northern, BC. and talking to locals of a town grappling with the infamy of producing Canada’s two most notorious killers. My editor (Craig Allen) told me to show the world how Port Alberni "feels" not how it looks. It was perfect advice while I was  struggling to find a way to communicate with a town in the grips of media fatigue. 


The story of Port Alberni, which ended up a main character in the story is this: As in all of history labour goes where it is cheapest so the mills shut down. Big box stores saw an opportunity to catch people in their way to Tofino, thus sucking the life right out of Port Alberni which is two minutes off the highway. It left businesses shuttered and buildings crumbling and locals with little opportunity other then to leave or get a job in the towns struggling service industry. By the time we got there for an in depth look into how these murders occurred the town was in the throws of media fatigue. People were feeling harassed and sometimes wronged by media. It was a tough assignment. Port Alberni feels and right now it is hurting. 

Port Alberni, B.C., Canada- August 11th 2019:  V.A.S.T., the alternative school that Mcleod and Schmegelsky attended. The Vast Education Centre is an alternative to the traditional school model. Now located at the Eighth Avenue Learning Centre, the Vast A
Port Alberni, B.C., Canada- August 11th 2019:  Port Alberni hopes to become a tourism based town since the Mills have been shutting down since the 90's, efforts so far have had lack luster results. Kam McLeod, 19 and Bryer Schmegelsky, 18 left the small s
Port Alberni, B.C., Canada- August 11th 2019:  Freeman of the city hang in the Port Alberni city hall. A spot is missing to make space for a fire alarm. Kam McLeod, 19 and Bryer Schmegelsky, 18 left the small sleepy mill town of Port Alberni on a road tri
Port Alberni, B.C., Canada- August 11th 2019: Dale Leier, owner of local Port Alberni business "Cod Father". Kam McLeod, 19 and Bryer Schmegelsky, 18 left the small sleepy mill town of Port Alberni on a road trip to find work up north. What ended up takin
Port Alberni, B.C., Canada- August 11th 2019:  A Canadian flag hangs obscured by plate glass in a "public house" window down town Port ALberni. Kam McLeod, 19 and Bryer Schmegelsky, 18 left the small sleepy mill town of Port Alberni on a road trip to find
Port Alberni, B.C., Canada- August 11th 2019:  Kam McLeod, 19 and Bryer Schmegelsky, 18 left the small sleepy mill town of Port Alberni on a road trip to find work up north. What ended up taking place are the 2019 northern British Columbia murders, a spre
Port Alberni, B.C., Canada- August 11th 2019:  The Walmart where Mcleod and Schmegelsky worked for 5 weeks before their departure. Kam McLeod, 19 and Bryer Schmegelsky, 18 left the small sleepy mill town of Port Alberni on a road trip to find work up nort
Port Alberni, B.C., Canada- August 11th 2019:  Delapidated buidling down town on the main street of Port Alberni.
 Kam McLeod, 19 and Bryer Schmegelsky, 18 left the small sleepy mill town of Port Alberni on a road trip to find work up north. What ended up
Port Alberni, B.C., Canada- August 11th 2019:  Two young men discuss evening plans outside of a liqour store. Kam McLeod, 19 and Bryer Schmegelsky, 18 left the small sleepy mill town of Port Alberni on a road trip to find work up north. What ended up taki
Port Alberni, B.C., Canada- August 11th 2019: Owner of local marine busniess, Lady Rose, Mike Surrell. Kam McLeod, 19 and Bryer Schmegelsky, 18 left the small sleepy mill town of Port Alberni on a road trip to find work up north. What ended up taking plac
Port Alberni, B.C., Canada- August 11th 2019:  The smoking chimney stacks from the only remaining paper mill are omnipresent and can be seen almost anywhere from town. Kam McLeod, 19 and Bryer Schmegelsky, 18 left the small sleepy mill town of Port Albern
Port Alberni, B.C., Canada- August 11th 2019:  The smoking chimney stacks from the only remaining paper mill are omnipresent and can be seen almost anywhere from town. Kam McLeod, 19 and Bryer Schmegelsky, 18 left the small sleepy mill town of Port Albern
Port Alberni, B.C., Canada- August 11th 2019:  Salvation army building down town Port Alberni. Kam McLeod, 19 and Bryer Schmegelsky, 18 left the small sleepy mill town of Port Alberni on a road trip to find work up north. What ended up taking place are th
Port Alberni, B.C., Canada- August 11th 2019: Dale Leier, owner of local Port Alberni business "Cod Father". Kam McLeod, 19 and Bryer Schmegelsky, 18 left the small sleepy mill town of Port Alberni on a road trip to find work up north. What ended up takin
Port Alberni, B.C., Canada- August 11th 2019:  The socio-econic gap left by the shutting down of the mills leaves Port Alberni feeling stuck in a time warp. Two 90's era trucks sit parked while a logging truck careens through the main down town interescti
Port Alberni, B.C., Canada- August 11th 2019:  Local residents attend a car show down town Port Alberni. Kam McLeod, 19 and Bryer Schmegelsky, 18 left the small sleepy mill town of Port Alberni on a road trip to find work up north. What ended up taking pl
Port Alberni, B.C., Canada- August 11th 2019:  Local residents attend a car show down town Port Alberni. Kam McLeod, 19 and Bryer Schmegelsky, 18 left the small sleepy mill town of Port Alberni on a road trip to find work up north. What ended up taking pl
Port Alberni, B.C., Canada- August 11th 2019:  Kam McLeod, 19 and Bryer Schmegelsky, 18 left the small sleepy mill town of Port Alberni on a road trip to find work up north. What ended up taking place are the 2019 northern British Columbia murders, a spre
Port Alberni, B.C., Canada- August 11th 2019:  Kam McLeod, 19 and Bryer Schmegelsky, 18 left the small sleepy mill town of Port Alberni on a road trip to find work up north. What ended up taking place are the 2019 northern British Columbia murders, a spre
Port Alberni, B.C., Canada- August 11th 2019:  The family home of Kam McLeod. The McLeods live in an upscale neighbourhood that sits on Spoat lake. Kam McLeod, 19 and Bryer Schmegelsky, 18 left the small sleepy mill town of Port Alberni on a road trip to
Port Alberni, B.C., Canada- August 11th 2019:  Bryer Schmegelsky's family home where he lived with his grandmother. Kam McLeod, 19 and Bryer Schmegelsky, 18 left the small sleepy mill town of Port Alberni on a road trip to find work up north. What ended u
Port Alberni, B.C., Canada- August 11th 2019:  The Walmart where Mcleod and Schmegelsky worked for 5 weeks before their departure. Kam McLeod, 19 and Bryer Schmegelsky, 18 left the small sleepy mill town of Port Alberni on a road trip to find work up nort
Port Alberni, B.C., Canada- August 11th 2019:  V.A.S.T., the alternative school that Mcleod and Schmegelsky attended. The Vast Education Centre is an alternative to the traditional school model. Now located at the Eighth Avenue Learning Centre, the Vast A
Port Alberni, B.C., Canada- August 11th 2019:  V.A.S.T., the alternative school that Mcleod and Schmegelsky attended. The Vast Education Centre is an alternative to the traditional school model. Now located at the Eighth Avenue Learning Centre, the Vast A
Port Alberni, B.C., Canada- August 11th 2019:  Down Town POrt Alberni. Kam McLeod, 19 and Bryer Schmegelsky, 18 left the small sleepy mill town of Port Alberni on a road trip to find work up north. What ended up taking place are the 2019 northern British
Port Alberni, B.C., Canada- August 11th 2019:  V.A.S.T., the alternative school that Mcleod and Schmegelsky attended. The Vast Education Centre is an alternative to the traditional school model. Now located at the Eighth Avenue Learning Centre, the Vast A
Port Alberni, B.C., Canada- August 11th 2019:  Kam McLeod, 19 and Bryer Schmegelsky, 18 left the small sleepy mill town of Port Alberni on a road trip to find work up north. What ended up taking place are the 2019 northern British Columbia murders, a spre
Port Alberni, B.C., Canada- August 11th 2019:  Port Alberi is often called a "pass through town" as it sits on a highway which leads to Tofino, an attractive tourist town and surfer enclave. Kam McLeod, 19 and Bryer Schmegelsky, 18 left the small sleepy m
Port Alberni, B.C., Canada- August 11th 2019:  Kam McLeod, 19 and Bryer Schmegelsky, 18 left the small sleepy mill town of Port Alberni on a road trip to find work up north. What ended up taking place are the 2019 northern British Columbia murders, a spre
Port Alberni, B.C., Canada- August 11th 2019:  Mayor of Port Alberni, Sharie Minions. Kam McLeod, 19 and Bryer Schmegelsky, 18 left the small sleepy mill town of Port Alberni on a road trip to find work up north. What ended up taking place are the 2019 no
Port Alberni, B.C., Canada- August 11th 2019:  The smoking chimney stacks from the only remaining paper mill are omnipresent and can be seen almost anywhere from town. Kam McLeod, 19 and Bryer Schmegelsky, 18 left the small sleepy mill town of Port Albern
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