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Mario Bartel

Mario Bartel

Mario Bartel has been a journalist for over 30 years. More than half that tenure was spent peering through the viewfinder of a camera as a photojournalist.

As they suffered the brunt of a contracting industry, he started spending more time at the keyboard, covering everything from civic affairs to features to sports.

Over the course of his diverse career, Bartel has covered visits by prime ministers, championship junior hockey teams, the early morning toil of a tug captain, late-night fires, the 106th birthday celebration of a community icon, the challenges of a professional hockey player trying to come back from triple cancer diagnoses and more election night celebrations in dark, crowded pubs or community halls than he cares to remember.

Alas, he's yet to have the opportunity to ride in a blimp.

When Bartel's not pounding out Port Moody council stories, setting up lights for a feature portrait, or shivering in the cold rain shooting high school soccer, he is riding his bike, usually out to the Fraser Valley, up Mt. Seymour or along urban routes that take advantage of Vancouver's extensive cycling network. Often those rides involve a stop at a coffee shop, even though he doesn’t imbibe in hot beverages. But he does enjoy a good pain au chocolat and he can attest Blacksmith bakery in Fort Langley makes the best this side of Paris.

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Recent Work by Mario

Port Moody's tallest towers would come with a grocery store, plaza and pedestrian bridge

Port Moody's tallest towers would come with a grocery store, plaza and pedestrian bridge

Vancouver-based PCI Developments wants to build two 39-storey rental towers next to the Moody Centre SkyTrain station.
Port Moody project proves rent-to-own will help housing affordability, but challenges remain: Developer

Port Moody project proves rent-to-own will help housing affordability, but challenges remain: Developer

More than 700 people initially applied to participate in a unique rent-to-own program at 50 Electronic Ave. in Port Moody
'It is really troubling': Police looking for thief who stole defibrillator from Port Moody rec centre

'It is really troubling': Police looking for thief who stole defibrillator from Port Moody rec centre

An automated electronic defibrillator (AED) can be used to revive someone in cardiac arrest.
TV series filmed in Port Moody wins big at Emmy Awards. It's not done yet

TV series filmed in Port Moody wins big at Emmy Awards. It's not done yet

"Shogun" took over the old Flavelle cedar mill site in 2021 and 2022, transforming it into a medieval Japanese village.
A lake that borders Coquitlam's Burke Mountain could lead to a vast treasure of gold and this TV series takes you there

A lake that borders Coquitlam's Burke Mountain could lead to a vast treasure of gold and this TV series takes you there

Season two of "Deadman's Curse" airs on Thursdays on the History channel, beginning Sept. 12.
Update: Highway 1 eastbound through Coquitlam reopens after multi-vehicle incident

Update: Highway 1 eastbound through Coquitlam reopens after multi-vehicle incident

A serious collision between a dump truck and van occurred after 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 29.
Trina Hunt's family renews plea for answers — 3.5 years since disappearing from her Port Moody home

Trina Hunt's family renews plea for answers — 3.5 years since disappearing from her Port Moody home

Trina Hunt disappeared Jan. 18, 2021, from her home in the Heritage Woods neighbourhood. A $50,000 reward is still in effect.
Here's where you can see a giant model of Port Moody's Rocky Point Park — in Lego

Here's where you can see a giant model of Port Moody's Rocky Point Park — in Lego

"Construction Toys: Creativity Unleashed" is a new display at the PoMo Museum.
Coquitlam RCMP free another trapped bear. But not before it completely destroys a car's interior

Coquitlam RCMP free another trapped bear. But not before it completely destroys a car's interior

It's the second time in less than a month a trapped bear had to be freed by Coquitlam RCMP officers.
'I had to check again': Coquitlam man hits $500K lotto jackpot on the last ticket in his pile

'I had to check again': Coquitlam man hits $500K lotto jackpot on the last ticket in his pile

Coquitlam's Roueintan Avali bought his winning ticket at a variety store in Burnaby.
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