NANAIMO - What's believed to be an e-bike battery exploding caused a partial highway shutdown and a considerable response from Mounties.Reports of an explosion came from the 900 block of Terminal Ave., just south of St. George St., just after 8 a.m. on Sunday, May 17, after a loud bang was heard and a small fire sparke...

NANAIMO - A well-known and long-serving local Archdeacon was recently given a federal honour for his years of commitment to helping veterans. The Venerable Archdeacon Brian Evans was awarded the Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation for his contributions to Canadian veterans during a ceremony at the CFB Esquimalt B...

NANAIMO - Additional options are now available to make Nanaimo's popular waterfront areas more accessible, including at Maffeo Sutton Park. Sway-a-Lana Lagoon is the sixth site for the evolving Mobi-Mats program, featuring non-slip mats at several fresh and saltwater locations around the city. Kirsty MacDonald, the Cit...

PORT ALBERNI - Mounties in the Alberni Valley have arrested one person after two suspicious fires in the community.RCMP report a 38-year-old man is facing two counts of arson after being found connected to a brush fire set on the outskirts of the community earlier this week.Court records show Jordan Donald Munro is fac...

QUALICUM BEACH - The passing of a long-time Oceanside resident several years ago has left an incredible, selfless legacy in the region. Jack McLean, a former RDN director and long-time community advocate, left the generous gift of 21 acres of land in his will, to Arrowsmith Search and Rescue, property which was eventua...

NANAIMO - The City of Nanaimo will remain responsible for paying damages to a fired former chief financial officer.The B.C. Court of Appeal, on Wednesday, May 13, found a 2023 decision by the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal to be reasonable and grounded in evidence in relation to the dismissal of Victor Mema by the CIty in ...

NANAIMO - A pending data centre on East Wellington Rd. drew the ire of the BC Green Party leader. Emily Lowan was at Nanaimo's Maffeo Sutton Park on Thursday, May 14, where she called for a moratorium on the building of AI data centres until the risks to the environment, human health, and privacy are better understood ...

NANAIMO - A quiet Nanaimo neighbourhood was illuminated with emergency lights in response to a notable overnight encampment fire. The fire was called in on Thursday, May 14, at 1:25 a.m. in the bush off the end of Rosstown Rd., just east of the Nanaimo Parkway. Nanaimo Fire Rescue (NFR) assistant chief John MacKenzie s...

NANAIMO - Coastal Fire Centre crews spent the night actioning a new wildfire start west of the city, with a quick response leading to a swift resolution.Reported late Wednesday, May 13, the fire burning just north of Nanaimo Lakes Rd., near the intersection with South Forks Rd., is now classified as being held at aroun...

NANAIMO - With the busy summer travel season fast-approaching, BC Ferries warns its aging system offers limited flexibility and resiliency. The company provided a wide-ranging pre-summer operational update on Wednesday, May 13 prior to what's expected to be a record peak season for its fleet. In light of pending FIFA W...

NANAIMO - Seven more people died locally due to the unregulated drug supply in March, part of 135 suspected drug deaths across British Columbia. Seven people also died in February in Nanaimo, bringing the total number of deaths due to toxic street drugs to 23 so far this year, according to the latest report from the BC...

NANAIMO - Mounties in Nanaimo are trying to identify an individual who allegedly attacked a man in Harewood. The incident, which police are calling "an unprovoked attack," occurred Monday, May 11, at around 3 p.m. on Seventh St., near Douglas Ave. and saw an adult man hit from behind as he was walking. Reserv...

NANAIMO - Less than two weeks after implementing the earliest campfire ban in its history, the Coastal Fire Centre is cautiously scaling back prohibitions.Beginning Friday, May 15 at 12 p.m., campfires measuring no more than half a metre by half a metre will be allowed across the entire region, including all of Vancouv...

NANAIMO - Casual, impromptu get togethers spawned into a widespread and impactful movement beyond anybody's expectations. Sea Wolves Vancouver Island Men's Cancer Support celebrated it's centennial coffee gathering on Tuesday, May 11 at White Rabbit Coffee Co. Regularly scheduled casual meet-ups in downtown Nanaimo pro...

NANAIMO - The Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) will once again clean up a well-known problematic property south of the city, after multiple delays and refusals from the owner to do it himself. The property in question, 790/796 Nanaimo River Rd., has been the subject of community complaints for over 20 years, with iss...

NANAIMO - A growing mid-Island market is making a move. The Island Roots Market, which runs year-round on Wednesdays at Beban Park from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., is moving outdoors for the summer season, beginning Wednesday, May 13, until the fall. Market manager Michele Greene said they'll have 54 vendors arranged on the lawn...

NANAIMO - Island drivers appear to be getting the message to slow down and move over.BC Highway Patrol reports just 39 tickets or written warnings were issued across all of Vancouver Island during April's enforcement campaign targeting drivers who refuse to obey the law around roadside workers and emergency flashing li...

NANAIMO - A driver faces six criminal charges in relation to a Hwy. 19 crash at the Church Rd. overpass in Parksville, which resulted in injuries to three people, including a baby. The BC Prosecution Service approved charges against Matthew Harry St. Pierre, 28, of Saanich, who was allegedly behind the wheel of a truck...

NANAIMO - With a mounting criminal record, a man well known to police and local correctional officers has a pending off-ramp at a psychiatric rehabilitation facility. Daniel John McClintock, 38, received an 18-month jail sentence, followed by two years' probation, after pleading guilty to three offences which occurred ...

NANAIMO - Well clear of 3,000 School District 68 students are taking part in inclusive, low-pressure events designed to get kids moving. Healthamongus, now in its 19th year, features elementary-aged students participating in various activity stations at Harewood Centennial Park's artificial fields from Monday, May 11, ...

NANAIMO - Mountain snowpack levels on Vancouver Island continue to be one of lowest in the province, a steep decline compared to this time last year. According to the May 1 report from the Ministry of Water, Land, and Resource Stewardship, Vancouver Island is currently at 27 per cent of its regular levels, down from 44...

NANAIMO - Property tax rate changes either already have, or are being locked in this week, ahead of a Friday deadline. Municipal and regional governments have until May 15 to submit their updated five-year financial plans and associated property tax rate adjustments for the coming year to the provincial government. Nan...

NANAIMO - Described as disregarding the most basic regulations, a judge found a contractor guilty of several Workers Compensation Act violations he faced. Since dissolved Absolutely Above All Hazmat Solutions, operated by Christopher John Young, were both convicted on all counts nine charges he faced following a trial ...

NANAIMO - A massive exercise involving a majority of the regional fire departments looked to refine wildfire skills ahead of what's forecast to be a busy season. Crews from Nanaimo Fire Rescue, along with Lantzville, North Cedar, Extension, East Wellington, and Cranberry fire departments, assembled at the Nanaimo Milit...

NANAIMO - The unofficial start of summer across the mid-Island comes Sunday.The Cedar Farmers Market will open up its 30th anniversary season on Sunday, May 10, its traditional Mother's Day start, with around 120 different local vendors staged on the former Woodbank Elementary School fields on Woobank Rd.Market executi...

GABRIOLA ISLAND - A change in procedure from BC Ferries is being welcomed by drivers of electric vehicles on island communities. Beginning Tuesday, May 19, electric vehicles needing to be towed or carried on board a BC Ferries vessel will be able to travel, provided the damage to the vehicle "does not compromise t...

NANAIMO - Dermatologists on wheels are returning to the mid-Island this weekend to provide free skin cancer screenings in honour of May being Melanoma Awareness month. Put on by Melanoma Canada, together with the Canadian Dermatology Association, the Mole Mobile will be in Nanaimo on Saturday, May 9, and Duncan on Sund...

NANAIMO - The tide appears to be turning for renters nationwide, with the Harbour City lagging behind much of the country. Rentals.ca published their May 2026 National Rent Report, showing a 4.7 per cent year-over-year rent reduction nationwide, boosted by a 6.1 per cent average reduction in B.C., the second biggest dr...