Fortis B.C. advises it’s installing an underground natural gas main line to tie into its existing infrastructure in the area of Mostar Rd. and Metral Dr.

The work is scheduled to take place between Monday, June 8 and Friday, June 19 (excluding weekends) between 5:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., according to Mark Falkenberg, Fortis BC corporate communications advisor.

“Most of the traffic impacts will be felt along Metral and Mostar. There will be some one-lane, alternating traffic, you’ll see some flaggers down there, and some of the residents in the area will see detours depending on how far the work has progressed.”

Surrounding digital reader boards are warning motorists of pending traffic disruptions. (Image Credit: Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Traffic flows will resume uninterrupted outside working hours, Falkenberg said.

He clarified the work spans between the Mostar/Metral intersection westward to just shy of the rail track on Mostar. Rd.

Crews will also be working on Metral Dr. between Mostar Rd. and Sommerset Dr.

Falkenberg said there could be a bit of spillover work, but emphasized the primary work zone is the immediate Mostar/Metral area.

Most impacts to the travelling public are scheduled during the project’s second week, Falkenberg said.

The work is in response to additional localized residential development.

“This is to keep up with demand and to make sure that our system is able to provide that capacity and that it remains resilient and reliable for customers in the area.”

In total, Falkenberg said about 130 meters of new gas main line is being installed.

“There will be no service disruptions to existing Fortis BC customers as a result, just traffic impacts.

Impacted residents will have access to and from their homes, while children are advised not to play near the construction site or equipment during or after work hours.

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A southeastern portion of the trail was closed Tuesday, June 2, after a father and his children were “bluff charged” by the aggressive black bear.

City staff confirmed to NanaimoNewsNOW the trail reopened during the afternoon of Thursday, June 4, although manager of parks operations Kirsty MacDonald said caution is still advised.

“The City of Nanaimo will continue to remain in close communication with the Conservation Service to monitor any potential future needs to reduce park access due to Wildlife Activity. Park users should continue to exercise caution when accessing Westwood Lake Park and any park that exhibits bear signage at trailheads.”

A portion of Westwood Lake Park perimeter trail at the southeast side of the lake near the lookout bluff (pictured above) had been temporarily closed. (Image Credit: Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Other reports relayed by the BC Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS) stated the bear had not been responsive to hazing efforts from people who spotted the bear on Westwood Lake’s trails during daytime sightings.

No further interactions between the bear and the public have been reported since Tuesday.

Additional signage was posted both along the trail and in the parking lot of Westwood Lake Park.

Both the City and BCCOS are advising extra awareness when out on area trails and being familiar with best practices for wildlife encounters.

Those include travelling in groups, leashing pets, and carrying bear spray.

More information regarding interactions with bears is available here.

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Local Mounties say the incident occurred around 8:40 p.m. on Wednesday, June 3, at Knowles Park, on the corner of Victoria Rd. and Rainer St., and involved a number of people exiting a white Audi, aiming weapons across the park, and firing multiple shots.

Police believe an individual in the park was the target, according to Reserve Cst. Gary O’Brien.

“An individual was in the park. A person fired from a white vehicle…and that vehicle left southbound towards Old Victoria Rd. No injuries were reported. We closed the area off…and the investigation is ongoing.

Knowles Park in south Nanaimo was the site of a shooting on Wednesday evening. (Image Credit: Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Forensic investigators were called to the scene, and the area remained blocked off by police through much of Thursday, June 4.

O’Brien would not say whether the apparent target of the shooting remained on scene, only restating nobody was injured in the incident.

A resident who lives on Victoria Rd. heard the shots from inside their home Wednesday evening.

“Three shots, one after another. Bang bang bang….it was not fireworks, from my estimation. I heard the shots and stuck my head out the window, couldn’t see anything, but a few minutes later we noticed the police throwing up tape and lots of action.”

They said this is the first time they’ve heard confirmed gunshots in their neighbourhood.

“I know it’s not the nicest neighbourhood, but I’d never experienced anything like that. Fireworks all the time, you get ruffians here and there, but yeah, gunfire was new.”

Police say they are “actively pursuing leads,” including locating the white Audi believed to be involved.

“We’re talking with a lot of witnesses in the area. We’re asking people for dashcam footage from anywhere between 8:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. We’re looking for that white Audi driving probably erratically.”

Investigators are asking anyone who saw anything connected to the incident to contact the Nanaimo RCMP detachment at 250-754-2345, quoting file number 2026-17434.

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Announcing the government’s new AI strategy in Toronto on Thursday, Prime Minister Mark Carney said “globally, Canada ranks near the bottom of countries in AI training, in literacy and trust.”

That long-awaited strategy says Canada has “a major adoption gap.” It says closing the gap in training and literacy “is the foundation on which everything else depends.”

A new literacy initiative will offer entry-level AI training to all Canadians and the government will ensure “all post-secondary students have access to trusted AI agents,” the document says.

“With free and trustworthy AI learning kits, including courses and modules, Canadians will better understand AI, be able to use it safely and confidently, and put it to work in their own lives,” Carney said.

The strategy focuses on trust in AI as a key factor.

The government has previously promised to introduce privacy and online harms bills to tackle some of Canadians’ fears about technology.

The strategy promises new legal tools to “ensure interactions with chatbots are safe.” It also says legislation will “ensure that Canadians’ personal information is not used inappropriately, including for surveillance pricing.”

Carney indicated in his remarks the privacy legislation will also include measures targeting deepfakes. Speaking in French, he said the government will introduce legislation on protection of children and use of AI in the coming weeks.

The government says it will invest an additional $50 million in Canada’s AI safety institute, create a certification program for trustworthy AI and “work on AI transparency, including capabilities like watermarking of AI-generated content.”

The strategy promises to create up to 90,000 AI-related jobs for young people and offers what it calls a “pro-worker” approach.

“This means technology is designed to augment human expertise rather than displace it, helping workers move into higher-value roles while delivering the productivity gains that strengthen Canadian competitiveness,” the strategy says.

The government also intends to put $500 million toward expanding and enhancing the Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative “to accelerate adoption and commercialization of AI across the country.”

While the strategy talks a lot about sovereignty, it does not include new funding for compute infrastructure and instead leans on $2 billion in previously announced investments.

“Canadian researchers train models on foreign cloud platforms. Canadian companies store sensitive data in foreign jurisdictions. Government operations rely on infrastructure Canada does not own. And the country’s best AI talent faces constant recruitment pressure from abroad. The risks are not abstract,” the strategy says.

It says the federal government will address these risks by “building its key sovereign capabilities domestically whenever possible, while partnering with trusted allies or buying existing market solutions when appropriate.”

The strategy also promises a new program to “advance targeted, high-impact projects that deliver significant public good and demonstrate meaningful improvements in Canadians’ lives.” The first $200 million investment will be focused on improving health outcomes.

The strategy also looks to build on Canada’s existing clout in AI research, saying the government will “strengthen our network of national AI institutes and increase the Canada CIFAR AI Chairs program from 130 to nearly 200 researchers.”

The government is also putting $500 million toward establishing a Canadian Tech Growth Fund. It says the fund “will provide flexible growth capital and investment support, and enable the federal government, at times, to take equity stakes in the most promising Canadian AI firms.”

The strategy also points to Ottawa’s work on building international agreements related to AI. It promises to expand a sovereign technology alliance it launched with Germany in February.

“A coalition of aligned democracies, who pool research, talent, compute, and procurement power, would offer a credible alternative to the dominant market actors that increasingly define the global AI landscape. Canada is uniquely positioned to lead such an alliance — with proven and emerging capabilities that complement and reinforce those of key middle powers,” it said.

Carney was asked Thursday whether the goal of the alliance is to offer an alternative to U.S. big tech. “‘Yes’ is the short answer,” he replied.

The prime minister said that in a “series of areas, that critical mass absolutely can be developed.”

He noted Canada is one of only a few countries with a large language model of its own, a reference to Toronto-based Cohere.

“That’s part of a broader AI ecosystem that we can build alliances around,” Carney said.

— With files from Hannah Alberga in Toronto

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 4, 2026.

Announcing the government’s new AI strategy in Toronto on Thursday, Prime Minister Mark Carney said “globally, Canada ranks near the bottom of countries in AI training, in literacy and trust.”

That long-awaited strategy says Canada has “a major adoption gap.” It says closing the gap in training and literacy “is the foundation on which everything else depends.”

A new literacy initiative will offer entry-level AI training to all Canadians and the government will ensure “all post-secondary students have access to trusted AI agents,” the document says.

“With free and trustworthy AI learning kits, including courses and modules, Canadians will better understand AI, be able to use it safely and confidently, and put it to work in their own lives,” Carney said.

The strategy focuses on trust in AI as a key factor.

The government has previously promised to introduce privacy and online harms bills to tackle some of Canadians’ fears about technology.

The strategy promises new legal tools to “ensure interactions with chatbots are safe.” It also says legislation will “ensure that Canadians’ personal information is not used inappropriately, including for surveillance pricing.”

Carney indicated in his remarks the privacy legislation will also include measures targeting deepfakes. Speaking in French, he said the government will introduce legislation on protection of children and use of AI in the coming weeks.

The government says it will invest an additional $50 million in Canada’s AI safety institute, create a certification program for trustworthy AI and “work on AI transparency, including capabilities like watermarking of AI-generated content.”

The strategy promises to create up to 90,000 AI-related jobs for young people and offers what it calls a “pro-worker” approach.

“This means technology is designed to augment human expertise rather than displace it, helping workers move into higher-value roles while delivering the productivity gains that strengthen Canadian competitiveness,” the strategy says.

The government also intends to put $500 million toward expanding and enhancing the Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative “to accelerate adoption and commercialization of AI across the country.”

While the strategy talks a lot about sovereignty, it does not include new funding for compute infrastructure and instead leans on $2 billion in previously announced investments.

“Canadian researchers train models on foreign cloud platforms. Canadian companies store sensitive data in foreign jurisdictions. Government operations rely on infrastructure Canada does not own. And the country’s best AI talent faces constant recruitment pressure from abroad. The risks are not abstract,” the strategy says.

It says the federal government will address these risks by “building its key sovereign capabilities domestically whenever possible, while partnering with trusted allies or buying existing market solutions when appropriate.”

The strategy also promises a new program to “advance targeted, high-impact projects that deliver significant public good and demonstrate meaningful improvements in Canadians’ lives.” The first $200 million investment will be focused on improving health outcomes.

The strategy also looks to build on Canada’s existing clout in AI research, saying the government will “strengthen our network of national AI institutes and increase the Canada CIFAR AI Chairs program from 130 to nearly 200 researchers.”

The government is also putting $500 million toward establishing a Canadian Tech Growth Fund. It says the fund “will provide flexible growth capital and investment support, and enable the federal government, at times, to take equity stakes in the most promising Canadian AI firms.”

The strategy also points to Ottawa’s work on building international agreements related to AI. It promises to expand a sovereign technology alliance it launched with Germany in February.

“A coalition of aligned democracies, who pool research, talent, compute, and procurement power, would offer a credible alternative to the dominant market actors that increasingly define the global AI landscape. Canada is uniquely positioned to lead such an alliance — with proven and emerging capabilities that complement and reinforce those of key middle powers,” it said.

Carney was asked Thursday whether the goal of the alliance is to offer an alternative to U.S. big tech. “‘Yes’ is the short answer,” he replied.

The prime minister said that in a “series of areas, that critical mass absolutely can be developed.”

He noted Canada is one of only a few countries with a large language model of its own, a reference to Toronto-based Cohere.

“That’s part of a broader AI ecosystem that we can build alliances around,” Carney said.

— With files from Hannah Alberga in Toronto

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 4, 2026.

Anja Karadeglija, The Canadian Press

As of Wednesday, June 3, Lifesaving Society BC & Yukon data showed 17 drownings had occurred in the province this year.

“It tracks much higher than usual,” a concerned Lenea Grace, society executive director, told NanaimoNewsNOW.

The prior three-year trend to early June in B.C. saw an average of eight drownings, with the 17 reported in 2021 skewed by COVID-19 health regulations, Grace noted.

“This shows us that we really need to make sure that the public has safety at top of mind this summer because it’s only going to get hotter and more enticing to enjoy and recreate on the water.”

Historically, 77 per cent of drowning victims in the province are men, Grace said, noting the vast majority of this year’s fatalities have been males.

A combination of boating, paddleboarding, swimming, as well as snowmobiling incidents earlier in the year drove up this year’s fatalities, with “no set pattern” among the incidents, Grace said.

Locally, Wednesday, May 20 was a tragic day in the Nanaimo area, with a pair of unrelated swimming drownings in the Departure Bay area, as well as a scuba diver dying off Gabriola Island.

The following day, three men on a clam harvesting boat drowned off Savary Island, northwest of Powell River.

Most recently, the bodies of two paddleboarders were recovered from a lake near Squamish on Tuesday, June 2.

Aerial and water-based resources were deployed in response to a pair of people who drowned in Nanaimo’s Departure Bay area during separate May 20 incidents. (Image Credit: Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

According to BC Coroners Service data, an annual average of 66 accidental drowning deaths occurred in the province between 2014 and 2024, with rivers and lakes/ponds being the highest risk areas.

Most drownings are entirely preventable, Grace said, pointing to the importance of all forms of boaters and paddleboarders wearing a life jacket or personal flotation device.

“Please make sure if folks are boating or paddleboarding that they’re making a trip plan, letting others know where they’re going; assessing variable risks like weather, currents, deep water drop-offs, all of those things.”

Swimmers misjudging their capabilities is also a historic issue, Grace said, while another especially vulnerable population is children.

Stigmas around men refusing to wear life jackets and engaging in higher risk behaviours such as mixing alcohol/substances with recreating on the water, as key driving factors in preventable drownings, Grace said.

She emphasized that safety needs to be priority for people enjoying themselves in and around the water.

“It’s a free activity in many instances that everybody can enjoy, we just want to make sure that people are doing so responsibly.”

A statement from the City of Nanaimo confirmed lifeguards are scheduled to begin daily shifts at Westwood Lake’s First Beach on June 28 until Sept. 7 between noon and 5:30 p.m., weather permitting, including stat holidays.

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Forty-three units of rental housing are slated for 1901 Northfield Rd., across from McGarrigle Rd., with a mix of studio, one, and two-bedroom units offered across four storeys.

Nanaimo City Councillors unanimously approved a rezoning application and a development permit on Monday, May 25, with the permit only issued upon final adoption of the rezoning at a future meeting, once certain conditions have been secured by City staff.

Several variances were also approved by Council, including a significant reduction in the number of parking spaces.

While a development of this size would normally require 62 spaces, developers had proposed a total of 43, including 2 surface visitor parking spaces.

Rationale provided by developers included stats from ICBC regarding lower car ownership in rental-specific buildings, as well as easy access to nearby active transportation lines and amenities.

Residents will also be able to access discounted transit passes for nearly three years, with developers enrolling in the BC Transit ECOPass program.

The project is the latest in a string of housing developments along and around the Northfield Rd. corridor, designed to densify the area and provide more housing options near high-frequency transit lines and already existing amenities.

The City’s Design Advisory Panel gave their endorsement to a five-storey, 95-unit condo complex at 2124 Northfield Rd. on Thursday, May 28, while several developments are planned through new land created by the Midtown Gateway Project, which wrapped in 2024.

A development permit application was presented in June 2025 for two, six-storey buildings at the Northfield Rd. and Boxwood Rd. intersection, which would feature 204 units and seven townhouses.

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Local Mounties arrested 36-year-old Jessie Andrew Joseph Savidant without incident on May 16, in connection with the theft of a vehicle from Barsby Ave. in Nanaimo earlier in the month, along with numerous breaches of his court orders.

Reserve Cst. Gary O’Brien told NanaimoNewsNOW Savidant allegedly took the vehicle, with evidence obtained through the investigation leading to the discovery of other thefts and incidents in the region.

“[Our investigators] followed up with some stolen plates, and then from that information…there was a credit card used in a fraud incident in Ladysmith. Our members connected the dots, and it came back to Savidant.”

The car, a Honda Civic, was recovered a few days after it was stolen from a downtown Nanaimo parking lot.

Four charges were approved by Crown Counsel, including theft of a motor vehicle, possession of stolen property over $5,000, use of a stolen credit card, and breach of a probation order.

Savidant has a lengthy criminal history, spanning most of his adult life, and has had numerous stints in prison.

He’s previously been jailed for multiple break-ins, possession of stolen property, motor vehicle thefts, and breaches of his probation orders.

Savidant has also previously faced charges of assaulting a peace officer and possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking.

Crimes have occurred in Terrace and across Vancouver Island, including in Nanaimo, Parksville, Port Alberni, Ladysmith, Lantzville, Langford, Saanich, and Comox.

Court records show at least 10 jail sentences since 2007, not including credit for time served while awaiting a decision.

Savidant remains in police custody ahead of a bail hearing on June 15 in Nanaimo.

O’Brien noted officers in Nanaimo are seeing a spike in thefts of vehicles over recent months.

“It’s really important that the public stop and take awareness once again that the common sense parameters still prevail. You have to ensure your vehicles are all locked, and there’s nothing visible inside that vehicle.”

Older vehicles, in the 2000-2003 model years, are being especially targeted, according to O’Brien.

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The program is due to be suspended at the end of the 2026 air show season, with the aging Tutor planes to be retired.

Replacements won’t be available until at least the early 2030s, meaning a full stop on the highly-visible, touring show which trains each spring on Vancouver Island and performs regularly around North America.

Darryl Shyiak, a member of the Snowbird Alumni Association, said they believe there is middle ground to be discovered between allowing the program to continue and stopping it completely in the short term.

“We believe that there are some practical solutions where the Snowbirds would reduce the number of aircraft they fly, and that would allow them to continue to maintain that specialized expertise that the pilots have conducting the show.”

Shyiak debuted with the squadron in 1988 and flew for two seasons before moving onto another posting.

He returned to lead the team for the 1997 and 1998 seasons and said the program is important to the Canadian Armed Forces and the country as a whole.

Shyiak believes partnerships with the private sector could be a pathway forward.

“We also suggested that consideration be given to partnering with industry, which could provide technicians. So many of the technicians currently on the team could be freed up to go to other operational squadrons throughout the Air Force.”

The decision to suspend the program came via concerns over safety, with the current Tutor planes in operation since the 1960s, ahead of the Snowbirds forming in 1971.

Safety is paramount for the Alumni Association, with around 1,000 members, and Shyiak.

“The team has operated and continues to operate today under rigorous maintenance oversight professional standards for the airworthiness of the aircraft. Our campaign doesn’t advocate for compromising safety in any way, we’re just encouraging discussion to see if there was a limited, carefully planned, and managed transition option where the team could continue to fly for a few more years until their new aircraft becomes available.”

The squadron has a remarkable safety record, only blemished in recent years by a tragic accident upon takeoff from Kamloops, bound for Nanaimo, in May 2020.

A bird strike and subsequent engine stall shortly after takeoff killed the team’s public affairs officer, Capt. Jennifer Casey, and seriously injured the pilot, Capt. Richard MacDougall.

Their final appearance in Nanaimo came in August 2025, with a pair of shows.

The Snowbirds are due to perform twice in Victoria later this year.

— with files from Jon de Roo, 97.3 The Eagle

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The operator says in a statement that a temporary, five per cent surcharge will be implemented starting June 16.

The surcharge will be placed on all BC Ferries routes and has been authorized by the BC Ferry Commission under regulations aimed at managing costs during times of price fluctuations.

BC Ferries says fuel is among its largest operating costs and global prices have spiked more than 40 per cent since March due to instability, including the Iran-U.S. conflict that has disrupted shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.

It also says the surcharge will be reduced or removed if fuel prices stabilize or decline for a sustained period.

Air carriers introduced fuel surcharges in April, with Air Canada announcing higher baggage fees, while WestJet introduced a $60 surcharge on certain bookings.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 3, 2026.

The Canadian Press