QUALICUM BEACH - While it wasn't a smooth process, a modernized new firehall is now serving a rural area north of Qualicum Beach. Dashwood Volunteer Fire Department (DVFD) members recently moved into its new Hobbs Rd. facility, replacing an aging hall on the same site. According to the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN...

NANAIMO - New construction at a local shopping centre could just be the start of big changes, including higher-density housing options.Five new storefronts are under construction to replace parking stalls at Brooks Landing Shopping Centre, poised to host quick food service restaurants beginning early next year. Speakin...

NANAIMO - A staple event for the last four decades is returning once more. South End Day is being celebrated on Saturday, June 14 at Deverill Square Park, at the corner of Milton St. and Haliburton St., between 8:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Co-organizer Allison Ainsley said it used to be called the Miner's Picnic until a change...

NANAIMO - What started out as a relatively small Nanaimo-based Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) fundraiser has swelled into so much more. North Nanaimo's Dover Bay Secondary School is a hub of activity all day on Friday, June 13 with hundreds of Relay For Life participants and supporters at the school's sports field off H...

PARKSVILLE - More dates have been confirmed for a popular pop-up recycling depot serving the Oceanside region. The facility, operated in partnership between Recycle BC and the Parksville Community Centre Society will hold their next collection event on Saturday, June 14 and continue with similar events twice monthly on...

NANAIMO - Nearly six months into operation, the City of Nanaimo's drop-in service for those living on the street is benefiting those in need, but nearby residents are asking at what cost. Opened in January, the warming and cooling centre at 55 Victoria Rd., with access via Nicol St., is operated by Island Crisis Care S...

Editor's note: This article contains details of the sexual abuse of children, which may not be suitable for some readers. Discretion is strongly advised. NANAIMO - Having no prior criminal record, a man was placed in handcuffs and escorted to jail after highly disturbing and damaging content was retrieved from his phon...

NANAIMO - Patching up a critically essential, albeit woefully outdated secondary access to the city's assembly wharf lands is expected to wrap up shortly. Closed since Friday, June 6, the City of Nanaimo anticipates the ancient trestle bridge extending from the end of Crace St. will re-open early next week. "It's ...

NANAIMO - The chances of drought conditions for B.C.'s summer continue to increase, according to the most recent look at mountain snowpack levels impacting water supply. The June 1 snow survey and water supply bulletin indicates Vancouver Island has only 39 per cent of its average snowpack, a dramatic decrease from 70 ...

NANAIMO - A transit connection linking much of the central Island with the Cowichan Valley and Victoria is expanding. Beginning Aug. 31, the Nanaimo-Cowichan Express (NCX) will add Sunday's and statutory holidays to the schedule, adding 1,000 service hours to the system, meaning buses will run up and down much of Vanco...

UPDATE: As of 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, June 11, the Labour Day Lake wildfire is 5.7 hectares in size and is now marked as being held.NANAIMO - A wildfire has sparked approximately 35 kilometres west of Nanaimo.The Coastal Fire Centre (CFC) reports the fire is located southeast of Labour Day Lake around 1 p.m. on Tuesday, ...

NANAIMO - Local police hope public awareness can help cut down on a growing problem in the Harbour City: valuables stolen from vehicles. Nanaimo RCMP crime analyst data showed 265 reported theft from vehicle incidents in the Nanaimo area so far this year, compared to 175 cases all last year, representing a 51 per cent ...

NANAIMO - Athlete registration is well underway for the 55+ BC Games to be hosted on central Vancouver Island this fall. Just under a week remains until a June 15 deadline to register as an athlete for Zone 2 (Vancouver Island North) at the event, hosted in Nanaimo starting on Sept. 9. Chair of Zone 2 Laurie Miller sai...

PARKSVILLE - A festival-like atmosphere Tuesday nights throughout the summer has arrived for downtown Parksville. Staged by Parksville and District Chamber of Commerce, the annual Sumer by the Sea Market runs weekly starting June 10 through August 26, with the market primarily held on Craig St. Running from 6 p.m. thro...

NANAIMO - The long wait for the return of the city's pride crosswalk has finally come to an end.Officially debuted during the Pride Parade through downtown Nanaimo on Sunday, June 8, the approximately 15 square metre design, based on the New Progress Pride Flag, is now centre stage at the corner of Bastion St. and Comm...

NANAIMO - Unseasonably hot conditions over the weekend have helped re-write the record book. Data from Environment Canada shows Nanaimo set a new temperature record for June 8, with the mercury reaching 31.7 degrees Celsius on Sunday, beating the old record set back in 1903 of 30.6 degrees. Records in Nanaimo date back...

NANAIMO - Following a lengthy investigation, a first-degree murder charge has been laid against a woman who allegedly killed her partner. Desiree Dawn Mosher, 44, is charged with first-degree murder in connection to the death of 30-year-old Ryan Mosher, whose body was discovered in a central Nanaimo home on August 12, ...

NANAIMO - Travellers bound for Port Alberni, Tofino or Ucluelet may have to consider alternate arrangements on Wednesday. Work crews will close both directions of Hwy. 4 at Cameron Lake on Wednesday, June 11 from 9 a.m. to 3 for rock removal following a wildfire and subsequent landslide on 2023. Recent falling rocks we...

NANAIMO - Previously embroiled in crimes of dishonesty for survival and to feed his addiction, an offender vows he's firmly on the road to recovery. A unique case demonstrating significant rehabilitative efforts was outlined in provincial court in Nanaimo regarding 42-year-old Sean Michael O'Reilly. He was sentenced on...

NANAIMO - One of the largest events on the local Pride Month calendar made its way through the downtown on Sunday. The annual Pride Parade began around 11 a.m. on Sunday, June 8, starting on Fitzwilliam St., slowly marching over the Bastion St. bridge before heading down Front St. towards Maffeo Sutton Park. Around 70 ...

PARKSVILLE - An integral society serving the Oceanside region for nearly 60 years hopes to have a new bus in the coming months to connect clients with their services. The Society of Organized Services (SOS) needs roughly $175,000 to realize its $200,000 fundraising goal to replace its existing bus. Resource development...

NANOOSE BAY - A 79-year-old Qualicum Beach man is dead after a collision between a group of cyclists and a pickup truck on Friday morning.Oceanside RCMP report three cyclists were riding on Marina Way, near Carmel Pl. in Nanoose Bay at around 10:50 a.m. on Friday, June 6, when a Ford pickup truck made contact with the ...

NANAIMO - One year ago, Vancouver Island Pro Wrestling (VIPW) co-owner BJ Laredo was equal parts nervous and excited. With significant resources committed to staging WrestleFest at Frank Crane Arena, Laredo was hopeful their core base of fans, and many more, would show up. Turns out, people were buying what Laredo and ...

PARKSVILLE - Several mid-Island charities were recipients of provincial grants for healthy youth social development and help those dealing with traumatic loss. A grant of $40,000 was awarded to Parksville-based Lumara Grief & Bereavement Care Society to support their Family Grief and Loss Support project. Executive...

NANAIMO - A new judge has been appointed to begin hearing cases shortly within the heavily strained provincial court docket in Nanaimo. Colleen Spier will join the Nanaimo Provincial Court, effective July 7, adding to a roster of judges handling increasingly crowded case loads. Spier has practiced law since 2007 and pr...

NANAIMO - Those living in a Nanaimo long-term care home are once again able to venture out into the community on a fully-accessible bus. Dufferin Place Long Term Care Centre was without dedicated transportation after the facility's last bus broke down three years ago. Resident Diane Barnatt said she's thrilled to be ab...

PARKSVILLE - A colourful and elaborate labyrinth located on Parksville's waterfront was recently renewed with a fresh coat of paint and new artwork, thanks to dedicated community members. Located at the east end of the boardwalk inside their community park, the Parksville labyrinth recently received its third renewal s...

PARKSVILLE - The biggest pizza possible is first on the to-do list for central Vancouver Island's newest millionaire.Lee Ann Nahanee claimed her $1 million prize on Wednesday, June 4, winning the Gold Ball prize on the May 28 Lotto 6/49 draw.Nahanee was filling up at the Shell gas station in Nanoose Bay shortly after t...