“Where is Lisa Marie Young?” Exploring a life beyond a disappearance

More than 24 years after Lisa Marie Young disappeared from Nanaimo, seasoned author teamed up with a local resident for a new book focused on celebrating her life.

NanaimoLuis ZablahNovember 5, 2026Luis Zablah, VIRL, Vancouver Island Regional Library, Carolann Bosma, Norah Caldwell, Nanaimo, Lisa Marie Young, Where is Lisa Marie Young?, Feature One

Vancouver Island University Students’ Union takes legal action against the University amidst breach of contract

Vancouver Island University’s Students’ Union (VIUSU) is suing VIU over a funding cut to a student refugee program that the union says breaks commitments and disrupts plans for the fall.

NanaimoLuis ZablahNovember 3, 2026Luis Zablah, WUSC, VIU, VIUSU, Vancouver Island University, Vancouver Island University Students Union, World University Service of Canada Local Committee, Student Refugee Program, SRP, Matthews Tharakan, Sarah Bollinger, Kiyara Armogam, Feature One

Harbour City Halloweekend, Nanaimo’s Downtown comes together to celebrate spooky season

Tourism Nanaimo and the Nanaimo Pride Society have collaborated to host Harbour City Halloweekend, bringing a variety of themed activities from October 30th to November 1st.

NanaimoLuis ZablahOctober 30, 2026Luis Zablah, City of Nanaimo, Downtown, Downtown Nanaimo, Tourism Nanaimo, Nanaimo Pride Society, Harbour City Halloweekend, Halloween, Carly Pereboom, Steph Kveton, Nanaimo Museum, Halloween Nanaimo Lantern Tours, Nanaimo Art Gallery, Nanaimo Business Improvement Association, Old City Quarter, Vancouver Island Military Museum, Feature Two

Aging tennis bubble saved by community advocates

After advocacy from the tennis playing community, the Westwood Lake Tennis Bubble will remain inflated, for now.

NanaimoLuis ZablahOctober 27, 2026Luis Zablah, Nanaimo, City of Nanaimo, Westwood Lake Park, Westwood Lake Tennis Club, Tennis Bubble, Friends of Indoor Tennis in Nanaimo, Nanaimo Area Indoor Tennis Society, NAITS, Charlotte Davis, Whitman Tomusiak, Beban Park, Tennis, Club, Featured, Feature Three

Gabriola Island gets connected with a new locally made social media app

A Gabriola Island software engineer is taking on tech giants by creating her own community hub for the gulf island. Barnacle Exchange is an up and coming application developed by software engineer Jacqlyn Bender.

NanaimoLuis ZablahOctober 23, 2026Luis Zablah, Nanaimo, Gabriola Island, Barnacle Exchange, Community, Meta, Jacqlyn Bender, Software Engineer, Feature Two

Turnout up from 2022 for municipal elections in Nanaimo

With election day behind us and the final voting results in, official results for the City of Nanaimo point to an increased voter turnout from 2022’s election. Fast forward four years, the 2026 official final results showed a higher turnout with a total of 25,450 ballots cast, leading to a 31.31 per cent turnout, and an increase in estimated eligible voters.

NanaimoLuis ZablahOctober 22, 2026Luis Zablah, Nanaimo, City of Nanaimo, Voter Turnout, Advance Voting, Voting Day, Local Elections 2026, Sheila Gurrie, Preliminary Results

Doughnut Economics? A community bike ride to explore the concept, while eating a local donut (or two?)

The Nanaimo Prosperity Corporation is taking part in the global event celebrating the Doughnut Economics framework.

NanaimoLuis ZablahOctober 16, 2026Luis Zablah, Global Donut Days, Nanaimo, DEAL, Doughnut Economics Action Lab, Doughnut Economics, Nanaimo Prosperity Corporation, NPC, Anni Thesen, Harbour City Donuts, Milk Jam Donuts, Beaufort Park Food Forest, Beban Park, Tom Harris Regional Food Centre, Bikes, Cycling, Feature One

A spooky jazzy concert for a good cause

A benefit concert for Orangutans will be held at St Andrews United Church featuring local dancing and a Jazz trio.

NanaimoLuis ZablahOctober 14, 2026Luis Zablah, Orangutan, Jazz, Teighan Couch, Amy Kaellis, St Andrews United Church, The Orangutan Project, Concert, World Wildlife Fund, Arts and Culture, Feature One

Local Chinese Canadian groups differ in views over what to do with last standing Chinatown buildings

During Monday’s October 5th council meeting, the Nanaimo Chinatown Heritage Foundation presented a delegation seeking to have buildings located at 880 and 997 Hecate St. added to the City of Nanaimo’s Community Heritage Register.

NanaimoLuis ZablahOctober 9, 2026Luis Zablah, City of Nanaimo, Sherron Soo, Olivia Spiden, Community Heritage Register, Chinatown, Jerry Hong, Nanaimo Chinese Cultural Society, 880 Hecate St, 997 Hecate St, Nanaimo Chinatown Heritage Foundation, Heritage, Feature Three

School Board Candidates take the stage in Teachers’ Association forum at Beban Park

The Nanaimo District Teacher’s Association (NDTA) is organizing a forum to let the community meet potential trustees ahead of this month’s local elections.

NanaimoLuis ZablahOctober 7, 2026Luis Zablah, City of Nanaimo, Candidates, Advance Voting Days, Megan Simmer, Teachers' Association, Nanaimo District Teacher's Association, NDTA, Nanaimo Ladysmith Public School, SD-68, School Board, Beban Park, Forum, Local Elections 2026, Feature One

Advance Polls open this Wednesday and next

With local elections happening across BC, Saturday October 17th, the City of Nanaimo has set up advance polls giving eligible voters the opportunity to lock in their votes early.

NanaimoLuis ZablahOctober 6, 2026Luis Zablah, City of Nanaimo, Candidates, Advance Voting Days, Beban Park, Sheila Gurrie, Municipal Elections, Local Elections 2026, Local Elections

School district elections remain, despite acclamations in RDN and Islands Trust

Several electoral areas for the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN), and Islands Trust are uncontested this election season, but voters in areas A, B, G and H can still impact the race for their local school boards.

NanaimoLuis ZablahOctober 1, 2026Luis Zablah, City of Nanaimo, Candidates, Jacquie Hill, Mark Walsh, RDN, Regional District of Nanaimo, Nanaimo-Ladysmith', Areas, School District 68, Feature Three

A referendum for eligible RDN voters with Carmichael Road Watermain Replacement Project

The Regional District of Nanaimo is holding a referendum to authorize borrowing to replace a water main that’s failed twice in the last decade.

NanaimoLuis ZablahSeptember 30, 2026Luis Zablah, City of Nanaimo, Regional District of Nanaimo, RDN, Carmichael Road, Watermain Replacement Project, Rocky Chowdhury, Referendum, Municipal Elections, Nanoose Bay, Local Elections 2026

Climate action hub holds election forum for City of Nanaimo candidates

Candidates for Nanaimo City Council were candid on climate change and the environment this past Tuesday. The Nanaimo Climate Action Hub (NCAH) organized a candidate forum at Beban Park Social Centre.

The Nanaimo & District Hospital Foundation goes golfing with the 33rd Golf for Life to raise money for NRGH

The Nanaimo & District Hospital Foundation and the Nanaimo Golf Club pair up once again on the green with their Golf for Life fundraiser. For 33 years, Golf for Life has brought golfers, community leaders, healthcare supporters and local businesses together for the greater good and some friendly competition at the Nanaimo Golf Club.

NanaimoLuis ZablahSeptember 18, 2026Luis Zablah, City of Nanaimo, UBC, NRGH, Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, Golf for Life, Nanaimo & District Hospital Foundation, Tina Moreira, Jason Sutherland, Fundraiser, University of British Columbia, Local Elections 2026, Provincial Election 2026

RDN hosts information sessions for Departure Bay Pump Station and Force Main Expansion Project

The Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) is working with the City of Nanaimo, and is preparing to kick off work on the Departure Bay Pump Station and Forcemain Expansion Project. The project is scheduled to take around four years to complete and will significantly affect Hammond Bay Rd, seeing the thoroughfare become unidirectional.

NanaimoLuis ZablahSeptember 11, 2026Luis Zablah, City of Nanaimo, Regional District of Nanaimo, Phil Stewart, Departure Bay, Pump Station, Forcemain, Departure Bay Pump Station and Forcemain Expansion Project, Chris Mathie, Hammond Bay Rd

Racing Zucchinis? Central Nanaimo organizes a community led event at Mansfield Park this Sunday

Mansfield Park will be bustling this weekend. The community park is playing host to a county fair, complete with music, magic shows, booths, zucchini races, kids activities and a raffle. The event is completely run by volunteers from the surrounding neighbourhood north of Townsite Rd in Nanaimo.

NanaimoLuis ZablahSeptember 11, 2026Luis Zablah, Fraser Mah, Mansfield Park, Central Nanaimo, Townsite Road, Zucchini, Beaufort Park Food Forest

Nanaimo gets classy, with the celebration of Nanaimo Jazz Festival’s 10th anniversary

The Nanaimo Jazz Festival is set to celebrate 10 years with a free concert this weekend, and performer Luke Blu Guthrie said it's a big deal.

NanaimoLuis ZablahSeptember 10, 2026Luis Zablah, City of Nanaimo, Maffeo Sutton Park, Nanaimo Jazz Festival, Luke Blu Guthrie, Mary Ancheta, Mary Ancheta: Quartet, Concert, Jazz, Blues

Pedal to the Metal! RDN celebrates grand opening of Bike Pump Track in Cedar

This past Monday, August 31st, rubber hit the track following a ribbon cutting at a new Bike Pump Track dedicated in memory of Mike Davidson.

NanaimoLuis ZablahSeptember 1, 2026Luis Zablah, Regional District of Nanaimo, Stevie Smith Legacy Foundation, Mike Davidson, Kathy Davidson, Jessica Stanley, Electoral Area A, Tim Harris, Nanaimo Ladysmith Public School, School District 68, Bike Pump Track, Cedar, BMX, Michelle Corfield

The Nanaimo Commercial Street Night Market hits an attendance all time high on its 7th season

This year’s Commercial Street Night Market had a boom in attendance. This year marks the market’s 7th season, bringing major foot traffic and fun to downtown every Thursday for the past 11 week.