Restaurant closes to avoid impact of extreme heat on kitchen staff

With temperatures hitting 35°C in Nanaimo on Tuesday, Asteras Greek Taverna closed for the day saying they didn’t want to put their kitchen staff at risk.

NewsMick SweetmanAugust 15, 2023heat, health, WorksafeBC, Nanaimo, Asteras Greek Taverna

Former Crown ward pedals across country for his mental health

Chris Aubichon biked over 6,000kms in three months from Moncton, New Brunswick to Nanaimo, B.C. in a personal odyssey for his mental and physical health.

NewsMick SweetmanAugust 14, 2023Nanaimo, education, Indigenous

Heat warning issued for East Vancouver Island

A heat warning has been issued by Environment Canada for East Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast.

NewsMick SweetmanAugust 12, 2023health, heat, weather, Nanaimo, Vancouver Island

Patients on stretchers in hallways and closets as they wait to be admitted to NRGH says ER doctor

A veteran ER doctor at the Nanaimo Regional General Hospital is sounding the alarm about a backlog of patients waiting to be admitted to the hospital due to a shortage of hospitalists.

NewsMick SweetmanAugust 11, 2023NRGH, Nanaimo, health

Doctors and mayor call for cardiac lab in Nanaimo

Doctors at the Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, the mayor of Nanaimo, the Chief of Snuneymuxw First Nation and other local leaders are calling on the province of British Columbia to build a cardiac catheterization lab for the region's 450,000 residents.

Breaking down crime statistics on Vancouver Island

Dr. Lauren Mayes, a professor of criminology at Vancouver Island University, says that while increases in the crime severity index can be scary the solution is addressing the root causes of crime.

NewsMick SweetmanAugust 8, 2023crime, data, Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, Vancouver Island University

On the fireline with VIU forestry student Ashley Holyk

One woman battling record wildfires in B.C. this summer is Ashley Holyk, a forestry resources technology student at Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo.

VIU board failed in oversight of cybersecurity management says auditor general

Vancouver Island University’s board of governors failed to provide proper oversight of the university’s cybersecurity policies according to a new report by B.C’s Auditor General Michael Pickup on Tuesday.

NewsMick SweetmanAugust 2, 2023VIU, auditor general, Nanaimo, post-secondary

Housing debate heats up as homeowners struggle with surging interest rates

As federal politicians point fingers at one another in the debate on the housing crisis, homeowners are feeling the pinch of rising interest rates.

NewsMick SweetmanAugust 1, 2023Housing, Nanaimo, NDP, Lisa Marie Barron, Jenny Kwan, Justin Trudeau, Jagmeet Singh

City of Nanaimo looks at accelerating zero-carbon rules for new housing

The City of Nanaimo’s Governance and Priorities Committee unanimously voted to refer a staff recommendation to accelerate zero-carbon building code requirements to city council.

NewsMick SweetmanJuly 28, 2023Nanaimo, City of Nanaimo, environment, climate

Man in custody after two gun calls on Cavan Street in Nanaimo on Monday

Nanaimo RCMP seized two converted and replica firearms on Cavan Street on Monday morning as new statistics show the violent crime severity index in the city is at an all-time high.

NewsMick SweetmanJuly 27, 2023crime, public safety, RCMP, Nanaimo

Fuel spill in Nanaimo harbour contained

The Canadian Coast Guard is reporting that a fuel oil spill in the Nanaimo harbour has been contained.

NewsLauryn MackenzieJuly 26, 2023Nanaimo, nanaimo harbour, environment

Nanaimo city council rejects Meta advertising ban

Nanaimo city council voted down a motion by Coun. Paul Manly for the city to stop advertising on Meta social media platforms Facebook and Instagram yesterday.

Blind man swims across the Georgia Strait to Nanaimo

Scott Rees, who is blind, swam for 11 hours to cross the 30 km Georgia Strait from Sechelt to Nanaimo raising over $127.000 for the Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind.