Mural recognizes the transition from hate to hope

A new mural at the Nanaimo Aquatic Center showcases communities coming together and transitioning hate to hope.

NewsLauryn MackenzieDecember 15, 2023Nanaimo, Human Rights, Mural, Art, hate

Public safety association concerned about second downtown warming centre

Two new warming centres are scheduled to open in Nanaimo this winter but the president of the Nanaimo Area Public Safety Association says he’s concerned that a second downtown location will attract drug dealers and worsen social disorder in the area.

Qualicum Beach Elementary students name Salamander Pond

A pond near Qualicum Beach Elementary is getting a new name after a local teacher wrote to the town council informing them that the students voted to name it Salamander Pond.

NewsMick SweetmanDecember 13, 2023Qualicum Beach, conservation, Town of Qualicum Beach

Santa lands at Nanaimo hospital

Santa Claus was spotted flying over Nanaimo early Tuesday morning, but left his sleigh at home instead opting for a flight in an air ambulance helicopter that landed at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital.

Drug deaths spike in Nanaimo

Recent figures show illicit drug poisonings attended by the BC Emergency Health Services in Nanaimo are more than double the per capita rate when compared to other communities within Island Health

NewsLauryn MackenzieDecember 12, 2023Nanaimo, City of Nanaimo, VIHA, Drugs, Toxic Drugs, nanaimo city council

Nanaimo Art Gallery continues the search for a new home

The Nanaimo Art Gallery is currently looking for a new place to call home

NewsLauryn MackenzieDecember 8, 2023Nanaimo, Nanaimo Art Gallery, City of Nanaimo

Nanaimo celebrates first night of Chanukah

Nanaimo’s Jewish community marked the first night of Chanukah with the lighting of a giant Menorah at Maffeo Sutton Park.

NewsMick SweetmanDecember 8, 2023Jewish community, Chabad of Nanaimo, Leonard Krog, Shelia Malcomson, Nanaimo

Free flu and Covid shot family clinics on Vancouver Island

Island Health is ramping up its Covid and Influenza vaccine campaign with free walk-in clinics for children between six months and 11 years of age.

NewsMick SweetmanDecember 7, 2023COVID-19, Infulenza, Island Health, health

VIU honours those lost to gender-based violence

Vancouver Island Univerisity gathered to remember the worst act of violent misogyny in Canadian history, at École Polytechnique Montreal that took the lives of 14 women on December 6th 1989.

NewsLauryn MackenzieDecember 7, 2023Alternative Approval Process, Op, City of Nanaimo, Sandy Bartlett

Residents ask City of Nanaimo about next year's draft financial plan at E-town hall

Over the last week, Nanaimo city council has had the chance to discuss next year’s financial plan and on Monday, Dec. 4, residents finally had their chance to speak.

NewsLauryn MackenzieDecember 6, 2023Alternative Approval Process, Op, City of Nanaimo, Sandy Bartlett

Nanaimo council votes to proceed with second AAP for Operations Centre

Nanaimo city council voted 7-2 to redo an Alternative Approval Process to take out a $48.5 million loan for a new public works yard in Nanaimo after the previous one run in November was found to have been done without giving proper notice.

NewsMick SweetmanDecember 5, 2023Alternative Approval Process, Op, City of Nanaimo, Sandy Bartlett

Projected 8% property tax hike in Nanaimo city budget

The City of Nanaimo is looking at increasing property taxes by eight per cent in 2024 as of Friday’s finance and audit committee meeting.

NewsMick SweetmanDecember 4, 2023City of Nanaimo, Budget

Road reopens after construction on Albert St and Fourth St

Construction is near completion for phase two of the Albert / Fourth Complete Street project. Soon pedestrians, cyclists and drivers will have an easier and safer route between downtown and the Harewood area.

News, Cycling, InfrastructureLauryn MackenzieDecember 1, 2023

Qualicum First Nation celebrates pentl’ach language reawakening

Exciting news has come out of the Qualicum First Nations as the once-considered ‘sleeping language’ has successfully been labelled as an awakening language. The pentl’ach language has officially become the 35th First Nations language recognized in British Columbia.

Nanaimo Operations Centre approval done improperly

A controversial Alternative Approval Process (AAP) to take out a $48.5 million loan for the first phase of a new public works yard was conducted improperly and needs to be run again.