Emergency drill
Mock exercise features crash landing at Nanaimo Airport
NANAIMO - Volunteers posing as dozens of injured passengers replicated a crash-landed plane on Nanaimo Airport's runway. The federally mandated drill happened on Wednesday, April 15, between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m., involving several agencies which would respond to the real thing. Nanaimo Airport president and chief execu...
12h ago
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major event
City of Nanaimo backs $100K Beyond Van Gogh grant request
NANAIMO - An upcoming multi-week exhibit at downtown Nanaimo's Vancouver Island Conference Centre (VICC) is about to get a big financial boost from the City. During the Wednesday, April 15, finance and audit meeting, a recommendation for Council to provide a financial grant of $100,000 for the Beyond Van Gogh experienc...
14h ago
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call before you dig
Natural gas line strikes drop in Nanaimo, but still leads Vancouver Island
NANAIMO - Messaging to 'call before you dig' appears to be getting through to local contractors and homeowners.Data from Fortis BC shows the Harbour City joined Saanich in leading Vancouver Island for the highest number of incidents involving damage to natural gas lines, with 14 in 2025, part of 109 across Vancouver Is...
21h ago
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What's Trending
Nanaimo, Parksville and Area
sentenced
Nanaimo man tries to rebuild after destructive behaviour triggers ERT response
NANAIMO - Rehabilitating while in custody for well over a year, a Nanaimo man says he's committed to chartering a more positive path. Corey David Matsen, 40, had 25 additional days behind bars left to serve following a sentencing hearing at Nanaimo Law Courts in relation to his volatile behaviour in early February 2025...
Apr 14, 2026
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development vs neighbourhood character
Proposed Departure Bay rezoning sent back for density guarantees
NANAIMO - A proposal to rezone a Departure Bay Rd. property requires refinements before proceeding any further, Nanaimo City Council decided. A 7-1 vote referred the application for 2565 Departure Bay Rd., at Strongitharm Ave., back to City staff to work with developers to ensure no more than 20 housing units are const...
Apr 14, 2026
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byelection sweep
Carney pledges collaboration, substantive debate in majority Parliament
OTTAWA - The morning after the Liberals secured a majority government, Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canadians can expect Parliament to be more substantive and less performative. "There's a difference between real testimony, real substance, getting t...
Apr 14, 2026
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Lights, camera, action!
'One part science, one part art:' lineup locked for Nanaimo short film festival
NANAIMO - A record number of short film submissions have been whittled down to a final 18 to be screened this week at VIU's Malaspina Theatre. The Vancouver Island Short Film Festival returns to Nanaimo for its 21st edition, Friday, April 17, and Saturday, April 18, at Vancouver Island University, featuring a new lineu...
Apr 14, 2026
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Environmental harm
Destructive Nanaimo River Estuary excursion leads to fines for young men
NANAIMO - A pair of men pleaded guilty to an illegal Nanaimo River Estuary off-roading excursion, which caused an estimated $151,000 in damages. Liam Aiden Ashton Sage, 20, and Brandt David Olsen, 25, pleaded guilty to a provincial Wildlife Act charge of damaging land set aside for wildlife during a Friday, April 10, s...
Apr 13, 2026
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Making Connections
Nanaimo Sports and Social Club going strong into its eighth year
NANAIMO - For the past eight years the Nanaimo Sports and Social Club (NSSC) has been offering adults a chance to play games and make connections in the community. Organizers Chuck Hocker and Jamie Kuhn have seen the group grow a great deal since its early days. "We're regularly now offering four seasons of activi...
Apr 13, 2026
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British Columbia
In the news today: Artemis II update, Social media ban, Amazon surcharge
Here is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to bring you up to speed... Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen and NASA crewmates to hold news conference Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen and his NASA crewmates are set to take part in a news...
1h ago
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Lytton was razed by fire. Some fear financial ruin is next for the tiny B.C. village
Ross and Judith Urquhart have called Lytton, B.C., home for half a century, leaving only for as long it took to rebuild after a raging wildfire forced them to flee in 2021. "All the homes around us were burning and we had to just jump in the vehicle ...
1h ago
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First Nations overdose deaths in B.C. drop in 2025, but still disproportionally high
VANCOUVER - The number of overdose deaths of First Nations in British Columbia dropped by about a third in 2025 but the population continues to be disproportionately impacted by the province's toxic drug crisis that has killed more than 18,000 people i...
11h ago
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B.C. tables another First Nation treaty ratification, but overlap concerns persist
VICTORIA - The Kitselas First Nation in northwestern B.C. has reached a major milestone in its treaty process as the province tabled legislation to ratify the agreement, in the second such achievement for a First Nation in as many days. But like the pr...
11h ago
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Landslide mitigation to protect salmon habitat begins at B.C. First Nation
UCLUELET - A First Nation in British Columbia has partnered with an environmental group to try to mitigate the harms of a massive landslide - known locally as "Big Bertha" - on salmon-bearing streams in the area. The Redd Fish Restoration Society says ...
11h ago
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Evicted residents not required to remove mobile homes off B.C. reserve lands: court
VANCOUVER - The B.C. Court of Appeal has ruled that residents evicted from a mobile home park on Songhees Nation lands on Vancouver Island no longer have to remove their homes from the property, but they aren't entitled to compensation for leaving them...
12h ago
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Local Sports
Making Connections
Nanaimo Sports and Social Club going strong into its eighth year
NANAIMO - For the past eight years the Nanaimo Sports and Social Club (NSSC) has been offering adults a chance to play games and make connections in the community. Organizers Chuck Hocker and Jamie Kuhn have seen the group grow a great deal since its early days. "We're regularly now offering four seasons of activi...
Apr 13, 2026
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New Heights
Olivia Lundman to compete in marathon distance at World Race Walking Championships
NANAIMO - Olivia Lundman is one of Canada's top race walk athletes but she's tackling something new at the upcoming World Team Race Walking Championships in Brazil. After competing in the mixed relay at the 2024 Paris Olympics she's upping her distance for the world's. The Nanaimo Track and Field Club grad will be doin...
Apr 05, 2026
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Batter Up
Mid Island Pirates full of optimism as baseball season begins
NANAIMO - The Mid Island Pirates begin the 2026 BC Premier Baseball League season with a pair of games at UBC on April 4 and 5. With a .500 record of 24 and 24 last season senior Pirates coach Larson Bauck said the group is poised to improve on that this year "Our pitching staff is very deep, the lineup is very lo...
Apr 03, 2026
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ClippersNOW
Series Victory
Clippers advance to round two of the BCHL playoffs
NANAIMO - The Clippers have advanced to the second round of the BCHL playoffs with a convincing 8-2 win in a decisive Game 5 series victory over the Alberni Valley Bulldogs.Nanaimo was the first team to score first and win a game in the entire series.The teams traded early goals with Patrick Fortune scoring on the man ...
Apr 11, 2026
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Job Not Done
Clippers fail to close out Bulldogs
PORT ALBERNI - Scoring first has been a curse in the Clippers playoff series with the Bulldogs.In Game 4 Nanaimo scored the opening goal for the first time but suffered their first loss 5-2.Landon Pappas gave the Clippers a first period lead which held up until late in the middle frame when Grady Magner evened the scor...
Apr 09, 2026
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On the Brink
Clippers in control of playoff series with Bulldogs
PORT ALBERNI - The Clippers have a stranglehold on their playoff series against the Alberni Valley Bulldogs.Nanaimo is up 3-0 in the best of seven after a 5-2 win in Game 3.For the third straight game the Bulldogs scored first, this time thanks to a fortunate bounce converted by former Clipper Kye Benoche,That goal cam...
Apr 08, 2026
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Canada
In the news today: Artemis II update, Social media ban, Amazon surcharge
Here is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to bring you up to speed... Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen and NASA crewmates to hold news conference Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen and his NASA crewmates are set to take part in a news...
1h ago
Read More
Lytton was razed by fire. Some fear financial ruin is next for the tiny B.C. village
Ross and Judith Urquhart have called Lytton, B.C., home for half a century, leaving only for as long it took to rebuild after a raging wildfire forced them to flee in 2021. "All the homes around us were burning and we had to just jump in the vehicle ...
1h ago
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Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen and NASA crewmates to hold news conference
HOUSTON - Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen and his NASA crewmates are set to take part in a news conference on Thursday after the historic Artemis II lunar mission. The four-person crew - commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover and mission speciali...
1h ago
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B.C. tables another First Nation treaty ratification, but overlap concerns persist
VICTORIA - The Kitselas First Nation in northwestern B.C. has reached a major milestone in its treaty process as the province tabled legislation to ratify the agreement, in the second such achievement for a First Nation in as many days. But like the pr...
11h ago
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Oh, give me a home: Alberta-raised wood bison calves safely relocated to Alaska
Dozens of Alberta-raised bison calves sent to Alaska as part of a relocation agreement with the state made it safely to their new home, but it wasn't without months of logistical work and a 40-hour trip on treacherous northern roads. Jonathan DeMoor,...
11h ago
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NDP to get $670K parliamentary funding boost despite not having official status
OTTAWA - The cash-strapped federal NDP is getting a $670,000 financial boost. Members of the other main political parties on the Board of Internal Economy have decided to grant the parliamentary funds, even though the NDP does not have official party s...
13h ago
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World
Senate Republicans reject effort to halt Iran war, but some eye future war powers votes
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Republican-led Senate on Wednesday rejected the latest Democratic attempt to halt President Donald Trump's war in Iran, turning aside a resolution that would require the U.S. to withdraw forces from the conflict until Congress aut...
14h ago
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Student kills 9 in Turkey's second school shooting in 2 days
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) - A student opened fire on two classrooms at a middle school in Turkey on Wednesday, killing nine people and wounding 13 others, the interior minister said, in the country's second such shooting in two days. The 14-yea...
21h ago
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Justice Department moves to toss seditious conspiracy convictions of Oath Keepers and Proud Boys
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Justice Department on Tuesday asked a federal appeals court to throw out the seditious conspiracy convictions of Proud Boys and Oath Keepers leaders who were sentenced to prison terms for leading members of the far-right extremist...
Apr 14, 2026
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Sponsored Content
Island Good Launches New Website
Island Good Launches New Website
Made here. Grown here. Connected here. Island Good launches new website to make shopping Island products easier Every choice to shop Island-made is a win for Vancouver Island communities and now it's easier than ever. Island Good has launched a newly redesigned website that helps Vancouver Islanders and visitors quickl...
Mar 19, 2026
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Your New Base for Holiday Gifts + Winter
Your New Base for Holiday Gifts + Winter Gear: MEC Nanaimo Is Open
If you're searching for holiday gifts and winter layers, Nanaimo has a new must-visit destination. Mountain Equipment Company (MEC) has officially opened its doors at 2517 Bowen Road, bringing its trusted lineup of outdoor gear, apparel, and expert guidance to the region, just in time for the winter season. From season...
Dec 14, 2025
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guide dogs
CNIB in need of volunteers to foster future service dogs across Canada
It's a rewarding experience filled with unconditional love and the opportunity to change the life of someone who is blind.Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) Guide Dogs is urgently looking for volunteers to raise future guide dogs for people who are blind, Deafblind, or have low vision."There's a huge...
Jul 23, 2025
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