Beyond Van Gogh and Beyond Monet is taking place at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre (VICC) starting Saturday, July 18, and running until Aug. 29, featuring a 10,000-square-foot immersive art installation engaging patrons in the work of the two visual craftsmen.

The show is the result of partnerships forged between Nanaimo Museum, VICC, Port Theatre, and Tourism Nanaimo, with Beyond Monet being included as those partnerships evolved, according to a news release.

Visitors will move between two very different artistic worlds in one visit. (Image Credit: ©GarrettUhde)

The release said Beyond Monet will use images from Claude Monet, a French painter known for his impressionist work, including Water Lilies and Impression, Sunrise, recreating the images on a large scale using projection, sound, colour, and movement.

And if you want to Van Gogh and see both artists, it won’t cost any extra Monet.

Tickets purchased for Beyond Van Gogh have been automatically upgraded to include Beyond Monet.

Each presentation runs for approximately 25 minutes on a rotating loop, with a short transition between shows, with varying run times.

Tickets are available online.

The exhibit is a first-of-its-kind offering for Nanaimo in terms of size and scale, necessitating the multi-partner effort and $100,000 supplied by the City of Nanaimo to help stage the event.

The order of the shows may vary by entry time, but every ticket includes access to both. (Image Credit: @GarrettUhde)

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Cole Granite Morecroft, 32, pleaded guilty this week to four mischief charges, an assault, and breaching police-issued release conditions linked to five incidents between last fall and June 20.

Morecroft was handed a two-and-a-half-month jail sentence and 12 months’ probation following a Tuesday, July 14, provincial court sentencing hearing, but is slated to be released from Nanaimo Correctional Centre in about three weeks after receiving credit for time already served.

Crown prosecutor Megan Rahme outlined Morecroft’s series of crimes, which started in the early morning hours of Nov. 22, 2025, when he launched a rock through the front glass window of the Ramsay Lampman Rhodes law office on Wallace St., resulting in nearly $1,800 in damage.

While he was not detained, police identified Morecroft after viewing surveillance footage.

Morecroft’s next offence, described by the presiding judge as “despicable,” involved the offender approaching a woman at the China Steps just off Victoria Cres. during the early evening of March 9.

He yelled at the woman before pushing her and spitting in her face.

Morecroft then walked away, yelling at other passing civilians.

Police canvassed the area, eventually tracking Morecroft down later the same evening and arresting him.

He was released, only to commit another crime eight days later.

Morecroft was spotted by a Good Samaritan damaging a parked vehicle on Albert St. near Selby St. on March 17, causing between $500 and $1,000 in damage.

The offender ran off along nearby Prideaux St., where he got into a yelling match with the Good Samaritan.

Morecroft was arrested on scene and later released.

Cole Morecroft has an extended documented history of engaging in verbal altercations with members of the public, particularly in the downtown area. (Image Credit: Submitted photo)

On April 4 at about 12:50 a.m., a civilian flagged down police after seeing a man slashing a parked car’s tire on Wesley St. near Fitzwilliam St. The complainant supplied video showing Morecroft committing the offence, causing $145 in damages.

Morecroft was then arrested at Bastion and Skinner streets.

He was released from police custody on the evening of June 19, with the condition of staying away from downtown Nanaimo.

Officers conducting proactive patrols in downtown Nanaimo early the following morning spotted Morecroft at 3 a.m. walking from Wharf St. into the adjoining Diana Krall Plaza.

A private security guard noticed a nearby business window had been shattered and that Morecroft was the only person in the area.

He was arrested on scene, and has been in custody ever since.

Surveillance video from Studio 31, a salon on Wharf at Front streets, showed Morecroft throwing an object through a large window at 2:50 a.m.

View inside a boarded-up Studio 31 following Morecroft recently sending an object through the window of the downtown Nanaimo salon. (Image Credit: Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

In her closing submissions, Rahme pointed to the number of offences committed in such a short period as an aggravating factor.

“These are seemingly random acts that are taken against complete strangers in the case of the assault charges and unaffiliated local businesses,” she said.

Most of the offender’s crimes occurred while he was on probation.

Morecroft was not ordered to pay restitution to the victims.

Citing the offender’s three-page criminal record dating back to 2016, Rahme said most of his convictions have been for property offences, assaults and breaches.

He was convicted of damaging property in February of last year at Maffeo Sutton Park, as the offender yelled and screamed at people on Nanaimo’s waterfront.

A mischief charge for another glass-shattering incident allegedly by Morecroft on Bowen Rd. was dropped in exchange for his guilty pleas.

He was accused of throwing an object through the front glass of Huong Lan Vietnamese Restaurant at the Bowen Centre strip mall during an early morning Feb. 4 incident captured on surveillance video.

“By entering guilty pleas today, Mr. Morecroft has saved an already overburdened criminal justice system substantial time and resources, as well as spared several civilians and police officers from having to come in and testify,” Rahme told the judge.

Morecroft’s sentence is followed by 12 months’ probation, counselling provisions, staying away from the impacted businesses, and not possessing rocks, bats, clubs or pipes.

Morecroft declined to address the court from the prisoner’s box.

Defence attorney, Lou Shelling, said he was struck by how concentrated these offences were.

Shelling said Morecroft has battled addiction issues and has since sobered up in custody.

Morecroft was ashamed of his actions and chose not to have his supportive mother attend court, Shelling said.

He hopes Morecroft takes advantage of post-custodial programming offered to him.

Judge Brian Harvey accepted a jointly crafted sentencing recommendation, but not before issuing pointed words for the offender.

“These offences are a complete nuisance to the citizens of Nanaimo and businesses that try to make a living here. Causing routine mischief has become a real problem.”

Judge Harvey said Morecroft needs to make changes to alter the course of his life.

“If you want to go forward with your young life in prison, that’s your choice, but I would imagine the Crown is going to be seeking longer and longer sentences if you don’t stay out of trouble,” the judge said.

Alternate angle of a damaged hair salon at the hands of Cole Morecroft. (Image Credit: Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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VI will host the Okanagan Sun to kick off a new season on Saturday, July 18, at Q’unq’inuqwsuxw Stadium.

The Sun won their playoff matchup last fall 43-12, as part of a 10-0 season that saw Okanagan advance to the national championship game.

Raiders coach Shawn Arabsky wants his players to hone in on their own game and not on the pedigree of their opponent.

“It’s really just being focused on us learning our own plays extremely well. Okanagan is going to be really physical and really fast, they always are. We need to make sure we’re prepared and take care of our own scheme, and if we do that, we should have a lot of success.”

Arabsky said the team is still evolving with a mix of veterans and new recruits.

“I like how close-knit they are. The players have done such a good job of taking hold of the vision of the team, from the coaches and organization and making it their own. We like how well they get along, how competitive they are and how well they support each other as a true team. We have a lot of new faces. Over half the roster is new, but we got a bit older.”

He said six defensive starters are returning from last year, while their offence will have plenty of new faces.

After a 5-4-1 campaign last season, the Raiders are looking to progress further in all aspects of their game.

Arabsky noted there’s a brotherhood and strong culture with a program that literally had to start from square one after a 0-10 season in 2023.

“Players can see and feel the energy of the team and the organization and want to be a part of it. We’ve been saying ‘burn the boats’ a lot, and be all in and connected with each other. Connection is huge for us. I feel like everyone’s going to have each other’s backs when we get into the games, and the bullets start flying. I feel like we’re going to have one of the strongest cultures and most connected groups in Canada. I think that’s going to be our superpower this year.”

The Raiders’ home opener begins at 4 p.m. on Saturday with a blackout theme.

Fans are encouraged to wear black, with Raiders flags handed out at the gate.

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Police say it happened on Thursday, July 9, just before 3:30 p.m. at the intersection of Uplands Dr. and Villa Rd., where two female youths were riding e-scooters on the sidewalk when a right-turning vehicle onto Villa Rd. hit one of the riders.

Police stated their preliminary investigation indicated the scooter riders were travelling at high rates of speed.

Speaking to NanamioNewsNOW, Cst. Alexa Blacklock said the injured rider was hospitalized with serious, but non-life threatening injuries.

“The reports that we got was that she was wearing a helmet, but after colliding with the motor vehicle it had come off her head.”

Cst. Blacklock said tickets were issued to both riders for being underage and riding on a sidewalk, carrying separate $109 fines.

The officer said with school out for summer, their detachment is noticing many more young people on e-scooters taking advantage of favourable weather, with increased reports of dangerous riding behaviour.

“I think parents are purchasing these for their kids as a mode of transportation and not really understanding the inherent risk that comes with the speed that these things can go,” Cst. Blacklock said.

A concerned local Uplands Dr. resident, who didn’t want to be identified, said there has been an explosion of e-scooter riders in the neighbourhood.

She said the rise in popularity of the scooters, combined with constant vehicles speeding on Uplands Dr., is a bad combination.

“I’m scared to hit one of the kids because they just come out of nowhere, and I don’t know how much control they have over those things. It’s scary, and I’m not surprised it happened.”

The resident said poor sightlines on several side streets connected to Uplands Dr. adds to the problem.

Rules surrounding safe e-scooter usage aren’t being followed in many cases, the concerned resident told NanaimoNewsNOW.

“Some of the kids are quite young, I think it’s a bad idea, but they’re not my kids.”

Police evidence markings applied to the Uplands Dr./Villa Rd. intersection. (Image Credit: Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Using electric scooters is permitted in some communities, but is technically illegal in others.

The existing Electric Kick Scooter Pilot Program is in effect in dozens of communities across the province, including locally in Nanaimo and Parksville.

The ongoing pilot project, rolled under B.C.’s Motor Vehicle Act regulations, are in place until April 2028.

Key regulations stipulate e-scooter operators must be at least 16 years old, with their scooters unable to travel faster than 25 kilometres per hour.

Helmets are mandatory.

Bike lanes must be used if available, while e-scooters can’t legally be ridden on sidewalks.

Nanaimo RCMP states its officers have been tasked with helping young riders understand the rules surrounding e-scooters through education and guidance to help prevent collisions and serious injuries.

A 15-year-old boy and driver were both deemed to be at fault during a June 23 e-scooter and van collision on Nanaimo’s Metral Dr. and Bergen-Op-Zoom Dr.

The helmetless teen was reported to be travelling at a high rate of speed when he hit the vehicle, with its driver ticketed for failing to yield.

He wasn’t wearing a helmet and sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

In that case, the rider was fined for both not wearing a helmet and being underage to ride an e-scooter.

A woman died in Vancouver earlier this month after she collided with the side of a vehicle while riding an e-scooter.

She reportedly was not wearing a helmet.

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McGregor Park, located along the Harbourfront Walkway on Front St., is being transformed into the Nanaimo Japanese Canadian Heritage Site, a permanent “landscape art installation” celebrating the heritage of Japanese Canadians, according to the City.

The area is being transformed into a place of reflection and learning, offering visitors a chance to “connect with stories of resilience, perseverance, and community while recognizing the lasting cultural contributions of Japanese Canadians,” according to the City.

Adjacent sidewalks, bike lanes, and roads in the area remain open, but may be temporarily impacted during construction.

This section along the Harbourfront Walkway will blend the artist’s work with the natural environment. (Image Credit: Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

An early rendering of the finished look of the Nanaimo Japanese Canadian Heritage Site at McGregor Park in the downtown. (Image Credit: City of Nanaimo)

The City worked in collaboration with the Central Vancouver Island Japanese Canadian Society, known as 7 Potatoes, which asked for over $741,000 in funding last year to complete two local projects, including the work at McGregor Park.

$341,000 went to the memorial garden, while an additional $400,000 was provided for the Nikkei Outdoor Performance Space, to be located directly outside room six of the Beban Park Social Centre.

It’s intended to be a dedicated space which complements the natural area, used for “cultural performances, storytelling, music, educational programming, and community gatherings,” supporting Japanese Canadian cultural programs as well as other community events throughout the year.

7 Potatoes also secured $1.35 million in grant money through the Japanese Canadian Legacies Society (JCLS) for the projects, with both projects expected to be complete by December.

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Acting on a pair of recently awarded unendorsed arrest warrants, Peter Jonathan Cameron Ludvigson, 51, was apprehended on the afternoon of Thursday, July 16 in south Nanaimo and escorted into a waiting police cruiser.

The renewed warrants followed a separate warrant issued earlier this month after Ludvigson no-showed for a mandated court appearance.

Since last fall, over a dozen criminal code charges have been laid against Ludvigson, including an elevated theft over $5,000 charge for an alleged July 4 incident in Nanaimo.

Ludvigson in handcuffs Thursday afternoon. (Image Credit: Submitted photo)

The theft over $5,000 charge was approved by the BC Prosecution Service on Wednesday, July 15, leading to Ludvigson’s capture.

Multiple warrants for Ludvigson have been issued this year.

Ludvigson, whose had extended drug addiction issues is due to appear next at Nanaimo Law Courts on July 28.

With over 50 convictions against him, most involving blatant thefts victimizing Nanaimo retailers, Ludvigson’s property crime offending was previously described by a Crown prosecutor as “absolutely relentless.”

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The contract for CUPE Local 401 members has annual general wage hike percentages averaging 4 per cent per year.

Approved by Parksville City Council on July 6, the agreement was ratified by CUPE members on July 14.

Currently, 84 full-time employees are working for the City of Parksville, in addition to 35 casual workers, according to the City.

Blaine Gurrie, CUPE Local 401 president, said they are proud to provide essential public services to the City of Parksville.

“We are pleased to have reached a new agreement that recognizes the important contributions of our members while helping ensure residents and businesses continue to receive reliable, high-quality services,” Gurrie stated.

CUPE Local 401 members employed by the City of Nanaimo also have a new contract, a three-year-arrangement which took effect at the start of the year.

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The partial category one, two, and three campfire prohibition in the Coastal Fire Centre (CFC) is in effect as of noon Thursday, covering all types of fires, ranging from campfires to backyard and industrial-sized open fires, including the City of Nanaimo and Oceanside communities.

The District of Lantzville has had a total fire ban in place since May 7.

Exceptions to the fire ban are in place for category one fires in the Campbell River, North Island Central Coast, Haida Gwaii, and Sunshine Coast Forest Districts, allowing fires no larger than half a metre by half a metre for recreational or First Nation ceremonial purposes.

The use of portable, propane or gas-powered cooking devices is still allowed in most areas, with some size restrictions.

A map showing all the fire prohibitions in the Coastal Fire Centre as of noon on Thursday, July 16. (Image Credit: Coastal Fire Centre)

The CFC said in a release the bans are being modified to reduce human-caused wildfires from starting due to changing weather patterns, as significant wildfire activity is expected this week due to the dry conditions, as well as lightning predicted for parts of B.C. on Thursday, including Nanaimo and parts of Oceanside.

“Warming and drying conditions are expected to continue this week, spreading further north and west across the province,” the wildfire service says in its latest update. “Rising temperatures and low precipitation will further dry out available fuels, increasing the likelihood of wildfire ignition.”

The Centre advises you to always check local fire prohibitions in your municipality if you’re unsure whether you are affected by the ban.

The ban will remain in place until Oct. 31, unless the order is rescinded earlier.

As of mid-day Thursday, there are no active wildfires on Vancouver Island.

Following the current unstable weather pattern, which has brought cooler temperatures and potential thundershowers, a clearing/warming trend is expected by early next week.

Anyone who sees a wildfire, unattended campfire, or other open burning violation should contact the BC Wildfire Service at 1-800-663-5555 or *5555 on a mobile device.

Reports can also be made through the BC Wildfire mobile app.

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A Wednesday, July 15 finance and audit committee meeting led to the unanimous approval of an estimated $142,000 project for LED lighting for portions of the natural grass sports field at Beban Park, opposite of Frank Crane Arena.

Notably, non-profit Nanaimo United Football Club (NUFC) is committing $100,000 to allow the organization to stage evening youth practice sessions in the fall and winter months, while the City covers the rest of the expenses.

The City expects the lights, involving four lighted practice areas, will be in place by the end of the year.

The red shaded areas illustrates what sections of field will be illuminated by the incoming lighting, which the City states won’t interfere with other user groups, such as baseball and cricket.

Committee members, such as City councillor Janice Perrino, praised the initiative taken by NUFC.

“This cost-sharing, it’s the answer for us, it really makes such a big difference, so I encourage other groups to get going in the same manner, and if they need any advice certainly our staff can help to guide them,” Perrino said.

A City staff report prepared for the committee outlined a lack of illuminated fields for evening practices are available that fit the needs of NUFC.

The organization is challenged by parking and storage constraints at lighted fields at Pleasant Valley Park and Departure Bay Centennial Park.

Also at play are bookings near capacity at the City’s five existing artificial turf fields.

The pending addition of LED lighting at the Beban Park natural grass fields (also known as Gyro Youth Sports Fields) will be bookable for all interested user groups, according to the City.

The level of lighting is not suitable for formal evening soccer, baseball or cricket games, noted Charlotte Davis, the City’s deputy director of parks and natural areas.

“This is about being able to expand their practice time during the winter, so that’s why we’ve decided to go this route; it would be up to ten times the cost if it were to go to game-day lighting,” Davis said.

The clubhouse (on the right) belonging to NUFC is located adjacent to the multi-use natural grass sports fields at Beban Park. (Image Credit: Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Last week, NUFC’s board of directors unanimously backed supplying up to $100,000 for the Beban Park LED lighting project.

The City’s 2026-2030 financial plan will be slightly altered to fund the incoming lights, which comes from the Strategic Infrastructure Reserve Fund.

Operational since 1996, the natural grass sports fields at Beban Park have been increasingly busy in recent years. (Image Credit: Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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The District of Lantzville hosted an open house event at its council chambers on Tuesday, July 14, to hear opinions on replacing the 1.5-kilometre section of Dickinson Rd. between Shook and Lantzville Roads.

Last week, District of Lantzville Council approved borrowing $3 million toward the project.

Addressing aging infrastructure, improving safety, and increasing the long-term resilience of Lantzville’s transportation network are cited as key drivers behind the renewal project.

District of Lantzville planner Adam Morton outlines and answers questions on three proposals to overhaul Dickinson Rd. (Image Credit: Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Two options call for a 1.5-metre-wide permeable roadside path, one proposed for either side of the road, priced at $5.6M and a little over $6M, respectively.

However, the cheaper of the two options (Option C), with the roadside pathway on the high side of Dickinson Rd., includes improved storm drainage, fewer driveway crossings, and more favourable sightlines for low side residents leaving their driveways.

Adam Morton, planner for the District of Lantzville, said they are in the process of hearing opinions and compiling a community engagement report.

“We’re looking at what the community wants and receiving their feedback so we can present it to council. All of the advance engineering will be done once an option is chosen down the line,” Morton said.

A basic option, estimated to cost nearly $3.6 million, proposes to replace the roadway and driveway culverts with no pedestrian improvements.

All three options would replace all driveway culverts.

Morton said the base and subbase of Dickinson Rd. are deteriorating and need to be repaved.

“We are hoping for a start date of summer 2027,” he said.

The District expects remaining funding beyond borrowing to come from reserves, development cost charges and provincial grants.

Continued deterioration of Dickinson Rd. is expected to have a direct impact on future rehabilitation costs if the project is deferred, with Inflation also listed as a concern, cited in a report by Lantzville’s director of financial services, Julia Seppola.

The poor condition of Lantzville’s roads and lack of non-motorist amenities have been longstanding issues facing the District.

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