Nanaimo, Parksville and Area

Jailed
Sentenced Lantzville sex offender claimed he was a vigilante hunter
NANAIMO - Jailed for four months for possessing damaging pictures and videos of exploited young girls, a local offender argued he was trying to hold sex offenders accountable.Mathieu Simard-Desjardins, 40, was sentenced on Monday, Oct. 19, after pleading guilty to possessing child exploitation/sex abuse material follow...
Oct 20, 2026
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indoor courts
Tennis bubble to remain as City of Nanaimo continuing Westwood Lake land purchase
NANAIMO - Following impassioned calls from local user groups, the community's only indoor tennis facility will remain for now. City Councillors voted, during a Wednesday, Oct. 14, in-camera meeting, in support of keeping the Westwood Tennis Club bubble, as they move through the acquisition process of 2367 Arbot Rd. on ...
Oct 20, 2026
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street banners
Nanaimo street banners highlight local military contributions
NANAIMO - Illuminating the impact military service members with ties to Nanaimo is now a central feature in the city's downtown. Dozens of street banners were installed recently in the Front St. and Church St. areas, representing a highly visible collaboration between Royal Canadian Legion branches 256 and 10 in Nanaim...
Oct 20, 2026
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campaign promise
BC NDP promises Parksville Urgent & Primary Care Clinic
PARKSVILLE - In a bid to improve healthcare outcomes and availability for those on the mid-Island, the BC NDP are looking to expand clinic availability. Announced Saturday, Oct. 17, the party has promised the development of a new Urgent and Primary Care Clinic (UPCC) in the Parksville-Qualicum Beach region if re-electe...
Oct 19, 2026
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better turnout
Municipal voter turnout up across Nanaimo & Oceanside
NANAIMO - More people took the time to cast a ballot in Saturday's municipal election than did four years ago.Following a dismal 23.93 per cent voter turnout in the City of Nanaimo for the 2022 election, roughly 31.63 per cent showed up on Saturday, Oct. 17, through two days of advance voting, or used mail-in ballots.E...
Oct 19, 2026
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More accessible
Significant Mount Benson trail improvements underway
NANAIMO - Making the challenging trek up Mount Benson is about to get a little easier and safer. Crews recently began repairing 900 meters of eroded, uneven trail beyond the halfway point up the iconic hike above the Witchcraft Lake trailhead. Rick Daykin, Regional District of Nanaimo's manager of parks services, said ...
Oct 19, 2026
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British Columbia

Skunk in downtown Vancouver that bit people tests positive for rabies
VANCOUVER - A skunk that bit a number of people in downtown Vancouver has tested positive for rabies. Vancouver Coastal Health issued a news release notifying the public of the confirmed case on Wednesday. The health authority said interactions with s...
3h ago
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B.C. billionaire's real estate firms allege 'pattern of misconduct' by CRA in tax row
Companies controlled by billionaire B.C. property developer Terry Hui allege that the Canada Revenue Agency has engaged in a "pattern of misconduct" in its attempts to collect on ballooning tax debts dating as far back as 2007. Five companies within H...
6h ago
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Union issues 72-hour strike notice for Teck copper mine in B.C.
KAMLOOPS - The union representing some 1,200 workers at a Teck Resources Ltd. copper mine in the British Columbia Interior has served a 72-hour strike notice. United Steelworkers Local 7619 says the notice follows unsuccessful negotiations to reach a f...
9h ago
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Eby says Conservatives acting like they've won B.C. election, as Doerkson fundraises
SURREY - NDP Leader David Eby says the B.C. Conservatives are behaving "as if they've won" the provincial election by focusing on fundraising instead of taking questions from the media in the last days of the campaign. Final voting day is on Saturday, ...
10h ago
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New southern resident killer whale calf spotted in waters near B.C.
FRIDAY HARBOR - The endangered southern resident killer whale population has increased by one after a calf was spotted in waters near British Columbia. The Center for Whale Research says in an email statement that the new calf was first spotted on Mond...
11h ago
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The 4 soldiers killed in fast-moving fire at CFB Wainwright in Alberta
WAINWRIGHT - Four Armed Forces members were killed when a fast-moving fire overwhelmed soldiers during a training exercise at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright, southeast of Edmonton, on Saturday. Dozens of others were injured, with 33 still in hospital ...
Oct 20, 2026
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Canada

Skunk in downtown Vancouver that bit people tests positive for rabies
VANCOUVER - A skunk that bit a number of people in downtown Vancouver has tested positive for rabies. Vancouver Coastal Health issued a news release notifying the public of the confirmed case on Wednesday. The health authority said interactions with s...
3h ago
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National security screening system can be strengthened, senior adviser to Carney says
OTTAWA - A senior federal adviser says a government-wide registry of security clearance information would improve efficiency, reduce duplication and help departments identify where relevant personnel security data may already exist. David Morrison, sen...
4h ago
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B.C. billionaire's real estate firms allege 'pattern of misconduct' by CRA in tax row
Companies controlled by billionaire B.C. property developer Terry Hui allege that the Canada Revenue Agency has engaged in a "pattern of misconduct" in its attempts to collect on ballooning tax debts dating as far back as 2007. Five companies within H...
6h ago
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Canadian news publishers worried about Meta's new terms of service
OTTAWA - Canadian news companies say they're worried about changes to Meta's terms of service and want the company to clarify how they will be affected. Meta's changes to its terms of service, first reported by Neiman Lab, led some to suggest the terms...
7h ago
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U.S. embassy accuses Canadian politicians of interfering in American elections
OTTAWA - Prime Minister Mark Carney and Ontario Premier Doug Ford both disputed the suggestion of Canadian interference in the U.S. midterms, after the U.S. embassy in Canada released a list of quotes from Canadian politicians which it claims indicate ...
8h ago
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Some government websites taken down in response to security risk: AI minister
OTTAWA - Some government websites have been taken down temporarily as a precaution against a security risk, Artificial Intelligence Minister Evan Solomon said Wednesday. In a social media post, Solomon said the websites went dark to protect government ...
9h ago
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