fall wildfires
New wildfires spark on Vancouver Island
BC Wildfire Service says a new fire is burning out of control on southern Vancouver Island. The service says in a social media post that crews are responding to the Mount Jack wildfire, which is burning about four kilometres west of Sooke River and so...
4h ago
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bear aware
Hungry bears prowling in Nanaimo area, public asked to help reduce conflicts
NANAIMO - Like clockwork, bear sightings increase this time of year as the food-motivated animals focus on feeding before many shut down for winter hibernation. Kiera Brown, WildSafeBC Nanaimo coordinator, said recent reports of black bears spotted in forested areas close to populated areas on the mid-Island are consis...
8h ago
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building canada
Five things to know about the Liberals' new Building Canada Strong Act
OTTAWA - Prime Minister Mark Carney's government tabled a bill Monday to fast-track approvals for major projects. The Building Canada Strong Act removes the responsibility for reviewing many big projects, such as pipelines and power transmission lines,...
23h ago
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What's Trending
snap election
October provincial election called in B.C.
1h ago
Program helping homeowners cut costs
Nanaimo Homeowners: Centra's $1M Window Efficiency Plan is now over 75% claimed
fall wildfires
New wildfires spark on Vancouver Island
4h ago
bear aware
Hungry bears prowling in Nanaimo area, public asked to help reduce conflicts
8h ago
Nanaimo, Parksville and Area
2026 municipal election
Candidate for Qualicum Beach Mayor calls for careful, collaborative planning
This article is part of a multi-week feature from NanaimoNewsNOW, profiling Mayoral candidates across the mid-Island ahead of the 2026 Municipal Election. For complete election coverage, click here. QUALICUM BEACH - A lifelong resident who's already well-known in the political world has thrown his hat into the ring for...
Sep 21, 2026
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seasonal work
Full road closure this week along Hwy. 4 near Cameron Lake
NANAIMO - A daytime road closure is coming to Hwy. 4 near Cameron Lake this week for maintenance work. The Province said Hwy. 4 between the east side of Cameron Lake at Chalet Rd. and the Port Alberni summit will be fully closed on Wednesday, Sept. 23, from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. to complete "seasonal and additional ...
Sep 21, 2026
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repair work
Daytime closures in place for south Nanaimo waterfront access bridge
NANAIMO - An essential secondary access bridge to the city's assembly wharf area will be closed during the day this week for maintenance work.The City said the Wellcox Bridge, the aging wooden trestle bridge extending from the end of Crace St., will be closed from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. from Monday, Sept. 21 until Thursda...
Sep 21, 2026
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registration required
'Be engaged and informed:' Forums to showcase Nanaimo & Parksville election candidates
NANAIMO - Voters are set to hear directly from candidates in this year's municipal election on a multitude of key issues. The Nanaimo and District Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Civic Engagement Forum at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre on Tuesday, Sept. 29, from 5 p.m to 7:30 p.m., with all 44 candidates for M...
Sep 21, 2026
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no waste
Oceanside pickers providing tonnes of free fruit
PARKSVILLE - A local group of gleaners have helped save thousands of kilograms of fruit from rotting away unused, providing them to the community, free of charge. The Parksville/Qualicum Fruit Tree Project recently announced they expect to surpass the amount of fruit collected last year, with six more weeks remaining i...
Sep 20, 2026
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Canadian legend
Terry Fox runs scheduled in several communities, including Nanaimo
NANAIMO - An annual tradition sees thousands of Canadians take part in an iconic fundraiser in honour of one of the country's most influential figures.The 46th annual Terry Fox Run happens in several communities across the region on Sunday, Sept. 20, including Nanaimo.Registration opens at 9 a.m. at Bowen Park, with th...
Sep 20, 2026
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British Columbia
Who are the party leaders as British Columbia goes to the polls?
British Columbians are going to the polls about two years ahead of schedule, after Premier David Eby called an early election to be held on Oct. 24. Here's a look at the party leaders in a political landscape that is very different from the one that em...
1h ago
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Ottawa opens up 15% Trans Mountain equity stake to Indigenous groups on pipeline path
OTTAWA - The Canadian government is offering Indigenous groups a collective 15 per cent ownership stake in the Trans Mountain pipeline through a low-cost loan. In a letter to a First Nation along the pipeline's path and seen by The Canadian Press, a f...
1h ago
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Seven CentreBC MLAs rejoin Conservatives for Oct. 24 snap election
VICTORIA - Seven legislators from the breakaway CentreBC party are rejoining the official Opposition B.C. Conservatives after NDP Leader David Eby called an early election for Oct. 24. Eleanor Sturko says she is the sole CentreBC member who is not rejo...
1h ago
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Broken rotor blade caused WestJet fire, forced landing in Kelowna, B.C.: safety board
VANCOUVER - The Transportation Safety Board says a broken rotor blade caused an engine fire that forced a WestJet aircraft to make an emergency landing at the airport in Kelowna, B.C. A safety board report released Tuesday describes the incident involv...
2h ago
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fall wildfires
New wildfires spark on Vancouver Island
BC Wildfire Service says a new fire is burning out of control on southern Vancouver Island. The service says in a social media post that crews are responding to the Mount Jack wildfire, which is burning about four kilometres west of Sooke River and so...
4h ago
Read More
B.C. Premier David Eby arrives at Government House, with election call expected
VICTORIA - B.C. Premier David Eby has arrived at Government House in Victoria, amid expectations he will call a snap election. The premier, who is less than two years into his mandate, has called reporters to the official residence of Lt.-Gov. Wendy Co...
13h ago
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Local Sports
Kicking It
VIU soccer teams hit the pitch for 2026 PACWEST season
NANAIMO - The VIU Mariners are beginning a new PACWEST soccer season with differing expectations.The women will attempt to win the provincial championship for a third straight time, while the men are hoping to rise up the table after finishing 2-7-3 in 2025.Women's coach Bobbie Taylor said her group will have a strong ...
Sep 12, 2026
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Scoring Big
Vancouver Island Seals provide elite development pathway for female hockey players
NANAIMO - The Vancouver Island Seals hockey program has been going since 2017 and it's the only female AAA hockey team on the island. General manager Cynthia Fowler said the team had been based out of the south island to start but now calls Port Alberni home. "Last year we moved the team to Port Alberni because of...
Sep 07, 2026
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Starting Early
Nanaimo Hornets rugby fostering next generation with active kids programs
NANAIMO - Hornets rugby is underway for the fall session with a lot of options for young players. There are sessions for as young as pre-kindergarten which includes parent participation and other opportunities for U7 and U8 kids are play based in an effort to get kids out and running and touching a rugby ball. Hornets ...
Sep 05, 2026
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ClippersNOW
Rivalry Renewed
First Clippers win of the season comes in Cowichan Valley
DUNCAN - The Clippers and Cowichan Valley Capitals clashed for the first time since Game 7 of the second round of the 2026 BCHL playoffs.Nanaimo won Game 7 and also took the first matchup of the new season 4-2 on Saturday, Sept. 19.After a scoreless first period the Capitals Raphael Messier opened the scoring from the ...
Sep 20, 2026
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Bitten by the Bulldogs
Clippers lose to division rivals in home opener
NANAIMO - The Clippers started their season opening game well but eventually lost out 2-1 to Alberni Valley at Frank Crane Arena.Shortly after a disallowed Nanaimo goal Charles Béland notched the first goal of the game on a beautiful penalty shot deke in the first period.The game stayed at 1-0 until late in the ...
Sep 19, 2026
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Fresh Start
Clippers hope new season sees continued momentum after trip to BCHL Finals
NANAIMO - A new BCHL season brings a clean slate, but the Nanaimo Clippers hope it can also carry momentum after tremendous 2025-26 campaign and an appearance in the BCHL Finals.Head coach and general manager Colin Birkas said the post season run provided many great hockey memories."It was a lot of fun to be a par...
Sep 18, 2026
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Canada
Trump says U.S. to continue buying Canadian potash but wants cheaper price
NEW YORK - U.S. President Donald Trump says his country will continue buying Canadian potash after all. Trump made the comments to reporters during a bilateral meeting at the United Nations General Assembly with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy...
44m ago
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Carney promises $100 million for Palestinians in humanitarian aid, police training
OTTAWA - Prime Minister Mark Carney says Canada is pledging $100 million in new aid for Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. The funding includes $80 million in humanitarian aid, while the rest is development funding for security initiatives, includ...
51m ago
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Defence minister says he's taking 'cautious' approach to possible Russian threat
OTTAWA - Defence Minister David McGuinty says he's taking a "cautious" approach to drawing conclusions from available intelligence as European leaders warn Moscow may be preparing new hybrid attacks on NATO members. Asked by The Canadian Press if he's ...
1h ago
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Who are the party leaders as British Columbia goes to the polls?
British Columbians are going to the polls about two years ahead of schedule, after Premier David Eby called an early election to be held on Oct. 24. Here's a look at the party leaders in a political landscape that is very different from the one that em...
1h ago
Read More
Ottawa opens up 15% Trans Mountain equity stake to Indigenous groups on pipeline path
OTTAWA - The Canadian government has offered Indigenous groups a collective 15 per cent ownership stake in the Trans Mountain pipeline, advancing a long-promised plan to give First Nations equity in the federally owned pipeline. In a letter to a First...
1h ago
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Iranian conscripts call for immigration exemption after mandatory service
OTTAWA - Human rights advocates and members of the Iranian community in Canada are urging the government to stop automatically blocking immigrants who were forced to serve in Iran's Revolutionary Guard. Former Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps conscrip...
1h ago
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World
Trump says US and Iranian officials met Tuesday, shortly after warning he may 'annihilate' Iran
UNITED NATIONS (AP) - President Donald Trump said U.S. and Iranian officials met on Tuesday, shortly after threatening in his address to the U.N. General Assembly that he may "annihilate" the Islamic Republic if a deal isn't reached soon to end the nea...
3h ago
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Trump signs US-Denmark-Greenland agreement to bolster Arctic security after prolonged tensions
UNITED NATIONS (AP) - President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed an agreement with Denmark and Greenland aimed at strengthening Arctic and North Atlantic security, paving the way for more U.S. bases in Greenland and easing tensions over his repeated call...
5h ago
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Sri Lankan court sentences 15 men to life in prison for roles in deadly 2019 Easter bombings
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) - A Sri Lankan court convicted 15 men on Tuesday over their involvement in the 2019 Easter bombings that killed more than 260 people, and sentenced them each to 200 years in prison, meaning they will spend the rest of their live...
7h ago
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Sponsored Content
Program helping homeowners cut costs
Nanaimo Homeowners: Centra's $1M Window Efficiency Plan is now over 75% claimed
The Centra Install Pros Window Efficiency Plan - a program helping Nanaimo homeowners cut the cost of new windows and doors - is running out of runway fast. The plan puts up to $650 toward each window or door replaced, drawn from a dedicated $1 million fund set aside for local homeowners. There is no income testing and...
Sep 18, 2026
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sponsored content
Resort-Style Retirement Living in Nanaimo's Old City Quarter
For many retirees, and those nearing retirement, staying in their home can be difficult. The time spent on day-to-day maintenance, plus dealing with bigger repairs usually required on an older home, can cut into time they'd rather spend enjoying their retirement. And if they're traveling, they don't want to worry about...
Jul 28, 2026
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sponsored content
Customizable Management for Smaller Strata Communities
Most people who volunteer for their strata council don't sign up to be an accountant. But for many in smaller strata communities, with less than 50 units, that's exactly what they end up doing. They spend time researching bylaws, getting quotes for maintenance, and worrying that something important has been missed. The...
Jun 09, 2026
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