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Nanaimo, Parksville and Area

economic impacts
'The impacts are huge:' calls renewed for second Island highway route after $15M wildfire loss
PORT ALBERNI - A significant wildfire on central Vancouver Island in 2023 was extraordinarily costly for some communities. Studies into the economic impacts have been completed since the Cameron Bluffs wildfire shut down Hwy. 4 between Oceanside and Port Alberni for around two weeks, in addition to other temporary clos...
Mar 21, 2025
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Memorable First
VIDEO: Clippers rookie Mitchell Patrick finding his stride
NANAIMO - Navigating the BCHL as a first-year player can be challenging but forward Mitchell Patrick is making the most of it.He's appeared in ten games since joining the club in December and scored his first BCHL goal on Saturday, Mar. 15."It was the first of many hopefully," Patrick said. "I hope it op...
Mar 21, 2025
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tariff bonus
Nanaimo food bank sees silver lining through ongoing Canada-U.S. trade war
NANAIMO - The 'buy Canadian' message seems to be resonating with local shoppers, creating a silver lining for a local food bank.Peter Sinclair, executive director of Loaves & Fishes Community Food Bank said they've been inundated with hundreds of kilograms of American produce over recent weeks, which went unsold at...
Mar 21, 2025
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important health equipment
Oceanside Health Centre fundraising to replace essential 'Vital Signs' monitors
PARKSVILLE - Fundraising is underway to replace the aging vital signs monitors at the Oceanside Health Centre, with Nanaimo's hospital charity lending a hand.The Nanaimo District & Hospital Foundation (NDHF) is helping to raise money to replace all 34 vital sign monitors at the Oceanside Health Centre (OHC) in Park...
Mar 21, 2025
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naniamo performance
'These children deserve every opportunity:' African Children's Choir funding education through song
NANAIMO - A unique cultural performance from halfway around the world is preparing to hit the stage locally, raising money for educational opportunities. The African Children's Choir, celebrating its 40th anniversary, will hold a free show titled "Just As I Am" at the Departure Bay Baptist Church on Friday, M...
Mar 21, 2025
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serious allegations
Civil suit alleges 'culture of intimidation and hostility' at Gabriola fire department
GABRIOLA ISLAND - Allegations of bullying, a hostile work environment and improper payments have been levelled against three ranking members of a local fire department and its governing body. Filed Tuesday, March 18, in BC Supreme Court in Nanaimo, the department's former corporate officer Matthew Dow, is suing the Gab...
Mar 20, 2025
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British Columbia

Rainfall warning issued for Metro Vancouver, parts of B.C.'s south coast
VANCOUVER - Heavy rain in the forecast is slated to pummel parts of British Columbia's south coast, with some areas possibly getting as much as 130 millimetres. Environment Canada says the rainfall warning covers much of western Vancouver Island including Tofino, Port Renfrew and Sooke, as well as parts of the Sunshine...
6h ago
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Vancouver reports first homicide of 2025 after man found dead on beach
VANCOUVER - Vancouver has recorded its first homicide of 2025 after a man was found dead in the city's Downtown Eastside. Vancouver Police say officers were called to Crab Park at about 8:30 a.m. after someone reported a dead body found on the beach. The force issued a release saying the case is the city's first homici...
8h ago
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B.C. court voids 'cult' marriage, finding woman didn't 'truly consent'
A British Columbia judge has annulled the marriage of a woman to a fellow member of an India-based "cult group," saying she didn't "truly consent" to the 2023 wedding. The B.C. Supreme Court ruling issued this week says Arshnoor Kaur Jaura claimed she was manipulated and overwhelmed by a "barra...
Mar 21, 2025
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Boy, 5, playing game of hide-and-seek is found by RCMP helicopter in B.C.
MISSION, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA - Mounties in Mission, B.C., say a police helicopter crew spotted a five-year-old boy after he went missing during a game of hide-and-seek. Police say the boy was at a children's camp near Mission on Tuesday when he walked away from the rest of the group playing in a forested area. Sta...
Mar 21, 2025
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Ottawa announces $200M contribution toward Cedar LNG project in B.C.
OTTAWA - Ottawa says it is contributing up to $200 million toward the Cedar LNG project on the northern B.C. coast. The money is coming through the Strategic Innovation Fund, which falls under the Innovation, Science and Economic Development ministry. The floating liquefied natural gas processing facility and marine ex...
Mar 21, 2025
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Police in Vancouver arrest man suspected of vandalizing Tesla dealership
VANCOUVER - Police in Vancouver say they have arrested a 27-year-old man for allegedly vandalizing a Tesla dealership. A statement from police says officers went to the dealership in the city's Kitsilano neighbourhood at about 1:30 a.m. on Friday following reports that a man had spray-painted obscenities on the front w...
Mar 21, 2025
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Canada

Ottawa increases AgriStability cap to help industry as it faces Chinese tariffs
OTTAWA - The Canadian government has announced support for the country's agriculture sector as it deals with tariffs imposed by China. The federal agriculture department says in a news release that the current payment cap under AgriStability, a program...
3h ago
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Travel concerns
Canada updates U.S., China travel advisories after recent frictions
OTTAWA - Canadians are now facing updated travel advisories to the world's two largest economies, after Ottawa warned travellers who stay in the United States for more than 30 days to make sure they register as required. The advisory for the United Sta...
8h ago
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Canada says it will fund Jordan's Principle for First Nations kids through 2026
MONTREAL - Ottawa says it will continue to fund Jordan's Principle to support First Nations children through 2026 as some First Nations chiefs decry what they call cutbacks in services. Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu announced the extension i...
11h ago
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Nova Scotia legislators vote unanimously to scrap electric car rebates for Tesla
HALIFAX - Nova Scotia has become the latest province to scrap electric vehicle rebates for Teslas due to the CEO's association with the U.S. administration and its trade war on Canada. The Progressive Conservative government joined with the NDP and Lib...
14h ago
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Liberals to expand eligibility for dental care program on eve of expected election
The federal government announced expanded access to its dental care program on Saturday, a day before a federal election is expected to be called. The government says all Canadians who have household incomes of less than $90,000 and don't have private ...
14h ago
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'No Canadian dream': Meet some who want to join a 51st U.S. state
EDMONTON - Jordon Kosikowie has been thinking a lot about what would happen if Alberta joined the United States. The 35-year-old works in the oil and gas industry in the Edmonton area and says life has been hard in recent years. So he's open to the ide...
16h ago
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