Nanaimo, Parksville and Area

new leader
Nanaimo Ladysmith School District superintendent ready for new role
NANAIMO - The new head of Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools (NLPS) is excited to get to work. Speaking at a Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Thursday, Jan 16., was newly appointed superintendent Robyn Gray, who officially assumed the role on Nov. 19 following the retirement of longtime superintendent Scot...
Jan 16, 2025
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fast moving fire
Mobile home destroyed in early morning fire in south Nanaimo
NANAIMO - A mobile home was completely destroyed by a fire which broke out early Thursday morning.Smokes and flames were seen coming from a modular home at 25 Maki Rd. around 7 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 16, with the structure destroyed in a matter of minutes as flames spread quickly.Assistant fire chief David Dales said o...
Jan 16, 2025
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All clear
Popular Nanaimo area trail re-opens following aggressive cougar sightings
NANAIMO - A portion of hiking trail accessing popular Ammonite Falls west of Nanaimo re-opened, the Regional District announced. A Wednesday, Jan. 15 RDN statement noted Ammonite Falls Regional Trail between the Creekside trailhead and the falls re-opened following the presence of an aggressive cougar. A temporary clos...
Jan 16, 2025
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tariff threat
Eby calls Trump tariffs 'economic war' that would cost B.C. $69 billion
British Columbia Premier David Eby says U.S. president-elect Donald Trump has made a "declaration of economic war" on Canada and B.C. with his proposed 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods. Eby and Finance Minister Brenda Bailey released costings that suggest the tariffs and a similar response from Canada wo...
Jan 16, 2025
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Severe challenges
'This accused deserves better:' frustration voiced in Nanaimo court with few supports for mentally ill offenders
NANAIMO - Arguably the city's most prolific criminal has complex challenges with no apparent resolution currently available for society or the offender in question. Aiden David Tye, 39, has over 165 criminal convictions since 2005, including nearly 80 for violent crimes with a vast majority of the offences occurring in...
Jan 16, 2025
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price jump
'Highest levels in months:' Widespread gas price surge hits Nanaimo area
NANAIMO - Mid-Islander drivers may have noticed another significant jump in prices at the gas pumps this week.As of Wednesday, Jan 15 at 2 p.m., gas prices around much of the mid-Island were sitting at an average of $174.9 cents per litre of regular gas, with some stations increasing prices by over 10 cents a litre sin...
Jan 15, 2025
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British Columbia

Universities face 'across the board' cuts in wake of international student cap
OTTAWA - Canadian colleges and universities are responding to a cash crunch brought on by Ottawa's cut to international student permits with layoffs, hiring freezes and service reductions, say people in the post-secondary education sector. A year ago, the federal government announced a 35 per cent reduction in study pe...
1h ago
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Concrete bear sculpture weighing 45 kg stolen from Metro Vancouver porch
COQUITLAM, B.C. - Police are on the lookout after a large concrete sculpture of a bear weighing about 45 kilograms was stolen from a porch of a home in Port Coquitlam, B.C. Mounties say the sculpture owner called police on Jan. 11 to report the theft from their home. Police say they conducted an extensive search of the...
12h ago
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Impact of Trump tariffs on Metro Vancouver real estate likely short-lived: report
VANCOUVER - A residential market sales forecast by Greater Vancouver Realtors says the impact of possible tariffs from the United States would likely be short-lived. The annual report from the association that represents 15,000 Realtors says its preliminary investigation and economic modelling shows a drag on sales cou...
14h ago
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Below-seasonal temperatures coming to B.C., but warmer than 2024 cold snap
VANCOUVER - Below-seasonal temperatures are expected in parts of British Columbia this weekend, a year after a bitter cold snap that sent wind-chill temperatures plummeting to -20 C in Metro Vancouver and as low as -50 C in other parts of the province. Environment Canada meteorologist Lisa Erven says the coldest air ma...
17h ago
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Mother orca still pushing body of dead calf off Vancouver Island, 10 days after death
VICTORIA - A mother killer whale whose calf died more than two weeks ago has recently been spotted still carrying the newborn's carcass in waters off Victoria. The Center for Whale Research says in a Facebook post on Thursday that the mother, known as J35 or Tahlequah, was seen pushing the remains on Jan. 10 between Va...
Jan 17, 2025
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George Pearson long-term care home gets new name over his anti-Japanese views
VANCOUVER - The Vancouver Coastal Health authority says it has changed the name of a long-term care home that was named after George Pearson, a B.C. politician who stoked anti-Japanese sentiment during the Second World War. The health authority says the former George Pearson Centre has been renamed the Oak Care Centre ...
Jan 17, 2025
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Canada

Universities face 'across the board' cuts in wake of international student cap
OTTAWA - Canadian colleges and universities are responding to a cash crunch brought on by Ottawa's cut to international student permits with layoffs, hiring freezes and service reductions, say people in the post-secondary education sector. A year ago, the federal government announced a 35 per cent reduction in study pe...
1h ago
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Trump won't wait to review CUSMA trade pact, experts say
WASHINGTON - U.S. president-elect Donald Trump's pledge to hit Canada and Mexico with 25 per cent across-the-board tariffs has sent shockwaves through America's closest neighbours - but it's likely just a first step in his plan to rattle a critical trilateral trade pact. The Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement is up for revie...
1h ago
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Icebreaker journey along St. Lawrence River sparks hopes for winter cruise industry
MONTREAL - An icebreaker cruise ship set sail on Friday for a frosty journey that will bring passengers along the St. Lawrence River, a new route that tourism officials hope will usher in a new era of winter cruises in the province. Ponant, the French company that owns the vessel, says it will be the first internationa...
1h ago
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Pat King, organizer of the 'Freedom Convoy,' to be sentenced Feb. 7
OTTAWA - Pat King, an organizer of the 2022 "Freedom Convoy" protest, is set to be sentenced Feb. 7. Superior Court Justice Charles Hackland found King guilty on five counts In November, including mischief and disobeying a court order. He was found not guilty on three counts of intimidation and one count of o...
11h ago
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Liberal leadership race: A look at the potential candidates
OTTAWA - The federal Liberals are running their first leadership race in more than a decade to replace the departing Justin Trudeau. Candidates must declare by Jan. 23 and pay a $350,000 fee to enter the race. The winner will be named on March 9. Here's a quick look at who's in and who's out. Who's in Chandra Arya Arya...
14h ago
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Supreme Court to decide next week whether to hear challenge to Quebec secularism law
MONTREAL - The Supreme Court of Canada will announce next week whether it will hear a challenge to Quebec's secularism law, known as Bill 21. The groups seeking leave to appeal say they have been informed the country's highest court is expected to publish its decision on Thursday. In 2024 the Quebec Court of Appeal uph...
14h ago
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