Category Archives: Nanaimo
Nanaimo pursuing 'overlay' zoning to encourage affordable housing builds
NANAIMO - The City is aiming to remove a few layers of red tape to encourage more affordable housing units to be built. Councillors have unanimously supported the idea of overlay zoning for over 2,000...
Jan 27, 2026 More multi-storey buildings could be coming to Nanaimo through what's being called 'overlay zoning', which would allow developers to bypass zoning restrictions on some properties if 20 per cent of available units were subsidized. (Image Credit: File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)
'High risk to public safety:' Conservation Officers tracking suspected poacher in Nanoose
NANAIMO - Local conservation officers believe someone, or a group of people, may be illegally poaching deer in a mid-Island community. Multiple animals in the Nanoose Bay Fairwinds neighbourhood have ...
Jan 26, 2026 Several bucks have been found over the last three months in the Nanoose Bay area, specifically around Fairwinds, severely injured or killed via arrow or crossbow shots to the neck and other parts of their body. (Image Credit: Dreamstime)
Nanaimo prolific offender with strong rehabilitative push earns house arrest
NANAIMO - Significant post-offence strides by a Nanaimo man to turn his life around didn't go unnoticed by a BC Supreme Court justice. Daniel Nicholas Kipp, 38, was handed two-years' house arrest, fol...
Jan 26, 2026 Daniel Kipp, 38, recently avoided jail and instead will serve house arrest in a staffed supportive housing environment after pleading guilty to weapons offences. (Image Credit: File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)
Qualicum Beach debating full firework ban
QUALICUM BEACH - The Town is considering whether to fully ban the sale and use of fireworks within the community, closing the small window of approved use during Halloween. During the Wednesday, Jan 2...
Jan 25, 2026 The Town of Qualicum Beach will look at updating its fireworks bylaw next year, which bans the use and sale within Town limits, except for a few days around Halloween. (Image Credit: Pixabay)
RDN does not expect lowered Witchcraft Lake to lead to groundwater loss
NANAIMO - Recent mandated dam-clearing work at a lake on the lower slopes of Mount Benson is not expected to have notable impacts on scarce local groundwater inventory, according to the Regional Distr...
Jan 24, 2026 Vegetation, debris and trees were removed late in 2025 from Witchcraft Lake Dam, allowing increased flows down McGarrigle Creek, and thus lowering Witchcraft Lake. (Image Credit: Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)
Permit renewed for downtown Parksville condo development
PARKSVILLE - Plans to put condos on an undeveloped lot near downtown Parksville are in the works once again. A development permit was reissued for a currently vacant lot at 440 Island Hwy. W, just nor...
Jan 24, 2026 Artist rendering of what a development at 440 Island Hwy. W, just north of Parksville's downtown core will look like, after it had a development permit which previously lapsed reissued. (Image Credit: City of Parksville)
'Heavy smoke' from downtown Nanaimo fire in vacant commercial building
NANAIMO - No injuries were reported after a fire in an unoccupied commercial building in Nanaimo's Old City Quarter neighbourhood. Fire crews were called to the building at 395 Selby St near Franklyn ...
Jan 23, 2026 Nobody was inside when a commercial building caught fire in Nanaimo's Old City Quarter on Friday afternoon. (Image Credit: Nanaimo Fire Rescue)
'We cannot take on anymore:' Qualicum council pushing back on projects amid Eaglecrest redevelopment
QUALICUM BEACH - Following purchase of the property in late 2025, planning is consuming considerable time for staff navigating a major redevelopment of the Eaglecrest Golf Course lands.The Town of Qua...
Jan 23, 2026 The Town of Qualicum Beach is continuing to chip away at the all-encompassing challenge of redeveloping Eaglecrest Golf Course lands, which were acquired in late 2025. (Image Credit: Eaglecrest Golf Coast/Town of Qualicum Beach)
Alberni residents rally after racist imagery painted over Residential School memorial
PORT ALBERNI - Racist graffiti left for a third time on a key marker of Residential School remembrance in the community is causing locals to say enough is enough. Vandals attacked The Orange Bridge on...
Jan 23, 2026 Community members showed up in large numbers to help cover up racist symbols left on a Residential School memorial bridge in Port Alberni this week. (Image Credit: David Wiwchar/93.3 The Peak)
Nanaimo anglers and fishing guides worried about potential changes to Salmon Allocation Policy
NANAIMO - Anglers, tour guides and conservation groups are more than concerned about potential changes to rules around salmon fishing, saying British Columbians fishing rights could be eroded. The Dep...
Jan 23, 2026 Concerns are being raised about potential changes to the federal Salmon Allocation Policy, with advocates saying Canadians' right to fishing could be "extinguished." (Dreamstime)