Category Archives: Nanaimo
Oceanside event highlighting local lives lost to drug toxicity
PARSKVILLE - A community gathering this weekend is looking to further educate the public on the real faces of the ongoing toxic drug crisis. The Oceanside Community Action Team (OCAT), in partnership ...
Aug 26, 2026 A community gathering is planned for Saturday in Parksville to honour the lives lost to the drug toxicity crisis, and look to take steps toward ending it for good. (Image Credit: File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)
Unregulated drug death rate spikes across central Vancouver Island
NANAIMO - June was a particularly deadly month across central Vancouver Island for lives lost due to toxic drugs.New data from the BC Coroners Services showed six lives were lost in Nanaimo through th...
Aug 25, 2026 Fentanyl continues to drive a majority of toxic drug-related deaths in B.C., with another six people in Nanaimo and 11 across the mid-Island losing their lives to substances in June. (Image Credit: Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press)
Nanaimo & Island RCMP detachments aid FBI in high-profile arrest
NANAIMO - Officers from various detachments across Vancouver Island, including Nanaimo, have worked alongside American agents for a high-profile arrest.Donald Steven Lang, 62, was arrested on Saturday...
Aug 25, 2026 Donald Steven Lang was captured over the weekend in a coordinated effort between multiple Island RCMP departments, including the Nanaimo detachment, and FBI in the United States. He faces charged of producing sexually explicit material involving a minor. (Image Credit: FBI)
Loaves and Fishes food bank starting move into new Nanaimo warehouse
NANAIMO - Years of planning, fundraising, and construction have finally paid off for Loaves and Fishes Community Food Bank. Beginning this week, the organization is moving into the Tom Harris Regional...
Aug 25, 2026 It's moving day for Loaves and Fishes Community Food Bank as they begin the the process of shifting their services into a new warehouse facility on East Wellington Rd. (Image Credit: Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)
VIDEO: 'A gentle giant:' diver captures rare shark encounter near Parksville
PARKSVILLE - In the nearly 1,200 dives he's completed, many off Vancouver Island, a local diver says none compares to an experience he had earlier this month involving a female sixgill shark. Carl Sor...
Aug 24, 2026 A female six-gill shark swam up on a diver off the coast of Parksville last week, leading to a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a solo diving videographer. (Image Credit: Carl Sorensen)
Hiking & biking locals help prevent wildfire spread west of Nanaimo Correctional Centre
NANAIMO - A local man was in the right place at the right time to help put out a small wildfire near over the weekend. Long-time resident Graham, who asked NanaimoNewsNOW to withhold his last name, wa...
Aug 24, 2026 A Nanaimo man helped control a small wildfire near a biking trail west of the Nanaimo Correctional Centre on Sunday, Aug. 23, after first discovered by some mountain bikers who called it in to the BC Wildfire Service. (Image Credit: Submitted/Juli Dawn)
Mid-Island lightning-linked fire starts under control
NANAIMO - A handful of weekend fire starts due to an impressive lightning storm were quickly actioned by regional fire crews. A strong storm system moved through the region Saturday, Aug. 22, bringing...
Aug 24, 2026 A half dozen new fire starts occurred over the weekend, due to a lightning storm Saturday night. All were quickly actioned by Coastal Fire Centre and local fire crews. (Image Credit: BC Wildfire Service)
'Something for everyone:' final planning underway as Nanaimo's VIEx one month away
NANAIMO - Final preparations are underway with just over a month to go until the 132nd annual Vancouver Island Exhibition. Running at the Beban Park Fairgrounds Sept. 25-27, the event is one of the bi...
Aug 24, 2026 The Vancouver Island Exhibition returns to Nanaimo at the end of September, bringing with it some popular favourites and a few new arrivals. (Image Credit: File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)
'Food for the soul:' Nanaimo Horticultural Society celebrates 80 years
NANAIMO - A local group helping green thumbs and novice gardeners make the most out of mid-Island vegetation is celebrating a big milestone. The Nanaimo Horticulture Society is marking 80 years in exi...
Aug 23, 2026 The Nanaimo Horticultural Society is celebrating 80 years with an anniversary celebration at Maffeo Sutton Park on Sunday, Aug. 23, from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. (Image Credit: Submitted/Nanaimo Horticultural Society on Facebook)
'One trunk at a time:' second Nanaimo trunk sale keeping items out of landfill
NANAIMO - Turning potential trash into someone else's treasures is the goal of a weekend trunk sale. The City of Nanaimo is hosting the event at the lower parking lot of Vancouver Island University, a...
Aug 22, 2026 The second City-sponsored trunk sale of the year will be hosted Saturday at Vancouver Island University, with the garage sale-style event helping divert material out of the landfill. (Image Credit: File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)