Category Archives: Nanaimo
Nanaimo area's unemployment rate dips again: Stats Canada
NANAIMO - Unemployment data for the Nanaimo area continues trending in the right direction.The Nanaimo area's jobless rate for for a third straight month to 6.4 per cent, down from 7.4 per cent in May...
Aug 8, 2026 After rising to as high as 8.7 per cent in May, Nanaimo's unemployment rate settled to 6.4 per cent in July, according to newly released Statistics Canada data. (Image Credit: File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)
Drought concerns easing due to lopsided Vancouver Island rainfall
NANAIMO - With concerns surrounding drought and wildfires top of mind for many British Columbians right now, Vancouver Island has so far been mostly spared this year, but summer isn't over yet. As of ...
Aug 8, 2026 While multiple daily high-temperature records were broken last month, Nanaimo saw an average amount of heat and rain for July, while being spared the worst of wildfires and drought-like conditions plaguing much of the B.C. mainland. (Image Credit: Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)
Fourth person fined for illegal Deep Bay oyster harvesting
NANAIMO - A fourth person has been fined in relation to illegally harvesting shellfish in Deep Bay north of Qualicum Beach. Xiaohua (Jessica) Liu, born 1977, was fined $4,500 in a provincial court in ...
Aug 7, 2026 A fourth person has been fined in relation to illegal shellfish harvesting in Deep Bay in Aug. 2023, with the combined fines totalling $18,000. (Image Credit: The Canadian Press)
'Totally unacceptable:' BCHP handles record number of Sunfest-linked impaired drivers
NANAIMO - BC Highway Patrol is vowing to clamp down on impaired drivers after a disappointing number of music festival goers continue to make poor driving choices.Thirty-six drivers were handed some f...
Aug 7, 2026 More drivers than ever before made the decision to drive while impaired during the Sunfest Country Music Festival in Lake Cowichan over the August long weekend, prompting a record number of driving suspensions from BC Highway Patrol. (Image Credit: File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)
Key north Nanaimo road rehab project completed
NANAIMO - Crews are putting the finishing touches on an extended construction project along a busy stretch of Hammond Bay Rd. This week the opening of the raised and separated bike lane on the north s...
Aug 7, 2026 Following a disruptive overhaul, crews are largely finished a below ground and surface level rehabilitation of a section of Hammond Bay Rd. (Image Credit: Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)
Nanaimo Fringe Festival takes over downtown and Old City Quarter
NANAIMO - August is a time the Harbour City gets a little weird. The 2026 Nanaimo Fringe Festival takes place from Thursday, Aug. 6 until Aug. 16, with performances split between the Port Theatre and ...
Aug 6, 2026 The 2026 edition of the Nanaimo Fringe Festival kicks off with its free preview night on Thursday, Aug. 6, running until the 16th. (Image Credit: Nanaimo Fringe Festival on Facebook.)
Nanaimo rents start to trend down, joining long-time national trend
NANAIMO - Rents in the Harbour City have finally joined the Canada-wide trend. The most recent Rentals.ca Rent Report, published Thursday, Aug. 6, showed a 0.6 per cent drop year over year in rent for...
Aug 6, 2026 After considerable time going against national trends of declining rents, the Harbour City has seen a drop year-over-year through August. (Image Credit: Rentals.ca)
BC Housing responds to break-ins by former Uplands Walk tenant
NANAIMO - While BC Housing acknowledges a brazen early morning break-in and theft at a north Nanaimo supportive housing complex, unanswered questions remain. Ricky John Randell, 55, a former Uplands W...
Aug 6, 2026 Uplands Walk, located at 6025 Uplands Dr. in Nanaimo's north end, is a 34-unit purpose-built supportive housing complex which opened in 2015. (Image Credit: Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)
'Smiling, happy kids:' Fresh Start helping Nanaimo students get back to class
NANAIMO - A local barber is once again helping kids look fresh for the new school year. The Annual Fresh Start campaign is back on for its 12th year, collecting back-to-school supplies kids can pick u...
Aug 6, 2026 Owner of That 50s Barber Shop Dave Lawrence is collecting donations and looking for more volunteers to help in this year's Fresh Start campaign, which helps local kids start their school year on the right foot. (Image Credit: Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)
BC Hydro purchases Island natural gas power generation facility
CAMPBELL RIVER - In a bid to secure more reliable power during peak times for Vancouver Islanders, the province's electrical utility has purchased a local business.BC Hydro announced Wednesday, Aug. 5...
Aug 5, 2026 A natural gas-powered facility in Campbell River has been purchased by BC Hydro, in a bid to help provide extra capacity in peak times across Vancouver Island. (Image Credit: Capital Power)