Category Archives: Nanaimo

Boat-confined elderly Nanaimo couple desperate for housing
NANAIMO - With any luck, Roger and Janet Bingham won't have to spend their 14th winter huddled together on their boat moored off the coast of Protection Island. Unfortunately luck is in short supply. ...
Sep 10, 2019 Roger and Janet Bingham, who hope to not spend their 14th winter on the chilly waters off Protection Island. (Submitted/Janet Bingham)

Local forestry workers laid off as economy weakens
NANAIMO - Lower lumber prices, higher costs for source materials and a trade dispute between the United States and China have forced a large layoff of mid-island forestry workers. Surrey-based Teal-Jo...
Sep 10, 2019 Approximately 180 contracted workers and employees of Teal-Jones Group are out of work following a curtailment of operations. (File photo)

Suicide awareness and prevention walk a chance to grieve safely together
NANAIMO - Organizers of a walk along the Nanaimo seawall want people to know there's always someone they can speak to. The Vancouver Island Crisis Society is hosting their annual Soles Remembering Sou...
Sep 10, 2019 For the last 13 years those grieving the loss of a loved one to suicide or possibly at risk of taking their own lives have walked in solidarity as a community along Nanaimo's waterfront. (submitted/VI Crisis Society)

SD 68 adds seat belt equipped school buses
NANAIMO - Students traveling to and from school on select district-operated buses will enjoy some added safety.Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools added its first two seatbelt equipped buses to its trans...
Sep 09, 2019 School District 68 has rolled out two new seat belt-equipped busses to its fleet, effective Sept. 2019. (Pixabay)

Nanoose Bay man honoured for providing hope in 3rd world countries
PARKSVILLE - A Nanoose Bay man's tantalizing retirement plans went out the window to instead help the desperately poor in central America and Mexico.Bill Rawlins, a former Ballenas Secondary principal...
Sep 08, 2019 Bill Rawlins received a Sovereign Medal for Volunteers award on Thursday, Sept. 5 in Victoria from BC Lt. Governor Janet Austin (Rachel Rilkoff)

Family fun on the agenda for annual Minetown Day celebration in Lantzville
LANTZVILLE - An annual tradition in Lantzville returns as the community pays tribute to its coal mining roots.Minetown Day takes over Lantzville on Saturday, Sept. 7 from 8:30 a.m. through 3 p.m. The ...
Sep 06, 2019 A vintage Lantzville Volunteer Fire Dept. truck particiates in the Minetown Day parade. The annual event goes Saturday, Sept. 7 in the community's downtown. (Facebook)

Nanoose Bay restaurant to close after losing ongoing battle with provincial land commission
NANAIMO - The owners of a beloved Nanoose Bay restaurant are fed up after being dealt another blow in a battle with the province over how their business operates.Will Gemmell and Jodie Lucas, owner of...
Sep 06, 2019 The Rusted Rake Farm Eatery is set to close on Sunday, Sept. 8 as the owners lose another battle with the province. (Rusted Rake Farm/Facebook)

Hundreds of area Indigenous youth to receive compensation for federal gov't failures
NANAIMO - A major windfall is incoming to Indigenous youth and their families throughout the mid-Island area. The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal announced Friday, Sept. 6 Indigenous youth removed from...
Sep 06, 2019 The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal ruled on Friday the federal government must pay $40,000 to each child placed in on-reserve care since the beginning of 2006. (The Canadian Press)

City seeking new provocative outdoor public art
NANAIMO - There is an upcoming changing of the guard among the temporary public art pieces scattered through Nanaimo. The City is once again putting out the call for submissions of temporary art from ...
Sep 06, 2019 Maggie Wouterloot's piece Forest Cloak in Maffeo Sutton Park captivated people during the 2018 temporary public art season. (submitted/Maggie Wouterloot)

Forgotten portion of downtown Nanaimo sees huge development push
NANAIMO - A previously underutilized part of Nanaimo's downtown is receiving a significant development boost. Construction is underway or planned for numerous mixed-use developments in the Chapel St. ...
Sep 05, 2019 Crews recently demolished a run-down building on Front and Chapel Streets to make way for a six-storey hotel. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)