Category Archives: Nanaimo

Fake gun sparked Woodgrove Shopping Centre evacuation
NANAIMO - The incredible scene at Woodgrove Shopping Centre late Monday afternoon was sparked by a male youth with an imitation firearm. Nanaimo RCMP Sgt. Jon Stuart confirmed Tuesday the suspect repo...
Jul 16, 2019 Upwards of 20 Nanaimo RCMP officers descended on Woodgrove Shopping Centre Monday night and evacuated the mall. (Spencer Sterritt/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Youth male in Nanaimo RCMP custody after Woodgrove Shopping Centre evacuation
NANAIMO - Nanaimo's largest mall was shut down at approximately 5:30 on Monday afternoon as RCMP investigated an "active situation." RCMP Sgt. Jon Stuart confirmed to NanaimoNewsNow a youth was spotte...
Jul 15, 2019 Woodgrove Centre in Nanaimo was evacuated Monday afternoon shortly before closing as police entered with heavy weapons, handling an 'active situation'. (Spencer Sterritt)

Bastion St. Bridge to re-open with new look and supports
NANAIMO - A major downtown thoroughfare is opening after a construction delay. The Bastion St. Bridge reopens Tuesday, July 16. It underwent significant upgrades to replace the bridge deck, seismic im...
Jul 15, 2019 Re-opening the Bastion St. Bridge was set to finish in June and will finally happen on Tuesday, July 16. (City of Nanaimo)

Road closure allows City to upgrade vital infrastructure on Bruce Avenue
NANAIMO - A major route in the Harewood neighbourhood will be closed for the rest of the summer for planned utility upgrades and construction.Bruce Ave. between Pine St. and Fourth St. will be shut do...
Jul 15, 2019 A planned road closure will impact residents of Bruce Avenue, with City crews upgrading critical infrastructure in the area. (Google Street View)

Nanaimo free dinner program dismantled after eviction saga
NANAIMO - The dream of offering free hot meals to Nanaimo's most vulnerable from an ideal south-end location has come to an end. The locks were changed and tent ceilings taken down at 150 Nicol St. on...
Jul 15, 2019 The fence and what remains of the Stone Soup free meal program on Nicol St. came down Monday morning in a mad scramble of phone calls and arguments. (Spencer Sterritt/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Silly Boat Regatta to fill Maffeo Sutton Park with fun and cheer
NANAIMO - Dozens of Nanaimo sailors will take to the waters for a fierce, brutal and incredibly intense competition to see who has the fastest and silliest boat. The 35th annual Silly Boat Regatta tak...
Jul 12, 2019 Creativity is untamed and wild during the Silly Boat Regatta. (Spencer Sterritt/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Strike negotiations between union, Western Forest Products slow with disputes over mediators
NANAIMO - A further roadblock was erected on the path towards the end of strike action between the United Steelworkers Union and Western Forest Products. USW 1-1937 president Brian Butler announced Fr...
Jul 12, 2019 The USW says they can't believe Western Forest Products wouldn't want respected mediator Vince Ready working on their dispute. (USW 1-1937)

Would-be thieves attempt late-night Nanaimo bank robbery
NANAIMO - An attempted bank robbery like something out of a movie was thwarted by the rising sun and loud noise. Two people, one of which is believed to be a woman, were seen by security cameras outsi...
Jul 11, 2019 Two people, one of whom is believed to be a woman, outside Nanaimo's north Scotiabank. (Nanaimo RCMP)

Pilot project aims to help Nanaimo women suffering period poverty
NANAIMO - A pilot project aims to help find the best way to assist vulnerable Nanaimo women who have to choose between food and menstrual products.The United Way Period Promise Research Project is bui...
Jul 10, 2019 A pilot program will track how many free menstrual products are used and by who, to craft better policies and eliminate barriers for women in need. (Pixabay)

New road represents early catalyst in overhaul of south downtown Nanaimo waterfront
NANAIMO - The City believes a roadway extension will lay the foundation to help transform the unsightly south downtown waterfront area.Crews are wrapping up the extension of Front St., which now meets...
Jul 10, 2019 The City anticipates the new link from Front St. to Port Dr. will open shortly and help transform the area to include public amenities. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewNOW)