Category Archives: Nanaimo

RDN director passes away in hiking accident
NANAIMO - A well known mid-island business leader turned politician has passed away in a hiking accident at Strathcona Provincial Park.Clarke Gourlay, of family-owned Little Qualicum Cheeseworks and M...
Jul 02, 2019 Clarke Gourlay passed away following a hiking accident at Strathcona Provincial Park on Saturday, June 29. Gourlay was serving his first term in office as an RDN director. (Little Qualicum Cheeseworks)

Property taxes due or fines begin to mount
NANAIMO-Municipal property taxes across the province are due Tuesday, July 2.Penalties are applied to all non-compliant taxpayers after July 2, which in the City of Nanaimo is a five per cent penalty....
Jul 02, 2019 Municipal property taxes around the province are due July 2. In Nanaimo, property taxes rose by five per cent this year, or roughly $100 for the average home owner. (NanaimoNewsNOW file photo)

Canadian pride to be on full display for Canada Day
NANAIMO - Celebrations far and wide throughout the Nanaimo-area will show how patriotic and fun-loving people in the harbour city are. The main Canada Day festivities are in Maffeo Sutton Park, hosted...
Jun 30, 2019 Patriotism will be on full display throughout the Nanaimo area on Canada Day. (File photo)

Concrete barriers, safer crossings coming to major Island Hwy. intersections
NANAIMO - It's hoped $4 million worth of improvements will make a busy stretch of the Island Hwy. much safer. Work will begin after the Canada Day weekend to replace concrete barriers at two key inter...
Jun 28, 2019 The intersection of Oliver Rd. and the Island Hwy, along with Rutherford Rd. and the Island Hwy., will receive concrete barrier and pedestrian island work throughout the summer. (Google Earth)

Shelter hours to expand as Nanaimo grapples with increasing homelessness crisis
NANAIMO - One year after a sizable homeless camp in downtown Nanaimo sprawled out of control, the homelessness situation in the harbour city is widening to greater levels of crisis.Nanaimo RCMP superi...
Jun 27, 2019 The Unitarian Shelter will be open one hour earlier and later to provide more assistance to those who need it the most. (Spencer Sterritt/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Garage door openers stolen from cars, used to enter Nanaimo homes
NANAIMO - Wallets and change aren't the only valuable items being stolen from cars. Nanaimo RCMP is warning people to keep their garage door openers safe after two were stolen and used to enter houses...
Jun 27, 2019 Garage door openers are increasingly being targetted in thefts from cars. (File photo)

'Deplorable' Nanaimo child molester sentenced to eight years in prison
NANAIMO - A pedophile who destroyed the innocence of a young girl will spend more than eight years behind bars.Stephen Mark Castleden, 50, was sentenced to 10 years in jail on Thursday by Judge R.D. M...
Jun 27, 2019 Stephen Mark Castleden admitted to sexually abusing a young girl, who was the daughter of his girlfriend at the time. (Submitted photo)

Campfire ban delayed until after Canada Day long weekend
NANAIMO - Wet weather means another long weekend will pass without a campfire ban. The Coastal Fire Centre confirmed a campfire ban won't be in place due to damp, wet weather in coming days. "As long ...
Jun 26, 2019 There will be no campfire ban in place for the Canada Day long weekend. (The Canadian Press)

Posting illicit, explicit photos online without consent earns Nanaimo man nine months in prison
NANAIMO - It was an emotional day for a family who had to hear their son had taken photos of his girlfriends while they were passed out and posted them online. They were at provincial court in Nanaimo...
Jun 26, 2019 A 31-year-old Nanaimo man was sentenced Wednesday, June 26 to nine months in prison. (File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

'We were crushed:' toys, cash and timeless photos stolen from young Nanaimo family
NANAIMO - Shannon Harmsen had spent hours late at night perfecting the slideshow she wanted played at her wedding. As a mother of two and a student, she couldn't spare much time and put everything she...
Jun 25, 2019 Shannon and James came home after a brief outing with their young children to find their house ripped apart. (submitted)