Environment

Province approves Nanaimo's single-use plastic bags ban

NANAIMO - The typical grocery bag will soon be outlawed in Nanaimo. The City received provincial approval on Friday, Feb. 12 in its effort to eliminate the use of single-use plastic bags, including bi...

Feb 12, 2021

'It's unimaginable what people can do:' SPCA investigating alleged cat abduction in Nanaimo

NANAIMO - A woman has her severely underweight cat back after it went missing for more than a month, while the BC SPCA confirms it has opened an animal cruelty investigation into the matter.Bridgette ...

Feb 11, 2021

First deep freeze of winter hits Nanaimo region

NANAIMO - A snow shovel might not get too much of a work out, but a thick winter jacket and gloves will come in handy this week.Environment Canada posted sweeping weather alerts over the weekend, incl...

Feb 09, 2021

Jason Kenney defends Rockies coal policy, calls old protections a 'dead letter'

EDMONTON - Alberta Premier Jason Kenney says Albertans have no cause to worry over his government quietly throwing out a coal policy that protected the Rocky Mountains for more than four decades."No r...

Feb 03, 2021

Demand made for improved goose population control, Nanaimo birds show surprising trend

NANAIMO - An environmental organization committed to reversing goose-damaged estuaries is trying to get Vancouver Island communities on the same flight path.The Guardians of Mid Island Estuaries Socie...

Feb 01, 2021

Alberta promises close watch on new mines but cuts oversight of coal-polluted rivers

EDMONTON - Alberta government documents show repeated cuts to environmental monitoring despite contaminants in some waterways that exceed thresholds that are supposed to trigger increased scrutiny. Th...

Feb 01, 2021

Gabriola Island non-profit breathing new life into old clothes

GABRIOLA ISLAND - Reduction of clothing and textile waste in the region is top of mind for a local non-profit.Gabriola Island Recycling Organization (GIRO) received $103,044 in RDN funding for a texti...

Jan 30, 2021

Nanaimo family reunited with their cat 3 1/2 years after going missing

NANAIMO - A beloved cat has made it back to his fur-ever home after being missing for years. "I was elated to hear the news but definitely shocked as well," owner Laura Brethour said. "No-no had been ...

Jan 29, 2021

Crews begin drastic overhaul of Nanaimo SAR facility

NANAIMO - An organization tasked with often grueling searches will soon have a much improved facility to deploy and coordinate its resources.An expanded and tailored building storing all of Nanaimo Se...

Jan 26, 2021

Contaminant from coal mines already high in some Alberta rivers: unreported data

EDMONTON - Some Alberta rivers and streams have already been heavily contaminated by coal mining, unreported government data suggests.The province's plan for large-scale expansion of the industry is f...

Jan 25, 2021