Environment

Unpleasant smoky sky surprise for Vancouver Islanders

NANAIMO - Mid-Island residents woke up to the smell of smoke in the air Friday morning as wildfires continue burning across North America. Smoke from wildfires in Strathcona Provincial Park, the Lower...

Sep 15, 2023

Sign installation to lead to Hwy 4 delays at Cameron Lake

PARKSVILLE - Motorists are told to brace for delays over the course of several hours on Thursday to allow a sign to be installed on Highway 4 at Angel Rock. Mainroad Mid-Island Contracting crews state...

Daryl Major Sep 14, 2023

'Very unique and very humbling:' Nanaimo firefighter heralds Kelowna counterparts in battling Interior wildfires

NANAIMO - A local firefighter is back to his normal duties after a special deployment to the wildfire-ravaged interior.Nanaimo Fire Rescue assistant chief David Dales, serving in his dual capacity as ...

Alex Rawnsley Sep 07, 2023

'May be difficult days ahead:' weather shift expected to drastically increase wildfire danger province-wide

NANAIMO - Weather patterns are imminently expected to shift dramatically across B.C. as the province warns of a drastic increase in fire risk over the next day or two.A fast-moving cold front is set t...

Aug 17, 2023

Approaching heat wave triggers calls for caution across Island and interior regions

NANAIMO - While forecasters don't expect records set in the 2021 heat dome event to be even remotely threatened, a strong ridge of high pressure making its way to B.C. is still concerning. Temperature...

Alex Rawnsley Aug 10, 2023

Cargo vessel cleared to leave Nanaimo following recent spill, shoreline clean-up continues

NANAIMO - While officials don't know how much fuel from a docked cargo ship spilled into Nanaimo's harbour late last month, no negative impacts to wildlife have been reported so far.An update on a mul...

Aug 04, 2023

Errington wildlife rehab centre has unique relationship with bear cubs

ERRINGTON - Tough love adequately describes how staff and volunteers at the renowned North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre (NIWRC) treat its black bears prior to release back into the wild. Believed t...

Jul 28, 2023

VIDEO: 'I just screamed:' humpback whale nearly topples Nanaimo bathtubber during race

NANAIMO - A rookie tubber has a whale of a bathtub tale.Tara McDonald's debut in the World Championship Bathtub Race was exhilarating and frightening as the Harris Auto Group racer came within feet of...

Jul 23, 2023

Drought-like conditions extend through dry & warm June in Nanaimo

NANAIMO - It's beginning to sound like a broken record: last month was drier and warmer than normal.A somewhat typical 'Juneuary' on Vancouver Island failed to eventuate as the Nanaimo region saw a me...

Jul 05, 2023

Stage four water restrictions are now in effect for RDN

NANAIMO - Many areas of the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) are now under stage 4 water restrictions, effective immediately. This follows the provincial government increasing the drought level for ...

Jul 05, 2023