Health

'People are fed up': City of Parksville aims to ban overnight camping at Memorial Plaza

PARKSVILLE - While acknowledging it's merely a band-aid solution, Parksville councillors and the mayor say it's time to outlaw overnight sheltering at its downtown public square.In a motion tabled by ...

Jul 07, 2023

New Harewood bike skills park opens in time for summer season

NANAIMO - Just in time for the Canada Day long weekend, a new feature is available at the already well-stocked Harewood Centennial Park. A brand new mountain bike skills park was officially opened on ...

Alex Rawnsley Jun 30, 2023

Humans Inhale Credit Card-Sized Amounts Of Microplastics Every Week

Featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not! Humans are potentially inhaling a credit card-sized amount of harmful microplastics on a weekly basis, and new research published in the journal Physics of...

Ripley's Believe It or Not! Jun 30, 2023

Private members bill aims to increase penalties for attacks against first responders

NANAIMO - Members of the federal NDP are raising the profile of a bill crafted to increase punishments for physical attacks against firefighters, paramedics and other first responders. Introduced by L...

Jun 28, 2023

Drought-like conditions in Nanaimo region waterways providing 'context for the summer ahead'

NANAIMO - While the situation is by no means dire, groundwater supply in many areas of the mid Island area aren't exactly flush, and it's only late June. Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) data showed...

Daryl Major Jun 28, 2023

Proposed French Creek cell tower to boost coverage and avoid 'devastating outcomes'

NANAIMO - The Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) will not stand in the way of a cell tower in French Creek proposed to address a long-standing coverage issues.RDN directors voted near unanimously on T...

Jun 27, 2023

'Its far exceeded my expectations:' Tom Harris Charity Classic makes significant impact

NANAIMO - A golf tournament continuing the work of a late philanthropic Nanaimo business legend has taken on a life of its own, morphing into an enormously successful fundraiser. The fourth annual Tom...

Daryl Major Jun 23, 2023

24/7 staffed addictions treatment facility proposed in Parksville

PARKSVILLE - A residential addictions facility is envisioned in the edge of downtown Parksville, as Island Health reports rising mental health and substance abuse challenges. Island Health representat...

Alex Rawnsley Jun 21, 2023

Nanaimo Hospital ready to open its doors on updated and long-awaited ICU

NANAIMO - The long wait for a modernized and expanded intensive care unit (ICU) at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital is finally over. The new 12-bed ICU at NRGH will officially open on June 28, 2023, ...

Jun 19, 2023

Illicit drug deaths drop province-wide last month, but continue rising in Nanaimo

NANAIMO - While a notable reduction in tainted drug fatalities last month was reported by the BC Coroners Service (BCCS), the situation is not improving. In May 176 lives were lost across the province...

Jun 19, 2023