250621

The longest day – summer is here

They are counting the days until the 55-Plus B.C. Games return to Nanaimo. The countdown kicked off Thursday as part of the first Commercial Street Night Market of the season. Coun. Ian Thorpe said the Games are much more than a sporting competition, they are also a tourism driver. "I'm really excited, because hosting the games is a wonderful opportunity to showcase our city with its sporting community and celebrate our facilities and our sports heritage," Thorpe said. MORE

Duke Point sailing cancellations, Tuesday, June 24

Evening sailings on the Duke Point ferry route have been cancelled for Tuesday to complete maintenance on the berth at Duke Point terminal.

Cancelled Sailings, June 24:
8:15 pm departing Tsawwassen
8:15 pm departing Duke Point
10:45 pm departing Tsawwassen
10:45 pm departing Duke Point

The final sailing opportunity on this route will be the 5:45 p.m. departures from both terminals.

QUOTABLE – The older I get, the more I understand why grumpy old men exist

250620

A 47-year-old man has been arrestedand charged with dangerous driving causing death and impaired driving causing death in an collision on the Nanaimo Parkway last August in which 42-year-old Joy Pecknold was killed. Samuel Taylor was arrested and later released with his first court appearance set for June 24.

A multi-vehicle collision on the Island Highway jettisoned a car into a drive-through lineup at Enterprise Way Friday morning. The crash sent a vintage luxury car careering into the Starbucks drive-thru. Crews on scene said it appeared the vintage car collided with a pickup truck at the highway intersection and spun into the drive-thru lineup, where it damaged two vehicles. Two people wre injured in the crash, the driver of the vintage car, and one from a vehicle in the drive-thru lineup. MORE

Police are looking for the owner of a high-end mountain bike which may have been stolen. RCMP have it for you, and it’s got a new black paint job. The full-suspension mountain bike was seized Tuesday from a person who RCMP determined was not the owner. Police have not been able to identify the owner as the bike was not reported stolen nor registered with Project 529 Garage. Nanaimo RCMP will store it for 90 days. Anyone who recognizes the bike should call the Nanaimo RCMP detachment non-emergency line at 250-754-2345.

QUOTABLE - I'm not getting old, I'm living out the warranty.

250619

RCMP seek public assistance to identify the suspect in knife point gas station robbery at 2199 Island Highway on Wednesday. Police say the suspect brandished a knife demanding cash and an undisclosed amount of cash and merchandise were taken. The suspect then fled. He is 5 ft 10 inches to 6 feet, a thin build, and believed to be in his late teens or early 20s. He wore a blue t-shirt, dark pants, striped runners, black ball cap and dark rimmed glasses. His face was partially concealed with a white cloth. Anyone who saw anything suspicious or motorists in the area between 3:30 to 4 a.m. to review their dash cam video to call the RCMP non-emergency line at 250-754-2345.

Kyle Ordway who pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Amy Watts in Nanaimo in 2021 has been granted a reduced sentence after an appeal to the B.C. Court of Appeal. Ordway admitted killing his girlfriend, 27-year-old Watts by pushing her off a 50-foot cliff. He was sentenced to four years in prison last October. The Court of Appeal recently ruled that his sentence should be reduced by about a month for time already served. MORE

The numbskulls are busy endangering lives. Fire hydrants have ben tampered with in one neighborhood. Caps have been removed from some hydrants in the Westwood Road and Arbot Road, and Second Street and Wakesiah Road areas. Water was flowing from one hydrant where the cap had been removed. Tampering with a fire hydrant can result in a fine up to $50,000.

More bumps in the road. The city’s finance committee recommends installing raised sidewalks for three locations – Townsite Road at St. Patrick’s Crescent, Waddington Road at Dufferin Crescent, and Portsmouth Road at Applecross Road. Transportation Manager Jamie Rose said, “not only do these create better pedestrian crossing opportunities, but have the secondary benefit of managing speed along each of our corridors." MORE

The farmers market industry got a shot in the arm yesterday for its nutrition coupon program. Agriculture and Food Minister Lana Popham announced $4.25 million province wide to ensure all people have access to a stable, quality food supply. New funding is helping bolster a critical program connecting low-income households to top-quality, local food. She made the announcement at the midweek Island Roots Market at Beban Park. Popham said she’s heard so many success stories around the coupon program. MORE

QUOTABLE – I have come to realize I never grew up, I just got older.

250618

Liu offers $6 million to take over three Bay store leases

Woodgrove Centre owner Ruby Liu has offered $2 million to take over the lease of the former Hudson’s Bay store in the mall. Court documents show Ruby Liu Commercial Investment Corp. offered $2 million each for Bay leases at Tsawwassen Mills, Mayfair Shopping Centre in Victoria and Woodgrove which she owns. Liu has bid on up to 25 other Bay leases. Lawyers for the Bay have asked a court to approve the transfer of leases only for the three locations so far. She plans to open a new, department store that will also include entertainment, food and children’s play spaces. MORE

Premier David Eby hopes VIHA will learn from a  reported $2,200 tax charge to transport a patient from Woss to Victoria as an opportunity to cut costs. “Sometimes bureaucracies like health authorities have very rigid roles that don’t accommodate the nuances of particular situations. I hope the health authority has a look at it, to see if there is some savings.” MORE

A 22-unit complex care facility in the Green Rock Industrial Park has the green light from Nanaimo city council. The re-zoning for allows for the facility on Boxwood Road. It will provide housing for homeless people or those or at risk of homelessness and have challenges such as mental health, addictions, brain injury, chronic illness and other disabilities. The project is a joint effort between B.C. Housing and Island Health, and will include 24/7 staffing. MORE

First Nations crews are hauling in a bonanza of sockeye salmon from Port Alberni area rivers this week. Boats have been netting on the Stamp and Somass River system since early June, crewed by Tseshaht and Hupacasath, part of an economic fishery for the band. Previous days were spent fishing for their community, but Monday’s bins were all part of an economic fishery for the tribes. Tseshaht member Shae Doiron said they caught 4,600 fish for her community. “There’s nothing wrong with a freezer full of fish,” she added.

QUOTABLE – The biggest complaint by retirees is there is not enough time in the day to get things done.

250617

Health transport program under fire

Conservative MLA Brennan Day wants a review after VIHA spent $2,200 for a taxi to transport a patient from Woss to Victoria and back through Island Health’s Transportation Assistance Program. The critic for rural and seniors health said the ministry needs to do a serious review to make sure it’s working, “but right now, it’s clearly not.” CHEK NEWS HAS MORE

A pedestrian was struck and killed when she stepped into a vehicle lane while walking along the Trans-Canada Highway last night. It happened at about 10:30 p.m.  south of Morden Road. Const. Sherri Wade said the woman was walking northbound on the highway along the barrier, then stepped into a vehicle lane and was struck.

A dog was abandoned at the Nanaimo RCMP detachment a couple of weeks ago.  Police described it as a “very large, wet and scared dog” was tied up to the front of the detachment on May 31. Police discovered the dog’s owner had left the animal there, no longer being able to take care of it. The dog is now in Nanaimo Animal Control’s care until a good home can be found for it. 

Fame can be fleeting. VIU’s claim to a record for the world’s largest Nanaimo bar is being challenged by the previous record holder. The Ontario chocolatier wants to reclaim the title after losing it earlier this spring to VIU. One month ago, VIU students set the new mark with a 1,100-pound 70-foot bar beating the previous record of 500 pounds in 2020 by the children of Chantelle Gorham, owner of Northwest Fudge Factory in Ontario. Gorham's children and their cousins will attempt to build a 1,200-pound Nanaimo bar on June 30 in Sudbury. MORE

Cell phone dead zones could be coming to an end after city council gave for two new towers on Monday. The monopole towers are planned by Telus at Rutherford Road and Linley Valley Drive the City public works yard on Labieux Road. City real estate manager Nancy Skeels said the upgrades have been in the works for a long time. City departments have been working with Telus for a number of years to identify city-owned property where the towers can be placed. MORE

QUOTABLE – One thing about getting older, you eyesight gets weaker but your ability to see through people’s BS gets much better.

250616

VIHA pays $2,200 to taxi patient between Woss and Victoria

It's enough to make you sick. Island Health forked out $2,200 for a taxi to transport a patient from Woss to Victoria and then take him home instead of paying mileage to a volunteer driver would have cost $488. Nigel Poulton says he called Island Health transportation service for people in remote communities. He suggested to Island Health that a local volunteer could drive him and charge 61 cents a kilometre. Island Health said no. He says they sent a cab from Nanaimo drive to Woss to pick him up and take him to Victoria. In the meantime the taxi returned to Nanaimo and when his appointment was finished, another cab from Nanaimo drove to Victoria, picked him up and drove him home to Woss, then returning to Nanaimo empty. CHEK News has more.

More than 100 homes were without power this morning after a vehicle crashed into a utility pole on Uplands Drive. The driver was taken to hospital with unknown injuries.

Commercial Street is coming alive again with the return of the Thursday Night Street Market for its sixth season launching on Thursday. The street will be closed off on Thursdays until the end of August as about 200 vendors display their wares. It’s a summer of attracting up to 7,000 people coming downtown each night to enjoy numerous entertainers who perform throughout the 11 weeks, with a main stage and Brix and Mortar Social House providing space for buskers to perform. CHECK IT OUT

The South end community is alive and well as witnessed by their South End Day Saturday at Deverill Square Park. They certainly caught the eye of politicians, from Ottawa to Victoria and our own city council, with MP Tamara Kronis and councillors Erin Hemmens, Paul Manly and Sheryl Armstrong taking part in an all-ages soccer game. Volunteer Ed Wong said it’s a good way to connect and build relationships. Mayor Leonard Krog, Coun. Janice Perrino and MLA Sheila Malcolmson also made an appearance.

Stephen Davies, director of the Canadian Letters and Images Project, has been honored by the British Columbia Historical Federation for the creation of his project which has digitized more than 40,000 letters sent home by Canadian soldiers. The VIU professor has devoted more than 25 years to preserve the voices of soldiers through the letters they sent home. 

Festivals and events are what make summer great, but drinking and driving does not mix while partying. BC Highway Patrol began a campaign this past weekend with a focus on summer festivals and events.  The number of drug or alcohol impairments are too high, resulting in dangerous and sometimes fatal incidents, say Insp. Adam Tallboy. There’s an increase of people consuming alcohol  at backyard barbeques, ball games another events, and then driving. Don’t do it.

Government sticking its nose into business is usually a disaster in the making. The short-term vacation rental process is throwing thousands of registrations into chaos. CHEK News reported last week that Airbnb began cancelling reservations when clients experienced things like hosts being rejected after putting a space in their postal code, attempting to abbreviate a street name or use of a combination of numbers and letters in their address. Computers can do better than that. You would expect that they would have figured it out since the Expo 86 reservation fiasco. MORE

QUOTABLE – It's a fact that books on dieting are always best sellers because they appeal to a wide audience.

250614

We are a city of champions. We have two B.C. champions and multiple medallists from the recent B.C. High School Track and Field Championships. Tessa Bell of NDSS won the junior girls' heptathlon at multi-event provincials while John Barsby’s Autumn Techen finished on top in the para shotput. SEE ALL THE WINNERS.

QUOTABLE – I’m looking for new conspiracy theories, most of mine have become fact.

250613

It’s been a long time coming. Construction is under way at Brooks Landing on a long-term plan that could bring big changes, including higher-density housing. Five commercial units are under construction on the north side of the parking lot, for quick food service restaurants beginning early next year. Brian Crombie of Terracap envisions food flavors like Mexican, Greek and a variety of quick service restaurants. Terracap recently bought the residential lots on Montrose Avenue on the south side of the street bordering the shopping centre. MORE

Western Forest Products sawmill in Chemainus will shut down June 18, affecting 150 employees for about a month. WFP says the shutdown is due to a shortage of logs that fit the mill and market conditions. WFP is monitoring the situation and its restart date has not been decided. MORE

Our new member of Parliament Tamara Kronis is making her presence felt in Parliament. She’s getting a lot of exposure on social media videos from the House of Commons and has made a number of addresses. It’s refreshing to see our elected representatives in action.

Two former B.C. Conservatives MLAs have launched a new provincial political party under the name One BC. Vancouver-Quilchena MLA Dallas Brodie says she is the interim leader with House leader is Tara Armstrong from the Okanagan. Brodie says the party will “defund the reconciliation industry, eradicate gender ideology, end mass immigration, and unapologetically advance pro-family policies.” MORE

Missing person- James Skelton – RCMP seek public assistance in locating 52-year old James Skelton who has not been seen or heard from since late May. His whereabouts are unknown and as a result, there is concern for his well-being. Skelton is approximately 6 feet tall, heavy set, green eyes, bald with a goatee. The picture is recent. If anyone has information on the whereabouts of James Skelton, please contact the Nanaimo RCMP non-emergency line at 250-754-2345.

The McNabb family is marking the birthday of the late Larry LD McNabb with a golf tournament at the Morgan Creek Golf Course. They promise a fun-filled day with golf and socializing. You don’t even have to be a golfer to participate, there will be lots of other activities.

250612

Alternative approval sought to convert part of park to Sandstone roadway

The city is taking another kick at the can with an Alternative Approval Process to remove park dedication from a portion of Elaine Hamilton Park at 1631 Naylor Crescent. The process begins June 18 and will run until 4:30 p.m. on July 21. The bylaw passed three readings from Council and proposes to remove the parkland designation on a portion of the park and dedicated as a road to provide access to land for future housing as part of the Sandstone development. MORE

The Nanaimo school board has approved its 2025-26 budget for $228.6 million. Projected enrolment sits at 15,640 full-time students. The budget allocates $171 million for salaries and benefits, including $81.5 million for teachers, $11.2 million for principals and vice-principals, $14.6 million for education assistants, $14.6 million for support staff and $7.7 million for substitute teachers. MORE

Nanaimo Dry Grad is in danger of being scaled back due to lack of volunteers. The non-alcohol celebration is set for Friday, June 20 at Beban Park. Organizers have events planned for the entire site, but a shortage of about 150 volunteers may eliminate some acivities, says co-ordinator Karen Pedersen. Outdoor events and ones slated for Cliff McNabb Arena would be the first to go. Dry grad hasn't taken place in five years, it is outside the public consciousness, she said. MORE

The Nanaimo-Cowichan Express is scheduled to extend service at the end of August. Buses will run up and down much of Vancouver Island seven days per week linking this route with the Cowichan Valley and Victoria route. MORE

BC Ferries’ decision to get four new vessels from China is drawing a lot of public response. There’s a lot of heat directed at China and its politics, but there’s another side to the deal. Bruce Williams, CEO of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce, said the Chinese contract in the best interests of all who rely on BC Ferries. Williams called it a “strongly-informed decision.” The provincial government and the Opposition have criticized the choice of China Merchants Industry Weihai Shipyards to build the new ferries. MORE

Don’t be surprised is you see more roadside checks over the coming months as the BC Highway Patrol ramps up its aim of reducing impaired driving cases. The Summer Impaired Driving Campaign: “Drive sober, stay alive” runs from June 15 to the end of August with enhanced patrols and check stops on the road. ICBC says 21 per cent of fatal crashes are related to impaired driving. Last December, the Highway Patroil stopped 267 impaired drivers – that’s about 8.61 per day, or one every three hours. MORE

Walter ‘Theo’ Machinski of Nanaimo has been sentenced to three and a half years in jail for setting fire to the family home of a Victoria Ukrainian priest three years ago. Machinski pleaded guilty to one count of arson with disregard for human life for setting the fire at the St. Nicholas Ukrainian Church early on April 20, 2022.  Victoria police say the family of five who lived there “narrowly escaped the blaze, with some forced to jump from second-storey windows while others were rescued by firefighters. MORE

You might be in for a shock when biking or hiking near Westwood Lake or Mt. Benson Regional Park next week. The Defense Department will conduct four days of night firing training from June 16 to 24 from 5 p.m. until midnight. The Nanaimo range in the mountain district west of Chase River and south of Westwood Lake if off limits to the public.  MORE

QUOTABLE – If you want to be remembered after you die, borrow money now from everyone you know.

250611

Bush fire near city quickly extinguished

by Nanaimo Fire Rescue crews

A bush fire that broke out near the city Tuesday afternoon was quickly knocked down, but officials warn it’s a troubling reminder of the region’s high fire risk. Nanaimo Fire Rescue responded to multiple reports of smoke in the area of Junction Avenue and 10th Street near noon Tuesday. When firefighters arrived, they discovered a 30-by-30 metre fire burning roughly 100 metres into the brush. It was brought under control within about 15 minutes thanks to a fast initial attack and access to nearby hydrants. MORE

Additional resources have been called in to fight an out-of-control fire near Labour Day Lake, about 20 km southwest of Parksville. The fire was spotted yesterday afternoon with two attack crews, two helicopters and one air tanker responding. Two more crews and one more air tanker were added today. MORE

RCMP have noted a worrying increase in theft from vehicles from 2024. That year, 175 thefts from vehicles were reported. To date this year there have been 265, a 51-per-cent increase from 2024. Take a look at some of the most recent reported at RCMP Police Beat.

Four Scooters, a skateboard and two helmets were stolen from Rock City Elementary school on Friday mid-morning. Police patrols of the area were unsuccessful. Staff told investigators that when students arrive in the morning, they place their skateboards and scooters in a central bin, just outside the main doors as they have been for several years no thefts. “Many students use their skateboards and or scooters to commute to school,” Said R/Cst Gary Obrien. If anyone has information on the theft or whereabouts of the items, please contact the Nanaimo RCMP non-emergency line at 250-754-2345. MORE PHOTOS

The next four new B.C. Ferries will have a 'Made in China' label. China Merchants Industry Weihai Shipyards was chosen following a global procurement process that included a public request for proposal, comprehensive bid evaluations, international site visits, and independent third-party reference checks. The new vessels will replace four aging ships by 2029. Meanwhile, Transportation Minister Mike Farnworth voiced concerns about about procuring services from “any country that is actively harming Canada’s economy” with tariffs and protectionism. MORE

I don’t usually give investment advice, but right now I would guess Costco could be a share to keep an eye on after we visited there yesterday. Holy Cow, that was in the mortgage range. 

QUOTABLE – I don’t know how to act my age, I’ve never been this age before

250610

A two-vehicle crash on the Old Island Highway at Norwell Drive sent two people  to hospital Monday evening. An SUV and minivan crashed just before 7 p.m. Two people in the SUV were taken to hospital with unknown injuries, while the driver and passenger in the minivan weren't injured. The intersection was the worst in Nanaimo for crashes in 2024 with 73 on the latest ICBC report. MORE

A wildfire southwest of Port Alberni is now held after being out-of-control a day earlier. The Nahamint Mountain fire was discovered Sunday at 10 ha before increasing to 23.5 ha Monday. Ground crews are working to contain the fire between drainages on the northeast and southwest flanks with the support of three helicopters, fallers, and heavy equipment. A new out-of-control blaze was discovered near the Quinsam River, southwest of Campbell River. MORE

Going to Port Alberni and beyond could be a challenge on Wednesday as Hwy. 4 at Cameron Lake will be closed from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for rock removal following a landslide in 2023. Recent falling rocks were stopped by steel fencing put up two years ago, but it periodically needs to be removed. Traffic in both directions will be affected and no detour will be available during the shutdown. MORE

It's not a pretty picture for high school graduates as B.C. has the second-highest youth unemployment rate in Canada. Statistics Canada figures show the seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate among people ages 15 to 24 was 16.6 per cent in May, up from 13.4 in April 2025 and up from 10.5 per cent in May 2024. Alberta has 17.2-per-cent unemployment rate in that age category while the national youth unemployment rate is 14.2 per cent. B.C.’s overall employment rate for May 2025 was 6.4 per cent, up from 6.2 per cent in April 2025 and 5.6 per cent in May 2024. MORE

53 years ago, a 14-year-old boy in foster care joined our family. When he reached the end of foster support on his 18th birthday he remained as a part of our family. He just turned 67 years old, a proud grandpa and still a member of our family. Happy birthday, Doug.

QUOTABLE – Laughing at your own mistakes can lengthen your life, but laughing at your wife’s mistakes can shorten your life.

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Woman charged with first-degree murder in husband's 2021 homicide 

Desiree Mosher is facing a first-degree murder charge in the death of her 30-year-old husband Ryan Mosher in 2021 about a month after moving to Nanaimo from Kelowna. She was arrested June 6 after the charge was approved by B.C. Prosecution Service. She remains in custody awaiting a court appearance on June 16. Police received information Aug.12, 2021 about a potential homicide at a residence in Nanaimo and the Nanaimo Serious Crime Unit conducted a meticulous investigation and prepared a comprehensive report for the B.C. Prosecution Service for charge approval.

June 8 has never been this hot before in Nanaimo. The weekend temperature set a record at 31.7 C, beating the record set back in 1903 at 30.6 degrees. Up the road a bit, Oceanside was also much hotter than normal, with the Qualicum Beach Airport at 29.8 on Sunday, beating a 2024 mark of 26.8 degrees.

A 10-hectare wildfire south of Sproat Lake is out of control and expected to spread. Eighteen firefighters, a response officer and three helicopters are on the scene in the Beverly Main area, west of Port Alberni. The fire is believed to be human-caused and crews are trying to determine the cause, the BC Wildfire website says.

There's one wildfire in play on Vancouver Island and the northern part of the province is seeing aggressive wildfires, with gusty winds. Ten evacuation orders and five evacuation alerts are in effect as a result.Smoke is impacting air quality in Fort Nelson and the Peace River region, prompting an advisory from Environment Canada.

It’s going to take a lot of patience, but the first subdivision application has been submitted for the giant Sandstone development in south end Nanaimo. Seacliff Properties has submitted an application for a 10-lot industrial subdivision south of Duke Point Highway. The 294 hectares are broken up into six distinct development areas. Development area 3, where the 10-lot industrial subdivision would be, is just over 20 hectares. MORE

Parcel delivery should not be affected by a lockout at DHL Canada Express. The company has invoked a contingency plan that allows it to keep serving its 50,000-plus customers, from Lululemon to e-commerce giants Shein and Temu. MORE

QUOTABLE – I just got my latest Hydro bill and I believe I got charged for sunlight, moonlight, street lights, the light of my life, the speed of light and the light at the end of the tunnel.

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Veteran education administrator

new interim president of VIU

Dennis Johnson is the new interim president hired to lead Vancouver Island University in transition. He will be vice-chancellor and interim president up to two years. Emily Huner, VIU chief financial officer and vice-president of administration filled in as acting president and vice-chancellor following the resignation of Deborah Saucier in April. Johnson's resumé includes three decades of experience in post-secondary education, most recently as a consultant for a number of institutions with work related to finance and organizational improvement to projects. MORE

A 79-year-old Qualicum Beach senior was struck and killed by a pickup truck while cycling in Nanoose Bay on Friday. A pickup truck collided with a group of cyclists. Two were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries while the third died at the scene. An initial investigation indicates that the pickup entered Marina Way from a side street and hit the cyclists. Police ask anyone with information or video to call 250-248-6111. MORE

While Nanaimo is enjoying a crystal-clear heat wave, Environment Canada has issued an air quality alert due to wildfires in northeastern British Columbia. The statement covers the Fort Nelson and the Peace River region, with increasing health risks from wildfire smoke over the next couple of days. Environment Canada issued more than two dozen special weather statements Friday, warning of an early season heat event that could see temperatures in some parts of the province reach the 30s on the coast and the mid-30s in Nanaimo. MORE

Professional wrestling has made a comeback in Nanaimo with a lot of effort over the past dozen years. It hit a high spot a year ago with Wrestlefest at Frank Crane Arena bringing the heat with more than 2,000 fans. They seemed to like it, the popularity brought regular monthly attendance up to about 500 from 150 before the big show. BJ Laredo, the face of Vancouver Island Pro Wrestling, is bringing the second Wrestlefest to Frank Crane Arena on Friday, June 27. On top of the main show at 7:30 p.m. will be a VIP event at 5:30 p.m. with different tickets. MORE

What’s all the bafflegab about gun laws and why do politicians want to ban guns? Barry Holland is an expert and will talk on Firearms Rights and the Law, Sunday, June 22, 1-4 p.m. at the Nanaimo Fish & Game Club, 1325 Nanaimo Lakes Road. He’ll tell you all about Canadian firearms law, case history around self-defence, how to make a citizen's arrest, and how to interact with police to stay out of trouble. His talk is crucial information for firearms owners today. You may be surprised at what you don’t know.

QUOTABLE– The older I get the more I understand why grumpy old men exist

View the Daily Buzz on your cell phone

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Dufferin Place Seniors back

on wheels with replacement bus

Miracles happen but sometime you have to wait for a while. Dufferin Place seniors are back on the road with a refurbished bus bought by the Nanaimo and District Hospital Foundation. The new bus is flexible to allow for wheel chair and walker needs. A first try three years ago saw the cost prohibitive at around $170,000, and that soared to $280,000. The Foundation kept working and lo and behold, they found a refurbished bus in Manitoba for just under $70,000 and a donation came in to cover the cost. MORE

You’re only as old as you let yourself feel. That’s what inspired 70-year-old Bruce McKenzie, a volunteer firefighter with North Oyster Fire Rescue, to enter this year’s Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock. It’s a 1,200-km, 14-day cycling tour from Port Alice to Victoria to raise money for children with cancer and to fund research to battle pediatric cancer. The training, starting in March, can be grueling. McKenzie grew up in Nanaimo, but his career in the oil and gas industry took him abroad for more than 30 years. FULL STORY

The 55-Plus B.C. Games are in Nanaimo in September and the registration deadline is June 15. The seniors compete in 8-ball, archery, badminton, bocce, carpet bowling, cribbage, curling, darts, disc golf, equestrian, five-pin bowling, golf, hockey, horseshoes, lawn bowling, mountain bike racing, pickleball, slo-pitch, snooker, soccer, swimming, table tennis, tennis and track and field. Get or information by e-mail zone2info@55plusbcgames.org. And if you’re not an athletes, volunteers are needed for the Games.

Colleen Spier has been appointed judge effective July 7 at the Nanaimo Provincial Court to assist with increased pressures the courthouse is experiencing and relieve delays. Spier graduated from the University of British Columbia faculty of law in 2007. She recently was the assistant deputy minister of the Indigenous justice secretariat at the Ministry of Attorney General. She has a background in family law, child protection and mediation.

QUOTABLE – Some people need proof to accept a lie but demand endless proof to accept the truth.

Vancouver Island University cuts back programs to battle deficit

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Ten programs will be phased out at VIU beginning this fall with another four a year later as the University cuts programs in its deficit mitigation plan. VIU confirmed a number of program cuts, staffing changes and more restructuring after the Board of Governors meeting. President Emily Huner said students currently enrolled in these programs will continue to receive the academic support to complete their studies and graduate. MORE

RCMP are looking for a man who pointed a firearm at a homeowner on Wednesday in the Westwood Lake area. Cst Sherri Wade said a resident said the suspect was looking for a former resident. He was told to leave, and then pulled a weapon, resembling a handgun, pointed it at a resident, and walked away. The suspect was wearing blue pants, a blue shirt and a light grey or beige hoodie. Police ask residents in the area to review their security and dash cam video footage between 6:45 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. Anyone who recognizes the suspect or knows his identity and whereabouts, is asked to call the Nanaimo RCMP detachment at 250-754-2345, file #2025-16924. MORE

Take it easy, keep and eye open for Bambi. It’s birthing season in the animal kingdom with lots of young animals crossing vehicle paths. The city warns drivers to watch out as deer wander, often with a fawn or two close by. Doug Fraser, of Nature Nanaimo, says drivers should look out for western painted turtles, endangered and native to Vancouver Island. The western painted turtle leaves the water seasonally during egg laying from June to July, then when the newborns make the dangerous trek to the water the next May to June. MORE

We got the first word last week, but now Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for an early season heat event expected to hit this weekend and last until early next week. The heat wave is expected to linger from Saturday to Tuesday for most of the Island, including Nanaimo. The above-seasonal temperature is expected to reach mid- to high-20s and above 30 for some areas. MORE

QUOTABLE – If you cannot question it, it’s not science, it’s propaganda

B.C. Ferries turns senior citizen

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B.C. Ferries is turning 65 on June 15 and travellers are getting the present, a one-day discount for travel between Vancouver and Vancouver Island. That’s formally seniors age, (add your own smart-assed remark – old, rickety). “Saver fares” will be charged on all sailings for the entire day. They will be $65 one way for standard-height vehicles and a driver. It’s $115 for a regular reservation and driver. The company started with two vessels in 1960 and now has 37, transporting more than 22 million passengers and eight million vehicles yearly. MORE

The Island Highway, Bowen and Northfield Road intersections has the second-highest collision rate on Vancouver Island behind the Douglas Street at McKenzie Avenue off-ramp in Saanich. Three of the top four crash intersections on Vancouver Island last year were in Nanaimo. MORE

QUOTABLE – Why are there ten wieners in a package but only eight buns?

Cry me a river,

things are tough all over

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I must have got out of the wrong side of the bed this morning, even the coffee has a bitter bite to it. 

It doesn’t help when you get the feeling that the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal is there to side with complainants rather than judge whether discrimination actually exists. Guilty and that’s all there is to it. The problem is the immense amount of power they wield. Not much else can be deduced from the limited arguments we’re seen in the Victor Mema case, fired for financial misconduct but given a huge payout based perceived discrimination.

We have a students’ survey at VIU claiming that students are going hungry, especially foreign students. The report claimed students are forced to dumpster dive or even steal to satiate their hunger. More than half were suffering, according to the study, and a lack of culturally-diverse foods like halal and kosher. Those claims are tough to swallow because those students have to be well funded to attend Canadian schools. I don’t know how it is now, but students used to have either summer jobs or part-time jobs to pay their way.

Why are the RCMP are investigating possible war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Israel-Hamas war? They want to collect information on possible crimes by any party involved in the conflict. Please tell me why a Canadian federal police force would be wandering there when the United Nations would be the natural body to play that role?

Federal prison inmates have launched a class-action lawsuit claiming they were subjected to inhumane treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic. They claim they endured inhumane rights restrictions, including being confined to cells for 20 hours or more each day without meaningful contact with other people. Plaintiff Dean Roberts, a multiple murderer at Mission Institution, said the pandemic brought chaos as pandemic measures sent prisoners into despair, including one who sewed his lips together.

Oh, cry me a river. The pandemic had adverse impacts on all people, not just jailbirds. We were banned from meeting in groups, were given mandatory injections of unproven vaccines, lost jobs and on and on. Whom can we launch a class-action suit against?

Supreme Court rules Mema

entitled to $640,000 from city

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Former Nanaimo Finance Director Victor Mema will walk away with more than $640,000 after a Supreme Court ruling over “racial bias” claimed by Mema who was fired seven years ago. B.C. Human Rights Tribunal ruled in 2023, the City had discriminated. Mema is of Zimbabwean descent. MORE

Who got tax exemptions from the city last year? The city’s draft 2024 annual financial report is now available. This is the bottom line for those who have questions about the city’s operations. It’s all here, there are no secrets, the report details all aspects of city spending and income and it’s open to the public. There’s 127 pages in all, so take your time. READ IT HERE.

Further tests today will determine if Lantzville’s Sebastion Road and Harper Road beach ends can reopen. The area is out of bounds for walking, swimming and canoeing due to possible contamination. Water samples taken on Monday found excess amounts of enterococci – a bacteriological indicator of fecal contamination. Signage  at both beach ends warns users. MOR

Two notable Nanaimo men died in the past week.

A name about town when it came to real estate, Barry Clark closed his final deal when he died suddenly last week. Barry was a sales agent, managing broker, director, president, and CEO of Royal LePage Nanaimo Realty. A 2019 Real Estate Magazine article shows Barry had been with the company for 60 years when he died. Read it HERE. A tribute to Barry.

You would have met Gary Dorland if you ever bought Nanaimo Clippers 50/50 tickets. Gary died Tuesday morning. He was considered family and part of the heart of the Clippers organization. MORE

Costco isn’t letting retaliatory Canadian tariffs impact its bottom line. It is buying in-house brands like Kirkland within the countries with tariffs. Costco reported US$62 billion in net sales, an eight-per cent increase from the same quarter last year. Company executives said they’ve been actively looking for ways to avoid impacts from tariffs, with chief executive Ron Vachris saying this included looking at producing its Kirkland brand and products sold at Canadian Costco locations. MORE

QUOTABLE– If it were not for immigrants we'd have nobody working in health care.

Stilwell elected vice president

of Canadian Paralympic Committee 

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Congratulations Michelle Stilwell on being elected vice-president of the Canadian Paralympic Committee. The four-time Paralympian also served as our MLA  and provincial cabinet minister. She has been a tireless advocate bringing diverse expertise to the role and a unique perspective. Stilwell won gold medals in two different sports – wheelchair basketball and Para athletics. She won seven Paralympic podiums, including six gold, in her impressive career.

Stilwell is one of seven recipients of the Order of Sport. Soccer icon Christine Sinclair was also named. They will be inducted in the Order of Sport and Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in October. MORE

Get used to it, a stretch of summer weather has arrived with warmer-than-average temperatures, accompanied by sunshine for the next several days across the mid-Island. Meteorologist Bobby Sekhon says we’re settling into more of a blocking ridge with warm, dry weather for the foreseeable future here, especially the next week or two. Temperatures are expected to hit near 30 degrees by Sunday, well above the average 13. MORE

QUOTABLE – Are funny people happier?

Affordable housing nothing more
than just another buzz word

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Call it the new math. A housing complex was recenlty sold to a non-profit with government assistance so it could qualify as affordable – and the rent went up. Really? That's is not what’s supposed to happen.

The Maple Ridge News reports the province put about $9 million into the $18.5 million purchase of the privately-owned 44-unit Brookside Gardens by Connective Support Society to transition it into affordable housing.

So rents should go down, right? Not so, says one of the residents, her rent increased $61 per month to $2,066. Other tenants tell similar stories of run-down conditions, electrical problems, wobbly stair railings, and more. On top of that, renters have to have a minimum income of $4,500 a month to qualify.

One tenant with a disability, who does not qualify for reduced rent, was told to move to Vancouver Island “and find cheap rent.”

I get it now, affordable is another buzz word without meaning. FULL STORY

Woman taken to hospital

after fall at Piper's Lagoon Park

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A woman was taken to hospital after she was believed to 

have fallen off a cliff at Pipers Lagoon Park on Sunday afternoon. RCMP, Fire Rescue and BC Ambulance responded to a 911 call. A man who was walking in the park said he saw the woman walking alone before the fall. He says had he not seen her fall, he’s not sure she would’ve survived, as she landed in a position where she couldn’t breathe. MORE

That’s it, Hudson’s Bay joined Eaton’s, Sears and Wooodwards in the annals of retailing history when its stores closed for the final time. The 355-year-old company wrapped up its liquidation sale on Sunday as it goes through bankruptcy proceedings. Ruby Liu, founder of Central Walk   which owns Mayfair and Nanaimo’s Woodgrove Shopping Centre, has bought up to 28 Hudson's Bay store leases, including ones at Central Walk properties. Liu has said she would like to open a country-wide department store chain, with at least 20 retail stores, called “The New Bay.” MORE

Dinosaurs used to roam where we now live, and their history will come alive with an exhibit from the Royal BC Museum beginning next week at the Nanaimo District Museum. The exhibit will be here from June 7 to Sept. 6 with fossils from across the province. It includes ancient B.C. through interactive displays, fossil specimens and paleontological research gathered by the Royal BC Museum’s scientific team. MORE

Most Canadians know sweet tweet about firearms and firearms laws other than they have been told guns are bad. You can find out from Barry Holland at a free public talk Sunday, June 22, 1:00-4:00 pmat the Nanaimo Fish & Game Club, 1325 Nanaimo Lakes Road. Barry is the author of No More Mr. Nice Guy: A guide to defending yourself, family and property in Canada.He’ll speak on all aspects around self-defence, how to make a citizen's arrest, and how to interact with police to stay out of trouble.

QUOTABLE – We don’t need louder voices, we need softer hearing

Separation talk just a deflection

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Everything is cyclical – and cynical – in politics, including creating false scenarios to detract from the real issues. When in trouble, steer in another direction by changing the subject.

That’s what’s happening with the Alberta and Western Canada separation talk, an issue seeking a solution for no problem.

Keep your eye on the prize, back to basics, like putting food on the table. There’s a lot of talk about affordability, and these days that includes food.

Minimum wage hits $17.85

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The minimum wage goes upto $17.85 across the province on June 1, a 2.6-per-cent increase. And that has a cascading effect as wages above that level also tend to increase. On a standard work week that adds up to $660 a week, but then the government has its hand out for a share of that.

The VanIsle 360 two-week yacht race around Vancouver Island launches this morning. The large entry of about 45 boats has forced a change in the start line to the outside of Newcastle Island. The harbour has become busier with seaplane and ferries. MORE

Paving begins on Bowen and Northfield Roads. Crews will pave at night from 6 pm until 6 am, June 1 to 6. Expect delays, lane closures and slow down and watch for crews and traffic control personnel.

The province has designated $5 million for a new safety program to reduce lower-level crime like robbery, shoplifting, vandalism, property damage and non-violent street crimes in high-traffic business areas. The new C-STEP program will give police more tools to respond to street crimes, including shoplifting, theft and property damage. The funding will support increased patrols and work with businesses and social services on co-ordinated plans to pre-emptively address street disorder. MORE

Vesna Ukrainian Dancers welcome guest performances by Vesna Ukrainian Singers, Courtenay's Dolyna Ukrainian Dancers and Cassandra Karras' School of Highland Dance on Sunday at the Malaspina Theatre. Vesna's adult and junior members won gold, while seniors brought home two silver medals from the B.C. Ukrainian Dance Festival this month. MORE

Nicholas Francis Harris, 46, who fled the scene after rolling his luxury car, and possession of $140,000 of cocaine, has been sentenced to five years in jail. He pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges as well as possessing a loaded handgun during Nanaimo-based offences. Crown prosecutor Ian McFadgen said Harris flipped his 2021 Jaguar Convertible in April 2022 south of Brooks Landing. He fled on foot and was arrested after a chase. FULL STORY.

QUOTABLE– Old people don’t worry about climate change because they’ve seen 50 years of hysteria about nothing.

If you see a lot of flag waving today, it's Mayor Leonard's Krog's birthday. 

Shut down crimes before they happen

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Supportive housing is one of the main issues in our province, but government rejects possible solutions. Retiring Victoria police Chief Del Manak is forward thinking on crime in supportive housing and wants Residential Tenancy Act changes to keep known criminals out of supportive housing facilities.

That makes perfect sense. Police now respond after the fact, when there’s a stabbing, a major incident, or someone is exploiting individuals. Manak wants to get ahead of that and not allow somebody with a criminal record to actually get into the building in the first place.

Safety of staff and the residents in supportive housing should be a top priority by giving housing providers more tools to evict criminals who become embedded in supportive housing.

Here’s the rub, Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon says the province has no plans to amend the act, adding the province’s job is to ensure everyone has access to housing, even people who have criminal records. When he says that he forgets one thing, access to SAFE housing.

It’s easy to figure out where the problem lies. Ideology is at the root of many of our problems.

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Rustad's grandstanding was juvenile

All the world is a stage and we are but players in the drama. If that’s true, what about our government?

Conservative Leader John Rustad raised a fuss because a Zoom screen of one MLA was blurred during a crucial vote. He says the NDP’s Rick Glumac’s vote should not have counted in the close vote in which the Speaker eventually cast the deciding vote, siding with the government. Defeat of the bill would have meant calling an election.

Rustad already has a credibility problem for his party, and this type of activity doesn’t change the picture, it’s juvenile.

Nothing better in Legislature bullpen

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We’re knee-deep in cow pies and they’re getting deeper. The provincial government is floundering around like a fish out of water and the next election is more than three years away.

You don’t have to look beyond the basics to see the evidence – hospital emergency rooms being shut down again and again, health care in general, a faltering education systems, crime rates rising, there’s no end in sight for homelessness. It’s getting worse daily.

All those issues can be fixed with enough money, but in too many cases that’s being wasted on ideology like “stopping” climate change with electric cars, EV charging stations, rejecting pipelines, and on and on. No amount of money will ever stop climate change, it’s here, we just have to adapt and learn to live with it.

Premier David Eby is a one-man gang, maneuvering to concentrate more and more power in his hands. What makes it worse is the Official Opposition is not up to the task either, having a considerable credibility gap compounded by their political inexperience.

And then there are the special interest groups lining up for goodies.