Mount St. Helen's erupted

up 45 years ago

Tomorrow marks 45 years since the Mount St. Helen’s eruption. There are tons of videos on Youtube if you want to look back to that day, May 18, 1980. I was in Winnipeg where the ash from the eruption arrived a week later. You couldn’t drive without using your wipers, the ash was falling so thick.

The Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce Nanaimo Business Awards.

Community Builder of the Year - Nanaimo & District Hospital Foundation

Creative Services - Pye Design

Diversity & Inclusion - Nanaimo Child Development Centre Society 

Downtown Business Impact - Black Rabbit Kitchen

Family First - Nanaimo Community Hospice Society 

Financial Services - Community Futures Central Island

Food & Beverage - Red's Bakery

Health & Wellness - Sea Wolves Men's Cancer Pack

Innovation – Vegain Nutrition Inc 

Major Employer – 100+ Employees - Mid Island Co-op

Micro & Home-Based - Aligned Kitchen and Cabinets

New Business of the Year - Kinsu Chocolates 

Not-For-Profit - Island Crisis Care Society

Personal & Aesthetic Services - Candice Deanna | Makeup | Hair | Photography

Property Developer - Gulf Island Builds

Retailer - Red Shelf Decor

Small & Medium Business - Berwick on the Lake

Trades & Skilled Labour - ServiceXCEL

Young Entrepreneur - Precise Mechanical Repair

Women in Business - Jennifer Hufnagel - Hufnagel Consulting

People's Choice - Purple Cactus

QUOTABLE – Life is like a coin. You can spend it any way you wish, but you can spend it only once.

Illicit drug deaths trending down

250516 –There is a glimmer of hope as fewer people appear to be dying from toxic drugs across Vancouver Island and the province. The BC Coroners Service said nine people died from illicit toxic drugs in Nanaimo in February and March with 21 deaths across central Vancouver Island. By comparison, 48 people died on Vancouver Island, in connection to drug toxicity in March 2024 alone. MORE

Governments are doing a lot chin wagging about streamlining building processes while at the same making it more expensive. The Regional District is looking for new revenue sources to offset the costs for new solid waste and recycling facilities. Directors sent the proposal back to the committee stage for further review. The bylaw would create a solid waste and recycling facilities development cost charge for eligible projects $50,000 or more. That could generate around $127 million a year, based on estimates from current projects which would be assessed the charges. MORE

When it’s important enough Canadians are up to the task. Canadian Tire has bought the rights to Hudson’s Bay for $30 million for intellectual property belonging to the retailer. It includes the Hudson’s Bay brand, its iconic, multi-coloured stripes motif, its coat of arms and other trademarks. You’ll still be able to get the ever-popular Hudson Bay blankets at Canadian Tire, which also owns SportChek, Party City, Mark’s and Pro Hockey Life, at their 1,700 stores. MORE

Two Vancouver Island police officers have been charged with driving without due care and attention in separate incidents. The prosecution service says RCMP Staff Sgt. Steven Perret has been charged in an incident in Ladysmith last June.  In a separate incident, Cpl. Phillip DiBattista of the Central Saanich Police Service is in relation to a crash with a cyclist in May last year. DiBattista's first court appearance is scheduled for June 11 at the Victoria Law Courts, while Perret's appearance is scheduled for June 10 at Nanaimo Law Courts. MORE

QUOTABLE – My memory has become so bad I could arrange my own surprise party

Bear warning posted in Buttertubs

250515 – The city has posted warnings about a bear sighting around Buttertubs Marsh. A sow and cub were spotted there Tuesday. WildSafe B.C. notesthat while "most bear encounters result in the bear leaving an area," animals that are conditioned to associate humans with food may be more assertive or destructive. Just be careful. MORE

The Regional District is updating its Mount Benson Regional Park management plan and you can have a say. Phase one of consultation will ask public input, to help build an understanding about the park’s natural, cultural and recreational values and to collect ideas for the park’s future. You’ll get to give you input on an only survey open until June. An open house is scheduled for Saturday, May 24, at 2761 Benson View Rd. in Nanaimo from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. To learn more or to access the current 2010-20 plan or the questionnaire, visit www.getinvolved.rdn.ca/mbrp-management-plan.

Most of us will have received our tax notices this week. You’re likely to have to shell out more as the rate went up 7.8 per cent, about $222, or $18.50 per month for the average household. The bill includes requisitions for the Regional District of Nanaimo, the Nanaimo Regional Hospital District, the Vancouver Island Regional Library, Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools and B.C. Assessment. There’s the possiblty of postal strike so make sure you don’t rely on that to meet the July 2 payment deadline. You can pay through your bank or at the city's service and resource centre at 411 Dunsmuir St. MORE

When the news tap dries up you can always turn to the wide world of sports. The Canucks have named Adam Foote as their new head coach replacing Rick Tochet who has since signed for the same role with the Philadelphia Flyers. And former Lions quarterback Buck Pierce has signed on as the new head coach of the Lions. This is his third sojourn in Vancouver, twice as a quarterback and now head coach. He obviously likes it here.

QUOTABLE – Mistakes are a fact of life. It is the response to the error that counts

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We're at the mercy of technology

You never truly realize how tied you are to your computer until something goes awry. The software I use for the Daily Buzz decided to throw a snit and I was in nether land for a number of days. I’m glad to be back with the latest edition.

Man faces seven firearms charges

A Nanaimo man is scheduled to appear in court today facing seven firearms charges. That came after a witness reported a man had pointed a firearm at him. The charges include pointing a firearm, possessing a weapon for a purpose dangerous to the public peace, and possession of a loaded prohibited or restricted firearm without a licence to possess the weapon. RCMP also seized multiple firearms, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, and a pipe bomb, which was successful disposed of by the RCMP explosive disposal unit. MORE  

Woman falls after bungy failure

A woman escaped injury after she slipped out of her rigging bungy jumping rigging and fell into the water during the weekend. WildPlay Element Parks confirmed that the guest slipped out of the rigging and fell approximately 10 feet into the water. She suffered minor injuries to her ankle. B.C. Emergency Health Services confirmed that paramedics provided treatment at the scene before transporting her to hospital for precautionary reasons. MORE

Nanaimo court has record delays

Being number one is not always a good thing. The Provincial Court of B.C. shows Nanaimo has the longest delays for cases of adult criminal, family and small claims cases. Nanaimo had the longest trial wait times in 11 of 12 categories in the adult criminal, family and small claims divisions between Oct. 1, 2024 and March 31, 2025. Wait times between eight and 12 months were reported. MORE

QUOTABLE – Rogers/Shaw and Telus are boosting customer appreciation – answering their phones would be a great start.

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Want to buy a portable hospital?

In all their wisdom, the federal government’s geniuses bought four custom-made, portable hospitals for more than $200 million, all in the name of bolstering overwhelmed hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic. They were barely ever used and now are costing $7 million a year to store. The facilities are now packed away in controlled storage spaces in Brockville and Chesterville, Ont. These Mobile Health Units are field hospitals designed to deal with acute respiratory illness cases and were meant to backstop overflowing hospitals. MORE

WestJet sells shares to Delta

WestJet is selling 25 per cent of its minority shares to Delta Air Lines and Korean Air for $550 million USD. WestJet said the is intended to align airlines’ interests, and strengthen connectivity between Canada and North America, Europe and Asia and beyond. MORE

It’s baby season, watch for wildlife.

Warning about deer on highways

This is the time of year when wildlife procreates, especially deer, so take extra care on the highways, particularly in areas with high levels of wildlife activity resulting in unexpected road crossings. Road Safety at Work is an injury-reduction initiative of WorkSafeBC. Even a small dear can cause a serious crash. An average of 11,503 crashes involving wildlife were reported annually between 2019 and 2023 – leaving an average of 989 people injured per year. MORE

Next Tour de Rock ready to roll

Now the hard work begins, 18 riders have been named for the Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock. They will now train, ride and raise funds for the 28th annual Canadian Cancer Society event to help families hit by childhood cancer. The target is to raise $1 million. After training three times a week and raising funds through summer, the team will cycle 1,200 kilometres down the length of Vancouver Island from Sept. 20 to Oct. 3. VIDEO

QUOTABLE – Taco Bell is still the only place where you can still get gas for $1.39

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More housing coming

for homeless

The province will create 190 more indoor housing spaces in three sites for our homeless population, earmarking about $32 million.  People using overnight shelters will have priority to move into the first project at 1300 Island Highway by this spring. The other sites should be ready this summer. All sites will have individual units, shared amenity spaces, meals and laundry services, on-site staff 24/7, one entrance, and referrals to community programs essential to the health and wellness of residents. Full government announcement HERE.

Get ready to dodge

e-scooter traffic

E-bikes that you’ve seen whizzing around the city will soon have offsprings. BCAA’s Evolve shared e-mobility program will add e-scooters to the mix as part of an expansion of e-bike share program. Business Development Manager David Holzer told city council community response to the pilot program after one year has been excellent. The expansion will bring more e-bike stations and e-scooters. Holtzer said e-scooters are more popular than e-bikes and have much higher usage rates than e-bikes, which makes them more effective at shifting people toward alternative transportation modes. MORE

It’s not easy being old

on our Island

Journalist Kevin Laird take an in-dept look at the challenge of aging residents to remain in the homes and communities. As the senior population grows rapidly, the systems meant to help them age with dignity are faltering — leaving many to face rising costs, health-care delays, and deepening isolation on their own. Vancouver Island has one of the oldest populations in Canada. One in four residents is over the age of 65, a figure projected to rise sharply over the next two decades, especially in rural and coastal areas. Support systems aren’t keeping pace. Non-urgent wait times for long-term care now average nearly 10 months. More than 6,500 people are on wait lists for long-term care across B.C., a 150-per-cent  increase in five years. Kevin details other concerns HERE.

Former financial advisor

fined $1 million

A dishonest former financial advisor who took close to $1.7 million from two elderly clients has been fined $1 million and ordered to pay back close to $1.3 million. The victims were described as "elderly and vulnerable, with noted health concerns." The Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization ruled that Michael Rowland Tomkins misappropriated funds from clients over five years through electronic money transfers, cheque and bank draft deposits. MORE

Fire destroys waterfront house

An unoccupied house along the waterfront was severely damaged in a fire Thursday afternoon. Employees at the next door Sands Funeral Home reportedly heard a pop and saw smoke in the house, a portion of which is used by the funeral home for storage. Five fire engines responded and employed a defensive attack on learning there we no occupants and because so much smoke had built up. Sands staff and residents of an adjacent condominium were advised to shelter in place, on standby to evacuate in case the fire could not be contained. There were no injuries. MORE

QUOTABLE – Why is nutritional information printed on bags of ice cubes?

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No news is not always good news

The print-edition of the News Bulletin did not arrive this week as usual due to production issues. However, not to panic, you can link to all the top stories from your Daily Buzz or go directly to their e-edition here, and all the flyers here. Their website did not provide any further news on the production issues for the rest of the day.

Snowbirds plan two shows over Nanaimo

As I told you last week, the Snowbirds are coming to the Harbour City in August for two shows. There’s an evening show Aug. 15 and again in the following afternoon. The Nanaimo Airport is sponsoring the event in partnership with the city and the Port Authority. MORE

Hundreds of ballots misplaced, not counted

Human error is blamed for more than 800 special ballots not counted after being mistakenly kept at a returning office in B.C. Elections Canada says the outcomes in 74 districts were not affected. In all, 822 special ballots cast by electors in 74 electoral districts across the country were left with the returning officer in Coquitlam – Port Coquitlam. More than 500 of the ballots left in Coquitlam – Port Coquitlam were for the electoral district of Port Moody—Coquitlam. Others were for ridings across the country. MORE

Rocks placed on highway cause crashes

Somebody is playing a dangerous game by putting rocks on the Island Highway near Qualicum Beach. That has resulted in one vehicle to crash and damaged at least two others. So be cautious if you’re driving in the vicinity.  The first happened after midnight Saturday, when a vehicle struck a large stack of rocks in the slow lane. The vehicle crashed into an embankment, and thankfully no one was injured. The next incident was around 2 a.m. Sunday, when three vehicles drove into rocks on the highway. MORE

QUOTABLE – I’m not a wine expert but I’m very dedicated to do the research

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Get ready to be alarmed – emergency test

Expect a loud alarm on your phoneand TV and radio this afternoon. The National Public Alerting System will test the Emergency Alert System at 1:55 p.m. The test involves sending a signal to all connected cell phones, TV and radios with messaging indicating the test is ongoing, and in a real situation the messaging would relay potentially life-saving details. The system  is tested twice per year. MORE

Four sent to hospital after fire

A fire in a Harewood townhouse sent four people to hospital Tuesday afternoon. First responders attended the fire in a second-storey bedroom at 490 Gardasan Way shortly after noon. All residents had evacuated from the home when firefighters arrived, but three had suffered smoke inhalation and a fourth person had sustained an injury. MORE

RCMP holding open house on Saturday

Nanaimo RCMP are going on full display Saturday. You can meet Mounties in red serge and learn about policing careers, equipment and more. The open house runs from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. outside the detachment on Prideaux Street. There will be a number of booths where you can meet RCMP members who serve in a multitude of roles. The Emergency Response Team will be there with its armoured vehicle along with police dog services, traffic, bike unit, forensics, bomb disposal, underwater recovery team and other personnel. You’ll also see Community Policing volunteers, Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock riders, and Central Vancouver Island Crime Stoppers representatives are also expected. Recruiters will be there for anyone interested in law enforcement as a career.   MORE

QUOTABLE – There have been 41 climate disasters predicted since 1967. The record so far, 0-41

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VIU looking at cutting programs

Budget cuts may result in program cuts at Vancouver Island University. A number of graduate and undergraduate programs face suspension. The university has submitted two packages of proposed program cuts to its Senate Planning and Priorities Committee for review. That would include cancelling or suspending graduate and undergraduate programs. The Master of Community Planning program and graduate diplomas in project management, international trade and teacher leadership could be cut. The dental assistant program and Bachelor of Arts programs in global studies, liberal studies and philosophy are also on the chopping block. MORE

Council to take second look at Loudon plan

Not so fast, City Council is going to take a second look at a boathouse at Loudon Park. Council will reconsider the large boat storage and multi-purpose building and public washrooms, and the removal of 29 trees and considerable green space. MORE

Driver clocked at 218 km on Island Highway

Not so fast – A Nanaimo man was fined $483 and had his car impounded for a week after he was clocked doing 218 km on the TCH near the airport recently. Cpl. Michael McLaughlin said he will face higher insurance rates when he renews with ICBC. To add insult to injury, the man had to call his wife to pick him up. MORE

Government drugs diverted to street

Ronald Fred Schilling, 68, was sentenced to three years in jail after he pleaded guilty to five drug trafficking charges. The admitted cocaine user intercepted drugs from the safe supply program. Federal Prosecutor Jenny Rutherford told court about the 2023 arrest involving lethal opioids and hard drugs traded for prescribed medications intended to keep users alive. MORE

Canada Post workers may strike again

The Canadian Press reports Canada Post employees may hit the bricks again in about two weeks. A strike or lockout would mark the second time in under six months that the postal service halted, after 55,000 employeeswalked off the job for 32 daysin November and December. The two sides agreed to resume negotiations last week, supported by a mediator, after bargaining broke off in March. MORE

Nanaimo not on fine dining list

When it comes to fine cuisine you’ll have to look outside of Nanaimo. The 2025 list of Canada’s 100 best restaurants lists 19 from B.C. with Vancouver having 14 of B.C.’s 19 top restaurants. Outside of Vancouver, two restaurants in Richmond made the list this year, along with two on Vancouver Island and one in Whistler. All of the B.C. restaurants that made the 2025 list follow. MORE

QUOTABLE – You’re only young once, but you can stay immature forever

It had to happen

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The Catholic world has a new pope, Leo XIV, an American-born Cardinal named Robert Prevost. Is it any surprise some people have already tagged him as Pope Bob?

Boycotting U.S. events is only hurting every-day Americans 

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Donald Trump is not going to inconvenience me. And I’m not going to get even.

Toronto Blue Jays are playing in Seattle this weekend, an event that usually lures thousands south of the border for those days. Data provided by the Whatcom Council of Governments comparing the number of B.C. license plates crossing the border into Washington State found that in April 2024, 200,853 vehicles crossed, compared to 98,576 in April 2025.

As of Thursday afternoon, hundreds of tickets were still available for all three Blue Jays games this weekend. Lt.-Gov. Denny Heck said his office had received information that reservations for the weekend were down by half.

By boycotting the weekend events Canadians are not hurting Trump, they’re only punishing our friends down south, and ourselves. Don’t let Trump spoil a good weekend, jump in the car and see the Jays in action.

It’s more than just a weekend in Seattle. WestJet is suspending nine routes to the U.S due to lower demand. Many of the suspended routes are to tourist destinations such as Las Vegas and Orlando, Fla.

Getting even does not solve anything. We're not as powerful as a lot of us might imagine ourselves to be. While we're at it, let's welcome a lot of Americans to Canada. 

NDP union supporters

switched to Conservatives

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There are many side stories to the federal election with analyses galore. The most unthinkable is the number of New Democrats who flipped their votes to the Conservatives. After winning 25 seats in the 2021 election, The NDP plummeted to just seven seats.

Union workers appear to have played a key role. UBC political science professor Terri Givens said there is a shift of people who are union workers who typically in the past might have gone NDP or Liberal.

“They’re frustrated with the last 10 years. They’re also looking for somebody who’s going to say the things they want to hear, and that’s something that Poilievre has really tried to do is to be the person who’s out there saying what people want to hear on things like housing and immigration and affordability., Given added.”

Ipsos Public Affairs President Darrell Bricker says it’s clear what drove that shift. “If you’re a member of a working class union, particularly if you are a male member of a working-class union at least, they don’t feel that they have a place in that particular version of the New Democratic Party.

Ipsos data shows of those who voted for the NDP in 2021, 19 per cent switched their vote to the Liberals this election, but five per cent went to the Conservatives, which could amount to more than 151,800 voters.

While five per cent might not seem like a lot, it could shift the balance when progressive votes split between the NDP and Liberals, and make the Conservatives more competitive, Bricker said.

Mid-Island communities reliant on natural resources like Nanaimo-Ladysmith, North Island-Powell River and Cowichan-Malahat-Langford switched to the Conservatives.

Bricker said this is in part due to the Conservatives’ efforts to appeal to voters who were more focused on affordability.

“What we saw was working people who weren’t really motivated by the issue of what was going on with the United States, really focused more on the affordability question, which normally would be enough to keep them pinned down with the NDP,” Bricker said.

“This time around, they actually saw Poilievre and the Conservatives as being a viable option on that question.”

It's time to quit dating, 

get married

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Before Monday's election we had a minority Liberal government with the New Democrats holding them to ransom. Now after the election we have a minority Liberal government with the New Democrats holding them to ransom.

A source tells me a confidence agreement is going to happen with the Liberals being just short of a majority and the NDP, with seven seats, can ensure there’s not a quickie defeat of the government. So why don’t they just quit dating and just get married? They've been shacked up long enough.

The world trade war extends farther than U.S. President Donald Trump. China has imposed 100-per-cent tariffs on canola oil, canola meal and peas in retaliation to Canada imposing levies on Chinese-made electric vehicles, steel and aluminum. Canola farmers are getting hit hard by the tariffs while also dealing with uncertainty around U.S. tariffs. Cheapo stuff from China will not be so cheap any more.

At one time the Made-in-Canada label used to stand for quality, an offset to foreign imports. In recent years that standard has been watered down with faux products. Now when you check the labels of products too many say “packaged in Canada”, or “imported for,” leaving us scratching our heads. It’s time to proudly display the Made-in-Canada label again on all the products that are proudly produced in our country.