Viraat Thammanna

Aug. 31, 2024

Conservatives drop candidate in Nanaimo-Gabriola riding

The B.C. Conservative party has suspended the campaign of Viraat Thammanna as its candidate for Nanaimo-Gabriola in the provincial election. He said he got a call from the party saying he might have to hold on the campaign. Thammanna told the News Bulletin he didn't know if it was related to the recent suspension of B.C. United's provincial election campaign. His name and candidate profile have been removed from the Conservative Party website. MORE

Earthquake warnings are going to be a lot quicker now that we have a new tool to help warn us. The Earthquake Early Warning system was unveiled this week. It will detect greater than 5.0 magnitude earthquakes and send alerts through the National Public Alerting System to cellphones, radio and television stations. The alert will give people seconds to tens of seconds before strong shaking starts with more time to “Drop, Cover, and Hold On.” MORE

All of a sudden portable classrooms are not portables any more. Wellington Secondary School is getting a six-classroom extension for 150 students. The high school which was built for 900 students had 1,066 enrolled last September. District Secretary Treasurer Mark Walsh said the province is providing quick builds with modular, pre-made units that are full classrooms, not portables. He said the district will lay a slab, and do the civil work while all the other components are built elsewhere and then delivered in a relatively timely fashion. MORE

The number of deaths due to toxic drugs dropped to 192 in July, 6.2 per day but the number of women dying has increased. Island Health and Northern Health had the highest rates of women dying at 29 per 100,000 in Island Health and 56 per 100,000 in Northern Health. The Coroner Service reports the over all decrease in death is a 15 per cent decrease from July last year. Chief Coroner Dr. Jatinder Baidwan said toxic drugs continue to cause more loss of life in British Columbia than homicides, motor-vehicle incidents, suicides and natural disease combined. MORE

JUST A MINUTE ­ – It’s astounding that we can put people on the moon but Telus and Rogers are unable to put a stop to scam phone calls through ghosted phone numbers. It’s was past time to do something about this. I’m getting dozens of calls a day, and they’re not funny any more.

Google Streetview

Aug. 30, 2024

Businesses will stay open

for Commercial Street work

Businesses will remain open and accessible as work crews move onto Commercial Street on Tuesday to begin major upgrades. Work is expected to carry through until early May, 2025. The first phase will see traffic shut down on a section of Commercial Street between Wharf Street to Church Street, but pedestrian access will be maintained. Street parking in the construction zone will not be available, but there are great options in the parkades. FULL STORY

Nanaimo got its first look inside the operations centre for the Western Canada Marine Response Corporation, the primary response centre forVancouver Island. The base has been operating since 2022 but the open house was delayed until this year for the full vessel complement. Michael Lowry of WCMRCexplained the main driver for it is response times which came down to six hours from 72 hours. The faster response time is a requirement with thethe Trans Mountain Expansion Project. As well, the centre responds to any spills that happens on the coast. MORE

Gas pains are easing. You may have noticed a dip in gasoline prices and it appears the good news is going to last for a while. As of this morning Nanaimo pump prices hovered around $1.709 or lower. GasBuddy analyst Patrick De Haan predicts the price will fall substantially with the onset of fall. MORE

It's back to school time and many families are heading out for one last trip to and from this Island. BC Ferries expects to carry 530,000 passengers and more than 204,000 vehicles over the weekend. This summer has been the busiest on record. Peak travel times will be this afternoon departing Metro Vancouver, and Monday afternoon returning to the mainland. MORE

Indigenous students at Vancouver Island University are getting more space for ceremonial and support services, thanks $4.2 million from the Province to expand Shq'apthut, a gathering place. It includes a ceremonial space, Elder-in-residence offices, kitchen upgrade to support cultural events and ceremonies, and washroom facilities. Updates to the exterior design and landscaping are scheduled to be complete in spring 2025.As Indigenous student enrolment increases this addresses the need for cultural spaces on campus in which Indigenous students can celebrate their history. 

Matthew Matanovic, 28, of Ladysmith, has been fined $6,000 and prohibited from owning animals for 10 years after pleading guilty last spring to causing unnecessary pain and suffering of an animal and causing an animal to continue to be in distress. At the sentencing this week,Judge Brian Harvey recalled Matanovic brought his 11-month-old Labrador retriever to Central Island Veterinary Emergency Hospital in Nanaimo, as it was suffering seizures and unable to walk. MORE

You better curb your enthusiasm on the road, or you will be commuting on shanks pony. The rise in traffic deaths has led the province to impose stiffer penalties on dangerous drivers. The public safety ministry is raising towing and storage fees for excessive speeders, street racing and impaired driving, starting on Monday. The flat-rate towing fee is increasing to $110 from $79.78, while the per-kilometre towing rate is rising to $3.32 from $2.41. Storage fees for impounded vehicles are also going up, rising to between $32 and $40 per day depending on the area where the infraction occurred. MORE

WEB QUOTE – Too many people are not living their dream because they are too busy living their fears.

Aug. 29, 2024

No, it wasn’t the person next to you. Natural gas line flushing in the Nanoose Bay area had some people turning up their noses at a pungent odor in the air. Fortis blamedthe smell on routine maintenance work on a transmission line. Diana Sorace of Fortis said they were venting gas and the wind carried some of that gas odour into Nanaimo.” MORE

Arnold Roxas of the Bowen Road McDonald’s has been recognized with the company’s 2024 Outstanding Manager of the Year award, placing him in the top five per cent of managers nationwide. He credited his employees, saying the success of the store is because of them. “I was happy with all the things they’ve been doing, they’ve helped me with my management team and also my crew. MORE

A man who suffered serious injuries in a high-speed Nanaimo highway crash has been awarded more than $3 million in damages, lost and future earnings and care costs. B.C. Supreme Court Justice Jacqueline Hughes awarded Paul Jacques, $3.325 million in connection to the crash on the Trans Canada Hwy at Morden Road in 2016. Jacques and his daughter were stopped at a red light when they were hit from behind at high speed by a vehicle driven by Garfield Linford. It was an incident one witness described as “like an explosion”. MORE

WEB QUOTE – Temper is what gets most of us in trouble. Pride keeps us there.

Aug. 28, 2024

Man caught with pants down in sextortion case

A local man became the victim of sextortion after sending nude pictures of himself to a website called Hinged. After sending a lesser amount than the $1,500 demand he called police and broke off communication with the extortionist. He realized that he really had no idea whom he was communicating with and took this as a learning lesson. Its never a good idea to send nude pictures to anyone online. See the latest RCMP incident report for Aug. 20-23 HERE.

HandyDart employees could strike any day after rejecting an offer from Transdev. A majority of members recently rejected the latest offer Transdev’s offer. That comes after the union suspended job action pending a vote on a final contract offer. MORE

Elections B.C. is gearing up for the Oct. 19 provincial election with a voter registration drive. It is sending out about two million notices to the 3.5 million registered voters to ensure their information is correct. Andrew Watson, of Elections BC, said the notices show the voters registered at that address, asking them to check the information. If it’s correct you don’t have to do anything. If their information has changed or new voters have moved to the address, they are asked to update the information. MORE

Snow fell on a highway in the Interior Tuesday afternoon. DriveBC highway cameras show snow came down at high elevations on the Okanagan Connector, between Kelowna and Merritt. Environment Canada issued a special weather statement warning of flurries until Tuesday evening. It warned drivers of winter-like driving conditions and reminded that mountain weather can change quickly and make roads hazardous suddenly. MORE

The province is expanding access to drug-addiction treatment by launching a confidential and free phone line for same-day connections to doctors and health-care professionals. The Opioid Treatment Access Line can connect people in need with a team of doctors and nurses who are available seven-days-a-week to prescribe life-saving opioid agonist medications. Mental Health and Addictions Minister Jennifer Whiteside says when people dealing with opioid addiction reach out for help, they need access to treatment immediately, making services such as the new phone line vital in helping those in need recover in a timely manner. MORE

Premier David Eby has hung up on cell phone use in B.C. schools. All districts now have policies in place to ban phone use bell-to-bell. The rules are implemented but will vary between school boards but the bottom line is that the phones are not going to be out in the classroom, hallways, or school yards. It leaves room kids with disabilities that may require access to a phone for an accommodation of some kind, Eby said. The aim of the ban is to make sure students can learn and develop relationships without a phone. MORE

WEB QUOTE – A new study has shown that people who have more birthdays live longer.

Aug. 27, 2024

Campfire restrictions

lifted for Nanaimo area

Hey it’s campfire time again with the Coastal Fire Centre to easing seasonal restrictions. The Nanaimo region and areas just to the south got a low fire danger rating. Much of Vancouver Island is listed as very low. Rain gets the credit for creating the conditions to lift restrictions. So starting noon on Wednesday you can have campfires no more than a half metre by half metre across the entire Coastal Fire Centre, including all of Vancouver Island. MORE

A trailer home went up in flames on Blackjack Drive in Lantzville n Sunday evening. Firefighters doused the fire out but the trailer was a total loss. RCMP reported no one was injured though one person was arrested for obstructing police officers and later released. MORE

WEB QUOTE – Socialism doesn’t work but people still support it. They don’t work either.

Aug. 26, 2024

Final cruise of the year

visiting Nanaimo today

Nanaimo is enjoying its second cruise ship of the year with the arrival of the MS Oceania Regatta early this morning. The 625 passengers on the ship are enjoying the central island before departing at midnight tonight. The Oceania Regatta is on the final leg of a 12-day Alaska cruise, with stops in Victoria and Seattle over the next two days. This ship size is what the Port has been targeting, what Port Operations Manager Meraz Sekhon dubbed pocket-sized cruises. It’s a niche market which the Port is targeting. MORE

The Site C hydro project could start generating electricity as early as December. BC Hydro has begun filling the reservoir which will take between two and four months to fill. The 83-kilometre-long reservoir covers about 5,550 hectares of land. Construction was launched in 2015 and has seen opposition from many quarters and cost estimates spike from $6.6 billion to $16 billion. When all six power generators are operational by fall 2025, the dam will add 1,100 megawatts of capacity, producing about 5,100 gigawatt hours annually, adding about eight-per-cent to the province's power supply. MORE

Air Canada pilots have voted 98 per cent to strike and could be off the job as early as Sept. 17. The Airline Pilots Association, representing 5,400 pilots, has been in negotiations with Air Canada for a year and now they are ready to cut the mustard. They are seeking enhancements to retirement, scheduling and wages.

Boy it was wet, but not as bad at elsewhere. Rainfall records were smashed in 17 cities and towns on Saturday, many were decimated by a country kilometer. Vancouver had 26.7 mm of rain, beating the old record of 17.6 mm in 2008. The largest amount of rain fell in Agassiz with 57.5 mm, surpassing the previous high of 36 set in 2004. Princeton got 35.1 mm, far exceeding its old record of 14.2 mm that stood since 1907. The rain and cooler temperatures helped fire crews turn the corner on a number of larger blazes, especially in southern parts of the province. MORE

It’s a little far from home, but some of us remember the three-hour tour that turned into life on an uninhabited island for Gilligan and his friends. We have a modern version with two astronauts who went into space on an eight-day tour in June only to find themselves marooned on a space station until next year because of problems with a leaky Boeing’s rocket ship. Now Elon Musk’s SpaceX spacecraft, scheduled to launch next month as part of an astronaut rotation mission, will allow them to hitchhike on the return trip in February. MORE

WEB QUOTE – I'm looking for new conspiracy theories, most of mine have turned into fact.

Aug. 25, 2024

Good morning Nanaimo. Here's a last-minute reminder that Fresh Start is on today at Country Club Centre starting at 11 a.m. The annual pre-school campaign has become a tradition, now in its tenth year. It provides free haircuts and backpacks with school supplies and clothing to kids in need. Barber Dave Lawrence of That 50s Barbershop is pumped up about the new venue at Country Club Centre, a larger space than the previous spot at the downtown branch of the Vancouver Island Regional Library.

Even dreary cool weather can be good news, it is dousing wildfire activity in the province. Firefighters are urging vigilance despite the drop in the number of active blazes. The BC Wildfire Service says there are about 320 active wildfires in the province, continuing a trend this week as only seven blazes have started in the last 24 hours while 26 were declared out. More than 100 wildfires have been declared out in the last week.

The hospital emergency department in Merritt was closed again last night due to a doctor shortage. Patients were directed to Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops, more than 80 km away. The closure has Merritt Mayor Mike Goetz fuming after billing the province earlier this year seeking compensation for the closures. “I would like a response back now. It's been over 30 days. Don’t make me send it to collections, because that's exactly what I’ll do,” the mayor told CTV News.

WEB QUOTE – Remember when you could slam the phone down and hang up on someone? It was spectacular.

Aug. 24, 2025

Tentative deal reached

in HandyDART dispute 

HandyDART users can breathe a little easier after the union suspended all job action pending a vote on a contract offer. There had been the possibility of strike action on the door-to-door service on Monday if a deal wasn't struck. The company says the offer was tabled after extensive negotiations, and is now rebooking trips that were in jeopardy due to the impending work stoppage. MORE

An uplifting social media post by Smokin’ George’s Restaurant after someone smashed their front door. It took less than five minutes for the RCMP to arrive and Argus Carriers next door even less time. Budget Glass got there within a couple of hours and many customers stopped by to offer help. Just goes to show there are a lot more good people in Nanaimo than bad apples.

This is turning into a record year for B.C. Ferries’ Nanaimo sailings. Summer 2024 is already the busiest on record heading into the September long weekend. Sailings are up from Nanaimo, leaving both Departure Bay and Duke Point. Reet Sidhu of B.C. Ferries said from June to Aug. 19, there have been 313,500 vehicles on the route, up three-per-cent from last year. Passenger traffic is up slightly at 812,800 from 811,000 during the same period last year. MORE

Recycling fees for ceramic drink containers will rise on Sept. 1 to almost $30 from under 25 cents. That’s no typo, from two bits to 30 bucks. The fee for ceramic beer, wine and spirit containers will change from seven, 11 and 16 cents, depending on the size, to $29.51. Encorp Pacific Return-It is responsible for collection and recycling of beverage containers. Cindy Coutts, president and CEO of Encorp said there’s a growing number of beverages sold in ceramic containers. The ceramics have become mixed with glass, making it impossible to recycle. MORE

It should become easier for new immigrants to get professional accreditation. The province wants to eliminate "gatekeeping" and unreasonable re-training requirements for new citizens. Ravi Parmar, parliamentary secretary for international credentials and Social development and poverty reduction minister Sheila Malcolmson, laid out the new rules at a roundtable discussion in Nanaimo. The new rules eliminated Catch-22 Canadian work experience requirements and redundant English language tests, and legislated that regulatory bodies start collecting data on numbers of international applicants versus domestic applicants. MORE

If you want an opinion it depends on whom you ask. A new poll commissioned by the B.C. Chamber of Commerce shows the NDP has a lead among decided voters, but it found 48 per cent of those surveyed believe the province is going in the wrong direction. Despite that, 43 per cent would vote for the government. That compares with 35 per cent for the BC Conservatives, 12 per cent for BC United, 10 per cent for the Green Party. Voters should not put too much faith in polls as they vary from one company to another and almost by the minute. And regional support can throw off any conclusions. MORE

Aug. 23, 2024

An inquest into the fatal police shooting of a man at the Departure Bay ferry terminal in 2018 will be live streamed. The mid-November inquiry will examine what led to the death of Jer Wood, 38, who was shot eight times and killed by Nanaimo RCMP officers in the exit lanes of the terminal. The inquest Nov. 12 will look at all facts about the death and make recommendations on how to prevent death in similar circumstances. An inquest does not assign blame or responsibility for the incident. MORE

Police are trying to find Jordan Reginald White, formerly of Nanaimo, for an aggravated assault charge from an incident in Saanich in late June. He is also accused of a violent home break-in and stabbing in Harewood. He is 5’11” tall, 210 pounds with short black hair and hazel eyes. He has multiple tattoos on his right arm, including “mom” in a rose design and one featuring the words “skate and destroy”. MORE

Seven people were arrested in Duncan and Sooke after an investigation headed by The North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP Street Crime Unit beginning last November. The case targeted mid-level drug trafficking activity in the Cowichan Valley. The drugs seized included approximately three kilograms of suspected fentanyl; approximately two kilograms of suspected methamphetamine; approximately 1.5 kilograms of suspected cocaine; and approximately 40 litres of GHB. MORE

WEB QUOTE – I would rather look back at my life and say “I can’t believe I did that,” instead of saying “I wish I had done that.”

Aug. 22, 2024

Kyle Gordon Ordway pleaded guilty to the the death of a woman in downtown Nanaimo three years go. He was charged after Amy Watts, a 27-year-old former outreach worker, was found dead in June 2021. The two  had been in a relationship. Watts had sought help at and worked for Nanaimo Youth Services Association and also worked at Samaritan House women's shelter. MORE

A man was taken to hospital after he was struck by a truck with a septic tank Wednesday afternoon in Harewood. The man who is believed to have been the driver operating the truck, was taken to NRGH with unknown injuries. MORE

Police are investigating multiple incidents of bomb threats against Jewish institutions in British Columbia and across Canada. Premier David Eby posted on social media synagogues were among those targeted, and that Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth is working with police to ensure public safety. At least one synagogue in Vancouver was targeted, according to the Jewish Federation. Mayor Ken Sim said the city has been in close contact with police as local incidents are investigated. MORE

The life expectancy for B.C. First Nations people has dropped more than six years since 2017. The First Nations Health Authority report says life expectancy in B.C. fell to 67.2 years in 2021 from 73.3 years in 2017. Dr. Nel Wieman blamedthe COVID-19 pandemic and the opioid overdose crisis. The report also notes an improvement in high school graduation rates among First Nations students and a drop in Indigenous infant mortality. MORE

WEB QUOTE – The benefit of being retired – “It’s not my problem any more.”

Aug. 21, 2024

At first glance, the latest Mainstreet Research poll is great news for the B.C. Conservatives. They are sitting atop the poll with a three-point lead over the NDP. However, it’s not so rosy when you break down the regional support for the parties. The NDP is hanging on to its big support base in the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island while the Conservatives have a good hold on rural northern B.C. Even if the NDP are second in popular support they would likely cash in the most seats . . . if the election were held today. We’ve got just under two months for that picture to undergo drastic refocusing. There are a lot of cow pies left to step into before voting day Oct. 19.

Aug. 21, 2024

Summer’s almost gone so we’re having a Family Fun Day on the Labor Day long weekend. It’s on Sunday, Sept. 1 at Maffeo-Sutton Park with non-stop live entertainment, tons of attractions, games, sports demos, and educational booths. There’ll be a food truck circle, community kiosks highlighting opportunities in sports, art, education, and community services. It’s all free but you can donate to Nanaimo Rotary North Club who will have a traditional corn roast. There’s a whole bunch more. It runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.  For vendor participation, email eventguy@shaw.ca. Full details are HERE.

Ladysmith residents who left their cars unlocked learned a lesson from a rash of thefts. Mounties say they got 10 reports of items being taken from vehicles in the Christie Road area in the north end. Police are again urging people to not leave valuables in their cars and lock the vehicles when they’re left unattended. MORE

WEB QUOTE – If we were not meant to have midnight snacks, why is there a light in the fridge?

Aug. 20, 2024

Two months to judgment

day for provincial election

  We get to pass judgment on our members of the Legislature in two months. Eighty seven MLAs will have to answer to voters, and six new ones will be added with a total of 93 seats as a result of redistribution. The latest Mainstream poll showed the Conservatives at 39 per cent support, the NDP at 36 per cent, B.C. United at 12 per cent and the Green Party at 11.

Regional breakdowns give the NDP a commanding lead though across the province. The urban Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island have the NDP leading comfortably. The main Conservative strength is in the rural north.

  It’s difficult to assess all those members, so we have to rely on the parties they represent. It’s more like a report card on the party in power because they carry all the weight of delivering what the people of the province need. For the other three it’s difficult to assess because they have the advantage of proposing legislation and criticizing the government, but not having to deliver if they don't win. MY PERSPECTIVE

Aug. 20 2024

A whole lot is new

at this year's VIEX

There’s going to be a lot new and different about this summer’s Vancouver Island Exhibition, starting with a new date. The mid-summer fair is stepping back a month until Sept. 20-22 at the Beban Park grounds. The date change offer greater opportunities because they don’t with other fairs. Michelle Solloway of VIEX says there will be a greater emphasis on agriculture with more livestock and the return of barrel racing and more home arts and garden competitions. Close to 20,000 people take in the fair each summer. MORE

Seasonal service returns to Nanaimo Regional Transit on Sept. 1 with service changes on select routes that service schools and Vancouver Island University. More trips are being added to Route 99 Deep Bay on Mondays and Sundays and it will connect with Comox Valley Regional Transit’s Route 10 to Downtown Courtenay at the Crome Point 6 days a week. There will also be additional trips on Friday and Saturdays for the Route 70 NCX Nanaimo-Cowichan Express. For trip planning, schedules and to sign up for customer alerts, visit bctransit.com/nanaimo.

The City will unveil its newest temporary public artwork Saturday at Pipers Lagoon Park. Moon Snail House will be on display through 2027. The newly-installed project is the work of Nanaimo artists Amber Morrison and Matthew Fox. Moon Snail House is inspired by the shell of a Lewis’ moon snail, one of the largest marine mollusks found in our local intertidal areas. The interactive large-scale artwork invites visitors to enter the sculpture to experience the environment from a new perspective. For more on the Temporary Art Program, go to the City's website.

Have you got a spare pair of work boots sitting around? A hundred pairs of boots were stolen from the Men's Centre last month. Marilyn Watson, centre administrator, is looking for donation to the Boots to Suits program to rebuild the supply. They need steel-toed boots, safety equipment, pants and waterproof gear. Watson said she could have given boots to six men who were going to work last week alone. Sizes between 9.5 and 11 are in-demand, new or gently used will fit the bill. The Men's Centre at 418D Fitzwilliam St. and is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and anyone with boots . . . or cash . . . can drop them off. Safety vests and safety goggles are also needed. MORE

You know how it goes, rabbits love making babies. That’s the case in the city as the non-profit rescue organization for feral domestic rabbits, Vancouver Island Fluffle, has to turn away bunnies being dropped off  because there are so many abandoned rabbits. Helena Hickman of Fluffle gets about five or six e-mails a week asking the non-profit to take on rescue bunnies. There are colonies of feral rabbits around Metral Drive where new ones are added frequently; they are not babies, they are newly-dumped rabbits. MORE

Hats off to the folks just up the road in Parksville who celebrated another roaring success at their annual beach festival, thanks in part to made-to-order summer weather. Organizers report more than 115,000 visitors entered the gates of the Sand Sculpting competition venue throughout the nearly six-week event, which wrapped Sunday. MORE

The Unhealth Report – Another temporary closure of the emergency department in South Okanagan General Hospital in Oliver began Monday afternoon into Tuesday morning. That brings the number of ER closures to five consecutive days. Interior Health blamed the latest service disruption on limited physician availability. MORE

A needling reminder from Provincial Health Officer Bonnie Henry for parents and guardians to ensure their children are up to date on vaccines before heading back to school next month. Children increase their chances of exposure to infectious diseases, such as mumps, measles, chickenpox and polio, she said Monday. Children aged six and under can get free vaccines against more than a dozen illnesses, including COVID-19 and influenza, while students in Grade 6 and up are eligible for free vaccines for human papillomavirus and meningitis, the provincial health officer said. MORE

WEB QUOTE – I'm a multi-tasker. I can listen, ignore and forget all at the same time.

There are recurring traffic disruptions on Bowen Road, Northfield Road and Boxwood Road starting today until Aug. 23 as part of the Midtown Gateway Phase 2B project. Commuters should avoid the area if possible. Access to Beban Park and businesses at 2300/2310 Northfield Road may be affected at times, so use alternate accesses. All park amenities and programs, and all businesses, remain open and accessible. www.nanaimo.ca/goto/MidtownGateway

Aug. 19,2024

Two months to judgment day

We get to pass judgment on our members of the Legislature in two months from today.

Eighty seven MLAs will have to answer to voters, and six new ones will be added with a total of 93 seats as a result of redistribution. The latest poll showed the NDP at 42 per cent support, the Conservatives and 37 per cent and the Green Party and B.C. United at 10 per cent each. Regional breakdowns give the NDP a commanding lead though across the province. The main Conservative strength is in the north. The question is, how will the parties fare when it comes to facing the voters? FULL ANALYSIS

The City's late-summer Car Trunk Sale is on the horizon this Saturday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m at the Vancouver Island University parking lots L and M. This free reuse event reduces the amount of waste sent to landfill. There will be more than 100 vendors selling used items from the trunks of their cars. For more information check out www.nanaimo.ca/city-services/garbage-recycling/events.

The illegal anti-Israel campers at Vancouver Island University packed up their tents and left the premises. They had a Sunday morning deadline after the B.C. Supreme Court granted an injunction last week. In a video statement posted on the group’s social media, one protester said people in hazmat suits arrived when the injunction took effect and began dismantling the encampment, which has been in place for 110 days. The protester said they still plan to take up other forms of protest. MORE

WEB QUOTE – Just once, I want a username and password prompt to say, "Close enough."

Aug. 18, 2024

Severe thunderstorm warnings for Island

A severe storm capable of producing strong wind gusts, pea- to dime-size hail and heavy rain is on the way. Environment Canada issued a new severe thunder-storm warning for the East Island from Duncan to Nanaimo mid-afternoon on Sunday. It says the thunderstorm is moving slowly to the north. By mid afternoon the storm was about eight kilometres southwest of Duncan. The weather agency warns people to take shelter immediately, preferably in a house or all-metal vehicle, as you are within striking distance of lightning. If you can’t get indoors, go to a low-lying area away from trees, poles, wires and fences. You can help by monitoring alerts and forecasts and report severe weather by emailing BCstorm@ec.gc.ca or tweet using #BCStorm.

Multiple hospitals around the province endured emergency department closures over the weekend.
– Mission Memorial Hospital implemented a "temporary service adaptation" Friday night for the fourth time. Nurses remained on staff for emergency first aid.
– South Okanagan General Hospital in Oliver closed its ER Friday afternoon and reopened at noon on Saturday. Patients were advised to travel to Penticton, 40 km away.
– Nicola Valley Hospital in Merritt closed its ER Saturday morning and was not scheduled to reopen until 8 a.m. Sunday. Interior Health advised patients in to go to Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops, 84 kms away.

– Lillooet Hospital will be closed from 7 a.m. on Monday until 8 a.m. on Tuesday.

There were 79 closures at hospitals operated by Interior and Northern Health in July. Last month, the president of the Doctors of BC’s Section of Emergency Medicine told CTV News that the shortagesboil down to a lack of government planning and government downplaying of warnings that training space is insufficient. A new contract for family doctors has lured physicians away from hospitals and back into primary care. A culture shift has resulted in doctors backing away from 60-to-80-hour work weeks for better work-life balance.

The Parksville Beach Festival closed out with a bang Saturday night with a massive fireworks display. Thousands gathered on the waterfront for the Quality Foods Festival of Lights. MORE

BC Hydro called out emergency repair crews as thousands of British Columbians lost power after a storm brought wind and lightning to the southwestern region last night. At the peak 20,000 customers were in the dark. Hydro predicts another smaller storm cell later Sunday but not with the same impact, but that they’re ready to respond if service is affected. MORE

WEB QUOTE – Censorship is the tool used when the lie loses its power.

WEATHER WARNING

Aug. 17, 2024

Environment Canada issued a special weather statement Saturday morning warning of heavy downpours and strong winds for eastern Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland and Georgia Strait. The storm is forecast to begin late Saturday evening and last until Sunday morning. Strong winds, thunderstorms, lightning and heavy rain are expected after midnight

Aug. 16-17, 2024

Walk-on ferry gets

top marks after one year

The Hullo foot passenger ferry service  between Nanaimo and downtown Vancouver is one year old, and the report card looks good. Some 400,000 passengers have travelled on 3,200 sailings across the Georgia Strait with a 99.3-per-cent sailing schedule success rate. CEO Alastair Caddick says having two vessels has been a major part of the success because when there are maintenance and other issues they have been able to operate a scheduled service, and reliability is a major factor. Hullo has added shuttle bus service to and from downtown Nanaimo, and Regional Transit has added a bus stop atthe 100 Port Way terminal. MORE

It’s back to class for mature students in the mid-Island. Sign up is under way for Mid Island Elder College’s first fall session since Vancouver Island University halted its support of the program. Students will have options like Ancient Love Poetry and Understanding Cannabis. Courses will be held at the Nanaimo Museum, Harbourfront Library, Nanaimo North Library, and St. Philip by-the-SeaAnglican Church. Classeswill also be held at Parksville Community Centre, Nanoose Place and Berwick Qualicum Beach. The Elder Collegehas support from Coastal Community Credit Union, the Nanaimo Foundation, the Rotary Club of Nanaimo and the Parksville Rotary Club. MORE

It may be a bumpy road for traffic along part of Commercial Street for a while when work begins Sept.3 on “Design Commercial.” Construction is expected to continue through next May along Chapel and Church Streets and the northern sections of Commercial St. either side of the Bastion St. intersection. The first phase includes paving, sidewalks, landscaping and lighting along with other improvements. MORE

WEB QUOTE – Your time on earth is limited, don’t try to age with grace, age with mischief, audacity and a good story to tell.

Aug. 15, 2024

Lawsuit filed over
Safe Supply drugs

A class action lawsuit filed against the Safe Supply drug program will likely become a major issue in the provincial election. Global TV reports the civil claim was initiated by two families after one teenager died and another is addicted. The suit claims the teens relied on the negligent misrepresentation that the drugs were safe. Both the province and the federal government are named in the suit. Though the lawsuit will take considerable time to work its way through the legal system, it is expected to be front and centre during the election campaign. The B.C. Conservatives have pledged to end Safe Supply and get rid of decriminalization of drug possession.

A judge has ordered Palestine solidarity trespassers at Vancouver Island University to scram. Justice Michael Stephens rendered his decision todayin Vancouver agreed to an interim injunction for 150 days on the grass quad area,. VIU’s encampment, which recently passed 100 days, is Canada’s last university solidarity encampment for Palestine amid the ongoing global conflict. MORE

Poor cell phone reception has plagued the Hammond Bay north area for more than a decade, but a solution appears on the way. Residents have circulated a petition for improved reception. An application for a tower in the area was rejected about a dozen years ago due to opposition from some of the residents. One possible location is at Hammond Bay Church. The company which provides the towers says it has an agreement with the church as one of the potential locations. Mayor Leonard Krog says the City and council and the board of the Regional District have all been supportive. MORE 

Anyone looking for excitement Sunday morning can take in the Hub City Soap Box Derby in the Old City Quarter. Note that there’s a new race course this year, moving to Franklyn Street. The move was made to keep Fitzwilliam Street open for emergency vehicles. Co-ordinator Kathryn Scott says the new course is a little steeper, so anything can happen. Youngsters can race in the kids divisions, and there’s a corporate division for adults and businesses. The kids spots are all booked up but there are still a few openings for the older racers. There’s a concession area on Wesley Street and a street fair. MORE

Community integration specialists provide real support for residents with mental health and addictions problems and the homeless. Nanaimo MLA Sheila Malcolmson, minister of social development and poverty reduction, said the government will continue investing in the program. The outreach workers visit encampments, friendship centres and community partner offices including Work B.C. and Service B.C. centres. They help people with accessing personal identification, income and medical supports, as well as connection to local services. Nanaimo has seven community integration specialists, an increase of three since 2022. MORE

The B.C. Residential Tenancy Branch approved a 23.5-per-cent residential rent increase over two years after a landlord’s variable rate mortgage nearly doubled to more than $80,000. The double duplex was bought October, 2021 at a variable interest rate of 1.9 per cent. By mid 2023 mortgage rates had gone up to 6.65 per cent. In the decision, the landlords said they didn’t see the interest rate hike coming, telling the RTB arbitrator that even with the 23.5-per-cent increase they’re not going to break even. MORE

The provincial election campaign will see a lot of funding announcements. Premier David Eby announced something old and something new on Wednesday to upgrade the Trans Canada Highway from Langley to Abbotsford and the flood areas in the region. The $2.34 billion in funding was approved last fall for upgrades between Mount Lehman Road and 264th Street in the Township of Langley and the flood-prone Suman Prairie. Work will begin this year and include four new interchanges, as well as the rebuilding several overpasses to increase the clearance height for commercial vehicles. Major construction is scheduled for 2026, wrapping up in 2031. Eby said flooding in Sumas Prairie has delayed the highway improvement. MORE

JUST A MINUTE – Yesterday I outlined how election promises are coming on like gangbusters. To date there have been huge tax-cut promises, including axing the carbon tax and raising the provincial income tax deduction ceiling. That raises the question about how any of the parties plan to replace revenue lost through those promises. The B.C. United income tax deduction plan is touted as paying its way through increased economic activity. That immediately brings to mind the mantra from another politician that the budget will balance itself. It hasn’t yet and doesn’t look to be doing that any time soon. Show me the money.

WEB QUOTE – Just remember, the debate about global warming is about a bunch of hot air.

Aug. 14, 2024

Biggest tax cut

in history part of election platform

Election promises will be coming thick and fast in the next little while. I’m not going to post all of them, however, a plan by BC United is noteworthy – the biggest income tax cut in the province's history. It would wipe out the tax on the first $50,000 in earnings, eliminating the tax entirely for 2.4 million people. For someone earning $50,000 the saving would be $2,052. First the party has to get elected. Now we wait and see what the others have to offer. The best to date from the B.C. Conservatives is elimination of the carbon tax, offering about the same saving. The NDP has been trotting out multiple smaller commitments. I haven’t seen anything from the B.C. Greens. 

Elections BC is gearing up for the provincial election October 19 by making sure that voter registration is up to date. You can visit elections.bc.ca/register or call 1-800-661-8683.  Elections BC is mailing voter registration notices across the province. The notices also list the voter’s new electoral district. There will be 93 electoral districts for the 2024 provincial election, up from 87 in 2020. Voters can visit elections.bc.ca/mydistrict to view a map of their new electoral district.  For general information, contact www.elections.bc.ca

Scammers appear to be one step ahead of law enforcement. RCMP warn BC Hydro customers about an online scam that mimics Hydro’s customer help line. Online advertisements urge customers to call a phony BC Hydro support line to set up new services or reconnect an existing account. But it’s a fraudulent website and phone number. The scammers ask the customer the same questions BC Hydro's customer support centre uses to verify customer identities. You think you are dealing with Hydro but you’re not, and they get your financial information. MORE

B.C. has recorded 7,500 lightning strikes, which have ignited 256 fires. The cooler weather has resulted in fewer evacuations, but the threat is not over cautions Emergency Preparedness Minister Bowinn Ma, saying unstable weather could cause the situation to change rapidly. At the peak of wildfire activity over the past couple of weeks, more than 5,000 British Columbians found themselves under evacuation order or alert, but as of Tuesday just 55 properties remain under order. MORE

WEB QUOTE – When people don’t laugh at your goals it means your goals are too small.

Aug. 13, 2024

Free drugs,
free delivery,
order online

The new motto for British Columbia’s free drug regime could include “order online, we deliver.” As if free drugs were not enough, now the Fraser Health region is offering free delivery to users’ homes. The new initiative includes drug injection and inhalation supplies, along with naloxone kits, drug testing strips, even safe sex supplies. Erin Gibson of Fraser Health said the program is aimed at reducing drug deaths among people who don’t use supervised drug consumption sites due to stigma, isolation or other reasons. Users can access the items through an online web portal that also connects them to Fraser Health resources, including clinical and outreach teams. MORE

The Tom Harris Charity Classic golf tournament raised $1 million with more than $400,000 going to the Nanaimo and District Hospital Foundation for cardiac care equipment. Many major donations were made after the tournament when participants were shown a video highlighting the need for new cardiology diagnostic equipment at NRGH. Tony Harris, chairman of the Tom Harris Foundation, said this spurred individual donations on top of the amount raised through the tournament. Harris said a lot of people understand the need for a new patient tower and the need for a cardiac catheterization lab. The Fair Care Alliance which is boosting the need for the cath labe will get $100,000 for the cause. MORE

Nanaimo had the sixth highest crime rate in Canada in new data from Statistics Canada. Four B.C. communities are in the top ten in the nation. Kamloops had the highest crime severity index across all of Canada’s census metropolitan areas in 2023, with Chilliwack being second highest. Abbotsford-Mission came in tenth. MORE

JUST A MINUTE – What’s good for one should be good for the other. It’s seen as perfectly acceptable for our government to trample on human rights and make COVID vaccines mandatory for healthcare workers, but not so with mandating treatment for the mentally ill and drug addicted on our streets because of human rights.

Web Quote – The best reminder of why we love living in Canada is watching American politics

Aug. 12, 2024

Good morning, get ready for another great week. Many eyes were on the local sky Sunday as the Hawaii Mars Martin water bomber made its final flight from Port Alberni to the B.C. Aviation Museum near Victoria. The plane flew over many Island Communities, with a nine-plane escort of Canadian Forces Snowbird jets. Only seven of the planes were built for the U.S. Navy Transport division and retired after the Second World War. The final flight was live streamed. Watch it HERE

It’s fitting that it happened during the sold-out Abbotsford International Airshow as thousands descended on the Fraser Valley to take in the sights and sounds from vintage aviation machines and modern military aircraft. This year's event focused on the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force and featured a number of planes dating back to the Second World War. MORE

One man is dead after a high-speed crash on the Nanaimo Parkway Saturday evening near the Dunster Road overpass. R/Cst. Gary O’Brien said a car crossed the median into oncoming traffic and collided with a northbound SUV. The driver of that vehicle died as a result of the injuries sustained in the collision. The adult male driver of the car was also taken to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. MORE

JUST A MINUTE – When we get the inflation numbers from the government, it’s only the increase in the past single month, or annual figures. Ask them for the rate of inflation since the day they were elected. Statistics Canada shows the Consumer Price Index was $126.6 in 2015, the year the Trudeau government was elected. The latest figure for 2023 shows the CPI at $157.1, which is an increase of 24.1 per cent. Food has gone up 31 per cent. If you’re curious, look it up HERE.

WEB QUOTE – The greatest threat to society is the gullibility of those among us.

Aug 11, 2024

The Nanaimo River wildfire was being held Saturday afternoon after it had burned 2.3 hectares on a steep area on the riverbank. The fire is not expected to burn any more of the woods.Twelve firefighters and seven operational field staff were assigned to combat the fire. Previously there were air resources deployed, including a helicopter, a skimmer plane and a bird dog navigation plane. B.C. Wildfire Service said the fire was believed to be human-caused. MORE

Meanwhile, heat warnings and severe thunderstorm watches are in effect in the province after 53 new wildfires started. There were 385 active fires burning province-wide, and 88 per cent of them are listed as lightning caused. MORE

Pickleball has caught on like wildfire and the city is responding with a new eight-court facility at Beban Park. Initial construction work has begun for the courts, projected to be ready in October. The half-million-dollar facility is being built at the entrance of the Beban Park Golf Course and Driving Range.Parks Operations Manager Charlotte Davis said the pickleball courts at Beaufort Park will be shut down and the hard playing surface broken up. MORE

Nanaimo baseball fans got to enjoy some playoff action last night when the Victoria HarbourCats were forced from their home field to make way for CFL action later this month. The City and Nanaimo NightOwls came to the rescue to bring the West Coast League playoffs to Seraxumen Stadium, facing Wenatchee Applesox in a best-of-three first round game. It proved to be a good move as the HarborCats sent their fans home happy with a 4-2 walk-off win. MORE

British Columbia’s sick healthcare system continues to bleed from staffing shortages. It's gettting worse instead of better. Fraser Health announced late Saturday that the emergency room at Mission Memorial Hospital would not see any new patients. Those needing urgent care were told to go to Ridge Meadows Hospital. In northern B.C., the Mackenzie and District Hospital ER closed at 3 p.m. Friday, also due to a physician shortage, and is scheduled to reopen at 7 p.m. Saturday. The ER at Chetwynd Hospital will close at 5 p.m. today and reopen at 7 a.m. Sunday. MORE

The Pacific Assistance Dogs Society is in dire need of more donations at a time when the need has never been greater. Meredith Areskoug of the non-profit says waitlists for people can stretch upwards of eight years to get a trained dog. It takes about two years to train the dogs which are then deployed to people with a variety of conditions, including mobility, hearing challenges, and living with PTSD. They train about 30 dogs a year, and the waitlist has surpassed 500 people. Inflation increased the cost for dog food and vet bills, and donations have dried up. To donate, check out their WEBSITE.

The government is adding 600 new daycare spaces, 200 on the Island, but the long-promised $10-a-day spaces are not to be found. It’s seven years since the promise of plan to get to a universal $10-a-day child care system, promised in two election campaigns. Despite billions of dollars spent, only around 10 per cent of child care spaces in the province are true $10-a-day spaces. There will be some government assistance in the new spaces, bringing costs down to an average of $18 per day. MORE

It's easy for the province to issue edicts on increased housing, but getting the job done entails a lot more than slapping up new buildings. View Royal Mayor Sid Tobias says there are a lot of buildings under construction. But tied to that is the municipal share of costs to install infrastructure – storm drains, water pipes, sidewalks and roads. The mayor says municipalities need support from the federal and provincial government. MORE

WEB QUOTE – Sometimes you’ve got to feed people BS just to see whom they blab it to.

Aug. 10, 2024

There will be two candidates for the Schools board byelection on Sept. 14. Joan Brown, Snuneymuxw First Nation chief administrative officer, and Tim Harris, Kw'umut Lelum Step Up program team leader, are the only candidates. Early voting is on various dates between Sept. 4-13, listed on the school district website. Voting locations are at McGirr Elementary, Ladysmith Secondary and Cedar Secondary schools, as well as the school district administration office. MORE

Nanaimo firefighters responded to a bush fire Friday afternoon a few hundred metres from homes near the Nanaimo River. B.C. Wildfire Service was notified just after noon and four personnel and a helicopter were dispatched to the scene. Crews from Extension and Cranberry volunteer fire departments were on scene. It’s describe as 0.6 hectares on steep terrain. MORE

Traffic resumed to normal after a collision on Hwy. 19 at Northwest Bay Road this afternoon. The multi-vehicle crash disrupted northbound vehicular flow. DriveBC cameras showed the incident happened at the Petro Canada service station, resulting in single-lane movement heading north.

The government is adding 200 child care spaces on Vancouver Island, 600 throughout the province, but the long-promised $10-a-day spaces are not to be found. It’s seven years since the promise of a 10-year plan to get to auniversal $10-a-day child care system, promised in two election campaigns. Despite billions of dollars spent, only around 10 per cent of child care spaces in the province are true $10-a-day spaces. There will be some government assistance bringing costs down to an average of $18 per day. MORE

It's easy for the provincial government to issue edicts on increased housing, but getting the job done entails a lot more than slapping up new buildings. In View Royal there are a lot of buildings under construction. But tied to that is the municipal responsibility to install infrastructure – storm drains, water pipes, sidewalks and road construction, all paid for by the municipalities. Mayor Sid Tobias says municipalities need support from the federal and provincial government in order to do it. MORE

WEB QUOTE – If you’re too big to do the small things, then you are too small to do the big things.

Aug. 9, 2024

A suspicious fire outside the Bar Luna Restaurant at 7 Victoria Road is under investigation. The blaze was spotted by a front-line police officer on patrol. Fire crews were able to contain it to the exterior of the building. Flames caused extensive damage to the exterior while the inside of the building sustained smoke and water damage. See the full report at Police Beat, on the right.

Nanaimo firefighters were on the scene of a bush fire Friday afternoon a few hundred metres from homes near the Nanaimo River. B.C. Wildfire Service was notified just after noon and four personnel and a helicopter were dispatched to the scene. Crews from Extension and Cranberry volunteer fire departments were on scene. It’s describe as 0.6 hectares on steep terrain.

It’s back to school preparation time, and that means Dave Lawrence of That 50s Barbershop is swinging into action. “Fresh Start” is in its tenth year of collecting school supplies for kids, along with getting a fresh, back-to-school haircut, and all they have to do is write a story or draw a picture. When Dave started the program some people questioned it, he says. You talk to teachers, and you talk to principals and they go, ‘It’s so good what you’re doing because we definitely need this, kids need help.'” MORE

Joey Kenward

Finally some good news. We reported last November that former Island Radio sportscaster Joey Kenward was levelled by Leukemia. Well, he has informed followers on his social network that he had a stem cell transplant in March and the disease is in full remission. Joey is on the Vancouver Canucks broadcast team. Check out Kenwardskorner on X

The free ride on a friend’s Costco card will soon be over. Membership scanners are coming to store entrances. They have not arrived in Nanaimo to date. Shoppers will have to scan the barcode on their membership card. Guests must be accompanied by a valid membership holder — and that also applies to the $1.50 hot dogs. Scanning memberships at the door will eliminate the need to do so at cash registers and self-checkouts. The company made C$6.3 billion from membership fees from their 128 million cardholders in Canada and the U.S. last year. And membership fees are going up $5 to $65 a year at your next renewal. MORE

Police are investigating a complaint of a sexual assault on July 11 the #40 VIU Express. See photo and full report in Police Beat, at the right.

The 14th annual Nanaimo Fringe Festival kicked off last night and runs until Aug. 18, at both the Port Theatre and Black Rabbit Kitchen, 321 Selby St. The festival features music, comedy, and creative performing art. MORE

Look up, way up on Sunday to see history being made as Coulson Aviation’s Hawaii Mars water bomber makes a final flyover across Island communities on its way to the B.C. Aviation Museum. It is expected to fly from its home base in Port Alberni to Campbell River, over Powell River, and down eastern Vancouver Island late in the late afternoon. The Snowbirds will accompany the plane on its final run. MORE

New Westminster police are investigating an assault in which a fast food employee wearing a hijab was spat on. Police say the case is being investigated as a possible hate crime given the victim was wearing a hijab and based on comments the suspect made to the victim. The hate crime designation has never made sense. Creating a different level of assault only makes is harder to get a conviction due to the higher level of proof and subjective interpretation required, often leading to perpetrators beating the charge. It’s more legalistic jargon, an assault is an assault.

WEB QUOTE – I often wonder what normal people think about

Aug. 8, 2024

City will honour top achievers in sport, arts and culture

Recent performances on the world stage have draw attention to Nanaimo’s achievers. "There is a great sense of pride for each winning performance by Nanaimo’s athletes, teams and performing artists,” says Mayor Leonard Krog. To that end, the City recognizes individuals or groups for outstanding achievement in sport, arts and culture in 2023. Awards honour individuals or groups who receive International, National, Western Canadian or Provincial first-place honours. The deadline for application is September 16. The awards will be presented on October 21 at a regular Council Meeting. FULL REPORT. 

The cost of renting on Vancouver Island keeps escalating. A report from Rentals.ca shows in Nanaimo two-bedroom units rose almost three per cent to $2,222 on average, while one-bedrooms dropped 0.5 per cent to $1,787. In Victoria, two-bedrooms rose 1.6 per cent year over year to $2,797 while a one-bedroom unit jumped 6.6 per cent to $2,189 a month. Victoria is the ninth most expensive place to live in the country, according to the website. MORE

Heat warnings are becoming rather routine in our neck of the woods. Eastern Vancouver Island is into another hot few days and Island Health urges people to take precautions. No heat emergency has been declared by the province but with elevated temperatures expected into Saturday after reaching a projected high of 30C on Thursday, there is an increased risk of heat-related illness, an Island Health statement says.

The Nanaimo Airport wants you to get high with a “Give Them Wings” event to inspire young adults. The airport is working with numerous partners to inspire Indigenous youth and young adults and their families to explore the world of aerospace and aviation. It takes place at the airport Aug. 13, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. There’s everything from flights and a flight simulator and exploring aviation careers. Check it out HERE.

Both defendants have been judged guilty by a jury in a 2022 stabbing death on Nanaimo's waterfront guilty as charged. After Fred Parsons, 29, was killed at Maffeo Sutton Park on Sept. 5, 2022, Mark Jayden Harrison and Aiden Matthew Bell were arrested and charged with one count of manslaughter. Their B.C. Supreme Court trial in Nanaimo began on July 22. Justice Robin Baird provided instructions to the 12-member jury on Tuesday and a decision was reached that evening.  A sentencing date is expected to be set at the next court date Monday, Aug. 19. MORE

A woman has been arrested after Port Alberni RCMP believe she set a fire in a forested area Tuesday evening. Police recommend charges. An off duty officer  observed and reported a fire near the junction of Stirling Arm Forest Service Road and Canal Main Forest Road shortly after 6 p.m. Police responded and located a suspect responsible for the fire. They said the suspect is a 27-year-old woman and said she has been in custody to be brought before the courts. MORE

We keep reminding social media posters that they can get their shorts in a knot when sounding off. Another person has been arrested after making threats against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau online. The arrest comes weeks after two Alberta men were charged with directing death threats at the prime minister. RCMP said in July that the men posted threats to kill Trudeau and other politicians on X and YouTube.

WEB QUOTE – When you buy from friends don’t ask for a discount

Aug. 7, 2024

Man loses $90,000
in bank fraud scam

A Nanaimo man lost nearly $90,000 in a bank fraud scam. A woman lost $5,000 in an identical scam. The woman in her 50s told police she lost $5,000 after getting a call from someone who claimed to be with the RBC Fraud Department. At that time, she wasn’t too suspicious as the caller ID on her phone said it was from RBC. The man, in his fifties, told police the same story. See the full story in the POLICE BEAT column on the right.

Traffic disruptions are the order of the day as construction crews block lanes along Bowen Road. The closures will remain in effect until Aug. 19. The middle lanes between Dufferin Crescent and Pryde Avenue will traffic to just a single lane in each direction for water main work under the road surface. MORE

Expect some smoke to get in your eyes as wildfires in northern B.C. send haze across the mid-Island for the next couple of days. Environment Canada is calling for local smoke in the Nanaimo and Oceanside areas. Fires west of Prince George and south of Burns Lake are providing the majority of the haze, with smoke first drifting west and then being picked up by coastal winds moving south. MORE

The fast-flowing water from the landslide on the Chilcotin River is moving into the Fraser River. Emergency Management Minister Bowinn Ma says the water level is forecast to rise by about a metre at Hope. It will be similar to spring runoff conditions on the Fraser River, but there is potential danger from trees and other debris in the river. MORE

WEB QUOTE – Our country right now feels like Andy is out of town and Barney’s in charge.

Aug. 6, 2024

Nanaimo Blues Festival

will kick off Thursday

The Nanaimo Blues Festival kicks off Thursday and runs through the weekend with a great lineup from R&B, boogie-woogie, soul, gospel and more. Colin James, The Cash Box Kings, Angelique Francis, Ariel Posen, Annika Chambers & Paul Deslauriers, David Gogo, Jim Byrnes will perform. The New Blues Showcase features emerging blues talent and Sunday Soul and gospel hour are returning. Food trucks, vendors and refreshments are on site. Bring your chair or you can rent one on site. Tickets HERE

An elderly couple from Qualicum Beach died in a vehicle collision in southern Alberta on Saturday. Didsbury RCMP reported the collision occurred at an intersection approximately 50 kilometres northwest of Calgary, between a car and a pickup truck. The two people inside the car were pronounced dead at the scene. They have been identified as a 76-year-old man and a 75-year-old woman from Qualicum Beach. The names have not been released.

There’s nothing like a fine wine during an night of theatre entertainment. That’s what the Nanaimo Theatre Group is aiming for a liquor licence to serve all performances, and avoid the hassles of special event permits. The Bailey Studio theatre typically hosts 16 theatre performances throughout the year. The group has operated the facility for more than 60 years and liquor service is not offered unless a special event permit is obtained from the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch. The group went before city council to emphasize that the group's only focus is to provide live entertainment. MORE

It's the E generation, and the rules have to catch up with the times. The city is updating its traffic and highways bylaws to regulate electric kick scooters and impose fines for breaking the rules. The updates were a response to a provincial pilot project for e-kick scooters.  To stay in the pilot project  the city had to update its bylaws. The regulations focus mainly on where e-kick scooters can be used and personal protection equipment. MORE

WEB QUOTE – Here’s one to ponder – www.savethesalmon.net

Aug. 5, 2024

Three Timbermen players named

to all-star team

Three Nanaimo Timbermen players have been named to the West Coast Senior Lacrosse Association all-star team. Aiden O’Dwyer is a first-team all star while Pete Dubenski and Gordie Walls-Good made the second team. Congratulations, Guys.

An unnamed couple from Qualicum Beach died in a vehicle collision in southern Alberta on Saturday. Didsbury RCMP reported the collision occurred at an intersection approximately 50 kilometres northwest of Calgary, between a car and a pickup truck. The two people inside the car were pronounced dead at the scene. They have been identified as a 76-year-old mam and a 75-year-old woman from  Qualicum Beach. The names have not been released.

Holiday or not, the wildfire battle continues in the interior. Evacuation orders have been issued for people at almost 100 properties in two out-of-control wildfires in the southern Interior. The Thompson-Nicola Regional District expanded evacuation orders Sunday for residents of 83 properties north of Lytton, including cabins at Turnip Lake, due to the growing Shetland Creek wildfire. MORE

The Chilcotin River was expected to start spilling over a landslide dam last night or early this morning. The Ministry of Emergency Management renewed its plea for people to avoid the river between Hanceville and the confluence of the Fraser River. Since July 30, minimal water has seeped through the massive obstruction – estimated at 30 metres deep, 1,000 metres long and 600 metres wide. Water levels behind the dam have been steadily rising by about 18 centimetres per hour. MORE

A head-on collision on the Malahat Saturday evening resulted in a woman taken to hospital in serious condition. A car travelling south on the highway crossed the centre line into oncoming traffic, where it collided with a car going north. Neither alcohol nor drugs appear to be factors in the crash, RCMP said. MORE

WEB QUOTE – Before we spend too much on developing artificial intelligence, why don’t we do something about natural stupidity?

Aug. 4, 2024

Nanaimo's Ethan Katzberg

wins Olympic gold medal

Ethan Katzberg is bringing Olympic gold to Nanaimo. The 22-year-old won the Olympic hammer throw by a country mile in France today tossing 84.12 metres, about four metres ahead of any other competitor. He was just centimetres short of the Olympic record. He won the world championship last year.

Aug. 4, 2024

People paying attention
to Nanaimo civic politics

Civic politics has taken on a new thrust as we head for the next election in 2026. A lot more people are paying attention to what’s going on in our civic politics, and that’s a good thing, considering extremely-low voter turnouts in the past. This comes thanks in large part to the two failed Alternate Approval Process exercises. They will also be active in the next AAP. To that end there’s a town hall meeting on Aug. 21 at 7 p.m. at Beban Park for a discussion on current Nanaimo issues like local taxes, farming, rezoning and of course, the AAP.

Maureen and Colleen

Look out Hollywood, Nanaimo is about to hit the spotlight. Casting directors Maureen Webb and Colleen Bolton from Nanaimo are headed to Los Angeles for the 76th Emmy Awards, where they're up for an Emmy. Maureen and Colleen were nominated with team members Laura Schiff, Carrie Audino and Kei Kawamura, for Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series for FX productions’ historical drama and Japanese period series, Shōgun. The awards night is in September at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. MORE

Looking for something to do this long weekend, Ladysmith Days continues today with lots of action, and it’s free. The celebration is thought to be nearly 50 years old. There’s lots to entertain you with various forms of entertainment and contests taking place at Transfer Beach Park. MORE

The north Nanaimo viewing platform and beach access at the end Entwhistle Drive is closed for working on the sewage intake. It’s an $8.8 million upgrade for the aging pump station. RDN wastewater services manager Belinda Woods said it’s critical to stay on top of maintenance to ensure reliability of functioning service. MORE

Just how hot has it been? Hotter than ever before on those dates as records tumbled in 13 communities. Environment Canada said a strong high pressure ridge will bring an extended period of hot weather, cooling down by the end of the weekend but temperatures could climb again next week in some areas. The warnings cover eastern Vancouver Island, Howe Sound and Whistler and most other areas of the province. The BC Wildfire Service said the heat will impact fire conditions with possible dry lightning and strong winds in the southern third of B.C.

Good news – Richard James, 68, has been found after going missing the Oceanside area. Thank you for everyone's concern and support.

WEB QUOTE – Censorship is the tool used when the lie loses its power.

Conservative Party reconsiders

Nanaimo-Gabriola candidate

Former B.C. Liberal minister

Terry Lake says he may vote NDP

What went wrong for BC United?

BC United Vancouver Island candidates react to the party’s withdrawal

BC United rebrand went 'spectacularly,' says sarcastic Falcon

Chaos, anger and resignations in wake of BC United’s collapse

Orphaned voters and attack ads: BC United fallout continues

Shirley Bond withdraws campaign, citing surprise United capitulation

BC United rebrand went 'spectacularly,' says sarcastic Falcon

ELECTION ARCHIVE 

Poilievre urges Singh to end NDP deal with Liberals, force fall election

Former correctional officer charged with smuggling contraband to inmates

Final evacuation alerts lifted as

B.C. wildfires continue to drop

B.C. police accused of racist WhatsApp chat issue Charter challenge

Trudeau defends railway arbitration call as necessary

Canada’s 2023 wildfire emissions four times worse than its fossil fuel pollution

35 years after Prince George family vanished, case remains open

B.C. bar boasts Canada's largest

whisky collection, 1,300 'expressions'