NANAIMO - Starting from nearly nothing just 12 months ago, a local elementary school is preparing for a huge influx of books and other materials to their library. Rutherford Elementary School was one of six recipients in B.C. from the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation, with the school receiving $25,000 over the next th...

NANAIMO - An open house at one of the west coast's primary marine research facilities was evidently a hit with the public. Fisheries and Oceans Canada estimated over 3,000 people turned out for the family-friendly house at the Pacific Biological Station (PBS) off Hammond Bay Rd., on Saturday, May 30, which marked first...

NANAIMO - While the Nanaimo area's unemployment rate ticked slightly downward, new Statistics Canada data showed the Harbour City has one of the highest jobless rates in the country among larger urban centres. The Nanaimo area (Cedar to Lantzville, excluding Gabriola Island) had an 8.5 per cent jobless rate in May, a s...

NANAIMO - Specialized units rushed through the mid-Island Friday morning, en route to Campbell River for an eventual false alarm.Upwards of 15 vehicles from the south Island were spotted by morning commuters on Friday, June 5, speeding through Ladysmith, Nanaimo, and Parksville, with the convoy including several unmark...

NANAIMO - Local police are hoping the public can help piece together what led to a severe attack against a vulnerable man in the city's south end.Nanaimo RCMP Reserve Cst. Gary O'Brien said the 31-year-old victim was found with significant injuries on the evening of Thursday, June 4, at 10:20 p.m. in the parking lot of...

NANAIMO - Ongoing drought-like conditions across the mid-Island is prompting some preventative measures from local officials. Beginning Monday, June 8, the City of Nanaimo will move to stage three water restrictions, up from the current stage two, in a bid to preserve water supply ahead of the warmest and driest summer...

NANAIMO - Motorists passing through a major Nanaimo thoroughfare may want to find an alternate route during morning and afternoon commutes. Fortis B.C. advises it's installing an underground natural gas main line to tie into its existing infrastructure in the area of Mostar Rd. and Metral Dr.The work is scheduled to ta...

NANAIMO - Full access is restored around Westwood Lake Park, following a temporary bear-related closure. A southeastern portion of the trail was closed Tuesday, June 2, after a father and his children were "bluff charged" by the aggressive black bear. City staff confirmed to NanaimoNewsNOW the trail reopened ...

NANAIMO - An active investigation is underway after shots were fired across a city park.Local Mounties say the incident occurred around 8:40 p.m. on Wednesday, June 3, at Knowles Park, on the corner of Victoria Rd. and Rainer St., and involved a number of people exiting a white Audi, aiming weapons across the park, and...

NANAIMO - It has been a deadly spring with far more drownings than usual across B.C., including the Nanaimo and broader south coast areas. As of Wednesday, June 3, Lifesaving Society BC & Yukon data showed 17 drownings had occurred in the province this year. "It tracks much higher than usual," a concerned...

NANAIMO - A proposed multi-storey rental housing project is proceeding in the heart of the city. Forty-three units of rental housing are slated for 1901 Northfield Rd., across from McGarrigle Rd., with a mix of studio, one, and two-bedroom units offered across four storeys. Nanaimo City Councillors unanimously approved...

NANAIMO - A man well known to police and the criminal justice system is back behind bars awaiting a court date. Local Mounties arrested 36-year-old Jessie Andrew Joseph Savidant without incident on May 16, in connection with the theft of a vehicle from Barsby Ave. in Nanaimo earlier in the month, along with numerous br...

NANAIMO - A group of alumni pilots and technicians is hoping to change the mind of the federal government regarding the future of the Canadian Forces Snowbirds.The program is due to be suspended at the end of the 2026 air show season, with the aging Tutor planes to be retired.Replacements won't be available until at le...

NANAIMO - Describing her actions is instinctual with no thought behind them, a local woman sensed trouble from her door-front surveillance camera early Saturday morning.From being sound asleep to running out her front door, Amy Pye played a pivotal role in helping a man in her neighbourhood whom she didn't know require...

NANAIMO - Members from the B.C. Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS) are aware of an aggressive black bear in the Westwood Lake area.Reports were made to both the City of Nanaimo and the BCCOS on Tuesday, June 2, related to an aggressive bear, which the Service said "bluff charged" a man and his children twic...

NANAIMO - The trend of record-setting high temperatures continues on the mid-Island.Coming out of the 19th warmest April in Nanaimo's history, last month saw an average daily temperature of 14.9 degrees (Celsius), over two degrees above the 30-year average, with the Harbour City only receiving 20 per cent of its regula...

NANAIMO - Steadily climbing over the last several years, another minimum wage boost in B.C. is in effect.However, the newly adopted $18.25 minimum wage in place as of Monday, June 1 for most employees is still well behind the $24.40 per hour estimated to be required for full-time workers to pay for essentials like hous...

UPDATE - Nanaimo RCMP report a sixth person was arrested Tuesday in connection to the lengthy chase through the morning hours.Three were released unconditionally, while another three remained in police custody overnight ahead of court appearances on Wednesday, June 3.EARLIER - NANAIMO - An investigation into a stolen v...

NANAIMO - What's been a growing infusion of healthcare workers to the mid-Island over the last 12 months is facing a notable roadblock: a lack of pet-friendly rentals.Several healthcare workers who are planning to move, or have already arrived in Nanaimo, are reporting significant challenges finding a place to live whe...

NANAIMO - Leading a group of four new vessels built for smaller inter-island routes, a new ferry to serve the Nanaimo Harbour-Gabriola Island route has arrived. Recently built at a Romanian shipyard, BC Ferries announced the Island xwsaĺux̌ul has arrived in B.C. waters, representing the first of four Island Class ves...

NANAIMO - Much of Vancouver Island is already under severe drought conditions, nearly three weeks out from summer. The B.C. drought portal went live last week, with eastern Vancouver Island already at a level four out of five on the severity index as of Monday, June 1, encompassing areas north of Campbell River down to...

NANAIMO - Nobody was found inside a car submerged at Nanaimo's Westwood Lake. Nanaimo Fire Rescue (NFR) crews were called to Westwood Lake Park on Monday, June 1 just after 10:00 a.m. after a passerby noticed a vehicle was completely submerged underwater off the end of the First Beach boat launch. Acting NFR Platoon Cp...

PARKSVILLE - Hot, dry weather recently, and more in the forecast, is forcing the hand of local water watchers. Beginning Monday, June 1, the City of Parksville will move to stage three water restrictions, which limits watering to one day per week, with odd-numbered homes allowed to water on Mondays, and even-numbered o...

NANAIMO - Despite a growing population, newly released data shows the number of collisions at Nanaimo's highest crash intersections continues inching downward.Intersection crash data released by ICBC revealed 523 reported combined collisions at Nanaimo's 10 highest crash junctions in 2025, down slightly from 530 in 202...

NANAIMO - Rezoning is set to proceed for a highly visible lot along Departure Bay Rd. City Councillors proceeded through second and third reading of a zoning amendment bylaw on Monday, May 25, for a property at 2565 Departure Bay Rd., connecting with both Strongitharm Ave. to the north, and Lynburn Cres. to the west. R...

QUALICUM BEACH - At risk of not proceeding this year due to a prior lack of volunteer support, a full offering of family-friendly events are going ahead in Qualicum Beach. Offered annually since 1976, Family Day happens throughout Sunday, May 31 in Qualicum Beach, with most activities scheduled for the Community Playin...

NANAIMO - Found stabbed to death south of Nanaimo approaching 70 years ago, a podcast series is attempting to unravel who and why a popular couple was murdered. Well known and respected, Andrew, 62, and Elizabeth, 55, (Lizzie) Kostyniuk were murdered in their south Wellington home in late June 1959. No arrests or charg...

NANAIMO - A newly installed temporary art piece pays tribute to local native plant species using oversized and vibrant replicas. Inspired by the rare Crown Brodiaea flower, the Forest Flowers art project was recently installed adjacent to the walking path at Kinette Evergreen Park on Timberwood Dr. off Ninth St. in Nan...