Local News Update

Nanaimo’s Jewish community marked the first night of ​​Chanukah with the lighting of a giant Menorah at Maffeo Sutton Park.  Organized by Chabad of Nanaimo the event attracted hundreds of people to mark the start of the holiday celebrating the triumph of light over darkness.  Rabbi Bentzi Shemtov says that the public celebration of ​​Chanukah is important for the community.  “The holiday is all ab...

Island Health is ramping up its Covid and Influenza vaccine campaign with free walk-in clinics for children between six months and 11 years of age. Dr. Charuka Maheswaran, a public health resident physican at Island Health, says that it is especially important that children get their flu shot this year. “Last year, we saw more children hospitalized with influenza than usual and we don't want that...

Vancouver Island Univerisity gathered to remember the worst act of violent misogyny in Canadian history. It has been over 30 years since the École Polytechnique Montreal massacre that took the lives of 14 women on December 6th 1989.  The day is a part of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign which begins November 25, the International Day for Elimination of Violence Agains...

Over the last week, the Nanaimo City Council has had the chance to discuss next year’s financial plan and on Monday Dember 4th, residents finally had their chance to speak. An E-town hall was held to present the draft financial plan and allow the city council to hear feedback from city residents. In the beginning, the audience was given an overview of what the drafted plan currently looks like. Th...

Nanaimo city council voted 7-2 to redo an Alternative Approval Process to take out a $48.5 million loan for a new public works yard in Nanaimo after the previous one run in November was found to have been done without giving proper notice. ★ Support this podcast ★

The City of Nanaimo is looking at increasing property taxes by eight per cent in 2024 as of Friday’s finance and audit committee meeting. ★ Support this podcast ★

Construction is near completion for phase two of the Albert / Fourth Complete Street project. Soon pedestrians, cyclists and drivers will have an easier and safer route between downtown and the Harewood area. Support local news reporting through our Nonprofit Newsroom with a monthly sustaining donation of $5 to $10 a month . Want more news on the Salish Sea? Find more news from our Nonprofit Newsr...

Exciting news has come out of the Qualicum First Nations as the once-considered ‘sleeping language’ has successfully been labelled as an awakening language. The pentl’ach (pronounced punt-lutch) language which was traditionally spoken in what is now Cape Lazo to Parksville and a little bit west of the areas, has officially become the 35th First Nations language recognized in British Columbia.  pen...

A controversial Alternative Approval Process (AAP) to take out a $48.5 million loan for the first phase of a new public works yard was conducted improperly and needs to be run again, according to a press release from the City of Nanaimo. An “administrative error” resulted when the notices for the AAP were combined and the timing of the notices “did not meet the legislative requirements,” according...

The Downtown Revitalization Tax Exemption applies to  new multi-family residential and commercial buildings as well as renovations within the revitalization area spanning from the waterfront to Pine Street and the Millstone River.  The exemption provides a ten‐year tax exemption on the municipal portion of property taxes within the revitalization area. Currently a new building must have a building...

The coastline is going to get a whole lot cleaner with the province announcing a new round of funding for coastal clean-up projects. Through the Clean Coast, Clean Waters initiative, eight projects were selected this year and are expected to clean more than 1,400 kilometres of shoreline and remove at least 70 derelict vessels. This funding is expected to create 630 new jobs in the process. ★ Suppo...

Nanaimo residents could see a possible 6.4 per cent increase in property tax next year. Last Wednesday, November 22nd, Nanaimo city council discussed a draft of the 2024-2028 financial plan. ★ Support this podcast ★

Parksville city council heard from residents at a packed public hearing about the proposed location of a new mental health and/or addictions treatment facility at 188 McCarter Street on Wednesday. ★ Support this podcast ★

A bylaw by the Regional District of Nanaimo to establish a community health and wellbeing service for Gabriola Island is going to an Alternative Approval Process to get the consent of Gabriolans to fund the estimated $103,000 needed to hire a full-time coordinator. ★ Support this podcast ★

Nanaimo City Council voted in favour of a motion to send a letter to all BC MLAs and the UBCM in support of a draft amendment they would like to see towards the recently announced Bill 44 ★ Support this podcast ★

Dozens of people held a candlelight vigil for Transgender Day of Remembrance at the historic Bastion in downtown Nanaimo on Monday, Nov. 20, which was lit up in the colours of the trans flag. People took turns reading the names of transgender and gender non-conforming people around the world who died from transphobia this year, including five from Canada. ★ Support this podcast ★

The Vancouver Island Short Film Festival is looking for budding young filmmakers for a new Youth Showcase. ★ Support this podcast ★

The Town of Ladysmith is looking at redesigning its “cacophony” of a flag.  That’s what town councillor Jeff Virtanen called the current town flag at the committee of the whole meeting on Tuesday night.  Mayor Aaron Stone says he likes the town’s flag, but sees value in updating it. CBC municipal affairs reporter Justin McElroy was surprised to learn that a Twitter thread he wrote in 2018 was part...

Over 50 members of local governments in British Columbia, including several from Central Vancouver Island, have signed an open letter calling on the Canadian government to call for a ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. The letter is also calling on the federal government to support unrestricted access to humanitarian aid and a release of all hostages. ★ Support this podcast...

On Monday, Nov. 6, Parksville city council unanimously passed a motion requesting that the province exempt lands in the city designated for resorts, tourist commercial use, the downtown waterfront and restricted recreation areas from Bill 35, which bans short-term rentals on properties other than the owner’s principal residence. Parksville Mayor Doug O’Brien says the new law could have a major imp...

Nanaimo Fire Chief Tim Doyle painted a dire picture of the overdose crisis to Nanaimo city council on Monday. According to Doyle, as of Monday, Nanaimo Fire Rescue have responded to 1,500 overdoses in 2023. Last year, the annual total was 672. ★ Support this podcast ★

About 300 people marched through downtown Nanaimo on Saturday, Nov. 4 calling for a ceasefire in Israel’s escalating war against Hamas in Gaza. It was part of a national day of action that saw protests take place in two dozen cities in Canada. According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, over 4,000 children have been killed since the start of Israel’s attack on Gaza following an attack by Hamas into...

Lisa Marie Barron, the NDP Member of Parliament for Nanaimo - Ladysmith, is calling on the federal government to support a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip as it enters its third week. ★ Support this podcast ★

The 16th Annual Urban Film Festival is taking place on the evening Friday, Nov. 3 at Vancouver Island University (VIU).   Matthew Bowes, a professor of geography and global studies, says that the film festival's vision is to educate and inspire.  “Our vision here is really to educate, inspire people to promote sustainable cities,” he said. “We are showcasing the possibilities of walkable, accessib...

The City of Nanaimo has voted to allocate up to $230,000 to Risebridge to operate a daytime warming centre this winter that will run seven days a week between November 14 and March 31, 2024. The money is coming from approximately $400,000 that is available from the Asset Retirement Obligation Project Surplus Fund. Council also directed staff to call for expressions of interest from other organizat...