Nanaimo news

• 2 men charged with trafficking, sexual assault in Victoria

  01-07-2026 00:34 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Two men are in custody following a report of a violent sexual assault in Victoria.
  VicPD held a press conference Tuesday, June 30, announcing charges against Rahul Chahar, 24, and Nagender Nagender, 22.
  Nagender faces a charge of trafficking in people, while Chahar has been charged with sexual assault causing bodily harm, unlawful confinement and attempting to choke to overcome resistance.
  This comes after Nanaimo RCMP contacted VicPD on June 20, requesting an investigation into the assault, whi
  
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• B.C. Hydro says outage like one in Nanaimo Sunday not rare

  01-07-2026 03:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  An outage that affected over 11,000 customers in Nanaimo this weekend isn’t a rare phenomenon, according to a B.C. Hydro representative.
  Power went out to a number of areas in Nanaimo on Sunday, June 28 at around 10 a.m., due to what was referred to as a substation fault.
  Ted Olynyk, B.C. Hydro spokesperson, said while electricians headed to the substation near Northfield Road, the cause could not be determined, but such instances “happen all the time.” The outage ended approxi
  
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• Yukon minerals work still under review despite federal announcement

  01-07-2026 02:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  A statement from Prime Minister Mark Carney’s office says potential mine cleanup and critical minerals work could be underway in the Yukon, but the company named in the release says it is still evaluating its options and the territorial government reports no activity.
  The June 17 release listed the Yukon among regions where Dutch firm Liminal By WMC and U.S.‑based Regeneration Enterprises intend to collaborate on critical minerals recovery and mine‑site restoration.
  Regeneratio
  
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• Vancouver-based metal act will be performing in Nanaimo

  01-07-2026 02:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  A Vancouver-based metal band will be coming to Nanaimo to perform to support their new album.
  Iron Kingdom, who consists of Chris Osterman, lead vocalist and guitarist, as well as Leighton Holmes, bassist, Max Friesen, drummer, and Megan Merrick, lead guitarist, will be performing in Nanaimo at The Terminal Bar on Thursday, July 2 at 6 p.m., alongside W.M.D. (When Minds Develop) and Awkward AC.
  The purpose of the performance is to support their new album Shadows and Dust, which is the sixth full
  
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• Kelowna riding coach found guilty of sex crimes, child luring

  01-07-2026 01:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  A Kelowna equestrian coach has been found guilty of luring a child for a sexual purpose after a jury returned its verdict on Monday evening.
  Sebastien Devrainne, originally from France, was found guilty in B.C. Supreme Court of sexual assault, sexual exploitation, and making sexual materials available to a minor after a week-long trial in Kelowna before Justice Chan and a jury.
  The jury rejected the defence’s argument that the Crown failed to prove an inappropriate relationship occurred wh
  
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• Federal funding boosts Okanagan food rescue project

  01-07-2026 01:20 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  The Central Okanagan Food Bank (COFB) received $100,000 in funding on Tuesday from the federal government as part of the nation’s new National Food Security Strategy.
  ​A large portion of the money will go toward COFB’s new Food Rescue Transformation Centre, an 11,000-square-foot warehouse and processing facility in Kelowna aimed at reducing food waste and tackling food insecurity.
  ​Kelowna Member of Parliament Stephen Fuhr made the announcement at the warehouse facility o
  
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• 17K hotdogs consumed: Vancouver by the numbers as FIFA World Cup hits halfway mark

  01-07-2026 01:05 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  The 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup is now at the halfway mark and officials in Vancouver are breaking the host city down by the numbers.
  Vancouver has been the epicentre for celebrations in Vancouver, with the pedestrianized Granville Street, BC Place for the games, Science World decked out as the Trionda, the FIFA Fan Festival at the PNE grounds and TSN’s outdoor broadcast and viewing party at Jack Poole Plaza.
  There are also viewing parties throughout the Metro Vancouver area, namely at
  
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• Victoria Crown taking on B.C. provincial court judge duties in Nanaimo in July

  01-07-2026 00:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Another judge has been assigned to oversee cases at the courthouse in Nanaimo.
  In a press release, the B.C. Ministry of Attorney General announced Clare Jennings has been appointed as a provincial court judge to Nanaimo effective July 17.
  Jennings has over 18 years of legal experience, which includes time as Crown counsel in Victoria, where she was administrative Crown counsel from 2023 to 2025. She has a wealth of trial experience with cases in the Supreme Court of B.C. and the Court of Appeal.
  
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• Fast and furious B.C. motorcyclist wins appeal in dangerous driving sentence

  30-06-2026 23:49 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  A Kelowna man with a need for speed successfully appealed his 10-month prison sentence for obstructing a peace officer and dangerous driving in May 2022.
  Christopher Blair Muir pleaded guilty to the charges, but despite a joint submission from defence and Crown lawyers of three months less time served, the Justice imposed a longer sentence on April 7.
  Filing in B.C. Court of Appeal, the guilty party claimed the Justice erred in imposing a 10-month sentence less time served by failing to consider
  
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• Shirley Margaret Mitchell (nee Bickerton)

  30-06-2026 23:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  In Loving Memory ~
  It is with great sadness and much love hat we announce the passing of Shirley Margaret Mitchell (nee Bickerton) who passed away peacefully on June 14, 2026, in Nanaimo, BC, at the age of 82.
  Shirley was predeceased by her beloved husband, Hugh “Buzz” Michael Mitchell, with whom she shared many wonderful years. She later found companionship and happiness with her loving life partner, Brian Jackson, who remained an important part of her life for many years.
  Shirley w
  
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• Rodney Leslie Adams (Rod)

  30-06-2026 23:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  In Loving Memory ~
  September 15, 1945 – June 22, 2026
  It is with deep sadness that the family announces the peaceful passing of Rodney Leslie Adams on Monday, June 22, 2026 at the age of 80, following a brave battle with dementia.
  He passed away gently at 3:45 a.m. surrounded by the thoughts of those who loved him.
  Born in Bath, England on September 15, 1945, Rod later brought his talent to Canada, where he built a dedicated career as a computer programmer in Edmonton. He was a man of inte
  
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• Emmi (Katja) Reinhardt

  30-06-2026 23:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  Katja Reinhardt (nee Kruger) was born and raised in Beyersdorf, Germany on January 7, 1926.
  After attending University in Germany, she emigrated to Canada, ending up in Winnipeg, Manitoba. One year later, she sponsored our Dad, Frithjof Reinhardt to also come to Canada. They were married in 1953.
  She is survived by her sister Inge, her children Katharina, Christine and Christopher (Kim), as well as granddaughter Jennifer (Rafa) and great granddaughter Emily.
  Throughout her life, Katja worked in
  
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• Crown delivers closing submissions in B.C. double-murder trial

  30-06-2026 22:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  The trial of a man accused in a double murder in Saanich over the fatal stabbing of two homeless people more than three years ago is coming to an end after the Crown delivered its closing submissions.
  Christopher Cathcart, a tall man in his late 30s, appeared in Victoria court on June 29 to face allegations in the killings of William “Billy” Bradshaw and Stephanie Jade Elk. Both were killed on the morning of Oct. 19, 2022.
  Cathcart has pleaded not guilty to both charges.
  Bradshaw was
  
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• Barry S. Darby

  30-06-2026 22:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Nov 23, 1936 – May 30, 2025
  It is with heavy hearts and profound love that we announce the passing of Barry Darby, who left us peacefully on May 30, 2025, at the age of 88, at Glacier View Lodge in Courtenay, BC.
  Barry led a full and fruitful life. He was born in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan into a family with one brother and seven sisters. The family moved to Nanaimo in 1944. Barry loved sports and played hockey, soccer and fastball in his youth and later became a minor hockey coach. He we
  
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• PHOTOS: Nanaimo’s first ever drone show took flight

  30-06-2026 21:01 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Nanaimo’s first ever drone show took flight on June 26 at Maffeo Sutton Park.
  The spectacle followed a free Family Fun Night on Friday, which featured a live broadcast of the FIFA World Cup game between Belgium and New Zealand that was taking place across the Salish Sea in Vancouver, thanks to a provincial grant, as they saw the Red Devils dismantle the All-Whites 5-1.
  But it was the drone show that took place in Sway’ A’ Lana lagoon which made history, as it had been the first
  
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• Habs high on former Vernon Vipers defenceman

  30-06-2026 20:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  The Montreal Canadiens have added a former member of the Vernon Vipers to its National Hockey League roster.
  The Habs drafted defenceman Cooper Cleaves, 20, a native of Riverside, CT, from Dartmouth College in the third round of the 2026 National Hockey League Entry Draft Saturday, June 27, in Buffalo.
  Cleaves was selected 93rd overall.
  He played 10 games in the B.C. Hockey League with the Snakes in 23-24 alongside older brother Hank, who is a junior at Dartmouth. He scored one goal.
  In 2024-25,
  
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• VIDEO: More modular classrooms planned for schools in Langley and around B.C.

  30-06-2026 20:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  LANGLEY ADVANCE TIMES – Modular classrooms will expand two of Langley’s newest elementary schools, including one that opened last September, B.C.’s Minister of Infrastructure announced on Tuesday.
  Bowinn Ma was in Langley on June 30 to announce 33 new classrooms, including one school upgrade and five new modular additions, to be built in communities around the province.
  Two of those will be in Langley. Donna Gabriel Robins Elementary, which opened in 2021, will get a modular ad
  
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• Nanaimo school reunites lost ring to owner

  30-06-2026 19:40 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  What began as a heartbreaking loss has turned into a story of gratitude and kindness, after a Nanaimo woman was reunited with a cherished ring that she never expected to see again.
  On May 13, Dee Bell lost a ring that held special meaning to her, according to a Nanaimo RCMP press release.Bell had purchased the ring as a gift to herself three years ago and after making payments for over a year and receiving a final helping hand from her daughter to pay it off, the ring became her treasured posses
  
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• B.C. prisoner escape sparks safety questions from community

  30-06-2026 19:02 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  It was a sleepless night for Metchosin residents following the news that a “dangerous” prisoner had escaped from the William Head Institution.
  Inmate Ernest Egon Jensen, who was serving an indeterminate life sentence for second-degree murder for over three decades, was discovered missing during the noon count on Sunday (June 28).
  The missing prisoner was reported to West Shore RCMP shortly before 1 p.m., who immediately dispatched patrols to the area of the institution, including air
  
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• Trio of Greater Victoria standouts follow Verhoeff into NHL draft ranks

  30-06-2026 18:45 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Just a day after former Victoria Royals blueliner Keaton Verhoeff became the highest draft pick in franchise history, Greater Victoria found three more reasons to celebrate.
  Timmy Runtso, Gio Pantelas and Noah Kosick all joined Verhoeff on Saturday (June 27) as players tied to the area selected at the 2026 NHL Draft in Buffalo, N.Y.
  View this post on InstagramA post shared by Canadiens de Montréal (@canadiensmtl)Runtso, who was passed over in his first year of NHL draft eligibility, heard
  
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• Vancouver Island woman campaigns to have ‘O Canada’ sung across country on July 1

  30-06-2026 17:15 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Jacquie Slocombe is on a mission to have the national anthem sung across the country at the same time this Canada Day.
  The Qualicum Beach woman said the idea is her daughter’s, and the inspiration came from when people used to bang on pots during the early months of the pandemic.
  The grass roots movement was started last year by Katharine Casey, Slocombe’s daughter, and received widespread media coverage.
  She encourages people to sing ‘O Canada’ at 10 a.m. Pacific time.
  &
  
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• WORLD CUP DAILY, June 30: Canada to face #6-ranked Morocco in Round of 16 match Saturday

  30-06-2026 16:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Daily FIFA World Cup soccer match updates and news for Black Press Media publications.
  Three matches were played Monday including Netherlands vs. Morocco, the battle of most interest to soccer-mad Canadians.
  Morocco won in Monterrey to earn a Round of 16 clash with our Canadian men this Saturday morning (July 4) in Houston, 10 a.m. start Pacific time.
  Ranked sixth in the world, Morocco are soccer giants compared to 30th-ranked Canada, who’ll be underdogs in Texas.
  In other Round of 32 acti
  
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• Proposed 43-unit housing project on Departure Bay Road gets thumbs up

  30-06-2026 14:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  A proposal that would see approximately 43-housing units built on a 1.14-acre lot at 2335 Departure Bay Road is being viewed favourably by Nanaimo city council, although concerns around having too much density in the neighbourhood have been raised.
  Council unanimously gave the first three readings to the proposal, which includes the construction of a four-storey multifamily building that would face Departure Bay Road, with additional housing units located on the western part of the property faci
  
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• Sunken vehicle surfaces surprise for rafters in B.C. Interior river

  30-06-2026 14:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Guides with Revelstoke-based Apex Rafting were cruising a routine run down the Illecillewaet River rapids on June 7 when one of them noticed an unusual shape below the surface.
  The guide claimed to have glimpsed an automobile underwater, however, fellow rafters reportedly refused to believe it.
  But the truth quickly surfaced that someone had driven a vehicle off the Trans-Canada Highway into the river.
  “We were never notified about the vehicle,” Apex owner-operator Ralph Koerber reco
  
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• ‘Bring the noise’ this summer in Penticton with True Rhythm Festival

  30-06-2026 14:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  2026, the number of another summer, sound of a funky drummer.
  That beat will be dropped by Public Enemy on the beaches of Penticton this August.
  The New York hip-hop group formed in 1985 by Chuck D and Flavor Flav are preforming as part of the True Rhythm Festival.
  Also featured in the festival’s lineup are G-Eazy, Collie Buddz, Honestav, Snotty Nose Rez Kids, Bedouin Soundclash and Kelowna’s DJ Invisible.
  True Rhythm is a celebration of culture, connection, and creativity, “br
  
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• Lithium ion battery suspected cause of Vancouver Island recycling centre fire

  30-06-2026 03:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  A damaged lithium ion battery is suspected to have caused a fire that significantly damaged a Parksville area recycling facility on June 24.
  Errington Fire Department was called to the Waste Connections of Canada Springhill Road facility shortly after 8 a.m., according to Chief Steve Ternes, and the fire continued to spread even as firefighters were hitting it with water.
  “If you’ve ever burned paper before, you know that if you pile paper up, it burns, but it’s very slow to bu
  
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• Kelowna riding coach’s fate left to jury for alleged sex crimes, child luring

  30-06-2026 03:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  The fate of a Kelowna equestrian coach is in the hands of a jury as submissions in the trial for sexual touching, sexual assault, and child luring came to a close on June 29.
  Sebastien Devrainne, originally from France, has spent the past week sitting in a Kelowna, B.C. Supreme Court for alleged crimes against a former student dating back more than a decade.
  Defence lawyers argued that there has been no evidence to prove that a sexual relationship of any kind took place between Devrainne and the
  
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• Wildfire south of Lillooet burns in dangerous terrain, being monitored: BCWS

  30-06-2026 02:35 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  The Riley Creek wildfire south of Lillooet is seeing a modified response due to it burning in unsafe and inaccessible terrain.
  The BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) provided an update about the wildfire on Monday, June 29, at 4:19 p.m.
  The fire (number K70659), was discovered on June 24 and remains out of control and sized at 50 hectares. The suspected cause of the fire is lightning.
  BCWS provided a detailed response update on June 29.
  They say the wildfire is about nine kilometres south of Lillooet an
  
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• B.C. attorney general joins Williams Lake mother’s call for child online safety

  30-06-2026 01:50 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  WARNING: This article contains content that might be distressing for some readers. If you feel like you are in crisis or are considering suicide, please call the Crisis Centre BC suicide hotline at 1-800-784-2433. Other resources include: Canada Suicide Prevention Service at Toll free: 1-833-456-4566, the Crisis Line at 310-6789 or 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433): For suicide prevention and intervention.You can also text 45645 or visit the online chat service at crisisservicescanada.ca
  Maddy Cros
  
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• PROGRESS 2026: Coulson Aviation’s night vision firefighting helped battle summer fires on Vancouver Island

  30-06-2026 01:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  In a historically bad year for wildfires across Canada, B.C. had 1,350 fires with an estimated 886,360 hectares of land burned across the province. When it came to fighting two of the worst fires in Vancouver Island’s history, BC Wildfire Service took advantage of Coulson Aviation’s successful night vision aerial firefighting program.
  Almost 15 years to the day after testing how effective a helicopter could be dropping water on hot spots at night, the Wesley Ridge fire broke out betw
  
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