Nanaimo news

• 2 people in serious condition after crash in Qualicum Beach

  18-06-2026 02:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Two people were taken to hospital in serious condition after a collision in Qualicum Beach.
  BC EHS was called to the two-vehicle crash on Memorial Avenue at approximately 3:35 p.m. on June 17.
  Paramedics provided emergency medical treatment to two patients, who were taken by ground ambulance to hospital, according to BC EHS.
  One patient was transported in serious condition, while the other patient was transported in serious but stable condition.
  Oceanside RCMP said it is investigating the crash
  
  Read more

• Federal government kicks in $5 billion for B.C. housing, infrastructure

  18-06-2026 21:25 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  B.C. has struck a deal with the federal government for Ottawa to provide more than $5 billion for housing and infrastructure in B.C. over the next 10 years.
  Funding will include $2.5 billion for transit, such as SkyTrain development, $1.6 billion to lower development cost charges, $600 million for health-care infrastructure, a $284-million one-time payment to reduce barriers to new construction, $100 million for a new Tumbler Ridge secondary school and $50 million for infrastructure in coastal c
  
  Read more

• ‘Electrical non-compliances’ at Cultus Lake Waterpark have to be corrected before gates can reopen

  18-06-2026 20:58 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Technical Safety BC has found “electrical non-compliances” in its preliminary investigation into the June 15 electrical incident at the now-closed Cultus Lake Waterpark.
  Officials with the safety regulator said the waterpark will not re-open until electrical issues or hazards that put them in non-compliance are corrected.
  “We understand that the closure of a popular summer attraction is disappointing for visitors and families looking forward to their summer activities,” s
  
  Read more

• B.C. post-secondary system facing worst funding crisis in its history, report finds

  18-06-2026 20:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  British Columbia’s public post-secondary system is facing the worst funding crisis in its history, according to a new report that found 19 of the province’s 25 public institutions are projected to operate at a loss, with an estimated $300 million shortfall province-wide.
  The report, Rebuilding post-secondary education as public infrastructure in B.C. from B.C.Policy Solutions shows that since 2024, institutions have cut or suspended more than 180 programs. With these program cuts cam
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• No injuries reported after crane tips at Bruhn Bridge worksite in Sicamous

  18-06-2026 20:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  A crane may need a crane after tipping over at the Bruhn Bridge construction site in Sicamous.
  On Wednesday, June 17, numerous posts on social media showed the crane sitting at a 45 degree angle with the boom extended, indicating an overreach, though the cause of the incident hasn’t been confirmed.
  The contractor contacted District of Sicamous chief administrative officer Dean Strachan to advise of the situation, reporting there was “no impact or disruption to highway or district inf
  
  Read more

• Nanaimo woman fights off cougar to save pet goat

  18-06-2026 19:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  A Nanaimo woman’s close encounter with a cougar resulted in the wild cat being given a literal kick off her property.
  On June 6, Gina Moore went out to her barn to lock up for the night. When she got there she saw one of her goats, Donnie, clasped in a small cougar’s mouth.
  “Adrenaline just took over, and I did what I needed to do to save him,” Moore recalled.
  The rest was a blur, as she rushed over, kicking the cougar in the ribs. The wild cat let go of the animal in its
  
  Read more

• Second ship coming to Crofton-Salt Spring ferry route draws mixed reactions

  18-06-2026 19:09 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Travellers and commuters using the Crofton-Salt Spring ferry route say a planned second ship is a welcome addition, though some argue it should have happened years ago.
  Construction is now underway at the Crofton Ferry Terminal as BC Ferries works toward introducing a two-vessel service on the route by 2027. The project includes construction of a new layby berth, repairs to the existing berth and trestle structures and supporting utility upgrades.
  According to BC Ferries, the completed project w
  
  Read more

• Victoria newcomer youth score ‘opportunity of a lifetime’ at FIFA World Cup

  18-06-2026 19:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Returning from vacation is usually met with a daunting mountain of emails, but for Tricia Khan, opening her inbox this week revealed the ultimate golden ticket.
  Ten of them, to be exact.
  The Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria (ICA) was selected to receive 10 free tickets to the upcoming FIFA World Cup match between New Zealand and Egypt at Vancouver’s BC Place on Sunday, June 21.
  The donation comes courtesy of the BC Place Community Benefit Program, a joint initiative between t
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Longtime Qualicum Beach town crier Len Mustard dies at age 85

  18-06-2026 19:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Former Qualicum Beach town crier Len Mustard has died at the age of 85.
  The death of the beloved town figure, who served as town crier for 26 years, was announced by Mayor Teunis Westbroek during a committee of the whole meeting on June 17.
  Westbroek gave a brief tribute to Mustard.
  “He is well-known across Vancouver Island for his booming voice and his period-accurate attire and heartfelt civic pride,” said Westbroek.
  Mustard, whose photo now hangs in the gallery at town hall to hon
  
  Read more

• Engineering company envisions Prince Rupert to Vancouver coastal highway

  18-06-2026 18:12 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  A Prince Rupert company has taken it upon itself to map a potential route for a Prince Rupert to Vancouver coastal highway with the hope it will spark a conversation on better access to the Lower Mainland for North Coast residents.
  Pedersen-Gruppen Enterprises (PGE) has dubbed the project the Pacific Fjords Connector as it would ultimately connect to the Sea to Sky Highway (Highway 99), which connects Vancouver to Pemberton via Squamish and Whistler.
  The concept is not an approved government pro
  
  Read more

• West Shore RCMP arrest suspect in youth sex assault at Langford bus stop

  18-06-2026 18:10 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  West Shore RCMP arrested a suspect Wednesday (June 17) in a youth sex assault reported to police June 9 around 3 p.m.A female youth reported she was approached by an unknown man at a bus stop near Jacklin Road and Station Avenue in Langford. The man engaged the young person in a short conversation before sexually assaulting her, police said.Police issued a plea to the public, hoping to identify a suspect; officers from the Serious Crimes Unit subsequently identified and arrested a 33-year-old ma
  
  Read more

• TODAY: Big game for Canada vs. Qatar in Vancouver on World Cup Day 8

  18-06-2026 18:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Game 2 for Canada at the FIFA World Cup is a big one against Qatar, with both squads level in Group B standings.
  Switzerland and Bosnia and Herzegovina both have a single point, too, after all four teams tied their tournament-opening games last week.Today in Vancouver, BC Place Stadium hosts Canada-Qatar at 3 p.m. local time (Thursday, June 18), in the second World Cup match played there in less than a week, the first involving Canada.
  The game might be the biggest in the history of the Canadian
  
  Read more

• WORLD CUP DAILY, June 18: Kane scores 2 in England win over Croatia

  18-06-2026 16:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Daily FIFA World Cup updates and news for Black Press Media publications.
  Today in Canada, the focus is on Vancouver for the Canada-Qatar match that starts at 3 p.m. Pacific, in the second Group B game for both teams.
  Thursday’s three other matches (June 18) feature Czechia vs. South Africa in Atlanta (9 a.m. start Pacific time), Switzerland vs. Bosnia and Herzagovina in Los Angeles for another Group B battle (noon) and Mexico vs. Korea in Guadalajara (6 p.m.), all shown live on TSN.
  An En
  
  Read more

• Some renters in Nanaimo could soon see added protections if displaced

  18-06-2026 14:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Landlords of some rental properties in Nanaimo who are redeveloping their buildings could soon have to pay displaced tenants four months rent.
  Additionally, the owners could have to pay compensation for the moving costs to the tenants, and the landlord may have to provide tenant-relocation assistance in finding a comparable replacement unit for each tenant being displaced.
  These ideas, and more, were discussed at the City of Nanaimo’s governance and priorities committee meeting on Monday,
  
  Read more

• Case study: Olive’s path to a new confident life

  18-06-2026 14:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  When Michael and Jennifer first brought Olive home, they weren’t sure what to expect. They knew she was a rescue, knew she had come from an abusive past and understood she would need time to adjust. What they didn’t realize was just how deeply fear had shaped her world.
  “From the moment she arrived, she seemed terrified of everything,” Jennifer recalls. “She didn’t bark, play, or seek attention. Most of the time, she just hid.”
  Olive, a young Golden Retr
  
  Read more

• B.C.’s medical specialist waitlists up 10%, and doctors say pressure is mounting

  18-06-2026 02:05 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Nearly one-quarter of British Columbians are currently on waitlists to see medical specialists, and according to a new survey of B.C.’s doctors, that number is growing by 10 per cent each year with little relief in sight.
  Meanwhile, because the province does not track specialist wait times province-wide, officials may understand a problem exists but lack data to fully measure it.
  “People might think that the province has a sense of how long people are waiting for what service where,
  
  Read more

• B.C.’s Jim Hiller lands Toronto Maple Leafs head coaching job

  18-06-2026 01:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Nearly 10 per cent of all NHL head coaches now hail from Vancouver Island.
  That number jumped on Wednesday (June 17) when the Toronto Maple Leafs tapped Port Alberni’s Jim Hiller to take over their bench. Hiller was named the 41st head coach in the franchise’s history.
  He joins Victoria’s Spencer Carbery of the Washington Capitals and Campbell River’s Rod Brind’Amour of the Carolina Hurricanes on the list of NHL bench bosses from the Island.
  View this post on Instag
  
  Read more

• A cut above the rest: Kelowna barber shop helps senior after wheelchair breaks

  18-06-2026 01:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  A Kelowna barbershop put down their scissors to help a man in need on Wednesday, June 17.
  ​Raman Sharma was sitting at HighFade Barbershop in Rutland for a haircut when he noticed a number of barbers immediately stop what they were doing to help a man in a wheelchair whose tire had fallen off outside the store.
  ​Sharma tells Black Press Media the interaction between strangers was a friendly reminder that there are still good people in the world who do good things for others.
  ​&
  
  Read more

• ‘Unidentified substance’ poured on to Port Coquitlam Terry Fox statue: RCMP

  18-06-2026 01:17 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  An “unidentified substance” has been poured on the Terry Fox statue in Port Coquitlam and police are now investigating.
  Coquitlam RCMP received a report on Wednesday (June 17) of alleged mischief to the statue, which is located in the 2100-block of Wilson Avenue in Port Coquitlam, according to a news release from police on the same day.
  Police said that between midnight on June 12 and 7 a.m. on June 13, the “unidentified substance” appears to have been poured onto the sta
  
  Read more

• Addressing an epidemic: Bailey’s Law on intimate partner violence becomes official

  18-06-2026 01:15 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  After months of lobbying and lawmaking, Canada’s Criminal Code will soon be amended.
  On Wednesday, June 17, Bill C-225 received Royal Assent, just one day after passing its third reading in the Senate.
  Bill C-225, sponsored by Kamloops-Thompson-Nicola MP Frank Caputo, is also known as “Bailey’s Law,” named after McCourt, who died on July 4, 2025, following a violent daytime attack in a Kelowna parking lot.
  Her estranged ex-husband, James Plover, is facing first-degree mur
  
  Read more

• Reinstated Victoria school board turns back time, gets down to business

  18-06-2026 01:05 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  The Greater Victoria School District board of trustees could be called time travellers after its first reunification meeting June 15. In one fell swoop, unanimously upheld, the board erased all the things that happened since it was fired and replaced in early 2025.
  “I want to formally welcome back the democratically elected board,” chair Nicole Duncan said. “I am so pleased to see my colleagues here tonight, and I’m so happy that the Greater Victoria School District is no
  
  Read more

• Nanaimo Theatre Group wins several awards in North Island Zone Festival

  18-06-2026 01:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  The Nanaimo Theatre Group has won several awards at the North Island Zone Festival for its play Two Rooms, leading to Nanaimo residents has a second chance to see the play.
  Nanaimo audiences have two final chances to see the award-winning performance at Bailey Studio. The first on Friday, June 26 at 7:30 p.m., and the second one on June 27 at 2:00 p.m.
  During the North Island Zone Festival – which was hosted by the theatre group between May 19 and 23 at Bailey Studio, the play, which deals
  
  Read more

• Caltrops found in dirt on popular Comox Valley trail

  18-06-2026 00:06 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Comox Valley RCMP and Comox Valley Search & Rescue (CVSAR) have both released safety notices to local trail users after a cluster of metal spikes were found hidden in the dirt on a trail along the Puntledge River pipeline.
  Mountain biker Eric Roy’s tire was punctured on June 14. The rider returned to check the trail the next day, only to find several more of the metal devices, called caltrops, obscured in the dirt. The caltrops were found near the Stotan Falls Fish Passage area and Pow
  
  Read more

• US$15.7 billion floating LNG facility proposed for northwest B.C.

  17-06-2026 23:59 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  A US$15.7-billion floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) export project proposed for Prince Rupert has attracted one of the world’s largest shipbuilders and offshore energy companies.
  South Korea-based Hanwha Ocean announced June 16 it signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Vancouver-based Kanata Clean Power & Climate Technologies regarding the proposed development.
  Kanata estimates the project would have an export capacity of up to 12 million tonnes of LNG annually,
  
  Read more

• Former U.S. homeland security secretary Noem joins B.C. mining company’s board

  17-06-2026 23:40 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Kristi Noem, the former U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, has joined the advisory board of a B.C. mining exploration company.
  NovaRed Mining Inc. announced Tuesday (June 16) that Noem has joined the company “in a strategic advisory role to support NovaRed’s mission of acquiring and advancing critical mineral exploration opportunities through its artificial intelligence-enhanced technology platform.”
  Noem said she looks forward to “supporting the company’s strateg
  
  Read more

• Hudbay opens New Ingerbelle Expansion near Princeton

  17-06-2026 23:22 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Hudbay Minerals Inc. has celebrated the opening of the New Ingerbelle Expansion Project at the Copper Mountain Mine near Princeton.
  The official opening was held on June 16 and was attended by Jagrup Brar, B.C.’s Minister of Mining and Critical Minerals, Chief Charles Allison of the Upper Similkameen Indian Band, as well as local and regional stakeholders.
  “This is an important day for the Copper Mountain Mine, for Princeton and for the Similkameen region,” said Peter Kukielski
  
  Read more

• BC Hydro unveils plan to increase capacity by 7% through dam upgrades

  17-06-2026 23:17 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  B.C. is continuing its push for more power with planned upgrades to several dams throughout the province that the energy minister says will provide as much as 1,000 megawatts of new capacity, a seven-per-cent boost.
  “The least expensive thing to do is squeeze every electron out of the network of dams, substations, transmission and distribution systems to ensure we have the capacity we need,” said Adrian Dix, B.C.’s energy minister, at a Wednesday (June 17) press conference.
  For
  
  Read more

• Brentwood rows to 5 golds en route to 2nd place national finish

  17-06-2026 22:23 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Brentwood College School’s 59 student-athletes and their coaches placed second overall at the 79th Canadian Secondary Schools Rowing Association (CSSRA) National Championships, held June 5 to 7 in St. Catharines, Ont.
  The national high school regatta featured 130 clubs and 651 entries, including crews from multiple U.S. states.
  “It was a great day for the sport of rowing in Canada and a great day for Brentwood rowing,” said legendary Brentwood coach Brian Carr. He stepped in to
  
  Read more

• Four derelict boats to be removed from Cowichan waterways

  17-06-2026 22:21 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Four derelict vessels will be removed from Cowichan Valley waterways unless they are somehow dealt with before then according to Transport Canada.
  The ministry has given public notice that under the Wrecked Abandoned and Hazardous Vessels Act it intends to dispose of the ‘Valhalla’, a 45-foot black ketch, and a 21-foot red Campion power boat (BC1903505) both anchored in Maple Bay, along with a 30-foot beached white sailing vessel with a blue keel in the Cowichan Bay Estuary, and a 40
  
  Read more

• Repeat offenders drive rise in property crime as Duncan sees spike in violence and fraud

  17-06-2026 22:17 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Staff Sgt. Ken Beard, the officer in charge of the North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP detachment, presented the quarterly report covering January to March 2026 to Duncan city council at their meeting on June 8.
  Beard said Mounties were involved in “quite a cross-section of events” over the three-month span.
  Of the detachment’s 5,740 files, 1,229 — or 22 per cent — originated within Duncan city limits.
  “We were involved in some exciting things, some fun things, and som
  
  Read more

Follow @news_nanaimo on Twitter!