Nanaimo news

• COLUMN: Nanaimo’s dragon boat festival needs more support

  18-07-2026 20:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  I remember my adrenaline pumping as my dragon boat team lined up with other teams in the Newcastle Channel to prepare for a race during the annual Nanaimo Dragon Boat Festival more than 20 years ago.
  We had trained for months to participate in the festival and now we were about to find out how we stacked up against other teams from Nanaimo and from as far away as Portland who had also spent a considerable amount of time on the water honing their paddling skills.
  My team was the Bastion Dragons a
  
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• LETTER TO THE EDITOR: I disagree that Rock City wetland has no surface water connection

  18-07-2026 18:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  To the editor, and for the attention of Nanaimo Mayor Krog and councillors,
  Re: New environmental issues raised over Nanaimo Rock City apartment-building project, July 15
  Nanaimo’s recent council meeting was an appalling display of deception and denial. Tamara Brown politely raised the issue that the city appears non-compliant with provincial Riparian Areas Protection Regulation (RAPR) law, since its framework excludes unmapped watercourses. Director of planning Jeremy Holm and the city&rs
  
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• WORLD CUP DAILY, July 18: England and France face off in Bronze final

  18-07-2026 16:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Daily FIFA World Cup soccer match updates and news for Black Press Media publications.
  France and England face off at 2 p.m. PT today in Miami in the 2026 bronze World Cup final.
  The match will be refereed by Jesus Valenzuela.
  England has won two of three World Cup matches against France: 3-1 in June 1982 during the group stage and 2-0 in July 1966 in London. France defeated England 2-1 in the 2022 quarter-final in Qatar.
  Spain will take on Argentina in the championship match on Sunday at 12 p.m
  
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• Former undercover officer turns decades of experience into crime novels from Ladysmith home

  18-07-2026 14:45 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  After spending more than 30 years working undercover against drug traffickers, kidnappers and organized crime, Ladysmith resident Lawrence Ricketts is telling stories once again — this time through fiction.
  Ricketts, a former police officer whose career included undercover assignments in Toronto, Saanich and Vancouver, has published four novels inspired by people, operations and experiences that shaped his career, with a fifth book already underway.
  While the stories are fictional, Rickett
  
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• Cannabis shop application receives few comments at public hearing

  18-07-2026 14:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  There was little comment, either for or against, a proposal for a new cannabis-retail store in the Brooks Landing at a public hearing that was held on Thursday, July 17.
  Nanaimo city council gave the first two readings to the proposal for the store, which would be located at 2180 Highland Boulevard, at its meeting on June 22.
  One caller at the public hearing indicated that he felt the location was too close to other cannabis shops in the area, while one speaker said he likes the fact that he wou
  
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• B.C. Lions fall 19-17 to Edmonton Elks, lose QB Rourke to injury

  18-07-2026 06:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  The B.C. Lions lost more than a game Friday night.
  Starting quarterback Nathan Rourke suffered a (non-throwing) shoulder injury on the first drive of the game and didn’t return, as the visiting Lions dropped a 19-17 decision to the Edmonton Elks in CFL action at Commonwealth Stadium.
  Cody Fajardo threw for 282 yards and a touchdown for the Elks (5-1). Receiver T.J. Luther had the lone Edmonton TD, while Vincent Blanchard booted four field goals and a convert. Chase Brice replaced Rourke (t
  
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• Snowbirds touch down at North Saanich museum ahead of Victoria flying show

  18-07-2026 02:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  The BC Aviation Museum in North Saanich boasts some special visitors as the Snowbirds touch down during its annual open house this summer.The Canadian Forces flying team is on hand for the second day of the open house, signing autographs on Monday, Aug. 3, the day before a highly anticipated performance along the Victoria waterfront. Current Snowbirds team members will appear for autograph sessions, anticipated around 2 p.m., alongside former pilots and support crew. Among them is Sidney residen
  
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• $53K from touring cyclists strengthens perinatal care at Nanaimo hospital

  18-07-2026 01:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  A sizable donation from touring cyclists from across the globe has boosted care for expectant mothers at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital.
  Canada Cycles for Kids, which raises money for kids across Canada via fundraising rides, is doing its first tour on Vancouver Island and stopped by the Nanaimo health-care facility to present a cheque of over $53,000 which will go towards a perinatal operating room cautery machine and a new fetal monitor, with price tags of $28,745 and $24,500 respectively,
  
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• B.C. Premier Eby wants Canada to adopt RICO-type laws to combat organized crime

  18-07-2026 01:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Premier David Eby says the B.C. government has stretched provincial laws about as far as they can go to combat organized crime, and he now wants the federal government to enact laws similar to those in the United States under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, commonly known as RICO.
  “I’ll be blunt: currently in Canada, I do not believe that we have the full capacities we need to attack organized crime,” Eby said Friday.America’s RICO law was created
  
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• Kelowna MP hangs with the kids to announce Canada Child Benefit increase

  18-07-2026 00:25 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  To support families across the country, the federal government announced an increase is coming July 20 to the Canada Child Benefit.The tax-free payment provides families with up to $8,157 per child under the age of 6 and up to $6,883 per child aged 6 to 17.
  Stronger support for families is coming July 20 with an increase to the Canada Child Benefit. To celebrate, Kelowna @FuhrMP spent some time with the kiddos at the BGC North Glenmore Club @KelownaCapNews @BlackPressMedia pic.twitter.com/GdC4Jm
  
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