Nanaimo news

• Loyal Nanaimo Bathtub Society puts out SOS for support boats

  20-07-2026 23:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  There is need for boats to assist racers in the upcoming Great World Championship Bathtub race in Nanaimo.
  The race takes place Sunday, July 26 and Greg Peacock, Loyal Nanaimo Bathtub Society commodore, told the News Bulletin that as of July 17, four racers have had issues with their crews.
  “Every racer requires an escort boat to stay within sight of the actual tub itself and be able to get to [them if they] run into some trouble,” he said. “Escort boats are a big challenge. It
  
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• 16 foreign nationals arrested in Vancouver during World Cup

  20-07-2026 21:28 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Vancouver police have wrapped up policing activities related to the World Cup, noting it was the single largest deployment of officers ever in Vancouver.
  As many as 1,300 officers were out and about on each of the seven BC Place match days, Vancouver police said in a briefing Monday (July 20).
  The joint Canada-U.S.-Mexico tournament ran for 39 days across 16 host cities and wrapped up Sunday with the final match between Spain and Argentina. Spain scored in extra time for a 1-0 win.
  While Vancouv
  
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• Victoria Deaf community calls for new service hub after closure

  20-07-2026 20:50 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  More than two weeks after the Island Deaf and Hard of Hearing Centre (IDHHC) shut its doors, members of Vancouver Island’s Deaf community gathered at Victoria City Hall on Friday afternoon, sharing emotional stories of loss while calling on the province to help restore services they say are essential.
  The town hall brought together Deaf, Deaf-Blind, hard of hearing residents, interpreters, parents, advocates and allies following the organization’s June 30 closure after 35 years of op
  
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• Nanaimo considers contributing $75,000 to affordable housing pilot project

  20-07-2026 20:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Nanaimo is considering contributing $75,000 to the Nanaimo Prosperity Corporation as part of an effort to increase the number of affordable-housing units in the municipality.
  The city’s governance and priorities committee made that recommendation at its meeting on July 13, after a lengthy discussion.
  Members of the Housing Nanaimo Working Group, which consists of a number of partners, including the Anchor Corporation and the Nanaimo Prosperity Corporation, spoke to the committee at its mee
  
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• Strong Cowichan presence helps Crimson Tide claim B.C. regional rugby title

  20-07-2026 20:25 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  The 2026 provincial regional rugby championships were held at Abbotsford Exhibition Park June 4 and 5, with the Vancouver Island Rugby Union’s Crimson Tide earning the overall title, just two points ahead of the Fraser Valley Venom.
  The tournament featured British Columbia’s top U15 to U19 players representing four regional teams: the Crimson Tide (Vancouver Island), Fraser Valley Venom, Vancouver Wave and the Interior. The championships returned to Abbotsford after being held at Sha
  
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• Campbell River RCMP investigating early morning stabbing

  20-07-2026 19:43 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  On July 19, at approximately 2:30 a.m., police were called to a parking lot in the 1200 block of Cedar Street for a report of a 30-year-old female who had been stabbed.Multiple RCMP members responded to the scene, locating the 30 year old victim and ensured that she received the necessary medical assistance from Emergency Health Services. She was later transported to hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.RCMP members from the Major Crime Unit, Forensics Unit and General Duty, remained
  
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• Heat warning in effect for B.C.’s North, Central coasts

  20-07-2026 19:22 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Parts of B.C.’s North and Central coasts are under a heat warning until Wednesday, Environment Canada says.The yellow warning was issued Monday (July 20) for Terrace, Kitimat and Bella Coola, with a high forecast confidence. The warning is in effect until Wednesday, and will then be followed by a cooling trend.Environment Canada says a ridge of high pressure will bring high temperatures to the region, with daytime highs expected in the low 30s and overnight lows in the mid-teens.The warnin
  
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• Family vehicle impounded after Williams Lake learner caught speeding 168 km/h

  20-07-2026 17:01 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  A Williams Lake family’s brand new vehicle was recently impounded for excessive speed after a learner driver was caught doing 168 kilometres an hour in a 120 km/h zone on the Coquihalla Highway.
  The 20 year-old-woman, who was accompanied with five family members, was stopped on Highway 5, south of Merritt, in her dad’s 2026 Honda Pilot on Saturday, July 11 by the BC Highway Patrol.According to a news release, the Williams Lake woman was issued a $368 fine under the BC Motor Vehicle A
  
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• Some residents not evacuating Brunswick Complex wildfires: FVRD

  20-07-2026 16:01 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Eight evacuation orders are in place due to the Brunswick Complex wildfires in the Fraser Canyon, but the Fraser Valley Regional District (FVRD) said some residents have chosen to stay behind or return to the areas after evacuating.
  In a video update on Sunday (July 19), FVRD communications manager Samantha Piper said the regional district “continues to be aware” that some residents have not evacuated or have returned to evacuation order areas.
  “You are violating the law. This
  
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• 7 buildings destroyed in Brunswick Complex wildfires; some residents not evacuating

  20-07-2026 16:01 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  UPDATE (11 a.m.) –Seven buildings have been destroyed by the Ainslie Creek wildfire, according to the Fraser Valley Regional District (FVRD).
  In a statement, the FVRD said four buildings were either residential structures or seasonal cabins, while the other three were accessory structures or structures supporting commercial uses.The regional district conducted rapid damage assessments on buildings confirmed to be damaged or destroyed by the fires. The FVRD said further damages may be repor
  
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• Fire smoke set to settle across Greater Victoria

  20-07-2026 14:59 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  The air is anticipated to thicken with particulates as wildfire smoke from the interior of B.C. is expected to filter down to the coast Monday (July 20).Particulates in the air will be minimal for the South Island, spreading across the Island. The smoke is forecast to linger into Wednesday morning, which is as far as the predictor firesmoke.ca projects.
  The program shows interactive forecasts of hourly and daily averages and daily maximum concentrations of PM2.5 particles – fine inhalable
  
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• Early-bird tickets on sale for Nanaimo Independent Film Society fall season

  20-07-2026 14:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Early-bird tickets are now on sale for the fall season of the Nanaimo International Film Screen Society.
  Eight films have been announced for the season, running from September to December, five for the main features, and three additional ones for matinees.The five main films shown will be Thelma (2024), Eleanor the Great (2025), It Was Just An Accident (2025), Koln 75 (2025) and The Mother and the Bear (2024). The three matinee films that will be shown are Mr. Nobody Against Putin (2025), Peak E
  
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• Death during annual swim event confirmed as 5th drowning on Okanagan this year

  20-07-2026 05:45 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  A person who drowned at Tugboat Bay was participating in the annual Across the Lake Swim, Kelowna RCMP have confirmed.
  Emergency crews were called to the bay on Saturday morning, July 18. According to Cpl. Steven Lang, media relations officer with the Kelowna RCMP, police were alerted to a drowning in the area.“They were a part of the Across the Lake swim yesterday,” he said.
  Lang added he did not have the exact circumstances of how the victim was found, but added that strong headwin
  
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• City of Kimberley under evacuation alert due to wildfires

  20-07-2026 05:16 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  The City of Kimberley and outlying areas are on evacuation alert due to wildfires burning roughly 15 kilometres the west of the municipality.
  The evacuation alert, issued late July 19, covers the entire city, including the ski hill, as well as 66 properties in Area E west in the St. Mary’s Lake region.
  “Given the current and forecasted conditions on both fires, particularly with ongoing hot, dry weather and little to no rain, the BC Wildfire Service has made the recommendation that E
  
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