Nanaimo news

• Arla Jean Murch

  09-11-2026 03:42 via Nanaimo News Bulletin
  
  February 19, 1934 ~ October 31, 2026
  Arla Jean was born in Kerrobert, Saskatchewan to Frederick Ernest and Maylo Rose Cunnings. She was predeceased by both parents, her brothers Garth, Barry and Dale; and by her ex-husband Bruce Murch and their three children Rob, Leslie and Tracy.
  During her long productive life she lived throughout Vancouver Island, attending Cowichan High School and ending up in Nanaimo. Her work life included nursing, accounting and establishing and directing the Nanaimo Aca
  
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• Kelowna firefighters shave heads to support cancer-stricken colleague

  09-11-2026 02:14 via Nanaimo News Bulletin
  
  In a show of camaraderie, firefighters from the Kelowna and Vernon fire departments shaved their heads in a fundraising effort for their colleague, Stefon Marshall, who has been diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer earlier this year.
  The event was held at the Kelowna Fire Station on Enterprise Way near Dilworth Drive on Sunday, Nov. 8, where family and friends of the firefighters gathered to watch around 60 members of the fire department say goodbye to their locks in support of Marshall.
  Torren F
  
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• Nanaimo’s Port Theatre enjoys busiest year ever

  08-11-2026 18:00 via Nanaimo News Bulletin
  
  The Port Theatre says it had the busiest year since the venue began operations.At its Tuesday, Nov. 3 annual general meeting, the Port Theatre handed out annual reports covering July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026. In the report, they said that they “welcomed more than 124,000 patrons, making this our busiest year since the theatre opened in 1998.”In addition, it said that their Spotlight Series had eight sold-out performances, with around 8,000 tickets purchased. Overall, ticket sales in the fisc
  
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• Nanaimo’s Port Theatre busiest year ever doesn’t include Beyond Van Gogh, Beyond Monet

  08-11-2026 18:00 via Nanaimo News Bulletin
  
  The Port Theatre says it had the busiest year since the venue began operations.At its Tuesday, Nov. 3 annual general meeting, the Port Theatre handed out annual reports covering July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026. In the report, they said that they “welcomed more than 124,000 patrons, making this our busiest year since the theatre opened in 1998.”In addition, it said that their Spotlight Series had eight sold-out performances, with around 8,000 tickets purchased. Overall, ticket sales in the fisc
  
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• Beyond Van Gogh, Beyond Monet part of Nanaimo’s Port Theatre’s busiest year ever

  08-11-2026 18:00 via Nanaimo News Bulletin
  
  The Port Theatre says it had the busiest year since the venue began operations.At its Tuesday, Nov. 3 annual general meeting, the Port Theatre handed out annual reports covering July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026. In the report, they said that they “welcomed more than 124,000 patrons, making this our busiest year since the theatre opened in 1998.”In addition, it said that their Spotlight Series had eight sold-out performances, with around 8,000 tickets purchased. Overall, ticket sales in the fisc
  
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• Thousands remain without power Sunday morning, as Cowichan one of hardest hit regions

  08-11-2026 17:09 via Nanaimo News Bulletin
  
  UPDATE: 9 a.m. Nov. 8
  As of Sunday morning thousands of people remained without power in the Cowichan Valley. New outages overnight included major blackouts in the Cobble Hill (2,080 customers), Shawnigan Lake (2,359), Malahat (2,304) and Saltair (2,244 customers) areas, as well as more of the Cowichan Lake area (more than 2,000 customers).
  BC Hydro crews said they are working to repair the damage, but more outages could add to the burden before the storm passes completely.
  “We prepared for th
  
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• Salt Spring chef brings taste of Transylvania to any kitchen

  08-11-2026 14:30 via Nanaimo News Bulletin
  
  Born to a Romanian mother and Taiwanese father, Haan Palcu-Chang grew up straddling two culinary worlds. After building his name in kitchens across Paris, Copenhagen, Singapore, Toronto, and Vancouver, he stepped away from the restaurant industry and relocated with his family to Salt Spring Island.
  He was a Top Chef Canada Season 11 finalist and the chef behind Favorites Thai BBQ’s Toronto Life Best New Restaurant win.Alongside the accolades and moves, he cooked up an online following of more
  
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• Where to attend Remembrance Day in Nanaimo and Lantzville

  08-11-2026 13:30 via Nanaimo News Bulletin
  
  Community members can attend Remembrance Day ceremonies in Nanaimo or Lantzville.
  On Tuesday, Nov. 11, Branch 10 Nanaimo and Branch 256 Mount Benson will be hosting a joint ceremony at Dallas Square Park cenotaph beginning at 10:30 a.m. with the parade march and going until 11:30a.m., with a moment of silence at 11:11 a.m.
  Second World War veteran Nick Janicki will attend as a guest of honour.The service will be livestreamed through Branch 10’s YouTube page, which can be found at www.youtube.c
  
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• New street banners remember Ladysmith veterans

  08-11-2026 13:30 via Nanaimo News Bulletin
  
  “I saw them at a BC/Yukon Legion convention, a couple of years ago and I saw these banners and I knew we just had to do this,” were the words of Darlene Paulson, president of the Ladysmith Legion Branch 171.
  It took more than a year’s planning but it started to pay off.
  The legion approached local businesses for support, and also got the support from the Town of Ladysmith, which in July of 2025 approved covering the cost of putting and and taking down the banners.
  Paulson said the project
  
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• Draisaitl nets 2 as Edmonton Oilers dump Vancouver Canucks 4-2

  08-11-2026 06:51 via Nanaimo News Bulletin
  
  Leon Draisaitl scored twice, helping the Edmonton Oilers to a 4-2 win over the visiting Vancouver Canucks in NHL action Saturday at Rogers Place.Mattias Ekholm and Jason Dickinson also tallied for the Oilers (12-3-3), with Connor McDavid adding three assists and Devon Levi making 20 saves for the win in goal.
  Max Sasson and Brock Boeser replied for Vancouver (3-15-1), while Leevi Merilainen stopped 26 of 29 shots in absorbing the netminding loss.
  Edmonton opened the scoring 9:14 into the first p
  
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• Windstorm knocks out power to more than 10,000 in Cowichan

  08-11-2026 05:46 via Nanaimo News Bulletin
  
  A wind and rainstorm has left more than 10,000 Cowichan Valley residents in the dark Saturday night, Nov. 7.
  As of 9 p.m., outages stretched from Maple Bay to Westholme, Duncan, Ladysmith, Mill Bay and Youbou.
  Large outages include one described on the BC Hydro website as north of Mays Road affecting 2,131 customers, one stretching from Maple Bay through Genoa Bay, Somenos Road and Quamichan area affecting 2,205 customers, one in the Sahtlam, Hillcrest Road and Paldi areas affecting 1,902 custom
  
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• District of Lantzville council holds inaugural meeting

  08-11-2026 04:00 via Nanaimo News Bulletin
  
  The newly-elected councillors in Lantzville have been sworn in and appointed to various roles.
  The District of Lantzville held its inaugural meeting in Costin Hall on Wednesday, Nov. 4, in which councillors and the acclaimed mayor were sworn in by Judge Colleen Spier. Councillor-elect John Westby, was absent and sent his regrets, Mayor Mark Swain said.
  The report detailing the 2026 District of Lantzville general election results were received and approved unanimously by council. In the report, i
  
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• Edmonton Elks beat B.C. Lions 28-16, will meet Montreal in Grey Cup

  08-11-2026 03:44 via Nanaimo News Bulletin
  
  The B.C. Lions saw their 2026 Grey Cup dreams come to an end Saturday in Edmonton.
  Quarterback Cody Fajardo passed for 274 yards and a touchdown and also rushed for 84 yards and a major, leading the host Edmonton Elks to a 28-16 win over the Lions before more than 40,000 fans in the CFL’s Western Final at Commonwealth Stadium. It was the first playoff game hosted by the Elks franchise since 2015.
  Austin Mack also scored a touchdown for the winners, who will face the Montreal Alouettes in the G
  
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• CBC broadcaster who honed culinary teaching skills in Victoria cooks up kitchen manual

  08-11-2026 02:00 via Nanaimo News Bulletin
  
  The name Khalil Akhtar may ring bells for longtime local CBC radio listeners or those who dabbled in cooking classes at The Atrium in Victoria.For a little over a decade, ending in 2019, Akhtar served as co-host for On the Island with Gregor Craigie. Over those years, he also created a food column the city is where Akhtar first began culinary teaching at Cook Culture (now gone from the iconic downtown Victoria building).He’d routinely teach classes on the principles of Indian cuisine, as a dom
  
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• Four cougars spotted in Saanich backyard, goat killed

  07-11-2026 20:45 via Nanaimo News Bulletin
  
  Four cougars were spotted in a Saanich backyard on Nov. 7, where they killed a goat before leaving the property.
  Saanich Police were called to the 4000-block of Prospect Lake Road after a resident reported seeing four cougars in their backyard.
  According to police, the cougars killed one of the resident’s goats, which was being kept in a fenced area of the property.
  By the time patrol officers arrived, the cougars had left the area and could not be located.
  The BC Conservation Officer Service
  
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• 1 grizzly bear captured in Bella Coola following fatal attacks

  07-11-2026 18:46 via Nanaimo News Bulletin
  
  Testing is underway to determine if a captured grizzly bear in Bella Coola is linked to the recent attack that claimed the life of a mother and daughter.In a Friday, Nov. 6 Facebook post, BC Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS) stated one grizzly bear has been captured.“In coordination with wildlife biologists and the provincial wildlife veterinarian from the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship, the bear will be safely cared for while assessments are completed,” the post reads.
  
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• ‘It was a series of moments’: How a Victoria designer found his craft

  07-11-2026 18:00 via Nanaimo News Bulletin
  
  Watching his older friends pour every ounce of their time and paychecks into the gritty Tokyo tattoo scene, a young Rio Kaneki realized something was missing. He saw a relentless, absolute devotion to a craft, and he wanted it for himself.
  Finding that passion took a severe motorcycle crash, a lucky break to land a job at a screen printing shop, and a move across the Pacific to Victoria. Today, he has built a life around his creative output, but he is quick to correct anyone who gives him the wr
  
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• B.C.’s first detection of avian influenza this season is in Chilliwack

  07-11-2026 17:31 via Nanaimo News Bulletin
  
  B.C.’s first detection of avian influenza of the season was found in Chilliwack.
  The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) reported that it happened in a commercial poultry flock in Chilliwack and the detection date was Friday, Nov. 6.
  A primary control zone is “to be determined” for the location.
  “To date, the most common avian influenza virus in domestic birds has been highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), subtype H5N1,” according to CFIA. “Avian influenza is not a food safety
  
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• Ladysmith Lions celebrate 85 years

  07-11-2026 14:30 via Nanaimo News Bulletin
  
  For more than 85 years “where there’s a need, there’s a Lion” has been the slogan of the Lions Club of Ladysmith.
  On Sunday, Oct. 25 the Ladysmith Lions Club marked it’s 85th anniversary with a celebration dinner at the Ladysmith Seniors Centre.
  Catered by the seniors the event featured guests from all over the Island as well as District Governor Joanne Payment, and Mayor Deena Beeston. Hosted by past district governor, and now Ladysmith Lions president, Lorne Bunyan, the event feature
  
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• Nanaimo-Ladysmith school district student numbers lower, but nearly static

  07-11-2026 13:30 via Nanaimo News Bulletin
  
  The numbers of students enrolled in Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools have remained fairly static compared to last school year.
  Based on the September enrolment count, there are 15,259 full-time equivalent students for 2026/27, 58 off the district’s projection of 15,201, an Oct. 28 staff report stated. Of that, 5,928 students are attending high school, 8,743 elementary, and 588 enrolled in programs, such as students in the career technical centre, learning alternatives or in their sixth year of
  
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• James Stewart Ainsley (Jim)

  07-11-2026 06:02 via Nanaimo News Bulletin
  
  In Loving Memory ~
  Aug 31, 1946 ~ Oct 23, 2026
  It is with breaking hearts we announce the passing of Jim Ainsley. He leaves behind his wife, and Life Partner Marilyn Strongitharm, Ainsley, daughter Sarah, brother Brien (Jane), sister Wendy Cooper, (Craig) and sister Terry McDougall, along with many nieces and nephews.
  He began his life in Calgary first born to Marjorie and Ralph, a bit of a wild youth, He broke his arm riding a bull, but also played guitar. Early on he moved to BC and attended S
  
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• UPDATE: Comox Valley RCMP has one individual in custody after Merville incident

  07-11-2026 03:15 via Nanaimo News Bulletin
  
  Comox Valley RCMP confirmed that they have one individual in custody following the Nov. 6 incident that led to the closure of the area around Coleman and Hardy roads in Merville.
  “There was no threat directed toward the general public at any time and we thank everyone for their patience and cooperation,” Comox Valley RCMP said in a 6:45 p.m. post made to their Facebook page.
  At around 2:30 p.m. in the afternoon on Nov. 6, members of local social media groups reported the closure of Coleman R
  
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• Funds being raised for Okanagan flagger hit by car in work zone

  07-11-2026 01:17 via Nanaimo News Bulletin
  
  Donors are chipping in financial support for a Spallumcheen flagger who was struck by an SUV in a work zone last month, leaving her with severe injuries.Michelle Tapp has been a flagger for 10 years, making sure people navigate work zones safely. She clocked in at 6 a.m. on the morning of Oct. 7, a day that started out normally until a life-altering incident took place.The details of what happened aren’t fully clear. The Vernon North Okanagan RCMP says it’s investigating the incident but did
  
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• Beaded poppies worn by Indigenous peoples to commemorate veterans during Remembrance Day

  07-11-2026 01:00 via Nanaimo News Bulletin
  
  A special type of poppy is worn by Indigenous people to commemorate those who had died serving Canada.In Canada, more than 12,000 First Nations, Inuit and Métis people have served, according to Veterans Affairs Canada.
  Joy Bremner, Métis knowledge keeper and elder, said that in wearing the beaded poppy, they are honouring the fallen members of their families.
  “So the Métis themselves have started doing beaded poppies, and because the beadwork is a fairly large component of our cultural hist
  
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• OPINION: Ottawa has a salmon farm deadline. Now it needs a funded plan.

  06-11-2026 23:46 via Nanaimo News Bulletin
  
  With less than three years until Ottawa’s June 30, 2029, deadline to end open-net-pen salmon farming in British Columbia, the federal government still has not explained how it will deliver on its promise.
  When Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson visited Victoria on August 20, she said the ban was “certainly still in place,” then indicated that responsibility had moved to another department and declined to elaborate. Reaffirming a deadline is not the same as explaining how to meet it.
  Indust
  
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• Comox Valley RCMP respond to incident in Merville

  06-11-2026 23:32 via Nanaimo News Bulletin
  
  Comox Valley RCMP are responding to an incident in the Coleman Road and Hardy Road area of Merville. Avoid unnecessary travel in the area and follow police directions.
  “Thank you for your cooperation as officers work to safely manage the situation,” the post said.
  Conversation on local social media groups suggest the presence of a gunman, but this has not been verified by the authorities. Various social posts say that the Emergency Response Team has been deployed to the area.
  Local groups al
  
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• Comox Valley RCMP respond to incident, Coleman and Hardy roads

  06-11-2026 23:32 via Nanaimo News Bulletin
  
  Comox Valley RCMP are responding to an incident in the Coleman Road and Hardy Road area of Merville. Avoid unnecessary travel in the area and follow police directions.
  “Thank you for your cooperation as officers work to safely manage the situation,” the post said.
  Conversation on local social media groups suggest the presence of a gunman, but this has not been verified by the authorities. Various social posts say that the Emergency Response Team has been deployed to the area.
  Local groups al
  
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• Nanaimo avoids brunt of storm as B.C. Hydro works to restore power

  06-11-2026 22:56 via Nanaimo News Bulletin
  
  Thousands of B.C. Hydro customers who lost their power in the Nanaimo area earlier today, had it restored by early afternoon.
  The Friday, Nov. 6 power outages, which were mainly concentrated in areas south of Nanaimo, including Cedar, Yellow Point and sections of Gabriola and Mudge islands, were caused mostly by storm and wind conditions overnight.
  But B.C. Hydro spokesman Ted Olynyk said there were thousands more customers north of Nanaimo who suffered through more windy conditions than the cit
  
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• Nanaimo avoids brunt of storm as B.C. Hydro finishes power restoration

  06-11-2026 22:56 via Nanaimo News Bulletin
  
  Thousands of B.C. Hydro customers who lost their power in the Nanaimo area earlier today, had it restored by early afternoon.
  The Friday, Nov. 6 power outages, which were mainly concentrated in areas south of Nanaimo, including Cedar, Yellow Point and sections of Gabriola and Mudge islands, were caused mostly by storm and wind conditions overnight.
  But B.C. Hydro spokesman Ted Olynyk said there were thousands more customers north of Nanaimo who suffered through more windy conditions than the cit
  
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• Time between wildfire, storm season getting shorter: BC Hydro report

  06-11-2026 22:24 via Nanaimo News Bulletin
  
  A new report from BC Hydro says that the impact from the province’s storm season may be determined months earlier as the wildfire and storm seasons move closer and closer together.
  BC Hydro released the report, “The new reality: Emergency season is year-round,” this month, which finds that the effects of drought, persistent heat and wildfire can linger longer after temperatures cool.
  The report argues that storm season “in many ways” now begins in the summer. Due to the wildfire season
  
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