Nanaimo news

• B.C. NDP preparing for fall session, doesn’t rule out snap election: Eby

  02-09-2026 00:23 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Premier David Eby is refusing to rule out calling a snap election amid the exodus of MLAs from the B.C. Conservative caucus.“We’re preparing for the fall session … I understand that the Conservatives are in significant chaos,” he said when asked to give a “flat out yes or no” at a Burnaby news conference Tuesday (Sept. 1).
  “Our focus remains on delivering for British Columbians, and that’s what we’re going to continue our focus on.”
  Eb
  
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• B.C. MLA says RCMP to interview him over Conservative leader allegations

  02-09-2026 05:12 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Delta South MLA Ian Paton confirmed to Black Press Media that the RCMP is scheduled to interview him at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday to discuss allegations that B.C. Conservative Leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay offered him a paid job in exchange for his resignation.
  “There are two of them (officers) coming down tomorrow morning to my office,” he told Black Press Media.
  Findlay was elected as party leader without a seat in the legislature, so she needed someone in the party to step aside so she
  
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• Kelowna council pushing to close downtown supervised consumption site

  02-09-2026 04:44 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  The mayor of Kelowna has penned a letter on behalf of city council to the federal Ministry of Health requesting that the 2027 renewal of a downtown supervised consumption site be denied.Mayor Tom Dyas shared the letter on social media on Tuesday, Sept. 1, calling for the supervised consumption site at Outreach Urban Health to be shut down by Health Canada.
  Outreach Urban Health, located at 1649 Pandosy Street, provides safe monitoring and medical intervention by trained staff during substance us
  
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• B.C. says $1.5B gas royalty accounting error result of spreadsheet mistake

  02-09-2026 02:15 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  The B.C. government is working to explain away a $1.5 billion accounting blunder related to natural gas royalties, blaming a spreadsheet error related to currency conversion.
  “I’m not pleased by this situation,” Premier David Eby said a few hours before ministry officials convened a media briefing to explain the mistake.Those officials detailed a spreadsheet error in which Canadian dollars were mistaken for American dollars, and converted when they shouldn’t have been.
  En
  
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• Closing arguments in Nanaimo shooting murder trial begin next week

  02-09-2026 02:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Crown counsel and defence are set to make closing arguments in the trial related to a 2021 shooting that killed a man at a Wendy’s restaurant in Nanaimo.
  Ronald Joseph Campbell, 42 when charged with first-degree murder in 2024, has been on trial since July 20, with the proceedings scheduled for 27 days in B.C. Supreme Court in Nanaimo. Nick Barber and Gregory Furmaniuk, Crown counsel, concluded their case on Wednesday, Aug. 26 and Jordan Watt and Bryan McPhail, defence counsel, told Justic
  
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• Alleged Island assault leaves 74-year-old with ‘serious’ facial injuries

  02-09-2026 02:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Police are investigating an alleged aggravated assault that sent an older man to hospital this week.
  At approximately 1:15 p.m. on Aug. 31, officers responded to a report of an assault in progress at Gorge Park.
  There, a 74-year-old man had suffered “serious facial injuries during an alleged assault involving a male suspect,” according to the Victoria Police Department.
  After the incident, the suspect and a female youth fled the area on foot through the dog park, and the victim was t
  
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• Alleged Island assault leaves 74 year old with ‘serious’ facial injuries

  02-09-2026 02:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Police are investigating an alleged aggravated assault that sent an older man to hospital this week.
  At approximately 1:15 p.m. on Aug. 31, officers responded to a report of an assault in progress at Gorge Park.
  There, a 74-year-old man had suffered “serious facial injuries during an alleged assault involving a male suspect,” according to the Victoria Police Department.
  After the incident, the suspect and a female youth fled the area on foot through the dog park, and the victim was t
  
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• B.C. touts 250 school capital projects since 2017, with 23 ready for coming year

  02-09-2026 01:21 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Ahead of the new school year, the B.C. government is highlighting how many school capital projects have been completed since the NDP took office in 2017.Premier David Eby touted the achievement at the new seismically upgraded Stride Avenue Community Elementary in Burnaby Tuesday (Sept. 1). He was joined by Education Minister Lisa Beare, Burnaby East MLA Rohini Arora and Burnaby school board chair Kristin Schnider and other staff from the Burnaby school district.The government says the Burnaby el
  
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• Victoria hosts top military leaders from across the Pacific

  02-09-2026 01:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  A heap of gold-hued epaulettes, glistening military medals and Cadillac Escalades donning diplomatic plates could be seen at the Empress Hotel for a gathering of defence leaders representing countries from across the Indo-Pacific and NATO partners.
  Starting Monday, Aug. 31, to Wednesday, a who’s who of world military leaders from 29 countries congregated in Victoria for the 28th annual Indo-Pacific Chiefs of Defense (CHODs) conference, co-hosted by Canada and the U.S.
  “Our geography
  
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• Victoria hosts top military leaders across the Pacific

  02-09-2026 01:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  A heap of gold-hued epaulettes, glistening military medals and Cadillac Escalades donning diplomatic plates could be seen at the Empress Hotel for a gathering of defence leaders representing countries from across the Indo-Pacific and NATO partners.
  Starting Monday, Aug. 31, to Wednesday, a who’s who of world military leaders from 29 countries congregated in Victoria for the 28th annual Indo-Pacific Chiefs of Defense (CHODs) conference, co-hosted by Canada and the U.S.
  “Our geography
  
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• Transit police check nets B.C. man wanted on 8 Canada-wide warrants in Sask.

  02-09-2026 00:40 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Metro Vancouver Transit Police say they’ve arrested a Surrey man wanted on eight Canada-wide arrest warrants out of Estevan, Saskatchewan.
  Emmanuel Enocent Dario, 36, was taken into custody while a mobile enforcement team conducted impaired-driving enforcement in the area around Surrey Central Station on Thursday, Aug. 27, shortly before 8 p.m.He’s held in-custody pending his next court appearance, transit police say.
  “We are proud to have removed a wanted criminal from our com
  
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• Students in Nanaimo-Ladysmith go back to school on Sept. 8

  02-09-2026 00:12 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Students in Nanaimo and Ladysmith will be hitting the books again as a new school year begins next week.
  The first day of the 2026/27 school year is Tuesday, Sept. 8 across School District 68, with students only in attendance for a few hours.
  According to information on SD68 website, students at Mountain View Elementary School will be in class from 10:45-11:45 a.m. and students with SD68 Learning Alternatives will be in school from 12-2 p.m.
  The first day of school for all Ladysmith Secondary Sc
  
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• ‘Embarrassment’: U.S. war secretary trolls B.C. cadets

  01-09-2026 21:47 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  B.C.’s Premier is astonished by the United States’ military leadership’s “attack” on Vernon’s cadets.
  United States Secretary of War Pete Hegseth made a post on X (formerly Twitter) Aug. 31 at 6 p.m. sharing a picture that Vernon Cadets had posted on Facebook Aug. 24, accompanied with a Canadian flag and the comment “this is real.”(this is real) pic.twitter.com/Ucx2FNdi1q
  — Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) September 1, 2026With nearly 10 million v
  
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• Liberals sweep in byelections in B.C., Ontario, Quebec

  01-09-2026 21:15 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  The Liberals are now up to 173 seats in the House of Commons after winning three byelections on Monday (Aug. 31).
  Braeden Caley won in North Vancouver-Capilano in B.C., Tanveer Shahnawaz won in Beaches-East York in Ontario and Daniel Gobeil won in Chicoutimi—Le Fjord in Quebec.
  Prime Minister Mark Carney, in a statement after Monday’s results, that “at this consequential time for Canada, voters have placed their trust in Canada’s plan.”
  Carney’s Liberals now h
  
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• Parksville swimmer Bennett wins 2 silver medals at Para Pan Pacific event

  01-09-2026 20:40 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Parksville swimmer Nicholas Bennett earned two silver medals and recorded a fourth-place finish at the 2026 Para Pan Pacific Championships held in Walnut, Calif.
  The former member of the Ravensong Aquatic Club in Qualicum Beach finished second in S14 men’s 200-metre individual medley, his signature event, on the final day of competition. He clocked a time of two minutes, 07.63 seconds to keep Canada’s podium momentum and helped Team Canada haul a total of nine medals during the three
  
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• Dr. David Michael “Mike” Tod

  01-09-2026 20:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  April 24th, 1934 – August 17th, 2026Dr. David Michael “Mike” Tod of Nanaimo, B.C., passed away peacefully on August 17th, 2026 surrounded by his family and close friends. Mike was born on April 24, 1934 in Corstorphine, Edinburgh in Scotland, the second son of the late David and Grace Tod.
  Mike attended the Royal High School in Edinburgh, and from there went on to study medicine at the University of Edinburgh. Mike graduated from the University of Edinburgh Medical School in Ju
  
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• Environment Canada warns of incoming heavy rain for West Vancouver Island

  01-09-2026 20:01 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  After a long, hot summer, Vancouver Island residents should take a moment today to locate their umbrellas and rubber boots.
  Environment Canada has issued a weather warning for West Vancouver Island with “very heavy rain” forecast for Tuesday evening (Sept. 1) through to Wednesday (Sept. 2).
  “A robust frontal system currently over the central coast of B.C. will gradually move over Vancouver Island later this afternoon with rain, heavy at times, beginning this evening,” sai
  
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• Naloxone saves Vancouver Island dog ‘Birdie’ from potential OD

  01-09-2026 20:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  ‘Birdie’ is walking proof that Naloxone can save our four-legged friends as well as humans.
  The energetic, 1 1/2-year-old mixed breed had a Naloxone kit hanging off her harness during the Aug. 31 International Overdose Awareness day event at Spirit Square in Campbell River.
  This wasn’t just for show; Naloxone – which reverses an overdose by blocking the effects of opioids – helped save Birdie’s life.
  Back in December Birdie was exposed to a substance in a Camp
  
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• Naloxone saves ‘Birdie’ from potential OD

  01-09-2026 20:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  ‘Birdie’ is walking proof that Naloxone can save our four-legged friends as well as humans.
  The energetic, 1 1/2-year-old mixed breed had a Naloxone kit hanging off her harness during the Aug. 31 International Overdose Awareness day event at Spirit Square in Campbell River.
  This wasn’t just for show; Naloxone – which reverses an overdose by blocking the effects of opioids – helped save Birdie’s life.
  Back in December Birdie was exposed to a substance in a Camp
  
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• Nanaimo-West Van ferry sailings cancelled till early p.m., more at risk

  01-09-2026 19:07 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Ferries from Departure Bay in Nanaimo to Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver won’t be sailing until at least the afternoon.
  B.C. Ferries cancelled the Queen of Cowichan Monday, Aug. 31 afternoon and night sailings from Departure Bay and from Horseshoe Bay, due to a mechanical issue with more sailings cancelled for Tuesday, Sept. 1.
  In a Sept. 1 update, B.C. Ferries apologized for the inconvenience and elaborated, stating the issue is with the vessel’s main engine turbocharger and as a re
  
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• $1.2M fundraising campaign launched for Parksville Treatment Centre

  01-09-2026 19:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  The Nanaimo and District Hospital Foundation is fundraising $1.2 million to help complete the new Parksville Treatment Centre, a 19-bed abstinence-based addiction treatment facility.
  The Parksville Treatment Centre will offer personalized 30-day, 60-day and 90-day treatment plans, psychiatric and primary-care support, and transportation support, including an on-site accessible van and transition planning and aftercare, according to a news release by the foundation.
  It will provide publicly funde
  
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• Council to hear back on feasibility of Victoria ‘by name list’ of unhoused people

  01-09-2026 18:52 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Developing a “by name list” may be easier said than done, but Victoria council will hear about the feasibility of one.At the end of July, council tasked staff with reaching out to BC Housing and the Capital Regional District to accelerate the implementation of the Homeless Individuals and Families Information System (HIFIS) to enable use of by-name data to help facilitate coordinated care and access to services and housing solutions as effectively and efficiently as possible and repo
  
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• Japanese retailer Muji comes to Mayfair in Victoria

  01-09-2026 18:48 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  A popular Japanese shop brings its minimalist approach, and vast array of goods, to Victoria with a shop opening in Mayfair Shopping Centre.Founded in 1980, Muji’s origin was to provide simple, low-cost, good quality products.“Specifically, we reexamined products through three lenses: material selection, inspection process and simplification of packaging. For instance, if you omit the bleaching process for pulp, the resulting paper is light beige in colour,” the company said.
  M
  
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• Nanaimo’s business community prepares for new American tariffs

  01-09-2026 14:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Nanaimo is bracing for the impacts the implementation of the 50 per cent tariffs on billions of dollars in Canadian goods that came into effect on Aug. 22 will have on the local business community.
  Julie Sperber, the new CEO of the Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce, who is still transitioning from her previous role as CEO of the Vancouver Island Economic Alliance, said the business organization is still ascertaining the effects of the tariffs on Nanaimo’s economy.
  But she said it’s
  
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• Nanaimo-Ladysmith sees 183 new child care spaces, with 24 at McGirr school

  01-09-2026 14:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  With the impending start of the 2026/27 school year, there will be a substantive increase in child care spaces across Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools
  The B.C. Ministry of Education and Child Care and the school district held a press conference at McGirr Elementary School on Monday, Aug. 31, to announce the addition of 183 before- and after-school spaces, including 24 at McGirr, which will be available Wednesday, Sept. 9.
  Departure Bay, Mountain View, École Quarterway, Frank J. Ney, Syuw&
  
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• Evacuation orders, alerts downgraded for Cariboo’s Big Bar Complex wildfire

  01-09-2026 04:17 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Evacuation orders and alerts are being downgraded to all clear for areas affected by the Pear Lake wildfire.
  At 4 p.m. Monday (Aug.31), the Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD) rescinded evacuation orders and alerts to all clear for approximately 214 addresses.
  The addresses include properties in Big Bar Lake, Little Big Bar Lake, Beaver Dam Lake, Big Bar Road from Highway 97 to Poison Lake Road, Meadow Lake Road from Highway 97 to east of Meadow Lake, and Highway 97 north of Clinton to sout
  
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• Wildfire that forced Summerland to evacuate now under control, 25 days later

  01-09-2026 04:02 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  UPDATE: 6:40 p.m.
  The Bald Range blaze that sparked west of Summerland on Aug.7 is now considered under control, according to BC Wildfire Service.
  The fire is listed as under control after growing to 25,163 hectares.
  “The wildfire is not projected to spread beyond the current perimeter,” stated BCWS.
  The entire District of Summerland, along with some outlying areas, was ordered to evacuate due to the blaze. Most evacuation orders and alerts have since been lifted, allowing residents
  
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• Firefighters battling Vernon church blaze

  01-09-2026 03:53 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Vernon Fire Rescue Services are on-scene at a blaze at Vernon’s Alliance Church.
  Multiple calls were put into the fire department in regards to the incident just after 5 p.m. Monday, Aug. 31.
  The fire is at the front of the church, and there are reports of heavy smoke billowing out of its roof.The church is located in the 2600 block of 43rd Avenue, which is now closed between 25th and 27th streets.
  Many people have been lining the streets watching the fire at the historic church.
  Vernon Al
  
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• Nanaimo RCMP reminds drivers and students of road rules

  01-09-2026 03:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Schools reopen on Tuesday, Sept. 8, and Nanaimo RCMP wants drivers to know that traffic enforcement around schools will soon be beefed up to keep kids and the public safe.
  RCMP officers, and Speed Watch volunteers will be conducting enforcement and education initiatives in and around school zones to promote safe driving behaviours and enhance student safety when classes begin, according to a press release.
  School zones are in effect at 30 km/h from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on designated school days, and
  
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• K’ómoks, We Wai Kai sign historic protocol reflecting Nations on Vancouver Island

  01-09-2026 01:47 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  K’ómoks First Nation and We Wai Kai Nation have signed a new protocol that reflects years of dialogue, relationship-building and work between the two Nations.
  According to a press release, the protocol honours the shared history between the two Nations and gives them a footing for understanding, respect and collaboration moving forward.
  The protocol acknowledges the Nations’ shared history and longstanding cultural and family ties, while establishing a framework for mutual supp
  
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