Nanaimo news

• B.C. ‘Santa Flights’ for kids in hospital cancelled amid contract changes

  04-12-2025 19:45 via nanaimobulletin.com
  The annual Santa Flights, which deliver toys to children in hospitals across B.C., will not be happening this year, according to BC Emergency Health Services.
  Paramedic public information officer Brian Twaites told the Surrey Now-Leader that this is due to BCEHS’s contract ending with Helijet, who sponsored the flight.
  “We’re deeply grateful to Helijet for sponsoring these flights over the past 20 years. We know many people across B.C. and beyond have fond memories of the Santa
  
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• Dover Bay’s theatre program makes headlines with ‘Newsies’

  05-12-2025 04:15 via nanaimobulletin.com
  Dover Bay theatre students will transport audiences back to a time when newspaper hawkers were making headlines.
  Bay Theatrix will be presenting Newsies from Dec. 10-14 at Dover Bay Secondary School.
  “It’s exciting. We’ve got a lot of talent in here and a lot of people working really hard,” said Graham Reimer, one of the stars of the show.
  Newsies is a musical that tells the story of an 1899 newsboys’ strike in New York City and the union-building of the era that pu
  
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• Record turnout set for biathlon event in B.C.

  05-12-2025 03:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  A provincial record for the sport of biathlon will be established in Vernon this weekend.
  A total of 230 racers will take part in the BC Cup/Odlum Brown Western Series races at the Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 6 and 7.
  “The BC Cup is part of our provincial series, and there’s also a North American Cup which is a different designation race that brings competitors from all over Canada and the United States,” said Roddy Ward, general manager of Biathlon B
  
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• Surrey-White Rock MLA Halford steps into B.C. Conservative interim leader role

  05-12-2025 01:03 via nanaimobulletin.com
  After a confusing Wednesday in the provincial legislature in Victoria, B.C. Conservative leader John Rustad has resigned and Surrey-White Rock MLA Trevor Halford has stepped into the role of interim party leader.
  Rustad resigned Thursday morning (Dec. 4) as the leader of the Official Opposition. The day before, Rustad had repeatedly said he was not stepping down after a group of 20 MLAs called for him to quit on Wednesday (Dec. 3). A statement cited section 11.02 of the party constitution, sayin
  
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• Stars on Ice: Famous Canadian Olympians land in Victoria this spring

  05-12-2025 01:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  Fans can get ready to flip for famed figure skating athletes this spring as Canada’s top Olympic hopefuls join icon Elvis Stojko in the Stars on Ice tour directed by Kurt Browning
  Stars on Ice returns to Victoria with a dynamic new show that highlights world-class talent and the beauty of figure skating.This year’s cast includes Keegan Messing, an Olympian and two-time Canadian champion who will make his highly anticipated return to competition to strengthen Canada’s presence i
  
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• B.C. city opposes provincial bill removing local development technical review

  05-12-2025 00:58 via nanaimobulletin.com
  Reacting to alarms raised by staff, White Rock council is formally opposing a provincial bill that would take away municipalities’ powers of technical review of development projects.
  Bill M 216 (also known as the Professional Reliance Act), a bid to streamline the development approval process, would force local governments to accept technical submissions certified by provincially regulated professionals, rather than local oversight, with only limited exceptions.
  But staff are concerned tha
  
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• Undrafted and unsung, B.C.’s Brenden Dillon hits rare NHL milestone

  05-12-2025 00:46 via nanaimobulletin.com
  It’s a long way from the Hope Icebreakers to the NHL spotlight.
  New Jersey Devils defencemen Brenden Dillon could barely hold back his tears on Monday, Dec. 1, while talking about playing his 1,000th game in the NHL — making him the 415th player, and the 20th undrafted player, to achieve this in NHL history.“I just wanted to get one (game),” Dillon told the Devils after being asked what his younger self would have thought about his achievement. “I’m just happy
  
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• Former Hope Icebreakers hockey player achieves 1,000th NHL game

  05-12-2025 00:46 via nanaimobulletin.com
  It was an emotional moment for a former Hope Icebreakers player after reaching heights most NHL players can only dream of.
  New Jersey Devils defencemen Brenden Dillon could barely hold back his tears on Monday, Dec. 1, while talking about playing his 1,000th game in the NHL — making him the 415th player, and the 20th undrafted player, to achieve this in NHL history.
  “I just wanted to get one (game),” Dillon told the Devils after being asked what his younger self would have thou
  
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• Murder convict in Surrey 6 slayings found guilty of contempt of court

  05-12-2025 00:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  A man convicted of six counts of first-degree murder and one count of conspiracy to commit murder in the 2007 Surrey Six slayings has now also been found guilty of contempt of court.
  Cody Rae Haevischer is seeking a judicial stay of proceedings related to the murders based on abuse of process. The evidentiary hearing for that commenced on Nov. 4, 2024 and remains underway.
  Justice Martha Devlin on December 3 found him guilty of contempt of court, in B.C. Supreme Court in New Westminster.
  Six peo
  
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• B.C. transportation ministry changes Kootenay Lake ferry project manager

  04-12-2025 23:53 via nanaimobulletin.com
  The B.C. transportation ministry says it is changing project managers for the new Kootenay Lake ferry, which will be four years late and at least $54 million over budget by the time it begins operations in 2027.
  Western Pacific Marine, which operates two ferries on Kootenay Lake, was awarded the new ferry’s contract in 2021. At the time, the ferry construction was due to be completed by 2023 on a budget of $63 million that also included terminal improvements.
  The ministry now says the ferr
  
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• Nanaimo city council has concerns about bill to speed up building permit process

  04-12-2025 23:45 via nanaimobulletin.com
  The City of Nanaimo is expressing a series of concerns to the province about potential legislation that would would place greater reliance on professionals during the building permitting process.
  A private member’s bill, put forward by Nanaimo-Lantzville MLA George Anderson, passed second reading in the B.C. legislature on Nov. 17, and was discussed at a Nanaimo city council meeting Monday, Dec. 1.
  Should the private member’s bill pass, local governments would accept technical report
  
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• Contaminated fuel caused crash on west coast flight — TSB

  04-12-2025 23:45 via nanaimobulletin.com
  Water-contaminated fuel was the cause of 2023 plane crash that the Transportation Safety Board of Canada says “substantially damaged” the the aircraft.
  On Dec. 18, 2023, a Wilderness Seaplanes Ltd. Grumman G-21A Goose amphibious aircraft left Bella Bella to Port Hardy with one pilot and four passengers. Before departure, the plane was refuelled from a fuel drum, but experienced a dual engine failure shortly after take-off, and was unable to maintain altitude. The pilot transmitted a
  
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• Contaminated fuel caused crash on Bella Bella to Port Hardy flight: TSB

  04-12-2025 23:45 via nanaimobulletin.com
  Water-contaminated fuel was the cause of 2023 plane crash that the Transportation Safety Board of Canada says “substantially damaged” the the aircraft.
  On Dec. 18, 2023, a Wilderness Seaplanes Ltd. Grumman G-21A Goose amphibious aircraft left Bella Bella to Port Hardy with one pilot and four passengers. Before departure, the plane was refuelled from a fuel drum, but experienced a dual engine failure shortly after take-off, and was unable to maintain altitude.
  The pilot transmitted a
  
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• 4 more grizzly bears captured in Bella Coola

  04-12-2025 23:31 via nanaimobulletin.com
  Four additional grizzly bears have been captured by B.C. Conservation Officer Service (COS) officers as part of the ongoing investigation into a recent attack in Bella Coola.
  According to a social media post, the bears are being examined for any evidence that could connect them to the incident that happened on Nov. 20 in Bella Coola that left four people seriously injured – one adult and three children.
  The victims were among a group of students and teachers who had stopped along a trail n
  
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• BC Hydro sues Vanderhoof family for blocking work on major transmission line

  04-12-2025 21:56 via nanaimobulletin.com
  BC Hydro is taking a Vanderhoof ranching family to court, claiming the family is impeding construction of the $6-billion North Coast Transmission Line (NCTL), one of the federal government’s “nation-building” projects that’s billed as way to power new gas and mining projects in the so-called “golden triangle” in northern B.C.
  A petition filed in B.C. Supreme Court on Nov. 28 alleges that Kenneth Fawcett, Carolyn Fawcett and a handful of others have wrongfully
  
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• Officers cleared in Surrey shooting death of 15-year-old

  04-12-2025 21:23 via nanaimobulletin.com
  The parents of Chase De Balinhard finally have some answers in the shooting death of their son.
  The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. (IIO) released a report Dec. 4 detailing a months-long investigation into the shooting death of the 15-year-old last Feb. 9 in Clayton Heights.
  IIO—B.C.’s police watchdog—found that the two officers who opened fire on the autistic teen were legally justified. The report also noted none of the officers involved in the incident, including t
  
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• Nanaimo city council votes against motion criticizing provincial drug policy

  04-12-2025 21:15 via nanaimobulletin.com
  A motion panning provincial drug policy wasn’t popular at the Nanaimo city council table this week.
  Coun. Ian Thorpe, at a meeting Monday, Dec. 1, asked that council send a letter to the provincial government asking that it “re-examine its philosophy regarding the ongoing drug addiction crisis and resulting mental health and street disorder issues.”
  The proposed letter would have stated that decriminalization and enabling drug use at consumption sites fails to provide long-term
  
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• Penticton home to B.C.’s cheapest gas

  04-12-2025 20:58 via nanaimobulletin.com
  Filling up your tank is cheaper in Penticton than anywhere else in B.C. on Thursday, Dec. 4.
  That’s according to Texas-based app GasBuddy, which tracks fuel prices across Canada and the U.S.
  Gas prices are currently as low as 113.9 cents a litre in Penticton.
  Other stations in the city are seen offering regular gas for 114.9 cents.
  Gas prices in Salmon Arm come in at the second cheapest in B.C., at 121.9 cents a litre as of 12 p.m.
  Around the Okanagan Valley, prices for regular gas in Kelo
  
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• Nanaimo-Ladysmith school board chooses new vice-chairperson

  04-12-2025 19:59 via nanaimobulletin.com
  Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools trustees have elected a new school board vice-chairperson.
  The school district held its annual general meeting Wednesday, Dec. 3, and held elections to determine which trustees would chair various board and committee meetings.
  Naomi Bailey will serve another year as chairperson of the board, but Leanne Lee becomes the new vice-chairperson, taking over that role from Greg Keller.
  Tom Rokeby will chair the strategic directions committee, with Mark Robinson as vice-
  
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• Mayor encouraged by meeting with premier over Crofton mill closure

  04-12-2025 19:43 via nanaimobulletin.com
  Providing supports for workers at the Crofton pulp mill, which is permanently closing, was the major topic at a meeting of government officials and union leaders in Victoria on Dec. 3.
  North Cowichan Mayor Rob Douglas said he went into the meeting with low expectations, but was encouraged when Premier David Eby said providing supports for approximately 350 mill workers who will soon be losing their jobs will be a top priority for his government.
  Douglas said officials at the meeting from the Pub
  
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• Car crashes into highway sign south of Nanaimo

  04-12-2025 19:15 via nanaimobulletin.com
  Highway traffic was slowed this morning after a vehicle collided with a highway information sign south of Nanaimo.
  Emergency services were called to a motor vehicle incident the morning of Thursday, Dec. 4, northbound on the Trans-Canada Highway near the Duke Point Highway exit, where a car had gone off the roadway and collided with a sign.
  Crews on scene did not have any information about any injuries sustained in the incident.
  Northbound traffic was backed up to Morden Road.
  
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• B.C. man named one of Canada’s favourite crossing guards

  04-12-2025 19:15 via nanaimobulletin.com
  For a quarter of a century, Abbotsford’s Pat McDermott has been helping kids make it to and from school safely, and now he’s being celebrated for it.
  Every year, Parachute, the national charity dedicated to injury prevention, has hosted a contest to determine Canada’s favourite crossing guards.
  More than 800 nominations for a total of 126 crossing guards from five provinces were submitted in this year’s contest, which is the most submissions the contest has ever received.
  
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• Gail Sharon Phillips (Erhart)

  04-12-2025 18:40 via nanaimobulletin.com
  Sept 191943- Nov 16 2025
  Gail passed away peacefully with her daughters by her side. She now joins her husband, Earl, her Mom & Dad Anne & George Erhart, two brothers Elmer and Barry and sister Leona and one granddaughter Danielle. She leaves behind four daughters Shelley (Kelly) Drybrough, Lorrie(Bob) Pridge, Tracy Nelson, Dawn(Dennis) Nelson, eight grandkids and 15 great grand kids. A very special thank you to Carol Tian, Roberta Timmins and Walter Stoelwinder.
  
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• Dennis William Webb

  04-12-2025 18:40 via nanaimobulletin.com
  December 22, 1948 – September 20, 2025
  Dennis William Webb passed away due to complication from Alzheimer’s disease in the early hours of September 20, 2025 at Chartwell Edgewater Care Residence. He was predeceased by the love of his life Jean Anne as well as by his twin brother David. Even in his later years, Dennis remembered fondly the charitable acts and volunteerism that he and Jean Anne did throughout their lives. Dennis is survived by his brother Sydney and his sister Patricia
  
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• Margaret (Peggy) Wright

  04-12-2025 18:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  January 15, 1933 – November 9, 2025
  It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Peggy on November 9, 2025. She was a loveable Mother, Grandmother, Aunt and friend. Peggy was born in Findhorn, Morayshire in Scotland. She came to Canada in September 1957 where she moved to Calgary with her husband Don, daughter Kate and son Alan. Bill was born in Calgary shortly after. Peggy and her family moved to Nanaimo in May 1967.
  Peggy enjoyed playing bridge with her friends weekly where t
  
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• Douglas Fraser

  04-12-2025 18:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Douglas Fraser, who left us peacefully on November 20, 2025, at the age of 87. A devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend, Doug brought patience, steadiness, warmth, and humour to everyone fortunate enough to know him.
  Born in Toronto on March 6, 1938, Doug lived a life defined by hard work, integrity, and unwavering commitment. He was known for his quiet strength, his kindness, and his ability to make people feel heard and cared fo
  
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• BREAKING: Rustad resigns as leader after B.C. Conservative ouster

  04-12-2025 18:15 via nanaimobulletin.com
  John Rustad has resigned as leader of the Conservative Party of B.C. and as leader of the Official Opposition.
  More to come.
  
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• BREAKING: John Rustad resigns as leader after B.C. Conservative ouster

  04-12-2025 18:15 via nanaimobulletin.com
  John Rustad has resigned as leader of the Conservative Party of B.C. and as leader of the Official Opposition.
  The Nechako Lakes MLA announced his resignation Thursday (Dec. 4) after a day of uncertainty in the B.C. legislature. He plans to stay on as MLA for Nechako Lakes, but does not plan to run again in the next provincial election.
  Speaking to media at the same time, Rustad said staying on would cause a “civil war” within the Conservative caucus and he didn’t want that.
  He
  
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• MPs across party lines call on Ottawa to save B.C. shooting range

  04-12-2025 18:10 via nanaimobulletin.com
  MPs across party lines are coming together against the federal government’s plans not to renew a lease at the Penticton Shooting Sports Association (PSSA).
  Similkameen-South Okanagan-West Kootenay MP Helena Konanz, along with nine other members of Parliament, urged Ottawa to rescind its divestment order of the land (1787 Highway 97) at a public safety committee meeting on Dec. 2.
  A petition signed by close to 10,000 people also calls on the federal government to reverse its decision.
  &ldqu
  
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• Groundbreaking robotic surgery has Victoria man back on his bike in 2 weeks

  04-12-2025 18:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  Surgeon and urologist Dr. Michael J Metcalfe had a sinking feeling every time he presented patients with a dilemma: they could either undergo surgery close to home but face higher risks, or travel to Vancouver – or even the U.S. – and endure longer wait times but benefit from safer, robot-assisted procedures.
  “Every time I had that conversation, I just had knots in my stomach. It didn’t feel right always to have to put that decision on patients.”
  Coming from a famil
  
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