Nanaimo news

• Challenging overnight fire behaviour expected on Bald Range blaze in Summerland

  11-08-2026 03:49 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  UPDATE: 10:30 p.m.
  There will be 24-hour coverage responding to the Bald Range wildfire, which includes 63 personnel of firefighters, structural protection crews and apparatus on site for Monday evening.
  Challenging fire behaviour is expected throughout the night, due to westerly downslope winds of up to 25 km/hr.
  During the day, the blaze grew 500 metres to 2 km due to northwest winds.
  According to BC Wildfire Service (BCWS), crews worked to secure and reinforce a guard throughout the Garnet dr
  
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• Deez restaurant in Qualicum Beach to close doors after 25 years

  13-08-2026 04:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Deez restaurant in Qualicum Beach will serve its last customers on Aug. 22, which will be its final day of business after 25 years.
  “We are incredibly thankful for our time at Deez. We are focusing on ensuring our team members remain employed and taken care of, and we are deeply grateful for all the stories and memories our guests have created within these walls, both during our time and before,” Eli Brennan, founder and operating partner of Moments Hospitality, told the PQB News.
  Th
  
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• Vancouver Island woman’s action helps save 4 kittens

  13-08-2026 03:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  A chance encounter along a rural road south of Parksville led to the rescue of four kittens, thanks to the persistence of a local resident and the expertise of a volunteer animal rescuer.
  Nikki Welz was walking through the Nanoose Bay area July 7, when she spotted a mother cat huddled beside the road with several kittens. Sensing something was wrong, she returned a short time later to check on them. As soon as she stopped, the frightened cats disappeared into nearby bushes.
  Determined to help, W
  
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• Search for bear continues in Lower Mainland attack

  13-08-2026 02:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  The search for an adult black bear that attacked a three-year-old girl in Maple Ridge was ongoing as of 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 12, as BC Conservation Officers continued to gather information and observe bears in the area.
  The attack took place on Sunday, Aug. 9, at around 11:30 a.m., on a residential property in the 12300-block of 240 Street, where Anaiyah was playing outside on the deck of her home.Conservation officers said a parent, who was nearby, was able to intervene and chase the bear
  
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• Improper fish records sees man fined $8K in B.C. provincial court in Nanaimo

  13-08-2026 01:59 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Improper recording of ling cod catch has led to an $8,000 fine for a fishing guide from China caught off the waters of Nanaimo and Gabriola Island.
  Ruzheng Ma, 71, pleaded guilty to producing false records and catching and possessing illegally caught fish from an incident that occurred over a year ago, and on Wednesday, Aug. 12 pleaded guilty to both counts with Emma Reaume, Crown counsel, and Charis Liu, defence counsel, entering a joint submission to Judge Chris Churchill in B.C. provincial co
  
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• UPDATE: Evacuation orders, alerts to remain in place for Bald Range Wildfire

  13-08-2026 01:43 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  UPDATE: 4:04 p.m.Evacuation orders and alerts will remain in place on Wednesday for the Bald Range Wildfire, stated the Central Okanagan Emergency Management.
  The blaze currently spans 18,450 hectares in size and saw growth toward the boundary of the Regional District of Central Okanagan and Peachland.
  The wildfire remains active and dynamic, meaning conditions could change quickly. Central Okanagan Emergency Management advised residents to follow all evacuation orders and be prepared to leave o
  
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• B.C. lawsuit against parking app settled, 35 cent payout for members

  13-08-2026 01:17 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Settlement members in a B.C. class-action lawsuit against a parking app will be receiving 35 cents each.
  Justice Shannon P. Ramsay, in a July 29 decision, found the settlement to be reasonable, with only two objectors.
  Plaintiff Tyson Larence was seeking settlement approval against Honk Mobile Inc., a parking app.
  Larence brought forward the Canada-wide class-action lawsuit for people who used the app between June 23, 2022 and July 24, 2024. He alleged that Honk was failing to disclose the servi
  
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• Legislative committee calls on B.C. to back down on PST expansion

  13-08-2026 00:29 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  A legislative committee made up mostly of members of the government’s own party is recommending the province back down on a planned expansion of the provincial sales tax.
  “What we’ve seen here is the NDP members of the committee recognizing just how incredibly unpopular the PST hike is, and giving a clear signal to the Finance Minister that she needs to back away from this hike,” said B.C. Conservative MLA Gavin Dew, who is not on the committee, but has been a vocal oppon
  
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• Shakespeare improvisation play coming to Nanaimo Fringe Festival

  13-08-2026 00:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  The crowd gets to take part in putting together an improvised Shakespearian epic at an upcoming Nanaimo Fringe Festival show.Spontaneous Shakespeare will be performed on Friday, Aug. 14 at 9 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 15 at 1:30 p.m., and Sunday, Aug. 16 at 2:45 p.m., at St. Andrew’s United Church.
  Brent Hirose, artistic director of The Spontaneous Shakespeare Company, which helps put on the play, told the News Bulletin that the show is entirely improvised Shakespearean style-plays performed in
  
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• William (Bill) Donald Manners

  12-08-2026 23:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  May 31, 1955 – July 17, 2026
  With deep sorrow, we mourn the passing of Bill Manners. He is predeceased by his father, William Dawson Manners, his mother Barbara Delores Manners née Webster, and is survived by his wife, Niki Kudaka, his brother Frank Manners, his sister Sharleen (Phil) Davies and her children and grandchildren, and his half-sister Marianne Shokey.
  Born in Vancouver, Bill moved with his family to Nanaimo in 1971. He was a man of many talents and wide-ranging interests
  
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• Nanaimo senior arrested after allegedly exposing himself at Maffeo Sutton Park

  12-08-2026 23:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  A Nanaimo senior has been arrested and charged with two counts of committing an indecent act.
  After an investigation by the Nanaimo RCMP, the 65-year-old has been remanded into police custody and is awaiting a bail hearing.
  On Aug. 6, at approximately 9:30 a.m., Nanaimo RCMP received a report that a man had allegedly exposed himself to a woman while she was jogging near the waterfront trail and playground area of Maffeo Sutton Park.
  Officers immediately attended the area, obtained a description
  
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• Comox Valley athlete competes for Canada’s Strongest Man title

  12-08-2026 23:05 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Competing at Canada’s Strongest Man takes power, stamina and agility, and Comox Valley strongman Sean Hayes proves the sport also demands a lot of heart.
  While deadlifting a truck, pressing a 350 pound log overhead, or shouldering a 1000 pound yoke are all obvious feats of strength, what makes the strongman sport even more challenging is that it tests all forms of strength: maximal, static, dynamic and endurance.“It’s supposed to be a test of your entire body strength,” s
  
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• PHOTOS: BC Wildfire Service sets up base in Okanagan Falls

  12-08-2026 22:55 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Dozens of tents have been set up in Keogan Sports Park in Okanagan Falls alongside portable buildings hosting BC Wildfire Service’s incident command for the Bald Range Wildfire.The park saw 100 Mexican wildland firefighters arrive in the evening of Aug. 10, just three days after the fire erupted west of Summerland.More firefighters from across B.C., from departments near like Kelowna, to further away like Mill Bay and Nanaimo on Vancouver Island.Chilliwack sent multiple engines, and even M
  
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• Butchart Gardens cancels fireworks as province declares wildfire emergency

  12-08-2026 22:33 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Due to the provincial state of emergency, The Butchart Gardens is cancelling its weekend fireworks show.
  The show slated for Aug. 15 is cancelled, a performance by The Temps continues, starting at 7:30 p.m. While yearlong passes are normally not valid on fireworks days, they will be honoured Saturday.Traditionally, the Central Saanich tourist destination runs its displays with strict on-site support and coverage by local firefighters. Butchart last cancelled fireworks during the 2023 provincial
  
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• 5 players from 2018 junior team breached Hockey Canada code of conduct

  12-08-2026 22:28 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Four of the players from Hockey Canada’s 2018 National Junior Team remain suspended, while another has been reinstated immediately after an appeal board determined they did breach the organization’s code of conduct.
  An independent appeal board says the five players from the 2018 junior men’s team breached Hockey Canada’s code of conduct, issuing recommended suspensions and reinstatement dates, according to a news release from Hockey Canada Wednesday (Aug. 12).
  Hockey Cana
  
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• 48-game Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League season opens Sept. 4

  12-08-2026 22:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  The Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League season just released its regular-season and exhibition schedules.
  The new season gets underway with exhibition play beginning Aug. 21, while the regular season opens Sept. 4. Each VIJHL team will play a 48-game regular-season schedule, consisting of 24 home games and 24 road games. The regular season runs through Feb. 28, 2027.
  The Oceanside Generals will be among the teams looking to make their mark in a league that has been operating since 1965. The Ge
  
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• Fundraiser started to help parents of Maple Ridge bear attack victim

  12-08-2026 21:10 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  A fundraiser has been started to help the parents of a little girl attacked by a bear in Maple Ridge.Christina Bell started the GoFundMe for Andrea Lekei and her partner Bradley Farnum, so they can take time off work to help care for Anaiyah, 3, who was airlifted to BC Children’s Hospital following the attack on Sunday Aug. 9.“They are dealing with enough and shouldn’t have to worry about money on top of it all,” said Bell online.
  According to reports Anaiyah was playing
  
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• Rise in B.C. drowning deaths prompts call for safety on Victoria beaches

  12-08-2026 21:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  As swimmers across Greater Victoria flock to beaches, docks and lakes, BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) is sharing tips to keep you safe around the water.
  “While spending time near the water can be fun, it also comes with risks for those who are not prepared,” said the provincial body. “Drowning can happen quickly and quietly, often without the obvious signs people expect to see.”
  BCEHS typically sees 15 to 30 drowning-related calls per month for most of the year and
  
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• ‘Community lightens any burden’: Parkinson’s cycling tour sets off from Victoria

  12-08-2026 21:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Lloyd Taylor was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson’s disease at age 53 in 2022. The diagnosis was devastating for Taylor and his loved ones, but he refused to let it dictate the course of his life.
  Instead, he took to the road — and his bike — embarking on an 8,000-kilometre journey from Victoria to Newfoundland to raise money and awareness for Parkinson’s disease.
  The same year he was diagnosed, Taylor was approached by the Spinning Wheels Tour, the organization behin
  
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• Vancouver teacher gets lifetime ban after sexual assault conviction

  12-08-2026 20:54 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  A Vancouver teacher is barred from the profession after a sexual assault conviction involving a student.
  Robert Kyle Ledingham, who was employed as a band teacher by the Vancouver school district, has been given a lifetime ban by the B.C. Commissioner for Teacher Regulation, according to a July 23 decision.
  The commissioner determined Ledingham violated his privileged position of power and trust. He harmed a student’s physical and emotional safety and well-being and his conduct toward the
  
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• UPDATE: Evacuated residents at Quilpituk Creek wildfire should prepare to head home

  12-08-2026 20:52 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  UPDATE 11:42 a.m.
  While all evacuation orders and alerts remain in place at this time, residents should be preparing themselves for re-entry, said the Central Okanagan Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) in a Wednesday morning (Aug. 12) update.
  “BC Wildfire is making progress on containment of the wildfire and safety assessments are ready to deploy,” said the EOC. “The re-entry plan may be in phases as assessments are conducted to support a safe and coordinated return home.&rdquo
  
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• Support urged for Summerland businesses

  12-08-2026 20:44 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  As the Bald Range wildfire continues to affect Summerland, people around the province have been asking how they can help support the community now and in the weeks and months to come.
  Destination Summerland urges people to use their purchasing power to support Summerland farmers, wineries, cideries, breweries, distilleries, restaurants, artists, makers, accommodation providers and independent businesses.“Every purchase helps keep money moving through the local economy at a time when Summer
  
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• ‘Particularly disappointing’: Graffiti on Island theatre could cost up to $15K

  12-08-2026 20:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Graffiti sprayed on the exterior of Victoria’s emblematic Royal Theatre is expected to cost up to $15,000 to clean up, according to the Royal and McPherson Theatres Society (RMTS).
  Jennifer Johnson, CEO of the Royal and McPherson Theatres Society, said staff first became aware of the graffiti the morning of Aug. 3 and immediately began assessing the damage and coordinating with authorities.
  According to Johnson, the graffiti was applied from the roof of the Royal Theatre on an exterior wal
  
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• What’s On, Aug. 12

  12-08-2026 20:28 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  MUSIC
  Valdy will be performing Canadian folk at the Ladybug’s Mew in Yellow Point Farm & Garden Store Concert Stage on Aug. 12 at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at www.ladybugsmewinyellowpoint.ca.
  Alex Maher and Shel Prince will be performed at The Vault Cafe on Aug. 13 at 9 p.m. Tickets are $15.
  Mahogany will be performing soul groove and R&B act at The Vault Cafe on Aug. 14 at 9 p.m. Tickets are $15.
  Metal Punk and Weirdo Extravaganza will be happening at The Globe Live Studio on A
  
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• Summerland wildfire ‘sounded like a freight train,’ evacuee recalls

  12-08-2026 19:45 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Tom Joseph has lived in his fair share of Canadian towns.
  But never has he seen a community come together in the way Summerland residents have over the last four days.
  Joseph is one of the more than 20,000 people who were ordered to leave their homes on Friday night, Aug. 7, as the fast-moving Bald Range wildfire raged on in Summerland.Sitting next to his truck in a lawn chair alongside his dog, Molly, at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre (PTCC), Joseph said on Tuesday it was surreal to
  
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• Victoria residents face fall without a rec centre as Crystal Pool closes

  12-08-2026 19:37 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Residents face a gap as the Crystal Pool and Fitness Centre closes forever on Sept. 25, with the interim site Victoria Recreation Centre anticipated to open in early 2027.
  “We recognize that there will be a period of time between when the Crystal Pool closes and the interim facility opens, however, it’s necessary for us to continue closing the facility in September in order to keep the project on time and on budget,” Derrick Newman, Victoria’s director of Parks and Recrea
  
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• Nanaimo 13-year-old faces possible charges after allegedly crashing parent’s vehicle

  12-08-2026 19:12 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  A 13-year-old girl is facing possible charges after allegedly taking a parent’s vehicle without permission, fleeing from police, and crashing the vehicle.
  The incident occurred in Nanaimo at approximately 2 a.m. on July 25, according to a press release from the Nanaimo RCMP.
  An officer on patrol first observed the vehicle travelling southbound on Terminal Avenue at 118 km/h in a posted 50 km/h zone.
  The officer attempted a traffic stop; however, the vehicle accelerated away.
  With the reaso
  
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• UPDATE: Bald Range wildfire grows, now 18,450 hectares in size

  12-08-2026 18:55 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  UPDATE: 9:50 a.m.
  The Bald Range wildfire experienced growth overnight, according to an update from the BC Wildfire Service.
  The blaze is now estimated at 18,450 hectares in size, over 600 hectares larger than it was listed at on Aug. 11.
  Eighteen evacuation orders and alerts remain in place due to the fire.
  Original
  A change in the weather is expected to increase fire activity at the Bald Range wildfire in Summerland, according to BC Wildfire Service (BCWS).
  In its latest update, which came jus
  
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• Rescued otter returns to its family on Cormorant Island

  12-08-2026 18:37 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  On July 28, the Alert Bay RCMP was notified of an injured otter at the ’Namgis Dock in Alert Bay.
  Earlier that day, local residents heard sounds of animals in distress and went to investigate. Upon arrival, they discovered three juvenile otters entangled in sections of a fishing net that had been left on the dock, an area frequently travelled by local wildlife.
  The residents acted quickly and carefully, successfully freeing two of the otter pups. The young otters immediately returned to th
  
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• Rescued otter pup revived with CPR, returned to its family on Cormorant Island

  12-08-2026 18:37 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  On July 28, the Alert Bay RCMP was notified of an injured otter at the ’Namgis Dock in Alert Bay.
  Earlier that day, local residents heard sounds of animals in distress and went to investigate. Upon arrival, they discovered three juvenile otters entangled in sections of a fishing net that had been left on the dock, an area frequently travelled by local wildlife.
  The residents acted quickly and carefully, successfully freeing two of the otter pups. The young otters immediately returned to th
  
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