Nanaimo news

• Deer negative for chronic wasting disease in North Okanagan

  09-12-2025 18:19 via nanaimobulletin.com
  Further testing has confirmed that a sample submitted from a male white-tailed deer harvested east of Enderby is negative for chronic wasting disease (CWD).
  CWD is an infectious and fatal disease affecting cervids, including deer, elk, moose and caribou.
  The initial screening test by the B.C. Animal Health Centre showed a “non-negative” finding for the sample, meaning the disease could not be definitively ruled out and required more testing. Following standard protocol, the sample wa
  
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• Person dies in RV fire in Nanaimo’s north end

  11-12-2025 18:20 via nanaimobulletin.com
  A person died in an RV fire in Nanaimo’s north end yesterday evening.
  Nanaimo Fire Rescue firefighters responded to a 911 call just after 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10, and arrived at a property in the 6600 block of Dover Road to find a recreational vehicle fully ablaze, said Troy Libbus, assistant chief of operations.
  He said firefighters quickly put out the blaze but he couldn’t comment further at the scene last night, as he said Nanaimo RCMP had taken over the investigation.
  “It
  
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• Police investigating threats made against high school student in Nanaimo

  11-12-2025 18:15 via nanaimobulletin.com
  Police are investigating after a Nanaimo high school was locked down after reports of a threat.
  According to reserve Const Gary O’Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesperson, Nanaimo District Secondary School was locked down yesterday for 30 minutes, after reports of “a threat directed at a student.” The incident took place at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 10.
  “Officers felt it was a credible threat and based on consultation with the school administrators, they decided to lock the sc
  
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• Vancouver Island woman dials up idea to connect locals with lost loved ones

  11-12-2025 15:45 via nanaimobulletin.com
  Standing on the boardwalk of Langford’s Ed Nixon trail, hundreds of kilometres away from her hometown of Edmonton, Natalie McNeely feels the ache of distance – not only from the friends and family carrying on with life back home, but also the loved ones whose absence stretches even further.
  In her search for a way to bridge that quiet gap, she’s turning to an idea that has brought comfort to grieving communities around the world.
  McNeely hopes to introduce a “wind phone&r
  
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• B.C. Indigenous leader turns to animation to oppose salmon farm ban

  11-12-2025 15:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  The Deputy Chief Councillor of the Kitasoo Xai’xais Nation is leading a campaign against the federal government’s plan to phase out open-net salmon farming in British Columbia, warning it poses a serious threat to his community’s economic future.
  Isaiah Robinson, who also serves as CEO of the Nation’s Development Corporation, has launched a series of animated short films to challenge what he calls “politically motivated” misinformation surrounding aquaculture.
  
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• FBI release new photo of former Canadian Olympian on its 10 most-wanted list

  11-12-2025 15:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  A new photo has been released of Canadian Olympic snowboarder-turned accused drug trafficker Ryan James Wedding by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the United States.
  The FBI believes the new photo of Wedding, one of their 10 most wanted fugitives, was taken in Mexico this past summer.
  The 44-year-old is wanted for allegedly running and participating in a transnational drug trafficking operation that, according to the FBI, routinely shipped hundreds of kilograms of cocaine from Columbia, t
  
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• How to keep your pets safe (and warm) this winter

  11-12-2025 14:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  As winter settles in and the temperatures drop, it’s the perfect time to check in on our furry family members. Dogs and cats may love a little fresh air, but cold weather brings real risks—frostbite, hypothermia, and even exposure to dangerous substances like antifreeze.
  With busy days and routines, it’s easy to underestimate just how fast the cold can affect them. So consider this your friendly winter reminder: a little extra care goes a long way toward keeping your pets safe,
  
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• ‘New wave of nurses’ integrating harm reduction into health care in B.C.

  11-12-2025 14:05 via nanaimobulletin.com
  As the effects of the toxic drug crisis become an intrinsic part of health care, nurses on Vancouver Island are having to adapt to what that means for keeping patients healthy.
  On Dec. 2, Vancouver Island University fourth-year nursing students hosted a harm reduction education panel along with the VIU Harm Reduction Alliance, intending to raise awareness about the toxic drug crisis, challenge stigma and foster a safer community.
  Nursing professor Sarah Lovegrove told the News Bulletin that harm
  
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• Shopping local helps opens doors for entrepreneurs

  11-12-2025 13:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  This holiday season, every local purchase tells a bigger story about central Vancouver Island.
  We asked Kelly McBride, business development and credit officer with Community Futures Central Island, to share her perspective.
  Q: What do you see when you look around our region in December?
  A: At first glance you see lights, decorations, busy shops and families out enjoying themselves. It is a beautiful time of year. My job is to look a little deeper and see how those moments turn into cash flow for
  
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• Fraser Valley rain easing, Nooksack to levels to decline by morning: Officials

  11-12-2025 06:07 via nanaimobulletin.com
  Officials say the rainfall has started to ease in the Fraser Valley, while the river flows in the Nooksack River are expected to peak at 10 p.m. and ease by early morning.
  The Emergency Management Ministry called for the urgent online update Wednesday night (Dec. 10) to address the flooding situation in the Fraser Valley, as well as road and highway closures. It came shortly after the Transportation and Transit Ministry urged drivers to avoid travel in the Fraser Valley, specifically in areas wh
  
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• Fraser Valley rain easing, Nooksack levels to decline by morning: Officials

  11-12-2025 06:07 via nanaimobulletin.com
  Officials say the rainfall has started to ease in the Fraser Valley, while the river flows in the Nooksack River are expected to peak at 10 p.m. and ease by early morning.
  The Emergency Management Ministry called for the urgent online update Wednesday night (Dec. 10) to address the flooding situation in the Fraser Valley, as well as road and highway closures. It came shortly after the Transportation and Transit Ministry urged drivers to avoid travel in the Fraser Valley, specifically in areas wh
  
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• Highways 1, 3, 5 and 7 closed near Hope due to flooding, landslides

  11-12-2025 05:24 via nanaimobulletin.com
  Almost all highways were closed leading in and out of Hope by Wednesday evening, as heavy rains persisted in the region.
  Highway 7 was the first to close in the afternoon, when a landslide near the Haig Station hit the roadway. That closure runs between Highway 9 and Ross Road and assessment is expected on Dec. 11.
  Highway 1 was closed eastbound from Highway 9 to Hope. That closure was expected to be in effect until midnight.
  Highway 5 (Coquihalla) was also closed Wednesday evening, with an upda
  
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• Drivers urged to avoid travel in Fraser Valley areas at risk for flooding

  11-12-2025 04:45 via nanaimobulletin.com
  The Ministry of Transportation and Transit has issued a travel advisory for areas in the Fraser Valley where there is a risk of flooding.
  People are asked to avoid travel unless necessary until the heavy rainfall passes and water levels subside.
  The ministry issued the advisory on Wednesday at about 7:15 p.m., following a day of heavy rainfall in areas like Hope, Chilliwack, Abbotsford and Mission.
  A portion of Highway 7 near Hope was closed due to a mudslide in the afternoon, and on social medi
  
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• Flood precautions taken in Princeton

  11-12-2025 02:20 via nanaimobulletin.com
  Officials in Princeton are monitoring the river levels of the Tulameen and Similkameen Rivers in advance of an incoming atmospheric river.
  The town is monitoring the Tulameen River below Vuich Creek, the Similkameen River above Goodfellow Creek, the Pasayten River above Calcite Creek and the Similkameen River at Princeton, where the two rivers join.
  Some of these sites are already showing record high levels.
  “We are asking people to please stay away from the river and stream banks until th
  
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• Body found in Vernon identified months later as missing Penticton man

  11-12-2025 02:10 via nanaimobulletin.com
  A body found in Vernon earlier this summer has now been identified as a man missing from Penticton.
  The RCMP E Division says Mauricio Gudino-Figueroa was located deceased and his remains were only recently identified.
  “The investigation is with the Southeast District Major Crimes Unit (SED MCU) who are working with the BC Coroners Service in relation to this death investigation, it remains open and ongoing,” said Cpl. Brett Urano, division media relations officer. “We are still
  
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• Full closure set for Highway 4 near Cameron Lake on Dec. 17

  11-12-2025 01:55 via nanaimobulletin.com
  Highway 4 will be shut down completely between Whiskey Creek and Port Alberni for six hours on Dec. 17 for construction.
  From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. crews will be working near Cameron Lake to work on shoulder and bank erosion in the westbound lane, near the new weather station.
  The full closure is required to safely set up the site and do the work, according to the B.C. highways ministry.
  After Dec. 17, crews will continue to work near the highway with minimal traffic impacts. Some of the work include
  
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• Driver pleads guilty in pedestrian incident that killed Vernon teen

  11-12-2025 01:46 via nanaimobulletin.com
  Tears were shed as a Vernon man who fatally struck local teen Lynza Henke with his truck in a downtown crosswalk was sentenced for inattentive driving Wednesday afternoon.
  Gregg Veinpel pleaded guilty to driving a vehicle without due care and attention at the Vernon courthouse, which on Dec. 10 was filled with family and friends of 15-year-old Henke, who was fatally struck by Veinpel’s Ford F-150 while crossing Highway 97 at 30th Avenue on July 20, 2024.
  Crown counsel Margaret Cissell and
  
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• Residents demand ‘tax cap’ but Regional District of Nanaimo passes preliminary budget

  11-12-2025 01:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  Regional District of Nanaimo taxpayers are calling on directors to rein in spending ahead of final adoption of the 2026 budget.
  The 2026-30 recommended financial plan passed at the RDN board meeting Tuesday, Dec. 9. This year’s total tax requisition comes in close to $102 million, an increase from $95 million the year previous. The vote precedes a vote on an amended final budget in February.
  Disgruntled taxpayers attended this week’s meeting, airing grievances and demanding a cap on
  
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• Rainfall to continue as Fraser Valley in ‘dynamic’ potential flooding situation

  11-12-2025 00:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  B.C.’s Emergency Management Minister Kelly Greene says parts of the province are in a “dynamic situation” amid the latest series of atmospheric rivers.
  Greene said the B.C. River Forecast Centre has upgraded several flood advisories, watches and warnings in the Lower Mainland. A warning is the highest category in B.C.
  “This means that river levels have exceeded banks, or will exceed them imminently. This could result in flooding in areas adjacent to rivers,” Greene
  
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• Hubbard, Pardi and Green among the main attractions for Sunfest 2026

  10-12-2025 23:40 via nanaimobulletin.com
  Vancouver Islanders are being urged to put a little sun in their music-lover’s stocking this year.
  Just in time for Christmas the lineup of headliners has been announced for Sunfest 2026, which returns to Cowichan Lake’s Laketown Ranch for four days of fun times and country music from July 30 to Aug. 2.
  Tyler Hubbard, Jon Pardi and Riley Green are just three of the main attractions.
  THURSDAY
  Country fans will be in their glory and ‘Heavensville’ on July 30 as they kick of
  
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• Fundraiser started for burn patient after Nanaimo motorhome fire

  10-12-2025 22:10 via nanaimobulletin.com
  The daughter of a man who was severely burned in a motorhome fire near Nanaimo has asked the public for help with her father’s recovery.
  Britney Marshall set up a GoFundMe fundraiser after her father’s motorhome was completely destroyed by a fire Tuesday, Dec. 9. It had been parked for some time at the summit of South Forks Road, southeast of Nanaimo. Witnesses to the blaze saw the man with his clothes on fire when he exited the motorhome and he managed to snuff out the flames by div
  
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• What’s On, Dec. 10

  10-12-2025 22:05 via nanaimobulletin.com
  MUSIC
  Piano Heist A Very Merry Heistmas will be at the Port Theatre for two shows Dec. 10 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Featuring Nico Rhodes and Patrick Courtin. Tickets $32-58 or $20 for students at www.porttheatre.com.
  Lavender and Lefty play the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 256 on Dec. 11 from 6-8 p.m. Call 250-754-8128 for reservations.
  Pookiefest featuring Last Years Wishes, Poor Sport, Night Mirrors, Negative Balance play an all-ages show Dec. 12 at 7 p.m. at the Globe Live Studio. Tickets $15 in
  
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• Tickets don’t come by text: Vancouver Island police issue phone scam warning

  10-12-2025 22:05 via nanaimobulletin.com
  Saanich Police are urging residents to be wary of text messages claiming that they were caught speeding in a school zone.
  The warning comes after a Saanich resident received a message saying their vehicle was recorded at 43 km/h in a school zone, followed by a prompt to “pay the fine securely here.” The link at the bottom of the text actually directed to a link with a YouTube URL.
  Police say it’s a clear sign of a scam, reminding residents that legitimate tickets will never be
  
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• VIDEO: New calf sighted with B.C.’s endangered orcas a ‘huge, welcome surprise’

  10-12-2025 22:02 via nanaimobulletin.com
  Christmas has come early for B.C.’s endangered southern resident killer whales.
  A newborn calf has been sighted with the social group known as K pod.
  “We are very excited about this discovery, since this is the first calf born into K pod since K45 Prosper in 2022,” said a social media post by Washington-based organization Orca Conservancy.
  The sighting was made Tuesday (Dec. 9) as the pod travelled southbound from Shoreline, Washington.
  Orca Conservancy’s director of deve
  
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• B.C. First Nation denounces ‘Spirit Bear Pipeline’ name as offensive misuse of cultural symbol

  10-12-2025 20:45 via nanaimobulletin.com
  The Kitasoo Xai’xais Nation on B.C.’s central coast is condemning what it calls an “egregious” misuse of its protected cultural symbol, after an Alberta-based oil advocate launched a campaign to rename the cancelled Northern Gateway pipeline the Spirit Bear Pipeline.
  In a statement released Dec. 2, the Nation’s elected chief and council, alongside Hereditary Chiefs, denounced the unapproved use of the official mark “Spirit Bear” by Robbie Picard Media an
  
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• Beefs Bouquets, Dec. 10

  10-12-2025 20:15 via nanaimobulletin.com
  BOUQUET To the teams from Southern Vancouver Island Railway, the City of Nanaimo and many others who have built a wonderful walking trail from Fifth Street to Seventh Street parallel to the railway tracks. It is beautifully done and a joy to go dog walking on. Thank you.
  BEEF To Nanaimo city council for failing to keep property tax increases to a reasonable level. My salary sure didn’t go up in the past year. Did anyone’s?
  BOUQUET To the caring, well-prepared women who had emergency
  
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• Ucluelet, Victoria, Kamloops top 10 trending domestic Canadian winter destinations

  10-12-2025 20:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  A pair of Vancouver Island communities are among the most travelled this winter, based on lodging searches.Ucluelet – up 45 per cent – and Victoria – up 30 per cent – land fourth and sixth in a list of trending domestic destinations for Canadians, according to Expedia’s Winter Travel Outlook. PEI, Jasper and Kitchener top the trending list, with Charlottetown in fifth.
  Kamloops, in seventh was the other B.C. destination cracking the national top 10.
  Trending destina
  
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• B.C.’s road to curling’s Brier runs through provincial championships on Vancouver Island

  10-12-2025 20:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  The provincial curling spotlight is sliding back onto Esquimalt, with the Archie Browning Sports Centre set to host a packed week of championships that will send B.C.’s best to some of the sport’s biggest national stages.
  From Dec. 29 to Jan. 4, the Esquimalt Curling Club will become the hub for teams chasing berths at the 2026 Scotties Tournament of Hearts, the 2026 Brier and the U20 national championships.
  This marks the second time in three years that Esquimalt has hosted the prov
  
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• Elenore Sturko says she will not run for B.C. Conservative leadership

  10-12-2025 19:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  Surrey-Cloverdale MLA Elenore Sturko says she will not be a candidate in the B.C. Conservative leadership race to replace John Rustad.
  “I won’t be running,” Sturko told Black Press Media.
  Sturko said that she feels the best way for her to have an impact is to focus on the major issues facing her constituents, not on a leadership race.
  “I hope that in some way I will have a role to play with how we move our province ahead in the future, but I think that the best thing for
  
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• Albertans and British Columbians race in record Biathlon Cup

  10-12-2025 19:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  Sovereign Lake Nordic Club played host to a record-setting biathlon event last weekend, and there were some strong results among local athletes.
  A total of 230 racers took part in the B.C. Cup/Odlum Brown Western Series races at the Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 6 and 7.
  That smashed the previous record for number of racers in this event, which was 177, set last year, also at Sovereign Lake.
  The Odlum Brown Western Series is a joint event between B.C. and Alberta biathlo
  
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