Nanaimo news

• Former B.C. Conservative leader John Rustad not seeking re-election

  24-09-2026 03:36 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Former B.C. Conservative leader John Rustad, who led the party to secure a record number of seats in 2024, will not be seeking re-election in next month.The Conservative Party of B.C. said it extends its “deepest thanks” to Rustad, who has decided not to seek re-election.
  “Under his leadership, our party grew from less than two percent of the vote to Official Opposition. The Conservative Party of BC would never have reached where it is today without his conviction, hard work an
  
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• ‘Alcohol is believed to be a contributing factor’ in double fatality on W.R. Bennett Bridge

  24-09-2026 23:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Alcohol is believed to be a contributing factor in the fatal car crash on Kelowna’s William R. Bennett Bridge on the morning of Tuesday, Sept. 22, according to the RCMP’s BC Highway Patrol.
  “The preliminary investigation indicates an eastbound Toyota collided with a westbound Jeep. Emergency responders attended the scene and located four occupants involved in the crash. Two individuals were pronounced deceased at the scene,” media relations officer Cst. Clyde Feero of the
  
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• Buy Canadian campaign announcement made by David Eby at Lower Mainland stop

  24-09-2026 22:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  BC NDP leader David Eby made a stop in Maple Ridge Thursday morning, Sept. 24, to announce a new legislative requirements that government agencies buy Canadian products when possible for public infrastructure projects.Eby made the announcement at the IUOE 115 Training Centre, a specialized trades training facility, that provides hands-on technical training, apprenticeships, and safety certifications for the heavy construction, road building, and resource industries in British Columbia.
  It is a d
  
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• Search for missing paddleboarder on Okanagan Lake paused after ‘extensive search’

  24-09-2026 22:22 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  The search for a paddleboarder who went missing on Okanagan Lake has been suspended at this time, said Vernon North Okanagan RCMP.
  “An extensive search of the area where the person was last seen has been conducted on the water and from the air,” RCMP media relations officer Constable Chris Terleski told Black Press Media. “The paddleboard was located yesterday but the person remains missing.”
  Just before 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 22, RCMP were notified and called to assist
  
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• Chipotle Mexican Grill nears opening day in Kelowna

  24-09-2026 21:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Kelowna’s first Chipotle Mexican Grill is set to open at the end of September.
  ​
  The restaurant chain is expanding to the Interior of B.C. for the first time with its new restaurant at 150-1950 Harvey Ave., officially opening its doors to customers on Wednesday, Sept. 30.
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  “Opening in Kelowna, the cultural hub of the Okanagan Valley, brings Chipotle closer to residents, students and visitors across the region,” said managing director Anat Davidzon.
  ​
  “O
  
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• Kimberley developer urges municipal election candidates to consider emergency response

  24-09-2026 20:46 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  As the municipal election approaches, professional planner and economic developer Schaun Goodeve is asking candidates to consider a more coordinated response for helping businesses prepare for wildfire evacuation and other similar emergencies.
  Goodeve lives in Kimberley, a community in eastern B.C. that was impacted by multiple wildfires this past summer. Three large-scale fires were ignited in succession after lightning storms, starting on July 18. All three fires were in close proximity to the
  
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• $1,000 reward to find person who trapped Langley raccoon

  24-09-2026 20:45 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  A wildlife protection charity is offering $1,000 for info leading to the identification and conviction of whoever set a leg-hold trap in Langley that caught and seriously injured a young raccoon.
  The Fur-Bearers non-profit offered the reward after a raccoon was found dragging the trap by Brookswood resident Louise Pilon on Wednesday, Sept. 23.
  “He was in our backyard, sitting on the fence,” she said.
  Her husband noticed he was stuck and had something on his leg. He couldn’t mov
  
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• $1,000 reward for person who trapped Langley raccoon

  24-09-2026 20:45 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  A wildlife protection charity is offering $1,000 for info leading to the identification and conviction of whoever set a leg-hold trap in Langley that caught and seriously injured a young raccoon.
  The Fur-Bearers non-profit offered the reward after a raccoon was found dragging the trap by Brookswood resident Louise Pilon on Wednesday, Sept. 23.
  “He was in our backyard, sitting on the fence,” she said.
  Her husband noticed he was stuck and had something on his leg. He couldn’t mov
  
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• Structures, calves lost in devastating fire at landmark Sicamous dairy

  24-09-2026 20:41 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  The owners of D Dutchmen Dairy in Sicamous experienced “a farmer’s worst nightmare” early Thursday morning when a fire ripped through their barn resulting in the loss of the structure and about 40 calves.
  The fire started at approximately 1 a.m. on Sept. 24, and according to Bianca Colonna (née Dewitt) it was “fully engulfed in 10 minutes.”
  She added that the fire department was amazing and were able to contain the blaze so it didn’t reach the cows, tho
  
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• Breaking the cycle: B.C. First Nations community healer turns pain into purpose

  24-09-2026 20:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Editor’s Note: This article contains descriptions of abuse suffered by residential school survivors that may be triggering.
  When Cyril Morris (wəqʷaqʷələq) talks about his two children, he can’t help but smile.
  Ask about his three grandsons, and that smile grows bigger still.
  From drumming and singing together to sharing his extensive collection of 1980s memorabilia and diving into the world of comics, Morris has plenty of ways to connect with his grandchildr
  
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• Andrea Morrow

  24-09-2026 20:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  In Loving Memory ~
  December 26, 1963 – September 1, 2026
  Andrea Morrow passed away peacefully on September 1, 2026, at the age of 62, surrounded by her family, following a courageous journey with dementia. Andrea was a proud member of the Tla’amin Nation, and her connection to her family, community and heritage was an important part of who she was.
  She was the daughter of Len Bob and Marie Newton, granddaughter of Henry and Theresa Bob, and great-granddaughter of Johnny and Emily Bob
  
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• George Anderson will be representing the B.C. NDP in the Nanaimo-Lantzville riding

  24-09-2026 20:15 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  George Anderson said he plans to seek re-election in the Nanaimo-Lantzville riding, following the announcement of a snap provincial election.
  Scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 24, Anderson confirmed he will be once again representing the B.C. NDP, after his first term in office was cut short.
  “My view right now is that the premier has called an election at a point that is extremely serious for British Columbia,” Anderson said. “We continue to face uncertainty from the United States,
  
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• Comox Valley resident celebrates 104th birthday

  24-09-2026 19:40 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Florence Robertson just might be the Comox Valley’s very own longevity guru.
  For Robertson — now 104 years young — her secret to a long and healthy life is found in the power of song.
  “When I turned 100, people kept asking, ‘What’s the secret of you living to be 100?’ And I had to think, because both of my parents died young,” she said. “But I came to two conclusions: I’ve had a rest after lunch for most of my adult life; and the second
  
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• Lake Cowichan councillor juggles election campaign with Canadian rugby call-up

  24-09-2026 19:06 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Lake Cowichan town councillor Aaron Frisby hopes to retain his seat in October’s election while adding to his rugby resume. With his political campaign just underway, Frisby was called to join the Canadian men’s rugby team as a skills coach for a series of test matches in Japan.The Pacific Nations Cup runs Sept. 5 to 19. Canada played USA on Sept. 19 for third place.
  “I was given three days’ notice to join the team in Japan,” he said.Originally from New Zealand, Fri
  
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• Mount Jack fire near Sooke grows to 276 hectares, ‘light rain’ forecast

  24-09-2026 19:02 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  The “out of control” Mount Jack wildfire near Sooke continues to grow.
  An update from the BC Wildfire Service Thursday morning (Sept. 24) listed the human-caused fire as 276.19 hectares.
  The service said there has been “some modest growth” over the last 24 hours, mainly to the east, driven by prevailing winds, slope and dry fuels.
  “The east flank remains the most active portion of the fire,” they said.
  Recent fire behaviour, including this morning, is consider
  
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• Where do old boats on B.C.’s coast go to die?

  24-09-2026 18:55 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  People driving along the Old Island Highway through Fanny Bay have probably noticed a ferry idly listing a short distance from the shore.
  The ferry, the MV Rhododendron, was built in 1947 in Chesapeake Bay, USA, before moving to Washington State in 1951, shuttling passengers in Puget Sound until its retirement in 2012.
  The ferry was then auctioned off to Qualicum Beach business Island Scallops in 2013 and brought to where it is moored today in Fanny Bay.
  The Rhody, as it was affectionately calle
  
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• Nanaimo RCMP arrest two for theft from downtown liquor store

  24-09-2026 18:24 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Nanaimo RCMP have arrested two people on at least nine charges related to theft from the BCLiquor location at the Port Place Shopping Centre.
  Reserve Const. Gary O’Brien, the media relations officer for the Nanaimo RCMP, said the man and woman who were arrested were unhoused individuals, and they have been remanded in police custody until they appear in court, which is scheduled for Sept. 29.
  “It took awhile to piece it all together, but we finally had enough to make the arrest and l
  
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• Trio of Celtic musicians will be performing as part of Harbour City Concert series

  24-09-2026 18:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  A trio of Celtic musicians will be playing at the Unitarian Hall as part of the Harbour City Concert series, honouring one of its founders.Schryer, Enblom and Dobres, will be performing on Saturday, Sept. 26 at 7:30 p.m.
  The band features Franco-Ontarian fiddler Pierre Schryer, North American folk dance specialist Danielle Enblom, as well as B.C. guitarist Adam Dobres.Schryer told the News Bulletin that the concert is going to be honouring Doug Creba, one of the founders of the Harbour City Conc
  
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• Big numbers, bigger hearts as Tour de Rock lands in Courtenay

  24-09-2026 15:14 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Often in life, something special loses its novelty quickly when it comes in heaps.
  Tour de Rock is not one of those things.
  Wednesday (Sept. 23), our team travelled from Campbell River to Courtenay, covering 73 kilometres and bringing the trip total to 413 km. Collectively, the team has helped raise more than $352,000 towards the goal of $1 million.
  Those numbers are quite large. But there are community heroes scattered across this Island who do more than their fair share of collecting.
  Today, f
  
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• Sheila Malcolmson ready for election campaign

  24-09-2026 14:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  The snap election that B.C. Premier David Eby called for Oct. 24 came as no surprise for Sheila Malcolmson.
  Malcolmson, the NDP MLA for Nanaimo-Gabriola Island, said the B.C. Conservatives, the province’s official opposition party, has been calling for an election for the past two years, and most recently called for one three weeks ago.
  She said that with just a one-seat majority in the Legislative Assembly, and with the recent death of Joan Philip, the NDP MLA for Vancouver-Strathcona, ND
  
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• COLUMN; Trigger stacking: Understanding the build-up before the blow-up

  24-09-2026 14:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Have you ever had one of those days when everything seems to pile up? You spill your coffee, run late for work, get cut off in traffic and then while sitting at your desk your pen runs out of ink. Suddenly, you’re frustrated enough to toss it across the room. It probably wasn’t the pen that caused the melt down. It was the accumulation of events leading up to it.Dogs can experience the same kind of emotional buildup. It’s called trigger stacking.
  Trigger stacking happens when m
  
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• 2 deaths confirmed in serious crash on Kelowna’s Bennett Bridge

  24-09-2026 02:36 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  The BC Coroners Service has confirmed that two people died in a serious collision in Kelowna on Tuesday, Sept. 22.Around 4 a.m., two vehicles collided on the William R. Bennett Bridge connecting Kelowna and West Kelowna. The bridge was closed for approximately five hours.Emergency crews responded to the scene, and the Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Service was called in to investigate.It is unknown at this time what caused the collision.The identities of the two persons who died in the cr
  
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• Inaugural ‘Harvest Table’ brings island food and community to Cowichan’s Keating Farm

  24-09-2026 02:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Food Day Canada and Keating Farm have come to the table to present ‘Harvest Table’ a new annual celebration of Vancouver Island food, farming, community and place at Cowichan Valley’s Keating Farm on Sept. 26.“Food is the invitation, but the relationships are the destination,” said Keating Farm co-owner and Harvest Table co-founder Rebecca Papadopoulos. “Harvest Table is our invitation to gather, share in the abundance of the season and get to know the people
  
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• Party leaders set for a five-way race to B.C. election day

  24-09-2026 01:25 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  As the dust settles on the snap election call that will send British Columbians to the polls on Oct. 24, the teams are shuffling players and the race has begun.
  Two out of the five parties with seats in the legislature have new leaders. Several prominent incumbent party cabinet members say they are bowing out of the race. And the B.C. Conservative Party seems to be quickly reassembling a formidable centre-right coalition.
  It is now shaping up to be a five-way race.
  Here are the major players and
  
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• Parties leaders set for a five-way race to B.C. election day

  24-09-2026 01:25 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  As the dust settles on the snap election call that will send British Columbians to the polls on Oct. 24, the teams are shuffling players and the race has begun.
  Two out of the five parties with seats in the legislature have new leaders. Several prominent incumbent party cabinet members say they are bowing out of the race. And the B.C. Conservative Party seems to be quickly reassembling a formidable centre-right coalition.
  It is now shaping up to be a five-way race.
  Here are the major players and
  
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• Eby focuses on U.S. health worker recruitment at Surrey border stop

  24-09-2026 01:10 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  A vote for the Conservatives is a vote for the pro-Trump camp, David Eby told those gathered at a campaign stop Wednesday.That was one of the BC NDP leader’s main themes at a press conference held at Peace Arch Park in South Surrey, on the Canada-U.S. border, Wednesday (Sept. 23), where he told media and supporters his focus, should he be re-elected, is to triple U.S. health-care worker recruitment with a $15-million campaign.
  After outlining several NDP achievements and investments while
  
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• Lorne Doerkson to remain as B.C. Conservative leader if elected premier

  24-09-2026 00:20 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  There is no plan to hold another leadership race if the B.C. Conservatives win the provincial election, the party’s board says.
  The party’s board of directors said Wednesday (Sept. 23) that if interim Leader Lorne Doerkson leads the party to a victory on Oct. 24, he will remain as party leader.
  The board says it will take the appropriate steps under the party’s constitution and bylaws and the Societies Act to make that change.
  To amend the constitution, the party board would ne
  
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• 22 Nanaimo council candidates address climate crisis

  23-09-2026 23:54 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Twenty-two Nanaimo councillor and mayoral candidates addressed how they will handle running the city in a worsening climate emergency at a recent election forum, hosted by Nanaimo Climate Action Hub.
  Kevin Lindsay, director with the hub, told the News Bulletin, he felt they received a “great representation of a lot of views and a lot of priorities” in addition to commitments on climate action in different ways.
  “We wanted to hold this forum because … climate change and h
  
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• Vancouver man experiences Okanagan wildfire season on cross-country coffee bike tour

  23-09-2026 22:35 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Most Lower Mainland residents are somewhat insulated from the dangers and anxieties of wildfire season that most Okanagan residents have come to accept as a reality.
  When Vlad Priadko decided to take the mobile aspect of his mobile Vancouver coffee shop to another level by trekking across the country and back with it, the journey included a first-hand reckoning with that reality.Priadko is the owner of Coffee Bike World, which he started in Vancouver and grew into an international mobile espress
  
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• Phased project, surveying to determine overall health of Okanagan Lake, shorelines

  23-09-2026 22:22 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Lakes are like people, they need check-ups too.
  Starting this month and taking place in phases over three years, Living Lakes Canada, the Okanagan Indian Band (OKIB) and Westbank First Nation (WFN) will be working with many industry partners to survey all 290 kilometres of Okanagan Lake’s shoreline.
  The survey, which Living Lakes Canada coins as a “physical exam” will involve checking land use, shoreline condition, vegetation, streams, and human-made structures.
  “Human ac
  
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