Nanaimo news

• Gus Nielsen

  22-01-2026 22:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  1927-2025
  A remarkable one-of-a-kind man with the inner strength of a Viking. A very loved Grandfather, Uncle, Brother, Friend, amazing Caregiver and Father. After celebrating his 98th birthday with family and close friends, and enjoying Christmas at home, Gus passed to be with our Lord on December 31st, 2025. Gus was predeceased in 2011 by his wife Olga (of 54 years) and son Ralph in 2024, and brother Niels in 2014. He will be forever held close in the hearts of his daughter Laurie; six grandch
  
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• Victoria poised to plead with province to fund Canada Day fun

  28-01-2026 14:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  Victoria will consider bumping up the budget for Canada Day festivities this summer.In the draft budget for 2026, the city has $110,800 allocated for July 1 festivities. With the number far lower than previous years – the 2025 budget was just over $400,000 – Coun. Jeremy Caradonna and Mayor Marianne Alto are pitching a plan to add another $100,000 currently not allocated in the city’s Major Community Initiatives and Event Grant.“Those more robustly funded events have brou
  
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• Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools distance education continuing to evolve

  28-01-2026 14:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  With a distance education review complete, Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools has a blueprint to guide the program forward.
  Margaret Olsen, school district assistant superintendent of secondary schools, reported on the Island Connect Ed k-12 program at the Jan. 14 committee meeting, relaying information on student numbers and trends for the 2024/25 school year. The review began last spring and was completed this fall.
  Among notable items staff identified in its report, 138 students were enrolled i
  
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• 100 Mile House judo sensei still throwing at 90

  28-01-2026 14:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  For his 90th birthday, there was nowhere else Bob Griechen wanted to be other than on the mats at Kokoro Judo 100 Mile House.
  Griechen is one of the club’s senseis, a sixth-degree black belt, training adults and children alike in the unarmed Japanese martial art. He’s been practising the sport for seven decades now, a fact even he finds surprising. On Monday, Jan. 26, the day after his birthday, he was out on the mats spending time with his students.
  “I told them last year, tow
  
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• Man dead after police- involved shooting shuts Alaska Highway in Yukon

  28-01-2026 07:20 via nanaimobulletin.com
  UPDATE 10:28 p.m.:
  One man is dead following a police‑involved shooting that shut down the Alaska Highway, for several hours, near the McClintock River Bridge on Jan. 27, according to Yukon RCMP.
  Police issued a press release Tuesday night, stating that officers had been trying to locate an individual wanted in connection with a Jan. 25 firearms incident in Whitehorse. A warrant had been issued for his arrest. Then on Jan. 26, the RCMP asked for the public’s help in finding the wante
  
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• B.C.’s Macklin Celebrini has 4 points as visiting Sharks thump Canucks 5-2

  28-01-2026 06:35 via nanaimobulletin.com
  B.C. product Macklin Celebrini had a goal and three assists, leading the visiting San Jose Sharks to a 5-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks in NHL action Tuesday at Rogers Arena.
  Adam Gaudette, Tyler Toffoli, Will Smith and John Klingberg also scored for the Sharks (27-21-3), with Yaroslav Askarov earning the win in goal, making 23 saves.
  Tom Williander and Filip Hronek tallied for the Canucks (17-31-5). Vancouver goalie Kevin Lankinen gave up three early markers and was replaced in the first peri
  
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• SPCA seeking information about abandoned, injured dog in Port Alberni

  28-01-2026 03:01 via nanaimobulletin.com
  The Alberni-Clayoquot SPCA is asking the public for help in identifying a dog that was severely injured and abandoned in Port Alberni.
  On Jan. 16, the SPCA was called by a concerned community member who found the dog, a black lab cross, with injuries that appeared to be wounds to the head and mouth. The dog was found tied to a trailer in the caller’s yard on Bruce Street in the Southport neighbourhood, the SPCA says.
  Members of the SPCA team rushed to bring the dog to a veterinarian clinic
  
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• Penticton man sentenced to 5 years in jail for sexual interference of minor

  28-01-2026 02:15 via nanaimobulletin.com
  WARNING: This article contains content which may be distressing to some readers. Reader discretion is advised. For mental health help and information, call 310-6789 (no area code) To see all the services and help available, visit bc211.ca.A Penticton man who tried to claim a single instance of mistaken identity has been sentenced to five years in jail for having sex with a pre-teen multiple times.
  Due to the fact that the case involved a minor and there is a publication ban on anything that migh
  
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• Cowichan Tribes suit heads back to court as landowner aims to have case reopened

  28-01-2026 01:47 via nanaimobulletin.com
  The ruling on whether the landmark Cowichan Tribes Aboriginal title will be reopened for additional arguments could end up as a case of who knew what when.
  Montrose Properties wants to reopen the case, arguing that it is already being impacted financially despite being unaware of these potential consequences before the decision was released this past August.
  The company wants to be able to submit evidence and reargue parts of the case. A hearing is scheduled in Victoria on Feb. 11 and 12.
  But Da
  
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• Nanaimo NightOwls baseball team names new president

  28-01-2026 01:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  A new president will be at the helm for the Nanaimo NightOwls.
  In a Tuesday, Jan. 27 press release, the West Coast League baseball club announced John Wilson will take over for Ken Swanson, who served as team president for the last 10 years and will remain on the board.
  Management of the team remains unchanged, the press release noted, with Jim Swanson serving as managing partner with duties for day-to-day operations, alongside Adrian Somers, business operations and marketing. Tina Cornett will
  
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• Conservation officers investigate after 4 deer shot with arrows in Nanoose Bay

  28-01-2026 01:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  The BC Conservation Officer Service is investigating ongoing deer poaching in the Fairwinds area of Nanoose Bay, after several animals were shot with arrows.
  BCCOS says it received the first report in November when a deer was found dead with an arrow in it. Since then three others have been found alive pierced by arrows, but had to be euthanized by BCCOS.
  “Dangerous hunting practices in residential areas creates a public safety risk to the community,” BCCOS told the PQB News. “
  
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• VIDEO: Canadian Armed Forces Search and Rescue crews rescue fisher near Haida Gwaii

  28-01-2026 00:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  Crews from 19 Wing Comox responded to a medical emergency about 100 km south of Haida Gwaii on Jan 25.Canadian Armed Forces Search and Rescue crews dispatched from 19 Wing Comox on Vancouver Island attended the emergency on a CH-149 Cormorant, supported by a CC-295 Kingfisher. A crew member aboard a fishing vessel was in need of medical care approximately 92 km south of the archipelago.
  The crews on the aircraft conducted a successful medical hoist and transferred the patient safely to medical a
  
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• Rentals resolutions heading to SILGA courtesy Vernon councillor

  27-01-2026 23:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  Rentals – be they short- and/or long-term – have caught the attention of a Vernon councillor.
  Kari Gares put forth a pair of motions that – with council’s unanimous blessing (though councillors Brian Quiring and Kelly Fehr were absent from the regular meeting Monday, Jan. 26) – will make their way in the spring to the Southern Interior Local Government Association’s (SILGA) annual convention.
  SILGA is slated for April 29 to May 2 in Revelstoke.
  Gares’ fi
  
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• Foundry centres expand services in northern Vancouver Island

  27-01-2026 23:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  The Province is expanding Foundry mental health and addiction support centres to five communities, including Port McNeill.
  This expansion will serve young people aged 12 – 24 years, their families and caregivers and covers access to physical and sexual health care, mental-health and substance-use supports, peer support and social services.
  “Young people face more pressure and stress every day, and it’s important they have a safe place to turn when life feels overwhelming,&rdquo
  
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• Release of horse assault suspect ‘disheartening’ for Vernon owner

  27-01-2026 23:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  An unsettling act of sexual assault alleged against horses by a strange man has left the owner, and broader community, shaken.
  Abigail Equestrian, a professional training facility on L&A Road in the BX, says an unknown man trespassed early Saturday, Jan. 24.
  “He was in with my horses in the middle of the night and assaulted some of my horses,” said owner Erica Van Meenen.
  She confirmed with The Morning Star that it was a sexual assault.
  “He raped at least one horse and that
  
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• National Training Centre for rowing in Cowichan gets financial boost from famous alumni

  27-01-2026 22:43 via nanaimobulletin.com
  Two alumni are helping drive development at Rowing Canada’s National Training Centre on Quamichan Lake.
  Silken Laumann and Wayne Pommen have each committed $100,000 to support the development of the National Training Centre in North Cowichan, “cementing a strong and lasting home for Canadian rowing,” according to Rowing Canada.
  Their commitment includes matching contributions up to $200,000 in total.
  “Our rowers deserve an on-water facility that allows for fair selection,
  
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• ‘It’s like a puzzle’: B.C. chapters woven into the Great Canadian Hockey Jersey

  27-01-2026 21:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  When Cameron Lizotte put scissors to his own hockey jersey, he knew he was cutting into more than fabric.
  The 28-year-old former OHL defenceman turned fashion designer is the mind and hands behind The Great Canadian Hockey Jersey, unveiled this week by Rogers as part of its national This Is Our Game campaign.
  Handcrafted from hundreds of donated jerseys spanning every province and territory, the piece celebrates hockey’s ability to connect Canadians coast to coast, including a chapter that
  
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• ‘It’s like a puzzle’: B.C. chapters woven into Great Canadian Hockey Jersey

  27-01-2026 21:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  When Cameron Lizotte put scissors to his own hockey jersey, he knew he was cutting into more than fabric.
  The 28-year-old former OHL defenceman turned fashion designer is the mind and hands behind The Great Canadian Hockey Jersey, unveiled this week by Rogers as part of its national This Is Our Game campaign.
  Handcrafted from hundreds of donated jerseys spanning every province and territory, the piece celebrates hockey’s ability to connect Canadians coast to coast, including a chapter that
  
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• Mid Island Co-op announces purchase of Landlubber Liquor Store in Nanaimo

  27-01-2026 21:15 via nanaimobulletin.com
  The Landlubber Liquor Store in Bowen Plaza will soon be in operation as part of a major Island co-operative.
  Mid Island Consumer Services Co-operative (Mid Island Co-op) has announced it entered into an agreement with the owners of Landlubber LRS Holdings to purchase the Landlubber Liquor Store located in Bowen Plaza at 2220 Bowen.
  Pending the completion of customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals, the transaction is expected to close Feb. 2, according to a Mid Island Co-op p
  
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• Injured puppy rescued from ditch in Cowichan

  27-01-2026 21:14 via nanaimobulletin.com
  An eight-month-old bulldog mix puppy was found deserted and injured in a ditch on Lake Cowichan Road in Duncan on Jan. 10.
  An animal lover discovered the scared puppy, which was unable to move, and transported her to an emergency veterinary hospital, which then contacted the BC SPCA Cowichan.
  “The poor puppy couldn’t move because her front right leg was broken,” said BC SPCA Cowichan manager Colin Owen-Flood. “No one knows how long she had been in the ditch, but she was v
  
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• Australian rangers to euthanize dingoes thought to have attacked Canada’s Piper James

  27-01-2026 21:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  The pack of 10 dingoes that were found surrounding the body of Campbell River backpacker Piper James on an island in Australia are being humanely euthanized.
  James left Canada on a months-long backpacking trip in October 2025 with a friend. She had recently arrived and started working at a local business on K’gari Island, a world heritage island formerly known as Fraser Island off the Queensland coast, when her body was discovered on Jan. 19.
  Results of a preliminary autopsy released last
  
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• Darrell Jones makes bid for B.C. Conservative leadership

  27-01-2026 20:45 via nanaimobulletin.com
  Former Save-On-Foods president Darrell Jones is officially in the running for the B.C. Conservative leadership.
  Jones, who grew up in Cranbrook, is probably most well known in B.C. for his years of being the face of Save-On-Foods and its commercials. He’s worked in nearly two dozen Save-On-Foods across the province.
  “I remember so vividly that time and that experience,” he said. “It’s just incredible, bagging groceries for my customers, stocking shelves and learning
  
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• Marilyn Campbell

  27-01-2026 20:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  1936 – 2026
  It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Marilyn June Campbell on the 16th of January 2026. She is survived by her son Kirk Campbell and daughter-in-law Linda Campbell, grandsons Brendan and Ryan Campbell, and her brother Gerry Aggett. Marilyn was born in 1936 and raised in Vancouver. She had a lengthy career with Pacific Western Airlines. She retired and moved to Nanaimo where she spent many hours volunteering at the Port Theatre and the Errington Therapeuti
  
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• B.C. issues Eskay Creek mine environmental certificate in deal with First Nation

  27-01-2026 20:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  B.C. is issuing an environmental assessment certificate for the Eskay Creek Mine using, for the first time, a consent-based agreement with the local Tahltan First Nation.
  The province announced the granting of the certificate in Vancouver on Tuesday, Jan. 27.
  The mine is located southwest of Bob Quinn Lake off the Cassiar Highway in northwestern B.C. It was previously operated as an underground gold and silver mine from 1994 to 2008. This new project would turn it into an open-pit mine.
  The agre
  
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• Drug alert: Medetomidine linked to increasing overdose cases in B.C.

  27-01-2026 20:22 via nanaimobulletin.com
  The BC Centre for Disease Control issued a provincewide alert for opioids (down) as the number of overdoses in B.C. are rising and the sedative medetomidine is believed to be the cause.
  “Medetomidine can cause harmful effects and make an overdose worse by: lowering the heart rate, causing, prolonged sedation (not waking up for a long time) and changing blood pressure,” noted the BCCDC alert. The sedative can also cause “serious withdrawal symptoms,” which include severe v
  
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• Chilliwack angler’s anti-snagging petition hits the House of Commons

  27-01-2026 19:59 via nanaimobulletin.com
  Chilliwack angler Aidan Gunter is grateful for the hundreds who signed an e-petition calling for leader-length restrictions to reduce snagging and foul-hooking of salmon on one of the most popular sportfishing rivers in B.C. – the Chilliwack/Vedder River.
  “Just before Christmas, our MP, Mark Strahl, formally presented the petition in the House of Commons,” Gunter said in his online update.
  The petition e-6908 earned 674 signatures.
  Gunter said the pressure’s been building
  
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• Yukon signs deal with Canada’s west and north to ‘unlock’ critical minerals

  27-01-2026 19:45 via nanaimobulletin.com
  The Yukon government has signed onto a deal aligning western and northern Canadian regions in their push to “unlock” critical minerals in their jurisdictions, according to Ted Laking, the Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources.
  Copper for electrical wiring, tungsten for lightbulbs, and nickel for batteries are among the “wealth of resources” that make society tick and are needed for everyday life, per Laking.
  “​​We were blessed in Western Canada to have
  
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• Robot boat’s ill-fated voyage gathers intel for next Victoria school launch

  27-01-2026 19:45 via nanaimobulletin.com
  Somewhere out in the world, Captain Potato Cat is making the world a better place.
  At least that’s the hope of young fabric artist Oliver Angus, who crafted the stuffy to ride aboard an autonomous sailboat launched from the west coast of Vancouver Island last spring.The Sailbotix boat also had a capsule of notes and toys aboard, said CEO Colin Angus, dad to 11-year-old Oliver. The Victoria-based company partnered with the Central Middle School robotics club to launch the one-metre-long ves
  
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• Vancouver Canucks shut down goaltender Demko for season, slated for hip surgery

  27-01-2026 19:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko has been shut down for the rest of the 2025-26 season, the team announced on Tuesday, Jan. 27.
  The 30-year-old will undergo hip surgery as a result of an injury suffered on Saturday, Jan. 10 against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
  “After consulting with our team doctors and outside specialists, Thatcher Demko will be shut down for the rest of the year,” said Canucks general manager Patrick Allvin in a press release. “Thatcher will undergo su
  
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• Vancouver Goldeneyes surge to fifth place with win over Seattle

  27-01-2026 17:44 via nanaimobulletin.com
  The Vancouver Goldeneyes have gone from the bottom of the league to tied for fifth after Sunday’s 3-1 win over Seattle.
  Vancouver faced off against the Seattle Torrent in the PWHL Takeover tour in Denver in front of a crowd of 11,612.
  Goldeneyes forward Jenn Gardiner opened up the scoring off the faceoff with only five seconds left in the first period. Izzy Daniel and Michelle Karvinen also scored for Vancouver, and goaltender Emerance Maschmeyer saved 33 out of 34 shots on net.Daniels spo
  
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