• Krog re-elected as Nanaimo mayor

    Krog re-elected as Nanaimo mayor
    Paul Manly the top vote-getter as city council adds three new faces
  • Emergency preparedness is more than stockpiling water

    I just watched some footage that made me sit back and take a deep breath.
    It was a social media video of a man driving through Faulder, B.C. on Aug. 11, the entire community — minus a few houses — was gone. It was just not there anymore.
    My first thought was obviously for the people who lived in those homes. Losing absolutely everything like that is literally unimaginable to me. I have no real frame of reference to what that must be like. Over the past twenty years, I’ve been c
  • Push to recall Okanagan MLA Tara Armstrong on hold as campaign gathers resources

    Push to recall Okanagan MLA Tara Armstrong on hold as campaign gathers resources
    A campaign to recall Kelowna-Lake Country-Coldstream MLA Tara Armstrong is being postponed for now as organizers look to accumulate the funds and volunteers they think they’ll need to have her removed from office.The number of signatures the campaign is able to gather in a period of 60 days is what will decide whether the polarizing Independent MLA will be removed, and the campaign’s organizers say they don’t have the resources yet to realistically meet the high threshold of si
  • Stephania (Sally) Urton

    Stephania (Sally) Urton
    September 11, 1932 – August 4, 2026Stephania (Sally) Urton passed peacefully August 4, 2026, at KinVillage Lodge in Tsawwassen, BC. Sally is survived by her son Kevin, daughter-inlaw Dennette, and two grandchildren, Tyrell and Lauren. Sally is predeceased by her husband Don and son Gary. Sally was deeply loved and will be fondly remembered by family and friends. Born September 11, 1932, on a farm near Bankend, Sask. Sally was one of thirteen children to John and Mary Nazar. Sally eventuall
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  • Linda M. Cole

    Linda M. Cole
    It is with great sadness that we announce our dear friend Linda Margaret Cole’s final journey on July 29th at the age of 86. Linda could be described as a force of nature, and also loved nature — hiking in the mountains, wild flowers, birds and creatures of all stripes, gardens and gardening. And she was a world traveller.
    Linda was born in Leeds in the county of Yorkshire, England, setting off for Canada at the age of 21. She settled first in Edmonton, then moved to Vancouver. Start
  • Anne Marie McDonell

    Anne Marie McDonell
    In Loving Memory
    October 27, 1956 – July 13, 2026Anne Marie McDonell passed away peacefully on July 13, 2026, at the young age of 69. S
    he was predeceased by her beloved husband, Allan Dick, with whom she shared a love of adventure. Together, they explored much of British Columbia and the Yukon, and travelled widely around the world—visiting Italy, Greece, Germany, Poland, Mexico, and Hawaii, among many other destinations.
    Much of Anne Marie’s strength and spirit came from her
  • Ukraine’s 35th Independence year brings War Up Close VR to Kelowna

    Ukraine’s 35th Independence year brings War Up Close VR to Kelowna
    As Ukraine marks the 35th year of independence, the ”War Up Close” initiative invites people to experience a virtual reality museum and Children’s Art Showcase taking place on Aug.22.
    The exhibition has already taken place across North America and Europe. In Kelowna, it will take place at The Rotary Centre for the Arts from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
    The 360-degree panoramic photography captures the adversary Ukrainian people go through every day. The exhibition takes people to the war
  • Iris Anne Klein

    Iris Anne Klein
    With deep sadness, we announce the passing of Iris Anne Klein, who departed peacefully on the evening of July 5, 2026, at the Stanford Seniors Village in Parksville. A longtime resident of Cassidy and Nanaimo, Iris was a devoted member of the community. She became a licensed practical nurse at Malaspina College and worked at various nursing capacities in the region. Iris taught first aid and CPR for many years and was known for her light and humorous teaching style.
    Iris is survived by her son,
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  • UPDATE: Summerland wildfire grows to almost 23,000 hectares as crews brace for strong winds

    UPDATE: Summerland wildfire grows to almost 23,000 hectares as crews brace for strong winds
    UPDATE (11:30 A.M.)
    The Bald Range wildfire west of Summerland continues to grow, with crews now mapping the out-of-control blaze at 22,693 hectares in size.
    A changing weather pattern remains in the forecast for Wednesday, BC Wildfire Service said.
    Crews are also anticipating the fire area to be impacted by stronger and shifting winds on Friday, “which will increase fire behaviour, though conditions are not expected to be as severe as previously forecast,” the provincial service not
  • Emergency minister says Vernon cadet camp ready to house wildfire evacuees

    Emergency minister says Vernon cadet camp ready to house wildfire evacuees
    Vernon’s cadet camp will be ready to provide accommodations to wildfire evacuees if required, Canada’s emergency management minister said Tuesday despite previous concerns from a different federal ministry and the local MP about the suitability of the site for housing evacuees.Emergency Management Minister Eleanor Olszewski released a statement Aug. 18 saying the training centre stands ready to help people who have had to flee their homes due to wildfires.“The wildfire situatio
  • What’s On, Aug. 19

    What’s On, Aug. 19
    MUSIC
    Skinny Dyck, alongside Elliot C. Way, will be performing at The Queen’s on Aug. 20, with doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at www.showpass.com.
    Cherub Weaponry, the Kettle Black, Wax Mannequin and KVMP will be performing at The Vault Cafe on Aug. 20 at 8:30 p.m., presented by Fake Jass. Part of a monthly experimental music series featuring noise, drone, improv punk and beyond. Cost is $15.
    Petunia and the Vipers will be performing at The Queen’s on Aug. 21, with doo
  • ‘A social club that masquerades as a flying club’: Central Saanich modelers take to the skies

    ‘A social club that masquerades as a flying club’: Central Saanich modelers take to the skies
    While retirement means slowing down for some, Duncan Ferguson used it as a chance to finally find something that could keep his hands busy and his eyes on the sky.
    Ferguson, treasurer of the Victoria Radio Control Modelers Society (VRCMS), joined the club in 2012 after his wife told him he needed a hobby. He had always been fascinated by aviation and had once considered pursuing a full-size pilot’s licence, but the cost made that unrealistic.
    Then, while passing the club’s field with
  • Three pro-Khalistan activists in B.C. & Ontario receive ‘duty to warns’ from police

    Three pro-Khalistan activists in B.C. & Ontario receive ‘duty to warns’ from police
    Three Khalistan Referendum activists – including one from Surrey – have received warnings from the RCMP about “credible and imminent threats to their lives.”
    Surrey’s Narinder Singh Randhawa received his second ‘duty to warn’ from police on Aug. 16, which is issued when police have identified threats to an individual’s life. Manjinder Singh of Abbotsford and Inderjeet Singh Gosal of Caledon, Ont. also received warnings.The three men were friends wi
  • ‘Nothing could compare’: B.C. speed climber breaks 5-second barrier

    ‘Nothing could compare’: B.C. speed climber breaks 5-second barrier
    Ethan Flynn-Pitcher has spent years chasing fractions of a second. Last week, all that work finally paid off.
    The 25-year-old Brentwood resident became the first Canadian to break the five-second barrier in speed climbing during a training run at The Boulders Climbing Gym in Central Saanich on Thursday (Aug. 13), stopping the clock at 4.996 seconds.
    Now, he is headed to the World Climbing Pan American Championships in Curitiba, Brazil, from Aug. 22 to 23, where he will try to make the mark offic
  • Small earthquake hits the Okanagan

    Small earthquake hits the Okanagan
    A small earthquake was reportedly felt in the Okanagan on Tuesday, Aug. 18.
    Some Penticton residents were quick to take to social media after feeling a rumble at around 11:20 p.m. Earthquakes Canada said it was a 2.9 magnitude quake, officially touching down about 30 kilometres southeast of the city.
    An earthquake with a magnitude of less than 3.5 is “recorded on local seismographs, but generally not felt,” the federal agency noted.A community intensity reports map supplied by Earthq
  • North Vancouver dad ticketed for letting underage son ride e-scooter

    North Vancouver dad ticketed for letting underage son ride e-scooter
    A North Vancouver dad is facing a $109 ticket for letting his underage son ride an e-scooter on a busy stretch of road.A B.C. Highway Patrol officer spotted a small e-scooter rider in heavy traffic on Marine Drive at Pemberton Avenue in North Vancouver on Aug. 4 around 7:15 p.m., according to a news release Wednesday (Aug. 19).
    Police say the rider was wearing shorts, a T-shirt, an oversized helmet and large shoes.
    The officer suspected the rider was underage and stopped him.
    Police learned the
  • Donations and volunteers needed for Nanaimo Fresh Start back-to-school charity drive

    Donations and volunteers needed for Nanaimo Fresh Start back-to-school charity drive
    The 12th annual Fresh Start back-to-school charity drive is in full swing in Nanaimo, and assistance is needed.
    Dave Lawrence, the owner of That 50s Barber Shop in downtown Nanaimo, is the organizer of the annual event that provides school kids from lower-income families with a free backpack, school supplies, clothes and even a free haircut in preparation for the upcoming school year.
    Approximately 300 students are assisted each year.
    This year’s Fresh Start will take place on Sept. 5, fro
  • Donations and volunteers needed for Fresh Start back-to-school charity drive

    Donations and volunteers needed for Fresh Start back-to-school charity drive
    The 12th annual Fresh Start back-to-school charity drive is in full swing in Nanaimo, and assistance is needed.
    Dave Lawrence, the owner of That 50s Barber Shop in downtown Nanaimo, is the organizer of the annual event that provides school kids from lower-income families with a free backpack, school supplies, clothes and even a free haircut in preparation for the upcoming school year.
    Approximately 300 students are assisted each year.
    This year’s Fresh Start will take place on Sept. 5, fro
  • Minimal growth overnight at Ainslie Creek fire in Fraser Canyon

    Minimal growth overnight at Ainslie Creek fire in Fraser Canyon
    Fire behaviour across the Brunswick Complex on Wednesday (Aug. 19) is expected to be similar to Tuesday (Aug. 18), according to the latest update from BC Wildfire Service (BCWS).
    BCWS primarily expects surface fire with the potential for intermittent crowning during peak burning hours.
    Temperatures on Wednesday could be slightly higher and winds from the southwest slightly lower, BCWS said. Higher winds and possible thunderstorms are expected later in the week.
    Both the Ainslie Creek and Brunswi
  • Arson charges laid against West Kelowna woman for Vernon fires

    Arson charges laid against West Kelowna woman for Vernon fires
    A woman has been arrested and charged in connection with two grass fires in Vernon’s Commonage earlier this month.
    Emergency crews were called to the first fire near Bench Row Road Aug. 4, at 1:23 p.m. Shortly after, a second fire was discovered in Carlson Park.
    Investigators believe the fires were human caused and intentionally set.On Aug. 14, a suspect was arrested and subsequently charged with several Criminal Code offences relating to both fires.
    Mariah Banning Baer, 33, of West Kelown
  • Dodgers win U11AA baseball provincial title

    Dodgers win U11AA baseball provincial title
    The Duncan 11UAA Dodgers are provincial champions after defeating the Oceanside Reds 8-5 in the final game of B.C. Baseball’s 11UAA tournament in Cranbrook on Aug. 2.
    “The boys played great,” said head coach Andrew Bell. “They put all their hard work together at the right time.”The Dodgers reached the championship game after a strong semifinal performance, beating Cloverdale 8-3. Oceanside advanced to the final after defeating North Shore 6-4 in the other semifinal.
  • ‘The weather conditions aren’t helping us much’: Bald Range in Summerland wildfire continues to grow west

    ‘The weather conditions aren’t helping us much’: Bald Range in Summerland wildfire continues to grow west
    Increased fire behaviour on the western flank continues to pose challenges for crews at the Bald Range wildfire west of Summerland.
    In BC Wildfire Service’s (BCWS) latest video update, released on Tuesday, Aug. 18, Incident Commander Hugh Murdoch said that changing weather conditions have made suppressing the blaze challenging.
    “The weather conditions aren’t helping us much at all,” said Murdoch. “We’re seeing a lot more active fire behaviour in a variety of l
  • ‘The weather conditions aren’t helping us much’: Bald Range in Summerland wildfire continues to grow northwest

    ‘The weather conditions aren’t helping us much’: Bald Range in Summerland wildfire continues to grow northwest
    Increased fire behaviour on the western flank continues to pose challenges for crews at the Bald Range wildfire west of Summerland.
    In BC Wildfire Service’s (BCWS) latest video update, released on Tuesday, Aug. 18, Incident Commander Hugh Murdoch said that changing weather conditions have made suppressing the blaze challenging.
    “The weather conditions aren’t helping us much at all,” said Murdoch. “We’re seeing a lot more active fire behaviour in a variety of l
  • Band, set to perform in Nanaimo, is embarking on first tour outside of its province

    Band, set to perform in Nanaimo, is embarking on first tour outside of its province
    Alternative rock group SHY FRiEND is taking on its first tour outside of its home province with a performance in Nanaimo.
    SHY FRiEND, from Calgary, is set to take the stage at the Globe Live Studio on Sunday, Aug. 23, alongside Chase The Bear and Crucified Uterus, as part of the Shy Till I Die tour, with performances beginning at 1 p.m.
    The band, according to frontperson Julie Olive, rhythm guitarist and singer for SHY FRiEND, embraces silliness, following the mantra, “To be cringe is to b
  • RCMP respond to report of man shooting .22 near Vancouver Island regional park

    RCMP respond to report of man shooting .22 near Vancouver Island regional park
    Oceanside RCMP were called out to a report of a man shooting a .22 calibre firearm in a trail network in the Whiskey Creek area in the evening of Aug. 12.
    A witness told police that the suspect, a white male in his 60s, fired a gun near the power lines close to the Whiskey Creek Forest Service Road and Little Qualicum River Regional Park, according to Sgt. Shane Worth.
    The suspect was associated with a dark grey sedan.
    Police officers responded to the area, but did not find anyone shooting a fir
  • RCMP sergeant details weapon search in Grand Forks manslaughter trial

    RCMP sergeant details weapon search in Grand Forks manslaughter trial
    An RCMP crime scene manager continued his testimony on Aug.18 in a Grand Forks area manslaughter case.
    The accused, 47-year-old Sean Tiessen, is claiming self-defence. He is facing one count of manslaughter in the death of Joshua Lockwood, 33, following an incident that took place at a home shared by the two and Lockwood’s girlfriend, Keera Roberts, at midnight on April 16, 2023.
    The trial began Aug. 10 in Rossland Supreme Court, with jury selection completed the following day.
    According t
  • Quilpituk Creek wildfire is reported under control: BCWS

    Quilpituk Creek wildfire is reported under control: BCWS
    The Quilpituk Creek wildfire is currently under control, according to BC Wildfire Service (BCWS).
    In its latest update, at 5:13 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 18, the 1,275.7-hectare fire is no longer projected to spread beyond the current perimeter.
    The fire that was discovered on Aug. 1 is believed to be human-caused.
    Earlier on Tuesday, BCWS changed the status from out-of-control to being held, which was attributed to the collaboration between wildfire crews, local fire departments, partners, aviation
  • VI Raiders drop 70-plus vs. Kamloops in BC conference football game

    VI Raiders drop 70-plus vs. Kamloops in BC conference football game
    The VI Raiders enjoyed their highest-scoring game in the Shawn Arabsky era with a 77-0 win over the Kamloops Broncos this weekend.
    At Saturday, Aug. 15’s game at Q’unq’inuqwstuxw Stadium in Nanaimo, the hometown Raiders dropped 33 points in the first quarter, 28 in the second and a combined 16 in the third and fourth. The 70-plus points dropped against the winless Broncos was the most points-for with Arabsky as Raiders’ head coach, he admitted to the News Bulletin.
    He was
  • B.C. disables employee directory, leaving public in the dark about who works for gov’t

    B.C. disables employee directory, leaving public in the dark about who works for gov’t
    The sudden removal of B.C.’s online government directory has left British Columbians with no way to find out who works for the province or how to contact them, despite those employees being paid with taxpayer dollars.
    The Citizens’ Services Ministry implemented the change without warning on Aug. 18, citing cybersecurity threats from phishing attempts. A spokesperson said the move was based on “proactive advice from law enforcement partners, including the RCMP.”
    B.C.&rsquo
  • Summerland Strong: B.C. looks to support wildfire evacuees

    Summerland Strong: B.C. looks to support wildfire evacuees
    An initiative to show up for Summerland following the devestating Bald Range wildfire is grabbing attention as well as a bottle of wine.
    Wine Growers British Columbia (WGBC), along with the BC Restaurants and Food Services Association (BCRFA), Alliance of Beverage Licenses (ABLE) and Summerland’s Bottleneck Drive Association, is encouraging restaurants, retailers and wine lovers from across the province to promote Summerland producers by featuring its wines using #SummerlandStrong.
    Jeff Gu

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