Nanaimo news

• Kurtis S. Jaswal

  05-08-2026 18:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  September 4, 1962 – July 20, 2026It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Kurtis S. Jaswal, who passed away on July 20, 2026, at the age of 63. Born on September 4, 1962, Kurtis lived a life defined by hard work, dedication, and a deep love for the forests he called home.
  Kurtis began his logging career at just 15 years old with McLeans Logging. Throughout the years, he worked for Dorman Logging, Trinity Logging, and many other logging companies. Logging was more than a car
  
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• UPDATE: Bradley Creek wildfire near Vernon being held

  09-08-2026 05:50 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  UPDATE (8:40 P.M.)
  The Bradley Creek Complex is now being held.
  BC Wildfire Service said the 2,634-hectare blaze, discovered on July 31, is expected to remain within its current perimeter.
  Earlier on Saturday, BCWS said forecasted winds from the night before did not materialize, “resulting in only a small increase in fire behaviour.”
  In its latest update, the provincial wildfire service said there were 12 helicopters and 138 firefighters assigned to the incident.
  UPDATE: 7:10 P.M.
  Th
  
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• Rourke’s return sparks B.C. Lions to 27-24 win over Hamilton Tiger-Cats

  09-08-2026 04:14 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Nathan Rourke’s return to the lineup was a winning one.
  The reigning CFL most outstanding player tossed for 370 yards and two touchdowns, leading the B.C. Lions to an exciting 27-24 win over the visiting Hamilton Tiger-Cats Saturday at BC Place.
  Zander Horvath had two TDs for B.C. (3-5), with Justin McInnis also recording a major. Kicker Sean Whyte added two field goals and three extra points.
  For the Ticats (3-6), quarterback Harrison Frost, making his first appearance of year, three for
  
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• Rourke’s return sparks B.C Lions to 27-24 win over Hamilton Tiger-Cats

  09-08-2026 04:14 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Nathan Rourke’s return to the lineup was a winning one.
  The reigning CFL most outstanding player tossed for 370 yards and two touchdowns, leading the B.C. Lions to an exciting 27-24 win over the visiting Hamilton Tiger-Cats Saturday at BC Place.
  Zander Horvath had two TDs for B.C. (3-5), with Justin McInnis also recording a major. Kicker Sean Whyte added two field goals and three extra points.
  For the Ticats (3-6), quarterback Harrison Frost, making his first appearance of year, three for
  
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• UPDATE: Power restored in parts of Summerland as crews continue to battle Bald Range wildfire

  09-08-2026 03:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  UPDATE (8:26 P.M.)
  Power has been restored in parts of Summerland, RDOS communications manager Erick Thompson said.
  District of Summerland staff noted that this does not signal re-entry to the community, “as conditions are still being evaluated.”
  There are a combined 6,000 properties on evacuation order across Summerland, Penticton Indian Band and the regional district, Thompson said. Another 2,000 properties are on evacuation alert, including in the West Bench and Sage Mesa areas ne
  
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• Surrey’s ‘Ugly Potato Day’ breaks Guinness World Record

  09-08-2026 02:17 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Surrey’s Ugly Potato Day by Odd Bunch has broken the Guinness World Record for the largest donation of fruits and vegetables for 24 hours by giving away 246,528.61 kg (543,501 lbs).Tyler Heppell started the event in 2022 with 12 people coming out to his family’s South Surrey farm to pick up free “ugly” produce that would otherwise be thrown away.From there, it has grown to over 30,000 people attending this year’s world-record-setting event at Cloverdale’s Agri
  
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• RCMP working to confirm fatality from Summerland wildfire

  09-08-2026 01:29 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Police are working to confirm a possible fatality from the massive Bald Range wildfire that tore through the Central Okanagan and forced the evacuation of the Summerland community Friday night.“Evacuations of entire neighbourhoods and communities were largely successful but not without challenges to areas cut off by the wildfire,” the Southeast District RCMP said in a media release Saturday afternoon, Aug. 8.“Southeast District RCMP is aware of one impacted resident from Meadow
  
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• UPDATE: Evacuation alerts expand as 9 helicopters respond to Summerland wildfire

  09-08-2026 00:37 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  UPDATE (6:30 P.M.)
  BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) says crews are working to assess impacts to critical infrastructure as the Bald Range wildfire continues to rage in Summerland.
  Firefighters are currently establishing “heavy equipment lines” on the south end of the blaze, between Shingle Creek Road and Big Valley Road.
  The fire remains 10,340 hectares in size.
  Ninety-nine structural protection personnel are on scene.
  Nine helicopters and 108 firefighters have also responded, along with 1
  
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• Penticton Peach Festival pivots, schedules fire relief concert

  09-08-2026 00:23 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  The Penticton Peach Festival is holding a concert Saturday night, Aug. 8, to raise funds for those impacted by the Bald Range wildfire.
  After cancelling all activities on Saturday at the festival, organizers are inviting people to the Penticton Lakeside Resort for Peach Fest Fire Relief, featuring Canadian pop artist Virginia to Vegas.
  Doors open at 7 p.m., with the show starting at 8 p.m. inside the venue’s east ballroom.
  Admission is by donation, with a minimum contribution of $10. A 50/
  
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• New 63-unit housing complex proposed for Nanaimo’s north end

  08-08-2026 23:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  A 63-unit housing complex is being proposed for a 1.03-hectare site located at 6060 Nelson Road, which is situated south of Hammond Bay Road between Turner and Rutherford roads.
  City of Nanaimo’s design advisory panel had no objections to the proposal at its meeting on July 23, but made 19 recommendations for improvements to the project.
  The property is currently forested, and a single-residential dwelling has recently been demolished.
  The surrounding neighbourhood is a mix of residential,
  
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• B.C. declares provincial state of emergency 1 day after wildfire evacuates Summerland

  08-08-2026 22:37 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  B.C. has declared a province-wide state of emergency in response to wildfires plaguing the province.
  Premier David Eby announced the declaration at a press conference at 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, following Friday night’s explosive wildfire event that forced an entire Okanagan community to flee for safety.
  The Bald Range wildfire is burning out of control, estimated at 9,500 hectares in size as of 1 p.m. Aug. 8. In a matter of hours, the wildfire rapidly encroached on Summerland and forced
  
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• New evacuation orders issued for Ainslie Creek wildfire near Merritt

  08-08-2026 22:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  More evacuation orders and alerts have been issued in response to the Ainslie Creek wildfire southwest of Merritt, which as of Saturday (Aug. 8) was estimated at 48,537 hectares.
  On Saturday, the Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD) issued an evacuation order for approximately 61 addressed properties on the fire’s northeastern flank in Electoral Area “N.” The order includes all addressed properties west of Spius Creek, including Petit Creek Road and Prospect Creek FSR.
  On F
  
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• LETTER TO THE EDITOR: One-stop shopping

  08-08-2026 22:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Re: Cannabis shop application receives few comments at public hearing, July 22
  To the editor,
  I was laid back in Powell River last week.While there, my friend took us to a private liquor store. I was smiling at the fact this little plaza had three stores in its block. The liquor store (with beer and wine) at one end, and a cannabis store at the other.
  No big controversy, just designed for convenience and a one-stop shopping experience. No driving all over town if you want both products.
  Neil Sau
  
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• ‘Rush of 10,000 people’ come into Penticton, flee fast-moving Bald Range wildfire

  08-08-2026 21:27 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Penticton Mayor Julius Bloomfield said he’s seen an “outpour of support” toward the thousands of Summerland evacuees who were ordered to leave their homes overnight due to the Bald Range wildfire.
  Residents have stepped up with donations of food, water, blankets, and bedding as evacuees stay inside both the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre (PTCC) and the Sportsplex dome at King’s Park.
  “Suddenly, we had the population of Summerland, which is roughly 25 per cent
  
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• BCHL to oversee Island hockey league under renewed deal

  08-08-2026 20:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  A partnership between two independent junior hockey leagues with Vancouver Island roots is set to enter a new phase.
  The British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) and Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League (VIJHL) have extended their partnership under an enhanced management agreement, with the BCHL office set to oversee VIJHL operations beginning with the 2027-28 season.
  The BCHL office will operate the VIJHL at the direction of the VIJHL board of governors and executive committee. The length of the
  
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• Penticton Peach Festival cancels all Saturday activities due to Bald Range fire

  08-08-2026 20:22 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Penticton Peach Festival organizers have cancelled all activities on Saturday (Aug. 8) amid the Bald Range wildfire that evacuated the entire community of Summerland overnight.
  The announcement comes after the festival’s annual parade did not proceed on Saturday morning.
  “We are currently facing an evolving situation with a level of uncertainty that is beyond our control,” event organizers said. “What remains firmly within our control is our commitment to putting the safe
  
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• Four fires burning near Clinton grow to nearly 200,000 hectares

  08-08-2026 20:04 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  The wildfires in and around the Big Bar complex near Clinton are still burning out of control, and as of Saturday morning (Aug. 8) cover an area of almost 200,000 hectares.
  The Pear Lake fire near Clinton is estimated at 136,485 hectares, while the Rim Lake fire between Loon Lake and Chasm is estimated at 4,795 hectares. The French Bar Creek fire around Big Bar is estimated at 39,044 hectares.
  The Bonanza Creek wildfire, burning to the west of the Pear Lake and French Bar Creek fires, is not cur
  
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• Late-game heroics see Nanaimo NightOwls take Game 1 of WCL North semifinal

  08-08-2026 19:40 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  The Nanaimo NightOwls delighted the home crowd with some tight playoff baseball, winning 3-2 and drawing first blood in their playoff series against the defending champion Bellingham Bells.
  The ‘Owls played their first-ever West Coast League playoff game at Serauxmen Stadium Friday, Aug. 7, hosting the Bells. Thanks to a hit from outfielder Nathan Widelski, in the bottom of the ninth inning with two outs, Jackson Rankin scored from third base to clinch Game 1 of the best-of-three North Div
  
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• UPDATE: Bald Range wildfire now 9,500 hectares as Summerland evacuees flee to Penticton

  08-08-2026 17:03 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  UPDATE (9:40 A.M.)
  The Bald Range wildfire has grown to 9,500 hectares in size.
  Central Okanagan Search and Rescue (COSAR) crews assisted Saturday morning in evacuating the entire community of Summerland. Thousands in the Peachland area are also under an evacuation order.
  In total, more than 20,000 people have been ordered to leave their homes.
  Evacuee reception centres are open in Penticton and West Kelowna:
  •Penticton Trade and Convention Centre, 273 Power Street;
  • 550 Eckhardt Aven
  
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• UPDATE: ‘Aggressive’ wildfire grows to 10,340 hectares in Summerland

  08-08-2026 17:03 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  UPDATE (3 P.M.)
  The Bald Range wildfire has grown to 10,340 hectares in size, BC Wildfire Service said.
  Additional firefighters, aircraft, and heavy equipment have been deployed to the fast-moving Bald Range wildfire, with Penticton-Summerland MLA Amelia Boultbee urging people to avoid all travel to the South Okanagan.
  “This fire continues to pose a significant risk,” Boultbee said. “Please follow the direction of Emergency Management BC — if you are told to evacuate, do
  
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• District of Summerland evacuated, Hwy 97 closed due to raging Bald Range wildfire

  08-08-2026 17:03 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  The entire District of Summerland remains under an evacuation order due to the Bald Range Wildfire.
  ​Several neighbourhoods in the District of Peachland are also under evacuation orders or alerts.
  ​The Central Okanagan Regional District is telling those in the area to leave immediately.
  “Failure to do so could result in injury and loss of life.”
  ​The Bald Range wildfire continues to burn out of control Saturday morning and is estimated at 5,000 hectares according to
  
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• COLUMN: Opioid crisis seems unending

  08-08-2026 14:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  It seems that the Nanaimo Fire Rescue scanner in the newsroom is constantly reporting overdoses around the city that emergency personnel have to respond to.
  The vast majority of the calls for service on the scanner each day involve overdoses, eclipsing calls regarding fires, vehicle accidents and other emergencies Nanaimo Fire Rescue has to deal with on a regular basis, and they are sometimes just minutes apart.
  More than 18,000 people have died in British Columbia from toxic drugs since the pub
  
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• Driving hazards in wildfire areas include smoke, debris

  08-08-2026 14:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Wildfires have closed numerous highways and roads throughout the Southern Interior, Cariboo, and Okanagan, and drivers are being warned that smoke, poor visibility, heat, and debris could make driving more dangerous on many roads.
  Avoiding unnecessary travel near wildfires is the safest bet, but if you have to drive, have a safety plan. That’s the advice from Road Safety at Work, with Program Director Trace Acres saying bluntly, “If you don’t need to drive through wildfire cond
  
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• COLUMN: What a Columbia Valley power outage taught me about preparedness

  08-08-2026 14:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Until last Sunday, Aug. 2, I’d never seriously considered packing spare food, cash, fuel or a satellite phone on road trips.
  That changed after I found myself among nearly 18,000 East Kootenay residents living between Golden and Canal Flats who had lost power due to wildfire-related damage to BC Hydro’s transmission systems.
  I set out the day before for Radium Hot Springs to explore Kootenay National Park. I’d never been south of Golden, making the experience full of excitement
  
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• UPDATE: Trout Creek added to Summerland evacuation orders for Bald Range wildfire

  08-08-2026 09:27 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  2:20 a.m.
  Evacuation orders have extended south of Summerland and now include Trout Creek.The Bald Range wildfire is spreading rapidly and threatening human life and safety.Everyone in the area should leave immediately.Highway 97 remains closed in both directions from 500 metres north of Hardy Street in Peachland south to the Pyramid Picnic Area in Kickininee Provincial Park.Evacuees should leave the area by travelling south toward Penticton.Evacuation orders have extended south of Summerland an
  
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• UPDATE: Peachland properties on evacuation order, Highway 97 closure extended

  08-08-2026 09:27 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Update: 2:02 a.m.
  An evacuation order has been expanded to properties on Brenda Mine Road and in the Renfrew and Upper Princeton areas. Residents on evacuation order should leave their properties immediately to keep safe.
  DriveBC has also extended the Highway 97 closure. It now stretches from 500metres north of Hardy Street in Peachland to the Pyramid Picnic Area in Kickininee Provincial Park.
  The following addresses are covered in the order:
  Aikens Road (all properties)
  875 Brenda Mines Road
  Bl
  
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• UPDATE: Part of Peachland on evacuation alert as Bald Range wildfire pushes north

  08-08-2026 09:27 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  3:45 a.m.
  A new evacuation alert has been issued for properties in Peachland for the Bald Range wildfire.The properties on alert are:4900 Brenda Mines Road
  5503 Glen Lake Forest Service Road
  6000 Sanderson Avenue
  Silver Lake Forest Service Road (All Properties)
  4421 – 4440 1st Street
  4402 – 4479 2nd Street
  4405 – 4478 3rd Street
  4416 – 4475 4th Street
  4411 – 4445 5th Street
  4445 – 4460 6th Street
  5810 – 5819 Arthur Street
  5803 – 5821 Atkinson Cresc
  
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• UPDATE: Highway 97 closed, Summerland evacuated from raging wildfire

  08-08-2026 09:27 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Update: 1:02 a.m.
  Highway 97 is closed in both directions through Summerland as the Bald Range wildfire continues to spread.The closure starts 500 metres north of Hardy Street in Peachland and extends south to Bentley Road in Summerland.Update: 12:57 a.m.
  The RCMP has closed the northbound lanes of Highway 97 coming into Summerland, according to reports.DriveBC has not provided an official update on the highways within the current wildfire impacted areas.
  Update: 12:24 a.m.
  All of Summerland in
  
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• UPDATE: Evacuation order issued for parts of Peachland due to Bald Range wildfire

  08-08-2026 09:27 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  UPDATE: 5:28 a.m.
  An evacuation order has been issued for the Upper Princeton and Renfrew neighbourhoods in Peachland due to the Bald Range wildfire.Central Okanagan Emergency Management is telling the residents to leave the designated area immediately.
  Failure to do so could result in injury and loss of life.
  This alert will remain in effect until further notice.The following addresses are covered in the order:
  Aikens Road (all properties)
  875 Brenda Mines Road
  Blacksmith Place (all properties)
  
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• UPDATE: All of Summerland ordered to evacuate as wildfire approaches Highway 97

  08-08-2026 09:27 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Update: 12:24 a.m.
  All of Summerland in its entirety is under evacuation order due to the Bald Range wildfire.Everyone must leave the area immediately. Members of the RCMP, Search and Rescue and BC Wildfire will be expediting this action.
  Highway 97 still appears open from Penticton to West Kelowna including Drought Hill. Highway 97C has no reported closures. DriveBC has not provided an update on the highways within the current wildfire impacted areas.
  What you should do:
  • Follow the evacu
  
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