Nanaimo news

• LIVE – Nanaimo provincial election

  25-10-2026 04:38 via Nanaimo News Bulletin
  
  Welcome to the Nanaimo News Bulletin live results for the Nanaimo provincial election. All updates will be posted here as they appear.View this post on InstagramA post shared by Karl Yu (@karlyubulletin)
  I am live at Mark MacDonald’s and Kelsey Pringle’s campaign parties at Jingle Pot Pub. #bcpoli https://t.co/HDX8hbkplX
  — Misha Mustaqeem (@MishaMustaqeem) October 25, 2026
  
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• ‘Clearly a mistake’: Candidates, experts reflect on snap election call

  27-10-2026 00:57 via Nanaimo News Bulletin
  
  As the dust settles on the 2026 snap B.C. election, the Conservative Party is poised to take two-thirds of the legislative seats, and the NDP is looking for a new leader.
  Ravi Parmar, who eked out a third victory for the NDP in Langford-Highlands, says voters “sent a message” that the snap election was the “wrong decision.”
  “It was clearly a mistake. No question,” Parmar said in a Monday morning interview. “We spent the entire election campaign answering the question, ‘ Why did
  
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• PHOTOS: Island zombie walk rises from the dead ahead of Halloween

  26-10-2026 23:00 via Nanaimo News Bulletin
  
  A little over 20 years ago, a strange sight began appearing in downtown Victoria. Blood-smeared faces, lurching bodies and grunting noises filled Centennial Square as Halloween drew near.
  This year, a few dozen zombies and macabre creatures rose from the dead once again, gathering at the same spot they have for the past two decades before taking to the capital’s streets on the afternoon of Oct. 25.
  Commonly known as zombie walks, the first event of its kind took place in Milwaukee in August 20
  
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• Fake campaign signs pop up in B.C. riding on election eve

  26-10-2026 22:44 via Nanaimo News Bulletin
  
  Who would bother to make fake election campaign signs and put them up without a candidate’s consent?
  Tim Binnema sure wants to know.
  Green Party candidate in Surrey-Fleetwood, Binnema says someone put up hundreds of unauthorized signs with his name and photo last Friday (Oct. 23), a day before final voting in the B.C. election.
  “It’s somewhere between 100 and 200 (signs), I would say,” Binnema estimated Saturday. “It was shocking, to be tell you the truth. When I turned around the corn
  
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• Nanaimo RCMP seek help identifying man involved in alleged jewelry theft attempt

  26-10-2026 22:41 via Nanaimo News Bulletin
  
  Nanaimo RCMP is asking for the public’s assistance to identify a man alleged to have been involved in an attempted theft of jewelry from a north Nanaimo business.
  The incident occurred shortly before 1 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 23, at Costco, located at 6700 Island Highway North.
  Police were notified that the man allegedly attempted to force open a glass jewelry display case using an unknown tool.
  Surveillance footage shows the man examining the display before attempting to pry open the case.
  An al
  
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• B.C. North Coast LNG project draws nearer to final investment decision

  26-10-2026 22:08 via Nanaimo News Bulletin
  
  A floating LNG liquefaction facility proposed for north of Prince Rupert has now secured binding contracts for more than half its planned production.On Oct. 26, Ksi Lisims LNG announced it had converted its May 2026 heads of agreement to a binding sale and purchase agreement (SPA) with Securing Energy for Europe (SEFE), a state-owned German energy company. Under the agreement, SEFE would purchase one million tonnes of LNG per annum (mtpa) over 20 years.
  This brings Ksi Lisims completed binding S
  
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• B.C. election outcome does not reflect popular vote

  26-10-2026 21:51 via Nanaimo News Bulletin
  The British Columbia provincial election on Oct. 24 gave the Conservatives a majority government, winning 64 of 93 seats in the legislature, with the New Democratic Party winning 27 seats and the BC Greens winning two.
  However, the voter statistics told a different story: fewer than half of voters marked their ballots for a Conservative.
  A total of 48.1 per cent of voters cast ballots for the Conservatives, while 37.4 per cent voted for a BC NDP candidate and 11 per cent supported a BC Green can
  
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• Court orders Penticton unhoused encampment be cleared

  26-10-2026 21:40 via Nanaimo News Bulletin
  
  Around two years after it was established, the encampment of unhoused individuals off Highway 97 in Penticton has been ordered to be cleared by a B.C. Justice.In her oral reasons for judgement, Justice Briana Hardwick issued an injunction barring the occupation of the road dedication that had been transformed into an impromptu fenced community of tents and temporary structures, with it coming into effect at noon on Oct. 30.
  The injunction requires all of the temporary structures to be cleared, a
  
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• BC Ferries CEO replaced amid review of services

  26-10-2026 21:40 via Nanaimo News Bulletin
  
  BC Ferries’ CEO Nicolas Jimenez has moved on for unspecified reasons, and BC Ferries’ board says it initiated a leadership transition and launched a revitalization review.
  According to BC Ferries, Brian Anderson, vice president of strategy and planning, has been appointed as the interim CEO, while Dallyn Willis, executive vice president and chief financial officer, assumes responsibility for strategy and planning and leads the revitalization review with oversight from the board.
  “The ferry
  
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• BC NDP candidate pulls ahead by 13 votes after results corrected in Ladysmith-Oceanside riding

  26-10-2026 21:29 via Nanaimo News Bulletin
  
  BC NDP candidate Stephanie Higginson has pulled ahead in the Ladysmith-Oceanside riding, after preliminary results of the provincial election were corrected.
  Higginson now sits at 13,380 (44.37 per cent), 13 votes ahead of Kris McNichol of the BC Conservative Party’s 13,367 votes (44.33 per cent).
  Charlene Smylie of the BC Green Party sits in third place with 3,365 votes (11.16 per cent).
  Elections BC noted Monday that results reported on election night are preliminary and subject to change as
  
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• B.C. NDP candidate pulls ahead by 13 votes after results corrected in Ladysmith-Oceanside riding

  26-10-2026 21:29 via Nanaimo News Bulletin
  
  BC NDP candidate Stephanie Higginson has pulled ahead in the Ladysmith-Oceanside riding, after preliminary results of the provincial election were corrected.
  Higginson now sits at 13,380 (44.37 per cent), 13 votes ahead of Kris McNichol of the BC Conservative Party’s 13,367 votes (44.33 per cent).
  Charlene Smylie of the BC Green Party sits in third place with 3,365 votes (11.16 per cent).
  Elections BC noted Monday that results reported on election night are preliminary and subject to change as
  
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• Tips to keep pets and wildlife safe this Halloween

  26-10-2026 19:11 via Nanaimo News Bulletin
  
  Halloween is a fun time for many people, but it can present plenty of hazards for animals, both domestic and wild.
  Loud noises such as doorbells ringing, unexpected visitors and open doors, fireworks, exposure to potential toxins, and discarded candy wrappers are all things that can make animals anxious or present health threats. It often leads to fear and unpredictable behaviour for animal companions and wildlife.
  Planning ahead of Halloween and the holiday season gives pets a better chance at
  
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• Toxic drug crisis weighed in Nanaimo municipal election results, says political analyst

  26-10-2026 13:30 via Nanaimo News Bulletin
  
  Opioid overdoses and related street disorder factored into the recent City of Nanaimo municipal election results, says a Vancouver Island University political science professor.
  The city declared results earlier this week, confirming Leonard Krog received 10,368 votes to earn the mayorship, with Sarah Lovegrove, a first-time candidate, in second with 8,461. Ben Geselbracht, Paul Manly, Hilary Eastmure, Sheryl Armstrong, Andréa Coutu, Erin Hemmens, Marnie Boers and Ian Thorpe were elected as cou
  
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• ‘Me against me’: Islander running 24 hours for men’s health

  26-10-2026 13:30 via Nanaimo News Bulletin
  
  A kayaking guide who paddled 24 hours straight for charity last year is getting ready to take on another gruelling, day-long challenge.
  On Nov. 7, 22-year-old Ethan Reid plans to run around the clock to raise money for Movember – an annual donation drive supporting men with projects centred around suicide prevention and mental health.
  “I’m raising funds and bringing awareness to men’s health this month for all the men in and out of my life,” Reid wrote on his fundraising page. “I mys
  
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• From rodeo rider to premier-elect: Meet ‘unknown’ BC Conservative leader Lorne Doerkson

  26-10-2026 13:00 via Nanaimo News Bulletin
  
  British Columbians who didn’t stay up for the provincial election results on Saturday, Oct. 24, woke up on Sunday morning to find that the province has a new premier-in-waiting: Lorne Doerkson of the BC Conservatives, whose party swept into power for the first time since 1933.
  Few (if any) people still living will remember that last provincial Conservative government, but many will be asking themselves who Lorne Doerkson is. First elected provincially in the Cariboo-Chilcotin riding in 2020, a
  
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• Drivers beware: police warn about ghosts on B.C. roads

  26-10-2026 13:00 via Nanaimo News Bulletin
  
  In the run-up to Halloween, BC Highway Patrol (BCHP) is warning drivers that there are ghosts on B.C.’s highways.
  They’re not talking about spooks and spectres, but about ghost cars. Also known as ghost cruisers, they’re unmarked police vehicles with fewer obvious emergency lights and markings than regular cruisers, but are otherwise fully functional police vehicles. Two recent excessive speed impounds were a direct outcome of using ghost cruisers to enforce safe driving near Prince George
  
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• Boos for Hughes: Wild win 4-2 as ex-Canucks captain jeered in return to Vancouver

  26-10-2026 05:42 via Nanaimo News Bulletin
  
  Amid a steady chorus of boos, Quinn Hughes had a goal and an assist, lifting the visiting Minnesota Wild to a 4-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks in NHL action Sunday at Rogers Arena in Vancouver.
  Hughes, the superstar defenceman and former Canucks captain, was returning to Vancouver for the first time since being acquired by Minnesota on Dec. 12, 2025. He was loudly jeered every time he touched the puck, along with various derogatory chants during the game. A tribute video during a break seven m
  
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• THORPE REPORT: High school student athletes celebrated

  26-10-2026 05:00 via Nanaimo News Bulletin
  
  With our municipal election out of the way, the “Thorpe Report” is settling back into its normal routine, set to appear on the first and third Wednesdays of each month.
  Today we play catch-up. Local students are well into their new school year and also into another year of extra-curricular activities. That said, let’s look back to give belated recognition to secondary school students who earned top athlete awards at the end of last school year…
  Working from north to south, we’ll start
  
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• 2026 B.C. election sees record low turnout as Conservatives win majority

  25-10-2026 22:35 via Nanaimo News Bulletin
  
  A large number of British Columbians opted out of the democratic process in the 2026 provincial election, according to preliminary results.
  The elections, which resulted in a landslide victory for the BC Conservatives on Oct. 24, saw the lowest turnout in the province’s history, with only 48.1 per cent of registered voters casting their ballots with 99.75 per cent of boxes reporting. The result marks an over 10 per cent decrease in voter turnout percentage compared to the 2024 provincial elect
  
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• B.C. premier-designate Doerkson urges unity and promises swift action after decisive victory

  25-10-2026 20:31 via Nanaimo News Bulletin
  
  B.C. Conservative Leader Lorne Doerkson pitched unity and quick action in his first media appearance as premier-designate just 12 hours after a sweeping electoral victory.
  “To the British Columbians who voted for another party yesterday, I heard you,” he said. “Starting today, I am your premier as much as anyone else’s. You will have a government that listens to you, works for you, and respects you, however you marked your ballot.”
  Because he was appointed to lead his party just two da
  
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• B.C. premier-designate Doerkson addresses media after Conservative majority win

  25-10-2026 20:31 via Nanaimo News Bulletin
  
  After making political history in B.C., Conservative interim Leader Lorne Doerkson is set to become the next premier after the party took the 2026 provincial election in a projected majority.
  And, just over 12 hours after taking the stage as elected premier-designate, Doerkson addressed the media in Vancouver.
  “Today I’m your premier,” Doerkson said. “No matter how you marked your ballot.”
  Doerkson is also being sent back to Victoria for the third time by the voters of his Cariboo Chil
  
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• Former astronaut on space and politics in Ukraine

  25-10-2026 19:30 via Nanaimo News Bulletin
  
  Travelling thousands of miles is old hat for retired astronaut Terry Virts, so his recent 6,000 mile trip to the Ukraine from Texas wasn’t a record-breaker. The goal of this two-week trip was totally different, however.
  Virts, a retired colonel with the U.S. armed forces, was part of a team of volunteers that delivered more than 60 ambulances, emergency vehicles and small buses to the defence forces in Ukraine fighting the Russian invasion.
  Virts’s other trips have involved two expeditions i
  
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• Explore winemaker Yeung’s 2025 releases

  25-10-2026 19:12 via Nanaimo News Bulletin
  
  Winemaker Karen Yeung has put her stamp on the wines of Adega on 45th Estate Winery. We can explore the influence Karen is having on the 2025 releases, while we harken back to Adega’s founders, the Nunes and Farinha families and their earlier vintage Portuguese style red wines.Naramata Bench grown, the Adega 2025 Chardonnay is lightly oaked, dry and crisp. Hand picked and gently pressed; it highlights aromas and flavours of Okanagan stone fruits, spice and sage. We enjoyed it on a cool rainy d
  
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• Young grizzly spotted near Zeballos

  25-10-2026 18:06 via Nanaimo News Bulletin
  
  A juvenile grizzly bear was spotted dashing across the Zeballos Logging Road on northern Vancouver Island, B.C. at the end of September.Ehattesaht-Chinehkint councillor Ernie Smith saw the young brown bear with a large hump on its back about six of seven kilometres down the logging road off Highway 19.
  “We were driving home and all of sudden this grizzly bear ran across the road in front of us. We got a quick little video of it, but it was really fast. The grizzly bear ran into the bush. It wa
  
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• Business Notes: Trendy Kids opens third location

  25-10-2026 13:30 via Nanaimo News Bulletin
  
  Trendy Kids, a children’s boutique and apparel store, has opened its third location on Vancouver Island in North Nanaimo Town Centre.
  Trendy Kids has another location in Nanaimo at 6324 Metral Drive, across from the Superstore, which opened last year, and a third location at 145 W 2nd Ave. in Qualicum Beach.
  Owner Jeff Ross, who also opened a new toy store called Kidz Toys just down the hallway from Trendy Kids in Nanaimo North Town Centre earlier this year, said Trendy Kids is popular with pa
  
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• David Eby steps down as B.C. NDP leader after party loses election

  25-10-2026 07:38 via Nanaimo News Bulletin
  
  David Eby has conceded the 2026 B.C. election and stepped down as B.C. NDP leader.
  “This is obviously something I do with a heavy heart,” he told supporters gathered in downtown Vancouver on Saturday night. “But it is time for new leadership within our party.”
  Eby called the snap election on Sept. 22 as the opposition Conservative Party appeared to be in disarray. Former Conservative leader Kerry-Lynne Findaly had stepped down just two days earlier amid a caucus uprising, and the party a
  
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• Nanaimo provincial election ridings remain NDP, province goes Conservative

  25-10-2026 07:19 via Nanaimo News Bulletin
  
  While the B.C. NDP has reclaimed both the Nanaimo-Lantzville and Nanaimo-Gabriola Island ridings, its candidates will serve under a different political environment.
  Based on preliminary numbers for Nanaimo-Lantzville, George Anderson will reclaim his seat at the B.C. legislature garnering 11,563 votes over the B.C. Conservatives’ Kelsey Pringle who received 10,697 – 866 more votes.
  For Nanaimo-Gabriola Island, Sheila Malcolmson was re-elected, garnering 11,077 votes over the B.C. Conservativ
  
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• Langley-Walnut Grove stays Conservative in B.C. election

  25-10-2026 07:18 via Nanaimo News Bulletin
  
  Incumbent Conservative MLA Misty Van Popta held her riding again, and will now be heading to Victoria as part of the governing party.
  With all the election day ballots reporting and three of four advance ballot boxes counted, Van Popta was ahead with 7,552 votes, or 55.44 per cent of the total cast. Holly Isaac of the NDP received 4,362 votes, or 32.02 per cent.
  Green Party’s Sam Meyer received 1,107 votes for 8.13 per cent, and Kyle Stevenson of CentreBC took 586 votes, or 4.3 per cent.
  The p
  
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• Conservatives win in Langley-Willowbrook

  25-10-2026 07:13 via Nanaimo News Bulletin
  
  B.C. Conservative incumbent Jody Toor held her position as MLA for Langley-Willowbrook on Saturday, as her party took enough seats to easily form a majority government.
  The incumbent MLA held off Andrew Mercier, who had held the seat from 2020 to 2024 for the NDP.
  “I’m feeling fantastic,” Toor said after it became clear that she was well ahead, as was her party.
  “This is overwhelming,” Toor said. “People are ready for a change.”
  She said her priority, one she’s worked towards whi
  
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• ‘This is a big blue wave’: Conservative Gavin Dew re-elected in Kelowna-Mission riding

  25-10-2026 07:02 via Nanaimo News Bulletin
  
  Incumbent MLA Gavin Dew has been re-elected in Kelowna-Mission, representing the Conservative Party in the 2026 B.C. Provincial Election.
  ​It was a landslide victory for the Conservative Party on Saturday, Oct. 24, over one million British Columbians went to the polls and ultimately voted for the Conservatives after nine years of an NDP government.
  ​Dew, who was initially voted in as an MLA for Kelowna-Mission in 2024, tells Black Press Media he is ready to advocate for change with a majorit
  
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