Nanaimo news

• Nanaimo election results starting to come in

  16-10-2022 05:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  First polling stations reporting vote counts
  
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• Ukraine’s 35th Independence year brings War Up Close VR to Kelowna

  19-08-2026 22:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  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
  
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• Iris Anne Klein

  19-08-2026 21:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  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

  19-08-2026 20:52 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  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
  
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• Emergency minister says Vernon cadet camp ready to house wildfire evacuees

  19-08-2026 20:32 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  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
  
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• What’s On, Aug. 19

  19-08-2026 20:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  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
  
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• ‘A social club that masquerades as a flying club’: Central Saanich modelers take to the skies

  19-08-2026 19:50 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  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
  
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• Three pro-Khalistan activists in B.C. & Ontario receive ‘duty to warns’ from police

  19-08-2026 19:33 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  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
  
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• ‘Nothing could compare’: B.C. speed climber breaks 5-second barrier

  19-08-2026 19:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  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
  
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• Small earthquake hits the Okanagan

  19-08-2026 18:57 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  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
  
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• North Vancouver dad ticketed for letting underage son ride e-scooter

  19-08-2026 18:36 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  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
  
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• Donations and volunteers needed for Nanaimo Fresh Start back-to-school charity drive

  19-08-2026 18:27 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  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
  
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• Donations and volunteers needed for Fresh Start back-to-school charity drive

  19-08-2026 18:27 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  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
  
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• Minimal growth overnight at Ainslie Creek fire in Fraser Canyon

  19-08-2026 18:26 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  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
  
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• Arson charges laid against West Kelowna woman for Vernon fires

  19-08-2026 18:01 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  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
  
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• Dodgers win U11AA baseball provincial title

  19-08-2026 18:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  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.
  
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• ‘The weather conditions aren’t helping us much’: Bald Range in Summerland wildfire continues to grow west

  19-08-2026 14:34 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  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
  
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• ‘The weather conditions aren’t helping us much’: Bald Range in Summerland wildfire continues to grow northwest

  19-08-2026 14:34 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  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
  
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• Band, set to perform in Nanaimo, is embarking on first tour outside of its province

  19-08-2026 14:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  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
  
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• RCMP respond to report of man shooting .22 near Vancouver Island regional park

  19-08-2026 07:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  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
  
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• RCMP sergeant details weapon search in Grand Forks manslaughter trial

  19-08-2026 05:19 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  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
  
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• Quilpituk Creek wildfire is reported under control: BCWS

  19-08-2026 05:13 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  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
  
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• VI Raiders drop 70-plus vs. Kamloops in BC conference football game

  19-08-2026 02:01 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  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
  
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• B.C. disables employee directory, leaving public in the dark about who works for gov’t

  19-08-2026 01:01 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  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
  
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• Summerland Strong: B.C. looks to support wildfire evacuees

  19-08-2026 00:31 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  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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• ‘Grateful and blessed’: Island driver claims third straight win at B.C. race

  19-08-2026 00:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Victoria race car driver Bill Okell stood atop the podium at the British Columbia Historic Motor Races on Aug. 9, winning the MG Midget race at Mission Raceway Park for the third consecutive year.
  On race day, behind the wheel of his trusty MG Midget roadster, Okell qualified third for the 15-minute race. However, he got off to a rough start, dropping to seventh place early in the race.
  Adopting a Le Mans-style start, where racers run across the track to enter and start their parked cars, Okell
  
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• Evacuated residents begin to return home as B.C. wildfires ease

  18-08-2026 23:48 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  B.C. residents are beginning to be allowed back to their properties as wildfire evacuation orders are downgraded in several parts of the province, including Clinton and Summerland.
  But the true scale of devastation is still unknown, with the government releasing only preliminary numbers, such as that 150 “structures” have been lost in the Summerland area. This loose definition that does not make it clear how many homes have burned down.
  The local regional district was the first to pr
  
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• 3 Kelowna restaurants make OpenTable’s Top 100 outdoor dining list

  18-08-2026 22:59 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  There’s something about dining outdoors under the summer sun in the Okanagan, and OpenTable couldn’t agree more after listing three Kelowna restaurants on its Top 100 list for restaurants with outdoor dining.
  ​Home Block at Cedar Creek Estate Winery, Kin & Folk Kelowna, and Old Vines Restaurant made the list this year, finishing with a 4.8 and two 4.7 star ratings, respectively. Home Block received 420 votes, Old Vines Restaurant received 468 votes, while Kin & Folk Kel
  
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• Nanaimo RCMP looking for help from the public locating missing woman

  18-08-2026 22:39 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  The Nanaimo RCMP is requesting the public’s assistance in locating 27-year-old Midori Demetrioff who was last seen by family on June 28, 2026.
  She was reported missing to the Nanaimo RCMP on Aug. 10.
  Demetrioff was last seen in the vicinity of the Southgate Shopping Centre in south Nanaimo.
  Efforts to locate her, including numerous and extensive checks by local patrol officers, have been unsuccessful.
  Police and family are concerned for Demetrioff ‘s safety and her overall well-being
  
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• Postal service resumes in Clinton as Pear Lake fire holds at 160,315 hectares

  18-08-2026 21:11 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  As of Tuesday morning (Aug. 18), the Pear Lake wildfire near Clinton was estimated at 160,315 hectares and was still burning Out of Control.
  Residents of Clinton and the surrounding area have been informed that as of Wednesday (Aug. 19), the Clinton post office will reopen. Anyone who arranged to have their mail forwarded during the evacuation can cancel the arrangement using the conformation number they were given when they set up forwarding.
  Residents are asked to please be patient while emplo
  
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