Nanaimo news

• UPDATE: More Summerland residents can return home amid Bald Range wildfire

  18-08-2026 17:11 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  UPDATE 8 a.m.
  Some Summerland residents are getting the chance to go home on Tuesday morning.
  At 7 a.m. on Aug. 18, the District of Summerland said residents who reside in Summerland proper – West of Highway 97, up to and including a portion of Cartwright Avenue, a portion of Haddrell Avenue (south of Dale Meadows Road) – have had their evacuation order downgraded.
  However, the following properties are executed from the change and remain on evacuation order, meaning the resident can&
  
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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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• B.C. food bank delivers food, supplies to wildfire evacuees

  18-08-2026 21:07 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  St. Joseph’s Food Bank in Mission recently delivered 4,500 pounds of food and supplies to families affected by wildfires.
  The donation was made to the Sq’éwqel (Seabird Island Band) Emergency Support Services last week, with food bank staff bringing a van full of supplies to the wildfire reception centre last Friday (Aug. 14).
  On behalf of the First Nation and evacuees, Sq’éwqel extended gratitude to the Mission food bank on social media for their willingness to s
  
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• 229 impaired driving bans issued on B.C. highways so far this summer

  18-08-2026 19:53 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  B.C. Highway Patrol says its 2026 Summer Impaired Driving Campaign saw “significantly fewer” bans, but it wasn’t just because B.C. drivers were doing a better job of driving sober.
  Police issued 229 impaired driving prohibitions during the 2026 Summer Impaired Driving Campaign, which ran from June 15 to July 31. Eighteen of those bans were related to drugs.
  It’s “significantly less” than the 2025 campaign, in which 626 prohibitions were issued.
  But police say
  
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• Victoria rescue centre sends helicopter to pluck patient from cruise ship north of Tofino

  18-08-2026 19:37 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  A passenger airlifted from a cruise ship in the Salish Sea 52 nautical miles northwest of Tofino was taken to hospital in Greater Victoria.
  The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Victoria responded to a request for a medical evacuation of an ill passenger from cruise ship Ovation of the Seas on Sunday, Aug. 9, sending in a CH-149 Cormorant helicopter and a CC-295 Kingfisher airplane.The Cormorant and Kingfisher aircraft are the rescue centre’s primary means for aviation and marine search
  
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• Nanaimo mountain biker dusts self off after fall, wins Canadian championship

  18-08-2026 19:37 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  A mountain biker from Nanaimo took a spill at the Canadian championships, but that didn’t deter him from capturing a national title.
  Ryder Wilson, 18, took top spot in the expert men U19 division at Sun Peaks Resort, north of Kamloops, at the 2026 Canadian Downhill Mountain Bike Championships July 25-26.
  Wilson, also 2024 U17 expert champion, finished with a time of 4:41.33. He told the News Bulletin it was “cool” to be 2026 champion and as he “couldn’t quite execut
  
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• World-famous Parksville sand-sculpting exhibition draws nearly 120K visitors

  18-08-2026 19:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  The Quality Foods Sand Sculpting Exhibition welcomed 119,480 visitors in Parksville Community Park, which was on par with last summer, according to the Parksville Beach Festival Society.
  After five-and-a-half weeks of artistry, entertainment and community spirit, the 2026 Parksville Beach Festival is wrapping up at the Parksville Community Park.
  The world-class sculptures will soon be carefully dismantled, with the sand removed from the site and stored for future use, according to a news release
  
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• 27-year-old man dies after drowning incident at Vancouver Island waterfall

  18-08-2026 19:28 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  A 27-year-old man has died after a drowning incident at Goldstream Falls near the park’s campground.
  West Shore RCMP confirmed they responded to a report of a swimmer in distress at Goldstream Falls Monday evening (Aug. 17) around 7:30 p.m.
  According to police, the man had been swimming near the waterfall when he went under the water and did not resurface.
  “Bystanders pulled the man from the water and immediately began life-saving measures until police, BC Emergency Health Services a
  
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• THE MOJ: B.C. Lions make statement with big win over Calgary

  18-08-2026 19:24 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  LET’S MAKE A STATEMENT: B.C.’s 30-26 win in Calgary, coupled with the Saskatchewan Roughriders 26-19 loss in Hamilton, has suddenly tightened the standings in the CFL’s West Division. Edmonton is in first place with a 7-3 record with the Riders next at 6-3. Winnipeg is in third with a 5-4 mark followed by B.C. at 4-5 and Calgary at 4-6. A win by the Lions and they pull to within a game of the Riders while a loss puts them at three back with only eight games left to play. It&rsq
  
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• Area Restriction Order issued for Ainslie Creek wildfire, burning near Highway 1 in Fraser Canyon

  18-08-2026 19:12 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  While the historic Alexandra Lodge in the Fraser Canyon appears to have been spared from the Ainslie Creek wildfire, BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) reports that the fire has moved downslope towards Highway 1 south of the Alexandra Tunnel.
  Minimal growth was observed in other parts of the fire on Monday (Aug. 17). As of Tuesday morning the fire was estimated at 65,310 hectares.
  Improved visibility on Tuesday will allow for increased aviation support in areas of difficult terrain that are inaccessible
  
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• B.C. foster care student earns $85K in scholarships

  18-08-2026 18:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  For Madison-Lynn Perreault, getting accepted into UBC’s nursing program was only one milestone in a high school career filled with advocacy, volunteering and community work.This recent Surrey school graduate is heading to UBC in September after earning $85,000 in scholarships and bursaries, an achievement she hopes will inspire young people from foster care that post-secondary education is within reach.Perreault has had many obstacles growing up, but instead of viewing them negatively, she
  
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• Nearly 100 firefighters remain at Bradley Creek wildfire complex along Westside Road

  18-08-2026 15:01 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Despite both ‘being held’, BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) continues to have a large presence at the Bradley Creek and Quilpituk Creek wildfires.
  On Monday, BCWS had 90 firefighters, four helicopters, and 10 pieces of heavy equipment on scene between the two blazes.
  At this time, the Bradley Creek blaze still has one evacuation order issued by the Okanagan Indian Band (OKIB) and two evacuation alerts, one from OKIB and one from the Regional District of North Okanagan (RDNO).
  At the Quilpi
  
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• Wind could increase fire behaviour at Bald Range blaze close to Summerland

  18-08-2026 14:45 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  The Bald Range wildfire continues to burn, 11 days since it was discovered.
  The blaze, which stands at 21,391 hectares as of Tuesday morning (Aug. 18), continues to experience the most fire activity on the northwestern flank.
  In its update on Monday night, the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) and the District of Summerland confirmed that 150 structures have been destroyed or damaged by the blaze.
  “That is both Area F and also Summerland proper,” said Statt. “Bas
  
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• Nomination period begins soon for Nanaimo’s municipal election

  18-08-2026 14:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Election time in Nanaimo is getting closer, and the municipality is reminding residents that anyone thinking of running for a seat on council or the mayor’s position that the nomination period for the city’s municipal election begins on Sept. 1 at 9 a.m., and ends on Sept. 11.
  Those intending to run as candidates are encouraged to file nomination documents with the chief election officer, or designate, at the Legislative Services Office at City Hall, located at 455 Wallace St.
  To fil
  
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• UPDATE: 4 people, pets safely airlifted from Johnson Creek wildfire as evacuation order continues near Beaton

  18-08-2026 09:57 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Four people and two pets have been evacuated by helicopter from the Johnson Creek wildfire as properties near the rural community of Beaton remain on evacuation order along the Incomappleux Forest Service Road (FSR) and Fish River Road.
  The City of Revelstoke issued the order at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15, on behalf of the Columbia Shuswap Regional District’s Area B, and on the advice of BC Wildfire Service (BCWS).
  Three Incomappleux FSR properties (3211, 3227 and 3730) and two Fish River Ro
  
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• PHOTOS: Coombs Rodeo event a sold-out affair for 2026

  18-08-2026 06:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  The 10th annual Vancouver Island Western Heritage Association Bulls, Broncs & Barrels event was a sold-out show for 2026 at the Coombs Rodeo Grounds.
  Known as the “biggest little Western event on Vancouver Island,” it featured ladies barrel racing and breakaway roping, bull riding, bareback bronc riding, saddle bronc riding and junior steer riding. There was also an exhibition staged by Veronica Archer, who impressed the crowd with his trick riding performances.
  There were also a
  
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• UPDATE: Around 150 structures damaged or destroyed in Bald Range Wildfire

  18-08-2026 03:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  UPDATE: (6:30 p.m.)
  The first updates on damage from the Bald Range wildfire have been released by the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen and District of Summerland.Summerland CAO Graham Statt shared during the nightly RDOS live update that about 150 structures had been damaged or destroyed by the wildfire.“That is both Area F and also Summerland proper,” said Statt. “Based on the data I’ve seen so far, approximately 40 structures damaged or destroyed in Summerland
  
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• E-cigarette maker JUUL Labs appeals B.C. court’s class action certification

  18-08-2026 02:15 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  E-cigarette maker JUUL Labs and tobacco conglomerate Altria Group, owner of Philip Morris USA, are appealing the B.C. Supreme Court’s certification of a class action lawsuit alleging the companies deceptively marketed e-cigarettes as a safe alternative to smoking.
  The case was brought by representative plaintiffs Owen Mann-Campbell and Robert Osborn in 2019, one year after e-cigarettes became legal in Canada.
  The pair claim JUUL and Altria are liable for negligence, unjust enrichment, brea
  
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• Interior Wildlife Rehabilitation Society in Summerland burnt down due to wildfire

  18-08-2026 00:27 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  When the Bald Range Wildfire swiftly approached Interior Wildlife Rehabilitation Society (IWRS) in Summerland, Eva Hartmann gathered all the animals and evacuated.
  Hartmann and Jonathan Laumer, co-founders of IWRS, shared the daunting experience on Facebook.
  “When we could feel the heat and hear the forest ablaze while ashes were raining from the skies, there was no time to pack anything besides the animals and ourselves.”
  “On our security cameras we could only watch the entire
  
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• B.C. student cycles 270 km, raises $7.7K for wildfire evacuees

  17-08-2026 23:07 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  The recent wildfires in the Okanagan inspired a Lake Country resident currently living two provinces over to help evacuees from a distance.Since July 31, the Bradley Creek, Quilpituk Creek, and Bald Range fires combined have burned more than 25,000 hectares, with the majority burned at Bald Range.
  Seeing the devastation from the fires reminded Lake Country resident and UBC Okanagan (UBCO) student Ains Reid of being on evacuation alert due to the McDougall Creek wildfire complex in 2023.
  “W
  
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• Use of ATV in Okanagan backcountry reignites concerns over encampments amid fire risk

  17-08-2026 21:19 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  An instance of someone driving an ATV on back country roads in the Okanagan has sparked fear of wildfires setting the backcountry ablaze.
  On Sunday night, Aug. 11, a trail camera set up by the Okanagan Forest Task Force (OFTF) captured an ATV travelling down Postill Lake Road around three to four kilometres from the road’s start. Normally, this wouldn’t be a problem, but the B.C. government has prohibited the use of off-road vehicles on Crown land until Oct. 9, as dry conditions are
  
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• Racers hit the street at 5th annual Hub City Soapbox Derby

  17-08-2026 21:06 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  From Castaway-log racers, to donuts made of foam, this year’s Hub City Soapbox Derby brought the best of the fast and fashionable to the street.
  On Saturday, Aug. 15, 40 youth in the stock division and 15 adults and businesses raced down Wall Street, each entry raising money for Nanaimo Child Development Centre.
  Among them was nine-year-old Oliver Kullman, of the Super O team, who raised $412.50 for the Nanaimo CDC, with the help of his mom, by running a lemonade stand over four days betwe
  
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• Un-baa-lievable: Lamb fleeing Summerland wildfire rescued by firefighters

  17-08-2026 21:03 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  A lamb trying to escape the flames from the Summerland wildfire hitched a ride with a member of the B.C. Conservation Officer Service.
  The Conservation Officer Service posted the rescue story on Facebook.
  “Firefighters working in the area rescued a domestic lamb and turned it over to a member of the B.C. Conservation Officer Service,” reads the post.
  “The unusual passenger even spent part of the trip in the truck’s prisoner seat, making for a memorable photo and a positiv
  
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• 32 orphaned raccoons prepare for the wild at B.C. rehab centre

  17-08-2026 21:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  They are being bottle-fed, tucked into incubators, given stuffed animals and challenged to find hidden food, all in preparation for one goal: getting back into the wild.
  The BC SPCA Wild Animal Rehabilitation Centre (Wild ARC) in Metchosin is currently caring for 32 young raccoons.
  Most arrived alone or with siblings after their parents were killed by human-related incidents like vehicle strikes. Some also had treatable eye issues, while a few suffered minor injuries following dog attacks.
  The r
  
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• Environment Canada rolls out new alert system for thunderstorms, tornadoes

  17-08-2026 20:44 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Environment Canada says its new weather alert system will help to better target notifications to a more precise location.
  Forecasters are now using a “polygon” system for thunderstorm and tornado warnings to trigger alert notifications to people along the weather system’s route.
  It was rolled out Aug. 11.
  That same day, Alberta was the first to receive one of these new targeted alerts, Jonathan Bau, senior meteorologist with Environment Canada, told Black Press Media.
  Environme
  
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• Firefighter hurt battling blaze in historic Vancouver Island building

  17-08-2026 20:35 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  A building containing Cumberland’s Dodge City Cycles and the Riding Fool Hostel has been damaged in a late-night fire on Aug. 16.
  Cumberland’s Fire Chief Mike Williamson said the fire in the historic building started small in the bike shop section but quickly grew.
  “The interior is totally damaged but the structure is still standing and safe but everything inside it, the contents are pretty much destroyed,” he said.
  Williamson said one firefighter was injured during the i
  
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• 2026 GENERAL LOCAL ELECTION

  17-08-2026 20:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN AS FOLLOWS FOR: ADVANCE ELECTOR REGISTRATION
  On Saturday, October 17, 2026, a general local election will be held where City of Nanaimo electors will elect a Mayor and 8 Councillors.
  Are you eligible to vote in the General Local Election for Mayor and Councillor?
  Is your name on the current voters list?
  Resident Electors – The City of Nanaimo uses the Provincial Voters List as its register of resident electors. To ensure your name is included on that voters li
  
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• Author casts net to solve B.C. 56-year ‘Free Willy’ orca mystery

  17-08-2026 20:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  The plot of the ’90s feel-good movie Free Willy, about a young boy who helps a captive orca escape back into the wild, might sound far-fetched; but as the saying goes, truth is sometimes stranger than fiction.
  Greater Victoria has its own ‘Free Willy’ tale — a coastal mystery shrouded in the fog for more than five decades.
  In 1970, five killer whales were captured in Metchosin’s Pedder Bay. Months later, two of them escaped, their getaway made possible by a person &
  
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