Nanaimo news

• Your garden doesn’t like the wildfires, either. Here’s how to help plants handle smoke and ash

  14-06-2023 20:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  
  Smoke from hundreds of wildfires burning in Canada drove down air quality across swaths of the Eastern U.S. this week, a problem all too familiar in many Western states. In the New York City suburbs where I live, the air became smoggy and orange, categorized for a time by monitoring agencies as “hazardous.”
  
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• ‘Undue risk’ to society: Vancouver Island teen’s killer again denied parole

  06-01-2026 02:03 via nanaimobulletin.com
  Warning: this story contains details of violence and sexual assault
  One of the two men convicted of killing Langford teenager Kimberly Proctor in 2010 has again been denied parole.
  Turning down his application for full parole, the Parole Board of Canada said 31-year-old Kruse Wellwood still presents an “undue risk” to society if released.
  Echoing a decision made only a few months earlier in September, when Wellwood’s application for day parole was refused, the parole board cite
  
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• Memorial service planned for architect who imagined Nanaimo’s waterfront

  06-01-2026 01:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  A well-known architect will be remembered for the way he helped build Nanaimo into the city it has become.
  A memorial service will be held this coming weekend for Ian Niamath, who died of cancer in October at age 82.
  Niamath is best known for his legacy of architectural work that changed the look of Nanaimo’s waterfront. He designed Sway’ A’ Lana Lagoon, as well as Pioneer Waterfront Plaza and its boardwalk commercial component, parkade, public areas, and connections to the boa
  
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• B.C. Court of Appeals dismisses challenge to short-term rental rules

  06-01-2026 01:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  A group challenging the province’s short-term rental restrictions lost its appeal in B.C. court on Dec. 30, with a three-judge panel upholding a lower court’s finding that the case was brought prematurely and constituted an “abuse of process.”
  A B.C. Supreme Court judge initially found that the suit was speculative because it was filed weeks before the law actually took effect on May 1, 2024.
  All three appellate justices agreed that the case did not qualify for judicial r
  
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• Agassiz woman who said Jesus is her lawyer deemed fit to stand trial

  06-01-2026 00:01 via nanaimobulletin.com
  An Agassiz woman who claimed the only authority over her is God was judged competent to stand trial for reckless discharge of a firearm.
  According to recently released court documents, Denise Angela Norris was charged on June 19 in Agassiz. The Crown submitted that Norris was unfit to stand trial based on a diagnosis of “unspecified psychosis with religious delusions.”
  “Specifically, the Crown argues that due to her religious delusions, Ms. Norris does not recognize the authori
  
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• THE MOJ: Don’t kid yourself, the Canucks’ second half will be all about culture

  05-01-2026 23:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  Culture. You often hear that word when a discussion is focused on a team’s success or lack thereof.
  But what is it?
  Most have their own definition of it when it is applied to sports teams. Yes, there will be various ways to describe what it means exactly but at its core culture does have some basic tenets that transcend across any definition.
  It’s a word that you are going to hear a lot more of with the Vancouver Canucks as they begin their ‘hybrid’ rebuild.
  Chatting with
  
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• Allan Dudeck

  05-01-2026 22:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  May 29, 1963 – December 5, 2025
  With heavy hearts, we announce the sudden passing of our beloved son, brother, uncle and friend – Allan Dudeck, surrounded by stories, laughter, tears and lots of love on Friday December 5th, 2025
  There will be a memorial service on January 17th at 2:00 p.m. – St. Paul’s Church Hall – 29 Church St. Nanaimo, BC
  Tributes link: www.arbormemorial.ca/en/sands-colwood/obituaries/allan-dudeck/152511
  
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• Complaint dismissed against Vancouver Island store’s COVID-era mask restrictions

  05-01-2026 21:40 via nanaimobulletin.com
  A woman who filed a human rights complaint against a Sooke grocery store for denying her entry due to COVID-era mask mandates has been dismissed by the B.C. Human Rights tribunal.
  In April 2021, Sun Chun Lau entered Village Food Market without wearing a mask despite the store’s policy that customers not wearing masks would be asked to wear one, and if they refused, they would be asked to leave.
  The assistant manager at the time spoke to Lau and gave her a limited amount of time to complete
  
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• Police call for hold and secure at Nanaimo high school

  05-01-2026 21:15 via nanaimobulletin.com
  An incident in the vicinity of the Nanaimo and District Secondary School triggered a hold and secure action.
  According to an RCMP press release, police recommended the action at about 9:15 a.m. Monday, Jan. 5, to senior school district administration to ensure the safety of students and staff.
  Nanaimo RCMP, which would not comment on the nature of the alleged threat, responded to the unspecified incident and reported that by 10:15 a.m. the situation had been resolved and the hold and secure was
  
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• Summerland pug vies for top dog honours at Westminster Kennel show

  05-01-2026 20:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  For the second year in a row, a Summerland dog is on its way to a prestigious dog show in the United States.
  Am.GCh Hyclass Whole Lotta Shakin’ Going On ( aka Jerry) will be at the 150th annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in late January and early February.
  At the 2025 show, the dog was named the number two pug.
  “This is such an accomplishment to finish the year as the number two pug in breed points, two years in a row,” said Carole Walker, Jerry’s owner and breeder.
  
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• Brent Heil Pedersen

  05-01-2026 20:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  October 4, 1933 – November 24, 2025
  Bent Heil Pedersen was born on October 4, 1933, in Hobro, Nordjylland, Denmark,and passed away peacefully on November 24, 2025.
  In 1951, Bent and his father, Alfred Christian, moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, to prepare a home for his mother, Rigmor Alma Heil, and his brothers,Hugo (Carol) and Knud (Claudia),who later joined them.
  Bent met his beloved wife, Lois Doreen Darke (predeceased March 28, 2011), and they were married on July 26, 1958.
  Bent
  
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• 449% jump: Saanich resident calls water and sewer rate increases ‘staggering’

  05-01-2026 20:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  It was a day that started like any other for Saanich resident Roel Hurkens, but after noticing a sharp increase in his utility bills, the day took on far greater consequence.
  Looking at a detailed version of his bill, he noticed a 236 per cent increase in his flat rate for sewer and water, jumping from $25.32 in 2024 to $85.12 in 2025.
  “Even though my consumption was the same as the previous year, the bill was quite higher, so I started to investigate the different line items on the bill a
  
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• Suspects sought in ‘violent’ Vancouver Island robbery of 14-year-old boy

  05-01-2026 20:09 via nanaimobulletin.com
  Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers report that Saanich Police are asking for the public’s help identifying two individuals involved in the “violent” robbery of a child.
  In the 1000 block of McKenzie Avenue on Dec. 1, a man attacked a 14-year-old boy from behind, knocked him to the ground and punched him several times in the head.
  “The suspect then stole his phone and fled in an older black Mercedes waiting in the area,” Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers said in a Jan. 2
  
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• $19M acreage assessed as most valuable property on southern Vancouver Island

  05-01-2026 20:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  A North Saanich property will keep its top spot as the most expensive residential property in Greater Victoria after B.C. Assessment released their top valued properties in the province for 2026.
  The property, located at 1850 Lands End Rd., was valued at $19,080,000, or about a 14 per cent increase from last year. It boasts a 3,762 square-foot house on a 24.58 acre lot with three bedrooms and two-and-a-half bathrooms.
  The second, third, fourth and fifth most expensive properties in the region ar
  
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• B.C. Conservatives create new committee to run leadership race

  05-01-2026 19:05 via nanaimobulletin.com
  The B.C. Conservative Party has taken a major step toward choosing a new leader, establishing the Leadership Election Organizing Committee (LEOC) to oversee the race, including administration of the rules and procedures.
  Scott Lamb, former federal Conservative Party president, will chair the committee. It will have seven voting members and three non-voting members. Skeena MLA Claire Rattée will represent the B.C. Conservative caucus as a voting member.
  “Our LEOC team will commence i
  
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• Have you seen Patricia Kent? Police ask public’s help to find missing woman

  05-01-2026 19:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP are asking for the public’s assistance in locating Patricia Kent who was reported missing on Dec. 31, 2025.
  Kent was last heard from on Nov. 26, 2025.
  The police are very concerned for Kent’s health and well-being and friends and family report that it is out of character for her to be out of contact for this long, RCMP said in a press release.
  Kent is describes as 30 years old, 5 foot 3 inches tall, 110 pounds with blond hard and hazel eyes.
  Anyone with inf
  
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• VIDEO: Biggest drop in Canadian visits to U.S. is from B.C.

  05-01-2026 18:55 via nanaimobulletin.com
  Communities south of the B.C. Washington State border in Whatcom County have suffered the biggest drop in Canadian cross-border visits of any U.S. destinations.
  That was one finding in a report presented to Bellingham City Council on Dec. 8 by Laurie Trautman, director of the Western Washington University Border Policy Research Institute.
  Monthly land crossings into the U.S. from Aldergrove and other B.C. border communities have fallen 35 to 40 per cent compared to an average drop of 22 per cent
  
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• Victoria women’s team wins B.C. provincial curling title

  05-01-2026 18:45 via nanaimobulletin.com
  After an adrenaline-filled week of competition involving 35 teams and more than 200 athletes from across the province, the 2026 B.C. Women’s and Men’s Curling Championship finals wrapped up on Jan. 4 at Esquimalt’s Archie Browning Sports Centre.
  Among the finalists were two local teams competing for provincial titles and a chance to advance to the national championships.
  On the men’s side, Victoria’s team, led by Shawnigan Lake’s Jason Montgomery, crossed broo
  
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• VIDEO: Looking back at a year’s worth of beautiful images from B.C.’s Fraser Valley

  05-01-2026 18:04 via nanaimobulletin.com
  Chilliwack is a beautiful place to be, with nature providing ample opportunity for photographers of every level to capture striking images.
  Each week, we feature one photo from the many submissions that come in from the community.
  As we say goodbye to 2025, we wanted to thank all of our contributors to Community Camera for keeping us top of mind when taking your photographs.
  Enjoy this compilation video of just a sampling of the images we’ve been able to share with other readers.
  To have y
  
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• 1 dead in Central Saanich house fire early Sunday morning

  05-01-2026 15:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  Central Saanich fire is investigating a fatal house fire in Saanichton early Sunday (Jan. 4).One person died in the Genoa Place fire that saw crews from Central Saanich with support from Sidney and North Saanich called out shortly before 1:30 a.m., the district confirmed in a news release. The identity of the victim is being withheld pending notification of family.No injuries were sustained by first responders.An investigation is underway.
  More to come…
  
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• Police watchdog investigating after man injured in downtown Victoria arrest

  05-01-2026 15:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  Late New Year’s Day, Victoria Police were called to the 800-block of Johnson Street following reports of street disturbance which involved a man acting aggressively in public.
  VicPD were called shortly after 5:30 p.m. following reports that the man was yelling at passersby, challenging people to fight, running in and out of traffic and allegedly assaulting a member of the public.
  Responding officers located the man shortly after and attempted to take him into custody.
  According to VicPD, t
  
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• Company sued $6 million for unpaid fees related to Kootenay Lake ferry construction

  05-01-2026 14:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  A company previously tasked with building the new Kootenay Lake ferry is being sued for over $6 million in unpaid fees.
  Western Pacific Marine, which was in charge of the ferry’s construction until it was removed from the project in early December by the provincial government, has been named a defendant in a civil claim by Eco HeavyDuty Repairs.
  The lawsuit, filed Dec. 24 in B.C. Supreme Court, alleges Vancouver-based Eco HeavyDuty Repairs is owed $6.4 million for unspecified work done on
  
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• Nanaimo company producing autonomous watercraft for military and civilian missions

  05-01-2026 14:05 via nanaimobulletin.com
  Autonomous boats built in downtown Nanaimo are creating ripples across the local marine technology sector.
  Shift Coastal Technologies is the brainchild of biologist-turned-entrepreneur James Spencer, who saw a need for marine vehicles that could get into dangerous shorelines that would be risky for crewed boats.
  Prior to developing autonomous vehicles, Spencer worked as a consultant with the mining industry and First Nations.
  But when he found working in the corporate environment “stifling
  
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• When DeVolder talks, people listen: B.C. public speaker a world trendsetter

  05-01-2026 13:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  Talk about your trendsetters.
  That would be Vernon resident Mark DeVolder, who literally talks for a living.
  DeVolder is a public speaker, a global change specialist, who has presented in front of major corporations over the past several years. He spent most of 2025 among the top speakers worldwide according to the AAE (All American Entertainment) Speakers Bureau, and that included being on the top-15 list for 10 consecutive months.
  “It’s humbling to be part of a select group of 15 i
  
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• Meet Lance and Jagger, the only official search dog unit in Northwest B.C.

  05-01-2026 08:01 via nanaimobulletin.com
  The time and money spent training a B.C. search dog unit is significant, but the only K9 handler in the Northwest for a search and rescue team says it is absolutely worth it.
  Lance Barrowman and his dog Jagger volunteer with the Houston Search and Rescue group.
  Barrowman has been involved with various search and rescue groups for a long time, previously working in Kitimat with the marine search and rescue. His love of dogs inspired him to look into the idea of training a search dog. They were va
  
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• Shock and cautious optimism: B.C. Venezuelan community reacts to arrest of president Nicolas Maduro

  05-01-2026 06:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  Shock. A very, very cautious optimism. And concern about the future.
  That was the reaction by many members of the Venezuelan community in B.C. to the capture of that country’s president, Nicolas Maduro, and his wife in Caracas by U.S. soldiers.
  Meriely Arias, a director of the Venezuelan Canadian Society of B.C. (VCSBC) first learned about the raid when an family member from Europe texted her late that evening, around 11 p.m.
  Then, the phone calls started coming in from other family member
  
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• More interruptions coming for Highway 4 traffic at Cameron Lake

  05-01-2026 05:40 via nanaimobulletin.com
  British Columbia transportation ministry work crews have released a schedule of road closures or shifts in traffic patterns for Highway 4 in January 2026.
  Crews will start working on bank maintenance along the highway at Cameron Lake west of Angel Rock from Monday, Jan. 5 to Friday, Jan. 30, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays.
  Both lanes will remain open to traffic for the duration of the project, according to Mainroad Mid Island Contracting, although brief lane shifts will be used by crews when
  
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• U.S. regulations foil world juniors doughnut delivery from B.C. couple

  05-01-2026 02:40 via nanaimobulletin.com
  A Nanoose Bay couple’s good-hearted attempt to send a Canadian junior hockey player his favourite doughnuts via express courier went awry, apparently due to U.S. regulations.
  When John Watt read about Team Canada’s Brady Martin’s pre-game ritual of eating two chocolate glazed doughnuts, he realized Martin would be in a tough spot without a Tim Hortons close by in Minneapolis-St. Paul, site of this year’s world junior hockey championships, so he decided to take matters int
  
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• VIDEO: B.C. Lower Mainland studio creating Canadian TV shows set in Canada

  05-01-2026 00:30 via nanaimobulletin.com
  At first look, it appeared a police takedown was underway at the Langley airport, with multiple armed police taking aim at a suspicious airplane on the south runway.
  But there was also a full production crew on the runway, recording the event, and the action would pause, then repeat as the crew recorded different takes.Movie shoot at Langley Airport pic.twitter.com/eHSrrSoawc
  — Langley Advance Times (@LangleyTimes) November 26, 2024
  It was an episode of Allegiance, a police procedural set
  
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• Food choices harvested straight from a Vancouver Island farm

  04-01-2026 23:00 via nanaimobulletin.com
  It’s the time of the year to indulge in the best food and drink, whether you’re splashing out on a holiday meal or planning the perfect party.
  From fresh turkeys and Island-grown heirloom potatoes, squash and Brussels sprouts, to artisan sourdough for your bread stuffing, and cranberries harvested fresh from Island farms, everything you need for a traditional holiday feast can be sourced close to home.
  FARM-TO-TABLE SHOPPING
  Gleaning local ingredients from farm-based food shops and m
  
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