Have you seen Allenby Tinn Wadden?

RCMP is asking for public help in locating 56-year-old Allenby “Tinn” Wadden, who was last seen at work on Tuesday afternoon. Wadden has not had contact with his family since Tuesday morning, which is extremely concerning. He is 5’6” and weighs approximately 232 pounds. He has short brown and grey hair, a brown and grey beard, and brown eyes. Anyone who spots Wadden or who has information on his whereabouts is asked to call Nanaimo RCMP at 250-754-2345.

Tim Horton has sweet campaign
to raise cash for operating rooms

Welcome the Cookie Monster, the annual Smile Cookie campaign is back at Tim Horton’s all week until Sunday. The money raised is going to a great cause, the Nanaimo and District Hospital Foundation for lighting upgrades to operating rooms. The perinatal operating room needs upgraded equipment and the specialized maternity ward is especially important, as it means a quicker transition for newborns needing specialized care. All that is going to cost most of the $60,000 target, so go ahead, spend a buck and a half for a cookie and indulge yourself. Or buy a couple, who will know? MORE

The number of people relying on food banks is still rising. Loaves & Fishes use continues to climb as people are unable to make ends meet. If there’s any good news the demand is up only 14 per cent from a year ago compared to 30 per cent the year before. About 10,000 monthly visits fed 4,500 people in March. Executive director Peter Sinclair credits the food bank’s food recovery program that collects food from grocery stores with the help of volunteers to sort it. MORE

Kerry Wallace Chang, 55, was judged guilty Monday of drug possession for the purpose of trafficking. The verdict came on charges from a raid four years ago at a south Nanaimo home. Chang has a lengthy criminal record with 35 convictions, including offences involving drugs, property crimes and violence. MORE

Cock-a-doodle-doo. There is a way to fight soaring grocery prices – grow your own. A city bylaw that has been around for about a decade allows 12 poultry birds on some residential properties. The city’s governance and priorities committee is happy to keep the current rules, with a little tinkering. One negative from when the bylaw was originally passed and it was a concern over vermin, specifically rats. Councillors heard some people are flouting the bylaw with as many as 150 chicken and roosters, which are a no-no. Any changes will go to full council for approval. MORE

While we’re talking food prices, if you own shares in Loblaws your quarterly dividend rose by 15 per cent as first-quarter profit and revenue rose compared with a year ago. The combined Loblaws and Shoppers Drug Mart says it earned a profit available to common shareholders was up 9.8 per cent from the same quarter last year. Revenue for the quarter was $13.58 billion, up from $13 billion a year earlier. MORE

How much garbage do we leave behind? Ladysmith is a lot cleaner after more than 120 tonnes was collected in the Sportsmen’s Club’s ninth annual outdoor cleanup on Saturday. It focussed on Spruston Road, Timberlands area and Peerless Road. More than 140 volunteers picked up refuse including building material and even some abandoned vehicles. Co-ordinator Dave Judson has a message, if you see anyone disposing of garbage in the bush or on the side of the road, turn them in, call the Ministry of the Environment’s hotline at 1-877-952-7277. MORE

Private property rights take another hit today as new rules on short-term rentals come into effect, limiting where people can book short-term accommodation. The government is using the bans to free up housing in the province. The new short-term rental ban affects more than 20 communities on Vancouver Island. The rules apply for any community with a population of at least 10,000 and some communities under that can opt into the program as 10 communities have. MORE

Hurry up and wait, the federal government wants more information before deciding whether to revise British Columbia’s pilot project on drug use. Premier David Eby asked Health Canada to recriminalize drug use in public spaces, such as hospitals and parks. Mental Health and Addictions Minister Ya'ara Saks says she's asked B.C. to respond to Ottawa's questions quickly, but would not say what information she's requested. MORE

It remains to be seen whether we get relief at the gas pumps as the $34-billion Trans Mountain oil pipeline expansion finally starts pumping crude oil. The government-owned expanded pipeline runs from Alberta to the B.C. coast, twinning the existing pipeline. The expansion increases capacity to 890,000 barrels a day from 300,000 and will help open up global export markets for Canadian oil. MORE

The price tag for a couple of 2026 FIFA World Cup games in Vancouver could be more than half a billion dollars. An updated estimate shows the cost is now pegged at between $483 million and $581 million, nearly double the original range when Vancouver was named a host city two years ago. Inflation and updated FIFA requirements contributed to the increased costs. The province expects to offset much of the expenses with $116 million in federal funding. MORE

Female athletes in B.C. will have to continue to compete against transgender competitors in their sports. B.C. Conservative leader John Rustad’s bill to use biological sex to classify participants in publicly-funded sports teams and events was shot down at first reading in the Legislature on the strength of NDP and Green party opposition. MORE

QUOTABLE – Motto at Boeing – when one door closes another one opens.

Report outlines community safety but who will pay?

City Council knows it needs more community safety measures but it’s a question of who’s going to pick up that tab. Council reviewed an independent consultant’s report on Monday, that examined the Downtown Nanaimo Community Safety Action Plan implemented in 2022. It costs $2.5 million annually with 12 Community Safety Officers. Among the recommendations in the report was an expansion to 20, 24 or 30 CSOs and covering more than

just downtown. Mayor Leonard Krog said we would see

a cleaner downtown, but it still would not be enough. The real solutions to save us from the misery on our streets is not going to come from the City, Krog said. MORE

On that topic, Victoria has had enough of paying for services under the province’s jurisdiction. The city will begin billing the province for the costs incurred. In March, council approved $100,000 for Our Place’s storage facility and operation of their community centre. When Coun. Stephen Hammond asked if there was any indication that the province will pay, Mayor Marianne Alto replied, “Absolutely none. I’m being very frank, this is a new direction.” MORE

It will be business almost as usual while Downtown Nanaimo goes Hollywood and stars in a major television series, The Last of Us. Production crews have begun hauling in equipment and closing areas in Diana Krall Plaza. Work is expected to focus around the Plaza, Commercial, Skinner and Wharf Streets for a month. Filming is scheduled for May 12 to 14. Crews will then spend the final two weeks of May cleaning up the area. Some Commercial Street businesses will close for short periods to allow for final preparations and filming. MORE

Nanaimo News NOW has an excellent feature about 82-year-old Charlie Pickard who has been hand-crafting gnome doors and bird houses, a hobby turned passion. Speaking from the garage of his Brechin Hill home, he said the reason he’s dedicated himself to this cause is simple: to make people smile. It makes for uplifting reading amid a lot of gloom. MORE

Farmers markets are a big deal for local economies. An analysis from the B.C. Association of Farmers Markets points to the economic impact. Kate Poirier, of Cedar Farmers Market, says Vancouver Island was far above average in almost every metric. The Cedar market, from mid May to late October, brought $3.6 million of economic impact, $2.4 million in direct sales and $626,000 in spending at local businesses in 2023, says Poirier. There were 58,900 visits last year, she said.

The Day of Mourning for the 175 lives lost to injuries or illnesses suffered at work didn’t capture the headlines. WorkSafeBC reported work place death statistics for the year on Sunday. More than two dozen ceremonies were held in communities across B.C. MORE

Politcal parties are now conducting nominations based on new federal electoral district boundaries that come into effect for the next election. So in the meantime, some people may be losing their MPs or some may be gaining one they never voted for. However, the new ridings take effect after next year’s election.

Cucaracha! A pest control contractor is monitoring Saanich Peninsula Hospital after cockroaches were recently spotted inside. Island Health says there haven’t been any since April 22. The contractor  continues to visit the site twice a week to monitor traps. The roaches measure about 1.3 to 1.6 cm long, are tan to light brown and have wings, but cannot fly. MORE

RCMP are monitoring a pro-Palestinian protest encampment at the University of British Columbia where protesters erected tents outside the UBC Alma Mater Society building early Monday. Protester Naisha Khan says the demonstrators are calling on the school to divest from a variety of companies they say are complicit in the war since the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7.

Premier David Eby has joined other politicians denouncing remarks at a demonstration in Vancouver where protesters chanted “long live Oct. 7.”  The rally on Friday was told by a speaker that the attacks by Hamas that killed more than 1,200 people were heroic and brave. Eby says it was the most hateful he could imagine. Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim posted on social media that people who spew this vile hatred are not welcome in the city. MORE

Today is a very special day – my Aunt Margaret is 100 years old. She is the first ever on both sides of my family to reach the century mark. Happy Birthday.

QUOTABLE – A lot of people don’t like holding hands in public, especially when they don’t know you.

‘Some may go days without water’: No working tap at Kelowna’s Tent City

B.C. lacks power, charging stations to meet EV sales goals: report

More charges laid in child-abuse case connected to B.C., Alberta

Conservatives say Trudeau stepped over the line, speaker should resign

Canada’s caregivers need respite, home support and compensation: report

No need to go guess: Mom knows best what she wants for Mother’s Day

Potential U.S. move sees Canadian cannabis stock skyrocket

Predators claw out 2-1 win over Canucks in Game 5, keep season alive

Edmonton Elks take linebacker Dublanko with No. 1 pick in CFL draft

Electricity demand raises
questions about data centre

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Why we have such

a shortage of doctors

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DEI – all about finding the

lowest common denominator

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Longer amortization will be

expensive in the long run