July 27, 2014

Covid vaccine mandate lifted

Fired health-care workers may get to return to work after the province lifted mandatory vaccinations and other restrictions after four years. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said Friday that all remaining restrictions, including the vaccination requirement for health-care workers, will be rescinded. She said after reviewing all the data she is confident there is no longer a need for the public health emergency. Many of those workers are now in other fields and it is not known how many will return to the job. Health Minister Adrian Dix says they can apply to fill available positions, although they must provide their immune status for certain pathogens, including COVID-19. MORE

Craig Allen Sims, 41, was sentenced Friday to six months in jail after being found guilty of child-luring. He was acquitted of sexual interference andassault charges in his trial last month. The incidents occurred between 2007 and 2009 while the victim was a minor and her identity is protected by a publication ban.Justice Catherine Wedge ruled that Simshad been trying to pursue a relationship with the victim via text messages. MORE

A serious motor vehicle accident along Hwy. 19 on Friday has claimed one life. RCMP report the crash involved a delivery truck, with a passenger being killed. RCMP Sgt. Shane Worth said the truck hit a median while travelling northbound. MORE

I told you last week about a fund raising initiative for multiple myeloma, an invasive blood cancer but the donation link was incorrect. Kathy Reilly is organizing an event to draw attention to the campaign. Kathy’s husband Bill is undergoing chemotherapy to quell Multiple Myeloma. It’s not curable, but it is treatable, thanks to the vast amount of research. Kathy has been a dog trainer for years and created a group called Myeloma Mutts for a march on Sept. 8. So if you want to take your dog for a walk and support a great cause, join in or make a donation online HERE.

RCMP are looking for help to identify a couple after a PIN pad device was stolen from a business on Calder Road on July 12. Investigators obtained a photo and video of the suspects. It shows a male unplug the device and place it in his accomplice's bag. They then leave the building. The police ask that anyone who may have witnessed the theft or has information about the suspects in the photo, contact the Nanaimo RCMP detachment non-emergency line at 250-754-2345 and quote file No.2024-22128.

WEB QUOTE – Camping is where you spend a fortune to live like a homeless person.

July 26, 2024

Safety main concern

for Bathtub weekend

Bathtub weekend is upon us so be responsible and keep it a safe and happy celebration. RCMP will have enhanced patrols by uniformed officers on the streets and on the water for the 57th marine festival. Cops will monitor all activities, including beer gardens, to ensure the public is safe and can enjoy a range of activities and events.They will be firm but fair. RCMP marine units and the Port Authority will be out all weekend providing direction and education to the boating community. So, enjoy but use your brains. Full story to the Police Beat column on the right.

The city invites public input into a possible new transit exchange at Country Club Centre. The Country Club urban centre mobility upgrades project is focusing on possible sites for a new bus loop. A booth will be open on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. outside the mall entrance, with city staff to discuss the options. An online survey will be available till Aug. 30, and paper forms are available at City Hall or Wellington library branch in the mall. The exchange is now behind the mall on Norwell Drive. MORE

Firefighters made quick work of a fire south the city Thursday afternoon. Extension Volunteer Fire Department responded to the 600-block Nanaimo River Road for a 5,000-square-metre fire. The activity interrupted some traffic for a while on Nanaimo River Road. MORE

Friends are conducting a search in rural south Nanaimo for Sherry Corrigal on Saturday. The 22-year-old was last seen in mid- September in downtown Nanaimo. While it is not a police lead search, officers involved with the investigation will be on site throughout the day to assist where necessary. Read more in the Police Beat on the right.

RCMP seek public assistance in finding 48-year-old James Peakman who left Nanaimo hospital on Tuesday afternoon. He has significant health issues and needs daily medication. There is extreme concern for his safety and over all well-being.Read more in the Police Beat on the right.

WEB QUOTE – It’s not a conversation when one person does all the talking.

July 25, 2024

Our election needs to

stay out of the gutter

The lying season has swept upon us with unparalleled character assassination.

We’re getting a double dose with our provincial election on Oct. 19 and the Americans voting before, on and after Nov. 6 as is convenient.

It’s already begun in British Columbia with the B.C. NDP stooping to personal smear rather than issue debate. The NDP recently launched a television commercial lumping Conservative leader John Rustad and B.C. United leader Kevin Falcon as evil villains, then adding, “just like Christy Clark, only worse.”

That’s gutter politcs, shame on the NDP braintrust.

The former B.C. Liberals, now United, have engaged in this type of politicking for years through their communications department. They seem unable to issue a news release without leading off with Premier David Eby’s name front and centre.

Labelling political opponents as far-left extremist and far-right extremist, or any other insult, does not contribute to the debate. It’s designed to breed hatred among the blindest followers.

Each party leader has his/her own ideology, and that’s what has to form the discussion – they offer a choice and we can choose. Eby’s ideology does not match that of a lot of British Columbians. That’s no reason to vilify him personally, just don’t vote for his group. It’s that simple.

The same thing is true for Rustad. He has a set of beliefs that a growing number of voters are turning to, but that shouldn’t paint him with any brush. If you don’t like what he’s selling, don’t vote for him and his candidates.

When Eby was campaigning for his party’s leadership he vowed to institutionalize the mentally ill and drug addicts. After he became premier he did an about-face and rejected the concept. His long ties to the civil liberties movement doubtlessly impact his policy.

Again, if you don’t agree with him, that’s fine. That’s his belief and he’s entitled to have it. Just don’t vote for his candidates, that’s the best message you can deliver. And, if you do vote for him, you’re buying what he’s selling.

All candidates deserve respect. They offer to serve us and lead us, depending on who gets the most support from voters.

South of the border in the U.S. that’s another kettle of fish, the vitriol has evolved from character assassination to the real thing, with a candidate for president targeted by a shooter. Granted it's different in the States because they actually vote for individuals rather than group representation.

Donald Trump is a bully and a loud mouth, but he’s got nothing on the Democrats who practice this type of debate around the clock. Watch any of the Congressional sessions and they are not about legislation but about one-upmanship and smear.

This week’s hearing to get to the bottom of the Trump shooting brought a five-minute tirade from Democrat Congressman Jerry Nadler about everything under the sun, smearing Republicans, but not a whisper about the performance of the Secret Service and the FBI.

Americans also lie like a mattress, the truth has no place in their campaigns. Trump spews whatever stirs the fervor, but Kamala Harris does not take a back seat, twisting the truth like a pretzel. It’s difficult to sift the bulls**t from the truth, if there is any.

Thankfully our election will be over before theirs and we’ll be spared some of the mudslinging, at least here at home. Well, maybe some hangover from those who lost the election.

You have to keep in mind that to sling mud you have to stoop into the gutter to pick it up. So don't smear Eby, Rustad and the others, but seek solutions to homelessness, drug policy, crime, housing, the cost of living, our health care crisis and anything else that’s important. Even pot holes.

Canada’s premiers are up in arms about federal criminal catch-and-release policies which are making us unsafe.

They have a point when the federal government admits 256 people were killed in 2022 by a criminal who was out on bail or another form of release. That’s right, 256.

Since the passage of Bill C-75 and Bill C-5, which gives high priority to releasing repeat violent offenders and took away mandatory jail time, a crime wave has been unleashed across the country. Violent crime has increased by 39 per cent, murders and gang-related homicides have risen by 43 per cent and 108 per cent.

July 25, 2024

Vancouver backtracks 
on natural gas 

Our city council majority clique is woke while Vancouver city council appears to be awake. Nanaimo council banned natural gas installation in new residential buildings but Vancouver says not so fast. A proposal to ban new natural gas hookups in Vancouver has gone sideways. Coun. Adriane Carr’s motion to limit gas stoves and fireplaces in new homes was amended to align with the new provincial government Zero Carbon Step Code. That step code allows builders a chance to put in natural gas appliances. Are the woke five paying attention?

City employees will have to find a new place to park after a development permit was approved for housing on the Franklyn Street parking lot. The development permit paves the way for a five-storey residential complex with 53 apartments and ground floor commercial space. Planning Director Jeremy Holm said on-site commercial parking is not required in the downtown area for the first 100 parking stalls. MORE

The Midtown Water Supply primary watermain is complete and in service, delivering water to two-thirds of the city, including the hospital. The project began in 2022 to replace the high-risk concrete watermain that served Nanaimo for 43 years. Replacement became a priority following a significant watermain rupture in 2020, where 22 million litres of water gushed onto Bowen Road. The new pipe is flexible, earthquake resistant and made to last. It has a larger capacity and will carry a daily average of 25 million litres of water to homes, businesses, recreational facilities and the hospital.

Become a school trustee. Nominations open July 30 for the Nanaimo school board byelection, with a deadline of Aug. 9. This is an opportunity to get involved in the governance of the district and to represent students, families, and staff. Election day is Sept. 14. Find out more information and download the package HERE

The Old Man Lake fire near Sooke remains out of control and growing to 169 hectares by Wednesday afternoon, up from  80 hectares in the morning. Thick smoke and steep terrain which hampered crews from getting to the fire. MORE

Environment Canada has issued a special air quality statement due to wildfire smoke. Wildfire smoke contains fine particles, which pose a health risk primarily for seniors, pregnant women, young children, those who work outdoors and those with existing illnesses. The smoky skies bulletin covered parts of the Okanagan, Kootenays, Cariboo and Peace regions, as well as southern Vancouver Island. The highest concentrations are expected in Cranbrook, Fort St. John, Prince George, Quesnel, Sparwood and Williams Lake. MORE

In Alberta, fires rage in and around Jasper. The fire  arrived at the townsite around 6 p.m., shortly after some first responders were evacuated because the situation had become too dangerous to stay. There are a significant number of structural fires in town. MORE

The Bank of Canada rate cut will affect Canadians with mortgages or those planning to get into the housing market. The central bank cut the rate by a quarter of a per cent Wedneday to 4.5 per cent. On the mortgage front, some Canadians will immediately see their next monthly payments reduced. Check out the details HERE.

WEB QUOTE – Aging has slowed me down but it’s definitely not shut me up.

Bank of Canada cuts interest rate again

There’s good news for the real estate market today after the Bank of Canada today decreased its interest rate one quarter of one per cent for the second consecutive time. More cuts could come if inflation continues to ease. That reduces the bank rate to 4.5 per cent following last month’s reduction to 4.75 per cent. Inflation has dropped from a peak of 8.1 per cent in June 2022 to 2.7 per cent in June 2024. Now we’re waiting to see what happens to mortgage interest rates. MORE

July 24, 2024

More Sandstone
land transferred

to Snuneymuxw

Snuneymuxw has obtained an additional 10 hectares of land in the Sandstone development from Seacliff Properties. Seacliff plans to develop 800 single-family homes, 500 townhouses and 900 condos or apartments over two decades, plus commercial space in Cedar and industrial land at Duke Point. This transfer brings the total returned to Snuneymuxw to 45.7 hectares. MORE

The Regional District has introduced stage four water restrictions until further notice for a majority of its service areas on the central Island.  Weeks of abnormally high temperatures and virtually no rain brought about the restrictions. That means no sprinkling of any kind, including for newly-seeded grass, and no driveway, sidewalk, parking lot or building exterior washing. That includes no filling of swimming pools, hot tubs or garden ponds. MORE

Work has begun on beach expansion and improvements to Westwood Lake Park. The remaining nine stalls at First Beach will be converted to expanded beach while access to the park and parking lot remains unchanged. It’s part of a pop-up parkette with temporary seating, artificial turf, and sand. Phase 2 beginning this fall will include permanent beach expansion and improved amenities. You can see additional information HERE.

Health care in British Columbia is sick. Mission Memorial Hospital redirected patients to Abbotsford and Maple Ridge hospitals Tuesday night. It’s the first time a Metro Vancouver acute care facility has turned away patients due to critical staffing shortages. The hospital issued a statement that it was not on diversion, instead calling it service adaptations due to physician staffing challenges. MORE

There’s no immediate end in sight for wildfires in the province with more than 400 fires, tens of thousands of lightning strikes and at least six homes lost. The BC Wildfire Service says recent thunderstorms brought 58,000 lightning strikes, and they expect to see new fire starts from those over the next few days. More than 80 per cent of current wildfires were started by lightning and about two-thirds remain out of control. Planes and helicopters along with aircraft from the Yukon, Ontario, Quebec and Alaska have joined the fire fight. FULL ROUNDUP.

An out of control wildfire in Sooke Potholes Regional Park has activated an emergency operations centre, as well as the full closure and evacuation of the park and the nearby Spring Salmon campground. The fire was discovered Monday afternoon, spreading overnight from 30 hectares to 50 hectares. Three helicopters equipped with buckets and three ground-attack crews worked to douse the flames. Meanwhile, Air quality statements and heat warnings have been issued across western Canada further threatening wildfires across the region. MORE

QUOTABLE – Someone just gave me some batteries, free of charge.

July 23, 2024

City going whole hog in alternate approval

for operations centre

Good morning, here we go again. The City is going to take another run at getting taxpayer approval to borrow money for a Nanaimo Operations Centre, this time going full bore for the whole bundle for $90 million. They’ll use the twice-failed alternative approval process this fall. Councillors voted 8-1 Monday to pursue the $90-million works yard borrowing and looked at staff options on funding the project. In the end they chose to fund the project entirely through borrowing and repaying it with property taxation of approximately $139 per year for a typical household. MORE

A wildfire in the Sooke Potholes Regional Park continues to burn out of control. The fire was discovered Monday afternoon and is believed to be human-caused. In an update this morning, the B.C. Wildfire Service said three helicopters equipped with buckets and three ground-attack crews work to douse the flames. MORE

British Columbia is burning. There are 365 active fires with four posing a threat to communities – 206 fires are considered out of control. In the West Kootenay region, there are two wildfires of note in the Slocan Valley. The Aylwin Creek fire, burning on the edge of Slocan Lake, has forced an evacuation order and two evacuation alerts. The nearby Komonko Creek fire, just across Highway 6, is more than 500 hectares in size but is not currently affecting any properties. In the East Kootenay region, a tactical evacuation took place near Fairmont Hot Springs on Monday afternoon due to a wildfire burning on the east side of Highway 93. MORE DETAILS

Interesting – The Bank of Canada is set to deliver its next interest rate decision on Wednesday as many economists and market watchers expect a second consecutive cut in borrowing costs. New polls show Canadians struggling with debt loads desperately want interest rate relief. Market odds are that a 25-basis-point interest rate cut this week that would bring the benchmark rate down to 4.5 per cent.

Freedom of speech does not include threatening to kill people. Two Albertans have been charged after death threats were directed at top federal politicians, including the prime minister. RCMP say a social media user on X had posted threats in May to kill Justin Trudeau. In a separate case, a YouTuber posted threats in June to kill Trudeau along with Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh. Both men have court appearances this week. FULL STORY.

WEB QUOTE – This just ain’t right. Telus and Shaw are phone companies but I defy you to find a useable phone number on their websites that lets you connect to a human contact. Communication apparently is not their thing.

July 22, 2024

Good morning, it's Monday and the news cycle always starts slowly at the beginning of the week. Organized mayhem reigned supreme at Sunday’s 38th annual Silly Boat Regatta at Maffeo Sutton Park. When all the splashing had subsided, The Rotary Club of Nanaimo took top honors. The BC Ferry Marine Workers Union was second and VI Fishing for Fun was third. The annual fun event is the main fund raiser for the Nanaimo Child Development Centre. Check out the raft of photos. MORE

On a serious competitive note, the Coast Salish Games kick off today after a long hiatus. Snuneymuxw First Nation is the host to the week-long event with athletes from across the Island and the Lower Mainland. The games used to be an annual event circulating among Indigenous communities. The revival comes after sitting idle for about 14 years. Organizer Kate Good says it used to be a big deal and Snuneymuxw is rebuilding that spirit.

Emergency crews responded after a garbage truck flipped on its side on Rutherford Road just before noon today. It appeared the truck may have been coming down the hill on Rutherford when it turned right onto Bradbury Road and rolled on its side. The driver was rescued by witnesses after he was pinned in the vehicle. MORE

The first steps are under way for a 306-bed long-term care facility in Lantzville. Council going through the hoops on modifying the official community plan and zoning bylawto allow for the facility. Island Health is the force behind the initiative to increase the maximum height of the building to 25 metres from 20, getting around a 15-metre tree buffer area, and decreasing a setback to five metres from 15. MORE

Wildfires have led to evacuation orders as the southern and eastern regions continue to sweat it out in the heat wave. The BC Wildfire Service says the Island Pond fire in the East Kootenay grew to 1.2 square km overnight leading to a state of local emergency and an evacuation order for two properties and a warning to another 65 to leave on short notice. The Cariboo Regional District ordered residents on 29 parcels to evacuate immediately, with five out-of-control wildfires burning nearby. Environment Canada says the latest heat wave broke or matched the daily high-temperature records in 14 communities on Saturday. We have a full roundup of wildfire and heat wave events HERE.

WEB QUOTE – The universe is made up of protons, neurons, electrons and morons.

July 21, 2024

It’s ho-ho-ho time, Christmas in July

Hospital is no fun, especially if you’re a kid. Toys make it just a little more bearable for kids. Here’s where you come in. The NRGH Pediatric Unit is running low on toys for kids in hospital. They can use new toys in their original packaging, for babies all the way up to 17-years-old. No stuffed toys, please. You can drop off your donation at the hospital lobby on Monday and Tuesday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. And, you’ll be greeted by Santa himself. MORE

The fire rating on Southern Vancouver Island is still extreme and smoke could roll into the area today. We have extremely dry forest fuels and the fire risk is very serious on the southern tip of the Island. Coastal Fire information officer Sam Bellion warns that new fires can start easily and spread rapidly. Two fires are burning but under control on the Island  and they were human caused. So far this season, almost all fires are suspected to be human-caused. More than 300 wildfires are burning, mainly in the Prince George, Kamloops, and the Southeast Fire Centre. MORE

In case you think you recognize that tourist fellow walking down the street, you might be right. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his family are on their way to B.C. for their summer vacation, but where they will stay is a big secret. They will travel on the government aircraft, and he’ll pay the equivalent of a commercial airline ticket for him and his family, and they pay for their accommodation. But we’ll be on the hook for the cost of the flight and the security detail. They vacationed in B.C. last summer. MORE

Woke journalism at its finest. A B.C. nurse has been disciplined by the regulatory body for diverting narcotics and other related infractions. She/he entered a consent agreement with the B.C. College of Nurses and Midwives to address conduct and fitness concerns dating back to 2022. The agreement states he/she diverted narcotics from his/her workplace; practised while impaired; diverted narcotics away from patients, leaving them in great discomfort; and falsified records in order to conceal his/her diversion activities. He/she has agreed to undergo recommended treatment and be monitored, along with other limits on his/her practice.

QUOTABLE – A lot of people are asking what DEI stands for – Didn’t Earn It.

July 20, 2024

Extreme heat warning for East Vancouver Island

East Vancouver Island and parts of the Mainland are under an extreme heat warning. Environment Canada says the heat is expected to continue through the weekend, with daytime temperatures in the high 20s or mid 30s on East Vancouver Island, as well as the Pemberton and Squamish areas. It's a good idea to keep an eye on friends, family and neighbours, including seniors, children, people with heart disease or respiratory disease, and those with pre-existing health conditions. Extreme heat can also impact people with mental illness and substance use. MORE

HEALTH EQUIPMENT AFFECTED – The global technology outage affected approximately 50,000 electronic devices across the B.C. health ministry, including 20,000 on Vancouver Island. The world-wide disruption was attributed to a faulty software update issued by CrowdStrike that was affecting computers running Microsoft Windows. Contingency plans were in place to ensure hospitals and other health-care services remain open and that patient care was not disrupted. MORE

PARIS JAYANNE LAROCHE, 28, has been convicted of second degree murder and interfering with the remains of her former boyfriend. That carries an automatic prison sentence with minimum parole eligibility of 10 years. Laroche had been charged with first degree murder for the death of Sidney Joseph Mantee but was convicted of the lesser charge. Laroche confessed to the killing and dismembering Mantee’s remains to several people, including a pair of undercover police officers. MORE

CONSTRUCTION HAS BEGUN on the first two of the four new battery-electric hybrid Island Class vessels at Damen Shipyards Galati in Romania. Two of the new ferries will serve Garbriola Island. The new vessels will carry up to 47 vehicles and 400 passengers. The new design will streamline crew operations, enhancing efficiency and effectiveness by having similar technology and protocols across the fleet. MORE

THAT'S COOL ­– City councillors support spending $68,000 to fix up the Nanaimo Curling Centre's refrigeration system. Councillors supported the expenditure at the finance meeting Wednesday, sending it to full city council for approval. Total cost of the repair job is tabbed at $156,000.

SENIORS EVACUATED­ – A wildfire has led to the precautionary relocation of more than two dozen long-term care and assisted-living residents in Ashcroft due to the Shetland Creek wildfire. Interior Health said 21 residents of Jackson House long-term care home and five people from Thomson View Lodge assisted-living were moved. Its rapid spread was part of an eruption of wildfire activity across B.C., with the number of fires soaring past 300 on Friday afternoon, most caused by lightning storms, then fuelled by hot, dry weather and winds. MORE

WEB QUOTE – Stay away from negative people, they have a problem for every solution.

July 19, 2024

Health care, banking, airlines

affected by global tech outage

DON’T BE SURPRISED if things don’t work quite right today. Health-care systems, airlines and banks are disrupted due to a global technology outage. Regional health authorities say the IT outage is impacting networks and computers across all systems. The massive outage has also affected banks and airlines, causing flight disruptions around the world, including at the Vancouver International Airport, where officials say the problem has primarily affected U.S.-based carriers. The global disruption has been attributed to a faulty software update issued by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike. MORE

REUSE RENDEZVOUS returns this weekend Saturday and Sunday so you can get rid of unwanted items to keep them out of the waste bin. You can put unwanted stuff near the curb in front of your home on Saturday and Sunday so that others can take and reuse them. You can put out toys, sporting goods, furniture, books, bikes and other items marked with a FREE tag and don’t block sidewalks and bike lanes. While you’re scrounging, slow down, watch for children, park carefully and obey traffic signs and speed limits.

NRGH HAS A NEW $3.5-MILLION CT SCANNER which is primarily used for cancer staging and assessing ongoing treatments. It reveals characteristics of diseases with information on organ size, tissue density and localization. The SPECT-CT images organ systems after a patient has been injected with of radioactive tracers. MORE

MOVIE NIGHT UNDER THE STARS. Shades of drive-in movies in the past, Coastal Community Credit Union is hosting its annual Sunset Cinema tonight at Maffeo Sutton Park. The weather should make for great viewing under the night sky at around 9 p.m. Tonight’s feature is ‘Migration’, an animated movie about a family of ducks trying to convince their over-protective father to go on a vacation. HERE’S MORE

NEARLY HALF OF THE 200 fires burning in B.C. are considered out of control, and more than 60 just started in the last 24 hours, many of them from lightening. Officials warn of a “challenging” 72 hours to come. After two major wildfires – the Shetland creek wildfire and the Tait creek wildfire – merged overnight, the province conducted tactical evacuations in the Venebles Valley east of Lillooet and Lytton Thursday. Lightening is in the forecast across the province overnight Thursday into Friday, and winds and warm temperatures may fan the flames. MORE

A PLANE CRASH at Tofino Airport claimed two lives and one person with serious injuries. The crash occurred at noon Thursday. RCMP reported that the six-seat aircraft may have suffered an engine fire during takeoff. MORE

MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED vehicle owners lined up for the Nanaimo Crime Stoppers free catalytic converter engraving. Auto-Check Automotive engraved 107 catalytic converters on the day, and Crime Stoppers picked up $325 in donations. It took about 15 minutes per vehicle and topped it off with coffee and hotdogs. The ICBC Road Safety office was on hand, handing out informational leaflets.

STAGE THREE WATER RESTRICTIONS are in effect in the Regional District and in Parksville. The City of Nanaimo is stage two for now and the Qualicum Beach remains at stage one. The water restriction period was extended, to span from April 1 to Oct. 31, aligning with recent trends of longer and hotter spring and summer.

WEB QUOTE – Adam and Eve were the first ones to ignore the Apple terms and conditions

July 18, 2024

Nanaimo getting second urgent and primary care clinic

Nanaimo will get a new urgent and primary care clinic next spring. Health Minister Adrian Dix announced the new clinic at a news conference on Wednesday. It will offer continuity of care and preventive care for patients who do not have a primary care provider and for those who require follow-up supports after leaving the hospital, he said. MORE

CHANGES ARE IN THE WORKS for the much-maligned alternative approval process. City staff were tasked with refining the AAP process, following two failed attempts to borrow money for a new Nanaimo Operations Centre. The changes include the possibility of electronic submissions, with some conditions still in the development process. Other changes include a community and engagement strategy on a case-by-case basis to inform the public on the project details. MORE

THE RECORD HEAT – Thunderstorms and winds are forecast to bring a surge in wildfire activity. The BC Wildfire Service says storms are expected over eastern B.C. up to the northern Rockies and winds will pick up across the province later this week, fanning the flames of nearly 160 wildfires. Environment Canada has expanded heat warnings from Whistler to Kelowna and the Kootenays, Terrace i and Fort Nelson. MORE

CONFERENCE CENTRE LOSSES ­- The Vancouver Island Conference Centre is still costing money, but the picture is improving. The city-owned facility posted its best financial year ever in 2023 and this year is projected to show even better. It had a $292,000 operating surplus last year, but the city is still spending more than it recovers. The centre has been in operation since it was built by the city for $74 million. The opening of the Marriott Hotel has been a real shot in the arm, says Mayor Leonard Krog. MORE

FIRE NEAR HOSPITAL – There was no additional risk to West Coast General Hospital in Port Alberni after a fire the behind the facility. A forested area caught fire but quickly knocked down. Fire crews were on scene around 5:30 p.m. MORE

ALMOND MILK RECALL Two people have died in eastern Canada after a listeriosis outbreak in some plant-based milks. Silk brand almond milk, coconut milk, almond-coconut milk and oat milk were recalled earlier this month, as was Great Value brand almond milk. Products contaminated with Listeria may not look or smell spoiled but can still make you sick. Symptoms of listeriosis can include vomiting, nausea, persistent fever, muscle aches, severe headache and neck stiffness. MORE

WEB QUOTE – With so many things making a comeback, I can’t wait for morals, respect and intelligence to become trendy again.

July 17, 2024

South end community centre to go to AAP

Some city councillors love to deal from a stacked deck when it comes to big spending projects. They voted 5-3 Monday to start an alternative approval to borrow between $100 - $150 million for a South End Community Centre, although senior government grants would pick up part of the tab. AAPs are easier to pass than referenda. Staff recommended a referendum, but councillors voted to go the AAP route with Mayor Leonard Krog and Councillors Sheryl Armstrong and Janice Perrino opposed to an AAP. Preliminary plans include multiple sports courts, s a childcare centre, a fitness centre, library branch and areas for RCMP and Island Health. MORE

WHO DUNNIT? RCMP are watching a lot of videos these days, trying to find the guilty culprits in the brush fire at Pipers Lagoon Park last Friday. R/Cst. Gary O’Brien said fire crews reported about 150 young people in the park, many of them consuming alcohol. He said it could be a Criminal Code offense or as simple as discharging or possessing fireworks within the city. MORE

POLICE BEAT – There’s a lot of activity on the Police Beat with R/Cst. Gary O’Brien on the right side of this page. Be sure to check it out.

REWARDING OPPORTUNITY – Clay Tree Society for People with developmental disabilities needs new members to serve on the board of directors. If you’re interested submit a brief letter of interest that outlines the skills and experience you could bring to the board. Address it to Jennifer Fowler, executive director, at Jennifer.fowler@claytree.ca. Their link is www.claytree.org or phone at 250-753-5322, Ext 1. The deadline is July 26.

THE GREAT WINE WAR has ended in a truce. Alberta and British Columbia have come to an agreement allowing trans-border wine shipments. Premiers  David Eby and Danielle Smith announced t a memorandum of understanding – bringing an end to a months-long dispute. That’s great news for B.C. wineries which have been hammered by wild weather. Smith noted that the deal will go both ways, allowing a growing wine sector in the province to ship directly to B.C. MORE

WEB QUOTE – Today is National Grumpy Old Man Day, and I expect recognition.

July 16, 2024

Travellers Lodge housing plan

covers most of the bases

At first glance the B.C. government’s move to convert vacant Travellers Lodge into housing for the vulnerable is the best solution to date. It is designed to provide more than just four walls for those in need. It’s more than a band-aid, it appears to provide actual solutions.

There has been a lot of debate about institutionalization for mental health and the attendant problems. This approach goes about as far as you could hope without actually forcing patients into treatment. It's the next-best thing.

Not only will those voluntarily moving in have a roof over their heads, it’s the support services that make the difference. The building is as close to made to measure as you could find, 78 self-contained studio units with private bathrooms.

This project connects the missing link by including physical and mental health resources. That’s the root of most of the problems faced by the homeless, the cause and effect of a lot of the addiction problems they face.

Residents will pay $500 per month for rent, which will include two meals a day and laundry services. They will have access to life-skills training, employment assistance and counselling,

This measure will not sweep all the addicted and homeless people off our streets, but it will hopefully interrupt the flow into homeless encampments.

As MLA Sheila Malcolmson pointed out, it will help people to get ready for other affordable housing. The new units will be for people now in shelters, adults older than 19, including those who are ready to minimize exposure to alcohol and substance use.

It will be vital to keep a close eye on this development to see how much of a solution it will be. The concept looks good on the surface.

YOUR COMMENT

July 16, 2024

Province will lease empty Travellers Lodge

BC Housing is leasing 78 units at the former Travellers Lodge care facility on Nelson Street to provide safe and secure housing for people in shelters. The building has self-contained studio units with private bathrooms, as well as common amenity spaces and gardens. There will be staffing around the clock and residents will pay $500 a month for rent, which will include two meals a day and laundry services. They will have access to life-skills training, employment assistance and counselling, as well as physical- and mental-health resources. FULL REPORT.

RENTS STILL RISING – Renting a home in Nanaimo is getting more expensive. A report by Rentals.ca shows Nanaimo rentals average $1,784 monthly or $21,400 annually for a one-bedroom and $2,207 monthly or $26,484 a year for a two-bedroom. That’s a 2.6-per-cent increase for a one-bedroom and 3.2 per cent for two-bedroom units. Nanaimo is 18th for the most expensive cities to rent in Canada on Rentals.ca’s list. MORE

MORE SMOKE THAN FIRE – A fire in hog fuel and a dump site at Harmac Pacific on the weekend could continue smouldering for some time. The blaze was brought under control by multiple fire departments shortly before 5 p.m. but it could smoke for a while. MORE

VIU HAS LAUNCHED legal action to remove pro-Palestinian protester who ignored a Monday trespass deadline to remove their encampment. Theuniversity has filed a notice of civil claim in the B.C. Supreme Court, seeking an injunction and damages from the protesters. The protesters say they remain steadfast and won’t leave.

MULTIPLE MYELOMA MARCH – Kathy Reilly has launched a fund raising march for multiple myeloma. Her husband Bill is undergoing a second round of chemotherapy to quell the invasive blood cancer.  It is not curable, but it is treatable, thanks to research. Myeloma Mutts will be a fund raising march on Sept. 8 from Maffeo Sutton Park. Kathy wants all their friends with or without dogs to join them.  If you can’t make it, send a donation any way. CHECK THIS OUT.

BAGGING IT – It may not be a shocker to Nanaimo shoppers, but effective Monday, a B.C.-wide single-use plastics ban means businesses can only sell shopping bags made of recycled paper or that are reusable. Shoppers must also pay at least 25 cents per paper bag, while a reusable one will cost a minimum of $2. Greg Wilson of the Retail Council of Canada says it’s a challenge if you get grocery delivery because many of them come in reusable bags – $2 a bag. One woman was charged $28 for 14 bags.  MORE

CBC GRAVY TRAIN – The board of CBC and Radio-Canada has approved bonuses for 1,194 employees at a time when Corus Entertainment reports around 800 layoffs. The bonuses for some CBC staff come despite members of Parliament saying it would be inappropriate to do so after hundreds of jobs were eliminated. On Monday, Corus reported a loss of $769.9 million in its latest quarter as its revenue fell 16 per cent. Revenue totalled $331.8 million, down from $397.3 million a year earlier.

HERBAL MEDICINE WARNING - Fraser Health reports two recent cases of lead poisoning in herbal medicines. The poisonings are likely associated with Ayurvedic medicines and products that contain opium. Ayurveda is a traditional medicine system that has been practiced in India for thousands of years. 

WEB QUOTE – People are too judgmental these days. I can tell just by looking at them.

Howard Johnson site given back to Snuneymuxw 

The province contributed nearly $26 million to buy the former Howard Johnson Hotel site at 1 Terminal Ave. and return it to Snuneymuxw First Nation. It includes 2.67 hectares, part of the historic Sxwayxum village site, also known as Millstone River Village. The land is being returned under the Sarlequun Snuneymuxw Treaty of 1854.

The former hotel will be demolished in the near future as part of a site revitalization. MORE

THE FORMAL HANDOFF of the Unitarian Shelter to Nanaimo Family Life is now complete after major improvements to the building on Townsite Road. The shelter has capacity for 25 people every night, plus additional beds on short-notice, short-term situation. Fund raising for structural and equipment upgrades brought in just under $300,000 under former director Paul Manly’s guidance. New director Erika Gagnon pointed to an air exchange unit, so important for the health and safety of guests and staff. A shower has also been installed. MORE

VIU PROTESTERS REMAIN. The deadline came and went and Pro-Palestinian protesters on the VIU campus refused to take down an encampment. VIU issued a trespass notice over the camp, warning of legal action if they did not leave by 8 a.m. Monday. MORE

NOT SO FAST – Lantzville won’t jump the gun on limiting natural gas as a primary heat source in new-home construction. Council vote 3-2 not to begin collecting baseline data in January and then require zero-carbon systems starting next June even before the province's mandatory change in 2030. MORE

WEB QUOTE– At some point we need to quit asking who needs to pay more taxes but ask where all the money is going.

July 15, 2024

We need to change

the way we do politics

After Saturday’s assassination attempt on Donald Trump it becomes even more urgent that we take a second look at the way we do politics.

Hopefully that happens immediately now that we have just under 100 days left in the general election campaign in our province.

In my Perspective on Thursday I raised the danger of spreading hate in politics. It’s not only in places like the U.S., we have it right here, across Canada and in our province.

You can feel the hatred against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, even from some from within his own party.

The U.S. Democrat Party immediately pulled campaign ads off the air and is vowing to tone down the rhetoric. No more Hitler or fascist labelling, we hope.

We have incendiary campaign commercials here. An NDP ad airing last week focuses on Conservative leader John Rustad and United leader Kevin Falcon attacking them personally, tying them together like Dr. Evil and Frankenstein, questioning their integrity rather than talking about policy.

The former BC Liberals for years campaigned against the leader of the NDP rather than the issues. All parties are guilty.

The most recent poll shows the NDP and Conservatives in a dead heat to win the October election at 37 per cent each.

Recent election ads attack the individual. David Eby and John Rustad are not bad people, it’s their policies that should be the debate. Both of them have only the best of intentions for our province, with different interpretations of how to get there. Attaching labels like far-right or far-left extremist are the problem.

All parties and many speakers are guilty. They need to look at what they are putting out to the public, some of which borders on hate speech. Somewhere down the line they have been convinced that these types of attacks work. They need to quit accusing and start debating.

What happened in Pennsylvania is a wake up call for everyone, B.C., Canada and the U.S. Are we listening? All it takes is a single deranged person swallowing the hate message and striking out.

A classic example close to home has a University of British Columbia professor posting on social media wishing the assassination attempt on Trump had been successful. Dr. Karen Pinder posted saying, “Damn, so close. Too bad” screenshots of Pinder’s account show. Then, in response to a reply wishing the shooter had better aim, Pinder said, “What a glorious day it could have been.”

That’s all it takes.

July 14, 2024

Pipers Lagoon fire

'just plain stupid'

Mayor Leonard Krog has a message for those responsible for Friday night’s fire at Pipers Lagoon Park. “They should be ashamed of themselves,” he told GlobalTV. He added that anyone, no matter how young, setting off fireworks at one of our public parks which is not easily accessible by firefighters is just plainly stupid. Four fire trucks and a wildland fire truck responded to the blaze which charred a lot of the vegetation in the park. The fire was believed to have been started by youths setting off fireworks. MORE

DRAGON BOATS BEACHED – It was a rescue mission Saturday to save the Nanaimo Dragon Boat Regatta but Mother Nature played havoc with plans. High wind and rough water forced the shutdown. The long-running festival had been transferred to Victoria for financial reasons but local people put things together at the last minute to hold some races on Saturday. Eight races were run before the decision to shut down was made and competition ended before 3 p.m.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH – Pro-Palestinian protesters have until Monday to leave the VIU Nanaimo campus or they will face an injunction. VIU has issued a trespass notice telling them to vacate their encampment on the campus by 8 a.m. Monday. If protesters are not gone by then the university will seek an injunction against the camp and sue for damages from protesters if the camp isn’t dismantled by the deadline. MORE

WEB QUOTE – A smart person will change his/her view if new information contradicts their belief. An indoctrinated person lacks that ability. He/she are conditioned to dismiss facts.

July 13, 2024

Midtown water system goes online

The new Midtown water system  will begin with flushing the new system next on Monday and Tuesday. The new water supply main will supply water for two-thirds of Nanaimo. It’s part of broader drinking water infrastructure upgrades, including replacing the existing prestressed concrete pressure pipe underneath Bowen Road. This is the same type of pipe that recently failed in Calgary. The new pipeline eliminates the last of the prestressed concrete pressure pipe in Nanaimo.

PIPERS LAGOON FIRE ­ – Youths setting off fireworks are believed responsible for a fire at Pipers Lagoon Park Friday night. Emergency calls were received just before 11 p.m. after a large group of youth were seen lighting fireworks on the beach. Winds from the ocean whipped up flames, causing the fire to spread quickly. Witnesses told NanaimoNewsNOW that about 30 people fled quickly when the flames erupted. MORE

 A RIDE ON HMCS NANAIMO – A couple of days ago we looked at how the crew of our navy ship are recognized, even if we never get to see them close up. If you’ve wondered what it’s like to serve on our namesake Canadian Navy vessel, a new YouTube video has a very informative front-row look at 72 hours aboard the ship going from Nanaimo as far north as Alaska for training with the U.S. Coast Guard. The video has had more than half a million views so far. It’s in two parts, each about an hour-long. You can’t buy that kind of exposure. Check it out HERE.

THE PRE-ELECTION cash register is ringing up cash for community gaming grants for non-profits on Vancouver Island and the coast. Nanaimo MLA Sheila Malcolmson said the Riptides Swim Team is one of many that will keep people active and connected. This funding for the sports sector is part of $140 million provided annually through Community Gaming Grants to not-for-profit organizations throughout British Columbia helping approximately 5,000 organizations to deliver programs and services in their communities. The full list of recipients for this round of sports sector funding is available HERE

PERSPECTIVE – The name-calling and labelling have begun. Political parties don’t seem to  recognize that for every “far-right extremist” they accuse, they are a mirror of “far-left extremists.” Denigrating anyone serves no purpose other than to divide people. A lot of the problems facing our province are neither left wing or right wing, they are political problems and a lack of will or ability to solve them. Our messed up health care system is not a left or right problem. Closed emergency rooms in rural areas have nothing to do with ideology but with the inability of those in charge to solve the problem. MORE

 WEB QUOTE – Don’t ever let anyone tell you that fairy tales are not real. I drink a potion made from magic beans every morning at it brings me back to life.

July 12, 2024

Ferry sailings back on

Two ferry sailings have been re-instated after being cancelled earlier today. The

11:25 am departing Horseshoe Bay
1:40 pm departing Departure Bay are back on schedule. A mechanical problem initially led to cancellation of four sailings between Horseshoe and Departure bays. All other sailings on the route are expected to sail as scheduled. As of 9 a.m., the Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay route is sold out for the three upcoming sailings, with the next available sailing being at 6:20 p.m. Leaving Departure Bay, the next available sailing is 4 p.m. MORE

LEARNING NEVER STOPS – Mid Island Elder College is ready for fall registration offering learners over 50. The program has rebuilt after VIU cut off support last year. It offers 60 courses for the fall semester from September to November, with topics ranging from astronomy to mysticism. Registration starts July 15. MORE

WHEN YOU SEE A FIRE you jump into action. That was the response of a pair of workers when they spotted a brush fire on south Haliburton Street Thursday. Andrew Brydle saw white smoke and so he and Wyatt Purvis jumped into action with a garden hose and fire extinguisher. That was enough for a Nanaimo Fire Rescue crew to do the rest.  MORE

SANDCASTLES ON THE BEACH – Parksville’s world-renowned Sand Sculpting Competition and  Exhibition launches today with participants creating 29 sand masterpieces. They have 24 hours to complete their work using a share of more than 300 yards screened sand. Awards will be presented Sunday to the top five finishers in each category. Just over 108,000 people viewed the sand sculptures last year. Viewing begins Monday and runs through Aug. 18 by donation from 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. daily. MORE

WEB QUOTE – Today if Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz ran into men with no brains, no heart and no courage, she wouldn’t be in Oz, she’d be in Ottawa.

New housing projects spring up across Nanaimo

Another multi-family housing development is slated for the north end. City council approved a rezoning application on Monday from Tony Harris Developments Inc. for 5360 Bergen-Op-Zoom Dr. to allow medium-density residential. The project has two five-storey buildings with 168 units between the Old Island Highway and Bergen-Op-Zoom Drive MORE.

TOWN HOME PROJECT – Councillors also granted a development permit for a 34-unit town home development at 4670 Hammond Bay Rd. Fifteen buildings range from 2,000 to 2,400 square feet, all three bedrooms plus a flex room. Access is off Ney Drive. MORE

SIMPLY SHOCKING ­Imagine relaxing and getting your nails touched up and a car smashes right into the building? Nanaimo Fire Rescue, B.C. Ambulance and RCMP responded after an electric car made an unscheduled entry at a Nanaimo nail salon Thursday mid-afternoon. There were no injuries at the Bowen Road location. The vehicle apparently jumped the curb as it pulled into a parking stall and crashed through the front entrance glass door and window. MORE

COSTCO MEMBERSHIP FEES are going up Sept. 1. When you renew or get a new membership it will cost you more in both Canada and the U.S. Canadians with individual, business or business add-on memberships will see their fees go up by $5 to $65. Executive memberships will be $10 more, to $130. MORE

WEB QUOTE – If at first you don’t succeed do it the way your wife told you.

July 11, 2024

Dragon boat races

back this weekend

The dragon boat festival has caught a second wind and will be back at Maffeo Sutton Park this Saturday. The event was moved to Victoria for financial reasons but V.I. Paddling and the Downtown Nanaimo Business Association worked together to salvage a one-day Nanaimo Dragon Boat Regatta this weekend. Twenty-member vessels will compete in 200-metre races.

Saluting the crew

of the HMCS Nanaimo

Ron Hopper of the Friends of HMCS Nanaimo reports that local supporters have created an award recognizing the ship’s crew member of the month. VAdm Nigel Brodeur suggested the award to remember his late wife who was the ship sponsor and supported Navy personnel until her death last fall. A plaque features a photo of her and the parameters of the award.  It will hang in a place of honour on the ship. Hopper presented the plaque to LCdr Michael Vanderveer.

EARTHQUAKE OFF ISLAND – A 6.4 magnitude earthquake was reported by the U.S. Gealogical Survey at 7:08 a.m., 210 km west south west of Tofino. No damage reports have been received so far.

JUST A MINUTE – The next civic election can’t come soon enough. The Woke Warriors are running amok at city council. Coun. Ben Geselbracht is intent on bringing his ideological investment philosophy to the city’s $200-million portfolio. Councillors Brown, Manly, Hemmens and Eastmure backed his social investing philosophy at Monday’s council meeting. This is actually not new, the city already tried this in 2021, investing $2 million at the time and bailing out in 2023, after losing $33,000. MORE

A MATTER OF TIMING – A pilot program that created a departure and arrival window for cargo ships anchored off the Gulf Islands and eastern Vancouver Island is now permanent. The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority said the arrival and departure window for ships anchoring off seaside communities, along the coast, is now the permanent standard for ship operators dealing with the Port of Vancouver.

GOING AFTER IMPAIRED DRIVERS – One in ten Vancouver Island drivers leading up to Canada Day weekend were impaired. Twenty four drivers were pulled off the road for impairment by alcohol, and two for impairment by drugs by BC Highway Patrol. Out of 256 roadside breath tests, 24 people were impairment by alcohol, and two for impairment by drugs. Insp. Chad Badry with the BCHP said it’s scary when that many drivers are impaired but fortunate that they were pulled off the road before they hurt themselves or other people. MORE

THE RECENT HOT WEATHER has raised the wildfire risk with lightning  in the forecast. There were 21 new starts in the last 24 hours, the BC Wildfire Service reported Wednesday, with 115 active fires. The northeast corner of the province remains the most active, but the fire danger rating is rapidly increasing across the south as well. A cold front forecast to sweep across parts of the province could bring strong winds, thunderstorms and possible dry lightning. Dozens of fires in the province are classified as out of control. MORE

WILFFIRE EVACUATION ALERT – The Fort Nelson First Nation has issued a wildfire evacuation order for the reserve. Residents and visitors were told they had to leave by boat immediately. The BC Wildfire Service said the five-hectare blaze is believed to have been caused by lightning. MORE

STUDENT SUMMER JOBS – It’s going to be a tough job for students seeking summer employment. The June labour force survey by Statistics Canada shows the unemployment rate for youth 15-24 rose nearly a full percentage point to 13.5 per cent. That is affecting students during what should be the busy summer job season. The unemployment rate among students is at its highest level since 1998. MORE

WEB QUOTE – They always call it a conspiracy, but they never call it a lie.

July 10, 2024

Let's just create

another committee

Bureaucracy is a stumbling block in dealing with governments. City council approved a lease for a south-end property to B.C. Housing but not before they added a few more hurdles. Coun. Tyler Brown added a good neighbour agreement and creation of a community advisory committee. Only Mayor Leonard Krog opposed the change, noting that he personally signed the MOU and intends to keep up his end of the agreement and put a level of trust in B.C. Housing. He waxed Biblical bringing up the parable of the Good Samaritan. We have passed by the injured soul on the side of the road far too often and have made excuses for not wanting social housing nearby or not wanting to help people who have made bad decisions or are somehow unworthy. MORE

CHICKEN AND EGG SITUATION – which comes first, a new Operations Centre or a whole raft of other capital projects? City council has put a decision on hold on how to proceed with the $90-million project. The governance and priorities committee had recommended a one-shot borrowing decision to build the project, possibly saving as much as $10 million over a multi-phase option. Whatever the decision, we’ll go through another alternate approval process, possibly later this year. Also on the wish list are a new RCMP detachment, a south end community centre, and the waterfront walkway. MORE

AN UNWANTED DISTICTION. Nanaimo has three collision intersections on the top four list on Vancouver Island. ICBC data shows the Old Island Highway at Rutherford Road and Mostar Road had 73 collisions taking over from Aulds Road and Hammond Bay Road. The Parkway at the Jingle Pot Road had twice as many crashes – 68 – compared to 2023. Check out the full list HERE

CAMPFIRES AND OPEN FIRES are banned across the province as of noon Friday. The ban is brought about by weather conditions increasing the risk of new wildfire starts. BC Wildfire Service labels the fire danger rating in the majority of the province as high, with pockets of extreme and moderate fire danger. In addition to open fires, fireworks, sky lanterns, burn barrels and tiki torches are also verboten. Outdoor stoves are allowed. MORE

EMERGENCY SITUATION. – Multiple emergency room closures in the Interior this past weekend were unavoidable due to an above-average number of health-care workers calling in sick. Health Minister Adrian Dix said the province has a number of measures in place to prevent them including incentives to fill shifts and locum programs – but those systems aren’t nimble enough to respond to a surge in last-minute sick calls. Dix said there have been an average of 20,000 workers out sick, a number he said is high enough that it presents problems. He noted that absences averaged about 9,000 per week pre-pandemic. MORE

WEB QUOTE – Never, never ever apologize for doing your best.

July 9, 2024

NEW HEAT RECORDS –  Heat records continued to fizzle under Monday’s bright sunshine, setting new standards across the province. Nanaimo set a new record on Sunday, reaching 33.3 C, surpassing the 2010 mark of 32.2 C by more than a full degree. Two dozen records were broken across B.C. Monday after more than 20 were broken on Sunday. Environment Canada reported the oldest record for July 8 was in Lytton, where it got as hot as 42.4 C. beating the 1952, when the mercury rose to 39.4 C.

THE FREE AIR CONDITIONER program at BC Hydro has been speeded up as the province battles a heat wave. The application process has been simplified and more installers have been added. There is now also a do-it-yourself option to speed things up and get the unit into homes faster. Even then it could take until mid-August to have one operating in your home. MORE

B.C. HAS SPENT $16 million sending cancer patients to the U.S. for radiation therapy over the past year. Around 600 people with breast cancer or prostate cancer got treatment at private facilities in Bellingham, since last May. B.C. Cancer data shows 801 patients completed radiation therapy in Bellingham. The wait for radiation therapy is improving, with B.C. Cancer reporting that 80 per cent of cancer patients are receiving radiation within the four-week clinical benchmark but we’re still one of the worst performing provinces for meeting a 28-day benchmark, well below the national average of 94 per cent. MORE

HEY, IT’S NOT LOCAL, but a great example. The Guru Nanak Food Bank in Surrey did it up big time on Sunday, collecting 384.5 tonnes of donations. Neeraj Walia, head of operations, said pasta, rice, flour, soup, was donated by the community, none of it  with outside funding. "Not a single penny is from the government. It's by the people, for the people," added Walia. MORE

WEB QUOTE – People who are concerned about an increase in artificial intelligence should be more concerned about the decrease in real intelligence.

July 8, 2024

Port strike notice

ruled illegal by Labour Relations Board

CARGO AND PASSENGER operations at B.C.’s ports will continue after the Canada Industrial Relations Board found a looming strike by a union representing ship and dock foremen contravenes the Canada Labour Code. The BCMEA said in a news release on Saturday that it had asked the CIRB to divert the upcoming strike against DP World Canada. The decision found the union failed to bargain in good faith when it issued a strike notice based on a vote conducted among employees of only one member employer of the BCMEA. MORE

A NEW HEAT RECORD –  Nanaimo set a new high temperature record for July 7, reaching 33.3 C, surpassing the 2010 mark of 32.2 C by more than a full degree. Other Island communities also set new standards – Qualicum Beach, Port Alberni and the Malahat. The mercury at the Port Alberni airport reached 34.8°C, beating the old record of 33.3 degrees in 2010. Environment Canada says the heat will lessen Tuesday night but there’s nothing but sun in the seven day forecast. MORE

A MAGNITUDE 5.2 EARTHQUAKE was registered about 200 km west of Tofino this morning. The U.S. Geological Survey reported the quake just after 7 a.m.

CONGRATULATIONS TO Ann Marie Clark of Steve Marshall Ford who is the first woman to chair the New Car Dealers Association of B.C. She moved up the ranks and was previously vice-chairman and treasurer, and it's an association she believes in. MORE

B.C. FERRIES HAS SHUFFLED THE DECK for Gabriola summer sailings with two late-afternoon and evening sailings on Fridays. Until Aug. 30, there is a 5:40 p.m. sailing from Nanaimo and a 6:15 p.m. leaving Descanso Bay. The two sailings replace the 7:05 a.m. from Descanso Bay and the 7:35 a.m. from Nanaimo Harbour. For more information on routes and ferry service, go to www.bcferries.com.

FIGHTING BACK – Merritt Mayor Michael Goetz is threatening to withhold health-care payments to the province over lack of reliable service. Nicola Valley Hospital emergency room was shut down for 48 hours over the weekend until 8 a.m. Tuesday. The hospital had more than a dozen temporary closures of its emergency room last year, most of them attributed to physician or other staffing shortages. MORE

WEB QUOTE – I got a call from a telemarketer and he said he couldn’t understand me. I said, press 1 for English.

July 7, 2024

Record temperatures on the way for British Columbia

A heat wave expected to push temperatures into the low 40s in the coming days brought heat warnings this morning. Environment Canada warns that the worst is expected to start Sunday and last into next week. Health Minister Adrian Dix says vulnerable people such as seniors experiencing a heat-related emergency are encouraged to call 911. MORE

JUST A MINUTE – I often have to bite my tongue while commenting on issues. Here’s an example. Fraser Health is offering free drug safety testing for people attending a music festival in the Lower Mainland. It’s free and confidential. How much easier can it get? How much of that will then be sold inside the festival with a "certificate of authenticity?" How long before our government starts handing out free drugs? Oh, they already do.

SHIP AND DOCK FOREMEN have issued 72-hour strike notice against DP World Canada, which includes the Port of Nanaimo. It will begin on Monday at 4:30 p.m. The International Longshore and Warehouse Union said last month that 99 per cent of the nearly 600 longshore foremen who voted opposed a final offer from the employers association. MORE

THE PROVINCE IS CHARGING UP the Island’s electric grid with $3 billion in the next decade for new power lines, electrical stations and infrastructure. That includes upping the capacity of power lines in several high-growth areas like Nanaimo and across the South Island. A new substation is slated in Langford and the end-of-life underground cables in Greater Victoria's core communities will be replaced. Officials said the new substation will be able to power up to 70,000 new homes and will be the second largest in the Capital Region.  MORE

WHEN YOU’RE PACKING a mighty load of illicit tobacco don’t go a-drinking with driving on your mind, even if very slowly. The BC Highway Patrol found $400,000 worth of contraband tobacco in the Duncan area after they pulled over a pickup for suspected impaired driving along the Trans-Canada Highway. The truck was towing a cargo trailer and was well under the speed limit, but was having difficulty staying in its lane. After police pulled over the truck, they spotted 46 cases of unstamped and untaxed cigarettes worth $400,000 retail and $250,000 in tax revenue. MORE

NANAIMO’S CHALLENGING treed mountain bike trails got a serious workout as 500 mountain bikers put it to the test as part of a week-long mountain biking adventure. The B.C. Bike Race, now in it’s 18th year, is a gruelling seven-day challenge up and down Vancouver Island. Close to 500 riders from 36 countries staged at Barsby, finishing at Westwood Lake. Bikes came from many countries, including Spain, France, and Germany. MORE

WEB QUOTE – Everyone is entitled to an opinion but not his/her own facts.

July 6, 2024

WE JUST CAME THROUGH a long weekend, and here we go again with a fantastic few days with nothing sunshine. We may soon forget what a real work week feels like.

LOOKING FOR A SWINGER – Police would like to hear from witnesses to an altercation between two drivers, where one assaulted the other. It happened on May 27 at the parking lot of the 7-Eleven store at the corner of Fifth Street and Bruce Avenue. Both men got out of their vehicles, and one hit the other man in the back with a baseball bat and smashed the man’s windshield .MORE

THE EARTH MOVED AGAIN at about 8:30 today in the ocean some 240 km west of Tofino. It registered 5.0 in magnitude. There was no tsunami information with the announcement.

VICTORIA CITY COUNCIL REJECTED a proposal Thursday to compensate victims of street disorder. Coun. Stephen Hammond said taxpayers are frustrated by growing property taxes and costs associated with street disorder and crime. Providing compensation could mitigate that, Hammond proposed. He said the city had previously done something similar, reimbursing businesses whose windows were broken. After the meeting was moved behind closed doors for legal advice, council came bac and rejected the motion 5-4 without discussion.

NO PRAYER IN PARKSVILLE ­– The City of Parksville has agreed not to include an inaugural prayer during its inaugural meetings after municipal elections. The BC Humanist Association threatened a legal challenge against the city, in a letter in April saying it was in “breach of the duty of religious neutrality” because Parksville includes an “explicitly Christian” prayer at its inaugural meetings each time a new council was voted in. As an aside, I wonder if the traditional Snuneymuxw blessing at new Nanaimo councils will also be challenged. MORE

THREE MINISTERS WON’T RUN – Three veteran cabinet ministers will say goodbye to the Legislature when their terms end before the October provincial election. Harry Bains, Bruce Ralston and Rob Flemingannounced they will not seek re-election. All three have served five terms in the legislature, first being elected in 2005. MORE

WEB QUOTE – Now that I’m older I am very fortunate that I have someone call and check on me every day. He’s from India and very concerned about my computer security.

RCMP make drugs and weapons arrests

A Nanaimo man has been charged with 15 weapons- and drug-related offenses. Roger Ian Der, 44, has been charged with Possession of a firearm contrary to his probation order, careless storage of a firearm, five counts of trafficking and fail to comply with his probation order.In another case, proactive patrols busted drug dealers in action downtown resulting in three suspects being charged and one held in custody. See full stories HERE.

UNITARIAN SHELTER RENOVATIONS are complete after three months and close to $300,000 spent. The shelter will celebrate its re-opening and the transfer to the Nanaimo Family Life Association at an Open House Saturday, July 13. The fundraising campaign began in December to bring the shelter into compliance with building and fire codes. It now has new flooring, insulation between floors, an air exchange unit as well as the addition of the washroom with a shower and space for health care teams. MORE

AVOID HE HEAT – High temperatures around 30 degrees for at least a week must be taken seriously. Medical Health Officer. Dr. Murray Fyfe warns these conditions could lead to poor health outcomes. “That’s when people start to develop signs of heat-related illness, it comes on quicker for people who are more vulnerable, but it can affect everybody. High-risk populations such as the elderly, the very young and those with chronic and certain mental health conditions should minimize their exposure. So enjoy but be careful. MORE

RONALD JOSEPH CAMPBELL, 42, has been charged with first-degree murder in the May, 2021 death of Yasin Khan in the parking lot of a Wendy's restaurant at Rock City Centre. The investigation involved other agencies, including Nanaimo serious crime section, forensic services, and the B.C. Prosecution Service, as well as information from the public. MORE

STUDENTS WILL LEARN about evidence-gathering, analysis and hypothesis to reconstruct a crime in a new course approved by the school board. It will examine basic principles and knowledge that guides forensic laboratory processes, such as DNA testing, toxicology and material analysis. Students will also learn about forensic science and its role after a crime. The legal system, evidence, rudimentary techniques at crime scenes and evidence preservation will be among topics in the four-credit course. It is hoped the class may lead to careers in law enforcement. MORE

UPDATE - a 5.7 magnitude quake was registered at 8:15 a.m. today 232 km west south west Tofino. Earilier, Earthquakes Canada reported two minor quakes off Vancouver Island yesterday, but they barely moved the needle. The first at 12:59 p.m. had a 3.9-magnitude and another, at 4.1-magnitude, at 1:12 p.m. It says the first earthquake wasn't felt. The United States Geological Survey reported five low-magnitude quakes in quick succession, the biggest at 4.7. MORE

LADYSMITH CRASH INJURES FOUR ­–Ladysmith RCMP seek witnesses after a two-vehicle collision on Tuesday injured four people, including some seriously hurt. Both drivers and their passengers were taken to hospital with minor to serious injuries. MORE

JUST A MINUTE – U.S. wildlife officials plan to kill almost a half-million barred owls in order to save the spotted owl from extinction. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service strategy is meant to prop up declining spotted owl populations in Oregon, Washington State and California. About 450,000 barred owls would be shot over three decades after the birds from the eastern U.S. encroached into the West Coast territory of two owls.

QUOTABLE - Civil liberties must never outweigh personal responsibility.

GET READY TO TURN ON the air conditioner, the temperatures are going to sizzle with some areas expected to break records by week's end. Environment Canada forecasts the Central Island will be hot, climbing to 30°C by Saturday in Nanaimo, Duncan and further up-Island. Port Alberni will feel the heat, climbing to 31°C the next day.

A DRUG POISONING AND OVERDOSE advisory has been issued forNanaimo. Island Health Authority issued the advisory after seeing increased poisonings from unregulated drugs. Call 911 and stay with the person, give naloxone if available and give one breath every five seconds. For more information, visit Island Health's harm-reduction services page at http://ow.ly/FgyS50PLkLF to find information on supervised consumption sites, drug-checking services andmore.

IF THERE’S ONE CONSTANT ABOUT politics in our province it is that it is constantly changing. The resurgence of the B.C. Conservatives has even former BC Green Party leader Andrew Weaver buying in. He posted on social media that he believes the Conservatives will win the October election, saying the provincial Green Party is finished, and the NDP are bleeding support due to Premier David Eby being an “ideological know-it-all elitist who surrounds himself with sycophants." He said the only hope for BCUnited is an immediate leadership change or zero seats. “I recognize that some may not like the message, but it’s what I am seeing and hearing happening all around me. And this with people who have been long time NDP supporters, he posted.” MORE

A CONFIDENT JOHN RUSTAD brought his Conservative message to Ladysmith on Tuesday, discussing the former Ladysmith Community Marina's water lot transfer to the Stz'uminus First Nation's Coast Salish Development Corporation on Jan. 1. While cautioning that legal obstacles could stand in the way, Rustad said a Conservative government would take a different approach to economic reconciliation. Rustad is a former aboriginal relations minister and said when it comes to reconciliation both in Ladysmith and province-wide, a Conservative government would try to work at a "people-to-people" level.

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GOLF IS ALL ABOUT etiquette and courtesy. That was not the case in Burnaby on the weekend when police had to break up a royal rumble on the golf course involving numerous golfers – apparently prompted by some serious breaches in etiquette. Police found numerous golfers who had been involved in the altercation, said Cpl. Laura Hirst. One group claimed that they had almost been hit with a ball from the other group, and it happened more than once. A woman was pushed in the confrontation, suffering minor injuries. MORE

WEB QUOTE – It takes a big man to admit defeat – I am not a big man.

SO MUCH FOR THE FIRST HALF of the year, July heralds the beginning of the second half of 2024. And it promises to be eventful, particularly with a provincial election on the calendar. So the politicians will be chewing our ears off with some fact but a lot more hot air. Fasten your seat belts.

DON'T FORGET TO PAY – I hate to flog a dead horse, but the property tax deadline is today before the end of business hours at city hall. If you miss the deadline it will cost you a pile more than the already-high tab you're facing.

ALL ABOARD. Riding the choo choo used to have a certain cache to it. Those pining for nostalgia, head on down to Port Alberni where the trains are running again. The Western Vancouver Island Industrial Heritage Society has an agreement with the city to run the train three days a week. Tickets are eight bucks for adults and six bucks for seniors, kids and youth. The #11 Diesel Locomotive will run every weekend and the #102 Logging Crew Speeder will run on Mondays. Departure time is 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. throughout the summer on both trains. MORE

ALMOST TWO DOZEN HOMES were hit by by flash flooding in the Interior after heavy rain closed the Trans-Canada Highway near Kamloops. The regional district said no injuries or damage to critical infrastructure had been reported, but officials are working with residents of at least 20 homes that were affected by floodwaters. Savona-area residents reported sewage smells around their homes following the flooding. MORE

WESTJET AND ITS MECHANICS have reached a tentative agreement that ended a days-long strike but travel woes are not back to normal for all passengers. The airline was moving toward business as usual but warned there would be further disruptions over the coming weeks as operations returned to normal. Some of the destinations on the impacted flights include Los Cabos, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Toronto, Edmonton and Calgary. WestJet cancelled 78 scheduled flights across the country Monday, and an additional three on Tuesday. MORE

WHERE DO POLITICIANS park their brains after being elected? Manitoba NDP MP Niki Ashton has paid back part of the thousands of dollars she spent on a Christmastime trip for her and her family out of public funds.The trip cost more than $17,000 for a Christmas Day trip to Quebec City and Montreal. Her husband and two children flew from her northern Manitoba riding to Ottawa on Dec. 21, 2022. Then the family flew to Quebec City on Christmas Day “to meet with stakeholders about business of the House.” She’s paid back $2,900 so far but when is she going to pay for the balance? MORE

WEB QUOTE – I tried to follow the science but it simply was not there. Then I followed the money and that’s where I found the science.

AFTER ALL THE CELEBRATIONS, you can end the day with bathtub races in Departure Bay this afternoon. A bunch of racers are set to practise at around 4 p.m. The time of the races is governed by the tide. About 20 racers are expected for an exhibition bathtubs race starting and finishing at Departure Bay Beach. Commodore Greg Peacock says it a chance to warm up and test everything for the big race. MORE

NEARLY ONE HUNDRED people took part in the annual walk for Lisa Marie Young on Sunday. Young who has not been seen since disappearing in 2002. Supporters marched from the RCMP detachment to Maffeo Sutton Park. Despite the 22 years, community advocacy efforts are stronger than ever. Lisa Marie was 21-years-old when she vanished on June 30, 2002 after friends reported she accepted a ride with a man. RCMP Cpl. Markus Muntener said it is vitally important that people with knowledge about what happened to Young come forward. MORE

A TWO-VEHICLE COLLISION on the Alberni Highway sent one person to hospital via air ambulance Sunday morning. Emergency Health Services were called to the scene at 10:43 a.m. The Port Alberni Fire Department said it was a two-vehicle collision, west of Cathedral Grove. Along with the air ambulance, three ambulances with primary care and advanced care paramedics were on scene. An advanced care paramedic response unit also responded. MORE

WESTJET IS BACK IN THE AIR. The airline and striking union have agreed to binding arbitration. The union has withdrawn strike action and their members will return to work as scheduled to restore the network. WestJet had cancelled more than 800 flights over the weekend. The airline said it’s working to restore operations in a safe and timely manner, adding that returning to business-as-usual flying will take time and further disruptions over the coming weeks. MORE

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? Lytton is marking the third anniversary of being destroyed in a wildfire. Two people died and 90 per cent of buildings were totally destroyed. Despite the drawn out process of rebuilding, Mayor Denise O’Connor sees progress in the village, things starting to be rebuilt, creating a positive feeling.” MORE

WEB QUOTE – They say it’s never too late to start exercising . . . so I’ll wait until later.

Winds add to today’s B.C. fire concerns even as rain, cooler weather helps

B.C. designer puts her stamp on Olympic beach volleyball: uniformly

DNA test confirms Turpel-Lafond’s Indigenous heritage ‘most likely’: report

Cooling rain limiting wildfire spread in Jasper National Park

Rain, train sabotage loom as Paris welcomes world with Olympic opening

Olympic coach suspended, Canada Soccer probes ‘systemic ethical shortcoming’

Peninsula museum floats wildfire hangar plan ahead of Hawaii Mars landing

Shetland Creek wildfire: Evacuation alerts rescinded for Ashcroft, Cache Creek

Duncan catcher drafted by Miami Marlins

'We are no longer at the top': Crime statistics break-down for Kelowna

Health region to pay Kelowna physician $20K after mistreatment