Lauryn Mackenzie

Island Health is ramping up its Covid and Influenza vaccine campaign with free walk-in clinics for children between six months and 11 years of age.

Vancouver Island Univerisity gathered to remember the worst act of violent misogyny in Canadian history. It has been over 30 years since the École Polytechnique Montreal massacre that took the lives of 14 women on December 6th 1989. The day is a part of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign which begins November 25, the International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women and goes until December 10th, World Human Rights Day. The vigil at VIU had speakers, poets, a singer and a dancer. All gathered to honour the 14 women and those living through and those lost to gender-based violence.

Over the last week, the Nanaimo City Council has had the chance to discuss next year’s financial plan and on Monday Dember 4th, residents finally had their chance to speak. An E-town hall was held to present the draft financial plan and allow the city council to hear feedback from city residents. In the beginning, the audience was given an overview of what the drafted plan currently looks like. The audience gasped at the new projected 8 per cent property tax hike discussed at last Friday’s finance and audit committee meeting. Questions were asked about the Nanaimo Prosperity Corporation, the city’s borrow habits, what cuts the city are making, the budget around recreational services.

Nanaimo city council voted 7-2 to redo an Alternative Approval Process to take out a $48.5 million loan for a new public works yard in Nanaimo after the previous one run in November was found to have been done without giving proper notice.

The City of Nanaimo is looking at increasing property taxes by eight per cent in 2024 as of Friday’s finance and audit committee meeting.

Construction is near completion for phase two of the Albert / Fourth Complete Street project. Soon pedestrians, cyclists and drivers will have an easier and safer route between downtown and the Harewood area.Support local news reporting through our Nonprofit Newsroom with a monthly sustaining donation of $5 to $10 a month.Want more news on the Salish Sea? Find more news from our Nonprofit Newsroom with our local news updates and Midcoast Morning.

The pentl’ach (pronounced punt-lutch) language which was traditionally spoken in what is now Cape Lazo to Parksville and a little bit west of the areas, has officially become the 35th First Nations language recognized in British Columbia.

A controversial Alternative Approval Process to take out a $48.5 million loan for the first phase of a new public works yard was conducted improperly and needs to be run again,

Nanaimo city council is looking at restricting a property tax exemption designed to encourage new multi-unit residential buildings in the Old City and downtown.

The coastline is going to get a whole lot cleaner with the province announcing a new round of funding for coastal clean-up projects. Through the Clean Coast, Clean Waters initiative, eight projects were selected this year and are expected to clean more than 1,400 kilometres of shoreline and remove at least 70 derelict vessels. This funding is expected to create 630 new jobs in the process.

Nanaimo residents could see a possible 6.4 per cent increase in property tax next year. Last Wednesday, November 22nd, Nanaimo city council discussed a draft of the 2024-2028 financial plan.

Parksville city council heard from residents at a packed public hearing about the proposed location of a new mental health and/or addictions treatment facility at 188 McCarter Street on Wednesday.

A bylaw by the Regional District of Nanaimo to establish a community health and wellbeing service for Gabriola Island is going to an Alternative Approval Process to get the consent of Gabriolans to fund the estimated $103,000 needed to hire a full-time coordinator.

Nanaimo City Council voted in favour of a motion to send a letter to all BC MLAs and the UBCM in support of a draft amendment they would like to see towards the recently announced Bill 44

Dozens of people held a candlelight vigil for Transgender Day of Remembrance at the historic Bastion in downtown Nanaimo on Monday, Nov. 20.

The Vancouver Island Short Film Festival is looking for budding young filmmakers for a new Youth Showcase.

The Town of Ladysmith is looking at redesigning its “cacophony” of a flag. 

Over 50 members of local governments in British Columbia, including several from Central Vancouver Island, have signed an open letter calling on the Canadian government to call for a ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

On Monday, Nov. 6, Parksville city council unanimously passed a motion requesting that the province exempt lands in the city designated for resorts, tourist commercial use, the downtown waterfront and restricted recreation areas from Bill 35, which bans short-term rentals on properties other than the owner’s principal residence.

Nanaimo Fire Chief Tim Doyle painted a dire picture of the overdose crisis to Nanaimo city council on Monday.