NANAIMO - A 31-year-old local man was fined and and had his vehicle towed and impounded after being caught driving impaired and excessively speeding. The incident occurred on April 14 at around 11 a.m. along the Nanaimo Parkway near the Mostar Rd. intersection when the northbound vehicle sped past an unmarked B.C. High...

PARKSVILLE - The province's independent police oversight agency is looking into potential actions of Oceanside RCMP officers following a March 24 arrest. The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. (IIO) say Mounties were dispatched to a Parksville motel on March 24, 2025 at around 8:40 p.m. after an abandoned 911 ca...

NANAIMO - A popular seasonal service is returning to the mid-Island this summer. Air Canada will add a non-stop flight between Nanaimo Airport and Toronto's Pearson International, departing every Friday and Saturday night at 11:30 p.m., beginning June 6 and running through the end of August. The inbound flight will lea...

NANAIMO - Eight kittens and adult cats are now under the care of the BC SPCA after being surrendered earlier this month.An animal protection officer took custody of the animals on April 10 from a property in Nanaimo, with the incident stemming from an investigation into irresponsible breeding practices.Eileen Drever, t...

NANAIMO - While ambitious plans to vastly expand Ravensong Aquatic Centre (RAC) appear to be history, a local committee will examine the facility's future. Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) board of directors voted on Tuesday, April 22 for the Oceanside Services Committee (OSC) to discuss the scope of potentially reno...

NANAIMO - A local man will avoid a criminal record if he behaves for the next year after being found guilty of punching a woman during a protest in front of City Hall in 2023. Nicholas James Matear, 34, was charged with one count of assault in relation to an incident on Oct. 21, 2023, where he punched 54-year-old Meado...

NANAIMO - The five candidates running to be the next Member of Parliament for the Nanaimo-Ladysmith riding will have the opportunity to make their case this week.Vancouver Island University is hosting a Candidates' Town Hall on Tuesday, April 22 beginning at 7 p.m. at the Malaspina Theatre where candidates will be taki...

NANOOSE BAY - A small island off the coast of central Vancouver Island is a little clearer for Earth Day thanks to the work of volunteers. Nearly 30 staff and volunteers with BC Marine Trails worked between April 10 to 13 to clear hundreds of tarp-loads of invasive English ivy from Gerald Island, around two kilometres ...

NANAIMO - Pushing back Nanaimo's annual fair by a month has been a well-received move, according to a Vancouver Island Exhibition (VIEx) representative. Michelle Solloway, director of social media & advertising, said they're excited to return with a Sept. 19-21, 2025 event at Beban Park Fairgrounds after switching ...

NANAIMO - How would local MP's work with community organizations, law enforcement and government leaders to address repeat violent offenders, promote rehabilitation and ensure public safety? NanaimoNewsNOW invited all 12 candidates running in a pair of mid-Island ridings to participate in a survey, asking them about th...

NANAIMO - With polls widely suggesting support for the NDP is fading, its leader is on Vancouver Island with one week to go in the election campaign. Jagmeet Singh, flanked by Nanaimo-Ladysmith incumbent Lisa Marie Barron, attended a news conference at Nanaimo's Maffeo Sutton Park on the morning of Monday, April 21. Si...

NANAIMO - Cruise season has officially begun in the Harbour City.The Europa 2, operated by German-based Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, docked in Nanaimo on Monday, April 21, where around 500 passengers prepared to disembark for adventures around central Vancouver Island.It docked near downtown Nanaimo shortly after 7 a.m. with t...

NANAIMO - While it's not a headliner by meteor shower standards, devoted stargazers will be looking upward this week. The peak of the annual Lyrid meteor shower takes place overnight on Monday and Tuesday, April 21/ 22, according to Vancouver Island University Astronomy professor Dr. Gregory Arkos. One of the oldest kn...

NANAIMO - Around 150 people gathered at Loudon Park on Saturday to make a clear and simple request of City Councillors: reconsider your decision about the park's future. Council voted 5-4 in favour in early April for an expansive development to include a 10,000 square foot boat storage building, washroom and community ...

NANAIMO - Additional funding is being provided to make the legacy of Japanese-Canadians visible on the mid-Island, spearheaded by an ambitious non-profit group based out of Nanaimo.The Central Vancouver Island Japanese Canadian Society, known as 7 Potatoes, asked for over $741,000 in funding to finish off a pair of loc...

NANAIMO - Advance polls for the 45th General Election open Friday. Four days of advance voting begins on Friday, April 18, running through Monday, April 21, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. each day. James Hale with Elections Canada said polling stations are outlined on Voter Information Cards, which were mailed out over recent w...

NANAIMO - While many people gather with their families to celebrate Easter, local mid-Island Rotary Clubs are getting ready for their largest annual trash collection.The Rotary Clubs of Nanaimo and Lantzville are holding their annual Environment Service Day, picking up garbage and beautifying Bowen Park, running on Sat...

NANAIMO - Bolstering cleanup capacity in response to encampments and social disorder around Nanaimo has been included as a 2025 budget line item. At a Wednesday, April 16, finance and audit committee meeting, City Council sided with advancing the hiring of a full-time superintendent in September, as well as more immedi...

NANAIMO - Police are looking to identify a woman who was walking a large dog in Lantzville this week. Mounties report a very large, grey dog with wiry hair resembling an Irish Wolfhound, bit a woman along Superior Rd., near the Island Hwy. on Wednesday, April 19 at around 10:30 a.m. Nanaimo RCMP Res. Cst. Gary O'Brien ...

PARKSVILLE - A local senior lost a considerable amount of money after falling victim to a convincing, and long-term cryptocurrency investment scam. The Parksville resident in his 70's alerted Oceanside RCMP to the situation in late March, which began several years ago with a $2,000 payment made through a cryptocurrency...

NANAIMO - A man accused of being involved in a gang-connected murder behind a local fast food restaurant will not be granted bail.Ronald Joseph Campbell's application was denied in B.C. Supreme Court in Nanaimo on Wednesday, April 16, following a half-hour decision rendered by justice Andrew Majawa.Campbell, 42, will r...

NANAIMO - How would local MP's advocate for critical infrastructure funding to support an increasing number of people moving to central Vancouver Island?NanaimoNewsNOW invited all 12 candidates running in a pair of mid-Island ridings to participate in a survey, asking them about their personal beliefs and opinions on k...

NANAIMO - A historic land settlement has concluded between the federal government and Snuneymuxw First Nation (SFN). In a video posted online on Monday, April 15, Chief Michael Wyse confirmed the federal government had paid $42 million as part of a settlement connected to 58.3 acres of land taken from the First Nation ...

NANAIMO - Vessel availability will result in some extra crowded vessels in and out of the Harbour City this Easter long weekend. BC Ferries is indicating a reduced fleet capacity due to some annual maintenance originally scheduled over the winter, but which got pushed back as a result of engine issues with some ships i...

NANAIMO - It's a good-news-bad-news situation for local residents when it comes to preserving the quality and integrity of underground gas infrastructure. The good news is Fortis BC reports the lowest number of gas line damage reported to them in the last 20 years, 779 province-wide in 2024, which represents an eight p...

NANAIMO - Police are looking for a suspect after a stabbing in downtown Nanaimo Monday afternoon sent one man to hospital with serious injuries.Mounties were called to the parking lot of the TD Bank at 9 Nicol St. behind the Port Place Shopping Centre just before 2:00 p.m. on April 14. Reserve. Cst. Gary O'Brien said a...

NANAIMO - An offender with a strong employment history turned to crime to feed his addiction, culminating in a high-profile crime wave south of Nanaimo, resulting in a face-to-face encounter with a homeowner. Tyrone Philip Reno Poulsen, 36, was sentenced in provincial court in Nanaimo on Friday, April 11 after he smash...

LANTZVILLE - A comprehensive process is pledged to form an active transportation plan in Lantzville, which a District official believes will vastly improve their chances of landing senior government grants. George Robinson, Lantzville's director of planning and community services, said creating an updated vision to imp...