News Impacting Central and North Vancouver Island
NORTH ISLAND
Sara Klatt and Katie Hoedt
Port Hardy Recreation has two new Community Outreach Coordinators, Sara Klatt and Katie Hoedt.
The Port Hardy Primary Health Care Centre has welcomed two new skilled physicians, Dr. Ramiz S. Alhadi and Dr. Hadi Awad Hmoud to their team.
The World Cafe Wellness Fair is coming to the Civic Centre in Port Hardy on June 25 – 26.
The Regional District of Mount Waddington announced an employment opportunity for a Parks & Recreation Manager. Closing date is June 27, 2024 @ 4 pm.
The Port Hardy Recreation Centre is celebrating the grand reopening of their pool on June 30th.
CAMPBELL RIVER
Representatives from Sealand Flight, Sealand Aviation, City of Campbell River – Local Government, North Island College, Pacific Economic Development Canada, and the Province of BC. @facebook
On June 14th, Ian Lamont and Edwin Clements made history on Canada’s first electric flight lesson in Campbell River. Sustainable aviation is now open for business with Sealand Flight!
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Quantum Technology Corp. and NTE Discovery Park LTD to co-develop environmentally friendly hydrogen manufacturing facilities in Campbell River.
Kim Dougan has joined Vanessa Monteith-Hird & Associates real estate team with RE/MAX Check Realty.
The Campbell River Chamber of Commerce is looking for a treasurer to join their Board of Directors in July.
Marine Link Tours is celebrating their 30th Season. As part of #oceanweek festivities, on June 3rd, over 250 people joined in the celebrations with Guy Adams, owner and crew. With Marine Link’s donation of $2,500 combined with the public’s donations onboard, $3,960 was raised for the Discovery Passage Aquarium!
The City of Campbell River is upgrading the audio-visual system in Council Chambers to enhance the meeting experience. The new system will benefit both in-person and remote participants, providing a clearer view and improved playback. Special thanks to Terry Sommerville who has provided audio-visual support for the City’s Council meetings for several years. Sommerville stepped down from this role after the June 4, 2024, Regular Council meeting.
The City of Campbell River hs published their annual report for 2023 here.
COMOX VALLEY
The Comox Valley Regional District is accepting applications for a full-time Building Official Level l or ll to join their Building Services team. This is a chance to speak to industry leaders and colleagues on your emerging issues and suggest how BCCSA can better serve and assist you.
The Dr. Allan Duncan Pritchard Legacy Bursary awards will be presented by members of the college’s board at award ceremonies at secondary institutions on Vancouver Island. According to the college, students who enrol in NIC could receive $30,000 to support their education.
Johns Bedrooms is relocating to its new permanent location at Unit 3 – 468 29th Street, Courtenay in July. Currently, it is located temporarily in Unit 1- 2998 Kilpatrick Avenue, Courtenay.
With over $8 million in provincial support from the ChildCareBC New Spaces Fund, Comox Valley Schools celebrated the grand opening of their new child care facilities in Arden and Glacier View Elementary Schools.
Hot Chocolates celebrates 33 years in business.
The Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce invites proposals from qualified professional consultants to undertake polling work as part of our Business Retention and Expansion Program.
K’ómoks First Nation will be presenting National Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations at the Comox Valley Exhibition Grounds from 2 pm until 9 pm on June 21st.
Congrats to Land & Sea Brewing Co. for their big wins at the 2024 Canadian Brewing Awards in Hamilton, ONT. They won the Cream Ale Gold Award for their Glacier Cream Ale and the North American Style Pale Ale Silver Award for their Portside Pale Ale.
TOFINO – UCLUELET
The British Columbia Restaurant and Foodservices Association (BCRFA) announced the 2024 inductees into the BC Restaurant Hall of Fame including Jay Gildenhuys of the Shelter Restaurant in Tofino.
Little Beans, an infant-toddler centre located at 1604 Peninsula Road, was officially opened to the public by the Ucluelet and Area Child Care Society.
The Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ Government, in collaboration with the Toquaht Nation, held a special ribbon cutting ceremony, to celebrate the completion of the final 1.2 km segment between the southern boundary of Pacific Rim National Park Reserve and the Highway 4 junction.
A three-story structure with 37 units, Headwaters South, is scheduled to open this fall in Tofino, while a four-story apartment complex with 35 units, Headwaters North, launched late last year. The federal government contributed $9.4 million and BC Housing $7.9 million for the two buildings.
PORT ALBERNI
Alison Dahlie Griffin is thrilled to announce the opening of House of Dahlie in the historic Woodward’s sporting goods building, located on Third Avenue at Mar street in Uptown Port Alberni.
On June 19, the Vancouver Island Regional Library branch in Port Alberni, located at 4255 Wallace Street, will conduct a “Living Library” event organized by the Port Alberni Community Action Team.
Two CleanBC Industry Fund grants for feasibility studies into two sustainable business initiatives aimed at reducing dependency on fossil fuels have been allocated to Paper Excellence in Port Alberni.
Nova Harvest, a manufacturer of shellfish seeds, and Huu-ay-aht First Nations Fisheries will be able to increase their processing capacity at the Dock Plus facility by three thousand square feet thanks to a nearly $3 million grant announced by the BC Agriculture Investment Fund.
Port Alberni Parks Recreation and Culture and the Alberni Valley Bulldogs have teamed up once again to bring back Bulldogs Hockey School.
PARKSVILLE – QUALICUM BEACH
Impact Makers Gala, hosted by Society of Organized Services, earned $82,000 for PQB elders to age in place, maintain social connections and receive emergency financial support.
A sand sculpting competition presented by Quality Foods will kick off the Parksville Beach Festival’s community park on July 12. The event will continue until August 18.
Innovate Dance Arts in Parksville is celebrating 50 years in business.
The Hawaii Mars will take its final flight in August, then temporarily housed, while waiting on an aerial firefighting exhibit to be built at the BC Aviation Museum.
NANAIMO
Kyle Catherall, who previously served as a sales consultant at Kelowna Kia, has been promoted to the position of sales manager at Woodgrove Chrysler.
Sandy Sjolie has joined the team at Nanaimo Hearing Clinic.
The Hospital Employees’ Union (HEU) announced the appointment of Lynn Bueckert as its secretary-business manager.
The Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) will be managing the day-to-day operations of the Cedar Heritage Centre in Electoral Area A effective July 1, 2024. The RDN is taking this role over from the Cedar School and Community Enhancement Society (CSCES). The focus for CSCES then shifted to saving the former North Cedar Elementary School, located on the new Cedar Secondary School lands. The Society was again successful in their endeavor and saved the former elementary school building. The RDN took ownership of the building in 2000 and continues to lease the land it is located on from the Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools (School District 68).
The Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) is seeking Statements of Qualifications from competent service providers that are interested in entering into a contract to manage and oversee the Gabriola Island Health and Wellbeing Service. Contact the Regional District of Nanaimo’s Planner, Development and Emergency Services, Kayla Harris, with any enquiries or comments.
From July 2nd to September 15th, the second-level parkade at the Pioneer Waterfront Plaza at the Nanaimo Downtown Marina will be closed for maintenance upgrades.
Woodfibre LNG has decided to relocate its floatel workcamp from Nanaimo to the Howe Sound site. Additionally, the company has agreed to adhere to the order from the B.C. Environmental Assessment Office, which requires them to accommodate non-local workers on the floatel.
The WiC Nanaimo is having its 10th Anniversary celebration on July 10th at the Nanaimo Golf Club.
The Nanaimo city council has approved Kenmore Developers Ltd.’s 47-unit multi-family development at the intersection of Holly Avenue and Rosehill Street.
The Gabriola Environmentally Responsible Trans Island Express (GERTIE) will receive two new electric cars, comparable to HandyDart models, courtesy of funding from Infrastructure Canada‘s rural transit solutions fund. The vehicles are scheduled to arrive in summer of 2025, as announced on June 10th.
The building that was formerly the Salvation Army Red Shield Centre at 19 Nicol St will be replaced by a four-story, 26-bed facility designed by MacDonald Hagarty Architects Ltd., complete with a commercial kitchen and personal care facilities.
City council in Nanaimo has approved a development permit for a commercial car wash at 3180 Island Highway North, which is located near Country Club Centre and next to Dairy Queen.
The Dinghy Dock Pub, which comprises the eatery, the boat that takes patrons to the establishment, and a residence on Protection Island, is up for sale for $4.8 million.
In collaboration with VICA, SICA, NRCA, and VRCA, the British Columbia Construction Association (BCCA) has introduced the Builders Life TalentCentral, a new online job board designed specifically for the construction sector that facilitates the effective matching of job seekers and employers.
LADYSMITH – CHEMAINUS
Bayview Brewing recently earned the bronze medal at the Canadian Brewing Awards in Hamilton, Ontario, solidifying their place in Canadian brewing history.
A new and distinctive residential complex has been developed by Frank and Mike Crucil, the new owners of the old rundown Dalby’s Service Centre on the corner of Forward Road and Dogwood Drive.
COWICHAN – DUNCAN
Cap-it Duncan has recently opened in the Parhar Business Park in South Duncan. Franchise owners Brad & Laurie Banasch are proud to open to serve the Cowichan Valley providing truck canopies, roof & bike racks, suspension lift kits, lighting, trailer hitches, overlanding gear, and much more.
The Unsworth Vineyards in the Cowichan Valley have been making waves at international wine competitions. This year, the vineyard took home three awards from the International Wine Challenge and International Wine & Spirits Competition 2024: silver medals for its 2021 Cowichan Valley Chardonnay and 2021 Saison Vineyard Pinot Noir, and bronze for its 2021 Cowichan Valley Pinot Noir.
Small Block Brewery has closed its doors after 6 years in business.
The Fickle Pickle, owned by Jenni Oliver, has recently opened at 120 Station St. in Duncan.
The Aging Well Expo, happening on June 19 at the Cowichan Community Centre, will be hosted by Volunteer Cowichan.
Lil’s Tea An-Tiques, owned by Linda Henry, recently opened at 56 South Shore Rd. in Lake Cowichan.
The Board of Education for the Cowichan Valley School District and Quw’utsun Syuw’entst Lelum/Cowichan Tribes have recently been honoured with a prestigious $10,000 Canadian School Boards Association (CSBA) National Partnership Reconciliation Award.
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