News Impacting Central and North Vancouver Island
NORTH ISLAND
The Cormorant Island Community Health Centre, a 10-bed multi-level care facility, received $53,562 from the Cormorant Island Hospital Auxiliary Thrift Store for new furnishings.
Applications are now being accepted by Vancouver Island North Tourism for experiences and events scheduled for 2025 (and through March 31, 2026). Applicants can apply for the Events & Experiences Fund to receive up to $5,000.
Beginning June 2–5, in celebration of Women’s Golf Week at Seven Hills Golf & Country Club, CPGA professional Tara Roden will be offering a series of complimentary 90-minute introduction to golf clinics.
Kara Wilson of the Quatsino First Nation, is this year’s recipient of the Anitra Paris Female Youth Leadership Award.
CAMPBELL RIVER
Wisteria Boutique is holding a ladies night party and fashion show on May 30th.
Tiicma Enterprises recently acquired office space at 1250 Ironwood Street. KCFN and Tiicma have been leasing for the last 5 years.
The Ocean Week open house will be held on June 4 at the Campbell River campus of North Island College (NIC).
The Campbell River Community Foundation’s Endowment Fund received additional funding of $4,395.82 at the First Annual Spring CommuniTEA Party, which took place on May 4 and was hosted by Stonehouse Teas.
The Museum at Campbell River proudly announced the establishment of the Haig-Brown Reserve Fund on May 17 in the Haig-Brown Heritage House. This new project aims to preserve the site’s unique legacy and provide community-focused programming.
COMOX VALLEY
City Tile has opened a new showroom in Courtenay that is 12,000 square feet in size.
The Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce has secured $73,045 through the REDIP Economic Diversification stream to launch a Rural Business Retention and Expansion Project—turning community-driven research into action to support and strengthen Area C’s rural business economy. Read on here.
The $8.8-million Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) project, supported by the federal and provincial governments, the CVRD, and BC Transit, will provide transit exchanges and bus priority lanes to improve access and safety.
For a 30-acre parcel of surplus land in Cumberland, a Feasibility Study will identify development costs and best use scenarios to create jobs and meet demand for tourist accommodation and commercial development. The Village will receive $97,000 for this study.
TOFINO – UCLUELET
Maria Clark
Maria Clark of the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations has been named Tofino’s Business Leader of the Year.
Surfrider Foundation Canada has launched ReSurf, the country’s inaugural large-scale surf gear recycling initiative aimed at reducing surf-industry waste in landfills.
Wickaninnish Inn has been named the #1 Luxury Hotel in Canada in Tripadvisor‘s 2025 Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best Awards.
Tofino has been named one of the top ten travel destinations in Canada by CBC/Radio-Canada.
Cedars Restaurant & Lounge is seeking an engaging and active Restaurant Manager to assist Tigh-Na-Mara with front-of-house operations.
PORT ALBERNI
Alport Insurance has moved to a new location at 3727 10th Ave.
Alberni Ice, operated by the Port Alberni Port Authority is open for the season, mid-May to mid-October.
Hupačasath, Tseshaht First Nation, and the City of Port Alberni won the Economic Reconciliation Award at the BC Economic Development Association annual summit for their joint Clutesi Haven Marina project.
Nuu-chah-nulth-led projects receive funding to strengthen traditional and local food systems. 2025 recipients of funding from the Indigenous Food Security and Sovereignty Program administered by the New Relationship Trust include Hupačasath First Nation – $150,000 for maple syrup commercialization. Huu-ay-aht First Nations – $250,000 for a seafood processing upgrade. Uchucklesaht Tribe Government – $167,600 for cold fish storage and transportation.
The Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District and the City of Port Alberni are seeking public feedback to identify barriers that are faced in accessing ACRD & City programs, facilities, information, services, and support by using their Accessibility Feedback Form.
Barrier installation is now complete at 10th Ave. and Dunbar St. Port Alberni. The project was completed by Bowerman Construction Ltd.
The Inshore Rescue Boat Program is underway hosted by the Bamfield Coast Guard base.
Golden Oldies car club are hosting their 53rd annual Show N Shine at Rimrock Casino, Saturday May 31.
The Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District is currently hosting the Sproat Lake and Area Official Community Plan Engagement Survey #1.
Firefighters from the Cherry Creek Fire Department, Larissa McGillawee, Stephanie Maciol, and Stuart Stephens have successfully completed Wildland Firefighter Level 1 (WSPP – WFF1). Training was delivered in-house to provincial standards by Captain Ryan Devries, Captain Wes Kovacs, and Firefighter Tyler Cheetham.
Alberni Valley Food Security Society recently hosted the annual gathering for the Island Health Food Security Hubs. Connecting Local initiatives and counterparts from all different parts of the region including Nanaimo Foodshare Society, Lush Valley Food Action Society, Cowichan Green Community, Kwakiutl Health Centre, Capital Region Food and Agriculture Initiatives Roundtable, Eat West Coast with Clayoquot Biosphere Trust, Greenways Land Trust and the supportive staff & dieticians at Island Health.
Talon Helicopters with LaSen Inc. is planning to perform low-level flyovers for FortisBC between May 14 to June 14, 2025, during daylight hours, as authorized by Transport Canada.
PARKSVILLE – QUALICUM BEACH
In collaboration with the Town of Qualicum Beach, which donated the site and set up $85,000 in the budget for the designated pickleball facility, the Qualicum Beach Pickleball Club is collecting money to construct four outdoor permanent pickleball courts close to the Qualicum Beach Civic Centre.
The Parksville Civic and Technology Centre‘s Atrium, 100 Jensen Ave. E., will host the City of Parksville‘s 80th birthday celebration on June 19.
Portal Players Dramatic Society performed the production of David Harrower‘s “Blackbird” at Theatre BC’s North Island Zone regional drama festival on May 15 at The Village Theatre in Qualicum Beach. At the awards ceremony on May 18, adjudicator Leon Potter awarded the production the following: Best Production, Best Director – Robinson Wilson, Best Actor in a Female Role – Cydney Pedersen, Best Actor in a Supporting Male Role – Darien Edgeler, Best Performance by a Youth or Newcomer – Sara Curti, and Best Graphic Design – Robinson Wilson. The cast, crew and production team will be moving on to Theatre BC’s Provincial Mainstage Drama Festival, which starts on July 6.
NANAIMO
Herold Engineering has been acquired by Colliers through its engineering platform Englobe Corporation.
Ruby Liu Commercial Investment Corp., a Central Walk affiliate, has agreed to take up to 28 leasing spots, according to a statement released by The Bay. Weihong (Ruby) Liu is the chairperson of Central Walk, the company that owns Tsawwassen Mills in Metro Vancouver, Woodgrove Centre in Nanaimo, and Mayfair Shopping Centre in Victoria.
The initial estimate of $5.7 million for the HVAC system replacement at the Nanaimo Aquatic Centre has now been more than doubled.
IWCD is pleased to announce that PATH Developments’ ELIZA at Royal Bay, which is just a short distance from The Commons Retail Village, is now complete.
IWCD has been named one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies with Platinum Member status for 2025.
Community Futures Central Vancouver Island received the Nanaimo Business Awards’ Financial Services Award for leading financial services innovation and integrity.
CBRE, a top player in real estate services, is seeking a Facility Manager to join its team in Nanaimo.
LADYSMITH – CHEMAINUS
The province has added $1 million to a plan to renovate the historic Ladysmith train station into a community centre and visitor attraction.
Crofton marks the grand opening of its new fire hall located at 1681 Robert St, featuring a tribute to the late fire chief Owen Webb.
McBride’s Service Station is set to mark its 100th anniversary on Friday, May 30. The celebration will take place at 9616 Chemainus Rd., coinciding with a customer appreciation event. Additionally, Puppycats Pet Emporium will be celebrating its grand reopening following recent renovations at the same location.
BC Transit and the Ministry of Transportation and Transit have identified the corner of Henry Road and Trans-Canada Highway as the optimal site for a new Chemainus bus stop for Route 70 NCX, the Nanaimo-Cowichan Express bus, following a proposal for commercial development in the area.
Ladysmith Family and Friends (LaFF) will have its 30th celebration and annual general meeting at Aggie Hall on Friday, May 30th, in honour of 30 years of community connection.
COWICHAN – DUNCAN
A development project near the intersection of Trans Canada Highway and Henry Road has been accepted by the North Cowichan council. This development will add two drive-through restaurants, a petrol station, and commercial buildings to the northwest entrance of Chemainus.
An affordable housing project consisting of five stories and twenty-eight units, primarily for persons with disabilities, has been proposed at 2731 Vian St. by the Parhar Group of Duncan, with the support of the Clements Centre.
Dahlstrom Dental, situated at 921 Canada Ave. in Duncan, will welcome Dr. Emir Halilagic to its dental team in June.
Scenes for the upcoming feature film Bad Day at Camp Tivoli were filmed at the Corner House Cafe, 181 Jubilee St. in Duncan.
This summer, the City of Duncan will install new FLO units at each of its 12 EV charging stations to increase user dependability.
A Meltwich restaurant is set to open at #14 380 Trunk Rd. in Duncan, close to the Starbucks.
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