News Impacting Central and North Vancouver Island
PORT HARDY/PORT MCNEILL
Supreme Convenience will close at the end of May and is set to reopen as a Costco re-sell store in mid-June.
The Port Hardy Rotary Club has given a $15,000 grant to the Whale Interpretive Centre in Telegraph Cove to support its fundraising efforts.
The District of Port Hardy is celebrating its 60th year with an open house on May 23 at the Port Hardy Civic Centre.
Pemba’s Coastal Kitchen — a full kitchen on wheels, is coming to Port McNeill at 2551 Mine Road.
CAMPBELL RIVER
A development permit for properties on Shoppers Row and 16th Avenue was approved by the council, which is supporting a six-story mixed-use project as part of Reimagine the Row.
Rooftop dining at the Waterfront Seafood & Steak Restaurant is starting on May 22.
Anchor Inn & Suites Campbell River is now part of the Best Western Signature Collection.
Campbell River City Council reviewed the upcoming BC Budget 2026 and instructed staff to develop resolutions for the Union of BC Municipalities. The provincial budget contains property tax changes that will impact Campbell River residents and City finances beginning in 2026 and 2027.
Council approved three readings for the 2026 Tax Rates. Bylaw confirms the previously approved 2.7 per cent increase to support the City’s 2026–2035 Financial Plan.
Demolition of a neighbouring property at 1021 Island Highway has started as the City of Campbell River continues with plans to enlarge parking at the Big Rock Boat Ramp.
COMOX VALLEY
Navacord has become a member of Creative Destruction Lab (CDL) Vancouver.
Construction manager, Kinetic Construction Ltd. will be receiving bids for the City of Courtenay‘s new Fire Hall. The project consists of the construction of a new two storey fire hall, training room, offices, dorms, a kitchen and washroom facilities, etc.
Both the Campbell River Council and the Comox Valley Regional District have partnered with a combined bid to host the 55+ BC Seniors Games for the 2028, 2029 or 2030 Games. The games would be conducted in both districts.
Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce welcomes new members: Glacier View Lodge Society, Paladin Security and Human Touch IT.
Dyke Road Park Project‘s efforts has been honoured with the FCM Sustainable Communities Award in the Climate Adaptation category, announced by the Comox Valley Regional District.
The downtown Comox transit exchange, which has been improved to enhance operations, customer comfort, and safety, has been officially opened for passenger service by BC Transit and the Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD).
PARKSVILLE – QUALICUM
Norm’s Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning will take over Cafe 356 on June 20th. The team will buy every drink order and raise money that will go directly to Forward House Community Society.
Canadian Sleeping Barrels will host the Parksville & District Chamber of Commerce‘s Business After Business on May 21.
Pheasant Glen Golf Resort has major developments underway.
The Town of Qualicum Beach announces that it has sent the Oceanside Commons Society a formal proposal to rent the Qualicum Commons property at 744 Primrose Street to the Society for management, operations, and financial obligations.
PORT ALBERNI
Pat Deakin
Congratulations to Pat Deakin who was the 2025-26 recipient of the BC Economic Development Association Chair’s Award. Well Deserved!
CCGS Sir Wilfrid Laurier completed a planned refit at Port Alberni CME Shipyard. Among other things, the work included: Major deck and hull repainting; Annual safety inspections and certification of critical systems and Mechanical and electrical system improvements across the vessel.
The 81st Annual Alberni District Fall Fair, themed 𝙁𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙮 𝙍𝙤𝙤𝙩𝙨 – 𝙎𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙨, is scheduled to take place from September 10th to 13th, 2026.
Soil to Cloth: A Land-Based Textile Field School, a multi-day workshop, will be hosted by MorningStar Woollen Farm, a 70 acre regenerative farm in the Alberni Valley, from August 24th to 28th. In this immersive, hands-on workshop series, participants will explore the full lifecycle of textiles: From soil and fibre to natural colour and finished form.
TOFINO/UCLUELET
The Tofino council welcomed Kaela Aryn as Tofino’s new Poet Laureate and acknowledged the achievements of outgoing Poet Laureate Janice Lore.
The Tofino Chamber of Commerce welcomes its new member, Revolution Adventure Operations.
Harbour Air flights are now bookable on Booking.com.
NANAIMO
Mary-Anne Laverman, CPHR, has been appointed as the Manager of Human Resources at the Port of Nanaimo.
Dr. Imogene Lim, Professor Emerita at Vancouver Island University, received the Outstanding Award for Professional Achievement (Lifetime Achievement) at the 2026 Heritage BC Awards.
The RDN Climate Action Seed Funding program is now accepting applications.
The Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce welcomes its new member, Metral Dental.
Kevin Nakrani (Rph) has joined Walmart Pharmacy.
IWCD has once again been named one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies, and welcomed back as a Platinum Club member.
The Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce will host a Business After Business event at Greenview Taphouse, located inside Fairwinds Golf Club, on Thursday, May 21st in Nanoose Bay.
The 32nd Annual Nanaimo Chamber Members’ Open is set to take place at Nanaimo Golf Club on July 10, 2026, presented by Norm’s Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning.
LADYSMITH/CHEMAINUS
Valley Carpet One has acquired the rights to become an authorized dealer for Roof Rejuvenate Canada, serving customers from the Malahat to Ladysmith, including Salt Spring Island.
The Chemainus Animal Hospital has been nominated for “Veterinary team of the year” through Trupanion.
COWICHAN VALLEY/DUNCAN
A public information meeting will be held at the Youbou Community Hall on May 26 to discuss a proposal to construct a multi-unit residential development on the former site of the Yount Elementary School.
Duncan Dabber Bingo Society transferred all rights and interests associated with the operations of Chances Cowichan as of April 1, as per a Purchase and Sale Agreement that was entered into in December 2025 with Khowutzun Gaming Corporation, which is owned entirely by the Cowichan Tribes. The casino, its assets, customer service, employee relations, and related regulatory duties are now under KGC’s operational purview.
Brickitty-dooda, situated at 303-301 Festubert St., provides a premium LEGO experience for children and creative builders of all ages. Earlier this month, they held a soft launch for their Buyers Club.
The City of Duncan has reached out to Christine Boyle, the Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs in British Columbia, to arrange a meeting regarding the possibility of BC Housing funding a recovery-oriented transitional housing project in Duncan.
Another big affordable housing project on three sites on Duncan’s Dobson Road, south of Trunk Road near the Trans-Canada Highway in the Cowichan Valley, has been put on hold because the province’s Community Housing Fund was eliminated in the 2026 budget.
According to Westmark Construction, early mobilization is underway at 2577 Alexander Street in Duncan. The Murray is a 46‑unit, four‑storey multi‑family residential project with a scope including over 30,000 square feet of residential space, permeable surface parking, and shared amenities such as a community garden and covered patio. The consultant team is Union Architecture, Skyline Engineering, M3 Mechanical Consultants, e2 Engineering, Calid Services Ltd and Coast Geotechnical.
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