News Impacting Central and North Vancouver Island
NORTH ISLAND
The Town of Port McNeill ‘s Parks & Rec Advisory Committee will undertake a public engagement poll to gather community needs and wants.
The first-ever official ISKF (International Shotokan Karate Federation) black belt exam was recently held at the Bushido Shotokan Karate-Do Academy in Port Hardy.
NIC’s Centre for Applied Research, Technology and Innovation (CARTI) is collaborating with First Nations partners and industry on a project to collect environmental DNA, or eDNA, to detect species presence in areas with kelp and where they have done kelp restoration. This work includes kelp species, as well as fish and invertebrates.
North Island Chiropractic is expanding practice to Port Hardy starting August 7, in the North Island Community Health Centre.
CAMPBELL RIVER
Dr. Cory Niedjalski
Dr. Cory Niedjalski is the new chiropractor at Form Wellness Clinic at 104-2266 south Island Highway.
Tyler Fainstat is the new executive director at the John Howard Society of North Island.
Raghav Verma has been promoted to Assistant General manager of Comfort Inn & Suites in Campbell River at 1351 Shoppers Row.
Central Construction Materials is celebrating their grand opening on August 13th at 2175A Campbell River Road.
In partnership with Pacific Blue Cross, members of the British Chamber of Commerce can now benefit from reasonably cost, all-inclusive travel insurance for themselves, their employees, and their immediate families.
An initiative to convert Quest Station and the River Route Trail into a visitor destination will be spearheaded by the Campbellton Neighbourhood Association. The project is designed to promote tourism, assist local businesses, and commemorate the culture and history of the area.
The City of Campbell River is searching for experienced professional Planners to join our Long Range Planning and Sustainability team as either a Senior Planner or Planner II.
The BC Salmon Farmers Association will be hosting a Community Appreciation BBQ in Robert V. Ostler Park in Campbell River on August 22, 2024.
Billets needed for Campbell River Storm hockey team. Contact: Sarah Estabrook, 250-204-9263.
COMOX VALLEY
Lynda Brosko has been appointed as the new executive director and community leader of L’Arche Comox Valley.
The Rural Economic Diversification and Infrastructure Program is now open and accepting applications until Oct. 31, 2024.
Construction has started on the Lazo Greenway Multi-Use Path (MUP), through the collaboration between the Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD), the Town of Comox, the Government of Canada, and the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MoTI).
The Farmer’s Market at the Big Yellow Merville Hall will host the annual Garlic Festival on August 18.
The original Care-A-Van, which has been in operation for fifteen years, is being replaced on local streets with a new, state-of-the-art vehicle for enhanced community support and service by the Comox Bay Care Society.
The Grind Coffee store, which was destroyed by fire, has been replaced by Impresso, a new coffee store located at the intersection of Church Street and Beaufort Avenue in Comox.
TOFINO – UCLUELET
The Tofino Travel contest, presented by the Tofino Bus and the Tofino Resort & Marina, will be held from August 15th to September 1st.
Ombré has officially opened in Tofino, located in the former SoBo location.
The Bake Shack and Vancouver Island Soaring Centre are now members of the Tofino Chamber of Commerce.
Red Fish Restoration has opened a new store front in Ucluelet. The Society was founded in 1995 by loggers, First Nations, biologists and forestry workers, with the goal to address the loss of habitat that impacts wild fish stocks.
Calling all businesses and organizations working to make a difference in their communities: applications are now open for the 2024 Ecostar Awards! Hosted by the non-profit Synergy Foundation, these awards celebrate Vancouver Island’s local champions of initiatives, projects, and innovations that contribute to a vibrant future in which our communities and environment both prosper. There are 15 award categories to apply for, including Innovation and Ecopreneur of the Year. Check out the award categories and apply by September 2nd at www.ecostarawards.com
PORT ALBERNI
West Coast General Hospital has been equipped with a new, state-of-the-art 3D mammography system providing more accurate and faster cancer screening. The $625,000 cost of the project, which included the equipment and facility upgrades, was shared by the provincial government and Island Health.
Five Acre Productions’ Five Acre Shaker music festival takes place August 9th and 10th at the Alberni District Fall Fair Grounds.
The first phase of the City of Port Alberni’s site remediation/cleanup at the Somass Lands has been completed. Funded in part by a $1 million dollar grant from the Rural Economic Diversification and Infrastructure Program, the City also contributed more than $300,000 to the project.
Coulson Aviation continues to support firefighting efforts in the United states, at the Los Alamos Fire and Borel Fire in California.
Coulson Aviation’s Hawaii Mars water bomber is scheduled to fly from Sproat Lake to Sidney’s BC Aviation Museum on August 11. Leading up to its departure the aircraft was taken on its first flight in 8 years on August 1.
Alberni Pacific Railway’s newly restored 1909 Canadian National Caboose was on display at the Port Alberni Train Station on August 5.
The Pacific Salmon Foundation and Ha’oom Fisheries Society is installing a PIT-tag radio antenna at the Somass River from August 8 to August 16. The antenna is used to track Chinook salmon.
The Community Arts Council is exhibiting works by the Vancouver Island Silk Painters at The Grove Gallery until August 24.
Camping sites are available at the new Loon Lake campsite operated by Hupačasath First Nation in partnership with Mosaic Forest Management.
On July 18, 2024 at an event held at the Government House in Victoria, Cloy-e-iis, Judith Sayers, Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council president, was one of 60 British Columbians to receive the King Charles III Coronation Medal. The medal was presented by the Honourable Janet Austin, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia. Sayers receives this medal for her contributions and commitment to helping her community, uplifting those in need and improving the lives of others.
The Port Alberni Visitor Information Centre’s Ambassador Program is active over the summer, with volunteers placed at Cathedral Grove/MacMillan Park greeting visitors and providing information about the Alberni Valley. The program runs until Labour Day.
Māori and Hesquiaht carvers are collaborating on a historic totem pole, commemorating the blood ties that began hundreds of years ago when a Māori canoe made landfall on Vancouver Island’s west coast. Artist Alan Heta recently visited with a delegation of Māori, and has stayed on in Port Alberni to carve the pole with Master Carver Tim Paul of Hesquiaht First Nation, and with carver Alton Watts. The carvers hope to finish the pole by late August and plan to have it raised in early November when the Māori relatives return to visit a Cultural Centre in development on River Road. Material for the pole was donated by Hupacasath First Nation.
After a 5-year absence due to the pandemic and staffing issues, the 38th Nuu-chah-nulth Tlu-piich Games are back this year. Led by Tlu-piich Coordinator Neve Watts, the games take place in Port Alberni with the opening ceremonies on Aug. 10th followed by events running through to Aug. 13.
Construction continues on the City of Port Alberni’s Connect the Quays Pathway Project, with new surfacing of the Gertrude Street Bridge underpass section of the pathway. This section marks the completion of the section from Roger Street to Victoria Quay.
Tseshaht First Nation is accepting expressions of interest for a Tseshaht Artist for future projects and initiatives as well as a videographer for “Going Home Initiative” of the Beach Keepers Program.
Businesses recently moved into The Port Alberni Industrial Block include the Alberni Valley Bulldogs, Phoenix Acrobatics and Cheer, Pacific Rim Designs and Pacific Coast Electric Ltd. Units are still available to lease.
August 5th is BC Train Day and Port Alberni’s waterfront train, operated by the Alberni Pacific Railway, will be making 4 runs. Tickets are available on site at the historic train station, the Port Alberni Visitor Centre, and the Alberni Pacific Railway website.
Coastal Restoration Society is seeking students and an instructor for Ahousaht-based sessions for their Indigenous Water Conservation and Restoration Initiative. The project aims to meet the needs of coastal Indigenous communities for a marine and aquatic focused conservation and restoration training program than centers Indigenous science and knowledge.
INEO Employment Services has been nominated for the ‘Business Impact Award’ from Small Business BC.
The Western Canada Marine Response Corporation, based in Port Alberni, recently removed 1,075 lbs of garbage from the Deer Group in Barkley Sound as part of work being done in the BC Marine Trails Network.
Port Alberni’s 100+ Women Who Care organization made a donation of $13,000 to the Alberni-Clayoquot branch of the SPCA.
Tseshaht First Nation’s Shalaya Valenzuela is a member of the Canadian women’s rugby sevens club that captured the silver medal at the Games on Tuesday. Valenzuela was added to the squad as a reserve player mere days before the Games began in Paris on July 26.
PARKSVILLE – QUALICUM BEACH
Moilliet Manor was transferred to Ballenas Housing Society from the Rental Protection Fund and the Province, which acquired fifty affordable rental properties in Parksville. The acquisition cost $5 million, while the building renewal cost $1.25 million.
Norms Plumbing, Heating, and Air Conditioning, owned by Malcolm Rush, has expanded its services to include Parksville.
The Town received the Government Finance Officers Association’s (GFOA) Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the 2024-2028 Financial Plan for its transparency and excellent governance. This award honours the Town’s governing council and staff for their budgeting excellence.
As the project enters its third phase, the City of Parksville is happy to provide citizens with an update on the transportation master plan initiative. $150,000 was given to the Transportation Master Plan project by the Canada Community Building Fund Community Works Fund; $62,900 was given in 2023 and $87,100 in 2024.
NANAIMO
Jaret Nelson, recently started a new position as Financial Planner at Investment Planning Counsel in Nanaimo.
Congratulations to Ethan Katzberg, on his gold medal winning hammer throw at the 2024 Paris Olympics!
Dhruv Patel has been hired as Sales Associate at Fastenal, Nanaimo.
The Victoria Residential Builders Association has revealed the finalists for the 2024 Construction Achievements and Renovations of Excellence Awards of Vancouver Island. See the complete list of recipients here. The CARE Awards event, will be held in the Fairmont Empress Hotel’s Crystal Ballroom on Friday, September 27th.
East Wellington in Nanaimo is currently home to Discover Montessori School’s farmers’ market, a joint venture between the school and Nanaimo Food Hub.
Discover Montessori School‘s farmers’ market is located in East Welington, a joint venture between the school and Nanaimo Food Hub.
Wolseley Canada, Canada’s biggest trade distributor of plumbing, hydronic, HVAC/R, and PVF products and solutions, is hiring an Outside Sales Representative in Nanaimo.
Ironclad Developments Inc. announced its latest project, Harbour Hills, located at 325 Watfield Ave in Nanaimo.
Nanaimo’s Country Club urban core mobility enhancements project is collecting data to decide whether to move the transit exchange from Norwell Drive. The project is investigating amenities and accessibility improvements.
The Nanaimo Theatre Group‘s Bailey Studio, located on Rosstown Road, is in the process of applying for a liquor license.
A mixed-use residential and commercial development for Nanaimo’s Old City Quarter has been approved for the site between 350 and 398 Franklyn St., owned by Camargue Properties Inc./Le Groupe Denux.
The 22nd DQ Miracle Treat Day will take place on August 8th at 123 participating DQ locations across BC and the Yukon. They will donate net proceeds from every Blizzard Treat sold, to the BC Children’s Hopsital Foundation. $280,676.74 was raised in 2023.
The Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) is pleased to continue the Zero Waste Recycling Funding program in 2025. This program provides funds to local non-profit organizations (NPOs) to create self-sustaining programs that divert waste away from landfills and contribute to a circular economy. The program is intended to stimulate innovation and develop markets and processes for end-of-life materials that will help the RDN to meet its waste diversion goal of 90 per cent.
COWICHAN – DUNCAN
The Merridale Cidery & Distillery Cider Harvest Festival, taking place on September 22nd in Cobble Hill, is in its sixth year, and tickets are on sale now.
Merridale Cidery & Distillery in Cowichan Valley won gold for its traditional Mo’moro and Merri Berri ciders at the Seattle International Cider & Perry Awards, North America’s largest and most comprehensive cider awards, and silver for Cowichan Dry and a double-gold for Merri Berri at the 7th Annual Cidercraft Awards in June.
Victoria Truss Ltd. owner Luigi Mansueti donated a cheque for $2,500 to Isabelle Hammer, president of the Malahat Legion, Branch #134, to help with Cenotaph work in Cobble Hill and the surrounding region.
The Quw’utsun’ Cultural Connections Society, which has been building relationships and bridges between First Nations and non-First Nations communities in the Cowichan Valley for 15 years, has bought Duncan’s Island Bagel at 43 Station St. and renamed it Island Bagel and Bannock.
The Duncan Cowichan Chamber of Commerce will host the Chamber on Tour on August 8th. The tour will commence at Holocene Distilling, continue at O.U.R. Ecovillage, and conclude at Cobblestone Pub.
To replace the old vehicle in its fleet, the City of Duncan will purchase a new Vactor truck for more than $700,000 including taxes.
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