News Impacting Central and North Vancouver Island
NORTH ISLAND
Applications from qualified organizations for Port Hardy’s Permissive Tax Exemptions for 2026 and thereafter are being accepted through September 2.
As part of a pilot project started in the fall of 2021, Namgis First Nation (‘Namgis) and Western Forest Products Inc. have announced that the draft Forest Landscape Plan (FLP) and related draft Forest Operations Plan (FOP) have been submitted to the Chief Forester of British Columbia.
During a recent meeting, Councillor Janet Dorward proposed that the District of Port Hardy apply for $5,000 in funding to continue the cultural sharing potluck series through the PlanH Healthy Communities Program’s Community Connectedness stream in collaboration with the Mount Waddington Welcoming Communities Coalition.
The “Do you Carrot All?” exhibit from the Carrot Campaign has opened at the Port Hardy Museum and Visitor Centre, located at 7250 Market Street.
VirtualFeast.ca and the 2 Rivers Remix Society (2RMX) announced that The Movable Feast: Island Tour, a free Indigenous music, art, and culture festival, will be returning for its second year from August 23–August 30, 2025.
CAMPBELL RIVER
The BC Salmon Farmers Association‘s annual Community Appreciation BBQ united families, local businesses, and volunteers at Robert V. Ostler Park. At the core of the event was the community’s collective dedication to assisting those in need, as the annual BBQ generated a record-breaking $7,000 for the Campbell River Food Bank.
Campbell River is set to proceed with the 6.2 million dollar Nunns Creek Park renovation project, with $385,000 of the amount coming from the Community Works Reserve grant and the remaining 5.1 million coming from the provincial Growing Community Fund.
The City of Campbell River announced that the Homewood temporary housing facility in Campbell River will be expanded by eight more supportive housing units this fall, increasing the total to forty-eight units.
COMOX VALLEY
Randy James, coach of the Comox Valley Special Olympics, has been presented with the Howard Carter Award by the Special Olympics British Columbia (SOBC).
Tree Island Yogurt opens its new 33,000 sq ft facility in the Comox Valley.
The Comox Valley Transition Society receives personal care items from the Crown Isle Ladies Golf Club.
The Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) is pleased to announce that the draft of its 10-Year Tourism Strategic Framework is now available for public evaluation and feedback, following a comprehensive and collaborative planning phase.
TOFINO – UCLUELET
The Tofino Chamber of Commerce welcomes its newest member, Heartwood Kitchen Food Outfitter.
Wickaninnish Inn has been named the #3 resort in Canada in the 2025 Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards.
PORT ALBERNI
Coulson Aviation has conducted the first live fire NVG (night vision goggle) operations on Vancouver Island (Cameron Lake) – in partnership with BC Wildfire Service.
Surfside Karate has moved to Port Alberni to join the martial arts district uptown.
The Port Pub building on lower Argyle Street in Port Alberni has been demolished by Warbrick Construction.
PARKSVILLE – QUALICUM BEACH
The Care Group has submitted an application to the Town of Qualicum Beach for the construction of a care facility on a property located at 431 College Rd.
On August 9-10, the 112th Annual Coombs Fair will be held at the Coombs Fairgrounds, located at 1014 Ford Rd.
A zoning and development modification bylaw is being considered by the Parksville council to authorize the subdivision of a property on Lee Avenue, which will allow for the construction of two duplexes.
The Vancouver Island Regional Library has renewed its five-year lease with the City of Parksville for the use of the Parksville Civic and Technology Centre, which is owned by the city.
NANAIMO
Jennifer Dayne
Jennifer Dayne has been appointed as the Division Manager for the Greater Vancouver Island region at IG Wealth Management.
Dr. Matt Vickers, CET, LL.D. has been appointed as Chairman of the Board at Island Rail Corporation.
Ingrid Jarrett has been appointed the new chair of the Board of Directors of Destination BC.
Cushman & Wakefield’s Peter Gibson, on behalf of its Vendor client, The Molnar Group (Real Estate) Inc., announced the sale of Rutherford Place, a newly constructed 152-suite purpose-built rental apartment community located in the Pleasant Valley neighbourhood of North Nanaimo.
To address a long-standing need for additional recreation and gathering spaces in the City, the City of Nanaimo has acquired land in the Chase River neighbourhood for a prospective community centre. The province of British Columbia’s Growing Communities finance provided a $2.5 million contribution to partially finance the $5.1 million purchase.
Early Bird registration for the Vancouver Island Economic Alliance’s (VIEA) annual Economic Summit, which will take place in Nanaimo from October 28 to 30, is now open until August 28.
The City of Nanaimo has acquired land in the Chase River neighbourhood for a future community centre. This acquisition, which cost $5.1 million, was partially funded by a $2.5 million contribution from the Province of BC’s Growing Communities Fund.
The Salvation Army’s inaugural Hope in the Harbour Luncheon is coming to Nanaimo on November 26, 2025.
Downtown Month 2025, a national campaign taking place throughout August to commemorate and highlight the essential role that downtowns play in communities across the country, is officially launched by the International Downtown Association Canada (IDA Canada).
LADYSMITH – CHEMAINUS
Textures, the upcoming member show at Ladysmith Arts, will be on display at the Ladysmith Gallery from August 6th through the 20th.
Boundless Books has officially been launched in the centre of Ladysmith by Dana Corbett and Catherine Quaglia.
The Chamber of Commerce Executives of Canada (CCEC) awarded Roberta Bowman, executive director of the Ladysmith Chamber of Commerce, the Accredited Chamber Executive (ACE) designation.
Serious Brewing has officially opened its doors for business in Chemainus.
COWICHAN – DUNCAN
Isherwood Body & Fender, owned by Ryan Isherwood, has opened at their new location at 4970 Polkey Rd.
On August 13, Duncan’s White Spot will join the other 51 White Spot restaurants in BC in celebrating Pirate Pak Day.
Longtime Cowichan-Malahat-Langford MP Alistair MacGregor has agreed to serve as Cowichan Tribes’ CAO for a one-year term.
Windsor Plywood and Double Black Construction are constructing a cutting-edge store for building supplies in Ganges on Salt Spring Island.
An updated three-year collective agreement with improved extended health benefits, long-term disability coverage, and a general wage increase of five percent each year was ratified by the Municipality of North Cowichan and CUPE Local 358 after months of negotiations, with the help of a mediator from the Labour Relations Board.
Local Immigration Partnership, a roundtable with working groups on housing, healthcare, Indigenous-newcomer relations, employment, and anti-racism, will be established by the Cowichan Valley Intercultural and Immigrant Aid Society in Duncan. The purpose of this partnership is to enhance integration and welcome newcomers.
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