News Impacting Central and North Vancouver Island
PORT HARDY/PORT MCNEILL
Pacific Coastal Airlines is modifying its flight schedule for 2026, incorporating the following updates: The spring and fall schedules for 2026 will no longer include morning flights on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Port Hardy Hospital is now undergoing renovation plans, which Port McNeill Hospital will follow.
CAMPBELL RIVER
Kieran Finn
Dr. Kieran Finn has joined Discovery Chiropractic.
North Island Nissan has been awarded Best New Auto Dealer, Best Service Centre, and Best Oil Change for two consecutive years.
The Campbell River & District Chamber of Commerce‘s final B2B Mixer of 2025 is scheduled on December 11 at the Coast Discovery Inn in Campbell River.
The Campbell River Angel Tree Society and the Knights of Columbus Christmas Hamper Fund both received $500 donations from the Tyee Club of BC.
Hospice Society’s Annual Campaign will be directly benefited by a share of the pre-made soups and meals sold at Popsey’s Log Cabin Restaurant through December 19th.
COMOX VALLEY
QE Home, Canada’s first B Corp–certified bedding retailer has opened at 5th Street in Courtenay.
ShiftSee, which connects employers and workers instantly, is expanding into the Comox Valley.
Fresh Farm Eggs are now available at 2734 Dunsmuir Ave, Cumberland.
PARKSVILLE-QUALICUM BEACH
Steven Shoung
Steven Shoung has been hired as the new Revenue Manager at Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort and Conference Centre.
Pat Jacobson, a long-time Qualicum Beach volunteer, has been awarded the 2025 Above & Beyond Award.
The mobile screening mammography van operated by BC Cancer will be stationed at the Civic Centre in Qualicum Beach from December 8 to December 12, and from December 15 to December 18.
A portion of Despard Ave. W. in Parksville may be permanently closed if a four-story structure with a business ground floor and residential units on top is approved. The project is located beside the Alberni Highway.
PORT ALBERNI
Suncoast Enterprises Inc. is open for business.
Tseshaht Enterprises Corporation has appointed Adam Ova as its new Chief Operating Officer.
Boston Pizza Port Alberni has donated $4,160 to Alberni District Secondary School Athletic Department.
Mt. Arrowsmith Childcare is expanding to a second location, Dogwood Street, Port Alberni.
Alberni Valley Makerspace has been named an Ecostar Award Winner in the Waste to Resource category at the Synergy Foundation Awards.
License to Grill is running a series of cooking workshops from The Dock+.
100+ Women Who Care – Alberni have donated $12,300 to Alberni Neighbourhood Link Society.
TOFINO/UCLUELET
Tiffany Olsen has been named the new Interim Executive Director of the Tofino Chamber of Commerce.
The Tofino Chamber welcomes its new members, Mizu Mizu Café and Creative Emily.
StrikeUP 2026 is scheduled to return on February 26th, under the theme Rise to the Challenge, emphasizing the contributions of women entrepreneurs.
NANAIMO
The Edgewater – a brand new, luxury IL Residence in Nanaimo, has been acquired by Chartwell Retirement Residences for $102.7M.
The VIU Foundation raises about $480,000 for underprivileged students through its 12th annual Giving Tuesday campaign.
A development permit for a 42-unit complex at 1435 Cranberry Ave. has been approved by City Council, marking the advancement of an affordable housing project in Chase River.
Mountain Equipment Company (MEC) is opening a new store in Nanaimo this month.
Cedar Holistic Salon & Barbershop has recently opened at 1694 Cedar Road.
Bearly There Esthetics, owned by Morgan Wilson, has opened in Nanaimo.
Shiatsu Sound Healing opens at My Inner Harbour at 149 Wallace Street.
LADYSMITH/CHEMAINUS
Thomas and Catherine Cuthbert of Southcoast Agro Farms Ltd. in Ladysmith have been recognized as BC/Yukon’s Outstanding Young Farmers for 2025.
The Great Canadian Dollar Store in Chemainus Village Square is closing this month.
Checkwitch Poiron Architects Inc. partners with the non-profit Ladysmith Resources Centre Association (LRCA) to build Heart on the Hill, their inaugural housing initiative, a 36-unit assisted living facility.
COWICHAN VALLEY/DUNCAN
Will Arnold of Experience Cycling and Matthew Huotari of the Duncan Garage Bakery & Café were honoured at the Duncan Cowichan Chamber of Commerce’s AGM on November 25 for their exceptional leadership and dedication to the Cowichan area.
The Cowichan Valley Regional District is inviting expressions of interest from qualified individuals interested in being considered for nomination to the Nanaimo Airport Commission (NAC) Board beginning in early 2026.
VI PC Builder & Games is now located in downtown Duncan at 53 Station Street.
Expedia Cruises in Duncan has been voted the Best Travel Agency for 2025.
The old location of Fabrications women’s clothes store on Kenneth Street will shortly be demolished.
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