News Impacting Central and North Vancouver Island
PORT HARDY/PORT MCNEILL
Hardy Bay Photo and Framing opened on Market Street in Port Hardy, managed by Doug and Donna Kerr.
The Mount Waddington Family Literacy Society is looking for a new Executive Director.
The District of Port Hardy is inviting qualified suppliers to submit quotations for the supply and delivery of one industrial-grade levelling auger, motor, and gearbox suitable for transferring sludge into a centrifuge solids container at our Tsulquate Wastewater Treatment Plant.
CAMPBELL RIVER
Dominic Fletcher
Dominic Fletcher joins the Long Realty / Campbell River office.
The British Columbia Hotel Association welcomes its newest accommodation members including: Comfort Inn & Suites, Campbell River, Best Western Premier Aberdeen, Coast Lonsdale Quay Hotel, Hotel Feng BW Signature Collection, Hotel Morado, Logan Lake Hotel, Super 8 On The Hill, Travelodge by Wyndham Kamloops Mountview, VRGE Hotels Revelstoke, and Zara at Lakestone.
Western Forest Products recently collaborated with and contributed $3,000 to the Campbell River Food Bank to support their vital supply program and provide assistance to those in need during this holiday season.
COMOX VALLEY
Island TimberFrame in Cumberland will receive $325,000 from the province to assist with the procurement of new, cutting-edge manufacturing machinery.
The finalists for the 2025 Chamber Awards hosted by the Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce has been announced. See full list here.
The Comox Firefighters Association has donated $500 to the Comox Valley Santa’s Workshop.
NU VEAU market is moving to the Comox Valley for 2026.
PARKSVILLE-QUALICUM
The Town of Qualicum Beach has finalized the purchase of Eaglecrest lands for $8.5 million, which includes a $2.125 million contribution from the Christopher Foundation.
The Uride ridesharing service and the Parksville Qualicum Beach Tourism Association (PQBTA) have partnered to provide transportation alternatives and assist in hiring local drivers.
BC Housing is adding three new studio units with private washrooms and kitchenettes to Orca Place supportive housing located at 222 Corfield St. South in Parksville.
PORT ALBERNI
The Starboard Grill has moved to its new location at 4473 Gertrude St.
Orestes Kouzina celebrates 10 years in business.
Loyal Homes – Vancouver Island Real Estate is hiring a Director of Operations which will be based in Port Alberni.
TOFINO/UCLUELET
Ucluelet First Nation has started developing a new retail centre at Lost Shoe Creek.
Expanded public bus service between Tofino and Ucluelet, operated by West Coast Transit and the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District, will begin on January 4, 2026.
NANAIMO
Lisa Sillanpää
Lisa Sillanpää has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of Alitis Investment Counsel Inc., a discretionary portfolio manager, with effect from January 1, 2026. Lisa will succeed Todd Blaseckie, Portfolio Manager and the acting Chief Executive Officer for the past three years.
On Friday, Dec. 19, SFN announced they have finalized an agreement to acquire the Great Canadian Casino Vancouver in Coquitlam, facilitated by their economic development division, Petroglyph Development Group (PDG), in partnership with Great Canadian Entertainment, marking the fifth casino now managed by SFN.
RLR Lawyers made a $25,000 commitment supporting the new BC Cancer – Nanaimo.
The recent motion indicating that the Nanaimo Regional Hospital District Board (NRHD) has agreed to pay 100% of the expenditures for the much-needed cardiac catheterization (“Cath Lab”) in Nanaimo was well received by the Nanaimo and District Hospital Foundation.
Woodgrove Arcade will celebrate its grand opening on January 10 at 154-6631 Island Highway North, Nanaimo.
LADYSMITH/CHEMAINUS
The value-added business of Western Forest Products (WFP) in Chemainus will receive up to $7.5 million in support from the province to purchase two new continuous dry kilns.
Ladysmith Health Care Auxiliary & Thrift Store has donated $48,600 to support the purchase of two more fetal monitors for the Maternity Unit at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital.
The Ladysmith council has officially increased the number of houses allowed from 189 to 600 and allowed small-scale local business activity in a residential development on Malone Road, which has been advanced to third reading.
COWICHAN VALLEY
Mohamed Rakrouki‘s Pacific Blanket and Gift Co. has opened at #10, 180 Central Road, at the Village Green Mall.
Cowichan Hospice House, sometimes referred to as “The House That Love Built,” is celebrating its fifth anniversary.
The Quill & Relic Bindery will soon open at 2740 Dundas Rd.
The Cowichan Valley Regional District is seeking suitable candidates for the Nanaimo Airport Commission board starting early in 2026.
The Duncan Cowichan Chamber of Commerce is set to relaunch Business Showcase/Business Expo, now rebranded as the BIG Business Mixer on February 12. The Chamber is inviting businesses and organizations to participate in the event.
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