News Impacting Central and North Vancouver Island
NORTH ISLAND
Keith Pinel, a resident of Port Alice, launched Port Alice Pirate Rock Radio.
The owners of Telegraph Cove, Marilyn and Gordie Graham, and the Whale Interpretive Centre board members Jim and Mary Borrowman have all pledged to reopen this season with limited capacity in response to the overwhelming love and support that followed the terrible fire on December 31.
A meeting at the Kwa’lilas Hotel in Port Hardy is tentatively planned for February 6, in connection with an impending seaweed pilot project.
The change in leadership for the Mount Waddington United Way Food Hub has been announced by the Mount Waddington Family Literacy Society (MWFLS). The new leader will be from the Kwakiutl Health Centre.
CAMPBELL RIVER
EB Horsman has moved to a larger space next door at 904 Ironwood St.
On Thursday (Jan. 9), the Campbell River City Council approved a financial incentive package that would make it easier for landowners to build additional dwelling suites or legalize existing ones. The city will use $5,000 in grants from the $10.4 million it got from the federal Housing Accelerator Fund to help out approved property owners.
The Campbell River Literacy Association has announced the upcoming celebration of Family Literacy Week 2025, scheduled for January 26 to February 1.
Members of the Campbell River Art Gallery and the Campbell River Arts Council will exhibit their artwork at the 43rd Annual Members’ Show, which will take place at the gallery from January 25 to March 8.
Water meters will be installed in Area D, which stretches from Jubilee Parkway to the Oyster River and east into Strathcona Provincial Park, starting on January 13, according to a statement from the Strathcona Regional District.
Bard Energy Ltd has joined the Vancouver Island Better Business Bureau.
COMOX VALLEY
The 50th Annual Chamber Awards Gala will be held on January 25 at the Florence Filberg Centre in Courtenay.
Insp. Scott Mercer has been appointed as Comox Valley’s RCMP Detachment Command.
Courtenay Kiwanis marks its 75th anniversary.
Comox Valley ElderCollege is set to launch an expanded curriculum for the winter semester, which will take place from February 3 to April 8. The courses will range in length from a single session to eight weeks.
Airport Elementary School is set to introduce a new educational program, the Primary Learning Community (K-3), in the upcoming school year. This initiative promises a distinctive blended learning experience, combining school, community, and home environments to support the comprehensive development of young students.
As part of a Giving Tuesday week match, the Comox Valley Healthcare Foundation (CVHF) raised $50,000 from Coastal Community Credit Union (CCCU) to advance local healthcare initiatives for seniors, prioritizing essential programs, activities, equipment, and patient comforts that improve their quality of life.
Local board game entrepreneurs, Leverton & Assoc. – Red Brick Publishing, are heading to North American International Toy Fair in New York City taking game, Dice Hockey international. They will be among other exhibitors vying to attract the attention of between 25,000 and 30,000 buyers who are expected to attend the event. Attendees at the show include manufacturers, retailers, up to 1,000 members of the global media, sales representatves, licensors, inventors, designers, and financial professionals among others.
Comox Valley Chamber welcomes new member: Beaufort Association for Inclusion in Action.
TOFINO – UCLUELET
Myles Beeby has been appointed as the Tofino-Long Beach Chamber of Commerce‘s new President of the Board of Directors, succeeding Laura McDonald, who has completed her term and will now serve as past president.
Long Beach Lodge Resort is launching its “Artists At The Lodge Series,” a complimentary biweekly winter event that highlights the creativity and narratives of local and regional artists, beginning January 19th.
PORT ALBERNI
The City of Port Alberni welcomed Tom Verbrugge as new City Councillor
Huu-ay-aht First Nation’s Economic Development team invites citizens to the Economic Development Plan Summit at the House of Huu-ay-aht in Anacla January 24th..
Root & Rise Counselling has opened for business as part of the Alberni Health Group in Port Alberni.
Tsawaayuus Rainbow Gardens is hiring RNs and LPNs.
Aircraft from Coulson Aviation, based in Port Alberni, are among those currently battling the Los Angeles wildfires.
RE/MAX Mid Island welcomes Realty Agent Heidi Jenkinson to their team.
Alberni Power & Marine – RPM Group has been named a Mercury CSI Award Winner for the 7th consecutive year (2018-2024); Canada’s Top-Rated Mercury Dealer.
The Philippine Mars Water Bomber has returned to Sproat lake for engine replacement from its sister plane, the Hawaii Mars, before making its final flight to Tuscon, Arizona’s Pima Air & Space Museum.
School District #70 Pacific Rim is hiring a Director of Human Resources.
Port Alberni’s Winter 2025 Film Festival Series starts January 19th at Landmark Cinemas. The monthly screenings are a fundraiser for the Alberni Valley Museum. Event partners are the City of Port Alberni and BC Arts Council.
The Community Arts Council of the Alberni Valley is hosting a Photo shoot fundraiser on January 26th, offering professional headshots by Port Alberni photographer Ali Penko.
For the first time since 2019, a delegation of students has arrived in Port Alberni from ‘Sister City’ Abashiri, Hokkaido, Japan. Abashiri and Port Alberni have been Sister Cities since 1986. Exchanges and activities are coordinated by the Port Alberni International Twinning Society.
Hupacasath First Nation has launched a new updated website.
Island 4×4 Racing Series provided a $1,000 donation to the West Coast General Hospital Foundation as a contribution towards the purchase of new equipment.
Five Acre Productions is hosting Winter Rockfest 2025.
Star Convenience Smoke Shop has opened on 3rd Avenue in Port Alberni.
PARKSVILLE – QUALICUM BEACH
A Vancouver-based company, Newline Skatepark Developments, has secured the contract for a $1.3-million project to build skateparks across Canada, awarded last December.
On January 25, the Oceanside Repair Café will be back in Qualicum Beach at 150 Village Way, St. Stephen’s United Church Hall.
A telecommunications tower would be set up at 1800 Serenity Pl., Nanoose Bay, according to Rogers Communication‘s proposal. This will enhance cellular service in the northern part of the bay, including the region around Northwest Bay Road.
Oceanside Women’s Business Networking Group will meet at the Qualicum Beach Cafe on January 21.
Qualicum Curling Centre celebrates 60th anniversary with a free Open House on January 25 at 644 Memorial Ave., Qualicum Beach.
All Qualicum Beach residents and homeowners are invited to share their opinions and feedback on Town services, local amenities, housing, and development via the Town’s Quality of Life Survey (QLS) which takes approximately 15-20 minutes to complete, will be open until February 16, 2025.
Qualicum Beach Chamber of Commerce welcomes new member Kevin Lacroix from Notch 1 Management.
Nanoose Bay Cafe reopens January 22nd and launches a weekend Brunch.The brunch will be available weekends from 10 am to 3 pm.
The Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) invites qualified and experienced firms to submit Statements of Qualifications for Construction Advisory services to participate in a multi-phase project for the replacement of Errington Firehall #2. ibenoit [at] rdn.bc.ca
NANAIMO
Doane Grant Thornton LLP is relocating its Bastion Street office to 25 Cavan Street.
After six years with the Port of Nanaimo, Captain Satinder Singh has agreed to take a new role with Ports Toronto‘s Senior Leadership group.
Tourism Industry Association of BC introduced the newest members of its board: Erin Cassels, Heather MacDonald, and Meghan Tabor.
Camosun Engineering Transfer students can now transfer to Simon Fraser University, Thompson River University, University of British Columbia (Vancouver and Okanagan locations), and the University of Northern British Columbia following the signing of the BC Common First Year Engineering Curriculum (BC CFYEC).
Applications for the Wine Development Legacy Scholarships from the BC Hospitality Foundation close on January 24.
Carole Taylor, a veteran journalist and politician, will discuss the advantages and obstacles of establishing a province-wide continuum of care alongside three top addiction experts at the Save Our Streets Communities Driving Change Forum on January 23. Dr. Pouya Azar, Head of Complex Pain Coastal Health Service at Vancouver Coastal Health, will join Taylor on the panel discussing a continuum of care for addictions and mental illnesses. Also participating are Dr. Nickie Mathew, an addiction and forensic psychiatrist, and Marshall Smith, Vice President of Rubicon Strategy and former Chief of Staff to the Premier of Alberta.
Nanaimo has been recognized as Western Canada’s Top Commercial Real Estate Market to Watch in 2025.
Pacific Party Glitter has recently opened in Nanaimo.
Sweet Spot Lounge has officially opened its doors in downtown Nanaimo.
LADYSMITH – CHEMAINUS
The four Vancouver Island marinas owned by Oak Bay Marine Group—Oak Bay, North Saanich, Ladysmith, and Pedder Bay—as well as OBMG Boathouses and the Marina Dockside Eatery were purchased by Graham Clarke, owner of the Graham Clarke Group.
The Crofton community’s new $4.8 million fire hall has been completed.
Chemainus’ Ace Hardware has officially rebranded to Chemainus Hardware, dropping the “Ace” for now. This change comes as Peavey Industries concludes its relationship with Ace International and Ace Canada dealers following the expiration of the license on December 31, 2024.
The Rotary Club of Ladysmith, along with the Access to Education Collaborative (AEC) and partners, including Rotary Clubs from Canada and Guatemala, has successfully sent a shipping container filled with vital resources to Guatemala.
COWICHAN – DUNCAN
Commercial Properties Group‘s George Richmond sold two 4.92-acre parcels in North Cowichan’s Bell McKinnon neighbourhood with potential for redevelopment on Nov. 28 for $1.127 million per acre, which is just under $11.1 million.
Western Educational Adventures is planning to launch a ski bus service from the South Island to Mt. Washington.
Island Ford and Canada One Auto Group have made a generous contribution of $30,000 to the Cowichan Basket Society‘s Stuff the Truck event. This annual initiative aims to stock shelves and combat food insecurity in the Cowichan Valley, providing support to local organizations such as Nourish Cowichan, Chemainus Harvest House, Lake Cowichan Food Banks, and others.
JAZZERCISE is set to launch at the Duncan Cowichan Community Centre with new ownership.
The Cowichan Lake District Chamber of Commerce 2025 AGM is scheduled for Thursday March 6th, 2025 at the Curling Lounge 5:30 pm start.
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