News Impacting Central and North Vancouver Island
NORTH ISLAND
A new playground, funded by a grant from the BC Growing Communities, has been installed in Lion’s Park near the waterfront in Port Alice. The project cost approximately $125,000.
The 2025 Mount Waddington Fall Fair, with the theme “North Island – Strong and Free,” will be held in Port McNeill from September 6-7.
The Whale Interpretive Centre has been authorized to construct a temporary building on the boardwalk portion of the Telegraph Cove Resort that has been renovated.
On Friday, June 20, Ha’me’, the fine dining restaurant at the Kwa’lilas Hotel in Port Hardy, which is wholly owned by the Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw First Nation, was officially relaunched.
CAMPBELL RIVER
Loren Butler & Chelsey Andrews
The Berwick by the Sea in Campbell River has appointed Loren Butler as General Manager and Chelsey Andrews as Community Relations Manager.
The Just Like Home Lodge, a facility for patients and loved ones travelling to Campbell River for specialized care, is scheduled for a grand opening ceremony in summer 2026.
The Campbell River Shrine Club presented a $7,451 cheque from the Gizeh Shriners for pediatrics at Campbell River Hospital for a new vital signs monitor to support children receiving treatment.
Naturally Pacific Resort is looking for a Reservations Supervisor to join its growing Sales & Marketing team in beautiful Campbell River.
CORE Landscape Products is proud to have installed its CORE Privacy Screens at the new Indigenous-owned Starbucks in Campbell River.
COMOX VALLEY
Steve Blacklock
Steve Blacklock has rejoined Jackson & Associates Ltd., beginning July 2025.
James Chen, owner of Downstream Dental will soon welcome fellow UBC alumni Karen Lin, to his practice!
The Stan Hagen Theatre at North Island College is among the first locations in Canada to implement new assistive listening technology, which will provide individuals with hearing impairments with access to an increased number of performances and lectures.
Cash Swayze has recently joined the team at Comox Valley Dodge.
A year after opening for business in the Courtenay/Comox area, Uride has added a booster seat option, giving parents greater freedom to enjoy their trip without worrying about their children’s safety.
The B.C. government will provide financing for improvements to the airplane apron at Comox Valley Airport, which will enable the expansion of the parking area to accommodate the larger aircraft that are currently in use by the majority of airlines.
Carollo Engineers has been selected to lead the detailed design of upgrades at the Comox Valley Water Pollution Control Center.
Smith Lake Farm will host the 2nd Annual Summer BBQ & Agri-tour on Thursday, August 28.
The new Union Bay Playground has been officially opened by the Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) and the Union Bay Community Club (UBCC).
TOFINO – UCLUELET
Westcoast Community Resources Society is hosting a Government Outreach drop-in on July 30th in Tofino, and on July 31st in Ucluelet.
Tofino has been named one of the top ten travel destinations in Canada by CBC/Radio-Canada.
Harbour Air has collaborated with Evo and Hotel Zed to offer a single lucky winner the opportunity to win The Ultimate Tofino Summer Escape in celebration of the introduction of Evo Car Share’s Evo Return program in Tofino this summer.
Macdonald Commercial announces the opportunity to acquire the Tofino Motel Harbourview, a well-established and successful motel business located at 542 Campbell Street, Tofino.
The District of Tofino has received $25,000 in funding from the Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program. This grant will support the continued delivery and expansion of the District’s SMILE Program (Support Meals Improving Lives of Elders), a weekly initiative that enhances the well-being, inclusion, and social connectedness of local seniors (aged 55+).
PORT ALBERNI
Chims Motel & Cabins is celebrating its 8th anniversary.
On June 28, 2025, a celebration took place at Echo Centre in Port Alberni to honour Special Olympics athletes from the Alberni Valley for their remarkable achievements.
Bomber Boulders Climbing Centre is hosting its first movie night in the gym on July 21st 2025.
Chims Motel & Cabins is celebrating its 8th anniversary.
Alberni Veterinary Clinic will be closing as of September 1st.
PARKSVILLE – QUALICUM BEACH
The benchmark price for a single-family home in Parksville Qualicum Beach has risen by one per cent compared to the same period in 2024, surpassing $900K. The latest figures from the Vancouver Island Real Estate Board indicate that the benchmark price has reached $906,200.
The doubles event of the 2025 Quality Foods Sand Sculpting Competition in Parksville was won by the newly formed team of Jakub Zimacek and Fred Dobbs on July 13.
To facilitate the operation of a family-owned microbrewery, the Cleaver family is requesting that a 2.02-hectare land parcel in Electoral Area F be incorporated into the Agricultural Land Reserve.
On July 8, the Regional District of Nanaimo board approved community grants for 20 organizations throughout the region. These organizations include the Arrowsmith Health Care Foundation, Arrowsmith Naturalists, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Vancouver Island, Errington Preschool Parents Society, Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Society, Oceanside Building Learning Together Society, Oceanside Minor Softball Association, PQB Fruit Tree Project, Whalers Football Support Society, and Oceanside Minor Softball and Oceanside Minor Softball.
NANAIMO
Dragana Perusinovic
Dragana Perusinovic has been promoted to Principal at Kasian Architecture Interior Design and Planning.
The Nanaimo Mitsubishi team has earned the top spot in Canada for Customer Satisfaction.
Emergency operations centre (EOC) personnel training and the acquisition of EOC equipment have been funded by a $80,000 Community Emergency Preparedness Fund grant from the Government of British Columbia to the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) and the District of Lantzville. Through this collaborative partnership, the RDN and the District of Lantzville are able to remain informed on the latest best practices in emergency management and enhance community resilience.
U-Haul Co. (Canada) Ltd. is pleased to announce that Mini Mall Storage Nanaimo signed on as a U-Haul® neighborhood dealer to serve the Nanaimo community. Mini Mall Storage Nanaimo at 1530 Harold Road will offer essential services like U-Haul trucks and moving supplies.
Nanaimo and District Hospital Foundation‘s recent campaign raised $2.9 million for a SPECT-CT scanner, the foundation’s greatest single-equipment fundraiser.
The re-zoning application for a multi-family townhouse development at 3397 Tunnah Rd in Nanaimo’s Long Lake district, submitted by P Square Engineering and Construction Ltd., is now being considered by the Nanaimo City Council.
KPN Contracting LTD, a contracting company established by Jesse James, is expanding to include a detailing company, KPN Car Detailing.
The Barkley Project Group is moving to its new location at #205-155 Skinner Street, Nanaimo, effective August 1.
LADYSMITH – CHEMAINUS
Joy Wilson, a teacher at Chemainus Secondary School who teaches science and the humanities, has been selected for a National Geographic Lindblad Expedition Grosvenor Teacher Fellowship.
There will be an Ice Cream Social at Kin Beach Park on Friday, July 19, hosted by the Chemainus Business Improvement Association (BIA). The event is open to all ages.
COWICHAN – DUNCAN
Formula Contractors Ltd. has successfully delivered the Holt Creek Bridge Replacement project, a design-build initiative located along the Cowichan Valley Trail near Duncan.
Isherwood Body & Fender Ltd has moved to a new location ay Unit #5 – 4970 Polkey Road in Duncan.
The Duncan Cowichan Chamber of Commerce welcomes its new members, UMedia, BFL CANADA, Van Isle Cowichan RV Park and Campground, Options Salad & Subs Meal Prep, Options Exterior Cleaning, The West Coast Street Saloon, Atticus Environmental Services Ltd., Rewild Homes, Ducharme Limousine & Tours and TellTale Winery.
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