News Impacting Central and North Vancouver Island
NORTH ISLAND
Kristina Fedorak and Kirstie Bradshaw, the owners of Hotel 19, which was previously known as the North Shore Inn, are planning to open the hotel in June.
Silver Fox Barber Shoppe, owned by Alexis Hunt, is now open for business at 7040 Market Street, Unit #3, Port Hardy.
The e A’ekaḵila’as Primary Care Centre in Port McNeill is expanding, which will facilitate the construction of a modular structure following the approval from the council.
The doors of Rumble Beach Gallery & Gifts, located on Marine Drive in Port Alice, between Foggy Mountain Coffee Co. and Port Alice Pharmacy, were officially opened on May 9.
CAMPBELL RIVER
The renowned Painter’s Lodge in Campbell River has been acquired by Burnaby based Evergreen Hospitality.
The City of Campbell River has awarded Upanup the contract to completely redesign and redevelop its website. Upanup provides digital website solutions that prioritize user experience.
Kat Eddy, the board chairperson of the Campbell River School District (SD72), has been voted president of the Vancouver Island School Trustees Association (VISTA), a regional division of the BC School Trustees Association (BCSTA).
Debra Rogers, a fire investigator and acting captain of the Campbell River Department, was presented with the Community Award in 2025 by the BC Achievement Foundation.
Discovery Passage Aquarium in Campbell River will reopen on May 17.
COMOX VALLEY
Engel & Völkers has announced the opening of a new Comox office, which will be overseen by license partners Erik Clevering, Nathan King, and Abel O’Brennan, as well as managing broker Jeff Neild.
Courtenay sees the addition of 40 new affordable homes called Naut’sa Mawt, focusing on accessibility to indigenous communities. Located at 1679 McPhee Ave, it will be overseen by the Wachiay Friendship Centre Society.
The Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce celebrates their one-year anniversary in their new office space after working remotely since 2023. The ‘Chamber Business Hub‘ in Downtown Courtenay offers the business community use of a 14-person boardroom, co-working desks, a ZOOM room and a multi functional workshop space.
TOFINO – UCLUELET
Maria Clark
Maria Clark, Tin Wis Resort‘s assistant general manager, received the Business Leader of the Year award at the Tofino Business Excellence Awards Gala.
The Ucluelet Chamber of Commerce‘s Networking Mixer and Members Meeting is scheduled on May 20 at Ucluelet Brewing Company.
Tofino Co-op is pleased to match every dollar (up to $5,000) of the $10,000 goal set by Ucluelet Secondary School‘s School-Wide Reading for Pleasure Initiative to support library upgrades.
PORT ALBERNI
The Alberni Valley Chamber of Commerce will hold its Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, May 14, with sponsorship from Hullo Ferries.
Wesco Foods’ 3rd seasonal Friday Night Market starts on June 06, 2025.
A new parking lot has opened at Harbour Road and Argyle Street.
The City of Port Alberni Local Government is looking for a casual Receptionist to assist various City departments.
PARKSVILLE – QUALICUM BEACH
Chelsea Cummings
Chelsea Cummings marks a milestone, celebrating 12 years with the Ohs Marketing Team at Royal LePage Parksville-Qualicum Beach Realty.
The Parksville Professional Centre, located at 154 Memorial Avenue in Parksville, has been listed by Santanna Portman of William Wright Commercial.
Norm’s Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning has announced a new partnership with the Forward House in Parksville, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing essential mental health and addiction recovery support to those in need.
Renegade Landscaping & Development has officially opened in Parksville.
The Parksville & District Chamber of Commerce‘s Business after Business is on May 15, with the Grant Investments team at Unit 3 – 100 Lombardy Street, Parksville
Terminal Auto Body will be celebrating its 45th anniversary on May 31st.
NANAIMO
Susan Juby
Susan Juby, a Creative Writing Professor at VIU, has been shortlisted for The Whodunit Award for Best Traditional Mystery by the Crime Writers of Canada for her book A Meditation on Murder. Announcement of winners set for May 30.
Former CEO Alistair Caddick, stepped down from Hullo Ferries, the Vancouver Island Ferry Company, and has been succeeded by Ryan Dermody, who has been appointed as interim CEO.
Allison Schneider, Recreation Coordinator for the Arenas, has received the 2025 Joyce Fordyce Facility Programming award from the Recreation Facilities Association of British Columbia (RFABC).
Christopher Hinkson, a former chief judge of the British Columbia Supreme Court, has been assigned by the government of British Columbia to provide a report on safety precautions for event planners.
Lisa Henderson is celebrating 15 years at Better Mousetrap Marketing.
After Wrappers by Big Rock Candy Mountain has opened on May 3 at the Nanaimo Art Gallery.
North Island College‘s Centre for Applied Research, Technology, and Innovation (CARTI) recently purchased a cutting-edge seaweed bioreactor for continuous kelp seed production and quality control. This innovative technology supports B.C.’s booming seaweed industry and workforce development through applied research and student training.
The BCCA is pleased to launch the Past Chair Legacy Fund, which will award up to four candidates year and grant up to $2,500 per recipient. One person will be selected from each of the following regions of British Columbia: the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, Northern, and Southern Interior.
This summer, Air Canada will resume its popular nonstop service between Nanaimo Airport and Toronto, operating from June 6 to August 30.
Pattison Food Group’s Buy-Low Foods has officially opened on May 8th at 100-530 Fifth Street, Nanaimo.
The site at 1300 Island Highway South in Chase River, which is currently under the operation of Connective, is set to open fifty single-room modular residences to assist individuals who are homeless in Nanaimo as they transition from the shelter system.
The Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) has approved an amendment to its Building Regulations Fees and Charges, known as Bylaw No. 1595.01, 2025. The new bylaw will take effect on May 15, 2025. Fees for Building Inspection Services have remained unchanged for 14 years, prompting a necessary review and adjustment to ensure cost recovery and facilitate the efficient processing of building applications. The revised bylaw introduces higher rates for certain current fees and adds new charges.
LADYSMITH – CHEMAINUS
The popular food truck run by Lance Bergeron, Bergie’s, has moved to 9347B Trans-Canada Hwy. in Chemainus, across from the Co-op Gas Station and next to B&H Tire.
The Antique Barn, located at Henry Road and the Trans-Canada Highway in Chemainus for 20 years, closed after its lease expired and the rent has become unaffordable.
COWICHAN – DUNCAN
Linda Henry, the owner of Lil’s Tea An-Tiques in Cowichan Lake, is preparing to add a new barbecue area into the tea house, which is located at 56 South Shore Rd.
The provincial government has awarded a certificate in local government statutory administration to Allison Boyd, the deputy corporate officer of the Cowichan Valley Regional District.
The federal government may contribute $5.1 million to the Cowichan transportation service, mostly to assist with the purchase of buses.
The 12th annual Marine Swap N Shop will be held on May 25 at Dean’s Marine Ltd., located on Chaster Road.
Friendship Square – Hiiye’yutul’ will be the new name of Station Street Park, which is now receiving extensive renovations.
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