News Impacting Central and North Vancouver Island
PORT HARDY/PORT MCNEILL
The District of Port Hardy is calling on qualified contractors and energy professionals to provide quotes for the design, supply, and installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems equipped with battery backup for three municipal buildings. Systems are required to ensure adequate battery storage to support critical building functions for at least three days in the event of power outages.
The Festival of Lights Port Hardy is thrilled to announce the Harbour Boat Parade on November 27th.
The Namgis First Nation and the Province are one step closer to a joint decision-making agreement that will support sustainable forestry operations, employment creation, and predictable harvesting on the North Island.
CAMPBELL RIVER
Roni-Anne Hudak, the owner and Cookie Artist at Sugar Dream Cookies, is expanding her business by offering custom logo cookies designed to support business growth.
Small Planet Energy Inc. has announced that Stage 1 of the Village Island Off-Grid Power Project, a partnership with the Mamalilikulla First Nation, is complete. This stage involved creating an off-grid power system for the village.
The City of Campbell River has announced that two new publicly-accessible Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) have been installed at Robron and Willow Point Parks.
An application for a Zoning Bylaw Amendment No. 3999, 2025, has been received by the City at 1308 Island Highway South. In order to facilitate the construction of a 52-unit apartment building, the proposed amendment will rezone the property from Residential Multiple Three (RM-3) to Residential Multiple Four (RM-4).
Thind Interior Finishing will be working on the Cedar Ridge Project.
COMOX VALLEY
Archie Pateman
Archie Pateman, a member of REMAX Ocean Pacific Realty, has been named to the REMAX Hall of Fame.
Newcastle Engineering Ltd. announced the opening of its newest office in Courtenay.
The City of Courtenay has granted complete approval for the waiver of Development Cost Charges (DCCs) for The Anchorage, the affordable community project for L’Arche Comox Valley located at 1560 Grieve Avenue.
The Comox Community Centre will host the popular Early Years Parent Speaker Series on Tuesdays from October 28 to December 2 in the Town of Comox.
The WBN Marketplace 2025 on November 8th will take place at Crown Isle Resort, with featured vendor: Comox Valley Transition Society.
Domino’s Pizza Courtenay and Domino’s Pizza Comox have collectively raised $700 through their Raising the Dough for YANA initiative.
The official opening of the Lazo Greenway Multi-Use Path (MUP) was celebrated on October 22, 2025, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony organized by the Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) in collaboration with the Town of Comox, the Government of Canada, and the Ministry of Transportation and Transit (MoTT).
PARKSVILLE/QUALICUM BEACH
Eli Brennan
Eli Brennan, Co-Founder/COO of Moments Hospitality, has been inducted into the BC Restaurant Hall of Fame. Eli and his business partners acquired the historic Water St. Café in Gastown IN 2017, revitalizing it and introducing the 2nd Floor Gastown, a vibrant live music venue. Their ventures have since expanded to include the Qualicum Beach Café, Nanoose Bay Café, Deez Bar & Grill, and the soon-to-open Greenview Taphouse in Nanoose Bay.
The Parksville & District Chamber of Commerce welcomes its newest members, Artis Orthotics and Canadian Sleeping Barrels.
Fern + Cedar Brewing and Mount Arrowsmith Brewing Company were recognized for their exceptional IPAs at the 2025 BC Beer Awards.
M & N Mattress & Sofa Gallery joins the SOS Connecting Community Campaign.
The Qualicum Beach Chamber of Commerce has launched its new website developed by Geeks on the Beach.
PORT ALBERNI
Island Tropics Tanning is celebrating 10 years in business.
Cloud Nine Collective Wellness Spa is hosting an open house to celebrate their 5 year anniversary of being open at the Johnston Road location.
Coombs Country Candy is expanding and will be opening a new production facility on Cherry Creek Road. The retail store will remain in its current location.
Alberni Golf Men’s Club has raised $1,600 which will be donated to the Special Olympics.
The Alberni Clayoquot Regional District are updating the Sproat Lake and Area Official Community Plan, the survey is open October 20 – November 30.
Alberni Valley Hospice Society, Operators of Ty Watson House have received a donation of $5,000 from the Fenton Group.
The Community Arts Council of the Alberni Valley is hosting an artist roundtable on Nov 1 to gather input for their 2026-2029 strategic plan.
The City of Port Alberni is hosting an Interpretation Roundtable at McLean Mill October 29. The city is reimagining the interpretive signs and want input to make them meaningful, inclusive, and engaging.
Shalaya Valenzuela from the Tseshaht First Nation has received the National Tom Longboat Award.
TOFINO/UCLUELET
The 2025 Business Retention and Expansion (BRE) Summary Report, which was released by the Tofino Chamber of Commerce, offers a comprehensive overview of the business environment in Tofino. The report is based on 50 in-person interviews with business owners from all main sectors. The report highlights: Within the next three to five years, 44 per cent of businesses intend to expand; 65 per cent of businesses have reported revenue growth in the past three years; and A significant number of businesses see potential in shared infrastructure, policy reform, regional collaboration, and values-aligned tourism.
The Tofino Chamber of Commerce welcomes Hullo Ferries as its newest member.
Harbour Air proudly announced the launch of direct service between YVR and YAZ for the fall and winter seasons, coupled with the reintroduction of the YYJ–YVR route.
NANAIMO
Janice Krall has been appointed as the new Chair of the Board of the Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce.
Melissa Lavoie has joined Loaves and Fishes Food Bank as Director of Philanthropy and Revenue Generation.
Andi Dzilums celebrates first year with 4TVI (Tourism Vancouver Island).
Shorefast has teamed up with the 4TVI (Tourism Vancouver Island) Social Enterprise Group in a significant move as part of its first Economic Nutrition cohort.
Heidelberg Materials North America set to acquire Island Aggregates Ltd. located on Vancouver Island.
Specsavers located at Woodgrove Centre in Nanaimo is relocating to a larger space within the centre.
JD Sports has officially opened in Woodgrove.
Little George’s Pizza & Pasta Local Guys will soon be celebrating its 28th anniversary.
LADYSMITH/CHEMAINUS
Ruby Smith Díaz, an author from Ladysmith, has been named finalist for Governor General’s Literary Awards.
Ladysmith Seniors Housing Society (LSHS) newest project to provide low-cost rental housing for seniors at 117 Dogwood Dr. in Ladysmith, is going into the planning and building stage.
Emission Level 4 (EL-4) of B.C.’s Zero Carbon Step Code will be enforced in the Town of Ladysmith for all single-detached dwellings, with or without secondary suites, starting January 1, 2026. This is part of an effort to raise the bar for environmentally conscious construction practices.
COWICHAN VALLEY/DUNCAN
The New Cowichan Urgent and Primary Care Centre is now open at 940 Government Street.
Two transition sites for the homeless, modelled after the one on Trunk Road in Duncan, are being considered by the Municipality of North Cowichan.
The 2025 CARE Awards, which took place on October 3 in Victoria, presented South Shore Cabinetry and Terry Johal Developments the Best Traditional Kitchen over $100,000 award for their work at Shelter Cove.
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