News Impacting Central and North Vancouver Island
NORTH ISLAND
The Sanala Housing Society, spearheaded by the Aboriginal Coalition to End Homelessness Society, has petitioned the District of Port Hardy council to reserve a parcel of land on Douglas Street, next to the North Island Mall, for a culturally supportive housing project.
NDP Members of Parliament (MPs) Rachel Blaney (North Island-Powell River) and Gord Johns (Courtney-Alberni) have announced a doubling of the tax credit for volunteer firefighters and search and rescue personnel.
CAMPBELL RIVER
The Métis Nation of B.C. has plans to acquire four properties on Dogwood Street, with the aim of developing around 40 new affordable housing units and a daycare facility.
The Clothesline Project, organized by the Campbell River and North Island Transition Society, will be held on April 18 at Spirit Square.
A Community Safety and Well-being (CSWB) Plan has been developed by the City of Campbell River in collaboration with the Canadian Centre for Safer Communities. The plan’s overarching goal is to improve community safety, safety perception, and overall well-being.
School District 72‘s (SD72) operating grant will increase by $3.3 million for the 2024-25 school year.
A new childcare facility has been completed and officially opened near Ripple Rock Elementary, marking the first of seven new facilities in School District 72‘s area.
SUSHI by Rune is back at the Waterfront Restaurant.
COMOX VALLEY
On May 3, the Comox Valley Curling Centre will host a dance and dine event along with a silent auction to commemorate the Comox Valley Family Services Association‘s 50 years in the community.
The Comox Valley Regional District may charge the Saratoga Speedway more than one thousand dollars per campsite it develops, as approved by the Regional District bylaw on Tuesday (April 9).
Uride is scheduled to launch in the Comox Valley prior to the May long weekend, and on April 18 at 3 p.m., it will host a virtual information session for all potential drivers.
The Cumberland Museum & Archives will host the Cumberland & District Historical Society‘s upcoming annual general meeting on April 24. Members are invited in person.
Celebrating 110 years of giving, the Auxiliary Society for Comox Valley Healthcare has distributed $110,000 to local charities. Among these organizations are Wheels for Wellness, Comox Valley Child Development Association, Comox Valley Lifeline Society, Comox Valley Therapeutic Riding Society, Comox Valley Senior Support Society, Comox Valley Food Bank, Dawn to Dawn Action Against Homelessness, Comox Valley Search and Rescue, Comox Bay Care Society Care-A-Van, and Eureka Support Society.
PORT ALBERNI
Adam Ballard
Adam Ballard has joined Edward Jones Port Alberni office with another financial advisor, his mother, Suzanne Dube.
Tricia Grobell and Ken Barlow, founders of Alberni Fitness on the corner of Gertrude Street and Arrowsmith Road, recently celebrated 30 years of their partnership.
Capelli Hair Design, owned by Rose DiRocco, recently celebrated their 44th year in business in the Alberni Valley.
Healthy Habits celebrates 20 years in business in the Alberni Valley.
Alberni Valley Makerspace recently marked its first anniversary under the ownership of Michael Moore.
TOFINO – UCLUELET
Roy Henry Vickers
Roy Henry Vickers is selling his renowned art gallery at 350 Campbell Street in Tofino.
A survey regarding the idea of charging parking fees to help pay for infrastructure upgrades and meet the demands on services brought on by the town’s tourism industry has been posted on the district website at Ucluelet.ca/Parking. The deadline for input submission is April 19 for anyone interested in participating.
The community centre received a proposal from MacDonald Grey Consultants for a Big Beach property that included a brewpub, vacation rentals, and residential units at District Lot 281, kitty corner.
The Food Bank on the Edge Society will have a permanent location on a parcel of land officially transferred to it by the District of Ucluelet, located in the northwest corner of Tugwell Fields in front of Forbes Road.
PARKSVILLE – QUALICUM BEACH
Darrin Brown has received recognition for his two decades of service to Ducks Unlimited Canada as a volunteer.
The St. Andrews Lodge, situated on the waterfront of Qualicum Beach, has been chosen as one of the twelve finalists as most significant heritage sites in Canada by the National Trust for Canada.
Residents of Qualicum Beach are slated to adopt a tax bylaw in 2024 that will increase property taxes by 7.7 per cent.
Three lighting initiatives have been proposed by the Parksville Downtown Business Association (PDBA). These include installing a 28-foot Christmas tree in Memorial Plaza during the holiday season, upgrading the lighting canopy there, and permanently lighting Alberni Highway.
NANAIMO
SignAge has purchased a new large format printer expanding its printing capabilities. With features such as white ink and Eco friendly Latex inks, the products are safe for interior applications with no harmful outgassing of solvents. Direct to rigid substrate printing and improved color calibration for faster, more accurate large format prints and wraps.
Sean Penn has been named chief executive officer (CEO) of national technical builder Chandos Construction (Chandos).
In honour of Red Dress Day and the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls movement, award-winning investigative journalist and national bestselling author of Unbroken, Angela Sterritt, will be participating in a virtual discussion about her book on Tuesday, April 30 at Vancouver Island Regional Library (VIRL).
VIU and Capilano University are currently seeking registered occupational therapists and physiotherapists to instruct the Rehabilitation Assistant Diploma program as part of their collaboration.
A home-flipping tax will be introduced in British Columbia to reduce speculation and housing costs. Residential sales within a year of purchase will be taxed at 20 per cent of the profit starting January 1, 2025, and zero after two years. The Budget 2024 tax will be detailed by Finance Minister Katrine Conroy and Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon at a news conference
With a budget of $3.6 billion, B.C. Hydro has issued its first request for private power producers in 15 years, with the goal of supplying 270,000 homes with electricity by 2031. All bids for extra energy must be in accordance with Clean B.C.’s definition of renewable power and incorporate at least 25 per cent First Nations equity in order to be included in the biannual power call.
The BC Lenders Group Association named its new Board of Directors bringing diverse expertise and a shared commitment to excellence in providing educational events to mortgage brokers: President: Lee-Ann McEllister, ACC; Vice President: Kim Weishuhn; Treasurer: Matthew Sherriff; Secretary: Tania Hatcher; Directors: Kristina Morrison, Jennifer Sternig, Nicole Thomson, Cluny Coghlan, Yvonne Futter, Paula Hutton.
Four structures are slated to be constructed at 5915 Metral Dr. in Nanaimo by Habitat for Humanity Mid-Vancouver Island.
The Regional District of Nanaimo is seeking proposals from experienced security firms to provide on-site security services at the 1105 Cedar Road, Regional District of Nanaimo Landfill, Nanaimo, BC.
LADYSMITH – CHEMAINUS
Danh and Ninh Bui Phan, who have owned and operated the Wigwam Restaurant for over 30 years, will be retiring this month.
The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Ladysmith Chamber of Commerce took place on April 10th at the In the Beantime Cafe, with sponsorship from Kubera Payments Corp.
Bayview Brewing Company celebrates 2 years in business.
COWICHAN – DUNCAN
Ted Swabey, the Chief Administrative Officer of North Cowichan, has been honoured with a long-term service recognition award by the Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators.
The Nuts’a’maat Alliance recently held a virtual reality (VR) session at the present Cowichan District Hospital (CDH) to show employees around the future facility. The tour focused on the architectural details and features that would ensure the new facility maintains the same high standard of care as the old one.
The owner of the apartment building on Crosland Place, WestUrban Developments Ltd., announced that The Magdalena was fully reopened for tenants and was safe and secure after the completion of the retrofitting and remediation work.
The North Cowichan Municipality’s Sherman Road concept plan was funded with $19,000 from the province’s Active Transportation Infrastructure Grants program. The Sherman Road corridor will be designed with pedestrians and cyclists in mind as part of this project.
The Downtown Duncan Business Improvement Area is excited to announce the upcoming Downtown Duncan Earth Day event, set to take place on April 20 at the Charles Hoey Park.
The Duncan Cowichan Chamber of Commerce and Malahat SkyWalk are partnering to host Amazing Race Cowichan on June 24.
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