News Impacting Central and North Vancouver Island
NORTH ISLAND
The annual charity barbecue and car wash for Wounded Warriors Canada, hosted by Port McNeill Fire Rescue, RCMP, BC Emergency Health Service, Town of Port McNeill, and Emergency Social Services, raised $1,320.
The North Island Concert Society has received a commitment of $2,000 from the District of Port Hardy council.
The ‘Namgis First Nation, through its wholly-owned ‘Namgis Business Development Corporation, will establish a local food production system utilizing Growcer hydroponic technology as part of a new investment with the Island Coastal Economic Trust. The project will improve food security, create new jobs, and boost community well-being from its base in ‘Yalis (Alert Bay, Cormorant Island).
In support of community well-being and safety, the District of Port Hardy has announced the launch of the Situation Table, an innovative effort that offers comprehensive assistance to families and individuals facing significantly heightened danger. This project is supported by financial contributions from the Solicitor General and the Ministry of Public Safety.
The Raise the Roof Raffle is currently being held by the Port Hardy Hospital Auxiliary to raise funds to install a new roof on the Thrift Store location located on Main Street.
The Skills Bridge Connector Event will be held at North Island Mall, 9250 Trustee Road, Port Hardy, on Wednesday, February 28.
A press release from the Public Safety Ministry on Friday announced that the province will be allocating $1.75 million to the Fire Chiefs Association of BC. This funding will be used to establish regional training hubs in nine communities, with the goal of minimizing travel time and expenses.
CAMPBELL RIVER
Barony Power Corp (BPC) has announced the acquisition of MacTavish Welding & Manufacturing, a Canadian company with 40,000 square feet of manufacturing space, in a move that will allow it to move from bench to manufacturing of its first PowerHouse Units. The agreement states that BPC will acquire the 25-year lease-to-purchase agreement from MacTavish Welding & Manufacturing and keep the engineering staff from McTavish as employees of BPC.
The City of Campbell River is set to receive $10.4 million from the Government of Canada’s Housing Accelerator Fund that will help address the community’s housing needs by developing a variety of housing types to meet diverse needs, support housing affordability, aging in place, and increase rental stock.
The City of Campbell River is partnering with BC Housing to build the Hearth Village, a 40 units of temporary housing with support services at 1299 Homewood Road.
The Island Link Bus will add three more Vancouver Island stops—Campbell River, Port Hardy, and Port McNeill —to its vast route network starting May 16, 2024.
Campbell River‘s skilled tradespeople are invited to a social on February 24 at Session Taproom + Kitchen, hosted by the BC Centre for Women in the Trades.
North Island College is working with the Comox Valley Project Watershed Society, the K’ómoks First Nation, and other partners, to apply and test tools for identifying, mapping and quantifying important forage fish populations and their habitats. This work will contribute to the conservation of important food sources for Pacific salmon, including Chinook and Coho.
COMOX VALLEY
Edward Henley was appointed as the new Director of Finance for the Town of Comox.
Project Watershed has received $1.4 million from the BC Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund for forage fish research, monitoring, and restoration. This funding will be allocated over a 3-year period from 2023 to 2026 to aid in the research on intertidal and pelagic forage fish, as well as to support the Coastal Forage Fish Network.
The new Home Energy Navigator program is being launched by the Comox Valley Regional District in collaboration with the City of Courtenay and the Village of Cumberland. Homeowners can learn more about the steps to take to upgrade their energy efficiency and qualify for rebates through this program.
The Comox Valley Sewer Conveyance Project is a multi-year construction project that will replace the pipes and upgrade the pump stations that move more than 14,000 cubic metres of raw sewage each day to the sewage treatment plant on Brent Road. This new system will route sewer pipes further inland where they will no longer be vulnerable to damage by waves, rocks and logs and, thereby, will protect the beaches and waters throughout the Comox Estuary and Point Holmes and Goose Spit coastlines, as well as Baynes Sound. A detailed view of the construction route planned for 2024 can be found @ engagecomoxvalley.ca.
PORT ALBERNI
The province’s First Nations Clean Energy Business Fund, overseen by the Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, has provided funding for clean-energy projects that will power the communities of the T’Sou-ke, Pacheedaht, Malahat, Uchucklesaht, and Ahousaht Nations.
Bakers Dozen Catering will soon open at the historic Italian Canadian Society Hall located at 4065 6th Avenue, Port Alberni.
Boomerangs Cafe is excited to announce their new online ordering system. You can order directly from their website www.boomerangscafe.com or their Facebook Page or Google listing.
The City of Port Alberni has leased Unit 4 at Alberni Harbour Quay to Sugar Shak Licence #HQ4/C. Akerley who will use it for the purpose of operating a candy store for manufacturing and retail sales.
McLean Mill 10k race coming up on April 7th!
TOFINO – UCLUELET
Samantha Hackett
Samantha Hackett has been appointed executive director of the Tofino Long Beach Chamber of Commerce.
Ucluelet’s BMX Park receives a $1,327 boost from the Army, Navy, and Air Force Veterans Club.
The Clayoquot Biosphere Trust has received a recent contribution of $40,000 from the Wickaninnish Inn, which, contingent on the establishment of a biosphere centre, will receive an additional $150,000 over the following five years.
PARKSVILLE – QUALICUM BEACH
Kimbo Design was awarded a $48,800 contract to redesign the Town of Qualicum Beach’s website.
Island Crisis Care Society (ICCS) is organizing its tenth annual Coldest Night of the Year walk in the Parksville Qualicum Beach location on February 24. The event is in support of individuals who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
The three-year collective agreement, which will govern all unionized city employees until December 31, 2025, was ratified by the City of Parksville and CUPE 401 this month. A 4 per cent salary increase for employees in 2023 and 2024, followed by an additional 3.5 per cent increase on January 1, 2025, was the terms of the agreement reached by the parties.
NANAIMO
Justin Taron
Justin Taron has started a new position as Marketing Manager at TELUS.
Adolfo Gil-Rodriguez has taken on a new role as the Food and Beverage Manager at Nanaimo Golf Club.
The Nanaimo-based Coast Salish design firm Ay Lelum and and the City of Nanaimo worked together on the utility covers installed within Snuneymuxw territory which showcased the artwork of Joel Good.
The province issued a bulletin on February 14 concerning public cannabis use, which stated that people who hold valid licenses are permitted to advertise a location where individuals can use cannabis and then socialize.
BC Cancer will host an info session for Nuclear Medicine PET/CT Technologists on February 26 via Zoom. The session will cover working at BC Cancer, using advanced equipment, and engaging in research initiatives.
Starting on February 12th, all Harbord Insurance branches will be operating under the Waypoint name as a result of the merger between Waypoint and Harbord Insurance. This will create a stronger and more comprehensive insurance provider.
A federal investment of $917,050 through the Green Municipal Fund provides the City of Nanaimo with $200,000 to study methods for reducing greenhouse gas emissions at various public and recreational buildings that generate the most carbon in the community.
Project Watershed has been granted $1.4 Million in funding over the next 3 years by the BC Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund to aid forage fish research.
Starting in May and continuing until the end of 2024, the City of Nanaimo and Evolve E-Bike Share will launch a public electric bike-share pilot program.
SEAMOR Marine Ltd.was proud to provide a custom ROV to CERMIM – Centre de recherche sur les milieux insulaires et maritimes, who removed 73 football fields’ worth of rope and 50 ‘ghost’ crab traps in Canada’s largest ghost gear recovery operation.
The nomination process for the Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce’s 2024 Board of Directors is now underway. The Governance and Nominating Committee has identified 3 vacancies and are now accepting nominations. Nominations will be accepted until March 19, 2024
Islanders Outdoor Maintenance has been honored with the Best Landscaper Award by the Canadian Choice Awards.
LADYSMITH – CHEMAINUS
Robbie Hancock
Robbie Hancock‘s Ladysmith-based company, Sync or Swim, received a grant of over $20,000 from the province to assist in supporting a greater number of B.C. artists in navigating the music industry.
The Ladysmith Health Care Auxiliary expressed continued support for the health and well-being of community members at their annual general meeting on February 8 at the Eagles Hall.
The Nanaimo-Ladysmith school district is considering alternatives to upgrading Ladysmith Intermediate School, including exploring funding options to demolish and replace the former École Davis Road.
A contract worth slightly more than $1 million was awarded to Ecora Engineering and Resource Group by the council members of Ladysmith in response to a request for proposals for the purpose of planning upgrades to the Holland Lake Dam.
COWICHAN – DUNCAN
Morgan Mason‘s Tight Joints Woodworking has set up a stand in front of the Jubilee Street thrift store Needful Things.
Ajay Oppelaar and Robert Stutzman‘s Kahuna Burger, at 117 Kenneth St., is taking part in the nationwide #BurgerItForward initiative, which is being organized by Canada Beef and local cattle associations.
The Dine & Sip Cowichan Festival, organized by the Duncan Cowichan Chamber of Commerce, is returning to the Cowichan Valley from March 1st to the 24th.
The Cowichan Tribes reserve land at 222 Cowichan Way in Duncan will be developed into a new rental complex with four to six stories and one hundred and ninety-nine units.
The Maple Bay Convenience Store shut down after two years in business.
The Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD) has appointed Nicole Rallis to the positions of sport tourism coordinator and special projects assistant in the Economic Development Department.
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