News Impacting Central and North Vancouver Island
NORTH ISLAND
Island Health has given approval for the Port Hardy Swimming Pool to reopen following extensive renovations.
Parallel 50 has moved to its new location at 7125A Market Street, Port Hardy.
Radius Skateparks, the same company that constructed the skatepark in Alert Bay, is designing and building a $550,000 cement park to replace the Kyle Scow Memorial (KSM) Skatepark in Port Hardy.
The Immigrant Welcome Centre now have a North Island office at #14-311 Hemlock Street, Port McNeill. They also offer outreach services to other North Island communities.
CAMPBELL RIVER
Kim Dougan
Kim Dougan has joined the team of realtors at Vanessa Monteith-Hird & Associates.
Stephen Joyce, a teacher from Campbell River, has received the Regional Certificate of Achievement for the 2024 Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence, recognizing his outstanding contributions in education.
Bryce Turko celebrates 1 year anniversary with Pacific Nations Auto Sales.
North Island Nissan celebrated its 10th year anniversary last month.
Naturally Pacific Resort, boutique hotel, is offering up to 35 per cent off guestrooms to celebrate its Grand Opening.
Meraki’s Cocktail Bar and Kitchen will celebrate its grand opening at Pier 1 in Campbell River on June 29th.
City of Campbell River Airport (YBL) offers daily scheduled service to Vancouver International Airport (YVR) on Pacific Coastal Airlines.
COMOX VALLEY
Kayleigh McDonald
Kayleigh McDonald, an entrepreneur and business owner of Prismatic Creative Co. based in Comox, is the 2024 Promising Alumni Award recipient for Camosun College.
Lesley Stav, a chef in the Comox Valley, received a Distinguished Alumni Award from Camosun College.
Refined HVAC & Electrical celebrates 10th year in business.
Compass Gallery & Gifts is a new member of the Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce.
Comox Nautical Days Festival is happening August 3-5.
TOFINO – UCLUELET
The Board of Directors of both Ucluelet Co-op and Mid Island Co-op are excited to announce their members the proposed plans for the amalgamation of both Co-ops. For more information, visit the website www.midislandco-op.crs.
Long Beach Lodge Resort is thrilled to announce that it has been nominated for the prestigious Condé Nast Traveller 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards, and is kindly requesting support in voting before June 30th.
Pacific Rim Arts Society, in partnership with the Break Cafe and Bistro, kicks off Summer Festival in June 30th, with a live outdoor concert featuring Sunride Duo and The Dang Package.
PORT ALBERNI
Plans are underway by developer Chris Lefevre for a second row of townhomes to be built as part of Woodwards Village.
Entrepreneur Alison Dahlie Griffin has relocated to Port Alberni to start a flower shop and home goods business in the former site of Coulson Ice Blast.
The Port Alberni Port Authority has received $4 million for a 3,000sqft expansion of the Dock+ at Tyee Landing. The expansion includes integration of High Pressure Processing (HPP) technology for commercial food processing, the first in Western Canada that is a dedicated seafood unit. The project is partnership between the Port Alberni Port Authority (PAPA), Nova Harvest Ltd. and Huu-ay-aht First Nations (HFN) Fisheries LP. $3M was received as a grant from the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture and Food, with the three partners contributing a combined $1 million in equity.
Tseshaht [c̓išaaʔatḥ] First Nation has formed the Tsuma-as Housing Society and is hiring an executive director to help lead the housing development projects taking place on the 7.9 acre site of the former APD sawmill. The land was purchased following an agreement with the Province of BC and the province’s contribution of $5 million in July 2023.
Catalyst Paper Excellence in Port Alberni has been awarded two CleanBC Industry Fund grants totalling $145,000 for feasibility studies examining sustainable business projects.
Construction at the Port Alberni Industrial Block on Dundalk Avenue is expected to be completed in July. Nine commercial units are being built by DG&3 Holding Ltd, led by Gord McIntyre.
The Hawaii Mars water bomber is anticipated to take its final flight to Patricia Bay on August 10th, 2024.
The Friday Night Market organized by Wesco Food Society has moved location from the Harbor Quay to Tseshaht Market.
Construction is underway by Tseshaht [c̓išaaʔatḥ] First Nation on the new 7,400sqft Somass Hall community building, containing a commercial kitchen, breakout rooms, and offices. The federal government contributed $3.4 million and Tseshaht First Nation contributed $1.1 million.
Plans are underway by Coulson Aviation to construct a 3-storey office building and tech building as well as expand training courses at their Alberni Valley Regional airport location.
The Beaver Creek Community Club hosted the grand opening of the new Beaver Creek Pavilion. The Island Coastal Economic Trust invested in this project through its Community Placemaking Program, which included a partnership with 4VI – Tourism Vancouver Island.
Award Winning Production “The Pillowman” returns to the Capitol Theatre June 29th & 30th.
Construction nears completion of Oomiiqsu, a unique “Mother’s Centre” that will provide housing for Indigenous women and children in Port Alberni. It is a project of the Huu-ay-aht First Nation.
The Port Alberni Health Summit took place on June 22 at Chances Rimrock Gaming Centre, with an agenda geared towards stabilizing, sustaining, and improving Health Care Worker retention and recruitment. Delegations from Island Health, the City of Port Alberni, the Regional District, PCN- Divisions of Family Practice, First Nations, Medical Staffing Association, MLA, and Doctors of BC were in attendance.
The Port Alberni Port Authority will be hosting over 200 attendees in Port Alberni at the 2024 Ports Canada conference September 17-19. The conference takes place at the Alberni Athletic Hall with networking events including a cocktail evening at West Coast River Lodge, a gin tasting with Antidote Distillery and local music. A cultural reception will be held at McLean Mill National Historic Site, hosted by Tseshaht First Nation.
PARKSVILLE – QUALICUM BEACH
Krystal Crompton is celebrating 8th year work anniversary with GEM Real Estate Group at Royal LePage Parksville-Qualicum Beach Realty.
Kellie Simpatico has joined the GEM Real Estate Group at Royal LePage Parksville-Qualicum Beach Realty.
The Town of Qualicum Beach is set to embark on the Rupert Road Watermain Extension project, slated to begin on July 2, 2024. This critical infrastructure upgrade aims to enhance the resiliency and reliability of the water supply to the Chartwell, Eaglecrest and Sandpiper subdivisions. The project tender was awarded to IWC Excavation, with a bid price of $1,293,676 excluding GST.
NANAIMO
Jason Yochim
VIREB CEO Jason Yochim on joining the board of the Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce. Two other board members were also announced by the chamber: Arlene Rolston, Executive Assistant, Port of Nanaimo, and Mike Hrabowych, Insurance Advisor, Integral Wealth Insurance Agents.
Casino Nanaimo was sold by Great Canadian Entertainment to the Petroglyph Development Group of the Snuneymuxw First Nation.
On April 1, 2025, BC Transit will implement a fare increase of 20 per cent.
The Nanaimo Canoe and Kayak Club is looking to expand its membership by encouraging people to take up kayaking this summer.
Coast Hotels recently marked the successful completion of an extensive renovation project at the Coast Bastion Hotel in Nanaimo.
The former Salvation Army Red Shield Centre building at 19 Nicol St. will be replaced by a four-story, 26-bed structure that includes a commercial kitchen and personal care facility, following the City Council’s approval of the MacDonald Hagarty Architects Ltd. plan.
An announcement has been made on the request for proposals for the construction manager post at the Nanaimo cancer facility, which is expected to be completed in 2028. B.C. Cancer and Island Health will review applications for the post, which must be submitted by July 15.
The City Council has granted a re-zoning application to allow the construction of affordable and permanent supportive housing on Terminal Avenue, which is now home to Newcastle Place modular temporary supportive housing.
The rezoning application from Lovick Scott Architects on behalf of a numbered B.C. company and Glen Neufeld for two properties at 330 and 338 Ninth Street in Harewood has been approved by Nanaimo city council. This approval will allow for the construction of 34 townhouses.
Harbourview Volkswagen has earned the Wolfsburg Crest Club Award for the 12th year! They are recognized as the #1 Volkswagen dealer in Canada for their commitment to customer satisfaction and service excellence.
DKI-Pro Pacific and The Honourable Order of the Blue Goose International are extremely proud to announce the final tally in our May 31st online Charity Auction for Ronald McDonald House Charities Canada came in at $7,093! 100% of the proceeds have been donated to RMHC and would like to thank all of the amazing businesses who donated auction items or cash to this worthy cause. As part of the Bringing Families Home Campaign, DKI members across Canada have raised more than $155,000 so far this year. DKI-Pro Pacific is Vancouver Island’s largest locally-owned disaster restoration company, providing the full spectrum of disaster services including flood, fire & storm damage, emergency board-up, odour removal, asbestos abatement, mold remediation, contents cleaning, biohazard and hoarding cleanup.
LADYSMITH – CHEMAINUS
The Indian Palate Restaurant, located at 438 1st Ave, Ladysmith, has just opened for business.
Thanks A Latte has recently moved to a new building at the same address: 10862 Chemainus Rd, Ladysmith.
Approximately 150 vendors are expected to take over Willow Street in Chemainus on July 6, 2024, for the Giant Street Market.
The Ladysmith & District Credit Union is launching a new mobile banking app on July 10th.
COWICHAN – DUNCAN
Cam Keith, a former coach of the Surrey Eagles, has been chosen the Cowichan Valley Capitals‘ new head coach.
The Province has allocated $100,000 to the Municipality of North Cowichan to improve the efficiency of the development approval procedures for new home construction.
Duncan’s Foxy Box Laser + Wax Bar, owned by Tiffany Shanahan, is celebrating its third anniversary.
On June 8, Cobble Hill’s Moo’s Pizza held a pizza-eating contest during its 12th anniversary party, raising $1,025 for the Cenotaph’s renovations.
Telegraph Electric has joined the Better Business Bureau VI.
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