News Impacting Central and North Vancouver Island
NORTH ISLAND
The new gas station, which will have a sales building, restrooms, and four fuel pumps, was inaugurated on May 8 during a ground-breaking ceremony hosted by Quatsino Economic Development LP. The site is located on the right side of the highway, before the Quatsino First Nation community.
Heritage BC has presented the Sointula Museum with a Recognition Award in the Education, Communications, and Awareness category for their documentary “Sointula: History and Memories”.
The Port Hardy Hospital Auxiliary Society donated $30,000 to establish a new fire training facility for the Port Hardy Fire Rescue.
Roxy’s Diner Food Truck is opening at Alder Bay RV Park & Marina in Port NcNeill
CAMPBELL RIVER
The Naturally Pacific Resort in Campbell River held its grand opening on may 11th.
The City of Campbell River is seeking a Director of Operations. Applications will be accepted until May 26th.
The Campbell River Beacon Club is hosting an Open House on May 16, at 684 Island Highway.
The “Burger & Bevy Night” fundraiser for Upper Island Counselling is scheduled for May 28 at 50 Parallel Tap & Grill.
This week marks the official launch of IslandLink, a new North Island transit link service that connects Campbell River, Port McNeill and Port Hardy.
COMOX VALLEY
Edward Henley
Edward Henley has recently been hired as the new Director of Finance at Town of Comox.
The Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a $500,000 BC Active Transportation grant by the Province of BC. This funding will be used to fund the development of a multi-use route that will connect Royston Elementary School to the intersection of Island Highway and Royston Road.
The Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce has officially opened the Chamber Business Hub at #103 – 576 England Ave. in Downtown Courtenay.
Mid Island Liquor‘s Driftwood location has officially opened on May 11th.
The Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA) announced the winners of the 2024 CHBA National Awards for Housing Excellence. Winners were presented during an awards gala in Saint John, New Brunswick. J. Zsiros Contracting Ltd. won the Best Whole Home Renovation $300,001 – $500,000 with “Sandpines” in Courtenay.
TOFINO – UCLUELET
Harbour Air partnered with the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust to raise funds for the CBT’s proposed biosphere centre through its Share the Fare initiative. Harbour Air provides $1 every passenger on “Share the Fare Friday” to selected charities and causes.
The West Coast Sustainable Tourism Association presents the Clayoquot Sound Theatre in Tofino with a $60,000 check to commemorate the first contribution from an optional one percent sustainability levy it introduced in 2023 to aid in funding the theater’s renovations.
Icon Developments Ltd.’s, ‘The Muse” won Best Detached Custom Home 3001-4000 sq. ft. in the New Home category at the recent 2024 CHBA National Awards for Housing Excellence.
PORT ALBERNI
On May 2 c̓išaaʔatḥ (Tseshaht) First Nation and Western Forest Products announced the completion of the sale of a parcel of Western’s private land located in Port Alberni to Tseshaht for residential development. The 7.9 acre property was formerly used as a parking lot by Western’s Alberni Pacific Division (APD) facility and the purchase was made possible through a July 2023 agreement between Tseshaht and the Province of British Columbia that provided $5 million to Tseshaht First Nation for the purpose of purchasing lands.
Port Alberni City Council has entered into a 1-year agreement with the Western Vancouver Island Industrial Heritage Society to operate a short-track passenger train service along the waterfront. The train, pulled by a diesel locomotive, will run a 1.3km round trip from the Harbour Quay train station starting in mid-June.
Coulson Aviation’s Philippine Mars – Martin Mars water bomber will be moved to the Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona later this year.
Alberni Valley News Editor Susie Quinn and reporter Elena Rardon earned provincial recognition at the annual B.C. and Yukon Community Newspapers Association’s Ma Murray awards. Susie Quinn was awarded silver in Sport News Photo of the Year (under 11,000 circulation) and Elena Rardon won silver for Business Writing (under 11,000 circulation).
Alberni Premium Coffee Co. opened its doors next to Dog Mountain Brewing offering light roast espresso, medium and dark roast coffee. Plans to expand and open a breakfast eatery and coffee shop are underway, with an anticipated opening in summer 2024.
Portal Players Dramatic Society is producing ‘The Pillowman’ at the Capitol Theatre.
The Alberni Valley Makerspace has received new plastic recycling equipment, they will soon begin taking plastic waste and turning it into new products.
“Canvas Connect” took place May 11th at the Kinsmen Community Centre, bringing together artists in the Alberni Valley for a social event and art sale.
Samantha Barrowcliff, president of the Alberni Valley Minor Hockey Association, has been awarded the Fred Heslop Minor Hockey Award, in recognition of volunteers who have made significant contributions to BC Hockey, their association and community.
Science World brings its “On the Road” program to elementary schools in Port Alberni, Bamfield and Ditidaht First Nation May 14th-18th culminating with an event at North Island College. The Alberni Valley Makerspace is also co-hosting a “Girls and STEAM” workshop on the 18th.
Portal Players Dramatic Society is hosting Theatre BC’s North Island Zone (NIZ) Festival May 20th – 24th with a week of live theatre productions. Tickets are available at www.atthecapitol.org
Canadian Maritime Engineering’s Port Alberni Shipyard recently completed and launched a new work boat build.
Educators from Pacific Rim School District met with international education leaders from the Networks of Inquiry and Indigenous Education during a professional development event.
The campground at McLean Mill National Historic Site has opened for the season.
PARKSVILLE – QUALICUM BEACH
Café 356 has opened at 1025 Lee Road, Parksville.
The Coastal Community Credit Union Nanoose Bay will host business after business on May 23rd.
The Parksville & District Chamber of Commerce welcomes its newest member, Sustain Collective Wellness Company.
The winners of the 21st annual Community Awards were announced by Premier David Eby and Walter Pela, Chair of the BC Achievement Foundation. The honorees include:
- Troy MacBeth Abromaitis, Richmond
- Nemkumar Banthia, Vancouver
- Devon Black, Victoria
- Earl Blacklock, Parksville
- Robin Dawes, Williams Lake
- Jane Devji, Delta
- Doreen & Wayne Hewitt, Salt Spring Island
- Christopher Lee, Vancouver
- Siân Lewis, Kamloops
- Brian McConaghy, Delta
- Connally McDougall, Vancouver
- Marcus Mosely, North Vancouver
- Coralie Nairn, Vernon
- Alison O’Toole, Prince Rupert
- Jazz Pabla, West Kelowna
- Len Pierre, Surrey
- Rishika Selvakumar, Richmond
- Wendy Toyer, Richmond
- Mary Trentadue, New Westminster
- Janna Wale, Gitanmaax/Hazelton
NANAIMO
Kerilie McDowall © 2021 HA Photography
Kerilie McDowall, 16x award-winning jazzpreneur, TV short film director/former Vancouver jazz guitarist-bandleader/current jazz writer, announced a unique chance for her 13-time-awarded film, In the Zone: Rick Kilburn. Kerilie revealed her $2M Film Fund Drive lead by McDowall and her investor, with the potential to attract other investors.
Kanav Kapoor is starting a new position as Car Sales Specialist at Nissan of Nanaimo.
Pelin Polat Solpan has taken a new job at the Best Western Hotels & Resorts City of Nanaimo as their Sales and Marketing Manager.
Zara Rutherford, the youngest female pilot to complete a circumnavigation, will be present at the annual meeting of the BC Aviation Council of the Nanaimo Airport on May 28 at the Vancouver Island meeting Centre, 101 Gordon Street, Nanaimo.
Through partnerships with 30 groups across the province, the B.C. government has increased financing for programs that assist newcomers from $6 million to $25.6 million per annum. The Safe Haven program and the new BC Newcomer Services program each contributed $12.2 million and $13.4 million, respectively, to this support.
The City’s Design Advisory Panel, after evaluating the plans, has issued ten recommendations regarding the construction of an 86-unit apartment complex on an existing vacant lot located along Dufferin Cres., near Bowen Rd., in central Nanaimo.
The 18th Annual Nurse Practitioner Conference is happening at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre in Nanaimo from June 3rd to the 5th.
The Tea & Talk On the Road will be held at the Nanaimo Art Gallery on May 28.
LADYSMITH – CHEMAINUS
The Bonaparte First Nation, through the St’uxwtews Pesuten Heritage Society, is now managing Hat Creek Ranch.
A pair of new public art banners created by artist Trisha Oldfied are up along Ladysmith’s 1st Avenue, further enhancing the downtown’s distinct sense of place for our community and its many visitors.
Ladysmith Unparalleled, the Town of Ladysmith’s new Official Community Plan has been honoured by the Planning Institute of British Columbia (PIBC) with a Silver Award for Excellence in Policy Planning – Small Town & Rural Areas Award. Each year, PIBC honors planning work undertaken by professional planners in BC and the Yukon with ‘Gold’, ‘Silver’ and honorable mention awards. The Small Town & Rural Areas Award is open to communities under 80,000 people
COWICHAN – DUNCAN
Thomas Bevan
Thomas Bevan has been named the new Island Corridor Foundation new CEO effective June 1.
Matthew Huotari, Brennan Morgan, and Casey Thompson recently bought the Duncan Garage & Bakery on Duncan Street from Susan Minette.
Empire Donuts, originally from Victoria, is expanding to Duncan with the launch of a kiosk inside Duncan’s The Old Farm Market.
The first Edo Japan, a Canadian chain of Japanese-inspired restaurants started by JB Gill, has opened for business at Beverly Corners on Beverly Street in the Cowichan Valley.
Keir and Brittany McPherson, owners of Lake Cowichan’s Garden Made, intend to increase the store’s opening hours in response to the positive response their establishment has received from locals.
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