Sign In Subscribe Now Nanaimo's Filipino community gathered to remember their Vancouver peers who died at a Lapu Lapu festival last week Eleven people were killed on April 26 when a sports-utility vehicle was driven into the crowd during the Filipino cultural celebration in east Vancouver and those who died or were injured were honoured at a vigil on Saturday General Employees' Union office on Terminal Avenue with more than 100 people in attendance told the News Bulletin he has family in the Lower Mainland the tragedy "devastated him" and kept him up all night trying to figure out what happened Soja said he never learned the language of his parents but was able to learn the "language of love" from them, something that will guide them through "[It] is spoken through action and as I look out here today and see my fellow community members coming together to combat this tragedy with love I feel like I can breathe again amongst my family colleagues and community members in a time my thoughts [are] so inconceivable Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog told attendees he and the city empathize with victims and the community and the events of April 26 were "a heart-breaking reminder of the reality of life." things can change very dramatically … the sorrow and the hurt and the memory of that tragedy should encourage any of us who have any faith but also to reach out and ensure that in our community goes without comfort and support from all of us," he said "We persevere by being together," he told the News Bulletin. "Alone The B.C. government declared Friday, May 2, an official day of mourning and remembrance for the victims. United Way B.C. has set up the Kapwa Strong Fund where people can donate and all proceeds going to provide immediate assistance, counselling and trauma services at http://uwbc.ca/lapu/ In addition, affected people can contact Victim Link B.C. at 1-800-563-0808, e-mail 211-victimlinkbc@uwbc.ca or go to https://victimlinkbc.ca/ B.C.'s crisis line at 310-6789 is available for anyone who needs mental-health supports was arrested in relation to the incident and faces eight counts of second-degree murder Sign up for free account today and start receiving our exclusive newsletters Dialogue and debate are integral to a free society and we welcome and encourage you to share your views on the issues of the day. We ask that you be respectful of others and their points of view, refrain from personal attacks and stay on topic. To learn about our commenting policies and how our community-based moderation works, please read our Community Guidelines It’s very distressing to watch the council approve the larger building at Loudon Park The park is small and to put such a large building in there will destroy the integrity of the park The most distressing and really awful thing is that so many beautiful old trees that make up the essence of this small park will be ripped out to make room for a building that will house boats And for only a very small portion of Nanaimo’s population I get that there will be washrooms and a meeting area but that could be done in a smaller building that won’t break the bank I am also incredulous that council would approve the huge price tag of $11 million a good piece of which will come from the reserve fund When I drive around town and see all the roads that need paving and city work that needs to be done I am frankly shocked that council would approve this building I understand that the rowers need a place to store their boats but they do not need something so large and costly at the expense of nature and the city’s reserve bank account READ ALSO: Community members oppose scale of planned boathouse at Long Lake in Nanaimo I thank the mayor and council for their time regarding the proposed development of Loudon Park at Long Lake Why should the city build a 10,000-square-foot building for private clubs that costs $11 million The project should be scaled back to $6 million It is crucial to preserve the integrity and original purpose of this cherished land The serene environment and recreational spaces are meant to provide a haven for all residents The late Bill Loudon gifted this land for Wellington residents to enjoy He never intended it to be taken over by private kayaking and rowing clubs and this development would not serve the community it is heartbreaking to imagine Bill Loudon’s vision being destroyed Please take this back to the table for a win-win for both the clubs and the residents The views and opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are those of the writer and do not reflect the views of Black Press Media or the Nanaimo News Bulletin Letters policy: Letters should be no longer than 250 words and will be edited Preference is given to letters expressing an opinion on issues of local relevance or responding to items published in the News Bulletin Include your address (it won’t be published) and a first name or two initials About the Author: Nanaimo Bulletin News Staff The mayors of North Cowichan and Nanaimo are urging the province to increase the amount of timber that can be harvested annually in the province In a letter to Minister of Forests Ravi Parmar North Cowichan Mayor Rob Douglas and Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog said that despite its recent struggles the forest industry continues to be a major part of the local economies of both municipalities providing high-paying jobs while contributing millions of dollars in taxes every year that help pay for municipal services and build critical infrastructure the Domtar pulp mill in Crofton and the Western Forest Products sawmills and remanufacturing plant in Cowichan Bay and Chemainus employ 655 workers and contribute $7.7 million per year in property taxes while Nanaimo’s Harmac Pacific mill has 350 employees and contributed more than $2.3 million in property taxes in 2024 But they said that in the face of softwood lumber duties and the declining annual-allowable cut in the amount of timber that is permitted to be harvested in B.C. they are increasingly concerned about these companies' ability to continue operating The mayors point out that while softwood-lumber duties and tariffs are beyond Parmar’s ability to control setting the annual allowable harvest is a responsibility of his ministry They said the province’s budget for 2025 projects that only 30 million cubic metres of timber will be allowed to be harvested on Crown land this year further declining to 29 million cubic metres by 2027 while more than 60 million cubic metres were allowed to be harvested in 2024 Douglas said the effects of the fibre shortage are already being felt in North Cowichan where Western Forests Products has announced a two-week shutdown in March and April due to a lack of timber “Your mandate letter from Premier David Eby includes as a priority to ‘work with all partners toward ensuring a sustainable land base to enable harvest of 45-million cubic metres per year while fulfilling our commitment to protect old growth’,” the mayors said to Parmar “We want the government to commit to the promised allowable cut of 45 million cubic metres for 2025 and maintain these levels for future years We anticipate a continued decline in volume harvested compounded with softwood lumber duties and U.S will potentially devastate the forest industry and result in the closure of more mills meaning communities like ours will lose family-supporting jobs and major taxpayers exacerbating the already high cost of living that our residents are facing.” The mayors also said they want to see the province’s permit and regulatory processes for timber harvesting streamlined “Your government has made commitments to fast-track approvals for the housing and mining sectors and we would like to see a similar approach to timber harvesting with metrics to allow the government and industry to measure success,” they said to Parmar “The backlog of cutting permits and the performance of BC Timber Sales are major concerns These issues reduce the overall wood availability for sawmills and impact the supply of residual chips which are vital for the operations of our pulp and paper mills Prompt resolution of these issues is critical for maintaining a steady log flow.” Nanaimo BMX athletes can take their radical riding to the extreme at a better-than-ever track for the re-built Marie Davidson BMX Park at Beban Park The track has a re-located five-metre start hill and has been expanded to approximately 4,000 square metres of track surface 40 per cent larger than the former 2,800-square-metre track surface The track's all-season stabilized and sealed surface is unique on Vancouver Island and one of just a few of its kind Canada-wide Riders have been giving the track rave reviews and Canadian Olympian Molly Simpson was on hand at the opening ceremony saying she loved the track and that it's an "amazing facility." "This is one of those special places where the words "This track helps beginners build confidence – and hopefully maintain some humility – all the while challenging experienced riders to sharpen their skills." The $1.9-million re-build was made possible thanks to close to $1.5 million in federal funding $330,000 in provincial dollars and $50,000 from the Nanaimo BMX Association "These are the types of amenities that help build a stronger community and strengthen our social fabric," said George Anderson Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog remarked he probably won't ride the track himself but said part of being a community is building amenities for every interest swimming at the aquatic centre or rowing or paddling at Long Lake "What this track represents to me is the best about Nanaimo a community that cares enough to recognize the needs and the desires and the hopes of everybody," he said in honouring Marie Davidson and her commitment to young people giving them the opportunity and the encouragement and the facilities to be their best to build the kind of citizens that will continue to contribute and build these kinds of facilities across the city to make it what it is … a community that welcomes everybody." grateful and excited to see the track open and called it "a dream built through hard work dedication and support from the City of Nanaimo." He pointed out elements of the track that pay tribute to athletes and builders Steve Smith and asked people to ride together in their honour including the volunteers who coached and cheered raked and repaired the track over the years "For four decades the Marie Davidson BMX Park has been more than just a track it's been a place where riders of all ages have found passion perseverance and lifelong friendships," he said "From our earliest days up until this brand-new chapter we've been powered by the energy and heart of a dedicated community." This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page A City of Nanaimo panel doesn't necessarily support the height and front yard setback of a planned residential building above the Millstone River but the project will still proceed to the next stage of the development application process The design advisory panel looked over plans for a 98-unit six-storey building at 210 Caledonia Ave at meetings April 10 and 24. Plans call for a mix of 13 studio apartments four two-bedroom and two three-bedroom units that range in floor space from 618 to 1,066 square feet.  Plans call for the building to be oriented on an angle to Caledonia Avenue and parallel to the Millstone River because of its location on a steep slope that overlooks the river and Barsby Park Project applicant Raymond De Beeld Architect Inc. is asking for six variances in the project proposal The most notable are a 13-metre riparian setback variance a front yard setback variance from 6m to 1.9m and a building height variance to 20.8m from 14m.  said adding two storeys supports the project’s feasibility noting the building’s siting is on the steep slope in a forested area.  “So the height variance is not as noticeable due to the context of the building,” he said.  The applicant notes the site is complex with challenges that include poor geo-technical soils up to two storeys deep created by past industrial uses Increasing density by adding two storeys above ground and including two storeys of underground parking reduces the building’s footprint and helps offset development costs.  Suggestions from the panel included varying the shape of the roof lane or limiting the building height to five storeys.  but not the height or front yard setback variances saying a smaller building would be more appropriate for the site and expressing concern about the building's proximity to the sidewalk.  City council's representative on the panel wasn't opposed to the proposed building height variance “Because of the site and the grade and everything I’m not concerned about it,” Eastmure said “I think it will actually blend in pretty well in that area.” The front yard setback request relates to the installation of a sidewalk that further encroaches on the property to accommodate a vehicle pullout on Caledonia Avenue The positions of the sidewalk and building place the south west corner of the building less than two metres from the edge of the sidewalk.  The construction site lies within the City of Nanaimo's 30-metre watercourse setback from the Millstone River and a portion of the south end of the site falls within the provincial 15-metre streamside protection and enhancement area which is measured from the river’s high water mark “Pretty much the whole site is in the riparian area,” said Raymond de Beeld The Millstone River is a salmon-bearing watercourse and the staff report noted the watercourse variance setback is undergoing a technical environmental review.  The developer has also included a parking slot for an ATV that would be used to help maintain the land along the river for up to three years is to “provide a safe and secure area with reduced social disorder with negative neighbourhood impacts … that have included public danger “There’s a lot of work that needs to be done and it has to be a net gain,” De Beeld said “So we’re actually proposing to look after the area that’s not even on our property … That’s part of the stuff that’s going on in the background between the city and province and who has authority of that land.” The build site is close to the foundations of one of Nanaimo’s first power stations from the early 1900s which was later used for propane storage. The property around the Millstone River is also historically and culturally important to the Snuneymuxw First Nation “This site is not a presently known archaeological site so my understanding is the owner is looking at having an archaeological overview assessment completed,” said Caleb Horn De Beeld said his company had worked on two previous building schemes with past owners and the city staff report noted a development permit was approved for the site in 2009 but the project was never built and the permit lapsed The panel accepted the proposal with support for all requested variances except for the building height and front yard setbacks. The application will come before city council for review at a future meeting.  A suspect on a bicycle made off with a tip jar in an early-morning smash and grab last month A Subway restaurant on Departure Bay Road was broken into at about 2:30 a.m on April 15, according to a Nanaimo RCMP press release Police reviewed CCTV footage with store owners and the video showed a male suspect on a bicycle ride up to the front of the store and throw a metal object at the glass door to smash it open but was wearing an orange jacket at the time of the incident stole a tip jar containing an unknown amount of cash and rode away in a westbound direction nothing ever good happens after midnight," the press release added Another business that endured a smash-and-grab last month was Harbour Dance Studios on Bastion Street the owner received an intrusion alarm just before 5 a.m and arrived to find the front window had been smashed with a rock The Nanaimo Area Public Safety Association issued a release this week about a smash-and-grab crime at Bastion Pizza Company in the early morning hours of April 29 another incident in which a cash register was stolen Other unsolved crimes noted in the police press release included a wallet being stolen from a vehicle parked on Pelican Way overnight April 12 a Segway Ninebot Max G30 electric kick scooter stolen from a person fishing in the area of Maxey and Durnin roads at 7:30 p.m a DJI Neo drone stolen from a vehicle parked on Crystal Brook Way at 5 p.m and coins stolen from a vehicle parked on Albert Street at 10 p.m Stakeholders have given their two cents as Nanaimo Ladysmith school district begins crafting its budget for the 2025-26 school year a budget with $189 million in expenses is forecast along with enrolment of 15,494 full-time students up from the 15,280 recorded last September said the continued upward trajectory in student numbers has Nanaimo-Ladysmith "in a fortuitous space," however inflation and other factors will still make SD68's financial picture "tight." Close to $82 million is projected for teacher salaries a year-over-year increase of $921,000 there will be a salary increase of close to $77,000, to $14.7 million and for support staff an increase of $120,000 to $14.5 million Over $11 million is earmarked for administrative positions representing a $315,000 increase from 2024 At a board meeting April 23, Jo Cornthwaite Nanaimo District Teachers' Association union president said she appreciated the school district's efforts but wondered about the "multiple additional administrative positions created in the last couple months" and how this would impact the "front-line needs of students … with the additional layers of administration." The union is asking for more staffing for the district's distance- and distributed-learning school, Island Connect Ed "It's different work than a traditional classroom but that doesn't mean it's less work," she said "We acknowledge that those ratios are … not something that's protected by collective agreement language but again caseloads are high for those teachers [and] demands are also high Our ask is if there's additional staffing to be placed that Island Connect Ed is one of the places it goes."  CUPE Local 606 education support workers union president was also grateful for the school district's work in crafting the budget The expansion of before- and after-school care is "huge," he said and a chance for education assistants to get more hours "We appreciate the increased hours of some of the EA positions but we still have way too many EAs in the 27-hour range," Virtanen said "And it's not just EAs – cafeteria attendants library clerks … they all need more hours too." Getting to 35 hours won't happen in one budget cycle but added that if the district keeps that goal in mind there could come a day when all "precarious" workers are able to make a livable wage The budget currently carries a $200,231 deficit Ministry of Education to pass a balanced budget A staff report stated the district is "still working [its] way through some final cost-saving adjustments in order to balance the budget and the final preliminary annual budget will include the final cost-saving measures."   "We're confident that's going to be solved without major resource implication to our students," Walsh said at the April 9 meeting Budget deliberations will continue and a final preliminary budget is expected to be presented at a committee meeting Wednesday School districts in the province have a deadline of June 30 to adopt budget bylaws Nanaimo high school students got a chance to pull the levers of industry at a showcase event for Vancouver Island University trades and tech.  The annual event provides opportunities for Grades 11 and 12 students to explore careers ranging from hair styling to welding and even get their hands on the controls of heavy machinery.  32 students were at VIU’s heavy equipment operators program training area in Timberlands for 'Heavy Metal Rocks' where they climbed in the cabs of articulated loaders dump trucks and equipment operation simulators in the B.C Road Builders' RoadShow simulator trailer coordinator of career options with Nanaimo-Ladysmith Public Schools's career technical centre said last week's event was done in co-operation with Qualicum school district “We’re at mid camp right now and we’ve spent the last two days doing safety training and panel discussions with industry and now we’re at the heavy equipment operators program location for VIU Gowan-Smith said the event is an opportunity for the students to get hands-on experience with heavy duty equipment and some of the students hope to segue into jobs and even careers as heavy duty equipment operators.  The school district’s career technical centre also partners with VIU’s youth explore trades sampler program which allows students to pursue interest in a variety of trades students can move on to further trades training and apprenticeships programs.  Nanaimo District Secondary School Grade 11 students McKenzie Kearns and Piper Faux had their first experience operating a large Caterpillar excavator.  “I’m very interested in heavy duty mechanics like working on these kinds of machines,” Kearns said “I’m mainly interested in carpentry because I love to be able to be creative and this is just another amazing experience that we get to do along with the trades sampler.”  Faux said she also loves carpentry and would like to build her own house so learning to operate heavy equipment could come in handy.  “I just love these big machines,” Faux said “I think it’s so fun to practise and expand my skill set … There’s nothing I’d rather do with my Thursday – I would be in bio right now writing a test.” An estimated 5,140 new heavy equipment operators will be needed across B.C. over the next decade, according to the B.C. Labour Market Outlook.   Trades and technology occupations remain among the top projected job openings in the province dean of VIU’s Faculty of Trades and Applied Technology and noted that the university offers trades programs at its Nanaimo “VIU offers numerous programs that help people land careers in the trades up-skill and even re-skill current workers,” she said A trades and tech showcase was hosted at VIU’s Trades Discovery Centre on Saturday May 3, giving people a chance to try their hand at operating a mini excavator build a wood planter box or even taste liquid nitrogen ice cream and receive top headlines in your inbox Monday to Saturday Items from gems and rompers to handmade liquor can be found to browse and buy at Nanaimo's Handmade Spring Makers Market designed and made by the artisan in Canada "Embracing Canadian handmade items is all about celebrating the joy and love poured into crafting each piece," noted an event flyer "It's a delightful way to cherish one-of-a-kind treasures knowing they're made with heart and soul." a kids' activity area and a flower pinwheel scavenger hunt The market is being held at the Beban Park Social Centre from Friday May 4. The market is open Friday until 8 p.m. escape predators and survive the elements – but the ones working with humans get to do all of that and more birds of prey are being utilized by organizations and businesses as a means of dissuade gulls from certain places such as landfill where the birds would carry off garbage or at airports where birds would feast on worms around runways one organization commonly contracted to do that work is the Raptors and we're just applying this natural predator presence to the area," said Alex Goguen the Raptors' Nanaimo area manager. "These problem species they don't want to hang around when there's a predator in the area If you're standing somewhere and there's a lion nearby you're probably not going to hang out in that area." Goguen has bird partners clearing the skies at the Nanaimo Regional Landfill Nanaimo Airport and the Nanaimo Courthouse including a 10-year-old Harris's hawk named Vega.  may get overzealous – the aim is to encourage the gulls to nest elsewhere "We just want to be scary and move these gulls out of here and say when Goguen arrives at the landfill she takes out a stock whip sending loud cracks echoing through the air as a signal for the gulls that the predators are here and it's time to go The hawks and falcons serve as "bouncers," released into the air following the warning Harris's hawks and red-tailed hawks are more commonly used will also be sent out at the landfill occasionally the Raptors are at the landfill seven days a week with two staff on Monday to Friday covering dawn to dusk. During the spring and summer with Vega being one of her regular partners for the task "During the spring and summer there is a lot more food available daylight hours are a lot longer so it's easier for them to forage in other locations they don't have to depend on the landfill as much but in the fall-winter there are shorter daylight hours less opportunity to forage and some of these gulls have grown up eating here consistently," Goguen said "So they learned this is a really good source of food and sometimes you can have thousands of gulls in a really small area." The result is a situation that's dangerous for everyone carrying stolen trash into streets and waterways The gulls will also defend their nests and coming back when a whistle is blown to perch on Goguen's glove and eat some fresh meat At first glance it may seem like a domestic pet-and-owner relationship but the reality is the partnership is anything but Everything the hawk does is on its own terms Goguen said she has the ability to track him with radio telemetry attached to his leg Vega needs to make the choice that life with the Raptors is better compared to life in the wild captivity has other perks – such as health care the average Harris' hawk lifespan is only 11 years but in human care they can reach their 20s and even their early 30s.  "A big part of that is when they're with people they have bodyguards If a predator comes after him and I'm nearby Some raptors are not very successful hunters 40-90 per cent don't make it past their first winter so if they're not a very successful hunter we're still feeding them." About 10 per cent of the birds flee on their first free-fly it has an easy out by flying back to its human companion The radio telemetry lasts between two weeks to a month a hawk that seems to enjoy the symbiotic lifestyle Goguen said she once tried to work with him at the Nanaimo Courthouse but ran into a problem – Vega was too friendly with people trying to interact with some presumably confused strangers.  "Of course I know he's not going to do anything but that person just sees a random hawk landing next to them and that could be very startling [to] the person airports and education at the Raptors visitor centre where enjoying the presence of people is a gift rather than a liability when performing flying demonstrations occasionally swooping close by as if to let her know he is there with Goguen calling him back to reward Vega with meat when he flies into wind The goal is that someday Vega can push the gulls out further Vega prefers keeping his human companion in close range Not all her birds respond the same way – the gyrfalcon once flew all the way to the Nanaimo River Estuary pursuing gulls.  "The birds that I work with the most tend to be the ones I have a really strong relationship with," Goguen said "What's interesting when working with raptors is they're very much wild animals They're not like a dog or a cat that aim to please … Working with our raptors is really a partnership they recognize we make their lives easier." which she said gives her the opportunity to be a "mediator" between the people and the gulls "Gulls are often not seen as type of bird a lot of people like So I like being that mediator between wildlife and people and being able to resolve this conflict without relying on other traditional methods that might not be as kind to the species that we're moving Getting to work with amazing birds like Vega is a huge perk." Evergreen Cremation Centre Ltd. Nanaimo-Ladysmith constituents had factors like Trump and strategic voting in mind as they went to the polls earlier this week Tamara Kronis of the Conservatives won the riding with 26,081 votes Michelle Corfield representing the Liberals received 20,693 (27.9 per cent); Lisa Marie Barron of the New Democratic Party saw 13,591 (18.3 per cent); Paul Manly of the Greens 13,486 (18.2 per cent) and Stephen Welton of the People's Party of Canada received 294 votes (0.4 per cent).  Tariff and annexation talk from President Trump and the United States were hot election topics and David Livingstone a Vancouver Island University political studies professor said while Nanaimo-Ladysmith was previously NDP territory allegiances may have changed due to that threat He pointed to comments from Barron at the all-candidates' forum at VIU the week before the election "She said the thing she consistently heard [while] door-knocking was ‘What do we have to do to stop the Conservatives from winning?' So there seemed to be not so much of but ‘Who are we voting against?' So there was definitely that strategic voting idea," said Livingstone The Conservative Party's promises to address affordability and other aspects of the economy "What's interesting is to see a younger generation starting to drift towards the Conservatives "But I think that signals to me that the message is getting through to those individuals who are very worried about what jobs they're going to get in the future and how secure those jobs are That is resonating with young people like it's not resonated before … the Conservatives have done a pretty good job speaking to those issues." a perception that the Conservatives didn't sufficiently distance themselves from U.S Republicans was detrimental federally who said the Tories instead seemed to continue to push the policies that had served them well in the election's lead-up The prof suggested that Liberal leader Mark Carney presented himself well during the campaign and may have benefited from exceeding some people's expectations "I think a lot of people thought a guy that [has] lots of other experience and he came across as competent and unflustered," said Livingstone "His experience on the world stage seemed to help … I think people are also evaluating who is best to confront Trump. They were watching the demeanour of these two individuals and I think it seemed to a lot of people that Carney seemed to appear very prime ministerial very quickly." The prof said he couldn't say whether the Greens and NDP siphoned votes from each other, but did note that partway through the campaign the NDP seemingly pivoted to a strategy with messaging stating "Here on the Island we vote NDP to stop the Conservatives," but it wasn't enough they were campaigning on the goal of vote-splitting,” said Livingstone "What's interesting is that it seemed that the people that may have normally voted for the NDP decided to park their vote with the Liberals … so we ended up with gains for the Liberals and gains for the Conservatives and the NDP losing quite a few seats." Voter turnout in Nanaimo-Ladysmith was 72.3 per cent and Livingstone felt high voter turnout had everything to do with the U.S is Trump and rise of this new nationalism in Canada … There was an emotional uplift about Canada [meaning] something and that drove people to be very interested in this election," he said "They could see it as a as a vital election about who's going to take us through this next very difficult few years." but there is a shortage of rental properties In the past I have owned properties and rented to tenants in need The ‘rules’ imposed by provincial governments are so heavily protective of tenants’ rights that I will not consider it again until landlords get some protection and help in common-sense situations The allowable rent increase annually is determined by policy and it is always below the annual inflation rate so even if you add a few dollars each year you are always falling further and further behind market rental rates I had a tenant who skipped out on the last month’s rent and for me to keep his security deposit (damage deposits cannot be held for non-payment of rent) I only had 30 days to file the paperwork and it cost me another $50 Meanwhile he had one year to demand it back These ‘bad’ renters know all the rules and they play them I acknowledge there are rogue landlords but most are reputable (as are renters) so why introduce one-sided rules that always favour the renter If landlords had a chance to protect their assets from tenants who ‘break’ their agreement perhaps more of us would be able to provide a home for families in need As search crews and volunteers continue to scour the waters and shoreline of Finlayson Arm for missing Sooke man Ryan Mazar is the missing 43-year-old’s first grandchild The newborn’s middle name was chosen in honour of the "thoughtful kindhearted and generous" grandfather who remains missing after he was thrown overboard from his boat on April 22 “Ryan would have been elated about it all,” said Doug Volek the great-grandfather to newborn Shiloh Ryan “He couldn't believe that he was going to be a grandfather.” Volek is also grandfather of Mazar's eldest son Drew For the newly great-grandfather and his wife the birth of the newest member of their extended blended family has brought some comfort while they wait for news of Mazar But the days since his disappearance have been an emotional rollercoaster for the couple who last saw Mazar a week before the accident when he popped round to give him a bag of freshly caught prawns. “You're okay until you start thinking too much … something will trigger it off and you'll feel sad all over again Also onboard the boat the day Mazar went missing was his partner Mykaila and their three-month-old daughter Ariel who were all out on the water to go prawning The family were thrown into the water when the boat suddenly turned “They were going at a good speed just to head out to set the prawn traps,” said Joyce “And there was a sudden turn and and they were tossed – that’s all we know.” While their unmanned boat continued to travel in circles, Joyce says it was imperative the family work together to get to safety Mazar told Mykaila to kick off her gumboots “That was the last time she spoke to Ryan,” he said.  so she went on her back and swam for a couple hours which eventually came an hour later.  “What strength to have get to shore with your baby,” said Doug in awe of Mykaila’s heroics “That's something to be said there – never give up.” the mother and daughter were taken to hospital and were expected to be discharged Friday (May 2) are on standby to support the pair any way they can I think Mykaila and Ariel are healthy now and and they've made wonderful progress; it's just been a complete miracle,” said Joyce it really varies … any minute it can change She's struggling with that and is also getting help to to get through each day.” search and rescue teams and West Shore RCMP have all been involved in the search for Mazar A spokesperson for West Shore RCMP said their helicopter was out April 30 and May 1 with the search expected to continue Friday (May 2) Mazar as he is still missing,” said the RCMP spokesperson in a statement including a woman who searched the shoreline with her dog for three hours and a drone pilot “It's just incredible the amount of response by all the emergency groups and organizations … and all the family strangers and communities that have helped The outpouring of community support has also been demonstrated via a GoFundMe page which has raised over $8,000 to help Mazar’s partner Mykaila and their daughter Ariel People have also been donating to the family via participating Greater Victoria branches of the Bottle Depot when recycling their refundable beverage containers Doug describes the financial boost for the mom and baby as amazing but says the community can show its support in many other ways a share of the GoFundMe page online or do something nice for somebody else,” he says While the family draws strength from each other and those around them “We just want to have Ryan found and brought home,” says Joyce To make a donation to the fundraiser for Mazar's partner and baby, visit the website: www.gofundme.com/f/please-support-ryan-mazars-family-after-devastating-tragedy Vancouver Island officials are reminding the public not to leave animals behind in cars.  This warning comes from the Oak Bay Police Department after they received a report of two dogs locked inside a vehicle parked in the 2500 block of Estevan Avenue on April 24.  “Police attended and saw that the dogs inside the car appeared to be overheating,” Oak Bay PD said in a news release “Just prior to police taking action to assist the dogs the owner walked up and apologized for leaving them in the vehicle.”  Leaving animals in hot cars can put them at risk "Harmful and even life-threatening effects can occur in a short time," the non-profit says on its website. "Dogs can’t release heat by sweating so their internal body temperature rises more quickly." The province has put out a second call for energy sources with an aim to power 500,000 new homes.  Energy Minister Adrian Dix and BC Hydro CEO Chris O'Riley were among the speakers in Victoria Monday (May 5) for the announcement It followed B.C.'s first call out for new energy sources in April 2024 – the first call for power in 15 years – that resulted in 10 new renewable-energy projects Dix said Monday's announcement had five key elements firstly launching the second call for power for a target of up to 5,000 gigawatt-hours per year of energy from large Innovative Clean Energy fund for a three-year call for new made-in-B.C. clean-energy technologies that will combat climate change and create sustainable jobs It also included exploring B.C.'s "power potential" through a request for expressions of interest for projects to deliver for peak demand periods and to provide back-up intermittent energy resources and partnering with innovators  to deliver market-ready demand-side management technologies that help people and businesses save energy and money "We're expecting this call to be equivalent to the first call of power in terms of gigawatt hours a call for power that will be slightly different than the previous one in that there will be no limits on individual projects," Dix said.  the announcement also included "streamlining connections to B.C.'s grid to enable new homes and businesses to access clean electricity faster and less expensively." BC Hydro CEO Chris O'Riley said the Crown corporation remains focused on expanding B.C.'s electricity system to meet demand while also "ensuring security The 2024 call for power is expected to power 500,000 homes and increase electricity supply by eight per cent with the projects representing up to $6 billion in private capital spending throughout B.C. the Energy Ministry said in the news release Nearly all of the 2024 projects have First Nations majority ownership the executive director of Clean Energy Association of B.C. but all over Canada that First Nations are leading the clean-energy transition.  she built one of the first clean energy projects that were led by First Nations at a time when there was not very many." after the first call for power in 2024, First Nations are the proponents of these utility-scale projects Pet lovers and their four-legged companions were in for a treat this spring as the Victoria Pet Expo returned for a two-day event on May 3 and 4 Highlights included the popular SuperDogs show and professional pet photo sessions.  The event also featured expert-led seminars on pet health with tips on everything from reducing anxiety to boosting the immune system.  Attendees tried hands-on workshops to learn how to bathe their pets Contests and prizes were held throughout the weekend with all activities designed to let guests learn play and connect with their pets in fun and practical ways Sign up below for unlimited access to our award-winning storytelling for 30 days you'll receive our daily news alerts & breaking news and identified as belonging to missing Maple Ridge woman Rebecca Harbowy The Ridge Meadows RCMP reported Friday morning The 36-year-old left Ridge Meadows Hospital on Nov early into detoxing from drug use. Her family has been critical of the hospital letting her leave the facility on her own She was last seen walking east on the Haney Bypass at Burnett Street in Maple Ridge at approximately 2:05 a.m Police released few details about the discovery of the remains The family told The News it was in a forested area Distraught mother Debbie Harbowy is hopeful that an intense search of the area will lead to Rebecca Police have searched the area since the remains were discovered in early April The family is unsure where a search would be but plan to appeal to police for more information "I always felt in my heart she had passed away because she hadn't contacted me," said Debbie Rebecca's sister Rachel Bertoia posted videos on social media informing those who have tried to assist in finding Rebecca and those who have been following the missing woman's case She said there is a memorial at the 7-Eleven at the corner of Lougheed Highway and Haney Bypass where there is a missing person sign the family posted I think it would be really lovely for my mom to have people drop off flowers to her sign there," said Bertoia.  "I would love for my mom to be able to see the love and support that I know that we have felt." "I can't imagine being a mom losing a kid." Rebecca was about eight hours into what doctors advised would be a three-day stay but early the next morning she walked away Her family believes she was confused and disoriented She lived with her parents in the Yennadon area Debbie had been sitting with her daughter until midnight she got a call from the hospital that her daughter had left driving the streets of Maple Ridge for hours the family canvassed people in the hospital neighbourhood and searched the area They obtained video showing Rebecca walking down River Road eastbound near the Port Haney West Coast Express station at 1:46 a.m A tipster saw a woman matching Rebecca’s description walking on the Haney Bypass at approximately 2 a.m Another video showed her on the Haney Bypass at Burnett Street at 2:05 a.m. A man said he almost hit a woman walking on Lougheed Highway near 240 Street but the description of the woman having her hair up in a bun matched they have learned nothing more about Rebecca's movements Police and searchers combed roadsides and the edge of the Fraser River Police say this continues to be an active investigation and anyone with information which could help the Ridge Meadows RCMP you are encouraged to call the Ridge Meadows RCMP at 604-463-6251 and refer to File # 2023-23402 The RCMP extended condolences to the family and friends of Rebecca Harbowy community partners and volunteers for their assistance with this investigation thus far Enter your email to connect to more stories by journalists living & working in Nanaimo – you'll also start receiving important newsletters right to your inbox. Thank you for supporting local journalism When Victoria resident Charles Ross is up on stage at St From Chewbacca's roar to Han Solo's cynical charm Ross single-handedly re-enacts the original Star Wars trilogy over an hour but I'm able to make fun of my voice," Ross told Victoria News Since Ross premiered One Man Star Wars Trilogy in Toronto in 2001 he's been given legal approval from George Lucas including on NBC's Late Night with Conan O'Brien And he's achieved success with the barest of bones production. It's just Ross on stage with no set or costumes: just him in his coveralls "Because it allows me to throw myself everywhere .. I sweat like crazy and I'm sort of like the blank canvas where I'm using my body my voice and people's imagination really to be all the things I need to be." who took UVic's Phoenix Theatre program back in the day began his relationship with Star Wars when he was an 11-year-old farm kid growing up in Prince George With no satellite dish and only a few movies to watch he ended up watching the first Star Wars over and over – and over – again all those hours spent watching became useful he's not just reciting the film word for word – he estimates the show is about 25 per cent improv he said the audience tends to be very interactive creating a strong performer-audience relationship "Sometimes you get people who just feel like they can randomly call out because the show is unorthodox It's not a fourth wall kind of production where the lights go down It kind of invites whatever kind of energy is coming at it." Performing his production around the globe he said the tale is experienced differently based on cultural context but his knowledge of the films is like having a "passport of reference" that unites him with people What he loves most about Star Wars is "just how simple the stories are." "You just imagine being Luke; you're just a kid who's on a farm who has adventure come to the front door and you can imagine having a power to affect the world to stop evil it's amazing to think that no matter what station you're in in life or how far away you are from a powerful position that you might actually have all the power that's necessary to affect social change and to change your life." Ross will perform One Man Star Wars Trilogy May 4 from 2-3:30 p.m. at St. Ann's Academy at 835 Humboldt St. Tickets are $25 via Eventbrite No One Else Covers Nanaimo Like The Bulletin Don’t miss out on reading the latest local provincial and national news. Join our community and receive daily news alerts & breaking news It’s important to take time to stop and smell the flowers such as the ones that have been blossoming at Nanaimo's Bowen Park every spring for 50 years The Nanaimo Rhododendron Society is holding a special event this weekend to invite community members to the park's Hailey Rhododendron Grove More than 350 rhododendron plants have burst into blossom each spring since 1975 when Ellen Hailey donated her collection of 350 rhododendron plants to the City of Nanaimo soon after the death of her husband Alfred The Haileys were founding members of the Vancouver chapter of the American Rhododendron Society in the 1950s The Nanaimo chapter of the society formed in 1992 became involved with the Hailey collection and in 1994 adopted the grove as a part of the city’s Partners in Parks program It helped that the parks director at the time was a member of the club The group set out to map the garden and to identify the plants as most were not tagged by the Haileys The club became less involved with the grove until 2019 when the link was revived and today a small dedicated group of volunteers work to remove the many invasive plants that compromise the collection The grove is in flower from late February until early July but the height of the bloom is from mid April to mid May Many of the rhodos in the grove are hybrids and some are thought to be one of a kind and some are between 60 to 70 years old.  Rhodo varieties have a broad size range “There are more than 1,000 varieties of rhodos that range in size some being able to hold in your hand to more than 50 feet tall,” said Deborah Francis who oversees work at the grove for the club Francis and Cadwaladr said blooming in the grove is a little behind where it would usually be at this time of year.  just given the cold snap of weather that we had,” Francis said “Some of the bud got frozen because we were developing bud at that point.” Members of the Nanaimo Rhododendron Society invite community members to explore the grove with them Saturday starting at the Bowen Park tennis court Rhodo society members are active in the community with events including work parties at the rhododendron grove and monthly meetings with guest presenters support charity, and maintain an active association with Vancouver Island University’s Milner Gardens and Woodland Yearly events include garden tours and social activities and the annual Truss Show and Plant Sale which will happen on May 10 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m This year’s sale will have rhododendrons and more with enough exciting new and returning vendors to fill up the hall “This year there’s going to be lots of rhododendrons for sale some of whom are really quite expert at rhododendrons,” Cadwaladr said Leading up to this week’s federal election it was important for Canadians to realize that all politicians and parties aren’t the same and that different visions for Canada were on offer it’s time to start working through some of those differences and finding commonalities to make our country a better place Courtenay-Alberni and all the other ridings across Canada took their opportunity to participate in our democracy and cast their ballots this month Sign up for a free account to gain immediate & unlimited access to our content for the next 30 days – plus you'll start receiving our newsletters Sign In Register BC Ferries is introducing changes to two of its routes out of Horseshoe Bay in coming months in anticipation of terminal reconstruction set to start this fall.  With "major reconstruction activities" to decrease vehicle space inside the terminal by about 25 per cent, BC Ferries says it's introducing changes "to support smoother travel this summer and to prepare for upcoming construction." For the Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay (Nanaimo) route it will be reservation-only in the island-bound direction starting in the fall though some space will be available for Medical Assured Loading and emergency responders and is "designed to prevent traffic from backing up onto the highway." Foot passengers will still be able to travel in both directions without bookings "Because of the small footprint at Horseshoe Bay and that reduction in size that will inevitably come with some of those construction projects it's just going to be safer and more efficient to move to that reservation model," Sonia Lowe senior communications advisor for BC Ferries told Coast Reporter.  Noting that the changes don't come until likely October Lowe says advising communities now "gives people a few months to really get used to the idea and gives us time to figure out all of those details on our end." For Bowen Island, the changes mean the ferry will be licensed to carry up to 600 passengers and crew on "select sailings," starting in mid-May (Lowe suggested it could be May 15). The Queen of Capilano's current capacity, according to the BC Ferries website but the details of that Lowe didn't have on hand.  "They've been waiting for this licence from Transport Canada for a while," said Lowe for Bowen Island and just being able to transport more passengers during their busy peak periods." Another change is coming –– but it's not to Horseshoe Bay BC Ferries is introducing a daily 4:30 p.m (Boats out of Tsawwassen usually go to Duke Point outside of Nanaimo rather than the downtown Departure Bay.) More details about the changes are in development and are to include "targeted engagement" through BC Ferries' "Let's Connect" engagement framework also highlighting the Easter weekend highway lineups as evidence that Lowe said their external engagement team has been in touch with interested parties in the region –– Nanaimo ahead of the release so as to give them a heads up.  BC Ferries says it's developing a technology to simulate traffic movement through Horseshoe Bay during the construction phases so as to "allow the team to test different scenarios and make informed decisions that help maintain a smooth and safe customer experience throughout the project." BC Ferries announced its resuscitated Horseshoe Bay renewal program in February Previously announced plans for the nearly 65-year-old terminal's redevelopment were put on hold during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Planned at the terminal over coming years include upgrading or replacing the three berths upgrading aging elevated structures and enhancing seismic resilience BC Ferries said in February. The changes aim to streamline traffic flow and allow a broader range of vessels to operate within the constraints of the existing site The total cost of the Horseshoe Bay terminal renewal is estimated in the “hundreds of millions,” the corporation said at the time.  Editor's note: This story has been updated with BC Ferries comment and further details about the Horseshoe Bay reconstruction since it was first published.  Food will be served up to try to raise money for high school grads in Nanaimo this weekend Nanaimo Battle of the Food Trucks goes 11 a.m at the old Sears parking lot at Nanaimo North Town Centre an alcohol- drug-free celebration for the Class of 2025 Nanaimo Dry Grad fundraising chairperson and event organizer said approximately 28 food truck vendors have been assembled thus far and entry fees go directly to Dry Grad. The The longer days of spring and summer can bring out a different criminal element residents throughout Nanaimo are reporting prowlers thefts of bikes and garden tools and break-ins to vehicles “This is not uncommon and every community experiences this at this time of the year,” said reserve Const “The best we can do is target-harden our homes and property by being alert reporting suspicious behaviour and incorporating solid crime prevention practices.“ Police have a few recommendations for homeowners and tenants to help them avoid becoming victims of property crime starting with watching out for suspicious behaviour such as strangers peering into parked cars Suspicious activities should be reported immediately to Nanaimo RMCP detachment’s non-emergency line at 250-754-2345 though police note that officers may not be able to respond immediately if they are already dealing with high-priority calls.  Sensor lights and motion lights can be an effective in deterring potential intruders by making the home appear less vulnerable finding the proper effective range setting and installation height is important when installing them All unattended vehicles need to be locked with windows rolled up and it’s imperative nothing of value is left inside and visible to anyone looking into the vehicle shoes and clothing rank among the items most reported stolen so they should be kept in the trunk or taken out of the vehicle Thieves will take anything that is not locked up so bikes should be locked or brought inside Tools should be secured indoors or in a shed with a high-quality lock and anything of value should be marked with an identifying number Side gates should be locked to prevent easy access and even an inexpensive lock can be deterrent enough for crooks to think twice about going any farther.  Neighbours are encouraged to work together to improve crime prevention by starting a neighbourhood Block Watch chapter as a another layer of protection against criminal activity.  Anyone with questions about home security is encouraged to call the Nanaimo RCMP Community Policing Section at 250-734-5445 The Independent Investigations Office of B.C (IIO) has opened an investigation into the Comox Valley RCMP after a motor vehicle incident sent one man to hospital According to a case report published by the IIO an officer was driving an unmarked police SUV the officer was involved in a collision with an unrelated vehicle The car crash occurred at the intersection of Piercy Avenue and 26 Street Nanaimo's downtown attraction sign that spells out the city's name was vandalized this week representing at least the second time Maffeo Sutton Park's landmark feature has been targeted by criminals.  "The sign is a real point of pride for people in the city … people generally treat it quite well," said Charlotte Davis people tend to look after it and treat it with respect." The sign was installed in 2021 at the cost of a little over $50,000 to the city The coloured 'O' represents "the diversity of the 100,000 plus voices who have shaped and continue to shape" the city according to a press release when it was installed The city said it also represents "an inclusive Nanaimo full of opportunity for generations to come." the sign was repainted for just over $4,000.  The colourful 'O' has been the subject of conspiracy theories in recent years with critics claiming the colours signify a connection to the UN sustainable development goals though the Nanaimo sign's circle has fewer bands of colour Davis said Monday's incident has been the largest case of vandalism impacting the sign. Fortunately she said city staff and contractors were already in discussions about repainting it in the coming weeks "I had noticed that the paint was looking a little tired so we were going to have it re-painted anyway We might be able to remove the white paint as it is and bring it back to the stripy [design] but we were planning on re-painting it and on a different theme actually as well…" she said which is why we want to keep it fresh and why we've been thinking how we can bring it back a little bit differently this year this time around and do a different theme in particular on that 'O.'" She added that the decision to change the design has nothing to do with the conspiracy theories.  "We were thinking with how popular the Canada flags are that we may well go for a red and white theme in time for Canada Day." Davis said the city is forwarding the incident to the RCMP to investigate.  BOUQUET To people walking/running in groups of two or more who switch to single file when you come near to other people You are now short-staffed which has resulted in you closing for three days a week Your website does not tell people that another vet has stepped in to provide emergency night coverage on the days you are closed VancouverNewsYoung man with rifle taken for mental health assessment, Nanaimo RCMP say By Andrew WeichelPublished: April 29, 2025 at 7:28PM EDT Twitter feed ©2025 BellMedia All Rights Reserved