Environment

Drought conditions & water restrictions increase on bone-dry Vancouver Island

NANAIMO - Record-high temperatures and well-below average rainfall has led to some of B.C.'s worst drought conditions occurring on Vancouver Island.The province's drought index upgraded the East Vanco...

Jul 09, 2021

Warnings issued after cougar sighted in Buttertubs Marsh over several days

NANAIMO - New signs are temporarily posted around Buttertubs Marsh after a cougar was spotted several times in recent days. Conservation Officer Stuart Bates told NanaimoNewsNOW the cougar was first s...

Jul 08, 2021

Recycling contaminants trend up in Nanaimo, well above provincial goals

NANAIMO - The Harbour City's quest to become more green is being thwarted by a blue bin.Data collected by Recycle BC over the last two years in Nanaimo showed levels of improperly recycled materials a...

Jul 06, 2021

Research looks into human impact on aquatic plant life at Bednesti Lake

PRINCE GEORGE - The reason for this research blossomed with the algal blooms in Bednesti Lake over recent years. Back then, questions were raised about the health of the lake and now some of those que...

Greg Fry Jul 05, 2021

New EV chargers coming to Snaw-Naw-As market

LANTZVILLE - Four new electric vehicle charging stations will help people in Nanoose Bay and travellers along the Island Highway. The Nanoose Economic Development Corporation is receiving a $210,000 g...

Jul 05, 2021

VIEX announces August return to Beban Park, rides & live music included

NANAIMO - Summer events season in Nanaimo received a significant jolt with the return of the Vancouver Island Exhibition at the Beban Park Fairgrounds.One of the oldest agricultural fairs in western C...

Jul 02, 2021

Cathedral Grove re-opens with COVID protocols after extended closure

PARKSVILLE - Perimeter fencing has been removed and visitors are allowed back to a premium Vancouver Island tourism draw.A ministry of environment statement confirmed Macmillan Provincial Park re-open...

Jul 02, 2021

Nanaimo's plastic checkout bag ban takes effect

NANAIMO - Single-use plastic bags are a thing of the past at Nanaimo retail outlets.Shoppers are encouraged to bring their own reusable bags to Nanaimo stores since the City's checkout bag bylaw took ...

Jul 02, 2021

Province-wide campfire ban now in effect

NANAIMO - Campfires are now banned province-wide as record-breaking heat rapidly elevated the forest fire risk in B.C.The BC Wildfire Service order took effect on Wednesday, June 30 at noon and is exp...

Jun 30, 2021

Millions committed to preserve local Gulf Islands

NANAIMO - The largest private donation ever to the BC Parks Foundation hopes to preserve a pair of Gulf Islands off central Vancouver Island.The BC Parks Foundation (BCPF) announced $4 million from th...

Jun 29, 2021