News

Sounder News The Gabriola Volunteer Fire Department says it is set to enhance its training capabilities thanks to a generous $40,000 grant. In a statement to the Sounder, Fire Chief Will Sprogis said the funding will allow for key upgrades to the department’s existing...

GIRO Clothing Team Gabriola Island Recycling Organization (GIRO) Thinking of clearing out your closets? Thank you for thinking of bringing them to GIRO. Here is what happens when you drop off your clothing and textiles at the depot: Your donations of clean, gently...

Nicole Knowles Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder The Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) board of directors is endorsing a letter to BC Transit and the Minister of Transportation and Transit. The Board is requesting the development of a plan to...

Submitted by Chris Bowers for the Gabriola Island Singers It’s that time of year, and Gabriola Island Singers are excited to sing in Spring with a spectacular lineup of love songs. Ranging from Barbie to ballads, and show-casing the stunningly  beautiful “All I Have...

Derek Kilbourn Sounder News Paul Giffin, chair of the Gabriola Fire Protection Improvement District, tells the Sounder that it was for legal reasons that items were discussed in camera after the March 5 regular Board meeting. Giffin was answering questions posed to...

Alison Thomas Gabriola Land and Trails Trust Earth Day - a worldwide event celebrated annually on April 22nd - is an opportunity for us to take action to support the natural environment. Though many threats to the health of Planet Earth are global challenges, there...

MAY’d on the Rock MAY’d on the ROCK is an inaugural event bringing together Gabriola’s artists, makers, and performers for a weekend of creativity and community. Tammie Hennigar of Fishhead Studio gathered interested talent. After two meetings and a lot of enthusiasm,...

Derek Kilbourn Sounder News The Islands Trust Council is among those governments who are grappling on how to operate a local government in the age of generative AI (Artificial Intelligence). According to Wikipedia, generative AI is, “a subset of artificial...

Sounder News This past month, the Islands Trust Council approved a budget of $11.2 million for 2025-26. This represents a 5.8% increase over the previous year’s budget to the existing local trust area tax base. The Trust expects an additional 2.5% increase in tax...

Sounder file photo Jamie Ovens (left) is presented with the Deputy Fire Chief helmet by Gabriola Fire Chief Sprogis after being hired on to the GVFD in July of 2024.Derek Kilbourn Sounder News Gabriola Fire Chief Will Sprogis is asking the Board of the Gabriola Fire...

Derek Kilbourn Sounder News Huxley Community Park is joining a list of locations on Gabriola where dogs must be on leash, per a change from the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN). This comes from a recommendation made at the February meeting of the RDN’s Parks and...

Bill Pope photo Gabriola Players - Don Moser and Wendy Phillips in Kristen Da Silva’s play ‘Beyond the Sea’. Four performances this month at the Rollo Centre.Gabriola Players Gabriola Players is very proud to be introducing islanders to the work of Canadian playwright...

Sounder News There are five candidates so far announced for the Nanaimo-Ladysmith riding in the April 28 federal election. The same five which ran in the 2021 election, for the same five parties. Lisa Marie Barron (NDP), Tamara Kronis (Conservative Party), Paul Manly...

Board discussed delay of 2025 AGM and election; taking loan from the Capital Reserves, and requesting to take loan from 2025 levyDerek Kilbourn Sounder News The agenda package for the April 2 meeting of the Gabriola Fire Protection Improvement District Board includes...

Sounder News Laura Patrick has served the Salt Spring Island Local Trust Area since 2018 and steps into the leadership role with a commitment to advancing the Islands Trust’s preserve and protect mandate. Patrick has also been appointed to serve as the Chair for the...

Nicole Knowles Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder The Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) has finalized the 2025-2029 financial plan. This was the topic of discussion at the latest RDN board meeting, held on March 25. Before voting, directors spent...

People for a Healthy Community People for a Healthy Community (PHC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Christina Rajsic as our new Executive Director, effective April 22, 2025. Ms. Rajsic brings over two decades of experience in healthcare and health promotion,...

Nicole Knowles Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder The Nanaimo Ladysmith Public School calendar committee has been busy working on school calendars for 2026/27, 2027/28, and 2028/29. School boards have the authority to set the calendar for schools...

Doug Smith Gardening in many families is a multi-generational story book and our garden is no different. Recently we added a page to our garden story that came to us by way of my sister Kathy’s garden. William Hunter was a master carpenter. During WWII he served in...

Mike Allen Jazz on Gabriola Mike Allen presents: Jazz on Gabriola welcomes two of Vancouver’s most accomplished jazz musicians, Laura Crema and Sharon Minemoto, who are joining forces for “sultry jazz songbook” at the Phoenix Auditorium, Sunday, April 13th at 3pm,...

Sounder News Matt Dow, the former Corporate Officer of the Gabriola Fire Protection Improvement District (GFPID) has filed a notice of civil claim against the District, Fire Chief Will Sprogis, District Chair Paul Giffin, and an unidentified John Doe. The notice was...

Sounder News Paul Giffin, Chair of the Gabriola Fire Protection Improvement District Board of Trustees, provided the following statement to the Sounder regarding the civil claim filed on March 18, 2025. “The Board will not comment on ongoing litigation, other than to...

Chelsea Rushton Gabriola Arts Council Amidst the pineapple express, Isle of the Arts registrations are chugging away! Have you hopped onto the train? You still have time! IoTA: Who We Are brings 11 days of arts-based teaching, learning, reflecting, and growing to our...

Derek Kilbourn Sounder News Firefighters at the Gabriola Volunteer Fire Department have been certified by the BC Labour Relations Board (LRB) to form a union. This comes after enough firefighters signed their names to an application to the LRB, to then trigger an LRB...

Derek Kilbourn Sounder News Creating a local response to trade tariffs was the topic of discussion this past Friday morning, as Gabriola Chamber of Commerce hosted a number of Gabriola businesses and organizations to a round table with local elected officials and...