News

Derek Kilbourn Sounder News BC Ferries is planning some major work on the Descanso Bay terminal in spring of 2026 which could see vehicle service on the route shut down for six to eight weeks. Ritinder Matthew is the Director, Media and Issues for BC Ferries. She...

Rachelle Stein-Wotten Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder The request for statements of qualifications for a new taxpayer funded health and wellbeing coordinator position for Gabriola closed last week and the Regional District of Nanaimo says a...

Joyce Babula President, on behalf of the Board ofthe Gabriola Island Community Hall Association We are gearing up for the Gabriola Community Hall’s 69th Salmon BBQ.  The board is happy to announce that Gail Wilson has come on as a coordinator for the BBQ.  She will...

Sounder News On July 9 at 8:15pm, RCMP, Gabriola Fire and BCEHS were called to a motor vehicle collision on North Road near the ferry line up. Cpl. Jordan Mullen, Detachment Commander for Gabriola RCMP said a pickup (silver Ford) had been travelling up ferry hill when...

Fire Chief Will Sprogis Gabriola Volunteer Fire Department The heat and summer winds have returned. Islanders and summer visitors understandably get more nervous about wildfires. Climate change models for our region are pointing to longer and hotter dry seasons,...

Rachelle Stein-Wotten Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder The Regional District of Nanaimo’s long in-the-works electric vehicle (EV) charging station for Gabriola Island is now headed for a new location. One of 10 stations already or to be installed...

Rachelle Stein-Wotten Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder GERTIE’s future electric buses will be the first new vehicles in the community bus service’s fleet. The Gabriola Community Bus Foundation (GCBF) received a $718,967 federal grant and $80,000...

Rachelle Stein-Wotten Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder Groundwater monitoring wells on Gabriola showed a mix of springtime conditions. The Regional District of Nanaimo board of directors received a staff report at their June 25 meeting providing...

Rachelle Stein-Wotten Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder Nanaimo District Secondary School is full for grade 8 next school year. Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools posted an announcement on their registration page on their website dated May 4, 2024...

Firefighters at the site of the wildfire at the Commons on Monday, July 8.Photos courtesy Bob Andrew, Gabriola CommonsSounder News On July 9, a portion of the Commons property was closed to the public. Gabriola Fire Chief Will Sprogis said the closure comes after a...

Gabriola Community Bus Foundation For the past decade, GERTIE (Gabriola Environmentally Responsible Trans Island Express) has been a cherished part of our community, providing convenient and eco-friendly transportation. Operated by the Gabriola Community Bus...

Derek Kilbourn Sounder News BC Ferries will be shifting the schedule of the Gabriola ferry this coming summer, to alleviate the build up of summer traffic in the evenings at the Nanaimo Terminal. That according to BC Ferries communications staff, who met with the...

Sounder News According to media representatives for BC Emergency Health Services (BC EHS), there has been an in increase in the number of overdose calls in May 2024 compared to previous months. As of May 30, 2024, BCEHS paramedics have responded to 13 overdose/...

Sounder News Sunday, June 23 will see Backseat Betty and the Crimson Cadillacs playing the Community Hall, in support of the Gabriola Parent Participation Preschool. The band was assembled after Kathy McIntyre was asked to form 50s band for a private party. She put...

Sounder News The Gabriola Lions Club has donated $20,000 to the Gabriola Health Care Foundation to pay for a water feasibility study. The study will help ensure the Gabriola Community Health Centre has a reliable supply of potable water. Marc Herrmann, chair of the...

Sounder News The Federal Government, through Infrastructure Canada, is investing up to $1.7 million in rural communities across British Columbia for transit studies, planning projects, vehicle purchases, and supporting infrastructure. The GERTIE Community Bus is one...

Rachelle Stein-Wotten Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder Gabriola Elementary has been selected as one of the schools that will receive school district-run before and after school care starting in September. On May 31, GES families received a letter...

Steve Earle Gabriola Community Bus Foundation For the last eleven years, the Gabriola Community Bus Foundation (GCBF) has been operating GERTIE (Gabriola Environmentally Responsible Trans Island Express). This non-profit, run by dedicated volunteers and a few paid...

Rachelle Stein-Wotten Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder Regional District of Nanaimo staff will engage with the province over the voting strength of board directors in anticipation of a growing population resulting in the need for more directors...

Rachelle Stein-Wotten Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder More field space at Rollo McLay Park is on its way as the parks and open spaces committee voted in favour of adding an all-weather playing space while supporting staff to look into locations...

Rachelle Stein-Wotten Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder Introducing larger organics carts to allow for curbside collection of more yard waste is on the public consultation docket as the Regional District of Nanaimo is reporting an uptick in usage...

Dangerous goods vehicles wait to leave Gabriola on May 15. Derek Kilbourn photoDerek Kilbourn Sounder News A shortage of space on the Gabriola Island Class ferries for Dangerous Goods haulers meant both shipments for the marine fuel docks in Silva Bay were not...

Framer Elana Evans in her happy place watering vegetable starts in the new propagation house. Photo courtesy Elana EvansRob West On behalf of Gabriola Nature Education Society, and People for a Healthy Community A vision of food security, nature education, and local...

Sounder News The Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) has reached financial close on a $75 million loan to BC Ferry Services Inc. to help finance the purchase of four zero-emission ferries and install the required charging infrastructure. This will directly impact the...