News
RDN going the extra mile to keep Gabriolans safer
Gabriola definitely needs an extension on the Village Way downhill to the ferry terminal. For Gabriolans and those who visit the island, there needs to be a safer and more accessible way for pedestrians to walk up and down ferry hill. In a perfect world, the cost of...
BCF says no cancellations of sailings during fall work on Nanaimo Harbour
Derek Kilbourn Sounder News BC Ferries says there are no sailing cancellations expected during the Nanaimo Harbour phase of the Route 19 terminal improvements. On October 27, BC Ferries started work on the Nanaimo Harbour Terminal, to extend the life of the Nanaimo...
7 Stories takes audiences up and away.
Gabriola Players 20th anniversary celebrated with remounting of first play the group ever performedGabriola Players Gabriola Players is marking its 20th anniversary with a remounting of the first play the group ever performed, 7 Stories by Vancouver playwright Morris...
Exploring Nature Through Art. Rhonda Weppler’s Residency at Kasahara
Athena, 2022, by Rhonda Weppler. Resin, embedded residue of decomposed mushrooms, antique broken plaster cast. Submitted photoKasahara Gabriola Trust A Winnipeg-born artist is bringing their innovative workshops and immersive video project to Gabriola Island. Rhonda...
Path forward for Village Way expansion
RDN says over half a million earmarked for the projectHope Lompe Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder An expansion of the Village Way down to the ferry terminal could be in the pipeline as the RDN works to secure additional funding through grants for...
Wild Rose public forum scheduled online for Nov. 17
An online-only public forum for the Wild Rose Garden Centre rezoning application on Tin Can Alley is scheduled on Nov. 17 from 4pm to 6pm.Hope Lompe Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder An online-only public forum for the Wild Rose Garden Centre...
Gabriola Housing Society announces eligibility, rents, and application process for Paisley Place affordable housing
Sounder News The Gabriola Housing Society (GHS) Board of Directors announced this past week that the twenty-four affordable rental homes on Paisley Place will be ready to welcome tenants in the summer of 2026. Provision of these homes would not have been possible...
Islands Trust Policy Statement public engagement phase entering final stage
Gabriolans will have the opportunity to speak to the policy at Community Meeting on Nov. 20Hope Lompe Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder The community information meeting for the long-awaited update to the Islands Trust Policy Statement has been...
Final numbers for Gabriola Elementary student enrolment down from last year
Hope Lompe Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder The final number of students at Gabriola Elementary dropped by 16 enrolments for the 2025/2026 school year compared to last year. The 2024/2025 school year saw 160 students at GES, up six from...
Letter to the Editor Re: Shoreline Buffer Concept
I am writing to provide some context about the shoreline buffer draft map that was reported on during recent engagement on the Official Community Plan project. The 200-metre shoreline buffer was presented as a concept for discussion and is not a proposal to take away...
Artificial Intelligence is drinking our water
Nanaimo is set to become the latest location for a data centre. These are the kinds of place built where tech companies build the computers that serve as the brains of the internet. The public, and tech companies, are racing to insert artificial intelligence into...
Braiding Refugia
Gabriola Island Fibre Working Group From Friday November 7 through Sunday November 9 the Gabriola Island Fibreshed Working Group will be hosting Refugia, a glorious mash-up of textile arts, rope making, storytelling, music, and ideas. It promises to be an intriguing...
NLPS says they will be able to meet projected growth demands
Hope Lompe Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder School District 68 says they will be able to meet projected growth anticipated by the district over the next several years. The district’s multi-year financial plan projects an increase in student...
More Island and coastal communities representation on UCBM executive wanted from governance review next year
RDN board member calls for island voices to be involved in planning the reviewHope Lompe Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder Island and coastal communities have struggled to get representation on the Union of B.C. Municipalities executive, but...
RDN pledges $22.5 million of $30 million to acquire Hamilton Wetlands for regional park
Hope Lompe Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder The Nanaimo Regional District has committed $22.5 million in conditional funding to acquire the Hamilton Marsh wetlands and forest in a special board meeting on Sept 9, part of a $30 million total deal....
Draft report shows NLPS students underperforming in literacy, numeracy and post-secondary attendance compared to provincial averages
New report shows a trend downward in key areas, SD 68 says student satisfaction remains highHope Lompe Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder A draft School District 68 Enhancing Student Learning Report from September, show below provincial averages in...
It’s Small Business Week. Buy Local all year round.
Every time someone needs to do a fundraiser on Gabriola, small businesses are the ones being asked to sponsor it. Whatever the cause, when silent auctions, live auctions, raffles, or straight up cash donations are needed, small businesses are the ones who get asked....
RDN says homes are not under demolition notice
Residents of 750 South Road, 1400 South Road and 1965 Stalker Road still concernedOn October 19, Island Trustees Susan Yates and Tobi Elliott, along with Gabriola Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Erin Udal accompany property owner, residents, and members of the...
Gabriola Island property owners ask questions about proposed 200m shoreline buffer at LTC meeting
Islands Trust reiterates this is just the start of a discussion to protect Gabriola’s shorelinesHope Lompe Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder Gabriola Island property owners had the opportunity to speak at the Islands Trust meeting during the...
Museum’s 9th Annual Trivia Night Fundraiser is back!
Brenda Joy President, Gabriola Museum and Historical Society The Gabriola Museum is holding its ninth annual Trivia Night fundraiser on Saturday, November 1st, 2025, 7-9 pm at the Gabriola Community Hall. This year, we are featuring local playwright/directors Scott...
What’s in a Neighbourhood?
Susan Swift Gabriola Neighbourhoods Network Team “Will you be my neighbor?” asked Fred Rogers on the old TV show, Mister Rogers Neighborhood. It turns out that getting to know your neighbor is a smart plan, not just a nostalgic image from the ‘good old days.’ Living...
Work on BCF Nanaimo Terminal to start October 27
BC Ferries plans for the Nanaimo Terminal include the installation of a charging station and supporting infrastructure for the battery-equipped Island Class vessels arriving in 2026. The station is shown where lanes 12 and 13 are in the Nanaimo terminal. BC Ferries...
Residents encouraged to participate in The Great British Columbia ShakeOut
Sounder News The Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) issued a release this past week, encouraging residents to Drop, Cover and Hold On in The Great British Columbia ShakeOut on October 16 at 10:16 a.m. Throughout the District, staff at RDN facilities will be holding...
GERTIE goes electric!
The GERTIE crew with the new electric bus in the old fire hall, where GERTIE buses go to be maintained, cleaned, and made ready to serve Gabriolans. Holding the charging cable is Trevor Gear, GERTIE Coordinator. In the driver’s seat is Craig Tuohy, Assistant ...
Building Hope. Looking back, to move forward
Sounder News This is the eighth and final article in the Building Hope series about the poisoned drug crisis and its impacts on Gabriola Island. Part 1 of the series can be found here. For a list of resources and supports in relation to these subjects please visit...
