News
GVFD to stop issuing exemption permits for burns
Derek Kilbourn Sounder News The Gabriola Volunteer Fire Department will no longer be issuing exemptions for contractors and developers to continue doing work when the island is in shutdown conditions. Paul Giffin, Chair of the Gabriola Fire Protection Improvement...
Deadhead log puts RDN emergency dock out of service
Derek Kilbourn Sounder News The Emergency Wharf in Descanso Bay (adjacent to the ferry dock) will be out of service for an unknown length of time, after being damaged by a log on Wednesday last week. The emergency dock is owned and maintained by the Regional District...
Island Health returning to Gabriola to vaccinate children Aug 19
On Friday, August 19 Island Health will be holding a COVID-19 vaccine clinic on Gabriola Island for children age 6 months to 11 years. Health Canada recently approved the Moderna Spikevax mRNA COVID-19 vaccine formulated for children between the ages of 6...
Editorial: We need a ferry passenger bill of rights
Ferry passengers need a bill of rights, similar to those given to air passengers in Canada in 2019. BC already has a Taxi Passengers Bill of Rights. (Effective in 2013) No one disputes that BC Ferries is in a staffing crisis. But the fact that they’ve had over 125...
Islands Trust Conservancy gives $6,000 funding boost to support GaLTT nature stewardship on Gabriola
Photo courtesy Libby Gunn, Gabriola Land and Trails Trust (GaLTT.ca) Islands Trust Conservancy Press Release Gabriola Land and Trails Trust (GaLTT) has received a $6,000 Opportunity Fund grant from Islands Trust Conservancy to help them meet an overwhelming demand...
Port Vancouver says Gabriola anchorages are not off the table
Derek Kilbourn Sounder News The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority (VFPA) still considers the five anchorages proposed off Gabriola’s north-east corner to be potentially available. Captain Shri Madiwal with VFPA presented at the June Trust Council meeting on a public...
GVFD seeking volunteers living in Whalebone & Strand area for mock evacuation Aug. 14
Derek Kilbourn Sounder News The Gabriola Volunteer Fire Department is planning an Evacuation Scenario this coming August, and is seeking community members in the Strand and Whalebone areas to take part. Kitt Stringer, Training Officer for the GVFD is planning the...
Trustees request review of Islands Trust mandate, governance, and structure
Sounder News Gabriola Trustee Scott Colbourne, along with Saturna Trustee Paul Brent have made a Request For Decision (RFD), asking the Islands Trust Council request the Lieutenant Governor in Council for the Province of British Columbia to conduct a review of the...
NDSS replacement remains top priority in District, one year after facilities plan approved
Rachelle Stein-Wotten Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder Incremental progress continues on Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools’ long-range facilities plan (LRFP). The board of trustees received a progress report on the 2021-31 LRFP at its May 25...
Jay Dearman memorial 5km walk/run will be June 18
Sounder News A walk/run in memory of Jay Dearman will be a fundraiser in support of Child, Youth, and Family support services on Gabriola. Dearman was killed in 2018, when he was running on Berry Point Road and was struck by a vehicle. A local tradesperson and...
In memory of Gabriola’s Stephen Smith, Ride Free donated $8,000 for the Huxley Skatepark
2018 photo, taken on the site of where the Huxley Skatepark has now been built.(L-R) Grey Switzer and Gaye Maulson-Smith, wearing their Ride Free shirts, presented Area B Director Vanessa Craig of the Regional District of Nanaimo with a cheque for $8,000 to be put...
Dr. Francois Bosman recognized at 2022 BC Rural Health Awards
Sounder News Dr. Francois Bosman of Gabriola has been presented with the Above and Beyond recognition from the Rural Coordination Centre of BC. RCCbc presents the annual BC Rural Health Awards at its BC Rural Health Conference, which was held in person for the first...
Paisley Housing Agreement given second and third readings
Derek Kilbourn Sounder News The Housing Agreement for the proposed Affordable Housing development on Paisley Place has passed second and third readings at the Gabriola Local Trust Committee. At the core of the discussion amongst Trustees was - once again - how...
Gabriola Museum Launches History Tour: Signs Around The Island
Alison Douglas Gabriola Museum On Sunday, May 22, at 1:00, the Gabriola Museum launched its self-guided history tour to celebrate International Museums Week. The purpose of this week is to emphasize museums as “an important means of cultural exchange, enrichment of...
GVFD asking BC EHS to upgrade Gabriola ambulance station to full-time 90-second-response model
Sounder News Gabriola Fire Chief Will Sprogis is wanting to see BC Emergency Health Services (BC EHS) convert the current model used at the Gabriola ambulance station to what is termed in BC EHS as an ‘Alpha’ station. Currently, Gabriola Station 153 is known as an SOC...
Student representatives bring concerns to SD68 Board about cleanliness of washrooms; students’ mental health; WiFi investment
Rachelle Stein-Wotten Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools staff recently held two sessions with student representatives to collect their input and concerns on the annual budget and other topics. Wireless internet...
RDN Director’s Report for May
Vanessa Craig Director, Electoral Area B Regional District of Nanaimo Huxley Community Park celebration May 28th! Mark your calendars! The celebration for Huxley Park skatepark and Phase 2 improvements is scheduled for Saturday May 28th between 12:30-1:30. There will...
Crown Counsel declines to proceed in sexual abuse case
Debbie Marshall Sounder News In less than 15 minutes in a Nanaimo courtroom, a case was decided involving a Gabriola man facing three charges involving the sexual abuse of a minor. Originally set to stand trial on May 16, 2022, the man was charged with sexual...
Locum physicians joining clinic for interim care of patients
Sounder News The Gabriola Medical Clinic announced this on May 2 that two long-term locum physicians will be joining the practitioners this May and August to provide interim care for patients of Dr. Ramak Shadmani and Dr. Maciej Mierzewski, who are leaving the Clinic...
2022 Election for Fire Board Trustees on May 11
Gabriola Fire Protection Improvement District TRUSTEE ELECTION and Annual General Meeting WEDNESDAY, May 11, 2022 Albert Reed Memorial Fire Hall No. 1 730 CHURCH STREET, GABRIOLA, B.C. Voting will open at 3pm At the Gabriola Fire Protection Improvement District...
Dr. Tracey Thorne recognized with Community Award from BC Achievement Foundation
Sounder News Dr. Tracey Thorne of Gabriola has been recognized this year with a Community Award from the BC Achievement Foundation - which recognizes extraordinary British Columbians who build better, stronger and more resilient communities. Premier John Horgan and...
BC Ferries hosting Public Drop-In Session & Ferry Advisory Committee Meeting
Sounder News BC Ferries will be hosting a public feedback session prior to a Gabriola Ferry Advisory Committee meeting this coming Monday, May 9. The meeting will be held at the Gabriola Agi Hall. The Drop-In session is from 12pm till 1:15pm. The FAC meeting will be...
Seismic upgrades not approved for NDSS or Gabriola Elementary
Rachelle Stein-Wotten Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder Nanaimo-Ladysmith Public Schools notched some wins in its 2022-23 five-year capital plan submission, but the Nanaimo District Secondary School and Gabriola Elementary proposals were not among...
Gabriolan taken to hospital after being assaulted near his home on South Rd
Sounder News On Sunday, April 3 at 7pm, a person arrived at Gabriola RCMP detachment after being assaulted with a weapon near his home on South Road. The victim - a senior was taken by BC Ambulance to Nanaimo Regional General Hospital. Media representatives from BC...
Suspect sought after truck stolen with dog inside
Sounder News RCMP are seeking information on an unknown suspect after a vehicle was stolen on Gabriola on Wednesday, April 6. Cpl. Jordan Mullen, detachment commander for Gabriola RCMP said at approximately 2pm on Wednesday, the Gabriola RCMP received a report of a...