News

Rachelle Stein-Wotten Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools is one of three districts in B.C. receiving provincial funding this fall for before and after school care, which will enable the district to expand its...

Rachelle Stein-Wotten Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder Data collection is underway to develop the Regional District of Nanaimo’s parks biodiversity plan, scheduled to be completed in June. The RDN has hired McTavish Environmental Consultants to...

Rachelle Stein-Wotten Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder The parks and open spaces advisory committee has voted not to move forward with a planned wildfire safety demonstration plot in 707 Community Park, effectively putting the park’s fuel...

Yarrow Koontz (left), Artistic Director for the Japanese Canadian Legacies Project at the Gabriola Historical and Museum Society, speaking with Joan Merrifield, Museum President in front of the exhibit opened to celebrate Asian Awareness month. Derek Kilbourn...

Greg BleeSustainable Gabriola The Community Hall was buzzing on May 11, with over 70 people cultivating neighbourhood connections at the “Gabr’hoods” event.  A giant map of Gabriola was laid out in masking tape on the floor, and participants stood at their house...

Rachelle Stein-Wotten Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder BC Ferries says they are expecting a record number of passengers this summer, and has made some changes following last year’s high season issues. “I think we’ve made some major strides,” BC...

Rachelle Stein-Wotten Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder Is the Village Way Path meant for cyclists? At its May 13 meeting, the Electoral Area B parks and open spaces advisory committee contemplated what modes of active transportation are...

Rachelle Stein-Wotten Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder School trustees will discuss the district’s policies for tree planting at schools following challenges a Parent Advisory Council (PAC) has experienced in enhancing an elementary school’s...

Rachelle Stein-Wotten Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder A kilometre off Gabriola Island’s shore are what look like a couple clothing irons bobbing up and down with the waves – or at least that’s what they remind Vicky Scott of. They’re marbled...

Rachelle Stein-Wotten Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder Pickleball enthusiasts as well as the pickleball curious now have more opportunity to play on Gabriola following a new schedule set up by the Gabriola Recreation Society and Gabriola...

Sounder News BC Ferries says it will be resuming in-person meetings with Ferry Advisory Committee (FAC) members and coastal communities to begin to tackle ideas and requests from ferry users up and down the coast. The in-person FAC meetings were all put on hold in...

Derek Kilbourn Sounder News At the May 1 meeting of the Gabriola Fire Protection Improvement District, Chair Paul Giffin expressed concern with an article printed in last week’s Sounder. The article, entitled, “Accessing historical RDN and most Trust records does not...

Derek Kilbourn Sounder News The Gabriola Fire Protection Improvement District has passed a bylaw which would allow the District to lease land to Rogers Communications on Fire District property. This is a five year lease, subject to renewal. The bylaw to enter into...

Rachelle Stein-Wotten Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder Representation on the Regional District of Nanaimo’s fire services advisory committee has expanded to include service areas not operated by the RDN. A new terms of reference for the advisory...

Rachelle Stein-Wotten Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder The B.C. government has provided nearly $13 million to rural economic projects in the second round of its Rural Economic Diversification and Infrastructure Program (REDIP). Forty-one projects...

Sounder News Regional District of Nanaimo Area B Director Vanessa Craig, the Regional District of Nanaimo recently posted about potential changes coming to the picnic tables at Orlebar Point. She said she knows there is a lot of interest in what is going to happen...

Derek Kilbourn Sounder News With the concerns voiced by the Gabriola Fire Protection Improvement District about the ongoing costs of Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIPP) requests for District records, the Sounder reached out to two other local...

Derek Kilbourn Sounder News The Chair of the Gabriola Fire Protection Improvement District says as of the start of April, the District had spent $16,994.00 to cover the costs of responding to Freedom of Information (FOIPP) requests. These are monies spent since the...

Dirk Huysman (right) and the late Dr. Mary Ann Richards of D’Dance Glass are the 2024 Arty Award winners. Huysman was presented with the Arty trophy by last year’s winner, Bill Pope. Photo courtesy Blair MannSounder News The Gabriola Arts Council held its 2023 Annual...

Rachelle Stein-Wotten Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder Annual financial planning at the Regional District of Nanaimo will start several months earlier this year after the board approved a new planning schedule. Meetings for the 2025-29 financial...

Rachelle Stein-Wotten Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools is receiving $495,000 from the Ministry of Education and Child Care’s most recent round of dollars placed in its student and family affordability fund. In...

Rachelle Stein-Wotten Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder The Regional District of Nanaimo has agreed to co-host, with the City of Nanaimo, the 2025 Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities convention for elected officials.  The RDN...

Derek Kilbourn Sounder News Members of the Gabriola Fery Advisory Committee (FAC) recently met with an Operations Manager from the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) to discuss safety issues around the Descanso Bay ferry terminal on Gabriola. Media...

Greg Blee for Climate-12 Action When it comes to surviving extreme weather or a disaster, neighbours are basically first responders. They can check on each other, render aid, call for professional help if required. But strong neighbourhoods have other important...

Sounder News Andrea Wong is the current Kasahara Gabriola Trust Artist-in-Residence with the Gabriola Arts Council. Wong is a sound artist and musician previously based in Vancouver, although most recently moved to Calgary last year. Last spring, she had her first...