News

Derek Kilbourn Sounder News The Gabriola Fire Protection Improvement District is beginning what will be a two year process to acquire a new firetruck for the Gabriola Volunteer Fire Department. The cost of the new truck looks to be $717,899, if the Board goes ahead...

Gabriola Agricultural Co-op Press Release The Gabriola Agricultural Co-op is pleased to announce the addition of Jenn Canvin and Naomi Melnyk to its Board, expanding the team to seven members. With a shared commitment to community-driven agriculture, and local food...

Rachelle Stein-Wotten Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder The first phase of engagement for Gabriola’s official community plan and land use bylaw review includes a component never attempted in the Islands Trust Area before, according to staff. The...

Emma Hamilton with Royce Gracie, after Hamilton became the first female in Canada to earn a Black Belt in Gracie Jiu Jitsu. Submitted photo. Derek Kilbourn Sounder News Emma Hamilton has been awarded her Royce Gracie Black Belt. She is the first female in Canada to do...

Rachelle Stein-Wotten Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder Vanessa Craig was re-elected chair of the Regional District of Nanaimo board on the same day directors began the 2024 budget process. The director for Electoral Area B, Craig was elected for...

Rachelle Stein-Wotten Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder The Regional District of Nanaimo board of directors have teed up an alternative approval process for the establishment of a community health and wellbeing contribution service in Electoral...

Rachelle Stein-Wotten Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder The Regional District of Nanaimo and other jurisdictions along the Island Rail Corridor are in the planning stages of what to do with the 289-km stretch, according to an update from staff...

Rachelle Stein-Wotten Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder Gabriola’s Land and Trails Trust (GaLTT) is encouraged to see the Regional District of Nanaimo’s proposed 2024 budget includes funding to study setting up an accessible beach access at...

Chamber Ensemble Press Release In their first concert since the COVID hiatus, Director Brad Shipley and the Gabriola Chamber Ensemble – a community group made up of seven orchestra members and 18 choristers – are thrilled to be making beautiful music together again....

Gabriola Arts Council Press Release The Gabriola Arts Council is excited to announce that we are now accepting your proposals for arts, culture and new this year culinary arts workshops and events for our annual Isle of the Arts Festival. With pottery, paint,...

Rachelle Stein-Wotten Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder Solid waste volumes in the Regional District of Nanaimo have increased on average by 6 per cent a year over the past seven years, a result of a growing population, new construction starts and...

Rachelle Stein-Wotten Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder It’s already in use by school administrators as well as in classrooms, yet Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools trustees emphasized a need to get on top of the use of ChatGPT and other artificial...

The ambulances on Gabriola Island. BC EHS has announced the Gabriola station will be moving the primary ambulance to an Alpha shift pattern, with paramedics staying at the station 24/7, responding within 90 seconds if called. The second ambulance will be kept on...

Derek Kilbourn Sounder News The Good Food Box program is back on Gabriola, thanks to the partnership between Nanaimo Foodshare, and Gabriola’s People for a Healthy Community (PHC). The program allows for participants to buy a box of produce worth $20 to $25 for $10 or...

Rachelle Stein-Wotten Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder Feedback on the four goals of Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools’ draft strategic plan can be submitted until Nov. 24. A total of nine objectives fall under four goals: student success, student...

The new trail - Hugh Skinner, President of the Gabriola Land and Trails Trust, and Vanessa Craig, Director for Regional District of Nanaimo Electoral Area B, cut the ribbon officially opening the new trail connecting Gabriola’s village core to Cox Community Park....

A Mass Casualty Incident (MCI) Training Exercise was held on Gabriola on October 22. The incident simulated a GERTIE bus being in a collision with a drunk driver on South Road. The simulation also involved the main communication lines being struck and knocked out. In...

Derek Kilbourn Sounder News The budget for the Gabriola Fire Protection Improvement District (GFPID) being sent in to the Province for approval is up $180,138 over the 2023 levy, an increase of 21%, for a total of $1,021,958. John Moeller, Chair of the Finance...

Gabriola Island Community Hall Association Press Release The Board of the Gabriola Island Community Hall Association is pleased to provide an update on the progress made towards completing its Lund Gathering Place project. In September the building permit application...

Ken Gurr Gabriola Land and Trails Trust (GaLTT) For Brian and Pam Tucker, their reason for moving to Gabriola is familiar to many islanders. “We fell in love with the natural environment, the beach access points and the multitude of forest trails,” says Brian. Indeed,...

Gabriola Rescue Of Wildlife Society (GROWLS) Press Release As Halloween approaches, images of scary bats become commonplace. This is the perfect time of year to counter bat myths and do something to help bats, by taking part in International Bat Week (October 24-31). ...

Rachelle Stein-Wotten Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder Annual funding to the Gabriola Arts Council has been extended for another three-year term. The Regional District of Nanaimo board of directors approved the $7,500 in annual funding through...

Derek Kilbourn Sounder News September saw a decrease in call outs for the Gabriola Volunteer Fire Department, with 47 calls in September 2023, compared to 54 in 2022. The GVFD is still up in total calls for the year, with 449 calls by the end of September 2023,...

Rachelle Stein-Wotten Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder The cost to operate the Gabriola library branch is expected to rise by eight per cent next year, according to Vancouver Island Regional Library. One of the most well-used branches in the...