News
School District 24/25 budget increased by 6/9%
25/26 operational budget projected to be 0.2% lower than 24/25 operationsNicole Knowles Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder Mark Walsh, Secretary-Treasurer for Nanaimo Ladysmith public Schools presented the annual preliminary operating budget to the...
Defendants file response to Fire District civil suit
Derek Kilbourn Sounder News A response has been filed by the defendants in the civil suit filed by Dr. Matthew Dow, former Corporate Officer for the Gabriola Fire Protection Improvement District (GFPID). The Fire Board, Board Chair Paul Giffin, and Fire Chief Will...
Ferries need feedback loop
BC Ferries has launched a new engagement process for coastal communities to provide feedback. Large systems like BC Ferries need to have feedback from the people who depend on their system. Especially when there are few people at the top of the company who don’t...
Kronis wins Nanaimo-Ladysmith for Conservatives
Derek KilbournSounder News Canada’s next federal government will be led by the Liberal Party of Canada, with Mark Carney continuing to serve as Canada’s Prime Minister. In Nanaimo-Ladysmith, Tamara Kronis with the Conservative Party will be serving as the Member of...
Unified ambition
The election is over, but now we have a government that looks like it might actually have to work together to get things done. As of press time, the Liberals had 167 seats projected. The NDP had 7. That could mean another coalition government. As the pundits on...
What is an Official Community Plan (OCP), and what is it not?
This article is part of an ongoing series provided to the Sounder by Gabriola Trustee Tobi Elliott to better explain (from the Islands Trust perspective) what an Official Community Plan and Land Use Bylaw Review is.Tobi Elliott Trustee, Gabriola Local Trust Committee,...
NDP, Green, and Liberal candidates in 2025 Election respond to Sounder Q&A
Derek KilbournSounder News As Candidates went into the final week of the 2025 Federal Election, the Sounder provided all five candidates with the following questions to answer in this edition. Questions were provided on April 11. Candidates Tamara Kronis (Conservative...
Nanaimo Chamber hosts meeting for all Nanaimo-Ladysmith candidates
Sounder News The Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce hosted an All-Candidates Meeting at the Coast Bastion in Nanaimo on April 23, with all candidates running for the Nanaimo-Ladysmith riding in attendance. The Candidates are: Lisa Marie Barron, New Democrat Party Michelle...
Choice and Consequence: An overview of the 2025 election and its implications for voters
With the absence of an All Candidates Meeting on Gabriola this year, the Gabriola Sounder and Gabriola Talks are hosting an event with Dr. Stewart Prest, Lecturer with the UBC Department of Political Science. This is open to all members of the public, on Thursday,...
To be strategic or not to be? That’s the voters’ question
Dr. Stewart Prest Lecturer, UBC Political Science Department We are so accustomed to hearing that a given election is “the most important of our lives,” that the words seem like boilerplate. And yet, with democracy under pressure around the world, and Canada under...
GVFD secures $40K for expansion of burn building and enhanced training
Sounder News The Gabriola Volunteer Fire Department says it is set to enhance its training capabilities thanks to a generous $40,000 grant. In a statement to the Sounder, Fire Chief Will Sprogis said the funding will allow for key upgrades to the department’s existing...
What clothing and textiles can be brought to GIRO
GIRO Clothing Team Gabriola Island Recycling Organization (GIRO) Thinking of clearing out your closets? Thank you for thinking of bringing them to GIRO. Here is what happens when you drop off your clothing and textiles at the depot: Your donations of clean, gently...
Ratepayers 2.0
This has been, for local taxpayers, a year where every local government is increasing taxes to support ever increasing budgets. The Islands Trust increase was finalized at 5.9%. The Regional District of Nanaimo increase will be 8.6%. The Hospital Board increase will...
RDN endorsing expansion of BC Transit services between Victoria and Nanaimo
Nicole Knowles Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder The Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) board of directors is endorsing a letter to BC Transit and the Minister of Transportation and Transit. The Board is requesting the development of a plan to...
Vote with GERTIE!
Steven EarleSounder News Voting day is Monday April 28 at the Community Hall from 7am to 7pm. There are also advance polls from Friday April 18 through Monday April 21. Those are from 9 am to 9 pm. GERTIE can get you to the Community Hall on the 18th, 19th, and 21st,...
Island Singers Present: Spring and the Promise of Love
Submitted by Chris Bowers for the Gabriola Island Singers It’s that time of year, and Gabriola Island Singers are excited to sing in Spring with a spectacular lineup of love songs. Ranging from Barbie to ballads, and show-casing the stunningly beautiful “All I Have...
Fire Board Chair says March 5 matters discussed in camera for legal purposes
Derek Kilbourn Sounder News Paul Giffin, chair of the Gabriola Fire Protection Improvement District, tells the Sounder that it was for legal reasons that items were discussed in camera after the March 5 regular Board meeting. Giffin was answering questions posed to...
Earth Day Invasives Blitz!
Alison Thomas Gabriola Land and Trails Trust Earth Day - a worldwide event celebrated annually on April 22nd - is an opportunity for us to take action to support the natural environment. Though many threats to the health of Planet Earth are global challenges, there...
MAY’d on the ROCK: Rocking the Rock this May 2-4
MAY’d on the Rock MAY’d on the ROCK is an inaugural event bringing together Gabriola’s artists, makers, and performers for a weekend of creativity and community. Tammie Hennigar of Fishhead Studio gathered interested talent. After two meetings and a lot of enthusiasm,...
Default setting: in camera
April 9, 2025 Editorial The response from the Fire Board chair on why items were put in camera - is that there were legal implications to consider before those items could be discussed in public. Even though the discussions themselves did not involve legal, land, or...
Trust Council discusses governing in the age of generative AI
Derek Kilbourn Sounder News The Islands Trust Council is among those governments who are grappling on how to operate a local government in the age of generative AI (Artificial Intelligence). According to Wikipedia, generative AI is, “a subset of artificial...
Islands Trust approves $11.2 million budget for 2025-26
Sounder News This past month, the Islands Trust Council approved a budget of $11.2 million for 2025-26. This represents a 5.8% increase over the previous year’s budget to the existing local trust area tax base. The Trust expects an additional 2.5% increase in tax...
Fire Chief requesting Board approve full-time Captain position
Sounder file photo Jamie Ovens (left) is presented with the Deputy Fire Chief helmet by Gabriola Fire Chief Sprogis after being hired on to the GVFD in July of 2024.Derek Kilbourn Sounder News Gabriola Fire Chief Will Sprogis is asking the Board of the Gabriola Fire...
RDN requires dogs to be on leash in Huxley Community Park
Derek Kilbourn Sounder News Huxley Community Park is joining a list of locations on Gabriola where dogs must be on leash, per a change from the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN). This comes from a recommendation made at the February meeting of the RDN’s Parks and...
Beyond funny play at the Rollo next month
Bill Pope photo Gabriola Players - Don Moser and Wendy Phillips in Kristen Da Silva’s play ‘Beyond the Sea’. Four performances this month at the Rollo Centre.Gabriola Players Gabriola Players is very proud to be introducing islanders to the work of Canadian playwright...
