News
Fuel prescription actions for 707 Park recommended to not move forward
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...
Asian Heritage month celebrated with exhibit at Gabriola Museum
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...
The launch of Gabr’hoods
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...
Extra summer sailings scheduled for BC Ferries, but not Gabriola route
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...
POSAC contemplates cycling safety on Village Way Path
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...
Trustees to review school tree-planting policies
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...
Marbled murrelet sightings from Gabriola becoming more regular
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...
More pickleball time at Huxley
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...
FAC meetings to resume with new safety protocols in place
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...
Fire District staff working to improve public access to records
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...
Fire District passes bylaw allowing it to enter into lease agreement with Rogers for cell tower
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...
Expanded fire services committee gives Gabriola a voice at Regional District table
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...
Rural economic funding supports additional projects in second year
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...
Staff recommending RDN take on Orlebar Point responsibilities
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...
Accessing historical RDN and most Trust records does not require a FOIPP request
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...
FOIPP requests cost Fire District $16K in 2024 to April 3
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...
GAC celebrates Gabriola’s vibrant arts community with presentation of 2024 Arty Award,and GASP Awards
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...
RDN budget planning to start earlier than previous years
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...
NLPS receiving nearly half a million for supplies, field trips
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...
AVICC convention to return to Nanaimo
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...
Ferry Committee pressing MOTI on terminal safety
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...
Howdy neighbour! Gabr’hood gathering, May 11th
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...
Sound performer latest Kasahara artist-in-residence
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...
Commercial Vacation Rental permits in non-principal homes set to expire in November
Derek Kilbourn Sounder News Gabriola and Bowen Island are the only two communities in the Islands Trust which have opted in to the Short-Term Rental Accommodation Act, which goes into effect province-wide on May 1. This will bring in new provincial-level requirements...
Honeysuckle Woods Petitions to be presented to Legislature
Gabriola Land and Trails Trust and Gabriola Memorial Society After gathering more than 1000 signatures from Gabriola community members – almost ¼ of Gabriola’s population – the Gabriola Land and Trails Trust (GaLTT) and the Gabriola Island Memorial Society (GIMS) are...