News

Rachelle Stein-Wotten Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder COVID-19 protocols in the school district haven’t changed for this school year. Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools says it has not needed to updated its communicable disease plan, a required...

Gabriola Museum Press Release After a three-year hiatus the Gabriola Museum brought its Trivia Night back last April. We had so much fun putting on the event we decided to do it again in November, the traditional date for Trivia Night.  What better way to share...

Rachelle Stein-Wotten Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder Regional District of Nanaimo-sponsored resolutions on housing, water supply, parking in rural areas and more were endorsed at the September Union of BC Municipalities convention. The...

Derek Kilbourn Sounder News BC Ferries is now saying redevelopment on the terminals on the Gabriola Ferry route won’t be until 2028. That according to BC Ferries staff at the Gabriola Ferry Advisory Committee (FAC) meeting held on Monday, September 18. Planning for...

Rachelle Stein-Wotten Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder The Regional District of Nanaimo board has directed staff to review the solar panel permitting process following a letter from a local business who says the requirements are cost prohibitive...

Derek Kilbourn Sounder News BC Ferries will not shift the Gwawis schedule to starting one sailing later on the schedule, as had been requested by the Gabriola Ferry Advisory Committee (FAC). The FAC met on Gabriola on September 18 with staff from BC Ferries in a...

Rachelle Stein-Wotten Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder Vancouver Island Regional Library’s board of trustees have approved a 2024 budget that includes an average 3.4 per cent increase in the tax levy across the region. The board passed the $34...

Rachelle Stein-Wotten Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder Regional District of Nanaimo staff will prepare a report on how to support a funding request from the Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities Climate Leadership Steering Committee. The...

Nanaimo Foundation Press Release People for a Healthy Community on Gabriola is one of nine organizations sharing $466,000 in funding from the Nanaimo Foundation. This past week, the Nanaimo Foundation announced $466,000 in funding to support nine projects in the...

Rachelle Stein-Wotten Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder Field repairs and delayed re-openings have left the Gabriola Soccer Association potentially playing their new season in multiple locations on the island. Historically the association has...

Derek Kilbourn Sounder News August 2023 saw the Gabriola Volunteer Fire Department set a new record for busiest month ever - with 90 callouts for service. That according to Fire Chief Will Sprogis, during his report to the Board of the Gabriola Fire Protection...

Rachelle Stein-Wotten Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder Enrolment at Gabriola Elementary is expected to stay comparable to last school year, sitting at 140 students. Though final enrolment numbers for every school in the district are not submitted...

Derek Kilbourn Sounder News The Gabriola Fire Protection Improvement District staff are spending so much time dealing with Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, that the District has put out a contract for an accountant. This is to allow for the regular financial...

Gabriola Arts Council Press Release The air is ripe with the scent of pumpkin spice lattes, the crunch of fallen leaves, and the hum of the creative engine, as Studio Tour artists prepare for the 27th Annual Thanksgiving Studio Tour. The Gabriola Arts Council welcomes...

Rachelle Stein-Wotten Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder The Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools board has sent a letter to the minister of education and child care to request compensation for addressing pay equity gaps earlier than provincially...

Rachelle Stein-Wotten Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder Vancouver Island Regional Library says it hopes to introduce “place-making initiatives” at more of its branches following the completion of a mural at its Nanaimo Harbourfront branch. The...

Rachelle Stein-Wotten Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder Gabriola Elementary School’s new principal has worked in urban schools in Nanaimo and on other the other side of the Pacific Ocean, but the small rural island community of Gabriola still...

Gabriola Chamber of Commerce Press Release Erin Udal (Champion) is a community organizer for positive change who has a depth and breadth of experience and skills to support the Chamber’s mission, vision and values. Born and raised on Gabriola and having worked in...

Rachelle Stein-Wotten Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder The drought has delayed the re-opening for the upper sports field at Rollo McLay Community Park. The upper ‘Ducky’ field, one of only two dedicated sports fields on Gabriola, underwent a...

Rachelle Stein-Wotten Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder The Regional District of Nanaimo is assisting the operators of Gabriola’s bus service with a grant application. If successful, the $25,000 application will be used to develop an operating...

Rachelle Stein-Wotten Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder Building permit wait times are up to 16 weeks in the Regional District of Nanaimo. That’s up a week since July, and an extra four weeks compared to February 2022. Lexie Boekenkruger, acting...

Fall Fair Submitted Article Get ready to immerse yourself in an afternoon filled with festivities, local talent, and community bonding at the much-awaited Gabriola Fall Fair on September 17! This annual event, organized as a fundraiser for the Gabriola Commons,...

Rachelle Stein-Wotten Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder Development of a region-wide parks biodiversity plan has been endorsed by the Regional District of Nanaimo board. The plan would expand on the proposed scope of an invasive species management...