News

Rachelle Stein-Wotten Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder Regional District of Nanaimo directors defeated a motion to cease funding the Vancouver Island North Film Commission following some passionate debate. Electoral Area C Director Lauren...

Rachelle Stein-Wotten Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder A funding increase for GERTIE has been approved by the Regional District of Nanaimo board. A motion by Electoral Area B Director Vanessa Craig, that funding for the Gabriola Community Bus...

Rachelle Stein-Wotten Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder GIRO’s textile recovery initiative is receiving more grant funding from the Regional District of Nanaimo as it aims to be fully operational by next month. The RDN is providing $300,003 in...

Derek Kilbourn Sounder News The use of e-scooters on most of Gabriola roads is prohibited. Some exceptions apply, according to the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI). Staff with MOTI provided the clarification this past week, after the Sounder...

Rachelle Stein-Wotten Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder Regional District of Nanaimo directors adopted a provisional budget at their last meeting of the year with provisos for staff not to act on some new staff positions before additional...

Sounder News The sports fields at the Gabriola Elementary School and the Rollo McLay Regional Park are currently closed. This was confirmed by media representatives of Nanaimo-Ladysmith Public Schools, and the Regional District of Nanaimo. Staff with the Regional...

Sounder News At least 2,039 lives have been lost to unregulated drugs in the first 10 months of 2023, according to preliminary data released by the BC Coroners Service. Three of those lives were lost on Gabriola Island. According to the data provided from the Coroners...

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...