Mid Island News » General

Possible site for New Library in Nanaimo

admin — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:47:55 +0000

There is a possibility that Nanaimo could get a new public library at 6550 Hammond Bay Road. Currently, the Vancouver Island Regional Library uses the building as its administration office. At present there is an active book drop so you can return your borrowed library books at this location.

The Vancouver Island Regional Library is inviting feedback from the public regarding this location as well as any other comments regarding library space.

You can send your suggestions to district(at)lantzville.ca if you live in Lantzville, or you could contact the VIRL at nanaimonorth(at)virl.bc.ca if you live in Nanaimo. Lanztville town council plans to meet with VIRL staff and present comments from the community.

Mid Island News

Woodstove Exchange Program for Mid Island

admin — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:45:37 +0000

The Nanaimo Regional District’s Woodstove Exchange program is back! While incentives last, home owners can access a $250 rebate when replacing an old wood burning appliance with an EPA/CSA-certified wood burning, pellet, or gas stove or insert.

In order to qualify for the incentive, you must be replacing a wood burning appliance in a home in the City of Nanaimo, the City of Parksville, the Town of Qualicum Beach, the RDN Electoral Areas, or the District of Lantzville. The old appliance must not conform to the CSA B415.1 standards (typically an appliance built and installed before 1994). You must also be replacing your appliance no earlier than January 16th, 2012 to participate.

For more information on how to recieve your rebate and a list of retailers participating in the program and other rebate and grant information visit the Regional District of Nanaimo for more information.

In addition to the rebates being offered by the Regional District of Nanaimo and member municipalities, many participating retailers are offering additional incentives towards the purchase of an eligible appliance.

Mid Island News

How to send a get well wish to a patient at Nanaimo Hospital

admin — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:30:03 +0000

Do you know someone staying at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital and would like to send them get well wishes?

NRGH has started a program called “Well Wishes” which allows the public to send heartwarming and encouraging words to patients. Each message will either be hand delivered or read aloud by hospital volunteers, depending on patient mobility.

Send your well wishes in an email to patient.nrgh(at)viha.ca.

Remember to include the patient’s full first and last name and room number so your well wishes are delivered to the right person. To obtain the patient’s room number, call the hospital at 250-755-7691.
Please do not include images or graphics with the email. Only messages in text will be delivered.
Any type of message not considered a ‘get well wish’ will not be delivered and will be deleted from the system.
This system is set up to receive email only

The VIHA Well Wishes service is regularly available on weekdays. Messages received late Friday, on weekends, or on holidays will be delivered at the next opportunity.

Mid Island News

Nanoose Bay Parents Fundraiser for Education

admin — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 13:30:26 +0000

Parents of the students at Nanoose Bay Elementary School (NBES) are collecting metal as a way to raise money for their school’s education programs.

There is a large steel recycling bin at the far end of the road by the school at 2875 Northwest Bay Rd. Please feel free to drop off clean metal items like old barbecues, metal bed frames, wire, washers, dryers, fridges, stoves, old baby strollers, tin cans, pots and pans of any size, motor parts, bikes etc.

This Parent Advisory Committee is a group of parents working with the common goal of supporting education. Shrinking school budgets have made committee-based fundraising more challenging than ever before.

If you have a lot of metal items to donate, please phone 250-468-7414 or email amber(at)amberscotchburn.com.

Mid Island News

Best of 2011

admin — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 13:55:44 +0000

Happy holidays to everyone, this will be the last post for 2011 and I’ll be back with more local Mid Island News and west coast cartoons in 2012!

The number one story for 2011 was Nanaimo Gets Free Dental Clinic.

Mid Island News

End of an Era: Nanaimo Beban House up for Rent

admin — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 13:47:25 +0000

Historic Beban House at 2290 Bowen Road, home to Tourism Nanaimo since 1997, is now up for rent.

A site visit will be held on January 11, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. at Beban House for those interested in renting Beban House. Closing date for offers to rent Beban House is 2:00pm PST, January 19, 2012 at the Purchasing Office, City of Nanaimo 2020 Labieux Road, Nanaimo, BC, V9T 6J9.

Historic Beban House in Nanaimo

The story behind Historic Beban House:

Frank Beban was born in New Zealand in 1882 and emigrated to Canada in 1907. By 1911, Mr. Beban opened a sawmill in Cumberland, followed by a lumber mill and a coal mine in Extension. In 1927, he acquired the Empire Lumber Company.

In 1930, Mr. Beban and his family purchased an existing farm of 160 acres upon which he built a house and a racetrack where he trained thoroughbreds. The house was designed with a porte-cochère and the interior in the art deco style which was popular in that era. The gardens of the house were extensive. Mr. Beban died in 1952 and the house and property were purchased by the City of Nanaimo in 1953.

For 35 years, the house was neglected to the point where the City of Nanaimo considered demolishing it. The gardens had turned to weeds. In the early 1990s, the City realized that the house was designed in an architectural style that was unique to Vancouver Island and listed it on their historical register. In 1997, it became the home of Tourism Nanaimo which occupied this site since then.

What will be the next life of Historic Beban House in Nanaimo?

Mid Island News

Where is the final pasture for Island horses?

admin — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 13:17:30 +0000

Retired horses, if they are lucky, spend their last days at the Rest and Recuperate Equine Care Society in Errington.

Since 1995 the Rest and Recuperate Equine Care Society has been providing care for elderly horses. Unfortunately, funding like so many charities has hit an all time low. They are in immediate need of funding for food and medicine.

Would like you to help the horses? You can donate your Quality Food (Q Points) to the society, which is listed under Equine Care Society at the Parksville or Qualicum store locations. You can also donate through any bank (see their website).

Sandra Billy is hoping you have a passion for horses and would you like to make a difference in a horse’s last days.

Mid Island News

Nanaimo Bikes for Christmas

admin — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 13:00:13 +0000

Did you lose your bike this year?

Yours could be among the 300 – 400 recovered bikes that are returned to the City of Nanaimo each year.

From now on, recovered bicycles will be directed to the Nanaimo Recycling Exchange. If yours is among them, then they will give it to you if you can provide proof of ownership.

Bicycles that go unclaimed will be fixed and cleaned and sold to the general public for a price anywhere between $5.00 – $40.00. All proceeds will be used by the Nanaimo Recycling Exchange to offset costs.

Mid Island News

Local art & horse-drawn carriage rides in Nanaimo

admin — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 12:50:27 +0000

Time to head downtown Nanaimo for the art walk and tour.

Fifty Island artists are featuring their original artworks at 25 locations in and around downtown this Saturday and Sunday, December 3rd and 4th from 11am to 5pm. Go have a look at 13th Annual Downtown and Old City Quarter Nanaimo Art Walk; you will be amazed at all the beautiful works of art!

Also, you can take a ride on a horse drawn carriage through downtown Nanaimo. Starting tomorrow, there will be carriage rides each Saturday December 3rd, 10th, and 17th, 2011 from 12pm to 4 pm (by donation). Pick up and drop off points are at Nanaimo Museum on Commercial and St. Andrew’s Church at Wesley and Fitzwilliam.

Mid Island News

Gabriolans dodge bullets

admin — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 13:00:14 +0000

If you visit or live on Gabriola Island, take care where you go! There has been increasing conflict between residents and hunters as the hunting season runs from August 25th to December 10th.

There have been many complaints from residents about people hunting at night and close to residential properties. This has become an issue in recent years as Gabriola grows.

According to the provincial wildlife office, there is to be no discharge of firearms within 100 metres of a church, school building, school yard, playground, RDN parks, dwelling houses, or any farm or ranch building occupied by persons or domestic animals.

Also, when it comes to public roadways, hunters can’t discharge a firearm within 15 metres of the centre line.

Mid Island News