Regional District of Nanaimo

The image has a black background. In the centre of the image is about two fireworks exploding. They overlap each other and angle the colour sparks to the left and the right. Skinny red lines of sparks blast off from the centre going in all different directions. In the middle area there is a large circle of bright blue sparks

Nanaimo to look into regulating sale of consumer-grade fireworks

June 28, 2024 by Lauryn Mackenzie

While the heat is rising and the central Vancouver Island area continues to face droughts, the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) is looking into regulating the sale of consumer-grade fireworks within District 69 and District 68.

At an RDN meeting on Tuesday, the board passed a motion for staff to prepare a report on the potential options for regulating the sale of consumer-grade fireworks within the two districts, as well as enforcement and cost recovery options for prohibiting the discharge of consumer-grade fireworks.

While some directors are ready to move forward and ban the sales of fireworks due to the concern of fires they can start, some directors question why there is a need to spend time on a report and if a ban would even help the problem

The photo shows a street bench being in a pool of water. Only the top back rest part of the bench os seen and the bottom half is under the water.

Regional District of Nanaimo reminds residents to be prepared for any emergency

May 9, 2024 by Lauryn Mackenzie

In the case of an emergency, the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) says residents should be prepared to take care of themselves for a minimum of 72 hours.

During Emergency Preparedness Week May 5-11, RDN Manager of Emergency Services Erica Beauchamp is reminding residents to be prepared and have a plan.

On Vancouver Island, many different types of emergencies could occur from floods to earthquakes.

Beauchamp tells CHLY that residents in the RDN should have an all-hazards approach when getting prepared. This means being aware of all the hazards residents or their properties are at risk of in the case of any type of emergency.

Nine people sit in a circle around a small fire sitting on the ground of a rocky beach. They are sitting near the forest. The tide is not see from the photo. The beach of dark grey rocks stretches out behind the group until a large rock that looks like it is average human height blocks the view of the rest of the beach

Local youth alternative learning program seeks regional distinct funding

April 10, 2024 by Lauryn Mackenzie

A local Nanaimo organization is seeking money from the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) to support its alternative classroom education program for at-risk youth.

Zoe Lauckner, manager of philanthropy with Take a Hike Youth Mental Health Foundation, presented to the RDN board on April 9 about the current need for mental health support for youths in the community.

Take a Hike Nanaimo is an organization that offers 35 at-risk youth aged 15 to 18 an alternative classroom education program that offers mental health and emotional well-being programs.

Lauckner told the board by supporting the program, it is investing in the future community of the regional district.

“For every dollar invested in our programs, society recognizes a return of between $5.60 and $13.40 through participants increased contributions to society, as well as significantly reduced reliance on health and social supports, such as hospital and health care, as well as policing and the criminal justice system,” she said.

A wood sign that has a top shaped like the top of mountains. The sign is a dark wood and written in white on the middle of the sign reads "Regional District of Nanaimo." There are serval thin trees standing behind the sign

RDN delays decision on increased curbside pickup fees

March 15, 2024 by Lauryn Mackenzie

At a Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) board meeting on Tuesday, directors met to vote to on a motion that would have seen a four per cent increase to curbside collection utility fees. Due to a lack of information and staff illness, that motion was deferred.

The fees would increase by four per cent, with three per cent of it due to inflation and one per cent for the increased operating costs of the expanded organics program, which will permit yard waste to be put into the bins.

Leanne Salter, director for Electoral Area F, was worried about all the additional costs associated with additional cart pick-ups or if a cart goes missing. As staff were not able to fully answer her questions, she if the motion could be deferred until more information was available.

The motion to defer until the following meeting on March 26 passed 11-5.

Photo of a older man wearing glasses and wearing a blue blazer with a Regional District of Nanaimo pin.

Climate scientist says RDN director used an ‘anti-science trope’

February 16, 2024 by Mick Sweetman

At the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) board meeting on Tuesday, Julian Fell, alternate director for Electoral Area F, claimed global warming was “not happening” and is based on “junk science.”

The RDN board was debating developing a regional strategy for net zero buildings and localized energy generation.

“At the risk of offending every true climate believer I think the whole climate thing is a bit of a fiasco,” he said. “We’ve been facing this global warming thing now for 45 years and it’s not happening.”

Dr. Simon Donner is a climate scientist and a professor at the University of British Columbia.

“What the regional director said is an old kind of anti-science trope that I’m surprised to even hear today,” he told CHLY.

The RDN board voted to move ahead with developing a strategy for net zero buildings and localized energy generation with directors Fell, Ian Thorpe and Lehann Wallace opposed.