News

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

The Rollo McLay portable prior to it's demolition. Derek Kilbourn photo Rachelle Stein-Wotten Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder The province should establish a fund to help local purchase of land for biodiversity protection, a letter from the...

GaLTT and Commons representatives celebrate the signing of a trail care-taking license on the Commons property. Left to Right: Bob Andrew, Hugh Skinner,  Barry Moerkerken, Cameron Murray, and Deb Ferens in front. The middle three represented GaLTT with Andrew and...

Sue Gould Gabriola Chamber Ensemble As spring awakens on Gabriola, Director Brad Shipley and the Gabriola Chamber Ensemble – a community group of seven orchestra members and 19 choristers – are thrilled to be coming together again to make beautiful music. They will be...

Derek Kilbourn Sounder News A Gabriola chicken may be going into the Guinness Book of World Records. The record is listed as, “most tricks performed by a chicken in one minute.” Gabriolan Emily Carrington hosted the Guinness adjudicator on April 4. Carrington has...

Derek Kilbourn Sounder News Gabriola Fire Chief Will Sprogis is calling on members of the public to voice concerns to the Transportation Ministry over the state of the roads on Gabriola. He made the request during his report to the Board of the Gabriola Fire...

Jonathan Hoskins with one of the third-generation of Peace Doves that he has created as a fundraiser for the Gabriola Museum and Historical Society. Submitted photo Gabriola Museum and Historical Society The third generation of Gabriolan peace doves is being created...

Sounder News Ambulance stations in 16 communities on Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands are moving to what Island Health and the Ministry of Health say are improved paramedic staffing models, to enhance 911 responsiveness and provide consistent and reliable...

Rachelle Stein-Wotten Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder The province should establish a fund to help local purchase of land for biodiversity protection, a letter from the Regional District of Nanaimo will say. The RDN board passed motions...

Rachelle Stein-Wotten Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder Curbside utility fees are going up in the Regional District of Nanaimo, but the cart exchange fee for recycling bins will be eliminated. The RDN board of directors passed an amendment to the...

Rachelle Stein-Wotten Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder Electric school buses have come with “extensive growing pains,” according to Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools’ transportation department. The department is experiencing compatibility issues...

Hosackia pinnata is listed as endangered on the federal species at risk registry. Rachelle Stein-Wotten Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder A rare flower in the pea family is only known at six sites in Canada, including one on Gabriola Island. With...

Derek Kilbourn Sounder News The Gabriola Ferry Advisory Committee (FAC) announced on March 22 that the Terminal Redevelopment Plans for the Gabriola ferry route have been put on hold until further notice. This announcement came after the FAC was given this news by...

Rachelle Stein-Wotten Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder Gabriola’s farmers market had an economic impact of $1.28 million in 2023, according to a study conducted by the British Columbia Association of Farmers’ Markets and a researcher at the...

Rachelle Stein-Wotten Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder Funds have been approved for a water availability assessment on Gabriola Island, a crucial aspect to planning for water security into the future, local trustees say. As part of Trust Council...

Rachelle Stein-Wotten Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder The business committee received three-year enrolment projections for Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools, hearing that immigration is expected to contribute to higher enrolment over the coming...

Rachelle Stein-Wotten Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder How does building permit activity compare over the last few years on Gabriola? In 2023 there were 52 building permits issued in Electoral Area B (Gabriola, Mudge, DeCourcy), according to...

Rachelle Stein-Wotten Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder The Regional District of Nanaimo is not pursuing setting up a business licensing service at this time, though recent provincial legislation gives it the authority. As part of the Short-Term...

Rachelle Stein-Wotten Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder No major changes are proposed for school bus routes for Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools though several routes are under the 50 per cent utilization rate that marks them for review by staff....