Welcome to Nanaimo This Week, your source of community news and local solutions. Did a friend forward this email to you? Subscribe to this newsletter.
|
|
|
Residents across Vancouver Island and the province saw some intense displays of lightning over the weekend, accompanied by thunder and rain.
Reporting from The Canadian Press says the province recorded 11,000 lightning strikes but the BC Wildfire Service was prepared, with 75 per cent of new wildfires being classified as held, under control or out. The significant rainfall that came with the storm also helped reduce the potential for wildfire starts.
As of writing this, the BC Wildfire Service map doesn’t show any active wildfires in the Nanaimo area. Reporting from CHEK News says lightning does have the potential to ignite “holdover fires” which smoulder in the ground for days before being visible. The B.C. Wildfire Service warns that columns of smoke could become visible as undetected fires emerge.
Today, Aug. 25, the BC Wildfire Dashboard reports conditions as hot and dry across the province with potential for storms and lightning along coastal inlets and moving north this evening.
“This may bring a risk of new wildfire starts from dry lightning,” according to the dashboard. “Crews are strategically pre-positioned for efficient initial response, and fire activity will be closely monitored across all regions.”
On Friday, Aug. 21, the province extended its state of emergency until Aug. 29 in response to the ongoing wildfire risk.
Do you have any photos or videos of the storm over the weekend? We'd love to see them. Send them our way by replying to this email.
|
|
|
With gratitude, |
 |
Shalu Mehta Island Editor |
|
|
|
I support The Discourse because... | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Good topics presented with low bias.”
— From our newsletter survey. |
| Show your support!
| | On the Island |
| What to do and who to call when juvenile salmon are in danger |
Officials say people should call the right experts to move salmon that are trapped in isolated pools because of risks associated with relocation.
|
| Read the story
| | In other news |
👉 Youth in the Regional District of Nanaimo who are between the ages of 12 and 18 will have free access to BC Transit starting Sept. 6, CHLY101.7 FM reports. Youth under the age of 12 can already ride on BC Transit at no cost. Those wanting to participate in the new fare-free youth transit program have to register and will receive a digital or physical pass.
👉 A weekly free food market operated by Loaves & Fishes opened this week at Vancouver Island University. The market will be available every Monday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Windsor Plywood Trades Discovery Centre (Building 108) and is open to anyone once they register. Proof of address or income is not required, but individuals must bring photo I.D. for each family member they are collecting food on behalf of.
👉 Seniors, caregivers, family members and organizations that support older adults are invited to participate in a City of Nanaimo survey to help shape a Seniors Emergency Preparedness Information Guide. Residents can complete the survey online or on paper through community locations across the city. The survey is open until Oct. 1. Find more information here.
👉 The former South Wellington School officially opened as the South Wellington Community Centre last week, CHLY101.7 FM reports. The centre will provide programming and events and serve as a place of community connection.
| |
Be part of it! |
🎉 Keep an eye out for more posts about our reporters' extraordinary work at @thediscourse.ca on Bluesky. You can tap the bell on our profile to get a notification when we post a new story. Follow our journalists and sister publications in the Discourse Community Publishing network by clicking “follow all” in our Bluesky starter pack.
You can also now follow us on TikTok and YouTube.
Drop us a comment, message or quote post on any of these platforms. We’d love to see you there.
| |
What did you think of this newsletter? |
⭐ ⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
|
|
|
