Author: Amelia James

Parksville-Qualicum Beach BC SPCA reported caring for 43 stray and surrendered animals from Parksville city limits in 2025. Of these, 25 were strays, while the rest were surrendered by owners, centre manager Janelle Hill told Parksville council on October 6. “Stray animals also include abandoned animals,” Hill noted, highlighting the overlap in the statistics. The top reason for surrendering pets is financial difficulty. Many owners cannot cover veterinary costs or other necessary expenses, forcing them to make the hard decision to give up their animals. “A lot of people are surrendering their pets because they can’t afford the vet care…

A truck fire near Parksville caused temporary closures on the Island Highway on August 13, prompting a swift emergency response. Parksville Fire Rescue reported that a diesel-powered pickup truck caught fire about 200 metres north of the Exit 46 overpass. Fire Chief Marc Norris said the vehicle had stalled and would not restart, causing smoke to emerge from the engine compartment. “The three occupants exited the vehicle and removed their belongings, shortly after which the engine and passenger compartments were fully engulfed in flames,” Norris said. No injuries were reported. Emergency crews shut down the northbound lanes and the on-ramp…

A major development proposal in Parksville, which includes a large grocery store on Resort Drive, will now move to a public hearing after council voted in favor during its Sept. 3 meeting. The hearing is scheduled for Oct. 20 and will give residents the chance to share their views before council makes a final decision. The plan, submitted by Primex Investments, involves a mixed-use project with both commercial and residential components on a site at 1180 Resort Drive, next to the Island Highway. The developer is seeking amendments that would allow subdivision of a large parcel of land, with density…

A deadly fire in Parksville claimed the life of one person on Saturday, June 28. Parksville Fire Rescue responded to a fire at a mobile home park on Corfield Street North just before 7 p.m., according to Assistant Fire Chief Cam Cruickshank. Firefighters arriving at the scene faced thick smoke, prompting additional 911 calls from concerned neighbors. “When our duty officer arrived, he found a mobile home with flames coming from multiple windows, and fire spreading to another home to the east,” Cruickshank said. The first crews quickly worked to extinguish both the main fire and the fire that had…

A Parksville truck fire temporarily closed the Island Highway on August 13, halting traffic near Exit 46. Emergency crews responded quickly to a diesel-powered pickup truck engulfed in flames about 200 metres north of the overpass. Fire Chief Marc Norris said the incident began when the truck stalled and would not restart. Smoke emerged from the engine compartment, prompting the driver and two passengers to exit safely. “The three occupants got out and removed their belongings. Soon after, the engine and then the passenger compartment were fully engulfed in flames,” Norris said. No injuries were reported, and all vehicle occupants…

The air quality in the Parksville Qualicum Beach area has dropped to poor levels as of Thursday morning due to smoke from the Mount Underwood wildfire near Port Alberni. According to Gail Roth, a senior air quality meteorologist with the Ministry of Environment and Parks, officials continuously monitor air quality during wildfire season to issue timely warnings to affected regions. “The air quality is quite poor in Parksville and Qualicum Beach,” Roth said. Smoke from the wildfire, which has been burning since Monday, has traveled roughly 100 kilometres to reach the area. The region’s geography can channel the smoke directly…

A truck fire near Parksville brought traffic to a standstill on the Island Highway on August 13, causing a temporary closure of northbound lanes. Emergency crews acted fast to contain the blaze and ensure the safety of motorists in the area. According to local fire officials, the incident happened about 200 metres north of the overpass at Exit 46. The vehicle involved was a diesel-powered pickup truck that had stalled and would not restart. Shortly after the breakdown, smoke began to rise from the engine compartment. The driver, who was traveling with two passengers, said they quickly exited the vehicle…

A cooperation deal between the B.C. NDP and Green Party has led to progress in select areas, but most actions remain in review stages. This was revealed in the second quarterly update shared by both parties on August 5 in Vancouver. The agreement, signed in March after being announced in December, allows the Green Party to support the NDP government on confidence votes and selected laws. In exchange, both parties work on shared goals and report updates every quarter. So far, only two items in the deal have led to real-world results. These include $75 million in expanded support for…

A life-sized sand sculpture of a smiling elephant in a bikini resting on a beach towel brought laughter and admiration at a popular sandcastle competition in Parksville. The artwork, called T.G.I.F., was created by View Royal artist Damon Langlois and won third place from the judges. More importantly, it earned the Sculptor’s Choice Award in the solo category — a recognition from fellow artists. Langlois shared that peer feedback means a lot to him. The feeling of support from others in the art community made the win even more meaningful. His journey into sand sculpting began in Victoria nearly 30…