Tamara Cunningham

The old Woodlands Secondary School site. Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools is ready to create a new 10-year facilities plan. FILE PHOTO

Nanaimo school district to craft new facilities plan

Options to be considered include consolidations, renovations, additions or new schools

The old Woodlands Secondary School site. Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools is ready to create a new 10-year facilities plan. FILE PHOTO
Rock City Elementary student Emmitt Giesbrecht, front, gets a kick out of his beats during a workshop on digital music, as classmates Kyle Fisher, left, Lauren Churko and Ruby Gress work on their own tunes. The class was part of Best Buy Canada’s Geek Squad Academy, which came to Vancouver Island for the first time on Tuesday. TAMARA CUNNINGHAM/News Bulletin

Nanaimo students get lesson in technology

Best Buy Canada's Geek Squad Academy stops at Rock City Elementary in first Island visit

Rock City Elementary student Emmitt Giesbrecht, front, gets a kick out of his beats during a workshop on digital music, as classmates Kyle Fisher, left, Lauren Churko and Ruby Gress work on their own tunes. The class was part of Best Buy Canada’s Geek Squad Academy, which came to Vancouver Island for the first time on Tuesday. TAMARA CUNNINGHAM/News Bulletin
Kristen Atwell-Pope, neurologist, left, Amber Holden, MS nurse clinician and clinic coordinator, and Samantha O’Niell-Edgar, patient, do a trial run of the TeleMS program at a new clinic location at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital on Thursday. The Nanaimo clinic will begin doing actual consultations this week. (CHRIS BUSH/The News Bulletin)

MS telehealth clinic opens its doors in Nanaimo

Satellite clinic considered first of its kind in Canada

Kristen Atwell-Pope, neurologist, left, Amber Holden, MS nurse clinician and clinic coordinator, and Samantha O’Niell-Edgar, patient, do a trial run of the TeleMS program at a new clinic location at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital on Thursday. The Nanaimo clinic will begin doing actual consultations this week. (CHRIS BUSH/The News Bulletin)
Kristen Atwell-Pope, neurologist, left, Amber Holden, MS nurse clinician and clinic coordinator, and Samantha O’Niell-Edgar, patient, do a trial run of the TeleMS program at a new clinic location at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital on Thursday. The Nanaimo clinic will begin doing actual consultations this week. (CHRIS BUSH/The News Bulletin)

MS telehealth clinic provides satellite services for mid, north Island

Clinic based out of Nanaimo Regional General Hospital

Kristen Atwell-Pope, neurologist, left, Amber Holden, MS nurse clinician and clinic coordinator, and Samantha O’Niell-Edgar, patient, do a trial run of the TeleMS program at a new clinic location at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital on Thursday. The Nanaimo clinic will begin doing actual consultations this week. (CHRIS BUSH/The News Bulletin)
Amos Harris and Isaiah Harris are enrolled in a Ladysmith Secondary School class that’s all about culture and the Hul’qumi’num language. CHRIS BUSH/News Bulletin

Class work one way to preserve indigenous language

Nanaimo hosts first-ever language symposium later this spring

Amos Harris and Isaiah Harris are enrolled in a Ladysmith Secondary School class that’s all about culture and the Hul’qumi’num language. CHRIS BUSH/News Bulletin
Denese Ferris, left, waits for a pour as Terri Wolhfarth, volunteer coordinator at Eden Gardens, fills cups and hands out treats at the care facility’s bistro. More volunteers are needed to open the bistro more often. TAMARA CUNNINGHAM/News Bulletin

Eden Gardens looks to boost its array of volunteers

Dementia care facility marks its first year open

Denese Ferris, left, waits for a pour as Terri Wolhfarth, volunteer coordinator at Eden Gardens, fills cups and hands out treats at the care facility’s bistro. More volunteers are needed to open the bistro more often. TAMARA CUNNINGHAM/News Bulletin
Cadence Manson, 16 (left), Claire Little, 18, Sarah Dixon, 18, and Trent Jack, 19 are four of 12 members of the new Nanaimo Youth Advisory Council, a group that’s looking to make life better for youth in care. TAMARA CUNNINGHAM/News Bulletin

Youth in care advocate for change

New youth advisory committee gets to work in Nanaimo

Cadence Manson, 16 (left), Claire Little, 18, Sarah Dixon, 18, and Trent Jack, 19 are four of 12 members of the new Nanaimo Youth Advisory Council, a group that’s looking to make life better for youth in care. TAMARA CUNNINGHAM/News Bulletin
Pills found circulating in Terrace, B.C., last year. Nanaimo school district is considering measures to help with substance misuse after a spike in students using Xanax or a Xanax-like drug earlier this year. BLACK PRESS file photo

School district considers new position, drug concerns raised

Assistant superintendent confirms spike in use of a Xanax-like drug in schools earlier this year

Pills found circulating in Terrace, B.C., last year. Nanaimo school district is considering measures to help with substance misuse after a spike in students using Xanax or a Xanax-like drug earlier this year. BLACK PRESS file photo
Nanaimo school district has proposed more than $4 million in budget initiatives for next year. FILE PHOTO

School district changes mind, won’t cut community school coordinators

Budget initiatives proposed for next school year

Nanaimo school district has proposed more than $4 million in budget initiatives for next year. FILE PHOTO
Mckenna Wagner, 12, Taya Hleck, 10 and Riley Paugh, 6, helped plant a new indigenous garden at Forest Park Elementary School. TAMARA CUNNINGHAM/News Bulletin

Students celebrate new indigenous garden

Garden teaches students about traditional uses of local plants

Mckenna Wagner, 12, Taya Hleck, 10 and Riley Paugh, 6, helped plant a new indigenous garden at Forest Park Elementary School. TAMARA CUNNINGHAM/News Bulletin
Rob Lawrance, City of Nanaimo environmental planner, said a natural capital study put Buttertubs Marsh in the context of a physical utility asset. TAMARA CUNNINGHAM/The News Bulletin

Nanaimo adds up the value of natural infrastructure

Environmental assets have dollar value, study finds

Rob Lawrance, City of Nanaimo environmental planner, said a natural capital study put Buttertubs Marsh in the context of a physical utility asset. TAMARA CUNNINGHAM/The News Bulletin
All a-buzz about Earth Day. Basia Henoch; community school coordinator; left; Jaimie Smythe; event ambassador; Michael Geselbracht of the Mid-Island Community Development Cooperative and Chris Brown; Earth Day event coordinator are getting everything ready for Earth Day 2018, a celebration of home, community and the environment at John Barsby Secondary School. (CHRIS BUSH/The News Bulletin)

Nanaimo can get together to celebrate Earth Day

Farmers, artisans, honeybees, baby goats RSVP for party Saturday, April 21, a day before Earth Day

All a-buzz about Earth Day. Basia Henoch; community school coordinator; left; Jaimie Smythe; event ambassador; Michael Geselbracht of the Mid-Island Community Development Cooperative and Chris Brown; Earth Day event coordinator are getting everything ready for Earth Day 2018, a celebration of home, community and the environment at John Barsby Secondary School. (CHRIS BUSH/The News Bulletin)
The City of Nanaimo, Nanaimo school district and Island Health are working on a concept for a youth medical clinic at Nanaimo Aquatic Centre. FILE PHOTO

City explores youth medical clinic at aquatic centre

City of Nanaimo, Island Health, school district looking at concepts for a youth health hub

The City of Nanaimo, Nanaimo school district and Island Health are working on a concept for a youth medical clinic at Nanaimo Aquatic Centre. FILE PHOTO
A new bus route for Rutherford students heading to Frank J. Ney next year has been recommended to the school board. FILE PHOTO

New school bus route for Rutherford kids gains traction

School committee supports bus route between Rutherford and Frank J. Ney schools for one year

A new bus route for Rutherford students heading to Frank J. Ney next year has been recommended to the school board. FILE PHOTO
Erralyn Thomas, president of Petroglyph Development Group, shows the vision for a longhouse on Saysutshun, or Newcastle Island. A vision for the marine park was unveiled Friday by the economic development group for the Snuneymuxw First Nation. (TAMARA CUNNINGHAM/News Bulletin)

VIDEO: Snuneymuxw First Nation unveils $6M vision for Newcastle Island

Vision for island near Nanaimo includes restaurant with Snuneymuxw-inspired fare, artisans village

Erralyn Thomas, president of Petroglyph Development Group, shows the vision for a longhouse on Saysutshun, or Newcastle Island. A vision for the marine park was unveiled Friday by the economic development group for the Snuneymuxw First Nation. (TAMARA CUNNINGHAM/News Bulletin)
Wellington Secondary School principal Chad Lintott says the response from families to new electronic report cards has been positive. The school is testing out the e-report cards, which will be available to all secondary schools in the fall. TAMARA CUNNINGHAM/News Bulletin

Online report cards being tested at Nanaimo high school

System anticipated to be rolled out at all secondary schools in the district in the fall

Wellington Secondary School principal Chad Lintott says the response from families to new electronic report cards has been positive. The school is testing out the e-report cards, which will be available to all secondary schools in the fall. TAMARA CUNNINGHAM/News Bulletin
Snuneymuxw First Nation and Petroglyph Development Group will reveal a business plan for Newcastle Island, also called Saysutshun, on Friday.

Plans being put forward for Newcastle Island

Snuneymuxw First Nation will launch business plan and reveal images of proposals for Saysutshun

Snuneymuxw First Nation and Petroglyph Development Group will reveal a business plan for Newcastle Island, also called Saysutshun, on Friday.
Nanaimo school district on the hunt for more substitute teachers.

Nanaimo school district challenged to fill substitute teacher list

Principals, vice-principals and support teachers taking on additional duties

Nanaimo school district on the hunt for more substitute teachers.
Lynn Macaulay, early childhood educator with Nanaimo Parent Participation Pre-school and Amanda Francis, president of NPPP, have some fun with Francis’s two children, George, 4, and Evelyn, 1. The preschool is searching for a new location with its current home at Brechin United Church poised for redevelopment. TAMARA CUNNINGHAM/News Bulletin

Redevelopment plans push out preschool

Nanaimo Parent Participation Preschool scrambles to find new location

Lynn Macaulay, early childhood educator with Nanaimo Parent Participation Pre-school and Amanda Francis, president of NPPP, have some fun with Francis’s two children, George, 4, and Evelyn, 1. The preschool is searching for a new location with its current home at Brechin United Church poised for redevelopment. TAMARA CUNNINGHAM/News Bulletin
Daryl West, general manager of the Coast Bastion Hotel, shows four of six hives that are housing the hotel’s new guests – 60,000 New Zealand honeybees. The hotel is hosting the honeybees as part of a larger efforts around environmental stewardship. TAMARA CUNNINGHAM/News Bulletin

60,000 bees check in at Nanaimo hotel

Coast Bastion Hotel has six rooftop hives

Daryl West, general manager of the Coast Bastion Hotel, shows four of six hives that are housing the hotel’s new guests – 60,000 New Zealand honeybees. The hotel is hosting the honeybees as part of a larger efforts around environmental stewardship. TAMARA CUNNINGHAM/News Bulletin