Tamara Cunningham

John Bars-Bee Garden Club co-chairs Cohen Inglis and Hope Stewart show off their Bee City School certification with school garden facilitator Christopher Brown and sponsor teacher Janet Nelson. The school is the first in B.C. to be named a Bee City School for its commitment to enhance pollinator habitat and help elementary students learn to be environmental stewards. TAMARA CUNNINGHAM/News Bulletin

Student club buzzing about bees

John Barsby first Bee City School in B.C.

John Bars-Bee Garden Club co-chairs Cohen Inglis and Hope Stewart show off their Bee City School certification with school garden facilitator Christopher Brown and sponsor teacher Janet Nelson. The school is the first in B.C. to be named a Bee City School for its commitment to enhance pollinator habitat and help elementary students learn to be environmental stewards. TAMARA CUNNINGHAM/News Bulletin
April Ringma and her children Ian, 9, and Raylyn, 6, are among families who are facing a lack of before- and after-school care program vacancies at schools the children will attend after Rutherford Elementary School closes in June. CHRIS BUSH/The News Bulletin

Before- and after-school care filled up in north Nanaimo

Randerson Ridge, McGirr, Frank J. Ney schools have wait-lists for on-site care

April Ringma and her children Ian, 9, and Raylyn, 6, are among families who are facing a lack of before- and after-school care program vacancies at schools the children will attend after Rutherford Elementary School closes in June. CHRIS BUSH/The News Bulletin
Modular classrooms at Victoria’s École Willows School that were locally designed and built. Keri Coles/Oak Bay News

School district will look into building its own portables

Business committee recommends investigating viability of in-house construction of 'learning studios'

Modular classrooms at Victoria’s École Willows School that were locally designed and built. Keri Coles/Oak Bay News
Island Ferries has announced it will enter the next phase of a process to get a berth at the Vancouver SeaBus terminal. (NEWS BULLETIN file photo)

Island Ferries announces next step in bid to dock at SeaBus terminal

Foot-ferry company says it plans to start up service this summer

Island Ferries has announced it will enter the next phase of a process to get a berth at the Vancouver SeaBus terminal. (NEWS BULLETIN file photo)
Ron and Barbara Haines, of Nanoose, look through a recipe book that Barbara uses to remember how to make certain meals. She was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s four years ago. TAMARA CUNNINGHAM/News Bulletin

New campaign combats stigma about dementia

Four years after Alzheimer's diagnosis, Barbara Haines is 'quite happy'

Ron and Barbara Haines, of Nanoose, look through a recipe book that Barbara uses to remember how to make certain meals. She was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s four years ago. TAMARA CUNNINGHAM/News Bulletin
School bus route changes considered in Nanaimo, Ladysmith

School bus route changes considered in Nanaimo, Ladysmith

First bus route review released by Nanaimo school district

School bus route changes considered in Nanaimo, Ladysmith
John Barsby Secondary School is one of several Nanaimo schools under hold-and-secure today, Jan. 18, after a student threatened self-harm. (News Bulletin photo)

UPDATE: Hold-and-secure lifted after Nanaimo RCMP locate student who threatened self-harm

Eight schools were under hold-and-secure orders after possible threat Thursday, Jan. 18

John Barsby Secondary School is one of several Nanaimo schools under hold-and-secure today, Jan. 18, after a student threatened self-harm. (News Bulletin photo)
City council considers aid for advocacy group

City council considers aid for advocacy group

Nanaimo Citizen Advocacy Association asks city council for $10K

City council considers aid for advocacy group
File photo/News Bulletin

Mediators appointed to help address issues in IHealth review

B.C. health minister appoints Jane Morley and Jean Greatbatch as mediators

File photo/News Bulletin
Melissa Stephens, Vancouver Island University Faculty Association Status of Women chairwoman, left, Deborah Hollins, Nanaimo Family Life Association executive director and Sonnet L’Abbé, last year’s march organizer, are helping Nanaimo Women March On gain traction. The march is Saturday, Jan. 20. (CHRIS BUSH/The News Bulletin)

Nanaimo marches for women’s rights

Nanaimo Women March On happens Saturday, Jan. 20

Melissa Stephens, Vancouver Island University Faculty Association Status of Women chairwoman, left, Deborah Hollins, Nanaimo Family Life Association executive director and Sonnet L’Abbé, last year’s march organizer, are helping Nanaimo Women March On gain traction. The march is Saturday, Jan. 20. (CHRIS BUSH/The News Bulletin)
Alia Johnston, one of three new volunteer baby huggers at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, holds Isabella, a two-month old baby who was born addicted to substances. TAMARA CUNNINGHAM/News Bulletin

Nanaimo hospital program ensures babies get enough hugs

Huggies' No Baby Unhugged program has launched at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital

Alia Johnston, one of three new volunteer baby huggers at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, holds Isabella, a two-month old baby who was born addicted to substances. TAMARA CUNNINGHAM/News Bulletin
Flu outbreak hits NRGH

Flu outbreak hits NRGH

Nanaimo hospital is over capacity and seeing higher volumes of people coming into emergency room

Flu outbreak hits NRGH
Donna Lee Criss is on a 31-day challenge to buy nothing but fuel. It’s an effort to use what’s already in her home.TAMARA CUNNINGHAM/News Bulletin

Nanaimo resident plans to buy nothing during ‘apocalypse month’

Donna Lee Criss plans to use what's already in her home during month-long challenge

Donna Lee Criss is on a 31-day challenge to buy nothing but fuel. It’s an effort to use what’s already in her home.TAMARA CUNNINGHAM/News Bulletin
Susan Carlson, vice-president of the Nanaimo Citizen Advocacy Association, executive director Deanna Ward and president Pam Pady are seeking a city grant and community donations with the association in a “desperate” financial situation. TAMARA CUNNINGHAM/News Bulletin

Advocacy association faces cash crisis

Nanaimo Citizen Advocacy Association seeks city grant and donations

Susan Carlson, vice-president of the Nanaimo Citizen Advocacy Association, executive director Deanna Ward and president Pam Pady are seeking a city grant and community donations with the association in a “desperate” financial situation. TAMARA CUNNINGHAM/News Bulletin
Nanaimo school district superintendent John Blain looks back at 2017; a year that involved acting on a Supreme Court decision, new artificial turf field and steps towards reconciliation.

Superintendent looks ahead to 2018 projects

Nanaimo school superintendent John Blain heads into last few months on the job

Nanaimo school district superintendent John Blain looks back at 2017; a year that involved acting on a Supreme Court decision, new artificial turf field and steps towards reconciliation.
A property at 7600 Harby Rd. in Lantzville is one of the top-five highest-assessed residential properties in the area. (NEWS BULLETIN photo)

Lantzville dominates list of area’s highest-valued residential properties

Increases coming in this year's property assessments

A property at 7600 Harby Rd. in Lantzville is one of the top-five highest-assessed residential properties in the area. (NEWS BULLETIN photo)
Parents Paige Playford and Bryce Taylor and daughter Mazy with newborn Chase Luca Taylor, the New Year’s baby for Nanaimo and Vancouver Island for 2018. (TAMARA CUNNINGHAM/The News Bulletin)

Meet Vancouver Island’s first baby

Chase Luca Taylor is the first baby of 2018 for Nanaimo and Vancouver Island

Parents Paige Playford and Bryce Taylor and daughter Mazy with newborn Chase Luca Taylor, the New Year’s baby for Nanaimo and Vancouver Island for 2018. (TAMARA CUNNINGHAM/The News Bulletin)
The Nanaimo Division of Family Practice is collecting surveys on maternity care from new mothers. STOCK PHOTO

New survey asks mid Island women about maternity care

Nanaimo Division of Family Practice conducts survey as part of greater provincial initiative

The Nanaimo Division of Family Practice is collecting surveys on maternity care from new mothers. STOCK PHOTO
Cpl. Brigitte Goguen is Nanaimo RCMP’s new mental health liaison officer. The position is in response to a growing number of mental health-related calls, which have gone from 1,313 in 2014 to 2,224 last year. CHRIS BUSH/News Bulletin

New RCMP position a response to a rise in mental health calls

Cpl. Brigitte Goguen is the detachment's mental health liaison officer

Cpl. Brigitte Goguen is Nanaimo RCMP’s new mental health liaison officer. The position is in response to a growing number of mental health-related calls, which have gone from 1,313 in 2014 to 2,224 last year. CHRIS BUSH/News Bulletin
A threat was discovered at NDSS. The school is open today, Dec. 22, but there is heightened security. (CHRIS BUSH/The News Bulletin)

Heightened security at NDSS after threat found

Second Nanaimo school to get threat in week

A threat was discovered at NDSS. The school is open today, Dec. 22, but there is heightened security. (CHRIS BUSH/The News Bulletin)