Mini van destroyed by electrical fire

Several Gatacre Street residents were evacuated after a minivan burst into flames on the road and sent smoke billowing toward their homes. Ladysmith firefighters responded with two trucks to fight the blaze near the Trans-Canada Highway intersection. Fire Chief Ray Delcourt said thick smoke pouring from the burning van posed a safety... more

Swim club wades ahead of competition

Members of the Orcas Swim Club continue to show improvement, says the team’s coach. Dusan Toth-Szabo said the swimmers have improved their race times during the first five meets of the season. Last month, the Orcas hit the pool to compete... more

• Caps win nine in December

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Brave souls tackled the cold sea during the annual Pol

Brave souls tackled the cold sea during the annual Polar Bear Swim at Transfer Beach in Ladysmith on New Year’s Day. Photos by Stephen Thomson polar bear swim more

• Top: Swimmers race out of the icy water during the polar bear swim. Bottom: Fitness instructor P.J. Haliday leads swimmers through a warm-up routine before the big plunge.
• Nanaimo Kids are Santa’s Helpers

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An alternative to chemicals

An alternative to chemicals Travis Thomson, owner of Casbro Stump Grinding, offers an alternative to chemical stump removal. Travis Thomson has an alternative to dumping chemicals or fuel onto a tree stump to remove it from the ground. He is... more

• Are you committed to sustainability?
• Tips for a Safe Polar Bear Swim
• Carbon busting will take a million small steps

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It’s time for a new energy plan

Editor: In just three years Canadian forestry, manufacturing, and Alberta’s tarsands have gone from boom to bust. So what should the plan be now?  First, invest in renewable energy infrastructure. Multi-billion dollar investments in hydro, ground heating, and wind power will... more

• Letters
• A heartfelt thanks to the community, please come back next year

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TransLink car levy is on comeback trail

Was it only three years ago that transportation minister Kevin Falcon all but ruled out new driver taxes, such as a vehicle levy? How times change. Back then, in late 2005, the minister was crushing tentative suggestions from some gutsy mayors that... more

• War of the Words - Dec. 22
• War of the Words
• Coalitions, minority governments a rarity in Canada

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