Campfire Ban Lifted Across Vancouver Island, But Some Local Restrictions Remain

by | Sep 3, 2026 19:24 | Local

VANCOUVER ISLAND, B.C. — Campfires are once again permitted across the Coastal Fire Centre as wildfire conditions improve, but residents and visitors are being reminded that the lifting of the provincial ban does not necessarily mean every community has reopened outdoor burning.

The BC Wildfire Service lifted its Category 1 campfire prohibition at noon on Thursday, September 3, covering the entire Coastal Fire Centre, including Vancouver Island. The decision follows recent rainfall and cooler fall conditions that have reduced wildfire danger across much of the region.

The change will come as welcome news to campers and residents hoping to enjoy a late-season fire.

Campfires are allowed — but bigger fires aren’t

While Category 1 campfires are now permitted under the Coastal Fire Centre’s rules, Category 2 and Category 3 open fires remain prohibited throughout the region, with the exception of the Haida Gwaii Forest District.

Other prohibited activities and equipment include:

  • Fireworks

  • Binary exploding targets

  • Burn barrels and burn cages

  • Controlled-air incinerators

  • Air curtain burners

  • Carbonizers

The restrictions are intended to limit the potential for human-caused wildfires as B.C. moves into the fall season.

Local fire bans can still apply

The provincial announcement does not override restrictions imposed by individual municipalities, parks or other authorities.

That distinction is particularly important on Vancouver Island, where fire conditions can vary considerably from one community to another.

For example, Sooke’s campfire prohibition remains in effect despite the Coastal Fire Centre lifting its Category 1 restriction. The District says local fire danger remains high to extreme and that recent rainfall was not sufficient to reduce the risk enough to lift its municipal prohibition.

Metchosin has also kept its local campfire prohibition in place because of continued high to extreme fire danger.

Residents should therefore check their local fire department or municipal website before starting a fire.

What about Campbell River and North Island communities?

In Campbell River, recreational fires are permitted subject to the city’s local regulations.

The city’s rules allow recreational fires for cooking or providing heat when they are contained in an approved permanent outdoor fireplace, barbecue or fire pit no larger than 60 centimetres (24 inches) in diameter, or in a fully enclosed burner or similar device. A fire must be supervised and appropriate extinguishing equipment must be readily available.

Category 2 and Category 3 open fires remain prohibited.

The same principle applies throughout the North Island: provincial restrictions are only part of the picture. Local governments can impose additional restrictions when conditions in their communities warrant them.

Fire safety remains important

The end of the campfire prohibition does not mean wildfire season is necessarily over.

BC Wildfire Service says the decline in fire danger is the result of a combination of recent rainfall, shorter days, longer nights and cooler temperatures. However, officials continue to encourage caution whenever people use an outdoor fire.

Anyone having a campfire should:

  • Never leave it unattended

  • Avoid having a fire during windy conditions

  • Keep water and firefighting tools nearby

  • Keep the fire contained

  • Completely extinguish it before leaving

  • Check for any local restrictions before lighting it

A fire should be completely out and cool to the touch before it is left unattended.

Significant penalties remain for prohibited fires

The consequences for violating an active fire prohibition can be substantial.

A person found contravening an open-burning prohibition can receive a $1,150 violation ticket and may face an administrative penalty of up to $10,000.

If the matter goes to court, a conviction can result in a fine of up to $100,000 and/or up to one year in jail. Anyone whose prohibited fire causes or contributes to a wildfire may also be ordered to pay firefighting and associated costs.

Check before you light

For people across Vancouver Island, the return of campfires is a welcome sign that conditions are beginning to shift toward fall.

But the rules can differ between communities, and conditions can change quickly.

Before lighting a fire, residents should check the latest BC Wildfire Service restrictions as well as local municipal or fire-department rules for their specific location.

Wildfires, unattended campfires and open-burning violations can be reported to 1-800-663-5555 or *5555 from a cellphone.

Six Years in the Making: Four Points by Sheraton Finally Breaks Ground in Campbell River

by | Sep 2, 2026 23:33 | Local

We Wai Kai Nation’s 102-room hotel at Quinsam Crossing is now moving into construction, with an opening targeted for spring 2028

After years of planning, delays and a changing economic landscape, a long-awaited hotel project at Quinsam Crossing has finally reached a major milestone.

The Four Points by Sheraton Campbell River has officially broken ground, clearing the way for construction of a 102-room hotel that is expected to open in spring 2028.

The project is being developed and owned by We Wai Kai Nation at 200 Brant Drive, with Hotel Equities providing development services and expected to operate the property once it opens under Marriott International’s Four Points by Sheraton brand.

For Campbell River, the groundbreaking represents more than the arrival of another hotel.

It marks the latest step in the continuing development of Quinsam Crossing, an ambitious commercial area on We Wai Kai Nation lands that is increasingly becoming a gateway to Campbell River and a significant economic-development hub for the North Island.

A project six years in the making

The hotel has been a long time coming.

Hotel Equities first announced plans for the Four Points by Sheraton in March 2020. At the time, construction was expected to begin in the third quarter of that year.

The original announcement described the project as a new-build hotel owned and developed by We Wai Kai Nation, with Hotel Equities providing development services and taking responsibility for hotel operations once the property opened.

Then the world changed.

The announcement came just as the COVID-19 pandemic was beginning to disrupt travel, tourism, construction and investment across Canada.

The planned 2020 construction start did not happen.

Instead, the Four Points project remained in development for years before finally reaching the groundbreaking stage in July 2026.

The delay means the project has taken approximately six years to progress from its original public announcement to construction.

Now, however, the project has moved from planning to reality.

A 102-room hotel at Quinsam Crossing

The new hotel will be located at 200 Brant Drive, within the larger Quinsam Crossing development.

The 102-room property will carry the Four Points by Sheraton name, one of Marriott International’s hotel brands.

Hotel Equities will operate the hotel after completion, while We Wai Kai Nation will remain the owner and developer.

The development team includes Hotel Equities, Marriott International, Urban Design Group Architects and Ketza Pacific Contracting.

The construction involvement of local and regional companies could also mean that the economic impact begins well before the first guest checks into the hotel.

The project is expected to generate construction employment before creating ongoing positions once the hotel opens.

For We Wai Kai Nation, however, the longer-term objective goes beyond employment.

The Nation describes the hotel as an investment in its future and another component of its broader economic-development strategy.

Building economic independence

We Wai Kai Nation has been developing its economic interests on and around its Campbell River-area lands for years.

The Nation’s Quinsam Reserve is home to the Quinsam Crossing Economic Development Area, which includes existing commercial businesses and additional development planned for the future.

We Wai Kai describes Quinsam Crossing as a 60-acre gateway location adjacent to the Inland Island Highway and only minutes from downtown Campbell River and the Campbell River Airport.

The broader development is envisioned as a destination containing commercial and retail services, restaurants, community and recreational amenities and a hotel.

That makes the Four Points project particularly important.

It isn’t being built on an isolated parcel of land.

It is part of a larger strategy to turn Quinsam Crossing into a commercial destination serving Campbell River and the wider North Island.

The Nation says the development is intended to create opportunities for retail while becoming a highway gateway to the community.

The hotel fits directly into that vision.

A different kind of hotel project

There is also a significant Indigenous economic-development component to the project.

We Wai Kai Nation is not simply providing land for an outside hotel company.

The Nation owns and is developing the hotel, while bringing in experienced partners to handle the hospitality side of the business.

That distinction is important.

Once operating, the hotel is intended to provide an ongoing commercial revenue stream for the Nation while creating employment opportunities for its members.

Jason Wilson, We Wai Kai Nation’s director of economic development, described the groundbreaking as a milestone for everyone who had worked on the project.

He said the hotel represents an investment in the Nation’s future, with opportunities for economic growth, employment and long-term prosperity for members.

Chief Ronnie Chickite similarly described the development as an economic-development initiative intended to benefit both the Nation and the broader Campbell River and North Island communities.

The groundbreaking included a traditional ceremony

The official groundbreaking also reflected the cultural importance of the project.

The ceremony included a traditional Kwakwaka’wakw eagle down blessing ceremony, known as K’amk’amxwaliła.

Campbell River Mayor Kermit Dahl attended the event, along with Hereditary We Wai Kai Chief Yakawidi, also known as Shawn Decaire.

The cultural ceremony placed the construction milestone within the broader history and identity of We Wai Kai Nation.

For a project intended to generate economic benefits for generations to come, the ceremony also provided an opportunity to connect the new development with the Nation’s cultural traditions.

Campbell River’s hotel supply

The developers are also betting on continued demand for accommodation in Campbell River.

Hotel Equities senior vice-president Ryan McRae said Vancouver Island tourism demand has outpaced hotel supply for years, describing Campbell River as a clear example of the gap.

Marriott likewise identified the area’s outdoor recreation and marine tourism as important sources of visitor demand.

Campbell River occupies a strategic position on the east coast of Vancouver Island.

The city serves as a base for visitors travelling for fishing, boating, wildlife viewing and other outdoor activities, while also serving business and industrial traffic moving through the region.

Its position on Discovery Passage gives the community a particularly strong connection to marine tourism.

Adding 102 branded hotel rooms could therefore provide additional capacity during periods when accommodation demand is high.

It may also make Campbell River more attractive to visitors who prefer nationally recognized hotel brands when planning trips.

A changing Campbell River

The Four Points project is arriving at a time when Campbell River itself is changing.

New residential, commercial and infrastructure projects are reshaping portions of the community, while development continues both within the city and on neighbouring First Nations lands.

Quinsam Crossing is an important part of that growth.

The City of Campbell River recently approved a major sewer project intended in part to increase capacity and support future growth on We Wai Kai Nation lands, along Quinsam Road and throughout Campbellton. The project has a total budget of approximately $5.1 million.

That infrastructure investment illustrates the interconnected nature of development in the area.

As commercial and residential activity expands, supporting infrastructure becomes increasingly important.

The hotel is therefore arriving alongside a broader pattern of growth rather than as a standalone investment.

What’s next for the site?

With groundbreaking complete, attention now turns to construction.

The current target is an opening in spring 2028.

The project is expected to provide construction employment during the building phase and hospitality jobs after opening.

Hotel Equities will bring its hotel-management infrastructure to the project, including expertise in operations, revenue management, sales, food and beverage and talent development. The company currently operates hotels across several Canadian provinces.

For Marriott, the Campbell River property will add another Four Points location to its Canadian portfolio.

For We Wai Kai Nation, the implications are potentially much larger.

The hotel becomes another operating business within a broader portfolio of economic-development initiatives.

Part of a much bigger picture

The most important thing to understand about the Four Points project may be that the hotel isn’t the whole story.

Quinsam Crossing is being developed as a larger commercial destination.

We Wai Kai Nation’s plans call for a mix of commercial and retail services, restaurants and other amenities, with the development positioned to serve residents, travellers and businesses throughout the region.

Federal records have also described ongoing and planned development on the Quinsam Reserve, while the Nation has continued investing in infrastructure and amenities that support the area’s growth.

As additional pieces are completed, the character of the area around the Inland Island Highway could change significantly.

A hotel brings visitors.

Visitors create demand for restaurants, retail, transportation, recreation and other services.

And those businesses, in turn, can help make the commercial development more viable.

That is the economic-development model behind much of the investment taking place at Quinsam Crossing.

From a plan on paper to a construction site

Perhaps the most notable part of the Four Points announcement is simply that the project has finally reached this point.

When the hotel was first announced in 2020, construction was supposed to begin within months.

Six years later, the ceremonial groundbreaking has taken place.

There is still considerable work ahead before the first guests arrive, but the project has crossed the line that matters most in any major development: construction has begun.

If the current schedule holds, Campbell River will welcome the Four Points by Sheraton in spring 2028.

By then, the hotel will be joining a community that has continued to evolve during the six years since the project was first announced.

And for We Wai Kai Nation, the new building will represent more than 102 guest rooms.

It will be another piece of a long-term strategy to build economic capacity, create employment and establish lasting sources of revenue for future generations.

For Campbell River and the North Island, it will mean something more immediate: 102 additional hotel rooms, a new internationally recognized hotel brand and another major piece of the growing Quinsam Crossing commercial district.

After six years of waiting, the project is finally moving. Construction is underway.

New Lightning-Started Wildfires Raise Concern Near Sayward And North Island

by | Aug 16, 2026 06:00 | Local

A cluster of new wildfires has been reported across northern Vancouver Island, including several fires in the region north of Gold River and additional lightning-caused fires near Sayward.

Three new wildfires were discovered Friday evening in the Sayward area, contributing to a total of nine active wildfires reported across Vancouver Island at the time. The fires were believed to have been sparked by lightning during recent thunderstorms.

The new activity came just a day after four other small wildfires were discovered north of Gold River.

According to reports, the four fires north of Gold River were discovered Thursday, Aug. 13. Three were clustered in the area north of Gold Muchalat Park, while another was located between Gold Muchalat Park and Strathcona Provincial Park. Each was estimated at approximately 0.009 hectares.

All four Gold River-area fires were listed as out of control by the BC Wildfire Service. The fires were in relatively remote terrain, and wildfire crews and aircraft were being used to assess and respond to the new starts. Reports identified lightning as the suspected cause of the three fires in the Gold River area, while the cause of the fourth remained under investigation.

The concentration of new fires follows a period of thunderstorms and dry lightning across parts of Vancouver Island. While many of the newly reported fires remain very small, their locations in forested areas are being closely monitored because conditions remain favourable for fire growth.

The latest activity also adds to a growing number of fires being tracked across the Island. At the time of the reports, two other Vancouver Island wildfires were listed as being held, while the new starts near Gold River and elsewhere remained under active monitoring.

For residents in Sayward and surrounding communities, the developments are a reminder that lightning can create new wildfire starts well after a storm has passed. Smoke or a wildfire spotted in the backcountry should be reported promptly to the BC Wildfire Service.

The situation remains fluid, with wildfire conditions and fire status subject to change as crews assess the new incidents.

Three Arrested in Port McNeill Drug Trafficking Investigation After Drugs, Guns and More Than $100,000 Seized

by | Aug 13, 2026 18:32 | Local

Three people have been arrested following a drug-trafficking investigation in Port McNeill that resulted in the seizure of suspected illicit drugs, firearms, cash, contraband tobacco and vehicles.

The investigation was conducted by the Port McNeill RCMP in partnership with the Island District General Investigation Section (GIS). Police executed multiple search warrants at residences and vehicles in the North Island area as investigators gathered evidence related to suspected drug trafficking.

Among the items seized were more than $100,000 in cash, approximately one kilogram of suspected cocaine and significant quantities of suspected ketamine. Police also seized three firearms and more than 100 cartons of contraband tobacco, along with vehicles believed to be connected to the investigation.

Port McNeill RCMP Detachment Commander Sgt. Erin Stevenson described the seizures as a significant disruption to suspected drug-trafficking activity in the region. The combination of drugs, cash and firearms, police said, demonstrates the serious nature of the criminal activity under investigation.

Investigation Spanned the North Island

The investigation involved coordinated work between local RCMP officers and the Island District GIS, with search warrants carried out at multiple locations and involving vehicles connected to the investigation.

The arrests and seizures are part of ongoing efforts by police to identify and disrupt drug-trafficking networks operating in smaller communities across Vancouver Island.

Police have not indicated that charges have been finalized against the three people arrested. As the investigation continues, the circumstances surrounding the suspects and the seized property remain subject to the criminal justice process.

A Broader Pattern of Drug-Trafficking Investigations

The Port McNeill seizure follows other significant drug-trafficking investigations on Vancouver Island.

In February 2025, Port Alberni RCMP executed search warrants at two residences with assistance from the Emergency Response Team, Police Dog Services, BC Highway Patrol and the Integrated Impaired Driving Unit. Three Port Alberni residents—two men and one woman—were arrested, and police seized a large quantity of suspected illicit drugs, cash and contraband cigarettes. That investigation was separate from the current Port McNeill case.

More recently, a four-day police deployment on southern Vancouver Island in early 2026 involved the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of British Columbia working alongside West Shore RCMP, Saanich police and Victoria police. The operation generated more than 27 investigative files, resulted in seven arrests and led to the seizure of approximately $14,500 in cash and about one kilogram of suspected illicit drugs, including fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine.

The latest Port McNeill investigation adds another significant seizure to that broader picture, with more than $100,000 in cash and multiple firearms recovered alongside suspected drugs.

For North Island communities, the investigation is another reminder that organized drug trafficking is not limited to major urban centres. Police continue to rely on investigations, search warrants and cooperation between specialized units to identify those believed to be involved in the distribution of illicit drugs.

The Port McNeill investigation remains ongoing.

Saanich Woman Missing Near Woss For Two Weeks Found Safe

by | Aug 11, 2026 08:14 | Local

A 32-year-old Saanich woman who had been missing for more than two weeks has been found safe near Woss Lake, after searchers received reports that she may have been seen at a local boat launch.

Taisia Verbitchi was located Sunday on the eastern shore of Woss Lake, about five kilometres from the Woss Lake Campground, according to Campbell River Search and Rescue manager Daryl Beck.

Search crews had initially focused on the eastern side of the lake after Verbitchi was dropped off in the area on July 22.

She was last known to have been walking away from a forest service road carrying a backpack with a sleeping mat attached to the side. Verbitchi had reportedly told others she planned to camp with friends on the west side of Woss Lake, north of Woss Lake Park.

Saanich police issued a public appeal for information Friday after Verbitchi was reported missing.

The following day, about 15 search-and-rescue members searched trails and shoreline areas near where she was last seen.

Crews used ATVs, side-by-sides, search dogs and drones, while police conducted an aerial search of the lake.

According to Beck, RCMP asked search crews to stand down around 5 p.m. Saturday, although police continued searching the following day.

Verbitchi was eventually spotted from a boat by a conservation officer on Sunday. Beck said she was found roughly five kilometres from the Woss Lake Campground along the eastern shoreline.

“Somehow, she got from the west side of the lake where she was last seen to the east side,” Beck said.

Beck added that she was located about one kilometre outside one of the search zones that crews had planned for the eastern side of the lake.

Members of the Woss community had previously reported possible sightings of Verbitchi near a boat launch, although it remains unclear how she travelled to the remote area where she was found.

Verbitchi’s mother, Aliona Verbitchi, who lives in Alberta, said she is grateful to everyone who helped in the effort to locate her daughter.

Online News Act Leaves Rural Canadians Without Reliable Wildfire Information

by | Aug 8, 2026 21:25 | Local

A report submitted to the House of Commons heritage committee says the federal Online News Act contributed to a loss of credible local news on Facebook during wildfire emergencies, with rural communities particularly affected.

The study, conducted by researchers at the University of British Columbia, examined how the disappearance of Canadian news content from Facebook affected communities during wildfire events.

The report, When Good Intentions Cause Harm: The Online News Act, Meta’s News Ban And Public Safety During Wildfire Emergencies, focuses on several B.C. communities and looks at the impact of Meta’s decision to block Canadian news content from Facebook and Instagram.

The move followed the federal government’s passage of Bill C-18, also known as the Online News Act. The legislation was intended to require major digital platforms to negotiate compensation agreements with Canadian news organizations for news content shared on their services.

Meta opposed the legislation and subsequently blocked news content from its platforms in Canada.

According to the UBC researchers, the change had significant consequences in smaller and rural communities, where Facebook had become an important source of information during emergencies.

The researchers argued that the loss of local journalism was especially problematic during wildfires, when residents need timely and trustworthy information about evacuation orders, alerts, road closures and other developments.

“Rural B.C. communities lost access to credible journalism at the precise moment they needed it most,” the researchers wrote, arguing that the situation had implications for public safety, public trust and compliance with emergency directions.

The report found that the removal of professional news coverage did not result in Facebook becoming an information-free environment. Instead, posts from individuals continued to circulate, with researchers arguing that emotionally charged content could receive greater attention and contribute to anger, speculation and conspiracy theories.

Researchers attributed the information gap to several factors, including declining trust in institutions, social media algorithms and the loss of professional journalism from Facebook.

The report also raised concerns about the changing nature of mainstream wildfire coverage. With fewer local journalists available to provide on-the-ground reporting and established relationships with communities, news organizations were increasingly reliant on government agencies and other official sources.

According to the researchers, this could result in coverage that focused heavily on whether residents were following emergency instructions rather than documenting the experiences and concerns of people directly affected by wildfires.

The findings point to what researchers described as an unintended consequence of the Online News Act. While the legislation was intended to address the financial challenges facing Canadian journalism, particularly those created by changes in the digital advertising market, its implementation was followed by the removal of Canadian news from one of the country’s most widely used social media platforms.

The report has renewed discussion about the role of local journalism in rural communities and how residents receive critical information during emergencies.

The findings were first reported by Blacklock’s Reporter, an independent Canadian news organization that has opposed the Online News Act. The outlet has argued that the legislation represents federal intervention in Canada’s news market and says it did not seek or accept payments made available through the legislation.