NANAIMO - Student athletes at Vancouver Island University have been recognized for their hard work on the field, in the gym and in the classroom.A dozen VIU Mariners were named CCAA academic All-Canadians for 2024-25. The All-Canadian designation is based on earning an honours grade point average plus a conference or p...

NANAIMO - Spring soccer programming for Nanaimo United has wrapped up and summer sessions are now ramping up. For U-8 to U-18 athletes academy and five-a-side play is set to begin Tuesday, June 17, while the other main summer offering is summer camps which run from July 7 to Aug. 15 for kids U-6 to U-11. United technic...

NANAIMO - One of the important events on the Nanaimo Ultimate Association calendar took place on June 7 at the Bowen west field.The annual Art Hawkins Great Canadian Ultimate game is a fundraiser that supports the growth, development and inclusivity of ultimate in Canada.Co-organizer Shayne Pfeifer said it was extra sp...

NANAIMO - A pair of local athletes who won Gold at the Paris Olympics and Paralympics, have continued their world-beating performances. Ethan Katzberg, a Nanaimo-born hammer thrower now living in Kamloops, won his fifth straight event in the world athletics circuit on Wednesday, June 11, at a competition in Oslo, Norwa...

NANAIMO - Several athletes from VIP Gymsports performed well at the recent Canadian Gymnastics Championships and Western Canada Cup events. VIP trampoline head coach Megan Conway said she was extremely proud of everyone's achievements. "Our team has worked hard to make changes and upgrades that have led to our suc...

PARKSVILLE - She conquered the track and the court during a glittering athletic career, and now a local athlete is being recognized at the highest level.Michelle Stilwell, a multi-time Paralympic gold medalist in athletics and wheelchair basketball, was named to Canada's sports hall of fame on Tuesday, June 3, by way o...

NANAIMO - Gary Dorland is being remembered as a tireless volunteer, a former fire chief and the heartbeat of countless local sports teams.Dorland passed away at the age of 68, between Sunday, June 1 and Monday, June 2, after a long-running health battle, leaving behind a legacy of unwavering support and volunteerism wi...

NANAIMO - Clubs across the country, including Nanaimo, are celebrating National Come and Try Rowing Day on Saturday, June 7. Anyone interested in rowing can come to a free session at Long Lake. Nanaimo Rowing Club secretary Kiersten Mort said no experience is required. "June is the perfect month to discover rowing...

PARKSVILLE - It's taken almost two decades from the inspiration to near completion, but the Oceanside community will soon be able to run on its brand new community track. The six-lane, rubberized Oceanside Community Track at Ballenas Secondary School in Parksville is getting the lines painted this week and will soon be...

NAIROBI, KENYA - It's another accolade for Nanaimo-born hammer thrower Ethan Katzberg.The reigning Olympic gold medalist added to his trophy cabinet with gold at the Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi, Kenya on Saturday, May 31.The 23-year-old Katzberg won the men's title with a throw of 82.73 metres. Croatia's Matija Gregur...

NANAIMO - An extended lawn bowling tournament is taking place this weekend, all to help support a local school lunch program.The Nanaimo Lawn Bowling Club (NLBC) is hosting the 12 Hour Lawn Bowling Marathon this Sunday, June 1, at the Bowen Park Lawn Bowling Club, located in the middle of the park.Event coordinator Bru...

NANAIMO - After solid growth over the last few years, the Nanaimo NightOwls hope season four represents a big breakthrough year for the West Coast League club. The team opens up their new season at home on Friday, May 30, hosting Bellingham at Serauxmen Stadium, with a first pitch scheduled for 6:35 p.m. New head coach...

NANAIMO -The annual Elwood Wylie meet was a large success with over 450 athletes from ages nine to 80 plus.Nanaimo Track and Field Club (NTFC) head coach and spokesperson Wanda Urbanowicz said it was one of the best meets they've held."The weather helped and the conditions were ideal. We had track rascals events, ...

NANAIMO - Arenas across the city are switching from ice to the dry floor for box lacrosse. All of the local senior and junior Timbermen teams are underway in their seasons with the highest level team, the WLA Timbermen, starting with a 12-9 road loss in New Westminster on Thursday, May 22. After a 6-11-1 campaign in 20...

NANAIMO - A pair of local power lifters will head to Norway to compete at the World Bench Press Championship.Tyler Ollech will compete as a junior and Margot Croft in masters.Both finished first in their categories at the Canadian Championship in March.Ollech has only been competing since 2023 but is feeling well prepa...

NANAIMO - Part two of the Vancouver Island Motocross series is the first Nanaimo race in 2025.Nanaimo Motocross Association president Darryl Lenko said the two day event begins with registration and a practice early in the morning of May 10."The practice concludes around noon. Moto starts between 12:30 pm and 1 p....

NANAIMO - The first tournament of the season at the Nanaimo Lawn Bowling Club is a mixed triples event.On May 3-4 there will be 16 teams from the north island on the greens.Nanaimo club president Ian Yewer said triples is the most commonly played version of lawn bowling."We invite players from Port Alberni, Courte...

NANAIMO - A pair of Nanaimo Gymnastics School students had impressive showings with Team BC at the Western Canadian Artistic Gymnastics Championship.Coach Tracy Welbourn said Abi Harris and Blake Fudge had amazing performances at the Thursday, April 24 through Saturday, April 26 event in Saskatoon."I am so proud o...

NANAIMO - The Hornets rugby program is preparing for a pair of BC semifinals on home field. On Saturday, April 26, the Division 2 women and Division 1 men will play their final matches at Pioneer Park. Club president Brad Marshall said it's an extremely rare feat. "I'm pretty excited. It's the first time I can rem...

NANAIMO - For the first time in recent memory, a high level table tennis tournament came to the Harbour City.Around 70 players contested three different divisions at Randerson Elementary School on Saturday, April 19, with players from across Nanaimo, Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland participating.Co-organizer Er...

NANAIMO - Despite the Clippers untimely first round exit from the BC Hockey League playoffs, games will continue at Frank Crane Arena. Refrigeration issues impacting the Alberni Valley Multiplex ice surface is forcing the Alberni Valley Bulldogs to relocate their second round series home games against the Chilliwack Ch...

NANAIMO - A total of 14 athletes from VIP Gymsports performed well at the recent Artistic and Trampoline Gymnastics B.C. Championships in Surrey. Held April 4-6, the event drew over 800 athletes, coaches and judges from across the province and the Yukon. VIP Gymsports is in it's fourth year as a club and coach Megan Co...

SNAW-NAW-AS - The U13 and U17 Snaw-naw-as Sawbills basketball teams made their first ever appearance at the Junior All Native basketball tournament in Kelowna.Over 100 teams took part with some larger nations having multiple teams.The smaller Snaw-naw-as nation drew some players from nearby communities according to Nat...

NANAIMO - Just over a month after the 20th annual Nanaimo Sport Achievement Award ceremony the awards committee is accepting applications for the athlete assistance program.Recipients will receive funding for their high performance competition.Previous athletes who have benefitted from the program include Olympians Eth...

NANAIMO - The Mid Island Pirates have had a hectic start to their season.A spring training trip to Florida saw the team return to Vancouver Island on Mar. 29, just one day before an opening day double header in Parksville.Coach Pete Entwistle was proud of his team's effort despite a difficult travel schedule."The ...

NANAIMO - Matthew Wood has signed his first NHL contract. The local minor hockey product put pen to paper on a three-year, entry-level contract with the Nashville Predators on Saturday, March 29. For days when Wood is with the Predators, he'll earn $950,000 per year, however, his salary in the American Hockey League is...

NANAIMO - For the second time in four years the VIU Mariners will host a CCAA basketball national tournament.In 2022 it was the women's nationals that ended with a silver medal finish for the university, now the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association has awarded the Mariners the 2026 men's nationals.The tournament wi...

NANAIMO - The VI Raiders made major strides in 2024 and the expectation is progress even further this upcoming season.After an 0-10 campaign in 2023 the Raiders finished 4-6 last year.Head coach Shawn Arabsky was encourage by the results especially late in the season."Last year was definitely a step forward for th...