Vancouver Island University student drowns in Nanaimo lake
Westwood Lake in Nanaimo is pictured. (CTV News)
Vancouver Island University is expressing its condolences after a student drowned at Westwood Lake in Nanaimo on Wednesday.
Paramedics took the student to hospital in serious condition after 8 p.m.
The BC Coroners Service is now investigating the person's death.
Meanwhile, VIU says it's offering supports to the school community and has been in contact with the student's family, who lives overseas.
"On behalf of the university, I want to offer my deepest and most heartfelt condolences to the student’s family, loved ones, their friends here at Vancouver Island University and abroad, and to everyone that knew and loved them," said VIU president and vice-chancellor, Dr. Deborah Saucier, in a statement Thursday.
"Our community shares your grief, and you are in our thoughts. As a parent and university president, I am heart-broken for your loss," she said.
The popular park spans 208 hectares, and is dubbed "Nanaimo's only lifeguard-patrolled fresh water swimming spot," from June to August, according to the city's website. The hours that lifeguards work are limited, however.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
FACT CHECK: A look at the false and misleading claims made during the Trump-Harris debate
In their first and perhaps only debate, former U.S. president Donald Trump and U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris described the state of the country in starkly different terms. As the two traded jabs, some old false and misleading claims emerged along with some new ones.
Key takeaways from a debate that featured tense clashes and closed with a Taylor Swift endorsement
Donald Trump and Kamala Harris faced each other on the debate stage for the first — and possibly the last — time.
Quebec woman wins MAID case to die at home after legal fight with landlord
A woman who requested medical assistance in dying (MAID) won a major case in front of the Quebec rental board. She wanted to die at home, but her landlord didn't want her to.
Liberals put up united front after fractious summer at Nanaimo retreat
Liberal MPs will have one last chance to tell their leader how they think their party can improve their political prospects before they return to Ottawa to face off against Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre in the House of Commons.
Some restaurants have increased their default tip options. Canadians think you should give this much
Despite what the default options on the payment terminal might read, most Canadians still want to tip around 15 per cent, according to a new survey.
'EI kind of folks': Cape Breton MP criticized for comment about Atlantic Canadians
Nova Scotia Liberal MP Jaime Battiste is taking some heat for a remark about Atlantic Canadians.
'I've cried a lot of tears': Floating home dreams sink for southwestern Ontario residents
The dream of a life on water has drowned in a sea of sadness for a group of Chatham-Kent, Ont. residents who paid a Wallaceburg-based company for a floating home they never received.
Spacewalking is the new domain of the rich as billionaire attempts first private spacewalk
First came space tourism. Now comes an even bigger thrill for the monied masses: spacewalking.
Trump repeats false claims over 2020 election loss, deflects responsibility for Jan. 6
Former U.S. president Donald Trump persisted in saying during the presidential debate that he won the 2020 election and took no responsibility for any of the mayhem that unfolded at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, when his supporters stormed the building to block the peaceful transfer of power.
Shopping Trends
The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us.
Vancouver
-
Parents fight for change after 13-year-old girl dies in Abbotsford homeless camp
Brianna McDonald's death was caused by a suspected overdose, according to her family. And her grieving parents are urging change so other families don’t have to face what they are going though.
-
Review of Chinatown triple-stabbing case to be released this week: B.C. premier
One year after a man who was on day release from a forensic psychiatric facility allegedly stabbed three strangers in Vancouver’s Chinatown, B.C.’s premier said the findings of a review of the case will soon be made public.
-
FACT CHECK: A look at the false and misleading claims made during the Trump-Harris debate
In their first and perhaps only debate, former U.S. president Donald Trump and U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris described the state of the country in starkly different terms. As the two traded jabs, some old false and misleading claims emerged along with some new ones.
Kelowna
-
Woman stabbed during daylight Kelowna home invasion: RCMP
A woman suffered life-threatening injuries after being stabbed during a home invasion in Kelowna, according to authorities.
-
Dog mauled to death in B.C. yard after 3 pit bulls jump fence: police
A 12-year-old collie was killed by three pit bulls in the B.C. Interior Sunday morning, according to authorities.
-
Suspect charged with 2nd-degree murder 1 year after Smithers, B.C., shooting
Mounties in northwestern B.C. say they have arrested the suspect in a fatal shooting almost exactly a year after it occurred.
Edmonton
-
Alberta premier Smith defends sharing public policy plans at members-only UCP events
Premier Danielle Smith is defending recent policy announcements at private party events, saying Albertans are kept in the know and shouldn't be caught off guard by her agenda.
-
City council delays decision on removing councillors from Edmonton Police Commission
City council wants more information on the role of councillors on the Edmonton Police Commission. Two city councillors currently sit as commissioners on the public oversight body. The commission, which acts as a middle-man of sorts between city council and the Edmonton Police Service (EPS), is asking city council to remove them in favour of two more members of the public.
-
McDavid: Edmonton 'checks a lot of boxes' for NHL players
While questions about a future contract extension may hang over the head of the National Hockey League's best player these days, there's little question what appeals to Connor McDavid most about plying his trade in one of the circuit's smallest markets.
Calgary
-
Calgary's water use 'sustainable' for the first time in 9 days
For the first time in nine days, the City of Calgary's water use has dropped below the target level officials say is "sustainable."
-
Cougar stalks acreage southwest of Calgary twice in a day, kills cat
A warning from a concerned parent after multiple frighteningly close encounters with a cougar on an acreage just southwest of the city on Tuesday.
-
Calgary strip mall plagued by nighttime social disorder
A seemingly ordinary strip mall in northeast Calgary has become a hub for social disorder, prompting concerns from local residents and businesses.
Lethbridge
-
Lethbridge looking for new strategies to address substance abuse
The City of Lethbridge and its police force are looking at new ways to address substance abuse.
-
Lethbridge police celebrate retirement of two K9s, welcome new four-legged graduate
Two Lethbridge Police Service dogs began their retirement journeys on Tuesday, as the force welcomed its newest four-legged member.
-
Lethbridge woman attacked while she slept; police on hunt for offender
Police in Lethbridge say a woman was left with serious injuries after being attacked with a weapon while she slept in her home.
Winnipeg
-
'Like no other leader': Hundreds honour Grand Chief Cathy Merrick
A large crowd gathered outside the front steps of a Winnipeg law courts to mourn a First Nations leader and matriarch.
-
RCMP investigating after man found dead near rural Manitoba property
Mounties are investigating after a 26-year-old man was found lying near a rural property in southwest Manitoba.
-
'We need some action now': Manitoba school dealing with overcrowding issues
The library inside West St. Paul School doesn’t have any books in it anymore. Instead, two classes of students and their teachers have moved in because there isn’t room for them anywhere else.
Regina
-
'Critical': Regina International Airport simulates emergency situations in training exercise
The Regina International Airport (YQR), along with over 20 partner organizations, held an emergency training exercise featuring more than 150 people Tuesday.
-
'Youth are important': Day two of Treaty 4 Gathering focuses on youth
Day two of the 38th annual Treaty 4 Gathering in the Fort Qu’Appelle Valley focused on youth.
-
Regina retirement community evacuated, fire crews respond
A retirement community in southwest Regina was evacuated after a small fire was reported in the facility's basement.
Saskatoon
-
Buyers say they lost life savings to a Saskatchewan company selling luxury vacation condos
In 2022, Tanya Frisk-Welburn and her husband bought what they hoped would be a dream home in Mexico.
-
Back to his roots, Saskatchewan hockey player recognized for grassroots contributions
From Gordie Howe to Hayley Wickenheiser and everyone in between, Saskatchewan has produced some hockey greats over the years.
-
Preparations are underway for Saskatoon's civic election
The City of Saskatoon is making its final preparations ahead of November's civic election.
Toronto
-
Ontario autism services enrolments decline in some weeks despite large waitlist: docs
Ontario's progress in giving children with autism access to government-funded core therapy has slowed so significantly that at times the number of kids enrolled is actually declining, despite a ballooning wait-list, according to documents obtained by The Canadian Press.
-
Halton police bust group in connection with GTA theft of dozens of vehicles worth over $3M in ‘Project Ninja’
Halton Regional Police say they have disrupted a group believed to be responsible for the theft of at least 40 vehicles in Halton Region and the Greater Toronto Area worth over $3 million.
-
Suspect in downtown streetcar stabbing did not know victim: Toronto police
Toronto police say a suspect accused of stabbing a person on a streetcar downtown on Tuesday did not know the victim prior to the assault.
Montreal
-
Dollarama reports $285.9M Q2 profit, up from $245.8M a year ago
Dollarama Inc. reported a second-quarter profit of $285.9 million, up from $245.8 million in the same quarter last year as its sales rose 7.4 per cent.
-
Quebec woman wins MAID case to die at home after legal fight with landlord
A woman who requested medical assistance in dying (MAID) won a major case in front of the Quebec rental board. She wanted to die at home, but her landlord didn't want her to.
-
Man says Laval police allegedly used excessive force during arrest
A Toronto man said his Labour Day weekend getaway to Quebec turned into a nightmare after he was racially profiled by Laval police.
Ottawa
-
COMING UP AT 11:30 AMCOMING UP AT 11:30 AM Ottawa mayor to make announcement on 2025 budget directions
Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe will make an announcement today on the 2025 budget directions.
-
Proposed new bylaw will limit vehicle idling in Ottawa to 1 minute
Under proposed changes to Ottawa’s idling control bylaw, drivers will be permitted to idle their vehicle for one minute in a 60-minute period when the temperature is between 0 C and 27 C, and a new maximum idling limit of five minutes will be introduced when the temperature is colder than 0 C and warmer than 27 C
-
Ottawa looks to ban snow dumping on private property, accessible parking spaces
The City of Ottawa is introducing new rules to prohibit snow dumping on private property, in accessible parking spots and on sidewalks, in a bid to melt tensions over unauthorized snow dumping during the winter.
Atlantic
-
'EI kind of folks': Cape Breton MP criticized for comment about Atlantic Canadians
Nova Scotia Liberal MP Jaime Battiste is taking some heat for a remark about Atlantic Canadians.
-
Peggy's Cove guardians keep visitors safe at beautiful but deadly N.S. tourist site
Security patrollers at Peggy's Cove, N.S., are keeping a watchful eye for visitors who wander too close to the water's edge, and blow whistles to urge them back onto shore.
-
N.S. RCMP investigating suspicious disappearance of 55-year-old woman
The Nova Scotia RCMP is investigating the suspicious disappearance of a 55-year-old woman.
London
-
Overnight crash near St. Thomas sends one person to hospital
One person has been taken to hospital following an overnight crash near St. Thomas. The single-vehicle crash happened in the area of Ron McNeil Line between Pine valley Drive and Burwell Road.
-
LIVE
LIVE Presidential debate replay: Donald Trump-Kamala Harris face off
Kamala Harris and Donald Trump exchanged barbs in a combative face-off on key issues such as the economy, immigration and abortion in a showdown that comes less than two months before election day.
-
Mayor pushing ahead to permit 4-storey stacked townhouses on neighbourhood connector streets
Despite calls for public consultation, Mayor Josh Morgan pressed the Planning and Environment Committee to support his proposal to get more aggressive removing barriers to residential density in London.
Kitchener
-
Ontario woman charged with assault with a weapon after neighbour sprayed with water gun
A Simcoe, Ont. woman has been charged with assault with a weapon after spraying her neighbour with a water gun.
-
Driver dies after being thrown from e-bike in Kitchener
Police say an e-bike driver has died after being injured in a crash Tuesday afternoon.
-
Canadian first: LOTTO MAX Jackpot rolls to record $75M
This Friday's draw marks the first time the LOTTO MAX jackpot has climbed to $75 million.
Northern Ontario
-
U.S. presidential historian predicts results of November elections. Here's who he says will win
An American presidential historian is predicting a Kamala Harris presidency as the outcome of the upcoming U.S. elections in November.
-
Bears in schoolyard force students and staff into 2nd hold and secure this week
A Huntsville elementary school is locked down for the second time this week because of some bears roaming the schoolyard.
-
Video shows tornado moving ashore in northern Ontario
A beautiful Labour Day weekend at the lake was interrupted by some extreme weather when a tornado touched down in northern Ontario.
N.L.
-
Newfoundland and Labrador monitoring rise in whooping cough cases: medical officer
Newfoundland and Labrador's chief medical officer is monitoring the rise of whooping cough infections across the province as cases of the highly contagious disease continue to grow across Canada.
-
Dispute over unrecognized Inuit group halts major conference for Canadian North
A 16-year-old biennial event aimed at fostering business in the country's eastern Arctic and northern regions has been cancelled indefinitely as a dispute unfolds between Inuit in Canada and a Labrador group claiming to share their heritage.
-
Cow cuddling: Why a Newfoundland farm is offering quality time with these 'gentle creatures'
Jim Lester’s farm hopped on the cow-cuddling trend in early August, and his time slots have been pretty well sold out ever since.
