Parksville seniors will benefit from a $19,810 age-friendly grant to help create programs or tools that address the needs of the area's older residents.

Finance Minister Michael de Jong is inviting central Vancouver Island residents to participate in a regional telephone town hall on balancing the 2013-14 provincial budget and supporting affordability for B.C. families.

Abnormally dry weather will persist through the Thanksgiving Day long weekend, so the Coastal Fire Centre is urging the public to continue to be cautious with any forest activity that could start wildfires, including campfires and equipment use.

Effective at noon on Friday, Sept. 14, 2012, the existing Category 2 open fire and fireworks prohibition in the Coastal Fire Centre is being extended. It will now remain in place until Oct. 15, 2012 or until the prohibition order is rescinded.

Vancouver Island University (VIU) is getting infrastructure upgrades with $3.4 million in capital funding as part of the B.C. government's investment in public post-secondary infrastructure this year.

Effective at noon on Friday, July 20, 2012, a Category 2 open fire and fireworks prohibition will be expanded to include all areas within the Coastal Fire Centre except Haida Gwaii.

Effective at noon May 18, Category 2 open fires and fireworks will be prohibited across the Coastal Fire Centre, with the exception of Haida Gwaii and the Mount Waddington and Central Coast regional districts, to help prevent human-caused wildfires.

As one of the commitments in the recently released seniors' action plan, consultations are now underway in British Columbia to develop a strategy to prevent, identify and respond to elder abuse and neglect.