This winter, the Manna Homeless Society in Parksville has placed a number of men and women into donated trailers, offering them a safe, dry haven amid Vancouver Island’s relentless rains. For those who had endured weeks of being soaked and freezing while rough sleeping or living in tents, the simple gift of shelter has been life-changing. Many arrived wet, cold, and hopeless, their health declining from exposure. Now, with a warm, protected space, they sleep soundly, regain s

Water Warnings Ignored While Housing Booms For over a decade, the Englishman River and our aquifers have shown clear signs of strain—declining groundwater, shrinking snowpack, and recurring droughts. Yet Parksville council continues approving new housing developments, adding hundreds of unaffordable units and drawing more residents to an area already at its limit. Every year, the same pattern unfolds. Spring begins with Level 1 watering restrictions, escalating through the dr

In the shadow of Parksville’s serene coastal beauty, a silent war rages—not against crime or chaos, but against compassion itself. For 20 years, the Manna Homeless Society has been a lifeline for the vulnerable, battling an epidemic of homelessness that has exploded in the last five. More women, seniors, and mothers with children now wander the streets, their lives shattered by economic despair. We’ve watched families fracture, elders endure the elements, and kids go hungry.