All Episodes

Gabriola Island Trustee Tobi Elliot says concern over the concept of a shoreline buffer zone led a overflowing meeting room as residence turned out. Elliot wrote about the tensions present at that meeting in a post on her Substack, attributing them in part to apprehensions around the potential impact of last year’s supreme court decision around Cowichan title to certain land in Richmond. She spoke with Midcoast Morning about the issue.Also, plans to update British Columbia’s Heritage Conservation Act have been delayed. The act exists for the protection and conservation of sites with historical, cultural and archaeological value in the province, and major changes haven’t been made to the act since 1996. The province has been in the midst of reviewing the act for a number of years. Amendments to the act had been expected this spring, but earlier this month the province announced a delay, saying the extra time is to gather and incorporate additional feedback from industry, local governments and First Nations. Midcoast Morning spoke with Nuu-Chah-Nulth Tribal Council President Judith Sayers, who is also Co-Chair of the Joint Working Group on the Heritage Conservation Act.Support Midcoast Morning and our Nonprofit Newsroom with a monthly sustaining donation of $5 to $10 a month.Podcast Photo: Descanso Bay shoreline on Gabriola Island (Jesse Woodward/CHLY 101.7FM)Full program notes can be found at www.chly.ca/midcoastmorning

This is an extended podcast edition of our original broadcast.Members of the arts community in the Comox Valley are rallying in the face of the potential suspension of the fine arts program at North Island College. Fine Arts is one of 15 different programs that have been recommended for suspension following a review process, with a final decision expected to come from the school’s board of governors at a February 5th meeting. Midcoast Morning spoke with a trio of people in the local arts scene about the potential impact of the proposed suspension.Support Midcoast Morning and our Nonprofit Newsroom with a monthly sustaining donation of $5 to $10 a month.Podcast Photo: North Island College Comox Valley Campus (Joe Pugh/CHLY 101.7FM)Full program notes can be found at www.chly.ca/midcoastmorning

This is an extended version of the version that was originally broadcast.As rains once again battered Vancouver Island over the weekend, multiple regions grappled with the risk of flooding. For a period on Monday there were evacuation notices covering parts of Chemainus and a campground in Parksville.UBC professor Younes Alila says that while governments and media outlets are often quick to point to climate change as a driver of more frequent atmospheric rivers and increased flood risks, he feels more attention needs to be given to the role of forest management practices, especially clear cut logging in creating conditions for dangerous floods. He spoke with Midcoast Morning.We also speak with Trace Acers from the Road Safe at Work program about driving during periods of heavy rain.Support Midcoast Morning and our Nonprofit Newsroom with a monthly sustaining donation of $5 to $10 a month.Podcast Photo: Map of flooding in Chemainus.Full program notes can be found at www.chly.ca/midcoastmorning

This is an extended version of the version that was originally broadcast.Stories of hangings, explosions, and tragedies from Nanaimo’s past have been brought together in a book from lifelong history buff T.W. Paterson. Called Unknown Nanaimo, it focuses on events from the 1850s through to the turn of the 20th century, with much of the material sourced from newspaper accounts from that period.Speaking of newspapers, Paterson himself was the author of a historical column in the Nanaimo Free Press in the 1990s, and drew upon his work there for this collection. Paterson visited the CHLY studio to speak about 19th century Nanaimo.Support Midcoast Morning and our Nonprofit Newsroom with a monthly sustaining donation of $5 to $10 a month.Podcast Photo: T.W. Paterson in studio (Joe Pugh/CHLY 101.7FM)Full program notes can be found at www.chly.ca/midcoastmorning

We're marking Nanaimo's move from 2025 into 2026, with a focus on transportation. We talked transit and traffic calming with Jamie Rose, the City of Nanaimo’s Manager of Transportation about how things changed in the last year, as well as what's on the radar for the next one.We'll also touch on what some recent council decisions around active transportation projects mean for the city, and we'll hear a bit about how Nanaimo prioritizes what gets upgraded where.Support Midcoast Morning and our Nonprofit Newsroom with a monthly sustaining donation of $5 to $10 a month.Podcast Photo: Hand drawn “Slow the heck down” sign on Protection Island (Jesse Woodward/CHLY 101.7FM)Full program notes can be found at www.chly.ca/midcoastmorning

Plans to light a section of the E&N Trail next year won’t be going ahead, as funding has been reallocated to other to be determined projects. A section of the trail between Northfield and Rock City roads had been scheduled to receive lighting upgrades in 2026.Instead, around a million dollars of funding will be redirected into other pedestrian and active transportation projects next year. We spoke with Nanaimo city councillor Tyler Brown, who moved the motion that led to the change. We also hear from Phil Hall, president of the Nanaimo area cycling coalition, and Jamie Rose, manager of transportation with the city of Nanaimo.Support Midcoast Morning and our Nonprofit Newsroom with a monthly sustaining donation of $5 to $10 a month.Podcast Photo: Cyclists on E&N Trail (Jesse Woodward/CHLY 101.7FM)Full program notes can be found at www.chly.ca/midcoastmorning

Local government is willing to front the costs to bring a cardiac catheterization lab to Nanaimo.The Nanaimo Regional Hospital District Board unanimously passed a motion this month resolving to earmark up to 50 million dollars to fund 100% of the cardiac catheterization lab project as part of its funding commitments to that project and a new patient tower.Midcoast Morning spoke with NRHD Board Chair Janice Perrino about the funding commitment, as well as Fair Care Alliance Chair Donna Hais.Support Midcoast Morning and our Nonprofit Newsroom with a monthly sustaining donation of $5 to $10 a month.Podcast Photo: Nanaimo Regional General Hospital (Joe Pugh/CHLY 101.7FM)Full program notes can be found at www.chly.ca/midcoastmorning

A body tasked with improving our democracy has made dozens of recommendations to the government of BC. The special committee on democratic and electoral reform has put out its first report, after receiving close to a thousand submissions from British Columbians over the summer months. The committee is made up of MLAs from across party lines, and has a two part mandate.This report is all about the first part of that mandate, which is to examine and make recommendations related to democratic engagement and voter participation, and models for electing MLAs.The report calls on the provincial government to consider creating a people’s assembly that would make recommendations about electoral reform and also looks at ways to improve civic education and voter turnout, and how to address misinformation.VIU professor Michael Mackenzie spoke with Midcoast Morning to offer his views on the recommendations. The program also spoke with the chair and vice chair of the committee, MLAs Jennifer Blatherwick and Ward Stamer.Support Midcoast Morning and our Nonprofit Newsroom with a monthly sustaining donation of $5 to $10 a month.Podcast Photo: Legislature Dome (Hossein Soltanloo)

Humpback whales are returning to the Salish Sea in growing numbers, but between the rising population and the increase in vessel traffic, collisions are also becoming more common. Emma Shuparski is the coordinator for Straightwatch Quadra Island, under Cetus Research and Conservation Society. Christie McMillan is a Senior Habitat Assessment Biologist with Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), and fifteen years ago co-founded the Marine Education & Research Society (MERS).Both experts shared their knowledge and experience working in research and conservation of humpback whales in this episode of Midcoast Morning, to understand the questions of why humpback strikes and mortalities seem to be increasing, and what can be done to improve humpback safety in the Salish Sea.Support Midcoast Morning and our Nonprofit Newsroom with a monthly sustaining donation of $5 to $10 a month.Podcast Photo: Humpback Whales (Elianne Dipp/Pexels)

A motion about industrial land use divided Nanaimo city council in a narrow 5-4 vote Monday night. On the meeting agenda the motion from Councillor Paul Manly asked staff to prepare a zoning amendment that would have prevented six different industrial scale uses, including certain garbage incineration facilities, chemical plants, petroleum refineries, and Liquefied Natural Gas export facilities.The motion council ended up debating instead asked staff to prepare a report with options on a zoning amendment to exclude emissions intense heavy industries, listing several examples, which would instead require site specific zoning. That motion narrowly passed  5-4.Voting in favour were councillors Paul Manly, Tyler Brown, Ben Gheselbrecht, Erin Hemmens, and Hilary Eastmure. Voting against were councillors Janice Perrino Ian Thorpe, Sheryl Armstrong and Mayor Leonard Krog.Midcoast Morning spoke with Manly about his motion, as well as Harmac CEO Paul Sadler, who said he felt his enterprise was directly targeted by it. You can watch the discussion around the motion from Monday’s council meeting HERE, beginning at 1:02:30.Support Midcoast Morning and our Nonprofit Newsroom with a monthly sustaining donation of $5 to $10 a month.Podcast Photo: Harmac Pacific (David Stanley/Flickr CC BY 2.0)

Now in its ninth year, demand for the Woodstove Music and Arts Festival seemingly hit new highs, with organizers saying that the initial round of tickets sold out almost immediately. The non profit community festival took place last weekend across 16 venues in the village ranging from community halls, to the museum, to tattoo parlours and hair salons.In recent years, many summer festivals have faced challenges. Earlier this year it was reported that the Regina Folk Festival had permanently shut down due to financial struggles, and that the Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Festival faced an uncertain future, with this year’s edition potentially being the last. For the first time in 30 years, there was no Vancouver Island MusicFest, with organizers citing economic challenges like decreasing sponsorships, a lack of local funding, and reduced ticket sales. Those are just some examples of a nationwide trend that’s been reported on by the CBC, The Globe and Mail and others.Midcoast Morning attended this year’s Woodstove and spoke with artists and organizers to try and understand what has allowed the festival to seemingly thrive amidst a climate of wider economic challenges for arts festivals.Support Midcoast Morning and our Nonprofit Newsroom with a monthly sustaining donation of $5 to $10 a month.Podcast Cover Photo: Cat Clyde (Joe Pugh/CHLY 101.7FM)

Plans for a data centre in Nanaimo have generated significant attention in recent weeks. The centre is proposed for 2090 East Wellington Road, and the area was rezoned in 2023. A CBC article about data centres and water use published in October made reference to Nanaimo, which has generated renewed interest and concern from members of the public. A data centre is a building that houses computer servers and other infrastructure, and there are different types of data centres with different resource requirements.The company looking to build the centre in Nanaimo was incorporated in Ontario in 2020. In 2024, it registered the business name MAPLECOLO. A website for MAPLECOLO describes itself as a leader in Canadian data centres, specializing in Quantum-Safe Colocation and Symmetric-Key Distribution via DSKE technology. The site references a new facility in Nanaimo which it notes “enhances protection against quantum threats, combining traditional expertise with innovative solutions to revolutionize data security.” Our newsroom spoke with one of the company’s directors but was unable to arrange an interview ahead of broadcast. Midcoast Morning explores recent community concerns with Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog, and shares information revealed at a Nanaimo city council meeting about potential water use at the site.Support Midcoast Morning and our Nonprofit Newsroom with a monthly sustaining donation of $5 to $10 a month.Podcast Photo: Architectural Rendering of Nanaimo Data Centre (dHKarchitects).

The British Columbia Federation of Students says the province’s post secondary system is in crisis. The organization says that there have been almost 1000 layoffs in the sector since 2023, with 80 programs suspended, paused or cut. Midcoast Morning interviews Cole Reinbold Secretary-Treasurer with the BCFS and Annabree Fairweather, Executive Director of CUFA BC regarding the call for action.Support Midcoast Morning and our Nonprofit Newsroom with a monthly sustaining donation of $5 to $10 a month.Podcast Cover: Cole Reinbold at Vancouver Island University (BCFS)

Following push-back from members of the community, a zoning change proposal failed to pass first reading at Nanaimo City Council on Monday. Council heard from 8 delegations opposed to a rezoning application for 2367 Arbot Road, which is currently home to the Westwood Lake Tennis Club. The proposal was to change the land’s zoning from commercial recreation centre to low density residential. Conceptual plans submitted with the rezoning application suggested a potential redevelopment on the site of three townhouse buildings of up to three stories, working out to about 38 units of housing.Support Midcoast Morning and our Nonprofit Newsroom with a monthly sustaining donation of $5 to $10 a month.Podcast Photo: Townhouse rendering (City of Nanaimo/Grayland Consulting Ltd).

More than a dozen authors, poets, profs, and students spoke at a festival aimed at fostering connections between Palestinian and local literature this past weekend. The 2nd annual Watermelon Seeds festival of literature took place at VIU Saturday. It comes on the heels of an event last spring that took place at the Palestinian solidarity encampment that had been set up on campus. Midcoast Morning spoke with a pair of presenters, including former VIU student Sara Kishawi, who spoke about a two year suspension from the school which she recently petitioned the BC Supreme Court to have set aside.Support Midcoast Morning and our Nonprofit Newsroom with a monthly sustaining donation of $5 to $10 a month.Podcast Image: Illustration from Watermelon Seeds Festival of Literature (Chantey Dayal).

With Nanaimo City Council voting in favour of a motion Monday to name the park at 933 Park Avenue Five Acres Farm Community Park, Midcoast Morning explores the history behind the name, as well as the urban farming that’s still taking place on the land.Support Midcoast Morning and our Nonprofit Newsroom with a monthly sustaining donation of $5 to $10 a month.Podcast Photo: Five Acres Farm Community Park (City of Nanaimo).

Cree artist and creator George Littlechild is sharing his art with the Comox Valley this fall with a vast exhibition at the Comox Valley Art Gallery and a special film screening at North Island College. The film being screened this Saturday, October 4th is nanekawâsis, a documentary featuring Little Child's life and art. Both the artist George Littlechild and the filmmaker Conor McNally will be in attendance at the screening on Saturday. Littlechild spoke about the film, the ongoing art exhibition at the CVAG, and his experience as an Indigenous creator, a Sixties Scoop survivor, and a Two Spirit person. Metis filmmaker Conor McNally describes the experience of making the film. You can learn more about the film screening here.Support Midcoast Morning and our Nonprofit Newsroom with a monthly sustaining donation of $5 to $10 a month.

On the fifth annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, hundreds walked along fifth street in downtown Courtenay before gathering in Lewis Park. Midcoast Morning spoke with some of those present about the meaning of the day.Support Midcoast Morning and our Nonprofit Newsroom with a monthly sustaining donation of $5 to $10 a month.Podcast Photo: Spirit Walk attendees walk to Lewis Park in Courtenay. Photo by Joe Pugh.Full program notes can be found at www.chly.ca/midcoastmorning

Following decades of advocacy, Hamilton Marsh near Qualicum Beach appears on its way to becoming a protected area. Earlier this month the Regional District of Nanaimo announced it had reached a conditional agreement with Mosaic Forest Management to buy 360 hectares of land for $30 million. That land includes the marsh itself, which is about 36 hectares in size, and a mature forest, that if undisturbed, will reach old growth status within 150 years.The purchase will require long term borrowing of over 21 million dollars, to be paid back over 20 years.. For an average Nanaimo household, it’s expected the annual repayment cost will be around 19 dollars. The RDN is also looking to raise $7.5 million from partners like the provincial government and conservation groups. The Nanaimo and Area Land Trust (NALT) has committed to raising $250,000. Midcoast Morning met up with longtime advocate Ceri Peacey at the marsh, and spoke with NALT Executive Director Paul Chapman in studio.Support Midcoast Morning and our Nonprofit Newsroom with a monthly sustaining donation of $5 to $10 a month.Podcast Photo: Ceri Peacey in front of the Hamilton Marsh. Photo by Joe Pugh.

The Island Corridor Foundation’s CEO wants Nanaimo’s planning department to keep the potential of the old rail corridor in mind. Thomas Bevan spoke at a Nanaimo city council meeting Monday night to provide an update on the work of the Island Corridor Foundation, as they look to determine the future of what was once the Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway. Midcoast Morning spoke with Bevan about the current state of the corridor.Support Midcoast Morning and our Nonprofit Newsroom with a monthly sustaining donation of $5 to $10 a month.Want more news on the Salish Sea? Check out our Local News Update podcast.