Running 28 minutes, Midcoast Morning covers local news and current affairs happening in Nanaimo and on the Salish Sea. Midcoast Morning focuses in on one big story per show, interviewing reporters about their stories, as well as those making news and those impacted by it. We also feature the curators and creators in our local arts and culture scene. Midcoast Morning broadcasts every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning at 8:30 A.M.. The podcast edition releases at the same time.
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Lauryn Mackenzie — Host and Producer.
Jesse Woodward — Executive Producer.
Arbie Fru — Technical Assistance.
And other contributors in our news department.
Have a lead on a story? Feedback regarding an episode? Drop us a line. We read all of our emails, and respond when we can.
A VIU and CHLY alumni was back in Nanaimo Thursday for the launch of a graphic novel telling stories from his home nation of Xwemalhkwu(Homalco)
Tchadas Leo is a journalist with CHEK News, and for the last number of years he’s been leading the work on Xwemalhkwu Hero Stories, which tells a trio of stories inspired by elders from the nation. With a launch event for the graphic novel Thursday at VIU, Leo paid a visit to the CHLY studio to speak about the project.
Read MoreAt a meeting Monday, Nanaimo city council voted 6-3 to reconsider a plan to build a boathouse with rentable community space at Loudon Park by Long Lake. The decision to reconsider was prompted by a motion from councillor Tyler Brown.
The gallery at the Vancouver Island Conference centre was near capacity at times during the meeting, with a number of people bringing signs expressing opposition to the boathouse project as it had been planned.
A trio of delegations presented to council in opposition to the project during the meeting.
Midcoast Morning brings you some of the council members perspectives on the issue, and speaks with one of the presenters who spoke to council about their opposition for the project.
Read MoreNew exhibition After Wrappers From the art collective Big Rock Candy Mountain launches tonight at the Nanaimo Art Gallery.
Featuring the work of Hannah Jickling, Reed H. Reed, a variety of guest artists, and elementary school students, it’s going to be running through July 12th.
Midcoast Morning spoke with Art Gallery curator Jesse Birch.
The Office of the Auditor General of BC has finished a look into the province’s legal aid system.
Acting Auditor General Sheila Dodds spoke with Midcoast Morning about the findings.
Read More24 People could be forced to the streets this week as funding for a shelter in Nanaimo is set to expire.
The nonprofit Risebridge has been operating a shelter on Prideaux Street since the fall, funded by BC Housing on a temporary winter shelter contract.
On February 12th Risebridge reached out to BC housing to inquire about the possibility of extending the shelter contract.
On February 27th they were informed that BC Housing was reviewing extension requests across the province, and would follow up with updates.
After Risebridge followed up on March 28th, they eventually received a reply from BC Housing’s Director of Homelessness on April 17th, which stated that
“This year, BC Housing does not have a funding program to invite all Non-Profit operators to apply for extensions to provide broad operating extensions for all the temporary winter shelters across the province.”
Another shelter in Nanaimo, run by the Nanaimo Family Life Association, received an extension to May 31, 2025.
Midcoast Morning paid a visit to the shelter, and reached out to BC Housing.
Read MoreIn the lead up to this year’s federal election, Midcoast Morning is bringing you interviews with our local candidates in the Nanaimo-Ladysmith Riding.
On this program Lisa Marie Barron.
Plus, after being unable to arrange a conversation with Conservative candidate Tamara Kronis, Midcoast Morning spoke with University of Guelph political science professor Julie Simmons about a lack of media availability among Conservative candidates during this election period.
Read MoreIn the lead up to this year’s federal election, Midcoast Morning is bringing you interviews with our local candidates in the Nanaimo-Ladysmith Riding.
On this program - Paul Manly and Michelle Corfield.
Read MoreMidcoast Morning paid a visit to local cafe White Rabbit, hoping to hear what’s top of mind for voters in Nanaimo as they get ready to head to the polls Monday April 28th.
Read MoreLabour leaders were in Nanaimo this week, looking to put the spotlight on healthcare issues in this federal election.
The presidents of the Canadian Labour Congress and the Hospital Employees Union spoke to media outside of Nanaimo Regional General Hospital Monday, decrying privitization in the Canadian healthcare system and calling on federal leaders to give more attention to healthcare issues.
Midcoast Morning speaks with an expert in Canadian healthcare policy to break down the role of the federal government, what kinds of privatization are occurring in the system, and how the issue has played into the campaign so far.
Read MoreMidcoast Morning follows up on Nanaimo City Council’s 5-4 decision to build an activity centre at Loudon Park by Long Lake, speaking with a councillor whose vote changed following incorrect information from staff, as well as the president of the group that’s spent decades trying to improve boat storage at the park.
Read MoreA planned activity centre at Long Lake has the Nanaimo & Area Land Trust(NALT), and a member of city council raising concerns about tree loss.
Nanaimo city council changed course this week, narrowly voting in favour of a plan to spend close to $11 million building a new facility for boat storage and with community space at Loudon Park next to Long Lake.
At a previous Finance and Audit Committee meeting council had voted in favour of a plan that would have seen boat storage built in a different location at a cost of about $6.5 million.
A number of councillors were not present at that meeting, and this week, in a pair of 5-4 votes, council decided first against building the scaled down storage, and then to approve funding for the bigger building.
It’s estimated by NALT that more than 40 per cent of the trees in the park will be cut down as part of the planned building.
Midcoast Morning speaks with NALT’s executive director and Nanaimo City Councillor Ben Geselbracht about the issue.
Read MoreFour major new BC Ferries are on the way but plans for a fifth have been rejected for now.
The new ships will replace four aging vessels, the Queens of Cowichan, Alberni, Coquitlam and New Westminster.
It’s the largest capital project in the history of BC Ferries.
The first of the new vessels are expected to enter service in 2029, with all four operational by 2031.
BC Ferries had requested permission to build a fifth ship at the same time to increase capacity in the system.
All decisions on major capital expenditures for BC Ferries have to go through the BC Ferry Commission, an independent regulator that also sets the limit on average fare and reservation increases.
This week BC Ferries commissioner Eva Hage released her 32 page decision on BC Ferries application for new vessels, giving the go ahead to the four replacement ships, but rejecting the application for a fifth.
Midcoast Morning speaks with Hage and BC Ferries CEO Nicolas Jimenez about the development.
Read MoreVancouver Island University is getting set to search for a new president.
Last week current president Deborah Saucier announced her resignation as of April fourth.
The move followed a vote of non confidence in her leadership from the VIU Faculty Association and a call for her removal from the Vancouver Island University Students Union (VIUSU).
Midcoast Morning speaks with a representative from VIUSU about their hopes for the change.
Plus this weekend voters in and around Oceanside will decide on the fate of substantial upgrades to the Ravensong Aquatic Centre in Qualicum Beach.
Parksville Mayor Doug O’Brien shares the journey the project has taken to reach this stage.
Read MoreNanaimo’s northern gateway could look very different in 20 years.
The city is refining its plan for the Woodgrove area, and aims to add much denser housing to an area currently covered in concrete and chain stores.
Midcoast Morning speaks with Kasia Biegun from The City of Nanaimo planning department, and Michael Bassili of Strong Towns Nanaimo about the area.
Read MoreFamiliar faces are lining up for what projects to be a tight Nanaimo race in the federal election.
All five candidates from the 2021 federal election are set to run again for their respective parties.
Incumbent MP Lisa Marie Barron of the NDP is looking to retain her seat.
2021 runner up Tamara Kronis is once again representing the Conservative party, and former MP and current city councillor Paul Manly has been announced as the Green Party candidate in the Nanaimo-Ladysmith Riding.
Michelle Corfield is once again running for the liberals and Stephen Welton has been announced as the People’s Party candidate.
As of recording time, none of the candidates have been officially confirmed by Elections Canada, the nomination process closes April 7th, and a complete list of Candidates will be available Wednesday April 9th.
Midcoast Morning tees up the race in a conversation with VIU political science professor Michael MacKenzie.
Read MoreIt’s going to cost a quarter more to ride the bus in Nanaimo. April 1 transit fares are going up for the first time in years, following a fare review process.
A single ride will now cost $2.75 and a day pass $5.50
The price of Monthly concession passes for seniors and youth are also going up by $5.
The cost of a standard monthly bus pass remains the same at $65.
There’s also one route that’s decreased in price, the Nanaimo to Cowichan Valley Express route is now $5 dollars, down from $7.50.
Midcoast Morning speaks with the RDN’s Senior Manager of Transportation about the changes.
Read MoreThe company that built the Nanaimo Bastion could be looking at the end of the line.
The Hudson’s Bay Company is seeking creditor protection and is expected to begin liquidating inventory at stores across Canada in the very near future.
Midcoast Morning explores what’s going on with The Bay now, and the role it played in Nanaimo’s coal mining roots.
Read MoreWith trout being pumped into local freshwater lakes, and the herring spawn catching the attention of fishers on the saltwater side, Midcoast Morning explores the Nanaimo fishing scene.
Read MorePermitting delays and Cost uncertainty are among the concerns expressed this week by home builders on Vancouver Island.
The Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce gathered contractors and other key players in the construction industry together Tuesday for an Island Housing Solutions Roadmap event at the coast bastion hotel.
Midcoast Morning attended and spoke with members of the Canadian Homebuilders Association.
Read MoreCities, towns, and community organizations across Vancouver Island are increasingly leaving behind X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. This week Ladysmith joined Parksville as some of the latest communities to either shut down or publicly back away from use of the platform. Midcoast Morning speaks with the town’s communications and engagement specialist who says the decision wasn’t a political one. The program also speaks with Nanaimo’s director of corporate communications to see if it’s looking at stepping away from X. Plus, Ladysmith has a new mayor. Deena Beeston picked up 854 of 1740 votes cast in a byelection last Saturday. She spoke with Midcoast Morning about the campaign, and what she hopes to accomplish in the role.
Read MoreAs The City of Nanaimo attempts to deal with unruly conduct during council meetings, a proposed ban on recording has some councillors raising concerns.
Bylaw changes that include bans on photography and audio and video recordings of council meetings passed three readings at a February 24th council meeting, with council voting 7-2 in favour of the changes.
Under the rules, which would still need to be adopted at a later date, photography and recording at a meeting could still be permitted if allowed by the meeting’s chair.
Councillors Hilary Eastmure and Sheryl Armstrong voted against the changes, and expressed concern about their ability to stand up to legal challenges.
At a meeting this past week, Councillor Paul Manly, who originally voted in favour of the changes, said he’s not comfortable with the bylaw as it’s worded and that he would be bringing forward a motion to revisit discussion on the issue at a later date.
Eastmure, Manly, and Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog spoke with Midcoast Morning about the issue.
For more local reporting on this story, you can find a February 27 piece in The Discourse from CHLY alumni Mick Sweetman.
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