Local News Update

A free outdoor stage at this year's Woodstove Music and Arts Festival is giving attendees a chance to enjoy live music without a coveted ticket for the sold out festival. The Paige Stage will host the festival's opening ceremony Friday at 5:30 p.m. in Village Square Park. Named in honour of Diana Paige, a founding member of the Cumberland Culture and Arts Society who passed away in May of 2025 , t...

More than 24 years after Lisa Marie Young disappeared from Nanaimo, seasoned author teamed up with a local resident for a new book focused on celebrating her life. Creators & Guests Luis Zablah - Host Carolann Bosma - Guest Norah Caldwell - Guest Photo: Where is Lisa Marie Young? on display at Windowseat Books. (Luis Zablah / CHLY 101.7FM) Support local news reporting through our Nonprofit New...

Vancouver Island University’s Students’ Union (VIUSU) is suing VIU over a funding cut to a student refugee program that the union says breaks commitments and disrupts plans for the fall. Creators & Guests Kiyara Armogam - Guest Sarah Bollinger - Guest Luis Zablah - Host Matthews Tharakan - Guest Photo: Group shot of graduates and current students of the WUSC Student Refugee Program stand along...

Tourism Nanaimo and the Nanaimo Pride Society have collaborated to host Harbour City Halloweekend,  bringing a variety of themed activities from October 30th to November 1st. Creators & Guests Luis Zablah - Host Carly Pereboom - Guest Steph Kveton - Guest Photo: A bunch of downtown pumpkins on Victoria Crescent (Jesse Woodward / CHLY 101.7FM) Support local news reporting through our Nonprofit...

The exhibition highlights work from 10 Indigenous artists from across Vancouver Island. Creators & Guests Jeannie Lin - Host Photo: The exhibition is presented by the Spirits of the West Coast Art Gallery, located at 2926 Back Road, between Comox and East Courtenay. (Supplied) Support local news reporting through our Nonprofit Newsroom with a monthly sustaining donation of $5 to $10 a month ....

Newly elected Courtenay-Comox MLA Will Cole-Hamilton said he plans to focus on local priorities and learning his new role in opposition. Creators & Guests Will Cole-Hamilton - Guest Jeannie Lin - Host Photo: Will Cole-Hamilton was a bright spot for the BCNDP on a difficult election night. (Supplied) Support local news reporting through our Nonprofit Newsroom with a monthly sustaining donation...

After advocacy from the tennis playing community, the Westwood Lake Tennis Bubble will remain inflated, for now. Creators & Guests Luis Zablah - Host Charlotte Davis - Guest Whitman Tomusiak - Guest Photo: With the removal of the bubble, the club would have had to cease operations and tennis enthusiasts in Nanaimo would be left in the cold to play outdoors during the winter months. Support loc...

A Gabriola Island software engineer is taking on tech giants by creating her own community hub for the gulf island. Barnacle Exchange is an up and coming application developed by software engineer Jacqlyn Bender. Creators & Guests Luis Zablah - Host Jacqlyn Bender - Guest Photo:  Bender first started coding the app by hand, leaning on her background as a software developer. (Photo by Jesse Woo...

Candidates discussed plans for the Tofino General Hospital, emergency evacuation routes, watershed protection and climate change. The forum featured BC NDP incumbent Josie Osborne and Green Party candidate Gracie MacDonald, with BC Conservative candidate Joshua Dahling declining participation. Creators & Guests Jeannie Lin - Host Josie Osborne - Guest Photo: BC Green Party candidate Gracie Mac...

Three candidates are vying to become the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Ladysmith-Oceanside in the provincial election.  Creators & Guests Mick Sweetman - Host Photo: Three candidates are running for the legislative assembly in the Ladysmith Oceanside electoral district. From left to right are Charlene Smylie for the BC Green Party, Stephanie Higginson for the NDP and Kris McNichol for...

With election day behind us and the final voting results in, official results for the City of Nanaimo point to an increased voter turnout from 2022’s election. Fast forward four years, the 2026 official final results showed a higher turnout with a total of 25,450 ballots cast, leading to a 31.31 per cent turnout, and an increase in estimated eligible voters.  Creators & Guests Luis Zablah - Ho...

Candidates discussed different approaches to healthcare access, housing affordability and water security ahead of Saturday’s provincial election. Creators & Guests Jeannie Lin - Host MLA Brennan Day - Guest Photo: From left to right, candidates Jay Van Oostdam, Will Cole-Hamilton, Jason Cooke and Brennan Day debated their positions at a forum put on by the Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce. (Ph...

Four candidates are vying to become the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Nanaimo-Lantzville in the provincial election. Incumbent BCNDP MLA George Anderson is facing the BC Green’s Sharleen Weatherley, Kelsey Pringle is running for the BC Conservative party and Pepper Saltman from the BC Communist Party. Creators & Guests Mick Sweetman - Host Sharleen Weatherley - Guest Pepper Saltman -...

Global Donut Days are here in Nanaimo and a community bike ride will mark the occasion. The Nanaimo Prosperity Corporation is taking part in the global event, which celebrates the Doughnut Economics framework. Creators & Guests Luis Zablah - Host Anni Thesen - Guest Photo: Doughnut from Nanaimo's Milk Jam Donuts, and Harbour City Donuts will be available to those joining for the community bike...

Water security, affordability and road safety are key issues for candidates running in Areas B and C for director in the Comox Valley Regional District. Creators & Guests Jeannie Lin - Host Ariel Becherer - Guest Gillian Anderson - Guest Arzeena Hamir - Guest Photo:  Voters in all areas can vote Saturday at the CVRD Civic Room at 770 Harmston Avenue in Courtenay. (Jeannie Lin / CHLY 101.7FM) S...

Three candidates are vying to become the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Nanaimo-Gabriola Island in this provincial election. The Conservatives declined to be interviewed. Photo:  From left to right are Anna Mary McKenzie for the BC Green Party, Sheila Malcolmson for the NDP and Mark McDonald for the Conservative Party of BC. Creators & Guests Mick Sweetman - Host Sheila Malcolmson - Gu...

When Kerri Isham watched the Netflix show Maid in 2021, she felt something had to be done to support women fleeing intimate partner violence in her own community. Photo:  As someone who has always made time to give back to the community, McGonigle (pictured) said she enjoys volunteering with the group, knowing she is making a difference. (Lauryn Mackenzie / CHLY 101.7FM) Support local news reporti...

A benefit concert for Orangutans will be held at St Andrews United Church featuring local dancing and a Jazz trio. Creators & Guests Luis Zablah - Host Teighan Couch - Guest Amy Kaellis - Guest Photo:  The benefit concert is part of The Orangutan Project, an initiative dedicated to raising awareness and funds to help Orangutans around the world. (Nadirsyah Nadirsyah / Pexels) Support local new...

Hul'q'umi'num' art, history and legacies on display in new city-wide virtual art tour in Nanaimo. Photo: Spindle Whorl by the late Joel Good on display at the Courtyard Marriott downtown Nanaimo. (City of Nanaimo) Support local news reporting through our Nonprofit Newsroom with a monthly sustaining donation of $5 to $10 a month . Want more news on the Salish Sea? Find more news from our Nonprofit...

During Monday’s October 5th council meeting, the Nanaimo Chinatown Heritage Foundation presented a delegation seeking to have buildings located at 880 and 997 Hecate St. added to the City of Nanaimo’s Community Heritage Register. Creators & Guests Luis Zablah - Host Sherron Soo - Guest Jerry Hong - Guest Olivia Spiden - Guest Photo: Representing the foundation (pictured), Olivia Spiden, Sonja...

Housing, affordability, infrastructure and transparency are among the key issues in the City of Courtenay’s municipal election. Creators & Guests Jeannie Lin - Host Photo:  Courtenay City Hall is located at 830 Cliffe Avenue. (Jeannie Lin / CHLY 101.7FM) Support local news reporting through our Nonprofit Newsroom with a monthly sustaining donation of $5 to $10 a month . Want more news on the S...

This past Sunday in Courtenay, Comox Valley community members gathered at Simms Park to call on the B.C. government to strengthen protections for old-growth forests, as part of a province wide rally. Creators & Guests Jeannie Lin - Host Owen Enright - Guest Photo:  Attendees at a local rally for Hands Off Old Growth, organized locally by Save Our Forests Comox Valley. (Jeannie Lin / CHLY 101.7...

With general voting day around the corner in Nanaimo and across the province, Vancouver Island University Students’ Union (VIUSU) is taking on a campaign to help students understand how local governments affect their everyday lives. Photo:  Rivoire (pictured) said students have reported housing, public transit, and access to services like healthcare and food donations as top priorities. (Lauryn Ma...

The Nanaimo District Teacher’s Association (NDTA) is organizing a forum to let the community meet potential trustees ahead of this month’s local elections. Creators & Guests Luis Zablah - Host Megan Simmer - Guest Photo:  The School Board Candidates forum, hosted by the NDTA, will kick off tomorrow, Thursday, October 8th at 6 p.m at the Beban Park Social Centre. (Photo by Jesse Woodward / CHLY...

With local elections happening across BC, Saturday October 17th, the City of Nanaimo has set up advance polls giving eligible voters the opportunity to lock in their votes early. Creators & Guests Sheila Gurrie - Guest Luis Zablah - Host Photo:   An elderly woman walks up the ramp at Beban Park’s Social Centre, at 2300 Bowen Road. (Photo by Jesse Woodward / CHLY 101.7FM) Support local news rep...