Local News Update

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...

A local society is celebrating five years working to decrease clothing waste and to make the cost of Halloween a little less spooky. Photo:  Armet said as they grow every year, the amount of costumes they are able to collect and donate, grows as well. (Lauryn Mackenzie/ CHLY 101.7FM) Support local news reporting through our Nonprofit Newsroom with a monthly sustaining donation of $5 to $10 a month...

Semiu Oyolola can see the positive impacts soccer has in Nanaimo. As a former soccer player, or football player as he says, he knew the importance of kids being able to access sports. Photo Credit: Nanaimo City FC / Luis Alexander . 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...

The 6th annual Comox Valley Spirit Walk, organized by the MIKI'SIW Métis Association, highlighted the importance of showing up, learning from the past and continuing the work of reconciliation. Creators & Guests Jeannie Lin - Host Chrys Sample - Guest Photo:  The crowd gathered at Simms Park for the afternoon to honour National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. (Jeannie Lin / CHLY 101.7FM) Sup...

Several electoral areas for the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN), and Islands Trust are uncontested this election season, but voters in areas A, B, G and H can still impact the race for their local school boards. Creators & Guests Luis Zablah - Host Mark Walsh - Guest Jacquie Hill - Guest Support local news reporting through our Nonprofit Newsroom with a monthly sustaining donation of $5 to...

The Regional District of Nanaimo is holding a referendum to authorize borrowing to replace a water main that’s failed twice in the last decade. Creators & Guests Luis Zablah - Host Rocky Chowdhury - Guest Photo:  The Watermain failed in 2019, and then again in 2025, 30 metres down the line. Each incident caused severe road damage as pressurized water burst below Carmichael Road. (Photo provide...

More than 200 people took part in the inaugural Monster Marmot Trail Run at Mount Washington on Sunday morning, with the event raising money for the Marmot Recovery Foundation. Creators & Guests Nick Thornton - Guest Jeannie Lin - Host 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 mor...

Voters will get to hear from candidates running for Nanaimo city council at an upcoming Civic Engagement Forum. 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 Newsroom with our local news updates and Midcoast Morning . ★ Support this podcast ★