Local News Update

Sometimes laughter is the best medicine and a new laughter yoga class is finding new ways to help people destress and boost happiness. Crystal Lee, a certified laughter yoga leader and a career coach, has started offering laughter yoga classes in Nanaimo. She describes laughter yoga as a series of movements and breathing exercises designed to simulate laughter and cultivate an inner sense of joy. ...

The City and Regional District of Nanaimo are looking for people to join the Acting for Climate Together program, or ACT, for a second year. Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog says that the program is part of a larger effort to reduce the impact of climate change. “Basically, we're saying to people get together, organize yourselves and do something that will have a positive impact on the environment,” he...

The City of Nanaimo is welcoming 21 artists and designers from across the province to its Urban Design Roster for a two-year term. The artists will help beautify the city with murals on city buildings, surface treatment on play areas and spashpads, and wraps of utility boxes and kiosks.  One of those artists is Sandy Pell, who along with her husband Steve are known for creating engaging murals acr...

To celebrate Black History Month, Crimson Coast Dance is bringing a month-long event to connect those to African culture. This is the fourth year Crimson Coast Dance has put on its annual African Connections event. This event celebrates and educates people about Africa and the culture of it. The event has already kicked off with a North African dance workshop this past Sunday and last night was th...

On Thursday, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry released a review of the province’s prescribed safer supply program, which provides alternatives to the toxic supply of street drugs.  Henry says that the review was done to better understand the impact of BC’s Safer supply program.  Sarah Lovegrove is professor of Nursing at Vancouver Island University, who is a member of the Harm Reduction...

February first is the start of Black History Month and the local Nanaimo group, Nanaimo African Heritage Society (NAHS) is kicking off the celebration and honouring the history of black pioneers from Vancouver Island  Shalema Gantt is the president and founder of the Nanaimo African Heritage Society. The society was created 24 years ago when Gantt first moved to Nanaimo and did not find any repres...

BC’s housing minister Ravi Kahlon says that a recent report by the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation shows that the government can’t rely on the private market to address the housing crisis. “Quite frankly, we’re 20 years behind when it comes to building affordable housing, because for almost 20 years, the government decided, hey, this is not our place, the private sector will solve it,” h...

February first is the start of Black History Month and the local Nanaimo group, Nanaimo African Heritage Society (NAHS) is kicking off the celebration and honouring the history of black pioneers from Vancouver Island  Shalema Gantt is the president and founder of the Nanaimo African Heritage Society. The society was created 24 years ago when Gantt first moved to Nanaimo and did not find any repres...

The average price for a vacant two-bedroom apartment in Nanaimo has jumped to just under $2,000 according to the latest rental market report by the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation. The price of a vacant two-bedroom apartment in the city went up by $115 last year jumping from $1,841 in October 2022 to $1,956 a year later. Nanaimo city councillor Hilary Eastmure is part of a growing number...

Victims who have had intimate images shared without their consent can now access new supports to stop the distribution and to take back control of their images. Along with the new Intimate Images Protection Act, a partnership with the provincial government and the Civil Resolution Tribunal (CRT) has launched the Intimate Images Protection Service. This will help people quickly access resources on...

The province of British Columbia and the City of Nanaimo have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that outlines the shared responsibility for reducing homelessness in the city. The province also announced that it finalized a lease at 1300 Island Highway South and 10th Street for a temporary transitional housing project. Prefabricated buildings will be used to house up to 50 people in the Ch...

Amongst the bustling downtown area, in an old bank building is the Vault Cafe. The cafe which has been known as a hub for coffee and community, is celebrating its ten-year anniversary this weekend. Amanda Scott never imagined herself owning a cafe. But, when the opportunity to buy the location came up and her friend decided to play some tricks on her to talk to the then-owner, everything fell into...

B.C.’s Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe announced on Wednesday that 2,511 people in the province died from unregulated drugs in 2023, including 112 people in Nanaimo. Unregulated drugs are now the leading cause of death for people aged 10 to 59 in British Columbia, accounting for more deaths than homicides, suicides, accidents and natural disease combined.   “This week, I lost three people that were cl...

January 24th is Bell Let’s Talk Day, a day started by the telecommunications company Bell to bring awareness and support to those experiencing mental health problems. For the day, Thrive was on campus at Vancouver Island University (VIU) to bring awareness to the day and give students options to find support for their mental health.  Brie Mcnevin is a Student Wellness Promoter with Thrive and an E...

Amélie Blanchard, a registered art therapist, is facilitating a drop-in vision board session for teens at the Nanaimo Art Gallery on Wednesday, January 24.  Her workshop on Wednesday will help teens focus on their goals for the year.  “A vision board can help us get clear on our goals, but it can enhance relaxation, and play,” she said. “Everybody needs some sort of creative play in their life so...

The Green Party of Canada’s Indigenous affairs critic Angela Davidson, also known as Rainbow Eyes, was convicted of seven counts of criminal contempt of court on January 18 for her participation in an anti-logging blockade near Fairy Creek on West Vancouver Island in 2021 and 2022. In his judgment, Chief Justice Hinkson wrote that “Ms. Davidson’s conduct was defiant, repeated and public, and certa...

Pickleball has been a hot topic over the last couple of years for council members on Vancouver Island. From both the growth in popularity and the noise it can cause, towns like Qualicum Beach are finding ways to embrace the sport. On Wednesday, January 17th Qualicum Beach Council designated a proposed new location for a pickleball court. This comes after members of the community and the Qualicum B...

The City of Nanaimo is holding an Alternative Approval Process starting on January 18 to seek approval from voters for a $48.5 million loan for the first phase of the Nanaimo Operations Centre. ★ Support this podcast ★

It’s a snow day for students in the Nanaimo-Ladysmith, Qualicum and Comox Valley School Districts as all classes are cancelled today. ★ Support this podcast ★

Paige Pierce, 21, is Nanaimo’s new Youth Poet Laureate after being appointed to the position by Nanaimo city council for a two year term. An education student at Vancouver Island University, Pierce is working towards being a high school teacher. Pierce says she plans to facilitate poetry workshops for youth in the city, host poetry cafes and poetry slams. “The main goal is going to be just to star...

At a Nanaimo city council meeting on Monday, January 15th, council voted in favour of writing a letter of support to Habitat for Humanity Mid-Vancouver Island for a future project in the city. Jeff Krafta, executive director for Habitat for Humanity Mid-Vancouver Island, spoke to council about the request for the letter. He said the letter would be to support a 26-until muti-family affordable hous...

This week was the start of hearings at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) as South Africa alleged that the state of Israel is violating the Genocide Convention during its military operations in the occupied Gaza strip. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters on Friday that Canada supports the International Court of Justice, but does not agree with South Africa’s case against Is...

Gabriola Islanders will want to double-check how they will be commuting to Vancouver Island and back starting next week, as BC Ferries starts night work on both terminals. Deborah Marshall, Executive Director of Public Affairs for BC Ferries said commuters can expect water taxi-only service on certain late-night and early morning sailings starting January 15th to January 19th. This will allow for...

Better prevention and detection for cervical cancer is now possible as BC becomes the first province in the country to launch at-home self-screening kits for the human papillomavirus also known as HPV. Starting January 29th women and individuals with a cervix aged 25 to 69 can choose to order a free kit to self-screen for HPV.  The province government will transition to this self-screening model t...

With temperatures forecast to drop to -10C overnight and a special weather statement for significant snowfall, two of the three warming centres funded by the City of Nanaimo will be extending their hours to help keep people out of the cold. The warming center operated by Island Crisis Care Society at 2025 Bowen Road will be open 24 hours a day for the duration of extreme cold and has space for 60...