Local News Update

BreakOut West is a Western Canadian music event that brings artists and industry professionals for performances, networking and career development. Coming to Victoria this October, it gives musicians a chance to perform, make connections, and build their careers, while also showcasing Victoria’s music scene.  Among the artists performing at BreakOut West this year are Saskatchewan-born and based m...

The Nanaimo Horticulture society celebrated its 80th anniversary at Maffeo Sutton Park last weekend, inviting gardeners and green thumbs of all stripes to participate and have fun. Creators & Guests Luis Zablah - Host Mike O'Neil - Guest Connie Kuramoto - Guest Kitty Chadwick - Guest Support local news reporting through our Nonprofit Newsroom with a monthly sustaining donation of $5 to $10 a m...

Loaves & Fishes Community Food Bank is partnering with Vancouver Island University to open a new Free Food Market on campus, to help fight against food insecurity for students and the Nanaimo community. Creators & Guests Lauryn Mackenzie - Host Chris Yeast - Guest Peter Sinclair - Guest Support local news reporting through our Nonprofit Newsroom with a monthly sustaining donation of $5 to...

A retired sailboat was given a new purpose at Comox Marina Park last week, transformed into a colourful display of locally grown flowers for Canadian Flowers Week. The installation, called Opti in Bloom , was created by Emily Yewchuk, owner of Wildflower Mercantile, a flower shop in Comox. Creators & Guests Jeannie Lin - Host Emily Yewchuk - Guest Support local news reporting through our Nonpr...

A local men’s group is fighting isolation by bringing retired men together to help support the community.   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 ★

The Old City Quarter gets funky with the debut tailgate party from the Sounds of Summer Concert Series. The event will bring a full outdoor concert experience with the help of local food trucks and vendors, celebrating Vancouver Island's music talent with a diverse lineup of live music, blues, folk funk, modern rock and DJ performances. Creators & Guests Luis Zablah - Host Angie Jones - Guest...

Courtenay residents are being asked to help shape the future of Bill Moore and Dogwood parks by providing feedback on three proposed designs via an online survey. Creators & Guests Jeannie Lin - Host Joy Chan - Guest 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 Non...

New life is being brought to an old school that had been sitting empty for over ten years. 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 ★

Downtown Nanaimo gets ready to turn up the music and hit the dance floor, as the city's first Street Dance Festival takes over Diana Krall Plaza this weekend. The festival is bringing dance outside, inviting the community to watch or take part in a celebration of different dance styles and cultures.  Creators & Guests Luis Zablah - Host Nathaniel Tougas - Guest Sukhi Sangha - Guest Support loc...

Youth ages 12 to 18 in the Regional District of Nanaimo will be able to use BC Transit for free starting this school year. Creators & Guests Lauryn Mackenzie - Host Scott Myers - Guest 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 n...

A group of Courtenay residents is raising concerns about the City of Courtenay’s plans to build a trail extension in Bear James park. According to the City of Courtenay, the city planned to construct a 75-metre soft-surface trail to improve park access. The trail extension project was intended to connect to the existing trail network and provide access for infrastructure maintenance and emergency...

The City of Nanaimo is investing in the south side, by extending the E&N Trail. Adding approximately 900 metres of a multi-use path located between Junction Avenue and Extension Road. Creators & Guests Luis Zablah - Host Charlotte Davis - Guest Thomas Bevan - Guest Support local news reporting through our Nonprofit Newsroom with a monthly sustaining donation of $5 to $10 a month . Want mor...

The Hub City Soap Box Derby prepares for its 5th annual race, rallying the community once again to help Nanaimo’s nonprofit Child Development Centre, this Saturday August 15th. Creators & Guests Luis Zablah - Host Kimberlee Howland - Guest Jason Clayton - Guest Support local news reporting through our Nonprofit Newsroom with a monthly sustaining donation of $5 to $10 a month . Want more news o...

The Town of Comox is moving ahead with the rezoning of 721 Lazo Road, after months of public discussion and technical reviews. According to the Town of Comox , the decision was made to balance environmental protection with the interests of the community. Creators & Guests Jeannie Lin - Host Kelvin Humenny - Guest Jordan Wall - Guest Kathleen Duffield - Guest Support local news reporting throug...

Sarah Lovegrove has announced that she intends to run for mayor, joining Anne Marie Dryden and incumbent Leonard Krog in the race. Lovegrove is a registered nurse and professor of nursing at Vancouver Island University in her late 30s. She made her announcement online on Monday morning August 10th. Lovegrove has a long history of community advocacy around issues of harm reduction and human rights....

The fringe has returned to the harbour city for 2026. The Nanaimo Fringe Festival features 18 shows, 97 performances and a variety of new community events, continuing its goal of supporting independent artists while encouraging audiences to experience live theatre in new ways. Creators & Guests Liam Prendergast - Host Nicholas Guerreiro - Guest Annie Konstantinov - Guest Yvette Dudley - Guest...

For 25 years Culture Craze, a local Nanaimo business has been steadily growing across Canada, and for a good portion of those years, Lisa Hayward has been at the helm of it. Creators & Guests Cynthia deConinckSmith - Host Lisa Hayward - Guest 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? F...

Construction is officially underway on a new supportive housing project at Braidwood Road in Courtenay. Led by BC Housing, the project will provide long-term supportive housing and emergency shelter for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness in the Comox Valley. Creators & Guests Jeannie Lin - Host Jennifer Fox - Guest Geoff Garbutt - Guest Support local news reporting through our Nonp...

BreakOut West is returning to Victoria this October for the first time in more than a decade, bringing artists, music industry professionals and fans from across Western Canada together for four days of performances, networking and professional development. Creators & Guests Liam Prendergast - Host Liam Prost - Guest Support local news reporting through our Nonprofit Newsroom with a monthly su...

The Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) has announced that starting October 19th, drivers with Class 7 or 8 novice licenses and a clean driving record will not need a second road test to acquire their Class 5. Creators & Guests Luis Zablah - Host Jeffrey Near - Guest Support local news reporting through our Nonprofit Newsroom with a monthly sustaining donation of $5 to $10 a month...

Nanaimo’s SPCA’s summer camps are teaching the youth about animal life. It started with only a few summer camps in the early nineties, and has since evolved into 10 major cities offering summer camps across B.C. These camps, for ages six to 14, allow for children to gain knowledge on animal care and how to coexist with companion animals and wildlife. All of this is packaged with fun activities to...

When Amelie Su first moved to Nanaimo she wanted to learn about the history of the area. Creators & Guests Lauryn Mackenzie - Host Amelie Su - Guest 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 . ★...

The fifth annual Snuneymuxw Days brought people together on the traditional territory of the Snuneymuxw First Nation this past weekend to celebrate culture, community and competition. Creators & Guests Chief Mike Wyse - Guest Liam Prendergast - Host Eli Wyse - Guest Support local news reporting through our Nonprofit Newsroom with a monthly sustaining donation of $5 to $10 a month . Want more n...

The Comox Valley chapter of Friends of Rails to Trails Vancouver Island (FORT-VI) is proposing to transform a four-kilometer section of the Island Rail Corridor between Courtenay Rotary Trail and Royston into an active transportation trail. Creators & Guests Jeannie Lin - Host Barb Sharpe - Guest Dominique McGrady - Guest Daniel Arbour - Guest Thomas Bevan - Guest Support local news reporting...

It has been ten years since a fire swept through the Jean Burns building leaving a large hole in the centre of Nanaimo’s downtown. 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...