Midcoast Morning

Host Joe Pugh speaks with Dr. Alexander Netherton, professor of political science at Vancouver Island University regarding the results of the recent federal election. He also speaks with Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, president of the BC Union of Indian Chiefs, who says the election campaign diverted attention from indigenous issues. Stephanie Fung from the Unite Local 40 speaks about a protest put...

Host Joe Pugh speaks with Andrew Gage from West Coast Environmental Law regarding some upcoming hearings related to logging at Fairy Creek. He also completes our series of interviews with the local candidates for the federal election by speaking with Stephen Welton of the People’s Party of Canada. Still with the election, Andrea Marantz from Elections Canada explains the reasons for and potential...

Host Joe Pugh investigates the Back to School plan from kindergarten to grade 12 students in BC. He speaks with Dale Burgos, executive director of Communications with school district 68 about what the plan is, as well as with Teri Mooring, president of the BC Teachers Federation on her organizations concerns. Joe also speaks with Dr. Sandra Allison, Medical Officer for the Central Island Region of...

Interviews with the Candidates from the Nanaimo-Ladysmith Riding in the upcoming federal election. Lisa Marie Barron of the NDP, Paul Manly of the Green Party, Tamara Kronis of the Conservative Party, and Michelle Corfield of the Liberal Party. Music: Elected - Alice Cooper Program Team: Joe Pugh — Host and Producer. Elijah Robinson — Co-host and producer. Jesse Woodward —Production Assistance. Ar...

Following Sunday’s announcement of a federal election, co-host Elijah Robinson speaks with Andrea Marantz, BC Spokesperson for Elections Canada, about the changes Canadians can expect while voting amidst a pandemic. Elijah also speaks with Melissa Chirino, Chairperson of the BC Federation of Students, about the Influence the Vote campaign, which is aimed at mobilizing student voters in the upcomin...

In the wake of the latest report from the International panel on climate change, host Joe Pugh speaks with Heather Baitz of the Nanaimo Climate Action Hub, as well as Jeremy Holm, Director of Development Approvals at the City of Nanaimo to find out more about plans to tackle the climate crisis on a local level. Elijah Robinson checks in with Erika Berg, fire information officer of the BC Wildfire...

Elijah Robinson speaks with new RCMP Superintendent Lisa Fletcher on her recent appointment and approach to policing in the city. Plus Joe Pugh talks to Dr. William Weller about the Perseid meteor shower lighting up the skies this week. He also speaks with Bryony Dixon, the artistic managing producer of Nanaimo Fringe about the festival which is set to take centre stage this week. And a conversati...

Host Joe Pugh Speaks with Bill Sims, General Manager of Engineering and Public Works with the City of Nanaimo on plans for a transit hub on Terminal Ave. He also talks with Derek Downes from the North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre about a white Raven they’ve been taking care of. Plus a conversation with Taimi Mulder regarding the Earthquake situation in BC following a magnitude 8.2 quake in Alas...

In the wake of the provincial government’s announcement of funding further research into the grounds of former residential school sites and Indian Hospitals, Elijah Robinson talks to 'Na̱mg̱is Chief Don Svanvik about the nation’s plans to search the grounds of the former St. Michaels’s residential school for unmarked remains. Joe Pugh speaks with Professor Laurie Meijer Drees from VIU about the hi...

Host Joe Pugh talks to NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh at Departure Bay Beach about election speculation. He also checks in with Parksville native Alicia Butterworth who is heading to Tokyo to compete in the Olympic Steeplechase. Plus a conversation with Andy Day, CEO of the BC Parks Foundation on recent purchases of multiple Gulf Islands in the Salish Sea. And, Joe speaks with Nanaimo Children’s author...

Elijah Robinson speaks with Past President of Nanaimo Pride Lauren Semple on the defacing of Nanaimo’s rainbow crosswalk and pride Mural Joe Pugh checks in with Karen Lindsay, Manager of the City of Nanaimo’s emergency program on wildfire risk and the city’s preparedness. Elijah also talks to Mariah Charelson, Vice President of the Nuu-Chah-Nulth Tribal Council about recent developments in court p...

Host Joe Pugh visits Orange Day in the Bay on Snaw-naw-as territory in Nanoose. He also speaks with City of Nanaimo Social Planner Dave Stewart about the response to the heatwave, and visits the Nanaimo Pirates of the BC Premier Baseball league on the road in Parksville. Finally, a conversation with Vicki Wojcik of Pollinator Partnership Canada about Duncan’s new status as Vancouver Island’s first...

Elijah Robinson speaks with VIU’s new chancellor Kekinusuqs or Dr. Judith Sayers on her position and issues in indigenous communities. Joe Pugh talks with Corrie Corfield assistant executive director of The Island Crisis Care Society about their upcoming purchase of the Nanaimo Bakery and Confectionary. Elijah also follows up on a recently released report from the Nanaimo RCMP on policing in May b...

Host Joe Pugh examines efforts to found the first urban independent indigenous school in British Columbia. Interviews with Joy Bremner, leader of the Mid Island Metis, as well as Dale Burgos, executive director of communications with Nanaimo Ladysmith schools. Joe also speaks with Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog about his support of the “Vancouver Model” that looks to decriminalize simple possession of...

Joe Pugh speaks with protestors at an Extinction Rebellion Nanaimo protest, as well as MLA Sheila Malcolmson about developments in the Fairy Creek Logging Saga. Paula Zerpa discusses changes in the Nanaimo Pride Society board of directors with Corinne Devison, the Events Director with Nanaimo Pride. Joe also speaks with Adam Taylor from the Marmot Recovery Society about the Vancouver Island Marmot...

Mick speaks with speak with Carl Buttersworth about Vancouver Island University’s new Seafood Innovation Station. Mick also gets a COVID-19 update from Island Health’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Richard Stanwick and Victoria Schmid VP of Pandemic Planning. He also speaks with Logan Clifford on a rally for missing and murdered indigenous women and girls she’s organizing in Courtenay. We also feature...

Mick Sweetman spoke with Sara Ladret, a woman who was sleeping in Italian Square Park downtown when the city and police kicked her out and fenced off the entire parkette. We also spoke with Mayor Leonard Krog about why the city continues to break up encampments. Joe Pugh also brings us an interview with Holly Bright and Samantha Tydion Price of Crimson Coast Dance about their 17th annual body-talk...

It’s the one-year anniversary of COVID-19. Mick Sweetman speaks with Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog on how Nanaimo’s been impacted, and how we will recover. Mick talks housing with Julie Chadwick, a reporter with The Discourse and David Eby, the Attorney General and Minister Responsible for Housing. Joe Pugh brings us part one of an interview with Vancouver band the Fugitives on their album “Trench So...

The inaugural launch of Mid Coast Morning, CHLY 101.7 FM’s new weekly current affairs show airing every Saturday morning at 9 A.M. In our first episode host Mick Sweetman speaks with Shannon McDonald, Acting Chief Medical Officer for the First Nations Health Authority, on why COVID-19 is disproportionately impacting First Nations. He also spoke with Nanaimo City Councillor Don Bonner on the upcomi...