Midcoast Morning

Midcoast Morning visits a temporary housing site in Cedar that is set to welcome 50 people over the coming months. Located at 1300 Island Highway South, the site is described as temporary housing, funded for three years through the provincial HEART/HEARTH program, which is intended to respond to homelessness. Made up of small modular units, day to day operations will be managed by Connective Suppo...

This week members of Nanaimo City Council got an update on the state of services for people experiencing homelessness at a Governance and Priorities Committee Meeting. A report from city staff indicated access to basic services for people experiencing homelessness has decreased compared to a decade ago. Midcoast Morning spoke with the city’s manager of social planning to explore why. South End Com...

“Despite increased demand, access to basic needs services in Nanaimo has declined over the past decade,” says a report from staff at the City of Nanaimo. Leaders in health, housing, and a number of other sectors came together Monday to provide an update on the state of services for people experiencing homelessness in Nanaimo at a Governance and Priorities Committee meeting Monday. Midcoast Morning...

A VIU and CHLY alumni was back in Nanaimo Thursday for the launch of a graphic novel telling stories from his home nation of Xwemalhkwu(Homalco) Tchadas Leo is a journalist with CHEK News, and for the last number of years he’s been leading the work on Xwemalhkwu Hero Stories, which tells a trio of stories inspired by elders from the nation. With a launch event for the graphic novel Thursday at VIU...

At a meeting Monday, Nanaimo city council voted 6-3 to reconsider a plan to build a boathouse with rentable community space at Loudon Park by Long Lake. The decision to reconsider was prompted by a motion from councillor Tyler Brown. The gallery at the Vancouver Island Conference centre was near capacity at times during the meeting, with a number of people bringing signs expressing opposition to t...

New exhibition After Wrappers From the art collective Big Rock Candy Mountain launches tonight at the Nanaimo Art Gallery. Featuring the work of Hannah Jickling, Reed H. Reed, a variety of guest artists, and elementary school students, it’s going to be running through July 12th. Midcoast Morning spoke with Art Gallery curator Jesse Birch. The Office of the Auditor General of BC has finished a look...

24 People could be forced to the streets this week as funding for a shelter in Nanaimo is set to expire. The nonprofit Risebridge has been operating a shelter on Prideaux Street since the fall, funded by BC Housing on a temporary winter shelter contract. On February 12th Risebridge reached out to BC housing to inquire about the possibility of extending the shelter contract. On February 27th they w...

In the lead up to this year’s federal election, Midcoast Morning is bringing you interviews with our local candidates in the Nanaimo-Ladysmith Riding. On this program Lisa Marie Barron. Plus, after being unable to arrange a conversation with Conservative candidate Tamara Kronis, Midcoast Morning spoke with University of Guelph political science professor Julie Simmons about a lack of media availab...

In the lead up to this year’s federal election, Midcoast Morning is bringing you interviews with our local candidates in the Nanaimo-Ladysmith Riding. On this program - Paul Manly and Michelle Corfield. ★ Support this podcast ★

Ten days out from the April 28th federal election, Midcoast Morning paid a visit to local café White Rabbit, hoping to hear what’s top of mind for voters in Nanaimo as they get ready to head to the polls. We bring listeners those conversations. Support Midcoast Morning and our Nonprofit Newsroom with a monthly sustaining donation of $5 to $10 a month. ★ Support this podcast ★

Labour leaders were in Nanaimo this week, looking to put the spotlight on healthcare issues in this federal election. The presidents of the Canadian Labour Congress and the Hospital Employees Union spoke to media outside of Nanaimo Regional General Hospital Monday, decrying privitization in the Canadian healthcare system and calling on federal leaders to give more attention to healthcare issues. M...

Midcoast Morning follows up on Nanaimo City Council’s 5-4 decision to build an activity centre at Loudon Park by Long Lake, speaking with a councillor whose vote changed following incorrect information from staff, as well as the president of the group that’s spent decades trying to improve boat storage at the park. ★ Support this podcast ★

A planned activity centre at Long Lake has the Nanaimo & Area Land Trust(NALT), and a member of city council raising concerns about tree loss.  Nanaimo city council changed course this week, narrowly voting in favour of a plan to spend close to $11 million building a new facility for boat storage and with community space at Loudon Park next to Long Lake. At a previous Finance and Audit Committ...

Four major new BC Ferries are on the way but plans for a fifth have been rejected for now. The new ships will replace four aging vessels, the Queens of Cowichan, Alberni, Coquitlam and New Westminster. It’s the largest capital project in the history of BC Ferries. The first of the new vessels are expected to enter service in 2029, with all four operational by 2031. BC Ferries had requested permiss...

Vancouver Island University is getting set to search for a new president. Last week current president Deborah Saucier announced her resignation as of April fourth. The move followed a vote of non confidence in her leadership from the VIU Faculty Association and a call for her removal from the Vancouver Island University Students Union (VIUSU). Midcoast Morning speaks with a representative from VIU...

Nanaimo’s northern gateway could look very different in 20 years. The city is refining its plan for the Woodgrove area, and aims to add much denser housing to an area currently covered in concrete and chain stores. Midcoast Morning speaks with Kasia Biegun from The City of Nanaimo planning department, and Michael Bassili of Strong Towns Nanaimo about the area. ★ Support this podcast ★

Familiar faces are lining up for what projects to be a tight Nanaimo race in the federal election. All five candidates from the 2021 federal election are set to run again for their respective parties. Incumbent MP Lisa Marie Barron of the NDP is looking to retain her seat. 2021 runner up Tamara Kronis is once again representing the Conservative party, and former MP and current city councillor Paul...

It’s going to cost a quarter more to ride the bus in Nanaimo. April 1 transit fares are going up for the first time in years, following a fare review process. A single ride will now cost $2.75 and a day pass $5.50 The price of Monthly concession passes for seniors and youth are also going up by $5. The cost of a standard monthly bus pass remains the same at $65. There’s also one route that’s decre...

The company that built the Nanaimo Bastion could be looking at the end of the line. The Hudson’s Bay Company is seeking creditor protection and is expected to begin liquidating inventory at stores across Canada in the very near future. Midcoast Morning explores what’s going on with The Bay now, and the role it played in Nanaimo’s coal mining roots. ★ Support this podcast ★

With trout being pumped into local freshwater lakes, and the herring spawn catching the attention of fishers on the saltwater side, Midcoast Morning explores the Nanaimo fishing scene. ★ Support this podcast ★

Permitting delays and Cost uncertainty are among the concerns expressed this week by home builders on Vancouver Island. The Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce gathered contractors and other key players in the construction industry together Tuesday for an Island Housing Solutions Roadmap event at the coast bastion hotel. Midcoast Morning attended and spoke with members of the Canadian Homebuilders Associa...

Cities, towns, and community organizations across Vancouver Island are increasingly leaving behind X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. This week Ladysmith joined Parksville as some of the latest communities to either shut down or publicly back away from use of the platform. Midcoast Morning speaks with the town’s communications and engagement specialist who says the decision wa...

As The City of Nanaimo attempts to deal with unruly conduct during council meetings, a proposed ban on recording has some councillors raising concerns. Bylaw changes that include bans on photography and audio and video recordings of council meetings passed three readings at a February 24th council meeting, with council voting 7-2 in favour of the changes. Under the rules, which would still need to...

Concerns about a potential loss of representation, and a new implementation plan have caused farmers to make their voices heard at the regional district of Nanaimo so far this year.   In January, a staff report presented the RDN board with the option of consolidating a number of committees, One of them was the Agricultural Advisory Committee or AAC, which is made up of members of the farming commu...

The City of Nanaimo is taking another step on the road to replacing its aging public works yard. Nanaimo city council voted 6 to 3 in favour of a plan to fund more detailed designs for the project. The city is looking to upgrade facilities on Labieux road by building a new administration building and a new fleet maintenance facility, where it would service vehicles like garbage trucks and snow plo...