Dozens of people held a candlelight vigil for Transgender Day of Remembrance at the historic Bastion in downtown Nanaimo on Monday, Nov. 20, which was lit up in the colours of the trans flag. People took turns reading the names of transgender and gender non-conforming people around the world who died from transphobia this year, including five from Canada. ★ Support this podcast ★
The Vancouver Island Short Film Festival is looking for budding young filmmakers for a new Youth Showcase. ★ Support this podcast ★
The Town of Ladysmith is looking at redesigning its “cacophony” of a flag. That’s what town councillor Jeff Virtanen called the current town flag at the committee of the whole meeting on Tuesday night. Mayor Aaron Stone says he likes the town’s flag, but sees value in updating it. CBC municipal affairs reporter Justin McElroy was surprised to learn that a Twitter thread he wrote in 2018 was part of the reason council was considering it. Dean McGee is an expert on municipal flags in British Colum...
Over 50 members of local governments in British Columbia, including several from Central Vancouver Island, have signed an open letter calling on the Canadian government to call for a ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. The letter is also calling on the federal government to support unrestricted access to humanitarian aid and a release of all hostages. ★ Support this podcast ★
On Monday, Nov. 6, Parksville city council unanimously passed a motion requesting that the province exempt lands in the city designated for resorts, tourist commercial use, the downtown waterfront and restricted recreation areas from Bill 35, which bans short-term rentals on properties other than the owner’s principal residence. Parksville Mayor Doug O’Brien says the new law could have a major impact on the city’s tourism sector. Minister of Housing Ravi Kahlon says that if Parksville wants to o...
Nanaimo Fire Chief Tim Doyle painted a dire picture of the overdose crisis to Nanaimo city council on Monday. According to Doyle, as of Monday, Nanaimo Fire Rescue have responded to 1,500 overdoses in 2023. Last year, the annual total was 672. ★ Support this podcast ★
About 300 people marched through downtown Nanaimo on Saturday, Nov. 4 calling for a ceasefire in Israel’s escalating war against Hamas in Gaza. It was part of a national day of action that saw protests take place in two dozen cities in Canada. According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, over 4,000 children have been killed since the start of Israel’s attack on Gaza following an attack by Hamas into Israel on Oct. 7. The ministry says over 8,000 children have been injured and 1,250 are missing. On ...
Lisa Marie Barron, the NDP Member of Parliament for Nanaimo - Ladysmith, is calling on the federal government to support a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip as it enters its third week. ★ Support this podcast ★
The 16th Annual Urban Film Festival is taking place on the evening Friday, Nov. 3 at Vancouver Island University (VIU). Matthew Bowes, a professor of geography and global studies, says that the film festival's vision is to educate and inspire. “Our vision here is really to educate, inspire people to promote sustainable cities,” he said. “We are showcasing the possibilities of walkable, accessible, car-free urban centres. The mission of this is to really spotlight those dynamic stories, from all ...
The City of Nanaimo has voted to allocate up to $230,000 to Risebridge to operate a daytime warming centre this winter that will run seven days a week between November 14 and March 31, 2024. The money is coming from approximately $400,000 that is available from the Asset Retirement Obligation Project Surplus Fund. Council also directed staff to call for expressions of interest from other organizations willing to run additional warming centres and for additional funds to be identified. ★ Support ...
This is the final week for residents of the City of Nanaimo to file their opposition to the city taking out a loan for up to $48.5 million for the first phase of a new operations centre. The first phase of a new operations centre would replace the public works yard built in the 1960s and cover foundational work for a new fleet maintenance facility, stormwater management infrastructure at the yard and at Fire Rescue Station number two, converting the Fire Training Tower to burn natural gas fires ...
On Wednesday Oct. 25, the City of Nanaimo held an open house about the future of the Five Acres Farm at 933 Park Ave. The property was purchased by the city in 2019 to preserve the farm’s growing areas and wetland, as well as build affordable housing on the section where an old farmhouse and a handful of heritage apple trees now stand. Participants were given a sticker to post on one of four options showing where affordable housing could be built. Options ranged from housing on one to two acres,...
Premier David Eby addressed the State of the Island Economic Summit in Nanaimo on Thursday morning, speaking about housing, transportation and the toxic drug crisis. The premier said the housing and affordability crisis is a drag on the provincial economy and that is why his government introduced legislation to regulate short-term rentals. ★ Support this podcast ★
The 17th Annual State of the Island Economic Summit opened at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre in downtown Nanaimo on Wednesday. The conference is organized by the Vancouver Island Economic Alliance, (VIEA) brings together local governments, business owners, and First Nations to network and discuss how to improve the Island’s economy. ★ Support this podcast ★
