Islanders - this is a podcast for you. Life on Vancouver Island isn’t all sunset strolls and forest bathing - it can be frustrating, isolating, and expensive. We're going to talk about the good, the bad, and everything in between. Hosted by Kathryn Marlow, every Thursday.
Bus service has long been a problem on the island, and it’s even more challenging now. We catch you up on the strike at Cowichan Valley Transit, and the cancellation of a bus route from Ucluelet and Tofino to Port Alberni. Plus, we try to find out if - or when - things might improve.
There is a new-to-B.C. ferry that two companies are testing here: it’s an all-electric passenger ship that could sail on commuter routes, or even between the island and the mainland. CBC Victoria’s Gregor Craigie got to ride on one, and he joins us to tell us how it works, how likely it is that it will enter regular service here - and why they call it a flying ferry.
We need more nurses and doctors, and they could be on their way. In this episode we hear from a doctor who is quitting his practice in Colorado to start at a new clinic in Colwood, and a nurse in Texas who is considering a move to Nanaimo. We’ll ask what’s enticing them to come north, and hear about some of the ways the provincial government is trying to encourage health care workers to move here to B.C.
Langford is upset it’s on the province's latest housing targets list, calling it “unfair.” But on the other side, the housing minister says it’s just about making sure everyone is on the same page - even the places that are already building a lot of new homes. On this episode, we hear from mayor Scott Goodmanson and minister Ravi Kahlon about what being on the list does, and doesn’t get you - and how the province picks the communities and sets the targets. Plus, their takes on where the infrastr...
What do baseball games, river floats, parades, and Schitt’s Creek trivia have in common? They’re all things you can do to celebrate pride on the island this summer! On this episode we talk about what pride is like in island communities, and about celebrating queer joy, honouring history, and fighting for future freedoms. The first of nearly 20 pride festivals on the island start this weekend -- with events in Cowichan, Port Alberni, and Victoria. The final events will be in the Comox Valley in A...
We love Tofino, but it’s not the only part of the island that’s worth a vacation! If you’re planning to stay local this summer, why not check out a less famous place - like the north island? In this episode, Indigenous tourism operator Mike Willie makes the case for his home territory. He talks about what you can see when you head out from Port McNeill or Port Hardy.
People who use handyDART in Greater Victoria say it’s getting harder and harder to book the rides they need, and they were hearing from staff it was because of service reductions. BC Transit says there have been no cuts - but users are still hitting roadblocks. We try to figure out why. HandyDART is public transit for people who can’t use the conventional bus due to disability.
For the past decade islanders have only elected NDP and Green members of parliament. But in the next federal government, the island will be represented by 3 Conservative MPs, 2 Liberals, 1 NDP and 1 Green. On this episode we look at what’s behind the shift, and hear from some of the election winners: Tamara Kronis, Aaron Gunn, Will Greaves, Stephanie McLean, Gord Johns and Elizabeth May. They talk about tariffs, affordability, housing, public safety, the opioid crisis, support for the resource s...
You’re likely getting used to seeing alternatives to plastic: cloth bags, paper straws, wooden utensils. But in this week’s episode we’ll hear about a B.C. group looking to make plastic out of seaweed, for use in the agriculture industry. Want to hear more about the emerging seaweed industry on the island? Check out another column from Imaginative Scientist Moronke Harris....
The federal election is less than two weeks away, but many voters on the island are struggling to decide how to vote. For some it’s down to Liberal versus Conservative, for others NDP versus Liberal, for some it’s still a total toss up. We’ll hear from folks in Esquimalt, Campbell River, Ucluelet, and more about what issues have them stuck.
The school board and the B.C. ministry of education were at odds for six months, until the province fired the elected trustees in January. Now the newly-appointed trustee is getting down to business, and the old trustees are going to court in hopes of getting their jobs back. We recap the SD61 drama, hear the latest on the safety plan and police in schools, and learn what official trustee Sherri Bell is thinking about for the future of the Greater Victoria school district. Note: This is Vancouve...
It’s not just big cities where public safety is a concern. In the Cowichan Valley, for example, there’s an area surrounding the Trans-Canada Highway where some residents and business owners say crime, drug use, and street disorder mean they don’t feel safe in their own community. It’s in the region’s urban core, where North Cowichan, Duncan, and Cowichan Tribes land meet. On this episode we talk to some of those people, as well as to those working to try and change things. ++++++++++++++++++++++...
A Victoria small business owner just got her first tariff bill. But even with the $1200 hit, she’s reluctant to stop importing products from her customers in the U.S. She says she’s worked hard to fill her shop with quality goods made by small businesses she believes in - and while many of those are Canadian, some happen to be in the United States. On this episode, we hear from the owner of Luna Collective about the tough decisions people like her have to face amidst the trade war, and what she ...
This month marks the 34 years since 4-year-old Michael Dunahee disappeared from a Victoria playground. It’s arguably the most well-known missing person case from the island, but it’s far from the only one. Laura Palmer produces “Island Crime,” a podcast that investigates true crime from our region, and she’s our guest this week. We talk about some of the cases she digs into, but also about how families and police feel about her work, and why she thinks some cases get more attention than others....
Sure, you know about the seafood. But did you know islanders make things like crackers? And mattresses? With everyone’s attention on “buy BC” and “buy Canadian,” we thought we’d zoom in even more and talk about how to “buy island.” We check in with two people who focus on island-made goods.
The B.C. Legislature is in session again for the first time in 9 months. We hear from some island MLAs, new and old, to hear what they’re up to so far - and what they think should happen next. They talk about changes to forestry and health care, and ways to make it easier to buy Canadian.
Bike theft has long been a concern of cyclists in Victoria, but new data shows there are fewer reasons to worry: 2024 saw the fewest reported stolen bikes in over a decade. On this episode, we look into why the number is dropping - and if cyclists feel more comfortable leaving their bikes downtown now. Plus: how to choose a good bike lock.
How is it that you can show up to the ferry terminal, not see many cars, but still have to wait multiple sailings? We hear how (and why) B.C. Ferries is allotting more and more space for drivers with reservations. Plus: why isn’t there a buffet on ferries anymore? And what’s replacing it? And a few other ferry-related tidbits.
A Mexican restaurant between two gas stations? A hole-in-the-wall you might have walked right by? Food blogger Sarah Au-Yeung (@NanaimoNoms) joins us to shout out some of her favourite restaurants in Nanaimo and beyond. If you’re looking to have a little escape with a meal out, “Dine About Mid-Vancouver Island” and “Dine Around Greater Victoria” are underway until February 9. Here are the restaurants she mentions, in order: Nori Japanese Restaurant (Nanaimo) Horang Market (Nanaimo) Danpung Momij...
On February 8, Victoria residents will decide whether the city can borrow up to $168.9 million to build a new Crystal Pool and Fitness Centre. They can also weigh in on which of two locations they'd prefer: on the site of the existing pool, or right beside it. Because Greater Victoria residents often cross municipal boundaries to use pools, the results could impact swimmers across the region. On this episode: what exactly the ballot questions are asking, and some arguments for and against each o...
The Victoria Queer Run Club launched in the summer of 2024 with two runners. Six months later, it has three regular run groups and a budding community. We hear how it started, and learn how anyone could be inspired to start their own community group - running or otherwise.
An investigation by CBC Victoria’s Emily Fagan found a rise in violent, threatening incidents facing staff at Greater Victoria Libraries. While it makes up a percentage of overall library visits, it is contributing to burnout and fatigue amongst library staff. She tells us about it.
News broke on New Year's Eve that the historic boardwalk and buildings at Telegraph Cove, on the north island, were burning. The photos were dramatic, and made it easy to assume the village was gone. But the people there want you to know: it didn't all burn! On this episode, we hear about what was lost, what remains, and what the future holds for Telegraph Cove.
On this episode: three stories of island-based acts of kindness to make you feel warm and fuzzy, no matter what you are (or aren’t) celebrating this December.
A recent attack on a city worker in Nanaimo renewed calls for help from the provincial and federal governments. Concerned residents want action to tackle what they say are unsafe streets. We ask B.C.'s new public safety minister what he'll do to help.
Mayne Island is the latest island facing deer troubles. In this episode we learn about what makes fallow deer such a challenge, why Mayne Islanders are asking for help, and what’s happening with the troubled efforts to remove invasive deer from Sidney Island.
B.C. Ferries says it is ending the Ferry Advisory Committees. For over 30 years, they’ve been the way that 13 ferry-dependent communities could formally comment on the service they get, and request changes. But B.C. Ferries says it's time to modernize the way it engages with the public, and to open the door wider so more people can weigh in. We hear from people who are disappointed with the news, those who are optimistic, and we get some ideas on how the new system should work.
With storm season underway, more than 150,000 BC Hydro customers in the Island region have already lost power at some point. So we head to a place where long outages are the norm in winter, to get some tips on how to deal with them. (Here’s a hint: the words “community” and “coffee” come up a lot.)
Right now Grace and James Phelan live just outside of Edmonton. They're thinking of moving to Vancouver Island, but can't decide if life here would be better than life in Alberta. In this episode, we help them weigh the pros and cons.
As the communities of the West Shore continue to grow, would it make sense for them to quit being suburbs and instead form their own region apart from Greater Victoria? On this week's episode, we look at the pros and cons of working together as a capital region - and ask the existential question "is the West Shore part of Greater Victoria?"
