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Running 28 minutes, Midcoast Morning covers local news and current affairs happening in Nanaimo and on the Salish Sea. Midcoast Morning focuses in on one big story per show, interviewing reporters about their stories, as well as those making news and those impacted by it. We also feature the curators and creators in our local arts and culture scene. Midcoast Morning broadcasts every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning at 8:30 A.M.. The podcast edition releases at the same time.
Lauryn Mackenzie — Host and Producer.
Jesse Woodward — Executive Producer.
Arbie Fru — Technical Assistance.
And other contributors in our news department.
Have a lead on a story? Feedback regarding an episode? Drop us a line. We read all of our emails, and respond when we can.
This week Nanaimo city council heard from a group making the case for the city to get rid of minimum parking requirements. At that same meeting, construction downtown on Commercial Street was in the spotlight, with the city making street parking in the downtown area free for the duration.
Midcoast Morning speaks with Caelen Middleton of Strong Towns Nanaimo about parking minimums, and James Knight with the City of Nanaimo about the construction project underway on Commercial Street.
Read MoreThere’s a byelection this weekend to decide on a new school board trustee.
Two candidates are running to fill the vacancy left by former school district 68 board chair Charlene Mckay, who resigned in May.
On Saturday September 14th, from 8 am to 8 PM, voting will be held at the McGirr Elementary Gym, the Laydsmith Secondary Gym, the Cedar Secondary gym, and at the district Administration centre on Wakesiah Avenue.
There’s also a special voting day Thursday from 3 to 7 at the Gabriola Elementary School Gym, and on Friday at the District Administration Centre on Wakesiah Ave, Nanaimo
Midcoast Morning hears from the candidates.
Read MoreAt a ceremony at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre Thursday, Laurie Grubb, Joshua Waltman, Amanda Hall, and Peter Sinclair were presented with the King Charles the third coronation medal.
Last May it was announced that 30 thousand such medals would be awarded across Canada to individuals who have made a significant contribution to their country, province, region, or community.
Midcoast Morning hears from each of the recipients, to learn more about the impact they’ve made on Nanaimo.
Read MoreGenerative AI and Elections are in the spotlight in a new report from UBC’s Centre for the Study of Democratic Institutions.
The report identifies that Gen AI-created audio, video, and images have appeared in many election campaigns this year, including in Bangladesh, France, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
With BC’s own provincial election just around the corner, Midcoast Morning speaks with the report’s lead author, Spencer McKay
Read MoreCould the Hullo ferry transform Nanaimo into the public transit hub of Vancouver Island?
Urban planner and self described transit nerd Denis Agar thinks so.
He worked at trans link for a decade before leaving to become executive director of a non profit transit advocacy group called Movement.
The Hullo is run by the Vancouver Island Ferry Company.
It’s been sailing for over a year as of mid August, offering passenger only trips between the cruise ship terminal in Nanaimo and Canada Place in Vancouver
It’s the final long weekend of the summer and the BC government issued a release advising drivers to plan ahead with heavy traffic and congestion expected on B.C.’s most popular routes.
Agar says fundamentally, his hub proposal would mean people could get around Vancouver Island without a car.
Read MoreA Gabriola Pub is facing a court ordered sale, in the midst of foreclosure proceedings.
The Skol Pub near the Gabriola Island Ferry Terminal is listed for sale at $319, 000.
According to a Notice of Application filed with the BC Supreme Court Monday, and obtained by CHLY, the mortgage holder, Accountable Mortgage Investment Corp, will seek an order approving the sale on Monday September 23rd.
The notice of application states that a prospective buyer has come forward, and that the realtor for the property has stated that at least 4 realtors have indicated they believe their clients will be submitting competitive offers to court.
Under BCs sealed bid process for foreclosures, the deadline for bids is 4 PM, 2 business days before the hearing for sale approval.
That means anyone interested in submitting a bid for the Skol has until Thursday September 19th.
The Skol was last sold in 2014, details related to that transaction emerged in a BC Supreme Court decision earlier this year.
Midcoast Morning explores memories of the Skol.
Read MoreA plan to build a new water reservoir in Nanoose Bay has generated opposition among residents.
The Regional District of Nanaimo is currently running an alternative approval process(AAP), asking for permission to borrow up to around 1.2 million dollars, which would be close to half of the project’s budget.
The plan is to combine the restoration of an existing reservoir in the Lakes district of Nanoose with the construction of a new one.
The borrowing can’t go through if 538 or more electors within the Nanoose Bay Peninsula Water Service Area express their opposition through the AAP process.
Resident Paula Chase says she’s already collected forms from more than 800 people opposed to the project. She spoke with Midcoast Morning about her concerns.
Read MoreThe Palestine Solidarity Encampment has been cleared off of the grounds of VIU, following a Sunday deadline set out in an injunction from the BC Supreme Court.
The terms of the injunction granted differed from those originally sought by the university, which would have included a campus wide curfew, and police enforcement terms.
Instead the injunction grants the university the right to remove, store, or destroy materials on the grassy portion of the quad near VIU’s cafeteria for a term of 150 days. It also forbids the erecting of structures on the grassy quad area without the university’s consent, and gathering on the area between 11pm and 7 am, with the exception of students in residence.
The BC Civil Liberties Association was an intervenor in the case, and said in a statement that it has become increasingly concerned with injunctions being used to restrict protest rights.
Read MoreFrom the doctor shortage, to the lack of proper heart and stroke care, Nanaimo is suffering from an overburdened and underfunded healthcare system. Why is healthcare, the very thing Canada is known for, so hard to find on Vancouver Island? And what can be done to fix this situation?
Today we’ll speak with Donna Hais, chair of the Fair Care Alliance, about the disparity of healthcare between the Victoria area and regions North of the Malahat. We’ll learn about what the problems are, how they are interconnected, and in what ways we as citizens can push for our government to address these issues.
Then, after the break we’ll speak with MLA Sheila Malcolmson about what’s being done by the City of Nanaimo and B.C. government to rectify the imbalance, and alleviate the issues facing Nanaimo. We’ll discuss ways of attracting new doctors to the province, new projects the city is funding to address immediate healthcare needs, and get a better understanding of how taxes fund healthcare in Nanaimo.
Find out more about the Fair Care Alliance here: https://weneedhealthcare.ca/
Guests:
Donna Hais - Chair of the Fair Care Alliance
Sheila Malcolmson - Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction in Nanaimo
Read MoreOn the same weekend an icon of fire fighting history was making its final flight, crews were working to get a blaze under control just south of Nanaimo.
Midcoast Morning explores wildfire risk on the mid island, and explores the legacy and future of the Hawaii Mars waterbomber.
Read MoreToday on the show we’ll speak with Jamie Rose, Manager of Transportation for the City of Nanaimo, about the upcoming upgrades to the Country Club Transit Exchange. We’ll also get an update on the overall vision of Nanaimo’s transit roadmap, from the soon to break ground Downtown Exchange, to the future of Woodgrove and Southgate.
As part of the research for this story, Jack went to the Country Club exchange to speak with bus riders about the survey, and bring their questions directly to Jamie Rose.
As part of the upcoming upgrades to Country Club, the City of Nanaimo is reaching out to transit users with a survey on what they want to see. From food trucks to E-bike charging stations, we’ll look in depth at the options available for these upgrades.
Guests:
Jamie Rose - Manager of Transportation for the City of Nanaimo
On August 6th, 1945, the atomic bomb called Little Boy was dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. Three days later, another atomic bomb, Fat Man, was dropped on the city of Nagasaki. This was the first time, and to this day the last time nuclear weapons have been used in war.
Today we’ll speak with Tami Hirasawa, the president of the Central Vancouver Island Japanese Canadian Culture Society, AKA Seven Potatoes, about the history of displacement and dispossession which occurred throughout the II World War.
Also on the show, Theresa Hood, a member of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom’s Nanaimo chapter. Theresa will speak to the symbolism and importance of the annual Lanterns for Peace Ceremony, which occurs every August 6th, in Sway-a-Lana Lagoon.
Guests:
Tami Hirasawa - President of the Central Vancouver Island Japanese Canadian Culture Society, AKA Seven Potatoes
Theresa Hood - A member of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom’s Nanaimo chapter
Read MoreThe 19th Annual Nanaimo Blues Festival takes over Maffeo Sutton park this August 8th to 10th.
Today on the show we get a behind the scenes look at how the Blues Festival got started, and hear about the history of the Nanaimo Blues scene.
Listen to Jacquie Moisan, President of the Nanaimo Blues Society discuss the ins and outs of putting together the annual blues festival. Then hear from two blues musicians who will be performing this year; Ariel Posen, new age blues/rocker from Winnipeg; and David Gogo, local legend and Juno Award winning Canadian blues musician.
Read MoreNanaimo’s 14th annual Fringe Festival is back this year, and for the first time, Fringe Festival will have a satellite venue on Gabriola Island, as well as expanded stages in The Black Rabbit Attic for adult performances.
Listen in as we discuss what makes the Fringe Festival possible with Artistic Director Tamara McCarthy. How do you run a festival with a randomized lineup?
After the break, we’ll get to know one of the performers at Fringe Festival, Miss Divinity Rising, and hear how her show, Death’s Cabaret, was inspired by her life experiences in palliative care.
Read MoreAs Nanaimo maps out potential big builds over the next few years, it faces rising construction costs.
A South End Community Centre, upgrades to the public works yard and a new RCMP detachment are all under consideration at over the coming years.
At the same time, the cost of construction nationwide has risen more sharply than inflation since 2017 per statistics Canada. One source we’ll hear from today said costs are rising as much as one or two percent a month.
Midcoast Morning explores the phenomenon, and how it impacts the city’s plans.
Read MoreRules around RVs and tiny homes have been a hot topic of discussion around the board table at the Regional District of Nanaimo lately.
Concerns were raised in May that proposed updates to a zoning bylaw could negatively impact people using RVs as permanent housing on campgrounds in various areas of the regional district.
The bylaw is still under review, and while it is, enforcement on length of stay is on hold except where there’s a health, safety, or environmental concern.
The issue has also prompted discussion in articles from various media outlets about RVs and tiny homes in the context of the housing crisis.
At an RDN board meeting Tuesday, a motion from Director Leanne Salter called Creating a Future for Tiny Home and RV Living passed unanimously.
It proposed to bring a resolution to the Union of B.C. Municipalities calling on the body to lobby the province on a few issues related to tiny homes and RVs, including the building code.
Zoe Todd spoke in support of that motion, on Midcoast Morning, she speaks about her advocacy around Tiny Home and RV living, and the personal circumstances that led to it.
Read MoreVancouver Island University is suing student protestors, seeking an injunction to bring an end to the Palestine Solidarity Encampment on its grounds.
In a notice of civil claim, filed with the BC Supreme court this week, the university names six defendants, along with John Doe, Jane Doe, and “all unknown persons operating as the Palestinian Solidarity Encampment.”
In addition to injunctive relief, the university is seeking general and special damages, and costs.
Last week, Protestors had been ordered to vacate by Monday July 15th. The notice of civil claim comes after they failed to do so.
To better understand the legal stakes, Midcoast Morning spoke with University of Windsor law professor Richard Moon.
Read MoreA traditional Snuneymuxw Village site in downtown Nanaimo is being returned to the nation, and an 1854 treaty played a part in getting the deal done.
Between 1850 and 1854, fourteen treaties were concluded on Vancouver Island between First Nations and the Hudson’s Bay Company.
They were negotiated on the company’s side by James Douglas, and are sometimes collectively referred to by some as the Douglas treaties.
The Sarlequun treaty of 1854 covers the area around Nanaimo. Midcoast Morning spoke with history professor John Lutz to put the treaties in context.
Read MoreContinuing the conversation on considering socially responsible investing at the city level with Municipal Finance Authority (MFA) CEO Peter Urbanc.
And VIU has delivered a trespass notice to the Palestine Solidarity Encampment on its grounds, requesting that the encampment leave by 8AM, Monday July 15, or face a court action seeking damages from encampment participants.
Read MoreSocially responsible investing was the subject of a lively debate around the council table in Nanaimo on Monday.
Councillor Ben Gesselbracht brought forward a motion calling for a staff report with options to update the city’s investment policy to include a percentage of the city’s portfolio in socially responsible and low greenhouse gas emissions.
It narrowly passed following a 5-4 vote.
The issue was debated by the previous council in 2021, who came to a decision to pursue socially responsible and green investments when they were within 5 per cent of maximum available yields.
Nanaimo has around 200 million dollars in various reserve funds.
Midcoast Morning spoke with Gesselbracht, and broke down council’s debate on the subject with Peter Urbanc, CEO of BC’s Municipal Finance Authority (MFA).
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