Two stories about making a change in the environment, one on a systems level, and one about a community member trying to make a difference

The British Columbia Community Forest Association gathered in Nanaimo for a three day conference this week, Midcoast Morning explores the state of community forests in the province with the group’s executive director.

Plus Jim Senka says an experience in Northern Manitoba changed the way he looked at development and the environment. He shares the role that story played in leading the 81 year old to seek out a habitat restoration grant for his home in Harewood.

The O in Nanaimo’s downtown sign is getting a new design after several incidents of vandalism over the last few years. 

The sign was installed in Maffeo Sutton Park in 2021. Each of the five foot letters in Nanaimo are painted white, except for the O, which features a rainbow design made up of 15 coloured segments.

A release from the city at the time the sign went up said that: 

“The colourful "O" can mean different things to different people. For example, the different colours in the “O” represents(sic) the diversity of the 100,000 plus voices who have shaped and continue to shape our spectacular City. It also represents an inclusive Nanaimo, full of opportunity for generations to come.”

The O has since been vandalized on multiple occasions, most recently it was painted entirely white.

At one point last year, the O was spray painted with the words “no WEF”, a reference to the world economic forum.

At a meeting Monday Nanaimo city council voted 6-3 in support of a staff recommendation to commission a new design for the sign.

Midcoast Morning brings you the debate on the issue and speaks with Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog.

A new project puts the Coast Salish Wooly Dog in the spotlight.

Several sources suggest the dogs, which are now extinct, experienced a severe population decline in the 1850s.

The pelt of one Coast Salish Wooly dog that was lying in the Smithsonian for more than a hundred and fifty years inspired a research project that brought together knowledge holders from a variety of Coast Salish communities.

That project has resulted in a new book called The Teachings of Mutton.

Liz Hammond-Kaareema, Violet Elliot and Elliot White Hill all contributed to that book, and they joined Midcoast Morning to talk about Coast Salish Wooly Dogs.

The trio will also be part of a launch event on Saturday May 31st at the Nanaimo Museum, more information about that event can be found here:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/book-launch-the-teachings-of-mutton-tickets-1347238820579?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

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 Support Society.

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 Community Association chair Sydney Robertson attended Monday’s meeting, she shared some of her takeaways with CHLY.

“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 brings you highlights from that meeting, including details on new transitional housing units set to open in the coming weeks, and estimates of the number of people experiencing homelessness in Nanaimo.

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, Leo paid a visit to the CHLY studio to speak about the project.

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 the boathouse project as it had been planned.

A trio of delegations presented to council in opposition to the project during the meeting.

Midcoast Morning brings you some of the council members perspectives on the issue, and speaks with one of the presenters who spoke to council about their opposition for the project.

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 into the province’s legal aid system.

Acting Auditor General Sheila Dodds spoke with Midcoast Morning about the findings.

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 were informed that BC Housing was reviewing extension requests across the province, and would follow up with updates.

After Risebridge followed up on March 28th, they eventually received a reply from BC Housing’s Director of Homelessness on April 17th, which stated that

“This year, BC Housing does not have a funding program to invite all Non-Profit operators to apply for extensions to provide broad operating extensions for all the temporary winter shelters across the province.”

Another shelter in Nanaimo, run by the Nanaimo Family Life Association, received an extension to May 31, 2025. 

Midcoast Morning paid a visit to the shelter, and reached out to BC Housing.