When you think of invasive species on the West Coast, you might think of  Scotch-Broom or English Ivy or European Wall Lizards. The Gabriola Island Shore Keepers Association (GISKA) is thinking of a different invasive species, the European Green Crab. They're hosting a talk Tuesday evening with Christine Spice about the crab and preventing their spread. Today on the program we speak with Isobel Pearsall, a volunteer of GISKA, about this invasive species and also about what the association is doing more broadly in the community. We also speak with Tom Therriault from Fisheries and Oceans Canada for further information about the crab and Nick Wong from the Invasive Species Council of BC  about how we can prevent their spread.

Website: Gabriola Island Shore Keepers Association
Website: Pacific Salmon Foundation page on identification
Website: DFO page on European Green Crabs
Website: ISCBC European Green Crab
PDF: European Green Crab factsheet

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The future of a drop-in centre and overnight shelter in the south end was the subject of extensive discussion at a pair of council and committee meetings this past week.

The Hub is a facility on Nicol Street and Victoria Road that offers daytime services for people experiencing homelessness run by Island Crisis Care Society, and an evening shelter run by the Nanaimo Family Life Association. Between a Finance and Audit Committee Meeting and a Regular Council Meeting, council heard from more than ten community members about the impacts they feel the service has had on their neighbourhood. Council ultimately voted to extend funding for the site through the end of next winter. Nanaimo City Councillor and south end resident Erin Hemmens spoke with Midcoast Morning about the issue.

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Qualicum Beach has a plan to acquire tens of acres of green space without raising taxes. The town has reached an agreement to buy the Eaglecrest golf course for $8.5 million. The goal is to cover the purchase price by selling about ten per cent of the newly acquired lands, which would then be developed into housing. It’s anticipated there will be around 40 acres of new parkland, with a 9 hole golf course continuing to operate. The deal is subject to due diligence and public consultation. The town’s director of planning and community development speaks with Midcoast Morning about the plan.

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Running August 7th to 17th the Nanaimo Fringe Festival returns for its 15th anniversary! A milestone year, the “the little Fringe that could” is yet again bringing an assortment of creative acts from across the continent to Nanaimo for ten days. We talk fringe with the organizers and performers.

With the lighting of the torch for the 55+ BC Games having happened this past June 19th and with just over a month and a half until competition starts in September. Today on the show we have former two term Nanaimo City Councillor and Host Society President Diana Johnstone on to talk about the big event. Leann Rose Crook, Director of Participant & Volunteer Services joins her.

The 55+ BC Games, is the province’s largest multi-sport and activity event having first started as the BC Senior Games in 1988 with 650 attendees participating in 15 sports. As the BC Senior Games, it was last held in Nanaimo in 2007, before the games were renamed in 2015. Cancelled in 2020, and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the games returned in 2022 to Great Victoria. Last year in 2024, Salmon Arm hosted.

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On July 7th, the City of Nanaimo moved forward this past week on a long-standing need for recreational and gathering space in the south end of the city, with the purchase of land in Chase River for a South End Community Centre. Mayor Leonard Krog speaks with Executive Producer Jesse Woodward about the purchase, and the project. At that same meeting, council also finally adopted its amended off-street parking regulations bylaw after three previous readings of the amendment. This decision removes off-street parking minimums in a part of downtown Nanaimo referred to as the Downtown Urban Centre. Michael Basilli of Strong Towns Nanaimo, joins the show to discuss that decision, and their thoughts regarding parking reforms in Nanaimo.

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History is being carried into the future in the town of Comox with a viewing platform planned to be built on the foundation of Mack Laing's old house, Shakesides in Mack Laing Nature Park. The outdoor space will honour the historic figure's life, legacy, and wishes for future generations. But the decision is a hot topic of debate in the Comox Valley, and the question still remains, what will be done with the old historic house? Will Shakesides be demolished to make way for the new ode to the past, or will it be relocated to a new site where it can be restored and maintained?

The BC Government wants to hear your input on how to improve our democracy.

The province’s special committee on democratic and electoral reform is accepting written submissions from members of the public with something to say about democratic engagement, voter participation and models for electing MLAs.

CHLY speaks with Nanaimo-Lantzville MLA and committee member George Anderson.

Two West Vancouver twins plan on speaking with the committee and calling on the voting age to be lowered to 16. They speak with Midcoast Morning about the issue.

A visit from the city’s namesake ship helped people in Nanaimo mark Canada Day Tuesday.

Large crowds gathered to take in the sunshine in Maffeo Sutton park, where local musicians performed,  community groups showed off their work,  and a bevy of food trucks saw their services in high demand.

Midcoast Morning brings you sounds from the event, including an interview with the CO of HMCS Nanaimo.

Nanaimo is looking to ban the sale of invasive plant species at shops in town.

This Monday at a governance and priorities committee meeting councillors voted in support of a plan to ask staff to draft a bylaw banning the sale of invasives.

A number of species including English Ivy, Himalayan Blackberry, Scotch Broom, and Daphne were listed in a staff report as impacting the city’s parks and natural areas.

CHLY' reporter Lauryn MacKenzie speaks with ecological consultant Hunter Jarratt about invasive species in Nanaimo.

Midcoast Morning also hears from Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon, who responded to recent comments from Nanaimo City Council that followed a letter in which the minister declined a request to meet and discuss funding for daytime shelter spaces.