Humpback whales are returning to the Salish Sea in growing numbers, but between the rising population and the increase in vessel traffic, collisions are also becoming more common. Emma Shuparski is the coordinator for Straightwatch Quadra Island, under Cetus Research and Conservation Society. Christie McMillan is a Senior Habitat Assessment Biologist with Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), and fifteen years ago co-founded the Marine Education & Research Society (MERS).

Both experts shared their knowledge and experience working in research and conservation of humpback whales in this episode of Midcoast Morning, to understand the questions of why humpback strikes and mortalities seem to be increasing, and what can be done to improve humpback safety in the Salish Sea.

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Podcast Photo: Humpback Whales (Elianne Dipp/Pexels)

A motion about industrial land use divided Nanaimo city council in a narrow 5-4 vote Monday night. On the meeting agenda the motion from Councillor Paul Manly asked staff to prepare a zoning amendment that would have prevented six different industrial scale uses, including certain garbage incineration facilities, chemical plants, petroleum refineries, and Liquefied Natural Gas export facilities.

The motion council ended up debating instead asked staff to prepare a report with options on a zoning amendment to exclude emissions intense heavy industries, listing several examples, which would instead require site specific zoning. That motion narrowly passed  5-4.

Voting in favour were councillors Paul Manly, Tyler Brown, Ben Gheselbrecht, Erin Hemmens, and Hilary Eastmure. Voting against were councillors Janice Perrino Ian Thorpe, Sheryl Armstrong and Mayor Leonard Krog.

Midcoast Morning spoke with Manly about his motion, as well as Harmac CEO Paul Sadler, who said he felt his enterprise was directly targeted by it. You can watch the discussion around the motion from Monday’s council meeting HERE, beginning at 1:02:30.

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Podcast Photo: Harmac Pacific (David Stanley/Flickr CC BY 2.0)

Now in its ninth year, demand for the Woodstove Music and Arts Festival seemingly hit new highs, with organizers saying that the initial round of tickets sold out almost immediately. The non profit community festival took place last weekend across 16 venues in the village ranging from community halls, to the museum, to tattoo parlours and hair salons.

In recent years, many summer festivals have faced challenges. 

Earlier this year it was reported that the Regina Folk Festival had permanently shut down due to financial struggles, and that the Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Festival faced an uncertain future, with this year’s edition potentially being the last. For the first time in 30 years, there was no Vancouver Island MusicFest, with organizers citing economic challenges like decreasing sponsorships, a lack of local funding, and reduced ticket sales. Those are just some examples of a nationwide trend that’s been reported on by the CBC, The Globe and Mail and others.

Midcoast Morning attended this year’s Woodstove and spoke with artists and organizers to try and understand what has allowed the festival to seemingly thrive amidst a climate of wider economic challenges for arts festivals.

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Podcast Cover Photo: Cat Clyde (Joe Pugh/CHLY 101.7FM)

Plans for a data centre in Nanaimo have generated significant attention in recent weeks. The centre is proposed for 2090 East Wellington Road, and the area was rezoned in 2023. A CBC article about data centres and water use published in October made reference to Nanaimo, which has generated renewed interest and concern from members of the public. A data centre is a building that houses computer servers and other infrastructure, and there are different types of data centres with different resource requirements.

The company looking to build the centre in Nanaimo was incorporated in Ontario in 2020. In 2024, it registered the business name MAPLECOLO. A website for MAPLECOLO describes itself as a leader in Canadian data centres, specializing in Quantum-Safe Colocation and Symmetric-Key Distribution via DSKE technology. The site references a new facility in Nanaimo which it notes “enhances protection against quantum threats, combining traditional expertise with innovative solutions to revolutionize data security.” Our newsroom spoke with one of the company’s directors but was unable to arrange an interview ahead of broadcast. Midcoast Morning explores recent community concerns with Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog, and shares information revealed at a Nanaimo city council meeting about potential water use at the site.

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Podcast Photo: Architectural Rendering of Nanaimo Data Centre (dHKarchitects).

The British Columbia Federation of Students says the province’s post secondary system is in crisis. The organization says that there have been almost 1000 layoffs in the sector since 2023, with 80 programs suspended, paused or cut. Midcoast Morning interviews Cole Reinbold Secretary-Treasurer with the BCFS and Annabree Fairweather, Executive Director of CUFA BC regarding the call for action.

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Podcast Cover: Cole Reinbold at Vancouver Island University (BCFS)

Following push-back from members of the community, a zoning change proposal failed to pass first reading at Nanaimo City Council on Monday. Council heard from 8 delegations opposed to a rezoning application for 2367 Arbot Road, which is currently home to the Westwood Lake Tennis Club. The proposal was to change the land’s zoning from commercial recreation centre to low density residential. Conceptual plans submitted with the rezoning application suggested a potential redevelopment on the site of three townhouse buildings of up to three stories, working out to about 38 units of housing.

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Podcast Photo: Townhouse rendering (City of Nanaimo/Grayland Consulting Ltd).

More than a dozen authors, poets, profs, and students spoke at a festival aimed at fostering connections between Palestinian and local literature this past weekend. The 2nd annual Watermelon Seeds festival of literature took place at VIU Saturday. It comes on the heels of an event last spring that took place at the Palestinian solidarity encampment that had been set up on campus. Midcoast Morning spoke with a pair of presenters, including former VIU student Sara Kishawi, who spoke about a two year suspension from the school which she recently petitioned the BC Supreme Court to have set aside.

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Podcast Image: Illustration from Watermelon Seeds Festival of Literature (Chantey Dayal).

Creators & Guests

With Nanaimo City Council voting in favour of a motion Monday to name the park at 933 Park Avenue Five Acres Farm Community Park, Midcoast Morning explores the history behind the name, as well as the urban farming that’s still taking place on the land.

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Podcast Photo: Five Acres Farm Community Park (City of Nanaimo).

Cree artist and creator George Littlechild is sharing his art with the Comox Valley this fall with a vast exhibition at the Comox Valley Art Gallery and a special film screening at North Island College. The film being screened this Saturday, October 4th is nanekawâsis, a documentary featuring Little Child's life and art. 

Both the artist George Littlechild and the filmmaker Conor McNally will be in attendance at the screening on Saturday. Littlechild spoke about the film, the ongoing art exhibition at the CVAG, and his experience as an Indigenous creator, a Sixties Scoop survivor, and a Two Spirit person. Metis filmmaker Conor McNally describes the experience of making the film. You can learn more about the film screening here.

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On the fifth annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, hundreds walked along fifth street in downtown Courtenay before gathering in Lewis Park. Midcoast Morning spoke with some of those present about the meaning of the day.

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Podcast Photo: Spirit Walk attendees walk to Lewis Park in Courtenay. Photo by Joe Pugh.

Full program notes can be found at www.chly.ca/midcoastmorning