Midcoast Morning

Ahead of local elections in the City of Nanaimo, questionable polls have been circulating online on social media like Facebook drawing the criticism of community members.

An unscientific straw poll was but one issue, but another poll circulated by Noni Bartlett, associated with political slate REAL Nanaimo, appears to have been generated entirely by AI. The poll showed Anne Marie Dryden, candidate for mayor with the REAL slate in the lead over incumbent Leonard Krog, candidates Sarah Lovegrove and Brunie Brunie. In response to community members calling the poll fake, Barlett claimed she had found it elsewhere on Facebook, but did not respond to inquiries regarding said source. No apparent other source was found.

Bartlett was contacted for comment, but did not respond by broadcast deadline. The poll was later removed by Bartlett.

Political reporter Mick Sweetman joins host Joe Pugh to talk about polls, the fallout, response from mayoral candidates, and explore with guests misinformation in local elections. 

Creators & Guests

Podcast Photo: Social Media Icons close up. (Brett Jordan / Pexels)

Ahead of the October 17 local election, Midcoast Morning spoke with each of the four candidates running for mayor of Nanaimo. In this episode, VIU nursing instructor Sarah Lovegrove and incumbent mayor Leonard Krog.

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Podcast Photo: Incumbent Mayor Leonard Krog at his campaign launch. Candidate Sarah Lovegrove on the day of her announcement (Jesse Woodward / CHLY 101.7FM)

Ahead of the October 17th local elections in British Columbia, Midcoast Morning spoke with each of the four candidates running for Mayor of Nanaimo. In this episode, former financial planner Anne Marie Dryden and multi time mayor and council candidate Brunie Brunie.

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Podcast Photo: Mayoral candidates for the City of Nanaimo, Brunie Brunie and Anne Marie Dryden and  (Mick Sweetman and Jesse Woodward / CHLY 101.7FM)

Originally planned by the Fair Care Alliance as a forum framed around local elections, a snap provincial election reframed much of the conversation had at the September 24th Fair Care For All Public Health Forum. Politics reporter Mick Sweetman attended the forum, and joins Midcoast Morning’s host Joe Pugh in talking about what was said at the forum by both those speaking, as well local and provincial politicians and candidates in attendance.

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Podcast Photo: Donna Hais, Chair of the Fair Care Alliance. (Mick Sweetman / CHLY 101.7FM)

Plans are in the works to decide how to best add a new parcel of land to Westwood Lake Park.

Last week the City of Nanaimo announced the purchase of 2.85 acres of land at 2367 Arbot Road for $2.88 million.

The land is currently home to the Westwood Lake Tennis Club, which will cease operation later this fall. Less than a year ago, the same parcel was up for re-zoning, with a plan to build town-homes on the site.

Midcoast Morning explores the plan for the new land, and the future of Westwood Lake Park.

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Podcast Photo: Sharon Kofoed — Spokesperson, Friends of Westwood Lake. (Joe Pugh / CHLY 101.7FM)

Nomination papers are in, and the stage is almost set for next month’s local elections across B.C. 

In Nanaimo the campaign period is set to kick off Saturday, with advance voting on October 7th and 14th ahead of general voting day October 17th. A political studies professor at VIU says citizens need to think about the process and not just the issues as they get ready to cast their ballots.

Michael MacKenzie is a Jarislowsky chair in Trust and Political Leadership at Vancouver Island University. He says local elections are typically low information elections, and that each local election is its own little ecosystem.

MacKenzie visited CHLY for a conversation on the local election system that touched on slates, campaign financing rules, and navigating a long ballot.

Creators & Guests

Podcast Photo: City of Nanaimo Voting sign (Jesse Woodward / CHLY 101.7FM)

Midcoast Morning explores the political path to a change of plans in the Newcastle neighbourhood.

Last week Nanaimo-Gabriola MLA and Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction, Sheila Malcolmson, announced forthcoming supportive housing at 250 Terminal, now known as 250 Bryden, will operate under a recovery-oriented model.

Midcoast Morning follows up with the minister, and City of Nanaimo councillor Sheryl Armstrong, who was a vocal advocate for the change at the local level.

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Podcast Photo: Photo description here (Credits)

A world of cinema is set to be a boat ride away next month. The Vancouver International Film Festival kicks off October first. The lineup was released last week and features 256 films from 76 countries, in 83 languages. Glen Grunau is president of the Nanaimo International Film Screening Society, a group that organizes showings of international and art house cinema at the Shaw auditorium. He spoke with the program about what he’s looking forward to at the festival, how to engage with it as an islander, and the local international cinema landscape. 

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Podcast Photo: VIFF logo from 2026 teaser trailer (VIFF)

One of two candidates in the race to replace Elizabeth May as leader of the Green Party of Canada was in Nanaimo this past weekend to pitch their case to lead the federal party.

Mike Morrice, former MP for Kitchener Centre, spoke with the program following a Sunday evening event. Midcoast Morning also heard from Nira Dookeran, a party organizer, who is also running for the leadership.

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Podcast Photo: Photo description here (Credits)

The Nanaimo Lions Club is getting ready to mark its 80th anniversary this Saturday in Maffeo Sutton Park. The service club has helped contribute community infrastructure like the Lions Pavillion and Lions Great Bridge in the park and elsewhere in the community over its eight decades in operation. Currently, they’re looking for new members to increase their capacity to help out in the community. Longtime members Al Brett and Larrie Taylor, as well as current president Bob Huck met with Midcoast Morning host Joe Pugh in Maffeo Sutton Park to talk about the club’s history, the work it’s doing now, and this Saturday’s celebration.

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Podcast Photo: The Lion’s Pavillion at Maffeo Sutton Park (Jesse Woodward / CHLY 101.7FM)