We love Tofino, but it’s not the only part of the island that’s worth a vacation! If you’re planning to stay local this summer, why not check out a less famous place - like the north island? In this episode, Indigenous tourism operator Mike Willie makes the case for his home territory. He talks about what you can see when you head out from Port McNeill or Port Hardy.

People who use handyDART in Greater Victoria say it’s getting harder and harder to book the rides they need, and they were hearing from staff it was because of service reductions. BC Transit says there have been no cuts - but users are still hitting roadblocks. We try to figure out why. HandyDART is public transit for people who can’t use the conventional bus due to disability.

For the past decade islanders have only elected NDP and Green members of parliament. But in the next federal government, the island will be represented by 3 Conservative MPs, 2 Liberals, 1 NDP and 1 Green. On this episode we look at what’s behind the shift, and hear from some of the election winners: Tamara Kronis, Aaron Gunn, Will Greaves, Stephanie McLean, Gord Johns and Elizabeth May. They talk about tariffs, affordability, housing, public safety, the opioid crisis, support for the resource sector and military members, and cross-party cooperation.

You’re likely getting used to seeing alternatives to plastic: cloth bags, paper straws, wooden utensils. But in this week’s episode we’ll hear about a B.C. group looking to make plastic out of seaweed, for use in the agriculture industry.

Want to hear more about the emerging seaweed industry on the island? Check out another column from Imaginative Scientist Moronke Harris.

The federal election is less than two weeks away, but many voters on the island are struggling to decide how to vote. For some it’s down to Liberal versus Conservative, for others NDP versus Liberal, for some it’s still a total toss up. We’ll hear from folks in Esquimalt, Campbell River, Ucluelet, and more about what issues have them stuck. 

The school board and the B.C. ministry of education were at odds for six months, until the province fired the elected trustees in January. Now the newly-appointed trustee is getting down to business, and the old trustees are going to court in hopes of getting their jobs back. We recap the SD61 drama, hear the latest on the safety plan and police in schools, and learn what official trustee Sherri Bell is thinking about for the future of the Greater Victoria school district.

Note: This is Vancouver Island has a new release day! We'll come to you on Thursdays now, instead of Tuesdays.

It’s not just big cities where public safety is a concern. In the Cowichan Valley, for example, there’s an area surrounding the Trans-Canada Highway where some residents and business owners say crime, drug use, and street disorder mean they don’t feel safe in their own community. It’s in the region’s urban core, where North Cowichan, Duncan, and Cowichan Tribes land meet. On this episode we talk to some of those people, as well as to those working to try and change things.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Want to hear some good news out of the Cowichan Valley?

Check out these stories:

Fresh Vancouver Island food delivered straight to your doorstep

This native plant nursery will bring traditional foods and medicines to the Cowichan Valley

A Victoria small business owner just got her first tariff bill. But even with the $1200 hit, she’s reluctant to stop importing products from her customers in the U.S. She says she’s worked hard to fill her shop with quality goods made by small businesses she believes in - and while many of those are Canadian, some happen to be in the United States. On this episode, we hear from the owner of Luna Collective about the tough decisions people like her have to face amidst the trade war, and what she hopes islanders will consider when they’re deciding where to shop.

This month marks the 34 years since 4-year-old Michael Dunahee disappeared from a Victoria playground. It’s arguably the most well-known missing person case from the island, but it’s far from the only one. Laura Palmer produces “Island Crime,” a podcast that investigates true crime from our region, and she’s our guest this week. We talk about some of the cases she digs into, but also about how families and police feel about her work, and why she thinks some cases get more attention than others. 

Sure, you know about the seafood. But did you know islanders make things like crackers? And mattresses? With everyone’s attention on “buy BC” and “buy Canadian,” we thought we’d zoom in even more and talk about how to “buy island.” We check in with two people who focus on island-made goods.