LUSH Valley and Origins Environmental are restoring farms in the Comox Valley to support local food security and the environment. “We take a food systems approach,” explains LUSH executive director Maurita Prato. “From how it’s grown to how it gets to our plates.” Learn more in our latest story:

Salt Spring Island farmer Abey Scaglione's new book, "Radical Farm: Animals, Food and Our Future," lays out her vision for how communities can support local food, farmers and environmentally restorative agriculture practices. Read our Q&A with her: thediscourse.ca/cowichan-val...

Looking for something to do in the Cowichan Valley this week? 🎄 Check out our curated list of holiday events and live music: thediscourse.ca/cowichan-val... And if you want these events sent straight to your inbox you can sign up to our weekly newsletters here:

“Enough is enough.” Family and leaders are demanding answers from Island Health after the death of Lenny Sylvester, a Penelakut man whose care they say reflects systemic racism. Read more:

Thinking about building a cob home in the Regional District of Nanaimo? We have put together this FAQ after talking with both owner / builders on Vancouver Island and district staff. thediscourse.ca/nanaimo/thin...

The Cowichan Valley comes alive in December ❄️ Whether you’re into markets, music, or low-key holiday fun, there’s something happening in every corner of the region! Discover what’s going on this week:

At a recent meeting, North Cowichan staff warned council that amending the Official Community Plan could cost taxpayers and impact future developments and water and sewer capacity. Council voted to amend the OCP. Read more about what this means: thediscourse.ca/cowichan-val...

“The proposed site layout diagram solves a lot of problems by saving the mature trees, playground and beach areas in a cohesive way that allows for easy public access and maximum use,” Lana Fitzpatrick from the Wellington Action Committee told councillors.

“This motion is not about reexamining philosophy, it’s about how many funerals we are prepared to accept.”

“If you want everything as per staff reports, we wouldn't have councils. You'd have bureaucracy running the councils,” Coun. Tek Manhas told a packed public hearing as North Cowichan voted to amend its official community plan on Nov. 19.

Grateful to have @thediscourse.ca / @micksweetman.bsky.social and the rest of the folks at The Discourse reporting in communities like Nanaimo, Cowichan, and Comox. Their journalism is vital. Support it if you can!

"It does save lives, but saving those lives for what purpose?" asked Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog during a city council debate about overdose prevention sites and the province's approach to harm reduction in the toxic drug crisis on Monday night.

“I have resented to no end the suggestion that this is somehow a facility for elitists, as if someone who chooses to participate in a particular aspect of a sporting activity is somehow elitist,” Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog said. “This is a good project.”

“Politicized arguments like this motion driven by nimbyism and colonial privilege, undermine science, threaten public health and jeopardize the health and safety of our entire community," Sarah Lovegrove, vice-president of the Harm Reduction Nurses association told Nanaimo city council on Monday.

Nanaimo city council voted to allocate $10.2 million for a new boathouse and community space at Loudon Park on Long Lake at a special finance and audit committee meeting on Friday. thediscourse.ca/nanaimo/coun...

Looking for something to do in the Cowichan Valley this week? 🎄 We’ve rounded up holiday events, local shows and live music happening around the region. 👉 Check out our curated list:

Looking for something fun to do in Nanaimo this weekend? From holiday markets to live music, arts and sports, reporter @micksweetman.bsky.social has curated a list of what's happening. thediscourse.ca/nanaimo/even...

In case you didn’t know, I write a newsletter for @thediscourse.ca that goes out every Tuesday and features a roundup of local news and events happening in the #cowichanvalley. Check it out at the link below!

North Cowichan council voted unanimously to restart talks with Quw'utsun Nation, setting aside previous plans to explore logging in the Municipal Forest Reserve. Full story ⬇️

Everything you want to know about the Nanaimo data centre, and how much water it will use, explained. thediscourse.ca/nanaimo/what...

Check out the Christmas markets happening around the Cowichan Valley, along with other community events for Nov. 25 to Dec. 7. Got an event you think should be included next week? Let us know!

Check out Nanaimo Artwalk and all of our weekly music, art and community events listings in Nanaimo for the week of Nov. 20 to 27, 2025. Let us know if any events you think we should include for next week! thediscourse.ca/nanaimo/even...

North Cowichan began dismantling the Lewis Street encampment on Nov. 17 moving about 75 residents to new sites. The Cowichan Community Care Network says the move puts people at risk of violence and overdoses as the new sites are further away from the Warmland Shelter and overdose prevention site.

A motion by Nanaimo Coun. Ian Thorpe to ask Island Health to close the Overdose Prevention Site on Albert Street was withdrawn at last night's city council meeting. But a new motion to send a letter to the province to reexamine its drug policy is hotly contested. thediscourse.ca/nanaimo/moti...

Re-sharing this reporting because a report on harvesting in the Municipal Forest Reserve is going to North Cowichan Council this Wednesday, Nov. 19. Find the agenda package and report here: pub-northcowichan.escribemeetings.com/Meeting.aspx...

Residents also shared concern that Coun. Bruce Findlay received a campaign donation from the owner of the museum, creating conflict of interest. “If people believe I am personally benefitting from a decision, due to a campaign donation, they’re delusional,” Findlay said in an email to The Discourse.

A proposed zoning change for the Hand of Man Museum in Maple Bay has sparked concern among neighbours, who say the amendment goes against North Cowichan’s Official Community Plan and could open the door for more commercial development in rural areas. Read more in The Discourse. #northcowichan

The annual Repair Café in Courtenay takes place this weekend. Hosted by Lake Trail Community Education Society, the event fosters a DIY attitude, with opportunities for people of all ages to learn new skills. Read more about the event from reporter Dave Flawse. thediscourse.ca/comox-valley...

See the photos from Nanaimo’s 2025 Remembrance Day Service. thediscourse.ca/nanaimo/in-p...

For three years, rain or shine, protestors have gathered every Tuesday at Goldstream Park. They say a highway improvement project in the park, meant to improve safety for drivers, could devastate sensitive salmon habitat and infringe on W̱SÁNEĆ treaty rights. Full story at The Discourse 👇

A list of events, ceremonies and information on Remembrance Day 2025 in the Comox Valley, Nanaimo and Cowichan Valley thediscourse.ca/vancouver-is...

Want local news served up quick? We're bringing Comox Valley, Cowichan Valley, and Nanaimo stories to TikTok. Follow along for community news and events that actually affect you. Check out our latest video below!

For three years, rain or shine, protestors have gathered every Tuesday at Goldstream Park. They say a highway improvement project in the park, meant to improve safety for drivers, could devastate sensitive salmon habitat and infringe on W̱SÁNEĆ treaty rights. Full story at The Discourse 👇

Looking for something to do in Nanaimo this weekend? Check out our events listings, covering everything from local music, markets and sports. 👀 Like what you see? Tap the link at the top of the story to get these listings in your inbox every Thursday. thediscourse.ca/nanaimo/even...

The City of Nanaimo put additional protections in place for owners of mobile homes in the city, but advocates say it isn't enough. thediscourse.ca/nanaimo/a-st...

If you are looking for haunted happenings in Nanaimo tonight (and this weekend) be sure check out this week's issue of The Hub, witch lists scores of spooky spots and poltergeist parties. thediscourse.indiegraf.com/index.php?ac...

Have you had a chance to see the salmon runs this year? We’ve put together a list of some great spots to watch them in action across the Cowichan Valley! #cowichanvalley

thediscourse.ca/cowichan-val... Article featuring Brian Thom's work regarding Cowichan Title and Ye'yumnuts, centered on an interview with Thom and Elder Luchsiim. The article connects to an ongoing, and unprecedented court case @b-thom.bsky.social @uvic.ca @uvicsocialsciences.bsky.social

Tomorrow is the last day to provide input on @townofladysmith.bsky.social's first-ever accessibility plan. Read this story, from Discourse intern Noelle Suzuki, to learn more. thediscourse.ca/cowichan-val...

Explore Nanaimo's haunted history and spooky spots this week. thediscourse.ca/nanaimo/haun...

Great reporting from The Discourse Cowichan on this landmark court case. I’m a proud monthly supporter of this kind of journalism - and you should be too! (If you can)

After the B.C. Supreme Court recognized Quw’utsun title to Tl’uqtinus, their former fishing village on the Fraser River, the province and Richmond moved to appeal. Some say the ruling threatens private property. Others call it a long-overdue recognition of Indigenous title. Check out deep dive ⬇️

“We never surrendered our land. Not one acre.”

“These interim guidelines are not based on evidence, they’re not based on data, or even anecdotal experience from addiction medicine professionals. This was a political move.”

fantastic and detailed piece by @micksweetman.bsky.social about the impacts and implications of the government's decision to make prescribed alternatives to the unregulated drug LESS accessible #SafeSupply

A local doctor says the province’s new safer supply rules are more about politics than public health. thediscourse.ca/nanaimo/like...

Members from Save Our Forests Comox Valley think the province should be doing more to protect old-growth forests and biodiversity, and they are not alone. Read the full story: thediscourse.ca/comox-valley...

Wildwood Ecoforest, which has long served as a counterexample to modern logging practices, just got closer to its original size. Thanks to a successful fundraising campaign, 8.5 hectares of land have been added back to the ecoforest. Read the story: thediscourse.ca/cowichan-val...

This Monday's Nanaimo city council meeting created a friendship city policy, renewed the Downtown Nanaimo Business Improvement Area, expanded two dry recovery houses and defeated a motion to support a community health centre. Read more in Council Corner: thediscourse.indiegraf.com/index.php?ac...

$2.2 million land purchase to expand Loudon Park was “fair market value,” Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog says. thediscourse.ca/nanaimo/loud...