How will the K'ómoks Treaty Act affect private lands, and what potential economic benefits will it have for the Nation and Comox Valley as a whole? Reporter Dave Flawse looked into these questions in his latest: thediscourse.ca/comox-valley...

End of Thread wanted to play a show to celebrate the end of the school year with kids from high schools across Nanaimo, but now they are part of a movement to help save The Globe Live Studio. thediscourse.ca/nanaimo/teen...

At Queen Margaret’s School's final assembly, Quw'utsun artist Shawn Johnny and students from the contemporary Indigenous studies class unveiled a new mural dedicated to truth and reconciliation. Hear from Johnny in our latest story at the link below. thediscourse.ca/cowichan-val...

Resident Charles Myerscough told Nanaimo council that dry supportive housing with mental health supports is needed after recounting his difficult journey to sobriety in low-barrier temporary housing.

A new travelling exhibit by the Vancouver Island Local History Society and the Nanaimo Museum called "The Great Vancouver Island Land Grab" explores the ongoing impact of the E&N land grant. thediscourse.ca/vancouver-is...

In this interview, I share my thoughts on modern Pride, the struggles of transmasculine people in sports and why I continues to fight for the rights of all trans people.

Bodybuilding is everything to Jules Sherred. But when he was barred from competing, the Duncan based advocate took his fight to the BC Human Rights Tribunal. We sat down with him to learn more about why he continues to fight in a world that is becoming increasingly hostile towards trans athletes.

It's our Spring Supporter Drive, where we ask readers who value this in-depth, solutions journalism to step up as monthly supporters by June 22. As one supporter wrote: "You cover local news that I don't otherwise hear about." Will you join us? thediscourse.ca/support-us

We got a chance to tour the new Quw'utsun Hulitun-ew't-hw (Quw'utsun Valley Hospital). Check out the photos at the link below👇

“Drag shows and Pride are such a bastion of hope, community, solidarity and joy.” Read the full story here: thediscourse.ca/nanaimo/nana...

“Drag is life saving. I know so many people personally who probably wouldn't be here today if they hadn't found drag as an outlet for self expression and community.” thediscourse.ca/nanaimo/nana...

We asked local governments and public organizations around the Cowichan Valley how they are adopting generative AI tools in their work. Of those that got back to us, only one had an AI policy in place, while others are in the process of creating their own.

From concrete pipes that can catastrophically fail to holes in the South Fork dam that could empty the reservoir within days, here’s how the City of Nanaimo is working to reduce the risk to residents. thediscourse.ca/nanaimo/what...

Sunk City, Nanaimo’s three-day underground music and arts festival, will bring more than 60 artists to multiple venues on Victoria Crescent this long weekend. thediscourse.ca/nanaimo/sunk...

“I think it’s important that we have our own food supply,” said Doug Cahill who was volunteering on the farm. “Just look around the world. " thediscourse.ca/nanaimo/nana...

More than 100 community members gathered on Quw'utsun Territory for the Gone But Not Forgotten Walk and Run, honouring missing & murdered Indigenous women, men, girls & 2SLGBTQQI+ people. #RedDressDay #MMIWG2S

We joined the Company of the Blue Dragon for an afternoon of training as fighters prepare for the upcoming world championship in Denmark. Lucas Mendes, founder of the team, has high hopes for the fighters and shared his dream for more medieval combat teams on Vancouver Island.

Sunk City, Nanaimo’s underground music and arts festival, is back for the May long weekend with an improved backyard space as well as indoor venues. thediscourse.ca/nanaimo/sunk...

"During the Vietnam War, educated and skilled American immigrants came to the Comox Valley. Today, the United States is seeing similar political upheaval, and those seeking a way out are also looking north," writes Dave Flawse in his latest story: thediscourse.ca/comox-valley...

U.S. healthcare workers are moving to Vancouver Island as hundreds of American visitors flocked to the second Nanaimo Infusion over the weekend. Read about why they are leaving their country to work in Canada. thediscourse.ca/nanaimo/seco...

As the Cowichan Valley Shakespeare Festival celebrates its 15th year, The Discourse sat down with director Alex Gallacher to learn more about what’s playing this season, new additions to the festival and the role theatre plays in our increasingly screen-filled world.

Hundreds of people spilled out of the Nanaimo’s Shaw Auditorium into an overflow viewing area during a lively public hearing about rezoning a tract of forested land near Cable Bay Trail for industrial use. thediscourse.ca/nanaimo/snun...

That small piece of land is basically what is left of our natural territory and it would be an abomination to take that away for more economic development,” said Snuneymuxw Elder Bill White. thediscourse.ca/nanaimo/snun...

As B.C’s public health emergency related to toxic drugs marks 10 years, we spoke with three Nanaimo residents who have been directly affected by the crisis. thediscourse.ca/nanaimo/nana...

"The work of history is the work of retelling and revision," writes @kellyblack.ca who, in his latest piece, gets to the bottom of a decades-long mystery and explains the importance of fact-based storytelling in a world of AI slop. thediscourse.ca/cowichan-val...

"He lost his friends in war, but he says 'I think you've lost more friends than I have in my army days.'" Ten years into B.C.’s toxic drug crisis, frontline workers in the Cowichan Valley reflect on the lives lost and the work still ahead.

As B.C’s public health emergency related to toxic drugs marks 10 years of death, we spoke with three Nanaimo residents who have been directly affected by the crisis thediscourse.ca/nanaimo/nana...

Broombusters marks 20 years of fighting invasive Scotch broom on Vancouver Island.

In case you missed it, we did a deep dive into a new draft Cowichan Valley Regional District bylaw to try and understand what's actually changing. Read the full story here: thediscourse.ca/cowichan-val... #cowichanvalley

Broombusters marks 20 years of fighting invasive Scotch broom on Vancouver Island.

Roosters. Food trucks. RVs as homes. A 322-page zoning bylaw is sparking debate in the Cowichan Valley. We took a deep dive to figure out what’s actually changing, and what isn’t. #cowichanvalley

This is great to see. As a now older, retired punk, we used to play shows around the island in town halls and school gyms. Spaces like the Globe Live really matter. They give youth a proper place to gather, create, and play, and they give parents something solid to support.

It’s Friday night, and the dance floor at the Globe Live Studio is packed with youth from across Nanaimo wearing battle jackets decorated with patches of their favourite punk and metal bands.

One of the rare heartwarming posts to slide into my feed today. Gotta love the punks!!

"Every weekend, there’s kids here at The Globe going crazy,” Says Fin Edwards who books shows at The Globe Live Studio. “There’s a ton of different bands and the kids are starting bands now too.”

Western conservation practices often imagine healthy ecosystems as places without people. Indigenous researcher Jennifer Grenz is challenging that, and her work in the Cowichan Valley is showing what's possible when traditional knowledge leads restoration.

Nanaimo’s new monthly electronic music night Common kicks off this Saturday featuring DJs, live musicians and dancers from across the Island. thediscourse.ca/nanaimo/a-co...

OneBC leader Dallas Brodie promised to throw out B.C. Indigenous rights law, reconciliation and the federal Indian Act at a recent meeting in Nanaimo. We fact-checked what she said. thediscourse.ca/nanaimo/pack...

‘Once again, these folks are getting evicted to nowhere.’ Dozens of unhoused Duncan residents could soon lose their homes as a temporary winter shelter prepares to close — with no permanent replacement in sight. Community members are demanding local governments act before it's too late.

The development of a controversial data centre in Nanaimo was approved by city staff and includes a covenant capping its water use. But some critics are still opposed to the project. thediscourse.ca/nanaimo/city...

UPDATE: The Port Theatre Society announced in a statement on March 5 that the sold-out Ben Bankas show has been cancelled due to safety concerns. Read our background story on the city council meeting that preceded this decision.

From Vivaldi's Four Seasons by candlelight to heavy metal at The Globe Live Studio and a family barn dance see what's happening in Nanaimo tonight in The Hub Nanaimo, your insider guide to the best in community arts and culture. thediscourse.ca/nanaimo/the-...

The herring spawn is turning the Salish Sea a beautiful blueish green and attracting plentiful wildlife and human visitors who want to see the annual spectacle. Here’s what you need to know about how to see, and respect, the spawning. thediscourse.ca/nanaimo/how-...

Writer Zena Sharman sat down with The Discourse to discuss her debut memoir, Staying Power. 📖 After back-to-back loss, Sharman’s essays explore grief, divorce, and building a four-parent queer family. Read our Q&A before her free launch event at The HUB on March 12!

“We must treat our bodies as sacred.” Local Indigenous poet Kiera Chealine will present two new, original poems about consent at The Discourse and Cowichan Valley IWD’s International Women’s Day event on March 8. Learn about her poems and find event details here: thediscourse.ca/cowichan-val...

Join us for an International Women's Day event at the Cowichan Public Art Gallery 🌸 This year's theme: How does consent make for a better community? Hear from MLA Debra Toporowski (Qwulti'stunaat), educator Corina Fitznar, Indigenous poet Kiera Chealine and Cowichan Tribes Chief Cindy Daniels.

Nanaimo city council voted to send a letter to The Port Theatre asking it to review its booking policies but did not cancel a show by comedian Ben Bankas over his offensive jokes about residential “schools”, immigrants, 2SLGBTQIA+ people and racialized minorities. thediscourse.ca/nanaimo/why-...

The Crofton mill closure marks the end of an era for 350 workers. As North Cowichan meets with investors and officials to find a path forward, The Discourse has compiled a timeline of the mill’s 70-year history. View the full timeline👇

Experts tell The Discourse that the removal of three Cowichan Valley residents from a Conservative funded town hall in Duncan is part of growing trend. Parties are increasingly restricting access and moving away from the tradition of open, public town halls. #CowichanValley #CdnPoli #DuncanBC

The City of Nanaimo is proposing that its boundary be changed to include the reserve lands of Snuneymuxw First Nation, which will allow people living on reserves the right to vote in city elections for the first time. thediscourse.ca/nanaimo/why-...