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.

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...

Here the story about my ban and why conflating HRT with GAHT is anti-trans and harmful

Today is my meeting with the lawyers who may be taking my human rights case pro bono. Fingers crossed

I love editing these events listings because it also means I don't have to search around for things to do on the weekend. It's all in one, handy place!

If you've been watching the Blue Jays, you've probably seen Ontario's Ring of Fire ads and if you're anything like me, flags may have gone up in your brain. Appreciate this reporting from @thenarwhal.ca that looks into this some more. thenarwhal.ca/opinion-blue...

New story in the Discourse featuring an interview with Luschiim and me on the Cowichan Title case thediscourse.ca/cowichan-val...

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 ⬇️

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...

Today is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. See the events in your community and additional resources in our special newsletter for today. thediscourse.indiegraf.com/index.php?ac...

Exciting news! The Discourse is a finalist for the 2025 Webster Awards in the Excellence in Community Reporting category for TWO different stories by reporters @juliechadwick.bsky.social and Rowan Flood. 🎉 Find links to the stories in this thread:

Nanaimo-based Sḵwx̱wú7mesh/Chilean artist Lenae Silva talks about her experiences as a person who uses drugs, and as an advocate, in her new exhibit at Vancouver Island University thediscourse.ca/nanaimo/qa-n...

‘They feel that Indigenous agriculture practices are inferior to modern day Western agriculture practices.’: Partial rejection of plan to remove Cowichan estuary dike raises questions about the province’s commitment to reconciliation. Read more below.

It's a good work day when I get to complain about grass lawns and how useless they are (and how they're a symbol of classism and colonialism).

“A recent special investigation by the BC Forest Practices Board on aligning forestry practices with wildfire risk reduction […] found that ‘logging occurs at 11 times the rate of [wildfire risk reduction] treatments’ in the wildland-urban interface near communities.”

“I have never felt so emotional,” resident Sandy McPherson said during the public input period. “I am really angry that some of this is even coming to the council table. There is not a price to be put on the forest reserve that can be monetary.” Great reporting by @emrichards.bsky.social:

On Aug. 24, volunteers of all ages will gather on the Lower Quw'utsun Sta'lo' (Cowichan River) for an annual cleanup. For 15 years, this family-friendly event has brought the community together to remove trash, care for the river and prepare for the salmon’s return.

Love a good community spotlight!

One simple thing you can do to support journalism in these days of AI summaries and social media walled gardens: click on the link. Go to the site. Yes it really is that easy.

Really love this week's story from @emrichards.bsky.social Several Quw'utsun belongings have returned home after being repatriated from the Royal BC Museum. They're on loan at the newly expanded Shawnigan Lake Museum and will help tell the full history of the region. thediscourse.ca/cowichan-val...

Comox Valley Fundraising Community has raised $17,000 for families in Gaza amidst the hunger crisis. They are still sending pleas to fellow community members to donate. thediscourse.ca/comox-valley... **A previous post did not have the correct headline. It has been edited and reposted.

It was a sunny weekend on the waterfront in front of Snuneymuxw First Nation’s Reserve #1 as hundreds of people from as far as Hope, B.C. gathered to participate in war canoe races, enjoy comfort food such as Indian tacos, and soak up the good vibes. thediscourse.ca/nanaimo/in-p...

In 2023, the Cowichan Valley Basket Society distributed close to 300 food hampers a month to Cowichan Valley community members. Now, 700 food hampers go out every month and feed an estimated 1,500 people.

"Nanaimo’s cycling infrastructure is a mash-up of bike lanes, cycle tracks, multi-use pathways, neighbourhood bikeways and trails but the way they are developed is often through piecemeal requirements ... This results in bike lanes that start, run for a few blocks, and then abruptly end."

Last week, the Quw'utsun Salmon, a giant puppet built by the Quw'utsun Stseelthun Friendship Project, performed at 39 Days of July in Duncan. Read more about the project in our previous coverage: thediscourse.ca/cowichan-val...

Nice to see that the government, after push back from First Nations, has restarted consultation on updates to the Heritage Conservation Act. What’s wrong with the act? Read on ⬇️

Not writing a story on this, but both the violent and non-violent crime severity index for Nanaimo dropped in 2024. Here's an updated chart of it that shows the trends over time. datawrapper.dwcdn.net/kL0me/3/

Did you know some invasive species can exacerbate wildfire risk? Some of them even thrive after a wildfire, making it tough for native plant species to come back. Thanks, @madelined.bsky.social, for this reporting!

An organization in Courtenay is hoping to raise $50,000 before the school year begins after a loss of funding could mean a reduction in programs that support youth and community empowerment, connection, resilience and food security. thediscourse.ca/comox-valley...

bailey macabre, Indigenous engagement coordinator for the @nanaimoartgallery.bsky.social, is organizing a monthly Indigenous film series. You can watch a free screening of Rocks at Whiskey Trench by Alanis Obomsawin tonight at 6:30 p.m. Read the full story: thediscourse.ca/nanaimo/indi...

An altercation with RCMP and bylaw left an unhoused senior without shelter. Advocates say it’s time for clear rules — and a permanent encampment. Here's how Duncan and North Cowichan are responding:

On Saturday, July 12, our reporter @emrichards.bsky.social attended the opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new viewing platform built by the Cowichan Estuary Restoration and Conservation Association on Blackley’s Trail in the Cowichan Estuary. Check out some of Eric’s photos from the event!

I was lucky to get a personal tour of HMCS Nanaimo on a final farewell visit to its namesake city before it transfers to the East Coast. Come aboard with me and meet some of the ship’s crew. thediscourse.ca/nanaimo/hmcs...

We love a good news story!

Want to hear what Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog has to say about a legal warning letter sent by the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms over bylaws that ban recording of city council meetings and in city spaces? Subscribe to our Nanaimo This Week newsletter for free! thediscourse.ca/newsletters

The Discourse was on hand last month to document a plant care workshop at the Hulitun Spulhxun/Tumuhw native plant nursery. Check out photos from the event below.

The little brown bat is the only federally protected bat species on Vancouver Island. In the Comox Valley, volunteers are on guard against white-nose syndrome, a disease that is killing millions of bats in the U.S. and Canada. Read the latest from Dave Flawse: thediscourse.ca/comox-valley...

BC Wildfire Service reporting an out of control wildfire between Port Renfrew and Lake Cowichan, near Harris Creek along the Pacific Marine circle route. wildfiresituation.nrs.gov.bc.ca/incidents?fi...

The Cumberland Community Forest Society is hosting its annual Home & Garden Tour to support the protection of Cumberland forests and lands with its sights set on purchasing 261 acres of land from private timber companies.

There are six trans people incarcerated in QC provincial prisons. Six. That's 0.1 % of the incarcerated population. This is a highly politicized move that will have an outsize impact on a tiny # of people. This doesn't bode well for other comité des sages "findings." www.ctvnews.ca/montreal/art...

Regulations are holding back traditionally prepared Indigenous foods in B.C., one man is working to change that. Jared Qwustenuxun Williams hopes that a new commercial food processing facility will help Quw’utsun People benefit culturally and economically from their traditional cuisine.

Being in community and meeting our readers is one of my favourite parts of this job. I may be biased, but I think The Discourse has some of the best readers and supporters! 💜🌿

We ❤️ meeting other community builders. Thank you to all who came out last night to celebrate 8 years of in-depth journalism by and for the #CowichanValley! We still need 25 more supporters for our spring fundraising goal. If you value local journalism, please support it thediscourse.ca/support-us

Hey #Cowichan, #Nanaimo and #ComoxValley readers! We're thrilled to meet up with you tonight for a Local News Appreciation Party at Red Arrow Brewing in Duncan. Click the link for event details, hope to see you soon 🎉https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/1383173953529/?aff=oddtdtcreator

Come find @thediscourse.ca team at Red Arrow Brewing in Duncan this evening and celebrate eight (!) years of local, independent news in the community. Can't wait! www.eventbrite.com/e/local-news...