Thrilled to see my colleagues’ outstanding reporting getting the recognition it deserves! @thediscourse.ca

Got a chance to dive a bit deeper into a recent decision by the Agricultural Land Commission to reject a plan to remove a small portion of a dike that runs through the Cowichan Estuary. One advocate told me this raises big concerns about the province’s commitment to reconciliation @thediscourse.ca

Our Nanaimo and Comox Valley reporters @micksweetman.bsky.social and @emrichards.bsky.social are at the @nifss.bsky.social screenings this afternoon at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre. Come say hello and watch some international films.

From coal mining runoff in British Columbia to bacterial blooms in the Great Lakes, water pollution won’t be contained by the Canada-U.S. border. Our latest newsletter: thenarwhal.ca/newsletter-w...

Our August print issue is out now! What to know where to pick up a copy? Or maybe you're not in town this month and still want to read the latest issue. You can find all that on our website. revelstokemountaineer.com/magazine/

I had a great time out at the Shawnigan Lake Museum learning about the new additions, which include some repatriated Quw’utsun belongings!

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...

The tsunami watch has been upgraded to an advisory for B.C. In Victoria, our risk remains low. Stay out of water and away from beaches and waterways. We will continue to monitor. For future emergencies, subscribe to Vi-Alert to get local updates at victoriaready.ca. x.com/EmergencyInf...

Scotch broom is one of the most notorious invasive species on Vancouver Island. It is also extremely flammable, leading to growing concern as the climate changes and Earth warms. thediscourse.ca/comox-valley...

reFRESH Market in Duncan is closing its doors after years of recovering surplus food. We wanted to know how the community was responding to this potential gap in food recovery and learned that a local food bank plans to keep the momentum going.

Nanaimo’s ‘bike lane Barbie’ says the city is working to make cycling more accessible for everyone. thediscourse.ca/nanaimo/how-...

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...

Kids make radio shows and podcasts at ‘super fun’ summer camp at Nanaimo’s community radio station @chly.ca. thediscourse.ca/nanaimo/chly...

“In a world with serious problems, where we have serious things to debate, people emphasizing a bylaw that is simply there to protect privacy as somehow an infringement of democratic freedoms is just silly,” Naniamo Mayor Leonard Krog said about a legal threat over a council meeting recording ban.

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.

Our reporter @emrichards.bsky.social followed up with St. Ann’s Garden Club — first covered last year — and found that the original story by @shalumehta.bsky.social helped turn around the fortunes of the nature-based therapy provider.

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 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...

The fire discovered by BC Wildfire Service late yesterday afternoon between Lake Cowichan and Port Renfrew is now three hectares in size. Three initial attack crews and a helicopter are responding to the blaze.

Trying to post more of my personal writing on Substack lately. This one’s a recent piece—kinda flash fiction, I think? Give it a read, and if you’re into it, feel free to subscribe for more.

Happy National Indigenous Peoples Day! I edited today's @thenarwhal.ca story, which comes from the Inuit community of Cambridge Bay. Fascinating science journalism and stunning visuals, but also — in the spirit of the day — a couple pics of some very cute Indigibabies enjoying a celebration. Enjoy!!

The term “food security” gets thrown around a lot, so I wanted to find out what it actually looks like in my community. I spoke with some of the folks working to support the agriculture sector in the #CowichanValley and help a new generation of farmers enter the industry.

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 #cowichanvalley! Myself and other reporters from @thediscourse.ca are going to be a Red Arrow Brewing tonight from 5:00 p.m. 7:30 p.m. celebrating our readers and eight years of covering local news!

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

Thousands of people wearing rainbow clothes and carrying a variety of Pride flags filled downtown Nanaimo with the sound of celebration and resistance at the annual Pride Parade and Festival on Sunday. thediscourse.ca/nanaimo/nana...

So grateful that I got a chance to cover this event and finally get out to the Cowichan Estuary Nature Centre!

Huge shoutout to everyone who shared their story for this article. It was humbling to hear just how far reaching the impacts of this strike have been.

#CowichanValley transit users - I'm working on a story for @thediscourse.ca about how the current strike is affecting people's daily lives. If you're willing to share your experience with the bus service disruption, I'd love to hear from you! Feel free to DM me your story.

Last week I sat down with Fair Vote Canada about how proportional representation could have vastly changed the results of the federal election on Vancouver Island. Here’s what I learned.

Nanaimo—Ladysmith candidates from the PPC, NDP, Greens and Liberal parties squared off at a free-wheeling forum at @viuniversity.bsky.social on Tuesday.

Check out my photos from the season opener of Nanaimo United FC. thediscourse.ca/nanaimo/in-p...

Had the chance to speak with a software developer who wanted to help voters by ‘automating’ the strategic voting process. Read more about that and the debate around progressive vote splitting in the Cowichan Valley below.

Still lots of time to get out and vote in the #northcowichan byelection happening on April 12. I did some coverage for @thediscourse.ca on who’s running!

Have questions about the federal election? Check out our voter guide for the Cowichan Valley

So incredibly proud of the team of reporters at @thediscourse.ca. We put out four really great stories (and five newsletters) this week. And last weekend, we co-hosted a successful event for International Women's Day. I'm going to share the pieces and video from the event in this thread. ✨

Lots to dig into on this topic but glad @thediscourse.ca gave me the chance to report on such a pressing issue.

Pollution from wood stoves is decreasing in Courtenay, but winter evenings remain smoky. Data from October to March shows that fine particulate matter in the air still exceeds B.C.’s Air Quality Guidelines for the yearly average maximum. thediscourse.ca/comox-valley...

Had a ton of fun covering this for @thediscourse.ca!

ICYMI, the Cowichan library is home to a gigantic salmon puppet! Learn more about "Salmy" and the people that made it below...

Tarah Dowling, a visual arts student at @viuniversity.bsky.social, has created a photo and audio exhibit featuring the stories of students who were foster children.

Nanaimo patient Dee R. says that when she learned that the province was changing rules around prescribed safer supply that her "heart went into my throat for a minute" about what it will mean for her daily life and ability to stay off toxic street drugs.

Province ends take-home safer supply program as Cowichan sees uptick in overdose response calls

So wild to me that funding for this program is up in the air. Great piece by my colleague @madelined.bsky.social

I went out to the picket line this week to learn more about why transit workers in the Cowichan Valley are on strike.

Two Vancouver Island addictions medicine doctors have resigned in protest following Nanaimo doctor Jess Wilder being put on administrative leave by Island Health after organizing an unsanctioned overdose prevention site with @docs4saferdrugs.bsky.social. Island Health denies that it was punitive.

This month, Cowichan Green Community announced that long-time executive director Judy Stafford will step down from the position and be replaced by Vanessa Daether in May.

It may be cold right now, but over the past few seasons, Comox Valley farmers have already been feeling the climate change heat, and a nation-wide poll shows that they are not alone. Latest story on farming and climate change from @madelined.bsky.social thediscourse.ca/comox-valley...

Q&A: Two B.C. filmmakers, @velcrow.bsky.social and @novaami.bsky.social, documented Okanagan wildfires. Here’s what they learned.

The market is such a huge part of our community, I hope they are able to keep the program around this year.