The O in Nanaimo’s downtown sign is getting a new design after several incidents of vandalism over the last few years. 

The sign was installed in Maffeo Sutton Park in 2021. Each of the five foot letters in Nanaimo are painted white, except for the O, which features a rainbow design made up of 15 coloured segments.

A release from the city at the time the sign went up said that: 

“The colourful "O" can mean different things to different people. For example, the different colours in the “O” represents(sic) the diversity of the 100,000 plus voices who have shaped and continue to shape our spectacular City. It also represents an inclusive Nanaimo, full of opportunity for generations to come.”

The O has since been vandalized on multiple occasions, most recently it was painted entirely white.

At one point last year, the O was spray painted with the words “no WEF”, a reference to the world economic forum.

At a meeting Monday Nanaimo city council voted 6-3 in support of a staff recommendation to commission a new design for the sign.

Midcoast Morning brings you the debate on the issue and speaks with Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog.

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A new project puts the Coast Salish Wooly Dog in the spotlight.

Several sources suggest the dogs, which are now extinct, experienced a severe population decline in the 1850s.

The pelt of one Coast Salish Wooly dog that was lying in the Smithsonian for more than a hundred and fifty years inspired a research project that brought together knowledge holders from a variety of Coast Salish communities.

That project has resulted in a new book called The Teachings of Mutton.

Liz Hammond-Kaareema, Violet Elliot and Elliot White Hill all contributed to that book, and they joined Midcoast Morning to talk about Coast Salish Wooly Dogs.

The trio will also be part of a launch event on Saturday May 31st at the Nanaimo Museum, more information about that event can be found here:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/book-launch-the-teachings-of-mutton-tickets-1347238820579?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

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Midcoast Morning visits a temporary housing site in Cedar that is set to welcome 50 people over the coming months. Located at 1300 Island Highway South, the site is described as temporary housing, funded for three years through the provincial HEART/HEARTH program, which is designed to respond to homelessness. Made up of small modular units, day to day operations will be managed by Connective Support Society.

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This week members of Nanaimo City Council got an update on the state of services for people experiencing homelessness at a Governance and Priorities Committee Meeting.

A report from city staff indicated access to basic services for people experiencing homelessness has decreased compared to a decade ago.

Midcoast Morning spoke with the city’s manager of social planning to explore why.

South End Community Association chair Sydney Robertson attended Monday’s meeting, she shared some of her takeaways with CHLY.

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“Despite increased demand, access to basic needs services in Nanaimo has declined over the past decade,” says a report from staff at the City of Nanaimo.

Leaders in health, housing, and a number of other sectors came together Monday to provide an update on the state of services for people experiencing homelessness in Nanaimo at a Governance and Priorities Committee meeting Monday.

Midcoast Morning brings you highlights from that meeting, including details on new transitional housing units set to open in the coming weeks, and estimates of the number of people experiencing homelessness in Nanaimo.

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A VIU and CHLY alumni was back in Nanaimo Thursday for the launch of a graphic novel telling stories from his home nation of Xwemalhkwu(Homalco)

Tchadas Leo is a journalist with CHEK News, and for the last number of years he’s been leading the work on Xwemalhkwu Hero Stories, which tells a trio of stories inspired by elders from the nation. With a launch event for the graphic novel Thursday at VIU, Leo paid a visit to the CHLY studio to speak about the project.

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At a meeting Monday, Nanaimo city council voted 6-3 to reconsider a plan to build a boathouse with rentable community space at Loudon Park by Long Lake. The decision to reconsider was prompted by a motion from councillor Tyler Brown.

The gallery at the Vancouver Island Conference centre was near capacity at times during the meeting, with a number of people bringing signs expressing opposition to the boathouse project as it had been planned.

A trio of delegations presented to council in opposition to the project during the meeting.

Midcoast Morning brings you some of the council members perspectives on the issue, and speaks with one of the presenters who spoke to council about their opposition for the project.

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New exhibition After Wrappers From the art collective Big Rock Candy Mountain launches tonight at the Nanaimo Art Gallery.

Featuring the work of Hannah Jickling, Reed H. Reed, a variety of guest artists, and elementary school students, it’s going to be running through July 12th.

Midcoast Morning spoke with Art Gallery curator Jesse Birch.

The Office of the Auditor General of BC has finished a look into the province’s legal aid system.

Acting Auditor General Sheila Dodds spoke with Midcoast Morning about the findings.

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24 People could be forced to the streets this week as funding for a shelter in Nanaimo is set to expire.

The nonprofit Risebridge has been operating a shelter on Prideaux Street since the fall, funded by BC Housing on a temporary winter shelter contract.

On February 12th Risebridge reached out to BC housing to inquire about the possibility of extending the shelter contract.

On February 27th they were informed that BC Housing was reviewing extension requests across the province, and would follow up with updates.

After Risebridge followed up on March 28th, they eventually received a reply from BC Housing’s Director of Homelessness on April 17th, which stated that

“This year, BC Housing does not have a funding program to invite all Non-Profit operators to apply for extensions to provide broad operating extensions for all the temporary winter shelters across the province.”

Another shelter in Nanaimo, run by the Nanaimo Family Life Association, received an extension to May 31, 2025. 

Midcoast Morning paid a visit to the shelter, and reached out to BC Housing.

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In the lead up to this year’s federal election, Midcoast Morning is bringing you interviews with our local candidates in the Nanaimo-Ladysmith Riding.

On this program Lisa Marie Barron.

Plus, after being unable to arrange a conversation with Conservative candidate Tamara Kronis, Midcoast Morning spoke with University of Guelph political science professor Julie Simmons about a lack of media availability among Conservative candidates during this election period.

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In the lead up to this year’s federal election, Midcoast Morning is bringing you interviews with our local candidates in the Nanaimo-Ladysmith Riding.

On this program - Paul Manly and Michelle Corfield.

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Midcoast Morning paid a visit to local cafe White Rabbit, hoping to hear what’s top of mind for voters in Nanaimo as they get ready to head to the polls Monday April 28th. 

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Labour leaders were in Nanaimo this week, looking to put the spotlight on healthcare issues in this federal election.

The presidents of the Canadian Labour Congress and the Hospital Employees Union spoke to media outside of Nanaimo Regional General Hospital Monday, decrying privitization in the Canadian healthcare system and calling on federal leaders to give more attention to healthcare issues.

Midcoast Morning speaks with an expert in Canadian healthcare policy to break down the role of the federal government, what kinds of privatization are occurring in the system, and how the issue has played into the campaign so far.

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Midcoast Morning follows up on Nanaimo City Council’s 5-4 decision to build an activity centre at Loudon Park by Long Lake, speaking with a councillor whose vote changed following incorrect information from staff, as well as the president of the group that’s spent decades trying to improve boat storage at the park.

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A planned activity centre at Long Lake has the Nanaimo & Area Land Trust(NALT), and a member of city council raising concerns about tree loss. 

Nanaimo city council changed course this week, narrowly voting in favour of a plan to spend close to $11 million building a new facility for boat storage and with community space at Loudon Park next to Long Lake.

At a previous Finance and Audit Committee meeting council had voted in favour of a plan that would have seen boat storage built in a different location at a cost of about $6.5 million.

A number of councillors were not present at that meeting, and this week, in a pair of 5-4 votes, council decided first against building the scaled down storage, and then to approve funding for the bigger building.

It’s estimated by NALT that more than 40 per cent of the trees in the park will be cut down as part of the planned building.

Midcoast Morning speaks with NALT’s executive director and Nanaimo City Councillor Ben Geselbracht about the issue.

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Four major new BC Ferries are on the way but plans for a fifth have been rejected for now.

The new ships will replace four aging vessels, the Queens of Cowichan, Alberni, Coquitlam and New Westminster.

It’s the largest capital project in the history of BC Ferries.

The first of the new vessels are expected to enter service in 2029, with all four operational by 2031.

BC Ferries had requested permission to build a fifth ship at the same time to increase capacity in the system.

All decisions on major capital expenditures for BC Ferries have to go through the BC Ferry Commission, an independent regulator that also sets the limit on average fare and reservation increases.

This week BC Ferries commissioner Eva Hage released her 32 page decision on BC Ferries application for new vessels, giving the go ahead to the four replacement ships, but rejecting the application for a fifth.

Midcoast Morning speaks with Hage and BC Ferries CEO Nicolas Jimenez about the development.

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Vancouver Island University is getting set to search for a new president.

Last week current president Deborah Saucier announced her resignation as of April fourth.

The move followed a vote of non confidence in her leadership from the VIU Faculty Association and a call for her removal from the Vancouver Island University Students Union (VIUSU).

Midcoast Morning speaks with a representative from VIUSU about their hopes for the change.

Plus this weekend voters in and around Oceanside will decide on the fate of substantial upgrades to the Ravensong Aquatic Centre in Qualicum Beach.

Parksville Mayor Doug O’Brien shares the journey the project has taken to reach this stage.

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Nanaimo’s northern gateway could look very different in 20 years.

The city is refining its plan for the Woodgrove area, and aims to add much denser housing to an area currently covered in concrete and chain stores.

Midcoast Morning speaks with Kasia Biegun from The City of Nanaimo planning department, and Michael Bassili of Strong Towns Nanaimo about the area.

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Familiar faces are lining up for what projects to be a tight Nanaimo race in the federal election.

All five candidates from the 2021 federal election are set to run again for their respective parties.

Incumbent MP Lisa Marie Barron of the NDP is looking to retain her seat.

2021 runner up Tamara Kronis is once again representing the Conservative party, and former MP and current city councillor Paul Manly has been announced as the Green Party candidate in the Nanaimo-Ladysmith Riding.

Michelle Corfield is once again running for the liberals and Stephen Welton has been announced as the People’s Party candidate.

As of recording time, none of the candidates have been officially confirmed by Elections Canada, the nomination process closes April 7th, and a complete list of Candidates will be available Wednesday April 9th.

Midcoast Morning tees up the race in a conversation with VIU political science professor Michael MacKenzie.

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It’s going to cost a quarter more to ride the bus in Nanaimo. April 1 transit fares are going up for the first time in years, following a fare review process.

A single ride will now cost $2.75 and a day pass $5.50

The price of Monthly concession passes for seniors and youth are also going up by $5.

The cost of a standard monthly bus pass remains the same at $65.

There’s also one route that’s decreased in price, the Nanaimo to Cowichan Valley Express route is now $5 dollars, down from $7.50.

Midcoast Morning speaks with the RDN’s Senior Manager of Transportation about the changes.

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