This is Vancouver Island

The District of North Saanich is dismantling its pickleball courts, which have sat empty since they were closed due to neighbourhood complaints. In this episode, we hear why they made that final decision, what’s happening next, and why the sport draws both lovers and and haters across the island.

Provincial NDP leaders have mixed reviews on Avi Lewis as the new leader of the federal party. We ask our B.C. politics panelists, of all party stripes, what they think he means for our province. Plus, they weigh in on a B.C. Conservative leadership candidate's plan to cooperate with OneBC. Our political panel is: former Green Party MLA and Tsartlip First Nation member Adam Olsen, former BC Liberal and BC United staffer Andrew Reeve, and former NDP cabinet minister Elizabeth Cull.

This week, our political panel covers: the discussions between First Nations and the provincial government about changing the Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act to give the province more clarity, the province's quiet elimination of a climate action agency, and the job cuts coming to the Agricultural Land Commission. Former Green Party MLA and Tsartlip First Nation member Adam Olsen, former BC Liberal and BC United staffer Andrew Reeve, and former NDP cabinet minister Elizabeth Cull discuss with CBC host Liz McArthur.

The Hub, a temporary winter shelter and drop-in centre in Nanaimo, is closing at the end of March. The social service organizations that run it have a plan to move to a new permanent location— they just need the funding from B.C. Housing. We’ll hear about the plan, why they want the City’s support, and why not everyone is on board.

This week our political panel discusses: David Eby's response to the federal government's plan to expand the temporary foreign workers program for rural employers, the province's plan to change the rules for FOI (freedom of information) requests, and the news that B.C. has hired more than 400 health care workers from the U.S. over the past year. Former Green Party MLA and Tsartlip First Nation member Adam Olsen, former BC Liberal and BC United staffer Andrew Reeve, and former NDP cabinet minister Elizabeth Cull discuss with CBC host Liz McArthur.

Ninety-seven American healthcare workers have accepted jobs on Vancouver Island since the province began recruiting across the border last spring. That includes a nurse practitioner from Kentucky, who was inspired by Nanaimo content creator Tod Maffin to make the move. We’ll hear from them both, as well as B.C. Health Minister Josie Osborne on what’s needed to address the systemic issues still plaguing the island’s health staffing shortages.

This week on our B.C. politics episode, the panel tackles Premier David Eby's concerns about sluggish housing starts, a plan to create bubble zones around places of worship, and the fact that the province's post-secondary institutions are struggling financially. Our political panel is Andrew Reeve (former press secretary and deputy director of communications with the BC Liberal and BC United parties), Adam Olsen (former Green Party MLA and member of the Tsartlip Nation), and Elizabeth Cull (former NDP cabinet minister.)

The Canadian government is currently deciding between two bids to both renew, and expand, the country’s submarine fleet - a project that will cost more than $20 billion. While both bids are from international companies, the economic development arm of the Songhees Nation is involved in one of them. In this episode, we learn how the Songhees Development Corporation hopes the submarine deal could help both its members, and the region as a whole.

This week our political panel looks at how the provincial government fumbled news of an Aboriginal title agreement between the federal government and the Musqueam Indian Band; new legislation to help organizations that run supportive housing; and why B.C. chose now to change our time zone. Our panel is Adam Olsen (former Green Party MLA and a member of the Tsartlip Nation), Andrew Reeve (former press secretary and deputy director of communications with the BC Liberal and BC United parties) and Elizabeth Cull (former NDP cabinet minister).Want to hear that inteview they refererred to, about the supportive housing changes? Listen here.

We went to Quw’utsun Secondary in North Cowichan to talk to three First Nations students about storytelling. They shared traditional stories from their communities (plus a new one about a raven who mountain bikes!) and talked about why it's so important to them to share stories and the lessons that can be learned from them. This was part of a bigger CBC Victoria project looking at the role of storytelling in community. Listen to a live recording of our afternoon radio show, All Points West, from the Cowichan library here. 

Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Peter Milobar got endorsements from five of his colleagues this week in the race to replace John Rustad as leader of the B.C. Conservatives. The decision will be made in May - but does this make him the front runner? Our political panel discusses the state of the leadership race, concerns about ChatGPT and the Tumbler Ridge shooter, and business community frustrations about the expansion of the PST. 

There is global demand for critical minerals, and those can be found right here on the island. This week, we hear about two proposals to mine critical minerals, including one that uses a process called “re-mining”. This is where gold and copper would be extracted from the waste piles of an old mine at the same time as hazardous materials are removed. That’s at the old Mount Sicker site in the Cowichan Valley. Plus, we’ll hear about the proposed Northisle copper and gold mine near Port Hardy.

The B.C. government is facing a record-setting deficit, but didn’t announce drastic cuts in this week's budget. While there are some job cuts and tax increases, there’s also spending on health care and education. Our three political insiders have different takes on whether they made the right moves. Former Green Party MLA and Tsartlip First Nation member Adam Olsen, former BC Liberal and BC United staffer Andrew Reeve, and former NDP cabinet minister Elizabeth Cull discuss with CBC host Gregor Craigie.

The province recently announced new funding to support families of children with disabilities. It means some children who live with conditions such as Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and fetal alcohol syndrome will get support they’ve never had before - but it also means some families of children with autism will lose that funding. We’ll hear from two Vancouver Island parents with two different perspectives on the news. Here’s the province’s website with information about the new program, and the transition away from the autism funding.

From Victoria to the Peace, the entire province is mourning the events and loss in Tumbler Ridge. The Province revamped its Throne Speech and start of the session, to support the community.Former Green Party MLA and Tsartlip First Nation member Adam Olsen, former BC Liberal and BC United staffer Andrew Reeve, and former NDP cabinet minister Elizabeth Cull weigh in on the week's top political stories with CBC host Gregor Craigie.

An independent forestry panel released its report to the B.C. government this week, saying massive change is required to fix the industry in this province. We ask our political panel what they make of the recommendations, plus the latest political moves to deal with the ongoing extortion crisis in Surrey and beyond and just how austere they think the B.C. budget will be when it's released on February 17. Former Green Party MLA and Tsartlip First Nation member Adam Olsen, former BC Liberal and BC United staffer Andrew Reeve, and former NDP cabinet minister Elizabeth Cull weigh in on the week's top political stories with CBC host Gregor Craigie.

Sport fishers in B.C. are raising concerns about proposed changes to the salmon allocation policy for B.C. - which Fisheries and Oceans Canada (aka DFO) uses to determine which who gets priority access to different types of Pacific salmon. A court ruling in 2018 said the federal government had to add First Nations' commercial rights to the list, and the ministry has been working with First Nations, sport, and commercial fishers to review the overall policy - which is nearly 30 years old. Sport fishers say a new discussion paper shows their rights are at risk - but First Nations say that's not the case. We walk you through it. 

B.C. Premier David Eby, and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, met with the prime minister this week in Ottawa. Eby called the conversations "borderline friendly" - but he also used the word "treason" in response to Alberta separatists earlier this week. Our political panelists have thoughts about the word treason, and the current state of B.C./Alberta/Canada relations. Plus, they weigh in on the growing list of candidates in the race for B.C. Conservative leader. Hear political insiders Andrew Reeve (former press secretary and deputy director of communications with the BC Liberal and BC United parties), Elizabeth Cull (a former NDP cabinet minister), and Adam Olsen (former Green Party MLA, and a member of the Tsartlip Nation) speak with CBC host Gregor Craigie. 

This week a group of Parksville-Qualicum residents presented a petition to their MLA, calling for more respite for caregivers who look after their aging loved ones. It came as B.C.’s seniors advocate pointed out there are nowhere near enough publicly-funded long term care beds to match the growing number of seniors in the province. Some island communities have the highest populations of seniors in Canada, so on today’s episode we hear from folks in Parksville-Qualicum and the Comox Valley about how some people are struggling to look after their aging spouses, with few opportunities for a break. We’ll also speak with the head of an island hospice society about how non-profits like hers are trying to support people, and their loved ones, and the end of their lives.

The whole world is talking about that speech the Prime Minister made at Davos this week - including our B.C. politics panel. They also weigh in on Premier Eby's confirmation that his government will amend the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA) this spring. Hear from our political insiders Elizabeth Cull (a former NDP cabinet minister), Adam Olsen (former Green Party MLA, and a member of the Tsartlip Nation), and Andrew Reeve (former press secretary and deputy director of communications with the BC Liberal and BC United parties).

This week Lighthouse Brewing in Esquimalt announced it’s shutting down operations and selling its brand - saying it costs more to brew beer than they can bring in by selling it. On this week’s episode we hear from co-owner Ben Thomas about the difficult decision, and how the BCGEU strike was the breaking point. Plus, we talk to Chris Bjerrisgaard of Sidney’s Small Gods Brewing about how they’re managing to stay afloat as beer sales decline across the country. While you’re here, check out this previous episode of This is Vancouver Island, about how two local breweries are expanding into non-alcoholic drinks to adapt. 

Welcome to a new edition of This is Vancouver Island! Starting today, we'll bring you a weekly dose of B.C. politics with our political insiders. Hear former Green Party MLA Adam Olsen, former BC Liberal and BC United staffer Andrew Reeve, and former NDP cabinet minister Elizabeth Cull weigh in on the week's top stories with CBC host Gregor Craigie. This week: the end of decriminalization, Prime Minister Carney's meeting in Prince Rupert with Coastal First Nations, and post-secondary institutions (like North Island College) worry about further cuts. 

A plan to redevelop the Capital Irons lands, at the north end of downtown Victoria, got an important vote of confidence from city council this month. It means that hundreds of units of housing will likely be built, as well as a new home for the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria and a place where a local fish company can dock its boats, and process and sell its stock. We get the details on this week's episode.

Whether you commute by bike, bus, or car, you’ve likely encountered detours and delays in Greater Victoria lately…and that’s not going to change in the short term. A number of construction projects have lanes closed and/or detours in place. On this week’s episode: are construction closures becoming more common? And what could ease traffic? We ask Susan Brice, a current Saanich councillor and Capital Regional district director, and longtime local politician who’s also worn many other hats.BTW, if you want info on the BC Hydro-related road closures we mention in the episode, check them out here. Get updates on the Galloping Goose closure here. The city of Victoria also has some upcoming work on both Blanshard and Bay, details should be posted here.

Every once in a while, frustrated ferry users bring up the idea of a “fixed link” - a bridge or tunnel that would permanently connect Vancouver Island to the rest of B.C. It happened this week when stormy weather led to nearly a hundred sailing cancellations just before Christmas. It also came up this summer, as discussions dragged on about the new ships that B.C. Ferries ordered from a shipyard in China. So this week, a repeat of our July 17 episode: do we need a bridge or tunnel? What it take to build one?

The provincial government is trying to get more housing built, and more quickly. But some local developers who are trying to build missing middle housing in Greater Victoria (ie duplex, triplexes, and townhouses), say they’re still facing roadblocks. Meanwhile, some local governments are ramping up their fights against the bill. CBC Victoria’s Rohit Joseph has been looking into it all, and joins us to share what he heard.

Leonard Sylvester, a 38-year-old Penelakut man, died in hospital last month -- less than three weeks after a routine medical procedure. Throughout his hospitalization, his wife Boedaya Sylvester says she was not properly communicated with, and she says they were treated differently because they’re Indigenous. In this episode we hear from Boedaya and from Island Health, which has promised to review what happened.

The community of Crofton got devastating news this week, with Domtar announcing it’s closing its mill there, putting 350 people out of work. In this episode we hear about why, and what’s next. We’ll also check in on a retraining program in Port Alberni, for laidoff mill workers there.

Downtown Victoria business owners say they’re seeing a positive impact, four months after the city launched the first phase of its community safety and wellbeing plan. City staff say they’ve completed 2 of their 11 priorities, with the other 9 underway. Folks on Pandora have mixed reviews. We take a look at it all in this week’s episode.Want to learn more about the plan? Check out our episode from when it was first launched.You can also read the whole thing on the city's website.

We know communities across the island region are struggling with housing. That challenge can be especially acute on smaller islands, with even more limited space: what are you supposed to do if you have a job, but nowhere to live? Or if you can’t hire people, because they can’t find housing? On Salt Spring Island, the Country Grocer has solved that problem by creating housing for its staff. CBC reporter Emily Fagan went to the island to learn more, and tells us about it on this week’s episode.

Wild deer are a common sight in greater Victoria, as we humans keep building our homes in their habitat - but the immuno-contraceptive experiment in Oak Bay seems to have worked at managing the population. On this episode we check in with one of the founders of the Urban Wildlife Stewardship Society (UWSS), which came up with the plan to give birth control to urban deer. Kristy Kilpatrick also talks about how she’s seen attitudes towards deer change in the decade since UWSS started its work.

Even though it’s been three months since a B.C. Supreme Court judge ruled that Quw’utsun Nation (Cowichan Tribes, Stz’uminus First Nation, Penelakut Tribe, Halalt First Nation and Lyackson First Nation) hold Aboriginal title over some land in Richmond - the news is still making headlines, especially on the mainland. That’s because the land includes some private property. But does the decision threaten private property rights in B.C.? An island leader explains why he doesn’t think so. 

The Greater Victoria Harbour Authority (GVHA) has been trying to find a way to install shore power at Ogden Point, so that some of the cruise ships that stop there can plug in and use electricity - instead of relying on fossil fuels to keep the lights and other ship services going while the vessels are in port. But now, the GVHA has abandoned the plan. It says even with $31.5 million dollars promised by provincial and federal governments, it would need at least another $61 million dollars to do all the work needed - and it just doesn’t have the money. So what happens now?

There are unhoused people living in communities across Vancouver Island, but not every community has a place for them to go on nights when winter weather is so bad that it’s dangerous. The province provides funding for winter shelter, so why doesn’t everyone apply for it? Host Kathryn Marlow and CBC reporter Maryse Zeidler look at three areas with three different levels of support: Campbell River, Sidney, and the Cowichan Valley.

Every time the earth shakes on the island, we flock to social media to see who else felt the tremor. But did you know you can also report your experience to Earthquakes Canada, to help with future research? Seismologist John Cassidy explains how researchers like him rely on such information. Plus: the latest on the earthquake warning system. This episode originally aired October 1, 2024. 

Thousands of union members rallied at the B.C. Legislature in Victoria this week, as the BCGEU and PEA strike entered its sixth week. So what’s keeping the two unions and their employer - the provincial government - apart? And is there any sign of them reaching an agreement? In this episode, we hear from union members, the premier, and more. 

The Victoria Conservatory of Music (VCM), which is located on the 900-block of Pandora, is getting ready to fully reopen the Alix Goolden Performance Hall. It’s been partially closed since the pandemic, meaning the Conservatory can’t host big concerts. But CEO Nathan Medd says once the city has done its work improving safety on the block, the VCM will be ready to open its Pandora doors, and help build a future for the neighbourhood with a focus on music and art. We hear from him, and artist Francis Dick. She recently contributed a mural to the VCM, and is excited to collaborate more to add vibrancy to downtown.

Tiny homes on wheels are technically not allowed as permanent housing - but that hasn’t stopped some people in rural B.C. communities from living in them, because they’re affordable and don’t leave a big footprint. Now, local government officials in several island communities say they’ve found a way to make them legal. On this week’s episode, we hear about the solution that representatives from Islands Trust and the Regional District of Nanaimo recently shared with local governments from across B.C. 

Some islanders are upset that a U.S. non-profit that does adventure tourism wants to renew and expand its access to crown land along the B.C. coast. National Outdoor Leadership School says its sea kayakers will use the land to camp while travelling from Washington to Alaska. But social media posts opposing the application have gone viral in island communities. On this episode we hear from the applicants themselves, and a First Nations leader who has concerns.

Public sector workers in the BCGEU (BC General Employees' Union) and PEA (Professional Employees Association) escalated job action this week. About 14,500 of those workers are islanders. On this episode we hear why the strike is happening - and when it might be resolved.

This is the second school year since the provincial restrictions on cell phone use in schools came into effect. But what exactly are the rules? And how are they put into practice? As you’ll hear in this episode, that’s not exactly clear. Island teachers and administrators talk about how they’re interpreting and creating the rules.

The road to Bamfield, and the Huu-ay-aht and Ditidaht First Nations, is closed for the foreseeable future due to damage by the Mount Underwood fire. A similar thing happened to highway 4 east of Port Alberni in the summer of 2023. The issue is slope instability - but what exactly is that? And how do you repair it?

The Wesley Ridge and Mount Underwood fires had the province’s attention this summer - an unusual situation for the island. But the people who study fire and climate aren’t surprised, and say it will only become more common. On this week’s episode we hear about the changing history of wildfire on Vancouver Island, and about one of the mitigation projects underway to try and prepare. Hear about how what’s growing in our forests may change, and ways you can help with mitigation. 

This week, we bring you one of our most popular episodes from last year: a discussion with three islanders about what they love about summer at home. Get staycation tips from residents of Victoria, Parksville, and Campbell River. This episode was originally published July 2, 2024.

For 12 hours this week, islanders and coastal B.C. residents were watching for news of a tsunami. It didn’t arrive, but it did give us a chance to figure out the difference between a “watch,” an “advisory,” and a “warning,” and whether we even get notifications. This week’s episode catches up on what we learned - including that drones can help spread the news to remote areas.

Killer whales and humans have more than a few things in common, even if our habitat is different - and recent research has added even more similarities to the list. In this episode we hear about orcas giving gifts to humans, and using tools to exfoliate.

Every once in a while, frustrated ferry users bring up the idea of a “fixed link” - a bridge or tunnel that would permanently connect Vancouver Island to the rest of B.C. It came up this week as discussions drag on about the new ships that BC Ferries has ordered from a shipyard in China. So on this week’s episode: what would it take to build a bridge or tunnel?

Are you an ocean, lake, or river swimmer? On this week’s episode we take a break from the news to celebrate some of the many outdoor swimming spots on the Island - in all types of water. Alex McKeen, co-author of “Swimming Holes and Beaches of Southwestern British Columbia,” shares her love of swimming as a way to explore a new place and talks about some of the 50+ island spots listed in her book. They include the Koksilah River Holes, Cameron Lake, Inland Lake, and Banfield Park.P.S. Are you looking for more ideas of stuff to do on the island in the summer? Go back in time to the July 2, 2024 episode titled "The best (and worst) of summer on the Island."

The city of Victoria released a plan to take $10 million from its budget, and reallocate it to public safety initiatives. The money will be used for bylaw and police officers, street repair and more, and will be focused on Pandora Avenue, Princess Avenue, and downtown overall. On this week's episode we hear from mayor Marianne Alto, Victoria police chief Del Manak, and the province's Minister of State for Community Safety and Integrated Services, Terry Yung. 

Bus service has long been a problem on the island, and it’s even more challenging now. We catch you up on the strike at Cowichan Valley Transit, and the cancellation of a bus route from Ucluelet and Tofino to Port Alberni. Plus, we try to find out if - or when - things might improve.