Shalu Mehta

Looking forward to hearing Kiera's poems at our International Women's Day event this Sunday. Event speakers also include Cowichan Tribes Chief Cindy Daniels, Cowichan Valley MLA @debratoporowski.bsky.social and local educator Corina Fitznar. Details:
www.eventbrite.com/e/the-discou...

Snuneymuxw reserve lands included in City of Nanaimo boundary – The Discourse. New boundaries will allow people living on the reserves to vote in city elections this fall.

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-...

Duncan Conservative town hall highlights shift in political strategy – The Discourse. Experts say political parties are restricting access to events and moving away from open town halls.

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

A timeline of the Crofton mill – The Discourse. From its early years to its 2025 closure, here’s a timeline of the Crofton mill’s history.

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👇

Ben Bankas' Nanaimo show to go ahead despite opposition – The Discourse. Community members want proceeds of sold-out show by outrage comedian Ben Bankas to be donated to Nanaimo Pride and Indigenous organizations

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-...

Regional District of Nanaimo developing policy on full-time living in recreational vehicles – The Discourse. District staff will also create a rural housing strategy.

People in the Regional District of Nanaimo may soon be able to live in RVs full time. The district is developing a policy on this as well as a rural housing strategy, a move that has been applauded by the B.C. RV Alliance. thediscourse.ca/nanaimo/regi...

How a Comox Valley fossil discovery forever changed paleontology in B.C. The untold story behind Mike and Heather Trask’s fossil discovery and ‘the incredible importance of curiosity.’

Mike and Heather Trask’s Comox Valley-based fossil discovery in 1988 inspired a flood of amateur paleontologists. It also inspired the first paleontological society in B.C. and led to the creation of a policy to protect fossils.

Read the story:
thediscourse.ca/comox-valley...

Regional District of Nanaimo 'drop the hammer' on tiny home Despite a housing crisis, Nanoose Bay Regional District of Nanaimo director called bylaw on a tiny home in his neighbourhood.

It’s a small thing. But before this story in @thediscourse.ca came out, the Regional District of Nanaimo was actively working to prevent any long term living in RVs unless you were of means to build a new house. thediscourse.ca/nanaimo/regi...

TOMORROW THEY VOTE ON PERMITTING LONGTERM RV LIVING

Drop the names of any Canadian companies you’ve seen working with ICE in the comments.

I’m aware of Gardaworld, Roshel, Hootsuite.

Would love to gather any and all other names.

Cowichan Valley residents seek answers after ejection from public town hall – The Discourse. Three Cowichan Valley residents say they were threatened with arrest and removed from a public town hall event over T-shirt slogans.

“Everyone should be concerned that we were profiled and asked to leave for no reason.”

Three Cowichan Valley residents say they were threatened with arrest at a public town hall featuring Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and local MP Jeff Kibble — because of the messages on their T-shirts.

Cowichan Valley communities seek to expand Duncan’s ‘proven’ Village housing model Duncan applies for funding to add six more cabins to The Village, while North Cowichan evaluates land for two potential new Village sites.

Widely considered a successful model for low-barrier emergency housing, The City of Duncan has applied for funding to add six new sleeping cabins to The Village. Meanwhile, North Cowichan is looking to add two new Village sites to its municipality. Read the story:
thediscourse.ca/cowichan-val...

After Indigenous teen’s stabbing, his family says the system failed to stop his bullying Foster parents in ‘Courtenay, B.C.’ speak out after a string of alleged incidents targeting them and their 16-year-old foster son, as they wait for trial.

Foster parents in Courtenay, B.C. speak out after a string of alleged incidents targeting them and their 16-year-old foster son.
*This story was produced as part of Spotlight: Child Welfare, a collaborative journalism project. It was first published by IndigiNews.

Salt Spring Island author pens book on sustainable farming – The Discourse. Author of ‘Radical Farm: Animals, food and Our Future,’ shares how she thinks communities can reconnect with food and the people who grow it.

Salt Spring Island farmer Abey Scaglione's new book, "Radical Farm: Animals, Food and Our Future," lays out her vision for how communities can support local food, farmers and environmentally restorative agriculture practices. Read our Q&A with her:
thediscourse.ca/cowichan-val...

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Looking for something to do in the Cowichan Valley this week? 🎄

Check out our curated list of holiday events and live music: thediscourse.ca/cowichan-val...

And if you want these events sent straight to your inbox you can sign up to our weekly newsletters here:

‘Enough is enough’: Penelakut family calls on Island Health to address systemic racism after Lenny Sylvester’s death – The Discourse. Community leaders say Lenny Sylvester’s death shows systemic racism within Island Health and are demanding accountability and transparency.

“Enough is enough.”

Family and leaders are demanding answers from Island Health after the death of Lenny Sylvester, a Penelakut man whose care they say reflects systemic racism.

Read more:

North Cowichan passes OCP amendment — Will staff, infrastructure keep up? – The Discourse. A council decision to amend the Official Community Plan could set back housing developments and cost future tax payers, municipal staff say.

At a recent meeting, North Cowichan staff warned council that amending the Official Community Plan could cost taxpayers and impact future developments and water and sewer capacity.

Council voted to amend the OCP. Read more about what this means:

thediscourse.ca/cowichan-val...

Grateful to have @thediscourse.ca / @micksweetman.bsky.social and the rest of the folks at The Discourse reporting in communities like Nanaimo, Cowichan, and Comox. Their journalism is vital. Support it if you can!

North Cowichan council axes plans to resume harvesting in forest reserve – The Discourse. Following public backlash and pushback from First Nations, council moved to scrap plans to explore logging in the Municipal Forest Reserve.

Thank-you for your good coverage on this story @thediscourse.ca and thank-you to Eric for showing up in person to our council meeting. We don't get many reporters attending meetings and your attendance means a lot. We need our local journalists and news coverage. Also thank-you for quoting me.

Motion to close Nanaimo’s Overdose Prevention Site withdrawn – The Discourse. New motion will ask province to reexamine its policy on responding to the overdose crisis.

A motion by Nanaimo Coun. Ian Thorpe to ask Island Health to close the Overdose Prevention Site on Albert Street was withdrawn at last night's city council meeting. But a new motion to send a letter to the province to reexamine its drug policy is hotly contested.

thediscourse.ca/nanaimo/moti...

Advocates worry that moving Lewis Street encampment endangers residents who have nowhere else to go – The Discourse. North Cowichan said it will service and provide ‘temporary’ sheltering sites, while Cowichan Valley sees a spike in overdoses.

North Cowichan began dismantling the Lewis Street encampment on Nov. 17 moving about 75 residents to new sites. The Cowichan Community Care Network says the move puts people at risk of violence and overdoses as the new sites are further away from the Warmland Shelter and overdose prevention site.

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.

Courtenay Repair Café a ‘vibrant place’ for young and old – The Discourse. The annual Repair Café, hosted by Lake Trail Community Education Society in Courtenay, fosters a do-it-yourself attitude.

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!

Don’t be fooled by the Ontario Ring of Fire ads aired during Blue Jays games | The Narwhal Doug Ford’s ads during Blue Jays World Series games suggest mines are up and running in the Ring of Fire in northern Ontario, but that’s not true

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...

What the Quw'utsun Nation court case reveals about private land ownership and Indigenous title in B.C. – The Discourse. After an unprecedented 513-day trial, Quw'utsun Nation court case ruling sets high burden of proof First Nations need to be declared title-holders

New story in the Discourse featuring an interview with Luschiim and me on the Cowichan Title case

thediscourse.ca/cowichan-val...

‘We want to consider the needs of all citizens’: Ladysmith seeks public input on first-ever accessibility plan – The Discourse. Town launches consultations, until Oct. 29, in its efforts towards reducing barriers and becoming more accessible

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...