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Nervous energy filled the Vancouver Island Conference Centre Saturday night as Nanaimo's local election results were revealed. Mayor Leonard Krog won re-election, although by narrower margins than in the 2022 and 2018 elections, beating challenger Sarah Lovegrove by 1907 votes. Andréa Coutu and Marnie Boers joined six incumbent candidates on council, while incumbent Janice Perrino fell just short of re-election. The only slate running, REAL Nanaimo did not see a candidate elected for mayor or council, although REAL council candidate Sandy Bartlett was the second runner up, just behind Perrino. Midcoast Morning takes you to the scene of Nanaimo's local election results reveal, and brings reaction from those in the race. Creators & Guests Jesse Woodward - Editor Joe Pugh - Host Leonard Krog - Guest Sarah Lovegrove - Guest Mick Sweetman - Writer Ian Thorpe - Guest Sheila Gurrie - Guest Anne Marie Dryden - Guest Ben Geselbracht - Guest Andréa Coutu - Guest Marnie Boers - Guest Support Midcoast Morning and our Nonprofit Newsroom with a monthly sustaining donation of $5 to $10 a month.Podcast Photo: Incumbent Mayor Leonard Krog watches the results come in. (Jesse Woodward / CHLY 101.7FM) ★ Support this podcast ★

Ahead of local elections in the City of Nanaimo, questionable polls have been circulating online on social media like Facebook drawing the criticism of community members. An unscientific straw poll was but one issue, but another poll circulated by Noni Bartlett, associated with political slate REAL Nanaimo, appears to have been generated entirely by AI. The poll showed Anne Marie Dryden, candidate for mayor with the REAL slate in the lead over incumbent Leonard Krog, candidates Sarah Lovegrove and Brunie Brunie. In response to community members calling the poll fake, Barlett claimed she had found it elsewhere on Facebook, but did not respond to inquiries regarding said source. No apparent other source was found. Bartlett was contacted for comment, but did not respond by broadcast deadline. The poll was later removed by Bartlett. Political reporter Mick Sweetman joins host Joe Pugh to talk about polls, the fallout, response from mayoral candidates, and explore with guests misinformation in local elections.  Creators & Guests Jesse Woodward - Editor Joe Pugh - Host Anne Marie Dryden - Guest Aiden McIlvaney - Guest Sarah Lovegrove - Guest Leonard Krog - Guest Colleen Hildebrandt - Guest Mick Sweetman - Writer Support Midcoast Morning and our Nonprofit Newsroom with a monthly sustaining donation of $5 to $10 a month.Podcast Photo: Social Media Icons close up. (Brett Jordan / Pexels) ★ Support this podcast ★

Ahead of the October 17 local election, Midcoast Morning spoke with each of the four candidates running for mayor of Nanaimo. In this episode, VIU nursing instructor Sarah Lovegrove and incumbent mayor Leonard Krog. Creators & Guests Jesse Woodward - Editor Joe Pugh - Host Leonard Krog - Guest Sarah Lovegrove - Guest Support Midcoast Morning and our Nonprofit Newsroom with a monthly sustaining donation of $5 to $10 a month.Podcast Photo: Incumbent Mayor Leonard Krog at his campaign launch. Candidate Sarah Lovegrove on the day of her announcement (Jesse Woodward / CHLY 101.7FM) ★ Support this podcast ★

Ahead of the October 17th local elections in British Columbia, Midcoast Morning spoke with each of the four candidates running for Mayor of Nanaimo. In this episode, former financial planner Anne Marie Dryden and multi time mayor and council candidate Brunie Brunie. Creators & Guests Jesse Woodward - Editor Joe Pugh - Host Brunie Brunie - Guest Anne Marie Dryden - Guest Support Midcoast Morning and our Nonprofit Newsroom with a monthly sustaining donation of $5 to $10 a month.Podcast Photo: Mayoral candidates for the City of Nanaimo, Brunie Brunie and Anne Marie Dryden and  (Mick Sweetman and Jesse Woodward / CHLY 101.7FM) ★ Support this podcast ★

Originally planned by the Fair Care Alliance as a forum framed around local elections, a snap provincial election reframed much of the conversation had at the September 24th Fair Care For All Public Health Forum. Politics reporter Mick Sweetman attended the forum, and joins Midcoast Morning’s host Joe Pugh in talking about what was said at the forum by both those speaking, as well local and provincial politicians and candidates in attendance. Creators & Guests Jesse Woodward - Editor Joe Pugh - Host Janice Perrino - Guest Donna Hais - Guest Mick Sweetman - Writer Dr. David Forest - Guest Sheila Malcomson - Guest Sarah Lovegrove - Guest Support Midcoast Morning and our Nonprofit Newsroom with a monthly sustaining donation of $5 to $10 a month.Podcast Photo: Donna Hais, Chair of the Fair Care Alliance. (Mick Sweetman / CHLY 101.7FM) ★ Support this podcast ★

Plans are in the works to decide how to best add a new parcel of land to Westwood Lake Park. Last week the City of Nanaimo announced the purchase of 2.85 acres of land at 2367 Arbot Road for $2.88 million. The land is currently home to the Westwood Lake Tennis Club, which will cease operation later this fall. Less than a year ago, the same parcel was up for re-zoning, with a plan to build town-homes on the site. Midcoast Morning explores the plan for the new land, and the future of Westwood Lake Park. Creators & Guests Jesse Woodward - Editor Joe Pugh - Host Sharon Kofoed - Guest Support Midcoast Morning and our Nonprofit Newsroom with a monthly sustaining donation of $5 to $10 a month.Podcast Photo: Sharon Kofoed — Spokesperson, Friends of Westwood Lake. (Joe Pugh / CHLY 101.7FM) ★ Support this podcast ★

Nomination papers are in, and the stage is almost set for next month’s local elections across B.C.  In Nanaimo the campaign period is set to kick off Saturday, with advance voting on October 7th and 14th ahead of general voting day October 17th. A political studies professor at VIU says citizens need to think about the process and not just the issues as they get ready to cast their ballots. Michael MacKenzie is a Jarislowsky chair in Trust and Political Leadership at Vancouver Island University. He says local elections are typically low information elections, and that each local election is its own little ecosystem. MacKenzie visited CHLY for a conversation on the local election system that touched on slates, campaign financing rules, and navigating a long ballot. Creators & Guests Jesse Woodward - Editor Joe Pugh - Host Michael Mackenzie - Guest Support Midcoast Morning and our Nonprofit Newsroom with a monthly sustaining donation of $5 to $10 a month.Podcast Photo: City of Nanaimo Voting sign (Jesse Woodward / CHLY 101.7FM) ★ Support this podcast ★

Midcoast Morning explores the political path to a change of plans in the Newcastle neighbourhood. Last week Nanaimo-Gabriola MLA and Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction, Sheila Malcolmson, announced forthcoming supportive housing at 250 Terminal, now known as 250 Bryden, will operate under a recovery-oriented model. Midcoast Morning follows up with the minister, and City of Nanaimo councillor Sheryl Armstrong, who was a vocal advocate for the change at the local level. Creators & Guests Jesse Woodward - Editor Joe Pugh - Host Sheila Malcomson - Guest Sheryl Armistrong - Guest Support Midcoast Morning and our Nonprofit Newsroom with a monthly sustaining donation of $5 to $10 a month.Podcast Photo: Photo description here (Credits) ★ Support this podcast ★

A world of cinema is set to be a boat ride away next month. The Vancouver International Film Festival kicks off October first. The lineup was released last week and features 256 films from 76 countries, in 83 languages. Glen Grunau is president of the Nanaimo International Film Screening Society, a group that organizes showings of international and art house cinema at the Shaw auditorium. He spoke with the program about what he’s looking forward to at the festival, how to engage with it as an islander, and the local international cinema landscape.  Creators & Guests Jesse Woodward - Editor Joe Pugh - Host Glen Grunau - Guest Support Midcoast Morning and our Nonprofit Newsroom with a monthly sustaining donation of $5 to $10 a month.Podcast Photo: VIFF logo from 2026 teaser trailer (VIFF) ★ Support this podcast ★

One of two candidates in the race to replace Elizabeth May as leader of the Green Party of Canada was in Nanaimo this past weekend to pitch their case to lead the federal party. Mike Morrice, former MP for Kitchener Centre, spoke with the program following a Sunday evening event. Midcoast Morning also heard from Nira Dookeran, a party organizer, who is also running for the leadership. Creators & Guests Jesse Woodward - Editor Joe Pugh - Host Mike Morrice - Guest Nira Dookeran - Guest Support Midcoast Morning and our Nonprofit Newsroom with a monthly sustaining donation of $5 to $10 a month.Podcast Photo: Photo description here (Credits) ★ Support this podcast ★

The Nanaimo Lions Club is getting ready to mark its 80th anniversary this Saturday in Maffeo Sutton Park. The service club has helped contribute community infrastructure like the Lions Pavillion and Lions Great Bridge in the park and elsewhere in the community over its eight decades in operation. Currently, they’re looking for new members to increase their capacity to help out in the community. Longtime members Al Brett and Larrie Taylor, as well as current president Bob Huck met with Midcoast Morning host Joe Pugh in Maffeo Sutton Park to talk about the club’s history, the work it’s doing now, and this Saturday’s celebration. Creators & Guests Jesse Woodward - Editor Joe Pugh - Host Bob Huck - Guest Al Brett - Guest Larrie Taylor - Guest Support Midcoast Morning and our Nonprofit Newsroom with a monthly sustaining donation of $5 to $10 a month.Podcast Photo: The Lion’s Pavillion at Maffeo Sutton Park (Jesse Woodward / CHLY 101.7FM) ★ Support this podcast ★

Nanaimo City Council has endorsed the Nanaimo Accord, a document created by leaders of various local institutions that outlines shared priorities for the community’s future. The accord identifies 3 major projects as priorities for investment, expansion of Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, Duke Point Expansion, and the te’tuxwtun development planned on former Department of National Defence lands. The accord was born out of the Mayor’s Leaders Table, a committee made up of members appointed by the mayor. Donna Hais sits at that table. On Monday she presented the accord to council asking for their endorsement. She spoke with Midcoast Morning about the accord. Creators & Guests Jesse Woodward - Editor Joe Pugh - Host Donna Hais - Guest Support Midcoast Morning and our Nonprofit Newsroom with a monthly sustaining donation of $5 to $10 a month.Podcast Photo: Photo description here (Credits) ★ Support this podcast ★

Plans for a development near a wetland ecosystem in the Rock City area have generated concern among local residents, and prompted multiple delegations before city council this month. To better understand what systems are in place to regulate development around wetlands, Midcoast Morning spoke with Russell Chiong, a staff lawyer at West Coast Environmental Law. Support Midcoast Morning and our Nonprofit Newsroom with a monthly sustaining donation of $5 to $10 a month. Podcast Photo: Rock City Wetland (Lauryn Mackenzie / CHLY 101.7FM). ★ Support this podcast ★

Nanaimo is looking to get more active on bringing non market housing to the community. The City’s Governance and Priorities committee voted Monday in favour of recommending Nanaimo City Council send $75,000 to the Nanaimo Prosperity Corporation to facilitate a non-market housing delivery system pilot. The program spoke with Nanaimo Prosperity Corporation CEO Colin Stansfield about where things are at. City staff also suggested council could seriously examine the idea of a municipal housing authority. Further down the island, the Capital Region Housing Corporation (CRHC) provides an example of that model that’s been in operation since the 1980s. Midcoast Morning spoke with Jeremy Caradonna, a Victoria city councillor and vice chair of the CRHC. Support Midcoast Morning and our Nonprofit Newsroom with a monthly sustaining donation of $5 to $10 a month. Podcast Photo: CRHC non-market housing in Victoria BC. (CRHC 2025 Annual Report) ★ Support this podcast ★

As Canada’s time hosting the FIFA world cup comes to a close, Nanaimo is hosting some of B.C.’s youth soccer talent. The Provincial A-Cup championship is on now through Sunday, July 12 in the Harbour City, featuring 40 teams from across the province, including 11 from Vancouver Island. Midcoast Morning spoke with organizers, players, and referees on the first day of competition about the tournament and the soccer landscape in Nanaimo, and B.C. more broadly. Support Midcoast Morning and our Nonprofit Newsroom with a monthly sustaining donation of $5 to $10 a month. Podcast Photo: Number 9 corner kick (Joe Pugh / CHLY 101.7FM) ★ Support this podcast ★