Hi there,

Being in community sometimes means acting in solidarity to hold power to account. But sometimes it means creating new ways for neighbours to come together and connect with each other and the place we call home.

You’ve told us you want more positive, solutions-based news stories — and we make it a point to deliver. There are inspiring movements and welcoming spaces everywhere on the Island. We’re proud to share those stories with you.

In Cowichan, St. Ann’s Garden Club has been a space for visitors to cook, share meals, craft and garden while surrounded by nature for over 30 years. Many of the people they serve are seniors who struggle with dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease, mental health and substance use. For a population that struggles with loneliness and loss of autonomy, nature-based programs like St. Ann’s Garden Club, at Providence Farm, are crucial.

Being so close to nature is healing — but we also need to respect and preserve it. 

In April, community members, youth and Quw'utsun Elders gathered for Stth’lhnamut sqw’ulum, the First Salmon Ceremony. The ceremony welcomes salmon to the Xwulqw’selu Sta’lo (Koksilah River) river  and is also a way for people to make a commitment to steward the water and the lands around it.

That day, attendees were also invited to participate in Project 84,000, a community art project to honour the estimated 84,000 juvenile steelhead trout, lake trout, cutthroat trout and other species that died in the Cowichan River last summer amidst heat, drought and poor environmental conditions. Attendees could also tend to the environment by staking dogwood trees along the bank of the river to support its restoration and learned Hul'q'umi'num' words related to the lands around them.

Whether it’s our neighbours or the lands we call home, we look out for each other.

In Nanaimo, reporter Julie Chadwick hosted a roundtable discussion with community members to round out her investigation into the mistreatment of low-income seniors residing in nonprofit housing. Together, they came up with 10 ways to better support tenants with vulnerabilities due to income, age or disabilities.

Through our reporting, we’ve learned that systemic issues such as climate change and a lack of affordable housing can’t be solved in isolation. And we’ve also learned that our communities are great at coming together to find local solutions to issues that impact all of us.

As your local news outlet, The Discourse’s role is to explain those complex social issues, give voice to groups who feel ignored and provide a platform for solutions that community leaders and organizations can implement in their neighbourhoods.

We’re only able to share these stories because of reader support. You’ve probably heard about our fundraising campaign. We’re aiming to sign up 20 new monthly members and, right now, we’re 35% of the way to our goal. 

If you have the means, supporting us with a monthly contribution is the best way to ensure these stories continue to be told. But we also know times are tough, and we appreciate any support you can give.

Catch up on the stories we mentioned in this email:

Community project honours 84,000 fish that died in Cowichan River
Project 84,000 brings together community and art ‘for the love of water and fish.’

First Salmon Ceremony brings community together for the river, land and fish
Quw’utsun Elders, youth and community members gathered to welcome salmon back to the Xwulqw’selu Sta’lo.

Supporting seniors at St. Ann's Garden Club
The long-running St. Ann’s Garden Club at Providence Farm is seeking more funding to expand and serve more people.

10 ways to better support tenants with vulnerabilities due to income, age or disabilities
The Discourse recently brought tenants together to brainstorm community-based solutions. Here’s what we learned.