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Notice to readers

Nanaimo This Week will not be published on June 12 and June 19 due to staff vacations. We will be back in your inbox with The Hub on Tuesday, June 24. 

I spent this week pouring through Vancouver Island University’s financial documents and budget plans and attended a board of governors meeting to dive deeper into the current state of the university’s financial crisis. 

What I found was an administration that is both working hard to meet its deficit mitigation targets and return the institution to a balanced budget, as well as the reality that there will likely be more austerity measures if the university is to reach its goal of reducing expenses by $18 million by March 2026.  

Acting president Emily Huner told the board on Tuesday that she can’t reassure staff who are worried about job cuts there won’t be more expense reductions in the future. 

I also spoke with the president of the VIU Faculty Association whose members are currently working without a contract and will be starting collective bargaining this fall. She told me faculty are not interested in taking concessions to pay for what they see as fiscal mismanagement by the administration. 

You can read my full story about what’s happening at VIU below. 

Thank you for reading,

Mick Sweetman

VIU ‘turning a corner’ as board approves $500K deficit budget, chair says

VIU to refocus on undergraduate education as it cancels graduate programs.

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Council corner

The<> next city council meeting on Monday, June 9 will include:

• A presentation by Donna Hais on the Mayor’s Leaders Tables workplan to develop a “Nanaimo Accord.”

• A proposed removal of park dedication of a portion of Elaine Hamilton Park to dedicate it as a right of way to provide access through 1618 Extension Rd. to 1750 Rajeena Way to facilitate the planned Sandstone development. A motion to seek council approval for an Alternative Approval Process to remove the park dedication is also on the agenda. 

• A report on the E-Comm 9-1-1 contract will be made by Fire Chief Tim Doyle. Council will decide if it will sign an agreement for 911 call services with E-Comm for 2025.
  

• A motion by councillor Hilary Eastmure to submit a motion to the Union of BC Municipalities to call on the province to “enshrine housing as a human right in legislation and forthcoming housing and homelessness strategies, ensuring that housing policy in British Columbia is grounded in principles of equity, accessibility, accountability and the inherent dignity of all people."
  

On The Island

🌊 Community members gathered to celebrate the Cowichan Estuary on Saturday, May 31 and witness the gifting of a hand-carved salmon rattle from Kwakwa̱ka̱’wakw Elder Tlithl’Kawi (Rupert Scow) to the Cowichan Estuary Nature Centre. Cowichan Valley reporter Eric Richards has the story. 

In other news

👉 The B.C. Supreme Court dismissed the City of Nanaimo’s attempt to overturn the ruling by the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal that awarded former chief financial officer Victor Mema $650,000 for discrimination after he was fired for personal use of a corporate credit card. The Nanaimo News Bulletin has the story.

👉  The 162-year-old secret society of Chinese Freemasons will gather in Nanaimo this weekend for its national convention in Canada where it will elect a new leader. The Times Colonist has the story.

👉 Business owners in downtown Nanaimo are frustrated with delays to construction on Commercial Street. Restaurant owner Gaetan Brousseau says it is hurting his business that the work wasn’t done in time for patio season. City officials say the work will be completed by June 19, in time for the first Nanaimo Night Market of the season. Chek News has the story. 

 
👉 Research by Vancouver Island University students found that 91 per cent of students surveyed worry about where their next meal will come from and almost half report skipping meals. Food insecurity is higher among international students at 52 per cent. The Nanaimo News Bulletin has the story.

Have your say

📣 The Regional District of Nanaimo’s budget consultations are now open. Residents can share their thoughts on the 2026-2030 financial plan by completing a survey by July 8, 2025. The RDN also has a Q&A page where residents can ask questions and see responses and there is a video page for more information about the budget process.  

Have something to say about the news? Email nanaimo@thediscourse.ca. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.

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