Hi there,

It's Shalu. We're a few days into our Spring Supporter Drive and a handful of you have pitched in toward our fundraising goal of getting 100 regular readers to sign up by June 22 — enough to keep our Island reporters in the field through the October municipal election.

Today, I wanted to share a glimpse of what your Nanaimo reporter Mick Sweetman has been thinking about with a short Q and A:

Q. Mick, what story this year made the biggest impact?

The Cable Bay Trail rezoning. Hundreds of residents packed three public hearings. My report from the first one captured Snuneymuxw Elders explaining how the rezoning would violate their treaty rights. Pressure from that public process pushed council to send the proposal back for more consultation.

What community moment stayed with you?

The all-ages punk show I covered at The Globe Live Studio. Reader Sarah Lovegrove wrote: "I didn't expect to bawl my eyes out at a story about young people at a punk show, but here we are. The kids really are going to be alright."

What are you following into the October election?

The growth of formal political slates in Nanaimo's municipal politics. It's the kind of structural shift that changes who gets elected, and how. Housing — especially supportive and social housing — also remains a top concern from the reader survey.

If you read this news service regularly, now is the time to support it.

Nanaimo supporter Glenys, on Gabriola, put it well: "You cover local news that I don't otherwise hear about."

For $15 a month you can cover Mick's hours on the council beat and the trips to the hearings that don't get covered anywhere else.

Thanks for being here.

Kindly,