Welcome to Nanaimo This Week, your source of community news and local solutions. Did a friend forward this email to you? Subscribe to this newsletter.
|
|
|
Hi there,
This year has been so busy for our little team! While lulls are pretty typical in the news cycle, it’s safe to say we didn’t really experience any this year.
From a snap election in the spring to always-interesting council coverage, there has been no shortage of stories to tell in 2025.
Mick has been so great at being on top of local news and events in Nanaimo. He attended local celebrations, protests, marches and gatherings and has had countless one-on-one conversations with community members. If you saw him out and about, you likely also saw him taking photos that ended up in his stories and newsletters.
It was also my first full year working as the Island editor for The Discourse, coordinating coverage in the Cowichan Valley, Nanaimo and Comox Valley. When I look back at everything we’ve reported — and the depth of our coverage — I feel so proud to be part of this small but mighty team.
Today, I’m excited to share some of our most-read stories in Nanaimo with you, as well as our top feel good stories from the year — scroll down for those! I hope you enjoy reading (or re-reading) them as you ring in the new year.
|
|
|
With gratitude, |
 |
Island Editor |
|
|
P.S. There's still time to support The Discourse! Help us reach our end of year fundraising goal of 100 new supporters to sustain our in-depth, community journalism into 2026. Thank you to those of you who have stepped up to support us already!
|
| I support this local news service!
| | The Discourse Nanaimo’s most-read stories of 2025 |
| Vancouver Island outdoor enthusiasts want authorities to ‘open the gates’ to the backcountry. Here’s why it’s complicated.
|
Hundreds of thousands of hectares of unceded land privatized decades ago are blocked off — causing confusion and frustration for many outdoor lovers. But accessing land with complex ownership is far from simple.
This story was a finalist for Excellence in Community Reporting at the 2025 Webster Awards.
|
| Read more
| |
| Meet one of the U.S. health-care workers moving to Nanaimo
|
Why a nurse from California, and other U.S. health-care workers, will be calling Nanaimo home this year.
|
| Read more
| |
| How the NDP lost Vancouver Island
|
Former Vancouver Island NDP MPs and activists on why they lost and how they want to rebuild the party.
|
| Read more
| |
| VIU ‘turning a corner’ as board approves $500K deficit budget, chair says
|
VIU to refocus on undergraduate education as it cancels graduate programs.
|
| Read more
| |
| Nanaimo addictions doctor behind pop up overdose site resigns in protest
|
Dr. Jessica Wilder steps down from harm reduction leadership roles at Island Health and at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital after being put on administrative leave following participation in an unsanctioned overdose prevention site.
|
| Read more
| | Top Nanaimo feel-good stories of 2025 |
| The best places to camp near Nanaimo
|
From beautiful ocean beaches to stunning waterfalls and forests and amazing lakes here are the best places to camp near Nanaimo.
|
| Read more
| |
| Trans athlete ‘love bombed’ by supporters after speaking out against harassment
|
People filled the stands at a recent VIU women’s basketball game in support of trans athlete Harriette Mackenzie.
|
| Read more
| |
| Backyard Fest to take over Victoria Crescent
|
Backyard Fest, Nanaimo’s underground music and arts festival, is back bigger than ever.
|
| Read more
| |
| Talking with Americans at Tod’s Nanaimo Infusion
|
The Discourse spoke to American tourists visiting Canada as part of Tod’s Nanaimo Infusion.
|
| Read more
| |
| Herring spawn arrives in Nanaimo
|
Wildlife enthusiasts and families turn out to see the stunning turquoise waters and wildlife at Neck Point Park and Pipers Lagoon Park.
|
| Read more
| | What did you think of this newsletter? |
⭐ ⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
|
|
|
|
