This is Vancouver Island

The Save Our Saanich Slate took the mayor's seat and 5 council positions. We'll hear from mayor-elect Rishi Sharma about plans for his first 100 days in office.

Greogr Craigie discussed the only televised BC leaders debate with the On The Island political panel - former Green Party MLA and Tsartlip First Nation member Adam Olsen, former BC Liberal and BC United staffer Andrew Reeve, and former NDP cabinet minister Elizabeth Cull.

Gregor Craigie talks to fellow host Jason D'Souza about the upcoming elections and hears from voters on the South Island about what matters to them.

The B.C. election campaign focussed more on real issues this week. Our weekly political panel is Adam Olsen is a former Green Party MLA, and a member of the Tsartlip Nation, Andrew Reeve is a former press secretary and deputy director of communications with the B.C. Liberal and B.C. United parties and Elizabeth Cull, is a former NDP cabinet minister.

This week a look at the municipality of Sayward on Vancouver Island, and whether it should continue to exist as a town. The CBC's municipal affairs reporter Justin McElroy looks at the future of Sayward in the midst of local elections.

A busy week in politics in B.C. Our weekly political panel talks about Canada's growing appetite for LNG projects and oil pipelines, and what it means for the BC election campaign. Adam Olsen is a former Green Party MLA, and a member of the Tsartlip Nation. Andrew Reeve is a former press secretary and deputy director of communications with the BC Liberal and BC United parties. Elizabeth Cull, is a former NDP cabinet minister.

Island residents will head to the polls twice in October for the municipal and provincial elections. This week we hear from two Island First Nations leaders, to hear what they're watching or hoping for as the many campaigns unfold. ShanaThomas is hereditary chief of Lyackson First Nation, and Tania Dick is a Clinical Director for Island Health’s Indigenous Quality and Care Transformation.

British Columbians will head to the polls twice this fall. NDP leader David Eby visited Government House in Victoria this week to launch the election. Our weekly political panel takes on the parties and the issues. Adam Olsen is a former Green Party MLA, and a member of the Tsartlip Nation, Andrew Reeve is a former press secretary and deputy director of communications with the BC Liberal and BC United parties and Elizabeth Cull is a former NDP cabinet minister.

British Columbians are heading to the polls next month for a snap election, and Elections BC has just weeks to pull it off. We'll hear from the Chief Electoral Officer on organizing a province-wide vote on such a short notice.

School District #61 is moving to a ward system for electing school trustees. Some say it will lead to increased representation from all communities in the district. We hear from Esquimalt Mayor Barb Desjardins and former school trustee and Michael McEvoy.

Less than two years after the last provincial election, there's speculation we're heading to the polls again. Former Green Party MLA and Tsartlip First Nation member Adam Olsen, former BC Liberal and BC United staffer Andrew Reeve, and former NDP cabinet minister Elizabeth Cull join CBC host Gregor Craigie.

Can Kerry-Lynne Finlay keep the remaining BC Conservatives inside her cabinet? And did BC's premier strike the right tone with new border signs that tell American drivers we'll never be the 51st state? Former Green Party MLA and Tsartlip First Nation member Adam Olsen, former BC Liberal and BC United staffer Andrew Reeve, and former NDP cabinet minister Elizabeth Cull weigh in on the week's top political stories with CBC host Gregor Craigie.

After months of looking into the case surrounding Canada's most prolific voyeur, our reporter Emily Fagan shares what she's learned about the toll this has taken on victims.

Have you ever found out your sailing has been cancelled due to bad weather, despite it not seeming that bad where you are? There’s more science behind it than you think. In this repeat episode, CBC meteorologist and science reporter Johanna Wagstaffe tells us about her visit to the B.C. Ferries ‘command room’, where she met the people who make those calls and found out how they’re made.

B.C.'s political landscape is shifting as at least a half dozen MLAs have quit the B.C. Conservative caucus, with two saying they'll form a new party. We ask Camosun College political scientist Daniel Reeve how significant the change is - and how many parties might be on our ballots in the next election.

Tariff news has been hitting the island like a tsunami, and it's still not clear exactly which goods will cost more when they cross the border - in either direction. So we check in with Island Timber Frame, a specalized timber company based in Cumberland, and Luna Collective, a store in Victoria, to hear how they're digesting the news and handling the uncertainty.

We've reconvened our political panel to discuss Peter Milobar deciding to sit as an independent, David Eby's initial response to news of a trade deal between Canada and the United States, and concerns over the province taking down its online staff directory. Our political panel is former Green Party MLA and Tsartlip First Nation member Adam Olsen, former BC Liberal and BC United staffer Andrew Reeve, and former NDP cabinet minister Elizabeth Cull.

For more than 40 years, there has been a ban on farming potatoes, tomatoes, and eggplant in Central Saanich - but not anymore. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) says it has finally eradicated the golden nematode, a parasite so pesky they had to ban some crops to get rid of it. This week, we learn more about the nematode, why it was so hard to eradicate, and why potatoes are making a comeback.

We're down to two contenders for best roadside attraction on Vancouver Island: the goats on the roof at Old Country Market in Coombs, or Cathedral Grove. The winner will stay alive in CBC British Columbia's search for the best roadside attraction in B.C. We talk to CBC reporter Justin McElroy, who is running the competition, about what makes a good roadside attraction, why he thinks summer competitions like this are silly fun but also an interesting way to interpret our province, and why places along highway 4 seem to get a lot of votes in CBC's annual summer bracket competitions. Learn more about the competition, and how to vote, here.

A plan to redevelop the Capital Irons lands, at the north end of downtown Victoria, got an important vote of confidence from city council. It means that hundreds of units of housing will likely be built, as well as a new home for the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria and a place where a local fish company can dock its boats, and process and sell its stock. We get the details. This episode originally aired January 15, 2026.

But is it enough to address drought concerns? We hear from Environment Canada, a watershed watcher, and a farmer about how we’re getting more rain than meteorologists had predicted, whether it’s helping low-running streams where salmon live, and what it means for some crops.

It’s not just Greater Victoria’s big municipalities that are building new kinds of housing - some of the mid-sized ones, like Esquimalt, are too. On this week’s episode hear mayor Barb Desjardins talk about the range of housing styles; how the Department of National Defence is adding housing; and about a planned co-housing project where residents would share some common rooms with their neighbours.

Local officials are trying to get a safe, secondary road connecting the west coast to the rest of the island, after wildfires blocked the main routes in 2023 and 2025. But which route is best? And what will it take to make it happen? We hear from John Jack with Huu-ay-aht First Nations, Bob Beckett from the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District, and Judi Thomas of the Ditidaht First Nation about the work they’re doing - and how it will support communities like Bamfield, Tofino/Ucluelet, and Port Alberni. Check out this article to see a map of the possible routes, and listen to this previous episode to hear why wildfires can wreak such havoc on roads.

It's been a busy July so far in B.C. politics. This week, the attorney general said the province is preparing to sue OpenAI over the mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge. And last week, B.C. and Ottawa signed a deal that will send billions of dollars of infrastructure funding westward, and also paved the way for a new pipeline to the south coast. Plus, Independent (and former B.C. Conservative) MLA Amelia Boutlbee joined the NDP caucus. So we pulled our political panel back from summer hiatus to get their takes on it all. Elizabeth Cull is a former NDP cabinet minister, Andrew Reeve is a former BC Liberal Deputy Director of Communications and Senior Consultant at Earnscliffe, and Adam Olsen is a former Green Party MLA and member of the Tsartlip Nation.

Are you an ocean, lake, or river swimmer? This week we share one of our favourite summer episodes, where we took a break from the news to celebrate some of the many outdoor swimming spots on the Island - in all types of water. Alex McKeen, co-author of “Swimming Holes and Beaches of Southwestern British Columbia,” shares her love of swimming as a way to explore a new place and talks about some of the 50+ island spots listed in her book. They include the Koksilah River Holes, Cameron Lake, Inland Lake, and Banfield Park. This episide originally aired July 10, 2025.

We're taking a short break as we shift into summer, but we'll be back soon. Make sure you're following us in the podcast app of your choice, so our next new episode automatically shows up in your feed.

An amalgamation question will go to people in both municipalities in the upcoming fall elections. But the question will be non-binding after a decision from the province that more work needs to be done. In this week’s episode Gregor Craigie hears from politicians in both communities, Premier David Eby and a bit about what people on the street had to say about the issue.

How you get on and off the ferry can make a big difference in your experience. This week, we'll hear from a BC Ferries terminal attendant on what goes into guiding your car onto each vessel, as well as what Swartz Bay foot passengers think could make the walk-on experience better.

It’s getting more and more common for families to live in multi-unit housing - think apartment or condo buildings, or townhouse complexes. It doesn’t just mean adjustments to their lifestyle, it also means cities and even school districts are making changes. This week we hear from a family living in a one-bedroom apartment in Victoria’s James Bay neighbourhood, a councillor in Langford where they’re changing their parks strategy to benefit multi-unit housing, and the superintendent of the Sooke school district where they’re had to change how they calculate student enrollment, and how they design schools, because more and more kids are coming from multi-unit housing.

The BC Conservatives finally have their new leader, so our political panel discusses what they expect from Kerry-Lynne Findlay. They also talk about what MLAs will be up to this summer (hint: it likely involves BBQs), and just how much money the World Cup will end up costing the province. Our political panel is former NDP cabinet minister Elizabeth Cull, former Green Party MLA and a member of the Tsartlip Nation Adam Olsen and former BC Liberal Deputy Director of Communications and Senior Consultant at Earnscliffe Andrew Reeve. Note: the political panel will be on hiatus for the summer, but will return in September (or earlier if there are big political stories to discuss). This is Vancouver Island will still be here on Thursdays.

As Macaulay Point Park’s climbing wall in Esquimalt celebrates a 30 year milestone, we'll hear how the climbing community fought to keep the wall available, and how a new group is building community by and for racialized climbers in Greater Victoria. Plus, some tips on hot island climbing spots to check out.

There was a lot of news this week about David Eby's meeting with the western premiers, especially Alberta's Danielle Smith. But it was also the last week of the spring B.C. legislative session - so we ask our political panel to share their highs and lows of the session, plus weigh in on the latest interactions between Eby and Smith and the upcoming leadership transition at the B.C. Conservative Party. Our political panel is former Green Party MLA and Tsartlip First Nation member Adam Olsen, former BC Liberal and BC United staffer Andrew Reeve, and former NDP cabinet minister Elizabeth Cull, in conversation with CBC host Gregor Craigie.

The Ministry of Education has re-instated the School District 61 trustees who were fired a year and a half ago. In this episode, we’ll look at the background of the case and what it means. We’ll also speak to Nicole Duncan, one of the reinstated trustees, about where the board goes from here.

Prime Minister Mark Carney made a quick trip to B.C. this week, after several substantial meetings - and MOU signings - with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith. On today's episode, our political panel discusses where David Eby and B.C. fit into the pipeline discussion, how likely two MLA recall campaigns are likely to succeed, and why the Site C dam is now named after John Horgan - who once fought against it. The panel is: Elizabeth Cull (former NDP cabinet minister), Andrew Reeve (former press secretary and deputy director of communications with the BC Liberal and BC United parties), and Adam Olsen (former Green Party MLA and member of the Tsartlip Nation), in conversation with CBC host Gregor Craigie.

A new Langford bylaw limits construction noise and debris. CBC Victoria’s Roszan Holman tells us why. Plus, City Councillors Colby Harder and Kimberly Guiry share what they hope the bylaw accomplishes, and Rachael Sansom from the WestShore Developers Association gives her take on what this could mean for growth in the region.

Have you ever found out your sailing has been cancelled due to bad weather, despite the perfectly calm conditions right outside your window? There’s more science behind it than you think. CBC meteorologist and science reporter Johanna Wagstaffe joins to tell us about her visit to the B.C. Ferries ‘command room’, where she met the people who make those calls and found out how they’re made.

Our political episode is a few days early this week due to scheduling issues. In it, we get reaction to news that B.C. Nurses’ Union members have voted overwhelmingly (98.2%) in favour of taking job action. We also talk about the provincial costs of the upcoming World Cup matches in Vancouver, and whether B.C. Ferries can handle what’s set to be another busy summer. Our political panel is Andrew Reeve (former press secretary and deputy director of communications with the BC Liberal and BC United parties), Adam Olsen (former Green Party MLA and member of the Tsartlip Nation), and Elizabeth Cull (former NDP cabinet minister), in discussion with CBC's Gregor Craigie.

MLAs were burning the midnight oil this week, as the NDP's proposed changes to Freedom of Information (FOI) laws continue to gather criticism. Bill 9 wasn't the only thing on the parliamentary plate this week: Kennedy Stewart, a former Vancouver mayor and former NDP MP, made allegations of foreign interference, and there were changes to the B.C. Prosecution Service's Victims of Crime policy. Our political panel discusses it all with CBC's Gregor Craigie. The panel is former Green Party MLA and Tsartlip First Nation member Adam Olsen, former BC Liberal and BC United staffer Andrew Reeve, and former NDP cabinet minister Elizabeth Cull.

This weekend’s Buccaneer Days in Esquimalt will go ahead without its signature parade, days after Oak Bay Tea Party announced they’d also forgo theirs. So why are local parades struggling? We’ll hear from event organizers on how new safety regulations, a lack of consistent funding, and a dip in volunteers could be factors.

Our political panel weighs in on the current state of the health care file given concerns over a drop in federal funding, and a possibly looming nurse's strike. Plus, they discuss tension over overlapping treaty claims and whether the province should try to keep the Vancouver Whitecaps in B.C. The panel is: Elizabeth Cull (former NDP cabinet minister), Andrew Reeve (former press secretary and deputy director of communications with the BC Liberal and BC United parties), and Adam Olsen (former Green Party MLA and member of the Tsartlip Nation), in conversation with CBC host Gregor Craigie.

There’s been nearly a dozen wildfires on the island so far this year and, after a dramatic few seasons, communities across the island are getting ready for the one ahead. In this episode, Nuu-Chah-Nulth Tribal Council president Judith Sayers and Dashwood Fire Chief Nick Acciavatti consider how last year’s Mount Underwood and Wesley Ridge fires should inform this summer’s response. Plus, Darius Mahdavi has a weather forecast for the island’s summer, and Erika Berg from the B.C. Wildfire Service gives an update on this summer’s firefighter staffing.

The ongoing, and ever-changing, provincial plans on DRIPA (the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act) may have actually come to a short-term pause this week. Our political panel discusses that, as well as pushback to proposed changes to B.C.'s Freedom of Information rules, and whether U.S. alcohol may return to B.C. liquor stores. Our political panel is Andrew Reeve (former press secretary and deputy director of communications with the BC Liberal and BC United parties), Adam Olsen (former Green Party MLA and member of the Tsartlip Nation), and Elizabeth Cull (former NDP cabinet minister), in discussion with CBC's Gregor Craigie.

Pacific FC scored the world’s first "daylight" offside goal this weekend- with the eyes of the soccer world watching. The rule is being trialed in the Canadian Premier League (or CPL) for potential use in leagues around the world. We’ll hear from Pacific FC’s first assistant coach, and the president of the club’s supporter group, on what this means for the Island’s own team and the future of the sport.

Every week this month, B.C. Premier David Eby has announced a new version of his plan to amend, or pause, the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act. Our political panel discusses his latest announcement, plus the 10-year anniversary of the toxic drug crisis becoming a public health emergency, and the announcement of a new task force to look at the impact of the Iran war on B.C. Our political panel is: former Green Party MLA and Tsartlip First Nation member Adam Olsen, former BC Liberal and BC United staffer Andrew Reeve, and former NDP cabinet minister Elizabeth Cull, speaking with CBC's Gregor Craigie. If you want to hear Gregor's interview with a doctor that's referenced in the panel, you can find it here.

April 14th marks ten years since the province of B.C. declared a public health emergency for the toxic drug crisis. We’ll hear from islanders mourning their loved ones through shared art, First Nations leaders creating culturally safe responses, and service providers reflecting on what has changed… and whether it’s enough.

This week Premier David Eby gave more details on his new plan to pause some sections of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, or DRIPA. Plus, federal Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre went to Richmond to weigh in on the private property rights discussion connected to the Cowichan decision. And: B.C.'s credit rating was dropped again. Our political panel discusses it all: Andrew Reeve (former press secretary and deputy director of communications with the BC Liberal and BC United parties), Adam Olsen (former Green Party MLA and member of the Tsartlip Nation), and Elizabeth Cull (former NDP cabinet minister), speak with CBC host Gregor Craigie.

The Hollywood comedy star and Islander Zach Galifianakis has a new Netflix show… and it’s all about the gardeners of Vancouver Island. In this episode, we hear from Galifianakis and Arzeena Hamir, one of the farmers profiled on "This is a Gardening Show".

Provincial NDP leaders have mixed reviews on Avi Lewis as the new leader of the federal party. We ask our B.C. politics panelists, of all party stripes, what they think he means for our province. Plus, they weigh in on a B.C. Conservative leadership candidate's plan to cooperate with OneBC. Our political panel is: former Green Party MLA and Tsartlip First Nation member Adam Olsen, former BC Liberal and BC United staffer Andrew Reeve, and former NDP cabinet minister Elizabeth Cull.

The District of North Saanich is dismantling its pickleball courts, which have sat empty since they were closed due to neighbourhood complaints. In this episode, we hear why they made that final decision, what’s happening next, and why the sport draws both lovers and and haters across the island.

This week, our political panel covers: the discussions between First Nations and the provincial government about changing the Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act to give the province more clarity, the province's quiet elimination of a climate action agency, and the job cuts coming to the Agricultural Land Commission. Former Green Party MLA and Tsartlip First Nation member Adam Olsen, former BC Liberal and BC United staffer Andrew Reeve, and former NDP cabinet minister Elizabeth Cull discuss with CBC host Liz McArthur.