Shalu Mehta
@shalumehta.bsky.social
SHAH-loo. Island editor at The Discourse. Words in other places too. Find me near a body of water when I'm not at my desk. shalu@thediscourse.ca
Reposted by Shalu Mehta
A motion by Nanaimo Coun. Ian Thorpe to ask Island Health to close the Overdose Prevention Site on Albert Street was withdrawn at last night's city council meeting. But a new motion to send a letter to the province to reexamine its drug policy is hotly contested.
thediscourse.ca/nanaimo/moti...
thediscourse.ca/nanaimo/moti...
Motion to close Nanaimo’s Overdose Prevention Site withdrawn – The Discourse.
New motion will ask province to reexamine its policy on responding to the overdose crisis.
thediscourse.ca
November 19, 2025 at 1:03 AM
A motion by Nanaimo Coun. Ian Thorpe to ask Island Health to close the Overdose Prevention Site on Albert Street was withdrawn at last night's city council meeting. But a new motion to send a letter to the province to reexamine its drug policy is hotly contested.
thediscourse.ca/nanaimo/moti...
thediscourse.ca/nanaimo/moti...
Reposted by Shalu Mehta
North Cowichan began dismantling the Lewis Street encampment on Nov. 17 moving about 75 residents to new sites. The Cowichan Community Care Network says the move puts people at risk of violence and overdoses as the new sites are further away from the Warmland Shelter and overdose prevention site.
Advocates worry that moving Lewis Street encampment endangers residents who have nowhere else to go – The Discourse.
North Cowichan said it will service and provide ‘temporary’ sheltering sites, while Cowichan Valley sees a spike in overdoses.
thediscourse.ca
November 21, 2025 at 4:15 AM
North Cowichan began dismantling the Lewis Street encampment on Nov. 17 moving about 75 residents to new sites. The Cowichan Community Care Network says the move puts people at risk of violence and overdoses as the new sites are further away from the Warmland Shelter and overdose prevention site.
Reposted by Shalu Mehta
Re-sharing this reporting because a report on harvesting in the Municipal Forest Reserve is going to North Cowichan Council this Wednesday, Nov. 19.
Find the agenda package and report here:
pub-northcowichan.escribemeetings.com/Meeting.aspx...
Find the agenda package and report here:
pub-northcowichan.escribemeetings.com/Meeting.aspx...
November 17, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Re-sharing this reporting because a report on harvesting in the Municipal Forest Reserve is going to North Cowichan Council this Wednesday, Nov. 19.
Find the agenda package and report here:
pub-northcowichan.escribemeetings.com/Meeting.aspx...
Find the agenda package and report here:
pub-northcowichan.escribemeetings.com/Meeting.aspx...
Reposted by Shalu Mehta
Residents also shared concern that Coun. Bruce Findlay received a campaign donation from the owner of the museum, creating conflict of interest.
“If people believe I am personally benefitting from a decision, due to a campaign donation, they’re delusional,” Findlay said in an email to The Discourse.
“If people believe I am personally benefitting from a decision, due to a campaign donation, they’re delusional,” Findlay said in an email to The Discourse.
A proposed zoning change for the Hand of Man Museum in Maple Bay has sparked concern among neighbours, who say the amendment goes against North Cowichan’s Official Community Plan and could open the door for more commercial development in rural areas.
Read more in The Discourse. #northcowichan
Read more in The Discourse. #northcowichan
Expansion to Hand of Man museum sees opposition from Maple Bay neighbours – The Discourse.
Residents say they moved to the Maple Bay area for a quiet, rural lifestyle. They are concerned this bylaw amendment jeopardizes that.
thediscourse.ca
November 17, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Residents also shared concern that Coun. Bruce Findlay received a campaign donation from the owner of the museum, creating conflict of interest.
“If people believe I am personally benefitting from a decision, due to a campaign donation, they’re delusional,” Findlay said in an email to The Discourse.
“If people believe I am personally benefitting from a decision, due to a campaign donation, they’re delusional,” Findlay said in an email to The Discourse.
Reposted by Shalu Mehta
The annual Repair Café in Courtenay takes place this weekend. Hosted by Lake Trail Community Education Society, the event fosters a DIY attitude, with opportunities for people of all ages to learn new skills. Read more about the event from reporter Dave Flawse.
thediscourse.ca/comox-valley...
thediscourse.ca/comox-valley...
Courtenay Repair Café a ‘vibrant place’ for young and old – The Discourse.
The annual Repair Café, hosted by Lake Trail Community Education Society in Courtenay, fosters a do-it-yourself attitude.
thediscourse.ca
November 14, 2025 at 1:00 AM
The annual Repair Café in Courtenay takes place this weekend. Hosted by Lake Trail Community Education Society, the event fosters a DIY attitude, with opportunities for people of all ages to learn new skills. Read more about the event from reporter Dave Flawse.
thediscourse.ca/comox-valley...
thediscourse.ca/comox-valley...
Reposted by Shalu Mehta
Here the story about my ban and why conflating HRT with GAHT is anti-trans and harmful
There are many misperceptions about taking testosterone — including among trans men — but the small amount Jules Sherred takes does not translate to bulging biceps. Those are the result of many hours of training, he said.
Changed Rules Will Shut a Trans Bodybuilder Out of Competition | The Tyee
The Canadian association that regulates the sport will no longer allow gender-affirming hormone therapy, citing American rules.
thetyee.ca
November 10, 2025 at 10:50 PM
Here the story about my ban and why conflating HRT with GAHT is anti-trans and harmful
Reposted by Shalu Mehta
Today is my meeting with the lawyers who may be taking my human rights case pro bono. Fingers crossed
November 13, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Today is my meeting with the lawyers who may be taking my human rights case pro bono. Fingers crossed
I love editing these events listings because it also means I don't have to search around for things to do on the weekend. It's all in one, handy place!
Looking for something to do in Nanaimo this weekend? Check out our events listings, covering everything from local music, markets and sports.
👀 Like what you see? Tap the link at the top of the story to get these listings in your inbox every Thursday.
thediscourse.ca/nanaimo/even...
👀 Like what you see? Tap the link at the top of the story to get these listings in your inbox every Thursday.
thediscourse.ca/nanaimo/even...
Events in Nanaimo for Nov. 6 to 13, 2025 – The Discourse.
Music, arts and community events listings in Nanaimo.
thediscourse.ca
November 7, 2025 at 12:42 AM
I love editing these events listings because it also means I don't have to search around for things to do on the weekend. It's all in one, handy place!
If you've been watching the Blue Jays, you've probably seen Ontario's Ring of Fire ads and if you're anything like me, flags may have gone up in your brain.
Appreciate this reporting from @thenarwhal.ca that looks into this some more.
thenarwhal.ca/opinion-blue...
Appreciate this reporting from @thenarwhal.ca that looks into this some more.
thenarwhal.ca/opinion-blue...
Don’t be fooled by the Ontario Ring of Fire ads aired during Blue Jays games | The Narwhal
Doug Ford’s ads during Blue Jays World Series games suggest mines are up and running in the Ring of Fire in northern Ontario, but that’s not true
thenarwhal.ca
October 31, 2025 at 7:36 PM
If you've been watching the Blue Jays, you've probably seen Ontario's Ring of Fire ads and if you're anything like me, flags may have gone up in your brain.
Appreciate this reporting from @thenarwhal.ca that looks into this some more.
thenarwhal.ca/opinion-blue...
Appreciate this reporting from @thenarwhal.ca that looks into this some more.
thenarwhal.ca/opinion-blue...
Reposted by Shalu Mehta
New story in the Discourse featuring an interview with Luschiim and me on the Cowichan Title case
thediscourse.ca/cowichan-val...
thediscourse.ca/cowichan-val...
What the Quw'utsun Nation court case reveals about private land ownership and Indigenous title in B.C. – The Discourse.
After an unprecedented 513-day trial, Quw'utsun Nation court case ruling sets high burden of proof First Nations need to be declared title-holders
thediscourse.ca
October 23, 2025 at 4:40 PM
New story in the Discourse featuring an interview with Luschiim and me on the Cowichan Title case
thediscourse.ca/cowichan-val...
thediscourse.ca/cowichan-val...
Reposted by Shalu Mehta
Tomorrow is the last day to provide input on @townofladysmith.bsky.social's first-ever accessibility plan. Read this story, from Discourse intern Noelle Suzuki, to learn more.
thediscourse.ca/cowichan-val...
thediscourse.ca/cowichan-val...
‘We want to consider the needs of all citizens’: Ladysmith seeks public input on first-ever accessibility plan – The Discourse.
Town launches consultations, until Oct. 29, in its efforts towards reducing barriers and becoming more accessible
thediscourse.ca
October 29, 2025 at 12:32 AM
Tomorrow is the last day to provide input on @townofladysmith.bsky.social's first-ever accessibility plan. Read this story, from Discourse intern Noelle Suzuki, to learn more.
thediscourse.ca/cowichan-val...
thediscourse.ca/cowichan-val...
Reposted by Shalu Mehta
Explore Nanaimo's haunted history and spooky spots this week.
thediscourse.ca/nanaimo/haun...
thediscourse.ca/nanaimo/haun...
Haunted Nanaimo: Spooky spots in the city – The Discourse.
From haunted fire halls to Gallows Point, Nanaimo has a history of otherworldly presences.
thediscourse.ca
October 29, 2025 at 12:24 AM
Explore Nanaimo's haunted history and spooky spots this week.
thediscourse.ca/nanaimo/haun...
thediscourse.ca/nanaimo/haun...
Reposted by Shalu Mehta
Great reporting from The Discourse Cowichan on this landmark court case. I’m a proud monthly supporter of this kind of journalism - and you should be too! (If you can)
After the B.C. Supreme Court recognized Quw’utsun title to Tl’uqtinus, their former fishing village on the Fraser River, the province and Richmond moved to appeal.
Some say the ruling threatens private property. Others call it a long-overdue recognition of Indigenous title. Check out deep dive ⬇️
Some say the ruling threatens private property. Others call it a long-overdue recognition of Indigenous title. Check out deep dive ⬇️
What the Quw'utsun Nation court case reveals about private land ownership and Indigenous title in B.C. – The Discourse.
After an unprecedented 513-day trial, Quw'utsun Nation court case ruling sets high burden of proof First Nations need to be declared title-holders
thediscourse.ca
October 28, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Great reporting from The Discourse Cowichan on this landmark court case. I’m a proud monthly supporter of this kind of journalism - and you should be too! (If you can)
Reposted by Shalu Mehta
After the B.C. Supreme Court recognized Quw’utsun title to Tl’uqtinus, their former fishing village on the Fraser River, the province and Richmond moved to appeal.
Some say the ruling threatens private property. Others call it a long-overdue recognition of Indigenous title. Check out deep dive ⬇️
Some say the ruling threatens private property. Others call it a long-overdue recognition of Indigenous title. Check out deep dive ⬇️
What the Quw'utsun Nation court case reveals about private land ownership and Indigenous title in B.C. – The Discourse.
After an unprecedented 513-day trial, Quw'utsun Nation court case ruling sets high burden of proof First Nations need to be declared title-holders
thediscourse.ca
October 24, 2025 at 12:00 AM
After the B.C. Supreme Court recognized Quw’utsun title to Tl’uqtinus, their former fishing village on the Fraser River, the province and Richmond moved to appeal.
Some say the ruling threatens private property. Others call it a long-overdue recognition of Indigenous title. Check out deep dive ⬇️
Some say the ruling threatens private property. Others call it a long-overdue recognition of Indigenous title. Check out deep dive ⬇️
Reposted by Shalu Mehta
Members from Save Our Forests Comox Valley think the province should be doing more to protect old-growth forests and biodiversity, and they are not alone. Read the full story: thediscourse.ca/comox-valley...
Comox Valley group joins dozens of others in urging province to do more for biodiversity
Save Our Forests Comox Valley are not alone in thinking the province should be doing more to protect old-growth forests and biodiversity.
thediscourse.ca
October 9, 2025 at 11:12 PM
Members from Save Our Forests Comox Valley think the province should be doing more to protect old-growth forests and biodiversity, and they are not alone. Read the full story: thediscourse.ca/comox-valley...
Reposted by Shalu Mehta
Wildwood Ecoforest, which has long served as a counterexample to modern logging practices, just got closer to its original size. Thanks to a successful fundraising campaign, 8.5 hectares of land have been added back to the ecoforest. Read the story:
thediscourse.ca/cowichan-val...
thediscourse.ca/cowichan-val...
Wildwood Ecoforest gains nearly 9 hectares of ‘untouched’ land
Success of fundraising campaign brings the famed demonstration forest back to more than two-thirds of its original size.
thediscourse.ca
October 9, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Wildwood Ecoforest, which has long served as a counterexample to modern logging practices, just got closer to its original size. Thanks to a successful fundraising campaign, 8.5 hectares of land have been added back to the ecoforest. Read the story:
thediscourse.ca/cowichan-val...
thediscourse.ca/cowichan-val...
Reposted by Shalu Mehta
Today is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. See the events in your community and additional resources in our special newsletter for today.
thediscourse.indiegraf.com/index.php?ac...
thediscourse.indiegraf.com/index.php?ac...
September 30, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Today is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. See the events in your community and additional resources in our special newsletter for today.
thediscourse.indiegraf.com/index.php?ac...
thediscourse.indiegraf.com/index.php?ac...
Reposted by Shalu Mehta
Exciting news! The Discourse is a finalist for the 2025 Webster Awards in the Excellence in Community Reporting category for TWO different stories by reporters @juliechadwick.bsky.social and Rowan Flood. 🎉
Find links to the stories in this thread:
Find links to the stories in this thread:
September 22, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Exciting news! The Discourse is a finalist for the 2025 Webster Awards in the Excellence in Community Reporting category for TWO different stories by reporters @juliechadwick.bsky.social and Rowan Flood. 🎉
Find links to the stories in this thread:
Find links to the stories in this thread:
Reposted by Shalu Mehta
Nanaimo-based Sḵwx̱wú7mesh/Chilean artist Lenae Silva talks about her experiences as a person who uses drugs, and as an advocate, in her new exhibit at Vancouver Island University thediscourse.ca/nanaimo/qa-n...
Q&A: Nanaimo artist Lenae Silva on substance use, support and ‘bright endings’ – The Discourse.
Lenae Silva talks about her experiences as a person who uses drugs in her new exhibit at Vancouver Island University.
thediscourse.ca
September 22, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Nanaimo-based Sḵwx̱wú7mesh/Chilean artist Lenae Silva talks about her experiences as a person who uses drugs, and as an advocate, in her new exhibit at Vancouver Island University thediscourse.ca/nanaimo/qa-n...
Reposted by Shalu Mehta
‘They feel that Indigenous agriculture practices are inferior to modern day Western agriculture practices.’: Partial rejection of plan to remove Cowichan estuary dike raises questions about the province’s commitment to reconciliation. Read more below.
Plan to remove portion of dike at Cowichan estuary rejected by land commission – The Discourse.
Advocates for the Cowichan Estuary Restoration Project call on province to align policies with reconciliation.
thediscourse.ca
September 12, 2025 at 12:39 AM
‘They feel that Indigenous agriculture practices are inferior to modern day Western agriculture practices.’: Partial rejection of plan to remove Cowichan estuary dike raises questions about the province’s commitment to reconciliation. Read more below.
It's a good work day when I get to complain about grass lawns and how useless they are (and how they're a symbol of classism and colonialism).
September 3, 2025 at 6:13 PM
It's a good work day when I get to complain about grass lawns and how useless they are (and how they're a symbol of classism and colonialism).
“A recent special investigation by the BC Forest Practices Board on aligning forestry practices with wildfire risk reduction […] found that ‘logging occurs at 11 times the rate of [wildfire risk reduction] treatments’ in the wildland-urban interface near communities.”
Critics say forestry practices must change as wildfire season intensifies
What are forestry companies doing to prevent wildfires? – The Discourse.
The Mount Underwood fire near Port Alberni burned over 35 square kilometers of forest and closed the primary road to Bamfield, part of it is private land
thediscourse.ca
September 2, 2025 at 12:46 PM
“A recent special investigation by the BC Forest Practices Board on aligning forestry practices with wildfire risk reduction […] found that ‘logging occurs at 11 times the rate of [wildfire risk reduction] treatments’ in the wildland-urban interface near communities.”
“I have never felt so emotional,” resident Sandy McPherson said during the public input period. “I am really angry that some of this is even coming to the council table. There is not a price to be put on the forest reserve that can be monetary.”
Great reporting by @emrichards.bsky.social:
Great reporting by @emrichards.bsky.social:
After years of public consultation and a pause on logging, North Cowichan council has voted 4–3 to make harvesting in the municipal forest reserve a strategic priority. Some warn the move could jeopardize co-management work with the Quw'utsun Nation. Read more ⬇️
Can North Cowichan put a price on its municipal forest reserve? – The Discourse.
Critics warn the move could undermine years of work toward a forest co-management framework with the Quw'utsun Nation.
thediscourse.ca
September 2, 2025 at 12:44 PM
“I have never felt so emotional,” resident Sandy McPherson said during the public input period. “I am really angry that some of this is even coming to the council table. There is not a price to be put on the forest reserve that can be monetary.”
Great reporting by @emrichards.bsky.social:
Great reporting by @emrichards.bsky.social:
Reposted by Shalu Mehta
On Aug. 24, volunteers of all ages will gather on the Lower Quw'utsun Sta'lo' (Cowichan River) for an annual cleanup. For 15 years, this family-friendly event has brought the community together to remove trash, care for the river and prepare for the salmon’s return.
Cowichan River cleanup prepares for salmon return – The Discourse.
The Lower Cowichan River Cleanup brings families and community groups together to protect the watershed and prepare for the salmon’s return.
thediscourse.ca
August 22, 2025 at 12:39 AM
On Aug. 24, volunteers of all ages will gather on the Lower Quw'utsun Sta'lo' (Cowichan River) for an annual cleanup. For 15 years, this family-friendly event has brought the community together to remove trash, care for the river and prepare for the salmon’s return.
Love a good community spotlight!
How Makerspace Nanaimo grew from a small group with hand tools to a fully stocked shop with almost 100 members.
Makerspace Nanaimo is ‘more than a toolshop’ – The Discourse.
Community workshop a space where people can learn from one another
thediscourse.ca
August 7, 2025 at 11:31 PM
Love a good community spotlight!