On this episode: three stories of island-based acts of kindness to make you feel warm and fuzzy, no matter what you are (or aren’t) celebrating this December.

A recent attack on a city worker in Nanaimo renewed calls for help from the provincial and federal governments. Concerned residents want action to tackle what they say are unsafe streets. We ask B.C.'s new public safety minister what he'll do to help.

Mayne Island is the latest island facing deer troubles. In this episode we learn about what makes fallow deer such a challenge, why Mayne Islanders are asking for help, and what’s happening with the troubled efforts to remove invasive deer from Sidney Island.

B.C. Ferries says it is ending the Ferry Advisory Committees. For over 30 years, they’ve been the way that 13 ferry-dependent communities could formally comment on the service they get, and request changes. But B.C. Ferries says it's time to modernize the way it engages with the public, and to open the door wider so more people can weigh in. We hear from people who are disappointed with the news, those who are optimistic, and we get some ideas on how the new system should work.

With storm season underway, more than 150,000 BC Hydro customers in the Island region have already lost power at some point. So we head to a place where long outages are the norm in winter, to get some tips on how to deal with them. (Here’s a hint: the words “community” and “coffee” come up a lot.)

Right now Grace and James Phelan live just outside of Edmonton. They're thinking of moving to Vancouver Island, but can't decide if life here would be better than life in Alberta. In this episode, we help them weigh the pros and cons.

As the communities of the West Shore continue to grow, would it make sense for them to quit being suburbs and instead form their own region apart from Greater Victoria? On this week's episode, we look at the pros and cons of working together as a capital region - and ask the existential question "is the West Shore part of Greater Victoria?"

We know rain is a fact of life here on the Island - but in the rainy season, it can still get you down. So on this episode of This is Vancouver Island, host Kathryn Marlow seeks inspiration from people who appreciate and rely on the rain. This episode originally aired February 6, 2024. We'll be back with a new episode next week.