Eric Richards, Author at The Discourse.

Eric Richards

A recent transplant to the valley, Eric grew up across B.C. and Alberta and obtained his Bachelor of Science at the University of Lethbridge in 2018. He then pursued broadcast journalism at SAIT in Moh’kinstsis (Calgary). His passion for the outdoors and climate issues guides his ongoing work in understanding life in the Cowichan Valley.

Abey Scaglione, author and farmer, wrote Radical Farm, a book about sustainable farming.

Q&A: Salt Spring Island farmer pens book on sustainable farming for the future

By Eric Richards ● Cowichan Valley ● December 18, 2025

Abey Scaglione, author of ‘Radical Farm: Animals, food and Our Future,’ shares how she thinks communities can reconnect with food and the people who grow it.

What’s happening in the Cowichan Valley from Dec. 17 to Dec. 31

By Eric Richards ● Cowichan Valley ● December 16, 2025

Music, arts and events happening in the Cowichan Valley from Dec. 17 to Dec. 31.

Blackburn (centre) and Peljhan (right) speak to a crowd gathered to remember Lenny Slyvester. They promised that there would be an investigation Sylvester's death.

‘Enough is enough’: Penelakut family calls on Island Health to address systemic racism after Lenny Sylvester’s death

By Eric Richards ● Cowichan Valley ● December 11, 2025

Community leaders say his death following a routine medical procedure highlights long-standing racism in the health-care system.

What’s happening in the Cowichan Valley from Dec. 12 to Dec. 20

By Eric Richards ● Cowichan Valley ● December 9, 2025

Music, arts and events happening in the Cowichan Valley from Dec. 5 to Dec. 15.

A sign for the West Vista Terrace development which was the centre of an amendment to North Cowichan's Offical Community Plan.

Can North Cowichan staff and infrastructure keep up with Official Community Plan changes?

By Eric Richards ● Cowichan Valley ● December 4, 2025

A contentious council decision to amend the Official Community Plan could set back housing developments and cost future tax payers, municipal staff say.

The council chambers were full of residents concerned about the future of North Cowichan's Forest Reserve

North Cowichan council axes plans to resume harvesting in forest reserve

By Eric Richards ● Cowichan Valley ● November 27, 2025

Following public backlash and pushback from First Nations, council moved to scrap plans to explore logging in the Municipal Forest Reserve.

What’s happening in the Cowichan Valley from Nov. 25 to Dec. 7

By Eric Richards ● Cowichan Valley ● November 25, 2025

Music, arts and events happening in the Cowichan Valley from Nov. 25 to Dec. 7.

North Cowichan Bylaw and RCMP were onsite at the Lewis Street encampment during the sweep.

‘They could have lessened the harm’: Advocates worry moving Lewis Street encampment endangers residents

By Eric Richards ● Cowichan Valley ● November 20, 2025

North Cowichan said it will service and provide ‘temporary’ sheltering sites, while Cowichan Valley sees a spike in overdoses.

Expansion to Hand of Man museum sees opposition from Maple Bay neighbours

By Eric Richards ● Cowichan Valley ● November 13, 2025

Residents say they moved to the Maple Bay area for a quiet, rural lifestyle. They are concerned this bylaw amendment jeopardizes that.

Eric Richards

Q&A: Salt Spring Island farmer pens book on sustainable farming for the future

What’s happening in the Cowichan Valley from Dec. 17 to Dec. 31

‘Enough is enough’: Penelakut family calls on Island Health to address systemic racism after Lenny Sylvester’s death

What’s happening in the Cowichan Valley from Dec. 12 to Dec. 20

Can North Cowichan staff and infrastructure keep up with Official Community Plan changes?

North Cowichan council axes plans to resume harvesting in forest reserve

What’s happening in the Cowichan Valley from Nov. 25 to Dec. 7

‘They could have lessened the harm’: Advocates worry moving Lewis Street encampment endangers residents

Expansion to Hand of Man museum sees opposition from Maple Bay neighbours

Nanaimo Affordable Housing Society name change to Ballenas ‘in discussion’ for years,’ says CEO

10 ways to better support tenants with vulnerabilities due to income, age or disabilities

‘I want it to stop’: Tenants and advocates allege bullying by non-profit housing provider

Q and A: What are vulnerable tenants rights in non-profit housing?

Who will protect low-income seniors from dying in extreme heat?

Seniors left in distress — or dead — for days in Nanaimo Affordable Housing Society units

Eric Richards

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