I wouldn't quite put it as "Flip"
They managed to squeak in via vote splitting, their highest vote percentage was only 38.8%, with the lowest being 35.25%
In Nanaimo, the 3rd (NDP) and 4th(Green) candidate vote percentages together added up to more than the Conservatives, even if you ignore the Liberals in 2nd.
Every non-Conservative seat on the island won with a higher vote percentage than even the best Conservative seat.
The two Liberal wins on the island were 49.4% and 54.3% Elizabeth May(Green) got 39.1% And Gord Johns (NDP) got 39.6%