Welcome to The Hub Nanaimo, your weekly insider guide to the best of community arts and culture. Did a friend forward this email to you? Subscribe to this newsletter.

On Sunday, I attended a fascinating and in-depth discussion with Indigenous artists Michelle Sound and Eliot White-Hill, Kwulasultun with Indigenous engagement coordinator bailey macabre at the Nanaimo Art Gallery. 

They spoke at length about their new exhibition shnu’a’th, ᐊᑳᒥᕽ akâmihk, the other side and how they use art to connect with the land and their family’s history with it. I was able to chat briefly with the two artists to learn even more afterwards.

I hope that their stories resonate with you and encourage you to see the exhibition, which runs until January 12, 2025. 

Later that day, I swung by the Downtown Nanaimo Business Association’s Fall Fest in Diana Krall Plaza and took in some country-pop music while sipping some suds from local brewers. It was a fun family-friendly event with lots of parents and kids having a blast.

I finished the night watching a sold-out screening of Rice Boy at the inaugural event by the Nanaimo International Film Screening Society at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre.

While construction on Commercial Street has blocked part of it to traffic, Nanaimo’s downtown has plenty of life in it and I would encourage everyone to take advantage of all the events and support local businesses.

We live in a great, if imperfect, city where flowers are growing through the cracks if you stop and look for them.

Cree artist Michelle Sound stands in front of a photograph of her as a shield with her mother at a Nanaimo Art Gallery exhibit also featuring works from Snuneymuxw artist Eliot White-Hill, Kwulasultun. Photo by Mick Sweetman / The Discourse.

Nanaimo Art Gallery exhibit ‘the other side’ connects land and spirit

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"Great info and knowledge of what’s going on around town this week."

—Linda, from our newsletter survey

🎵 Listen 🎤

Wednesday, Oct. 9, 7 p.m.: Weekly open mic night at The Vault Cafe.

Thursday, Oct. 10, 9 p.m.: Fake Jass with Windharp, Bereaved GUM and Townesman at the Vault Cafe. Tickets cost $15. 

Friday, Oct. 11, 9 p.m.: Just Jonas album release with Mars Hotel and Kashaga at The Vault Cafe. Tickets cost $15.

Saturday, Oct. 12, 7 p.m.: The New Addiction, WordmastaJ, Big M.I.C., Scoobs & Eclipse, Wylkez and Maximum Gain will play at the Globe Live Studio. Tickets Cost $20. 

Saturday, Oct. 12, 9 p.m.: Victoria bands Pooched, Shoplifter and Disposal will play with VOID DJ's at The Vault Cafe. Tickets cost $15.

Got the inside scoop of an event you think should be shared? 

Let us know by sending Mick an email.

🎭 View 🖼️

Wednesday, Oct. 9, 6:30 p.m.: The Nanaimo Theatre Group will hold a gala celebration for its 65th season for patrons who donate a minimum of $150. The gala will also include two tickets to the opening show Perfect Arrangement at The Bailey Studio.

Friday, Oct. 11, noon.: A lunchtime tour of shnu’a’th, ᐊᑳᒥᕽ akâmihk, the other side will take place at the Nanaimo Art Gallery. Tours run every Friday at noon through the run of the exhibition. Tickets cost $5.

Saturday, Oct. 12, 7:30 p.m.: Alex Mackenzie will bring his Hungry for Laughs comedy tour to the Port Theatre. Tickets cost $45.

Sunday, Oct. 13, 2 p.m.: Theatre One presents The Trollsons, a comedic family of trolls from a fantastical forest, at VIU’s Malaspina Theatre. The play is suitable for children from Kindergarten to Grade 7. Tickets cost $10.

Tuesday, Oct. 15, 7:30 p.m.: Theatre Crow’s production of As You Like It, or The Land Acknowledgement will perform at the Port Theatre. Tickets cost $37, or $32 for members and $20 for students.

⛹️ Meet 🎲

Thursday, Oct. 10, 6:30 p.m.: The Nanaimo Historical Society will hold a meeting featuring VIU history professor Katherine Rollwagen discussing the Spanish Flu epidemic in Nanaimo 1918-1920 in the Bowen Complex Clubhouse. Free to attend.

Friday, Oct. 11, 10 a.m.: A land acknowledgement workshop by Indigenous engagement coordinator bailey macabre will be held at the Nanaimo Art Gallery. Tickets cost $30 to $50 and funds go to providing Indigenous programing at the gallery.

🗳️ Election 2024 🗳️

Wednesday, Oct. 9, 6:30 p.m.: The Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce and the Canadian Home Builders Association Vancouver Island will hold an all-candidates meeting with candidates from Nanaimo-Lantzville and Nanaimo-Gabriola Island ridings at the Nanaimo Golf Club.

See you around town,

— Mick and The Discourse team

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