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As a young man, I participated in Remembrance Day ceremonies in Northern Ontario where I was an Air Cadet and later a reserve soldier in the Irish Regiment of Canada’s Second Battalion. 

To be perfectly honest, my main memory of those days was how cold it was to march and stand at attention when it was outdoors and how the Sudbury Arena would fill with crowds for the ceremony. 

I also remember going to the legion after the ceremony and eating and drinking with veterans of the Second World War and Korea who were happy to talk to young soldiers about their service, but never went into graphic details about the horrors of war. 

I never served overseas but I knew people who served in United Nations peacekeeping missions in the former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia during the wars in the 1990s, including some who came back wounded both physically and psychologically.

I had already figured out that soldiering was not for me before the war in Afghanistan, leaving the reserves in the late 1990s. Occasionally, I would have thoughts about joining up again, but I had become critical of the need for an undefined war against terrorism. Instead, I participated in social movements that sought to prevent a racist backlash against Muslims in Canada and advocated for a political solution to global conflicts. 

However, I was never a pacifist and I still think that sometimes wars are a necessary evil that we must be prepared to fight.

Last year was the first time I attended a Remembrance Day ceremony in many years as I was curious what it was like in Nanaimo after living in Toronto where it just didn’t seem as important to people as it does in smaller communities.

This year, like the year before, I find my purpose on Remembrance Day is to photograph the ceremony and document it for future generations, who I hope will never know war. 

In photos: Remembrance Day 2024

As veterans gathered for the Remembrance Day ceremony in Nanaimo, The Discourse’s Nanaimo reporter Mick Sweetman was there to photograph the event.

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🎵 Listen 🎤

Wednesday, Nov. 13, 7 p.m.: Weekly open mic night at The Vault Cafe.

Wednesday, Nov. 13, 7:30 p.m.: Singer-songwriter Jane Siberry will play at the Nanaimo Yacht Club. Tickets cost $35. 

Thursday, Nov. 14, 9 p.m.: Free jazz with Kenton Loewen & JP Carter with Dry Goods at The Vault Cafe. Tickets cost $15.

Friday, Nov. 15, 7 p.m.: Vying For Glory, Chilko In The Rosemary, Yukaliptis and Wasn't Not will play an all-ages show at The Globe Live Studio. Tickets cost $15.

Friday, Nov. 15, 7 p.m.: Michael Bernard Fitzgerald and Michaela Slinger will play at The Queen’s. Tickets cost $20.  

Friday, Nov. 15, 9 p.m.: VOID with Caveman and The Banshee, RMX and VOID DJ's at The Vault Cafe. Tickets cost $10.

Friday, Nov. 15, 10 p.m.: Rockson Road will play at The Queen’s. Tickets cost $15.

Saturday, Nov. 16, 6:30 p.m.: Alt-rock group Wet Future will play with Wise Youngblood at The Queen’s. Tickets cost $20 in advance or $25 at the door. 

Saturday, Nov. 16, 7:30 p.m.: The Lonesome Ace Stringband will play at Unitarian Hall. Tickets cost $30

Saturday, Nov. 16, 9 p.m.: The Vault Cafe presents its monthly drag extravaganza TheyThemTheirs. Tickets cost $20. 

Sunday, Nov. 17, 3 p.m.: The Barra MacNeils will play an East Coast Christmas show at The Port Theatre. Tickets start at $45.50.

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

Let us know by sending Mick an email.

🎭 View 🖼️

November: Nanaimo artist Rod Corraini’s exhibit Travelling to a place called B.C., which depicts the odyssey of two green aliens on vacation in British Columbia will be on display at the Art 10 Gallery in the Nanaimo North Town Centre.

Wednesday, Nov. 13, 6 p.m.: For Palestine Vancouver Island will screen the film Atrocity Inc.: How Israel sells its destruction of Gaza at Vancouver Island University, Building 200, Room 203. Free admission.

Thursday, Nov. 14 to Sunday, Nov. 17, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.: The 2024 Nanaimo Fine Art Show will be held at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre. Admission is free.

Friday, Nov. 15, 2 p.m.: A Handmade Christmas Makers Market featuring over 100 makers, crafters and artisans at Beban Park Social Centre. Admission for the weekend is $7. 

Friday, Nov. 15, 5 p.m.: The Vancouver Island Sculpting Studio’s Christmas Art Sale includes an opening reception on Friday followed by a two-day showcase on Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 294 Harewood Road.

Friday, Nov. 15, 7:30 p.m.: Unboxing Bravery, a performance by Andi Rogynous (Lauren Semple), will “challenge perceptions and cultivate greater understanding and acceptance of the Trans and gender non-conforming community” at the OV Arts Centre. The show runs until Nov. 23 and tickets cost $28 for adults.

Saturday, Nov. 16 - 17, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: The Protection Island Art Walk’s Saturday artist studio tour is followed by an artist showcase at the Beacon Community Centre on Sunday. 

Sunday, Nov. 17, 2 p.m.: Theatre One presents The Trollsons, a play suitable for children from Kindergarten to Grade 7 about a comedic family of trolls from a fantastical forest at Vancouver Island University’s Malaspina Theatre. Tickets cost $10. 

⛹️ Meet 🎲

Wednesday, Nov. 13 - 14: The Rural (small city) Recreation Summit will bring two days of discussions, workshops and a keynote address by Dr. Jackie Oncescu to Vancouver Island University. Tickets for one day cost $150. 

Thursday, Nov. 14, 7 p.m.: Nanaimo researcher Kevin Hills will speak about the process of caring for war graves in the Nanaimo Public Cemetery and share some of his research on Nanaimo's fallen personnel from both World Wars in Bowen Park Complex’s activity room one. Admittance is free.

Friday, Nov. 15, 6 p.m.: The Wisteria Community Association is holding a burger and beverage fundraiser for its Stone Soup program at the #10 Legion, 129 Harewood Road. Tickets cost $30.

Friday, Nov. 15, 6 p.m.:  Vancouver Island University (VIU)’s men’s and women’s volleyball teams play the Columbia Bible College Bearcats at the VIU gym. Women’s game at 6 p.m., men’s game at 8 p.m. Tickets are free for VIU students or $6. 

Saturday, Nov. 16, noon: The Mid-Island Métis Nation will celebrate Métis heritage at the Nanaimo Museum. 

Saturday, Nov. 16, 1 p.m.: Indigenous creatives aged 16+ can practice knitting, beadwork, weaving and more at the Indigenous Crafting Circle at the Nanaimo Art Gallery. Registration is $5.  

Sunday, Nov. 17, 7 p.m.: Ohad Lapidot will speak about the loss of his daughter Tifferet who was killed at the Nova music festival during the Oct. 7, 2023 terrorist attack on Israel by Hamas.  

Presented by Chabad of Nanaimo at the Oliver Woods Community Centre. Tickets cost $10 in advance or $20 at the door. 

Saturday, Nov. 16, 1 p.m.: VIU’s men’s and women’s volleyball teams play the Columbia Bible College Bearcats at the VIU gym. Women’s game at 1 p.m., men’s game at 3 p.m. Tickets are free for VIU students or $6.

See you around town,

— Mick and The Discourse team

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