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.

There is a lot happening in Nanaimo this week, from serious activism to irreverent comedy.

Like last year, I will be attending the annual No More Stolen Sisters Memorial March on Friday afternoon to cover the event and take photographs. 

After that, I am still deciding if I will try and catch one of the amazing concerts that are part of Nanaimo’s Cuban Vibes festival, or if I will see local independent artists at The Vault Cafe or The Globe Live Studio. 

No matter your preference, Nanaimo has something for everyone.

Thank you for reading,

Mick Sweetman

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🔎 Watch for 🔍

Friday, Feb. 13, 3:30 p.m.: The No More Stolen Sisters Memorial March will gather in Diana Krall Plaza before marching to Maffeo Sutton Park. The march calls for justice for missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.

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

Let us know by sending Mick an email.

🎵 Listen 🎤

Thursday, Feb. 12, 7:15 p.m.: Night in Old Havana – Cuban Vibes Opening Night will feature salsa lessons followed by Cuban jazz & symphony concert at The Port Theatre. Tickets cost $28.50.

Friday, Feb. 13, 6 p.m.: Lords Of Apathy, Frantic Mistake, High Pain Threshold and Zoe The Strange will play an all-ages punk and alternative show at The Globe Live Studio. Tickets cost $15. 

Friday, Feb. 13, 7:30 p.m.: Waves of Latin Jazz  will merge the vibrant spirit of Latin Jazz seamlessly with the heart and soul of Cuba at The Port Theatre. Tickets cost $49.

Friday, Feb. 13, 9 p.m.: Firebird and The Rad Mammals will play folk, roots, americana and bluegrass at The Vault Cafe. Tickets cost $15.

Friday, Feb. 13, 9:30 p.m.: Annika Zee, 17Sport, Ida Diana Maidstone and Good For It will play a winter showcase at The Queen’s. Tickets cost $15.

Saturday, Feb. 14, 2 p.m.: Cuba in Her Carry-On family show at The Port Theatre. Part of the Cuban Vibes festival. Tickets cost $39.50 or $24.50 for youth under 25. 

Sunday, Feb. 15, 2 p.m.: Sonnet L’anne and Gregory Woods will headline the Sunday Blues Jam hosted by the Nanaimo Blues Society at The Queen’s. Tickets cost $10.

Sunday, Feb. 15, 7 p.m.: The Sylvia Platters, Love Life and Hypno Jerk will play at The Globe Live Studio. Tickets cost $15. 

🎭 View 🖼️

Friday, Feb.13, noon: Take a lunchtime tour of Bleached by the Sun: Perspectives on Chinatown at the Nanaimo Art Gallery. Tickets cost $5.

⛹️ Meet 🎲

Thursday, Feb. 12, 7 p.m.: Ruby Diaz Smith will read from her book, Searching for Sarafim, at Vancouver Island University, Building 180, Room 134. Co-presented by the Nanaimo Historical Society and Nanaimo Community Archives. 

Friday, Feb. 13, 10 a.m.: VIU media studies professor Debra Pentecost will present Visual Expression of Community, Connections and Home in the Malaspina Theatre as part of the Arts and Humanities Colloquium series,

Friday, Feb. 13, noon: Learn Hul'q'umi'num' with Jane Alcorn (Penelakut) and Stephanie Hohn as they provide an hour of introductory Hul'q'umi'num' language and story in the Vancouver Island University Library’s Madrona Room (322). Registration is required.  

Friday, Feb. 13, 6 p.m.: The VIU Mariners volleyball teams take on the Columbia Bible College Bearcats at the VIU Gym. Women’s game at 6 p.m. and men’s game at 8 p.m. Admission is free for VIU students. 

Saturday, Feb. 14, 1 p.m.: The VIU Mariners volleyball teams take on the Columbia Bible College Bearcats at the VIU Gym. Women’s game at 1 p.m. and men’s game at 3 p.m. Admission is free for VIU students. 

Saturday, Feb. 14, 3 p.m.: A Valentine’s Day Party will include wine tasting, dinner, interactive games, live piano and salsa dancing at Bethlehem Centre. Tickets cost: $110 per couple or $50 per person.

Wednesday, Feb. 18, 3 p.m.: Find local produce, artisan goods and community vendors at the Island Roots Farmers’ Market at Beban Park.

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