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.

This weekend will be the 10th annual Nanaimo Pride parade, and nearly 30 years since the first Pride event in the city took to the streets as a protest along the Nanaimo seawall in 1997. 

I recently sat down at The Vault Cafe with Nanaimo Pride president Lauren Semple to talk about the history of Nanaimo Pride and their own experiences growing up queer on Vancouver Island.

You can read my interview with her below.

Thank you for reading,

Mick Sweetman

🖊️ What you said ⌨️

⭐⭐⭐⭐

You can never say that Nanaimo is boring — an amazing spectacle of music and general entertainment.”

— Mike Culverwell, from our newsletter survey.

We're asking 100 readers in Nanaimo to step up as new monthly supporters by June 22 — enough to keep community reporter Mick Sweetman in the field through the October municipal election. Make a local impact and support The Discourse today.

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

Let us know by submitting it on our website.

Note: To click through to see the below events listings, please ensure your browser’s adblocker is turned off.

Q&A with Lauren Semple on Nanaimo Pride and local activism 

Nanaimo Pride marks 10 years of parades and 30 years of Pride.

🎵 Listen 🎤

Thursday, June 11 

• 6:30 p.m.: Pride on the Mic at MGM Restaurant. Admission by donation. 🏳️‍🌈

• 7 p.m.: Road Poets at The Queen's. Tickets cost $10. 

Friday, June 12 

• 12 p.m.: Alfie Zappacosta at St. Andrew's United Church. Tickets cost $43.50.

• 12:30 p.m.: Open Mic at The Nanaimo Bar. 

• 5 p.m.: Punk/rock n roll show with Beth Sherlock, Moon Riot, Cosmosaurus, The Daisy Stranglers at The Globe Live Studio. Tickets cost $18.

• 6 p.m.: The Gecko Band at The Queen’s. Tickets cost $30.

• 7 p.m.: Club Soda: Sober Pride Dance at Nanaimo Museum. Tickets cost $25. 🏳️‍🌈

• 9:30 p.m.: A tribute to AC/DC at The Queen's. Tickets cost $20 in advance or $25 at the door.

Saturday, June 13 

• 7 p.m.: Northcote and Lauren Dillen at The Globe Live Studio. All ages. Tickets cost $15.

• 7:30 p.m.: Annual Pride Dance in the Vancouver Island Conference Centre’s Mt. Benson Ballroom. Tickets cost  $35 in advance or $40 at the door. 🏳️‍🌈

• 9:30 p.m.: Pastel Blank with Nora Kelly Band at The Queen’s. Tickets $15 in advance.

Sunday, June 14 

• 2 p.m.: Ironhead, Burnt Lung, Iron & Rot, Solus Vagari at The Globe Live Studio. Tickets cost $10 in advance or $15 at the door.

Tuesday, June 16 

• 8:30 p.m.: Jon Roper Trio at The Nanaimo Bar. $10 cover at the door.

Wednesday, June 17 

• 6 p.m.: Steve Hill with James Vickers at The Globe Live Studio. Tickets cost $25.

• 6 p.m.: Concerts in the Park - Donny Boyd & Fine Co. at Kin Beach Park Kin Hut. Free.

🎭 View 🖼️

Thursday, June 11 

• 7:30 p.m.: 7 Stories by renowned Vancouver playwright Morris Panych at The OV Arts Centre. Tickets cost $28

Friday, June 12 

• Noon: Lunchtime Tour of An Animated Assembly at the Nanaimo Art Gallery. Tickets cost $5 or are free for gallery members. 

Saturday, June 13 

• Noon.: Harbour Dance Year End 2026 at the Port Theatre. Tickets cost $38.

• 12:30 p.m..: Tender City: The Slow Dance Project at Dallas Square Park. 🏳️‍🌈

• 1:30 p.m.: Rohana Laing opening reception at Gabriola Island Library. 

Sunday, June 14 

• 6:30 p.m.: Sara Raymond Dance Academy Year End performance at the Port Theatre. Tickets cost $35.

⛹️ Meet 🎲

Thursday, June 11 

• 4 p.m.: Crafty Queers+ at the Nanaimo Art Gallery. 🏳️‍🌈

Friday, June 12 

• 5 p.m.: Run for Recovery 2026 at Westwood Lake. 

Saturday, June 13 

• 8:30 a.m.: South End Day at Deverill Square Park. 

• 10 a.m.: Family Fun Morning at Nanaimo North LIbrary. 

• 10:30 a.m.: Books & Bagels at Gabriola Island Library. 

• 2:30 p.m.: Book Launch: Eyes Wild Open at Nanaimo Harbourfront Library.

Sunday, June 14 

• 11 a.m.: 2026 Nanaimo Pride Parade & Festival starting in the Old City Quarter to Maffeo Sutton Park. 🏳️‍🌈

• 1 p.m.: Summer Drop In Art Social at Nanaimo Harbourfront Library.

• 2:30 p.m.: Shut Up & Write: Nanaimo at Nanaimo Harbourfront Library.

Monday, June 15 

• 1 p.m.: Coastal Community Credit Union Meeting at Vancouver Island Conference Centre. 

Tuesday, June 16 

• 10 a.m.: Knitting Group at Nanaimo North Library. 

Wednesday, June 17 

• 3 p.m.: Nanaimo Farmers' Market - Island Roots at Beban Park.

• 3:30 p.m.: Teen Art Drop-In at Nanaimo Art Gallery. 

What did you think of this newsletter?

⭐    ⭐⭐    ⭐⭐⭐    ⭐⭐⭐⭐    ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Like what you're reading?

Community news keeps us connected. We can't do this without you.