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Tonight kicks off a smattering of films being screened at Vancouver Island University over the next week that touch on a number of social issues.

Tonight’s film is on feminist media, while Tuesday’s documentary is about living with unstable housing in Kelowna. On Wednesday, the film Smashed will address the cycle of alcohol use disorder. 

The Discourse’s former Cowichan Valley reporter Jordan Kawchuk will join local physicians Dr. Evan Ailon and Dr. Roger Walmsley for a panel discussion after the screening of Smashed to discuss alcohol’s impact on health and what treatment and supports are available in Nanaimo.

You can find the details of the films in our listings below, along with our regular music, arts and community events listings.

I also wanted to thank everyone who has been submitting events through our new online event-submission system. If you have an upcoming event in Nanaimo or on Gabriola Island, please don’t hesitate to submit your event so we can feature it on our website’s events calendar and in this newsletter.

Thank you for reading,

Mick Sweetman

🖊️ What you said ⌨️

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“Local events and information.”

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

Let us know by submitting it on our website.

🔎 Watch for 🔍

Wednesday, March 25, 2:30 p.m.: Community members will gather for Rethinking Drinking, a free screening of Smashed: Breaking the Cycle of Alcohol Use Disorder followed by a panel discussion exploring alcohol use disorder, stigma and pathways to support at Vancouver Island University’s Malaspina Theatre. Tickets are free.

🎵 Listen 🎤

Friday, March 20 

7 p.m.: The David Gogo Group will play a Boogie Birthday Bash at the Moose Lodge. Tickets cost $25.

9 p.m.: Walt Hamburger, Danny Boy and Morgan Aston Farrell will play a folk-rock show at The Vault Cafe. Tickets cost $15.

Saturday, March 21 

5:30 p.m.: Out Alive, Hot Chicken Salad, The Sheds and Death Drops will play an all-ages punk show at The Globe Live Studio. Tickets cost $15 in advance or $20 at the door.

8 p.m.: A stacked hip-hop show at The Terminal will feature Golden BSP, Sirreal, Saen, $elfimploy, Cassette, John Doe, QB Mac, Tangible Two and G Thirty. Tickets cost $35. 

9 p.m.: The Vault Cafe’s monthly drag night TheyThemTheirs will take the stage. Tickets cost $20.

Sunday, March 22

7:30 p.m.: Derek Edwards will bring his Oxy Moron! comedy show to The Port Theatre. Tickets cost $75.

Tuesday, March 24

7 p.m.: The BC Cadet Honour Band will play The Port Theatre. Tickets are free but must be reserved.

Wednesday, March 25

8 p.m.: War On The Catwalk, hosted by drag superstar Alyssa Edwards, will take the stage at The Port Theatre. Tickets cost $72.

🎭 View 🖼️

Thursday, March 19 

7 p.m.: The Feminist Emergency Tour will screen Analogue Revolution: How Feminist Media Changed the World with director Marusya Bociurkiw in conversation with Sonnet L'Abbé, Finn Meyer Cook and Magnolia Pauker at VIU’s Gustafson Theatre, Building 355, Room 203. Tickets are free.

Friday, March 20 

7:30 p.m.: Ballet Kelowna will perform at The Port Theatre. Tickets cost C$94.66

Tuesday, March 24 

2:30 p.m.: “No Fixed Address: The White Cart Memorial” is a 45-minute documentary sharing the voices and stories of individuals living with unstable housing in Kelowna, B.C. The film uncovers how loss echoes through a community struggling to survive. It will be screened at Vancouver Island University’s Malaspina Theatre by the VIU Harm Reduction Alliance. Tickets are free.

⛹️ Meet 🎲

Thursday, March 19 

10 a.m.: Grab up to eight friends/family members and come attempt a Spring Break Escape Room at the Nanaimo North Library.

11 a.m.: Craft Stick Bridge Building Workshop at the Wellington Library.

5 p.m.: Connect with Nanaimo's business community at March Business After Business hosted by Norm's Mobile Plumbing at 1940 Boxwood Road. Tickets cost $15.

Saturday, March 21 

10 a.m.: Teen Bookbinding Workshop is the first in a series teaching a variety of bookbinding techniques for ages 12-18 at the Nanaimo Harbourfront Library.

10 a.m.: Secure Document Shredding in the White Spot parking lot at Woodgrove Centre. Suggested donation of $15 per bankers box of documents. 

1 p.m. to 4 p.m.: MakeTime For Kids is the one afternoon a month where Makerspace Nanaimo shows your kid a soldering iron (safely), what a robot actually does and proves that magnets are basically sorcery. You’ll pretend to understand it all and they’ll love every second. $10 per kid/parent duo.

1 p.m.: A Silent Vigil for Peace will be held on the bridge near Terminal Avenue and Comox Rd. 

2:30 p.m.: Meet other like-minded youth in Nanaimo, gain community service hours and help organize and facilitate activities with the Teen Advisory Group at the Nanaimo North library.

3:30 p.m.: Do you love to read? Got an opinion or two about your reads that could light up a room? Dive into the Shelf Care Teen Book Club at the Nanaimo North Library.

Monday, March 23 

2:30 p.m.: The Builders' Club will meet at the Wellington Library.

5:30 p.m.: Creative B.C’s music team will be traveling to The Queen’s to deliver an info session about the 2026/27 suite of funding programs for B.C.'s music industry, all delivered via Amplify BC, the province's dedicated fund for music. The info session will discuss funding programs for music companies, industry projects, recording artists, live music presenters and more. Admission is free for all ages.  

Tuesday, March 24 

10 a.m.:  Get ready to K2TOG with knitters of all ages and abilities at a drop-in knitting circle at the Nanaimo North Library.

3:30 p.m.:  The Youth Chess Club will meet at the Nanaimo North Library. The library’s teen volunteers will be on hand to teach you the basics or play against you. Organized by teen volunteer Kedar, who has participated in the Canadian Youth Chess Championship.

Wednesday, March 25 

10 a.m.:  All writers welcome to join a dedicated group of local authors, poets and beginning writers at Shut Up & Write in the Gabriola Island Library.

3 p.m.:  A Pokémon Club for children aged 6 to 14 will meet at the Wellington Library.

3 p.m.: The Nanaimo Farmers' Market - Island Roots featuring fresh, local produce takes place at Beban Park. 

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