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 going on this week but a few things jumped out at me when drafting this week’s newsletter. 

The first is an Indigenous takeover of the Nanaimo Art Gallery’s Making Waves lightning talk series that sees Indigenous artists and an Indigenous Artisan Market at the gallery. 

The second is the ongoing Palestinian solidarity activism in the city that is often underreported. This week sees the start of a new weekly Palestinian film series at Vancouver Island University as well as two talks in Nanaimo on Thursday by Canadian trauma surgeon Dr. Deirdre Nunan who has just returned from working in Gaza. You can watch a short interview with her on Global News. 

There are, of course, all of the usual music, art and community events that are happening in the city as well. 

Thank you for reading,

Mick Sweetman

🖊️ What you said ⌨️

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“So much great information for inclusive activities throughout the city!”

—  From our newsletter survey

🔎 Watch for 🔍

Friday, Sept. 12, 7 p.m.: The Nanaimo Art Gallery’s Making Waves speakers forum will see its second Indigenous takeover with comic artist Gord Hill (Kwakwaka’wakw), visual artist Sonny Assu (Ligwiłda’xw of the Kwakwaka’wakw Nations), land-based educator Nikki Wilkinson (Irish, Scottish and Red River Métis), and award-winning poet Brandi Bird (Salteaux/Cree/Metis), hosted by Indigenous Engagement Coordinator bailey macabre (nêhiyaw). Tickets cost $20. 

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

Let us know by sending Mick an email.

🎵 Listen 🎤

Tuesday, Sept. 9, 7:30 p.m.: Raw Gonzo, Awkward A/C and Smash TV will play The Terminal. Tickets cost $10. 

Wednesday, Sept. 10, 7 p.m.: Join Nanaimo’s Poet Laureate, Neil Surkan, with special guests Kayla Czaga, Jacqueline Bell and Sho Miller for an evening of poetry in the Vancouver Island Conference Centre’s Shaw Lobby. Admission is free. 

Thursday, Sept. 11, 5:30 p.m.: Nick La Riviere Quartet will play the Lighthouse Bistro as part of the Nanaimo Jazz Festival. Tickets cost $30.

Thursday Sept. 11, 9 p.m.: Coastline, Last Years Wishes and FISH will play indie-punk-surf rock at The Vault Cafe. Tickets cost $10. 

Friday, Sept. 12, 7 p.m.: Out Alive will host an album release party with End of Thread, Disaster in a Dress and Last Years Wishes at The Globe Live Studio. Tickets cost $10 in advance or $15 at the door. 

Friday, Sept. 12, 7 p.m.: Stealing Dan will play The Queen’s as part of the Nanaimo Jazz Festival. Tickets cost $40.

Friday, Sept. 12, 9 p.m.: Chris Noel and The Burning House play classic jump blues and R&B at The Vault Cafe. Tickets cost $15. 

Friday, Sept. 12, 9 p.m.: Local drag artist and VIU jazz program alum Celeste will take you on a musical journey through the golden age of jazz at The Nanaimo Bar as part of the Nanaimo Jazz Festival. Tickets cost $27.50.

Saturday, Sept. 13, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m: The Nanaimo Jazz Festival will kick off with a parade from The Port Theatre to Maffeo Sutton Park where The New Groovement will play at 1 p.m., Keanu Ienco Quartet at 2 p.m., Bitches Brew - Pierre Koman Quartet at 3 p.m. and the Tina Jones Quartet at 4 p.m.. 

Saturday, Sept. 13, 7:30 p.m: Cosmosaurus, Carl Longstaff, Shel and Krusty McClown will play The Globe Live Studio. Tickets cost $15 online or $20 at the door. 

Saturday, Sept. 13, 7 p.m: The Nanaimo Jazz Festival presents Holly Cole at The Port Theatre. Tickets cost $75.  

Sunday, Sept. 14, 3 p.m.: Darren Harry will play the Sunday Blues Jam at The Queen’s. Tickets cost $10, free for blues jammers. 

Sunday, Sept. 14, 7 p.m.: Antler, Deathbound and ENDR will play The Terminal. Tickets cost $17.25

🎭 View 🖼️

Wednesday, Sept. 10, 6 p.m.: Al-Nakba: The Palestinian Catastrophe will be screened at Vancouver Island University, Building 200, Room 203 by the VIU Muslim Women’s Club and For Palestine Vancouver Island. Admission is free.

Thursday, Sept. 11, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.: An Indigenous Artisan Market, featuring work by Adele maskwaiskwew Arseneau, Denny Provost, Happy Mountain Goods, Tal-Glow Skincare and more, will open at the Nanaimo Art Gallery and run until Saturday, Sept. 13.

Thursday, Sept. 11, 5 p.m.: Join Germaine Koh in a playful art installation, League Nanaimo, on Thursday nights as she turns the Nanaimo Art Gallery into an experimental arena where visitors are welcome to jump, throw, dance, run and touch — all actions that are usually frowned upon in art museums. 

Friday, Sept. 12, noon: Take a lunchtime tour of the Nanaimo Art Gallery’s current exhibition, League Nanaimo. Tickets cost $5 or are free for members.

Saturday, Sept. 13, 10 a.m.: Join Vancouver and Salt Spring Island-based artist Germaine Koh for League Nanaimo at Deverill Square Gyro 2 Park. The theme is Noisemakers

⛹️ Meet 🎲

Tuesday, Sept. 9 to Saturday, Sept. 13: The Nanaimo 2025 55+ BC Games brings together people from across B.C. for an unforgettable multi-sport event. Whether you’re in it for the competition, camaraderie or just the thrill of participation, now’s the time to get involved!

Thursday, Sept. 11, 3 p.m. & 7 p.m.: Dr. Deirdre Nunan, a Canadian orthopedic trauma surgeon who has worked in Gaza multiple times — most recently in July 2025 — has described the situation in Gaza as “absolutely catastrophic, inexcusable, and completely preventable.” She will speak at St. Andrews UC Hall at 3 p.m. and at Vancouver Island University, Building 180, Room 134 at 7 p.m.. 

Thursday, Sept. 11, 5:30 p.m.: Join a Community Drum Circle led by Stz’uminus and Penelakut Knowledge Keeper Patrick Aleck Jr. at the Nanaimo Harbourfront Library.

Thursday, Sept. 11, 7 p.m.: The Nanaimo Historical Society will look at the history of Nanaimo’s Italian community with presentations by society director Anne-Marie E. Discher and Cavallotti Lodge President Ian Cumpstone at the Cavallotti Lodge. 

Friday, Sept. 12 to Saturday, Sept. 13: The Nanaimo Climate Connections conference will focus on local actions in a global crisis including keynote addresses by author Seth Klein and Laura Lynch of CBC’s What on Earth. Andrew Gage of Sue Big Oil and David Quigg from the Sierra Club will also speak. The summit will be held at Wellington Hall. Admission is free. 

Saturday, Sept. 13, 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.: The Old City Quarter is hosting a free, all ages block party featuring local musicians, an artist market, face painting, food vendors and a community art project at 321 Selby St. 

Sunday, Sept. 14, 1 p.m.: Trace everyday objects and experiment with various materials to design eye-catching prints that play with positive and negative space at this week’s Art Lab Sunday at the Nanaimo Art Gallery. Tickets cost $5 or are free for non-members.

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