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It’s a beautiful time to be outside in the warm sunshine these days so I wanted to highlight a couple of outdoor activities happening this week. 

On Saturday afternoon, the Nanaimo Photographers group will be meeting up outside the Corner Lounge for a portrait photo walk in the Old City Quarter. 

On Tuesday at noon, people can gather in the Quad of Vancouver Island University's Nanaimo campus for a Grief Fire that will mark the 10 year anniversary of the Toxic Drug Crisis.

On Tuesday at 5:30 p.m., you can catch the match between Nanaimo United FC and the Vancouver Whitecaps and Rise FC academy teams at Merle Logan Turf Fields in Harewood.

There are also lots of indoor events including the first Repair Cafe in Nanaimo since 2015 where people can gather to tinker and mend well-loved items at St. Andrew's United Church. If you have a bike that needs some fixing before you take it out on the streets this spring, this may be the event for you.

You can also read up about the Repair Cafe in the Comox Valley that reporter David Flawse wrote for The Discourse in the fall.

Enjoy the sunshine,

Mick Sweetman

🖊️ What you said ⌨️

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🔎 Watch for 🔍

Tuesday, April 14, noon.: A Grief Fire will mark the 10 year anniversary of the Toxic Drug Crisis in B.C. at Vancouver Island University. 

🎵 Listen 🎤

Thursday, April 9 

• 5:30 p.m.: Thursday Night Jazz at The Green Olive on Skinner Street with the Keep Right Quartet and friends.

• 6 p.m.: YBN's Comedy Night featuring Nina Wilder and Patrick Mahlia at The Queen's. 

Friday, April 10 

• 12:30 p.m.: An Open Mic afternoon. Prose and poetry writers of all levels are welcome to read at the Gabriola Island Library.

• 2 p.m.: Poetry Month Event: late afternoon on the river. Celebrate poetry month with a bevy of talented local poets at Nanaimo North LIbrary.

• 6 p.m.: Death proof, Butcher, Gate Theory and The Bifurcated play a metal show at The Globe Live Studio. Tickets cost $15 in advance and $20 at the door. 

• 6:30 p.m.: Taylor Swift Tribute at The Queen’s.

• 7:30 p.m.: Stories on Friday: Tales from Near and Far at Unitarian Fellowship Hall. Tickets cost $10.

• 7:30 p.m.: The Doobie Brothers Experience at The Port Theatre. Tickets cost $55

• 9 p.m.: Fleetwood Mac Tribute at The Queen's. 

• 9:30 p.m.: Mike Mills returns fronting BAND 9, blending classic and eclectic rock with soul and covering iconic songs in their own distinctive style at The Nanaimo Bar. Tickets cost $10.

Saturday, April 11 

• 6:30 p.m.: Comedy For Mental Health at The Queen’s. Tickets cost $20 in advance.

• 7 p.m.: The Brad Prevedoros Collective at St. Andrews United Church. Tickets cost $28.50. 
  

• 7:30 p.m.: Got Stones!, a Rolling Stones Steel Wheels era tribute at The Port Theatre. Tickets cost $49.50.

• 9:30 p.m.: Tragically Hip Tribute act, Nautical Disaster, at The Queen's. Tickets cost $30.

• 9:30 p.m.: Ken Ermter and Deb Pitre at The Nanaimo Bar. Tickets cost $10.

Sunday, April 12 

• 2 p.m.: Sunday Blues Jam at The Queens. 

• 2 p.m.: Netflix's The Making of Life on Our Planet at the Port Theatre. Tickets cost $50.

Monday, April 13 

• 7 p.m.: Organ Concert with Harrison Cole at St. Paul's Anglican Church. 

• 7 p.m.: The Australian Bee Gees Show at Port Theatre. Tickets cost $65.

Tuesday, April 14 

• 7:30 p.m.:A celebration of the music of John Prine at St. Andrew's United Church. Tickets cost $35 in advance, $40 at the door.

• 7:30 p.m.: Citizen Chen The Island Tour 2026 at Sip Neighbourhood Pub. Tickets cost $20.

Wednesday, April 15 

• 7 p.m.: Chase The Bear and The Steadies at The Globe Live Studio. Tickets cost $20 in advance, $25 at the door.

• 7:30 p.m.: Vinta at St. Andrew's United Church. Tickets cost $28.50.

• 7:30 p.m.: Morgan Wallen Tribute at the Port Theatre. Tickets cost $55.50.

🎭 View 🖼️

Friday, April 10 

• 5:30 p.m.: Bearing Bloodlines; Ancestral Invocations film screening at the Gabriola Theatre Center. Tickets cost $25.

• 7 p.m.: ‘An Animated Assembly' Opening Reception at the Nanaimo Art Gallery. 
  

Sunday, April 12 

• 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.: Screening of two Canadian films — one on early life in the north (an Inuit film) The Wrong Husband and one on life in the young world of hockey, Youngblood — at the Shaw Auditorium. Tickets cost $10 to $15.
  

Thursday, April 16 

• 6:30 p.m.: Unsettling the Lens Indigenous Film Series: nîpawistamâsowin: We Will Stand Up at The Nanaimo Art Gallery. Admission is free.
  

⛹️ Meet 🎲

Thursday, April 9 

• 5:30 p.m.: Patrick Aleck's Community Drum Circle returns to the Nanaimo Harbourfront Library.

Friday, April 10 

• 10 a.m.: CBS Blood Donor Clinic at 80 Commercial St. 

• 2 p.m.: The 29th Annual BIOL 491 Undergraduate Research Project Symposium at Vancouver Island University. 

• 2:30 p.m.: Nintendo Switch Time for kids at the Gabriola Library.

• 3 p.m.: Reading Buddies. Children in Kindergarten to Grade 4 are invited to practice their reading at the Nanaimo North Library. 

• 7 p.m.: Rumba Workshop & Social Dance at Bowen Park Complex.

• 7 p.m.: Club 256 Dance. A Cha-cha lesson with Elizabeth Stetar from 7 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., then dance until 10 p.m. at Wellington Hall. 

• 7 p.m.: Create a beautiful beach-inspired mandala at Lost Arts Club. 

Saturday, April 11 

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

• 1 p.m.: Repair Cafe at St. Andrew's United Church.

• 1 p.m.: Nanaimo Portrait Photo Walk - Old City Quarter. Meet outside the Corner Lounge in downtown Nanaimo.

• 2 p.m.: Artist Talk for “An Animated Assembly” at the Nanaimo Art Gallery. 

• 5 p.m.: Dart Tournament and Burger and Beverage Fundraiser for Ladies Provincial Darts at Royal Canadian Legion Branch #10. $25 per person entry fee. Beverage and burger for spectators and participants is $20.

• 7:30 p.m.: Bachata Social with a little Salsa at the Hungarian Cultural Society. Tickets cost $10.
  

Sunday, April 12 

• 9 a.m.: Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aid Course at Wild Tails. 

• 9:30 a.m.: CatNap Bottle Drive at the 2375 Hayes Rd. Regional Recycling facility.

• 10 a.m.: Artful Weaving Workshop at Nanaimo Harbourfront Library.

• 12 p.m.: Craft Stick Bridge Demolition Competition at the Wellington Library.

• 1 p.m.: Fashion for Compassion 2026. A fundraising fashion show in support of the Nanaimo Community Hospice at the Nanaimo Golf Club.

• 1 p.m.: Art Lab Sunday: Toilet Paper Roll Houses. Construct a ramshackle hut, cute house or towering skyscraper out of toilet paper rolls and cardboard at the Nanaimo Art Gallery. Free for gallery members, $5 for non-members. Children must be accompanied by an adult. 

• 1:30 p.m.: The Great Nanaimo Pottery Throwdown at Bowen Seniors Center.

• 2 p.m.: Author Talk: Sharon McInnes presents "Walking Each Other Home" at the Gabriola Island Library.

Monday, April 13 

• 2:30 p.m.: Builders' Club at the Wellington Library. 

• 7 p.m.: Craft + Conversation. Join for a casual evening of crafting and chatting every Monday night at My Inner Harbour.

Tuesday, April 14 

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

• 12 p.m.: A Grief Fire will mark the 10 year anniversary of the Toxic Drug Crisis in B.C. at Vancouver Island University. 

• 3:30 p.m.: Youth Chess Club at the Nanaimo North Library. 

• 7 p.m.: 2026 Culture Awards at the Port Theatre. Free admission.

Wednesday, April 15 

• 10 a.m.: Shut Up & Write at the Gabriola Island Library.

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

• 6 p.m.: Invasive Species Workshop at Bowen Centre. 

• 7 p.m.:  Condominium Home Owners Association of BC Townhall Meeting at Beban Park Social Centre. 

Thursday, April 16 

• 11:45 a.m.: Come and improve your communication and speaking skills in a welcoming and safe environment with Toastmasters at the Nanaimo Harbourfront Library.

• 1 p.m.: WorkBC Centre Nanaimo Job Fair.

• 2:30 p.m.: Vancouver Island Symphony 7 - Lecture  KeyNote Speaker Series at Oliver Woods Community Centre. Pay what you can. 

• 5:45 p.m.: Science Fiction and Fantasy Book Club at the Nanaimo Harbourfront Library.

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