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Nanaimo has a long but under-documented history of Black communities. A few years ago, research was done by the African Heritage Society, the City of Nanaimo and the Wellington Neighbourhood Association into the life of Wellington’s Jimmy Claxton, the first Black person to play organized baseball in the 20th Century.

The Nanaimo Archives wanted to find evidence of a larger Black community to provide a deeper context to local celebrations of Black History Month. 

The Nanaimo Archives produced a video about Claxton and the history of Nanaimo’s Black communities that you can watch on its website.

This month, Nanaimo’s Black community continues to celebrate this history as well as acknowledge contemporary successes and struggle, including the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests in the city documented by the Nanaimo African Heritage Society. 

It would be impossible to cover the breadth and depth of Nanaimo’s Black community in a short newsletter introduction, but I would encourage you to attend some of the events listed below for Black History Month and learn more about the community’s important contributions to the region.

Thank you for reading,

Mick Sweetman

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🔎 Watch for 🔍

Vancouver Island University’s Faculty of Arts and Humanities is presenting a series of events for Black History Month while other organizations are holding off-campus events. 

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

Let us know by sending Mick an email.

Black History Month

Friday, Feb. 6, 7 p.m.: Sonnet L’Abbé will sing the jazz and read poetry that helped shape them into the artist they are at My Black History Is Poetry, Is Jazz: Musical Performance with Nick Peck on piano at the Nanaimo Art Gallery. Tickets cost $10.

Sunday, Feb. 8, 11 a.m.: Explore the history of Nanaimo's Black pioneers and local landmarks that tell their story with resident storyteller Debbie Goodman at the First Unitarian Fellowship.   

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

Thursday, Feb. 19, Noon: The Black History Book Club will meet in the Malaspina Theatre Lobby to discuss Desmond Cole’s The Skin We’re In.

Monday, Feb. 23, 2:30 p.m.: Come read anything by a Black author at Speaking Black Voices: A Black History Month Open Mic in the Malaspina Theatre Lobby.

Friday, Feb. 27, 10:30 a.m.: Dr. Amel Aldehaib in conversation with Dr. Magnolia Pauker will discuss A Pan African Feminist Blueprint for Peace in Sudan on Microsoft Teams.

Saturday, Feb. 28, 5:30 p.m.: The Nanaimo African Heritage Society presents the Harlem Night Black History Gala and Dinner at the Bowen Park Complex. Tickets cost $40.

🎵 Listen 🎤

Thursday, Feb. 5, 7 p.m.: The Vault Cafe will host its monthly open mic night. Admission is free.

Friday, Feb. 6, 4:30 p.m.: Vancouver indie and punk heavy hitters Black Pontiac return to Nanaimo featuring support from Danger Box, Saoirse Dream, kittens lol and Red Lenses at The Globe Live Studio. Tickets cost $20. .  

Friday, Feb. 6, 6:30 p.m.: The John Barsby School of Rock will perform at the Malaspina Theatre. Tickets are available at the John Barsby School’s front office.  

Friday, Feb. 6, 6:30 p.m.: Chase the Bear and Dead Summer will play at The Queen’s. Tickets cost $20.

Friday, Feb. 6, 9 p.m.: Ribcage and Dry Goods will play psychedelic free funk and improv jazz at The Vault Cafe. Tickets cost $15. 

Saturday, Feb. 7, 6:30 p.m.: Graham Clark will perform Comedy for a Cause at The Queen’s. Tickets cost $20. 

Saturday, Feb. 7, 7 p.m.: The Zummers, Moon Grove and Juice will play an indie rock show at The Globe Live Studio. Tickets cost $18. 

Saturday, Feb. 7, 8 p.m.: The Vault Cafe’s Jazz Night features Hans Verhoeven and Graham Shonwise playing a tribute to Charlie Yardbird Parker. Nick Peck (piano) and Ken Lister (bass), with special guest Sonnet L’Abbé will perform the music of Nina Simone. Tickets cost $15. 

Saturday, Feb. 7, 9 p.m.: Jimi and The Lee Taylor Band will play rock, country and blues at The Queen’s. Tickets cost $20. 

Sunday, Feb. 8, 3 p.m.: Nadine States will headline the Sunday Blues Jam at The Queen’s. Tickets cost $10 or free for blues jammers. 

Monday, Feb. 9, 7 p.m.: Hawksley Workman will play at The Queen’s. Tickets cost $38.

Tuesday, Feb. 10, 6 p.m.: Draemus The Alien, Cavataca, Shanahan and Carl Longstaff will play an all-ages electronic/alt rock show at The Globe Live Studio. Tickets cost $10. 

🎭 View 🖼️

Friday, Feb. 6, noon: Take a lunchtime tour of Bleached by the Sun: Perspectives on Chinatown at the Nanaimo Art Gallery. Tickets cost $5.

Wednesday, Feb. 11, 6 p.m.: The VIU Muslim Women’s Club will screen Gaza: Doctors Under Attack. Admission is free.

⛹️ Meet 🎲

Thursday, Feb. 5, 6 p.m.: Portal Magazine will hold a silent auction fundraiser at White Sails Brewing. 

Friday, Feb. 6, 10:30 a.m.: Mixed Abilities Dance Jam at Vibe Studios. Admission by donation.

Friday, Feb. 6, 10:30 a.m.: Cheer on Team Canada and watch the opening ceremonies of the winter Olympics at the Nanaimo Harbourfront Library. 

Friday, Feb. 6, 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. 6, 5 p.m.: The VIU Mariners basketball teams take on the Okanagan College Coyotes at the VIU Gym. Women’s game at 5 p.m. and men’s game at 7 p.m. Admission is free for VIU students. 

Friday, Feb. 6, 7 p.m.: The Nanaimo Clippers will play the Prince George Spruce Kings at Frank Crane Arena. Tickets cost $22 or $20 for seniors and $12 for children between six and 12 years of age. 

Saturday, Feb. 7, 11 a.m.: The VIU Mariners basketball teams take on the Okanagan College Coyotes at the VIU Gym. Women’s game at 11 a.m. and men’s game at 1 p.m. Admission is free for VIU students. 

Saturday, Feb. 7, 1 p.m.: Discuss death in a relaxed and confidential space with experienced facilitators at the Death Cafe in the Gabriola Island library. 

Sunday, Feb. 8, 3 p.m.: The Raspberry literary magazine is hosting a launch party for its second issue, Cozy Winter, with author readings at the Nanaimo Harbourfront Library. Admission is free. 

Tuesday, Feb. 10, 4:30 p.m.: The Library Youth Club meets at the Nanaimo Harbourfront Library. 

Wednesday, Feb. 11, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.: The Island Roots Farmers Market will be held inside the Centennial Building at Beban Park. 

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