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 week, historian Kelly Black follows up on his investigation of the story of a one-armed Hudson’s Bay employee known as Tomo who lost his arm in the 19th century. 

Digging into archived correspondence, Black found evidence of how it happened and debunks a myth that has been circulated on Vancouver Island for over 150 years. 

You can read that story, along with this week’s regular arts and culture listings, below.

Thank you for reading,

Mick

Revising Cowichan history: How Thomas Quamtany actually lost his arm

Historian Kelly Black gets to the bottom of a persistent myth about a one-armed Hudson’s Bay Company employee.

🖊️ What you said ⌨️

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“Informative events section.”

— From our newsletter survey

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

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🔎 Watch for 🔍

Friday, April 17 and Saturday, April 18: The Vancouver Island Short Film Festival will feature 18 short films and a youth showcase over two days at Vancouver Island University’s Malaspina Theatre. You can watch a trailer for the festival here.

🎵 Listen 🎤

Friday, April 17 

• 7:30 p.m.: Luke Wallace with Sylvia Humble and friends at St. Andrew's United Church. Tickets cost $22 to $35.

• 8 p.m.: Pineo & Loeb will headline Bring The House Down Vol.2 at Evolve Nightclub. Tickets cost $35. 

Saturday, April 18 

• 6 p.m.: Laura Kelsey is releasing her album Hidden Mountains and will be joined by Wren Beckley and Erin Lou at the Globe Live Studio. All ages. Tickets cost $20.

• 7 p.m.: The Cayleigh Borsboom Quartet will play at Nanaimo Conservatory of Music. Tickets cost $33.

• 9:30 p.m.: Stoned Pilots (Stone Temple Pilots tribute) with High Pain Threshold at The Queen's. Tickets cost $10 in advance or $15 at the door.

Sunday, April 19 

• 2 p.m.: Poetry event with Kamal Parmar at the Nanaimo Harbourfront Library. 

• 2:30 p.m.: The Island Consort Chamber Choir presents "Travellin'" at St. Andrew's United Church. Tickets cost $25

• 3 p.m.: The Argyle Jets host the Sunday Blues Jam at The Queen's. Tickets cost $10. 

Wednesday, April 22 

• 7 p.m.: Snotty Nose Rez Kids will perform at the Malaspina Theatre. Tickets cost $45 to $50.
  

🎭 View 🖼️

Friday, April 17 

• 7 p.m.: The 21st annual Vancouver Island Short Film Festival will hold its opening night at Malaspina Theatre with the screening of its first program. Tickets cost $20.

• 7:30 p.m.: Frank Moher will perform "Boy Player" at O.V. Arts Centre. Tickets cost $12 to $28.

Saturday, April 18 

• 7 p.m.: Vancouver Island Short Film Festival will continue to feature short films from around the world at the Malaspina Theatre. Tickets cost $20.

Thursday, April 23 

• 4 p.m.: VIU Media Studies Showcase at Verra Creative. Admission is free.
  

⛹️ Meet 🎲

Friday, April 17 

• 2 p.m.: Poetry Circle at the Nanaimo North Library. 

• 2:30 p.m.: Nintendo Switch Time for kids aged seven and up at the Gabriola Island Library. 

• 3 p.m.: Reading Buddies for children in Kindergarten to Grade 4 at the Nanaimo North LIbrary. 

• 6 p.m.: Axe Me Out: Queer Speed Dating at Island Time Axe Throwing. 

Saturday, April 18

• 10 a.m.: Miniatures Workshop at Nanaimo North LIbrary. 

• 10 a.m.: Introduction to the Alexander Technique at Balance Arts Studio.

• 11 a.m.: Beach Clean Up at the Millstone River.

• Noon: New York Times Bestselling author Heather Fawcett will hold a book signing at Chapters Woodgrove Centre.

• 12:30 p.m.: Seasonal Kick-Off motorcycle ride at Wendy's, 650 Terminal Ave. 

• 12:30 p.m. Luke Wallace and Sylvia Humble will hold a singing workshop at St. Andrew's United Church. Tickets cost $28.50.

• 1 p.m.: MakeTime For Kids at Makerspace Nanaimo.

• 2:30 p.m.: Teen Advisory Group at the Nanaimo North Library.

• 3:30 p.m.: Shelf Care Teen Book Club at Nanaimo North LIbrary. 

• 6:30 p.m.: Roots & Renewal - Bhumi Devi & The Sacred Seed at Sitka and Stillness Collective. Tickets cost $35

• 8 p.m.: Dark and Dirty Trivia Night at The Sip pub.

Sunday, April 19 

• 11 a.m.: Earth Day Celebrations at Bowen Park. 

• 1 p.m.: Art Lab Sunday: Oil Pastel Nature Scratch Art at the Nanaimo Art Gallery. Tickets cost $5 or are free for gallery members. 

• 1 p.m.: Unplugged Family Meet Up at Oliver Woods Community Centre. 

• 2:30 p.m.: Shut Up & Write: Nanaimo will meet at the Harbourfront library.  

Monday, April 20 

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

Tuesday, April 21 

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

• 3:30 p.m.: Youth Chess Club for tweens and teens at the Nanaimo North library.

Wednesday, April 22 

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

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

Thursday, April 23 

• 10:30 a.m.: Mobility Storytime at the Nanaimo North Library. 

• 2 p.m.: Seniors Community Connector Weekly Drop-In Sessions at the Gabriola Island Library.
  

• 5:30 p.m.: The Mindfulness Book Club will meet at the Harbourfront library.
  

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