Mick Sweetman

Events in Nanaimo Feb. 5 to 12, 2026 – The Discourse. Music, art and community events in Nanaimo from Feb. 5 to 12, 2026.

The John Barsby School of Rock will perform tonight at VIU's Malaspina Theatre. See what else in happening this weekend in The Hub Nanaimo, your weekly insider guide to the best of community arts and culture. thediscourse.ca/nanaimo/the-...

Black History Month events in Nanaimo 2026 – The Discourse. Black History Month events in Nanaimo, B.C. for February 2026.

Celebrate Nanaimo's Black community by attending Black History Month events in our city.
thediscourse.ca/nanaimo/blac...

How a Comox Valley fossil discovery forever changed paleontology in B.C. The untold story behind Mike and Heather Trask’s fossil discovery and ‘the incredible importance of curiosity.’

Mike and Heather Trask’s Comox Valley-based fossil discovery in 1988 inspired a flood of amateur paleontologists. It also inspired the first paleontological society in B.C. and led to the creation of a policy to protect fossils.

Read the story:
thediscourse.ca/comox-valley...

Regional District of Nanaimo developing policy on full-time living in recreational vehicles – The Discourse. District staff will also create a rural housing strategy.

People in the Regional District of Nanaimo may soon be able to live in RVs full time. The district is developing a policy on this as well as a rural housing strategy, a move that has been applauded by the B.C. RV Alliance. thediscourse.ca/nanaimo/regi...

Art exhibition shines a light on Nanaimo’s Chinatowns – The Discourse. Bleached by the Sun: Perspectives on Chinatown is on display until March 22, 2026 at the Nanaimo Art Gallery.

A new exhibit at the Nanaimo Art Gallery features archival photos and contemporary art works exploring the history of Nanaimo’s Chinatowns. thediscourse.ca/nanaimo/art-...

I'm working on a story for @thediscourse.ca! I want to chat to Comox Valley folks about what you're doing to prep for various different emergency scenarios: Climate, geopolitical, natural disaster, etc… Have you experienced an emergency? what did you do/ learn? Are you prepared currently?

Welcome to the American Winter In the frozen streets of Minneapolis, something profound is happening.

The Atlantic Magazine just dropped a tremendous story on the Minnesota Resistance. The author is a war correspondent & sees the echoes of leaderless community empowerment around the globe: www.theatlantic.com/politics/202... (supposed to be a gift link, might not work, it’s in Apple News, too.)

Events in Nanaimo for Jan. 22 to 28, 2026 – The Discourse. Music from Star Wars, Star Trek and The Planets to collide at The Port Theatre.

Curators Jesse Birch and Imogene Lim, along with exhibition artists will hold an informal community gathering today at 1 p.m. to celebrate the exhibition Bleached by the Sun: Perspectives on Chinatown at the Nanaimo Art Gallery.

Nothing hits like the sound of the Imperial March.

I still have my Star Wars and Empire Strikes Back LPs fron the 80s. The force is strong in John Williams.

Community Safety Officer program in Nanaimo an alternative to police – The Discourse. Community Safety Officers are helping respond to Nanaimo’s homelessness crisis, but councillors and experts say more supports are needed.

I did a deep dive into Nanaimo's Community Safety Officer program. I spoke with experts, city councillors, business owners, social service providers and people who are unhoused. I went out on patrol with a CSO team to see their work firsthand. Here's what I saw. thediscourse.ca/nanaimo/comm...

Events in Nanaimo for the week of Jan. 15 to 21, 2026 – The Discourse. These events listings are from The Hub Nanaimo, your weekly insider guide to the best of community arts and culture.

Check out Nanaimo's newest poetry reading series Grub Street tonight at The Vault Cafe and get all your music, arts and community events listings from our weekly newsletter The Hub.

thediscourse.ca/nanaimo/even...

Events in Nanaimo for the week of Jan. 15 to 21, 2026 – The Discourse. These events listings are from The Hub Nanaimo, your weekly insider guide to the best of community arts and culture.

These events listings are from The Hub Nanaimo, your weekly insider guide to the best of community arts and culture.

thediscourse.ca/nanaimo/even...

‘Enough is enough’: Penelakut family calls on Island Health to address systemic racism after Lenny Sylvester’s death – The Discourse. Community leaders say Lenny Sylvester’s death shows systemic racism within Island Health and are demanding accountability and transparency.

“Enough is enough.”

Family and leaders are demanding answers from Island Health after the death of Lenny Sylvester, a Penelakut man whose care they say reflects systemic racism.

Read more:

Thinking about building a cob home in the Nanaimo area? – The Discourse. FAQ about cob homes in the Regional District of Nanaimo.

Thinking about building a cob home in the Regional District of Nanaimo? We have put together this FAQ after talking with both owner / builders on Vancouver Island and district staff.
thediscourse.ca/nanaimo/thin...

North Cowichan Council amends Official Community Plan – The Discourse. A council decision to amend the Official Community Plan could set back housing developments and cost future tax payers, municipal staff say.

“If you want everything as per staff reports, we wouldn't have councils. You'd have bureaucracy running the councils,” Coun. Tek Manhas told a packed public hearing as North Cowichan voted to amend its official community plan on Nov. 19.

Loudon Park boathouse approved for $10.2 million – The Discourse. The development will see a building on newly-acquired land, preserving a grove of mature trees.

“The proposed site layout diagram solves a lot of problems by saving the mature trees, playground and beach areas in a cohesive way that allows for easy public access and maximum use,” Lana Fitzpatrick from the Wellington Action Committee told councillors.

Nanaimo city council votes down proposed drug policy letter – The Discourse. At the Dec. 1 Nanaimo City Council meeting, a motion to send a letter to the province asking it to reexamine its approach to "the ongoing addiction crisis" was voted down.

“This motion is not about reexamining philosophy, it’s about how many funerals we are prepared to accept.”

Nanaimo city council votes down proposed drug policy letter – The Discourse. At the Dec. 1 Nanaimo City Council meeting, a motion to send a letter to the province asking it to reexamine its approach to "the ongoing addiction crisis" was voted down.

"It does save lives, but saving those lives for what purpose?" asked Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog during a city council debate about overdose prevention sites and the province's approach to harm reduction in the toxic drug crisis on Monday night.

Grateful to have @thediscourse.ca / @micksweetman.bsky.social and the rest of the folks at The Discourse reporting in communities like Nanaimo, Cowichan, and Comox. Their journalism is vital. Support it if you can!

Loudon Park boathouse approved for $10.2 million – The Discourse. The development will see a building on newly-acquired land, preserving a grove of mature trees.

Nanaimo city council voted to allocate $10.2 million for a new boathouse and community space at Loudon Park on Long Lake at a special finance and audit committee meeting on Friday.
thediscourse.ca/nanaimo/coun...

Nanaimo city council votes down proposed drug policy letter – The Discourse. At the Dec. 1 Nanaimo City Council meeting, a motion to send a letter to the province asking it to reexamine its approach to "the ongoing addiction crisis" was voted down.

“Politicized arguments like this motion driven by nimbyism and colonial privilege, undermine science, threaten public health and jeopardize the health and safety of our entire community," Sarah Lovegrove, vice-president of the Harm Reduction Nurses association told Nanaimo city council on Monday.

Ah, the peaceful sound of nature.

Events in Nanaimo for the week of Nov. 28 to Dec. 3 – The Discourse. These events listings are from The Hub Nanaimo, your weekly insider guide to the best of community arts and culture. Subscribe to this newsletter to see

Looking for something fun to do in Nanaimo this weekend? From holiday markets to live music, arts and sports, reporter @micksweetman.bsky.social has curated a list of what's happening.

thediscourse.ca/nanaimo/even...

Nanaimo RCMP have confirmed that officers responded to reports of a plane crash in a wooded area near Twilight Way, south of Nanaimo, B.C., at approximately 3 a.m. this morning. RCMP say the plane was found "in a large debris field and there were no survivors." The investigation is ongoing.

What’s the deal with the proposed data centre in Nanaimo? – The Discourse. The Discourse found answers to frequently asked questions about a proposed data centre in Nanaimo.

Everything you want to know about the Nanaimo data centre, and how much water it will use, explained. thediscourse.ca/nanaimo/what...

Events in Nanaimo for the week of Nov. 20 to 27, 2025 – The Discourse. Music, arts and community events listings in Nanaimo for the week of Nov. 20 to 27, 2025.

Check out Nanaimo Artwalk and all of our weekly music, art and community events listings in Nanaimo for the week of Nov. 20 to 27, 2025. Let us know if any events you think we should include for next week!

thediscourse.ca/nanaimo/even...

Thank you Karen. I’m glad you found my reporting helpful.

Sometimes stories don't go as planned, motions get withdrawn and changed, but showing up to cover council in person allows me to talk with both councillors and community members about the issues that matter to them beyond the constraints of the formal meeting. Here is my latest story.

The province should re-examine its drug policy

but rather than as the councillor implies, our drug policy should aim to build a better future for all
@micksweetman.bsky.social
bchumanrights.ca/resources/pu...