Identifying Plants on Vancouver Island:
My New Year’s resolution, like many people’s, was to start going to the gym more come January. With the restrictions keeping gyms closed for the first few weeks of January, however, I decided to come up with another resolution—plant identification. Last year for Christmas I was given a book about plants in Canada and how … Continued
Tree-Planting:
The freezing rain pelts your back, creeping into your boots and soaking through your clothes. You curse yourself for begging for rain during the hot and bug-infested 30-plus degree weather the day before. Surrounding you is a cutblock where a logging company has chopped down all the trees in the area, leaving behind brush and … Continued
Join the Club
It’s 2022. Time to tick off those New Year’s Resolutions. There are the common yet difficult examples of “exercise more” and “travel,” then there are the equally common and difficult “make friends” and “try new things.” Introverts or students from out of town may find the latter particularly challenging. Thankfully, there’s a diverse source already … Continued
Breaking the Ice: My Top Five Party Games
This past year, I have become pretty awful at small talk. When I’m hanging out with friends, old and new, without a task or main topic of conversation, I start to feel awkward and uncomfortably socially aware. That’s why I am a big fan of party games. Games can be a perfect way of breaking … Continued
Hot Chocolate Cookies
I love Christmas. The indoors feel cozier, the air feels more magic, hot chocolate tastes better. Giving gifts is a major way that I like to show people in my life that I care about them. However, my gift-giver way of life is somewhat halted by my student-sized wallet. One great way I have found … Continued
It’s Raining, It’s Pouring, and It’s Okay to be Sad
The weather can bring you down. I dealt with many blistering cold days in my home province of Alberta—days with the kind of wind that numbs your skin instantly and freezes your eyebrow hairs into two icy little worms. The thought of moving to beautiful Vancouver Island for university was highly appealing to me. Specifically, … Continued
Taking Another Shot
The Langara guard slips past the VIU player defending her, dribbling into an open spot on the court. She eyes the hoop and jumps for the easy layup. The ball leaves her fingers. Like a hammer blow, the arm of VIU forward Shayce Johnston comes down on the rising ball, smashing it out of bounds. … Continued
Emergency Contraception
This article features talk of sexual violence and sexual assault. Information and referral services for victims of crime and immediate crisis support can be accessed by calling or texting 1-800-563-0808. The article also discusses abortions. I have always been told not to believe everything I see on TV, but when it comes to learning … Continued
A Fur-riendly Invitation to Kitties & Cream
Correction: An earlier version of this article stated that Kitties & Cream is partnered with CatNap Society, part of the Catspan Ferals Registered Charity. The cat cafe is not partnered with CatNap at this time, but with Catspan. Also, Catspan is not part of or related to Catnap. We apologize for any confusion this may have … Continued
Thrifting for Thrift Stores
Thrifting is an economical, eco friendly, and increasingly trendy (not to mention fun) shopping experience. However, when my friends ask if I would like to go thrift shopping in Nanaimo, we often end up at Value Village. There is nothing wrong with Value Village—it has a large store format and plenty of options to shop … Continued
Spider’s Web Dip
I love Halloween. I get to dress up, decorate my house, watch scary movies, and sneak from the candy bowl that I’m supposed to give the trick or treat-ers. But my favourite part of Halloween is making the snacks, which comes—in large part—from my mom. She is the most extra of Halloween moms. Our front … Continued
A Ghostly Walk by Lantern Light
What’s the best way to celebrate Halloween? Dressing up? Watching a scary movie? How about a ghost tour? I went on my first Haunted Nanaimo Lantern Tour several weeks ago. The tour is put on by the Nanaimo Museum and snakes through downtown Nanaimo, stopping at some of the city’s oldest and most haunted buildings. … Continued
The “Halloween Bird”
Have you ever been walking in a forest near Nanaimo when, out of the corner of your eye, you see an orange-black blur dart through the trees? If so, you may have spotted quite an elusive bird. The Varied Thrush, or Ixoreus Naevius, comes out of hiding on Vancouver Island in October. The males are … Continued