Navigating VIU Mental Health Resources
Follow along with The Nav’s Mike Duddy as he speaks with VIU’s Thrive and fellow student Lindon Lennox to find ways to reduce stress as a student during a difficult semester. If you’re in need of help, call VIU’s Counselling Services at (250) 740-6416 to book an appointment. Visit www.here2talk.ca for 24-hour confidential messaging. Kuu-us … Continued
Beats Beyond Borders
October is a rough month with midterms, assignments, and cool weather kicking in. Luckily for students, there’s a new event this year: Beats Beyond Borders, organized by Cultural Connections. And it’s all about electronic dance music (EDM)! The Beats Beyond Borders Global Electronic Music Festival is a free-admission concert on Thursday, Oct 20 in the … Continued
Two Teams, One Family
Last April, my classmate invited me to the 2021/2022 Mariners’ Spirit Showcase by VIU’s Dance Team. Usually, I don’t attend dance events, but I wanted to show her my support. What followed was an amazing evening of routines—solo and group, cheer and dance, jazz and contemporary—with emceeing by coaches Elissa Miranda and Payton Berrigan. At … Continued
Leave a Light on for Malaspina Theatre’s Friendly Ghost
The lights turn on. The stage is set. Actors take their place, and the story unfolds. The crowd stands and applause echoes off the theatre’s old walls. The curtains close and I watch as lines of people form, one by one stepping out the doors. I stay behind and wait. No one comes to tell … Continued
Bicycle Film Festival Nanaimo
Do you like cycling? How about film? If you said yes to either, then the Bicycle Film Festival (BFF) is for you. The festival is stopping at VIU’s Nanaimo campus this Saturday, October 1 with evening screenings in Malaspina Theatre. The BFF started in New York in 2001. It’s been to over 100 cities worldwide, … Continued
Hone Your Craft with the VIU Creative Writing Association
Do you enjoy writing fiction, non-fiction, poetry, scripts, or academic essays? Maybe you don’t like writing as much but you love correcting grammar and sentence structure. If any of the above apply to you, VIU’s Creative Writing Association (VCWA) would love to have you. Commonly known as “CREW Club,” VCWA is a weekly meeting run … Continued
The Trials and Tribulations of a Bookworm
I’ve been banned. From getting new books. By me. Why, you might ask? Because I suffer from the age-old problem of readers the world over: too many unread books. I put books on hold at the library. I pick them up. I see interesting options in the ‘New Titles’ and display areas; a few end … Continued
Where Does Creativity Hide?
How do we find our creativity? Inspiration can seem like a skittish adopted cat coming into our home for the first time. As badly as we want to go to it and let it know we’re a friend, it darts away under the couch or the bed every time we get near. No amount of … Continued
Building a Community at Cultural Connections
Imagine this: you move to VIU from another country. You arrive at your new residence and are immediately overwhelmed by the transit system, language, and even the environment. It’s scary—all you want to do is huddle at your desk or under the covers. Fortunately, there’s a community already waiting for you. Cultural Connections is VIU’s … Continued
Part of Something Bigger
When I first came to VIU’s Nanaimo campus, I was told “the science students stay at the top and the trades students keep to the bottom.” I’ve found this detached mindset prevalent at VIU, making it difficult to feel as though I’m part of a broader university community. The Canadian Collegiate Athletics Association (CCAA)’s Women’s … Continued
The Dawn Chorus
Spring is here! The days are getting longer, the grass is greener, and the air feels fresher than ever. Walking around Nanaimo, I can’t help but notice the plethora of melodies singing in the trees and appreciate all the lovely notes that songbirds have to offer this time of year. Why do songbirds sing? Singing … Continued