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Maple Sugar Festival in Nanaimo

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:30:30 +0000

The 11th annual Maple Sugar Festival du Sucre d’Érable is coming to Nanaimo, February 10 – 12, 2012 at the Beban Auditorium. A cultural celebration of food and music, the Maple Sugar Festival brings eastern Canadian traditions, French “chansons” and entertainment to the west coast.

It is timely to note that some people elsewhere in North America are being sold counterfeit maple syrup. This so-called “pure” maple syrup is being made with cane sugar and or beet sugar. As a result, senators from Vermont and Maine have been working on the Maple Agriculture Protection and Law Enforcement Act, which would make selling counterfeit maple syrup a felony punishable by up to five years in prison. In Canada, a senate committee will be putting forward a motion for new labelling standards for ‘Grade A’ maple syrup.

Performers include:
Le Bal a L’Huile – “oil lamp party” – seven vocalists and musicians from Eastern Quebec perform folk songs with foot tapping
Junior Belzile – guitarist and singer will perform a blend of old and new Quebec chansons
Vazzy – lively Acadian songs with fiddle, banjo, spoons, mandolin, harmonica and jaws harp
Acoustique Too – accoustic guitarists and singers Martin Richard and Jean-Philippe Cournoyer
Clochette et Les Rigolos – clown and singer Lison Clochette
Les Cornouillers – “the dogwoods” – a French Canadian folk dance group based in Victoria
Fiddlin’ Frenzy – North American fiddle champions who love to fiddle in the old time tradition
Glengarry School of Celtic Dance – Celtic dance troupe
Rueda Loca – “crazy wheel” – salsa dance group performs in a circle

Friday, February 10th: free admission
4:00 to 10:00 pm Opening Ceremony: 7:00 pm (suggested donation of $2)

Admission Adult:$5 Student:$3 Children:free
Saturday, February 11th: 9:00 am to 11:00 pm*
and Sunday, February 12th: 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

*Saturday night performance:$10

For more information, visit Maple Sugar Festival du Sucre d’Érable.

Mid Island News

Free Science and Tech Lecture Series at VIU

admin — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 13:03:31 +0000

Every Wednesday evening from 7:00pm to 8:00pm at Vancouver Island University the Science and Technology Lecture Series is being held. This free lecture series will be in the Education Building (Building 356) at the Lecture Theatre (Room 109) which is located at the top of the hill from the 4th Street entrance. The closest parking lot is Lot N.

Come and listen to these free lectures given by internationally acclaimed scientists and then after join in for conversation and light refreshments. Here is the schedule:

February 1, 2012 – Derek Matthews -Bird Banding Vancouver Avian Research Centre
February 8, 2012 – Dr. Damien Joly -The international trade in wildlife diseases
February 15, 2012 – Dr. David Gaumont Guay – Leukemia – the science of the disease
February 22, 2012- No Lecture – Reading Break
February 29, 2012 – Dr. Erin McClelland – Effect of Ocean Acidification on Shellfish
March 7, 2012 – Dr. Frank LoPinto – Animated QR codes
March 14, 2012 – Dr. Sheri Molnar – Seismic Hazard Mapping
March 21, 2010 – Speaker: TBA
March 28, 2012- Dr. Sarah Olson - Ebola: Wildlife Conservation and a Deadly Disease
April 4, 2012 – Dr. Jan Lovy – Infectious Diseases: Pacific Herring

For further information and details of the lectures visit Vancouver Island University Science Faculty or you can listen to the speakers being interviewed on “Not Rocket Science” aired weekly at 1:00 pm on Wednesdays and Fridays on CHLY 101.7fm.

Mid Island News

Possible site for New Library in Nanaimo

admin — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:47:55 +0000

There is a possibility that Nanaimo could get a new public library at 6550 Hammond Bay Road. Currently, the Vancouver Island Regional Library uses the building as its administration office. At present there is an active book drop so you can return your borrowed library books at this location.

The Vancouver Island Regional Library is inviting feedback from the public regarding this location as well as any other comments regarding library space.

You can send your suggestions to district(at)lantzville.ca if you live in Lantzville, or you could contact the VIRL at nanaimonorth(at)virl.bc.ca if you live in Nanaimo. Lanztville town council plans to meet with VIRL staff and present comments from the community.

Mid Island News

Funny Friday: Nanaimo sassy cat

admin — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:00:52 +0000

"Sassy Cat" - who me?

A Nanaimo sassy cat is a cat who is above everyone!

No licence required just walk around as you please!!

Mid Island News

New Look for Cedar Main Street

admin — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:53:23 +0000

The Regional District of Nanaimo is resuming the Main Street design for Cedar with a four day workshop and presentation, starting today. The charrette will take place at the Cedar Heritage Centre located at 1644 MacMillan Road in Cedar.

Cedar Community Design Charrette Schedule of Events
Day	Date	Event	Time	Purpose
Wednesday	January 25th, 2012	Presentations	9:30am – 12:00pm	Overview of the project
Thursday	January 26th, 2012	Presentation	7:30pm – 8:30pm	Presentation of concept sketches
Friday	January 27th, 2012	Work Day (no formal public event)	n/a	n/a
Saturday	January 28th, 2012	Open House and presentation	3:00pm – 5:00pm	Presentation of final concept sketches

In addition to the above, community members may drop in to the Cedar Heritage Centre to view design progress, make suggestions, share ideas, and ask questions at any time within the designated site office hours identified below.

Date	Site Office Hours Cedar Heritage Centre
Wednesday January 25th, 2012	1:00 -5:00pm
Thursday January 26th, 2012	9:00am – 5:00pm
Friday January 27th, 2012	9:00am – 5:00pm
Saturday January 28th, 2012	9:00am – 3:00pm

For more information please visit the Regional District of Nanaimo website at www.rdn.bc.ca, email to cedarmainstreet(at)rdn.bc.ca or call Greg Keller, Senior Planner at (250) 390-6510.

Mid Island News

Free Orchestra Day in Nanaimo

admin — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:07:55 +0000

The Vancouver Island Symphony is offering a free special Community Day where the public is invited to come to The Port Theatre on Saturday February 18, 2012.

Come and check out the Vancouver Island Symphony (VIS) to see what happens during a symphony rehearsal and try all the instruments of the orchestra.

Activities include:

11 am – 12 noon: Musical Instrument Zoo – Come try the instruments of the orchestra!
11:45 am – 12:15 pm: NoteworthyKids Music Club Event – meet Conductor Pierre Simard
12:30 pm – 1:30 pm Open Symphony Rehearsal Event

Reserve your Free Ticket through the Port Theatre Ticket Centre or call the theatre at 250-754-0177.

Mid Island News

Woodstove Exchange Program for Mid Island

admin — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:45:37 +0000

The Nanaimo Regional District’s Woodstove Exchange program is back! While incentives last, home owners can access a $250 rebate when replacing an old wood burning appliance with an EPA/CSA-certified wood burning, pellet, or gas stove or insert.

In order to qualify for the incentive, you must be replacing a wood burning appliance in a home in the City of Nanaimo, the City of Parksville, the Town of Qualicum Beach, the RDN Electoral Areas, or the District of Lantzville. The old appliance must not conform to the CSA B415.1 standards (typically an appliance built and installed before 1994). You must also be replacing your appliance no earlier than January 16th, 2012 to participate.

For more information on how to recieve your rebate and a list of retailers participating in the program and other rebate and grant information visit the Regional District of Nanaimo for more information.

In addition to the rebates being offered by the Regional District of Nanaimo and member municipalities, many participating retailers are offering additional incentives towards the purchase of an eligible appliance.

Mid Island News

How to send a get well wish to a patient at Nanaimo Hospital

admin — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:30:03 +0000

Do you know someone staying at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital and would like to send them get well wishes?

NRGH has started a program called “Well Wishes” which allows the public to send heartwarming and encouraging words to patients. Each message will either be hand delivered or read aloud by hospital volunteers, depending on patient mobility.

Send your well wishes in an email to patient.nrgh(at)viha.ca.

Remember to include the patient’s full first and last name and room number so your well wishes are delivered to the right person. To obtain the patient’s room number, call the hospital at 250-755-7691.
Please do not include images or graphics with the email. Only messages in text will be delivered.
Any type of message not considered a ‘get well wish’ will not be delivered and will be deleted from the system.
This system is set up to receive email only

The VIHA Well Wishes service is regularly available on weekdays. Messages received late Friday, on weekends, or on holidays will be delivered at the next opportunity.

Mid Island News

Island History featured on Snuneymuxw

admin — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 14:00:35 +0000

Snuneymuxw First Nation has launched a new website – www.snuneymuxw.ca. There are several interesting articles including one on the Snuneymuxw Treaty signed in 1854.

Originally, Vancouver Island was under the control of the Hudson Bay Company. In the 1850s, before the gold rush, Britain decided to take over control of Vancouver Island and appointed Richard Blanshard as its first governor.

As Blanshard found out within a few months of landing in Fort Victoria, it was very difficult for him to govern “Vancouver’s Island” when it was entirely controlled by a corporation. Blanshard made considerable notes regarding the Company’s exclusive monopoly over the Island’s resources and their trade with the First Nations.

Within a year, James Douglas, who was the head of the HBC, drove Blanshard out and took over as Governor of the Colony of Vancouver’s Island.

Other people in the British Parliament were not favourable to HBC’s exclusive control over Rupert’s Land (much of Canada) and were also concerned because the HBC did everything they could to discourage settlement. Around this time, the United States was pushing its boundaries north as part of their Manifest Destiny policy. In a short time, British control was pushed back from what is now Oregon and the U.S. sent frigates north to see what other islands could be taken over.

As a result of these events, Douglas was perceived of as not really doing his job and in fact, how could he when he had thumbs in both pies? No elections were held to vote him in power and of the handful sworn into the Colony’s legislature, the majority of them were key executives for the HBC. Today, we would consider that Douglas had a conflict of interest, but in those days, that was a moot point.

To appease the British government, Douglas said that he was in fact on good terms with the First Nations on Vancouver Island and he drafted treaty papers signed by first nations including the Snuneymuxw.

In 1859, the Hudson’s Bay Company’s control over the Colony of Vancouver Island was not renewed and its monopoly for exclusive trade west of the Rockies was revoked.

The Douglas Treaties as they were known were largely ignored in later years when the government decided to draw up reserve boundaries in the late 1870s.

Mid Island News

Opening new art shows at the Nanaimo Art Gallery

admin — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:29:55 +0000

It is a great time to take in some art. The Nanaimo Art Gallery has new art shows starting this week at both locations, downtown and the Vancouver Island University campus gallery.

Today you can join artist Amy Loewan, January 13, 2012 from 4:30 pm – 7:00 pm at the Campus Gallery at VIU for her show “Illuminating Peace” which runs from January 13, 2012 – April 14, 2012. Her talk will be followed by a reception until 7:00 pm.

Amy Loewan’s exhibition and artist practices center on “creating work as a vehicle for personal transformation and promoting human understanding. I am dedicated to peace building and my career as a visual artist provides me with the avenue to carry out this task.” In the last decade Loewan has been focused on integrating her multicultural background and Chinese heritage by studying ancient symbols and eastern philosophies.

Downtown, the Nanaimo Art Gallery at 150 Commercial Street is featuring a new show called “Person, Place or Thing” which runs from January 12, 2012 – January 28, 2012.

Artists B.A. Lampman, Rachel Evans, Chelsey Braham, Jean Paul Langlois, and Rose Dickson present “contemporary art exploring alternative dimensions, overlapping realities and all sorts of the beautiful and strange that exists within the mult-iverse.”

Also at the Downtown Gallery is “DATASTREAM 4 – Proliferating Signs & Cultural Layers” from January 12, 2012 – February 4, 2012.

Since its first exhibition at Vancouver Island University in 2004, the Datastream collective has reflected the stimulating–and sometimes disorienting—vectors of media and flows of data surrounding us.

Artists this year are: Robin Davies, Kevin Mazutinec, Niel Scobie, Marshall Soules, Doug Stetar, and Marian van der Zon.

Mid Island News