VIU alumni and Real Estate Webmasters (REW) CEO Morgan Carey brought his business to CBC’s Dragons’ Den looking to increase its size and productivity.
REW is a company that helps real estate agents increase their online presence and in turn increase their business. They help by providing professional services in search engine optimization, ad buys, social media, and content development.
Carey launched the company 11 years ago after a successful start as a search engine consultant. As a search engine consultant, Carey said he built a brand around himself that made him what ...
This Halloween, hundreds of girls and boys will knock on doors dressed as goblins, ghouls, and all things scary, politely asking their neighbours for candy. After an hour or two of soliciting for the sweet sake of sugar, the sleepy monsters are complacent, follow their parent’s home, excited for their hard-earned treats. Today’s parents have a more thorough job than they once did, though. They laugh about a time when the only thing to look for in Halloween candy was an already open wrapper. Mothers and fathers take out a pen and paper to make a check-list: gluten-free, nut-free, ...
Massive generalization alert: Guys can’t help themselves. They love a slutty nurse, a slutty school teacher, a slutty elf, a slutty secretary, a slutty bride, and, given the opportunity, probably a slutty meter reader. Name a costume and someone has probably come up with a slutty version of it. Is this particularly disturbing turn in Halloween celebrations getting old? It doesn’t show any signs of going away—maybe it’s just me.
Please don’t get me wrong—this has nothing to do with the politics of slut-shaming. It’s a woman’s prerogative to do whatever she wants with her body, and I ...
A holiday celebrating the dead by any other name…
Halloween has been celebrated in some form, and under many different names, for centuries. There isn’t a single theory about the genesis of Halloween that stands as absolute, but some carry more urban myth clout than others.
The theory that seems to get the most play in popular culture pins Halloween firmly on the Celts. Their Samhain (“end of summer”) festival celebrated the harvest with food and drink. Harvest celebrations do tend to focus on food and drink though, so without a strong connection to spiritual elements, it’s hard to ...
By contributor Drew McLachlan
A focus on earnestness and honesty in an artist’s work can illuminate their life in the same way a journal, biography, or folder of leaked nudes would. Such an album reflects the artist in completion—at that time at least. But to compare an album to a journal, biography, or folder of nudes wouldn’t be entirely accurate, as ten-or-so songs, likely written and recorded in the span of two years, can’t cover the same scope as the aforementioned journal, biography, or folder of nudes are designed to represent. Salad Days, the third full-length solo release of ...
By contributor Jenny Garceau
A muted symphonic swell gives way to the familiar diced up jazz fusion sound that is undeniably Flying Lotus (aka FlyLo). You’re Dead! is FlyLo’s fifth album, and while the title would be indicative of the overarching theme of this album, special attention should be given to the exclamation mark at the end. Seemingly embracing the inevitable condition that unites all people—death—the album reads more like a celebration of life than a lamenting for what eventually must come.
A celebration of life wouldn’t be complete without guest appearances by your ...
By contributor Spencer Wilson
In literature, it is common practice to play on the imagination of the reader. The same could be said about watching a Nuri Bilge Ceylan film. Ceylan is a master of using silence in his films, such that the viewer must imagine what a character is feeling. He is a combination of Andrei Tarkovsky, with his long takes and well-framed shots; and Yasujirô Ozu, with his portrayal of characters and stories that feel authentic. These qualities are merged together to create Ceylan’s best film yet.
Fresh off his Palme d’Or win at the Cannes Film Festival, ...
By contributor Jennifer Cox
Poetry matters. It gives voice to certain intimacy and connections that would otherwise be lost. When I read a poem that resonates I feel like I have found a long lost friend. It is akin to that feeling you get when you run into someone you’ve shared a deep connection with, and after only a few minutes you feel like no time has passed.
This is how I felt reading Phillip Levine’s poem, “The Simple Truth.” He uses poetry to bring deeper meaning to everyday items:
“some things / you know all your life. They are so simple and true / they must be said ...
By Denisa Kraus & Jon Asher
October 24 brought a treat to progressive metal enthusiasts. The Harbour City Theatre in Nanaimo hosted a concert featuring Vancouver-based formation Quartered and Nanaimo's own The Body Politic. Both bands are going on tour together to support their new releases. The Body Politic released their EP Egressor on September 16 and Quartered release their new album Eyes and Ears on October 7.
The Body Politic have maintained a high rank on Nanaimo's music scene. Taking their name from a Clive Barker short story and shifting gears from jazz (which most ...
At first, he might seem like a man who’d rather let his art speak for him. But during our chat, projection artist and DJ Kris Vieaux was eager to discuss anything from hitchhiking to the quality of my hardwood floor. Although he studied anthropology and sociology at VIU for seven years, he chose to make a living with his hands. He will make you believe he has a soft French accent, even though he was born and raised in Nanaimo. He dresses in earth tones, but his art will blow you away with striking colours and psychedelic patterns. To Kris Vieaux, nothing is black and ...
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By contributor Antony Stevens
Nanaimo’s first literary magazine, text, launched for free earlier this month at the Vault Café. Focusing on the “concise and eclectic,” the 32-page debut issue features “brief poetry” from local writers, including David Fraser, Kim Clark, and Mary Anne Moore, as well as “found poetry” and art from 17 other contributors. The October 7 launch was free to attend and featured contributor readings, an open mic portion, and a live performance by local band Deep Roots.
Founded and funded by VIU Creative Writing student Shaleeta Harper with the hope of ...
The Nanaimo Clippers got off to a rough start this season. The team lost both games they played at the BCHL Showcase on September 20 and 21. The Clippers fell 6-4 to the Prince George Spruce Kings on Saturday before dropping a 7-6 decision against the West Kelowna Warriors on Sunday afternoon.
But since the opening weekend hiccup, the Clippers have been on a roll. Nanaimo picked up a dramatic double overtime victory on Saturday, October 10, on the road against the Langley Rivermen. It looked like the game was going to end in a tie, but with 20 seconds left, Sheldon Rhemple ...
The race for playoff positioning in the PacWest is a feverish one. Five of the league’s six teams are separated by two points right now. The same two-point margin is what separates the second place team from the last place team. The only team that isn’t involved in the battle for playoff positioning is the VIU Mariners. The Mariners’ record of 8-2-0 gives them 26 points on the season, 14 points ahead of second place Kwantlen Eagles, and 16 points ahead of last place Capilano Blues.
The Mariners’ latest victory came on Saturday, October 4, against Quest University. VIU came out strong, ...
Mariner forward Bronte Fitzsimmons has been a force on the pitch all season. The Victoria native is currently second in the PacWest with five goals in nine games this season. This isn’t the first time Fitzsimmons has had success with the Mariners. In her rookie year in 2010, Fitzsimmons was named a CCAA All-Canadian and a BCCAA First Team All-Star. The Navigator caught up with Bronte to ask her 10 questions that have nothing to do with soccer in the first ever segment of 10 questions with a VIU Mariner.
Nav: What is your least favorite food?
Fitzsimmons: Lasagna.
What is the ...
The VIU Mariners’ women’s soccer team has been on a roll recently. The team’s huge goal total is proof of their success. Coming into their game against Quest on October 4, the Mariners had already scored more goals this year than the last two years combined.
The game between the Mariners and Quest Kermodes was scoreless until the second half. That’s when the Mariners’ offense erupted. Goals by Ceilidh Glennie, Kim Cardwell, and Quest’s own goal gave the Mariners a 3-0 win over the visiting Quest Kermodes.
The victory over Quest got the Mariners back in the win column. VIU tied ...
The newly formed VIU Storm rugby club is having some success this season, with the team picking up three victories in their short fall semester schedule, including a 36-12 victory over a squad from the University of Victoria. The team also picked up a win 20-5 over Coquitlam United on the mainland. The victories were big steps in the right direction for the Storm, a club that has only been practicing together as a team since January.
"A couple of guys were upset that there weren’t any teams in town besides the [Nanaimo Hornets Rugby Club],” said Lane Vienneau, Co-President of the ...
All things considered, the Nanaimo Buccaneers are off to a strong start this season. After 11 games, Nanaimo has a record of 8-2-0-1, good for second place in the VIJHL’s North Division. The only thorn in the Buccaneers’ side this season has been the Campbell River Storm. All three of the Buccaneers’ losses this season have come at the hands of the Storm, including the team’s most recent game on Friday, October 3 in Campbell River.
The Storm opened the scoring in the game on a goal at 5:31 by Dane Feeney. The Buccaneers tied the game on a goal by Trent Bell five minutes later. A ...
The VI Raiders picked up a couple big victories to end their season. Wins over the Kamloops Broncos and Westshore Rebels allowed the Raiders to finish the season at .500 with a record of 5-5.
The Raiders’ last game of the season was at home on October 4 against the Raiders’ Island rivals, the Westshore Rebels. Westshore came to town looking to avenge a 39-9 loss to the Raiders in week two. The two teams traded early touchdowns. Then, with the game tied 7-7, the Raiders took over and put three more touchdowns on the board before the end of the first half to lead 27-7 after the ...
VIU’s art and literary magazine, Portal, has opened its call for submissions for the 2015 issue.
With two events held back-to-back in September, Portal used the opportunity to update new and continuing students with their plans for the annual student-run magazine.
Close to 30 people attended the first event, a reading from students published in last year’s issue, held in Vancouver Island Regional Library’s (VIRL) newest branch on Hammond Bay Rd. on September 18.
Listeners were offered refreshments while 15 pieces were read aloud.
The brand new branch opened in late June of ...
Psychology Major Charlotte Stark is attending VIU this year as an exchange student from Fairbanks, Alaska.
Stark, who narrowed her choices of schools down to VIU and McGill, chose to attend VIU for multiple reasons.
She said she liked VIU’s academic reputation, but also thought the campus seemed more fun, and that the weather was better.
Stark said she liked the idea of going to school somewhere away from home. It was something she had always wanted to do.
While attending the University of Alaska Fairbanks, she spoke with teachers about the opportunity to be part of the program.
So ...
VIU Creative Writing professor Susan Juby has been appointed by the Royal Society of Canada (RSC) to a new group: College of New Scholars, Artists, and Scientists, which is comprised of 91 academics.
The group is made up of people who are within 15 years of their doctorate and are at a high level of productivity in their career.
Juby said they are a multi-disciplinary group of professionals looking at the future direction of higher education.
Because it’s so new, Juby said she is still unsure of exactly what this will entail, but she is excited to be a part of it.
The first ...
Errington resident Jessica Wolf is getting ready to hold her annual Wild Edible Plants and Mushrooms workshops.
The three and a half hour workshops, taking place from October 17-19, focus on learning to identify local wild edible plants and mushrooms.
Wolf said the goal of these workshops is to help promote sustainable living and give people the ability to distinguish edible plants and mushrooms from poisonous ones.
Wolf said she was first introduced to this 12 years ago when she went picking chanterelle mushrooms with a friend. “I was hooked right away,” said Wolf.
She ...
