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04

In this issue:

We turn to musical exchange students, Mount Washington, ex-athletes, literary and student-run magazines (*cough* now in print *cough*), transformative literature, and the tale of a tiger-striped man. Contributors share comical HR complaints, problematic plane ticket prices, a positive portrayal of young love in poetry, pictures of the moon, and a passerine charcoal piece.
Illustration of a cozy room with a photographed wintery view through two large windows. The caramel coloured wooden floor and dark green walls complement the warm tones of a yellow-orange armchair. Leaning against the wall are a pair of red skis. A wooden bookshelf displays books, a bust, and a potted plant with trailing vines. Snow-covered trees are visible outside.

January 2025

Features
Memoir
Poetry
Fiction
Artwork
Videos
Podcasts
Features
Poetry
Memoir
Fiction
Artwork
Videos
Podcasts

Articles

Headliners

Illustration of an airplane in the sky with dollar signs in the windows, representing airline price gouging. Emojis of stacked flying Canadian bills accompany the jet.

Airline Price Gouging

From luggage expenses to return fares, travelling out of Canada has become a nightmare. But it’s not like this in other countries—not for students.

Features

Shoulder to torso shot of Ella Hannesson wearing a red coat and a white shirt, holding the book "All About Love" by bell hooks, its bold red cover prominently displayed. She dons star-shaped necklaces and painted nails with "coke" written on one finger. The composition emphasizes the book and its aesthetic alignment with the outfit.

Stories That Shaped Me

I spent 2024 reading my way through self-actualization. And by ‘self-actualization,’ I mean trying to figure out how to be a slightly better version of the mess—I mean perfection—I already am. Along the way, I encountered love, heartbreak, and a lot of questionable life choices. But hey, at least I’m not the tragic side character in a Russian novel, right?
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Cover of literary magazine issue GOOEY Volume 2 Hunger featuring photo of grafiti titled "Pouting in Pink" by Sophia Wasylinko; original tagger unknown.

So You Want to Run a Lit Mag

Running a magazine is no small feat. For Fran, it wasn’t originally the goal, but now it’s all she thinks about–and it all started with GOOEY. Read on to see where else it’s taken her—and where it could one day take you.
Shoulder to torso shot of Ella Hannesson wearing a red coat and a white shirt, holding the book "All About Love" by bell hooks, its bold red cover prominently displayed. She dons star-shaped necklaces and painted nails with "coke" written on one finger. The composition emphasizes the book and its aesthetic alignment with the outfit.

Stories That Shaped Me

I spent 2024 reading my way through self-actualization. And by ‘self-actualization,’ I mean trying to figure out how to be a slightly better version of the mess—I mean perfection—I already am. Along the way, I encountered love, heartbreak, and a lot of questionable life choices. But...

Poetry

An illustration of two pyramids under a night sky, featuring a crescent moon and sparkling stars. The pyramids are drawn in soft tones of beige and blue, set against a textured light blue sky.

Salad Days

Amelia transforms the Shakespearean idiom through her portrayal of positive bond-building in this poem taken from her collection, “Love, Death and Flowers.”
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An illustration of two pyramids under a night sky, featuring a crescent moon and sparkling stars. The pyramids are drawn in soft tones of beige and blue, set against a textured light blue sky.

Salad Days

Amelia transforms the Shakespearean idiom through her portrayal of positive bond-building in this poem taken from her collection, “Love, Death and Flowers.”

Visual Art

Micha Marie (Contributor)

Micha is an artist of dry media and photography who is in her fourth year as a Psychology Major at VIU. Her artwork is a form of relaxation and deep focus, which she finds as enjoyable alongside her studies. When not reading journal articles or creating a new art piece, she can be found trail-running in mountainous areas with her dog or reading books by Japanese authors such as Haruki Murakami or Ruth Ozeki.

Black and grey sketch of a black bird (Corvus Macrorhyncos Japonen) with trees.
Four-panel comic by David Harvey titled "Sea Cue." Panel 1: A squid exclaims, "It's a disaster!" A sea turtle says, "A calamity!" Panel 2: A shell and a tin can release black smoke into the ocean as a starfish cries, "It's the worst thing to ever happen!" Panel 3: A fish, looking panicked, says, "Things can't get worse!" Panel 4: Text reads "Yes they can..." A crab appears with a cheerful expression, saying, "Hi! I'm from HR and I'm here to help!"

David Harvey (Contributor)

David Harvey is a VIU student currently enrolled in the Visual Arts Diploma Program. From Nanaimo, BC, David has been a passionate cartoonist for many years. He’s taught cartooning for kids, teens, and adults at the Oliver Woods Community Center for the Nanaimo Parks, Recreation and Culture Department. He has had several cartoons published, notably in the ACMG magazine The Arête. “Sea Cue” is his first cartoon published in The Navigator. “When something catches my attention, whether it is irritating, annoying, amusing, or interesting, I like to turn it into a cartoon,” David says. “Don’t tick off a cartoonist!”

Ann Hoffmann (Contributor)

Ann Hoffmann is in her fifth year at VIU, studying Computer Science and Creative Writing. And because that’s apparently not enough education, she’s gotten very good at justifying extra English and Astronomy classes. Not only did her last Astronomy class grab her interest, but it also pulled her into a months-long pursuit of photographing the night sky.

A high-resolution photograph of the moon against a black night sky. The moon appears in a waxing gibbous phase, with detailed craters and surface textures visible.

Videos

Podcasts

Poster for stageplay titled "The Tiger Method"

The Tiger Method: Part 1

The theatrical retelling of the horrible (fictional) events leading up to the tragic death of rising Canadian starlet, Jenna Caraway, and the maniacal, yet perhaps genius methodology of her costar and killer, the reclusive rom-com actor, Roy McQuade—the man who became a tiger.
Read More
Three smiling individuals seated together against a purple and blue stage-like backdrop, with the text 'The Last Music Program Exchange' in cursive font above them.

The Last Music Program Exchange

Join Daniela Guevara for The Navigator Podcast as Norwegian exchange students Alexander Aarø and Bendik Pedersen share their unforgettable experiences in VIU’s music program. From exploring the stunning beauty of BC to creating lasting memories through music, they reflect on their journey and the impact of the program. Tune in for a heartfelt conversation about cultural exchange, music, and...
Read More
Poster for stageplay titled "The Tiger Method"

The Tiger Method: Part 1

The theatrical retelling of the horrible (fictional) events leading up to the tragic death of rising Canadian starlet, Jenna Caraway, and the maniacal, yet perhaps genius methodology of her costar and killer, the reclusive rom-com actor, Roy McQuade—the man who became a tiger.
Three smiling individuals seated together against a purple and blue stage-like backdrop, with the text 'The Last Music Program Exchange' in cursive font above them.

The Last Music Program Exchange

Join Daniela Guevara for The Navigator Podcast as Norwegian exchange students Alexander Aarø and Bendik Pedersen share their unforgettable experiences in VIU’s music program. From exploring the stunning beauty of BC to creating lasting memories through music, they reflect on their journey and the...

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