Upcoming Poetry Events

VIU’s Arts and Humanities Colloquium series

Friday, February 7th from 10-11:30am | Malaspina Theatre on VIU’s Nanaimo campus
FREE to attend | Parking fees apply on campus
Poet Laureate, Neil Surkan will present, Toward More (Un)Certainty: Parenting and the Poetics of Hope. Learn more about the event at VIU Colloquium Series.

Read, Reflect, and Write with Neil Surkan

Wednesdays, March 5, April 2, June 4 at 7pm
FREE | Drop-in | Harbourfront Library Meeting Room
An opportunity to develop skills as a poet and collaborate and learn from others.

Poetry in the Harbour with Neil Surkan and Special Guests

Wednesdays, March 12 and June 11 at 7pm
FREE | Drop-in | Vancouver Island Conference Centre Piper's Lagoon Lobby
Join Poet Laureate, Neil Surkan and special guests for an evening of poetry!

Learn more about our Poet Laureate program:

Poet Laureate Program

The City of Nanaimo invites you to join us for the closing of Luminous Paths: Nanaimo’s 150 & Beyond. This FREE winter art festival has been a celebration of light, art, land and community, marking the first Council meeting for the then newly incorporated City of Nanaimo, 150 years ago. On Family Day, Monday, February 17th from 4 – 8pm in Maffeo Sutton Park, we will celebrate the end of this special festival with one last opportunity to experience the temporary light-based art installations, glowing concrete poems, live performances, a display of Nanaimo 150 merchandise, interactive booths, food trucks, and more!. 

This event is funded (in part) by the Government of Canada, through the Canadian Heritage Building Communities through Arts and Heritage grant.

Experience the art installations!

Luminous Paths illuminated art installations are available to experience in Maffeo Sutton Park until our festival closing event. Don't miss your opportunity to experience these creative and engaging art pieces for yourself! 

Photos by Sean Fenzl Photography | @fenzlstudio

Interested to learn more about

Luminous Paths: Nanaimo's 150 & Beyond?

Click the link below to visit our website for more details!

Luminous Paths: Nanaimo's 150 & Beyond

 2025 Culture Awards
FREE tickets now available!

2025 Culture Awards
Wednesday, April 16 | 7pm | The Port Theatre
FREE Event | E-Ticket option now available

The City of Nanaimo is inviting you to celebrate our arts and culture community at the 2025 Culture Awards, happening at the Port Theatre on Wednesday, April 16^th beginning at 7:00PM. Four extraordinarily talented Culture Award recipients will be honoured at the event. Tickets are FREE and the evening will showcase performances by Nanaimo’s very own local talent. Tickets can now be booked through the Port Theatre – don’t hesitate to snap yours up! 

Get Your Tickets