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Paul Watkins holds up a copy of his new book in his right hand while resting his chin on the other.

Paul Watkins’ new book Soundin’ Canaan explores Black Canadian voices

January 29, 2025

The book merges poetry, music and history to examine “sonic citizenship.” Dr. Paul db Watkins’ new book Soundin’ Canaan: Black Canadian Poetry, Music, and Citizenship examines the contributions of key Black Canadian poets. “Soundin’ Canaan explores the rich tapestry of Black Canadian poets, interweaving a narrative of literary, cultural and musical histories,” says Watkins. His book includes an... Read more


Neil Surkan smiling at the camera

5 questions with Neil Surkan, the City of Nanaimo’s new Poet Laureate

December 16, 2024

VIU English Professor Neil Surkan’s love of poetry goes back to when he was a teenager.   “Initially, I think I liked the idea of poetry more than I liked the rigour and difficulty and possibility of poems themselves,” he recalls. “But at university, I fell in love with the feeling of being stumped, of hitting the limit of my understanding and thinking. The way that poems demand and then hold our... Read more


A picture of a solider and his family to the left, a copy of a letter in the foreground

VIU News & Experts: November 6, 2024

November 6, 2024

Remembrance Day, US election, memory development 🧠 In this issue of VIU news & experts:  Re-translating a classic war novel US election results Studying memory development Featured experts All Quiet on the Western Front – re-translated For two years, VIU Professor Emerita Dr. Katharina Rout has been engrossed in a re-translation of Erich Maria Remarque’s All Quiet on the Western Front. This... Read more


Katharina wears a poppy and holds a copy of her translation of All Quiet on the Western Front

VIU Professor Emerita re-translates All Quiet on the Western Front

November 4, 2024

Dr. Katharina Rout shares her thoughts about working on this classic novel For the past couple of years, professional translator Dr. Katharina Rout has been immersed in a re-translation of Erich Maria Remarque’s All Quiet on the Western Front, a work she describes as the “arguably most widely read anti-war novel.” The novel, originally published in 1929, is fictional but draws on Remarque’s... Read more


Marni in front of her comic collection

VIU library welcomes large comic book collection

March 8, 2024

Dr. Marni Stanley, former dean of VIU’s Arts and Humanities Faculty, has donated her graphic narrative collection of nearly a thousand titles to the library. ­­Vancouver Island University’s (VIU’s) library is now home to one of the largest comic and graphic narrative collections found at any university library. Dr. Marni Stanley, former dean of VIU’s Arts and Humanities Faculty, has donated her... Read more


Headshot of Christina Mansueti

Colloquium series begins with a talk about TV shows Chewing Gum and Fleabag

September 19, 2023

VIU’s Christina Mansueti examines how comedy shows challenge and affirm contemporary feminisms. Vancouver Island University’s (VIU’s) Arts and Humanities Colloquium Series returns this fall with an engaging lineup. This season explores contemporary feminisms in two UK-based TV comedies, the history of special effects on stage and the value of failure. “For the Colloquium’s fifteenth year, we have... Read more


Dr. Theo Finigan, a VIU English Professor, holds up the book Atomic Blonde while standing in front of the VIU koi pond.

VIU Colloquium Series kicks off with a deep dive into the action thriller Atomic Blonde

September 21, 2022

Arts and Humanities lectures at the VIU Nanaimo campus are free and open to everyone to attend. Vancouver Island University’s (VIU’s) Arts and Humanities Colloquium Series returns this fall with three fascinating lectures. The lectures delve into the action thriller Atomic Blonde, housing availability and affordability in Louisville, and the use of songs in musical theatre. All lectures are free... Read more


Terri Doughty, a VIU English Professor, smiles while standing in front of a rhododendron plant.

VIU hosts conference on the environment and young people’s literature and culture

June 1, 2022

The Assembling Common Worlds conference, held at VIU’s Nanaimo campus from June 10 to 12, will explore concepts of the human relationship with nature in youth culture. Vancouver Island University (VIU) is hosting a conference from June 10 to 12 that will help broaden the understanding of environmental knowledge and issues in young people’s literature and culture. The conference – Assembling... Read more


: Dr. Yoichi Mukai, a VIU Modern Language Studies Professor; Dr. Kelly Black, a VIU Adjunct History Professor;  Dr. Joy Gugeler, a VIU Creative Writing, Journalism and Media Studies Professor, and Stephanie Johnson, a member of School District 68

VIU Faculty Create Understanding Through Colloquium Lectures

January 14, 2021

People can attend the Colloquium Series lectures from the comfort of their own homes this spring and gain an appreciation of how important the arts and humanities are to understanding today’s world. Vancouver Island University’s (VIU’s) Arts and Humanities Colloquium Series returns this spring with a thought-provoking lecture lineup that delves into the intricacies of language; re-evaluates... Read more


Photo of Dr. Richard Lane, smiling with greenery behind him

Researchers Developing a Better User Interface for Historical Archive

December 2, 2020

VIU researchers are mapping historical data contained in the Canadian Letters and Images Project and creating a sophisticated interface so scholars, students and the public can gain better access to information contained in the archive. Researchers at Vancouver Island University’s (VIU’s) MeTA Digital Humanities Lab are using advanced computer software to help map large quantities of historical... Read more