It's a busy month at VIU!
From VIU Fest, to a new, exciting foodie event, to a discussion on witches just in time for Halloween, read on to learn more.
Also in this newsletter:
- Tips to deal with (no) time change this fall
- New democracy expert at VIU
- A course that teaches you how to reuse building materials
VIU experts
New democracy expert at VIU
Does running for office a second time make you a better candidate?
VIU’s new democracy expert, Dr. Daniel Westlake, has data going back to 1993 that shows this gives you an edge.
Daniel is VIU’s new Senior Research Fellow with the Network of Jarislowsky Chairs in Trust and Political Leadership.
At VIU, he’s working with Dr. Michael MacKenzie, VIU's Jarislowsky Chair in Trust and Political Leadership, on three research projects about political leadership and representation in Canada. Together, the researchers will examine representation and political leadership in Canadian democracy, as well as political leadership education.
Read his expert commentary to see why he thinks parties should pay more attention to keeping good candidates
Read more about Daniel's research
The month of elections
BC voters are having a busy month, with both municipal and provincial elections taking place. Michael MacKenzie, VIU’s Jarislowsky Chair in Trust and Political Leadership, is available to share his thoughts on candidates, voter fatigue and all things election related. Email communications@viu.ca with your request!
Psychology professor weighs in on permanent daylight time
BC adopted permanent daylight time earlier this year. But what does ending the seasonal time change mean for people’s sleep, health and daily routines?
Dr. Elliott Marchant, a VIU Psychology Professor, says ending the seasonal time change has benefits because people struggle to adjust to the hour difference. The change can increase accident rates, cognitive difficulties and sleep problems. However, Marchant says the switch should have been made to permanent standard time.
The change to permanent daylight time will compromise health, sleep entrainment (sticking to a regular schedule) and mental health, says Marchant. Children and seniors are the most vulnerable to a lack of morning light.
Marchant says regular exposure to early morning full-spectrum light helps reset our internal clocks, which run slightly slower than 24 hours. Without early morning light, people naturally drift toward staying up later (making it harder to fall asleep) and it's harder to get out of bed in the morning.
To combat this, Marchant suggests exposing oneself to a full-spectrum light bulb as early as possible (the earlier, the better). A regular schedule, morning exercise and good nutrition can all help.
Canada and the EU
The European Union has proposed making Canada its first “associate member,” opening the door to closer cooperation on trade, technology, energy, defence and critical minerals. The proposed status would be new for the EU, and details about what it would mean for Canada are still being worked out.
VIU Economics Professor Dr. Charles Schell is available to speak with media about the potential economic implications of closer Canada-EU ties. Two of his students, Emma Roth and Victoria Laukamp, both German exchange students, are also available to share their thoughts on the relationship between Canada and the EU.
VIU News
Rethinking waste and building new skills
VIU is helping residents in the qathet region build practical skills and explore new career paths through a free course that teaches how to reuse building materials so they don’t end up in the landfill. Offered in partnership with the Synergy Foundation, learners will gain hands-on experience and four industry certifications, no previous construction experience required.
Read this Q&A with program coordinator Elyse Freeborn to learn more:
VIU hosts free all-ages community event on Oct 24
Vancouver Island University’s largest annual community event is back for a fourth year of free, fall-themed fun.
VIU Fest takes place on Saturday, October 24 from 12 to 4 pm at the Nanaimo campus. Spend an afternoon at the Nanaimo campus and learn more about what VIU students and faculty are working on. Stroll the Indigenous artists’ market, take part in hands-on activities and science demos, grab a Halloween pumpkin for just $2 and enjoy delicious food options.
The Nanaimo campus is also hosting a polling station in the Trades Discovery Centre (Building 108) that day. Come vote in the provincial election, then stay for some festival fun!
There will also be lots of prizes such as tuition giveaways, a fun zone with kid-friendly activities and a community corner featuring a variety of local organizations. The grand prize is a full year (up to $7,500) in tuition credits as well as $2,500 credits for VIU Food Services. Considering taking a program at VIU? Take a pop-up class. Designed for youth ages 15 to 25, pop-up classroom experiences are taught by VIU faculty and give attendees the chance to experience for themselves what hands-on learning is like at VIU.
Poet Stephen Collis to give VIU Gustafson lecture
Celebrated poet Stephen Collis is giving the 2026 VIU Gustafson lecture on October 22. Stephen Collis is the author of 15 books of poetry and prose, including A History of the Theories of Rain, which was a finalist for the 2021 Governor General’s Award for poetry.
Collis will also perform two poetry readings. A reading and Q&A for students and a community reading that night at Windowseat Books are both on October 21. Creative Writing student poet Lee Groen will open for Collis and there will be music.
Happening at VIU
Don't miss the Island's newest foodie event
Rising Tides, Rising Chefs is coming to VIU on October 28. VIU is partnering with Culinary Team Canada and some of BC’s most celebrated chefs, restaurants, wineries, breweries and distilleries to create an extraordinary tasting experience. The night includes more than 25 interactive culinary stations, curated beverage tastings and the chance to support the next generation of culinary leaders.
The Rocky Horror Show comes to VIU
The VIU Theatre program is marking its 50th anniversary with a live production of Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show at the Malaspina Theatre from October 29 to November 7.
In this cult classic, sweethearts Brad and Janet, stuck with a flat tire during a storm, discover the eerie mansion of Dr. Frank-N-Furter. As their innocence is lost, Brad and Janet meet a houseful of wild characters, including a rocking biker and a creepy butler. Elaborate dance numbers and rock songs reveal Frank-N-Furter’s latest creation, a new man named Rocky.
The production brings together students, artists and theatre alumni for a live version of the the Malaspina Theatre’s long-running Rocky Horror Night tradition. Shows are at 7:30 pm, with matinees on Oct. 31 and Nov. 5. Tickets are $15 and available through Showpass or at the door.
Celebrate fall's beauty during the Scarecrow Spectacular
Join Milner Gardens & Woodland for the Scarecrow Spectacular October 15 to 18, from 11 am to 3 pm, with viewing until 3:30 pm. Wander through Scarecrow Lane, admire the creations and vote for your favourite. Enjoy harvest-themed food and drinks, shop for fall gifts and décor and take in the gardens during this family-friendly event.
Reclaiming the voice of a witch
What happens when a powerful witch gets to tell her own story?
VIU’s Dr. Janet Grafton explores Circe, the mysterious Greek goddess and first witch in Western literature, whose voice is absent from Homer’s Odyssey. In Madeline Miller’s Circe, the witch tells her story and discovers the power of her voice along the way.
This leads Grafton to explore how magic, songs, prayers and political protest connect to the spoken word and what happens when women use their voices to challenge patriarchy. The talk also considers how the word “witch” has been reclaimed, and what it means to challenge the ways women’s voices have been silenced in public discourse and policymaking.
- When: Thursday, October 22, 11:30 am to 1 pm
- Where: Malaspina Theatre (Building 310 on VIU’s Nanaimo campus)
- Free entry: no need to register in advance
This is the second lecture in VIU’s Arts and Humanities Colloquium Series. Near Remembrance Day, join us for the third lecture to learn more about First World War soldiers through their correspondence with loved ones.
Indigenous Speakers Series returns
Join acclaimed mezzo-soprano Marion Newman for Finding Harmony: Exploring Reconciliation Through the Power of Song on Wednesday, November 18, from 6:30 to 8 pm at Malaspina Theatre (Building 310) on VIU's Nanaimo campus, or online. Through storytelling, music and select performances, Marion will explore how song can foster understanding, amplify diverse voices and contribute to the ongoing journey of reconciliation.
New View Gallery exhibit
VIU’s View Gallery presents Retrospective, an exhibition of paintings from former VIU Visual Art Professor Pamela Speight. An opening reception is on Thursday, October 22, from 4 to 6 pm at the gallery, free to attend. The exhibit runs at the View Gallery, Building 330, VIU Nanaimo campus, from October 20 to November 6. The gallery is open Tuesday to Friday, 10 am to 4 pm, during exhibitions
VIU in the News
Toxic chemical research, preserving Nanaimo’s Chinatown history and ramping up for VIU Fest on October 24. Read more about what VIU experts are doing this month.
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