Author

Mick Sweetman

Mick's Latest Articles

Nanaimo’s drag scene is thriving with performers such as Beelzebabe (clockwise from bottom left), Roxy Riverz, Spicee Pie, The Mortician and Olivia Leads who entertained a lively crowd at The Vault Cafe’s monthly drag night in May.

Nanaimo’s drag scene ‘is life saving’

By Mick Sweetman ● Nanaimo ● May 28, 2026

“Drag shows and Pride are such a bastion of hope, community, solidarity and joy.’

A Nanaimo firefighter participates in a joint wildfire training exercise on May 9, 2026. Photo by Mick Sweetman / The Discourse.

What to expect on Vancouver Island this wildfire season

By Mick Sweetman ● Nanaimo ● May 26, 2026

What meteorologists are saying to expect and how Nanaimo-area fire departments are preparing for the summer wildfire season.

The South Fork Dam has supplied Nanaimo with its drinking water since 1931 and is in need of repairs to plug leaking culverts and a new water supply pipe to replace the one that has been in continuous operation for almost 100 years. Photo courtesy of the City of Nanaimo.

What is the city doing to protect Nanaimo’s water supply?

By Mick Sweetman ● Nanaimo ● May 20, 2026

From concrete pipes that can catastrophically fail to holes in the South Fork dam that could empty the reservoir within days, here’s how the City of Nanaimo is working to reduce the risk to residents.

Doug Cahill volunteers at the Foodshare farm in the Five Aces Community Park on Friday, May 1, 2026. Photo by Mick Sweetman / The Discourse.

Nanaimo Foodshare gears up for growing season

By Mick Sweetman ● Nanaimo ● May 12, 2026

Education programs for young and old on the farm at Five Acres Community Park contributes to local food security as grocery prices rise.

Sunk City, Nanaimo’s underground music and arts festival, is back again for the May long weekend and is returning to Sound Heritage’s backyard after a one-year hiatus for safety improvements. Photo by Mick Sweetman / The Discourse.

Sunk City festival digs into Nanaimo’s underground music scene

By Mick Sweetman ● Nanaimo ● April 30, 2026

Sound Heritage owner wants to create an outdoor community events space behind his store.

A woman wearing a Stop Wars shirt holds an American Flag and a toy bubble gun at the Nanaimo Infusion in Maffeo Sutton Park on April 25, 2026.

Second Nanaimo Infusion attracts hundreds of health-care workers

By Mick Sweetman ● Nanaimo ● April 28, 2026

Nanaimo hospital ER now boasts a cohort of American nurses, and more want to join them.

Molly Blais, dressed as Dr. Seuss' character The Lorax, was one of hundreds of people who packed the public hearing for a rezoning proposal for a property owned by Nanaimo Forest Products adjacent to the popular Cable Bay Trail.

Snuneymuxw Elders and local residents oppose rezoning of land near Cable Bay Trail

By Mick Sweetman ● Nanaimo ● April 22, 2026

Harmac officials say development of industrial park is key to economic diversification

Hilary Nester, a social service worker student, burns a heart with a name of someone they were close to who died from the toxic drug crisis at a Grief Fire event at Vancouver Island University on April 14, 2026. Photo by Mick Sweetman / The Discourse.

Nanaimo’s toxic drug emergency at 10 years

By Mick Sweetman ● Nanaimo ● April 14, 2026

Three residents share their stories about how the toxic drug crisis has impacted them.

Hunter Jarratt (left) and Julie Devereux help remove invasive Scotch broom from Lotus Pinatus Park in Nanaimo on April 2, 2026. Photo by Mick Sweetman / The Discourse.

Broombusters celebrates 20 years of removing Scotch broom on Vancouver Island

By Mick Sweetman ● Nanaimo ● April 7, 2026

This volunteer organization is removing invasive species to reduce wildfire risk and protect biodiversity.

Girl crowdsurfing at a punk show at The Globe Live Studio in Nanaimo

At the centre of Nanaimo’s all-ages punk scene

By Mick Sweetman ● Nanaimo ● March 31, 2026

Why hundreds of youth, and a few parents, pack all-ages punk shows at The Globe Live Studio every weekend.

Mick Sweetman

Nanaimo’s drag scene ‘is life saving’

What to expect on Vancouver Island this wildfire season

What is the city doing to protect Nanaimo’s water supply?

Nanaimo Foodshare gears up for growing season

Sunk City festival digs into Nanaimo’s underground music scene

Second Nanaimo Infusion attracts hundreds of health-care workers

Snuneymuxw Elders and local residents oppose rezoning of land near Cable Bay Trail

Nanaimo’s toxic drug emergency at 10 years

Broombusters celebrates 20 years of removing Scotch broom on Vancouver Island

At the centre of Nanaimo’s all-ages punk scene

Nanaimo’s toxic drug emergency at 10 years

Nanaimo city council votes down proposed drug policy letter

Motion to close Nanaimo’s Overdose Prevention Site withdrawn

‘Like a bomb dropping’: Safer supply changes leave patients struggling for stability

Drop in 2024 Nanaimo overdose deaths still ‘a fraction’ of overall trend upwards

Sudden changes to safer supply program a ‘huge mistake,’ says Nanaimo patient