Author

Mick Sweetman

Mick's Latest Articles

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.

DJ Fun Dipz will perform at the Nanaimo's new monthly electronic music night Common on Saturday March 28, 2026

A Common space for electronic music in Nanaimo

By Mick Sweetman ● Nanaimo ● March 26, 2026

New monthly electronic music night in Nanaimo to showcase Island DJs this weekend.

OneBC leader Dallas Brodie spoke to a packed room in Nanaimo’s Beban Park Social Centre on March 3 as part of a speaking tour.

Packed OneBC meeting in Nanaimo taps into controversy over Indigenous rights

By Mick Sweetman ● Nanaimo ● March 18, 2026

Provincial party’s leader Dallas Brodie calls to throw out B.C. Indigenous rights law, reconciliation and the federal Indian Act. We fact-checked what she said.

A proposed data centre in Nanaimo on Wellington Road could use up to 25 million litres of water a year once it is fully functional. Building renderings by dHKarchitects/Courtesy of the City of Nanaimo.

City imposes water restrictions on future data centre in Nanaimo

By Mick Sweetman ● Nanaimo ● March 10, 2026

Development permit for data centre in Nanaimo approved, but with conditions.

The Hub Nanaimo: Events for March 6 to 11, 2026

By Mick Sweetman ● Nanaimo ● March 6, 2026

Music, art and community events in Nanaimo from March 6 to 11, 2026.

The annual herring spawn in the Salish Sea provides an important event in the aquatic ecosystem feeding salmon, sea mammals and shore birds. It also attracts people who flock to see the waters change colour as seen in this 2024 photo at Neck Point in Nanaimo. Photo courtesy of Mick Sweetman / The Discourse.

How an Indigenous conservation group is bringing the ‘excitement’ of the herring spawn to Vancouver Islanders

By Mick Sweetman ● Nanaimo ● March 5, 2026

Your guide to herring spawning etiquette and where to see it on the Salish Sea.

People in the gallery turned their backs on Mayor Leonard Krog at the Nanaimo city council meeting in a silent protest after he said he would not support asking The Port Theatre to review its booking policy in response to outrage comedian Ben Bankas performing there next month. Photo by Mick Sweetman / The Discourse.

Why Nanaimo city council won’t ban Ben Bankas

By Mick Sweetman ● Nanaimo ● February 26, 2026

Community members want proceeds of sold-out show by outrage comedian to be donated to Nanaimo Pride and Indigenous organizations

Snuneymuxw Chief Micheal Wyse and Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog announced a proposed change to the city’s boundary that will allow people living on Snuneymuxw reserves the right to vote in city council elections. Photo courtesy of the City of Nanaimo.

Why the City of Nanaimo wants to include Snuneymuxw reserve lands in its boundary

By Mick Sweetman ● Nanaimo ● February 24, 2026

New boundaries will allow people living on the reserves to vote in city elections this fall.

The Hub Nanaimo: Events for Feb. 19 to 25, 2026

By Mick Sweetman ● Nanaimo ● February 19, 2026

Music, art and community events in Nanaimo from Feb. 19 to 25, 2026.

Mick Sweetman

Broombusters celebrates 20 years of removing Scotch broom on Vancouver Island

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

A Common space for electronic music in Nanaimo

Packed OneBC meeting in Nanaimo taps into controversy over Indigenous rights

City imposes water restrictions on future data centre in Nanaimo

The Hub Nanaimo: Events for March 6 to 11, 2026

How an Indigenous conservation group is bringing the ‘excitement’ of the herring spawn to Vancouver Islanders

Why Nanaimo city council won’t ban Ben Bankas

Why the City of Nanaimo wants to include Snuneymuxw reserve lands in its boundary

The Hub Nanaimo: Events for Feb. 19 to 25, 2026

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