Nanaimo a COVID-19 hotspot

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Nanaimo a COVID-19 hotspot

The Nanaimo region has now become the epicentre of the pandemic on Vancouver Island. Cases of COVID-19 in greater Nanaimo more than doubled last week. The BC Center for Disease Control is reporting 94 new cases of the virus in the Nanaimo region on the week ending February 6th, compared to 45 the week before. Meanwhile, the number of cases in Cowichan Valley South, which had experienced high numbers due to an outbreak in the Cowichan Tribes has fallen dramatically. The case count declined from 53 during the week of Jan. 24, to 22 cases the week after that.

No evidence gay Qualicum Beach councillor was harassed: report

A report into allegations of mistreatment made by a Qualicum Beach councillor has found no evidence of discrimination, bullying or harassment. Councillor Robert Filmer claimed he was the victim of such conduct at the hands of his council colleagues. A report by Innova Strategy Group acknowledged there were strained relations on council. However, it found no evidence of discrimination against the 22-year-old openly gay councillor. Filmer posted his reaction to the report on his Facebook page. He questions the report's findings and accuses council of victim shaming, instead of improving their relationship. Filmer who is on a leave of absence has not said whether he will return to Qualicum Beach council.

‘Godmother of dub’ to speak at VIU

Vancouver Island University is welcoming a two-time JUNO Award winner and dub poet at a virtual event this evening. Lillian Allen will deliver the annual Gustafson Distinguished Poet Lecture. The chair of VIU's creative writing and journalism department, Sonnet L'Abbe says Allen was selected for her important contributions to poetry in Canada and around the world.

"She's the godmother of dub poetry. Dub poetry is an entire form that emerged in Jamaica out of reggae but spread around the globe very quickly in the 70s. It has had an influence on pop on reggae itself and on spoken word culture. So it is the roots of a lot of forms of poetry that are popular right now. The kind of cadence that you heard Amanda Gordon use at the inauguration has connections to dub poetry. Lillian Allen is a huge figure and we are really excited to have her"
—Sonnet L’Abbé, chair of VIU’s creative writing and journalism department.

Allen agrees Gorman's reading at the inauguration was an important moment for spoken word poetry.

“It is a validation and a celebration of the voice, and especially that she's a young person, and crafting her terms and our words, in such a fine way to touch people and to bring people together, idealistic as it might be, that's the work of poetry, that's the work of the soul."
—Lillian Allen, Distinguished Gustafson Distinguished Poet.

Allen's lecture begins at 5 p.m. on Thursday. You can register by clicking on this link.