aerial view of Building 200 at VIU's Nanaimo campus

VIU in the news: October 28 to November 18, 2025

a group of nursing students

Supporting youth in sports, ultimate nationals and brain injury research: here’s what VIU students and faculty are doing this month. 

Play it forward

A group of fourth-year VIU Nursing students are making sure kids, no matter their background, can still take part in sports. Read more from CHLY.

Language and storytelling

VIU Elder-in-Residence Marlene Rice was on CBC last week to share her own story about the importance of language and to talk about the important role VIU Elders-in-Residence play

Brain injury research

Can the psychedelic compound psilocybin reverse the chronic effects of IPV-related brain injuries? Researchers at Monash University, VIU and the University of Victoria are investigating. Read more in Medical Xpress

A play about mental illness

Playwright Ward Norcutt is looking to tackle the tough realities of living with mental illness, addiction and intergenerational trauma in a new play coming to Downtown Nanaimo’s OV Arts Centre. The idea for A Baker’s Dozen first came from a writing prompt in a scriptwriting class he was taking at VIU. Read more in CHLY

Meteor shower activity over Nanaimo

A unique meteor shower was competing with a “super moon” in Nanaimo skies and VIU astronomy professor Dr. Gregory Arkos spoke to Nanaimo News Now about the event.

Ultimate winners

In just their second year of existence, the ultimate team at VIU captured a silver medal at the Canadian Ultimate University Nationals in Ontario! Read more from Nanaimo News Now.

Environmental psychologist writes book

VIU Psychology Professor Dr. Lindsay McCunn was the editor of a recently published book about becoming an environmental psychologist, which is featured in the latest issue of the Cowichan Valley Voice.

A murder-solving butler

VIU creative Writing Professor and award-winning author Susan Juby’s latest work was profiled in Whistler's Pique Newsmagazine. This is her third book featuring Helen Thorpe, a butler who also solves murders on the side. 

Mariners wins

With men’s basketball nationals coming to VIU this spring, the Mariners are out of the gate with a 6-0 start as they work toward a championship run on home court. Read more from the Nanaimo News Bulletin.

Spooky spots

VIU alum Shanon Sinn, who wrote The Haunting of Vancouver Island while he was still a student, spoke with The Discourse about some of Nanaimo's spookiest spots.

Haunted VIU

From a boy playing with a red ball, to elevators moving for no apparent reason or floating heads in doorways, Nanaimo has no shortage of ghostly tales – including at VIU. Read more from Nanaimo News Now.