VIU Faculty Association Women's & Gender Equity Committee

10/08/2026

VIUFA’s Human Rights and International Solidarity Committee is hosting faculty member Sarah Lovegrove (Health Sciences), Registered Nurse and Nursing Professor, who will deliver a free lecture Vancouver Island University on Wednesday October 14th starting at 7:30pm.

Sarah is addressing root causes and impacts of the ongoing Toxic Drug Crisis, and evidence-based solutions applicable to levels of government.

Space will be held for respectful Q&A related to the lecture topic at the end.
No registration required, seating is limited.

⏰ 7:30-9pm
🗓️ October 14, 2026
📍 Gustafson Theatre, Building 355, Room 203 Vancouver Island University Nanaimo Campus.

Questions? Email [email protected]

Vancouver Island University Faculty Association
VIU Harm Reduction Alliance
VIU Students' Union
Vancouver Island University Social Sciences
VIU Positive Space Alliance
VIU Arts and Humanities
VIU Indigenous
Vancouver Island University Department of Creative Writing and Journalism
VIU Library
VIU Studies in Women and Gender
Thrive - VIU Health and Wellness
Nanaimo Pride Society
Nanaimo Family Life Association
Haven Society
George Anderson for Nanaimo - Lantzville BC NDP
Sheila Malcolmson
Vancouver Island Mental Health Society - VIMHS
Poverty Advocacy Nanaimo
City of Nanaimo Local Government

10/08/2026

“𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐲 𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞” 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐕𝐈𝐔𝐅𝐀 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧’𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐥𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔, 𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧’𝐬 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡.

The series will spotlight faculty members who inspire us to work and to wonder in service of diverse communities, social justice, equity, and/or ecology.

𝐒𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐡 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐲 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬!

Sarah Lovegrove is a Registered Nurse and educator, with several degrees and certifications noted in the video. She is also the former Chair of the Nanaimo Community Action Team and a member of the Harm Reduction Nurses’ Association. Sarah served as a VIUFA WAGE Committee member in 2024-2025.

Sarah is currently running for the position of Mayor for the City of Nanaimo.

This series will feature many faculty members, over time, and the views expressed in the video do not represent VIU or VIUFA as a membership.

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐨 𝐢𝐬 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝟏/𝟑 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. 𝐈𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐩 𝐈 𝐚𝐬𝐤:

𝟏. 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬:

Share with Faculty, other campus communities, and Nanaimo communities the work you do at Vancouver Island University, and what inspired you to run for Mayor of Nanaimo.

Can you highlight some projects you've been involved in that have helped students to connect their studies to real life community practice?

𝟐. 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐃𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲

You have diverse certifications and degrees that inform your practices as a Registered Nurse, Professor, and social justice advocate. Can you speak specifically to what equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility mean to you in classrooms, clinics, and in your work with vulnerable communities?

Nanaimo Pride Society distributed a survey to Nanaimo candidates for Mayor, City Council, and SD68 school board trustee candidates, asking for them to respond to key issues impacting 2SLGBTQIA+ populations.

Questions addressed issues such as public safety, anti-hate measures, housing, healthcare, harm reduction and more. Of the three mayoral candidates who responded, Nanaimo Pride Society found that your responses were the most supportive because they expressed explicit support and concrete commitment.

Can you highlight some of your ideas shared in this survey, and suggest why concrete commitments are so important?

𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙮 𝙩𝙪𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙭𝙩 𝙫𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙤!

VIU Faculty Association Women's & Gender Equity Committee
Vancouver Island University Faculty Association
VIU Arts and Humanities
VIU Harm Reduction Alliance
VIU Studies in Women and Gender
Vancouver Island University Social Sciences
VIU Positive Space Alliance
VIU Indigenous
Vancouver Island University Department of Creative Writing and Journalism
VIU Students' Union
Vancouver Island University
Thrive - VIU Health and Wellness
VIU Research Matters
VIU Library

10/05/2026

Thank you to Nanaimo Pride Society for asking such important questions to candidates. I hope that everyone reads the fine print. The details in the responses are meaningful.

10/01/2026

Come bead with us! 🧡

Join us tomorrow for an Every Child Matters Beading Workshop

📆October 2, 2026
⏰ 12:00pm
📍Shq’apthut, Building 170

Everyone is welcome and Partication is free!

09/29/2026

Tonight! If you haven’t registered, then livestream the event!

Thank you, Nanaimo! The 2026 Civic Engagement Forum has reached the Vancouver Island Conference Centre’s maximum capacity of approximately 400 attendees.

If you’re unable to join us in person, you can still watch the forum LIVE on the Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce YouTube channel.

📅 Tuesday, September 29, 2026
⏰ Livestream begins at 6:00 p.m.
📺 Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/live/DbPJhNZdGow

A big thank-you to the Vancouver Island Construction Association (VICA) for presenting the livestream and helping make this important community conversation accessible to more Nanaimo residents.

Your City. Your Voice. Your Vote.

09/24/2026

VIU Communities:

"Faculty Feature” is a new VIUFA Women’s and Gender Equity Committee Series launched to spotlight faculty members who inspire us to work and to wonder in service of diverse communities where social justice, equity, and/or ecology are centered.

Vancouver Island University Faculty Association member Sarah Lovegrove (Registered Nurse and a faculty member in Health Sciences and Human Services) will be the first faculty member to be featured. Stay tuned for a video segment in early October.

She served on the VIUFA’s Women’s and Gender Equity committee in 2024-2025.

She is also currently running for Mayor of Nanaimo.

VIU Faculty Association Women's & Gender Equity Committee
Vancouver Island University Faculty Association
VIU Harm Reduction Alliance
VIU Indigenous
VIU Studies in Women and Gender
VIU Positive Space Alliance
Vancouver Island University Social Sciences
VIU Arts and Humanities
VIU Students' Union
Vancouver Island University

📰 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝘁 𝗡𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗶𝗺𝗼𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀𝗡𝗢𝗪.𝗰𝗼𝗺
Former ER nurse Sarah Lovegrove is making her pitch to be Nanaimo's next mayor.

09/24/2026

VIU Communities,
Did you know that Vancouver Island University Faculty Association member and VIU faculty member Sarah Lovegrove is running to become the next mayor of Nanaimo?

Sarah has also served as a VIU Faculty Association Women's & Gender Equity Committee member in 2024-2025.

"Faculty Feature” is a new VIUFA Women’s and Gender Equity Committee Series launched in September 2026. The series will spotlight faculty members who inspire us to work and to wonder in service of diverse communities where social justice, equity, and/or ecology are centered.

Sarah Lovegrove (Registered Nurse and a faculty member in Health Sciences and Human Services) will be the first faculty member to be featured! Stay tuned for the interview.

News article link:
https://nanaimonewsnow.com/2026/09/24/nurse-and-community-advocate-vying-to-be-next-nanaimo-mayor/

VIU Faculty Association Women's & Gender Equity Committee
Vancouver Island University Faculty Association
VIU Harm Reduction Alliance
VIU Positive Space Alliance
VIU Foundation
VIU Alumni
VIU Students' Union
Vancouver Island University
Vancouver Island University Social Sciences
VIU Arts and Humanities
VIU Indigenous
VIU Studies in Women and Gender
Vancouver Island University Department of Creative Writing and Journalism

📰 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝘁 𝗡𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗶𝗺𝗼𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀𝗡𝗢𝗪.𝗰𝗼𝗺
Former ER nurse Sarah Lovegrove is making her pitch to be Nanaimo's next mayor.

09/24/2026

Vancouver Island University communities:

VIU faculty member, VIUFA member, and former member of the VIU Faculty Association Women's & Gender Equity Committee (2024-2025), Sarah Lovegrove is running to become Nanaimo’s next mayor?

Article link:

https://nanaimonewsnow.com/2026/09/24/nurse-and-community-advocate-vying-to-be-next-nanaimo-mayor/

Stay tuned for an upcoming video where Sarah will be the first faculty member featured in “Faculty Feature,” a new VIUFA WAGE committee series spotlighting faculty members who inspire us to work and to wonder in service of diverse communities where social justice, equity, and/or ecology are centred.

Vancouver Island University Faculty Association
VIU Harm Reduction Alliance
Vancouver Island University
VIU Arts and Humanities
Vancouver Island University Social Sciences
Sarah Lovegrove for Nanaimo 2026
Vancouver Island University Department of Creative Writing and Journalism
VIU Students' Union
VIU Library
VIU Indigenous
VIU Alumni
VIU Positive Space Alliance
Thrive - VIU Health and Wellness
VIU Campus Rec
VIU Foundation
VIU Studies in Women and Gender
VIU Research Matters

📰 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝘁 𝗡𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗶𝗺𝗼𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀𝗡𝗢𝗪.𝗰𝗼𝗺
Former ER nurse Sarah Lovegrove is making her pitch to be Nanaimo's next mayor.

09/22/2026

Forum Update for Municipal Candidates: as of today we have hit our audacious goal (and capacity) of getting 20 candidates who want to come to a forum and specifically share their plans for addressing the climate emergency! Amazing! We have high expectations for a great evening.

This means we can no longer accept additional candidates to participate in this forum. If you would like to get on our waitlist, email us at [email protected] and we'll notify you if a space opens up due to cancellation.

Of course, the Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce is hosting their forum on Sept. 29 -- a great opportunity for candidates to engage in conversation on a broad set of issues.

09/14/2026

The VIU Faculty Association Women's & Gender Equity Committee page is being re-launched after a year offline, and would like to share news a meaningful documentary film screening to take place this week.

The event is brought to you by Vancouver Island University Faculty Association's Human Rights and International Solidarity Committee and the Nanaimo Art Gallery, with support from VIU Faculty Association Women's & Gender Equity Committee. Students for Palestine will welcome guests. Arzeena Hamir, a community organizer and organic farmer, will offer commentary.

Please share widely. All are welcome to attend!

Nanaimo Art Gallery
Nanaimo Foodshare Society
Vancouver Island University Faculty Association
VIU Students' Union
Vancouver Island University Social Sciences
VIU Arts and Humanities
VIU Harm Reduction Alliance
VIU Library
VIU Tiwsemawtx
Vancouver Island University - Professional Baking and Pastry Arts Program
Literacy Central Vancouver Island
Central Vancouver Island Multicultural Society
Nanaimo Women Helping Women - NWHW
Nanaimo Family Life Association
VIU Faculty Association Women's & Gender Equity Committee
Loaves & Fishes Community Food Bank