Celebrating student diversity

WorldVIU Days

World VIU Days is VIU's annual celebration of cultural diversity on campus. The event series raises awareness and builds appreciation for the cultural diversity on campus, celebrates culture, and recognizes the richness that diverse perspectives bring to our campus and community. Events are led by students and supported by faculty and staff.

This year's theme is celebrating student diversity.

Beverages Around the World & Cultural Tables: Culture Couch

3 pm to 5 pm

Culture Couch has been a weekly VIU tradition for over seven years, offering a relaxed, welcoming space for students to connect and engage in cross-cultural understanding. The “couch” symbolizes the casual, comfortable atmosphere that makes this series so meaningful.

For WorldVIU Days, Culture Couch brings an expanded experience where you can visit cultural tables featuring beverages, music, art, games, and stories from around the world. Tables will be set up and hosted by students eager to share their culture or a culture they admire.

Drop in, explore, and celebrate the diversity that shapes our VIU community.

Location: Upper Cafeteria, Building 300 
 

Silent Disco

Hosted by: Collective Groove 

5 pm to 7 pm

Starting Location: Quad Area (Outside Upper Cafeteria), Building 300 
 

Long Night Against Procrastination

5 pm to 9 pm

Students! Stay late at the Nanaimo Campus Library for sandwiches, cookies, and hot drinks. Academic supports will be available to help you tackle your final assignments.Grab dinner, get support and make progress!

Thank you to CUPE Local 1858 for generously sponsoring this event.

Location: Library, Main Floor

Movement Moments

10:30 am to 11:30 am

Join us in a variety of different movement related activities to support your wellbeing such as yoga, meditation and maybe even some dancing

Location: Upper Cafeteria

WorldVIU Fashion Show

12 to 1 pm

The WorldVIU Fashion Show is a vibrant celebration of global fashion and personal expression. Each year during WorldVIU Days, students take to the runway to showcase traditional attire, cultural clothing, and contemporary styles that reflect their identity and creativity.

This lively event highlights the beauty and diversity of clothing traditions from around the world and offers the campus community an exciting opportunity to experience fashion as a form of storytelling, heritage, and pride. Whether rooted in culture or inspired by personal style, every outfit brings its own unique narrative to the runway.

Location: Upper Cafeteria

Line Dancing Workshop 

3 to 4 pm

Discover the vibrant rhythms of Line Dancing in a fun and engaging workshop by VanIsland Dance. Perfect for all levels, this session introduces the basics of these popular dance styles, no prior experience required.

Location: Upper Cafeteria
 

Finding harmony: Exploring reconciliation through the power of song 

Indigenous Speakers Series - Marion Newman

6:30 to 8 pm

Marion Newman is a critically acclaimed mezzo-soprano of Kwagiulth and Stó:lō First Nations with English, Irish and Scottish heritage. Through her storytelling and performance roles, she is a driving force for truth and reconciliation within the context of classical music. 

In her talk, she will examine the role music can play in the discourse on our reconciliation journey. Song can be a powerful way to tell stories and share perspectives. Marion will demonstrate the power of voice by performing select pieces, including her own original work. 

Through her roles in academia and as a national CBC program host, Marion works to elevate, empower and promote new voices, particularly from Indigenous and other equity-seeking communities. She will discuss these efforts and her leadership around creating conversations about why it is important to tell our stories, including the joyful ones, through music.

Her talk is followed by a question-and-answer period facilitated by Nahlah Ayed, host of CBC's Ideas.

Book your ticket here!

Location: Malaspina Theatre (Building 310) or online

Dr Who's Tardis: Growing Up Global

11:30 am to 12:45 pm 

Hosted by: Global Studies, Geography and English Language Learning

Inspired by the magical time-traveling TARDIS of television's Dr. Who, this session will bring together Geography and English Language Learning students to share stories of their youth. Participants will travel through time and space to learn from each other's different cultural perspectives about what it's like to grow up, go to school and follow their educational dreams. Please note: This is a closed event, participants are students from these courses. 

Location: Room 170, Building 255

VIU's Got Talent

6 to 9 pm

VIU’s Got Talent is an annual event held at Vancouver Island University where students and faculty have the opportunity to display their talents. Students will audition and selected contestants will be invited to compete on the VIU’s Got Talent stage. Auditions will be held through individuals sending in video clips of their talents, and selected contestants will be invited to compete in the finals. During the finals, contestants will have 8-10 minutes to perform their talent in front of a panel of judges and a live audience. The judges will then select the top three performances as winners of the top prizes.

For more details, visit here

Location: Malaspina Theatre, Building 310