VIU's Engaged Citizens Speaker Series is a forum designed to provoke intellectual, engaging and meaningful dialogue about social challenges, opportunities and the community around us. Talks take place once per year on timely, relevant and thought-provoking topics aimed at engaging community members in a wider discussion around understanding the responsibilities of good citizenship.
“Fine” is a 4-letter word: Helping youth navigate anxiety and depression
Calling all caregivers! Do you worry about your child’s mental health and well-being? Wondering what you can do to help? Come to a keynote talk and interactive discussion with mental health expert Dr. Shahana Alibhai on March 11 at 6:30 pm. CKNW radio host Jas Johal will moderate an audience Q&A following her talk.
Vancouver Island University’s Engaged Citizens Speaker Series, which takes place annually in the Malaspina Theatre, tackles timely, relevant and thought-provoking topics that matter to our community. This year’s event is a partnership with Nanaimo Ladysmith School District.
Date: Tuesday, March 11, 2025
Location: Malaspina Theatre (Building 310), VIU’s Nanaimo campus
Time: 6:30 to 8 pm, doors open at 6 pm
Thank you to Nanaimo Ladysmith School District, TD Insurance and VIU Alumni for sponsoring this event!
Speaker and moderator bios
A family physician, best-selling author of Feel Better and TEDx speaker, Dr. Shahana Alibhai has dedicated her clinical work to helping those struggling with their mental health and redefining our approach to mental health. As the medical director of one of the largest youth health centers in our province, seeing more than 500 new patients a month, she has taken the lessons learned from our adolescents and translated them into the pearls that us as adults need to learn – both to support ourselves and our children. Merging neuroscience and what she sees every day in helping real patients, she has come up with a set of tangible steps everyone can use to move through their emotions rather than being crushed by them.
Jas Johal hosts a daily three-hour public affairs program on BC's most listened to news radio station, CKNW. Each day the program provides unrivalled coverage of news and current affairs, from politics, the economy, technology, arts and culture. Prior to hosting the program, he served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly here in British Columbia. He has also served as the Asia Bureau Chief for Global National News, based in New Delhi, India and in Beijing, where he traveled extensively reporting on the economy, domestic and foreign policy, and on the environment.
Past speakers
Herring and the health of the Salish Sea
What does the future hold for the Salish Sea in a time of climate change? Humpback whale and Pacific white-sided dolphin populations are increasing; however, Pacific herring – a cornerstone species for all marine biodiversity – are on the verge of collapse. Featured speaker Bryce Casavant, Director of Conservation Intelligence with Pacific Wild, presented on Fighting Fish: herring/fisheries management in the context of Canadian laws.
Sheila Watt-Cloutier
Sheila Watt-Cloutier Siila, one of the most influential Indigenous environmental, cultural and human rights advocates in the world, was VIU’s sixth keynote speaker in the Engaged Citizens Speaker Series. On Tuesday, February 8, 2022, she expanded upon her own experiences and personal stories to put a cultural face and human voice on climate change and talk about meaningful actions.
Leilani Farha
Leilani Farha, is Global Director of The Shift, an international movement to secure the right to housing. On October 14, 2021, she outlined the nature of the crisis, including in the context of COVID-19, and expand on appropriate government responses, particularly city governments. Learn more about Leilani.
Dawn Thomas Aa ap waa iik
Dawn Thomas Aa ap waa iik, Associate Deputy Minister for Indigenous Health with the BC Ministry of Health, presented An Island Response to In Plain Sight: Addressing Indigenous-specific Racism and Discrimination in BC Health Care on February 10, 2021. Learn more about Dawn.
Dr. Evan Fraser
Food Security in the age of COVID-19: Toward more resilient regional food systems was presented on October 8, 2020, by Dr. Evan Fraser, Director of the Arrell Food Institute at the University of Guelph, and featured discussion with local food system experts:
• Jennifer Woodlawn, CEO of Nuu-chah-nulth Seafood LP
• Jen Cody, Executive Director of Nanaimo Foodshare Society
• Christopher “Farmer” Brown, a permaculturist, agricultural activist, entrepreneur and farming educator
Trevor Hancock
The world faces massive and rapid human-induced global ecological changes, of which climate change is but one. Trevor Hancock presented on the need to engage citizens in understanding the problem so that we can begin to imagine a better future. February 3, 2020.
Dr. Phillip Oxhorn
How and why is citizenship critical to democracy and civil society? Does corporate citizenship exist? What rights and responsibilities should citizens have? Dr. Philip Oxhorn, former dean of International Education at VIU, explored these questions and more in the inaugural Engaged Citizens Speaker Series talk on September 11, 2019.