By Ian Holmes

Upcoming speaker series covers history of Nanaimo

Nov 6, 2016 | 7:35 AM

NANAIMO — If you want to learn more about Nanaimo’s history then a speaker series hosted by the city is right up your alley.

The city of Nanaimo, with financial help from the federal government, has formed the Living History Speaker Series. The city’s social planner John Horn says it’s part of a strategy to help seniors feel more connected to the community.

“They get to connect with an audience who they may never have met before because it’s open to the general public. Secondly they get to feel that their life was interesting, has lots of value to it and now share it with others,” said Horn.

He says four speakers will address the general public every Wednesday night in November from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Presentation Room near the front foyer of Wellington Secondary School. Horn points out that the Living History Speaker Series is part of a broader strategy locally to tackle social isolation among seniors and maintain their independent living and health.

He says speakers will include people who helped shape Nanaimo to what it looks like today.

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“Cities don’t happen by accident, someone has to go out and construct the homes, the offices and the malls. We’re interested in stories about the building up of Nanaimo,” said Horn. “We have some folks, longtime building families in Nanaimo who talk about the development of the city.”

He adds that people involved in forestry in Nanaimo before technology took hold of the industry, as well as indigenous speakers will also be telling stories.

Horn says the speaker series will be done three or four more times beyond this month over the next year or two.

Horn encourages anybody who wants to tell their interesting story of Nanaimo’s history to contact him at City Hall by calling 250-754-4251 or via email at john.horn@nanaimo.ca.