Diet for the Sou

Submitted by Joélle Rabu: AFN Member

As | reflect on the AFN’s Maple Sugar Festival du Sucre d’Erable held
this past February, | can’t help but smile. This annual event has truly become a significant
beacon of culture of which Nanaimo’s citizens can be proud. When people think of a healthy
economy, most think only in terms of money and business. Money earned and spent keeps
the wheels in motion. However, economic wealth is also boosted by a healthy-minded com-
munity: a community of folks who strive to not only work hard but also PLAY hard. Art
events, social exchanges and cultural gatherings play a big part in maintaining a city’s clean
bill of mental health. If we all went to work, saved lots of money, bought lots of things but
never fulfilled our cultural hunger pangs, we would become socially anorexic. Humans are a
unique breed who require divertissement. Gone are the days of simply being hunters and
gatherers. From time to time we all have that need to imagine, to fantasise, to go elsewhere
in our minds, to live vicariously through someone else’s imagination.

Over the centuries, the Arts have proven to be that delightful snack that can satiate
waning mental appetites. Colourful paintings hung on a grey gallery wall, zesty music per-
meating the aromas of a restaurant, sultry symphonic crescendos accenting arabesques,
raucous rhythms pulsating in a dimly lit night-club, insightful folk tunes highlighting our his-
tory, regal brass bands marking glorious tempos, thespians delivering soulful soliloquies.
How could we possibly live without ART?

As | peruse the arts and culture events listing in Nanaimo’s local papers, | am re-
minded why I returned to live on the Island 13 years ago. The talent and cultural offerings of
this region are astounding. We are blessed with world-class events gracing our many stages
big and small, plus a plethora of exciting, exhilarating and innovative local creations pre-
sented on any given day or night.

So this is my call to fellow lovers of LIFE: go out and experience what our community
has to offer. Put that remote control down for a moment, highlight a day on your calendar,
and go feed your soul. Bring a friend, for it grants the sharing of opinions and stimulating
discussions the following day. Every year the Maple Sugar Festival du Sucre d'Erable offers
thousands the opportunity to go out and breathe in cultural air, take mental respite from a
dreary day, let the imagination go on a whimsical journey elsewhere...and events like this
also nurture the economy. But don’t simply go on that cultural diet once a year! The Arts pro-
vide important nourishment to the soul but there is monthly dosage to which you must ad-
here!

So why not call the AFN and plan a group outing to a play, a jazz lounge, a
gallery exposition, a night out on the town...think of it as a diet that can be shared
and enjoyed by all. The best news is that participating in this type of cultural smor-
gasbord is proven to be fat-free, low carb, low cal and oh so yummy. To quote the
comedian George Carlin: “Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take,
but by the moments that take our breath away.”