When you walk into FLAMEZ CHICKEN, nestled on a busy corner in Nanaimo’s Old City Quarter, you’re greeted not just by the aroma of freshly breaded fried chicken, flamed grilled chicken and rich butter gravy, but by a story of resilience, passion, and community.

At first glance, Midnight Bloom is striking — a sleek black interior accented with gold, glowing prisms casting rainbows across the walls, and greenery that softens every corner. But it’s the warmth, the artistry, and the sense of belonging that makes this nail studio in Nanaimo’s Old City Quarter unforgettable.

Where local cuisine and conversation flow with ease, bartender Randy is doing more than mixing cocktails—he’s leading a quiet but powerful effort to fight hunger. From behind the bar at Black Rabbit Kitchen in the Old City Quarter, Randy is using his passion for food and community to help support a local organization feed people. 

Crossing provinces from Manitoba to the west coast, Jasmeen set out to begin a new career in aesthetics to complement her new postal code.  

 “I had a convenience store for 15 years,” she explains. “So yeah, that was way different from what I do now.” 

“We need to get out of the mindset of making new, we already have so much stuff already.”

Colleen is a firm believer of reusing things instead of throwing them away, because nothing produced is ever truly gone.

Worldwide, 80 billion pieces of clothing are consumed every year. Even though clothing costs less to manufacture, the environmental impact is significantly greater. 

As you walk into La Stella Trattoria, you’re instantly hit with the aroma of housemade dough, followed by the soft crackles of the wood burning oven, and welcomed by the relaxed atmosphere of locals and tourists sharing space.  

“The best part of my job is seeing families transform and thrive. Whether it’s a child developing confidence, a parent learning new strategies, or a family strengthening their connection, those moments are incredibly rewarding,” says Sian Trombley, founder of Thrive Family Co. 

There is an area of East London called Hoxton; one known for being one of the poorest areas of Europe, now has transformed into a creative community hub of vibrancy and beauty. The streets are bustling with locally owned cafes, trendy bars, independent retail shops and galleries.

“Arts and culture can enrich a community by providing a sense of belonging, pride, and identity,” says Jenny Vincent, Art Director of St. Andrew’s Church. “It also helps communities develop a new sense of self, diversify their economy, and improve quality of life.”

As we walk up to the picturesque hedge pathway to the 100-year-old heritage home in the Old City Quarter, we notice the sign The Bride’s Closet hanging over the porch. As soon as we enter, the warmth of the pale blue walls and fir floors accent the rows of beautiful gowns overflowing throughout the rooms.

With his baller hat, hand tattoos and oversized black jacket, Kevin strikes a certain effortless style about him. 

“I wanted to be a fashion designer,” he explains. “I always wanted to do something that gave me more freedom to be creative.”

There’s a little magic in all of us and all around us, if we are open to feeling it. For Dana, she’s always felt the magic around her. 

“I got my first tarot deck when I was thirteen,” she remembers. “I raise my children this way. You know, we celebrate all of the seasons. It’s important to us to have that close relationship with nature.”

The Electric Umbrella Tattoo Studio in the Old City Quarter has been an integral part of the community since opening its doors in 2011. Originally owned by Russ Morland, in 2023, one of his apprentices, Julie Dives, took over ownership and has made the space her own. 

Small changes can make a big impact. Since 2021, VI Refillery has diverted over 130,000 containers from entering the landfill in Nanaimo. 

We may not blatantly see the negative impact single use plastics have in our everyday life, but for owner Paula McPhee, she has witnessed first-hand how our garbage affects our planet. 

“Sometimes I will get a customer come in and say that the clothes we used to make and had bought for their children have been handed down and now their grandchildren are wearing them. That’s so nice to hear,” says Diana, owner of Pumpkin Pie Kids in the Old City Quarter.

When the store first opened its doors in 1992, the racks were stocked with her mother Carole’s own designs. In the early 1980’s, the mother daughter duo took pattern making courses and started designing and sewing aerobics wear to sell at local markets.

When you walk down Wesley street, there’s an eclectic shop called Jonny’s Barber Shop, but like most, you probably missed the sign from being memorized by all the trinkets in the window. 

“People will come in thinking it’s a museum, or often people mistake it as an art gallery or tattoo shop. Nah, it’s just a fun barber shop,” says Jonny. 

Lisa Ng has spent the majority of her life working in restaurants. She spent fifteen years working alongside her father at his Chinese restaurant in Sooke, then spent another fifteen years working at her sister-in-law’s restaurant in Nanaimo. 

“I’ve worked in the food industry over forty years,” says Lisa.

When Amy and her partner, Adrian packed up their life in Winnipeg to venture out to Vancouver Island, they wanted to create a business in Nanaimo that fostered community and connection.  “We thought, ‘what could be our best offering for people?’” says Amy Ferris. “We wanted to create this space for ourselves, to leave a legacy and to provide something to our community that wasn't there before.”

When you walk into the space #106 – 301 Franklyn Street, you’re illuminated in bright colours that both soothe the soul and spark playfulness. It’s not a colour scheme you’d find in most counsellor’s offices, but for Christine, she says the colours are intentionally lively to mirror her work.

A lovely woman carrying a few shopping bags out of Damsels, goes up to the store owner Dee to give her a warm embrace. “I have been coming to your store since you first opened and I was a young teacher, excited to have some extra funds to spend on some nice clothes,” she reminisces with Dee. That was fifty years ago.