Continued COVID-19 restrictions are forcing the City to split its Canada Day celebrations across six locations throughout Nanaimo. (Dreamstime)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

MUTED CELEBRATIONS

Nanaimo spreading scaled-back Canada Day celebrations across six local parks

Jun 19, 2021 | 5:10 AM

NANAIMO — For the second year in a row, there will be no major Canada Day celebration at Maffeo Sutton Park.

Despite restrictions forecast to be relaxed July 1, allowing for festivals and larger gatherings, the City of Nanaimo will again scale back the party.

Mayor Leonard Krog called the COVID-19 the “driving force” behind a slimmed down celebration.

“There’ll be some entertainment and food trucks in six of our larger parks along with random visits and prizes from our wagon distributing some materials. In the circumstances, it’s the only appropriate thing to do.”

Live music will be featured at three parks: Neck Point, Maffeo Sutton and Departure Bay.

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City staff will also be on hand with prizes and giveaways at those three locations in addition to Harewood Centennial, Westwood Lake and Pipers Lagoon parks.

Krog said no consideration was given to postponing Canada Day celebrations in light of the discovery of the remains of 215 Indigenous children at a former residential school site in Kamloops.

The City of Victoria announced earlier in June their scheduled virtual broadcast would be cancelled in lieu of a different one to air later in the summer.

“Snuneymuxw First Nation has not made any request to the city to ‘cancel Canada Day’ in the way the City of Victoria has. They have never raised it, we have never raised it, I wouldn’t suggest it’s ever been under consideration to my knowledge.”

More information on Nanaimo’s Canada Day celebrations is available on the City of Nanaimo’s website.

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