Mary Smith (left) and Diana Johnstone will lead the local organizing committee for the 55+ BC Games, to be hosted in Nanaimo in September, 2025. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

on your marks

Countdown underway for Nanaimo to host 55+ BC Games in 2025

Mar 28, 2024 | 4:41 PM

NANAIMO — One of the province’s largest sport and activity-based events is coming back to the Harbour City.

The 55+ BC Games will run in Nanaimo in September 2025, the first time the city has hosted the event in nearly 20 years.

Games president Diana Johnstone said between 3,500 and 4,000 participants will return to the central Island to compete in roughly 25 events and they expect it to be much, much larger than when Nanaimo hosted in 2007.

“A lot of the people came in ’07 were first time comers to Nanaimo and they couldn’t believe the transition our city has made over the years. I actually think some people relocated after the games because they found this area so wonderful and so inviting.”

Salmon Arm is hosting a 23-sport and activity event this September, with athletes competing in archery, three-on-three basketball, cycling, golf, slo-pitch, horseshoes, swimming and many others.

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Less physically demanding events are on the agenda too and will provide local organizers a lot to look at.

“We’ll go as a team to Salmon Arm in September of this year, job shadow all their coordinators there. We’ll be putting together about 25 sports, and activities…for people who aren’t able to do sport, things like bridge, cribbage and darts.”

Among the events not being contested in Salmon Arm this fall is track and field, however facilities in Nanaimo may make it an easy inclusion.

The City has opened up the former Tourism Nanaimo building at the Northfield Rd. and Nanaimo Parkway intersection, to be the organizing headquarters for the Games committee. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Games vice-president Mary Smith said the City of Nanaimo is a partner in their application as well as hosting the event.

“We’ll have access to Parks and Recreation facilities for much of the sport and activities. We have already, in the bidding process, gone out to some of those facility operators and gotten their support, and in past years we’ve used private facilities.”

Some events may even utilize facilities in Ladysmith and Oceanside, in a bid to showcase the entire mid-Island region.

Games organizers will assemble a Board of Directors over the coming weeks to chart a course forward over the next 18 months.

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