Silly Boat Sunday in support of the Nanaimo Child Development Centre is looking to raise $125,000 towards programs and services for local families. (File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

summer staple

Float or flounder: Silly Boats back in the water in Nanaimo Harbour

Jul 21, 2024 | 5:53 AM

NANAIMO — One of the Harbour City’s signature events is back in the water once more.

The annual Silly Boat Regatta, in support of the Nanaimo Child Development Centre (CDC), goes Sunday, July 21 at Maffeo Sutton Park with 35 teams building and racing their boats in the Nanaimo Harbour in front of Swy-A-Lana Lagoon.

Michaelle Kocourek, resource development coordinator for the CDC, told NanaimoNewsNOW a new winner is guaranteed this year, with a recent dynasty opting not to compete.

“Island Red Cedar, they’ve been the grand champion for three years running, they are not participating as a team this year they came on as a sponsor so that opens up the chance of winning to anybody and everybody.”

Some don’t get too far in their boats, but it’s all in the name of fun and supporting vital programs and services for kids and families. (File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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The boat building begins at 8 a.m. with teams stationed all around Maffeo Sutton Park. The races start at 1 p.m.

It’s the 38th iteration of the event, which would be celebrating its 40th anniversary if not for the pandemic.

The event was started by CHUB radio (now known as 102.3 The Wave) in 1984, before being taken over by the CDC years later.

Money was directed to families needing organ transplants, which at the time were only done in the United States.

“It was to help with transportation. Once those surgeries started to happen in Canada, CHUB Radio started looking for who they could donate the funds to and the Child Development Centre was chosen and we took over organizing the event a few years into that.”

The goal this year is to raise $125,000 towards programs and services provided by the Centre.

Kocourek said the money is earmarked towards family programming such as different playgroups, educational programming, and therapeutic equipment purchases.

Having major fundraisers like this is critical to the Centre’s success, as it provides responsiveness to community needs.

“Undesignated monies are so important for the centre because we can use the money where we need it. With Silly Boat, we’ve got teams fundraising, we’ve got sales and things on site and of course, we have our great sponsors who provide the main bulk of the money.”

A major part of this year’s fundraising is an online 50/50 draw, open to all B.C. residents. The winner will be drawn on Monday, July 22.

Life jackets are essential hardware for paddlers on board makeshifts boats, with thousands lining every possible vantage point in the harbour to witness the carnage. (File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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