The Nanaimo Ultimate Association has the second best national fundraising total two years running from the Art Hawkins Great Canadian Ultimate Game. (Dirk Heydemann of HA Photography)

By Dan Marshall

Ultimate Fundraiser

Nanaimo Ultimate community comes together for annual fundraiser

Jun 14, 2025 | 6:53 AM

NANAIMO — One of the important events on the Nanaimo Ultimate Association calendar took place on June 7 at the Bowen west field.

The annual Art Hawkins Great Canadian Ultimate game is a fundraiser that supports the growth, development and inclusivity of ultimate in Canada.

Co-organizer Shayne Pfeifer said it was extra special for some local members who new Art Hawkins.

“He was a member of the Vancouver ultimate league. He did a lot of coaching and played internationally. He had cancer in the late 2000’s and passed away in 2010. He had done some work with Ultimate Canada to get the Great Canadian Ultimate Game fundraiser started. After his death they renamed it after him.”

Last year Nanaimo had the second best fundraising total across the country with just over $1,000 and this year the Nanaimo Ultimate Association raised $1,500, once again the second most behind only Vancouver.

Stuck in Mexico

'We're feeling more secure today' Nanaimo tourists stranded in Puerto Vallarta

7h ago

Highly disturbing

Man attacked by armed 13 and 14-year-old boys in downtown Nanaimo

7h ago

substantial bust

Drugs, weapons seized as Nanaimo pair face nearly 40 criminal charges

10h ago

Most of the local participants were from Nanaimo with others joining from Courtenay, Cowichan, Victoria and some out of town visitors.

The biggest local event is April’s Udderbowl which is the kickoff to the Nanaimo ultimate season.

Pfeifer said there are spring, summer and fall seasons and the number of teams is on the rise.

“Normally we do a spring and a fall league. This year we’re doing a summer league for the first time in a while. We also have a beach ultimate tournament that we host in Parksville in September.”

There are seven spring teams with new new members coming from getting word out about the sport to local youth and high school students.

“Almost all the high schools in Nanaimo have a ultimate team now,” Pfeifer said. “A lot of those kids get hooked and then come back to playing league. We’ve had a lot of new members come in as adults as well whether they’ve been recruited by their friends or heard about it and thought it was something they wanted to try. The ultimate community is tight no matter where you go.”

Follow us on Facebook. Join Everything Nanaimo on Facebook and stay connected with everything happening on central Vancouver Island.

info@nanaimonewsnow.com

Follow us on: Twitter (X) | Bluesky | Facebook