The S.S. Bill McGuire made a tour through Nanaimo on Saturday, July 25 stopping at Nanaimo Regional General Hospotal. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

ANCHOR'S AWAY

Giant bathtub tours through Nanaimo to salute front-line workers

Jul 25, 2020 | 2:49 PM

NANAIMO — Weekend travellers would have been forgiven for doing a double-take while driving through Nanaimo Saturday afternoon.

The famous S.S. Bill McGuire bathtub toured through local streets, on the same day celebrations should have been taking place for the 2020 Marine Festival.

“Bathtub Goddess” Terry Berger told NanaimoNewsNOW they wanted to bring a little taste of the popular event which cancelled due to COVID-19.

“We would have all sorts of things going on downtown, but with COVID we can’t really do that,” Berger said. “We’re just trying to show our appreciation to front line workers, RCM-SAR, the police and fire.”

Towed behind a truck, the tub made a stop out front of Nanaimo Regional General Hospital Saturday afternoon, before heading to the downtown fire hall and Nanaimo RCMP detachment.

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Berger said the cancellation of this year’s festival has hurt the bathtub society.

“We’re a non-profit so it’s the funding and getting everything together. We had all our talent and everything booked and we had to cancel all the parties. We had to cancel (races at) Oak Bay, Father’s Day at Departure Bay, it’s really heartbreaking.”

Terry Berger from the bathtub society points to a new decal on the S.S. Bill McGuire saluting front line workers and first responders. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Many competitors have continued fine-tuning their skills ahead of a hopeful return to the water in 2021.

alex.rawnsley@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alexrawnsley