By Dan Marhsall

Multi-day schedule of events coming together for Hometown Hockey visit to Nanaimo

Jan 8, 2017 | 6:46 AM

NANAIMO — A preliminary schedule of events has been released for the Rogers Hometown Hockey visit to Nanaimo.

It’s a two-day event on television, culminating with a live broadcast from Maffeo Sutton Park on Sunday, Feb. 26.

But around the city there will be several sites set up in the lead up to the final Sunday.

An outdoor skating rink at Maffeo Sutton Park will be available to the public between Feb. 18-26. Nanaimo city councillor Bill Bestwick says the Nanaimo Hospitality Association has chipped in $50,000 to sponsor part of the estimated $200,000 cost for the feature.

Another attraction will be inside the Swy-A-Lana Lagoon itself, where Bestwick says a venue will be constructed on stilts.

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A ball hockey tournament called the Old City Quarter Selby Cup has been confirmed for Feb. 18-19, and there will be two theatre performances put on by Nanaimo District Secondary School Feb. 22-23.

As part of the festival the Nanaimo Buccaneers will host a skate on Feb. 22 and they’re planning a home playoff game at the Ice Centre for the 23rd.

The Nanaimo Clippers also have a home game against Victoria on the 24th which will include a tailgate party.

Bestwick says the communication between the local committee and Rogers is weekly and even sometimes daily, with the next meeting of local stakeholders coming this week.

“We’ve got our next meeting Jan. 10 where there will be considerable updates on advancements and other activities that will take place,” said Bestwick.

He anticipates 15,000 to 20,000 people will be part of the festivities over the eight days of Hometown Hockey events.

One of the Rogers television hosts, Tara Sloane, typically participates in a day in the life segment in each community and Bestwick says she’ll be presented with a number of options.

“We want her to go for a paddle, we want her to be in a bathtub, we want her to be on Newcastle, we want her to do a trail up to the top of Mount Benson,” said Bestwick. “We want her to do all kinds of things in Nanaimo that our citizens get to do on a daily basis.”

Nanaimo council has approved a budget of more than $300,000 for the event, including the outdoor rink, a fireworks show on the final Sunday and a Snuneymuxw First Nation salmon BBQ.

There is a listing of the current events available at www.nanaimo.ca with further updates still to come over the next six weeks.