Events

World Hemophilia Day, an annual observance that raises awareness of hemophilia and other bleeding disorders by World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) to honour its founder Frank Schnabel's birthday. The day will also emphasize the importance of proper hemophilia care and treatment.

CDH occurs when the diaphragm fails to fully form during pregnancy, allowing organs to migrate from the abdominal cavity into the chest cavity and thereby inhibiting lung growth. CDH strikes 1 in every 2500 babies. The overall survival rate is 50% while the cause is unknown.

Celebrate local with artisans and a plant sale, stewardship groups and volunteers, a native plant talk and walk and shared water and water protection programs.

An annual event to raise awareness about fertility and its impact on more than 1 in 6 people living in Canada. The event aims to educate the public about the causes and treatment options for fertility and the emotional, physical, and financial toll that it can take on those affected by it. In addition to raising awareness, CFAW also aims as a catalyst for increased advocacy for more universal and equitable access to fertility care throughout Canada.

The City of Nanaimo Parks & Recreation, Lions Club of Nanaimo, Country Grocer and many other community sponsors are proud to present the Lions Free Swims. Held Saturdays, April 27 to June 29, 1-2:30 pm at Nanaimo Aquatic Centre (no session on June 15).

Every year on April 29th, Make-A-Wish celebrates World Wish Day. This marks the anniversary of the wish that inspired the creation of Make-A-Wish. Make-A-Wish traces its inspiration to Christopher James Greicius, an energetic 7-year-old boy battling leukemia who wished to be a police officer. In 1980, his Phoenix community came together to make his wish come true. Little did Chris know that his wish would create a movement that would transform millions of lives. Little Chris passed away not long after his wish came true. but his legacy lives on. Today, Make-A-Wish has granted hundreds of thousands of life-changing wishes to children battling critical illnesses. Wishes that give families hope through dark times, strength to persevere and experiences that forever change their lives.

This year’s Mental Health Week will amplify some of the voices and spaces within which mental health exists across Canada, especially at the community level through non-profit agencies and programs.

World Ovarian Cancer Day — recognized on May 8 each year since 2013 — is an initiative of the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition, an organization that is an official Strategic Advocacy Partner of the IGCS and key ally within the International Gynecologic Cancer Advocacy Network to raise awareness in the fight against ovarian cancer.

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Awareness Month (M.C.S) is observed every year throughout May. M.C.S. is a chronic, physical illness that causes people to experience severe reactions when their bodies are exposed to very low levels of toxins or chemicals in food, chemical products, or their immediate environment. Though M.C.S. hasn’t been recognized as an illness, it’s still important to offer support to those forced to live with it, as well as raise more awareness about the illness itself.

Celebrate BC's annual Family Fishing Weekend with us! *Learn to Fish *Musical Entertainment *Trout Release

Fibromyalgia is a disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory and mood issues. Researchers believe that fibromyalgia amplifies painful sensations by affecting the way your brain and spinal cord process painful and nonpainful signals. Symptoms often begin after an event, such as physical trauma, surgery, infection or significant psychological stress. In other cases, symptoms gradually accumulate over time with no single triggering event. Women are more likely to develop fibromyalgia than are men.

Porphyria occurs when the body cannot convert compounds called 'porphyrins' into heme. Porphyria can affect the skin, nervous system, gastrointestinal system or all of these, depending on the specific type. Currently, there is no cure, but medical treatment and lifestyle changes can usually manage the symptoms. Symptoms of acute porphyrias may include: Severe pain in the belly, chest, legs or back. Digestive problems, such as constipation, nausea and vomiting. Muscle pain, tingling, numbness, weakness or paralysis.

May is Food Allergy Awareness Month in Canada to bring awareness and education of food allergy across the country. Food allergy is one of the leading causes of potentially life-threatening anaphylactic reactions and a public health concern in Canada, especially among children. Over 3 million Canadians are affected by food allergy, that’s 7.5% of the population. The impact of food allergy is far greater, with an estimated 50% of households being either directly or indirectly affected by food allergy.

Menstrual Health Day contributes to the normalization of menstruation, as menstruating is a natural bodily function, and access to menstrual products is as necessary as access to soap, water and toilet paper.

ALS is often called Lou Gehrig's disease after the baseball player who was diagnosed with it. The exact cause of the disease is still not known. A small number of cases are inherited. ALS often begins with muscle twitching and weakness in an arm or leg, trouble swallowing or slurred speech. Eventually ALS affects control of the muscles needed to move, speak, eat and breathe. There is no cure for this fatal disease.

June, the birth month of Helen Keller, was proclaimed by the Senate of Canada in 2015 as National Deafblind Awareness Month. Each June, people who are Deafblind, service providers, and supporters come together to 'Make a Wave from Coast to Coast', with a passion to make a difference and raise awareness.

To empower, celebrate, promote and create inclusivity, acceptance, and respect among persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities through advocacy, education, cultural activities and events in Nanaimo and surrounding communities.

CDKL5 stands for “cyclin-dependent kinase-like 5”. CDKL5 deficiency disorder is a rare developmental epileptic encephalopathy caused by mutations in the CDKL5 gene, and this can manifest in a broad range of clinical symptoms and severity. The hallmarks are early-onset, intractable epilepsy and neurodevelopmental delay impacting cognitive, motor, speech, and visual function. Although rare, the occurrence is believed to be ~1:40,000 -75,000 live births, making it one of the most common forms of genetic epilepsy.

Kidney cancer is cancer that begins in the kidneys. Your kidneys are two bean-shaped organs, each about the size of your fist. They're located behind your abdominal organs, with one kidney on each side of your spine. In adults, renal cell carcinoma is the most common type of kidney cancer. Other less common types of kidney cancer can occur. Young children are more likely to develop a kind of kidney cancer called Wilms' tumor. The incidence of kidney cancer seems to be increasing. One reason for this may be the fact that imaging techniques such as computerized tomography (CT) scans are being used more often. These tests may lead to the accidental discovery of more kidney cancers. Kidney cancer is often discovered at an early stage, when the cancer is small and confined to the kidney.

The City of Nanaimo Parks & Recreation, Lions Club of Nanaimo, Country Grocer and many other community sponsors are proud to present the Lions Free Swims. Held Saturdays, April 27 to June 29, 1-2:30 pm at Nanaimo Aquatic Centre (no session on June 15).