Canada 2020 - Celebrating Together While Apart

Share your celebrations on Instagram using #nanaimocanadastrong

NEWS RELEASE - Distributed June 15, 2020 3:44 PM

Canada Day festivities will be a lot different this year across the country. Because of the global pandemic, the traditional celebrations normally taking place in Nanaimo at Maffeo Sutton Park with live entertainment, activities and a memorable gigantic maple leaf cake will be replaced with ideas to help citizens prepare for their own back yard celebrations.

Citizens will be encouraged to observe Canada's birthday in their back yards with family or those who are in their small social circle, and Parks, Recreation and Culture will be there to help with the planning for those festivities.

Residents are invited to go to the City of Nanaimo website, Facebook Page and follow the Parks and Recreation Instagram Page (@nanaimoparksandrec) daily from June 22 until July 1. Each day a video will be posted featuring members of the community that celebrates Canadian culture, promotes national pride and gives tips and ideas on enhancing back yard Canada Day celebrations. The video topics will include food ideas, decorating tips and family fun activities.

In addition, contests will be posted through Instagram on the days leading up to Canada Day where followers can win prizes by identifying well-known Nanaimo sites. The hashtag #nanaimocanadastrong will be used with each Instagram post.

On July 1, Canada Day Ambassadors will be on site at four Nanaimo parks demonstrating random acts of kindness and handing out Canada Day-themed items to help enhance backyard celebrations as the nation celebrates Canada's 153rd birthday.

In order to facilitate small groups, the Canada Day ambassadors will be travelling throughout the following parks:

• Bowen Park
• Maffeo Sutton Park
• Westwood Lake Park
• Neck Point Park

Tracy Stuart, a recreation coordinator with the City of Nanaimo says, "even though we can't celebrate our nation's birthday together while we practice physical distancing, we can still celebrate apart. We are excited to be able to share through our videos tips on making your 2020 Canada Day as memorable as possible. This will be a great time to be together as families and remember how fortunate we are to be Canadian."

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