Bastion Lighting Calendar

  • Bastion Lighting Colour Purple: International PURPLE DAY® for Epilepsy Awareness on March 26

    Mar 26, 2024

    Purple Day is an international grassroots effort dedicated to increasing awareness about epilepsy worldwide. Epilepsy is a brain disease where nerve cells don’t signal properly, which causes seizures. Seizures are uncontrolled bursts of electrical activities that change sensations, behaviors, awareness and muscle movements. Although epilepsy can’t be cured, many treatment options are available. Up to 70% of people with epilepsy can manage the disease with medications.
  • Bastion Lighting Colours Yellow, Green, Pink, Orange, Blue and Purple: Easter from              March 29 -  31

    Mar 29, 2024

    Easter is the Christian celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after his crucifixion, which is marked on Good Friday. Canadians commonly refer to Easter as the period from Good Friday through Easter Monday. Traditional events such as Easter egg hunts, parades, festivals and church services, are a various of ways that people mark this holiday around this country.
  • Bastion Lighting Colour Red: 100th Anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force Centennial on April 1

    Apr 1, 2024

    April 1, 2024 marks 100 years of service for the RCAF as an independent military element. The Centennial is a unique opportunity to celebrate this milestone with all Canadians. The RCAF has a physical presence in Nanaimo through 808 (Thunderbird) Wing, Royal Canadian Air Force Association, which connects current and former RCAF members who reside in the Nanaimo community. 205 (Collishaw) Air Cadet Squadron also resides in Nanaimo.
  • Bastion Lighting Colour Purple: National Dental Hygienists Week from April 4 - 8

    Apr 4, 2024

    The month of April is Oral Health Month and an important part of this celebration is National Dental Hygienists Week™, celebrated annually April 4-10. Focusing on the importance of maintaining good oral health practices and helping Canadians understand the role and importance of the dental hygiene profession, this annual event is organized by the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association (CDHA).
  • Bastion Lighting Colour Green: Green Shirt Day on April 7

    Apr 7, 2024

    Logan Boulet was a Humboldt Broncos defenseman who passed away (April 7, 2018) from his injuries in the bus crash of April 6, 2018. Logan had registered as an organ donor and had spoken to his parents about his wishes. His generous act saved six lives and inspired nearly 150,000 new donor registrations across Canada. Green Shirt Day is to honour, remember and recognize all the victims and families of that fatal crash and to continue Logan's legancy by for Canadians to register as organ donors.
  • Bastion Lighting Colours Green Grey, Blue and Red: Vimy Ridge Day on April 9

    Apr 9, 2024

    Throughout Canada, in each and every year, the ninth day of April is known as “Vimy Ridge Day”. Vimy Ridge Day remembers Canadians who fought in the battle of Vimy Ridge during World War I. The battle of Vimy Ridge, which was part of the larger battle of Arras in northern France, began on Easter Monday, which was April 9, in 1917. About 30,000 Canadians fought at Vimy Ridge and claimed victory. However, this victory came at a high cost. The Canadians suffered about 11,000 casualties. Of these, nearly 3,600 Canadians were killed. The Canadian National Vimy Memorial sits on a hill on land granted to Canada in northern France. This monument is inscribed with the names of 11,285 Canadian soldiers who were listed as missing or presumed dead in France. It stands as a tribute to all who served their country in battle and risked or gave their lives in the war.
  • Bastion Lighting Colour Blue: World Parkinson's Day on April 11

    Apr 11, 2024

    The first World Parkinson's Day (WPD) was held in April 1997. It was set up by the European Parkinson’s Disease Association (now known as Parkinson’s Europe) and co-sponsored by the World Health Organization (WHO). The date commemorates the birthday of Dr James Parkinson. Parkinson's disease is a progressive disorder that affects the nervous system and the parts of the body controlled by the nerves. Symptoms start slowly. The first symptom may be a barely noticeable tremor in just one hand. Tremors are common, but the disorder may also cause stiffness or slowing of movement. There is no cure but medications can and do provide significant improvement to symptoms.
  • Bastion Lighting Colour Red: World Hemophilia Day on April 17

    Apr 17, 2024

    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.
  • Bastion Lighting Colours Blue, Pink and Yellow: Global Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH) Awareness Day on April 19

    Apr 19, 2024

    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.
  • Bastion Lighting Colour Blue: World Wish Day on April 29

    Apr 29, 2024

    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.
  • Bastion Lighting Colour Green: Mental Health Week from May 6 -7 and 9 -10

    May 6, 2024

    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.
  • Bastion Lighting Colour Teal: World Ovarian Cancer Day on May 8

    May 8, 2024

    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.
  • Bastion Lighting Colours Yellow and Green: Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) Awareness on May 11 and 12

    May 11, 2024

    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.
  • Bastion Lighting Colour Purple: Fibromyalgia Awareness Day on May 13

    May 13, 2024

    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.
  • Bastion Lighting Colour Purple: Global Porphyria Awareness Day on May 18

    May 18, 2024

    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.
  • Bastion Lighting Colours Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple: Nanaimo Pride from June 4 - 11

    Jun 4, 2024

    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.
  • Bastion Lighting Colour Green: World Kidney Cancer Awareness Day on June 20

    Jun 20, 2024

    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.
  • Bastion Lighting Colours Red and White: Canada Day on July 1

    Jul 1, 2024

    The day commemorates the anniversary of the Constitution Act, which consolidated three territories into the single nation of Canada in 1867. Canadians across the country and around the world show their pride in their history, culture and achievements. It's been a day of celebration since 1868, where many festivities are held across the nation. Canada celebrated its 150th birthday in 2017.
  • Bastion Lighting Colour Red, Blue, White, Green, Gold: BC Day on August 5

    Aug 5, 2024

    British Columbia Day in Canada is the name for the first Monday in August when residents of British Columbia celebrate their local heritage.
  • Bastion Lighting Colour Blue: Prostate Cancer Awareness from September 1 - 7

    Sep 1, 2024

    September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, a month to join together to transform the future of prostate cancer for the 24,000 Canadians expected to be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year. Nearly 100% of people with prostate cancer will survive at least 5 years after their diagnosis if the cancer is caught early. But if it’s diagnosed late, just 3 in 10 people are expected to survive five years.

Requesting a Bastion Lighting event

If your organization or cause would like to have the Bastion lit, please visit our Bastion Lighting Requests page.

Contact Us

Administrative Assistant to Mayor & Council 250-755-4400
mayor.council@nanaimo.ca

Last updated: October 24, 2022

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