Events
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Bastion Lighting Colour Green on June 20, 21, and 22, 2025 for Brain Injury Awareness Month
Jun 20, 2025
In 2025, Brain Injury Awareness Month in Canada, which is observed in June, will focus on raising awareness about the prevalence of brain injuries, the obstacles faced by survivors, and the need for more support services and understanding through education to aid survivors to rebuild their lives and achieve their goals. -
Bastion Lighting Colour Red on June 24, 2025 for Cavernous Malformation Awareness Month
Jun 24, 2025
Cavernous Malformation Awareness Month is celebrated in June. It aims to raise awareness about cavernous malformations (CCMs), which are abnormal clusters of blood vessels in the brain. A cavernous malformation is an abnormal collection of thin-walled, leaky blood vessels, often found in the brain and spinal cord. These malformations, also known as cavernomas or cavernous hemangiomas, can cause neurological issues if they leak blood or cause pressure on surrounding tissue. -
Lions FREE Swim 2025
Jun 28, 2025, 1:00 PM
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 5-June 28, 1-2:30 pm at Nanaimo Aquatic Centre (no sessions on Apr 26, May 17, May 24 & Jun 21). -
Bastion Lighting Colour Lime Green on June 29 and 30, 2025 for Lights on for Lisa
Jun 29, 2025
Lights on for Lisa was organized as a sign of hope in guiding Lisa Marie Young home after going missing in Nanaimo on June 30, 2002. Lime green was her favourite colour. -
Bastion Lighting Colours Red and White on July 1, 2025 for Canada Day
Jul 1, 2025
Canada's national holiday is celebrated on July 1. 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. -
Bastion Lighting Colour Green on July 7, 2025 for National Injury Prevention Day
Jul 7, 2025
This annual health promotion day aims to raise awareness about the impact of preventable injuries in Canada. FACTS: Injury is the leading cause of death for Canadians ages 1 to 44. Every day, 48 Canadians die and 634 are hospitalized because of injuries. 75% of injury-related deaths are from unintentional causes, such as falls, car crashes, and poisonings. Falls are the leading cause of injury deaths and hospitalizations. -
Bastion Lighting Colour Pink on July 22, 2025 for World Fragile X Awareness Day
Jul 22, 2025
World Fragile X Day celebrates families impacted by Fragile X and highlights advances of research to find effective treatments and ultimately a cure. As the most common inherited single gene cause of autism, Fragile X is the best key we have to solving autism. Treatments for Fragile X are also likely to help people who have Alzheimer’s or other brain disorders. -
Bastion Lighting Colour Blue on July 25, 2025 for World Drowning Prevention Day
Jul 25, 2025
World Drowning Prevention Day, declared through the April 2021 UN General Assembly, Global drowning prevention is held annually on 25 July. This global advocacy event serves as an opportunity to highlight the tragic and profound impact of drowning on families and communities and offer life-saving solutions to prevent it. An estimated 236,000 people drown every year, and drowning is among the ten leading causes of death for children aged 5-14 years. More than 90% of drowning deaths occur in rivers, lakes, wells, domestic water storage vessels and swimming pools in low- and middle-income countries, with children and adolescents in rural areas disproportionately affected. -
Bastion Lighting Colours Red, Blue, White, Green and Gold on August 4, 2025 for British Columbia Day
Aug 4, 2025
BC Day, or British Columbia Day, is a public holiday celebrated in the province of British Columbia. It falls on the first Monday in August and celebrates the pioneering spirit, history and diverse cultural heritage of the province. -
Bastion Lighting Colours Pink and Yellow on August 7, 2025 for World PVNH (Periventricular Nodular Heterotopia) Awareness Day
Aug 7, 2025
PVNH, or Periventricular Nodular Heterotopia, is a malformation of the brain's cortical development characterized by abnormal clumping of grey matter (nerve cells) around the deep fluid chambers inside the brain called ventricles. It's a developmental brain disorder often associated with epilepsy and seizures. . -
Bastion Lighting Colour Orange from August 28 - 31, 2025 for Autoinflammatory Awareness Month
Aug 28, 2025
Refers to a condition where the body's innate immune system is triggered, causing inflammation without a clear infection or external trigger. This overactive inflammatory response can lead to fever, rashes, joint and muscle pain, and systemic inflammation. -
Bastion Lighting Colour Blue from September 1 - 7, 2025 for Prostate Cancer Awareness
Sep 1, 2025
In Canada, September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness about the most common cancer in men, encouraging early detection and support for those affected, with organizations like the Canadian Cancer Society and Prostate Cancer Foundation Canada playing key roles. While progress has been made, prostate cancer is still the most commonly diagnosed cancer among men in Canada. -
Bastion Lighting Colour Red on September 9, 2025 for FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder) Awareness Day
Sep 9, 2025
First celebrated in 1999, FASD day is devoted to raising awareness of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) to improve prevention of FASD and diagnosis and support for individuals with FASD. -
Bastion Lighting Colour Green On September 10, 11 and 12, 2025 for Living Donation Week
Sep 10, 2025
To bring awareness and to improve access to living organ donation, celebrate living organ donors, transplant recipients to provide hope and support for those currently waiting for a transplant and to inspire more people to become living organ donors! -
Bastion Lighting Colour Pink on September 13, 2025 for World Sepsis Day
Sep 13, 2025
Sepsis is a common and potentially life-threatening condition triggered by an infection which causes the body's immune system to go into overdrive, and if it not treated quickly, it can lead to multiple organ failure and death. -
Bastion Lighting Colour Orange on September 30, 2025 for National Day of Truth and Reconciliation
Sep 30, 2025
Each year, September 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The day honours the children who never returned home and Survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities. Public commemoration of the tragic and painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools is a vital component of the reconciliation process. -
Bastion Lighting Colours Red, Brown, Yellow and Orange on October 13, 2025 for Thanksgiving Day
Oct 13, 2025
Thanksgiving Day in Canada has been a holiday on the second Monday of October since 1957. It is a chance for people to give thanks for a good harvest and other fortunes in the past year. -
Bastion Lighting Colour Orange on October 31, 2025 for Halloween
Oct 31, 2025
It is a celebration of the end of the harvest season and the beginning of the dark, cold winter. It is also a time to remember the dead and to protect oneself from evil spirits. Halloween has its origins in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. -
Bastion Lighting Colour Purple and Green on November 1, 2025 for International Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome Awareness Day
Nov 1, 2025
Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS) is a rare and severe childhood-onset epilepsy syndrome characterized by multiple seizure types, intellectual disability, and a specific EEG pattern. It typically begins in early childhood, usually between ages 3 and 5. -
Bastion Lighting Colour Teal on November 3, 2025 for Alzheimer's Awareness
Nov 3, 2025
Light the World in Teal" is a global initiative by the Alzheimer's Foundation of America to raise awareness and support for Alzheimer's disease during Alzheimer's Awareness Month (November)
Special Events
The City of Nanaimo hosts special events year round, so check back here often or join us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter as we are always adding more!
Hosting a Special Event in a City of Nanaimo Park?
Do you have plans to host an event in one of Nanaimo's Parks?
If you are looking for community events happening in and around Nanaimo, visit www.tourismnanaimo.com and view the events page.
Clubs and Organizations in Nanaimo
The City of Nanaimo is home to several clubs and organizations. From arts, social, sports or community, check out this Clubs and Organization Listing and see how you can get involved! Email parksandrecreation@nanaimo.ca to add your non profit group to this list or to update your organization information.
Bastion Lighting Events
Do you have a cause or organization and would like to have a Bastion lighting event? Visit our Bastion Lighting Requests page to get details on how to qualify and request the Bastion be lit for you!
Last updated: June 11, 2025
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