Events
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Lions FREE Swim 2025
Apr 5, 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). -
Lions FREE Swim 2025
Apr 12, 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 Colours Red and Blue on April 14, 2025 for Emergency Service Dispatchers and 9-1-1 Awareness Week
Apr 14, 2025
The week highlights the crucial role every Emergency Service Dispatchers plays in keeping communities, police, fire, and ambulance personnel safe. It is also the opportunity to recognize each emergency communications professional and express collective appreciation for their hard work and unwavering dedication to public safety. -
Bastion Lighting Colours Blue, Green and Yellow on April 15, 2025 for World Art Day
Apr 15, 2025
Each year, on 15th April, World Art Day celebrations help to: reinforce the links between artistic creations and society; encourage greater awareness of the diversity of artistic expressions; highlight the contribution of artists to sustainable development. -
Bastion Lighting Colours Blue, Pink and Yellow on April 16, 2025 for Global Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness Day
Apr 16, 2025
Global Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH) Awareness Day is to raise awareness about this serious birth defect, where a baby's diaphragm fails to fully form, allowing abdominal organs to enter the chest cavity. -
Bastion Lighting Colour Red on April 17, 2025 for World Hemophilia Day
Apr 17, 2025
On April 17, 2025, the global bleeding disorders community will come together to celebrate World Hemophilia Day. This year’s theme is “Access for all: Women and girls bleed too”. Today, women and girls with bleeding disorders (WGBDs) are still underdiagnosed and underserved. The global bleeding disorders community has the power—and the responsibility—to change this. Through recognition, diagnosis, treatment, and care, the quality of life of women and girls will improve, and the bleeding disorders community will become stronger. -
Bastion Lighting Colours Yellow, Green, Pink, Orange, Blue, and Purple from April 18 - 21, 2025 for Easter
Apr 18, 2025
Easter is a religious Christian holiday observed around the world to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the spiritual leader of Christianity—and to Christians, the son of God. But with some aspects of the holiday rooted in pagan and Jewish traditions, the origin of Easter dates back to centuries before Christ was even born. -
Lions FREE Swim 2025
Apr 19, 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 Green on April 24, 2025 for Canadian Fertility Awareness Week (CFAW)
Apr 24, 2025
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. -
Bastion Lighting Colours Red, Orange, Blue, Green, and Yellow on April 25, 2025 for Human Values Day
Apr 25, 2025
Peace in society can be attained only by each of us embracing the eternal and universal human values of truth, right conduct, peace, love and nonviolence. Therefore, for sustainable global peace and happiness, the practice of human values in our daily lives is most important. -
Bastion Lighting Colour Blue on April 29, 2025 for World Wish Day
Apr 29, 2025
World Wish Day 2025, celebrated on April 29th, commemorates the founding wish that inspired the creation of Make-A-Wish Foundations worldwide, marking the anniversary of the wish granted to Christopher Greicius in 1980. He was 7 years old and battling leukemia, had his wish to be a police officer for a day granted, inspiring the founding of Make-A- Wish Foundation. -
Bastion Lighting Colours Grey, Yellow and Teal on May 3, 2025 for Brain Cancer Awareness
May 3, 2025
Brain Cancer Canada is a national charity, 100% volunteer, that funds research, neurosurgical technologies, and advocates for increased options for effective treatment of primary malignant brain tumours, pediatric and adult. -
Lions FREE Swim 2025
May 3, 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 Colours Red and White on May 5, 2025 for the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of the Netherlands
May 5, 2025
Veterans Affairs Canada and their partners will mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. From the fall of 1944 to the spring of 1945, Canadian soldiers played a pivotal role in liberating the Netherlands town by town. Their perseverance paved the road to liberation and the eventual surrender of the remaining German forces. -
Bastion Lighting Colouring Yellow and Blue on May 6, 2025 for Falun Dafa Day Celebrating 33rd Anniversary
May 6, 2025
Falun Dafa, also known as Falun Gong, is a spiritual practice and a meditation discipline that originated in China in the early 1990s. It combines gentle qigong exercises, sitting meditation, and moral teachings centered on the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. The practice is rooted in ancient Chinese traditions and emphasizes self-cultivation and spiritual development. -
Lions FREE Swim 2025
May 10, 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). -
Family Fishing Day 2025
May 11, 2025, 10:00 AM
Celebrate BC's annual Family Fishing Weekend with us! *Learn to Fish *Musical Entertainment *Trout Release -
Bastion Lighting Colour Purple for Fibromyalgia Awareness Day on May 12, 2025
May 12, 2025
Every year, on May 12th, millions of people hold events to raise awareness for fibromyalgia, an invisible and debilitating chronic condition. Fibromyalgia can cause pain, fatigue, and lack of sleep, which can make it difficult to do daily activities or work. Other symptoms include: Muscle stiffness Difficulty sleeping or staying asleep Mental process problems, such as difficulty remembering things or concentrating Treatments can help relieve pain and prevent flare-ups. Some people with fibromyalgia experience fewer flare-ups and milder symptoms after finding treatments that work for them -
Bastion Lighting Colours Yellow and Green on May 13, 2025 for Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Awareness Day
May 13, 2025
This day is dedicated to raising awareness about the condition known as Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) and advocating for understanding and support for those affected by it. -
Bastion Lighting Colours Blue and Purple on May 15, 2025 for Huntington 's Disease Awareness #LightUp4HD
May 15, 2025
The Light It Up 4 HD campaign was created by the Huntington Society of Canada and due to their outstanding efforts, this campaign has grown into a global movement where buildings, monuments, and statues worldwide light up in blue and purple in the month of May to raise awareness of Huntington’s disease. Huntington's disease (HD) is an inherited disorder that causes nerve cells (neurons) in parts of the brain to gradually break down and die. The disease attacks areas of the brain that help to control voluntary (intentional) movement, as well as other areas.
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: February 26, 2025
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