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Posted on 9 July 2022 by admin

Nanaimo Dragon Boat Festival launches anticipated summer events season

“The racing is 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day and they leave the start line every eleven minutes,” Ages told NanaimoNewsNOW.

The 500 metre straight course starts at the southern edge of Newcastle Channel and ends at the Fishing and Walking Pier, often referred to as the crab dock.

Three teams compete at a time.

In addition to the races, all-day, on-shore entertainment takes over Maffeo Sutton Park, including live musical and dance performances, food trucks, a kids play area and beer garden.

Ages said dragon boaters from all over Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland are energized for the Nanaimo event.

“Its been really difficult for these athletes for the last two years…people are really excited to get together and congregate,” Ages said in reference to canceled local dragon boat festivals in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic.

Funds raised from the event supports the Nanaimo and District Hospital Foundation and BC Cancer Foundation.

Back-to-back breast cancer survivor races are scheduled starting at 12 p.m. on Saturday.

Ages said successful dragon boat teams require a blend of strength, preparation and diligent teamwork.

“They achieve medals by behaving as one unit, as one organism and that takes a lot of practice and a lot plain hard work.”

Dragon boating consists of 20 paddlers, a steerer and drummer.

The theme for this year’s festival is Life’s a Beach Party which will undoubtedly inspire some wild outfits. Prizes will be awarded to the mixed and women’s teams with the most colourful, tackiest beach attire and accessories.

More details on the event can be found here.

This is the first year Victoria based Fairway Gorge Paddling Club (FGPC) is running the entire Nanaimo event after serving as race coordinator for many years.

FGPC is staging the Vancouver Island Dragon Boat Race Series this year, involving five events in the spring and summer.

Apair of other high profile summer events are on deck at Maffeo Sutton Park, with the Silly Boat Regatta on on Sunday, July 17.

The Nanaimo Marine Festival takes place the following weekend, culminating with the world renowned bath tub race on Sunday, July 24.

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Posted on 28 June 2022 by admin

Parksville council considers funding for BC Culture Days events – Parksville Qualicum Beach News

Parksville council will take some time to review a sponsorship request by the Oceanside Community Arts Council (OCAC) to support area BC Culture Days activities this fall.

OCAC proposed five events, including a Ukrainian cultural festival, an art banner treasure hunt, a collaborative art exhibition, the Bedazzled Bra Breast Cancer Awareness Project and a film festival. BC Culture Days runs Sept. 23 to Oct. 16.

Hosting five events would designate Parksville as a hub and make it eligible for additional marketing, publicity and media coverage provided by Culture Days National, according to a presentation by Jennifer Bate, McMillan Arts Centre (MAC) executive director.

Bate said the event planners hope the Island Shorts film festival will engage local young filmmakers.

“This is a festival that will be of interest to young people that create TikTok short videos,” she said, during council’s June 20 regular meeting. “We’ve got two amazing judges.”

The plan is to award the top three films, as well as the ‘People’s Choice’. The winners will be announced on Oct. 17 and screened at the MAC, according to Bate. The festival’s theme is to be determined.

Council voted to defer the item to its next regular meeting on July 4, to allow members more time to consider the proposal.

The budget for all five events, including administrative and advertising costs, is $25,940, according to Bate’s presentation. Bate added the budget items were divided so that if OCAC does not receive the full requested amount, it could cancel one of the events, if necessary.

A motion by Coun. Marilyn Wilson to support the project with council contingency funds was defeated.

“I think the community really does need some more arts and culture,” Wilson said. “I think we’ve been locked away so long and this is a really interesting, healthy project that I think will stimulate a lot of minds and bring a lot of people to Parksville.”

Coun. Teresa Patterson asked if grant funding was available.

The city’s chief administrative officer, Keeva Kehler, said the COVID Relief Grant-In-Aid Program funding has been used up, but there is an option to use the council contingency fund of $25,000 a year. Kehler added very little, if any, of that fund has been used so far this year.

Coun. Adam Fras said the event plans look good, but he would rather defer the item to the next meeting to allow more time for consideration.

Fras’s motion passed with Wilson and Patterson opposed.

kevin.forsyth@pqbnews.com

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Posted on 20 June 2022 by admin

B.C. urges preparedness and strategy to fight extreme climate events

By Canadian Press

Jun 20, 2022 | 3:35 PM

VANCOUVER — The British Columbia government has released its new strategy to get the province ready to fight extreme weather that sets off heat, wildfires and flooding.

Environment Minister George Heyman says the plan includes enhanced roles for the BC Wildfire Service to prepare and prevent fires.

He highlighted the success of the community of Logan Lake, southwest of Kamloops, in its preparation that helped it avoid being overrun by an aggressive wildfire last August.

Logan Lake Mayor Robin Smith says the community had 18 years to prepare for such a fire, and her advice is that it’s important just to start somewhere and take the first step to protect properties and communities.

Posted on 3 May 2022 by admin

Nanaimo’s Wastelands buzzing again after second event in VIMX racing series

Some weekend rain did little to dampen atmosphere at the Wastelands, however it did cause some operational challenges with heavy machinery used to help maintain the track in between races.

“We had to delay our practice to Sunday morning because of weather but other than that it went very well.”

Wastelands hosted three events in 2021 as regular racing got underway post-pandemic restrictions. Two races were part of the VIMX series while a March season opener served as a club race.

Wiltsey added many kids and adults turned to motocross throughout shutdowns in other sports.

“Our membership at the Wastelands almost doubled through the pandemic. A big percentage of those are new riders. It’s been great for our sport to see new people into it.”

A full list of results for the event is available on the VIMX website, with division winners from the central Island listed below:

Ramido Galdames (Nanaimo) – 1st, 50cc open
Baelen Macklem (Qualicum Beach) – 1st, 65cc Open
Dylan Ramirez (Qualicum Beach) – 1st, 85cc 12-16 years old
Lucas Evans (Nanaimo) – 1st, Beginner Open
Nick Syrotuck (Nanaimo) – 1st, Plus 30
Luca Mihoc (Nanoose Bay) – 1st, Tykes 4-8 years old

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Posted on 8 March 2022 by admin

Parksville Community Centre Society acquires facility to be used for variety of events – Parksville Qualicum Beach News

The Parksville Community Centre Society (PCCS) has announced it is back in operation, following a 15-month hiatus.

A release issued by the organization read the PCCS will host a broad range of events, including business meetings, trade shows, educational seminars, sporting events, club gatherings, cultural events and concerts in Parksville starting in March.

According to the release, the PCCS board of directors, comprised of a group of community leaders who volunteer their time, have acquired the facilities at 223 Mills St. to be used as a new community centre.

“The board’s mandate is to ensure the centre continues to drive social and economic activity within the local community and encourage participation from all sectors, public, private, business and government,” read the release.

“As it is well known in the Parksville area, the PCCS no longer operates the facility at 132 Jensen Ave. as a result of the lease agreement not being renewed by Mayor Mayne and Parksville council on Jan. 1, 2021. The 223 Mills St. facility will make available six large rooms, between 600 and 850 square feet, which can be rented individually or together. There will also be available eight smaller offices that will be available for hourly, daily, weekly or monthly rentals.”

According to the release, the facility will take time to be cleaned and prepared before it is ready to welcome Parksville residents. The organization would like to invite community members to volunteer their services and help with preparations, including cleaning up the new centre.

“We know this will happen because many Parksville citizens and local businesses came together in 1948, and in 2001, volunteering time and donating funds to create the previous two centres. And we hope you will join us once again to show your Parksville pride so we can once again provide a community gathering space.”

General inquiries to the PCCS can be emailed to: Info@ParksvilleCentre.ca. Board-related matters or inquires can be emailed to: Board@ParksvilleCentre.ca.

– NEWS Staff, submitted

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