Welcome to our beautiful Island home, friends! 🏝️
And welcome to Canada — where you and your family matter, regardless of who you love, where your family is from, or how many trans kids you have. ❤
The weather will be perfect, and the Discord is hopping with photos of everyone en route. It’s going to be a wonderful weekend, and we are all so very grateful you’ve chosen to spend it with us.
Don’t forget to wear a red lanyard (any kind will do). Lots of stores have them available for sale if you forgot yours. Attendance to the Nanaimo Art Gallery is free if you are wearing one!
Here’s what’s happening today!
Friday Events
Get Adopted by a Local! Our Nanaimo Infusion welcome group has maps, free lanyards, and locals to chat with at Maffeo Sutton Park all day today — and sign up to be “adopted” by for the weekend by a local! (Look for Barbara, who will be hard to miss, because she will be wearing a Nanaimo Bar on her head. You probably think I’m kidding about that.)
Hospital Open House (👩🏻⚕️ healthcare workers only please): 1-4pm, Room P1021, Nanaimo Hospital — no pre-registration needed. Island Health (our regional public health employer) people will be there to chat about jobs here on Vancouver Island, career paths, introduce you to local leaders, etc!
Food Truck Festival: B.C. has some of the best food in the world, and the Nanaimo Food Truck Festival is happening today at Maffeo Sutton Park! Sample Canadian and international street food from our wide variety of eclectic food trucks. (Parking will be tight. Here’s alternative parking, and the park is only about a 10 minute walk from downtown along the beautiful marketplace.)
Portside Market: Nanaimo’s seaside artisan market, 12-5. Features the “Cruising Ducks” tradition and shopping with “Market Clams.” Mingle with locals and cruise ship passengers who are also in town! On the waterfront at 94 Front St.
And 20+ other events at events.nanaimoinfusion.ca
When is the official “family photo” event?
There is only one “official” event — a big family photo at Maffeo Sutton park [map] downtown. It’ll happen tomorrow (Saturday April 25th) at noon sharp.
🅿️ Warning: With hundreds of people coming, parking will fill up early. Consider car-pooling, taking a cab, or walking (it’s only a 10-minute walk from downtown). Here are some other parking options nearby: parking.nanaimoinfusion.ca
Want more recommendations?
Here’s Jocelyn and my Top 10 Nanaimo recommendations!
And a few more…
That’s it for today!
Jocelyn and I will be out and about in town, so please stop us and say hi! We can’t wait to meet you!
P.S. Looking for food? Here’s a quick link to the restaurants in town!
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