Update #1 — Numbers, Discord, and more!

February 16, 2025

Tod’s Nanaimo Invasion
▶︎ Join our Discord! ◀︎

Update #1

Thank you for registering to come to my little Canadian city of Nanaimo B.C. in April!

Here’s an update of where things stand:

First, we now have more than 2,000 people saying they are likely to come!

Even if only 10% of you show up, that will make a huge difference to my city’s economy, which is already feeling the effects of the Trump tariffs — so thank you so much!! ❤️ 

  1. THE DATE: I have not picked a date, but the most popular in the forms was April 25-27 weekend. This is not confirmed, so please don’t make travel arrangements quite yet.

  2. WHAT’S NEXT: On Tuesday, I’ll be calling the City and Tourism Nanaimo to make sure the date isn’t conflicting with anything big happening. As soon as it’s confirmed, I’ll email you!

  3. DISCOUNTS: And once that’s nailed down, I’ll spend a few days trying to get discounts for you all the the local hotels and campgrounds, local restaurants, and attractions. No promises, but I’ll try!

In the meantime, I could use your help with something. Last night, TikTok took my original video down (they didn’t like that I mentioned weed). Here’s the video — could you please share it and comment on it? Let’s get it viral again 🙂 

Oh and we have a Discord now, with channels about lodging, food, activities for kids, and more. You can join it by going to https://b.link/nanaimodiscord

Okay that’s it for today. Thank you again for your love and support! We Canadians have always valued the close relationship we share with Americans, and we’re just so honoured (yes, that’s how you spell that word) that you’ve got our backs when things go sideways.

I’ll email you again soon!

Tod ❤️ 🇨🇦 

Frequently Asked Questions

🛳️ How will we get to Nanaimo?
Get yourself to Vancouver, then it's a quick trip to Nanaimo on Vancouver Island (oddly, the city of Vancouver is NOT on Vancouver Island). Here are all the transportation options, but the main ones are:

🏨 Where should we stay?
We have tonnes of accommodations in Nanaimo — from campsites to luxury hotels. You are responsible for coordinating and paying for your own accommodation. I will send you a list of recommendations in the coming days as long as you’re on the email list, and there’s already some suggestions in the Discord.

🛂 Do we need passports and a visa to enter Canada?
Here's more information on all that. (You can check to see if your criminal history makes you inadmissable here.)

🇨🇦 Can we stay/immigrate?
Canada needs more healthcare and skilled workers, and we have several fast-track immigration programs. There are also paths to residency and citizenship for others.
Here’s some info: Immigrating • Residency • Refugees

🖤 Are black people and LGBTQ+ people welcome?
OMG ABSOLUTELY! In Canada, you are seen, welcome, and loved. ❤️ 🖤 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️

♿ How accessible is Nanaimo?
Pretty good, actually. Canada has strong building code requirements for accessibility, and I will try to get an Accessible Guide to Nanaimo put together soon to send out!

🐈 Can we bring our dog/cat?
Probably! Some hotels will let you have your pet with you. Just make sure you understand what the requirements at the border are.

👧🏻 Can we bring our kids?
Of course! Here are some activity ideas. (Remember, I’m not coordinating any activities. There isn't any kind of formal "tour" or activity. This is just people showing up on the same weekend.) I’ll send out a lot more kid-friendly activity suggestions once we have the date locked in.

😎 What is the weather like in April?
It averages about 18°-20° Celsius (that’s about 68° in Freedom Degrees 🦅🇺🇸)

🕺🏻 What activities are being planned?
By me? None. By you? Whatever you want! 🙂 I’m just a guy who had an idea on TikTok to have everyone show up on the same weekend. I’ll be posting ideas and tourism info, and maybe we can arrange some kind of big meetup, but this is not a “tour.”