Tourism News
Current Media Release:
-
You are Invited: Maffeo Sutton Park Open House
-
Living Our Culture 2008 Cultural Capital of Canada - Nanaimo
-
Farmer’s Market Opens at Nanaimo North!
-
Nanaimo Named in TripAdvisor Top 25 Canadian Destinations
Open House Invitation
Maffeo Sutton and Georgia Park are Nanaimo's premier waterfront parks with excellent links to the downtown and popular Harbourfront walkway. In February 2008, the City of Nanaimo received a $500,000 grant to develop a Spirit Square in Maffeo Sutton Park. This money will augment the $1.6 million already allocated to the park development this year. Conceptual designs for the park are now underway.
The City of Nanaimo is interested in hearing the public's park improvement ideas, you are invited to attend a:
PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE
Thursday, May 15, 2008
4-8pm
Lion's Pavilion in Maffeo Sutton Park
Living Our Culture
2008 Cultural Capital of Canada - Nanaimo BC
Come Celebrate with Us!
Come join us in 2008 as Nanaimo celebrates its rich cultural diversity and showcases its energetic and creative people by “Living Our Culture” through various art forms. See live music, dance, storytelling, theatre, cultural celebrations, art displays, demonstrations and workshops. Nanaimo’s Cultural Capital program will make Canada proud to have Nanaimo as Cultural Capital in 2008.
Nanaimo was one of only four Canadian cities awarded the prestigious title in 2008. These national Cultural Capital awards recognize and support Canadian municipalities for special activities that harness the many benefits of arts and culture in community life.
Designation as a Cultural Capital of Canada in 2008 will enable our community to invest more in arts and culture, and promote, increase and improve our cultural services. The investment will strengthen our economy, improve quality of life for residents and visitors, and enhance community identity and reputation. It gives us an opportunity to celebrate our arts and cultural achievements and build a legacy of cultural development in our community.
As a Cultural Capital, Nanaimo will be “Living Our Culture” with five celebratory multi-event programs that involve a wide variety of cultures, disciplines and ages, engaging professional and amateur artists. We’ll also introduce four legacy events that will build a lasting arts and cultural legacy for our community.
We invite you to join us in this exciting and unprecedented year of celebration. There will be many opportunities for you and your family to enjoy all the activities and events of the Nanaimo Cultural Capital program in 2008.
Camela Tang, Chair, Cultural Capital of Canada Organizing Committee
Bob Kuhn, Manager, Nanaimo Cultural Capital of Canada
Info: 250-716-7877 / info@nanaimoculturalcapital.ca
Farmer’s Market Opens at Nanaimo North!
Saturday, May 3rd will mark the first official Farmer’s Market event at Nanaimo North Town Centre. Market Fresh, a Farrmer’s Market is based on the make it, bake it, grow it belief, sprouted as a way to offer consumers local produce and products directly from the growers and farmers in the community.
The bell will ring promptly at 10 am and the market will be open for sales. Customers are invited to enjoy the plethora of local produce and natural goods. Over 20 vendors will offer everything from bedding plants, baked goods, meat, seafood, jams and jellies, fresh cut flowers, honey, organic coffee and more!
Festivities will kick off at 11:00 am under the Market Fresh tent near Sears and Montana’s restaurant.
Performing on the Market Fresh stage will be:
11-12 Daisy the Cow and Farmer Vicki from Island Farms
Noon to 1 Peter Batt Jazz duo
1 to 2 Nanaimo Recycling Exchange interactive composting
The Wave 102.3 FM radio station will be on site doing live cut ins and announcing Market Specials and prize giveaways courtesy of our in mall retailers!
We are so excited to be able to host the Nanaimo North Farmer’s Market. We have had such a great and positive response from our vendors and members of the community,” says Carlene Patenaude, Marketing Director, “The Nanaimo North Farmer’s Market was put together so that we could aid in providing a way to get fresh and local food directly to the consumer and provide the farmers more choices for days and times to sell their products.”
The Nanaimo North Farmer’s Market is a venue that will provide the consumer this direct access they are looking for and also to assist in filling the need for a variety of healthy, nutritious, and fresh food in the community. Nanaimo North hopes that this will be a popular location to showcase the ever increasing number of Nanaimo and Island farmers and their unique contributions to the community.
Working with the BC Association of Farmer’s Markets, Nanaimo North will be hosting BC150 Celebrations including a BC Day ceremony as well as working with local non profit organizations to put together displays and other seminars surrounding culture, people, heritage events that are part of what makes up our province today. A non-profit component, seminars and workshops will round out the Farmer’s Market offerings every Saturday.
Market Fresh at Nanaimo North Town Centre will run every Saturday from 10 am to 2 pm beginning May 3rd to October 11th.
For more information contact:
Fay Laing, General Manager or Carlene Patenaude, Marketing Director
Nanaimo North Town Centre Nanaimo North Town Centre
Direct: 250-758-8111 ext 124 Direct: 250-758-8111 ext 122
flaing@nanaimonorth.com
cpatenaude@nanaimonorth.com
Nanaimo Named in TripAdvisor Top 25 Canadian Destinations
Nanaimo BC has been chosen as a best destination in the Top 25 Canada category by TripAdvisor® in the 2008 Travelers’ Choice® Destinations Awards. In their inaugural year, the TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Destinations Awards honour the world’s top destinations, earning their distinction from those who know them best – real travelers.
Only TripAdvisor’s Destinations Awards represent the opinions of millions of travelers. The winners were determined by a combination of TripAdvisor’s travelers’ favourite places and overall popularity on TripAdvisor.
“Whether it’s for their unique beauty, or abundance of attractions, the 2008 Travelers’ Choice Destinations Awards honour the most beloved destinations from around the world,” said Michele Perry, vice president of global communications for TripAdvisor. “Determined by millions of travelers, the Travelers’ Choice Destinations Awards are unique because they single out not just popular places but truly exceptional places that enthrall travelers and keep them coming back.”
Chelsea Barr, Communications Clerk with Destination Nanaimo, is thrilled to see Nanaimo in the top 25. "An important part of my role is ensuring Nanaimo information is available on-line. The reality is on-line reviews, blogs and social forums are key components of the travel research one does when planning to visit a specific destination." "Destination Nanaimo and Tourism Nanaimo realize that an on-line presence is a vital part of a successful destination marketing plan" said Hannah King, Destination Marketing Coordinator. Destination Nanaimo continues to encourage visitors, guests and locals to post their Nanaimo experiences on TripAdvisor.
Nanaimo is located on the east coast of Vancouver Island, 113 km north of Victoria, and 55 km across the Strait of Georgia from Vancouver. Nanaimo is Vancouver Island’s second largest city, B.C.’s third oldest city and the ancestral home of the Snuneymuxw First Nation, a Coast Salish people. It is no wonder Nanaimo is listed in the top 25, it has one of the most beautiful harbourfronts on the west coast. A 5-km walkway winds along the shoreline with views over to Newcastle, Protection and Gabriola Islands. Nanaimo is a 2008 Cultural Capital of Canada, home to one-of-a-kind festivals and events and is a popular shopping destination.
To plan your trip to Nanaimo, visit Tourism Nanaimo's website www.tourismnanaimo.com. Flip through the on-line Nanaimo Visitor Guide and Restaurant Guide. To read the Nanaimo reviews, go to TripAdvisor.com and for the complete 2008 Travelers’ Choice list, visit www.tripadvisor.com/TCDestinations.
About TripAdvisor Media Network
TripAdvisor® Media Network, operated by TripAdvisor, LLC, attracts nearly 30 million monthly visitors* across ten popular travel brands. TripAdvisor-branded sites make up the largest travel community in the world, with more than 25 million monthly visitors*, six million registered members and 15 million reviews and opinions. Featuring real advice from real travelers, TripAdvisor-branded sites cover 300,000+ hotels and attractions and operate in the U.S., the U.K., Ireland, France, Germany and Italy.
Contact:
Chelsea Barr
Media Relations & Travel Trade
City of Nanaimo
P: 250.755.4505
Toll Free: 1.888.810.3388
F: 250.755.4404
Chelsea.barr@nanaimo.ca