Annual Victoria Day weekend including parade and crowning of the year's May Queen in Nanaimo, British Columbia
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The Internet is a great way to make new buddies. It offers a glimpse into how people live in so many other parts of the world. Sometimes we hear tales of sorrow and joy but the good thing is that it is unusual news which we would maybe not see or hear with our local media coverage.
Internet buddy Barbara McPherson sent me the image above from this weekend's parade in British Columbia.
The weekend of 21st and 22nd May 2011 was the annual Victoria Dayweekend in Nanaimo, British Columbia, where B lives. It was the 144th parade. The parade celebrates Queen Victoria's birthday, long forgotten in the UK. I guess the weekend celebrates the country's links to the old British Empire, which will not sit well with all of the local people.
However, as a fun day out it sounds like it was a great event. Maypole dancing, a May Queen crowned, sports, music, a parade through the downtown area and a midway in the Civic Arena. As a Brit I have yet to discover what that last phrase means. Perhaps it is just midway the parade?
Nanaimo is situated along Highway 1, TransCanada, on the east coast of Vancouver Island. It is approximately 110 km north of Victoria. I guess its location in relation to Victoria means that it is fitting then, for those who want to, to celebrate Victoria Day. It also strikes me as odd that she is a long forgotten Queen in the UK, who British children may hardly have heard of.
Looking at Nanaimo online its seems that the town has more than its fair share of parades and events during the year. Good for them. My City should take a leaf out of their book. You can find the year's full itinerary here.
Nanaimo Empire Days have been celebrated since 1837. The event for 2011 kicked off on 14th May with the Heritage Tea St. Pauls Church Hall, Public and all, past May Queen Parties and friends of Empire Days welcome.
Flag raising and a proclamation followed on the Monday. Come Friday 20th May 2011, The new Queen was crowned. Saturday and Sunday saw the main events and parade, which were rounded off with a firework display
HUB MAIN IMAGE
The image belongs to Barbara McPherson. Contact myself in the first instance for permission to reproduce this image elsewhere. It is copyrighted to Barbara.
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The best thing about Nanaimo (I can say this with authority, living on Vancouver Island) is the Nanaimo Bar! A most delicious treat:) We do have a lot of monarchists here, the other day my son asked me why there is so often "Royal" in the names of places and things here: the Royal Jubilee Hospital, the "Royals" hockey team, Fort Royal Medical building... we love our association with Royalty!
A few scandals and tell-all interviews, followed by the fire at Windsor that forced Elizabeth to pay taxes, definitely took the shine off the monarchy... ;D
Dont know. Perhaps in time. The new generation have only ever known Eliazabeth and Victoria was such a long time ago. Plus in the UK we are not as Royalist as even 40 years ago.
So sad. Makes one wonder if the same will happen to the current Elizabeth after she's gone.
Yes and many cities still have such statues. The one in our city adorns the city centre loos though. What I meant is that Canada holds such celebrations whilst here in the UK people would not take a second glance at Victoria or any of her history
Amazing that current generations of British children will not have heard of Queen Victoria, what with that marvelous statue in front of Buck House and another in the middle of downtown Windsor. When I visited England, seemed like memorial to, and reminders of, her were everywhere! ;D
Neither did I! So many events around the world
Nice report about this parade. I had never knew about this before. Thanks for share with us. Well done, my friend. Rated up!
Prasetio
The internet is amazing I think
Wow, Ethel, that was interesting and amazing what all you find.
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Thnaks for thr insight island nurse asnd the visit of course.