Nanaimo Celebrates Empire Days

Videos

Empire Days Parade 2009 | Video 02

see larger video

sourced by Barbara McPherson

• 

  Created by Barbara McPherson | add comment

• 

  Created by Barbara McPherson | add comment

• 

  Created by Barbara McPherson | add comment

• 

  Created by Barbara McPherson | add comment

• 

  Created by Barbara McPherson | add comment

Photos

Empire Days Parade 2009 | Photo 02

see larger image

uploaded by Barbara McPherson

Small town Nanaimoites turned out to watch the traditional May Day parade on Sunday.  The province wide holiday goes by various names - Victoria Day, Empire Day, 24th of May - but for the past 85 years in Nanaimo it has been Empire Day.  While there have been huge changes in the world in 85 years, one thing has remained steady and that is the sense of small town community that the town shares. 

The parade and the crowning of the May Queen is organized and sponsored by the Empire Days Society.  Over the years, some people in town have raised voices against using the word "Empire" as excluding those not of British heritage and praising a long dismantled British Empire.  Just as the British Empire has morphed into a Commonwealth of nations, so too has the Empire Days celebration.  Participants representing the Norwegian, Hungarian and Phillipino  communities were represented in the parade.  Those who disagreed with the use of "Empire" politely demonstrated their displeasure in the civic square.

The weather was perfect for a parade.  It was presided over by Queen Victoria herself, or maybe it was an actress, for this is a celebration of her birthday.  There were motorcycle cops with their lights flashing, marching bands, pretty girls and shiny cars.