One coastline, so many ideas
Enjoy a lively marine festival or contemplate some lovely murals
In 1967, Canada’s 100th anniversary, the former prime minister of Canada, Lester B. Pearson, encouraged every community in the country to celebrate in a special way. One citizen of Nanaimo—with the help of local businesses—had the idea to put a boat motor on a bathtub and race from Nanaimo to Vancouver. This brainwave evolved into the coastal community’s unique way of celebrating Canada’s centennial; the race attracted 200 entrants, of which 47 completed the 36-mile course to Vancouver’s Fisherman’s Cove across the Salish Sea.
Row, row, row your bathtub
Bill McGuire, a long-time resident of Nanaimo, raced in the inaugural event in 1967, which was supposed to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Instead, the bathtub race continued to be held every year, growing exponentially. Next July will be the 45th year of the Great International World Championship Bathtub Race. McGuire is the president, or commodore—all the members have nautical names—of the Loyal Nanaimo Bathtub Society and said that this event has turned into a four-day festival.
“What evolved from the bathtub races is now the Nanaimo Marine Festival,” said McGuire. “Our signature event is the race, but we have a pretty harbour and we put on a lot of events down there for the three days preceding the bathtub race.”
McGuire said that over the years, the bathtub races have changed significantly, especially when it comes to safety. All racers are required to have an escort boat and the race starts at 11 a.m. instead of 10 a.m., which generally means less windy conditions in Nanaimo Harbour. Another interesting development in the bathtub races has been the technology and boat motor modification.
“With time it has turned into a competitive sport,” said McGuire. “We have 11 races throughout the year . . . What has evolved from that is . . . a stock class, a modified class and a super-modified class. We have all three classes racing at the same time. But it is not uncommon, with the weather that we have here, for the stock motors to beat out the real fast ones . . . the standard tubs take the bad weather a lot better.”
Roaring to the finish line
Every fourth Sunday of July, the Great International World Championship Bathtub Race starts in Nanaimo Harbour. Today, the race ends at Nanaimo’s Departure Bay, instead of Fisherman’s Cove. The gruelling course circles Entrance Island, goes up to and around Winchelsea Island, then back to Departure Bay. McGuire said that this race has attracted a lot of international attention; other areas across the world have their own bathtub races, which has helped draw more boat racers to Nanaimo.
“Over the years, we have had entries from Japan and Australia and New Zealand,” said McGuire.
When asked where he finds his passion for this annual event, McGuire said that he personally only raced in 1967 and 1968, but he quickly realized the potential of the bathtub races and the attention it could bring to the beautiful harbour.
“I have a passion for the sport and what it has done for Nanaimo,” said McGuire. “It has really put the community on the map. And it is a fun family event. I brought up my son and daughter in Nanaimo and (supporting the bathtub races) is a little bit that I like to do for the community.”
Murals meet the eye
Meanwhile, Chemainus, a 50-minute drive from Nanaimo, is a coastal community that has embraced the arts in a big way. Chemainus is internationally renowned for the outdoor murals—42 at last count—that grace the town. Be on the lookout for carvings and statues too.
In the early 1980s, Karl Schutz and a group of volunteers started the Festival of Murals Society. Scattered about the community, visitors will see many murals with vivid images that range from early century trains to members of the Japanese-Canadian community in flowing silk kimonos. One mural depicts Charlie Abbott, a man who lived alone in the woods of Chemainus and created the Hermit Trails.
