Council approved the Battle of the Atlantic event scheduled for Sunday, May 7 at Monday’s (April 10) regular council meeting. The event will be hosted by the Qualicum Beach Legion Branch 76.
Jack MacLean, an organizer for the event, said the legion’s event has two parts: a remembrance service and a parade along Veteran’s Way.
The memorial service will start at 10:30 a.m. followed by the parade and wreath-laying at the Qualicum Beach Legion cenotaph.
MacLean said the event involves five different branches from Nananimo to Bowser. Branch 76 president Don Taylor previously told The NEWS that the Battle of the Atlantic commemoration is hosted by each of these partners on a rotating basis, and this year is the Qualicum Beach branch’s turn to host.
MacLean told council invited guests include the Parksville, Qualicum Beach, Lantzville and Nanaimo mayors, the chair of the Regional District of Nanaimo, the local MLA and MP as well as Qualicum First Nations Chief Michael Recalma. The Canadian Forces Base Comox and the Canadian Forces Maritime Experimental and Test Ranges commanding officers will also be attending along with the Oceanside RCMP.
The Battle of the Atlantic was Canada’s longest military engagement of the Second World War, according to Veterans Affairs Canada. It lasted from September 1939 to May 1945 and was fought by the men and women of the Canadian Merchant Navy, the Royal Canadian Navy and the Royal Canadian Airforce. More than 4,600 service men and women lost their lives at sea.
The Battle of the Atlantic event will run from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. along Veteran’s Way. Monday’s agenda stated that the free, public event would have an estimated 75 participants and about 100 spectators.
Council also approved:
• The annual Fire and Ice Street Festival, scheduled for May 6 along Second Avenue. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The town also approved additional funding of about $1,100 to hire an electrician to assist the Fire and Ice Society with its event.
The event, which has been running for 25 years, will include a chilli cook-off, ice sculptures and music. The ticketed public event draws in about 5,000 spectators, according to Monday’s (April 10) agenda, and attracts more than 100 participants and has approximately 175 volunteers.
• The Six Pack SUP Series Qualicum Sprint is scheduled for Sunday, May 28 from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Qualicum Beach waterfront.
Fluid Fitness is hosting the third annual — the second in Qualicum Beach — sporting event. It is a stand-up paddle board race with competitive and recreational heats for adults and children. The event will have about 50 spectators and 30-40 participants, council was told.