Everyone loves a parade and the Nanaimo Lions Club Empire Day extravaganza is no exception.
Part of the 145th annual Nanaimo Empire Days celebration, this year’s parade paid tribute to 100 yeas of Shriners in the Harbour City.
Participants gathered on Victoria Road Sunday, and paraded through downtown Nanaimo to the cheers of the crowd lining the streets.
Parade entry winners included:
Parade Marshall Award – Gizeh Shriners, B.C. and Yukon.
Best service club – Gizeh Shriners, first; Eastern Star, second; and St. John Ambulance cadets, honourable mention.
Best theme – Nanaimo Hungarian Society.
Best motorized entry – Gizeh Shriners, first; Mid Island Vintage Tractor Club, second; Sprott-Shaw College, honourable mention; and Royal Canadian Sea Cadets/ Navy League Cadets, honourable mention.
Best cultural presentation – VI Visayan Association, first; Nanaimo Hungarian Society, second; and Gizeh Shriners, honourable mention.
Best children’s entry – Red Hot Chili Steppers, first; and Gizeh Shriners (Job’s Daughters), second.
Best classic car entry – Old English Car Club.
Best non-commercial entry – Loyal Nanaimo Bathtub Society, first; Roller Derby, second; Lake Cowichan, third; and Island Savings, honourable mention.
Best commercial entry – Spirit of the Lake City of Kelowna, first; Nanaimo Casino, second; Harbour City Music, third; and Loyal Nanaimo Bathtub Society, honourable mention.
Best marching unit – HMCS Nanaimo, first; and B.C. Corrections honour guard, second.
Best high school marching band – Kent Lake High School.
Best military band – Naden Band of Maritime Forces Pacific, first; Amphion Sea Cadets, first runner-up; and Navy League JP Bell Nanaimo, second runner-up.
Best pipe band – Pacific Gael Pipes and Drums.
Best community stage band – Harbour City Music.
Best community marching band – Nanaimo Concert Band.