Almost seven decades ago the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, which killed nearly as many people as Nanaimo has in population today.
To mark the event, which took place on Aug. 6, 1945, there will be lantern ceremony at Maffeo Sutton Park’s Swy-a-lana Lagoon tomorrow (Aug. 6) at 9 p.m. The ceremony will feature approximately 35 unique lanterns.
Organizer Dyane Brown said the annual event, called the Hiroshima Lantern Ceremony, is held to uphold the Harbour City’s status as a nuclear-free zone.
“It’s keeping with Nanaimo’s status as a nuclear-free city, which came to council about 15 years ago or so,” Brown said.
The lantern ceremony will also feature live music from Aunalee Boyd, the Everybody Sings Choir, and The Owl and the Pussycat.
“The Owl and the Pussycat is a couple that sings peace songs,” Brown said. “They usually come about 15 minutes before the ceremony begins and they play.”
For more information, please visit www.bit.ly/1tL6H6C or contact Dyane Brown at dyanebrown@shaw.ca.