The much anticipated family photo at Maffeo Sutton Park on Saturday, April 26, brought together hundreds of visitors and locals in front of the NANAIMO sign. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

cross-border support

‘It’s been everything we hoped for:’ Nanaimo Infusion draws hundreds of visitors to mid-Island

Apr 26, 2025 | 11:03 AM

NANAIMO — Visitors from all over the United States and around the world have touched down in the Harbour City this weekend, the result of a viral video encouraging visitors to visit the Great White North.

Sparked by a viral video in February, this weekend’s Nanaimo Infusion saw hundreds of primarily American tourists arrive and stay on the Island and experience some famous Canadian hospitality.

Tod Maffin, the man behind the video, spoke to the crowd inside the Lions Pavilion Saturday, April 26, thanking the estimated 500 people for coming out and making this cross-border event come to life.

“I want to thank you for your friendship. There’s a lot of noise between our borders right now, and I think that this just really proves that the bond we have between our countries, person to person, is always going to be strong. I really believe that.”

Organizer Tod Maffin addresses the crowd at Maffeo Sutton Park on Saturday. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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Visitors included Glen Cleary from Puyallup, Washington, who arrived on Friday with his wife Charity.

“We’ve just had so much fun exploring. We went to Malahat Tower yesterday, and we even stopped at Canadian Tire because it just looks like a cool place to go. So we’re really looking forward to spending the day here. We had some great poutine here from the food trucks last night. We’re just taking it all in and it’s been everything we hoped for so far.”

They plan to take a few more days to enjoy Vancouver Island and the Mainland.

He said in the end, it’s about treating others how you want to be treated, and it’s a great reminder we’re all in this together.

“These could be our neighbours, this could be a day in a park in our hometown. Everybody is just as friendly and it’s great to be reminded of that, that it isn’t an us versus them situation.”

Lexy Salazar from Seattle, Washington, saw Maffin’s video online and knew they had to use this opportunity to visit Nanaimo for the first time, having only been to Victoria in the past.

Salazar said she loves Canada, and with the political situation going on right now, it’s more important than ever to support us.

“I think for me, that’s what it is, unity. Right now in America, there’s all these feelings of separation, and…things seem off and it’s comforting to know that so many people from all over can just get together in the act of friend. It kind of gives me the fuzzies. So we’re just here to make friends and just hang out with everybody.”

Hundreds posed for a family photo at Maffeo Sutton Park on Saturday. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Andy, from Marysville, Washington, found Maffin’s video on TikTok, with his wife ensuring they all had their passports ready for the trip up north to “support Canada.”

“Beautiful weather, really friendly people, Nanaimo bars are out of this world amazing, can’t go wrong with that. We love the scenery up here. It’s not too different from Washington but a lot friendlier.”

Having only ever been to Ottawa before, Andy said he would absolutely be back, and looks forward to exploring Nanaimo’s downtown and meeting new people.

“I didn’t think there would be so many people that showed up from all around, but I wonder if this exceeded expectations or not, I bet it did. It just goes to show how much we still love our northern neighbours.”

Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog greets visitors to Nanaimo prior to Saturday’s event. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Several visitors expressed frustrations around the current U.S. administration, and wanted to travel to Canada as a show of support.

“I’ve been wanting to come up to this area for years and as soon as I saw him speak about inviting all us Americans up here in light of what’s happening with our country, I went this is my sign,” Andrea Lopez from California said. “I’m just showing my support to Canada, because it’s not fair what [U.S. President Donald Trump’s] doing to your country and other countries…it’s a very scary time.”

Maffin was given a certificate of recognition by MLA for Nanaimo-Lantzville George Anderson after addressing the crowd, emphasizing the importance of coming together as people.

Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog said the so-called Infusion turned out to be exactly what Maffin envisioned: an event all about fun and friendship.

“Your presence here this morning you remind all of us that we share much more in common than we don’t share in common. We occupy a wonderful part in the world, we live in democratic countries, we enjoy that privilege, and we enjoy the opportunity to visit and, quite candidly, marry back and forth as I understand it for a number of you.”

Saturday also marked Maffin’s birthday, with the crowd singing Happy Birthday to him before the start of his remarks.

The family photo. (City of Nanaimo)

— with files from Joanne Dee, 102.3 The Wave

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