A heartfelt thank you to all the volunteers who attended the Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon and who show up, give back, and strengthen our community every day. Scroll down to Current Events and page through to view photos!

RED Heart Breakfast Fundraiser

Thank you to everyone who attended the RED Heart Breakfast Fundraiser.

Your support through a donation helps keep our doors open and continue our community work.

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We’re grateful for the generous support of our partners and sponsors. Thank you for making this possible!

Founded in 1959, Mid Island Co-op is a community-owned co-operative serving the Vancouver Island region. It was established by local citizens as a member-owned alternative for goods and services and has since grown to include over 80,000 members.

Located on Vancouver Island, BC, Mid Island Co-op has been in business since 1959 and was created by local citizens as an alternative way to provide themselves with goods and services. We currently have more than 80,000 members throughout our territory, spanning from Cowichan Valley to Port Hardy.

In order to serve our members better, we are continuing to expand and develop Mid Island Co-op throughout the Mid Vancouver Island Region.

All of our profits stay in the communities we serve through re-investment in the Co-op, equity allocations to our member-owners and through contributions to community organizations and local youth.

Co-op is a different kind of business – we’re truly local. Your local Co-op was built by you and built for you. Each Co-op in Western Canada is independent, so it offers the products and services needed by the communities it serves.

As a co-operative, we’re not only working for your community, we’re owned by your community. We embed sustainability in our business by planning and investing for the long term, with our communities and environment in mind.

At Mid Island Co-op, we care about our families, friends and neighbours, as well as the communities where we live, work, and play – that’s why we are committed to supporting our community.

When you shop Co-op, you’re choosing a business that keeps 100% of its profits in your community. Our profits help to provide great jobs, build welcoming facilities and support local groups and charitable organizations that make our community a better place to live.

LiTL Events specializes in community-driven fundraising, connecting artists with charities to produce large-scale spectacles in British Columbia, most notably the upcoming GLITTER2026 gala in Nanaimo on September 12, 2026, which supports mental health programs. They have raised over $4 million through previous productions like Brilliant! and SHINE.

Our team has been connecting artists and charitable organizations since 2010 to the benefit of various charitable organizations as well as the community at large.

“Communities supporting Communities”

OUR GOAL

LiTLevents.com represents the evolution of 15+ years of extraordinary fundraising success, bringing proven expertise in creating spectacular community events that transform lives while raising over $5 million for vital healthcare causes.

Founded in 2025 as a collaborative partnership between Dean Thullner-Veljacic, Jeremy Mailloux, Ernest von Rosen and Cathy Holmes.

LiTLevents.com is built on the principle that creativity meets community impact, specializing in volunteer-driven, inclusive events that break down social barriers and unite diverse communities around shared values of hope and healing.

With a track record spanning Vancouver’s legendary Brilliant!, SHINE, and RED events, plus Vancouver Island’s successful SHINE 2022, the company has perfected the art of combining professional production values with authentic grassroots community engagement that celebrates all the diversity and cultural richness our communities have to offer.

Led by Dean who has over 40 years of experience as a successful business owner and is recognized as one of Vancouver’s leading charity event producers with Volume Studio Productions. For the past 35 years, he has inspired and empowered many individuals to participate in community giving. In 2017, Dean and his husband David relocated to Vancouver Island, where they embrace the island’s natural beauty, vibrant communities, and distinctive West Coast lifestyle.

Dean is deeply committed to supporting charitable organizations that focus on raising funds and awareness for causes such as HIV/AIDS, mental health, addiction, and human rights. He is passionate about confronting and eliminating stigmas, while promoting the values of equity, diversity, and inclusivity. Active involvement in the community and the opportunity to uplift others are central to Dean’s philosophy. He believes that providing a platform for others is essential to building stronger, more connected communities grounded in shared values.

Jeremy Mailloux is a Nanaimo-based community leader, advocate, and fundraiser with a track record of advancing health, arts, and social justice initiatives. Drawing on years of senior management and development experience, Jeremy blends strategic thinking with a hands-on commitment to community impact. He has led successful fundraising campaigns, championed advocacy efforts in health equity, and collaborated with local organizations to strengthen cultural and social infrastructure. With a unique balance of business acumen and grassroots activism, Jeremy is dedicated to building sustainable systems that create lasting change.

Cathy Holmes is a lifelong educator, community steward, and fierce believer in connection as a catalyst for change. With 35 years as a teacher and over a decade in radio and television—including five years producing Act3 for TV—she has created platforms where voices are heard, and advocacy takes root. Cathy has written for Nanaimo Voyager Magazine for more than a dozen years. She has hosted a weekly radio show on CHLY 101.7 FM since 2016, amplifying conversations on social justice, community care, and creativity. In her full-time work, she supports agencies addressing homelessness, mental health, substance use, and youth vulnerability.

Ernest von Rosen is the owner and Knowledge Architect of AMGmedia Works Inc., a Nanaimo-based digital studio that blends web development, e-commerce optimization, and data analytics with clean, human-centered design. Trained in physics, Ernest brings an analytical rigor to creative problem-solving, helping leaders translate business goals into measurable online results. Beyond his technical and creative work with photography, Ernest has a long history of sustained commitment to volunteerism and community building. He has spent over three decades contributing his skills and time to strengthen the cultural and social fabric in his home community of Vancouver and most recently in his new home, with his partner Brian, here in Nanaimo.

OUR GOAL

Our primary objective is to provide a platform for individuals who wish to give back, enabling them to help those in need. By doing so, we create opportunities for people to experience the genuine satisfaction that comes from supporting their community.

VISION

We aim to work seamlessly alongside artists and charitable organizations to become the preeminent fundraising group dedicated to enriching and improving lives. Our vision is guided by a commitment to excellence and meaningful, lasting impact.

MISSION

Our mission is rooted in the recognition of diversity, inclusion, and acceptance. We strive to raise both funds and awareness for the organizations we support, ensuring our efforts reflect the values of the communities we serve.

We bring together artistic members of the community, encouraging them to give with their hearts and talents, on their own terms, in the true spirit of generosity. With each event, we gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for the communities we engage and support.

Our team is vibrant, energetic, and caring. Each member is dedicated to reaching our goals, and we pride ourselves on being caring, colourful, community-minded, and courageous. It is inspiring and heartwarming to witness artists from diverse backgrounds come together, offering their talents to help those in need.

Nanaimo Association for Community Living (NACL) is a non-profit society dedicated to supporting people with developmental disabilities. Nanaimo Association for Community Living (NACL) is committed to supporting people with diversabilities. Our goal is to provide dignity and respect to each person, and to empower the people we serve to make their own informed choices that build on their self-determination.

NACL and the people we care for, as well as their families, accept the daily challenge to live innovative and fulfilled lives through a person-centered approach to life and living.

Our organization believes it’s important to listen to our people’s wants and needs. We believe in a holistic approach to life and living that examines all facets of an individual, in order to achieve personal growth and development.

Our desire is to have an inclusive Nanaimo community that understands and welcomes all members of the community as individuals.

INCLUSION

NACL is committed to removing barriers faced by individuals with diversabilities. Barriers prevent individuals from reaching their full potential.

NACL takes a leadership role in building an inclusive community. The concept of inclusion is the foundation of NACL’s values and principles. We strive to involve all people to be part of a fully-inclusive society. Only by seeing all people as equal can we truly be inclusive.

PERSON CENTERED PLANNING

NACL has adopted a person-centered culture for the people we serve. The format that is used to capture information about the individual we support and how they want to live their life is known as a Person Centered Plan.

The Person Centered Plan requires our support staff to spend time with the individual to understand their routines and what’s important to and for them. Training in Person Centered Planning is a way of thinking as much as it is a way of developing a plan.

ACCREDITATION

NACL has been proudly accredited by CARF (the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) since 2005. It reflects our deep commitment to providing quality programs and services, supported by respected sector-wide standards.

OUR MISSION

Through an unwavering commitment to delivering high quality services with integrity, to actively support as many people with diversabilities as possible in their journey to lead thriving lives.

OUR VISION

A world where all people with diversabilities thrive.

OUR PURPOSE

Nanaimo Association for Community Living and the people we care for and their families accept the daily challenge to live innovative and fulfilled lives through a person-centered approach to life and living.

Our organization believes it’s important to listen to our people’s wants and needs. We believe that a holistic approach to life and living examines all facets of an individual, in order to achieve personal growth and development.

Our desire at NACL is to have an inclusive Nanaimo community understand and welcome members of the community as individuals, and that the community see the value in building those bridges and opportunities in order for inclusion to take place.

WHAT ARE DIVERSABILITIES?

A person with diversabilities may develop differently than others. This difference varies greatly between individuals and may not be accompanied by a physical condition.

Many of us may confuse diversabilities (sometimes called developmental disabilities) with other disorders, or we may have been influenced by a variety of myths and stereotypes regarding the capabilities of people with diversabilities.

Individuals with diversabilities are able to participate in social activities, are able to work, and engage in life like we all do.

The Scott Parker Team is a well-established real estate group associated with RE/MAX Professionals in Nanaimo, British Columbia. Led by Scott Parker, who has over 20 years of experience in the industry, the team specializes in residential real estate across Central Vancouver Island.

With deep roots in the community and extensive market knowledge, our team has been helping families find their perfect homes. We understand that buying or selling a home is one of life’s biggest decisions, and we’re here to guide you every step of the way.

LOCAL EXPERTISE

Born and raised on Vancouver Island with intimate knowledge of every neighborhood

PERSONAL SERVICE

Dedicated support from initial consultation to closing and beyond

PROVEN RESULTS

Consistently ranked among the top real estate teams in the region

OUR MISSION

Our clients trust our team because we put their needs first, and genuinely care about getting them the best possible outcome. We revel in the opportunity to supersede all expectations: from our clients, our community, and our industry.

From the first consultation, you become a part of our team as we make a concerted effort towards a shared goal. At every step in the process, we empower you with the knowledge and information to get you into the right home for you and your family or find the right investment property.

ABOUT SCOTT PARKER

Scott has been in the Service and Marketing mindset since a young age, from his first window washing business with his cousin as a young ambitious kid, to starting out his own car cleaning service at the REMAX office.

First licensed as a Realtor in 2003 with RE/MAX, Scott has guided over 1000 families and friends through the real estate world and was recognized in 2018 with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award.

Whether it’s washing windows, cleaning cars or marketing real estate, the elements of success are the same. A passion for success, strong business ethics, and an unwavering commitment to excellence.

As your Real Estate Agent, Scott and his team strive to earn your long-term loyalty and trust by providing exceptional, personalized customer service. Scott does so by putting your needs first and caring for the outcome of the process. He takes your satisfaction personally, and looks forward to earning your trust.

ABOUT KEN HAMMER

With a personal practice of lifetime learning, Ken has devoted himself to an attitude of always being curious. He loves to serve, and with a 17-year career as a professor at VIU he has a unique combination of business, teaching and community experience. A modest man you would have to dig deep to know he is honored to have a high school in Ghana named after him.

As a Nanaimo REALTOR® Ken Hammer brings this business, teaching and community background to your home buying and selling experience. Ken looks forward to serving you!

These last few years have seen plenty of real estate activity and several personal adventures. The real estate market has been more balanced between sellers and buyers than in previous years and continues to evolve with new policies and guidelines. Prices and inventory have been holding steady.

Ken is looking forward to another strong year in real estate, especially serving our current and future clients and friends. Please let us know how we can support you!

ABOUT JANNIKA SANCHEZ

Executive Assistant

Jannika ensures seamless coordination and exceptional client service for our team. From scheduling appointments to managing communications, she’s your first point of contact for all your real estate needs.

THE RIGHT AGENT CAN LEAD THE WAY

As markets shift, you need an agent with the right connections, technology and strategies to achieve your home buying or selling vision. Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed and want someone to take the wheel, or you just need a second opinion and you have it covered, you can be rest assured a RE/MAX agent is the right agent for any level of service, in any market condition.