The Empire Days Celebration Society says it’s keeping its name, even though it means missing out on grant money from the City.
Nanaimo Council voted to ask the group to change their name before agreeing to hand over more than $5000 in cultural grants.
The name has been the focus of controversy for years. Many, including the Snuneymuxw First Nation, find it distasteful because of its ties to colonialism. Councillor Bill Yoachim says the commonwealth formally abandoned the term “empire” in 1958.
The Society’s members voted against changing the name at their recent meeting. Mayor Bill McKay will be sitting down with the Society for a meeting on Wednesday.
