In a CTV News segment, Tod Maffin and his wife Jocelyn discuss the second‑year Nanaimo Infusion, a voluntary program inviting Americans—especially healthcare workers—to visit Nanaimo, BC. An online RSVP form shows over 600 registrants, more than double the previous year, with roughly half being medical professionals. The initiative has sparked a separate healthcare‑focused infusion and expanded into a national movement now comprising about 43 chapters across Canada. Visitors will be identifiable by red lanyards, and locals can "adopt a visitor" to show them around. The hosts aim to integrate guests into the community through activities like hikes, coffees, dining, shopping, and camping, fostering cross‑border solidarity and support for neighbours north of the border.
Chapters
I have an idea. Last year, about this time, I invited Americans to come visit Nanaimo.
Nanaimo's Tod Maffin, along with his wife Jocelyn, have put out the call to Americans once again.
And I just wanted to invite you to Tod's Nanaimo Infusion, which is happening for the second year in a row.
And once again, Americans as well as Canadians have answered and will be in the Harbor City this weekend.
We do have a voluntary website up, which is like an RSVP form. We have over 600 people now that are that have said that they are booked and are coming.
That's more than double the amount who came last year. People Jocelyn says are looking to support their neighbours north of the border.
I don't think things are any less scary than they were last year, so I think people have told us that they wanted to see it happen again even more than last year.
More and more Americans working particularly in the medical field have made it clear that they have come north because of what they heard about Nanaimo through Infusion.
There was a trend that continues to grow this year this year as roughly half of the Americans who have registered are healthcare workers.
Learned how many healthcare workers were starting to look to the island and to BC.
The trend has spawned a separate healthcare infusion to help other communities in the country attract American healthcare workers, something Jocelyn and Tod have created a template for.
It's now a national movement with I think 43 chapters across the country.
There's no itinerary for American visitors this weekend, but you'll be able to spot them wearing red lanyards.
We want them out in the community eating in our restaurants, shopping in our stores, staying in our campgrounds.
And if you want to show people around, you can register to adopt a visitor.
Wouldn't it be great if we could also show them what the people are like?
It's things like hikes and coffees.
There will be a group photo taking Saturday afternoon at Maffeo Sutton Park. If you want to join, more information can be found on the Nanaimo Fusion website. Andy Garland, CTV News, Nanaimo.
