Tod MaffinCanadian Commentator, From Far and Wide · Emotional Support Canadian

Tod’s Nanaimo Infusion 2026

2 Feb 2026 · 2 min

Watch on YouTube

1:58

In this YouTube video, Tod Maffin addresses American viewers who have expressed support for Canada’s struggling economy. He recounts a previous grassroots tourism event—“Tod’s Nanaimo Infusion”—that was sparked by a TikTok and brought hundreds of U.S. visitors to Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, providing a noticeable boost to local businesses hit by Trump‑era tariffs, mine and mill closures, and a broader economic downturn. Building on that success, Maffin proposes a larger, unregistered three‑day gathering from April 24 to April 26, 2026. He outlines logistics (website 2026.nanaimoinfusion.ca, email list, Discord server, and an “Adopt an American” channel for local hosts), highlights attractions (hiking, whale watching, food trucks, brew pubs, a grocery store with rooftop goats, and the iconic Nanaimo bar), and invites specific interest groups such as healthcare workers to tour local clinics. The overall aim is to revive the local economy, reinforce cross‑border friendship, and showcase Nanaimo as a quiet gem in a beautiful region.

Americans, a lot of you have been in my comments saying you support Canada through all of this and our economy, and we see it. We really do. I have an idea. Last year, about this time, I invited Americans to come visit Nanaimo on Vancouver Island, where I live. What if we picked a day where all of you come up here? Hundreds of you did.
They showed up by the hundreds, flooding Vancouver Island this weekend, all because of a TikTok.
We called it Tod's Nanaimo Infusion because your presence really made a real difference in our local economy. Nanaimo is a resource town. We're a tourist destination. Mining first, forestry after that. And Trump's tariffs have hit us hard. Mills have closed, businesses have shut their doors. But when you showed up last year and ate in our restaurants, stayed in our campgrounds, wandered in our shops, it mattered. And I like to think we all got reminded that we are still friends across the border. So what if we did it again, only this time bigger? You come meet me and Jocelyne. If you work in healthcare, use it as a chance to check out our hospitals and clinics. If you love hiking, you'll be spoiled for choice. Appreciate a little Bob Marley, you know what I mean? That's all legal here. We've got food trucks and brew pubs and whale watching and a grocery store with goats that live on the roof. Nanaimo is a quiet little gem tucked into one of the most beautiful places on Earth, and some of the people who came last year never left. So let's do it again, April 24th to April 26th. You don't have to register, just book your flight. Everything you need is at 2026.nanaimoinfusion.ca. How to get here, what to do, there's an email list for updates, there's a link to our Discord where you can chat with hundreds of locals, get advice on antique shopping or where the best Nanaimo bar is. We even have a channel called Adopt an American where you can share a bit about yourself and someone local might scoop you up for the weekend, pick you up at the ferry, show you around, grab lunch, make it feel like home. If your heart has been nudging you north, this is your sign. We'll be waiting.