“It has been 75 years since the first use of the atomic bomb when the city of Hiroshima was reduced to ashes in 1945. To commemorate this event, for the past eighteen years, we have held a lantern ceremony at dusk,” wrote Dyane Brown from the Nanaimo Branch of WILPF, organizers of the event, in a letter address to the Nanaimo mayor and city council. “Because of COVID, we have had to develop a new plan.” Peace songs will be sung by Janette and Tristan prior to the event. At 1 pm Margaret Sutton will play her shakuhashi flute and every half hour there will be a reminder of Hiroshima Day and a minute of silence. Some of the lanterns will be on display at the park and everyone is encouraged to make a lantern of their own and put it in their window on August 6th. Because of COVID 19, instructions from the Chief Medical Officer of BC will be respected with social distancing and the distribution of masks if required.
