An estimated 500 America visitors gathered for a group photo with Nanaimo residents in Maffeo Sutton Park Saturday, in a massive show of neighbour solidarity. 

“I’m overwhelmed. My heart is full. I could not have imagined that this many people would come to support the mid-Island, and just Canada as a whole. I mean there’s hundreds of them,” said Tod Maffin, a Nanaimo resident, who helped organize the event named, Nanaimo Infusion.

Sallie Vallereux and her husband travelled from North Carolina, to be part of the weekend event.

“I’m just so happy to be in a place where everyone’s like-minded with me and believes the same stuff. And it’s heartwarming to see everyone is united in the craziness that is going on in America,” Vallereux told CHEK News on Saturday.

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Kevin Keating and his wife travelled from Seattle.

We were a little pensive about coming across the border, just because of the rhetoric that comes out of D.C. But we came across no problem, and it’s great to see so many people so open and like us,” said Keating who planned to spend the time touring restaurants, waterfalls and mid-Island beaches. 

The event was set in motion months ago when Nanaimo man, Todd Maffin posted an invitation to Americans on TikTok, welcoming them to his hometown for the weekend, and encouraging them to spend money at local businesses that have been hard hit by U.S. tariffs.

“We are just so sorry how our president is handling other countries. It’s horrible,” said Vallereux.

“It’s made a big difference and we are so grateful to have you here,” Nanaimo’s Mayor Leonard Krog told the gathered crowd of Americans on Saturday.

“I just think it is absolutely wonderful to know how many wonderful Americans know how much Canadians feel about them, and how close we are,” said Nanaimo resident Diana Baker.

“It’s heartwarming. I just want to cry. It’s beautiful. Really is,” said Nanaimo resident Julie Jameson. 

“Look at all the people here. This feeling is so inclusive and so fabulous,” said Nanaimo resident Barbara Densmore, who volunteered for the Nanaimo Infusion gathering.

“When you have hundreds of people in a shoulder season coming into a resource town hit hard by tariffs, how can it not make a difference,” said Maffin.

The U.S. visitors were expected to stay in Nanaimo all weekend-long, spending thousands of dollars to support Canada during their stay.