Modern Pirate

Frank Ney, Nanaimo's former Mayor...

If you stroll Nanaimo's waterfront you'll come across this intriguing statue. It's a man wearing period costume complete with a bizarre hat with feathers sticking out of it. He wields a sword that he is waving toward the heavens.

The statue honours former Nanaimo mayor, Frank Ney, who died in 1992. He was a 'CHARACTER' in every sense of the word. As mayor, he was fond of attending civic events while dressed as a pirate. He was also instrumental in promoting the early Nanaimo bathtub races which are a regular event during the summer in Nanaimo to this day.