Bathtub racing started in Nanaimo, British Columbia and involves the use of a bathtub boat. Event is part of Nanaimo Marine Festival and put on by Loyal Nanaimo Bathtub Society held every July by the  The idea was conceived to showcase Nanaimo to the world, with the first races beginning with the "Nanaimo to Vancouver Great International World Championship Bathtub Race" in 1967. Frank Ney, Nanaimo's mayor at the time, was one of the largest supporters and promoters of the annual race from its establishment until his death in 1992, and was an avid participant. He would regularly dress as a pirate and tour the town and surrounding communities. Until the 1990s, the race was held as a part of Vancouver's annual Marine Festival, when tubbers raced from Nanaimo to Vancouver's Kitsilano Beach.