Some of the bakers found it surprising that it was a group in Ontario that took the record, knowing the pride Nanaimo has for the bar. Photo: Lauryn Mackenzie / CHLY 101.7fm

Editor’s note: Interviews with Nanaimo bar bakers can be heard in the audio version.

On May 17, people near and far gathered at Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo to see the unveiling of a record-breaking Nanaimo bar.

But within less than two months, Nanaimo has been dethroned from this record.

On May 17, students in the culinary arts and professional baking and pastry arts program at VIU unveiled a record-breaking, 1,100-pound Nanaimo bar. The event was a fundraiser for the culinary programs to purchase new ovens.

Across the country, another group used this Canada Day to unveil an even bigger Nanaimo bar. Northwest Fudge Factory, located in Levack, Ontario, unveiled a 1,200-pound Nanaimo on July 1st, beating out Nanaimo’s record by 100 pounds.

Following the news that Nanaimo is no longer home to the world’s largest Nanaimo bar, CHLY visited shops and bakeries on the Nanaimo Bar Trail to see what locals thought about the city losing the record.

Some of the bakers found it surprising that it was a group in Ontario that took the record, knowing the pride Nanaimo has for the bar.

Others said Ontario taking the record is just another challenge for the city, hoping maybe one day, Nanaimo will once again be home to the world’s largest Nanaimo bar.

The Nanaimo Bar Trail, run by Tourism Nanaimo, highlights local businesses in Nanaimo for locals and tourists who want to get their hands on the city’s signature dessert.

While Nanaimo no longer has the record of having the world’s largest Nanaimo Bar, Nanaimo mayor Leonard Krog says it’s no surprise someone would want to top their record.

“Rumours were circulating, and have been for some time, that the winning Nanaimo bar, so to speak, the home of the biggest Nanaimo bar in the world, would face challenges,” Krog said. “So I'm not surprised entirely, but perhaps a little disappointed in the sense that I think it's only appropriate that the birthplace of the most beloved confectionery, the Nanaimo bar, in fact, now faces a challenge from Ontario. I would have thought that they would respect the fact that the West wants in, and this is just part of it.”

He admits losing the record raises some interest in taking on the challenge of bringing back the record to the harbour city.

“It is certainly a challenge. The logical group to take it on would be the VIU program once again, having said that, I don't think they have much interest, time, energy or the money, given the challenges the university faces to do that right now,” Krog said. “But you know what? None of us are going anywhere for a while, so maybe not next year, the year after that. But Nanaimo is not going to give up its title easily, nor should it.”

And even if Nanaimo can’t be home to the world’s largest Nanaimo bar, Mayor Krog says there is so much more Nanaimo has to offer and for the community to celebrate.

“Nanaimo is special for a whole series of reasons, it's not one thing in particular. You can start with the geographic location, you can start with history, you can start with the beauties of Saysutshun Island and our parks, you can start with the weather, you can start with the wonderful campus of Vancouver Island University, and the international students that it attracts,” Krog said. “You can start with a whole series of things, and all of that is found within one small, by world standards, city, not readily found in many other cities, all in one grouping. And frankly, located on the west coast of the most wonderful country in the world, Canada, a modern, liberal, stable democracy with public education and public health care. So what makes Nanaimo special? All of the above.”

With files from Juniper Knight

Funding Note: This story was produced with funding support from the Local Journalism Initiative, administered by the Community Radio Fund of Canada.