World Ocean Day is Saturday June 8th. First proposed back in 1992 by Canada's International Centre for Ocean Development (ICOD), an organization that no longer exists, the event was officially recognized by the United Nations in 2008. This year the theme is Catalyzing Action for Our Ocean & Climate. There are going to be an events to mark the occasion Saturday at Maffeo Sutton Park in Nanaimo, from 11 to 3, and on Gabriola Island at Degnen Bay from noon to four. To mark the occasion, Midcoast Morning spoke with Tim Green of VIU’s Deep Bay Marine Research Centre. The Nanaimo Pride Parade and Pride Festival are taking place on Sunday June 9th. CHLY reporter Lauryn Mackenzie spoke with Nanaimo Pride Society President Lauren Semple.