March 18, 2024

This Week...

Celebrate Water to Earth month, get involved in City decision making and get your tickets to the 2024 Culture Awards. Read on for more!

Water to Earth Month

Water to Earth Month is a month-long, activity packed celebration that takes place between World Water Day (March 22) and Earth Day (April 22). Here are some activities taking place this week:

  • March 22 from 6 - 8 pm: Super Hero Swim at Nanaimo Aquatic Centre
  • March 23 from 10 - 12 pm: Laugh at the Weather Workshop (course ID #115401)
  • March 23 from 11:45 am - 2:45 pm: Earth Hour Skate at Frank Crane Arena

For more details on the events and to register, check out the Water to Earth Month event page on the City website.

TEAM WATERSMART

Advisory Committee on Accessibility and Inclusiveness

Do you have a desire to get involved with your community by contributing to Council's decision making process and helping shape City policy? If so, we encourage you to apply for a volunteer position on Council's Advisory Committee on Accessibility and Inclusiveness. The term for this committee will end October 2026.

Interested residents must submit a completed application to Legislative
Services by 3:30 pm on Friday, March 29, 2024.

LEARN MORE

2024 Culture Awards

2024 Culture Awards tickets are now available (and they're free!).

On April 3 at 7 pm, celebrate the best of Nanaimo's arts and culture sector while enjoying an evening of entertainment by Nanaimo's very own local talent.

Tickets must be booked in advance and are available through the Port Theatre's website.

Did you know? The 2022 Excellence in Culture award recipient, Brendan Tang (pictured on the left), is a judge on the Great Canadian Pottery Throwdown on CBC! Watch his award video.


Photo credit: Sean Fenzl

Will Your Commute Be Affected This Week?

Hereโ€™s a list of up-to-date information on City construction projects. Make sure to plan your commute and, if possible, plan an alternate route. When approaching construction zones, please make sure to slow down and obey all signage and traffic personnel instructions. Thank you for your patience!

Midtown Water Supply Project

  • Construction in the Black Diamond Drive neighbourhood includes a 24 hour/day, road closure in both directions along Black Diamond Drive near the Crows Nest Place intersection for vehicular traffic. Drivers can access properties from either end of the road off Jingle Pot Drive.
  • The trail that connects VIU, the Black Diamond neighbourhood and Third Street is closed to the public. This area is an active construction site for the installation of the water supply main. Construction traffic will enter and exit the work zone at Third Street across from the Rotary Field House.
  • Commuters can expect minor delays and visual distractions along many streets in the City while construction continues on this project. Drivers, pay close attention to signage and the construction traffic as they enter and exit these sections of the project:
    • Labieux Road, off the Labieux Rd/Kenworth Rd roundabout
    • East Wellington, Westwood Road to Bowen Road
    • Griffiths Road, end to Madsen Road
    • Third Street across from the Rotary Fieldhouse
    • College Drive, near the Parkway intersection

Thank you for your patience! Learn more about this project: Midtown Water Supply Upgrades.

Terminal Avenue

  • Terminal Avenue upgrades will be ongoing between Commercial Street and Esplanade Street.
  • Commercial Street between Victoria/Albert/Wallace and Terminal Avenue will be converted to one way exit traffic for approximately the next month.
  • Commercial Street at Terminal Avenue heading towards Museum Way will have rotating daily closures for signal installation.
  • Commercial Street South, Gordon Street and Port Place Mall Access will be opened again on March 6. Concrete has been placed and paving will occur on March 5, weather permitting.
  • The sidewalk in front of Vancouver Island Convention Centre along Terminal Avenue will have rotating closures and pedestrian traffic will be provided with a detour onto Terminal.
  • The mid-block crosswalk at Gordon Street is closed until the installation of the new signals, expected late this year. Pedestrians please use the crosswalks at Commercial Street and Esplanade for safe crossing
  • Traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction.

Victoria Road Temporary Closure

  • Victoria Road is closed between Rainer Street and Needham Street to investigate and repair some settlement in the roadway.
  • A temporary detour along Seventh Street to Park Avenue to Fifth Street will be in place until the end of March while repair work is completed.
  • Local traffic has access to Victoria Road from each end of the closure.

Meredith Road Watermain Upgrade

  • Construction work is continuing on Meredith Road between Spencer Road and Forest Drive.
  • Typical construction hours are Monday to Thursday, 7 am to 5 pm.
  • Commuters are encouraged to avoid this area if possible. If that is not possible, expect delays and account for extra time when navigating the area
  • Detours will be instituted where possible
  • Obey all signs and traffic control persons

Weber Street & Bruce Avenue Area Utility Upgrades

  • Construction on Weber Street, Glen Crescent, Pedestrian Walkway, Plecas Crescent and Bruce Avenue is ongoing.
  • Watermain tie-in on Bruce Avenue at Mulberry Drive on Monday, March 18. Traffic on Bruce Avenue will be reduced to single-lane-alternating
  • Water service connections on Bruce Avenue, occasional traffic disruptions should be expected all week
  • Pedestrian walkway between Glen Crescent and Plecas Crescent will be closed all week, sanitary sewer main replacement ongoing
  • Traffic on Weber Street, Glen Crescent and Plecas Crescent will occasionally be reduced to single-lane-alternating.
  • Typical construction hours are Monday to Friday, 7:30 am to 5 pm.

First Street Area Project

  • The First Street Area project is now underway on Bowen Road, replacing sanitary sewer between Doric and Ashlar.
  • Hazelwood Construction is focusing on the south-east bound lane, so traffic will be limited to single lane alternating for that short stretch during working hours (7 am โ€“ 5 pm).
  • Vehicle traffic should slow down to avoid excessive bumps in the uneven pavement.

CURRENT CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

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Work With Us!

We are currently looking for candidates to fill the following positions:

  • Fire Fighters
  • Exhibit & Property Clerk - Permanent Part-Time
  • Deputy City Clerk
  • Client Support Specialist
  • Human Resource Advisor - Recruitment
  • 2024 Recreation Leader Vacancies
  • Seasonal Recreation Leader II - Inclusion
  • Buyer
  • Civil Design Technologist
  • Building Official
  • Financial Analyst - Temporary Full-Time
  • Casual Clerical Opportunities
  • Casuals - Police Services
  • Casual Pool - Custodian Relief
  • Casual Lifeguard/Instructors

JOB POSTINGS

A view from the Mayor's chair in the Shaw auditorium looking toward the audience

Meetings This Week

Monday, March 18: Regular Council Meeting in the Shaw Auditorium starting at 7 pm.

Wednesday, March 20: Finance and Audit Committee Meetinin the Shaw Auditorium starting at 9 am.

Thursday, March 21: Public Hearing Meeting in the Shaw Auditorium starting at 7 pm.

MEETINGS

 

If you are not able to attend or tune in live, you can always review decisions made at each Council meeting simply by reading the Council Meeting Summaries. These summaries are typically posted the day after each meeting.

COUNCIL MEETING SUMMARIES

Stay up to Date with Council, Programming and Events