December 22, 2025

This Week...

Season’s Greetings from the City of Nanaimo, join us at Winter Wonderland and share your poetry. Read on for more!

Holiday Hours

The City of Nanaimo wishes you good tidings this holiday season. City offices, City Hall and recreation centres will be closed or have reduced hours over the holidays, please check our website for details.

HOURS OF OPERATION

See you in 2026

We are taking a break from My Nanaimo This Week, making this the last edition of 2025. We wish you a Happy New Year! May 2026 be healthy and filled with joy.

Holiday Recycling Guide

Cleaning up after the holidays? We've put together a quick what goes where holiday guide:

π—•π—Ÿπ—¨π—˜ 𝗖𝗔π—₯𝗧: Tissue wrapping paper, paper gift wrap, rigid plastic packaging from toys (the stuff you need scissors to cut), greeting cards, cardboard boxes and shoe boxes. Please ensure that gift wrap is not lined with plastic or foil and that any electronic components from musical gift cards are removed and taken to an appropriate depot.

π—•π—Ÿπ—”π—–π—ž 𝗖𝗔π—₯𝗧: Napkins, ribbons, bows, tape, foam peanuts, ropes and tinsel.

π—šπ—₯π—˜π—˜π—‘ 𝗖𝗔π—₯𝗧: Food scraps, paper towel, disposable wooden utensils and parchment paper.

π——π—˜π—£π—’π—§ π—’π—‘π—Ÿπ—¬: Bubble wrap, styrofoam packaging, foil/metallic gift-wrapping paper, plastic shopping bags, old Christmas lights, batteries, glass jars and plastic shipping envelopes.

If there is something that is NOT listed here, visit the What Goes Where tool to find the nearest depot to recycle.

WHAT GOES WHERE TOOL

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Call for Poets

Poets of Nanaimo (and surrounding communities) ages 18 and above: you are invited to submit a poem to be included in a reading on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, in Piper's Lagoon Lobby (inside the Vancouver Island Conference Centre, Nanaimo, BC) at 7 pm. Neil Surkan, Poet Laureate of Nanaimo, will curate and host the event. The deadline for submissions is 11:59 pm, December 22, 2025.

Music in the Beban Breezeway

Join us as we celebrate the grand finale of Concerts in the Park 2025 during our magical Winter Wonderland in the Beban Breezeway! This festive event takes place on Saturday, December 27, and Sunday, December 28, offering two days of incredible live music, holiday cheer and community spirit. Wrap up the year with unforgettable performances in a cozy, winter-themed setting perfect for family and friends.

Performances:

Saturday, December 27

11:30 am: Woodstick

1:00 pm: Kelly Fawcett

2:30 pm: Theo Massop
 

SUBMISSIONS FOR 2026 CONCERTS IN THE PARK OPEN JANUARY 2

 

Sunday, December 28

11:30 am: Marsmetic

1:00 pm: LG Entertainment

2:30 pm: Big Awesome

Winter Wonderland

We are getting ready for Winter Wonderland! Join us for this popular event on December 24, and from December 26 to 31 where the Frank Crane will be transformed into a West Coast Winter Wonderland. All sessions will be free thanks to the generous support of local businesses and community organizations. See our website for the schedule.

Sponsored skates:

Saturday, December 27

  • 10 to 11:30 am (Parent & Tot) Woodgrove Centre
  • 11:45 am to 1:15 pm: Shaw Electric
  • 1:30 to 3 pm: Bach Real Estate
  • 3:15 to 4:45 pm: Central Drugs
  • 7:45 to 9:30 pm: VMAC 

Sunday, December 28

  • 9 am to 12 pm: (Pancake Breakfast)
  • 10 to 11:30 am: (Family Skate) Thrive Orthodontics
  • 11:45 am to 1:15 pm: Nanaimo Lions Club
  • 1:30 to 3 pm: Aspengrove School
  • 3:15 to 4:45 pm: Shaw Electric
  • 7:45 to 9:30 pm: Mosaic Forest Management

Activate 2026

2026 is less than two weeks away and Activate 2026 is happening!

Join us for Nanaimo’s New Year’s Day family event held at Beban Park on Thursday, January 1, from 12 to 5 pm. There will be swimming, skating, games, a magic show, bouncy castles, crafts, entertainment, food trucks and more! The cost is $10 per person with children 2 years and under free.

Get your tickets now at Beban Park, online using barcode #158270 or at the door. See our website for details.

LEARN MORE

Holiday Gift Cards

The joy of shared moments often outweighs the excitement of material thingsβ€”especially when those things are quickly outgrown or end up tucked away in storage. Instead of wondering what to buy, why not give something that encourages fun, health and connection all year long?

Consider an Active Pass with the City of Nanaimo Parks, Recreation and Culture! It’s the perfect way to unlock unlimited access to activities that keep everyone moving and smiling.

To purchase an Active Pass, visit one of our rec centres or call 250-756-5200.

Gift cards make a great stocking stuffer!

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Will Your Commute Be Affected This Week?

Here’s a list of up-to-date information on City construction projects. For more information on Nanaimo construction projects, visit the current Construction page on the City's website.

  • Construction on Third St and Fitzwilliam St will cease over the holidays and will resume on January 5.
  • Construction on Hammond Bay Rd (between Rutherford Rd and Turner Rd) will cease over the holidays and will resume late February, 2026.
  • Construction on Dickinson Rd (between Groveland Dr and Medd Rd) will cease over the holidays and will resume 5 January, 2026 while crews continue to work on replacing a water pressure reducing valve station. Expect slight delays due to single lane alternating traffic along Dickinson Rd. Avoid delays by taking Schook Rd and Dover Rd as an alternative route.
  • Expect single lane alternating traffic or eastbound lane closures at times on Jingle Pot Road at the intersection of Holland Road. Eastbound traffic watch for possible detour using Holland Road and Ashlee Road.

Note: All businesses in the construction areas are open unless otherwise posted. When approaching construction zones, please make sure to slow down and obey all signage and traffic personnel instructions. Remember that construction zone speed limits are 30 km/hr unless otherwise posted. If you know your commute is taking you through any of the areas below, please allow for additional time and plan ahead.

CURRENT CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

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Work With Us!

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

  • Aquatic Supervisor
  • Lifeguard/Instructors
  • Casual Arena Maintenance Worker
  • Building Official
  • Casual Lifeguard/Instructors
  • Casual Clerk Opportunities
  • Casuals - Police Services

JOB POSTINGS

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