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March 31, 2025

This Week...

The Design Advisory Panel is seeking one new member, applications open for the Home Energy Financing Program and Lions Free Swims are back! Read on for more!
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Make a Difference in our Community!

Do you have knowledge and experience in urban design? Contribute your skills to help ensure new developments reflect the needs and character of Nanaimo on the Design Advisory Panel. We are recruiting for one volunteer member at-large position and applications are open until 4 pm on April 11.

The panel reviews the form and character of development permit proposals for multi-family, commercial and industrial developments in relation to the City’s design guidelines. It provides independent, objective recommendations to applicants, City staff and Council to improve design matters that affect the public realm.

The term of appointment for this position is three years, until April 2028, or as determined by Council.

APPLY TODAY
A calm, clear lake with a forest in the background under a blue sky with clouds.

Last Chance to Apply for Sustainability Grants

If you or your group are looking to take on environmental or climate issues or organize a watershed restoration project, we have two grants currently open for applications:

The application deadline is this Friday, April 4. For more information and to apply, check out the Grants page on our website.

GRANT INFO

Home Energy Financing Program

Are you looking to install a heat pump, add solar panels or improve the insulation in your home?

You may be eligible for an interest-free loan that you can pay off through your property taxes.

Applications for this program open on April 1 and will be accepted until May 15. 

PROGRAM INFO
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Woodgrove Area Plan

There's still time to share your input in the Woodgrove Area Plan Project. This project aims to create a plan to make the Woodgrove area a vibrant urban centre that is easy to move around in for all forms of transportation. A survey is open until April 7 and can be found on the project page on Get Involved Nanaimo. 

Participate today!

TAKE SURVEY
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Lions FREE Swims

Beginning this Saturday, April 5, enjoy free Everyone Welcome swims from 1-2:30 pm in the Nanaimo Aquatic Centre thanks to the Lions Club of Nanaimo and other generous community sponsors! Join us each Saturday (excluding April 26, May 17 and 24 and June 21) until June 28.

MORE INFO
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Calling All Mobile Food Trucks!

Bring your flavour to the festivities!

We are accepting mobile food vendor applications for Canada Day celebrations at Maffeo Sutton Park on Tuesday, July 1 from 11am-3:30pm.

For application information, send us an email.

EMAIL US!
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Upcoming City Events

  • March 22- April 22: Water to Earth Month

    • April 13: Herbal First Aid Kit Course - This class is designed to help you build your very own herbal first aid kit. You'll learn to prepare and use a variety of herbs and herbal medicines for common ailments and emergencies.

    • April 13: Earth Day Festival - Come down to the Bowen Park Complex from 10 am to 3 pm to celebrate and learn more about our local ecosystem.

    • All month, take part in a self-guided tour of raingardens in Nanaimo and throughout the regional district. Download your guide today.
  • April 16: Culture Awards - Celebrate Nanaimo's talent at the Culture Awards. The show will honour the 2025 Culture Award recipients and feature local entertainment. Tickets are free. Reserve your seat today!

Cool It! Climate Challenge: Walk, Bus & Cycle

We caught up with two grade 5 classes participating in the Cool-it! Climate Challenge and asked about the activities they participated in to reduce their carbon footprint. In the video above, we learn about their passion for commuting to school in sustainable ways.

COOL IT! PROGRAM
An overflowing recycling cart

Recycling 101

There's a lot more room in your blue cart than you think! When recycling collection day comes, make sure the lid closes on your blue cart.

To make more room, we recommend:

  • Squishing containers, especially cans.
  • Flattening cardboard boxes and breaking them down to 60 cm by 60 cm (2 feet x 2 feet).
  • Leave out returnable beverage containers (anything you pay a deposit on). Instead, return them to a depot to get your money back.

Make sure all items are placed loosely in the cart and aren't nested together or bagged (with the exception of shredded paper, which can be placed in a paper bag or small box). 

RECYCLING INFO
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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.

  • The intersection of Wall Street and Comox Road is being updated with new traffic lights, pedestrian crossings and altered Wall Street right turn. Bus stops 109974 and 110047 will be affected. Visit the RDN Transit page for more info.

  • Expect delays along Bowen, Boxwood and Northfield Roads as the Midtown Gateway Project continues. Until mid April, right turns for eastbound traffic on Northfield Road onto Boxwood Road will be closed 24 hours per day. Detours are in place. To keep up to date on any changes affecting transit service, visit the RDN Transit page for more info.

  • The following trailways will have occasional construction activity due to the Midtown Water Supply Project: between Labieux Road roundabout and the E&N Trail, between Third Street, VIU and the Black Diamond neighbourhood, between Northfield Road and Griffiths Road alongside the Parkway.

  • Commercial Street between Wharf Street and Church Street is closed to vehicles and Bastion Street is closed to vehicles between Skinner Street and Front Street. FREE daily 2-hour parking is available along downtown streets and on Levels 2 & 3 of the Bastion Street Parkade for the duration of the project.

  • The Townsite Area Utility Upgrades will see the connection of new water services and final paving on Oakley Street and Chelsea Street completed during the month of April. Roads will be closed intermittently and open to local traffic only.

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:

  • Casual Clerical Opportunities
  • Casuals - Police Services
  • Occupational Health & Safety Coordinator
  • Assistant Manager, Financial Planning
  • Police Support Clerk
  • Community Safety Officers
  • Manager, Revenue Services
  • Casual Pool - Custodian Relief
  • Police Information Clerk
  • Specialized Unit Support Clerk
  • Water Resources Specialist
  • Water Technician
  • Building Official
  • Casual Lifeguard/Instructors
  • Planning Assistant

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

Meetings This Week

Thursday, April 4: Board of Variance in Service and Resource Centre boardroom, 411 Dunsmuir St starting at 4 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
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Recap of City News

City of Nanaimo Seeking Volunteer for Design Advisory Panel

CITY NEWSROOM
Crowds walking along the waterfront walkway with Swy-A-Lana lagoon on the right and fruit tress in full bloom on the left.

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