📬 My Nanaimo This Week

March 2, 2026

This Week...

Get ready for spring and summer registration, tell us what you value about Nanaimo’s coastline and check out the temporary public art that has been put up around town. Read on for more!

What Do You Value About Nanaimo's Coastline?

Did you know? Nanaimo has over 30 km of coastline, which includes parks, natural areas, housing, active marinas, commercial buildings and industry. These coastal areas hold great significance to us as a community. As climate change causes sea levels to rise, we will need to develop resilient strategies to protect what's important to us along our coast. The City is developing a plan on how to manage and adapt to sea level rise and we want to hear from you about what you value most about our coastline. A survey is open until March 13, 2026. Learn more about this initiative here: www.getinvolvednanaimo.ca/sea-level-rise and share your thoughts.

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Lighting a Path: Artist Highlight

kwasilwit, Chenoa Point - "I am honoured to carry the weaving teachings passed down through my family and community. I am deeply grateful to Aunty Stephanie Thomas and my late Auntie Margaret Louise for their patience, guidance and generosity. I also acknowledge the Longhouse, where teachings are shared, relationships are strengthened and responsibilities to one another are learned. The Longhouse continues to guide my practice, reminding me that weaving is a living teaching rooted in community, culture and care. Through these teachings, I understand weaving as a lifelong journey. I feel truly blessed to continue the traditional teachings of our people and to walk in the Coast Salish ways with humility and respect."

Photo credit: Sean Fenzl

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Social Housing vs Market Housing (CITY of NANAIMO)

Pre-zoning Land for Social Housing

There is still time to give your feedback on the City’s plan to pre‑zone land for social housing. Pre‑zoning means a project would not need rezoning if 20 per cent of the units are offered at affordable rates. This helps speed up the delivery of social housing.

The proposal would apply to more than 2,000 parcels allowing additional building height and/or density when social housing is included in a market development and key criteria are met. Residents can review the interactive map, background information and FAQs before completing the survey.

Your feedback is important as we explore ways to support affordable housing in the community. Survey closes March 15, 2026.

LEARN MORE & TAKE THE SURVEY

Daylight Savings

There will soon be a little more light in the evening. Daylight Saving Time begins on March 8, when clocks are to be turned forward one hour.

Spring/Summer Programs - Get Ready for Registration

The Spring/Summer Activity Guide is now available to pick up or view online. Make sure you pick yours up to be ready for registration! It opens this week on Wednesday, March 4 at 6 am for Aquatic Programs and next week on Wednesday, March 11 at 6 am for all other programs.

ACTIVITY GUIDE

Lost Intersections - Public Art

Last week, we unveiled Lost Intersections, a temporary public art installation by Jackie Wong. The series features three illuminated markers placed at downtown sites connected to Nanaimo’s historic Chinatowns, encouraging residents and visitors to reflect on this important aspect of local heritage.

Each marker displays a red neon Chinese numeral - one, two and three - representing the City’s successive Chinatowns. Mounted on gold backings and enclosed in Plexiglas, the artworks are installed near Esplanade and Victoria Crescent, View Street and Bing Kee Street, and Pine Street and Hecate Street. The pieces are solar-powered and designed to produce soft, energy-efficient lighting that avoids unnecessary brightness and light pollution.

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Environmental Grants

Got an environmentally-focused project that will help meet the City's Green Goals? Funding is available for both the Community Watershed Restoration Grant (total of $20,000) and the Community Environmental Sustainability Project Grant (up to $5,000 available per project). Applications will be accepted until March 9, 2026 at 4pm.

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Poetry in the Harbour

Wednesday, March 11 | 7pm | FREE

Piper's Lagoon Lobby, Vancouver Island Conference Centre (Entrance is at 80 Commercial St)

Join Poet Laureate, Neil Surkan, and special guests for an evening of poetry at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre. March's event features poet, Junie Desil, as well as guest poets Délani Valin and Pamela Medland.

Junie Désil (pictured) is of Haitian ancestry, born of immigrant parents on the traditional territories of the Kanien’kehá:ka on the island known as Tiohtià:ke (Montréal), and raised in Treaty 1 Territory (Winnipeg). Junie has performed at various literary events and festivals. Her work has appeared in Room Magazine, PRISM International, The Capilano Review and CV2.

Stay Connected

Be sure to check the City of Nanaimo’s Facebook page and website for urgent updates from Parks, Recreation and Culture. This includes alerts about severe weather, facility closures, program cancellations and other important notices. Staying informed helps you plan ahead and avoid surprises. Visit our online channels regularly to keep up-to-date and ensure you have the latest details when it matters most.

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.

Expect single lane alternating traffic on Third St between Howard Ave and Pine St and on Fitzwilliam St between Pine St and Milton St. Consider alternative routes to avoid delays.
Expect single lane alternating traffic and, at times, eastbound lane closures on Jingle Pot Rd at the intersection of Holland Rd. Eastbound traffic watch for possible detour using Holland Rd and Ashlee Rd.
Expect single lane alternating traffic on Godfrey Rd between Grace Place and Dunster Rd and on Dunster Rd between Godfrey Rd and Maureen Way.
Expect delays due to single lane alternating traffic along Hammond Bay Rd at Rutherford Rd intersection while crews commence working on replacing the traffic signals. Traffic signals at Hammond Bay Rd and Rutherford Rd intersection will not be operational and will be manually controlled.
Expect delays due to single lane alternating traffic along Hammond Bay Rd at Turner Rd and McGirr Rd intersection while crews work on replacing a sanitary sewer. Traffic signals at Hammond Bay Rd and Turner Rd intersection will not be operational and will be manually controlled.
Expect delays or detours due to single lane alternating traffic or road closures on Applecross Rd between Dover Rd and Calinda St while crews work on asphalt paving and intersection crossing improvements.

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

Work With Us!

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

Casual Refuse Collector/Operators
Casual Pool - Custodian Relief
Municipal Services Inspector
Casual Clerks - Finance
Community Safety Officers
Planning Technician
Water Technician
Planner I
Operations Support Supervisor
Aquatic Supervisor
Police Support Clerk
Lifeguard/Instructor
Casual Arena Maintenance Worker
Building Official
Casual Lifeguard/Instructors
Casual Clerk Opportunities
Casuals - Police Services

JOB POSTINGS

Header for Council and Committees section

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

Meetings This Week

Monday, March 2: Regular Council Meeting in the Shaw Auditorium starting at 4.30 pm.

Thursday, March 5: Board of Variance Meeting in the SARC boardroom 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