📬vMy Nanaimo This Week - November 2, 2026

November 2, 2026

This Week...

Join a Remembrance Day ceremony, remember to clean catch basins and check out our Poetry Trail. Read on for more!

Remembrance Ceremony

Every year, November 5 to 11 is Veterans' Week, an opportunity for Canadians to honour the extraordinary efforts and sacrifices of those who served to protect Canada. November 8 is Indigenous Veterans Day. The First Nations, Inuit and Métis people of Canada have a long and proud tradition of military service to our country. On November 11, pause in a moment of silence to honour and remember all those who have served, and continue to serve Canada during times of war, conflict and peace.

Nanaimo's Remembrance Day ceremony will take place on Wednesday, November 11 at 10:50 am in the Dallas Square Cenotaph.

Starting at 11 am, a parade will take place downtown prior to the ceremony along Front Street leading to the Dallas Square cenotaph and the following roads will be closed from 9 am to 1 pm:

Skinner Street,
Chapel Street,
Church Street, and
Front Street from Church to Chapel St

City offices and rec centres, with the exception of an Everyone Welcome swim from 1 to 5 pm at the Nanaimo Aquatic Centre, will be closed on November 11.

Cleaning Catch Basins

The cold, rainy weather has arrived. here. Please make sure you are prepared and help to prevent flooding by clearing any catch basins, culverts, drains and ditches in front of your home.

In the event of snow, property owners or occupants are required to remove snow and ice from sidewalks in front of their properties within 24 hours so pedestrians have a safe place to walk and can stay clear of oncoming traffic. The City will clear sidewalks around parks, bridges, commuter trails and major City facilities as quickly as staff can get to them. Residents should also ensure they have supplies in the event of a major snow fall or power outage.

If flooding occurs, call Public Works at 250-758-5222.

Poetry Trail

Have you walked the Poetry Trail yet? This collaboration with Nanaimo’s Poet Laureate, Neil Surkan, is designed to spark reflection and creativity outdoors.

As you meander through Bing Kee Food Forest, the harbourfront or Queen Elizabeth promenade, you will see poetry trail stations featuring a custom “viewfinder” that frames the surrounding landscape. A QR code on each station links to an online form where you can share your own poetic responses. Selected submissions will be curated and shared by the Poet Laureate.

LEARN MORE

Poetry in the Harbour: A Curated Community Reading

Join Neil Surkan, Poet Laureate of Nanaimo, for Poetry in the Harbour: a Curated Community Reading, a free evening celebrating local voices and community poetry on Wednesday, November 25 at 7 pm in the Piper's Lagoon Lobby at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre (entrance at 80 Commercial St). Enjoy a curated reading featuring talented community poets in an inspiring waterfront setting.

Read, Reflect, Write

Join Neil Surkan, Poet Laureate of Nanaimo, for Read, Reflect, Write: a Poetry Workshop about Savouring, Wondering and Daring on Wednesday, November 4 from 6-7 pm in the North Nanaimo Library Board Room (6250 Hammond Bay Rd).

This free workshop invites participants to explore poetry through curiosity, reflection and creativity. No prior attendance is required, making it easy to join at any point in the series.

Social Connection Month

November is “Social Connection Month”. Parks, Recreation and Culture and Vancouver Island Regional Library have partnered for this initiative that celebrates the power of belonging, friendship and meaningful connections. See our website for more details.

LEARN MORE

Aqua Zumba Classes

Join us for drop-in Aqua Zumba at Nanaimo Aquatic Centre! Choose from two weekly classes: Tuesdays from 8 to 8:45 pm or Fridays from 10:15 to 11 am. Enjoy a high-energy, low-impact workout that makes a splash in the pool.

No pre-registration is required. Schedules are subject to change, so be sure to "Check Before You Trek" before attending.

Fitness and Yoga Classes

Parks, Recreation and Culture is offering a variety of fitness and yoga classes this fall. Pre Natal Yoga, Beginner Pilates, Rooted in Resilience Yoga and Men’s Yoga are just a few of the many options available. Find out more by checking out the Fall and Winter Activity Guide starting on page 62.

ACTIVITY GUIDE

Glow in the Dark Skate

Join us at a Glow in the Dark Skate on Sunday, November 15, 4 to 6 pm at Nanaimo Ice Centre. Regular admission rates apply. These skates happen twice a month. Check out our online schedule for the latest skating schedule.

DROP-IN SCHEDULES

Flamenco Dancing

Join us for Flamenco Dancing from November 3 to December 15, where you'll learn basic flamenco steps and moves set to the captivating rhythms of flamenco while exploring choreographies including tangos, alegrias and sevillanas. Some previous dance experience is recommended and participants should wear comfortable low-heeled shoes (Tuesdays, 6:30 to 8 pm, $105/7 sessions, #173812, Beban Park).

REGISTER

Be Winter Ready

We are fortunate to live in a place where we can enjoy our outdoor spaces in relative comfort year-round. However, our mild climate can turn stormy, especially during winter. Trails, boardwalks, bridges, stairs and playground equipment can become slippery and hazardous when there is rain, snow and ice. After a rainstorm or a snow melt, rivers can experience high flow conditions — please exercise extreme caution when using trails along riverbanks.

To report any concerns or issues in Nanaimo's parks and trails, please call 250-756-5200 or email parksandrecreation@nanaimo.ca.

NANAIMO PARKS SEARCH

Recycle Wrappers

Did you know? You can separate and save your Halloween candy wrappers for recycling. If you're unsure where to take them just search "candy wrappers" in the Waste Wizard on the city's website or on the Nanaimo Recycles app and a list of locations will appear!

WASTE WIZARD

Bastion Lighting

Did you know? The Bastion has six stand-alone lights surrounding the structure with the capability of providing accent colouring.

When you see the Bastion lit up in a colour, it's for a special reason such as a holiday or awareness for a cause. This month, the Bastion will be lit:

Teal on November 2 for Alzheimer's Awareness
Blue on November 3 for Eczema Awareness
Red from November 5 to 11 for Veterans' Week and Remembrance Day
Blue on November 12 for World Pneumonia Day

LIGHTING REQUESTS

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 Regional District of Nanaimo's Departure Bay Pump Station and Forcemain Expansion Project continues with preparatory work this fall ahead of active construction planned for 2027. Beginning in November, the intersection at Rutherford Road and Vanderneuk Road will be converted to a traffic signal to help facilitate traffic flow once one-way traffic begins during construction in 2027. Residents and drivers may see crews and equipment in the area and should expect possible traffic delays. Work is expected to continue through late fall. Please watch for crews and equipment and allow extra travel time when travelling through the area.
Expect delays due to single lane alternating traffic while crews work on boulevard landscaping on Hammond Bay Rd between Emil Pl and Brickyard Rd.
Pedestrian crossing upgrades at the intersection of Townsite Rd and Holly Ave will require intermittent single-lane alternating traffic on both roads until late November.
Expect delays due to single lane alternating traffic along Rosstown Rd between Powder Works Rd and Browns Ln while crews work on upgrading the watermain.

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