February 7, 2022

This week... 

We have a couple of ways to stay active outdoors during winter, an improved section of the Bowen Park trail officially opens and please clean up after your furry friends. Read on for more!
Get Vaccinated

Winter GoByBike

Winter GoByBike starts today! From Feb 7-13, ride your bike, clock your kms and enter to win some great prizes. Submit a photo of your daily bike commute, winter cycling gear or favourite riding trail in Nanaimo by email at GoByBike@Nanaimo.ca or tag us on Instagram @cityofnanaimo. Prizes will be awarded Feb 15. We can’t wait to see where your bike takes you around the City!

GOBYBIKE NANAIMO

Walk On

Celebrate Vancouver Island's mild winter weather and come “Walk On” with us. Starting February 4, Join us on a walking journey from Nanaimo to Victoria and beyond! New Balance Nanaimo will be providing one lucky winner with a brand new pair of running shoes with a value of up to $200 including tax, as our grand prize at the end of this 6-week challenge.

WALK ON WINTER CHALLENGE
Get Vaccinated

Bowen Park Trailway & Utility Upgrades Complete

On Feb 4, Mayor and Council celebrated the completion of the Bowen Park Trailway and Utility Upgrades project and celebrated the kick off to Walk On, a winter fitness challenge.

When staff identified the need for sewer upgrades in 2018, Council recognized an opportunity to improve the safety, use and accessibility of the Bowen Park trail as well. The project began in April 2021, which includes a new, larger trunk sewer pipe installation, steep slope stabilization, trail widening and paving, trailway lighting installation, landscape restoration and tree plantings.

LEARN MORE

Bravery Medal Returned to Family

City employee Liam came across a medal while cleaning up an encampment in Bowen Park. He handed it in to the Military Museum and last week, after several weeks of research, the medal made it back to the family it belonged to. Watch the CHEK News story below.

CHEK NEWS STORY

Dogs in Parks

We recognize the importance of dogs to our residents by providing a number of off-leash areas where dog owners can safely exercise their pets. Each dog off-leash park includes signage, a dispenser stocked with biodegradable doggie bags and a trash bin.

Even though an area or trail is designated off-leash, you are still required to pick up after your dog and dispose the bags in a designated garbage bin, please do not throw it into the bushes.

Scooping your dog's poop isn't just a courtesy for those walking behind you; it is also the healthy and environmentally sound thing to do and it's the law. Just one day's waste from one dog can contain 7.8 million fecal coliform bacteria.

Nanaimo's Off-Leash Parks

Beban Park: 2300 Bowen Road, however you access off entrance off Dorman Rd. There are two fenced off-leash areas, one dedicated to small dogs and one typically for larger breeds.

Cable Bay Trail: Nicola Rd, follow signage to the trail head. This trail is off-leash and leads down to the water.

Westwood Lake Park: 381 Westwood Rd, please use the parking lot and please keep your dog on-leash until you reach the back of the lake and are in the designated area along the power lines. You will see signage along the main trail to access.

Colliery Dam Park: 635 Wakesiah Avenue will take you to the main parking lot, however you will need to walk to the upper dam trail for the off-leash area. There is a small parking lot located off of Harewood Mines Road to access the upper dam trail more easily.

Beaufort Park: 69 Lorne Place, the off-leash area is partially fenced and located in the grassy portion accessed off of Chelsea Rd.

Diver Lake Park: 2430 Black Franks Drive this large field next to the parking lot is an official off-leash area between October 1 and April 30.

St. George Ravine Park: 980 Terminal Avenue N features an open grassy area, trail and designated off-leash area.

Invermere Beach Park: 6420 Invermere Road, this off-leash area is located at the bottom of the stairs along the beach but please be sure to check tide information to ensure tide is out far enough for the dogs to run.

May Richards Bennett Pioneer Park: 6700 & 6780 Dover Road, this popular park features an off-leash forested area with trails, adjacent to park.

Gallows Point Light Park: 208 Colvilleton Trail on Protection Island, this is the island's only dog off-leash area.

Northfield Rotary Lookout Park: 2430 Northfield Road, this Parkway Highway rest stop features a fenced dog off-leash area behind the visitor info kiosk.

DOGS IN PARKS

Will Your Commute Be Affected This Week?

Up-to-date information on City construction projects:

  • Ninth Street is closed between Bruce Avenue and Plecas Crescent. Detours will be in place and commuters are asked to plan their travel accordingly and account for extra time when navigating the area.
  • Metral Drive is still an active construction site, so please expect delays and account for extra time when navigating the area. Enterprise Way to Turner Road is now LOCAL TRAFFIC ONLY, so please detour on Highway 19a. If you live in the area or are visiting a business, drive slowly and respect the construction zone and workers.
  • Hammond Bay Road (between Bonnie Drive and Overlook Drive) will be single-lane, alternating traffic 24 hours a day.
  • Watermain upgrades are underway on Laguna Way east of the intersection with Lost Lake Road. Commuters can expect minor delays.
  • Nottingham Drive is closed between Hammond Bay Road and Cumberland Place. Commuters should plan to access Nottingham from the north end.
  • Fourth Street between Bruce Avenue and Pine Street is closed in both directions to through traffic, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Hamilton Avenue at Pine Street will be closed to southbound right turning vehicles. Local traffic is permitted. All businesses remain open and accessible. Road closures will remain in effect until May 2022 when the Fourth Street Complete Street Phase 1 project is completed.

CURRENT CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

Work With Us!

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

  • 2022 Seasonal Recreation Leaders
  • Head Lifeguard/Instructor
  • Major Case File Clerk
  • Planner
  • Buyer
  • Water Treatment Plant Operator
  • Casual Arena Maintenance Workers
  • HR Associate
  • Manager, VIERA
  • Building Official
  • Engineering Services Technologist
  • Custodian - Relief Pool
  • Casual Lifeguard/Instructors

JOB POSTINGS

Meetings This Week

Mon, Feb 7: Council Meeting, at 7 pm in the Vancouver Island Conference Centre's Shaw Auditorium

Thurs, Feb 10: Design Advisory Panel Meeting, at 4 pm in the Service and Resource Centre Boardroom

Did you know? 

You can watch live meetings, view a list of upcoming meetings, read agendas and watch recordings of past meetings all in one place on the City website. 

MEETINGS

Here's a recap of last week's City News:

Dog owners reminded to renew licenses for 2022

More affordable seniors' housing coming to Nanaimo

Bowen Park trail and utility upgrades wrap up as Walk On winter challenge begins

CITY NEWSROOM

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