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May 4, 2026

This Week...

We kick off May with Emergency Preparedness Week, Invasive Plant Removal Month and stage 2 watering restrictions. Read on for more!

Emergency Preparedness Week

If an earthquake or wildfire hit Nanaimo, would you know what to do? May 3 to 9 is Emergency Preparedness Week during which you will learn important information so you are prepared in the event of an emergency. 

  • Follow the City's social media channels for tips throughout the week - @cityofnanaimo on Facebook, Instagram, X/Twitter and @nanaimo.ca on Bluesky.
  • Be ready for a test of the BC Emergency Alert System taking place on May 6 at 1:55 pm.
  • Register for a free webinar taking place on Thursday, May 7 at 7 pm with Prepared BC, in partnership with Building Resilient Neighbourhoods. Attendees will be entered to win a four-person home emergency kit!
  • Sign up for the City's emergency alert system, Voyent Alert!, to receive important safety information during a community-wide emergency. You can download the Voyent Alert! app, register online or, if you need assistance signing up, call us at 250-758-5222.
  • Check out the Personal Preparedness page on the City website to learn about building an emergency kit, emergency plan, and more. 

PERSONAL PREPAREDNESS

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Invasive Plant removal Month poster.

Invasive Plant Removal Month

Let's pull together! May is Invasive Plant Removal Month in Nanaimo. We have a number of free work parties in our parks this month which you can register for as well there is an Invasive Drop Zone at Bowen Park on May 30 from 10 am to 2 pm where you can dispose of invasive plants you have removed in your own garden.

Did you know?

Throwing your organic garden waste in your parks does NOT make them a better place, and it does NOT just decompose and disappear! Throwing garden waste into your parks:

  • makes parks less healthy and more likely to be infested with invasive plants over time
  • increases the risk for fires by adding to the fuel load next to your property
  • damages plant and wildlife habitat
  • potentially contaminates our streams, rivers and lakes

If you see anyone dumping in your parks, call 250-755-7515.

INVASIVE PLANT MONTH

Silhouettes of two people jumping in the air with a sunset behind them.

Youth Week

Youth Week is in full swing with a number of activities to take part in including Spare Blox, a Dragon Boat Blitz, LIT Parent Info Night, the Youth Lounge and a Play with Clay: Handbuild class at the Bowen Pottery Studio. Some activities require registration. Check the event page on the City website for more information.

YOUTH WEEK ACTIVITIES

Family Fishing Day. Take a kid fishing. And bring your inner child too with child fishing on rocks in front of a body of water.

Family Fishing Day 

Bring the family to Colliery Dam Park from 10 am to 3 pm on Sunday, May 10 for Family Fishing Day, part of BC's Family Fishing Weekend.

A trout release will take place at 12 pm and there will be live entertainment, food trucks and community booths. There are also two free Learn to Fish sessions for 5-15 year-olds with the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC. Registration is full, but you can register to be added to the waitlist for these sessions. 

FAMILY FISHING DAY INFO

A sprinkler watering grass.

Watering Restrictions

A reminder that Stage 2 watering restrictions began in the City of Nanaimo on May 1. Even-numbered addresses can water on even-numbered days and odd-numbered addresses on odd-numbered days for up to 2 hours between 7 am to 10 am OR 7 pm to 10 pm. Veggie gardens and fruit trees can be watered any time.

MORE INFO

Three people using equipment to paint lines on a crosswalk.

Road Marking Season

It's that time of year when our crews are refreshing the painted roads lines. We know it's slow moving and can be frustrating, but it's all in an effort to keep our roads safe for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians as they move around our wonderful city. Please follow directions of crews working and stay off newly painted markings indicated by cones (Section 143 of the Motor Vehicle Act).

An aerial view of the Beban parkway.

Beban Parkway

Beban Parkway is closed at the Bowen and Boxwood intersection until May 27 while road repairs are completed. The repairs involve removing and replacing some stamped, coloured concrete that was found to be defective. This work is being completed by the original contractor under warranty, at no cost to the City. Although the repair work will take about a week, the road needs to stay closed longer to keep heavy vehicles off the new concrete while it cures and reaches full strength.

Aerial view of construction along Third Street.

Third Street Utilities and Complete Street Project

Crews have completed work on the Howard Ave and Third St intersection ahead of schedule and it is now open! Starting this week, the Pine St and Third St intersection will be closed 24/7 until May 22. The section of Third St between Howard Ave and Pine St is closed until August 13. Please use detours along Fourth St or Second St.

PROJECT 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 Beban Parkway at the Bowen Rd and Boxwood Rd intersection will be closed 24 hours per day from April 27 to May 27 for road repairs. Use alternate access points for both Beban Park and Beban Plaza.
  • The intersection at Third St and Pine St is closed 24 hrs per day until May 22. Detours are in place.
  • Third St between Howard Ave and Pine St is closed 24 hrs per day until August 13. Detours are in place.
  • 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.
  • Single lane alternating traffic on Godfrey Rd between Grace Place and Dunster Rd and on Dunster Rd between Godfrey Rd and Maureen Way.
  • Single lane alternating traffic along Hammond Bay Rd at Rutherford Rd intersection while crews work on repaving sidewalks around the intersection. Traffic signals at Hammond Bay Rd and Rutherford Rd intersection will not be operational and will be manually controlled.
  • Single lane alternating traffic along Hammond Bay Rd at Turner Rd and McGirr Rd intersection while crews work on replacing the traffic signals. The existing traffic signals at Hammond Bay Rd and Turner Rd intersection will not be operational and will be manually controlled.
  • Single lane alternating traffic along Turner Rd from Hammond Bay Rd to Kenning Pl and into Tweedsmuir Cres while crews work on replacing a sanitary sewer and a watermain. Traffic signals at Hammond Bay Rd and Turner Rd intersection will not be operational and will be manually controlled.
  • 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

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Work With Us!

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

  • Aquatic Supervisor
  • Urban Forester
  • Financial Analyst
  • Police Technical Support Specialist
  • Engineering Development Technician
  • Lifeguard/Instructors
  • Casual Pool - Custodian Relief
  • Community Safety Officers
  • Water Technician
  • Seasonal Recreation Leader II - Inclusion Vacancies
  • Planner I
  • Casual Lifeguard/Instructors
  • Casual Clerical Opportunities
  • Casuals - Police Services

JOB POSTINGS

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

Meetings This Week

Monday, May 4: Council meeting in the Vancouver Island Conference Centre's Shaw Auditorium starting at 7 pm.

Thursday, May 7: Board of Variance meeting in the Service and Resource Centre 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

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