Construction began at the north end of Beban Park Social Centre last November. What was once a dirt surface area with large tree roots has been transformed into an accessible and inclusive wooden gated play area with paths suitable for those in wheelchairs along with a variety of sensory and nature-based amenities that include a sport court, seating, a pergola and areas for kids to climb among logs and a wood chip surface. In addition, there is a outdoor classroom area with a variety of play features and concrete tile floor allowing accessibility for those using mobility devices. Allowing for flexibility, inclusive amenities can be moved or changed as required. Active elements, such as basketball and outdoor hockey have been included to enhance the area. Despite the changes to the area, four of the five cherry trees were kept which add beauty and shade to the area.

Future additions include outdoor lighting, chalkboard, playhouse, wooden xylene phones, storage shed and "Memory Makers" which is interactive public art created by Tarcila Neves.

This area will used heavily by the early years programming, spring and summer break camps and the after school care program; however, the space is also available for rental by contacting the Beban Park Allocation Clerk.

Healthamongus is committed to offering a low-cost and inclusive program that removes barriers to ensure all students—regardless of ability or experience—can participate in a supportive environment. To fuel the fun, participants will enjoy a healthy snack provided through the generous sponsorship of Country Grocer.

2026 marks the 19th year of Healthamongus, and it will engage 3,600 children between Kindergarten and Grade 5 over the course of the week. The event runs from 9:45 a.m. until 12 p.m. daily between Monday, May 11 and Friday, May 15.

“We will continue to work together, with Nanaimo and other community partners, as we move toward long-term housing solutions,” said Christine Boyle, Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs. “We’re focused on bringing people indoors, and helping them stay indoors, with access to the supports they need to stabilize their lives, and to build a stronger, safer community for everyone.”

“City Council understands the importance of maintaining stability for Nikao residents while longer-term housing solutions are identified,” said City of Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog. “Extending the lease for this site reflects the City’s commitment to supporting vulnerable individuals and ensures that our partners have additional time to plan and transition residents into appropriate housing in the community.”

After the lease ends, the City of Nanaimo requires the site to complete its Community Works Yard project. To prepare for this, BC Housing and Pacifica will be working on a closure plan to transition Nikao residents into alternate housing ahead of the September 30, 2027 closing date. This may be to other supportive housing in the community, to subsidized housing, or to market housing with the help of a rent supplement. Everyone will receive an offer of alternate housing. After all residents have been relocated, the modular units at Nikao will be removed from the current site to allow the City to move ahead with finalizing construction.

The City and BC Housing are grateful to the staff of Pacifica Housing who are on-site 24/7 to provide meals, individualized non-medical case planning, and onsite health services through Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA). Pacifica will support all residents as they transition to other housing in the community.

"We commend the City of Nanaimo and the Province for arriving at an agreement that benefits the residents of Nikao,” said Carolina Ibarra, CEO, Pacifica Housing. “This extension will allow time to work through relocations in a way that ensures continued stability for everyone. This approach is reflective of the commitment we know both levels of government have to addressing homelessness. Pacifica Housing looks forward to continued collaboration as we seek permanent housing solutions for all our unhoused neighbors in Nanaimo."

This final extension will provide additional time to ensure that Nikao residents can be supported and relocated to other appropriate housing in the community.

In Nanaimo, this national observance holds deep local significance. On the evening of May 3, 1887, at 5:55 pm, a series of powerful explosions tore through the No. 1 Esplanade Mine, located 260 metres beneath the surface near today’s downtown waterfront.

The blasts reverberated through nearly a kilometre of underground tunnels, igniting fires that would burn for two weeks. Due to the extensive damage and lingering dangers, the recovery of victims took several months. Tragically, seven men were never found and their final resting place is presumed to be beneath the Nanaimo Harbour.

The disaster claimed the lives of 150 miners, a devastating loss in a city of just 2,000 residents at the time. The impact on the community was profound - 46 women were widowed, 126 children lost their fathers and the mine itself lost a quarter of its workforce. The explosions of the No. 1 Esplanade Mine are known as the worst mining disaster in British Columbia's history and second worst industrial tragedy in Canadian history, following the Hillcrest, Alberta mine disaster of 1914. A jury blamed the explosion on the firing of an unprepared and badly planted charge that ignited accumulated gas fuelled by coal dust.

To mark the National Day of Mourning and commemorate this tragic chapter in Nanaimo’s past, flags at all City of Nanaimo facilities will be lowered to half-mast from Tuesday, April 28 until Monday, May 4.

Visit the walk-through coalmine exhibit in the Nanaimo Museum to learn more about Nanaimo's coal mining history and this tragic accident. Find more information on this award-winning exhibit here: www.nanaimomuseum.ca/permanent-exhibit/the-coal-mine.

It is that time of year when the City of Nanaimo partners with community groups and the public for invasive plant removal in our parks as part of Invasive Plant Removal Month in May. At the end of the month, the City will be offering a Drop Zone where homeowners can get rid of their invasive plants for safe disposal as a way to encourage and raise awareness of the impact these can have in our parks and natural areas.

Invasive plants have the potential to negatively impact local ecosystems. Plants, such as English Ivy, Scotch Broom and Himalayan Blackberry, are well established in Nanaimo while others, such as Knotweed and Giant Hogweed, are relatively new but can have severe negative impacts on residents and infrastructure. Volunteer work parties with City staff take place at various locations throughout the City, including Colliery Dam Park, Linley Point Gyro Park, Neck Point Park, Pipers Lagoon Park and Bowen Park.

The City of Nanaimo would like to thank Broombusters who have been cutting broom along local roads and greenspaces. Evidence of their hard work can be found along corridors around the City where piles of cut broom are waiting to be disposed of. These will be chipped and removed in the upcoming month once the broom cutting season is complete and these piles of broom have dried enough to be successfully chipped. This year marks their 50th year of Broombusters as a group in our area and in other communities on the Island. They are always seeking new volunteers to join them.

Those who are interested in participating in scheduled work parties or would like to coordinate one on their own, can register through the City website or call 250-756-5200 for more information. The annual Drop Zone will take place on Saturday, May 30, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Bowen Park (off of Wall Street). The City of Nanaimo is grateful for those helping to maintain our natural areas and restoring the integrity of our native ecology.

At the Council meeting held on April 20, 2026, Council received the certified results of the AAP and directed staff to forward the necessary documentation to the Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs to formally request the boundary extension.

If Provincial approval is obtained, the boundary change will see Snuneymuxw reserve lands (IRs 1, 2, 3 and 4) included within the boundary of City of Nanaimo. The change was requested by SFN and is supported by City Plan policy and in alignment with the City’s commitment to advancing reconciliation.

The Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs will prepare Letters Patent reflecting the boundary change. The boundary change will require approval by the Lieutenant Governor in Council (Cabinet) through an Order in Council that issues Letters Patent to finalize the municipal boundary extension.

The 2026 lineup highlights a diverse range of musical genres, including blues, bluegrass, folk, reggae, ska, hip hop, rap, pop and country rock. Attendees are encouraged to bring a chair or blanket and dress appropriately for the weather. New this year, the series will also feature three lunchtime concerts scheduled from 1 to 2 pm.

The schedule is as follows:

• Wednesday, April 22, 6-7 pm, Westwood Lake Park: Terry Boyle (Roots/Blues) as part of Earth Day
• Friday, May 15, 6-7 pm, Maffeo Sutton Park: Murfitt and Main (Bluegrass Banjo) as part of Food Truck Friday
• Wednesday, June 3, 6-7 pm, Mansfield Park: Shel Prince (Folk) as part of Go by Bike Week
• Wednesday, June 10, 1-2 pm, Maffeo Sutton Park: Jared Popma and Band (Folk)
• Wednesday, June 17, 6-7 pm, Kin Park: Donny Boyd and Fine Company (Rock)
• Friday, June 26, 5:30-6:30 pm, Maffeo Sutton Park: Chris Noel and the Burning House (Roots/Blues) as part of summer soccer viewing party
• Friday, June 26, 6:45-7:45 pm, Maffeo Sutton Park: New Road Echo (Country Rock) as part of summer soccer viewing party
• Wednesday, July 8, Mansfield Park: 1-2 pm, Glen and Maggy (Folk)
• Friday, July 17, 6-7 pm, Bowen Park Amphitheatre: Mad Riddim featuring Janelle Reid (Reggae/Ska)
• Wednesday July 22, 6-7 pm, Deverill Square Park: Tangible Two (Hip Hop/Rap) as part of Snuneymuxw Days
• Friday, July 31, 6-7 pm, Daynes Park: Mansfield (Folk)
• Friday, August 7, 1-2 pm, Bowen Park Amphitheatre: Paul Gelman (Rock)
• Wednesday, August 12, 6-7 pm, McGregor Park: Jordan Reems (Pop)
• Friday, August 21, 6-7 pm, Maffeo Sutton Park: Tropic Mayhem (Pop) as part of Food Truck Friday
• Friday, August 21, 7:15-8:15 pm, Maffeo Sutton Park: Mark Crissinger (Roots/Blues) as part of Food Truck Friday
• Thursday, August 27, 6-7 pm, Westwood Lake Park: Tides (R&B/Soul) as part of End of Summer Splash

A printable schedule and more details on each performance will be available on the City of Nanaimo website on the page "Concerts in the Park."

Parking is limited at many parks, so citizens are encouraged to use alternative transportation when possible.

This new section of the E&N Trail adds 1.2 kilometres of soft surface trail. Delivered through a collaborative partnership between the City of Nanaimo, the Island Corridor Foundation (ICF) and Southern Rail, this new section provides a safe, dedicated space for walking, cycling and other forms of active transportation along a heavily used rail corridor. The extension fills a key gap in the trail network, improves safety for people of all ages—including children travelling to and from school—and reflects a shared commitment to enhancing connectivity, recreation and sustainable transportation in Nanaimo.

Starting in the Duke Point area, crews will work their way north through the various corridors of the city. This work involves large equipment and staff working on the road. Please approach with caution and obey traffic control personnel's directions. The annual catch basin cleaning program is expected to be complete by the end August.

The agreement was reached following a series of bargaining sessions earlier in March and was ratified by both parties this week. The new agreement provides better clarity around seniority accrual, overtime and statutory holiday provisions and reflects settlements being achieved in other communities in the central and north Island regions.

CUPE Local 401 represents approximately 760 City staff in such areas as sanitation, public safety, parks maintenance, recreation, administration and at the RCMP detachment.

First launched in 2025, Luminous Paths is Nanaimo’s winter celebration of light, art, land and community. The festival invites artists to reimagine public space through illumination, projection, sound, and interactive artworks that encourage curiosity, play and connection.

Taking place in a popular park along Nanaimo’s downtown waterfront, the month-long festival features temporary art installations that animate familiar spaces after dark and draw residents and visitors outdoors during the winter months. Opening and closing celebrations, live performances, free tours and community engagement activities complement the illuminated artworks throughout the festival period.

Artists are encouraged to create works that respond thoughtfully to place and environment while inviting audiences to explore the park in new ways. Proposals may incorporate light, sound, motion or other creative approaches to produce engaging outdoor experiences suitable for evening viewing.

Potential themes for artists to explore include transformation and renewal through light, the interconnectedness of community, land and water, pathways that connect people and place and shared experiences of discovery in public space.

Temporary public art projects will be selected in summer 2026, with installations presented during the festival from Feb. 15 to March 12, 2027. The submission deadline is June 14, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. (Pacific Time). Full details, eligibility requirements and the online submission form can be found on the City’s website.

For those who are in favour of the proposed boundary extension, no action is required. Eligible voters in Nanaimo who are opposed to the boundary extension may fill out and submit an elector response form available at City Hall, or on the City website.

Completed forms must be received by the deadline of 4:30 p.m. on Monday, April 13, 2026. Details on how to submit a completed form can be found on the City’s Alternative Approval Process page: www.nanaimo.ca/goto/aap. Each eligible voter is permitted one response.

For more information on this AAP please visit https://nanaimo.ca/goto/boundary-extension-AAP.

What we heard – Round one engagement

Round one of community engagement concluded in August 2024. The City received input regarding issues and opportunities to create a safer transit exchange with better access to Country Club Centre Mall. The round one engagement summary can be viewed online.

Round 2 – Reviewing and refining concepts

Round two launches on March 4 to gather feedback on the concept plan for the transit exchange and mobility improvements built over the new underground utilities. Community members can get involved and share their feedback by:

• Visiting nanaimo.ca/goto/CountryClub to review the concept plan
• Completing an online comment form that is open until April 17th, 2026. Paper copies are available at the Vancouver Island Regional Library (Wellington Branch) in Country Club Centre Mall.

Planning and design, which began in spring 2024, is expected to conclude in 2026. Construction is anticipated to begin with trenching for underground infrastructure in 2027.

A municipal boundary extension, to include SFN reserves (IRs 1, 2, 3 and 4) was requested by SFN and is supported by City Plan policy and in alignment with the City’s commitment to advancing reconciliation. Including these lands within the City boundary would enable Snuneymuxw residents living on reserve to participate in City of Nanaimo municipal elections.

The City would not be required to provide new services as part of the proposed boundary extension. Existing servicing arrangements between SFN, other levels of government and the City covering infrastructure, transportation and other assets would remain unchanged.

The AAP process will begin on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. and will run until 4:30 p.m. on Monday, April 13, 2026.

For more information on the Alternative Approval Process visit www.nanaimo.ca/goto/aap.