Have you ever forgotten to take your garbage and recycling to the curb on your pick up day? With the Garbage Calendar on the City website, you will never miss one again!

When you subscribe to the calendar, you will be emailed a reminder the day before your collection day. You can also have reminders set on your computer, tablet or smart phone calendar.

It's pretty easy to use:

Find the Garbage Calendars page on the City website then enter your address and click on the search button to find your route. 

Once your address comes up, you can view or print your route calendar or subscribe to receive notifications via email or in a calendar on your computer, tablet or smart phone. 

Garbage Calendar

What Goes in Your Garbage and Recycling?

ACTIVE LIFE is a monthly series in the Nanaimo News Bulletin contributed by City of Nanaimo staff.

I’m so glad that the holiday season occurs when the days are darker and often stormy. Not only does it give me something to look forward to, but the holidays reconnect us with family, friends and our community.

It’s a particularly busy season with the City of Nanaimo’s Parks, Recreation and Environment department. To help you get the most of your holiday season and for ways to connect with your community, here are some things happening this month. We’d love to see you there.

Special holiday programs – If you have an elementary school child, your child should soon be receiving our ‘Winter Wonders’ flyer full of holiday programs and special events to keep you and your family active during the Christmas break. If you don’t get one, check out our website under the ‘What’s New’ tab for a copy. It includes a two-for-one public admission coupon.

Winter Wonderland – From Dec. 26-30, Frank Crane Arena will be transformed into a winter carnival theme with public skating sessions costing only $1 (some are even free).This is a great activity for the whole family. Come and see why this annual event has become so popular with the community.

Finale 2015 – The city’s biggest and best family New Year’s Eve party takes place at Beban Park with a 1950s rock ‘n’ roll theme. We will have two countdowns – one at 8 p.m. and another at 10 p.m. Tickets are only $32 for a family of five or $10 individually. Enjoy an evening of live entertainment with The Big Mess, Ian Johnstone and The Purple Pirate, as well as roving entertainment happening throughout the evening. You can swim, skate, make crafts, get your face painted, have your picture taken in our photo booth and much more. I can’t think of a better way to bring in 2016 with the entire family.

Still looking for that perfect gift? How about a Parks, Recreation and Environment gift card? They can be used for program registrations, drop-in admissions, facility rentals and more. They come in denominations of $20, $50 or $100 and are reloadable. This holiday season, buy a gift card of $20 or more for your chance to win a $50 gift card. Contest ends Dec. 24.

From all of us here at Parks, Recreation and Environment, we wish you and your family the best of the holiday season and a happy, active, healthy new year.

Active Life Article in Nanaimo News Bulletin

Parks, Recreation and Environment

If you had to say the Hub City had a "hub" for sporting and recreation, it would have to be Beban Park. This 52 hectare (128 acres) park located off Bowen Road is Nanaimo's largest City-owned recreation campus.

The park is named after the Beban family who lived and farmed there in from the 1930s-1950s. Beban house was the home of the Beban's for over 20 years. A local chapter of the Boys and Girls Club currently resides in Beban House.

The park features a wide variety of recreation amenities.

In the Beban Park complex you will find Frank Crane and Cliff McNabb arena, a pool, leisure pool, teaching pool, weight room and a social centre.

Altrusa park playground, a Participark and a dog off-leash park are located on the grounds of Beban Park. As are two artificial turf fields that can be accessed off dorman road and the Gyro Youth Sports Fields.

Moving through the park, you will find the agriplex, barns and stables that are the main features of the Vancouver Island Exhibition (VIEX) held every year in the summer. A petting farm maintained by the 4-H Club is held in this area every summer. This area also features an equestrian centre.

Other amenities include a lawn bowling green, golf course and driving range, tennis courts, pickleball courts (as a one-year pilot program), community gardens, the Lions sports pavilion and a BMX track.

We recently updated the Beban Park Master Plan to fit changing community needs for the park over the next 20 years. Implementation of this plan will depend on community partnerships and will be completed in many phases over the long term. 

Beban Park

Beban Park Master Plan

Beban Park Map

Nanaimo Parks Search

ACTIVE LIFE is a monthly series in the Nanaimo News Bulletin contributed by City of Nanaimo staff.

Whenever we turn the clocks back and the darkness of the day descends upon us earlier, I always struggle with myself to maintain the level of physical activity I did so willingly in the spring and summer.

I admit it: when evening comes, I just want to spend my time snuggled up under a blanket while sitting in my La-Z-Boy.

I have learned that the fall and winter shouldn’t be a time to let our fitness routines hibernate – especially with all of those holiday treats soon to be tempting us at every turn.

By changing our mindset and getting a little creative, we can ensure our fitness and health remains a priority now and in the months ahead.

Here are a few tips that may help you:

Change your perspective – Instead of coming up with the excuses not to exercise, I try to remember how important it is and how good I always feel afterwards.

It keeps me healthy – physically and emotionally, and I am trying to set a good example for my family.

Try something new – Parks, Recreation and Environment has programs for every age and ability. Try a new yoga class or other fitness class. How about attending our free Lions Skate held every Sunday at Frank Crane Arena?

Get creative at home – Sure, going outside or to the gym can be inconvenient, but you can always do a workout at home. Invest in a few pieces of fitness equipment like hand weights or fitness bands, and you are set. Try doing some exercises or stretches during the commercial breaks of your favourite TV show.

Buddy up – If you can’t seem to muster the energy to workout by yourself, make a commitment with either a friend, family member or even the family dog. You’re a lot more likely to follow through on your workout commitments when you know others will be with you.

Set a goal – Choose a goal that you really want to achieve that will keep you motivated. How about getting in your 10,000 steps every day for three months or running a five-kilometre race?

Looking for some ways to stay active? Check out the Fall and Winter Activity Guide or visit our website at www.nanaimo.ca for ways to keep you and your family active and healthy this season.

For over 30 years, youth in Nanaimo have been gaining valuable skills and experience through the Leadership in Training (LIT) program. Starting in 1982, this program provides youth the opportunity to learn and develop leadership skills while giving back to the community through volunteer work. The program goal is to provide a supportive and supervised environment for young people to learn and try out these skills as they discover more about themselves and their community. The LIT program runs twice a year; in the summer and the fall/winter.

The LIT program trains participants in areas such as customer service, public speaking and working with children. During the months of July and August, the LIT team go out into the community and contribute around 10,000 volunteers hours in Nanaimo. Program participants are placed in Parks, Recreation and Environment camps, playgrounds and other summer programs, as well as community events such as VIEX, Silly Boat Regatta, Dragon Boat Festival, Marine Fest/Bathtubs, Canada Day, and more. 

After completing the LIT program, participants can move onto the next level, Quest, where they take on additional leadership responsibilities like training and mentoring the new LIT participants. To differeniate between levels, the LIT team wears yellow shirts and the Quest team wears blue shirts. Many of the Parks, Recreation and Environment summer staff have participated in the LIT program.

If you are interested in the LIT program we encourage you to register early as it tends to fill up fast. For more information on LIT and Quest, email youth@nanaimo.ca.

Summer has definitely come to Nanaimo and with the warmer weather comes the desire to be out in the sun. One park that is very popular in the summer is Departure Bay Centennial Park.

This 1.9 hectare (4.7 hectares) destination park is located in the beautiful Departure Bay. 

Departure Bay Centennial is universally accessible and features many outdoor sporting and leisure opportunities with a natural turf field, two ball diamonds and multi-use courts. The multi-use courts are separated into two tennis courts - with one of the tennis courts repurposed for playing tennis and pickleball - and one youth multi-use court for such sports as basketball and box hockey. 

The Departure Bay Activity Centre can also be found here. The activity centre plays host to many Parks, Recreation and Environment programs. 

Last, but definitely not least, Departure Bay Centennial features a very popular water park for kids to cool down in during the warm summer months.

Partnerships were key in developing Departure Bay Centennial Park. The Gyro Club donated towards the youth multi-use court and the Kiwanis Sunrisers donated towards the waterpark.

This summer "Take a Moment" to explore Departure Bay Centennial Park.

Looking for a park to explore? Check out the Nanaimo Parks Search tool on the City website.

ACTIVE LIFE is a monthly series in the Nanaimo News Bulletin contributed by City of Nanaimo Staff.

I love this time of year. The days are longer and warmer, and there is an abundance of activities available through the City of Nanaimo to keep the whole family active.

• Water parks – Cool off at Departure Bay Centennial, Deverill Square, Harewood Centennial and Mansfield Park from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Playground program – Bring your children, ages five to 12, to various playgrounds for activities that could include games, arts and crafts. New this year are some evening dates from 3-8 p.m. so that all families have an opportunity to participate.
• Find the golden bucket – Get the weekly clue on our Facebook page, Twitter feed or website and then search for the bucket. Weekly prizes are drawn until Aug. 26.
• Westwood Lake – Lifeguards are on duty from June 28 to Sept. 7 at Nanaimo’s favourite summer destination.
• Family fishing day – Join us at Westwood Lake Park on Father’s Day (June 21), 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., to play games, make crafts, learn to fish and take part in a trout release.
• Family fun night and barbecue – celebrate the end of the school year with music, family activities and a barbecue on June 25, 4:30-7:30 p.m., at Departure Bay Centennial Park. Cost is $4.
• Canada Day – Entertainment and activities for the whole family held at Maffeo Sutton Park from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Concerts in the park – Join us Wednesday evenings from July 8 to Aug. 26, 6-7:30 p.m. Concerts are held at the Bowen Park Amphitheatre (July) and Maffeo Sutton Park (August). Lunchtime concerts are held Monday, July 13 to Aug. 24, 12:30-1:30 p.m. in Maffeo Sutton Park.

Check out the Community Events listings on our website.

Today is World Oceans Day; a day to celebrate and raise awareness of oceans and the critical impact they have on life. The theme this year is Healthy oceans, healthy planet. 

We are very fortunate to live in a vibrant marine setting. We enjoy beautiful coastal vistas, sensational marine life encounters, fantastic recreational opportunities and great economic benefits, amongst other things, thanks to our geographic location.

The United Nations describe the ocean as the "heart of the planet". It connects people and industries; is home to an amazing variety of wildlife; and helps to regulate climate. Unfortunately, many pressures from human activities are taking a toll on the world's oceans and seas. 

So, take a moment today and think about what you can do to help this amazing habitat.

In the words of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moo, "Although individual decisions may seem small in the face of global threats and trends, when billions of people join forces in common purpose, we can make a tremendous difference." 

The weather has been warm so we decided to open 3 out of 4 water parks located in Nanaimo's parks early this year!

Your kids can cool down at the water parks in Deverill Square Park, Departure Bay Centennial Park and Mansfield Park. The water park located in Harewood Centennial Park will reopen Friday, June 5.

In the meantime, explore the other great water parks Nanaimo has to offer!

Deverill Square Park

Harewood Centennial Park

Looking for a park to explore? Check out the Nanaimo Parks Search tool on the City website.

Curious about development activities in your neighbourhood? The What's Building in My Neighbourhood tool on the City website can give you information on development applications in Nanaimo.

With the tool you can search applications by neighbourhood, application type, application date, street address, file number and bylaw number.

Subscribe to be notified of development activities in your neighbourhood. You will be emailed when new applications are posted in your neighbourhood; status changes and updates are posted to applications you are subscribed to; updates to drawing and reports are added; and notices are posted. Choose to be notified of individual application updates, daily summaries, weekly summaries, or monthly summaries. You can also view your subscriptions online and customize to see only applications you are interested in.

The following applications are available to view in the tool:

• Board of Variance
• Development Permit
• Development Variance Permit
• Land Use Contract or Covenant
• Liquor License
• Rezoning
• Temporary Use Permit

Each application will include:

• Location
• Type, description and status of application
• Relevant dates
• Drawings and reports
• Notices
• Applicable policies and regulations
• A map

For more information and to subscribe, check out What's Building in My Neighbourhood on the City website.

Are you looking to get a new washing machine? If you purchase an energy efficient washing machine before June 30 not only will you be saving energy, you will save money.

The City of Nanaimo and BC Hydro have partnered up to offer special rebates to residents on new eligible washing machines. When you purchase an Energy Star washing machine before June 30, 2015 you can receive a rebate up to $200.

It's pretty easy to do:

Go to BC Hydro's website to see a list of eligible washing machines. 

Puchase a washing machine model and brand on the list.

Complete the rebate application form and submit your proof of purchase within 60 days of purchase.

For more information visit BC Hydro's website.

It's Bike to Work Week in BC. Many communities across the province will be celebrating this week meant to encourage residents to bike and walk to work and school. There are many benefits to cycling including increasing your overall health and reducing carbon emissions.

A great way to introduce yourself to cycling in Nanaimo is to use the E&N Trail. This 8 kilometre relatively flat multi-purpose trail spans from Rosehill Avenue in the south to East Wellington in the north. It provides connection points to many schools, businesses and shopping. You can even connect to the Parkway Trail via Dunster Road using the E&N Trail.

For more information on Bike to Work Week visit the City website or the Bike to Work Week BC website.

The latest photos from the Water Treatment Plant project. 

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See the project page for background documents on the Water Treatment Plant.

Follow the project on the Facebook Photo Album.

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In the Stephenson Point neighbourhood lies a 7 hectare (17 acres) wooded park for residents to enjoy a short stroll through nature called Planta Park.

Planta Park features a trail system that can be accessed from a number of spots (Ellis Place, Stevens Point Road, Planta Rd and Budehaven Drive) in the neighbourhood. The trails are relatively flat and the main trail features a short boardwalk.

Some plants which can be found in this public open space are fir, arbutus, oak, cedar, maple and vine maple trees. It also provides homes for many wildlife including deer and woodpeckers. The Stephenson Point Neighbourhood Association takes pride in Planta Park and volunteers from the neighbourhood work to keep invasive plants at bay. 

Looking for a park to explore? Check out the Nanaimo Parks Search tool.

The latest photos from the Water Treatment Plant project. 

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See the project page for background documents on the Water Treatment Plant.

Follow the project on the Facebook Photo Album.

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ACTIVE LIFE is a monthly series in the Nanaimo News Bulletin contributed by City of Nanaimo Staff.

For the last few years, May has been designated as Invasive Plants Awareness Month in the City of Nanaimo.

Some might question what the big deal is to have plants that are not native to this area growing and thriving. After all, some non-native plants are beautiful and add colour to local landscapes. Invasive plants like Scotch broom, English ivy, English holly, Daphne or Japanese knotwood, however, have few competitors and can quickly take over an ecosystem degrading the habitat for many native plants species.

Here are a few steps we can take to prevent these plants from overtaking Nanaimo’s natural areas:

• Be careful about what plants we choose for our gardens – nursery staff are very knowledgeable about the types of plants that are best for our climate and won’t disturb our ecosystem.
• Refrain from dumping garden trimmings in parks or other open spaces – this prevents trimmings from propagating in other areas.
• Observe parks for unfamiliar or foreign plants – if invasive plants are found early enough, they can be eradicated easier than when they are mature.
• Minimize disturbances to the environment – when soil is disturbed and vegetation is removed, ideal conditions are created for invasive plants.

The City of Nanaimo is organizing work parties in local parks where citizens and local stewardship groups come together to remove invasive plants while learning how to safely remove them from their own backyards.

“If we work together, we can make a difference in protecting our environment,” says Deb Beck, recreation coordinator.

Citizens are being asked to look around their own yards and gardens and remove invasive plants. They can be disposed of for free on May 31, noon to 4 p.m., at Bowen Park off of Wall Street.

For more information on identifying invasive plants or how to get involved in the organized work parties, please visit the City of Nanaimo’s website or call the city at 250-756-5200.

It's hard to believe that the May long weekend is only days away! May long marks the unofficial start to summer. As the weather gets warmer, people flock to parks, trails and other destinations for outdoor activities. 

While everyone is outside, take advantage of the City's recreational facilities with the Summer Promo RecPass. Valid from July 2 to August 30, these passes have the sizzling price of $80 for adults, $60 for students and seniors and $45 for children. 

Like all RecPasses, you will have access to:

• Public Swimming
• Public Skating
• Aquacises
• Weight Rooms
• Scrub Hockey
• Saunas
• Steam Rooms
• Hot Tubs
• Drop-in Sports at Oliver Woods Community Centre

Visit a City of Nanaimo recreation facility or call 250-756-5200 for more information on the Summer Promo RecPass.

Birds are wonderful creatures. They can help pollinate, decompose materials, disperse seeds and control insect populations.

Many birds also make a long journey every year to reach Nanaimo. It is fascinating how a small bird can fly thousands of kilometres in a short amount of time to either reach their breeding grounds or wintering habitat.

Varied Thrush photo by Minette Layne

World Migratory Bird Day is held the second weekend of May to rasie awareness of the need to conserve migratory birds and their habitats. This campaign was started in 2006 and events are held on every continent except Antarctica. 

Formal events near Nanaimo are being held in Victoria and Vancouver or you can celebrate on your by doing some bird watching in places like Buttertubs Marsh, Richards Marsh, Chase River Estuary or one of these other parks in Nanaimo.

It's property tax time! Did you know you can receive your tax notice by email rather than through the mail? 

When you sign up for MyCity and MyBills through the City website you can view all your City of Nanaimo user rates online. From water rates to business licenses, you will have 24/7 access to all you City of Nanaimo accounts. 

Signing up for a MyCity account is easy:

1. Visit mycity.nanaimo.ca
2. To create a new profile click on ‘Register Now'.
3. Fill in the required fields including creating a password and choosing a security question and answer.
4. Click ‘Register'
5. A confirmation email will be sent to the email address used to register the account. You must open this email and click on the specified link to “activate” your account
6. You can now return to the MyCity screen to login to your account: mycity.nanaimo.ca

You will then be able to register each of your City of Nanaimo accounts. To do this, refer to a recent account bill/statement to find your account number and access code (usually found near the top of the page). Once you have completed this you can choose to have your user rate and tax notices emailed to you. 

You can register for MyCity and MyBills anytime however, to have your 2015 property tax notice emailed to you, you must register by May 7.

For more information visit the MyCity and MyBills page on the City website.

May is Invasive Plants Month in Nanaimo. This special month is meant to raise awareness of invasive plant species and their effects on our local environment.

Nanaimo enjoys an amazingly diverse natural setting however; plants brought here from other areas have a negative effect on this diversity. 

This year, we are focusing on two particularly widespread invasive plants in the area: English Ivy and Scotch Broom.

English Ivy is particularly destructive; in its juvenile form it spreads out over the forest floor, shading and smothering plants underneath it. In its adult stage ivy wraps itself around trees and can topple them in wind storms due to its heavy weight.

Especially when in bloom, Scotch Broom looks like a delicate shrub but it is very aggressive. It was originally brought here from Scotland as a garden ornamental. Broom easily spreads to other areas and suppresses native plant growth.

When removing invasive plants from your garden, it's best to avoid putting them in your compost as the plant can spread from there. Take them to the regional landfill or, during Invasive Plants Month, you can take them to the DROP ZONE at the Wall Street entrance to Bowen Park on May 8 and May 31 from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm.