HomePage / Your Government / Projects

South End Community Centre - "A Place to Belong. A Space to Thrive"

The South End Community Centre (SECC) will be a vibrant flexible, multi-generational community hub located in the South Gate Urban Centre.

Planning and design are underway with aim of providing a final project plan and funding options for Council approval in 2027.

Location:

The future South End Community Centre will be located along Junction Avenue between 11th and 12th Street in the South Gate Urban Centre next to the AgeCare Malaspina Long Term Care facility.

Timeline:

Possible Elements:

What could be included (these elements will be refined through the planning and design process):

  • community “living room”
  • indoor walking track
  • fitness room
  • performing arts and culture space
  • functional art 
  • double gymnasium
  • spectator zone
  • children’s area
  • multi-purpose rooms
  • changerooms
  • kitchen
  • café
  • indoor play area
  • health care, library and/or other potential operation spaces

 


 

  • Progress
    • 2027-JUN–Capital Development Plan review and decision by Council to invest in full construction (future dates of construction are subject to Council approval)
    • 2026-JAN-Conceptual Design Review with decision by Council on preferred concept to advance to schematic design
    • 2027-FEB/MAR–Schematic Design Stage Start (pending Council decision on a preferred concept. This stage involved refined design and more detailed costing to create a Capital Development Plan or the preferred concept.)
    • 2026-APR–Conceptual Design Stage Started and ongoing until Jan 2027 (Getting to this stage includes confirming community service needs and potential partner requirements for the centre. Together with the costs of those elements, develop a high-level cost, scope, budget and project schedule.)
    • 2026-JAN–Concept Designs to be presented at Regular Council Meeting
  • Documents
  • Details
  • Background
    • A feasibility study began in early 2022 to identify a preferred site, review governance and operating model best practices, develop a conceptual plan, and complete a financial analysis for a new community centre to be located south of Tenth Street.
    • The proposed facility is envisioned as a central hub that will serve the City's growing needs by providing access to much-needed community services and spaces for recreation, education and wellness activities.
    • The Study revealed the need for a gymnasium, childcare facilities and multipurpose rooms, among other recreational needs. The proposed facility will range between approximately 53,000 and 67,000 square feet.
    • There is potential for the community centre to include a library, space for primary health care services and possibly community safety and performing arts spaces.
    • The City purchased parcels of land for the development of a future community centre in Nanaimo's Chase River neighbourhood.
    • The $5.1 million budget to acquire the properties was funded in part by a $2.5 million contribution from the Province of British Columbia’s Growing Communities Fund.
    • The City of Nanaimo's south end has long been identified as lacking sufficient community amenities, a challenge that has been highlighted in several City planning documents over the past two decades and has been identified as one of City Council’s top three priorities.

Give feedback on accessibility. Submit your feedback through our online accessibility feedback form. Help us understand barriers people face when accessing City services.

You can attach files to help explain the barrier you faced in the form, like: a video, voice recording or photos. If American Sign Language (ASL) is the best way for you to communicate, upload a video of yourself using ASL into the form.

Please include: what you were trying to access, where the barrier happened, what the barrier was and any recommendations you might have.

Thank you for your assistance. One of our website team will look into the reported issue shortly. Loading animation

Help us improve our website

Don't include private or financial information in this form.

Important Information About Privacy

Information collected on this form is done so under the general authority of the Community Charter and Freedom of Information and Privacy Protection Act (FOIPPA), and is protected in accordance with FOIPPA. Personal information will only be used by authorized staff to fulfill the purpose for which it was originally collected, or for a use consistent with that purpose.

For further information regarding the collection, use, or disclosure of personal information, please contact the Legislative Services Office at 250-755-4405 or at foi@nanaimo.ca