Leave a comment on What are your neighbourhood priorities?

February 9, 2026

2:38 pm

It’s that time of year when we reach out to our members to ask what your priorities are for 2026. Here are last year’s priorities, on which we made good progress!

1. Promote community safety by using passive safety measures for the Old City that can be introduced at the following “hot spots” (Pawson Park and St. Peter’s Church Overnight Shelter), to lessen fear and crime in the neighbourhood:

2. Promote community safety and well-being by focusing on the neighbourhood as a model for Active Transportation and Complete Streets, and address traffic and parking problems in the Old City. The Intersection of Machleary and Campbell Streets is the Hot Spot that our priorities are focusing on for 2025.

3. Promote community well-being through work on sustainable improvements to the quality of life in our neighbourhood by increasing biodiversity through tree canopy coverage up to 33% of the land area and landscaping on boulevards and parkettes (like Franklyn and Milton Streets) with landscaping similar to the Old Firehall and the Italian Fountain. Increase the number of trees to a minimum of 50 in areas identified as prime locations for climate change mitigation such as streets, boulevards and parks.

2026 Priorities should fit under the responsibility of local government and ideally reflect our City Plan.

Your Board looks forward to hearing your ideas which we will take to CIty Council this spring.

Pollinator Project!

January 26, 2026

4:15 pm

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oldc, pollinators

Hello NOCA members!

We are exploring an exciting project this fall in partnership with the Nanaimo Area Land Trust (NALT). We are looking for 10 to 15 people who are interested in contributing a small 1 m x1m or 1m x 2 m plot of land on their boulevard or front easement to grow native plants that attract pollinators.

Ideally, the sites identified should be fairly close together in order to create more habitat connectivity. NALT is applying for funding and is happy to work with those who volunteer on site preparation, planting and maintenance for up to 2 years. Then all you have to do is weed and water your little plot and wait for the pollinators to appear! NALT is even interest in conducting a pollinator census or two on the plots, and letting you know what they find!

If you are interested, or have any questions, please email info@nanaimooldcityassociation.ca This sounds like great fun for us and for our planet!

Art project – Campbell and Machleary Streets

Leave a comment on Art project – Campbell and Machleary Streets

November 11, 2025

1:43 pm

NOCA, old city, old city association, safety

The city’s culture coordinator has created an online survey for those who couldn’t be at the open house. This is your opportunity to answer a few questions that will help inform the artwork. Feel free to complete the survey even if you attended the open house.

Here is the link to the survey: SURVEY LINK

The City of Nanaimo and NOCA are commissioning an artistic design for the 4-way intersection at Machleary and Campbell Streets.We have selected an artist and now invite you to a public engagement drop-in session to meet the artist, provide feedback and ask questions. Join us at Bowen Clubhouse on Monday, November 24 from 4:30 – 6pm

The artistic design would be applied as a surface covering treatment across the asphalt of the intersection. The goal with this project is to improve pedestrian safety, revitalise and beautify public space, and engage the local community. Site-specific design direction will reflect the priorities and desires of our neighbourhood.

This is an exciting project and we look forward to telling you more about it, and getting your feedback, on Monday, November 24. See you there!

2025/2026 Board of Directors

October 24, 2025

3:52 pm

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The following will serve as your Board of Directors for 2025/2026

Joy Adams Bauer
Brian Booth
Alan Drexhage
Basia Henoch
Twila Konynenbelt
Jamie Molloy
Mayta Ryn
Barbara Schreiber
Shelley Serebrin

Your association is in very good hands!

Annual General Meeting on the horizon!

September 22, 2025

2:36 pm

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Events

Join us for our AGM on Tuesday, October 21 at St. Andrew’s United Church on Wesley Street.

Registration and membership renewal at 6:30 pm

Renew your membership before the AGM by visiting our membership page.
Meeting starts at 7 pm.
Guest speakers from the City of Nanaimo Transportation Department.
First ten people have a chance to win a cash prize!

Nanaimo Climate Connections Summit

August 24, 2025

2:51 pm

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climate, NOCA

Registration is now open! for Nanaimo’s inaugural community climate event, at Wellington Hall in Nanaimo, Sept. 12th and 13th, 2025! This year’s theme is: Local Actions in a Global Crisis. Together, we will explore how collectively we can have a significant impact toward addressing the climate emergency.
Hosted by Nanaimo Climate Action Hub, this will be the first-ever event of its kind in Nanaimo. Thanks to the City of Nanaimo and Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions (PICS), and to several local sponsors,
we are thrilled to be able to offer this for free to our community.

We are pleased to be welcoming expert speakers including Seth Klein of the Climate Emergency Unit, Andrew Gage of West Coast Environmental Law, Dr. Deb Morrison, a local author and learning scientist, and Geraldine Manson, VIU Elder-In-Residence. The summit program will also include interactive activities and workshops, a community action panel discussion, and live entertainment. Find more details and register now at https://www.nanaimoclimateaction.org/climate-connections-2025 as space is limited!

Our 2025 Priorities for our neighbourhood

February 8, 2025

2:19 pm

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Priority 1 — Promote safety by using passive safety measures for the Old City that can be introduced at the following “hot spots” to lessen fear and crime in the neighbourhood:
(a) Pawson Park
(b) St. Peter’s Catholic Church overnight winter shelter

Priority 2 — Promote Community Safety and Well-Being by focusing on the neighbourhood as a model for Active Transportation and Complete Streets, and address traffic and parking problems in the Old City. The Intersection of Machleary and Campbell Streets is the Hot Spot that our priorities are focusing on for 2025.

Priority 3 — Promoting Community Well-Being through work on sustainable improvements to the quality of life in our neighbourhood by increasing biodiversity through tree canopy coverage up to 33% of the land area and landscaping on boulevards and parkettes (like Franklyn and Milton Streets) with landscaping similar to the Old Firehall and the Italian Fountain. Increase the number of trees to a minimum of 50 in areas identified as prime locations for climate change mitigation such as streets, boulevards and parks.

The three priorities for our neighbourhood in 2024 have been acted upon by City of Nanaimo staff. Thank you!

Priority 1 — Promote safety by creating a clear and actionable set of passive safety measures for the Old City that can be introduced at “hot spots” to lessen fear and crime in the neighbourhood. Using passive safety measures requires a clear understanding of the steps that can be taken, the cooperation of the City and the neighbours, patrol of the area, and evaluation of success. The parkette at Franklyn and Milton Streets is an example of a hot spot that can be addressed by Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles as long as the necessary steps are understood and taken.
C2.2.6., C3.1.5. C4.9.8.

Priority 2 — Work on sustainable improvements to the quality of life of our neighbourhood, such as increasing tree canopy coverage to 33% of land area, focusing on the neighbourhood as a model for Active Transportation and Complete Streets, developing a program to enforce a No-Idle Zone in the neighbourhood as a model for the rest of the City, and actively engaging with residents of the neighbourhood in emergency preparedness plans for extreme weather events.
C1.3.1., C2.1.1., C3.5.17

Priority 3 — Maintain Design Advisory Panel review of all development permit applications in the Old City. Support heritage connectiveness in the neighbourhood through the continued action of the Design Advisory Panel in applying the City’s Old City and heritage design guidelines.
C4.6.5.

New Board elected

October 26, 2024

9:56 am

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Thank you to everyone who attended our AGM on October 22. We had a good turnout and a new Board was elected for 2024/2025

Joy Adams Bauer
Brian Booth
Alan Drexhage
Basia Henoch
Twila Konynenbelt
Mayta Ryn
Barbara Schreiber
Shelley Serebrin

It’s not too late to renew your membership. Only $10 an individual or $20 a family. Send a e-transfer to president@nanaimooldcityassociation.ca or drop your fee in the mail slot at 212 Milton Street. Support the work of NOCA!

Annual General Meeting

Leave a comment on Annual General Meeting

September 25, 2024

12:13 pm

Events, Heads Up