All News

4:00 p.m.: Garbage/recycling collection is cancelled for Thursday, January 16. Please ensure your bins are brought in from the curb to make room for plows.

In the coming days, as the weather and road conditions improve, we will put out updates on how the City will accommodate for the missed collection. These updates will be posted as Service Alerts on the My Schedule tool and Nanaimo Recycles app, Announcements on the City of Nanaimo homepage, our Facebook page and Twitter feed.

To be directly informed of any updates to curbside service please sign up for Service Alerts. Service Alerts can be set up as notifications on the Nanaimo Recycles app, or through the My Schedule tool on our website to be sent as emails, text messages or phone calls. Download the free Nanaimo Recycles app from the App Store and Google Play.

On the Roads
Snow has begun to accumulate again and the wind is expected to pick up tonight. City crews will be out throughout the night again, and all day tomorrow, focusing on clearing emergency and priority routes. If possible, please avoid travel. 

Please help pedestrians travel through our community safely. Property owners and tenants (residential and businesses) are responsible for clearing snow and ice from the sidewalks in front of their property. The City clears sidewalks in front of City facilities, on bridges, the Waterfront Walkway and E & N Trail. 

BC Ferries
BC Ferries has cancelled sailings on their major routes from 3 p.m., January 15, 2020 onward. The cancellations affect sailings into Departure Bay and Duke Point. Stay up to date on BC Ferries conditions by following them on Twitter @BCFerries.

Be Prepared
Weather forecasts are predicting a large amount of snow through to Thursday as well as high winds are expected for tonight (Wednesday night). If at all possible, please consider postponing non-essential travel until conditions improve. Visibility will be suddenly reduced to near zero at times in heavy and blowing snow. If you must travel, keep others informed of your schedule and destination and carry an emergency kit and mobile phone. For information on emergency plans and kits go to http://www.getprepared.gc.ca

Be prepared for the storm and possible power outages. Check out BC Hydro for tips on preparing for winter storms and outages. 

This may also mean that you may encounter downed trees and power lines. If you see a fallen or broken power line, stay at least 10 metres or a bus-length away (33 feet). Learn more about what you can do to keep you and your family safe in the event you come across downed power lines here: A downed line is an emergency.

Parks and Recreation
Due to the deteriorating weather conditions, all parks and recreational facilities (Bowen, Beban, Oliver Woods, Nanaimo Ice Centre, Nanaimo Aquatic Centre) will close at 6:00 p.m. tonight.

All registered recreation programs have been cancelled this afternoon and evening based on current weather conditions. We are doing our best to contact those individuals registered in cancelled programs.  

Please contact our switchboard if you have any inquiries regarding your programs or rentals: 250-756-5200.

Please use extra care if you visit City parks as trails and boardwalks may be icy and heavy snow may weigh down branches. Crews continue to clear and salt walkways into City buildings, downtown sidewalks with City-owned properties (including Maffeo Sutton Park) and the E&N Trail as first priorities and as needed at this point. They also continue to clear additional sidewalks around City-owned facilities and parks - especially those areas in front of parkland where key walking routes to school are located.

Warming centre
A warming centre at the 7-10 Club (285 Prideaux Street) will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on January 16 and 17. The City of Nanaimo thanks our partners at the 7-10 Club and the Salvation Army for their help with this short-term initiative.

Committee Meetings
The environment committee meeting scheduled for tonight 5-7 pm in the board room, SARC, has been postponed to Wednesday, January 22, 2020, 5-7 pm in the HR Training Room, City Hall.

Stay up to date with conditions on the City's website, Twitter feed (@cityofnanaimo) and Facebook page. For up-to-date information on public transit, follow @RDN_Transit on Twitter and @BCFerries on Twitter. Please also listen to our local radio stations the Wave 102.3, Wolf 106.9 or 91.7 Coast FM. 

Visit our Snow and Ice Control page for information on the City's response to snow and what residents and commuters can do to stay safe. _____________________________________________________________________

2:30 p.m.: All registered recreation programs have been cancelled this afternoon and evening based on current weather conditions. We are doing our best to contact those individuals registered in cancelled programs. 

Parks, Recreation and Culture recreation facilities will remain open this afternoon & evening for scheduled public sessions. There may be some adjustment of services at our facilities based on staffing levels. If weather conditions continue to worsen facilities may close with short notice.

Please contact our switchboard if you have any inquiries regarding your programs or rentals: 250-756-5200.

BC Ferries

BC Ferries has cancelled sailings on their major routes from 3 p.m., January 15, 2020 onward. The cancellations affect sailings into Departure Bay and Duke Point. Stay up to date on BC Ferries conditions by following them on Twitter @BCFerries.

On the Roads

Snow has begun to accumulate again and the wind is expected to pick up. City crews are focusing on clearing emergency and priority routes. If possible, please avoid travel today. 

Please help pedestrians travel through our community safely. Property owners and tenants (residential and businesses) are responsible for clearing snow and ice from the sidewalks in front of their property. The City clears sidewalks in front of City facilities, on bridges, the Waterfront Walkway and E & N Trail. _____________________________________________________________________

1:00 p.m.: Registered programs and drop-in sessions are running, however, there have been many cancellations based on instructor availability. We are doing our best to contact those individuals registered in cancelled programs. 

Parks, Recreation and Culture recreation facilities will remain open this afternoon for scheduled public sessions, programs & rentals. There may be some adjustment of services at our facilities based on staffing levels. If conditions continue to worsen facilities may close with short notice.

Please contact our switchboard if you have any inquiries regarding your programs or rentals: 250-756-5200.

For further updates please listen to our local radio stations the Wave 102.3 or Wolf 106.9.

Updates will be posted on the following sites:

• the City of Nanaimo website:   
• the City’s Facebook and Twitter platforms

Please use your own discretion to determine whether or not it is safe to travel. 
We will re-evaluate weather conditions at 3 pm for evening programs. An update will be provided at that time. 

Please use extra care when in City parks as trails and boardwalks may be icy and heavy snow may weigh down branches. 

BC Ferries

BC Ferries has cancelled sailings on their major routes from 3 p.m., January 15, 2020 onward. The cancellations affect sailings into Departure Bay and Duke Point. Stay up to date on BC Ferries conditions by following them on Twitter @BCFerries.

On the Roads

Snow has begun to accumulate again and the wind is expected to pick up. City crews are focusing on clearing emergency and priority routes. If possible, please avoid travel today. 

Please help pedestrians travel through our community safely. Property owners and tenants (residential and businesses) are responsible for clearing snow and ice from the sidewalks in front of their property. The City clears sidewalks in front of City facilities, on bridges, the Waterfront Walkway and E & N Trail. _____________________________________________________________________

7:00 a.m.: Winter driving conditions persist throughout Nanaimo this morning.

City Crews were out last night and were able to move into secondary routes and some residential areas prior to the heavy snowfall around 4am. City crews remain focused on keeping emergency and priority routes clear and will only move onto to secondary and residential once the snow subsides.

Weather forecasts are predicting a large amount of snow for today to Thursday. If at all possible, please consider postponing non-essential travel until conditions improve. Rapidly accumulating snow will make travel difficult. Visibility will be suddenly reduced to near zero at times in heavy snow and blowing snow. If you must travel, keep others informed of your schedule and destination and carry an emergency kit and mobile phone. For information on emergency plans and kits go to http://www.getprepared.gc.ca

Be prepared for the storm and possible power outages. Check out BC Hydro for tips on preparing for winter storms and outages.

Please help pedestrians travel through our community safely. Property owners and tenants (residential and businesses) are responsible for clearing snow and ice from the sidewalks in front of their property. The City clears sidewalks in front of City facilities, on bridges, the Waterfront Walkway and E & N Trail.

Garbage/Recycling Collection

Garbage/Recycling collection has been cancelled for Wednesday, January 15, 2020.

Once we get through the storm, we can better assess how the City will accommodate for missed collections. Periodic updates will be posted on the City of Nanaimo website and on our social media platforms. Download the free Nanaimo Recycles app for up to date information on curbside collection. Find links to the app on the Garbage and Recycling Calendar page on the City website.

Warming centre open

A warming centre at the 7-10 Club (285 Prideaux Street) will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on January 15, 16 and 17. The City of Nanaimo thanks our partners at the 7-10 Club and the Salvation Army for their help with this short-term initiative.

Parks, Recreation and Culture

UPDATE 1 pm: All recreation facilities are open. Due to current conditions; however, all registered recreation programs scheduled for this morning are cancelled. Registered programs and drop-in sessions are running this afternoon, however there have been many cancellations based on instructor availability. We are doing our best to contact those individuals registered in cancelled programs. There may be some adjustment of services at our facilities based on staffing levels. If conditions continue to worsen facilities may close with short notice. Please contact our switchboard if you have any inquiries regarding your programs or rentals: 250-756-5200. We will provide an update at 3pm for evening programs.

Groups with facility rentals are encouraged to notify Parks, Recreation and Culture if you are cancelling. Please call 250-756-5200.

Stay up to date with conditions on the City's website, Twitter feed (@cityofnanaimo) and Facebook page. For up-to-date information on public transit, follow @RDN_Transit on Twitter. Please also listen to our local radio stations the Wave 102.3 or Wolf 106.9.

Visit our Snow and Ice Control page for information on the City's response to snow and what residents and commuters can do to stay safe.

Committee Meetings

The environment committee meeting scheduled for tonight 5-7 pm in the board room, SARC, has been postponed to Wednesday, January 22, 2020, 5-7 pm in the HR Training Room, City Hall.