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Last week, Nanaimo city council held a special governance and priorities committee meeting specifically on the need for “dry,” or sober, housing to be built by the province on the site of 250 Terminal Ave.
I reported on the issue from the perspective of the local community association last year, and the mayor has sent letters to Housing Minister Christine Boyle to little effect.
Boyle replied to the mayor in February that the province’s housing first approach is one based in harm reduction but also encouraged council to send "additional relevant data” that would support the 250 Terminal Ave. project being designated as sober supportive housing.
In addition to experts in addiction medicine, social service providers and the Nanaimo Correctional Centre. there was one voice that stood out for me in the meeting: that of Charles Myerscough.
Myerscough is a self-described “former addict” who is an “outlier to the data” in that he was able to remain sober despite the constant exposure to drug and alcohol use at the Newcastle Place supportive housing site in Nanaimo.
You can read my story about the city’s push for dry supportive housing below.
Thank you for reading,
Mick Sweetman
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| Experts and community members speak out on need for dry housing in Nanaimo | Former Newcastle Place supportive housing resident says dry housing is needed for some people in recovery.
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| Read the full story
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| Council corner |
The city’s governance and priorities committee met on Monday, June 15.
The committee passed a motion that council direct staff to investigate long-term borrowing to fund sanitary sewer upgrades.
It also considered a report for a rental tenant relocation assistance program for renters who are displaced due to redevelopment projects. The committee passed a motion to direct staff to develop a tenant protection bylaw for buildings with four or more rental units, replace a policy on strata conversion to add requirements for tenants facing eviction and present recommendations for a tenant protection bylaw to interest groups for review and comments in June 2026.
The report recommends that tenants be provided with a minimum of four months’ rent and receive that in either a lump sum or rent-free living arrangements paid by the termination of the tenancy. Tenants would also receive money to help cover moving costs and tenants would have the right of first refusal to rent a comparable unit in the new building or another unit owned by the landlord.
The next regular meeting of city council will be held on Monday, June 22 in the Vancouver Island Conference Centre’s Shaw Auditorium at 7 p.m. The 2025 Annual Municipal Report will be presented to council including highlights of financial information, services and operations and objectives and performance indicators.
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| On The Island |
| ‘It’s about our right to fundamentally exist’: Local bodybuilder takes his fight to BC Human Rights Tribuna
| Jules Sherred shares his thoughts on modern Pride, the struggles of transmasculine people in sports and why he continues to fight for the rights of all trans people.
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| Read the full story
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| New mural by Quw’utsun artist aims to bring community togethe
| Queen Margaret’s School unveils new mural for school grounds created by Quw’utsun artist Shawn Johnny and students.
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| Read the full story
| | In other news |
👉 The Regional District of Nanaimo held a meeting of 20 stakeholders in Gabriola Island’s Agi Hall to discuss a safe path for pedestrians and cyclists from the village to the ferry terminal. CHEK News has the story by the Gabriola Sounder.
👉 Harewood’s Deni’s Dynamite Deals thrift store is closing its doors after owner Deni Bezeau told CHEK News that he was unable to find a buyer for the business and is retiring. Bezeau has raised over $500,000 for local food programs, school sports and music programs over the years.
👉 Nanaimo’s population reached more than 112,600 people in 2025 according to the city’s annual state of the economy report. The report shows increases in the city’s visible minority groups which make up 14.3 per cent of the population and is projected to increase to 16 per cent by 2030. The Nanaimo News Bulletin has the story.
👉 The City of Nanaimo is seeking applications from artists for its 2027 temporary public art program that could include artwork from sculptures to social- and community-based art installations. Information sessions will be held in August and September and the deadline for proposals is Oct. 18, 2026.
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