RENEW.RESTORE.REVITALIZE.
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2011
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Nanaimo News Bulletin Saturday, September 24, 2011
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Saturday, September 24, 2011 Nanaimo News Bulletin
P ARTY in the P LAZA
MoreINSIDE
BY MITCH WRIGHT
Diana Krall Plaza plays bigger role in downtown events under DNBIA
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hings are getting busy downtown and Diana Krall Plaza is at the centre of it all. Since the Downtown Nanaimo Business Improvement Association took over management of events in the square last spring, more and more people have visited, whether for special events or just to check it out. “We’re trying to use the plaza in different ways, so there’s always someone in there,” said Corry Hostetter, DNBIA general manager. “We want to get people using it.” Since taking over, the once-idle space has become a go-to location for community events or event promotions, such as the flash mob pillow fight held in early September to promo the Fringetastic theatre festival. There have been about a half-dozen big events through the summer, including the Downtown Show ’n Shine car show, which took over all of Commercial Street in mid-August. “That was way bigger than we had even anticipated,” Hostetter said. “It was just shoulder-to-shoulder down there.” The Livesite big-screen is also being used more often to bring people together for big TV events – such as the Stanley Cup finals or Jack Layton’s state funeral. “The vision is just to keep it busy,” Hostetter said. “For spring and summer, we’d like to at least have something once a week
in the plaza.” A few picnic tables are already in place, but Hostetter says the plan is for more to encourage people to eat lunch and just spend time in the square. Adding more live music should also help improve the ambience, and that could include more use of the Livesite screen, with plans in the works to screen live music events taking place elsewhere in the community. The DNBIA is also looking at working with the city on more bike racks and ‘greening’ of the space. “It’s really a wide open space for events and so far, we’ve had lots of compliments on it,” said Hostetter.
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AND CHRIS BUSH THE NEWS BULLETIN
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City claims Canada’s top street title Station renovation chugging forward Never-ending entertainment Mall revitalization taking shape Military displays find new home New corporation pushes city economy Cruise terminal bringing dividends Trail tracks city’s signature tasty treat City moves into electric vehicle era
Cover and some inside photography courtesy Mark Corbett, DNBIA.
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Nanaimo News Bulletin Saturday, September 24, 2011
City claims canada’s top street title BY TOBY GORMAN
T
he ability to not only survive, but prosper, in an era of suburban development has earned downtown Nanaimo’s Commercial Street nationwide applause through a national contest hosted by the Canadian Institute of Planners. From more than 6,000 nominations and four months of voting, Commercial Street was voted first in the country in the Great Streets category of the inaugural contest. Hamilton’s Ottawa Street and Saskatoon’s Broadway Avenue finished second and third, respectively. The top locations were honoured not only for their popularity or Internet voting drive, but because they also met certain criteria and high standards of planning. “Nanaimo’s historic Commercial Street ... is rich in heritage and
The waiter’s race, above left, was part of the Marine Festival activities on Commercial Street, while the Downtown Show ’n Shine brought big crowds. The downtown main street was named best in Canada. MARK CORBETT / DNBIA
has struggled to stay alive in the face of rapid suburban development,” said Linda Allen, a panel judge and president of CitySpaces Consulting. “The city and the downtown business community, working together, have catalyzed growth, revitalized heritage buildings and welcomed year-round cultural activity.” Required criteria for each street nominated included memorable
or unique character, promotion of social and economic activities, employing of visually interesting architecture, accessibility by different modes of transportation, and reflection of culture, history and landscape. Nanaimo Mayor John Ruttan said the honour can be attributed to years of revitalization and co-operation between the city and business owners downtown to breathe life back into Commercial Street after the north end was developed. “To come in first is a huge achievement,” said Ruttan. “I think it speaks well not only for Nanaimo, and specifically downtown Nanaimo, but it also addresses the fact that the improvements the City of Nanaimo has made over the years, since 1983, is being recognized. As we revitalize downtown to make it livable and more attractive for people to come back, both business and shoppers, this speaks to the fact we’re obviously going in the right direction.”
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Saturday, September 24, 2011 Nanaimo News Bulletin
BUY PORT PACKS & SAVE
Phase 2 of the restoration of Nanaimo’s train station includes rebuilding the interior and ultimately reopening with a restaurant as the anchor tenant. CHRIS BUSH THE NEWS BULLETIN
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Station renovation chugging forward
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BY JENN McGARRIGLE
Restoration of historic train station delayed, but still on track to reopen
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he timeline for completion of renovations to Nanaimo’s historic E&N train station was pushed back again, but the project is still chugging along. Last fall, project stakeholders thought the station, which was badly damaged in a 2007 fire, would open for business in the spring, but mortgage negotiations for the second phase of renovations to the interior of the building took longer than expected, said Darren Moss, a director of Tectonica Management Inc. and the project’s construction manager. Then in the spring, lease negotiations did not run to schedule either, he added. The major tenant will be an Irish restaurant, while VIA Rail will occupy a small portion of the building for passenger services. “Everyone’s still very much on side and it’s still moving in the same direction, so that’s the important part,” said Moss, adding he expects the building will be open for business late next spring. Work on the exterior – Phase 1 – began in May 2010.
The work included lifting the building about 1.8 metres, blasting and excavating underneath, putting in a partial basement, structural reframing, brick repair and installation of window frames. Moss said he expects Phase 2 of the renovations – all the mechanical and electrical work and finishing the interior to the drywall stage – will start shortly. Passenger service on the E&N Rail line was suspended last spring and the Island Corridor Foundation, the track’s owner, continues to await federal funding for track upgrades. But even if funding is not forthcoming and the service is not reinstated, Moss expects minimal impact to the train station project. “[The restaurant’s] business plan is based on Nanaimo patrons using the restaurant,” he said, adding that a new tenant could be found for the small portion of the building that is slated to be for VIA Rail passengers. The entire project is expected to cost about $2.4 million. For the first phase, VIA Rail’s insurance kicked in $869,000, the Young Professionals of Nanaimo raised $410,000 through a series of fundraising campaigns and the Downtown Nanaimo Partnership Society contributed $40,000. The second phase will be funded by a mortgage with CIBC. Trevor Ivens, co-owner of the Fox and Hounds on Milton Street, said the two parties are in the final stages of negotiating the lease agreement. “We’re 99.9 per cent there,” he said.
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Nanaimo News Bulletin Saturday, September 24, 2011
Never-ending entertainment
Buskers perform regularly at a number of spots throughout the downtown. THE NEWS BULLETIN
BY MELISSA FRYER
Downtown offers plenty of choices to keep people amused
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owntown Nanaimo is a never-ending source of entertainment. Nightclubs, restaurants and pubs offer a variety of jam sessions, open mike nights and performances by local and visiting artists every night of the week. Places like Diners Rendezvous, the Queen’s, Acme Food Co. and more post their entertainment schedule on social media tools like Facebook and Twitter. Or check the News Bulletin’s twice-weekly What’s On entertainment calendar for the latest events in the Harbour City. Here’s a sampling of what visitors will regularly find on a trip to the downtown: Jam nights – On Monday head to the Queen’s for the open stage, hosted by Kings Without; on Tuesday, the Rendezvous opens the lounge to jammers of all kinds; and for something a little louder and edgier, check out the Cambie on Thursdays after 8 p.m.
All that jazz – Nanaimo’s most famous export, Diana Krall, built her jazz foundation in Nanaimo. Acme Food Co. continues that tradition with Friday and Saturday night concerts with local jazz performers. Spoken word – Nanaimo also has a small but enthusiastic group of writers and spoken word performers. They meet the last Monday of each month – except during the summer – at the Rendezvous for poetry and prose readings, followed by an open mike competition. Where it’s art – Visual artwork from Nanaimo artists hangs in venues all over the downtown core – it’s called the Arts District, after all. Check out the collections in Gallery 223; Nanaimo Art Gallery; and Hill’s Native Art. There are also numerous public art pieces displayed around downtown. Buskers – No money? No problem! Take a walk along Commercial Street or the Harbourfront walkway and you’ll find an array of street entertainment in a variety of styles. Theatre – Downtown boasts two theatres offering very different productions. The Port Theatre, built in 1998, offers a full range of entertainment in an 800-seat venue with state of the art sound equipment. Nanaimo Centre Stage on Victoria Road has a more community feel, hosting smaller, emerging theatre, dance and music. The Downtown Business Improvement Association offers information on business and events. Please visit www. dnbia.ca.
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Public art is abundant across Nanaimo, and particularly in downtown. MARK CORBETT DNBIA
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Saturday, September 24, 2011 Nanaimo News Bulletin
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Port Place Mall revitalization taking shape Downtown shopping centre experiencing major transformation
Demolition, reconstruction and road-building continues apace at Port Place Mall. CHRIS BUSH THE NEWS BULLETIN
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he Port Place Mall rebuild is changing one of Nanaimo’s oldest shopping centres into a village-like retail destination in the heart of the city. The first phase of the redevelopment was mostly completed last spring, with workers still finishing the exterior. The work added a stone facade to give it a village feel, said Mike Lowe, managing
director of First Capital Realty, the owner. Current tenants have endured months of renovations, but moved moved into new locations in April. The mall is being transformed into an open-area shopping centre with most of the existing building demolished. The former food court location is becoming a pedestrian corridor and roadway named High Street, connecting to Front Street and Terminal Avenue. The Centennial Fountain, built by the Nanaimo Italian community in honour of British Columbia’s 100th anniversary of confederation, will remain the central focus of the mall’s front entrance. An eight-storey commercial residential building is also still in the plans. A 26-storey residential tower located in the north-east section is still a possibility, but is dependent on market demand.
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Nanaimo News Bulletin Saturday, September 24, 2011
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Nanaimo News Bulletin Saturday, September 24, 2011
Military displays find new home at fi former museum
John Pierce, Vancouver Island Military Museum volunteer, makes his rounds through the museum’s medals room where a Russian 73 mm recoilless anti-tank gun is kept on display. The museum expects to move into its new home at the Centennial Building in Piper Park early next year.
BY TOBY GORMAN
Vacant building built for centennial year to continue as museum
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he Vancouver Island Military Museum has new marching orders – to occupy the vacant Centennial Building at Piper Park. The military museum’s lease at Nanaimo North Town Centre is set to expire at the end of this year, and with the possibility of demolition hanging over the Centennial Building, the city’s heritage planner Chris Sholberg introduced the idea of the war veterans moving their displays into the old Nanaimo Museum site, which has been unused since 2007 when the Nanaimo Museum began moving to its new location at the Port of Nanaimo Centre. “It seemed like a natural,” said Sholberg. “A great opportunity.” In June, city staff helped council, Nanaimo Museum, which still maintains some storage space on one level of the two-storey building, and the military museum draft a lease agreement that will see 70 per cent of the annual $30,000 operating budget covered by the war veterans and 30 per cent covered by Nanaimo Museum. The city, which in 2009 considered
razing the building due to maintenance costs, will contribute a new roof, electrical and HVAC upgrades. “We’re looking forward to it because it gives us an opportunity to get down to the core of Nanaimo,” said Brian McFadden, spokesman for the military museum. “It’s a very valuable building. It’s in an ideal location and what better way to replace the building than with another museum?” Roger Bird, president of the military museum, said the accessibility to the new site will be excellent and its location close to the waterfront and other tourist attractions will encourage more visitors. “We’ll be right next to the Nanaimo Museum so everything will be within walking distance – the waterfront, two museums, the conference centre and possibly the new hotel down the line. Add in the cruise ship terminal and it’s the perfect location,” he said. Earlier this year, the Centennial Building was added to the city’s heritage registry along with Piper Park and the grounds, including the train and miner’s cottage. Sholberg said while the building is recognized as a heritage structure, having it on the registry does not protect it. “You definitely want a heritage building to be used to save it from being taken down, so this works out well,” he said. The octagon-shaped Centennial Building was built in 1967 as part of the country’s centennial celebrations and was paid for with federal funds. Jacqueline Barley, whose father Les Barley was the architect of the building, worked hard to save the building
CHRIS BUSH THE NEWS BULLETIN
Quickfacts ◆ CENTENNIAL BUILDING was built in 1967 and housed the Nanaimo Museum until 2007 when the museum began moving to its new home in the Port of Nanaimo Centre.
from demolition and advocated to have it installed on the heritage registry. Les Barley celebrated his 100th birthday on Sept. 19. Barley said she is relieved the site will get a second chance. “It’s wonderful news,” she said. “The building is supposed to be a museum, that’s what it was designed to be.” The lease agreement is for 10 years, which means the move will require the approval of Nanaimo voters through an alternative approval process set for September. The military museum expects to
use the two upper floors, while the Nanaimo Museum Society will continue to use a portion of the first floor for storage. “It’s a very good fit and a win-win for all involved,” said Nanaimo Mayor John Ruttan. “When a building is abandoned and not in use, it deteriorates quickly ... but this will be a revenue producer for the city because the new tenants are paying and I think it will work out nicely for all involved.” The Vancouver Island Military Museum is expected to move into its new location early in 2012.
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◆ THE BUILDING was mostly unused, other than storage, since the museum moved. ◆ CITY COUNCIL considered demolishing the building in 2009 due to maintenance costs. ◆ VANCOUVER ISLAND MILITARY MUSEUM has been looking for a new home for a number of years, with its lease at Nanaimo North Town Centre set to expire later this year.
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Saturday, September 24, 2011 Nanaimo News Bulletin
New corporation pushes city economy BY TOBY GORMAN
Reorganized department distanced from city hall
T
he City of Nanaimo officially entered into a partnership agreement earlier this year with the newly developed Nanaimo Economic Development Corporation, which will allow the city to help the organization carry out its mandate under the Community Charter. The agreement stipulates the city will provide $1.37 million in return for economic development and tourism services that will benefit Nanaimo. The agreement, which has a term of 20 years, will allow the city to assist the corporation through grants and loans, as well as property transfers. The city will also, for now, be the sole shareholder in the corporation, but that could change if nearby municipalities and regional districts express interest.
Nanaimo Mayor John Ruttan created the corporation after determining in early 2010 that the former economic development office and other city-run economic and tourism offices were not transparent enough and were underperforming, despite enjoying a $1.5million budget. The move also means Tourism Nanaimo will no longer receive city funding. “There is excitement around this and that’s the reason it was set up,” said Ruttan. “Around a year and a half ago I was starting to get some feedback from the business community wondering why the economic development office was run by the city and why there wasn’t more input from business owners or more information provided. I felt there needed to be a great deal more information out there for both council and local business.” While the corporation is designed to operate as a separate entity, a 14-member progress board, which includes council representatives, was established to monitor the fledgling organization’s operations. The corporation will also operate under the rules and regulations of the Business Corporations Act.
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Economic CEO announced
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fter an extensive five- as well as general manager of the Waterloo month search, the Regional Marketing Corporation. Nanaimo Economic Her private sector experience includes Development senior management positions within the Corporation has automotive alternative fuels market and found its inaugural the natural gas utility sector. She was also CEO. president of OZ Management Consulting, The corporafocusing on economic development, sustion announced tainability, venture capital investment and that Susan Cudahy, currently a senior tourism marketing. manager at the Federation of Canadian She begins her new role on Oct. 17. Municipalities, will help establish the fledgNanaimo Mayor John Ruttan, who ling corporation and complete the spearheaded development process of creating the 17-member of the corporation, said one board of directors. of Cudahy’s first tasks will Pinton Forrest and Madden, an include branding the new executive search firm, helped existventure. ing board members find the best “The success of this corcandidate. poration is going to start “The NEDC board had to make with brand identification,” some tough decisions,” board cosaid Ruttan. “She needs to chairman A.J. Hustins said. “We had be prepared to set out goals exemplary candidates wanting to and objectives of NEDC, sit come to Nanaimo to undertake this down with all of the players CUDAHY challenge. However, Susan really involved, get to know them impressed all of us and is going to and look beyond traditional be a great addition to Nanaimo and the borders to pursue opportunities.” corporation.” The corporation was designed to incorporate Nanaimo’s economic development and Prior to her work at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, Cudahy was presi- tourism offices into one entity. It will begin dent and CEO of the Greater Peterborough operation with a $1.37-million budget and Area Economic Development Corporation, has a term of 20 years.
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Nanaimo News Bulletin Saturday, September 24, 2011
Cruise terminal bringing dividends BY CHRIS HAMLYN
New infrastructure helps bring more passengers in to experience the city
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anaimo’s $24-million cruise ship terminal is a beacon for visitors from around the world, introducing them to the Harbour City. The terminal opened May 7 to rave reviews from passengers aboard the Norwegian Pearl and has since had visits from the Celebrity Century in May and most recently the
Celebrity Millennium Sept. 10. The Norwegian Star pays a visit Sept. 25. The 106-metre floating dock is capable of berthing 1,050-foot vessels and the 13,774square-foot Welcome Centre holds space for the Canadian Border Service Agency’s offices and customs clearance. The Nanaimo Port Authority is relocating its administrative offices into the building this fall. Corry Hostetter, general manager of Downtown Nanaimo Business Improvement Association, said the feedback on Nanaimo from visitors disembarking the ships has been amazing. “We’ve heard everything from this is their favourite stop so far, to this was their favourite stop on their tour,” she said. “The hospitality we provide with our volunteers and the cruise ship ambassadors is something that’s not done in other communities.” Calvin Wallin, owner of Acme Food Co.,
said more often than not, a cruise ship’s arrival means a full restaurant. “And it’s not only us. Every time a cruise ship is in, the downtown is full,” he said. “People seem to enjoy the Nanaimo experience … they explore the city.” Wallin said providing good service when the tourists arrive is key. “When a ship is in port we bring in an extra server, another host and at least one more person in the kitchen,” he said. “We’re staffed and ready to go.”
The 13,774-square-foot Welcome Centre holds space for the Canadian Border Service Agency’s offices and customs clearance. The Nanaimo Port Authority is relocating its administrative offices into the building this fall. .
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Saturday, September 24, 2011 Nanaimo News Bulletin
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Every time a cruise ship is in town, the downtown is full.
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The new terminal opened May 7 to rave reviews from passengers aboard the Norwegian Pearl. THE NEWS BULLETIN
Kevin Perry, owner of Perkins Coffee Company, said business ranges from steady to very busy when the ships arrive. “Depending when the ship docks and if the passengers haven’t eaten, they’re seeking a meal and that’s good,” he said. Perry hopes 2012 brings a steady flow of ships to town, believing it would change the dynamics of the city. “I’ve been in Victoria when they’ve had two ships in and the place has been crazy,” he said. Bernie Dumas, CEO of the Nanaimo Port Authority, said the cruise ship terminal is expected to start turning a profit after five years, a timeline that includes the construction phase. The port needs about 25-30 large vessel visits a year to make that target. So far, five vessels, including the condominium ship, The World, are confirmed to visit Nanaimo in 2012.
Cruise outlooks are starting to improve with a number of companies returning to the Alaskan route after pulling out during the recession, said Dumas. “We are in a good position to scoop that up,” he said. “It’s very important for the community. It has a lot of economic potential for the community. We’re optimistic we’re going to see some better numbers for 2012.” Nanaimo Mayor John Ruttan spent eight years on the Nanaimo Port Authority’s board –
FLYING FISH 30p6x35p6
and has some knowledge of the effort that went into developing the terminal and the value behind it. “There’s no question in my mind this was designed as a long-term project. I think the port understood the return would be quite some time in coming,” he said. “I also think it was their intent to build this more for the community than for themselves. There isn’t a great deal of money in tieing up a vessel. It’s the spending that takes place ashore that is going to
be the biggest benefit to the community.” One of the major concerns has been a town full of closed shops when a ship arrives on a Sunday, but Hostetter said the business owners are buying into keeping their doors open. “We try to let our members know when the ships are coming in so they can schedule their shopping hours accordingly,” she said. “The next visit is a Sunday and the owners are starting to see the benefit of staying open. If we can get the numbers in the downtown, it’s worth staying open.” Ruttan said the math regarding Sunday openings isn’t a challenge. “If you get between 2,000 and 2,400 people coming ashore for six to eight hours with money in their pockets, they’re going to spend it somewhere,” he said. “It behooves everyone to try and make those people’s experiences as good as it can be. People remember good service and they remember poor service. We need
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Trail tracks city’s signature tasty treat 14
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Nanaimo News Bulletin Saturday, September 24, 2011
BY CHRIS BUSH
R
ecent clandestine operations have produced some new arrivals to the Nanaimo Bar scene. The Grand Hotel has created a Nanaimo Bar cocktail, you can line up Nanaimo Bar shooters at Millers Pub and Modern Café has added a Nanaimo Bar latté alongside its
Nanaimo Bar martini. They’re all new additions to a special attraction featuring the city’s signature snack – the Nanaimo Bar Trail. “We’ve had a couple of restaurants add on to their traditional or vegan versions that they’re already serving, so I think we’re up to 19 businesses now,” said Chelsea Barr, Destination Nanaimo spokeswoman, who compiled the list of bar makers. No public event where treats are served in this town is complete without a tray of the delectable dessert and connoisseurs know just a conservative nip will unleash a cacophony of chocolate and coconut, followed by a voluminous rush of vanilla. Because one can never have too much of a good thing, this city’s chefs, restauranteurs and bartenders have tinkered with this dessert’s DNA, splicing a gene here and cross-breeding in a trait there to spawn a host of mutations that claim culinary lineage to the original, but take radically different forms to slip past the defences of fresh legions of hosts. The Nanaimo Bar Trail lures people with a list of cof-
fee houses, bakeries and restaurants that mint the bar from recipes clinging to convention and other establishments that trampled tradition like Picasso and proudly boast of the Frankenstein-ian offspring of their work. “It’s just another activity for folks to do downtown, other ideas for people who have visitors coming in, for people coming in on the cruise ships,” Barr said. “It’s just sort of a funky thing to promote the Nanaimo Bar.” Pamphlets came out in June and are available at Tourism Nanaimo kiosks, parks, recreation and culture facilities and at businesses listed in the pamphlet. Barr said a downloadable version of the pamphlet is on the City of Nanaimo website. Travel publications from far flung regions are picking up on the Nanaimo Bar Trail too. “We have a woman coming from the U.K. to do a whole big thing about it, so that’s really exciting,” Barr said. Another way to get started on a Nanaimo Bar pilgrimage is to make a quick visit to Tourism Nanaimo’s website at www.tourismnanaimo.com/content/nanaimo-bar, where people can chart their path to the Nanaimo Bar Cupcake at A Wee Cupcakery and the Nanaimo Bar Ice Cream Sundae at Jakecob’s Ice Cream Parlour. The health-conscious can go wheat-free and organic at one of Nanaimo’s farmer’s markets, or dive headlong into a feeding frenzy with deep-fried version of the bar from Pirate Chips. Nanaimo Museum has even compiled a history of the Nanaimo Bar to go with its mouth-watering, but inedible, display.
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Saturday, September 24, 2011 Nanaimo News Bulletin
City moves into electric vehicle era The City of Nanaimo has taken a step in reducing its carbon footprint by adding two electric vehicles to its fleet. The Nissan Leaf zero emission electric cars are expected to provide the city with fuel and maintenance cost savings estimated between $20,000 and $25,000 per car compared to a similar gas-powered compact car over the projected 10-year lifespan of the vehicles. Green house gas emission reductions per year are expected to be 80 per cent compared to traditional vehicles. While electric vehicles are considerably more expensive for the city to purchase, the reduced operating costs offset the increased purchase price. “We look at all fleet vehicles as they come up for replacement and look for opportunities to downsize or go to alternative fuels including electric,” said Bruce Labelle, fleet manager. “The electric option doesn’t meet all the fleet needs today but as technology improves and more options are available, we hope electrics will be a substantial part of the city fleet.” A third vehicle is on order, but due to product demand its arrival has been delayed. Public charging stations will be installed at a number of facilities over the coming months as the city prepares to see more electric vehicles on local roads. Three charging stations have been installed for the fleet cars; two at the Franklyn Street compound and one at public works on Labieux Road. For more information about city fleet vehicles, please e-mail Labelle at bruce.labelle@ nanaimo.ca or call 250-756-5312.
Carshare co-op shows quick growth pattern Just 12 weeks after the launch of its service, Nanaimo CarShare Cooperative welcomed its 20th member. Protection Island resident Denise Bonin recently joined the non-profit association,
whose members share the use of a 2009 Nissan Versa hatchback. The milestone is an important one for the co-operative, says Kurt Fischer, who along with Barbara Johnston and Louise Hamilton make up the group’s board of directors. “Carsharing can be found in most large cities and many mid-sized cities in Canada and the U.S., and Nanaimo is showing that it works well here too,” says Fischer, who played a key role in the planning, launch, and management of the 1,000-member hOurCar carsharing organization in Minnesota. Nanaimo CarShare keeps its Versa at the south end of Port Place Mall downtown, a short walk from a well-served bus stop on Front Street and the Protection and Gabriola Island ferry terminals. It`s popular with island residents who can avoid hefty vehicle ferry fares, ferry line-ups, and parking costs, when they come to the city. And even then, says Fischer, there is still plenty of prime time use available. “Many of our members tend to think of using a car for a simple, short trip as a last resort, whereas typical car owners may think of a car as the first resort for every trip.” Consequently, Nanaimo CarShare members don’t use the Versa anywhere near as much as private car owners use their vehicles. “Carsharing is just one piece of the mobility puzzle, with the other important pieces comprising transit, cycling, walking, taxis, and conventional rental car. Our members tend to choose the mobility option that best meets the requirements of a particular trip – which often is a mode other than a car.” That means the cooperative can accommodate many more members, he says. And as demand grows, the plan calls for a second car to be added to the duty roster. Members make easy, self-service bookings online for trips as short as an hour or as long as a day. They pay usage fees based on the hours reserved and kilometres travelled in each trip. The co-op pays for insurance, maintenance, repairs, BCAA roadside assistance, and gas. Each member gets a monthly invoice itemizing each trip. If members don’t drive during a month, their cost is $0. For more information, please go to nanaimocarshare.ca, phone 250-741-4141, or email NanaimoCarShareInfo@GMail.com
Cafè really living up to its name For a business that’s been around for more than 100 years, the Modern Café is truly living up to its name these days. When new owner, Scott Cooper, took over the downtown Nanaimo restaurant a year ago, he strived to take the establishment into the digital age. Now using iPad technology and the most up-to-date point of sales
system, the Modern is able to provide better customer service and create new communication points with customers. Adding to the iPad launch, the Modern has also completely upgraded the website www.themoderncafe.ca to include online reservation system that instantly reserves a table on the iPad.
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Nanaimo News Bulletin Saturday, September 24, 2011
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