Vehicle and passenger ferry service between Nanaimo Harbour and Descanso Bay on Gabriola Island.
Descanso Bay terminal: 350 North Road, Gabriola, BC V0R 1X2. Boarding is first come, first served; check-in closes 10 minutes before scheduled departure for foot passengers and vehicles. Terminal amenities include accessible washroom, accessible parking, waiting room, Wi-Fi, bike rack and limited free parking. GERTIE and Gabriola Island Taxi serve the terminal. Check BC Ferries for current schedules, fares, conditions and capacity.
Before and after school care for ages 5 to 12; BGC lists Cinnabar Valley Elementary as a school served by its Richardson Road Club.
BGC Central Vancouver Island describes its out-of-school care program as providing supervised before- and after-school care, activities, and support on non-instructional days. The Richardson Road Club is at 100 Ohio Way and lists Cinnabar Valley Elementary as a school served. General posted program hours are Monday to Friday, 7:30 am to 5:30 pm; confirm the school-specific schedule and availability with BGC.
The City of Nanaimo lists the Chase River Activity Centre as available for rental. The centre has a listed capacity of 60 people.
The City of Nanaimo facility list dated November 4, 2024 gives the address as 1400 Cranberry Road and a capacity of 60. It lists a Boys & Girls Club contact telephone number of 250-754-3215. The City Services Directory lists Facility Rentals (Bowen Park) for rentals of the Chase River Activity Centre at 250-755-7517.
Estuary park and trails closed for ecological restoration.
At 1160 Island Highway South, at the south end of Haliburton Street. The City page reports that the park closed in summer 2021 for renaturalization and ecological restoration. It is marked not wheelchair accessible. Confirm reopening with the City before visiting.
Public Kindergarten to Grade 7 school located in the Cinnabar Valley community.
Cinnabar Valley Elementary is at 100 Ohio Way, Nanaimo. Instruction begins at 8:45 am and dismissal is at 2:28 pm. The school page describes the school as serving approximately 242 students and gives its direct contact details.
City-owned natural area for informal walking, nature appreciation, dog walking, and night-sky viewing.
East Wellington Park is a 12.7-hectare City-owned property at 2191 East Wellington Road. The City says the property is enjoyed as an informal place for nature appreciation, night-sky viewing, walking, and other outdoor recreation. Dogs must remain on leash. The park plan describes seasonal flooding and future improvements; do not assume proposed trail, washroom, or viewing amenities are already in place. The City does not list regular opening hours on the park plan page.
Service Areas: East Wellington, Nanaimo
Location: 2191 East Wellington Road, Nanaimo, British Columbia
Free food markets at rotating community sites across Nanaimo; full hampers are available once every two weeks.
The Nanaimo schedule lists free food markets at community sites through the week. Clients may receive a full hamper once every two weeks; Fresh Eats hampers are available once per day on each day the program is open. Current locations and times: Monday, Christ Community Church, 2221 Bowen Road, 1–2 pm (appointment), and Vancouver Island University, Building 108, 900 Fifth Street, 5–7 pm (drop-in); Tuesday, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 394 Shepherd Avenue, 11 am–noon (appointment), Brechin United Church, 2020 Estevan Road, 1–2:30 pm (drop-in), and St. Philip Anglican Church, 1797 Cedar Road, 3–4 pm (appointment); Wednesday, Native Victory Church, 471 Irwin Street, 10 am–2 pm (drop-in), and Nanaimo Alliance Church, 1609 Meredith Road, 2–3 pm (appointment); Thursday, Native Victory Church, 471 Irwin Street, 1–3 pm (drop-in), and Neighbourhood Church, 4951 Rutherford Road, 6–8 pm (drop-in); Friday, Salvation Army Church, 505 Eighth Street, noon–2 pm (drop-in), and St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, 4235 Departure Bay Road, noon–1 pm (appointment); Saturday, Generations Church, 1300 Princess Royal Avenue, 10:30 am–noon (drop-in); Sunday, Harvest Church, 6553 Portsmouth Road, 2–3 pm (appointment). Appointments are booked through the provider’s website. Confirm the live schedule before travelling.
Daily bus service between Cedar and Vancouver Island University, with transfers at South Parkway Plaza.
Route 8 runs between Cedar and Vancouver Island University with stops including Cedar at Gould, Cedar at Clifford, South Parkway Plaza, Bruce at Mulberry, University Village and VIU Exchange. BC Transit publishes weekday, Saturday and Sunday timetables. Some trips connect at South Parkway Plaza to Route 7 Cinnabar/Downtown. Use the current rider guide or trip planner to confirm times and service changes.
Daily interregional transit serving Nanaimo, Cedar, Cassidy, Oyster Bay, Ladysmith and Duncan. Check the current BC Transit schedule for stops, times and fares.
Daily interregional transit serving Nanaimo, Cedar, Cassidy, Oyster Bay, Ladysmith and Duncan. Check the current BC Transit schedule for stops, times and fares.
Service Areas: Cassidy, Cedar, Duncan, Ladysmith, Nanaimo, Oyster Bay
Free weekly meal open to all, with high-school students as the primary guests.
The City of Nanaimo’s January 2026 resource guide lists a free meal of soup, sandwiches, fruit, cookies and beverages on Thursdays from 11:00 to 12:30, September through June. The source notes that the meal primarily serves high-school students but is open to all.
Service Areas: Departure Bay, Nanaimo
Location: 4235 Departure Bay Road, Nanaimo, British Columbia