City of Nanaimo Presents: The Sweet Layered Podcast

Adverse weather can be challenging, but with the right services and clear communication it makes all the difference. Clear roads, sidewalks and areas around facilities to safety alerts and critical updates, timely info keeps our community safe, informed and prepared. Up next we chat with Charlotte Davis, Deputy Director of Parks and Natural Areas and David Thompson, Manager of Roads and Traffic Services about what the City does when it snows or when we get hit with a “Bomb Cyclone”.

Arenas are more than buildings; they're vibrant hubs that bring people together, hosting everything from hockey games to weekend skating sessions all while creating lasting memories. In this episode of The Sweet Layered Podcast, we chat with arenas staff Grace Bell (Arenas Manager), Allison Schneider (Recreation Coordinator) and Aaron Denninger (Arena Maintenance Worker) to explore how sheets of ice are made, why arenas matter and their role in supporting the social fabric of our communities. We also reveal the theme for this year’s Winter Wonderland! 

In this episode, we sit down with Superintendent Andrew Burton, Nanaimo’s new top cop and officer in charge of the RCMP detachment. Andrew shares his vision for the future, reflections on his roots in Port Alberni and stories from his career across Canada. Tune in as we discuss recruitment, employee wellness and much more!

It’s Mayor time! On this episode of The Sweet Layered Podcast we welcome City of Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog. We dig into the Mayor’s youth, influences growing up and his time as a BC Member of Legislative Assembly and Mayor of one of Canada’s fastest growing cities. His fun fact was a good one! 

Next up on The Sweet Layered Podcast is Sadie Robinson, the City’s Transportation Planning Specialist to give us the low-down on Active Transportation. We chat about sustainability plans to encourage walking, rolling, cycling and transit goals.

How do we get to be a multi-modal city? What is micro-mobility? What are rules of the road for cyclists and other one or two-wheeled devices? Why are bike lanes a contentious subject and who funds these projects? Tune in to find out!

What is an AAP? Find out on this episode of The Sweet Layered Podcast where we welcome Sheila Gurrie, the City’s Director of Legislative Services. In a previous podcast we discussed the Public Works Yard Updates project and the reasons for the upgrade. This time around we discuss the process municipalities in BC utilize to seek funding for projects such as this.

Beginning Sept 18, 2024, the City is conducting an alternative approval process (AAP) to seek elector approval to borrow up to $90 million to finance the cost of replacing the fleet maintenance and crew/administration buildings at the public works yard. Project info: https://www.getinvolvednanaimo.ca/pwy-updates

What is the difference between an election, referendum and AAP and how would it apply to this process? How does one submit their opposition to the project and by when? What happens if the AAP passes or fails?

Listen to find out!

*Episode recorded on September 18, 2024

On this episode of The Sweet Layered Podcast, Bill Sims, the City’s General Manager of Engineering and Public Works, discusses the Public Works Yard Updates project. The original Public Works buildings were constructed in the 1960’s and evolved as Nanaimo’s population grew from less than 45,000 in 1980 to over 107,000 in 2023. We learn more about buildings past its useful life too small to accommodate current staffing levels, not seismically safe and undersized mechanic bays unable to fit fleet vehicles such as fire and sanitation trucks. Why is the City looking at this project now after decades of discussions? What is the projected cost to taxpayers and how has this differed from previous plans? Tune in to find out.

On this episode of The Sweet Layered Podcast, we welcome James Knight, the City's Capital Project Management Specialist, to discuss the exciting Commercial Street upgrade in downtown Nanaimo. The project, also named Design Commercial, aims to refresh the downtown core by improving accessibility, replacing aging infrastructure and enhancing spaces for community events. The revitalization will create a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly destination that supports local businesses and fosters a thriving, dynamic downtown. Listen to find out more about the years-long process to get to this point and whether he is related to Jonathan and Jordan Knight from New Kids On The Block!

Join us as we chat with Kamal Parmar, the City’s Poet Laureate whose work spans Haiku poetry and creative non-fiction. Kamal's writing reflects her journey from India to Canada, exploring themes like childhood memories, the Canadian prairies and her mother's battle with Alzheimer's. With publications across the UK, Canada and India and several books to her name, Kamal is a vibrant part of the literary community. She is active in various writers' organizations and has played a key role in Nanaimo's cultural scene, making this episode a rich exploration of her creative life.

On this episode of The Sweet Layered Podcast, Paige Pierce, Nanaimo's Youth Poet Laureate for 2024-2026 shares stories of her youth, how her love of reading lead to publishing numerous books and her early start to writing poetry. What is her goal as Youth Poet Laureate? Listen to find out.

The City of Nanaimo's Youth Poet Laureate serves as a “young people’s poet”, raising awareness of poetry, the literary arts and the positive impact literature and poetry can have on community life.