Ravensong Aquatic Centre Expansion Project

At the October 22, 2024, Board meeting the RDN Board approved the following referendum question:

“Are you in favour of the Regional District of Nanaimo adopting Ravensong Aquatic Centre Loan Authorization Bylaw No. 1921, 2024, which will authorize the Regional District of Nanaimo to borrow up to thirty million dollars ($30,000,000) in order to finance the Ravensong Aquatic Centre expansion?”

To prepare for referendum a new project page has been created. Please visit this new page to find information on the upcoming referendum.

The agenda and full report from the October 22, 2024 Board meeting can be viewed here.

At the Board meeting held October 8, 2024, the motion that staff be directed to proceed with preparations for a Spring 2025 referendum on borrowing up to thirty million ($30,000,000) for expansion to the Ravensong Aquatic Centre was carried.

The meeting can be viewed via the following video link.

September 23, 2024 - Oceanside Services Committee carries four motions related to Expansion

On September 23, 2024 at 1:30 p.m. at the Parksville City Hall, the Oceanside Services Committee received a presentation from FaulknerBrowns Architects on the Updated Design and Class B Costing for the Ravensong Aquatic Centre Expansion. To view the presentation, visit the presentations folder in the background documents or click here.

The following motions were carried:

It was moved and seconded that staff be directed to proceed with preparations for a Spring 2025 referendum on borrowing up to thirty million ($30,000,000) for an expansion to the Ravensong Aquatic Centre. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

It was moved and seconded that a contribution of 1.3 million dollars to the Ravensong Aquatic Centre capital reserve fund be reinstated in 2025 to support the expansion project and continued capital maintenance of Ravensong Aquatic Centre. Opposed (2): Director Rogers and Director Salter CARRIED

It was moved and seconded that the 2024-2028 Financial Plan be amended to move $365,098 of reserve spending from 2025 to 2024 for the Class B costing fees from FaulknerBrowns Architects in the Ravensong Expansion project budget to support resolution #24-172. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

It was moved and seconded that a grant application be prepared and submitted to the Federal Green and Inclusive Community Buildings program in support of the Ravensong Aquatic Centre expansion project, and the financial plan be amended accordingly if the grant is successful. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

September 23, 2024 - Presentation to Oceanside Services Committee

On September 23, 2024 at 1:30 p.m. at the Parksville City Hall, the Oceanside Services Committee will receive and consider a presentation from FaulknerBrowns Architects on the Updated Design and Class B Costing for the Ravensong Aquatic Centre Expansion.

At the Board meeting held March 26, 2024, the March 7, 2024 recommendation from the District 69 Swimming Pool Service Select Committee was carried unanimously. The recommendation was to proceed with obtaining Class B costing for the Original Option (OO) chosen in 2021 in order to advance to Electoral Approval.

RDN staff will now start working with the Architecture firm over the coming months to create a Class B costing report for the Board's review and for use for Electoral Approval.

The meeting can be viewed via the following video link. Meeting minutes can also be viewed.

More information is available in the March 7, 2024 Update and in the Background Documents on this page.

Expansion Options for Ravensong Aquatic Centre

The Regional District of Nanaimo District 69 Swimming Pool Service Select Committee met on Thursday, March 7, 2024, in the Regional District of Nanaimo Board Chambers at 6300 Hammond Bay Road Nanaimo, B.C.

At the meeting the Committee recommended to the Board for staff to be directed to proceed with Class B costing for the full expansion of the Ravensong Aquatic Centre (Option OO Phase 1 and 2 combined) for advancement to an Elector Approval process to secure the required funds for the project.

The meeting can be viewed via the following video link. Meeting minutes can also be viewed.

Details of Ravensong Expansion Option OO can be viewed under Background Documents – Ravensong Aquatic Centre Expansion – Schematic Design Update.

Next steps: The recommendation will be brought to the Regional District of Nanaimo Regular Board Meeting which is scheduled for Tuesday March 26, 2024, at 1:00 p.m.

Parksville Pool Feasibility Service Establishment Bylaw No. 1894 – Status Update and Options

The Regional District of Nanaimo Regular Board met on Tuesday, January 30, 2024, in the Regional District of Nanaimo Board Chambers at 6300 Hammond Bay Road Nanaimo, BC. At the meeting the following delegation was heard, and the following motion was carried.

It was moved and seconded that the Board abandon “Parksville Pool Feasibility Service Establishment Bylaw No. 1894, 2023”.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

The Regional District of Nanaimo Regular Board met on Tuesday, September 12, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. in the Regional District of Nanaimo Board Chambers at 6300 Hammond Bay Road Nanaimo, BC. At the meeting the following Motions were carried.

(Parksville, Qualicum Beach, Electoral Areas F, G, H - Weighted Vote)

1. That the renovation of the Ravensong Aquatic Facility be put on hold and be re-examined in 2025, and that contributions to reserves for renovations at the Ravensong Aquatic Centre be set at zero for the 2024 budget.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

In addition, the Board voted on the following Committee recommendation that came from Business Arising from Correspondence.

• (All Directors - One Vote)

That the Board support the request to examine the feasibility of a pool in the Parksville area based on the letter dated July 17, 2023, from Mayor O'Brien.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

The meeting was live web streamed and recorded and can be viewed here.

The meeting Minutes can be accessed here Minutes

At the July 12, 2022 regular meeting of the RDN Board the following motions related to the expansion to Ravensong Aquatic Centre were passed as recommended from the Oceanside Services Committee:

That the Regional District of Nanaimo proceed with option 1B as noted on page 4 of the Ravensong Aquatic Centre Expansion and Regional Aquatics for Oceanside Communities 2022-2024 Plan staff report.

That should funds be awarded to the Ravensong Aquatic Centre Expansion Project from the Canada Community Building Fund Strategic Priorities Fund program stream, the timelines, including phasing options for the project, be re-evaluated, and revised to capitalize on awarded funds.

If you would like to view the report for the expansion options, it can be found in the Background Documents and the video of the meeting can be viewed in the Agendas, Minutes & Videos section of our website.

At the same meeting the RDN Board referred the following motion to an upcoming regular Board meeting:

That a referendum occur concurrently with the referendum for the amendment to Bylaw 899.

At the November 22, 2021, Oceanside Services Committee (OSC) meeting committee members recommended to the RDN Board that staff continue to plan for an expansion of Ravensong Aquatic Centre in phases that could be aligned and adapted to the final outcome of the City of Parksville’s efforts for their own Pool/Multiplex facility. This planning includes both financial options and implications on funding both a phased and unphased expansion of the selected option (OO), costing and scheduling for final schematic design, the start of detailed design and Class C costing. At the regular December 7, 2021, RDN Board meeting the following resolutions were made:

#21-628

That the preferred Ravensong Aquatic Centre expansion option be Option OO (Original Option).

#21-629

That the financial planning for Phase 1 of Option OO (Original Option) expansion to Ravensong Aquatic Centre, including funding for a referendum, continue within the 2022 Financial Plan.

#21-630

That the next phase for an expansion to Ravensong Aquatic Centre be focused on a review of providing regional aquatic services through either the preferred expansion option (Option OO) to Ravensong Aquatic Centre or a separate stand-alone facility at another location within Oceanside.