City of Nanaimo Presents: The Sweet Layered Podcast

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.

In December 1874, the City of Nanaimo became the sixth municipality to be incorporated in British Columbia. Fast forward to 2024 and Nanaimo is known to be one of the fastest growing cities in Canada. 150 years of incorporation provides a chance to highlight the City's success and recognize its citizens and community partners who have contributed to Nanaimo’s vibrancy over the last 150 years. Nanaimo has a rich history dating back before its time as a coal mining, forestry, tech and tourist hub. The Snuneymuxw First Nation resides in the centre of Coast Salish territory on the eastern coast of Vancouver Island and encompasses one of the most magnificent and resource rich areas at the heart of the Salish Sea. Since time immemorial, the Snuneymuxw People have resided in Snuneymuxw Territory as the first peoples. In the booth is City of Nanaimo's Planner for community and heritage, Chris Sholberg and Christine Meutzner, the Manager for Nanaimo Archives. *Nanaimo 150 logo created by artist Amy Pye

Wildfires are ravaging forests and communities in BC and across the globe. Nanaimo is not immune. With the increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires, it's crucial for every citizen to be prepared and informed. In this episode, we discuss the factors contributing to wildfire risk in BC, including climate change and forest management practices. We'll also explore what actions the City, individuals and communities can take to mitigate the threat and ensure safety during wildfire season. From evacuation plans to understanding emergency alerts, join us as we unpack what you need to know to protect yourself and your community in the face of this growing environmental challenge. In the booth, we're joined by Evan Lloyd the City’s Emergency Program Manager and David Dales Nanaimo Fire Rescue Assistant Fire Chief. They'll share their insights on wildfire prevention strategies, emergency response plans, and how communities can better prepare for wildfire threats.

Access to clean drinking water is as easy as turning on a tap, but have you ever wondered where Nanaimo gets its water? As communities face frequent water restrictions, especially during the summer months, it's more important than ever to understand the complex and crucial work that goes into ensuring we all have access to clean, safe water. From maintaining infrastructure to implementing conservation measures, our local government is at the forefront of managing our water supply, balancing the needs of our growing city with the realities of our environment. On this episode of the Sweet Layered Podcast we will welcome Mike Squire, the City's Manager of Water Resources and Jaymie Miller, Lead Supervisor of Waterworks. We focus on water restriction levels, history of the City's water source, various dams and the water treatment plant. Do you know what turbidity is? Listen to find out this and more!

There's a popular saying: There are two guarantees in life - death and taxes. The Sweet Layered Podcast discusses the latter and peels back the many layers involved in collecting property taxes and the many ways in which it benefits the community. Where do your taxes dollars go, what is collected and how do you pay it? These questions and more with Director of Finance, Wendy Fulla and Manager of Financial Services and Special Projects, Jamie Slater.

Nanaimo's most informative podcast - Bar None!