On this episode we welcome Jaime-Brett Sine, the City’s Culture Coordinator, to talk about Luminous Paths: Nanaimo’s 150 and Beyond event held in early 2025 – which recently took home a Creative City Network of Canada Impact Award. Luminous Paths was a month-long winter art festival commemorating the City’s 150th anniversary of Nanaimo City Council’s first meeting. The event, a first of its kind for the city, welcomed nearly 18,000 people taking part in seven art installations stationed around Maffeo Sutton Park.

We thought we'd give it a few months before we have Nanaimo's latest Officer in Charge of the RCMP,  Superintendent Eric Rochette, to the podcast! We talk upbringing in eastern Canada, leadership practice, vision for the detachment and public safety.

Today we’re joined by two of Nanaimo’s dedicated Bylaw Officers, Wally Taylor and Mike Buckler. We’ll be diving into what it’s like to work in bylaw enforcement, bylaws the community may not know about, the challenges, misconceptions and celebrations they experience and how they help keep our community safe and respectful. Thanks for joining us!

Nanaimo is getting ready to welcome 2,700 athletes for the 2025 55+ BC Games, a province-wide celebration of active living and community spirit.In this episode we chat with Games President Diana Johnstone and Vice President Mary Smith about what it takes to organize an event of this size and scale. They talk about the 21 sports being featured, the call for volunteers and how local residents and businesses can get involved.Whether you’re a potential athlete, volunteer or supporter, this episode is your insider look at what’s coming to the Harbour City September 9 to 13, 2025.

Aquatics is one of the most popular programs offered by the City. On this episode we dive into a topic that makes a big splash in our community. Recreation Coordinators Ashley Rowe and Amanda Watkins share information on the many programs offered from swim lessons, Aquafit, water safety and so much more. How many people use the facility each day and how many litres of water is needed to fill a pool? Listen to find out!

Public works, the essential service that keeps our community running smoothly. On this episode we're exploring why public works matter, how they affect our daily lives and what residents might not realize about the planning and people behind the scenes. Most importantly, we discuss Public Works Day! What is it? Listen to find out. Joining us are Sweet Layered Podcast alum Bill Sims, General Manager for Engineering & Public Works and David Thompson, Manager of Roads & Traffic Services.

April is Water to Earth Month and today we discuss and celebrate the critical connections between our environment and everyday lives. In honour of Earth Day, we’re spotlighting a unique partnership that brings together multiple levels of government and private industry to care for something we all rely on, our watershed. From the forests that filter our water, to the rivers that carry salmon home, to the taps in our kitchens, it’s all connected. Joining us is Mike Squire, the City's Manager of Water Resources, Pam Jorgenson the Manager of Community Initiatives & Certifications for Mosaic and James Meldrum, Senior Rebuilding Biologist for Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

Ever wonder how the city keeps everything running smoothly? Some of it comes down to data—over 400 layers of it. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) support everything from managing water and wastewater to dispatching emergency services and tracking city assets. GIS helps City staff make informed decisions, improve public safety and even meet legislative requirements. On this episode, we’re joined by Mark Willoughby, the City’s Supervisor of GIS, to break down how this powerful tool works and why it matters.

Ever wonder how buildings in Nanaimo stay safe and up to code? Today, we're taking a look at the Building Inspections and Permits process with Darcy Fox the Manager of Building Inspections. We chat about the folks who review permits, enforce regulations and help turn ideas into reality. Stick around as we break down how their work keeps our community growing strong!

On this episode of The Sweet Layered Podcast, we’re talking trash—literally! In the booth we welcome City Councillor and Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) Director Ben Geselbracht and City Zero Waste Coordinator Travis Barrington. As one of four municipalities in the RDN, the City of Nanaimo plays an important role in supporting the RDN’s Solid Waste Management Plan. While the RDN sets the big-picture goals and targets for solid waste disposal, the City handles services like residential curbside collection, public waste receptacles and Zero Waste initiatives. We also discuss the RDN's new waste source separation bylaw and who it affects plus we find out where your garbage, recycling and compost goes after it is picked up. Tune in as we explore what the new bylaw means for residents, businesses and the environment, and how the City of Nanaimo is supporting these efforts to reduce waste and move closer to Zero Waste goals.

This special year-in-review episode of The Sweet Layered Podcast peeled back the many layers of what makes Nanaimo such a vibrant community. This year, we released 15 episodes, exploring everything from property taxes and water conservation to cultural celebrations and major city projects. With an average of over 100 downloads per episode, we’re proud to be in the top 25th percentile of podcasts worldwide, thanks to you—our amazing listeners! On this episode, we’re revisiting the highlights, sharing memorable moments and celebrating the stories that made 2024 such an exciting year for our podcast. 

In this episode, we’re diving into Nanaimo’s 2025-2029 Draft Financial Plan—a blueprint for managing $4.8 billion in City assets and supporting a growing population of over 100,000. With investments in public safety, housing and infrastructure, the plan reflects the City’s commitment to sustainability, livability and long-term resilience. We chat with Chief Administrative Officer Dale Lindsay and General Manager of Corporate Services Laura Mercer. *Episode recorded on December 3, 2024

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!