Residents who live here know that the South End is a vibrant community with a cornucopia of personalities and talents, and the front porch sense of neighbourhood often missing in newer housing developments. Oh yes, and an extra pinch of creativity added to the mix.
This is the place for people who love having a house with real hardwood floors, a sense of history. People who like to say “Good Morning” when they walk down the street. People who like to walk or cycle downtown or to the seawall. People who like to breathe in the air that comes from the ocean, and perhaps even get a glimpse of it from their porches.
About this Blog
This is a non-partisan community blog, with the intention of:
- bringing you up to date on what’s happening in the neighbourhood.
- giving you a place to ask questions or voice ideas
- connecting you to some of the local events and activities that pertain to our little world
- featuring some of what other creative communities like ours are doing.
If you have an idea, burning issue or question, use the contact form on this site.
Neighbourhood Resources
1. SECA
The local community group is SECA: the South End Community Association. They meet monthly to update their activities; always the first Wednesday of the month at 7 PM. Princess Royal Centre, at the corner of Irwin and Farquhar. We try to provide a monthly synopsis, but you’ll find if you attend a meeting, that they are a friendly group who will welcome you with typical south end warmth.
2013 Dates
January 2
February 6
March 6
April 3
May 1
June 5
July 3
August 7
September 4
October 2
November 6
December 4 (AGM and Festive Nosh)
The SECA 2013 Board of Directors include:
Chair – Douglas Hardie
Vice chair – Chris LoScerbo
Treasurer- Sandra Zuccolini Laroque
Secretary- Sydney Robertson
Membership secretary – Joan Carruthers
Members – at- large
Gordon Fuller
Michael Carpenter
Charles Torhjelm
Lisa Martin
And a note about how SECA Functions
The South End Community Association operates on the principles of direct democracy. In an organization which practices direct democracy, the group assembly is the sovereign authority. What the group as a whole decides by free vote becomes policy. The executives in a direct democratic organization are merely delegates of the assembly, not independent representatives, and as such must carry out the will of the assembly. Hence, the president or chairperson is not a boss or a ruler, but only a spokesperson expressing the wishes of the group.
So, if you want your voice to be heard, please come and join them.
Hi there. I just got the link to SECA newsletter and read all newsletters back to August, 2008. I appreciate that SECA is working to improve the area in many ways.
There are things happening in the neighbourhood that haven’t gotten any recognition in your newsletter and yet I feel are vitally important.
Security in the neighbourhood has become of paramount importance, especially with the drugs and vagrancy issues on Haliburton St., the back alleys and the parks.
This is being addressed by the Block Watch, who volunteer their time and energies at all times of the day and night, patrolling the area, moving druggies and informing police of any suspicious activities. They have been a tremendous help to me as I have been working to clean up my small part of Haliburton St. A thousand thanks to them and I hope that you have a section about them in all upcoming articles.
I also note that prostitution has appeared to have reduced on Haliburton St. behind McDonalds. There is a woman who spends hours out there, rain or shine, reporting to police the licence numbers of cars which picking up these workers.
The Cycle Police have also been doing good work supporting people who are trying to secure the neighbourhood.
These people deserve recognition in the SECA Newsletter. They are putting themselves on the line to improve the neighbourhood for everyone.
Terry
HI Terry: I was just sending out this month’s issue and realized that we had not replied to your comments.
You’re right, we don’t much discuss issues around drug abuse, prostitution etc. It’s a pretty thorny area…everyone has a different opinion about what should be done, and everyone thinks their way is best. We’ve decided as an association to focus on improving the neighbourhood as a whole, and going straight through the middle. It’s the only way we can build trust and keep our working relationships with key city staff/people, the RCMP, the Balmoral, etc as solid as they are.
If you come to ione of our meetings, you’ll likely see Dave Laberge there, or any one of about 6 city staff members, depending upon the issues we are working on. We’ve been really lucky to get the attention we have, however, we’ve lobbied for it (in a positive way) for a while now. When the Blockwatch folks attend, we ask them for a report. Meeting discussion is pretty lively, but we don’t put it into print.
Thanks for your input.
Barbara Densmore
Hi All,
This seemed the only way to contact you as I can’t find a ‘contact us’ link.
I wanted to invite you to make use of my site ‘nanamo-info-blog.com’ if you have items you would like publicized. It is great to see a group of people who actually do something rather than just complain and wait for someone else to do it.
Also, if you would consider putting a link to my site on your ‘Local Blogs’ link that would be great also.
Cheers
Jim
Thanks Jim for the feedback. We’ll take care of this asap. Thank you for your offer to share important information or events that come up. I’ve used your blog myself to get information on Nanaimo’s goings on.
-Anne
For the four storey apartment to be built at the corner of Victoria and Farquhar does anyone know how they will park the cars and if there will be a requirement for the developer to provide parking? At the moment many of the tenants in the building across Victoria park on the street. If this is going to happen with the new building there won’t be enough space to park all the vehicles. Those that live nearby will have much pressure put upon them to allow tenant parking on the street which does not really have enough space now and with the fact that there are no proper curbs guess what will happen to the little bit of green area there is now between the sidewalk and the street. What is the long range plan for high density in the south end. Does the city have a plan? They take our money and what do we get in return? Lower property values and more drug and prostitute activity. Fred Pattje promised me he would look after the south end. But what has he done? There is no bylaw enforcement to speak of and when a person phones to complain they are told nothing can be done. But look out if it is in the north end. Look at all the beautification projects going on there and we don’t even have proper curbs.
Doug, at the SECA meeting on Nov 4 the developers expressly stated that they would provide underground parking for the building. Furthermore, this parking space will comprise more than the buildings floor – the extended area will be made into a green space with lawn and shrubs. As for a plan for development the South End is already in the process of working on that right now with the Neighborhood Plan. I strongly urge you to come to both the SECA meetings (Dec. 2) and the Neighborhood Plan meetings (Next one in January) This way you will keep up to date on what is going on and be able to have some say about it.
Cheers, Larry
Hi Larry,
Thanks for the reply and the info. As I am sure you can tell I was somewhat out of sorts when I wrote the previous bit. You are quite right that I should attend the information meetings. Unfortunately my work has been taking me out of town a lot and I will not be here for the SECA meeting Dec 2. I am very pleased that the developers are planning to provide adequate parking. Lets hope that they do provide it and don’t go running to city hall pleading for financial relief in the form of less parking and perhaps one or two more units in its place. I have seen this happen in the past in other communities. We will have to keep an eye on them. You can bet that I and my wife will be at the next Neighborhood Plan meeting. See you there. Doug
Thanks Doug. For sure, we have to keep an eye on this sort of thing. See you at the meeting!
cheers, Larry
I’ve created a survey to find out how kids get to school in Nanaimo. I’m trying to put together stats to see to what extent active transportation (walk, bike) is used by Nanaimo families. The link is posted on my blog.
http://gabourydesign.wordpress.com/blog/
Would you mind sharing this link?