A Mother's Letter to the City of Nanaimo
Amid an island snowfall, one mother shares her concerns for the community
To: Christy Wood
Manager, Social Planning, City of Nanaimo
February 3, 2025
Hello Christy,
My name is Wanda LeBlanc and I am a member of Moms Stop the Harm.
I wrote you some months ago about the lack of a warming centre here in Nanaimo. After several cold weeks ICCS [Island Crisis Care Society] opened the HUB on Nicol Street and has provided space for 20 of the 800-1,000 unhoused people in our community.
This week we are experiencing snow and freezing temperatures and have had to tell people that there is nowhere to go during the day other than the HUB.
The library, where we are told to send people to get warm, was only open from 1:00 pm until 3 pm today.
I understand that it is difficult for staff to get to work in the snow, but our unhoused community members need to leave their overnight shelters by 7 am and are not permitted to return until 7 pm. That is 12 hours. Allowing them to get warm for 2 hours out of 12 is unacceptable, beside the fact that the library is not equipped or always welcoming to the unhoused.
What do I tell parents, siblings, friends who contact me asking where their loved ones can go?
Yesterday Risebridge opened their doors with the kindness of community volunteers and it was all hands on deck. The shelter provided warmth, food, clothing and support to 59 people from 9 am - 2 pm. Sending them out in the snow and cold at closing was heart breaking.
I am told there is no funding being provided beyond the CSOs [“Community Safety Officers” hired by the city of Nanaimo] who provide a hot beverage, water, and maybe a blanket No matter what they are providing it is not enough. These people are outside, often vulnerable and with compromised physical and mental health.
Please provide me with a list of what is available during the day to keep people alive and well throughout this time. I know there are overnight shelters. Not enough of them. But I am asking what I can tell community members when they enquire where to go during the daytime hours?
This is an urgent situation where people's lives are at risk. Your support is essential. I hope you will find it in your heart to give it your attention.
Wanda LeBlanc
Background
Last month, P.O.W.E.R. alongside other community members and groups, released a report on resource allocation and prominent, concerning law enforcement practices in Nanaimo.
Highlighted was the pattern than relying on outdoor space — in the context of a lack of indoor drop-in locations — can (re)start a cycle of criminalization for people already struggling under multiple crises: housing, toxic drugs and income inequality.
Wanda’s letter is indicative of many of these issues. She has not heard back about a list of appropriate warming centres.