British ColumbiaCity councillors in Nanaimo, B.C., failed to pass a motion to provide a letter of support for a proposed community health centre that would connect up to 2,700 people with a primary health provider, citing concerns about an overload of social services in the city’s south end.Councillors cite concerns about concentration of social services in city’s south endMaryse Zeidler · CBC News · Posted: Oct 08, 2025 9:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 6 hours agoAVI’s Nanaimo location in the city’s south end is poised to become a community health centre with additional access to primary care providers. City councillors failed to pass a motion to offer a letter of support for the proposed centre. (Claire Palmer/CBC)City councillors in Nanaimo, B.C., failed to pass a motion to provide a letter of support for a proposed community health centre that would connect up to 2,700 people with a primary health provider, citing concerns about an overload of social services in the city’s south end. The proposed centre would be operated by AVI Health & Community Services, which has operated a health centre in Nanaimo for more than 25 years. Currently, the centre primarily offers health services for people struggling with mental health and addiction. “It’s really just about augmenting and bolstering what’s already there,” said Corey Ranger, AVI’s clinical director. In its application for a letter of support from the city, AVI says it’s hoping to expand its services to include two family doctors, a nurse practitioner and three registered nurses. Ranger says the clinic would remain in its current location and offer primary care first to its existing 705 patients, and the additional capacity would be offered to other residents. “We’ve got a significant opportunity to address what is really an observable primary care attachment gap in the community,” Ranger said.There are an estimated 20,000 people in Nanaimo without access to a primary care provider. ‘Incredible suffering’ in south end: mayorBut at council on Monday night, several councillors expressed concern about the proposed centre — specifically its location on Victoria Road south of downtown, where services are also offered by other organizations like the Island Crisis Care Society and Nanaimo Family Life Association. Earlier this fall the South End Community Association lobbied the city to shut down the Hub, a drop-in service and nighttime shelter for people experiencing homelessness and addiction. The association said the concentration of social services in the area was causing social disorder throughout the neighbourhood. Residents ask for closure of controversial downtown Nanaimo hubCity councillors in Nanaimo have opted not to take any immediate action, after residents from the south end of the city lobbied for the closure of a downtown resource hub. Residents say social disorder has increased since the hub opened, while city staff say the hub has been making a difference for the homeless population. Claire Palmer has more.”This neighbourhood has suffered far more than any other,” Mayor Leonard Krog said during the meeting.”I’m just not prepared to inflict this on this neighbourhood because already we know the incredible suffering that’s taking place.”Coun. Erin Hemmens questioned the proposed centre’s offer of primary care for Nanaimo residents. “I cannot imagine someone from my neighbourhood wanting to see their family physician at 55 Victoria Road,” Hemmens said during the meeting. ‘Really important front-line services’Hemmens also wondered where AVI would secure the family physicians from, given a shortage of doctors throughout the province. Ranger says AVI has physicians in B.C. and the United States who are interested in providing the services the organization offers. “We’ve got people who are waiting to come and work with us,” he said.Four councillors voted in favour of offering AVI a letter of support. Coun. Hilary Eastmure said the services were desperately needed in Nanaimo. “These are really, really important front-line health services,” she said. “If people in the immediate neighbourhood don’t wish to access those services, I know many people who would.”But Krog and three other councillors voted against. The tie meant the motion was not able to pass. Ranger says AVI remains optimistic and will continue working on the opportunity, and would include more community consultations. “It just means that we have more work ahead of us,” he said. “And it means that we really need to bring people into the space and demystify some of these services for folks.”ABOUT THE AUTHORMaryse Zeidler is an award-winning reporter who covers news from Nanaimo and north Vancouver Island. Have a news tip? You can reach her at maryse.zeidler@cbc.ca.
Nanaimo council chooses not to provide letter of support for proposed community health centre
