French Creek School and Parkland Purchase Referendum

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On April 8, 2025, the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) Board approved a resolution in camera to purchase the former French Creek School site, a 3.7 hectare (9.15 acre) property located at 2350 Alberni Highway, Coombs, from School District 69 (SD69) for $1,300,000. Part of the purchase would be funded through long-term borrowing which requires elector approval.

On May 27, the RDN Board approved the resolutions required to proceed to referendum to obtain the assent of the electors of the Electoral Area 'F' Community Parks and Halls Local Service Area for borrowing up to $824,000, plus interest, repayable over a period of no more than ten years, to purchase the property. The general voting day for the referendum will take place on Saturday, October 25, 2025.

The purchase of the property is included in the approved 2025-2029 Financial Plan. If the referendum is approved by the electors, the purchase would be funded through $376,000 of Electoral Area ‘F’ Community Parks and Halls reserve funds, $120,000 of Community Works Funds and long-term borrowing of $824,000 plus interest.

The estimated annual cost per average household in Electoral Area F for the loan repayment is $22.71 per year over the ten year loan term. Future use of the property will be determined after public engagement if the referendum is successful.

For More Information and to Get Involved

  • Stay informed by clicking on subscribe to leave your email address and receive email updates
  • Visit our What's New updates that will share information on the referendum including how and when to vote
  • Explore this webpage to find out more about the agreement to purchase the property, the property and next steps including staff reports and other documents in the Background Documents and links
  • Check out the FAQ's, which answer common questions and will be added to along the way based on what we are hearing
  • Drop-in and see us at the upcoming information sessions on September 27 at the Errington Farmers Market, on October 1 at the Coombs Fairgrounds or October 9 at the Meadowood Community Hall
  • Advanced voting day will be held Wednesday, October 15 and 22, 2025 and general voting day Saturday, October 25, 2025 from 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. at the Coombs Fairgrounds, 1014 Ford Road, Coombs
  • For more information on the referendum, including the three ways to vote, who can vote and voting locations, visit rdn.bc.ca\French-Creek-School-and-Parkland-Purchase-Referendum
  • Ask a question and we will do our best to answer it and share the information with everyone

On April 8, 2025, the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) Board approved a resolution in camera to purchase the former French Creek School site, a 3.7 hectare (9.15 acre) property located at 2350 Alberni Highway, Coombs, from School District 69 (SD69) for $1,300,000. Part of the purchase would be funded through long-term borrowing which requires elector approval.

On May 27, the RDN Board approved the resolutions required to proceed to referendum to obtain the assent of the electors of the Electoral Area 'F' Community Parks and Halls Local Service Area for borrowing up to $824,000, plus interest, repayable over a period of no more than ten years, to purchase the property. The general voting day for the referendum will take place on Saturday, October 25, 2025.

The purchase of the property is included in the approved 2025-2029 Financial Plan. If the referendum is approved by the electors, the purchase would be funded through $376,000 of Electoral Area ‘F’ Community Parks and Halls reserve funds, $120,000 of Community Works Funds and long-term borrowing of $824,000 plus interest.

The estimated annual cost per average household in Electoral Area F for the loan repayment is $22.71 per year over the ten year loan term. Future use of the property will be determined after public engagement if the referendum is successful.

For More Information and to Get Involved

  • Stay informed by clicking on subscribe to leave your email address and receive email updates
  • Visit our What's New updates that will share information on the referendum including how and when to vote
  • Explore this webpage to find out more about the agreement to purchase the property, the property and next steps including staff reports and other documents in the Background Documents and links
  • Check out the FAQ's, which answer common questions and will be added to along the way based on what we are hearing
  • Drop-in and see us at the upcoming information sessions on September 27 at the Errington Farmers Market, on October 1 at the Coombs Fairgrounds or October 9 at the Meadowood Community Hall
  • Advanced voting day will be held Wednesday, October 15 and 22, 2025 and general voting day Saturday, October 25, 2025 from 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. at the Coombs Fairgrounds, 1014 Ford Road, Coombs
  • For more information on the referendum, including the three ways to vote, who can vote and voting locations, visit rdn.bc.ca\French-Creek-School-and-Parkland-Purchase-Referendum
  • Ask a question and we will do our best to answer it and share the information with everyone

  • Impact of the Canada Post Strike

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    As of September 25, 2025, Canada Post workers went on strike, impacting nation-wide service delivery. Per Canada Post’s update, mail and parcels will not be processed or delivered for the duration of the national strike, and some post offices will be closed.

    Mail ballot voting will remain an option for voting in the French Creek School and Parkland Purchase referendum however, the process has been adjusted. A public notice was posted on the RDN website at rdn.bc.ca/notice-2025-10-03-0 with instructions on how to apply for, receive and submit a mail ballot during the postal strike. More information can also be found at rdn.bc.ca/2025French-Creek-School-Mail-ballot-voting.

    Please email vote@rdn.bc.ca or call 250-390-4111 if you have any questions regrading mail ballot voting.

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  • Drop-In Information Sessions

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    Information Booth 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

    Saturday, September 27 Errington Farmers Market, 1550 Veterans Rd, Errington

    There will be information boards with details about the referendum and the property. RDN staff will be present to answer any questions.

    Drop-In Information Sessions 4 - 7 p.m.

    Wednesday, October 1 Coombs Fairgrounds, 1014 Ford Rd, Coombs

    Thursday, October 9 Meadowood Community Hall, 1830 Galvin Place, Qualicum Beach **NEW**

    These are in-person, drop-in format, there will not be a presentation. There will be information boards with details about the referendum and the property. RDN staff will be present to answer any questions.

    Expectations for Engagement

    Only questions related to the referendum and property will be answered during the information sessions. Residents who have questions about other RDN services, projects or topics should send them to inquiries at inquires@rdn.bc.ca or call 250-390-4111. They will be connected with the appropriate RDN staff person who will respond to their inquiries during regular office hours.

    We are committed to listening carefully, engaging constructively and addressing concerns you may have as fully as we can. There will be zero tolerance for any intimidating, confrontational or discriminatory language or behaviour. As participants, we ask you to:

    • Treat others with respect
    • Listen and allow others to share
    • Appreciate the diversity of perspectives – you do not need to agree with others thoughts and ideas
    • When appropriate, engage in dialogue rather than debate
    • Be mindful of time
    • Seek to learn from one another
    • Focus on issues and interests, not on positions or personalities

  • Have Your Say

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    Resident electors and non-resident property electors of Electoral Area F have the opportunity to decide through a referendum if the RDN can borrow up to $824,000 to purchase 2350 Alberni Hwy, known as French Creek School and Parkland. General voting day is Saturday, October 25, 2025, with advanced voting days on October 22 and 15.

    Voters will be asked: "Are you in favour of the Regional District of Nanaimo adopting “Electoral Area 'F' Community Parks and Halls Local Service Property Purchase Loan Authorization Bylaw No. 1929, 2025”, which will authorize the Regional District of Nanaimo to borrow up to eight hundred and twenty-four thousand dollars ($824,000), plus interest, repayable over a period of no more than ten (10) years, to finance the purchase of a 3.7 hectare (9.15 acre) property located at 2350 Alberni Highway, Coombs for use by the Electoral Area 'F' Community Parks and Halls Local Service (known as French Creek School property)"

    Advanced Voting

    Coombs Fairgrounds, 1014 Ford Road, Coombs

    • Wednesday, October 15, 2025, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
    • Wednesday, October 22, 2025, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.

    General Voting Day

    Coombs Fairgrounds, 1014 Ford Road, Coombs

    • Saturday, October 25, 2025, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.


    For more information on the referendum, including the three ways to vote, who can vote and voting locations, visit rdn.bc.ca\.French-Creek-School-and-Parkland-Purchase-Referendum.

Page last updated: 09 Oct 2025, 02:11 PM