Ravensong Aquatic Centre Renovation

On April 5, 2025, eligible electors from the City of Parksville, Town of Qualicum Beach and Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) Electoral Areas (EA) E, F, G and H voted no to borrowing up to $30 million to expand Ravensong Aquatic Centre.

Following the referendum, the RDN Board approved a resolution directing staff to research an alternate project scope contingent to utilizing the $7 million funding contribution provisionally awarded to the Ravensong Aquatic Centre Expansion project.

On October 14, 2025, the RDN Board reviewed the updated project scope and directed staff to submit a revised application to the federal Green and Inclusive Community Buildings program. The updated project scope aligns with the priorities of the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings program to allow the RDN an opportunity to retain the full $7 million funding contribution.

Want to learn more?

  • Register and subscribe to this project for email updates.
  • Ask us a question using the Q & A tab below.
  • Visit the project FAQ's and check out the Background Documents for more information about the proposed renovation.
  • Learn more about the history of the Ravensong Aquatic Centre expansion project and how we got to referendum here.
  • More information about the 2025 Ravensong Aquatic Centre Expansion Referendum can be found here and to see the 2025 referendum results visit: rdn.bc.ca/2025Ravensong-results

On April 5, 2025, eligible electors from the City of Parksville, Town of Qualicum Beach and Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) Electoral Areas (EA) E, F, G and H voted no to borrowing up to $30 million to expand Ravensong Aquatic Centre.

Following the referendum, the RDN Board approved a resolution directing staff to research an alternate project scope contingent to utilizing the $7 million funding contribution provisionally awarded to the Ravensong Aquatic Centre Expansion project.

On October 14, 2025, the RDN Board reviewed the updated project scope and directed staff to submit a revised application to the federal Green and Inclusive Community Buildings program. The updated project scope aligns with the priorities of the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings program to allow the RDN an opportunity to retain the full $7 million funding contribution.

Want to learn more?

  • Register and subscribe to this project for email updates.
  • Ask us a question using the Q & A tab below.
  • Visit the project FAQ's and check out the Background Documents for more information about the proposed renovation.
  • Learn more about the history of the Ravensong Aquatic Centre expansion project and how we got to referendum here.
  • More information about the 2025 Ravensong Aquatic Centre Expansion Referendum can be found here and to see the 2025 referendum results visit: rdn.bc.ca/2025Ravensong-results
  • Winter 2025 Update

    At the June 12, 2025, RDN Oceanside Services Committee meeting, and the June 24, 2025, RDN Board meeting, a resolution was approved directing staff to research an alternate project scope contingent to utilizing all of the $7 million funding contribution provisionally awarded to the Ravensong Aquatic Centre Renovation project.

    At the September 18, 2025, RDN Oceanside Services Committee meeting, and the October 14, 2025, RDN Board meeting, this revised project scope was approved with a total budget of $13,505,000.

    Through this RDN Board direction, staff have developed and submitted a revised project application to the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings (GICB) program for the Ravensong Aquatic Centre. It is expected to take approximately 6-12 months for the GICB program to review the application and provide a decision.

    Following a response from the GICB program, regarding the RDN’s revised project application, RDN staff will report back to a future RDN Oceanside Services Committee and then RDN Board.

    The project scope in the revised project application will focus on:

    • accessibility improvements,
    • sustainable green retrofit measures,
    • addressing operational challenges at the facility and
    • enhancing the user experience which are all eligible costs under the GICB program.

    This design option increases the lifespan of the existing Ravensong Aquatic Centre and brings this important community hub up to modern accessibility standards. The proposed design would deliver an estimated annual energy savings of 46.8 per cent and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of 83.9 per cent compared to the existing building. As the Ravensong Aquatic Centre is the RDN’s highest-emitting facility, these emission reductions are critical to achieving the RDN Board objective of sustained corporate carbon neutrality by 2032. The estimated energy savings also surpass the minimum 25 per cent energy reduction required for the GICB program application and are expected to save approximately $22,000/year in energy costs.

    The proposed design also addresses the facility’s current overheating issues by providing a more comfortable environment for staff and facility users, improves staff and user safety and introduces system changes that will significantly reduce water consumption.

    When a response is received from the GICB program and further direction is provided by the RDN Oceanside Services Committee and then RDN Board, an update will be provided on this project page and emailed to those subscribed for updates.

Page last updated: 28 Jan 2026, 08:48 AM