On July 7, 2025, the City of Nanaimo finalized the $5.1 million acquisition of a key parcel in Chase River—1.6 acres for a future community centre and an adjacent parking site. Backed by $2.5 million from BC’s Growing Communities Fund, this is more than a land deal—it’s the foundation for long-overdue infrastructure in South Nanaimo, where access to recreation and gathering space is matching planned population growth.
Building community isn’t just social infrastructure—it’s an investment.
While the $5.1 million price tag for land in Chase River may give pause, framing it through the lens of Social Return on Investment (SROI) reveals its true potential. We know, for example, that every pound invested in youth work generates between £3.20 and £6.40 in benefits to taxpayers, from reduced crime to improved mental health. Closer to home, Alberta case studies demonstrate that community hubs deliver 4.6 × to 4.84 × their initial outlay in social and health returns—think fewer hospital visits, higher school completion rates and stronger community cohesion. In practice, those “upfront” dollars become long-term dividends: jobs supported in construction and operations, local contracts for suppliers, and paid or volunteer roles that anchor youth, seniors and newcomers alike.
Evidence is compelling on the specific health and social impacts these centres unlock:
- Lowered crime rates. Multi-sector evaluations link youth and family supports delivered in a single facility to a measurable drop in local policing calls.
- Higher school completion. Proximity to after-school programming increases high-school graduation by as much as 10%.
- Improved chronic-disease outcomes. Preventive health workshops and fitness classes correlate with a 15 percent reduction in Type 2 diabetes risk among regular participants.
- Fewer falls for seniors. Targeted balance and strength classes reduce fall-related emergency visits by up to 30 percent year over year.
Beyond social metrics, active community hubs catalyze spillover development. Case studies demonstrated how multi-purpose community centres can spawn new hotels, service stations or residential subdivisions—expanding local tax bases and amenities. In one Grand Falls, N.B., example, the opening of a CI-funded hub directly preceded the development of a hotel and adjacent gas station, reinforcing that well-planned social infrastructure attracts private investment.
The South Nanaimo project is poised to follow this pattern. Positioned along growth corridors identified in the city’s Official Community Plan, the future centre will not only offer space for sports, meetings and drop-in services, but also serve as a landmark for surrounding housing and retail projects. As foot traffic rises, by as much as 50 percent in other walkable hubs, the economic vitality of nearby businesses will strengthen, enhancing everything from café revenues to transit ridership.
Investing in Chase River today means unlocking a ripple of benefits for decades: the social capital of stronger neighbourhood ties, the economic capital of job creation and business development, and the municipal capital of deferred healthcare and policing costs. With foundational funding secured, the City of Nanaimo can now turn to detailed design, partner engagement and programming that will ensure this isn’t merely a building but a catalyst for inclusive growth in South Nanaimo.