About Nanaimo's Stephenson Point

Stephenson Point Neighbourhood Association AGM

Last night I attended the 2011 Stephenson Point Neighbourhood Association AGM. I didn't just attend I spent the evening madly scribbling the minutes as the new secretary. The position was available so I thought it would be a great opportunity to keep up-to-date on the goings on in my neighbourhood.

Some of the agenda items were:

* Update on the Century Group development: They are still in the process of completing development permit approval. Construction should start sometime in 2012.

* Traffic concerns once the Century Group development begins. There will be additional traffic on Wavecrest, Meadowland and Greyhawk.

* The new stairs on Stephenson Point end in a landing and do not allow access to the swimming area on the beach. City Parks will complete the stairs to the beach but not until 2012. Ratepayers offered to assist with the work but due to liability issues the city must do the work.

* The neighbourhood has voted down the need to add sidewalks on Stephenson Point Road.

* Mckinnon Park Playground meeting scheduled at the park May 28th to discuss new structures for the park.

* City representatives were on hand to review the new zoning bylaws and the Official Community Plan and how it ties in with neighbourhood plans.

If you live in the Stephenson Point Neighbourhood and would like more detailed minutes of the meeting please email me and I will forward them to you.

What I love most about living in Stephenson Point, Nanaimo

We are approaching our fourth summer of living in Nanaimo. We moved here from the mainland almost four years ago.

There are so many lovely neighbourhoods in Nanaimo and the one we settled on was Stephenson Point. It is situated on a point jutting into the entrance to Departure Bay. By road you would access it by turning onto Stephenson Point Road off of Hammond Bay Road. A good landmark to watch for is the signs for the Biological Centre.

The thing I love most about living in Stephenson Point is - yes! The ferries. I would never have guessed it but I honestly find watching the ferries sail in and out of Departure Bay to be very moving. They are quite majestic as they glide along.

We have a fence in our back yard to keep the deer out. We have no one living behind us as we back onto an undeveloped hillside. We have trails right out our back gate. The trails are really deer paths but we often use them as hiking trails through the groves of Gary oaks and arbutus trees.

There is a wonderful wilderness park that runs along Stephenson Point Road called Planta Park. When out walking you can choose to walk through the wooded park trails or along the lovely, quiet, Stephenson Point Road. There are several public beach accesses along the road that offer a wonderful vantage point to watch boats come and go.

Not only does the area offer us lovely views of Newcastle Island and Departure Bay but we also have a view of Mt. Benson and the city lights. I have witnessed the most breathtaking sunsets and rainbows from our bedroom window.

I feel extremely grateful to be living in this part of the world, surrounded by such an assortment of Mother Natures treats.