City of Nanaimo and Island Corridor Foundation pave the way for the expansion of the E&N trail

The E&N Trail is one of Nanaimo’s most popular trails, stretching continuously 8 kilometres from Mostar to Townsite road. (Thomas Bevan / Island Corridor Foundation)

The City of Nanaimo is investing in the south side, by extending the E&N Trail. Adding approximately 900 metres of a multi-use path located between Junction Avenue and Extension Road.

The E&N Trail is one of Nanaimo’s most popular trails, stretching continuously 8 kilometres from Mostar to Townsite road. In the last year, the trail has staggered with disconnected additions made, south from Hecate Street to Seventh Street adding 1.2 kilometres of soft surface trail, with further additions planned for the future. The trail is named after the Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway, now known as the Island Rail Corridor.

The multi-purpose trail is used for walking, jogging, roller blading, cycling, skateboarding and more. Additionally, the trail connects to Nanaimo’s scenic waterfront, as well as schools and shopping centres. The trail also links to Nanaimo’s Parkway Trail via Dunster Road. Previously, the City of Nanaimo had explored expansion of the trail with partners in 2015 through the Nanaimo Region Rail Trail partnership.

Last month, council approved the funding of the project, concluding with a $550,000 for the construction of the trail extension in the Chase River area. The expansion is planned to improve connectivity between pedestrians, cyclists and the general public, by giving additional direct access to the planned upcoming South End Community Centre on Eleventh Street.

Charlotte Davis, the Acting Director of Parks, Recreation and Culture explained the reasoning behind the expansion.

“We're excited to be expanding the E&N Trail in the Chase River area. So this new section of trail will go between Junction Avenue and Extension Road, and it will be a recreational trail standard, which means it'll be about two meters wide, and it'll be soft surface trail,” said Davis. “One of the things that's happening in that area is the South End Community Center is going to be coming soon, and so we wanted to be able to have a trail connection that would allow people in that neighborhood to walk to the South End Community Center eventually. Also, we have a goal of connecting the whole of the E&N Trail and building a trail beside rail for the length of the E&N in our city.”

Davis explained the City of Nanaimo is focusing on this area, due to how simple it is to build and how the surrounding neighbours will use it. She said there are already some locals walking beside the rail in the area.

The E&N Trail is an ongoing collaboration between the City of Nanaimo, the Island Corridor Foundation, and Southern Rail of Vancouver Island (SVI) who are the operators of the railway. The foundation is a non-profit federal charity that owns the railway corridor stretching from Victoria to Courtenay, and Parksville to Port Alberni. It is governed by 14 First Nations and the five regional districts the Island Corridor operates within.

Thomas Bevan, the Foundation’s CEO, spoke on their partnership with the city and perspective on the trail’s expansion.

“By working with the city now on this nature path expansion beside the rail, we're going to be able to get kids and the community to be able to get to the neighborhood hub in a safe, beautiful way.”

Bevan added that the Extension and Cranberry area has limited walkability for pedestrians, with them having to rely on routes along the highway to reach schools and businesses.

He explained the existing pedestrian traffic along the rail line.

“We do see people walking on these lands, even though they're not supposed to technically, because it is an active freight rail section. But by making this nature path beside the rail, we're having people interact and use these lands in a compliant way and in a safer way,” said Bevan.

Charlotte Davis reiterated the biggest reason behind the expansion is the planned South End Community Centre. She goes on to comment about the upcoming centre.

“The South End Community Centre we acquired the land within the last 18 months and it's going to be a community center for our South End neighborhoods and for the whole of Nanaimo, and it's really going to serve as a community hub where everyone will be welcome.”

The community centre is still in its early stages of development, with Davis stating that they’re looking into taking it to council next year to get that green light. The trail’s expansion is almost ready to break ground and begin construction, the trail is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.

Further information on the ongoing construction is available at the City of Nanaimo's official website.

Funding Note: This story was produced with funding support from the Local Journalism Initiative, administered by the Community Radio Fund of Canada.

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