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Here are just some of the activities we have planned for the afternoon!
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Live music and entertainment - delight in the music of Easy Street Duo and local song leader, Sylvia Humble, for a carol singalong.
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Crafts and games for kids and parents: Unleash your creativity with an array of holiday-themed crafts, many new this year. Kids and parents can collaborate to create beautiful decorations, charming ornaments and other delightful projects to take home and treasure. We’ve added a bunch of fun games to keep little ones entertained.
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Visit from Santa: Santa Claus himself will make a special appearance! Bring your cameras for a magical photo opportunity with Santa and share your wish lists with the jolly old man. We’ll have everything needed to write a letter to Santa.
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Christmas cookies and hot chocolate bar: Savour a delectable assortment of special cookies and warm up with a cup of hot chocolate from our hot chocolate bar, customized with marshmallows, whipped cream and other scrumptious toppings.
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Facepainting: Add a touch of festive flair with holiday-themed facepainting. Whether you want to transform into a reindeer, a sparkling snowflake, or a twinkling Christmas tree, our three talented face painters will bring your holiday spirit to life.
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Welcoming you to Cookies, Carols and More! on December 7 is our pleasure. Should you wish, donations of non-perishable items will be accepted for the Salvation Army foodbank. Everyone is welcome at this free holiday event.
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Letters to Santa
We are happy to once again provide a special North Pole mailbox at 100 Jensen Avenue East next to the big Christmas tree. Kids can bring their letter or write one here, we have envelopes ready and will take the letters to the post office regularly. Canada Post promises to get the letters to Santa before Christmas with replies from Santa sent once the labour disruption is resolved; please expect them a little later this year than in previous years.
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Parksville Fire Rescue Info and Updates
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Parksville Fire Rescue 2024 Food Drive Results
Thanks to the community’s generosity, Parksville Fire Rescue’s Fill the Boots for Food drive was a huge success. A total of $97,019 in cash for the Salvation Army food bank was collected over the weekend along with new unwrapped toys for the Society of Organized Services. Craig Bay residents were again extremely generous, donating a record $70,105 in cash.
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Residents in the Parksville Fire Protection Area generously support the annual drive and are the reason this campaign is a success. Parksville Fire Rescue appreciate the difference our residents make for many families in our community. The department is grateful for the support of Canadian Tire, Choices Market, BC Liquor Store, Quality Foods, and Thrifty Foods.
THERE’S STILL TIME TO HELP
The Salvation Army food bank and Society of Organized Services are organizations which provide for less fortunate in our community. Donations may be made as follows:
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Society of Organized Services (SOS) is gratefully accepting donations for its Caring for Community at Christmas program. The program provides special gifts for local children and youth, and grocery store gift cards are provided to families, adults and seniors so they may choose food that is meaningful to them over the holidays. Financial donations can be made online at sosd69.com, in person or by phone (250 248-2093), Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4.30 pm. New, unwrapped gifts can be dropped off during the same hours at the SOS Community Services Centre in Parksville (245 Hirst Avenue West) and at Qualicum Commons (744 Primrose Street, Qualicum Beach).
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Salvation Army food bank donations are accepted at 886 Wembley Road, Monday to Friday from 8-11.30 am and on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 1-3.30 pm.
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Recruiting 2025
The annual recruitment campaign will begin soon, looking for positive, energetic and community-minded citizens to join our team of paid on-call firefighters. Learn about the benefits and what it means to be part of the team, checkout the recruitment section on Parksville Fire’s website or call 250 248-3242.
Recruitment Open House Monday, January 20, 7-9 pm
Regular practice on January 20 will be open to those interested in being a firefighter. Arrive by 6.30 pm, dress for the weather, and stay as long as you wish. This open practice is a perfect chance to observe a practice, see firsthand what’s involved in training, ask questions, and chat with members. The firehall is located at 160 Jensen Avenue West.
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Parksville Fire Christmas Tree Chipping
Parksville Firefighters Association will host a Christmas tree chipping for charity event on Sunday, January 5 from 10 am to 2 pm in the Wembley Mall parking lot. Branching Out Urban Forestry has once again donated the tree chipper and staff so every cent donated will support the firefighters’ fundraising efforts. More details next issue and on the department’s website.
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Parksville Fire safety tips
Between now and when it’s time to dispose of your Christmas tree, here are some safety tips from Parksville Fire Rescue to keep your tree from drying out too quickly and also reduce the risk of fire in your home:
- Keep your tree in a shady cool spot away from sun and heat.
- Christmas trees are thirsty, don’t let them run dry… ever! Check the water level daily.
- Use LED lights in good working order. These emit very little heat.
- Make sure your tree is not blocking an exit, such as a door or window.
- Don’t leave your Christmas tree plugged in when you’re away from home or asleep.
- Test your smoke alarms which save lives by alerting the household to a fire.
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2025 Special Events Applications
Applications are now being accepted from organizations and individuals wishing to hold special events at City-owned venues or on City streets; review process starts November 30. Annual events will be given priority provided the request is received by November 30, after which time applications will be addressed as first-time events on a first-come, first-served basis, based on availability. After November 30, applications must be received at least thirty days prior to the event. Policy and forms on the website. Questions to events@parksville.ca.
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Parksville’s 2025-2029 Financial Plan
The City’s 2025-2029 financial plan will be considered at the December 16 Council meeting with three readings of the financial plan bylaw. It is expected final approval will be considered at the first Council meeting in 2025, on January 20.
Guided by Council priorities, the City’s five-year financial planning process includes input from City departments, Council briefings and public consultation. The five-year financial plan sets the priority services, programs and initiatives for the next five years and how the City will pay for them. Property tax rates and utility rates for the City of Parksville will be set in spring 2025. The forecasted rate increases for 2025 are 7% for property taxes, 6% for water fees and 6% for sewer fees, which will result in an increase of about $175 over 2024 for an average residential property.
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Win your dog’s licence renewal!
Parksville Pooch Photo Contest
We’d love to see photos of your Parksville pooches and hope you will share on social media. Photos will be entered into a draw to win one of two free 2025 Parksville dog licences and some doggie treats. Please don’t wait to renew, we will refund if you win! Contest is open to Parksville residents until January 31:
- Visit our Facebook page and upload the photo in the comments section on any contest-related post.
- Upload photo on Instagram using hashtag #parksvillepooch and tag @parksvillecity.
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REMINDERS AND THINGS TO KNOW | |
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City office closures
City offices will be closed December 25 to December 27 for the Christmas holidays and January 1 for the New Year’s Day holiday. City offices will be open December 23, 24, 30, and 31, 8 am to 4 pm.
Our operations department is on call during all non-working hours, including weekends and holidays. For afterhours City operations emergency, residents should call 250 248-6144 (4 pm to 8 am, Monday to Friday and weekends and holidays).
F3 Networks Canada
F3 continues to go door to door in Parksville requesting permission from homeowners to install a fibre optic line to homes. F3 Networks has a commercial agreement with TELUS to bring the Purefibre services to homes. The representative will explain the steps to have this work completed including an approximate timeline and no work will be done on private property without permission. More info at this link.
Homeowner information
December 31 is the deadline to claim a retroactive homeowner grant for 2023 (subject to qualifications) as well as the deadline to defer 2024 property taxes. For more info or to apply, contact Province of BC at 1 888 355-2700 or online.
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The Red Dress Project
This project honours Canada’s missing and murdered Indigenous women. As a visual reminder of the more than 1,000 missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls whose cases still remain unsolved, red dresses are now on display in the Parksville Civic and Technology Centre. More information available here.
Winter conditions
Info about monitoring of road and weather conditions by the City on our website with tips on how residents can prepare and how to help.
Pop-up Recycle BC Depot
The depot in Parksville is accepting free of charge, flexible plastic packaging, white and coloured foam packaging, glass packaging and paper packaging and cardboard. For dates and more info, visit Recycle BC website.
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