December 2, 2025

Get ready for a magical afternoon filled with holiday cheer at the City’s annual Cookies, Carols and More! event. Mark your calendars for Saturday, December 6 from 2 to 4 pm and gather your kids, families, friends, and neighbours to join in the free festivities and fun at the Jensen Centre (132 Jensen Avenue East, Parksville).

Parksville Council is excited to host this free event for a third year and look forward to seeing you there, a wonderful chance to celebrate the season with your community and create memories. We look forward to welcoming everyone to Cookies, Carols and More! on December 6. Here are some of the activities we have planned:

• Live music: Tap your toes to the sounds of Easy Street Duo and singalong to classic carols.
• Crafts and games for kids and parents: Unleash your creativity with an array of holiday-themed crafts. Kids and parents collaborate to create beautiful decorations, charming ornaments and other delightful projects to take home and treasure. We’ve added some fun games to keep little ones smiling all afternoon.
• 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 have everything you will need to write a letter to Santa.
• Christmas cookies and hot chocolate bar: Savour a delectable assortment of cookies and warm up with coffee and hot chocolate, customized with scrumptious toppings. Coastal Community Credit Union in Parksville has generously offered to serve popcorn to guests and French Press Coffee Roasters has once again donated the coffee.
• Festive facepainting: Add some sparkle to your day with holiday-themed facepainting from our four talented artists.

To support SOS Caring for Community at Christmas, we will feature an SOS Angel Tree. Guests can choose an angel from the tree and purchase the gift listed on the back which can be dropped off at SOS or to the City. It’s a way to make wishes come true for many in need. 

Parksville Fire Recruitment 2026

It’s official, our recruitment campaign is now open. We're seeking positive, energetic, and community-minded individuals to join our team of volunteer paid on-call firefighters. For benefits and details, visit Parksville Fire Rescue or call 250 248-3242. More info on Let’s Talk Parksville.

Open Practice - Monday, January 19

Interested in learning more about being a volunteer paid on-call firefighter? Parksville Fire Rescue’s open practice on January 19 is a unique opportunity to see how our members train and what skills are required to serve the Parksville community and surrounding area. Practice runs from 7 to 9 pm, arrive by 6.30 pm, dress for the weather, and stay as long as you wish. This is an excellent opportunity to observe a practice, see firsthand what’s involved in training to be a firefighter, ask questions and chat with members. The Parksville firehall is located at 160 Jensen Avenue West.

Licence Renewals for 2026

Residents and business owners are reminded business licences and dog licences expire December 31, 2025. Renewal invoices have been mailed to residents and businesses.

Business Licences - Available options for business licence payments:

• Credit card (Visa or Mastercard) payments from the City’s website
• Select Pay for Your Business Licence, then enter your account number.
• Mail to P O Box 1390, Parksville V9P 2H3
• Dropbox at City Hall (100 Jensen Avenue East)
• In-person at City Hall (Monday to Friday, 8 am to 4 pm)

Business licence accounts which remain unpaid after January 31, 2026, will be subject to an additional $50 fee on February 1, 2026. The $50 fee will then be applied on the first of each month until May 1, 2026, at which time the licence will be suspended.

Business owners may email biz@parksville.ca to receive an emailed copy and questions should be directed to biz@parksville.ca or 250 954-4650. More details on the City’s website.

Dog Licences

If you currently own a dog, please purchase a licence in-person from City Hall (open Monday to Friday, 8 am to 4 pm) or the BCSPCA (open Tuesday to Saturday, noon to 4 pm). All dogs over the age of six months must wear a municipal dog tag, which must be renewed yearly. Residents can renew their dog licences for a discounted fee before January 31.

By January 31                   

Spayed/neutered $20, not spayed/neutered $30

After January 31              

Spayed/neutered $25, not spayed/neutered $35

The main benefit of licensing is the quick return of dogs should they become lost. Fees collected help to offset the cost to maintain our off-leash dog park, provide bags and dispensers throughout the City and provide bylaw enforcement to handle public safety concerns of stray, off-leash and dangerous dogs. More info on City’s website.

Photos will be entered into a draw to win one of two free 2026 dog licences and some treats. Don’t wait to renew, we’ll refund if you win! Open until January 31, here’s how to enter the contest:

• Visit our Facebook page and upload the photo in the comments section on any contest-related post.
• Upload photo to Instagram using hashtag #parksvillepooch and tag @parksvillecity.

Please help keep our community safe and accessible! As a property owner or occupier, you are responsible to maintain sidewalks and boulevards adjacent to your property which includes timely removal. Here’s what we would like you to know about snow and ice removal:

• Sidewalks: Remove all snow and ice within 12 hours after snowfall or storm ends.
• Equipment: Do not use heavy or sharp-edged equipment that could damage sidewalks or boulevards.
• Roofs and structures: Remove snow/ice from roofs or structures if it could fall onto sidewalks or roads, within 12 hours after snowfall ends.
• Do not deposit snow, ice or other materials from your property onto City property or highways. ( Property Maintenance Bylaw No.1383)

The City's bylaw compliance department provides the citizens of Parksville with a variety of services related to regulatory issues. Please refer to our website for info about bylaws and as well as some frequently asked questions.

Parksville firefighters are holding a Christmas tree chipping charity event on Sunday, January 4, from 10 am to 2 pm at Wembley Mall parking lot. Bring your tree and make a cash donation to support the Parksville Firefighters Association Charitable Fund, which benefits local community projects. Thanks to Branching Out Urban Forestry for providing the chipper and staff—every dollar donated goes directly to the fund.

Between now and when it’s time to dispose of your Christmas tree, Parksville Fire Rescue provides some safety tips to keep your tree from drying out too quickly and reduce the risk of fire in your home:

• Keep your tree in a shady cool spot away from sun and heat.
• 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.

December 31, 2025, is the deadline to claim a retroactive homeowner grant for 2024 (subject to qualifications) as well as deadline to defer 2025 property taxes. Info or to apply, contact Province of BC at 1 888 355-2700 or online at BC home owner grant or BC property tax deferment program.

City does not mail property tax and utility reminders. By statutory requirement, outstanding utility balances after December 31 transfer to property tax account as arrears taxes. Current taxes become arrears taxes and arrears taxes become delinquent taxes on January 1 and will incur daily interest. Please sign up for MyCity account to monitor property tax and utility account balances. Information at My City.

2026 special events applications are open for groups and individuals wanting to book City venues or streets. Applications are processed first-come, first-serve and must be submitted at least thirty days before the event. See policies, forms and details at Special Events Info or email questions to events@parksville.ca.

Winter conditions info about monitoring of road and weather conditions by the City on Let’s Talk Parksville and our website with tips on how residents can prepare and how to help.

Recycle BC pop-up depot in Parksville accepts free of charge, flexible plastic packaging, white and coloured foam packaging, glass packaging and paper packaging and cardboard. Remaining dates for 2025 are December 6 and December 20. Materials may be dropped off from 10 am to 3 pm at 1080 Industrial Way. Recycle BC website.

CITY DATES

For more information:

Deb Tardiff, Manager of Communications

communications@parksville.ca; 250 954-3073

parksville.ca | letstalkparksville.ca