August 2026

For over 60 years, the Town of Qualicum Beach, in partnership with the Regional District of Nanaimo, has hosted the Ocean Mile Swim. The event tests swimmers’ skills in just “one” mile at the Qualicum Beach waterfront. Competition is friendly, open to all ages, and offers trophies in 15 categories.

• Date: Sunday, August 9
• Registration: Register online by noon, August 5. Same-day registrations from 1 pm to 2:45 pm on-site
• Time: Races begin at 3 pm
• Location: Waterfront - west of the beach washrooms
• Trophies: 15 awards presented at 4:30 pm

For more event details, visit qualicumbeach.com/ocean-mile-swim

Elections for the offices of Mayor and Councillor are for a four-year term commencing on Monday, November 2, 2026.

Qualifications

You may run for municipal office if you:

• will be 18 years of age or older on General Voting Day;
• are a Canadian citizen;
• are a resident of BC for at least six months prior to the date of nomination; AND
• are not disqualified by any statute or law, from being nominated for, elected to, or holding office.

You do not have to live in, or own property in, the Town of Qualicum Beach to run for office. You must be nominated by two eligible electors of the Town of Qualicum Beach.

Information Session

The Town will host an information session for those interested in running for Mayor or Councillor. The session will be geared to potential candidates; however, anyone interested is welcome to join the session.

• Date: Wednesday, August 19, 2026
• Time: 3:30 pm
• Location: Council Chamber, 660 Primrose Street
• RSVP: Candidates are encouraged to RSVP to elections@qualicumbeach.com by Aug 18, 2026

Nomination Packages

• Pickup - Packages will be available at Town Hall beginning July 29, 2026, from 9 am to 4 pm Monday to Friday (excluding statutory holidays).
• Submission - Nomination papers are to be submitted to the Chief Election Officer at Town Hall between 9 am Tuesday, September 1, 2026, and 4 pm on Friday, September 11, 2026. Candidates are strongly encouraged to make an appointment with the Chief Elections Officer to submit their nomination papers.

Questions

Please direct any questions to:

• Heather Svensen, Chief Election Officer 250.738.2207
• Twyla Slonski, Deputy Chief Election Officer 250.738.2190
• Email: elections@qualicumbeach.com

Learn more at qualicumbeach.com/election

Qualicum Beach Fire Department will begin regular, scheduled testing of the Firehall Call-Out Notification Siren, with the first test taking place on Thursday August 6, at approximately 7 pm. 

The siren is used as a backup system in the event that the Fire Department’s primary communication system fails. It is intended to notify firefighters only, and no action is required by the public.

What to Expect

Residents can expect to hear a continuous alert that rises in pitch as it winds up. The test will last less than 10 seconds and is likely to be audible throughout most of the town.

What to Do When you Hear the Siren

No action is required by the public. This siren is for firefighters’ response only.

Schedule of Tests

The siren will be tested on the first Thursday of each month at approximately 7 pm, until further notice.

Sign up for Alert Notifications

Register for alerts at qualicumbeach.com/voyent-alert

The Town is commencing work on the Little Qualicum River Protection Project. This project will reduce river flow velocities and stabilize the riverbank adjacent to the Town’s River Wellfield, which supplies approximately 90 per cent of the community’s potable water.

This project will receive $843,700 in funding through the Province’s Disaster Resilience and Innovation Funding (DRIF) program in 2026, and has also previously received $125,000 from the UBCM – Disaster Risk Mitigation and Climate Adaptation program, to complete a detailed design plan.

Dates: July 15 to September 30, 2026

Closures: The site and adjacent trails will be closed to the public during construction

Traffic Impact: No traffic delays are expected

Residents Impact: Traffic delivering materials to the site

Prime Contractor: Knappett Industries

For more information on the project, visit qualicumbeach.com/littlequalicum-erosion

All open burning, including campfires, beach fires, and fireworks will be prohibited within the entire Qualicum Beach Fire Protection area effective from noon on Thursday, July 16, 2026, until further notice.

  

The fire ban applies to open fires of any size, including campfires, fireworks, sky lanterns, tiki torches and burning barrels. The ban does not apply to cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes, or to any portable campfire apparatus with a CSA or ULC rating using briquettes, liquid or gaseous fuel, that are not capable of producing a flame longer than 15 centimetres. Portable campfire apparatus that do not meet these conditions are prohibited.

To report a fire, please contact:

• Fire emergency - threat to lives and/or property: 9-1-1
• Beach fires – Conservation Officer Hotline: 1-877-952-7277

For further information on provincial wildfire activity, conditions, and prohibitions, visit the Wildfire Management Branch website at bcwildfire.ca.

Employment Opportunities

The Town is seeking quality candidates for the follwoing positions:

• Superintendent of Operations - PFT
• Office Assistant 1 - Casual
• Accounting Clerk 1 - Casual
• Utility 111 - PFT

View more details

Field Maintenance Closure

The Community Park Playing Fields will be closed for maintenance from August 17 to Sept 11.

The fields will remain open for light general use while the grounds undergo seasonal maintenance, but will not be able to withstand sport games, either formal or informal.

Subsidized Rental Applications

Applications are being accepted until August 14, 2026 for Civic Centre and Community Hall rentals. Application are available at the Civic Centre, Town Hall or on the Town's website.

Watering Restrictions

From May 15 to September 15 the watering of lawns and gardens will only be permitted between the hours of 7 pm and 7 am daily. Hand watering is permitted at any time.

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