Nanaimo voters will have an important opportunity to meet and hear directly from candidates seeking election as Mayor and City Councillors.
The Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce Civic Engagement Forum 2026 will be held Tuesday, September 29 at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre.
Admission is free, but there is an important detail voters should know.
Seating is limited to approximately 400 people. Chamber members currently have priority access to registration.
General public registration does not open until September 16.
That means interested voters should not assume they will be able to simply arrive at the door on September 29.
If you want to attend, mark September 16 on your calendar and register as soon as public registration opens.
EVENT DETAILS
Tuesday, September 29, 2026
Vancouver Island Conference Centre
Mt. Benson Ballroom
5:00–5:45 p.m. — Candidate Meet & Greet
Registered members of the public will have an opportunity to meet participating candidates, speak with them directly and obtain campaign information.
6:00–6:30 p.m. — Mayoral Debate
Mayoral candidates will take part in a professionally moderated debate.
6:30–7:30 p.m. — Councillor Rapid-Fire Forum
Council candidates will face a fast-paced series of questions with limited time to respond.
The forum will be moderated by Kendall Hanson of CHEK News.
ONLY 400 SEATS
The Chamber has advised Voice of Nanaimo that seating for the event will be limited to approximately 400 attendees.
Chamber members have first access to registration. General public registration begins September 16.
How many seats will still be available when public registration opens remains to be seen.
There is also another question worth considering:
What happens if hundreds of Nanaimo residents want to attend and the available seats are already spoken for?
That would be a good problem for civic engagement to have.
WHY THIS EVENT MATTERS
On October 17, Nanaimo voters will choose a Mayor and eight Councillors who will make decisions affecting taxation, spending, borrowing, development, infrastructure and public safety for the next four years.
Election campaigns generate plenty of signs, slogans and promises.
There is no substitute for seeing candidates in person and listening carefully to how they answer questions when they do not have unlimited space for a prepared campaign statement.
This forum gives Nanaimo voters that opportunity.
But democracy only works when citizens participate.
Mark September 16.
Register early.
Attend the forum.
Listen carefully.
Then make up your own mind.