With the holidays right around the corner, residents of the Harbour City can expect a number of closures and extended hours from a variety of businesses and municipal service buildings.
The majority of government buildings, recreation facilities, libraries, malls, walk-in clinics and retailers will be closed on Christmas (Dec. 25), with the notable exceptions being movie theatres, the casino and the hospital.
The City of Nanaimo will be operating the majority of their buildings on a shortened holiday schedule. The Nanaimo Aquatic Centre will remain open on Dec. 24, Dec. 26, Dec. 31 and Jan. 1, with reduced hours.
The Nanaimo Ice Centre, Beban Park, Bowen Park and Oliver Woods Community Centre will all be closed on Dec. 26 and Jan. 1. However, Beban Park will be open on Dec. 31 at 5 p.m. for its Holiday Finale.
For those who are looking to access Nanaimo City Hall, the building will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day, but will remain open from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 24 and Dec. 31. The few things that will remain open on Christmas Day include the Nanaimo Casino, which will be operating with regular hours, Landmark Cinemas, Cineplex Theatre and the Nanaimo Regional General Hospital. For those looking to shop within the Harbour City, Country Club Centre and Woodgrove Centre will operate extended hours on Dec. 26, while Nanaimo North Town Centre will open at 9:30 a.m. All malls will have shortened hours on Jan. 1.
A number of major retailers will open early on Dec. 26 including Cabela's, Future Shop, Target and Sears, which will open at 6 a.m. Alberni Outpost, Home Depot and Wal-Mart will open at 7 a.m. All other major retailers will be opening after 8 a.m. The bulk of the major big box retailers will be closing early on Dec. 31 and will have shortened hours on Jan. 1, with the exception of Wal-Mart, which will operate regular hours on New Year's Day.
Libraries within the city of Nanaimo will be open from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Dec. 24 and Dec. 31 and will be closed on Dec. 25, Dec. 26 and Jan. 1.
There will be a number of clinics open during the holidays to accommodate anyone who needs non-emergency medical care. Medical Arts Centre and Caledonian Clinic on 340 Campbell St. will be open on Christmas Eve, Boxing Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.