AVI Health & Community Services Nanaimo

03/26/2026

Here's a reminder to join us in our community garden plot to prep the ground, w**d and plant. Dress appropriately and if you have any tools please bring them.

We can meet you there or carpool from AVI. Contact us if you need a ride. Wednesday April 1 12:30- 2:30 945 Park Ave (across from Park Ave Elementary School)

03/20/2026

03/08/2026

Join us in our community garden plot to prep the ground, w**d and plant. Dress appropriately and if you have any tools please bring them.

We can meet you there or carpool from AVI. Contact us if you need a ride. Wednesday April 1 12:30- 2:30 945 Park Ave (across from Park Ave Elementary School)

03/05/2026

Here's a big shout out to Courtney (our STI Nurse) for repurposing my vintage T-shirts into a wallhanging and Faith (BSW practicum student) for decorating the walls of our lunch room with some of my T's and old posters.

03/03/2026

Hello everyone! My name is Danika (They/She) and I identify as a Trans-NonBinary Person. I'm a student with the Community Mental Health Worker program at Vancouver Island University. I am very proud to be working through my practicum with AVI Nanaimo.

I'm an absolutely big nerd who loves to entertain an audience and help out a community. When I am not at school or doing my practicum, I'm usually at home playing some of my favorite video games like Skyrim, Fallout 4, Palworld, or workshopping my Yu-Gi-Oh decks (BTW, did I mention that I am a huge geek?!). When people see me, I hope my smile helps them feel comfortable and my words & actions can help someone feel a sense of peace and hope. I value kindness and compassion above all else.

I look forward to helping the community and using my various skills to help the staff at AVI so they can provide a high standard of service. Thank you all for taking a moment to get to know me.

02/26/2026

The Outreach crew spent the day at the Homelessness Association Of BC Regional Conference. We got to hear Rhiannon Bennett (Musqueam) and Corey Ranger (RN, Clinical Director at AVI).

Here we are: Corey Ranger, Claire (Coordinator, Outreach & Education programs), Qui (Health Promotion Educator & Outreach Worker), Faith (3rd year BSW practicum student), Randy (4th year BSW practicum student), Levi, Sang & Sarah (Outreach Workers) and Megan (Outreach volunteer).

02/24/2026

Our gender affirming sewing group is still running which got me to thinking about expanding our crafty and social programs to include other activities.

We currently have some q***r practicum students that are interested in giving crochet and painting lessons as well as facilitating craft making. We've got a button maker for all of you who'd like to make personalized pinback buttons for Pride. Want to do puzzles or play games?

Would you be interested in facilitating an activity? Either one-off or ongoing.

Do you have supplies to donate?

Like to learn a new hobby and meet cool new friends?

Ideas for activities?

Evening groups are problematic due to lack of consistent staff so we're thinking about Wednesdays 10am - noon. We'd have coffee, snacks, conversation and crafts. Please give us your feedback.

02/24/2026

In 2024, we partnered with FoodShare to cultivate two 60' rows in their Harewood community garden. Last year, we expanded to three rows.

This year, we're looking for folks that would like to participate in a number of ways:

1 - We've got seeds that need to be started indoors before being planted in the spring. We can give you the seeds if you are able to start them. You're welcome to keep some of those starts.
2- Donations of ready-to-plant annual and perennial ornamentals as well as vegetables.
3 - Come volunteer as part of a team to prepare the soil, plant, w**d and harvest throughout the growing season: May - Sept.
4 - Organize or be part of a work bee to turn some of that produce into sauces, salsas and chutneys.

If you'd like to get involved or want more info leave a comment or PM.

02/16/2026

A couple of years ago we partnered with Food Share to cultivate three 60' rows in their community garden in Harewood. We have lots of perennial flowers and each year we plant annual flowers and veggies.

We're looking for folks interested in participating in the garden this season (April - Oct). We're hoping to have a crew planting, w**ding, harvesting and just hanging out once/wk throughout the season. If you'd like to help out do you have a preferred day and time? Would you need transportation to get there?

We have lots of seeds that need starting inside or in a greenhouse prior to planting. Do you have the space to plant up some seeds and then return the starts once they are ready to plant? You can keep some of them for your own garden.

Have any ideas for the direction of the garden or how you'd like to be involved?

02/10/2026

Last year, we started a gender-affirming sewing group. When I reached out for donations several of you offered us sewing machines, irons, ironing boards and material.

We're now expanding to include crochet and knitting and are looking for supplies including various sized hooks and needles and yarn.