IDEAS Forum Summary

Community Participants

The Ideas Forum held in March 2020, with support from students in the Master of Community Planning Program, was an opportunity for the DKP Advisory Committee to connect with the Nanaimo community for an evening of discussion, creative brainstorming, and hands-on visioning for the future of Diana Krall Plaza. The event had a great turn out of more than 25 interested community members.

The community members, divided into three groups, spent an evening outlining their vision for the space, from the built form to future programming. Their ideas of the three groups are captured below:

Findings

Participants envisioned the development of DKP into three zones. The first zone was accessed by the Commercial St. to draw people in the plaza, this zone will incorporate art and music with ample sitting spaces and green vistas.

Zone two was the central core of the plaza. To inspire visitors to spend time here, the core needs to be activated with multiple activities and efficient programming. The back wall of the Port Theatre was imagined as a living green wall with amphitheatre steps that could accommodate an audience during a live event or can otherwise be used during work shift breaks or lunch times. This wall was also imagined as a big screen to showcase movies or other events.

Zone three was closest to the harbour front and the unanimous vision for this zone was to incorporate Indigenous representation in the form of working studio and art gallery owned and operated by the Snuneymuxw First Nation.

The general consideration was that the plaza should be operational day and night and during all seasons which calls for weather responsive designs and programming.

Map 1

Map 2

Similarly, the second group also envisioned the development of DKP as having three distinct zones. All three zones were envisioned to be interactive all the way through with ample lighting, seating, art, culture and green spaces. Indigenous lens, efficient programing, and activating the existing stairs were the most common themes. Kiosks, flexible spaces that are weather responsive were considered important to encourage activity through educational programming. The collaboration of library, art gallery, port theatre, museum and First Nations were considered significant in promoting art and learning through programming. There was a mention of a n active artist residence space in the plaza with an option of rotating tenure. Further, to create curiosity among users, the use of GPS technology, wayfinding, interesting storefronts, and pop-out spaces were explored. Connecting to nature was a popular theme using native plants, living walls, and green outdoor spaces. Lastly, activating the existing stairs through music, art, and seating was deemed beneficial.

Participants explored the current and ideal scenario of the plaza with respect to the existing surrounding opportunities in Downtown. While currently the plaza is “awkward”, “boring”, and “unappealing”, it has the potential to be a venue for multiple events encouraging community gatherings. To draw people in, the plaza should be active in all seasons and for there should be a strong connectivity with the surrounding built forms such as activating the library as a “maker space” or connecting the plaza to the waterfront by improving accessibility. The need of renting space for temporary uses was found beneficial for citizens to feel like they have ownership. The importance of social media and technology was explored to draw people in. Amenities like food trucks, seating, canvas roof structures, and green spaces were in high demand. Lastly, participants believed that the plaza can be much livelier through art installations, ample lighting and seating and organic programming.