INTRODUCTION
The South Wellington School building sits on an approximately 3-acre site located immediately west of the Trans-Canada Highway in Area A of the Regional District of Nanaimo. The building was last used as an elementary school in 2013 and remains under the ownership of Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools (School District 68).
Following the school’s closure, the building was scheduled to be shut down and demolished. Instead, a passionate group of local residents came together with a vision to preserve the space and transform it into something meaningful for the community.
Through years of dedication, advocacy, and volunteer effort, Susan Toth — alongside many other committed community members — helped spearhead the movement to save the school site and turn it into a community centre for South Wellington and the surrounding rural area. Susan continues to work tirelessly with the South Wellington and Area Community Association (SWACA) to help bring the community centre to life and create opportunities for connection, recreation, and support within the community.
This community centre was fought for by the community and will continue to be run by the community. Operated primarily by volunteers, with support from the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN), the long-term success of the centre depends on neighbours, families, local organizations, and community members coming together to help build a welcoming and vibrant space for everyone.
More than just a building, the South Wellington Community Centre represents the strength, resilience, and heart of a rural community working together to create a place for connection for generations to come.
SERVICES
Community Connection Room
One of the spaces we are most excited to bring to life within the South Wellington Community Centre is our future Community Connection Room — a welcoming shared space designed to encourage connection, inclusion, and community belonging for people of all ages.
This space will be open and available to anyone in the community who wishes or needs to use it. We are currently hoping to secure grant funding to help make this vision a reality and create a warm, inviting environment where people can gather, relax, learn, and spend time together.
Our vision for the Community Connection Room includes a small community library, a large collection of board games, card games, puzzles, and shared activities, along with comfortable couches, tables, and cozy seating areas where people can come together to play, visit, and connect.
We also hope to provide a community computer for public use, along with a video game console where both youth and adults can gather, play, and build friendships across generations. This is intended to be a shared space for both the young and the young at heart — a place where everyone feels welcome.
In the future, we hope to offer regular open-house hours where community members can drop in to enjoy the space, share coffee or tea, enjoy snacks, meet neighbours, and simply spend time together in a safe and welcoming environment.
At its heart, the Community Connection Room is about reducing isolation, strengthening relationships, and creating a space where people can truly feel part of a community.
Opportunities Within the Community Centre
The South Wellington Community Centre was created with the vision of becoming a welcoming hub where people can connect, learn, grow, and support one another. As we continue developing the space, we are actively looking for individuals, businesses, and organizations who share a passion for strengthening our community through meaningful programs and services.
Below are some of the opportunities we are currently exploring within the centre. If you feel your vision aligns with ours, we would love to hear from you.
Preschool, Daycare & Before/After School Care Opportunity
One of the greatest needs we continue to hear from families within South Wellington and the surrounding communities is the need for childcare services. As part of our vision for the South Wellington Community Centre, we have a dedicated room available that we would love to see become home to a preschool, daycare, and/or before and after school care program.
We are currently seeking the right individual, business, or organization that shares our community-focused vision and is interested in operating within the building. The space will require some minor alterations and setup work, and we are eager to collaborate with the right provider to help bring this important service to life for local families.
If you are interested in exploring this opportunity, please click the inquiry link below and reach out to us. We would love to connect and discuss your ideas.
Seeking a Community Fitness or Gym Partner
We have also heard strong interest from the community for accessible local wellness and fitness opportunities. We would love to partner with an individual or business interested in creating a dedicated gym or fitness space within one of the rooms in the community centre.
Whether your vision includes strength training, functional fitness, personal training, movement-based wellness, or community fitness programming, we would love to hear from you and explore the possibilities together.
If this opportunity interests you, please reach out through the inquiry link below.
Other Areas We Would Love to Explore
As we continue building this community hub, we are always looking for people who want to bring meaningful programs, services, and ideas into the space. Some of the additional ideas we have heard community interest in include:
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Yoga classes
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Fitness and movement classes
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Portable massage services
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Counselling and wellness services
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Homeschool programs
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Educational and life skills classes
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Arts and crafts classes
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Music programs
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Seniors programming
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Youth activities and clubs
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Community workshops and gatherings
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A local church or Sunday worship gathering
We know there are many talented and passionate people within our community, and we would love to hear your ideas — even if they are not listed above. If you have a vision, program, business, or community initiative you would like to bring to the South Wellington Community Centre, please reach out and start the conversation with us.
Floor Plans & Rental Space
Host Your Event Here
The South Wellington Community Centre is being created as a welcoming gathering place for everyone — both within South Wellington and from surrounding communities. Our vision is to provide flexible and affordable rental spaces that can be used by local businesses, community groups, families, educators, wellness practitioners, artists, and individuals looking to bring people together.
Whether you are hosting a yoga or fitness class, counselling sessions, portable massage services, educational workshops, homeschool gatherings, arts and crafts classes, church services, birthday parties, weddings, meetings, or other community events, we want this space to feel open and welcoming to all.
Although our centre is located in South Wellington, we warmly welcome inquiries from people and organizations throughout the surrounding areas, including Cassidy, Cedar, Yellow Point, Ladysmith, Extension, Cinnabar, South Nanaimo, and beyond. You do not need to live in South Wellington to use or enjoy the space — our goal is to create a community hub that brings people together from across the region.
As a volunteer-run community centre, we believe the building should reflect the diverse needs and interests of the people who use it. Our hope is to create a vibrant hub where connection, learning, creativity, wellness, and celebration can all thrive under one roof.
We are currently working on launching a live rental calendar and online booking system. In the meantime, please click the booking inquiry link below to send us an email and tell us more about your event or rental needs. We would love to hear from you and explore how we can support your vision.