Don Alexander is a writer and community advocate for Strong Towns Nanaimo. With a passion for urban resilience and community building, Don focuses on documenting local initiatives and sharing insights from placemaking experts and community leaders. His writing highlights the importance of resilient infrastructure, food security, and vibrant public spaces in creating thriving communities.
Despite being a sixth of Vancouver's size, Nanaimo has built a surprisingly robust environmental framework. The challenge now: turning strong policy into on-the-ground progress and protecting what's left of its at-risk Garry Oak ecosystems.
An assessment of Vancouver’s blueways and greenways programs: sustainable approaches, holistic design, policy frameworks, and the challenges of funding and political change.
From daylighted streams to car-free rainways, Vancouver’s blue-green infrastructure showcases how landscape design, hydrology, and urban resilience converge at street level.
Ryan Smolar of Placemaking US visited Nanaimo as part of his Pacific Northwest tour, sharing insights on resilient infrastructure, food security, and community building from his experiences around the world.
