A Message from Peter Sinclair, Executive Director  

By 2020, it had become clear that Loaves and Fishes had outgrown our warehouse on Fry Street. What began years earlier as a local food recovery effort had grown into a regional system serving more than 40 communities across Central and North Vancouver Island. Incremental expansion was no longer enough. To continue meeting community need with dignity, safety, and reliability, we needed a fundamentally larger and more capable facility.  

At the same time, our Food Recovery Program was expanding rapidly. Partnerships with grocery retailers, local producers, and national organizations such as Food Banks BC, Food Banks Canada, and Second Harvest dramatically increased both the volume and variety of food we were able to recover. While this growth strengthened our impact, it also placed increasing strain on infrastructure that was never designed for operations at this scale.  

After exploring multiple options, we secured land on East Wellington Road through an innovative partnership with the City of Nanaimo. The City purchased the property and entered into a 30-year lease with Loaves and Fishes for a nominal fee, ensuring long-term stability and protecting the site for community benefit. With secure land in place, and with early planning support from the Regional District of Nanaimo, we were able to move forward with designing a purpose-built food recovery and distribution facility.  

Since then, this project has received remarkable support from all levels of government. The Province of British Columbia committed $7 million toward construction, and in 2026 the Government of Canada, through PacifiCan, confirmed $5 million in federal funding. Together with municipal and regional partners, this alignment reflects a shared recognition of the essential role this facility will play in strengthening food security and reducing waste across Vancouver Island and the B.C. Coast.  

Construction is now well underway. The new 24,000 square foot facility will significantly expand cold storage, dry storage, and loading capacity, while improving efficiency, safety, and food handling standards. We anticipate moving into the building in Spring of 2026.  

This facility represents a long-term investment in resilience, dignity, and reliable food access for the communities we serve. As we move into the final phase of the project, we are inviting community partners, donors, and sponsors to help us fully realize the vision for this transformational space.

Peter Sinclair 
Executive Director