When will the agreement be approved?
Current status
Council has voted to retain the Westwood tennis bubble.
On October 14, 2026, Nanaimo City Council voted to support retaining the bubble at 2367 Arbot Road. In formal correspondence dated October 16, the City confirmed that it wants to work with the Nanaimo Area Indoor Tennis Society (NAITS) to develop the draft Licence of Use Agreement and operating model. The City announced Council's retention decision publicly on October 20.
Where things stand
The direction has changed. The transition is not complete.
The City's September announcement contemplated removal of the bubble. Council has since changed direction and now supports retaining it. The City has formally moved into the next phase with NAITS, asking the Society to work with staff on the draft operating agreement and operating model. The City's October 16 correspondence identifies NAITS as the organization it intends to work with to develop the operating agreement.
Public access will not continue uninterrupted. November 1 was the scheduled closure date for the former club. The facility is unavailable during the transition. Public access would resume only after an agreement is approved and the facility is ready for operation. January 1, 2027 is an anticipated transition target, not a confirmed reopening date.
Confirmed in the public record
What Council has directed
Council has voted to support retaining the tennis bubble.
The City is working with the Nanaimo Area Indoor Tennis Society (NAITS) to develop the Licence of Use Agreement and operating model.
The operating arrangement is to be cost-neutral to the City.
A portion of court time is to be available for public booking.
The former club’s scheduled closure date was November 1, 2026.
The City is scheduled to take ownership December 18.
What happens next
An operating agreement still has to be completed.
The City is working with NAITS to develop a comprehensive operating agreement that is cost-neutral to the City. Under Council's direction, the non-profit operator will be responsible for ongoing operating, maintenance, capital costs and liability associated with the facility.
Council has also directed that a portion of court time be made available for public booking. The detailed booking model, fees and reopening date have not yet been announced.
Still unresolved
Important details remain to be determined.
When will the indoor courts reopen?
How much court time will be available for public booking?
What will the fees and booking process be?
What arrangement will follow the initial operating term?
How we got here
The earlier campaign remains part of the public record.
The September announcement, community petition, media coverage, candidate questionnaire and public advocacy documented concerns about removing Nanaimo's only indoor tennis facility before alternatives were assessed. Those materials remain available in the Timeline, Evidence and Sources sections as historical context.