Nanaimo’s Loaves & Fishes Community Food Bank received $5 million in federal funding on February 6, 2026, to finish a long-delayed centralized warehouse after more than a year of negotiations and uncertainty. The Pacific Economic Development Canada announcement finalized a signed agreement and allowed the organization to complete construction without loans, targeting move-in by May 2026.
Executive Director Peter Sinclair said, “We have been working with the federal government for over a year now, and we are very, very pleased to see it come to this point where we have a signed agreement with them and the money is guaranteed.”
The food bank serves over 40 communities across Vancouver Island and coastal British Columbia. It recovers surplus food from retailers and redistributes it through schools, partners, and direct services. Food insecurity affects 24.4 percent of British Columbians, according to the Food Banks BC Hunger Report 2025. Food bank usage has risen sharply since 2019. Operations spread across three outdated facilities have struggled to meet demand.
The new 24,000-square-foot Loaves & Fishes Regional Food Centre on East Wellington Road will centralize storage, sorting, distribution, free food markets, a commercial kitchen, empties operations, offices, and a community space. As reported in the Nanaimo News Bulletin, the facility is projected to quadruple capacity and extend support to 44 communities, including remote areas from Victoria to Haida Gwaii. for more on the construction progress.
Sinclair noted the potential: “PacifiCan’s investment enables Loaves & Fishes to scale what we do best: recover food that would otherwise be wasted and deliver it efficiently to the communities that need it most. This new facility will significantly strengthen food security across Vancouver Island and coastal B.C., particularly for remote and underserved communities.”
Minister Gregor Robertson stated, “This investment makes life more affordable today while building a stronger foundation for the future.” MP Stephanie McLean added that it would improve access to nutritious food, reduce waste, and help families get ahead.
Nanaimo-Ladysmith MP Tamara Kronis welcomed the news after advocacy efforts: “The work Loaves & Fishes does makes a real difference for individuals and families across Vancouver Island who struggle to put food on the table, and now even more people will be helped. I am pleased to see this commitment finally turning into action.”
Prior support included $7 million provincially and municipal contributions, allocated by late 2025. About $3 million is still needed for equipment such as forklifts and kitchen fittings. Sinclair said, “We will still have a bit of extra money needed to fully finance it, but we can handle it.”
Hundreds of dedicated volunteers support daily operations, including sorting food, assisting at Free Food Markets, and running the Empties 4 Food program (which raised $420,000 in 2024). They help create dignified, compassionate spaces for clients. Families facing hardship have turned to the service for reliable access to nutritious food during difficult times. Volunteer opportunities remain open for those interested in contributing.
This funding advances a more equitable food system and addresses rising needs for thousands on Vancouver Island.
