Saint Michael’s Parish Hall
Looking for a hall to rent in Nanaimo? The parish hall of St Michael the Archangel Catholic Parish is available for rent for meetings, classes, or social events, and by faith groups looking for a place to worship or hold study or prayer meetings. The hall is located next to the church, at 4017 Victoria Avenue, just off Island Highway, at the south end of Long Lake. To enquire about hall rentals, please use our online form.
The success of an event often depends on the venue. Conferences, seminars, and training courses yield positive results if the chosen venue’s atmosphere is welcoming, comfortable, and appropriate. We aim to help renters achieve these results with a flexible-use space and clean, well-managed facilities.
Please note, for small businesses we offer discounts for first time use. To inquire about a discount, simply contact our hall rental coordinator. All discounts are at the discretion of the hall rental coordinator.
Facilities
The parish hall is divided into two large rooms (approx. 736 and 620 square feet, respectively) with a sliding partition. Folding tables and stacked chairs are available. City fire regulations limit the occupancy to 132 people. There is a large and well-equipped commercial kitchen (approx. 180 square feet) with two ovens and gas ranges, refrigerators, a dishwasher, a selection of cooking pots, serving dishes, and tableware. There are two restrooms for women, and one for men. The facilities were freshly renovated in 2021–22.
The hall is suitable for comfortable use for activities such as yoga, dance, fitness, martial arts, seminars, lectures, photo and video shoots.
Rental schedule
Rental rates are reviewed twice yearly, in May and November, and any changes to rates are published shortly thereafter. Rates for repeat renters are effective in blocks from the beginning of September until the end of February, and from the beginning of March until the end of August. Repeat renters may also enter into annual contracts locking in the current rate at the beginning of the effective date of the contract. Rates for single-use rental come into effect as soon as they are published.
Parish members receive a 40% discount on the rental rates.
Kitchen use
We have a certified commercial kitchen that is available for rent for food production, preparation of meals, and catering, etc. All use of the kitchen must conform to Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA) regulations and approved processes, and renters are responsible for ensuring that they possess all necessary certifications and licenses required for the intended use, including e.g. FOODSAFE certification, a business license for sale of food stuffs prepared in the kitchen, etc. A VIHA approved sanitation procedure must be followed at the end of every kitchen use; an approved sanitation procedure is posted in the kitchen, or a renter can use a similarly approved procedure particular to the kind of food prep in which they are engaged so long as this is not less thorough than the posted procedure.
The kitchen can be rented on a repeat basis e.g. for weekly or monthly use, or for scheduled occasional use on an annual basis. Kitchen use in association with rental of the hall, whether repeat or single-use rental, is added as a surcharge to the hall rental fee, and is at the discretion of the hall rental coordinator, reflecting the intended use of the kitchen, e.g. light use such as coffee making versus cooking a meal for groups of various sizes.
Kitchen rental rates
The kitchen is rented for a minimum block of three hours, with each additional hour (or part thereof) charged at an hourly rate. These rates are for repeat rental on a regular or occasional schedule for a one-year period September 2024 – August 2025.
Non-profit organisations and charitable events
- First three-hour block = $55
- Additional time = $20 per hour
For-profit and social events
- First three-hour block = $75
- Additional time = $35 per hour
Hall rental rates
The hall is rented for a minimum block of three hours, with each additional hour (or part thereof) charged at an hourly rate. These rates are for repeat rental on a regular or occasional schedule for a six-month period September 2024 – August 2024. For single-use hall rental, see below.
Non-profit organisations and charitable events
- First three-hour block = $55
- Additional time = $20 per hour
For-profit and social events
- First three-hour block = $75
- Additional time = $35 per hour
Use of the kitchen in association with hall rental is added as a surcharge to the hall rental fee, and is at the discretion of the hall rental coordinator, reflecting the intended use of the kitchen, e.g. light use such as coffee making versus cooking a meal for groups of varioussizes.
Single-use hall rental
The hall is available for single-use events such as receptions, parties, workshops, etc. Priority is given to parish events and scheduled repeat renters, so please inquire well in advance of your desired date to find out if it is available.
- First three-hour block = $270
- Additional time = $100 per hour
Use of the kitchen in association with hall rental is added as a surcharge to the hall rental fee, and is at the discretion of the hall rental coordinator, reflecting the intended use of the kitchen, e.g. light use such as coffee making versus cooking a meal for groups of varioussizes.
Contract & Insurance
The parish hall is made available under a rental agreement. Some terms are negotiable: if you have specific questions or requests — for instance, regarding setting up of tables and chairs —, please discuss these with the rental coordinator before finalizing the agreement. For some uses a damage deposit may be required.
Use of the hall requires liability insurance. If you have your own insurance coverage, you will be asked to provide a certificate of liability insurance. Eligible renters are also able to arrange event insurance through the facility user program managed for the Eparchy of New Westminster by Ecclesiastical Insurance. Per-day cost of insurance through the facility user program is in the range of $75–$165 depending on the number of attendees, the amount of coverage, and whether alcohol is served at your event.
Church rental
Our church is a place of Catholic worship consecrated to the celebration of the holy sacraments. As such, it can only be rented by ordained clergy of Catholic or Orthodox Churches whose sacraments are recognised as universally valid by the Catholic Church. No exceptions are possible. Rental of the church is at the discretion of the parish priest.
The hall may be rented for prayer and worship by other faith communities.