Walking at NIC

• Wear proper footwear and bring clothing appropriate to the ever-changing west coast weather
• When possible, try walk meeting with a friend, classmate or colleague. Walking with others makes you more likely to walk more often and it’s a better option for safety too!
• Bring a notepad & pen and take a few minutes to jot down notes, ideas or reminders at the end of the walk.
• Accessible routes designated on the walking maps are entirely paved pathways with curb ramps where necessary (and very small ranges in slope).
• Pick up the pace for more benefits for your well-being. Being out of breath is a good sign that you’re starting to work on your cardiovascular fitness.
• Choose a route that gives you some time before your class or meeting. Everyone has a slightly different pace & you’ll likely want a bit of time to transition into the next class, meeting or activity—being rushed might make you walk faster but it also might add unnecessary stress.

Great for a quick way to get some blood flowing and clear your mind!
Marked in yellow on the map.

Starting Point: Outside main doors of NIC entrance
Estimated route time: 10-15 minutes
Length: 1.0 km

Details:

This quick loop walks out the entrance roadway of the College, turns right to follow along Dogwood Road and turns right at the lights onto Robron Road, then another right into the alternative entrance towards Timberline High and wind around the front of Timberline High to meet a meandering paved walkway with a hill through the small collection of trees, which brings you to the front of C-Wing, then follow the sidewalk past Q̓ə pix ʔidaʔas (the Gathering Place) and return to the main entrance of NIC again.

• Begin this quick loop by walking straight out towards the Dogwood Street entrance roadway of the College.
• Turn right to follow along Dogwood Street toward Rockland Road, then turn right at the lights onto Rockland Road.
• Take another right into the first driveway, which is an alternative entrance towards Timberline High School.
• Wind around the front of Timberline High School to meet a meandering paved walkway with a hill through a small collection of trees, which brings you to the front of C-Wing
• Follow the sidewalk pastQ̓ə pix ʔidaʔas (the Gathering Place) and return to the main entrance of NIC.
• Roadway Segments and Inclines
  • This route involves a segment that requires you to walk over a curb and along a grassy area as you leave the entrance of the College and walk towards Dogwood, and one steeper paved segment near the end of the loop, when moving from the Timberline parking lot up towards the C-Wing of NIC.
  • Be mindful when crossing the entrance to the parking lot on Rockland Road, which can be quite busy at the end of Timberline High School opening and closing times in morning and late afternoon (around 8:30 am and 2:30-3 pm).
  • Inclines—this route is relatively level except for one short incline from the Timberline High School parking lot to the NIC C-Wing parking lot.
• Uneven sidewalks & pavement:The paved walkways may be rutted in segments, particularly on the inclined, paved path through the trees near the Timberline entrance that winds up to the C-Wing of NIC.
• Seated spots to rest: There are only two benches on this route: one at the bus stop at the beginning of the walk and another near the C-Wing entrance.

Developed as part of National Day of Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day in 2022, the online guide invites you to take a journey on colonialization and the impact of residential schools and take steps towards reconciliation.
Marked in orange on the map.

Starting Point: Outside doors of the main entrance
Estimated route time: ~10-20 minutes
Length: 0.5 km

This is designed to be a reflective walk, taking time to stop to read questions and click on additional resources with the online guide.

• Start at the main entrance to NIC and walk in the front doors.
• Walk straight past the cafeteria, library and at the end of the hallway, turn around.
• Walk back to the main front doors of NIC and outside.
• Turn left to walk along the sidewalk to the outdoor Gathering Place.
• Turn left to walk into the Gathering Place. Take time to reflect here.
• Return along the walkway the way you came, towards the main entrance to NIC again.
• Pass by the main entrance to follow the sidewalk past the bus stop.
• Walk to admire the artwork on the front of Q̓ə pix ʔidaʔas (the Gathering Place). Take time to reflect here.
• Roadway Segments and Broken Pavement & Trail
  • This route involves some pavement sections that may be cracked or broken.
  • This route is flat.
• Seated spots to rest: There are rest spots on this route: at the beginning in the Student Commons and cafeteria, and later at the Gathering Place, as well as the bus stop bench near the main entrance.

Great if you are prepared for varied terrain, possibly muddy conditions & a bit of an adventure doing route finding.
Marked in teal on the map.

Starting Point: Main lobby of NIC by front doors
Estimated route time: 30-45 minutes
Length: 4.0 km

Details:

• This adventuresome loop starts inside at the main entrance of NIC.
• Walk straight down the hallway to the back of NIC, past the Cafeteria, Library and Bistro, where you exit by the Student Commons rear doors.
• Turn right once you step outside, then follow the parking lot to find a well-worn forest trail on your left.
• This forested trail can be rugged and at times muddy.
• Follow the main trail straight down the hill and you’ll come to a series of small wooden bridges which leads you to a paved access onto Meadowbrook Drive.
• When you arrive onto Meadowbrook Drive, turn left to walk down the hill to meet Penfield Road.
• Turn left to follow Penfield Road where the road dead ends into Juniper Drive at a sharp bend.
• Follow Juniper Drive around the corner, past Lilac Place and then you’ll see a paved walkway marked by two white and red posts and a “Service Vehicles only” sign at a sharp bend in Juniper Drive – it leads you into a forested area.
• Take the paved walkway into the forest and turn left to follow the paved walkway to meet up with Rockland Road.
• Turn left at Rockland Road, walking up the long hill to turn left into the entrance into Timberline Secondary’s parking lot, then follow the sidewalk which goes along the front of Timberline Secondary School. You can take the small paved inclined path through the trees up the hill back up to the NIC C-wing, then walk past Q̓ə pix ʔidaʔas (the Gathering Place) to return to the main entrance.
• Roadway Segments and Inclines
  • The paths in the forest are routes often used by commuting students to/from Timberline High School and NIC. Be mindful about hazards in the woods such as mud, ditches, tree branches from above and avoid this route on windy days just in case!
  • Inclines & Varied Terrain: this route is varied terrain—the woods section does have steeper graded declines, and there is a long hill on Rockland, as well as one short incline that is from the Timberline High School parking lot to the NIC C-Wing parking lot.
• Seated spots to rest: There are two rest spots on this route: seats in the beginning of the loop in the Student Commons and cafeteria and near a bench near the C Wing entrance.

Great for a quick way to get some blood flowing and clear your mind!
Marked in yellow on the map.

Starting Point: Outside main doors of Discovery Hall
Estimated route time: ~15 minutes
Length: 1.0 km

• Take this quick loop for a walk from the entrance of Discovery Hall and turn to follow the side of Discovery Hall towards the OGE office, passing by the entrance to Tyee Hall.
• Turn left to follow the back walkway westward past the Trades Training Building and the portables to meet up with the paved walkway follow along beside the roadway and forest as you head towards Ryan Road entrance.
• Stay on the walkway until you arrive at stop sign of the main roadway entrance off Ryan Road. Once you come to the stop sign on College Campus Road near the Ryan Road entrance, turn left.
• Follow the sidewalk to the flagpole plaza and bus loop — pass right by them to return once again to the front of Discovery Hall.
• Roadway Segments and Broken Pavement & Trail
  • This route involves a walk along a roadway past by the Trades Training building, near the portables. This segment also has some pavement sections that are uneven.
  • Varied Terrain: this route is varied — while the route is relatively flat, there are several sections of broken pavement, and mixed trails.
• Seated spots to rest: There are a few rest spots on this route: the rainbow bench at the beginning, and a few other scattered benches in the area near Discovery Hall.

Developed as part of National Day of Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day in 2022, the online guide invites you to take a journey on colonialization and the impact of residential schools and take steps towards reconciliation.
Marked in orange on the map.

Starting Point: Outside main doors of Tyee Hall
Estimated route time: ~10-20 minutes
Length: 0.5 km

This is designed to be a reflective walk, taking time to stop to read questions and click on additional resources with the online guide.

• Start at Discovery Hall and walk straight ahead towards the bus loop.
• Turn left to begin to walk past Puntledge Hall. Near the entry doors to Puntledge that face the parking lot, turn right to walk towards the parking lots, using the straight path that goes into the trees.
• As you start to reach the parking lot, take a right to turn back onto the other path that heads towards Puntledge and Discovery.
• Turn left on the main walkway to pass by Discovery Hall.
• As you start to pass Raven Hall, turn left to once again walk on the pathway through the trees towards the parking lot.
• As you start to reach the parking lot, take a right to turn back on the pathway that reconnects to the main walkway near Raven Hall.
• At the main walkway again, turn left to walk towards Komoux Hall.
• Stop at the main entrance to reflect at Komoux Hall.
• Roadway Segments and Broken Pavement & Trail
  • This route involves some pavement sections that may be cracked or broken.
  • This route is flat.
• Seated spots to rest: There are rest spots on this route: at the beginning near Discovery Hall, and near the end as you pass by Raven Hall to walk towards Komoux Hall.

Great for wander around the entire campus, visiting some of the neighbours too!
Marked in teal on the map.

Starting Point: Outside main doors of Tyee Hall
Estimated route time: 30-45 minutes
Length: 2.7 km

• Start at Tyee Hall to walk towards the Comox Valley Aquatic Centre parking lot on the sidewalk.
• Take the crosswalk in front of the Aquatic Centre parking lot to cross the street towards the hospital.
• Follow the sidewalk to the left, back towards NIC until you come to a gravel walkway on your right that winds its way through the forest.
• The trail will meet the back of the field of Queneesh Elementary School. Turn left to follow it along the edge of the field.
• Turn left again at the end of the field, to pass through a small bit of forest to return to NIC property, behind the Trades Training Building. Continue through the gravel lot arriving at the paved road.
• Veer to the paved path on the right when you arrive on the road and join the paved walkway that borders the forest and road. Head towards the Ryan Road entrance.
• Turn right at the stop sign to walk to Ryan Road, then use the sidewalks to cross the entrance to the College to join the sidewalk that follows Ryan Road towards Lerwick.
• Walking along the sidewalk towards the intersection of Lerwick, but before you get there, you’ll see an entrance into the Comox Valley Aquatic Centre, turn left into there. Then follow along the sidewalk on the outside of the Aquatic Centre to the front, then take the paved walkway back to cross the road again to return to Tyee Hall.
• If you need a longer walk, you can add on the other route “the Quick 15” to add another kilometer—it starts outside Discovery Hall.
• Roadway Segments and Broken Pavement & Trail
  • This route involves crossing streets and walking sidewalks along roadways. Some segments also have some pavement sections that are uneven and broken.
  • The paths in the forests around campus aren’t maintained—they are paths formed by walkers over time. Be mindful about hazards in the woods such as mud, ditches, tree branches from above and avoid this route on windy days just in case.
  • Varied Terrain: this route is varied—while the route is relatively flat, there are several sections of broken pavement, gravel and mixed dirt/chip trails.
• Seated spots to rest: There are rest spots on this route, such as one at Tyee Hall, as well as a bus stop with a bench outside the Aquatic Centre. There is also a bench within sight near the hospital, just off the trail, and a few other picnic tables near the Aquatic Centre closer to the end of the route.