May 31, 2021

This week... 

You should receive your 2021 property tax notices this week, Parks, Recreation & Culture roll out their restart plans and start clocking your km's because it's Spring GoByBike week. Read on for more!

Honouring The Memory of Former Kamloops Residential School Children

In recognition of the 215 children who lost their lives at the former residential school in Kamloops, flags will be lowered to half-mast at all City facilities and gateways for the week. We stand united in grief with our Indigenous friends and neighbours all across the country to honour the lives of those children who never made it home in support of their families and survivors.
Get Vaccinated

Message from Island Health

  • Everyone age 12+ in B.C. can now register online at www.getvaccinated.gov.bc.ca or by phone: 1-833-838-2323. Every person vaccinated makes us all safer and gets us closer to putting the COVID-19 pandemic behind us.
  • Island Health is screening every COVID-19 positive test for variants, many of which are more transmissible and can lead to more severe illness. Currently, the majority of active cases are presumed variants of COVID-19.
  • If you have any symptoms of COVID-19 stay home, self-isolate and call 1-844-901-8442 (8:30 am – 8:00 pm daily) to book a test. If you are uncertain if you need a test, visit bc.thrive.health or review the symptoms on Island Health’s website.
  • More than 57% of Island Health’s adult population has received their first dose of a vaccine. 

ISLAND HEALTH COVID-19

GoByBike is Back

Spring GoByBike week takes place May 31 - June 6, 2021 across the province. Be sure to register to access coupons and be entered to win prizes! Check out the City's Facebook event and website event page for a list of pop up events during the week. 

REGISTER FOR GO BY BIKE

Project 529

Project 529 is a website and app where you can register your bike. In the case that your bike is stolen, the registered information will help authorities find and return your bike to you. 

REGISTER YOUR BIKE

Parks, Recreation & Culture Restart Plans 

The City of Nanaimo, Department of Parks, Recreation and Culture is looking forward to increasing levels of service that are in compliance with the recently announced phased re-start plan and current Provincial Health Orders.

Please be patient as they interpret and seek clarification on guidelines. Updates and new programs/events will be communicated on the City of Nanaimo website and Facebook page. 

Your Summer 2021 Activity Guide is available online to view.

PARKS, RECREATION & CULTURE

Parks & Rec Month

June is “Parks and Recreation Month” in Canada. It celebrates and promotes the benefits of parks and recreation for physical, social and environmental health. Follow @CityofNanaimo on Facebook and @nanaimoparksandrec on Instagram for more details throughout the month of June.

CANADIAN PARKS & RECREATION ASSOC

2021 Property Taxes

You should be receiving your 2021 property tax notice in the mail any day now. There are a number of ways you can pay:

Your bank: online, phone or in person. When paying this way for the first time, search "Nanaimo". The folio number on your notice is the account number.

Mail a cheque: 455 Wallace Street, Nanaimo BC, V9R 5J6. Payment must be received by July 2, 2021.

At the Service and Resource Centre: 411 Dunsmuir Street, Monday through Friday from 8 am to 4:30 pm. Just a reminder, wearing a mask is required in all City facilities. 

Your mortgage company: Make sure their name is listed on the front of your tax notice. Don't forget to apply for the Home Owner Grant.

Pre-authorized payments: For more information visit the website or give us a call at 250-755-4415.

NEW: A late penalty of 1% will be applied to payments received after July 2 and another 9% will be applied for payments made after September 10, 2021. 

PROPERTY TAX INFORMATION

Stage 2 Watering 

From May 1 to September 30, even-numbered addresses can water on even numbered days and odd-numbered addresses can water on odd-numbered days for up to 2 hours between 7 am - 10 am or 7 pm - 10 pm. Vegetable gardens and fruit trees can be watered at any time (a micro-drip is encouraged). 

WATERING

Public Works Educational Video

The City of Nanaimo celebrated National Public Works Week #NPWW May 16-22, 2021. Due to the pandemic, the City of Nanaimo Public Works team wasn't able to host Grade 4 & 5 classes. This year, the team came together and produced an educational video experience, highlighting Public Works and the awesome work they do. Join us for a look at how the Public Works team operates and maintains critical infrastructure serving the residents and businesses of Nanaimo, each and every day. #strongertogether

B.Y.O.B Nanaimo

Get ready to bring your own bag, Nanaimo! Under a new City bylaw, beginning July 1, 2021, businesses will no longer be providing plastic checkout bags. If you forget your own bag, reusable and paper bags will be available for purchase.

The Checkout Bag Regulation Bylaw No. 7283 aims at reducing the impact of plastic waste on our environment and infrastructure. The average Canadian uses 400 plastic bags per year – this is the equivalent of 40 million plastic bags per year in Nanaimo alone. Many of these bags aren’t getting reused or properly recycled through depot drop off. Instead, most plastic bags end up in our landfill, and sometimes end up in our waterways, storm drainage systems and greenspaces.

B.Y.O.B NANAIMO

Will Your Commute Be Affected This Week?

Up-to-date information on City construction projects:

  • Metral Drive (Somerset South - Mostar) will be closed to southbound traffic during construction hours effective today, May 31st to June 25th. All efforts will be made to accommodate northbound traffic. However, if traffic backs up onto Mostar or Hwy 19A, we will be forced to do a full closure until congestion subsides. All businesses will remain open. Please expect delays and account for extra time when navigating the area. Commuters are asked to use alternate routes whenever possible.
  • To accommodate development and maintain site safety, Rock City Road will be closed from Ocean Pearl Terrace to Barrington Road to through traffic for 24 hours. Local traffic should expect delays and plan their trips accordingly.
  • Sign installation, line painting and electrical work is taking place this week as part of the Front Street Complete Street project. Commuters can expect delays and are encouraged to use alternate routes whenever possible. All businesses and parkades remain open and accessible.

CURRENT CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

Work With Us!

We are currently looking for candidates to fill the following positions:

JOB POSTINGS

Meetings This Week

Mon, May 31: Governance and Priorities Committee at 10:00 am

Thurs, June 3: Board of Variance at 4:00 pm

Mon, June 7: Regular Council Meeting at 7:00 pm

Did you know?

You can watch live meetings, view a list of upcoming meetings, read agendas and watch recordings of past meetings all in one place on the City website.

MEETINGS

Council in Action

Missed what decisions Council made during one of their meetings? Don’t worry, we have you covered! Check out our Council Meeting Summary page for quick overviews.

Want the Latest City of Nanaimo News & Information?

Stay up to date with Council, programming and events:

City of Nanaimo's COVID-19 Response

  • Masks Mandatory in all public spaces at all City facilities.
  • Safety protocols are in place to help keep both visitors and staff safe when visiting our facilities. Please check out our Online Services page to see how we can help you.
  • Recreation facilities, the Nanaimo Aquatic Centre and arenas are open and following evolving province-wide COVID-19 safety protocols.
  • Outdoor amenities remain open, however please continue to practice physical distancing, hand washing & please stay home if not feeling 100% well.

VISIT CITY OF NANAIMO COVID-19 INFO PAGE