February 8, 2021

This week... 

Parks, Recreation & Culture serve up some free family fun activities, host a walk challenge and teach us about bat boxes. The City prepares for the plastic bag ban, progress is made on Landmark MOU and a reminder that Metral Drive is closed to through traffic. Read on for more!

The New Normal Continues

Masks Mandatory in all public spaces at all City facilities.

Please refer to the City website for a list of front desk hours of operation.

Corporate Services

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.

Parks, Recreation & Culture

Recreation facilities, the Nanaimo Aquatic Centre and arenas are open and following province-wide COVID-19 safety protocols.

Outdoor amenities remain open for use as well, however please continue to practice physical distancing, hand washing and please stay home if not feeling 100% well.

VISIT COVID-19 INFO PAGE
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Message from Island Health

The current COVID-19 public health safety measures have been extended. Please continue to hold the line. Keep up your personal safety behaviours like excellent hand hygiene and physical distancing while you're following the provincial health orders. Those include:

  • Wearing masks in indoor public spaces
  • Travelling only for essentials
  • Socializing with household only (or core bubble if living solo)
  • No gatherings or events
  • As well as other restrictions for sports and fitness

ISLAND HEALTH COVID-19

BC Housing & City Make Progress on Landmark MOU

BC Housing has recently submitted development permit applications for two supportive housing locations: at 285 Prideaux Street (Community Services Building) and 702 Nicol Street. The MOU agreement includes new developments proposed on six sites within Nanaimo:

  • three affordable rental housing developments with approximately 125 homes for people with low to moderate incomes; and,
  • four supportive housing developments with approximately 190 homes for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness in the community.

Both 285 Prideaux Street (Community Services Building) and 702 Nicol Street were previously identified as BC Housing and City of Nanaimo MOU projects.

NEWS RELEASE

Walk On Wellness 

Celebrate Vancouver Island's mild winter weather and come “Walk On” with us. Join Parks, Recreation and Culture and New Balance Nanaimo, on a walking journey from Nanaimo to Victoria & beyond! Track your steps and input your data weekly. This challenge runs February 8 to March 13. There are weekly prizes and one lucky grand prize winner will go home with a pair of New Balance running shoes. 

WALK ON

Family Day Fun

Parks, Recreation & Culture have created a list of free and fun ways to celebrate Family Day safely. Prizes available, follow the link to learn more!

  • Storywalk February 11-15 at Oliver Woods Playground
  • Rock your Weekend February 13-15
  • Then & Now Scavenger Hunt February 15
  • Skating Sessions February 15

FAMILY DAY EVENTS

Bat Boxes

Did you know you can find bat boxes in Nanaimo? They can be spotted at Divers Lake Park and in Linley Valley. There are many benefits to installing a bat house including insect control, plant pollination and seed distribution. If you are interested in learning more about the BC Bat program and downloading a bat box plan to make for your own yard visit Community Bat Programs of BC.

BC BATS 

Single Use Bags

If Province approval is passed onJuly 1, 2021 Nanaimo will join the plastic bag ban BANdwagon! As we wait, we can start making small changes now:

➡️Try a variety of reusable bags, boxes or totes & find a suitable replacement for plastic

➡️Store re-usable bags in your car, purse or jacket pockets (along with your mask) to get into the habit of always having one handy

➡️If you own a business, refrain from ordering large quantities of branded plastic bags & start researching other options

SINGLE USE BAGS

Will Your Commute Be Affected This Week?

Stay informed on the City's Current Construction Projects page. Staff provide up-to-date information on City construction projects.

  • Mostar Road (Metral to E&N) is currently undergoing a sidewalk widening. During construction hours for the month of February, the sidewalk on the north side of the road will be closed and westbound traffic will be narrowed to one lane to make room for heavy machinery. Please respect signage and account for extra time in your commute whether you are walking, cycling, or driving.
  • Metral Drive (Turner to Mostar) is limited to residents and business traffic only. Please respect that the road is closed to through traffic and on-street parking has been removed in front of Pacific Station until the roadworks have been completed. As an active construction site with large machinery working and deep utility trenches, road closures may occur and delays are to be expected. Please drive slowly and respect signage.
  • Rock City Road between Ocean Pearl Terrace & Barrington Road is closed from 9 am-3:30 pm, Mon-Fri for approximately 2 weeks to accommodate blasting and cleanup. Local traffic should expect delays and plan trips accordingly.

CURRENT CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

Work with Us!

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

Job Opportunities

Meetings This Week

Mon, Feb 8: Governance and Priorities Committee at 1:00 pm

Wed, Feb 10: Special Health and Housing Task Force at 3:00 pm

Thurs, Feb 11: Design Advisory Panel Meeting at 5:00 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 a Special Council meeting or a Regular Council Meeting? Don’t worry. We have you covered! Check out our Council Meeting Summary page for quick overviews.

Here's a recap of last week's City News

CITY NEWSROOM

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