📬My Nanaimo This Week

September 18, 2023

This Week...

We are now accepting proposals for the 2024 Street Banner Designs, sign up for a Janie's Got a Bus adventure and join us for an eco-friendly celebration of Rivers Day. Read on for more!

2024 Street Banner Designs

The City of Nanaimo invites all amateur and professional artists and designers from across BC to submit their proposals to the 2024 Street Banner Design Program. The banners will be on display in spring 2024 and hung in Nanaimo’s downtown area, including in the Arts District downtown, along Bowen Road, Third Street and other major routes, creating a vibrant visual presence.

The Call is open to artists and designers at all levels of experience, currently living in British Columbia. Deadline for applications is 4 pm October 23.

2024 APPLICATION

Increasing Housing Options

Last week's Increasing Housing Options Open House drew a fantastic crowd! Thanks to all who joined us to discuss Nanaimo's housing needs. If you missed it, you can still share your thoughts in our survey on Get Involved Nanaimo. The survey is open until Sept. 29, and you could win one of five gift cards to a local coffee shop.

LEARN MORE

Voyent! Alert

In times of crisis, it is important that residents have access to trusted, timely and accurate information to ensure their own safety and that of their family and loved ones.

The City of Nanaimo's Emergency Alert System, called Voyent Alert! allows residents to use an App or sign up online to receive text, email and phone alerts. Voyent Alert! is a multi-purpose communication service used to send alerts to residents, businesses, and visitors during critical events like fires or floods as well as for relevant day-to-day community safety notifications.

EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM

Online Safety for Seniors

Learn more about the most common schemes online and over the phone and what you can do to avoid them. Several topics will be covered including email theft, data breaches, social engineering, Facebook scams, online order scams and so much more. Flip to page 24 of the Fall Newsletter to see times and dates.

ADULT 60+ PROGRAMS

Adventure awaits!

Participate in a Janie's Got a Bus adventure! They are designed for mature adults, but you do not need a Senior Membership to participate! Flip to page 31 of the Fall Newsletter to see the many options available.

ADULT 60+ PROGRAMS

Nanaimo Operations Centre Project Open House

Thank you to those who attended the open house last week. If you weren’t able to attend, you can find information on this project and the upcoming Alternative Approval Process on the City website at www.nanaimo.ca/goto/AAP and www.nanaimo.ca/goto/NOC.

Watering restrictions

It is still really dry out there and we would like to thank all residents for reducing water consumption this year. Nanaimo is currently at stage 3 watering restrictions. This stage is the same as in Stage 2 (even and odd day watering) but asks residents to further reduce water use to avoid a future watering ban.

LEARN MORE

Rivers Day 2023

Join us Sept. 24, 6:30 to 8:30 pm for an eco-friendly celebration of Rivers Day with Collective Groove Silent Dance Co.! Dance to the rhythm of nature as we move alongside the Millstone River to the Bowen Park Amphitheatre wearing wireless headphones and grooving to the beats without disturbing the environment. A unique and sustainable way to honour our precious rivers!

RIVER DAY 2023

Recycle like you mean it!

Let’s #RecycleRight, Nanaimo! By only putting accepted items into your recycling cart, you’re avoiding recycling contamination and ensuring more of your collected material is effectively managed and recycled. Items such as soft plastics (bags, food wrap, etc.), styrofoam and glass should not be put in the blue cart. This causes the recycling load to be contaminated and sent to landfill rather than being recycled. Instead, please take them to a Regional Recycling Centre – there’s one at 839 Old Victoria Rd and one at 2375 Hayes Road.

RECYCLING

Dale Lindsay appointed Chief Administrative Officer

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Dale Lindsay as the new Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Nanaimo.Mr. Lindsay brings with him 29 years of progressive management and leadership experience working in local government, including 27 years at the City of Nanaimo.

In recent years, Mr. Lindsay has served as the City’s Director of Community Development (2013-2019), General Manager of Development Services (2019-present) and Deputy Chief Administrative Officer (2022-present).

Reminder - Safety and maintenance work at Colliery Dam Park

Safety and maintenance work will take place in Colliery Dam Park from Sept 18 - Oct 13. Crews will be working at the middle and lower dams. Work includes replacing some fencing with new fencing, installing a log boom and extending an existing log boom. Work is not expected to interfere with park access and signage will be up around work areas.

Will Your Commute Be Affected This Week?

Up-to-date information on City construction projects:

Midtown Water Supply and Midtown Gateway Projects:

On Tuesday, Sept. 19, from 7 am to 4 pm, traffic will be reduced to single lane in both directions, and left turns will be unavailable, at the Northfield and Boxwood intersection. Between 10 am and 2 pm, the traffic signals at this intersection will be turned off and fully controlled by traffic control persons. Traffic will be reduced to single lane alternating during this period. Please use an alternate exit if travelling on the Nanaimo Parkway, or consider using Island Highway North.
East Wellington Road from Westwood Road to Bowen Road is an active construction site, use an alternate route over for the next couple months. Expect delays and intermittent road closures, construction traffic will be entering and exiting frequently from the work zones on the roadway shoulders. Speed limit is 30km/h 24 hours per day.
East Wellington Road will be closed to all west-bound vehicle traffic along the construction work zone between Madsen Road and Bowen Road. All businesses remain accessible, local traffic to access the business please follow the signage off Bowen for the detour to enter eastbound into this work zone.
East Wellington Road remains open to cyclists and pedestrians during this time. Cyclists are encouraged to dismount and walk. Watch for sidewalk closures and detours.
The Parkway Trail Parking Lot at Westwood Road and East Wellington Road is closed to the public. The Parkway Trail is still accessible.
Thank you for your patience!

Terminal Avenue

Terminal Avenue upgrades will be ongoing between Commercial Street and Esplanade Street
The mid-block crosswalk at Gordon Street is closed until the installation of the new signals, expected late this year
- Pedestrians please use the crosswalks at Commercial Street and Esplanade for safe crossing
Traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction
Speed limit will be reduced as this will be an active construction zone
Obey all signs and traffic control persons

Fifth/Bruce Intersection Upgrade

Typical construction hours are Monday to Friday, 7 am to 5 pm.
Expect delays and account for extra time when navigating the area.
Obey all signs and traffic control persons.

Departure Bay Road Sanitary Sewer and Watermain Upgrades

Typical construction hours are Monday to Friday, 9 am to 7 pm.
Expect delays and account for extra time when navigating the area.
Obey all signs and traffic control persons.

Albert/Fourth Complete Streets and Utility Upgrade project:

Albert Street will be closed to all vehicle traffic between Pine and Kennedy Streets until November 1
Closure will be in effect 24 hours per day
Please use an alternate route to avoid delays
Obey all signs and traffic control persons, who are there for your safety
Albert Street will remain open to cyclists and pedestrians during this time

Wakesiah Road storm/sewer installation

Night work will be occurring between 7 pm to 6 am in the intersection of Wakesiah Ave and Third Street
Expect delays and account for extra time when navigating the area
Obey all signs and traffic control persons

Commercial Street Geotechnical Investigation

Front Street through to Terminal Avenue Sept. 18 to 22, 7 am to 6 pm
Expect delays and traffic pattern changes
Observe all traffic signs and persons

Ross Road Watermain Upgrade

Construction work is commencing on Ross Road between Summit Road and Collishaw Road
Typical construction hours are Monday to Thursday, 7 am to 7 pm
Commuters are encouraged to avoid this area if possible. If that is not possible, expect delays and account for extra time when navigating the area
Detours will be instituted where possible
Obey all signs and traffic control persons

CURRENT CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS