March 8, 2021

This week... 

Island Health shares local vaccination plans, applications are being accepted for the Poet Laureate position and many construction projects underway, will your commute will be affected? 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, however please continue to practice physical distancing, hand washing & please stay home if not feeling 100% well.

VISIT COVID-19 INFO PAGE
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Message from Island Health

Beginning today, March 8, seniors aged 90+ and indigenous people aged 65+ who don’t currently receive home support services or live in an independent living or a seniors’ supportive housing facility, will be able to call Island Health to book their vaccination appointment in their community. Please wait until it is your age group’s turn to book a vaccination. Only people in the eligible age group will be booked for their vaccination in the following timeframe:

  • March 8 - people born in 1931 or earlier may call in to book their appointment
  • March 15 - people born in 1936 or earlier may call in to book their appointment
  • March 22 - people born in 1941 or earlier may call in to book their appointment

Only when it's your turn, call 1-833-348-4787 between 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. daily.

You will need to provide your: Legal first and last name, date of birth, postal code, personal health number (aka: care card) and contact information (direct phone number or support person phone number).

The call centre agent will confirm your appointment date and time at the location nearest to you.

B.C's COVID-19 Immunization Plan

ISLAND HEALTH COVID-19

 

How to Set up MyCity

This time of year, many are looking for information on property taxes and utilities. Did you know? You can access that information quickly and easily using MyCity If you aren't set up already, it won't take long to register. Learn how in this short video.

2021 State of the Economy

The City of Nanaimo has just released its second expanded edition of the State of the Economy report, and while the impact of the pandemic has been uneven across different sectors of the economy, statistics show that Nanaimo is performing well on most economic indicators.

Contributing greatly to our economic strength is Nanaimo's population growth. Nanaimo surpassed the 100,000 residents milestone in 2020! The City's population has grown by 22% (over 18,000 people) since 2011.

STATE OF THE ECONOMY 

Poet Laureate Position

The City of Nanaimo invites applications for the position of Poet Laureate. Nanaimo’s next Poet Laureate will be appointed by City Council for a two-year term and will serve as a literary ambassador for the City, charged with creating and presenting poetic works and engaging activities for the benefit of our community. 

Poets are invited to review the complete guidelines including eligibility requirements and details on how to apply. The deadline to submit applications is April 30, 2021 by midnight.

APPLY TO BE POET LAUREATE

You've probably heard a lot of talk lately about Doughnut Economics and wondered what it is and how it fits in with REIMAGINE NANAIMO.

In November 2020, Council passed a motion to incorporate this model into how we plan our community. REIMAGINE NANAIMO's purpose is to update and create the fundamental planning documents and strategies that will guide our city into the next 10 years or longer. Doughnut Economics incorporates a global view into how a community functions and prospers. It looks at how we can ensure our community thrives while respecting the well-being of all on Earth.

Learn more about this model and how it will be used to guide the planning documents from the REIMAGINE NANAIMO project during the March 8 Governance and Priorities Committee meeting. You can watch it live on the City website beginning at 1 pm.

Plastic Myth

Myth: If a plastic item has a recycling number, it can be recycled

♻️ Reality: The #1-7 recycling numbers, called a resin code, were introduced back in the 80’s to help recycling facilities identify plastic types. Over the decades, plastic types have multiplied and resin codes are no longer a reliable method to tell if an item is recyclable. For example, #7 only tells us it's not one of the #1-6 plastics.

Resin codes are also misleading for curbside vs depot-only recyclables. #2 HDPE could be a plastic shampoo bottle that is accepted in the blue cart. Or, #2 could be film plastic overwrap around a pack of paper towel that requires special handling through depot-only recycling.

Since 2014, we've used descriptions of packaging and paper that are accepted and not accepted for recycling in the Blue Cart. Visit our recycling page for a comprehensive list of what can go in the blue cart.

Heard any recycling rumours you want answered? Email Zero.Waste@nanaimo.ca

RECYCLING

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.

  • Please remember access is limited on Metral Drive from Turner to Moster to residents and business traffic only, please respect that the road is closed to through traffic. 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.
  • To accommodate development and maintain site safety, Rock City Road will be closed from Ocean Pearl Terrace to Barrington Road to through traffic 24 hours for 5 weeks. Local traffic should expect delays and plan their trips accordingly.
  • Expect single lane traffic on Comox Road as work continues on the Millstone Trunk Sanitary Sewer Upgrades project.
  • Disruptions may occur this week along Front Street as crews prepare for the Complete Street makeover.

CURRENT CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

Work with Us!

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

 

JOB POSTINGS

Meetings This Week

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

Wed, Mar 10: Environment Committee at 5:00 pm

Thurs, Mar 11: Design Advisory Panel Meeting at 5:00 pm. 

Mon, Mar 15: Regular Council Meeting at 4:30 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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