March 7, 2022

This week... 

Today is the last day to submit your request to perform at concerts in the park, we learn about Food Waste Action Week and we're in the final phase of REIMAGINE NANAIMO. Read on for more!

Let's Get Out & About in March 

Submissions Due Today!

Today is the last day for emerging local entertainers to submit their request to perform in our Spring & Summer 2022 Concerts in the Park series.

This program aims to showcase local talent against the backdrop of our beautiful park spaces. Parks visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy a variety of music genres and ever changing vistas as the weeks progress.

Submissions will be received until Monday, March 7, 2002 online.

SUBMIT YOUR REQUEST NOW

Spring Break Camps

Have you registered your kids for Spring Break camps yet? There are still some spaces available. Flip to pages 26 and 27 of the Activity Guide and find all kinds of fun such as a Survivor Skills Challenge, Rock Climbing, Merfolk Adventures and more! 

SPRING ACTIVITY GUIDE

Pop Up Playgrounds

Mark your calendars for more Spring Break fun. These free Pop Up Playground sessions include sports, art, games and crafts and will take place:

  • Mansfield Park: March 15, 2-4 pm and March 18, 1-3 pm
  • Maffeo Sutton Grassy Area: March 22, 2-4 pm and March 25, 1-3 pm

Walk-On With Us

  • Track your steps each day or distance walked by using a tracking device or app of your choice (Fitbit, smartphone, smartwatch, pedometer, computer or a mobile app).
  • Each day, input the number of steps or distance walked in the online form.
  • Each Friday at 4:00 pm, your weekly progress will be collected and tallied.
  • Each Monday, totals will be shared on our Results Board.
  • Join this challenge at any time between February 4 and March 17 to include your name in for our participation draws.

WALK-ON WINTER CHALLENGE

Food Waste Action Week

Food Waste Action Week is running from March 7 – 13, 2022, as a global collaboration led by Love Food Hate Waste International Partners to drive home the message that wasting food feeds climate change. The National Zero Waste Council and Love Food Hate Waste Canada are proud to join our global partners for this inaugural global event and we invite you to join us. 

According to research on household food waste in Canda, a staggering 63% of food thrown away could have been eaten at some point. For the average Canadian household that amounts to 140 kilograms of wasted food per year – at a cost of more than $1,100 per year! The fact is we buy too much.

Follow the link below for tips on what to buy and how to store food so it lasts longer.

LOVE FOOD HATE WASTE

Light Up for Ukraine

The Bastion and the Nanaimo Port Theatre have joined a number of the world's most iconic landmarks to light up in blue and yellow to show support for Ukraine during Russia's assault on their country. They will be lit in blue and yellow on:

  • March 1-7, 
  • March 9-16,
  • March 18-20, 
  • March 22-25, and
  • March 28-30.

Bastion Lighting

When you see the Bastion lit up in a colour, it's for a special reason such as a holiday or awareness for a cause. In addition to the dates it will be blue and yellow for Ukraine, the Bastion will be lit:

  • Purple on Mar 8 for International Women's Day
  • Green on Mar 17 for St. Patrick's Day
  • Yellow and Blue on Mar 21 for World Down Syndrome Day
  • Purple on Mar 26 for Epilepsy Awareness
  • Yellow on Mar 27 for Endometriosis Awareness
  • Pink, While & Blue on Mar 31 for International Transgender Day of Visibility

REIMAGINE NANAIMO

Phase 3 of REIMAGINE NANAIMO is underway! From March 1 to April 8, 2022, you will have the opportunity to provide feedback on the draft City Plan - Nanaimo ReImagined. The draft plan combines, replaces and updates a number of existing policy documents and provides a more coordinated city-wide policy direction.

In addition to land use policy, the plan's content is guided and structured around the following five goals:

  1. A Green Nanaimo – Resilient and Regenerative Ecosystems
  2. A Connected Nanaimo – Equitable Access and Mobility
  3. A Healthy Nanaimo – Community Wellness and Livability
  4. An Empowered Nanaimo – Reconciliation, Representation and Inclusion
  5. A Prosperous Nanaimo – Thriving and Resilient Economy

Review the draft City plan – Nanaimo ReImagined documents and the Draft City Plan - Schedule Maps. Finally, Take the Survey open until April 8, 2022. 

Stay tuned for more engagement opportunities!

REIMAGINE NANAIMO

Will Your Commute Be Affected This Week?

Up-to-date information on City construction projects:

  • Ninth Street is closed between Bruce Avenue and Plecas Crescent. Detours will be in place and commuters are asked to plan their travel accordingly and account for extra time when navigating the area.
  • Metral Drive is still an active construction site, so please expect delays and account for extra time when navigating the area. Metral Drive from Enterprise Way to Turner Road is now LOCAL TRAFFIC ONLY.
  • Metral Drive will also be narrow while crews prepare to install curbs on both sides of the road and put in 3-way stops at the Doumont & Turner intersections. Please detour on Highway 19a. If you live in the area or are visiting a business, drive slowly and respect the construction zone and workers.
  • Watermain upgrades are underway on Laguna Way east of the intersection with Lost Lake Road. Commuters can expect minor delays.
  • Utility upgrades are taking place on Cottleview Drive and Hillside Avenue between Caldwell Street and Pacific Edge Way. Commuters can expect minor delays.
  • Nottingham Drive is closed between Hammond Bay Road and Cumberland Place. Commuters should plan to access Nottingham from the north end.
  • Fourth Street between Bruce Avenue and Pine Street is closed in both directions to through traffic, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Hamilton Avenue at Pine Street will be closed to southbound right turning vehicles. Local traffic is permitted. All businesses remain open and accessible. Road closures will remain in effect until May 2022 when the Fourth Street Complete Street Phase 1 project is completed.
  • Fourth Street between Bruce Avenue and Harewood Road will be reduced to single lane alternating traffic to allow for underground utility installation. All businesses remain open and accessible. Watch for traffic controllers and signage.

CURRENT CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

Work With Us!

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

  • Casuals - Police Services
  • Client Support Specialist
  • Senior Applications Analyst - Temporary Full-time
  • Community Policing Coordinator
  • Manager, Communications
  • Exhibit & Property Clerk - Permanent Part-Time
  • Building Official
  • Engineering Services Technologist
  • Custodian - Relief Pool
  • Casual Lifeguard/Instructors

JOB POSTINGS

Meetings This Week

Mon, Mar 7: Council at 7 pm in the Vancouver Island Conference Centre's Shaw Auditorium

Wed, Mar 9: Special Environment Committee at 5 pm. Virtual meeting.

Thurs, Mar 10: Design Advisory at 5 pm. Virtual meeting.

Did you know? 

At the Feb 28, 2022 meeting, Council approved a $2,450 Community Program Development Grant to the Nanaimo Nature Society, to assist in funding the Buttertubs Marsh Guided Nature Tours program.

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

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