This week... Stephenson Point stairs got a makeover, submit your questions for the upcoming eTown Hall and HMCS Nanaimo bell is locked up for safe-keeping. Read on for more! | Message from Island Health - As of November 3, there were 524 active COVID-19 cases in the Island Health region.
- If COVID-19 testing is recommended please call Island Health’s Call Centre at 1-844-901-8442 to book a test. Calls are returned within an hour and appointment bookings are same-day or within 24 hours at a local testing site. Please do not go to an Emergency Department or other care facility seeking a COVID test.
- Masks are required for people aged 5+ in all indoor public places, and capacity limits remain in place for indoor gatherings and events.
- British Columbians must show proof of being fully vaccinated by showing their BC Vaccine Card to participate in discretionary, social and recreational events. View the full list of settings requiring proof of vaccination.
- Everyone 18+ will be invited to get a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine, starting with people most at risk.
- You do not need a booster dose to be considered fully vaccinated under B.C.’s Vaccine Card program. Booster doses are by appointment only. You must wait until you receive an invitation and then schedule an appointment.
- Daily walk-in spaces for first or second doses are limited and clinics can be very busy. Appointments are strongly recommended to reduce waiting times and guarantee your spot. Register and make an appointment by visiting getvaccinated.gov.bc.ca or by calling 1-833-838-2323.
- Children ages 5 to 11 are not being vaccinated yet; however you can register your child now.
- Compared to fully vaccinated people, those who are unvaccinated are 9 times more likely to test positive for COVID-19, 43 times more likely to go to hospital and 36 times more likely to die from COVID-19
ISLAND HEALTH COVID-19 Message from Parks, Recreation & Culture The Provincial Health Order from October 25, 2021 required that increased vaccination checking occur at City of Nanaimo recreation facilities, including pools, arenas and weight rooms. Effective Monday, November 1 changes are as follows: - Swimming pools are exempt from requiring proof of vaccination; if you are attending a public swim (includes hots tubs, saunas, and steam room), participating in swimming lessons or aquatic programs, including aquafit you are not required to show proof of vaccination
- Pool spectators are required to show proof of vaccination; if you are 12+ years of age and spectating a participant who is swimming in a public swim session or attending a city aquatic program you can stop at the front desk to show your proof of vaccination
- Pool user groups are required to check proof of vaccination for any individual affiliated with their club and who are required to show (this is consistent with all user groups across the city)
- Any spectators or volunteers affiliated with users groups will be required to show their proof of vaccination to the user group they are affiliated with before they will be permitted to spectate (at this point, Nanaimo Riptides are NOT allowing spectators)
- Adults volunteering with children, assisting with children or spectating at a child or youth program must show proof of vaccination regardless of the size of the group (pools have separate rules; see above)
- For arena programs with mixed ages (for example, the Everyone Welcome Skates), all participants and spectators ages 12 years and up must show proof of vaccination
- Proof of vaccination is attained through the Province of British Columbia
- In addition to proof of vaccination, government-issued ID (driver's license, BCID, passport) is required
- For further clarification on arena programs and the Vaccine Pass, click here.
- Please note: municipalities are mandated to follow Public Health Orders. If anyone has questions and comments about the Orders please contact the Office of the Medical Health Office
REVIEW COVID-19 UPDATES ON CITY OF NANAIMO PROGRAM & FACILITIES | Eight Bells and All's Well On the afternoon of Tuesday, November 2, 2021, City of Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog received the ship bell from HMCS Nanaimo for safe keeping. HMCS Nanaimo, a Kingston-class maritime coastal defense vessel in the Royal Canadian Navy, is about to go into dry dock for maintenance. Keeping with tradition, any time a Royal Canadian naval ship goes into dry dock, the bell is returned to the ship's namesake city for safe-guarding. Since it's commissioning on May 10, 1997, HMCS Nanaimo has operated from Canada's north down to the Galapagos Islands, and has provided coastal defense, search and rescue operations, and training opportunities as well as protection during the 2010 Winter Olympics. The vessel has also been an integral part of US-led anti-narcotics missions. The ship is currently in Esquimalt Harbour until mid-November, then will go to the Point Hope Shipyards in Victoria Harbour. HMCS Nanaimo is scheduled to return back to Esquimalt Harbour sometime in the spring of 2022. The ship and their crew will then go through trials and readiness training in the summer/fall of 2022. Until then, the ship's bell will be securely vaulted away, awaiting HMCS Nanaimo's return to the waters. NANAIMO NEWS RELEASE: HMCS NANAIMO"S BELL HOME FOR SAFE-KEEPING | Remembrance Day Remembrance Day was first observed in 1919 throughout the British Commonwealth. It was originally called “Armistice Day” to commemorate armistice agreement that ended the First World War on Monday, November 11, 1918, at 11 a.m.—on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. The poppy is the symbol of Remembrance Day. It is customary that the pinning of the first symbolic poppy, to launch the fundraiser Poppy Campaign be to the Mayor by the representatives from the Royal Canadian Legion in Nanaimo.The money raised through poppy donations, goes into a fund that the two local Legion branches can use to help veterans with a variety of wellness programs and support for them and their families. | | On Tuesday, October 26, the Mayor received a poppy from representatives of the Royal Canadian Legion at Branch 256. The City also raised the Remembrance Day flag at
City Hall. The Bastion will be coloured red November 10 - 12. Nanaimo's Remembrance Day ceremony will be held at the Dallas Square cenotaph on November 11, the public is welcome to attend. There will be a fly-over by RCAF and a gun salute. The ceremony will also be broadcast live and viewable through Shaw at two Nanaimo Legion locations. | Stephenson Point Stairs Staff have been out improving amenities in Nanaimo's parks. Have you tried out the upgraded stairs at Stephenson Point that take you down to the beach? Staff fixed hand rails and added additional stairs that now end at the beach. This is also a good reminder to take extra caution on the trails, staircases and boardwalks this time of year as they can get slippery and covered with fallen debris. NANAIMO PARKS & TRAILS | | Viewing Platform There is a new wheelchair accessible platform at the Bowen Volleyball Courts. Although it's not beach volleyball season yet, when it returns in the spring spectators can enjoy a new wheelchair accessible viewing platform at the Bowen Park Volleyball Courts. This is just one of the many projects that Parks Staff are out and about doing to improve the community's parks and open spaces. BOWEN PARK | | Search and Rescue Nanaimo Search and Rescue secured an anonymous donation of $1 million, as well as an additional $150,000 grant to help complete the renovation of its facility for their operations. Along with general renovations, the retrofit includes: an updated water service; a fire suppression and fire alarm system; exhaust and venting upgrades; a new boiler; HVAC installation; structural and seismic improvements; a completely new exterior and landscaping; and re-paving of the lower parking lot. | | Neighbourhood Associations Did you know? There are over 20 associations representing neighbourhoods across Nanaimo. The City of Nanaimo is reviewing how we work with neighbourhood associations. Please help us by completing a 5 min survey telling us how you like to participate in neighbourhood issues that interest you. The survey is open until Nov 15, 2021. NEIGHBOURHOOD ASSOCIATION SURVEY | | 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. All businesses remain open and accessible, but commuters are asked to use alternate routes whenever possible.
- Hammond Bay Road (between Bonnie Drive and Overlook Drive) will be single-lane, alternating traffic 24 hours a day into November.
- Watermain upgrades are underway on Laguna Way east of the intersection with Lost Lake Road. 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.
CURRENT CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS | Work With Us! We are currently looking for candidates to fill the following positions: - Municipal Services Inspector - open until filled
- Enhanced Digital Field Technician - apply by November 26
- Building Official - open until filled
- Engineering Services Technologist - open until filled
- Casual Police Information Clerks - open until filled
- Casual Lifeguard/Instructors - open until filled
JOB POSTINGS | Did you know? In 2019, Nanaimo City Council unanimously approved a 25-year co-management agreement with NSAR at 195 Fourth Street. This agreement allowed the City and NSAR to proceed with the development of a facility plan. NSAR took the lead on the planning process with regular updates to City council. The initial phase of the project was paid for by NSAR's funds, and the City of Nanaimo budgeted for the second phase of the project in the 2021-2024 Capital Plan. Council unanimously supported a staff request to move those funds from 2022 to 2021 at a Regular Council meeting in June of this year. This allowed for the project to be completed in one continuous phase, rather than two separate ones months apart. | Want the Latest City of Nanaimo News & Information? Stay up to date with Council, programming and events: | | | | |
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