March 20, 2023

This Week...

Cheer on the Junior All Native Basketball Tournament, the annual water flushing program has begun and meet the 2023 Culture and Heritage award recipients. Read on for more!

Welcome to Nanaimo JANT

The City of Nanaimo welcomes more than 1,200 Junior All Native Tournament (JANT) athletes, families, coaches, supporters, sponsors and media for this epic basketball tournament, March 19 to 24.

This basketball tournament showcases the athleticism of First Nations youth and is the biggest youth sport tournament in BC.

You are invited to visit the JANT Vendor Marketplace at John Barsby Secondary open from 9 am to 7 pm March 20 to 24. The Marketplace will feature Indigenous and community art, fashion and food, along with information booths from various organizations and supporters.

The Championship Games and Award Ceremony takes place Friday, March 24 at John Barsby Secondary 10 am to 6 pm.

Seating and parking at all sites, for all events, will be on a first come, first serve basis. We advise you to arrive early to avoid disappointment, especially for the championship games.

JANT EVENT INFORMATION
Honour in Culture winner, Margot Holmes
Excellence in Culture winner, Joel Good

Congratulations to the 2023 Culture and Heritage Award Recipients

Honour in Culture, Margot Holmes

Margot Holmes won an Honour in Culture Award for her long-time career as the Chief Executive Officer of the Vancouver Island Symphony, promoting Canadian culture and championing the performing arts community for over three decades.

Excellence in Culture, Joel Good

Joel Good won the Excellence in Culture Award for his achievements in visual art. He is a traditional Coast Salish artist from Snuneymuxw First Nation. 

READ MORE

Sprinkler Testing

If you see the sprinklers on over the next few weeks, the Parks Operations crews are clearing out over 200 irrigation systems to ensure they are working properly and are ready for the spring and summer season.

If you have any questions, please contact Parks and Recreation by email at parksandrecreation@nanaimo.ca.
The annual Water flushing program starts march 20

Water Flushing

The City of Nanaimo's Engineering and Public Works department will begin its annual water main flushing program on March 20, 2023.

While this program is underway, residents may experience short periods of low pressure and discoloured water. Any water discolouration during the flushing program is temporary and not a health hazard.

WATER FLUSHING
please help reduce blue cart contamination

Recycle Right

The City of Nanaimo will be launching a Recycle Right campaign next week asking residents to reduce blue cart contamination. Residents are encouraged to use the "What Goes Where" waste wizard found on the recycling page or in the Nanaimo Recycles App. Watch for more information next week; there will be a contest to participate in and new contamination videos.

RECYCLE RIGHT

Earth Hour 

Participate in World Earth Hour on March 25 by switching off your lights from 8:30 to 9:30 pm. 

Before Earth Hour begins, residents are invited to participate in the Earth Hour Everyone Welcome Skate between 1:15 and 2:45 pm at the Frank Crane Arena. Regular admission rates will apply. 

ARENA SCHEDULE
get involved with many activities for water to earth month

Water to Earth Month

Water to Earth Month is an activity packed, month-long celebration that takes place between World Water Day (March 22) and Earth Day (April 22). 

Team WaterSmart have put together several activities throughout the month. Take part in a streamkeepers course, a raingarden walk, an estuary tour and more! 

TEAM WATERSMART

Watch for a Voyent Alert! This Week

Nanaimo residents who have registered for alerts through the City's Voyent Alert! system, will receive an informational alert this week to inform residents of the overnight highway (Nanaimo Parkway) closure happening March 26 to 30.

If you have already registered for Voyent Alert! app, you can get ready for the test by making sure your phone hasn't offloaded the app or put it into deep sleep. Watch the tutorial video above to see how you can check. Make sure push notifications are enabled for the Voyent Alert! app.

To receive alerts, please visit www.nanaimo.ca/goto/alerts for instructions on how to sign up.

VOYENT ALERT!

Will Your Commute Be Affected This Week?

Up-to-date information on City construction projects:

  • Night construction has begun on Mary Ellen Drive. Parkway access will be closed from 6 to 11 pm. Please use the Old Island Highway to access businesses within Woodgrove Crossing. From 11 pm to 6 am, the road will be completely closed to traffic. Please exercise patience as drivers get used to the roundabout configuration.
  • Bay Street (from Country Club Drive to Neyland Road) will be closed during the day for a water main upgrade. Access will be limited to residents, and emergency services. Other commuters should plan an alternate route.

For the City of Nanaimo’s Midtown Water Supply Project:

  • Traffic flow is adjusted along Northfield Road between the Nanaimo Parkway and Boxwood Road for this critical infrastructure project. Traffic should avoid this area if possible and delays are to be expected. The speed limit is reduced to 30 km/h. Drivers must slow down in work zones and pay close attention to signage.
  • Paving will occur on Labieux Road from the roundabout at Kenworth Road to Beban Parkway. Traffic should avoid this area if possible and delays are to be expected.
  • The trails between Black Diamond/VIU/Third Street are closed to cycling and pedestrian traffic for site preparations. The trail closure will be in place 24 hours a day, seven days a week until the end of April.
  • Commuters can expect minor delays along many streets in the City while the construction crews progress on this project. The construction will create visual distractions and minor delays for commuters. Drivers, pay close attention to signage and avoid these areas if possible:
    • Boxwood Road, between Meredith Road and Tulsa Road, as construction traffic enters and exits this section of the project.
    • Griffiths Road, end to Madsen Road, as construction traffic enters and exits this section of the project.
    • East Wellington Road, between the Nanaimo Parkway and Madsen Road, as construction traffic enters and exits this section of the project.
    • Third Street across from the Rotary Fieldhouse as construction traffic enters and exits this section of the project.
    • College Drive at the Nanaimo Parkway as a construction access is developed for this section of the project.

Please note the upcoming Highway 19 closure, scheduled for March 26 to 30. Work will take place between 7 pm and 7 am. Commuters will need to follow the detour or use Highway 19A. Please refer to the graphic above.

CURRENT CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

Work With Us!

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

  • Casual Police Information Clerks
  • Applications Support Positions 
  • Civil Design Technologist
  • Property Services Agent
  • Temporary Recreation Leader II - Inclusion
  • Roads Management Specialist - Temporary Full-Time
  • Building Official
  • Casuals - Police Services
  • Custodian - Relief Pool
  • Casual Lifeguard/Instructors

JOB POSTINGS

Meetings This Week

Monday, March 20: Regular Council Meeting at 7 pm.

Thursday, March 23: Design Advisory Panel Meeting at 5 pm. 

MEETINGS

If you are not able to attend or tune in live, you can always review decisions made at each Council meeting simply by reading the Council Meeting Summaries. These summaries are typically posted the day after each meeting.

COUNCIL MEETING SUMMARIES
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