📬 My Nanaimo This Week for June 5, 2023

June 5, 2023

This Week...

Blue cart inspections begin, an update on Nanaimo's water supply and GoByBike wraps for another season. Read on for more!

kids playing in spray at Deverill square water park

Be FireSmart

Wildfire season has come early. It only takes one spark to ignite a wildfire. You can help reduce the risk by practicing FireSmart principles:

Completely extinguish campfires.
Don't throw cigarettes or other smoking materials out the car window
No smoking in Nanaimo's parks or on Nanaimo's trails
Going ATVing? Stick to well-worn trails and carry fire suppression equipment.
FireSmart your property. Go to: F ireSmartBC.ca
Prepare a wildfire evacuation plan
If you see a fire, call 911

FIRESMART BC

South Forks Dam at the utility access with City vehicle on the right

Water Supply Update

The City of Nanaimo’s water supply is at normal storage levels for this time in the year, however, we are being extra cautious as the current weather forecast suggests a warmer and drier summer. With the prospect of a summer drought ahead, we're encouraging residents to take proactive water conservation measures. This means reducing outdoor irrigation times, particularly on lawns, and ensuring leaks are fixed right away!

Getting into the habit of conservation will help make sure there is enough supply for essential household use, fire protection, stream flows for fish, and irrigation purposes. Our water is a shared resource, thank you for doing your part!

WATERING RESTRICTIONS

Three children standing by bikes at Steve Smith Bike Park celebration station with other cyclists in the background.

GoByBike Wrap Up

It's been a great spring session of GoByBike! Thank you to all who participated and the generous sponsors and volunteers who make this event a success. On June 11 from 11 am to 6 pm, join in on some cycling fun when Spring GoByBike teams up with Nanaimo Pride for a special wrap up event in Maffeo Sutton Park.

GOBYBIKE NANAIMO

eBike Rebate Program

Do you know? The Province of BC has a rebate for select eBikes!

Beginning June 1, rebates on the purchase of an approved e-bike will be available to BC residents older than 19 and will be based on income. Rebates will range from $350 to a maximum of $1,400.

BC BIKE REBATE INFO

Curbside Inspections

City of Nanaimo staff have begun performing blue cart inspections on collection days as part of the City’s ongoing efforts to reduce recycling contamination.

Let’s #RecycleRight! 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.

Also, don't forget the first of two Nanaimo Recycles Trunk Sales takes place on June 24 from 9 am to 2 pm in the Country Club Mall parking lot. If you're interested in being a vendor, let us know by emailing public.worksinfo@nanaimo.ca.

RECYCLING INFO

Artful Resilience

Everyone is welcome to attend "Artful Resilience", a public event celebrating nature, art, and sustainability on Thursday, June 8 from 3 pm to 9 pm at Vancouver Island University (VIU).

This free, family-friendly event includes:

Public Art Activity: Drop by and contribute to a collaborative public art project with the Nanaimo Art Gallery.
Film Screening at 4 pm in the Malaspina Theatre (Building 310).
Activities including interactive booths, a tree-planting demonstration and a tour of VIU's Garry Oak Restoration project.
Food Trucks: Grab a meal or ice cream.

MORE INFO

Circular Economy in Food and Beverage

Join Vancouver Island Coast Economic Developers Association (VICEDA) and Synergy Foundation to learn how you can implement circular economy principles within the food and beverage processing industry and position your business as a leader in sustainability.

REGISTER TODAY

Staff and members of Council holding letters that spell out "reimagine" in front of the Nanaimo sign in Maffeo Sutton Park.

City Plan Wins Gold

The City won Gold in Excellence in Policy Planning from the Planning Institute of British Columbia (PIBC). The award was for the new City Plan - Nanaimo ReImagined.

The plan is a result of the years' long REIMAGINE NANAIMO process and your participation in it. Thank you!

AWARD ANNOUNCEMENT

Community Survey - Nanaimo Primary Care Network

Please share your experiences with primary care in the Nanaimo region by completing an anonymous survey and be entered to win one of three $100 VISA gift cards!

This survey is offered by the Nanaimo Primary Care Network, a group of partners including the Nanaimo Division of Family Practice (NDoFP), Island Health, Snuneymuxw First Nation, Snaw-Naw-As First Nation, Tillicum Lelum Aboriginal Friendship Centre, and Mid Island Métis Nation, working to improve primary health care in the Nanaimo region. They would like your help to better understand your health care needs, what you do and do not like about your experience and what they can do to make this system work better for you and your community. The survey is anonymous, voluntary and takes about 15 minutes to complete. You can have someone complete the survey on your behalf if you would like!

The survey is open until July 31.

TAKE SURVEY

If you prefer to submit a response by phone or by mail, or have any other questions, please contact the survey administrator, lisa@reichertandassociates.ca for more information.

Will Your Commute Be Affected This Week?

Up-to-date information on City construction projects:

Midtown Water Supply and Midtown Gateway Projects:

From June 2 to 9, the northbound lane of Boxwood Rd, north of Northfield Rd, will be closed, along with the corresponding left turn lane on Northfield Rd. Vehicle access entering the businesses at 2300 Northfield Rd (Petro-Canada & WAVES car wash) will be via Northfield Rd only.
All main parking lots, facilities and park amenities within Beban Park are open during construction. Certain areas of the park are fenced off and closed to the public for safety reasons. Detours will be in place to access all amenities within the park. Please obey all signage placed for your safety and follow the directions of any flag persons on duty.
Thank you for your patience! www.nanaimo.ca/goto/MidtownGateway & www.nanaimo.ca/goto/MidtownWater

Departure Bay Road Sanitary Sewer and Watermain Upgrades

Beginning May 23, Monday to Friday from 9 am to 7 pm and 7 am to 5 pm when school is not in session, some traffic delays should be expected during working hours.
Single lane traffic on Departure Bay Road will be in place adjacent to active construction. -Some temporary road closures and detours are anticipated.
Residents and businesses will be notified a minimum of 48 hours in advance of any scheduled impacts to services or driveway access.
If you live in the area and have young children, please advise them of the dangers of construction and be aware that heavy equipment and trucks have limited visibility.

Fourth Street between Lambert and Hillcrest Ave will be single lane alternating traffic on June 6 and 7 from 7 am to 5:30 pm while crews perform sanitary sewer work.

Albert/Fourth Complete Streets & Utility Upgrade project:

Watermain installation will be starting on Pine Street between Albion and Albert Street shortly. Minor traffic delays can be expected due to lane closures. Drivers should plan an alternate route if possible.

CURRENT CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

Work With Us!

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

Steno - Legislative Services
Planning Assistant
Fire Prevention Officer/Inspector
Fleet Maintenance Mechanic - Temporary Full-Time
Civil Design Technologist
Casual Clerical Opportunities
2023 Seasonal Recreation Leader Vacancies
Temporary Recreation Leader II - Inclusion
Municipal Services Inspector - Temporary Full-Time
Buyer
Casual Police Information Clerks
Roads Management Specialist - Temporary Full-Time
Building Official
Casuals - Police Services
Custodian - Relief Pool
Casual Lifeguard/Instructors

JOB POSTINGS

Photo of council seating at a council meeting

Meetings This Week

Monday, June 5: Regular Council at 7 pm

Wednesday, June 7: Special Advisory Committee on Accessibility and Inclusiveness at 4 pm

Thursday, June 8: Special Mayor's Leaders' Table at 8:30 am

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