BOUQUET To the bouquet about Mr. Bamford. He was my teacher 25 years ago. So happy to read he is still teaching and inspiring students.
BEEF To me for not thinking quicker about charging a demonstrator with a bullhorn for assault. She was yelling right as I walked by. My ears are still ringing. And with all those police present it should have been an easy arrest. Note to others, bring a decibel-meter and save everyone’s hearing from those who confuse the strength of their argument with the volume at which they shout it.
BOUQUET Special thanks to the very kind gentleman who paid for my carton of ice cream and milk at the Bowen Road Quality Foods on Easter Sunday. A lovely touch of kindness.
BEEF To mall management. The cut-out pothole has been there for more than eight months. With all the money the mall rakes in, isn’t it time to pave it?
BOUQUET To Dr. Protzer at Applecross Dental. He has been incredibly patient with me and my special needs. He is very knowledgeable, gentle – needles I hardly feel. He found/extracted a nerve that no other dentist found that aggravated a painful root canal for a long time. He’s taken time to ensure my appliances are the right type, fitting properly. All his support staff are great, professional, kind and ensures the entire office is spotless and disinfected.
BEEF To the dozen RCMP officers, including emergency response team members, who showed up on Estevan Road to apprehend a young woman who weighed approximately 115 pounds. They banged on her patio door yelling and broke the window and door to throw in tear gas. Complete overkill.
BOUQUET To Harry for always shovelling our driveway when it snows.
BEEF Oops, sorry, my fault. Actually no, it wasn’t my fault. I was at a business on Metral Drive, turning right to drive north. I almost turned onto the sidewalk and new bicycle lane. They appeared wider than the actual roadway.
BOUQUET To Janie of Janie’s Got a Bus for our trip to Victoria and the welcome stops both going and returning.
BEEF To the government. If you want more affordable rentals, then give homeowners back their rights so they aren’t abused by tenants. The landlords should always have the upper hand and their say in their home if renting a suite.
BOUQUET To the pharmacy on Terminal Avenue and to a dear friend Kate who really stepped up and helped me out. Your kindness will never be forgotten. You didn’t even know me but that didn’t stop you. You still chose to help. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
BEEF To the city. Enterprise Way is one of Nanaimo’s worst intersections for accidents. Why did you narrow it? You managed to make Metral Drive more dangerous than before, but you could have left the major intersection alone.
BOUQUET To Dr. Wiggers. Your kindness, compassion and truly caring for the well-being of your patients makes us so lucky to have you. Thank you for being such a phenomenal psychiatrist.
BEEF To B.C.’s health care. I likely have a better chance at winning the lottery than finding a doctor.
BOUQUET I was diagnosed with glioblastoma two years ago. Every staff person at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital was wonderful. A special bouquet to the nurse who gave me a paper reading ‘you’ve got this.’ It is still on my wall.
BEEF To the potholes on Jingle Pot Road. It is a much-used route and needs to be repaired.
BOUQUET To officer P. You gave me a well-deserved speeding ticket on April 5 and it could have been much worse. Thank you for having mercy on me.
BEEF I’m reaching out to highlight a persistent issue affecting my peace and sleep: a woodpecker fixated on my metal chimney. Its incessant tapping throughout the night has left me exhausted and frustrated. I’m seeking advice and assistance from the community or relevant authorities to address this matter effectively.
BOUQUET To the cheerful cashier at Joe Burger. It’s always so impressive to see a person doing their job as enthusiastically and as well as it can be done. You honour your employer and you own the key to personal success.
BEEF Yes those bike lanes look beautifully painted. But at what cost? It has been two or three years since the city has re-painted some long-neglected roadways, crosswalks and traffic stops around Nanaimo. For safety’s sake, it’s time to switch priorities.
BOUQUET To my neighbour’s cat. Thank you for keeping our streets free of the rats. Keep up the good work. The city should be paying you for your good work.
BEEF To the tool shop. Closed on Saturdays, eh? I will never shop at your store again.
BOUQUET Many thanks to the Bowen Country Grocer customer who donated a gift card to pass out to a fellow customer in need. And to the lovely cashier Carolyn for your service with a smile. I will pay it forward.
BEEF To the inconsiderate people in the neighbourhood for the reminder it’s the start of another season of ruining our outdoor time by mowing their lawn at meal times.
BOUQUET To my wife for keeping our house clean and organized. And for putting things back where they belong when I leave them out. Which is a lot.
BEEF I am wondering why the province is not making people that ride bikes insure their bikes with all the upgrades and bike lanes that are being put in, they think the roads are for them and do not follow the rules of the road at all. Some of them are quite a menace on the roads.
BOUQUET To the man thanking his wife for helping him find a bottle of steak sauce in the fridge. He has a saint of a wife. After many years, I’ve given up my sainthood to stand back and watch. Now my husband is on his own to figure out these incredibly challenging life problems for himself.
BOUQUET Not everyone can afford to buy and maintain a car. A bicycle is an alternative option.
BEEF To the beefer who feels the advice, “don’t have kids if you can’t afford them” equates to being a classist bootlicker. It’s very selfish, and irresponsible, to bring a baby into the struggle of poverty. It’s they who directly suffer and they certainly didn’t ask for it. High-minded platitudes don’t put food on the table or a roof over their head. And that’s simply the harsh reality. Lived it.
BOUQUET Thank you to the staff at Nanaimo Correctional Centre for always being so kind and going above and beyond good service to provide for everyone here, helping us each and every day with the proper steps on our road to recovery.
BEEF To the motorcyclist riding behind me along Hammond Bay Road. We all get it, your bike is faster than our minivans. But Hammond Bay Road, with its single lanes, twists and turns, school zones and deer population isn’t the place to demonstrate your bike’s abilities, which mean nothing by the way, unless you know what you’re doing and how to handle it safely.
BOUQUET Happy birthday Nino, a toast to you with a vintage vino. Born on a lucky day in 2003, the calm before the storm from sea to sea. He’s still a palomino, even if faded, but his fire and spirit? Not at all jaded. He is so easy to spot out on the trail, with his coat colour now a whiter shade of pale.
BEEF To M. and Patrick.
BOUQUET To the ladies at guest services at Woodgrove Centre, they are always cheerful, professional and go beyond customer service. My son enjoys the push cars and your friendliness. Thank you all.
BEEF To driver of the muscle car that roars up and down in the Dover Road area. Many of the neighbours in the area are not impressed with your behaviour and the excessive noise that starts at 6:15 a.m. and continues throughout the day. It’s just a matter of time before the police or bylaw has a one-sided conversation with you.
BOUQUET My spouse and I had several tests and procedures done earlier this year at NRGH, specifically in the medical imaging and nuclear medicine departments. We felt the staff were very competent and professional, and committed to making the process as easy as possible for us. Most of the staff we dealt with were pleasant and friendly. We wanted to express our appreciation for a job well done.
BEEF It’s become poop-ageddon at Deverill Square Park recently because people aren’t picking up after their dogs. The game of footie we have on Sunday mornings has become a dance of doo-doo. And this is happening even though it isn’t even a dog park. Please pick up after your pooch.
BOUQUET To my daughter for a much-needed day enjoying rides at West Coast Amusements. You clearly weren’t switched at birth as you were howling with laughter while scaring me as I hung on for dear life. I’ll never live it down. Love you, kid.
BEEF To the cardlock gas station. Clean the card reader heads every week. The one by the gas pumps will almost never never read my card and I have to go to one of the other two to get authorized and get a receipt.
BOUQUET To the staff of Burnt Honey for their friendly and bubbly atmosphere, delicious array of unconventional ice cream and macaron flavours, and rad sense of style, as well as for being ‘woke’ in all the best ways; i.e. taking great care of their community respecting and celebrating non-binary people, helping to fund aboriginal youth sports. Always a delight to stop in. More small businesses like this, please.
BEEF To the parents dropping kids off at Pleasant Valley School. There is a 30-kilometre speed limit on Dunbar and a no left turns at certain times of the day. Why are you above the law? Are eight accidents in six months not enough?
BOUQUET To Kirby’s Source for Sports for making our community healthier by equipping sports, and employing friendly, knowledgeable staff. Thanks for the always excellent service.
BEEF Want the real NASCAR experience? Come to Cedar and drive the speed limit. You will feel like the official pace car.
BOUQUET To the whirligig maker on Rainier Street. Thank you for putting your craftsmanship on display for the neighbourhood. Maybe you could write in, or post a sign on your fence, to tell us what wind direction is best for viewing them in all their glory?
BEEF To the residents for placing big rocks in the way so people can’t park safely to pick up and drop off their children from the elementary school. That area is congested already, now people will park on the roadway. Beef to the man yelling and swearing at women who park in front of his house.
BOUQUET To a young lad who appeared out of nowhere to offer help to hold onto my blind and unstable-on-his-feet husband so I could move the car out of a parking space to allow the door to be opened without scraping another car. Kindness is not measured in quantity but in outcome. Thank you.
BEEF To the “tired of snitchers” beefer. If you aren’t doing anything wrong you have nothing to worry about. If you are breaking the rules, stop. Problem solved.
BOUQUET Cyclists and bike lanes are not only to save the Earth, but also to cut down on the traffic jams on the roads, so car drivers can get to their destination faster. Thank you cyclists and skateboarders.
BEEF To all of the dog-friendly businesses out there that are not pet stores. There are many people who have fears and allergies to dogs. Service animals are one thing but the regular rover shouldn’t be allowed.
BOUQUET To Dr. Saunders and Dr. Saunders at Lantzville Dental Clinic. Thank you for making an unsolicited donation to NRGH in memory of my husband. It was unexpected and heartwarming at a time my heart needed all the warming it could get.
To submit a beef or a bouquet to the Nanaimo News Bulletin, e-mail editor@nanaimobulletin.com.