BOUQUET Thanks to the City of Nanaimo. The new benches that are located north of Maffeo Sutton Park along the Harbourfront Walkway look fantastic, are comfortable and are made of very durable material, which should last a very long time.
BEEF To the people breaking glass bottles on the pathways in the Brickyard area. Not only does it makes the area look junky, but all the broken glass is extremely dangerous for small children, dogs and wildlife. If you must, do the damage on your family’s property.
BOUQUET To Darlene at Mad About Ewe for coming to my rescue and fixing my big mistake on my cardigan. So thankful we have such a great yarn store where I can see and touch the most beautiful yarns and know someone is available to help me when I slip drop and cry over stitches.
BEEF To the beefer complaining about high interest rates. High? My first home came with a nine-per cent mortgage rate, and 10 years prior to that, the interest rate was 21 per cent. Maybe lower your expectations from thinking you’re entitled to a brand new home. Hard work instead of entitlement goes a long way.
BOUQUET There is such disdain for pickleball from neighbours and it is apparently difficult to get time on the courts. We have huge department store and supermarket spaces sitting empty. Would these empty buildings not be perfect for indoor courts? Possibly too many safety requirements but a thought.
BEEF The time has come for criminals to be sent to work camp to learn work skills so they can contribute to society once released and pay taxes. Three strikes and you’re out – those who are convicted three times should be sent to work camp.
BOUQUET To the beefer regarding the protesters on the overhead walkway. Thank you for expressing my thoughts and feelings so accurately.
BEEF Regarding the young person who was released to the care of their parent, that is basically the rule in B.C. and other provinces. They only hold minors for very serious crimes. Society and the law have moved away from tossing children in jail for minor issues. It costs a lot of money and it doesn’t improve the community.
BOUQUET To the beautiful corner window fashion display at a busy downtown intersection. Whoever designs the colours and combinations deserves recognition for the eye candy. Thanks to the city for the congestion so I can really enjoy the display.
BEEF Food price increases are getting out of hand at the grocery store. For example, I went to buy a package of fresh snap peas always priced at $2.49 and the price showed $5.29. Outrageous. Let’s get government to step in.
BOUQUET To the person complaining about the RCMP. They spend all of their time telling us how busy they are and why they can’t help. Thanks for telling me pedestrians don’t have the right of way to cross a street at a corner.
BEEF To the people who keep coming to Ridgemont Place to dump their garbage for free in our dumpster. There is one dumpster for all the strata lots on the street and you are too cheap to go to the landfill? We pay for it with our strata fees. For your information this will stop soon, strata is aware.
BOUQUET In memory of the coffee chain contest where you used your teeth to win a free coffee. Those were the days, eh? A beef to the new digital age.
BEEF To the beefer regarding the RCMP’s job performance. I’m sure the RCMP would be happy to deal with the offending drivers. However, they have to focus on other issues such as assaults, robberies, shootings, stabbings, missing persons, arson, murder. If citizens were willing to pay for more RCMP officers, I’m sure the detachment would welcome them.
BOUQUET To a gentleman in Rock City Wendy’s a couple of weeks ago. Gary, a retired RCMP officer, came to our rescue. I was having lunch with a good friend when she suddenly began to choke, and couldn’t breathe. Gary came over and did the Heimlich manoeuvre, and we are so very thankful.
BEEF Often students at the pool are causing mayhem. Some elderly patrons were getting hit with flying objects. Where was the teacher? On his phone the entire time. On another occasion there was another class of students with developmental disabilities who were in the pool, some with their teaching assistants but many were not. These students were also causing issues for other people using the pool. Again, the teacher was on her phone the whole time.
BOUQUET To Suki and Po, you’re the sweetest kids I’ve ever met. I don’t think either of you know how much joy you bring, but it’s immense and much needed. Love you both.
BEEF To the gym members who don’t wipe down their equipment after use. C’mon people, it’s only courteous etiquette to do this. And management, they’re doing this right in front of you. Please encourage/remind people to wipe down. It looks like you don’t care if members drip their sweat and leave a disgusting machine.
BOUQUET To the management of Island Crisis Care Society for your dedicated commitment to collaborating with neighbours and hearing our concerns around the supported housing. We’re excited to welcome the new build.
BEEF Nothing is as sure as death and taxes and someone whining about Metral Drive. It’s long past the time to stop flogging a dead horse.
BOUQUET To Michael H. at Hartmann House who recognized the beauty of our quilt made by Helen R. and organized everything. Also a bouquet to the lady who so carefully sewed the sleeve on the back to hang it and to Tim the installer who hung it expertly and efficiently.
BEEF To daylight saving time. Leave my clock alone, you are messing with my head and my sleep. When the sun is at its highest point in its daily arc across the sky, which is due south, that is high noon. Not one o’clock. Fiddling with the time does not create more daylight in each day.
BOUQUET To a kind walker or cyclist on the south end of the Parkway Trail who found my cycling sweater (it had fallen unnoticed off the back of my bike). The finder thoughtfully hung up the sweater by the side of the trail. I found the sweater a day later when I re-traced my route, hoping for the best, and there it was. Thank you.
BEEF You cannot play the coffee shop’s contest or collect rewards if you don’t have a cellphone. May as well go to McDonald’s where the coffee is cheaper and better tasting.
BOUQUET To the staff at Hullo for being so kind to sick children and their families. It’s great to have people rushing to help with cleanup, checking in over the course of the sailing and assuring parents that minor messes are not a problem, or their fault.
BEEF I live in a mobile home park and I still feel like I live at home instead of being 74. So many policies and the worst is our company not having dogs here. Even on leads. If management says something they are extremely rude to company or us, bad taste in mouth after it is all said and done.
BOUQUET To the amazing women at Ocean Grace Dental. Sabrina, you have cultivated such a beautiful and safe space full of such amazing staff. Kendra, Michelle and Lyndsey are always so friendly and helpful on the phone and when you walk in the door.
BEEF To us all. Beef to the dramatic gent parking his BMW. As you can see, if you’re three times my daughter’s size and are going to try to run at her screaming, you’ll have to go through me first. She didn’t deserve that and was terrified. Beef to me for saying things I’m not proud of while standing up to your bullying. Beef to my daughter. I love you but you’re exhausting.
BOUQUET To Dr Adriana, Bev, Jodi, and the rest of the pediatric ambulatory team at NRGH. You got my daughter diagnosed and off to surgery in Victoria fast and even set an IV in a two-month old with ease. I will be forever grateful.
BEEF To the person walking their large dog on Butcher Road. Please pick up after your dog. You are not being a responsible pet owner or a nice neighbour.
BOUQUET I live and walk in an area of Nanaimo that doesn’t have sidewalks and much of the loose dirt shoulders are sloped. Bouquet and heartfelt thank you to all the drivers who give a wide berth when possible and don’t speed past within inches of pedestrians in all kinds of weather.
BEEF To the department of fisheries which can never completely turn their lights out at night on Front Street. It’s wasteful, annoying, and lacking any environmental sensitivity. The lights often remain on entire weekends.
BOUQUET To the Nanaimo Climate Action Hub, thank you for leading local efforts to address the ongoing climate emergency.
BEEF To the city for the triple crown of no-thought planning: the seldom-used Front Street bike lane, the Metral Drive upgrade, and the Terminal Avenue upgrade. Single lanes, narrow, buses stop traffic. What a waste of money and all this did was hinder traffic. Would be better to spend money to put these streets back to original.
BOUQUET To the sinkhole for shutting down Victoria Road and proving how much safer the Victoria-Needham intersection is as a four-way rather than five.
BEEF My rent 15 years ago was half of what it rents for now. Wages have more than doubled. What exactly is the problem? Should everything be free? Food? Drugs? Where is the end to it? Take responsibility people.
BOUQUET To the wonderful doctors, nurses, care aides and technicians in the emergency room, ICU and sixth floor at NRGH. You were amazing and so respectful toward me. I will not forget you.
BEEF Showed up at a café to meet a friend for coffee. Arrived early thinking I could get a bit of work done, only to find an abundance of ‘no laptop, no studying’ signs. I asked the woman serving me if it was OK if I pulled out my planner to plan my week ahead. They said no. I asked if I was allowed to use my phone. They said I can, but they’d rather me not. Won’t be going again.
BOUQUET Great job to the city workers who power-washed the Departure Bay seawall. It looks amazing.
To submit a beef or a bouquet to the Nanaimo News Bulletin, e-mail editor@nanaimobulletin.com.