BOUQUET To the workers who move the trailers at the barge in Duke Point, and to the crews on the vessels that work hard to make sure everyone on the Island has dinner on their table and the clothes on their back. They are not paid enough for how much work they do. Amazing to watch them back those trailers on the barge. Kudos.
BEEF To the girl with the dog that hogs the bed.
BOUQUET To Marcia. Thank you for your random act of kindness in allowing me to give a grocery gift card in honour of your mother. Your kind and generous spirit are amazing. You are a natural do-gooder.
BEEF A friend of mine drove a day and a half to see a Hollywood actor to get told she had to pay $4,000 just to see him. In my eyes he’s a very rude person. He needs a real job, or he needs to leave my friend alone, he has enough money, he doesn’t need to be greedy. Where is her apology?
BOUQUET To Han’s Tailors. You’ve always been my go-to location for mending my clothes, sewing on buttons, hemming pants, and more. I unfortunately have had a schedule change at work which precludes me from going there for now, but I want you to know you are all very appreciated for your kindness, promptness, and affordability.
BEEF Please read over letters to the editor before publishing them. This person wrote less than two paragraphs to just criticize the premier without any literature cited. Why?
BOUQUET To my friend Kellie for creating the most beautiful updo hairstyle for my 20th anniversary. Thank you for making that day special and doing my hair on my wedding day. What a wonderful full-circle moment.
BEEF To the government of B.C. and Canada for waffling on so many progressive policies (drug decriminalization, universal basic income, mixed-member proportional representation) that have been successfully employed elsewhere. Maybe if you actually had some planning and follow-through, they’d work here, too. Maybe moneyed interests just don’t want them to. Sad.
BOUQUET To the BroomBusters and anyone else who is helping the cause. The amount of Scotch broom that has been removed from our roads and highways is impressive.
BEEF To the beefer about 15-minute cities. These cities are being proposed to save our planet from further destruction due to our dependence on fossil fuels. As far as giving bouquets for those fighting for our freedom, please refrain from speaking for all of us. Luckily, in this country you are free to get an education and learn how fossil fuels affect our planet.
BOUQUET How can one properly thank everyone involved in this spectacular achievement led by Dr. Anderson at Nanaimo Hospital emergency? If it were not for their amazing work I might not be today writing this letter of appreciation.
BEEF To my kids for constantly leaving entry doors in our house open. Bouquet to spring door hinges.
BOUQUET To those who drive between the lines and do not cut corners, as that is a catastrophic accident waiting to happen. Don’t drive your vehicle like an aimed bullet, steer in a wide curve.
BEEF To all the people who don’t believe that yes, I am considered disabled, which is why I have a doctor-issued parking permit. Walking is extremely difficult and painful. Just be kind, people.
BOUQUET To the City of Nanaimo for their support of the e-bike program. Thanks for helping us join all the many international countries have such amazing programs.
BEEF For the dangerous sidewalk on Fitzwilliam Street. The sidewalk drops off into a blackberry jungle in the summer. In the winter, the rubber-like covering over the railroad tracks hardens and is dangerously slippery in near or below zero temperatures.
BOUQUET Last week I was walking up that same spot when I fell into the aforementioned blackberry patch and I could not move. I lay for five minutes and tried to free myself from the thorns, to no avail. A young couple heard me call for help, got me free and walked me home.
BEEF To T. who is no longer a friend.
BOUQUET To the best community newspaper in B.C., the Nanaimo News Bulletin, which won two Ma Murray Awards. More congratulations to publisher Sean M. and reporter Karl Y. for their awards.
BEEF To the elementary school for blasting out very loud music outside once a week for the whole school day, right next to a residential area. Please have some thought for the people who live in this area, and stop this, or at least turn the volume down. It is difficult to see how this relates to education, anyway.
BOUQUET Many thanks to the good Samaritan who handed in my lost purse at the Canadian Tire store. I was so upset on my forgetfulness and your kind act relieved me of all my frustrations. Pleased to know that there are honest people in our town. You are a good person.
BEEF To the people who let their dogs poop everywhere and don’t bother to clean it up.
BOUQUET Great customer attention from Tina and Keegan in the NightOwls office. All my many questions were answered with kindness, consideration and the greatest of help. Much appreciated and you are excellent at your job.
BEEF To people parking right beside our driveway on the road, because you don’t want to pay, and then you throw your lunch and coffee garbage over the fence into our lawn. We have to park our car there. It is not right to move our garbage bins so you can try to squeeze in there.
BOUQUET To the older-than-me gentleman who offered to clean my vehicle windows at the Mid Island Co-op gas station on Mary Ellen Drive. That was so kind of you. You really made my day. Thank you.
BEEF To the driver in the pickup truck who tossed an alcohol can onto Hammond Bay Road. We got your licence number and the can and reported it to bylaw. So, the registered owner can expect to receive a $100 fine for violating the bylaw’s anti-littering section.
BOUQUET To Industrial Plastics. I had to get a new insert cut for my new air conditioner as the ‘snorkel’ piece didn’t fit the same as the older model. Your customer service is excellent. Thank you.
BEEF To the mom in the dollar store lineup who told her toddler more than once that she was “being a jerk” in an angry voice. The child was only touching a few things on the shelf, she was not being disruptive.
BOUQUET To the woman reaching out for help and coming forward with your harmful experience. Having both worked and needed similar services, I see you. I believe you. You deserve better. Many non-profits are shining bastions of benevolence once cameras are flashing and coffers wide open for grants and donations. Unfortunately, lip services is often their only specialty in practice. Blessings to you.
BEEF ‘It is a long road that has no turning,’ which describes Metral Drive. I maybe see five individuals walking there, one pushing a stroller, and a cyclist.
BOUQUET To all of the homeowners who pressure-wash their black mouldy sidewalks and driveways. Just don’t do it when some grumpy guy is sleeping.
BEEF To all the litterbugs in Nanaimo dropping garbage everywhere. Parks, streets, front lawns and sidewalks littered with fast food containers, masks, bags of pet waste, clothes and other items. Disgusting behaviour. Bouquets to me and everyone else picking up the rubbish. I have a friend near the aquatic centre who has filled her garbage bin to the brim with garbage dropped in her block alone.
BOUQUET To People for a Healthy Community’s Emily C.-A. and her sparkling future beyond Gabriola Island. I feel profoundly grateful for all the light she has graciously offered in her dedicated service, especially to our most vulnerable community members, including me. Her inclusivity, effectiveness, courage, intelligence, clarity and exceptionally high moral compass is truly luminary. Thank you.
BEEF To our well-intentioned city leaders. Unless you ride your bikes during the cold and rainy or snowy winter, please don’t force your improvements on a city that was built around the motor vehicle long before you got here. How about a better transit system instead? How about an expanded HandyDart system for vulnerable seniors?
BOUQUET To all the busy staff and doctors at Medical Arts Centre clinic.
BEEF To the enablers of the legalized drug movement. How about building a fully staffed 24/7 rehab centre made available for no charge to those who desire help? That is true compassionate help, not kicking the can down the road while you puff your chests out saying you did all that you can.
BOUQUET To Erin B. the most amazing chiropractor, who has an amazing ability, skill and tremendous expertise to always address my health issues. You are amazing.
BEEF To the beefer who complained cars weren’t yielding to them pulling out of the parking stall. I suggest you read the driver’s handbook again. You don’t have the right of way and must yield to cars in the driving lane. Simply put if there’s a car driving in the lane you must stop and let them go by before proceeding.
BOUQUET To Vanessa of Turley’s Florist who goes out of her way to make her customers feel so appreciated and cared for. Her attention to detail is beyond amazing and her creativeness so appreciated. Thanks for the rosemary touch to repel the deer.
BEEF To the moth spraying. It’s now woken me up at 5:30 am two times. Rude. Why can’t this start at 8 a.m.? Grr.
BOUQUET To Dwayne Orser Counselling Service. I’ve been to a few therapists, but Dwayne is the kindest and most compassionate I’ve met. He helped me figure out the changes I wanted to make and I’ve been sleeping easier ever since. Thank you.
BEEF Though Nanaimo has a lovely bike trail system, as it ages, many roots crack the asphalt, season by season, getting worse and worse. Some of the larger cracked asphalt bumps have been marked with pink paint by riders themselves. Others are dangerously blind, if you are travelling at any speed. I would like to know if the city plans to do anything about this growing problem.
To submit a beef or a bouquet to the Nanaimo News Bulletin, e-mail editor@nanaimobulletin.com.
