BOUQUET I want to thank the kind people who attended to me after my fall on Rosehill. I have a badly bruised shoulder.
BEEF To Neil Young. What gives you the right to tell me how to think? I’m a performing musician who likes some of your tunes, but with your attitude and selling out to ‘the man,’ I will remove your songs from my repertoire.
BOUQUET To all the truckers who went to Ottawa. Thank you for standing for our freedom.
BEEF It is about time the government bring in the military to remove these protesters at Ottawa. They need to get vaccinated and go back to work like the majority of the truckers have done. The people who are breaking the law, throw them in jail and charge them.
BOUQUET Thank you to the upstanding citizen who rescued my Costco MasterCard from the parking garage meter on Dufferin Crescent. I realized on my very next purchase that I didn’t have it, and was searching frantically everywhere in my car. The wonderful person must have gone straight from the parking garage to hand it in because I got a call from Costco that they had my card. Wow there are still people who genuinely care for their fellow man.
BEEF To the grocery store that no longer puts out a flyer. There is an online flyer, but there are times when the advertised item is out of stock. So they lure shoppers into their store with promises of savings and then make the item unavailable. I was told that they don’t give rain checks because ‘we don’t have a flyer.’ It’s not worth going there any more.
BOUQUET Huge shoutout to June at the Country Club Starbucks. She is absolutely amazing and her outstanding customer service and suggesting her favourite coffee made my day. The world needs more people like her.
BEEF To ‘professional’ drivers for refusing to do the posted 30 kilometres per hour through the construction zone on Metral. They ignore all submitted complaints. What puts any driver, especially a professional, above the law? How many more speed limit signs need to be on this road?
BOUQUET To Carson at Walmart. Boy were you ever polite and considerate. Makes me want to shop there more.
BEEF To the doctor at the clinic. My mom and I waited two hours to be seen; get it together. There were many others in the waiting room, all of them waiting on you. Maintain your schedule better and follow your booked appointments, this is quite embarrassing for you.
BOUQUET To Lily the longtime receptionist at RLR law firm. She is always so friendly and helpful each time I call. I’ve used their firm for a number of things throughout the years and she is always a smiling face I look forward to seeing.
BEEF To the resident with two big hairy dogs in north Nanaimo who gets their dogs groomed by a mobile groomer who leaves all their dogs’ hair on the road. It’s disgusting. Clean up your mess.
BOUQUET To the lady who walks her beautiful golden retriever on Ross Road. I love how you let it stop and sniff as often and for as long as it likes. So many people yank on their furry friends’ leashes. Thank you for understanding dogs and being a kind, patient dog owner. Lucky doggo.
BEEF To people who post beefs about their frustrations with city issues, maybe try sending those beefs along to mayor and council, it would do a lot more good in getting some issues resolved.
BOUQUET To Owen at Country Club Save-On-Foods. We love you.
BEEF To the dog owners who are good enough to walk their pets and bring a bag for the poop, yet not good enough to take that bagged poop home. Do you think these are colourful treasures for someone else to find? When you own a dog, you are responsible for everything, from one end to the other.
BOUQUET My husband had a biking accident in Linley Valley. He was massively concussed along with broken ribs and a punctured lung. Hikers noticed him sitting by the side of the trail and after checking on him, called an ambulance. They then took his bike and brought it home to our house. They went way above and beyond in kindness and caring and I would love to be able to say thank you. He is recovering nicely.
BEEF To Mother Nature for coming out every winter telling me that I have to wear layers of warm clothing to protect myself from the coldness circulating in our community. How dare you infringe upon my charter right to go outside without a coat on and freeze to death.
BOUQUET Huge thanks to the girl who found my wallet with cash and credit cards in it and was kind enough to leave a note at my house then promptly arranged for returning it to me. Big thank you to you and your parents. You guys rock.
BEEF Why is the City of Nanaimo, after declaring a climate emergency, still allowing backyard burning?
BOUQUET To ‘Ms. Flower’ at the Harewood Quality Foods. You were so incredibly sweet and built me a beautiful flower bouquet for my anniversary on a budget. If anyone needs a lovely bouquet for cheap, and some excellent service, go see her.
BEEF To drivers who think it’s necessary to leave four or five car lengths between them and the next vehicle while creeping up to a traffic light, thus not allowing cars to enter the right-hand turn lane. You aren’t a semi-trailer and you don’t need a rolling start. Try some consideration for fellow motorists. Don’t be surprised or angry when a frustrated driver pulls into the space in front of you.
BOUQUET To Chris, a manager at London Drugs at Nanaimo North Town Centre. Chris went above and beyond his job description when he helped me hook up my car stereo to Bluetooth. Made my day. Thank you.
BEEF To my neighbour in the Old City Quarter with a ‘we stand with truckers’ sign. People do have rights but if those people promote hate, etc., you might reflect on what you stand for. Scary.
BOUQUET To people with a positive attitude. I’ve read both beefs and bouquets over the years over people leaving their Christmas lights up well into the new year. Same situation, different attitude. Be positive. It might even help you live longer.
BEEF To NRGH. I was in the emergency waiting room and there was a lady sitting out with everyone else coughing up a storm. An elderly man finally went to a nurse and asked why she wasn’t isolated and the nurse replied that people should distance themselves if they are concerned. I understand people are unwell, but if they exhibiting any COVID symptoms they should immediately be isolated.
BOUQUET My deepest and sincerest thanks to the Walmart customer, a nurse, who performed CPR on me and saved my life. Also many thanks to Frank and Megan who work at Walmart, the paramedics and hospital angels, all who cared for me. I am now happily back at work.
BEEF Regarding misuse of disability placards. I have seen too frequently many seemingly spry people park in disability spaces and walk into the business with the fluidity of athletes climbing the podium. I realize not all reasons for a pass are visible, but come on, this just smacks of abuse of the system.
BOUQUET Gratitude and respect to all doctors and nurses in the emergency room and third floor at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital. I recently required significant medical care due to an ATV accident, and was treated with unbelievable compassion and kindness. Without all of you true heroes, my outcome could have been much different. The level of professionalism and care that you provide is appreciated more than words can say.
BEEF To the people who let their dogs rip around off leash in the field at Park Avenue and Alpen Way. It’s private property and gets all of the dogs in the neighbourhood going. Unless you have permission to be there, please find somewhere else.
BOUQUET To the gentleman who brought me the $20 that I left on the counter at Save-On-Foods at Wembley Mall.
BEEF To electric bike riders who want to ride their bikes like they drive a car and yet not follow the rules of the road. This finger is pointing at the person in the yellow coat at Fifth Street and Harewood Road. That red octagon is for you too.
BOUQUET To all the fantastic nurses in the ER, surgical short stay, Mike in the urology suite and PAR. Thanks also to Dr. Newcolme, Dr. Trachter, Dr. Palmer and Dr. Morrison. I’d also like to thank Norma in CT too. We have fantastic medical care and everyone works hard to keep us as comfortable as possible despite an overflowing hospital. From a grateful retired colleague.
BEEF To the politicians for turning Nanaimo into an international punchline. The naked man in the car trunk is just the latest city humiliation that has gone viral.
BOUQUET To my out-of-province associate who summed it up perfectly: downtown Nanaimo is a fence-rental lot.
BEEF To the city in covering up the 40 km/h signs at Departure Bay beach but leaving the school zone 30 km/h signs visible close by at Cilaire, a school that has been closed since last June.
BOUQUET To our new federal Conservative leader. Loved her in Murphy Brown.
BEEF To the development insanity that’s turning a city of leafy single-family homes into a sprawl of ugly boxes with apartments the size of jail cells.
BOUQUET To all the people who believe Omicron is the last variant. Long live the power of positive thinking.
BEEF To the city for besmirching the name of a superlative jazz artist through the association with a concrete pad for people experiencing homelessness.
BOUQUET With the mask I look so youthful. It covers all my wrinkles. I like it.
BEEF To see this convoy flying the Canadian flag and saying that they represent Canadians is very upsetting. It was only two years ago we were banging pots and pans in support of all of our front-line workers. I do not want to imagine what it felt like for these medical professionals driving to work and seeing their flag being used in aggression toward all that they have worked toward these past years. This convoy is not my voice, it is not a representation of many Canadians’ voices. The flag is not theirs to fly on behalf of Canadians.
BOUQUET To the ladies at Wallace Street Medical Clinic for dealing with long wait times. The doctors and patients owe you big thanks for being very kind and assisting.
BEEF To this forum for editing my beef regarding the furniture and mattress store that charged a senior on fixed income $182 for two wrong deliveries plus a mattress cover. Guess big advertising dollars are more important than me expressing my view.
BOUQUET To the young man John at Mr. Lube for not changing my car’s oil when it didn’t really need it yet. Thank you for your honesty; it’s quite refreshing.
BEEF To the health ministry for putting COVID-19 patients in the same hospital room as patients who are not positive for the virus. Doesn’t this fly in the face of all they’ve been telling us for two years?
BOUQUET To the Pie Factory in Nanoose. Best pies and tarts and the pastry is beautiful.
BEEF Our next virus will come like ‘amen’ in a church – not if, but when. Let me guess, smallpox, leprosy? When that happens, so help us God.
BOUQUET To Kelly’s Kitchen Café. Thank you to all you ladies and the cook. The food is amazing, the service absolutely the best and everyone is always smiling and so pleasant. They do a great job and that’s why we love it there.
BEEF To the grocery store that does not understand Canadian flag protocol. The Canadian flag can only be at half-mast for very specific reasons. Put the flag back to full mast.
BOUQUET To businesses that kept their restrooms open during the pandemic.
BEEF With all these truckers protesting, who is delivering the produce to the stores?
BOUQUET Thanks to the recycling depot this winter for opening up a few minutes early because it was either pouring rain or -7 C with wind chill. That’s the spirit.
To submit a beef or a bouquet to the News Bulletin, e-mail editor@nanaimobulletin.com.