BOUQUET To Gallazin Locksmiths for their prompt and excellent service regarding the issues with my main entry door handle.
BEEF To the health-care system. I have had two heart attacks and have been waiting now four years to have even a primary doctor. When I get sick, I can’t be around the countless people in the ER or at the walk-in clinic only to be told to go home and try tomorrow. Someone as ill as I am has to wait over four years to find a doctor to see even if I need to check if my stents are still OK or if I need extra care by a cardiologist.
BOUQUET To Leah at Staples Brooks Landing’s print department. In spite of challenges, you went above and beyond working on my mother’s memorial cards. Thank you so much.
BEEF I am a woman and I would also like to leave a beef for the guy with the camera stuck to his chest making videos of people at garage sales. I agree it is scary to be video-stalked by a stranger. His behaviour is completely inappropriate.
BOUQUET To Eric and the staff at V.I. Drives for helping me push my stalled vehicle off Bowen Road. Thanks fo taking the time out of your work day.
BEEF To the apartment tenant who persists in smoking indoors in bed, endangering her neighbours’ health and safety. Recently 50 people were unhoused due to a mattress fire at another building. Management knows and does nothing.
BOUQUET To the Portsmouth Road resident who put a doll’s kitchen on the street for free, to the little girl trying to drag it to a family in need, and to the Hub City Paving employee who carried it to the destination.
BEEF To the scooters and electric bikes speeding past traffic. They are on the sidewalk, no licence or insurance.
BOUQUET To Marcia, thank you for your gift card to give to a customer in honour of 9/11. While that day delivered shock, sadness, fear and anger, we are also reminded of the bravery and selflessness of people by the efforts they showed in the rescue, recovery and relief efforts. The young lady was surprised by your generosity of the gift card, and as in her own words, it ‘made her day.’
BEEF To the investors, speculators and real estate agents who purchase living accommodations with the sole purpose to flip them at a higher price just to make a profit. Any person who does this should be required to live in that residence for five years.
BOUQUET To the sponsors who helped make our Not Back To School picnic a great event: WildPlay Elements Park, Lantzville Dental, Vancouver Island Regional Library, Romper Room, City of Nanaimo parks and rec, Country Grocer, Real Canadian Superstore, Nanaimo Science, Nanaimo Museum, Exit Nanaimo, Cobs Bread, Nanaimo North Town Centre, Country Club Centre, Ocean’s Edge Orthodontics, ICBC, Mount Benson Literacy Club, 4 Cats.
BEEF During a recent stop at Cathedral Grove, my husband visited the outhouse facility and came back and said it was filthy and disgusting and not for us to use it. It leaves a very bad impression on our park’s maintenance.
BOUQUET I wish to thank my brother Wesley who has been there to help me whenever I have reached out since my husband passed last fall. I am so appreciative of his kindness, it has meant a great deal.
BEEF Instead of complaining about Metral Drive, why not use it to hone your driving skills. Drive between the lines, wait patiently behind buses, stop at stop signs and slow down and stop speeding.
BOUQUET To the man who was berated by his wife for taking the wrong way to get something in the big box store. Beef to the wife. If he treated you that way in public he would be labelled as abusive.
BEEF To the grocery store that charged $9 for one stalk of non-organic celery. This is gouging and my way of reporting it.
BOUQUET To Dr. King and his team for their exemplary dental and emotional care. They are extremely compassionate and know how to support traumatized persons that can be triggered by a dental visit, all while providing the best care possible.
BEEF It doesn’t take long for some people to trash brand-new bus shelters. Tape all over the glass and graffiti that doesn’t make sense or is disgusting. There’s one one person to blame – the culprit.
BOUQUET To Linda, the fire truck crew, and the tow truck driver who all helped me when my Pomeranian Avery was unintentionally locked in my vehicle along with my phone and keys. You all helped and your wonderful attitudes really made a difference. Thank you all so much.
BEEF To the people who complain about the difference in the hourly rate a business charges and the hourly rate they pay their workers. A business has a lot of expenses coming out of that difference before they reach their profit.
BOUQUET Thank you to the city for the upgrades to the downtown roads and sidewalks including the beautiful plantings. It looks great and functions well. Great job to all involved.
BEEF To the employee of the dress shop. I had a pocketful of money to spend but when I came through the door, you looked me up and down with disdain and it was whirlwind shopping – in and out. You were judging and lost a big sale with that one glance.
BOUQUET Congratulations to the four recipients of the King Charles III Coronation Medals. I would like to specifically call out Const. Waltman and the rest of the team involved in the RCMP’s Car 54 program. We have seen the positive results of this program in our own neighbourhood. Recognizing the human and following up with support is a lesson for us all.
BEEF When the powers that be are looking for a name for the corner of the Island Highway and Aulds Road, I suggest bunny run. Early in the morning, I think I’m in the midst of Watership Down.
BOUQUET To Heather at Cedar Valley Memorial for going above and beyond. Heather was very kind to help me with an issue concerning my mother’s ashes. She turned an awkward moment and stressful task for me into a pleasant experience, and I will be forever grateful for her kindness.
BEEF To the person complaining about no direct bus service to downtown from VIU. The 40 and 6 go downtown. The 40 is the fastest. Please read the bus schedule.
BOUQUET To the Liberals for holding their caucus retreat in Nanaimo. Downtown hasn’t been this safe in a decade.
BEEF To the person upset about taking a bus from VIU to downtown. The 40 VIU express bus that goes to and from VIU takes barely any time to go to downtown from VIU. Why would anyone need to take a bus to Cinnabar first? With the 40, takes less than 20 minutes to get to downtown, and back to VIU.
BOUQUET To those who do not let economic and social pressures, let alone petty politics, turn them against their neighbours and fellow human beings. We’re all feeling the crunch, but we should remember that since colonization, Nanaimo, Vancouver Island and B.C. have always been multicultural society. We’re all in this together, and always have been.
BEEF To the kayak manufacturer. Recent travels have made me aware that our wonderful town is now being associated worldwide with your shady customer service. Please do better.
BOUQUET To some amazing people at Bluestone Apartments. Your love, kindness and concern for our Emmitt during his sickness and passing made a profoundly painful time a little gentler, he really loved you all.
BEEF To the City of Nanaimo. A new subdivision with multiple family homes doesn’t factor in the parking spaces required. It should be a cul-de-sac with parking spots, not a straight dead end. Instead city bylaw happily writes up parking tickets every week.
BOUQUET To all of the beefers who call out government waste and stupidity. Call out RCMP traffic unit for being almost nonexistent. Call out the ridiculous safe supply drug policies and the revolving door bail policies that have obviously failed. Call out the politicians who have been in office for many years but want to be kept in power to fix things that they created.
BEEF To the third-wheel politicians who thought that quid pro quo was the best way to go. Come election time, y’all will be eating some crow. I can’t wait.
BOUQUET To the wonderful staff at the Rock City location of LifeLabs. Janelle, Shalan, Doreen and all the rest are friendly, helpful, funny and capable. You are the brilliant spot in my day.
To submit a beef or a bouquet to the Nanaimo News Bulletin, e-mail editor@nanaimobulletin.com.
