No mask mandates in the works

Nov. 16, 2022

B.C. health officials are not looking at reintroducing mask mandates at this time, says a statement from the ministry. While there are three notable respiratory viruses circulating in the province, the Ministry of Health continues to stress the importance of staying home while sick. It recommends mask-wearing only for situations in which it is essential to be in close contact with others while symptomatic. MORE

Now here comes the bill. Our new city council is busy preparing the 2023-2027 Draft Financial Plan. You’re not left out, you have a number of opportunities to review, ask questions and provide input leading up to an eTown Hall on Dec. 5. Council will begin reviewing draft budgets and project plans during four special Finance and Audit Committee meetings on Nov. 23, 24, 30 and Dec. 1. All meetings are open to the public at the Shaw Auditorium. The eTown Hall will start at 7 pm during the Council Meeting for one hour and you can participate in that as well.

If you’re headed to Victoria on Thursday, be prepared for delays as geotechnical work is under way in the Goldstream Park area. The delays will be in effect from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Friday morning. Single-lane alternating traffic will be in place with delays up to 20 minutes. For up-to-date road closure information, drivers are encouraged to follow @DriveBC on Twitter or check: www.DriveBC.ca.

The Great Nanaimo Toy Drive kicks off at 3:30 this afternoon at Woodgrove Centre. will be joined by the big guy in red to launch this year’s campaign, which collects new, unwrapped toys for families in need. It starts a month-long effort to collect as many toys and gifts for kids of all ages who might not see gifts under the tree this Chrismas season. Everything will be sorted and distributed by volunteers in mid-December. A list of age-appropriate gift ideas is available on the toy drive’s website. You can drop off gifts at tons of  locations across Nanaimo, including Save-on-Foods stores, Country Club Centre, Nanaimo Museum and Woodgrove Centre. MORE

Hats off to the Garrett Paquette Foundation for it’s tenth annual Seafood Extravaganza last weekend that helped raise almost $130,000 for 10 local community groups. Nanaimo Community Hospice was one of the recipients, getting more than $10,000. “This makes a huge difference for us, as many people may know we are only about 25 per cent funded, so the rest of it is for us to get donations … this is huge for our operation, increasing our services,” Executive Director Paige Karczynski told NanaimoNewsNOW. MORE

Travellers on BC Ferries can now buy alcoholic drinks from the Coastal Café. Before you begin celebrating, that’s only for those riding between Victoria and Vancouver. Sales on sailings between Swartz Bay and Tsawwassen began on Nov. 9. Passengers can buy up to two drinks, with a meal, from the Coastal Café. The menu has beer, cider and wine. MORE

If Surrey’s new mayor and council thought the policing issue would just fade away after the municipal election, they may have to think again. City council voted Monday to halt the transition to its municipal force and stay with the RCMP. Not so fast, says Chief Const. Norm Lipinski. Mayor Brenda Locke doesn’t have the authority to direct the police department to do any particular thing, he said. The SPS reports to the Surrey Police Board, which reports to the provincial government. Stay tuned. MORE

Did your neighbor contribute to a political party? The Elections BC quarterly report shows the BC NDP picked up almost $1 million in donations from July to September. Their total was nearly triple the BC. Liberals’ and about five times as much at the BC. Green Party. Click on the party name to see who donated and how much.
BC NDP                     $988,265
BC Liberals                 $355,853
BC Green Party           $184,899
BC Conservative            $16,585

A salute from John Cowan to the Nanaimo Clippers. A long-time Clippers fan with season tickets for many years died recently. Three clippers came to the house and gave the widow a card signed by all of the team. John says it all points to the new ownership with new attitude.