BOUQUET To Jim’s Mowing franchisees. I have used several of them and they are great and have terrific standards.
BEEF To residents who over-fill their garbage, compost or recycling bins. Your neighbours all seem to be able to limit their waste to the constraints of the bins, why can’t you?
BOUQUET of home runs to Caged Athletics and everyone involved with the 2025 Nanaimo Challenger Baseball League.
BEEF To the manager at the dollar store. Your customer service skills are awful, and you treat staff like trash. Shame on you for harassing staff to get them to work faster. Sometimes doing the work right is better than getting it done quickly, and when you create a toxic work environment for staff, customers notice. No wonder employees look so stressed all the time.
BOUQUET To M and G. For actually chatting with me and getting to know me, since most don’t even bother. You made me feel special and happy, thank you.
BEEF To the lady in the anti-bullying shirt in the hospital emergency room. You bullied, then ignored the kind lady who asked if you had your X-ray whilst trying to work out when their turns could be. Many of them were waiting for diagnosis, politely, coldish, at midnight. Others left, one after X-ray, having been in an ambulance on the ferry.
BOUQUET To my boyfriend. You do so many selfless things to make my life easier, listen to my loopings, cook for me, make me laugh, accept me as I am, keep me focused, encourage me, and make our relationship special and unique in a million little ways. I can’t believe how lucky I am to spend each day with you. Definitely a gooder.
BEEF To Nanaimo drivers who don’t know what a speed limit or a stop light are. People speed through school zones then go 60 in an 80 zone down the highway on a clear, dry day. And I guess a red light is just a suggestion for the entitled.
BOUQUET To partner Troy. Thank you for showing me what true, unconditional love is. Patience, kindness and comfort. I love you.
BEEF There is no need to put giant blocks of concrete and reflective cones in the middle of roads and there is also no need to make bike lanes if they’re only going to go for about 50 feet and make the road barely big enough for a bus.
BOUQUET Many thanks to Lorne, the fabulous volunteer gardener at Dufferin Place. You have made the landscape a magical place with all the beautiful flowers and lawn ornaments. It is such a pleasure to see the wonderful gardens you have created. God bless you for all your hard work.
BEEF To those who have nothing else to do with their time but to complain about what others are doing in the world with their tattletaling and then wishing to remain anonymous.
BOUQUET To Andrew at Permanent Records. Very nice professional young man. Took two records from the ‘60s to him and now have two CDs of childhood Christmas concerts. Very much appreciated.
BEEF To the yard care company that provided a quote for a 93-year-old client, and then showed up to do the work and changed the price to double the price on the quote, saying that there is a two-hour minimum. This was not stated on the quote anywhere and was not stated verbally while looking at the job to be done. What a dirty business practice.
BOUQUET To Bear at NRGH day surgery. Having a lovely person with a great sense of humour and a fun sense of fashion help get you ready for a nerve-wracking surgery is incredibly helpful. Thank you for making me smile despite my nervousness.
BEEF To the man who drove up to me on Bowen Road. You motioned me to roll down my window, yelled at me to watch my speed (60 kilometres per hour in a 50km/h zone) but then proceeded to race away. I sped up to 70km/h and you pulled away quite quickly. You must have been doing nearly 80km/h. What the heck man.
BOUQUET To the Bear Essentials program which funded my daughter’s plagiocephaly corrective helmet, it was very costly. Also thanks to James at Ability Orthotics for supporting us as well.
BEEF To the City of Nanaimo allowing a religious organization to take over Maffeo Sutton Park for a church service and membership drive under a misleading banner.
BOUQUET To Country Club Centre for having the best family bathroom in the entire region. It has so many thoughtful little additions, like a step stool for toddlers, that make it a truly convenient resource for families.
BEEF To the head pharmacist. We have had bad service from you, heard you berate staff, dish out angry, rude and inappropriate service to customers. We know many people who have moved their pharmacy services elsewhere solely because of you. You are harming more people than you are helping and you obviously do not understand customer service.
BOUQUET To Nigel, the love of my life, for taking care of me after the sudden death of my father. You are so supportive, loving, kind-hearted and thoughtful. Words cannot do you justice. (Plus my dad loved you.)
BEEF To the grocery store customer who wanted the clerk to have a trolley race. This playful suggestion put the clerk in a very awkward situation which could jeopardize their job. Next time, if you want to connect, just smile and say hello.
BOUQUET To Elaine and Doug, for being the best neighbours you could ask for. Thank you for being there for my mom when I can’t be. Big hugs to you.
BEEF To the incredibly rude lady on the 72 Downtown bus who was indignant because the driver waited for her to be seated before he started driving. And bouquet to the driver for maintaining his calm and being so polite.
BOUQUET While out enjoying a sunny ride on my Sea-Doo, the unexpected happened: she capsized. Waves slapped, adrenaline rushed, and just as panic crept in, he appeared: A.K Aquaman (that’s what I call him now). Strong, calm, and soaked to the soul, he dove in like Poseidon’s wingman and got me back to safety with grace, power, and a splash of mystery. I owe a huge thank-you to A.K. for turning a potential disaster into a beachy bonding story I’ll never forget.
BEEF To some citizens who voiced concerns about the Nanaimo sign in Maffeo Sutton Park. Having the ‘O’ in the sign a rainbow colour is much more fun for taking photos to commemorate a stay in Nanaimo. It shows our little city is a positive, friendly place. A white ‘O’? How boring.
BOUQUET To the fellows at the Great Canadian Oil Change at Country Club Centre. This senior lady has been taking my senior Nissan Altima there for years. Wonderful, friendly service and a thorough checkup every time. I highly recommend them to all.
BEEF To the city for not keeping up the gardening and weed control throughout the city. The dividers along the highway look terrible with tall weeds growing from most of them. The downtown waterfront walkway was beautiful, but the beautiful wild roses that were planted down there many many years ago are not being kept up and are suffocating in weeds.
BOUQUET To the Donnie and Dhali for doing a great podcast on YouTube.
BEEF To whoever is maintaining the washrooms at the Nanoose Flats. I have stopped twice and they are dirty and full of flies. What do our tourists think? Perhaps they could install composting toilets and have someone clean them daily in the tourist season.
BOUQUET Thank goodness we see major changes in the infrastructure of our city. Much appreciation to City of Nanaimo planning and engineering service and road works staff for the new Midtown Gateway project. I use the roundabout several times a week and it is beautiful and efficient. Fantastic.
BEEF To the person or persons pretending to be with the SPCA so they can collect SPCA donation boxes from local merchants. They even provide fake replacement boxes. One store reported the culprit was an older lady driving a blue car.
BOUQUET Just discovered White Spot Triple O’s location at Country Club Centre. Excellent service, great food and had our first ever blueberry milkshake (with B.C.-grown blueberries) – highly recommended.
BEEF To a local dealership. I took my SUV in to have my passenger window fixed, it would not go up or down. I was given a $593 quote to repair the master switch controller. Then a friend of mine noticed that I had inadvertently pressed the window lock button. Makes you want to ‘wah!’
BOUQUET To our very gifted sports participants at VIU and all schools in the Nanaimo regions who year after year bring home the medals in all competitions making us all proud. And even bringing home the Olympic gold in the hammer throw. I for one am proud, thank you Ethan.
BEEF Huge concern for those renting the new e-scooters while travelling on busy roads to distant drop-off locations around Nanaimo. Wonderful program but many seem unaware of the rules of the road at roundabouts, four-way stops, etc.
BOUQUET To the Nanaimo bylaw enforcement workers and motorists (especially the driver of the black Jeep) who worked together to protect the dog running loose on the highway. Thanks to your co-operation, this frightened but speedy canine was able to be safely returned to her owners. Kudos to you all for taking the time to help an animal in danger.
BEEF To the RCMP for what seems to be a very weak response to speed and noise on our streets. I don’t think I’ve seen anyone pulled over for speeding in years, and I drive every day. As for noisy engines and motorcycles, there is no attempt at control whatsoever.
BOUQUET To local breakfast/lunch restaurant Tania’s. As a tea drinker, it is a pleasure to be served with an actual teapot and small pitcher of milk. How Canadian, and much appreciated.
BEEF To the couple with the blue umbrella at Westwood Lake on Canada Day long weekend chain smoking cigarettes and vaping. There were people including children everywhere and you had no shame.
To submit a beef or a bouquet to the Nanaimo News Bulletin, e-mail editor@nanaimobulletin.com.
