City of Nanaimo's Response to COVID-19

• Closure of recreation facilities.
• Closure of park amenities - sport courts, bike tracks, playgrounds, skate parks
• Closure of gated off-leash dog parks
• Cancel in-person recreation programming
• Transition to online/social media programming and community engagement for recreation and culture programs/opportunities
• Install guideline signage to ensure physical distancing in parks and on trails

• Closure of City Hall, Public Works building and Service and Resource Centre
• Provide City services online, by phone or by email
• Institute work from home practices
• Institute virtual/physical distancing meetings for Council, committees and staff
• Continue to provide essential services such as garbage and recycling collection, drinking water distribution and sewer operations 
• Provide guidelines on safe recycling and disposal of waste

• Activate the Emergency Coordination Centre (ECC)

Actions taken in Step 1:

• March 9, 2020: Update on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
• March 12, 2020: Statement from the City Regarding the Global Impact of COVID-19
• March 13, 2020: Update on City's Response to Global Impacts of Coronavirus (COVID-19)
• March 13, 2020: Update 2: City's Response to the Global Impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19)
• March 16, 2020: City recreation facilities to close
• March 17, 2020: Task Force and Committee Meetings Postponed
• March 18, 2020: City open for business, closed to public access
• March 19, 2020: Update from Parks, Recreation and Culture (COVID-19)
• March 20, 2020: Update from Nanaimo Fire Rescue
• March 21, 2020: Statement from the City of Nanaimo Regarding Playgrounds, Now Closed
• March 23, 2020: COVID-19 Update from Parks, Recreation & Culture
• April 2, 2020: Nanaimo Recreation Coordinators promote health & wellness online
• April 2, 2020: City of Nanaimo's operations update while dealing with COVID-19
• April 2, 2020 City of Nanaimo providing COVID-19 response for vulnerable populations
• April 3, 2020: Changes to Council meeting processes due to COVID-19
• April 6, 2020: Clarifying the Role of Bylaw Enforcement During COVID-19
• April 7, 2020: Practice Physical Distancing While in the Parks and on the Trails
• April 9, 2020: City Park Ambassadors to Engage with Public on Physical Distancing
• April 9, 2020: Council approves COVID-19 Financial Response, Relief and Recovery Work Plan
• April 15, 2020: City of Nanaimo supports local economy through capital project investments
• April 17, 2020: City of Nanaimo Park Ambassador Program Expands
• April 21, 2020: Nanaimo Council to Make Prudent Decisions as Finances Impacted by COVID-19
• April 23, 2020: The doors may be closed, but the City is open for business
• April 24, 2020: Additional Physical Distancing Measures Recommended in Parks
• April 30, 2020: Province and City to protect Nanaimo’s vulnerable during COVID-19 crisis
• May 1, 2020: City supports local non-profit food service providers at recreation facilities
• May 1, 2020: City launches online form for submitting agenda-related questions to Council
• May 5, 2020: Mayor's task force will respond to COVID-19's impacts

• Reopen park amenities - sport courts, bike tracks, playgrounds, skate parks
• Reopen gated off-leash dog parks
• Provide limited outdoor recreation programming including modified summer day camps
• Reopen some indoor facilities
• City parks and trails remain open with guideline signage to ensure physical distancing is maintained

• Provide services via phone, email or City website
• Provide safe in-person tax payments via pop-up tax office in Beban Park
• Expand virtual/physical distancing meetings to include public hearings and public consultation 
• Follow WorkSafe guidelines to provide a safe work environment

Actions taken in Step 2:

• May 6, 2020: Statement from Mayor Krog Regarding BC's Restart Plan
• May 12, 2020 press conference to address the 2020 budget
• May 12, 2020 News Release, "Council sets 2020 property tax rate."
• May 13, 2020: City of Nanaimo Reopening Select Outdoor Recreation Facilities
• May 25, 2020: City provides multiple options to pay property taxes
• June 2, 2020: City of Nanaimo Reopening Playgrounds
• June 2, 2020: City Developing Parks, Recreation and Culture Reopening Strategy
• June 17, 2020: Water parks open on Thursday, June 18
• June 17, 2020: City of Nanaimo to reopen Sports Fields and sport courts
• June 26, 2020: City of Nanaimo update on the opening of recreation facilities
• June 26, 2020: City of Nanaimo to reopen lacrosse boxes and Harewood Covered Sports Court
• July 14, 2020: City of Nanaimo releases COVID-19 Recovery Plan
• July 14, 2020: City of Nanaimo is reopening arenas
• July 15, 2020: City of Nanaimo launches Water Safety Education Team
• July 17, 2020: Updated changes to Council meeting processes due to COVID-19
• July 28, 2020: City of Nanaimo is reopening recreation centres and Nanaimo Aquatic Centre

• Reopen recreation facilities with limits on attendance and physical distancing  measures in place
• Expansion of indoor recreation programming where physical distancing can be maintained
• Continue online engagement for recreation and culture programs/opportunities

• Reopen City Hall, Public Works building and Service and Resource Centre with safety plans in place
• Resume pre-COVID front counter services 

Actions taken in Step 3:

• September 1, 2020: City of Nanaimo preparing facilities for return to indoor recreation
• October 5, 2020: Business with the City continues online, by phone and now in-person
• October 6, 2020: City recreation facilities following province-wide COVID-19 safety protocols

• Lift restrictions in place in parks (including park amenities) and on trails
• Return to normal recreation programming and facility operations (including rentals)

• Reinstate in-person Council and committee meetings, public hearings and public consultation
• Continue virtual meetings and online services where proven to be most effective

The Province has created a phone service to provide non-medical info about COVID-19, including the latest information on travel recommendations and social distancing. Information is available in more than 110 languages, 7:30 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. at 1-888-COVID19.

For the elderly living at home, the province has launched a new phone line and website to support you. Please call 2-1-1 and you will be connected with people who can offer support, which will include meal delivery, help with cooking, delivery of groceries and medications, and more. More information is available on the BC 211 website:  http://www.bc211.ca/

The City recognizes during these unprecedented times, many in the community have health and none health related COVID-19 questions and need to know who to contact. To help with this, the City created a  COVID-19 FAQ page to help provide answers to some of the most common questions during this time.

Find resources for businesses and learn about the various provincial and federal programs available to assist during this challenging time on our COVID-19 Business Resources page.

In an effort to support social distancing, and for the health of City employees and residents, the City has moved to doing business online or via conference calls. City online services are available on the City website at www.nanaimo.ca/goto/OnlineServices.

Please take the time to read through this page and our  COVID-19 FAQ page. Should you still have questions, please call our General Line at 250-754-4251, Public Works at 250-758-5222 or Parks, Recreation and Culture at 250-756-5200.

You can also find us online via the City of Nanaimo’s social media accounts:

• City of Nanaimo on Facebook
• City of Nanaimo on Twitter
• City of Nanaimo on Instagram
• City of Nanaimo on Youtube

The City continues to communicate with Health Emergency Management British Columbia (HEMBC) as well as other community partners. Staff are reviewing and updating the City’s comprehensive business continuity plans specific to this evolving situation. As well, the City has a Pandemic Plan and an Emergency Response Plan that would become operational, if required.

On March 11, 2020, City staff took a proactive approach and initiated operational readiness meetings, which evolved to the activation of the Emergency Coordination Centre (ECC) at a Level 1 on March 12, 2020 so that key staff could begin identifying and planning for the various stages of the City’s response to COVID-19. On March 16, 2020, with the order from the Provincial Medical Health Officer that all gatherings of 50 or more people be cancelled, the City moved from a Level 1 ECC to a Level 2.

July 28 City of Nanaimo announces reopening dates for recreation centres and Nanaimo Aquatic Centre

July 14 City of Nanaimo announces reopening dates and plan for arenas

June 29 Harewood Covered Sports Court and Lacrosse boxes reopen

June 26 City provides update on the opening of recreation facilities

June 18 Water Parks open across Nanaimo

June 3 City of Nanaimo playgrounds reopen

June 2 Parks, Recreation & Culture developing a reopening strategy for facilities and programming

May 14 Several outdoor facilities reopen:

• Tennis courts (singles play only unless playing with people from the same household)
• Pickleball courts (singles play only unless playing with people from the same household)
• Gated dog off-leash parks
• Bike park (Steve Smith Park) and pump track at Beban Park  

March 18 the City closed the remainder of its public facilities including the Service and Resource Centre, City Hall and Public Works. Though these facilities are closed to public access, the City is still open for business.

March 16 all recreation facilities were closed due to the Provincial Health Officer's Order to cancel all gatherings of 50 or more people.

City of Nanaimo Fire Rescue will not be issuing any backyard burning permits this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Permits are normally issued to residents with properties greater then one acre and on Protection Island in April to dispose of large amounts of organic waste. Any that have already been issued are rescinded.

Small cooking fires such as camp fires will still be permitted on private property so residents can spend time outdoors. For full regulations on cooking fires, visit the Burning Regulations page.

In response to the COVID-19 public health emergency, Nanaimo Fire Rescue has suspended regular fire inspections of businesses as a measure to help reduce potential the spread of the virus; however, Fire Inspectors will continue to investigate any reported fire hazards.

Nanaimo Fire Rescue would like to remind business and building owners that it is your responsibility to carry out the provisions of the BC Fire Code. This Inspection Checklist has been provided to help you and your staff comply with fire safety regulations for the days and months ahead.

Updated changes to Council meeting processes due to COVID-19

• City of Nanaimo releases COVID-19 Recovery Plan

• City of Nanaimo is reopening arenas

• City of Nanaimo update on the opening of recreation facilities 
• City of Nanaimo to reopen lacrosse boxes and Harewood Covered Sports Court

•  Water parks open on Thursday, June 18
• City of Nanaimo to reopen Sports Fields and sport courts

• City of Nanaimo Reopening Playgrounds

• City Developing Parks, Recreation and Culture Reopening Strategy

City provides multiple options to pay property taxes

City of Nanaimo Reopening Select Outdoor Recreation Facilities

May 12, 2020 press conference to address the 2020 budget

May 12, 2020 News Release, "Council sets 2020 property tax rate."

Statement from Mayor Krog Regarding BC's Restart Plan

Mayor's task force will respond to COVID-19's impacts

May 5, 2020: Facebook Live Press Conference held at 11:30am 

• City supports local non-profit food service providers at recreation facilities
• City launches online form for submitting agenda-related questions to Council

The doors may be closed, but the City is open for business

Additional Physical Distancing Measures Recommended in Parks

My Nanaimo This Week - April 22, 2020

City of Nanaimo supports local economy through capital project investments

• Council approves COVID-19 Financial Response, Relief and Recovery Work Plan

• City Park Ambassadors to Engage with Public on Physical Distancing

• City of Nanaimo providing COVID-19 response for vulnerable populations

• City of Nanaimo's operations update while dealing with COVID-19

• Nanaimo Recreation Coordinators promote health & wellness online

• Update 2: City's Response to the Global Impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) 

• Update on City's Response to Global Impacts of Coronavirus (COVID-19)