Good morning Nanaimo! Crews made significant progress last night and although we expect today to be clear and cool, please be aware of potentially slippery conditions as the temperature remains below zero.
On the Roads
13 City trucks, two contractor trucks and one backhoe were out overnight clearing priority 2 and 3 routes. Many intersections were cleared and widened. Today crews are in clean up mode and on ice patrol.
Drivers, be prepared for winter road conditions:
- slow down,
- give other vehicles lots of room,
- have patience for other drivers,
- make sure you vehicle is winter ready with winter-rated tires
- clear the outside of your vehicle of snow and ice, and
- pay extra attention for pedestrians and cyclists.
If you are walking and cycling, please make sure vehicles can see you by wearing high visibility clothing and, if possible, a light. Pedestrians, please make sure vehicles have come to a complete stop before you cross the street.
Please make sure to give City plows plenty of room to work as they may make wide right turns or other unexpected movements to clear snow and spread salt.
Find more information on the City's response to Snow and Ice.
Garbage and Recycling
Collection will resume today as scheduled. However, if some areas still unsafe or inaccessible the City may not be able to collect. If carts are not collected by 9 pm tonight, please remove from the curbside to allow for plows.
For residents with missed collections, the City will accommodate for extra recycling and garbage collection. Residents with missed recycling collection will be able to put extra recycling out on their next scheduled recycling collection day. Similarly, for missed garbage collection, residents will be able to put extra garbage out on their next scheduled garbage collection day.
Recyclables: When putting out extra recyclables on your next recycling day, please place them in an easy-to-empty reusable container or tote if possible, and place this 1 metre behind or beside your blue cart when you take it to the curbside for pickup. If a reusable container or tote is not available, a cardboard box may be used. The volume of extra recyclables put out must not exceed the capacity of the blue cart and the size of the container used must not be greater in width than the blue cart.
Garbage: When putting out extra garbage on your next garbage pickup day, please place your bag (up to two) 1 metre to the side or behind the black cart (not in front) and ensure that they are tied. An extra garbage bag cannot exceed 60 litres in capacity and must not weigh more than 25 lbs.
Residents who did not receive collection service and have limited storage capacity will be provided with a one-time free drop-off ticket for the Regional District of Nanaimo Landfill. Please send an email request to
Public.WorksInfo@nanaimo.ca and include the following details:
Subject line: Free Drop-off Request
Email Body: Full Name
Home Address
Licence Plate of the vehicle making the drop-off at the landfill
The City continues to monitor road conditions and will be updating the City’s website and the Nanaimo Recycles app (available on Google Play and the Apple App Store).
Stay up to date with Garbage and Recycling collection.
Parks and Recreation
All Parks, Recreation and Culture facilities are open and programs are running.
Please use caution in Nanaimo's parks. Trails, boardwalks, bridges, stairs and playground equipment can become slippery and hazardous when there is snow and ice.
If cancelations or closures do occur, you can check before you come. Stay up to date with Parks, Recreation and Culture.
Around Your Home/Business
Thank you to residents and businesses who have cleared sidewalks in front of their properties.
Please do your best to remove snow and ice from sidewalks in front of your property within 24 hours, so that pedestrians have a safe place to walk and can stay clear of oncoming traffic. Please do not shovel snow onto the road. If you know of someone who may need a helping hand, please reach out to them.
To help avoid flooding, please clear ice, snow, leaves and debris from catch basins and storm drains in front of your property.
The City will clear sidewalks around parks, bridges, commuter trails and major City facilities as quickly as staff can get to them.