Nanaimo - Friend or Foe?

They call her the Harbour City.

This is very true as the developing port of the city sits on the waters edge. The city is beginning a boom of development and enterprise and businesses are getting in on the edge of the current markets.

It would seem this edge is bleeding into the surrounding islands near by for there is an item on the news today that is more then intriguing!

The Story:
A young girl in one of the neighboring islands had a lemonade stand put up on the sidewalk to raise money to go and see an IMAX movie in Victoria. Alledgedly a complaint was filed against the girl and the city of Nananimo issued a ticket to the girl (via an commissionaire). In an response to this outrage, the IMAX theatre in Victoria offered the family free tickets for the show, and a hotel in Victoria got involved and offered the family free accommodation during their stay in response to this heinous act by City of Nanaimo.

I couldn't help but chuckle in hearing the remarks by the radio DJ's in the car in my morning commute. That said, there is indeed always two sides to every story. Read on...


The Truth:
As a result of all the bad press, bad mouthing, and just plain bad media towards City of Nanaimo for committing such an injustice to a little girl running her stand, less then 10 years old... the city has spoken out in defense! City of Nanaimo expresses that in no way were they trying to ruin her efforts. What "actually" transpired was a far cry from the media swarm. The girl had set up a lemonade stand on the sidewalk (municipal side) which was obstructing anyone walking by (or anyone on a wheelchair or mobile assistance device for that matter). Someone contacted the city as she was obstructing the sidewalk. A commissionaire went to the house and found no girl was even there, nor was there lemonade (at that time). Just a small stand so a note was left on the front door -- NOT A TICKET.

At some point, this was referred to the media, and everyone jumped on board.

My Conclusion: Nanaimo is a pretty good place! One where a boom is coming, and the real estate market is not only good - but very tempting. Certainly not a place where heinous acts of removing makeshift lemonade stands and appropriating all forms of lemonade from said stand, whilst ticketing a young girl for more then her allowance could cover, take place! The media on the other hand, at embellished times, can leave much to be desired.

And now you may go back to whatever it was you were doing before reading... =)