Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog announced the creation of a new Mayor's Task Force focusing on the economic and community recovery of Nanaimo. (City of Nanaimo)

By Alex Rawnsley

COVID COURSE

New task force designed to chart path forward for Nanaimo’s COVID-19 recovery

May 5, 2020 | 1:29 PM

NANAIMO — The City is looking within its own business and community ranks to chart a path forward from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mayor Leonard Krog announced a new task force mandated to provide recommendations to council on recovery of economic and community-driven priorities.

Led by Krog, the seven-person task force is comprised of business leaders, non-profit representatives, VIU and Snuneymuxw First Nation.

During a press conference on Wednesday, May 5, Krog said the time is now to chart the path forward as the province looks to remove some restrictions in the coming weeks.

“We have seen how the crisis has played out, the impact it’s had on our community. It’s time to move forward, to start to move towards recovery and create the kind of community that is going to look different than we had three months ago.”

provincial legislation

'Being pushed down this path:' Nanaimo council re-zoning thousands of properties for higher density

1h ago

notable change

Federal government grants B.C. request to ban public drug use

3h ago

whale watching

Orca pod spotted in vicinity of orphan B.C. killer whale, but no evidence of family

4h ago

NanaimoNewsNOW asked about specific priorities for the task force.

Krog said none have been identified at the time of his announcement, but the challenge will be helping those hurt by the pandemic while encouraging those who have thrived.

“Some sectors of our local economy are doing reasonably well, some businesses have adapted already but it’s not just around the economics of it. It is around the health of the community.”

A report is expected to be presented to council in the fall with recommendations on the next steps.

alex.rawnsley@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alexrawnsley