Picture this. It’s 6 am on a Saturday morning (the first day of your week-long vacation!) and you’re about to head out to visit some great friends in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. Except, you didn’t make a plan. You don’t have a map and your phone and GPS systems aren’t working.

How do you get there?

You know your starting point – you have a ferry to catch! Once you reach the mainland though, which way do you go? There are signs on the highway labelling the different routes, but none of them point specifically towards your destination.

Chances are, even without a map and GPS, you will eventually get to Moose Jaw. But how many wrong turns did you take, how much time was lost, and how much frustration did you suffer? Having a well-planned travel strategy would make it a much more direct trip.

Now, scale that experience up to planning for a City, and a crucial key to success is having a great map and knowing the different routes. That’s really what a strategic plan is. A roadmap with a predetermined route and destination.

For City Council, their 2019–2022 Strategic Plan outlines four important pillars to help Council guide the City of Nanaimo into the future. These important pillars are Environmental Responsibility, Governance Excellence, Livability, and Economic Health. 10 key focus areas as well as a multitude of action items support these four strategic themes.

Imagine a City that’s age-friendly, has good and affordable housing options for everyone, and is future-minded with a strong Climate Resilience Strategy. Picture an economically strong City that creates a transportation infrastructure geared for cycling, walking, and driving. Now imagine that it’s all governed by a Council that believes in excellence.

These are just some of the great focus points and actions that are guiding our Council and the City’s operations through the City of Nanaimo’s 2019-2022 Strategic Plan. It’s a vision. It’s values. And it lays the foundation for the development and success of work plans and operations across the City. Read the plan here: 2019-2022 Strategic Plan