Nanaimo

Nanaimo sits on the east coast of Vancouver Island and spreads along a bay framed by forested hills. Downtown runs between the harbor and higher residential areas, while several small islands appear offshore.

European traders arrived in the mid-1800s for coal deposits and founded a permanent settlement. Mining shaped the town's growth for over a century, until the last mine closed in the 1960s.

The name comes from the Snuneymuxw language and means

The airport sits roughly 20 minutes south of downtown, while ferry services depart regularly from the harbor terminal. Many attractions and shops cluster along Commercial Street and the waterfront promenade, which are easy to explore on foot.

Each July a race takes place where participants cross the strait between here and Vancouver in modified bathtubs. The tradition started in 1967 as a joke and has since drawn thousands of spectators to the shores.

Location: Regional District of Nanaimo

Inception: 1874

Elevation above the sea: 28 m

Shares border with: Lantzville

Website: https://nanaimo.ca

GPS coordinates: 49.16417,-123.93639

Latest update: December 14, 2025 21:38