Nanaimo - Community Overview

The Coast Salish First Nation was the region's first inhabitants. The word Nanaimo is derived from the Salish word “Sney-Ny-Mais” meaning “meeting place”. The Spanish explorers, Galiano and Valdes, arrived in the area during the 1790s.

The Hudson’s Bay Company established a trading post in 1849, but the discovery of coal in 1852 led to permanent settlement. In 1862, the Vancouver Coal Mining and Land Co. bought out the HBC Mines and expanded operations. Completion of the Esquimalt to Nanaimo Railway in 1886 spurred development. The city grew with its increasing coal output. Production from the 3 main seams in the area reached its peak in 1923 when over 1 million tonnes were mined. Once the easily accessible coal was mined, it became increasingly dangerous and expensive to extract the fuel and by the early 1950s the city turned to forest products to support the economy.

Nanaimo was incorporated in 1874 when it had a population of only 1,500.

Today, with its beautiful natural setting, mild climate and numerous beaches, parks and nearby camping sites, Nanaimo is an important tourist centre. Rich agricultural land and abundant timber resources surround Nanaimo. Its excellent deep harbour, the only all purpose port city on Vancouver Island, has made it an important distribution and regional centre. It is also the axis of several transportation routes: the Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway; the Trans-Canada and Island highways; and ferry services to and from the mainland.

Nanaimo is the birthplace of the Nanaimo Bar, an amazing dessert made with chocolate, graham wafers and vanilla cream.

The City of Nanaimo is situated on Vancouver Island. Nanaimo is located on the Trans Canada Highway, approximately 112 km north of Victoria and 60 km northwest of Vancouver, across the Strait of Georgia. The Regional District of Nanaimo includes the Greater Nanaimo area, plus the towns of Parksville and Qualicum.

The population of the Greater Nanaimo area numbers approximately 80,949.

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