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Nanaimo, British Columbia

 

 

 

 

 

Nanaimo, British Columbia


 
 


Location and geography


Located on Vancouver Island at , Nanaimo is about 55 km west of VancouverVancouver

Vancouver is a Canadian city in the province of British Columbia....
, separated by the Strait of GeorgiaStrait of Georgia

The Strait of Georgia is a 240 km-long strait between Vancouver Island and the mainland Pacific coast of British Columbia, C...
, but directly linked to Vancouver via BC FerriesBC Ferries

British Columbia Ferry Services Inc. or BC Ferries is a company that provides all major passenger and vehicle ferry se...
. By virtue of its proximity to Vancouver, Nanaimo is the gateway to many other destinations both on the island — TofinoTofino, British Columbia

Tofino is a village of about 1,600 residents on the west coast of Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, Canada, located at ...
, Comox ValleyComox Valley

The Comox Valley is a region on the east coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada that includes the city of Court...
, Campbell RiverCampbell River, British Columbia

Campbell River is a city in British Columbia at the south end of Discovery Passage on northern Vancouver Island....
, Port AlberniPort Alberni, British Columbia

Port Alberni is a city located in the province of British Columbia in Canada....
, Rathtrevor Beach Provincial ParkRathtrevor Beach Provincial Park

Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park is a provincial park in British Columbia, Canada. ...
 — and off its coast — Newcastle Island, Protection IslandProtection Island (Nanaimo)

Protection Island is a small island located 1.5km north-east of downtown Nanaimo, BC, Canada....
, Gabriola IslandGabriola Island

Gabriola Island is an island in the Nanaimo Regional District on the West coast of British Columbia, Canada between mainland...
, Valdes IslandValdes Island

Valdes Island is one of the Gulf Islands located in the Strait of Georgia, British Columbia, Canada....
, and many other of the Gulf IslandsGulf Islands

The Gulf Islands is the name collectively given to the islands in the Strait of Georgia between Vancouver Island and the mai...
. Nanaimo has often been referred to as 'A mall in search of a city' due to the malls that stretch from the south to the north.

History

The first Europeans to find Nanaimo Bay were those of the 1791 Spanish voyage of Juan CarrascoJuan Carrasco (explorer)

Juan Carrasco was a Spanish naval officer, explorer, and navigator....
, under the command of Francisco de ElizaFrancisco de Eliza

Francisco de Eliza y Reventa was a Spanish naval officer, navigator, and explorer....
. They gave it the name Bocas de Winthuysen.

Nanaimo began as a trading postTrading post

A trading post is a place where trading of goods takes place....
 in the early 1800s; in 1849 the Snuneymuxw chief Ki-et-sa-kun ("Coal Tyee") informed the Hudson's Bay CompanyHudson's Bay Company

The Hudson's Bay Company is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and is one of the oldest in the world....
 of the presence of coal in the area, and in 1853 the company built a fort known as the Nanaimo Bastion (still preserved). Subsequently the town was chiefly known for the export of coal.

Robert DunsmuirRobert Dunsmuir

Robert Dunsmuir coal miner, industrialist and politician....
 established coal mines in the Nanaimo harbour area and later to Wellington at Northfield. With the success of
Dunsmuir and Diggle, the first company, more mines came to the area. Dunsmuir bought his
partner out, and expanded his operations to include a steam railway. Dunsmuir sold the coal
to the Royal Navy ships, and exported it to Puget Sound and San Francisco. The 1887 Nanaimo Mine Explosion1887 Nanaimo mine explosion

The Nanaimo mine explosion on May 3, 1887, in Nanaimo, British Columbia killed 150 miners and was the largest man-made expl...
 killed 150 miners and was the largest man-made explosion until the Halifax ExplosionHalifax Explosion

The Halifax Explosion occurred on Thursday December 6 1917, at 9:04:35 a.m....
.
In the 1940s, lumber supplanted coal as the main business, although Minetown Days are still celebrated in the neighbouring community of LantzvilleLantzville, British Columbia

Lantzville is a coastal community on the east side of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada along the western shore of ...
..

Transportation


Nanaimo has 3 airports, Nanaimo AirportNanaimo Airport

Nanaimo Airport, , is located 7.0 nautical miles south southeast of Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada....
 with services to Vancouver, Nanaimo Harbour Water Airport with services to Vancouver harbour, and Nanaimo/Long Lake Water Airport. Along with three airports, Nanaimo also has three BC Ferry terminuses located at Departure BayDeparture Bay, British Columbia

Departure Bay is a neighbourhood in the north central region of Nanaimo, British Columbia....
, Duke PointDuke Point, British Columbia

Duke Point is a geographical location in the extreme southeastern part of the city of Nanaimo....
, and downtown. The downtown terminal services Gabriola IslandGabriola Island

Gabriola Island is an island in the Nanaimo Regional District on the West coast of British Columbia, Canada between mainland...
 while Departure Bay and Duke Point service Horseshoe BayHorseshoe Bay, West Vancouver, British Columbia

Horseshoe Bay is an area within the district of West Vancouver....
 and TsawwassenTsawwassen Ferry Terminal

The Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal is a major transportation facility in Delta, British Columbia....
 respectively. There is also regular passenger train service south to Victoria and north to CourtenayCourtenay, British Columbia

Courtenay is a city on the east coast of Vancouver Island, in the province of British Columbia, Canada....
 along the E and N RailwayE and N Railway Summary

The E and N Railway is a short line railway in British Columbia, Canada....
.

Economy



A recent surge of higher-density real estate development, centred in the Old City/Downtown area, as well as construction of a city-funded waterfront conference centre, have proven controversial. Proponents of these developments argue that they will bolster the city's economy, while critics worry that they will block waterfront views and increase traffic congestion. Concerns have also been raised about the waterfront conference centre's construction running over its proposed budget. The current council is working hard to solve illegal drug and motorcycle clubMotorcycle club

A Motorcycle Club is an organized club of motorcycle riders who follow a series of traditional rules for participation in th...
 issues, including hiring security personnel to patrol certain areas of the downtown core. Nanaimo has also been experiencing job growth in the technology sector.

Media outlets


Nanaimo is served by two newspapers - the award-winning Black Press-owned Nanaimo News Bulletin (35,000 copies three times a week), the Canwest-owned Nanaimo Daily News with about 6,500 copies and the Harbour City star with 6,500 copies. Canwest also publishes an advertiser, the Harbour City Star. Nanaimo is served by television broadcasters: a bureau for A-ChannelCIVI-TV

CIVI, A-Channel Vancouver Island is a television station based in Victoria, British Columbia....
, which is carried on local cable channel 12, and a satellite office for CHEK-TVCHEK-TV

CHEK-TV is a television station in Victoria, British Columbia....
, which is carried on cable 6.

Three radio stations, CHWF-FMCHWF-FM

CHWF is a Canadian radio station located in Nanaimo, British Columbia, operating on 106.9 FM under the ownership of the Jim ...
, CKWV-FMCKWV-FM

CKWV is a Canadian radio station located in Nanaimo, British Columbia; it broadcasts on 102.3 FM and is owned by the Jim Pat...
 (both a part of The Jim Pattison Broadcast GroupJim Pattison Group

The Jim Pattison Group is Canadas 3rd largest privately held company and, in a recent survey by the Financial Post, The Jim ...
), and CHLY-FMCHLY-FM

CHLY 101.7 FM is a campus radio station based in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada....
 (an independent community campus radioFacts About Campus radio

Campus radio is a type of radio station that is run by the students of a college, university or other educational institutio...
 station) operate in Nanaimo.

Politics

In the Canadian House of CommonsFacts About Canadian House of Commons

The House of Commons is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate....
, Nanaimo is represented by the ridingElectoral district (Canada)

An electoral district is a geographically-based constituency upon which Canada's representative democracy is based....
s of Nanaimo—CowichanNanaimo—Cowichan Summary

Nanaimo?Cowichan is a federal electoral district in British Columbia, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian Hous...
 and Nanaimo—AlberniNanaimo—Alberni

NanaimoAlberni is a federal electoral district in British Columbia, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House ...
. In the Legislative Assembly of British ColumbiaLegislative Assembly of British Columbia

The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia is one of two components of the Parliament of British Columbia, the other...
, Nanaimo is represented by the ridings of Nanaimo and Nanaimo-Parksville. The mayor of Nanaimo is currently Gary Richard KorpanGary Richard Korpan

Gary Richard Kopran is the current mayor of Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada....
. The most colourful and famous mayor Nanaimo ever had was Frank J. NeyFrank J. Ney

Frank J. Ney was the mayor of Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada....
, who instigated Nanaimo's well-known bathtub races, which he regularly attended dressed as a pirate. There is a statue to commemorate Ney - dressed in his pirate costume - and the bathtub races at Swy-a-Lana Lagoon, which is on the Nanaimo waterfront; Ney was also an MLA for the Social Credit party while he was also mayor.

Education

Nanaimo has over 30 elementary and secondary schools, most of which are public and are operated by School District 68 Nanaimo-LadysmithSchool District 68 Nanaimo-Ladysmith

School District 68 Nanaimo-Ladysmith is a school district on central Vancouver Island in British Columbia....
,

Malaspina University-CollegeCentral Vancouver Island University's main campus is located in Nanaimo, which brings many international students to the city. The school is also renowned for its music programs, particularly the jazz program, pioneered by Professor Steve Jones, among others. The university is also becoming well known for its excellent teacher education programs.

Sports

Nanaimo is home to the Canadian Junior Football LeagueCanadian Junior Football League

The Canadian Junior Football League is a national amateur Canadian football league consisting of 20 teams playing in six pro...
's Vancouver Island RaidersVancouver Island Raiders

The Vancouver Island Raiders are a Canadian Junior Football team based in Nanaimo, British Columbia....
, who play at Caledonia Park.

Nanaimo is home to the British Columbia Hockey LeagueBritish Columbia Hockey League Overview

The British Columbia Hockey League is a tier II Junior "A" ice hockey league under Hockey Canada, a subsection of the Canadi...
's Nanaimo ClippersNanaimo Clippers

The Nanaimo Clippers are a Tier II Junior "A" ice hockey team from Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada....
 and to the Western Lacrosse AssociationWestern Lacrosse Association

The Western Lacrosse Association is an amateur league of men's Senior A box lacrosse....
's Nanaimo TimbermenNanaimo Timbermen

The Nanaimo Timbermen are a Senior A box lacrosse club, based in Nanaimo, British Columbia....
, both of which play at the Frank Crane ArenaFrank Crane Arena

The Frank Crane Arena is a 3,000-seat multi-purpose arena in Nanaimo, British Columbia....
.

The Nanaimo Pirates, of the B.C. Premier Baseball LeagueB.C. Premier Baseball League

The B.C. Premier Baseball League is a Canadian baseball summer league consisting of 11 teams....
 (BCPBL), play at Serauxmen Stadium.

The Nanaimo United, of the Vancouver Island Soccer League (VISL), play at Mearle Logan Turf Field in Beban Park.

The Nanaimo BMX Association, sanctioned by the ABA - American Bicycle Association races at Beban Park.

Trivia

Diana KrallDiana Krall

Diana Jean Krall, OC, OBC is a popular Canadian Jazz pianist and singer. ...
 and Elvis CostelloElvis Costello

Declan Patrick MacManus , better known by his stage name, Elvis Costello, is a British musician, singer, and songwrite...
 live just north of Nanaimo and are often seen perusing the racks of the local record stores. Krall and Costello co-wrote Departure Bay, a song about their Nanaimo home on Krall's 2004 album The Girl in the Other RoomThe Girl in the Other Room

The Girl in the Other Room is an album by popular jazz singer and pianist Diana Krall....
.

Nanaimo is home to the oldest continuous community band in Canada, The Nanaimo Concert Band, established in 1872. Nanaimo is also known for its bathtub raceBathtub racing

Bathtub racing started in Nanaimo, British Columbia and involves the use of a bathub boat....
 during the annual marine festival, and for firing a cannon (blank) on the parapet next to the Bastion, (a bastionBastion

A bastion is a fortification work projecting outward from the main enclosure of a fortification, situated in both corners of...
 or fort), every day at noon during the summer months and for special events.

Nanaimo is home to Petroglyph Provincial ParkPetroglyph Provincial Park

Petroglyph Provincial Park is located at the south end of the City of Nanaimo, Canada where the Nanaimo River empties into t...
, where visitors can view ancient petroglyphPetroglyph

Petroglyphs are * Cave painting* History of communication...
 rock carvings and runes. Newcastle Island is another provincial park in Nanaimo, and was at one time a world-famous summertime tourist destination.

Nanaimo is named for the Snuneymuxw people.

Nanaimo is the origin of the famous Nanaimo barNanaimo bar

The Nanaimo bar is a Canadian dessert....
 dessert, which has its origins in the early 1950s.

The Civic arena built in 1939 was torn down in the fall of 2006. During its demolition, Native artifacts were found beside and under the arena.

The Nanaimo midget 'A' Timbermen won the 2006 British ColumbiaBritish Columbia

British Columbia, often referred to as B.C. or BC , is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is famed for it...
 provincial championships.

The Nanaimo BMX Association has hosted the American Bicycle Association (ABA) World Cup twice. First in 1997, then again in 2004. Thousands of racers and their families came to compete and enjoyed Nanaimo and Vancouver Island, British Columbia.

Notable persons

  • Cameron BrightCameron Bright

    Cameron Douglas Bright is a Canadian child actor....
    , child actor
  • Anne CameronFacts About Anne Cameron

    Anne Cameron is a Canadian novelist, poet, screenwriter and short story writer....
    , writer
  • Kim CattrallKim Cattrall

    Kim Victoria Cattrall is an Anglo-Canadian...
    , actress
  • Justin ChatwinJustin Chatwin

    Justin Chatwin is an actor who appeared in the Steven Spielberg movie War of the Worlds and in the independent film Th...
    , actor
  • Glen ClarkGlen Clark

    Glen David Clark is a former politician in British Columbia, Canada who served as the 31st Premier of British Columbia from ...
    , politician
  • Raymond CollishawRaymond Collishaw

    Air Vice-Marshal Raymond Collishaw DSO and Bar DSC DFC Croix de Guerre RAF was a Canadian aviator who served in the Royal Na...
    , World War One "ace" pilot
  • Allison CroweAllison Crowe

    Allison Crowe is a singer-songwriter and pianist from Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada who now lives in Corner Brook, Newfo...
    , singer/songwriter and pianist
  • John DeSantisJohn DeSantis

    John DeSantis is a Canadian actor, perhaps best known as Lurch in the 1998-1999 television production of The Addams Family...
    , actor
  • Jodelle FerlandFacts About Jodelle Ferland

    Jodelle Micah Ferland is a young Canadian actress....
    , child actress
  • David GogoDavid Gogo

    David Gogo , Is a Canadian blues guitarist who is currently signed to the Cordova Bay label....
    , professional blues guitarist
  • Ingrid JensenIngrid Jensen

    Ingrid Jensen is a Canadian jazz trumpet player....
    , jazz trumpet player
  • Diana KrallDiana Krall

    Diana Jean Krall, OC, OBC is a popular Canadian Jazz pianist and singer. ...
    , jazz pianist and singer
  • Tim LanderTim Lander

    Tim Lander is a Canadian poet .Born in Surrey, England, he studied at London University....
    , poet
  • Frank NeyFrank J. Ney

    Frank J. Ney was the mayor of Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada....
    , politician, civic personality
  • Kevin PattersonKevin Patterson Overview

    Kevin Patterson is a Canadian writer, whose short story collection Country of Cold won the Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction...
    , author
  • Shane SutcliffeShane Sutcliffe

    Canadian boxer Shane Sutcliffe was born on June 17, 1975 in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada....
    , professional boxer
  • Kirsten SweetlandKirsten Sweetland

    Kirsten Sweetland is a Canadian triathlete....
    , triathlete

External links






oogle Earth Ate Our Town")