It’s essential to know what you’re getting into when deciding to relocate to a new city. The things that matter to you the most might not correspond with your ideal home and its location. Today I’ll be diving into areas you might want to avoid when moving to Nanaimo BC

Before we relocated to Vancouver Island, I had never spent a substantial amount of time in Nanaimo. It was just a starting point for us to access other areas and I really had no idea what living here would be like. Like everyone, I had an idea of what my ideal neighbourhood would be that would fit my ideal criteria such as access to parks and trails, lower density and safety. In this video, I’ll cover a few of these and list areas you may want to avoid.

1. High-density and traffic

If you’re looking for a quiet place to live, then I would definitely avoid anywhere near downtown Nanaimo. Although Nanaimo’s city center is quite small, it still has a higher volume of apartment buildings and condos because of how many businesses and shops there are. The streets are small as well, so driving can be trickier to navigate although I will say parking isn’t as bad as it is in bigger cities. If you’re in any of the harbourfront buildings, expect bustling crowds of tourists, especially in the summer months!

Areas like The University district and Central Nanaimo around Bowen Road (which is a super busy street) are also higher density due to a mix of residential, commercial, recreational and learning institutions. Keep in mind that someone seeking proximity and walkability to amenities will also favour these locations!

Many neighbourhoods in Nanaimo are expanding to meet the housing demand and influx of people moving to Vancouver Island. The BC government has also announced it’s “Homes For People” action plan, part of which will legalize secondary suites province-wide and allow for zoning of 3 to 4 units per lot. This is great news for housing in Nanaimo but things might get a little tighter as they are province-wide.

If you’re looking to be removed from the Hustle and Bustle, I’d recommend looking into communities such as Cinnabar Valley, Extension and North Jinglepot.

2. Crime

This one is a touchy subject. I personally consider Nanaimo to be a safe place to live but as in any city, there are areas that you might want to be extra cautious in or maybe avoid altogether if you want to avoid things like vandalism, theft and drug use. 

Old City (downtown) is one of these areas for sure and trickles out to other areas around central Nanaimo and the hospital. There is a police station located on Milton Street which adds a sense of security and many neighbourhoods have enrolled in the block watch program. I also found this interesting crime map online but it isn’t updated very frequently so your best bet is to follow the Nanaimo RCMP online and just be active in your community.

Many neighbourhoods that are considered to be family-friendly, such as Diver Lake, I have heard have a higher occurrence of smaller crimes but it’s believed this is due to the population of teenagers in these areas. And again if you’re watchful for your neighbours this can really help.

3. Walkability

Is being able to walk places important to you? Nanaimo is a very long city, and although getting from one end to the other by car isn’t excruciatingly long it’s nice to know you have things close by that you can reach without driving far or even better, walking.

I touched on this when I covered the Hammond Bay neighbourhood. You’re just not close enough to anything to dart out at a moment’s notice to walk where you need to be and it helps to have a car there. This is also super relative to what you’re needing to walk to. Like in Hammond Bay, your walk to parks and beaches is very short which is the same as Westwood Lake but again you’re close to the lake so it’s a nice trade-off! Also in South Nanaimo, College Heights which has some of the most impressive views in the city isn’t your ideal walking area due to it being up on a ridge, the same as Upper Lantzville.

It’s gearing up to be an amazing summer in Nanaimo. Plan your visit around these fun Nanaimo events and activities!

Summer is the best time to visit Nanaimo, as the beaches are the highlight of this oceanside city and the community really comes alive with festivals and family-friendly activities! Today I’ll be sharing just a few of the things I look forward to this summer in Nanaimo!

I shared about the fun events Nanaimo organizes in my “Don’t Move Here” blog post where I talk about the things locals know that make this place so special. The Bathtub races are a true staple to Nanaimo summer, beginning back in 1967!

Another event that I can’t wait to check out with my family this year on July 16th is the Silly Boat Regatta!

This community-sponsored event is to raise funds for the Nanaimo Child Development Center.

The rules are pretty simple! You sign up your team and together you have 4 hours to assemble a boat out of recycled materials only. It needs to carry at least 2 people and only be propelled by people or wind! The Regatta takes place in Mafeo Sutton Park with the race itself leaving from Swy-A-Lana lagoon into the Nanaimo Harbour. 

Keeping on the theme of Boats the Nanaimo Dragon Boat Festival is in its 20th year and happens this year on July 8th and 9th also at Maffeo Sutton Park! This is a 500M paddle with around 70 teams participating this year, in support of the BC cancer foundation with their “Make every second count” campaign. Come enjoy a market, food trucks and a beer garden!

If you’re already at Maffeo Sutton Park why not try WildPlay’s downtown Zipline which shoots you 300 feet across Swy’a’lana Lagoon? You can do one zip is $14.99 and $7.99 each time after! 

Speaking of WildPlay, this is a place I mentioned in my “Things to do in Nanaimo” blog post and is a definite must if you have kids this summer! Maybe go bungy jumping over the Nanaimo River (a 150-foot jump!) and then calm yourself at the river’s edge after where so many Nanaimo locals spend their summer days. It’s a great spot to pack a lunch and hang out in the sun with the option to cool off in the freshwater. 

My next fun Nanaimo activity is The Dinghy Dock Pub on Protection Island. Sure, pubs are great… but why not go to a floating pub? This is supposedly Canada’s only floating pub and was originally built as a bait shop and marina in 1989 and has since transformed into a family pub where you can take in views of Nanaimo and the harbour. As of June 19th, it will be open 7 days a week and you can get there by using the Protection Island Ferry from front street, downtown Nanaimo. You can also take small watercraft like kayaks to the pub, and tie up along the dock! I went for a visit here last summer and the atmosphere was awesome! Such a nice place to sit in the sun and drink a beer with some food. Take the time to explore protection island afterwards as well! I’ll be doing an upcoming post on this really cool place soon. 

If you’re thinking of staying cool inside this summer, a great option is axe throwing at Axe & Grind! I love the slogan as you enter their website “There’s a lumberjack in all of us”, although I might be the exception haha. Regardless, it’s something different that you and your friends can do together and not just your average hang-out. Maybe save the beers for afterwards, though. 

I will sign off by highly recommending you check out my other blog posts “Things to do in Nanaimo” and “Is Nanaimo a good place to live?” as I deliver some other really fun options you can do while visiting Nanaimo. And if you decide you want to call Nanaimo home make sure you get in touch! 

Today I’m sharing my top pics for off-leash dog parks in Nanaimo, including Invermere Beach, May Richards Bennett Pioneer Park and Cable Bay Trail! There are also some other more fenced-in off-leash dog areas but I’m not a fan of those and won’t be mentioning them in this post but you can find their locations online easily. 

Our first stop takes us to stunning Invermere Beach dog park, located on the scenic shores of North Nanaimo. This picturesque park is accessed from the bottom of Invermere road where it becomes a cul-de-sac and is street parking only. Be warned, there is a pretty large set of stairs leading down to the off-leash beach which you will have to hike back up! Once you reach the beach you’ll be greeted by an open space for your dog to enjoy what I consider doggy-heaven. I always check the tide charts to make sure there is enough sand to play on, otherwise, you’re just on rocks. When the tide is out be careful of some of the rougher areas with clams and barnacles that can cut your dog’s paws. Have a look up in the nearby trees and you’ll most likely spot some bald eagles, super cool.  

Also located in North Nanaimo is May Richards Bennett Pioneer Park which I will be referring to as Pioneer Park. This is a haven for active and energetic dogs in the heart of North Nanaimo and my local favourite. Pioneer Park is a dream come true for dogs and owners alike as it’s tucked into the city and provides plenty of space for dogs to run, jump, and play. You’ll often run into other dogs here, it’s pretty popular, especially on weekends. I like to go in the quiet times in the morning and later evenings and have built a nice community with the regulars and their dogs! To access the park, you can enter either off Dickinsen road or off of Schook road. The park had a fence installed this year which encloses it from the traffic of the nearby roads. There is one spot where your dogs can sneak out onto the fields near where the water tap is for dogs so just be mindful of where your dog is when you reach this spot on the southwest side.

Pioneer Park and Invermere Beach are such huge bonuses to living in North Nanaimo if you like to be active with your dog,  besides everything else I mentioned in my video highlighting this neighbourhood! It’s known for its waterfront properties and beautiful residential areas but location is everything and imagine living just a stone's throw away from these fantastic dog-friendly destinations!

Lastly, we make our way to the breathtaking Cable Bay Trail, a hidden gem for dogs and their owners. The drive is about 30 minutes out of North Nanaimo but totally worth it. You can access the trailhead by driving to the end of Nicola Road in Cedar. This trail, surrounded by lush greenery and towering trees, provides a fantastic opportunity for your four-legged friends to stretch their legs and explore nature's wonders. The walk to the ocean is just over 2km but is an easy walk for just about anyone Once you reach the end, the trail opens up to a really nice ocean playground with plenty to explore and frequent marine life sightings. Even though the walk down is easy enough make sure you have decent footwear for making your way down the rocks to the ocean bed when the tide is out, and also for climbing back up! Cable Bay Trail is situated near popular neighbourhoods like Cedar and Yellow Point, offering a rural and serene living environment with larger properties and acreages. You and your furry companion can experience the best of both worlds—secluded trails and a peaceful neighbourhood.

And there you have it! We've explored three incredible off-leash dog parks in Nanaimo: Invermere Beach, Cable Bay Trail, and May Richards Bennett Pioneer Park. If you’re a dog lover like me, I know you want to ensure you have some great places to take them. As someone who used to live in North Vancouver where outdoor recreation is huge, Nanaimo has pleasantly surprised me and isn’t lacking places to explore with my dogs!

Hammond Bay is one of the most sought-after neighbourhoods in Nanaimo. Want to know why? Keep Reading! I’ll be covering why this area is so desirable such as the incredible ocean views, and if you stick around until the end I’ll share a HUGE frustration people have with Hammond Bay.

Hammond Bay Road stretches along the northern coastline in Nanaimo until it intersects with Island Highway going West. The neighbourhood itself is located on the northeastern tip of Nanaimo between Departure Bay and North Nanaimo, but its boundaries are a bit ambiguous. For the sake of this video, I will be using the Vancouver Island real estate boards parameters. 

When considering where you want to live in Nanaimo or anywhere, location is very important and you’ll need to consider what’s important to you and your family. Hammond Bay is ranked quite high on the scale for a quiet place near parks and good schools but low if you’re looking for amenities and walkability.

If beach access and nature are high on your list, this can be a great location for you. Neck Point Park is situated here and is where Simon and I did our Polar Bear dip! You can walk the just-under 3km loop around the park in around 45 minutes and the vantage point gives you awesome ocean views as well as views of “Shack Island”. There are public washrooms and picnic tables if you want to spend the afternoon outdoors as well. 

Just down from Neck Point Park is another popular destination for locals and tourists alike, Piper’s Lagoon Park. This is another great place to come during the day, both when the tide is in and out. During low tide the Page Lagoon get’s a bit mucky, so if you plan to walk there be prepared for your shoes to go missing. It’s a great place to see otters and other marine life as well as bird watching.

When you are at Piper’s Lagoon Park you will see that there are homes built at the edge of the lagoon on Place Road and Lagoon Road. The homes with beach access are some of the most sought-after as there are few walk-on waterfront homes in Nanaimo. Many in Hammond Bay are cliffside making these property unique and pricey, for that reason alone.

Where this neighbourhood is located you will notice that you will be using your car to get to places a bit more. Roads can be hilly and your amenities aren’t in this area, albeit not far away either. Think of this neighbourhood as more residential with your shopping and restaurants being about 5-10 minutes away by car, unless you’re going to Piper’s Pub just off Hammond Bay Road as you drive towards Neck Point. If you don’t have a car, many bus routes drive the long stretch of Hammond Bay road and will take you where you need to go, from downtown to the ferry terminal, to the mall.

Hammond Bay is home to one of the best French Immersion schools in Nanaimo, Hammond Bay Elementary or, Ecole Hammond Bay. Located just off Neck point park, this school is nestled into a quiet area and is one of 3 French immersion schools but is the only exclusively French immersion school. Side note- french immersion school placements are done by a lottery system here in Nanaimo.

Now for the reason you’re all really here- the views! Many homes in Hammond Bay are either built on the rocky embankments up from the beach or high up on the hilly terrain. Either way, there isn’t a lack of ocean views in this neighborhood making it some of the most expensive real estate in the city. Imagine living with the views on Gulfview Drive?

Even if the ocean isn’t directly in sight from your home, the drives from Golden Oaks Estates, which is a newer development, and the Glen Oaks communities for example make up for that. 

Hammond Bay in my opinion is a dream location if you’re looking to relocate to Vancouver Island as you’ll be reminded every day of its beauty.

I promised I would be candid and share ONE THING that drives me bananas about Hammond Bay and that is the cell service reception. I know I’m not alone. And Frankly, I don’t understand how it’s 2023 in this city and there is a huge zone with ZERO bars as you drive along Hammond Bay road. I’ve been completely lost and can’t pull up my GPS or even make a phone call and have just had to drive until I get to somewhere with 1 bar. Why?!

I love sharing my passion for living in Nanaimo since my move here in 2021. If you’ve landed on this video you might be in the same boat we were which is you’ve decided you want to live on Vancouver Island but aren’t quite sure where! If you’ve gotten as far as Nanaimo, I obviously can’t recommend it enough and you can learn more about the reasons I love it in this blog post!

But what are your other options? What do places that hug Nanaimo like Lantzville, Ladysmith and Nanoose Bay have to offer? Let’s dive in…

Lantzville

Drive North just out of Nanaimo, and you’re in Lantzville. The district is divided into two subareas, Lower Lantzville, which is the town center near the water, and Upper Lantzville, which is above the highway and incorporates the residential area known as “The Foothills” and also where you’ll find the Copley Ridge Recreation Trail, one of my favourite spots to hike.

Lantzville has a large population of retirees, so you’ll find this community strikes a nice balance of quiet living but with close proximity to the amenities of Nanaimo. Most of the homes were built before the 1960s into the 1980s and this is the kind of place you’ll want to be if you’re looking for a single detached home, without any large condo developments and a low rental market. Lantzville home prices now are steadily listed at a median price of $1.2Million dollars. 

In Lower Lantzville you’ll find a quaint little oceanside town with small businesses and restaurants including the Lantzville pub, which is a great spot if you’re looking to grab a bite with a view! There’s also the Winchelsea Golf Course and Huddlestone Park and Lantzville’s elementary school is Seaview Elementary.

The foothills in upper Lantzville is an ever-growing community which I touched on briefly in my new Nanaimo development videos. The location has prime ocean views, some of the most beautiful I’ve seen since moving here. But, you’ll be paying a pretty penny to live up there, think over 1.5-1.6 to well over $2milion. Because of the elevation, expect a bit of a windier climate with a bit more snow and fog in the wintertime. 

Nanoose Bay

As you exit Lantzville going north you get to a peninsula village called Nanoose Bay. Again, this is an area with an older population and resort-style communities such as Fairwinds, which is home to one of the best golf courses on Vancouver Island. People love Nanoose Bay for the outdoor recreation opportunities, like world-famous scuba diving at Madrona Point and Notch Hill Loop Trail. There are three marinas here making it a popular spot for boaters. If you’re picking up on the luxury note, you’re correct. Most homes here are custom-built and come with stunning ocean and golf course views, which are reflected in their pricing. Just check out any of these homes in the Beachcomber peninsula and you’ll see what I’m talking about. However contrary to Lantzville, you can find some townhouses and condos living here at a much more affordable price point.

Nanoose Bay is located between Nanaimo and Parksville and be prepared to have to drive to anywhere you need to go! One thing I will mention is that the cell service here is awful. There are so many pockets of dead service zones as your drive through Nanoose Bay, so beware!

Ladysmith

I’m going to take you now in the opposite direction to a town called Ladysmith. Just South of the Nanaimo Airport, Ladysmith has recently garnered some attention due to Pamela Anderson’s relocation to her hometown. She documented this on Netflix and her HGTV show “Pamela’s Garden of Eden”. Yep, that beautiful oceanfront home is located roughly 30 minutes from Nanaimo. 

It’s bigger than the two previous areas I mentioned in this video and although home prices have risen drastically throughout the years, you can find a nice range of modest family homes priced between $500-$700k. Of course, oceanfront homes will be much more than they would be anywhere else. 

People love the community of Ladysmith and I know many people who were born there and have stayed to raise their own families. There are larger grocery stores and chain restaurants but you will have to drive to nearby Duncan or Nanaimo if you want to go to the movies or shop at bigger stores for example. There are three schools here, Primary (k-3) Intermediate (4-7) and Secondary (8-12) and Ladysmith shares the school district with Nanaimo which is district 68.

Ladysmith is a great location in between two larger city centers on Vancouver Island and close to transportation like the airport which I mentioned and the Duke Point Ferry terminal. 

If any of these communities have sparked your interest make sure you get in touch!

Have kids and want to know where the best place to live as a family is in Nanaimo? Keep reading as I cover schools and family-friendly Nanaimo neighbourhoods!

So many families, like ours, have been deciding to relocate to Nanaimo in recent years. If that’s you, amazing! I’m so glad you found my blog as that’s exactly what I help people do. My name is Rita and I’m a local realtor in Nanaimo and the surrounding areas on Vancouver Island. Today I’m going to share my top picks for family-friendly neighbourhoods and schools! 

You’ll see some numbers when I mention schools as I’ll be using the Fraser Institute school rankings website to give scores for each neighbourhood school. The website ranks schools between 1-10 using academic markers like reading, writing and numeracy. It also ranks them compared to all other schools in the province of British Columbia. 

As helpful as this is I would still strongly suggest that you do your own research when looking at which schools fit your child’s needs and please feel free to leave a question in the comment section for others to help!

So in no particular order, let’s get started

Departure Bay

Departure Bay is the area where the ferry terminal which leads into horseshoes bay is located. The median price for a home during the last 3 months was $684,900 and people really love this area due to the family-friendly vibe it gives off. Driving down many of these residential streets you’ll spot “slow down kids playing” signs but this is also a popular spot for retirees as residents who’ve lived here for years have stuck around this well-established neighbourhood. You’re far enough from the downtown area to feel much safer, but close enough if you want to visit some museums and theatres.

In Departure Bay you are within walking distance of many beautiful parks such as Sugarloaf Mountain and Kinsmen Park which is right off the beach. 

The Sherwood Forest area of Departure Bay is a really neat little spot with all the street names coming from Robin Hood. I really love the uniqueness of the homes here and some of them have killer ocean views. Living here, I’m sure kids, and big kids, would love seeing the ferries returning and leaving Departure Bay each day.

The catchment for Departure Bay gives you the option of Departure Bay Elementary (Score 5.5/ Ranking 521/870), Rock City Elementary (Score 4/Ranking 750/870) and Wellington Elementary (score 4.7/Ranking 201/252)

Diver Lake

This neighbourhood is full of young families with small children for your kids to play with and also lots of teenagers around. As the name suggests the neighbourhood surrounds a small lake which hosts fishing, small trails and even a bike park with jumps.

Most of the homes here were built between 1961 and 1990, with the median sale price at around $770K. A new development at 2229 Boxwood Road is underway with a proposed 31-unit Townhouse complex as well. I’ll be following this closely!

This centrally located neighbourhood is close to Country Club Mall and restaurants and you’re right in between both highways making commuting that much easier. You also have Beban Park which has a public pool and driving range.

The elementary school here is Coal Tyee Elementary, but actually, it was recently renamed Syuẁén'ct Elementary School which means “our traditions” in the language of the Snuneymuxw First Nation. (Score 2.9/Rank 832/870)

North Nanaimo

What can I say? I love North Nanaimo! I love it so much that I dedicated an entire blog post to my neighbourhood which you should definitely watch next! 

The neighbourhood is very safe, safe enough that I don’t worry about my son walking to the store with friends or to and from school. And speaking of walkability, this area is great for that. Nearby you have beach access, Woodgrove Center, and plenty of restaurants to choose from for a night out with the fam! There’s also a really great skatepark for kids to enjoy.

If you have a family, you know your best bet with shopping is always Costco which is located here as well!

Homes sold at a median price of $866,500 these last 3 months and people continue to move to this area of Nanaimo. I think one reason for this is the schools here are really great.

You have Mcgirr Elementary (Score 6.1/Ranking 399/870), Dover Bay Secondary (Score 7, Ranking 63/252) and Randerson Ridge Elementary (Score 6/Rank 417/870).

I can speak from experience here when I say that the sense of community at these schools is excellent and my son has flourished since his transition from his previous school.

I hate to cut this list short as I do strongly believe there are other wonderful family neighbourhoods here in Nanaimo. If you’re from here and I missed one, and want to let us know what you love about your neighbourhood, share it with us in the comments! 

If you’re thinking of relocating here and have questions about what spots can fulfill your family’s wish list, be sure to get in contact with me! As always if you liked this video don’t forget to give it a thumbs up and subscribe so you never miss one of my weekly updates!

Today I had the pleasure of visiting a new development that has gotten so much buzz, Sitka Landing in Campbell River. 3 styles of west-coast contemporary rancher homes are being installed beginning this summer. You’ll have the option of:

The Estero

featuring 950 sq ft of living space with 2 beds and 2 full bathrooms. Currently priced at $472,303 +GST

The Sonora

featuring 1,070 sq ft of living space with 2 beds, 2 baths and a flex room. Currently priced at $489,900+GST

The Cortez

featuring 1,200 sq ft of living space with 3 beds, 2 baths and is currently priced at $509,975+GST

Besides affordability, the open floor plans and design of these homes are super thoughtful and work for everyone. There is more to learn about Sitka landing that I can’t cover entirely in this post alone but please feel free to contact me directly if you’re interested in knowing more about this new Campbell River community!

These brand-new modular homes are built by a Vancouver Island-based company called Supermod. But don’t let the word modular scare you into thinking this is your average pre-fab home. 

Pre-fab simply means pre-fabricated. What Supermod does is this, but better. 

Using a highly specialized technology, called CNC Manufacturing (which stands for Computer Numerical Control) to produce perfectly sized 3D-printed steel frames for their modular homes, the result is a sleek home design, in a shorter time. We’re talking from months to weeks, as the components of the home are assembled in the factory, then installed on-site. 

Because of their building method and by using galvanized steel, Supermod homes are much more sustainable. They are produced with such accuracy that there is much less wasted building material, and steel is 100% recyclable! Not to mention it’s stronger and more durable. Compare steel to wood. With wood, you have the potential for rot due to moisture absorption, pests, mould, and warping. All of this can compromise the structure of your home over time, costing you money and even your health. 

Not only does building with steel prevent these issues but steel is also non-combustible, preventing fire spread. The lighter material also cuts back on shipping costs, again saving you money!

But enough from me! Supermod was gracious enough to open its doors to its factory to give you a glimpse of how the process works, so check out the footage from this visit in the video above!

Located in the Chase River neighbourhood or Harewood, depending on who you ask, Colliery Dam Park is located at 635 Wakesiah (wake-Sayah) Avenue and is just a short distance from Vancouver Island Univeristy.

The Dam was built in 1910-1911 and is a reminder of how much the coal industry played a part in the early settlement of Nanaimo. The Dam was built by the Western Fuel Company to supply water for coal washing and for use by miners and their mules and horses. It soon also became a source of water for the neighbourhood of South Harewood as residents nearby were allowed to use the water for domestic purposes.

It’s now located in a municipal park and is a leisure destination for locals and tourists alike for swimming, hiking and fishing. 

Swimming

Colliery Dam is a popular spot for freshwater swimming. Just keep in mind that it is not patrolled by a lifeguard. Nearby there are picnic tables and public washrooms to use. 

The lake is also used for fishing so I’d say to be mindful of anyone that you do see fishing, Both to allow them to enjoy their activities and also to protect yourself from being tagged by a sharp hook :(

Fishing

Several times a year Freshwater Fisheries Society stocks the made-made lakes with catchable-sized Rainbow Trout from the hatchery in nearby Duncan. The best time to fish here is early spring and late summer when the water is cooler and swimmers don’t disturb the fishing. 

On Mother’s Day this year which is May 14th, there will be a “Live Bucket Brigade Trout Release” event at the lower lake. The trout will be released at 12pm but there will be live music and interactive exhibits from 10am-2pm. If you are planning on fishing during the event, good news! You won’t need a fishing license. 

If you’re interested in fishing events I would highly recommend you follow “Vancouver Island Fishing for Fun Society” whose founder, Mike Lawrence has made a mission to provide year-round fishing opportunities with fishing release days and derbies throughout the area.

Camping

Unlike Westwood Lake, Colliery Dam does not have on-site camping, with an exception. I covered this in my “5 things I wish I knew Before moving to Nanaimo” blog, which is the by-law that people who are experiencing homelessness may camp at public parks overnight. Colliery dam park was one of the parks that eased restrictions back in 2019, stating Colliery Dam, as well as Bowen and Beban Parks are “broader parks that can balance the rights of all members of the community for usage and access.”

I was pleased to find a Facebook group named “We <3 The Colliery Dams” with members taking a collective approach to keeping the park safe and enjoyable for our community!

Hiking

If you’re looking for an easier hike, then check out the network of trails here. Colliery Dam loop is 2.25km with partially paved trails and takes under an hour to complete, so it’s great for the family. And speaking of fun for the family, check out Granny Falls when you’re hiking. I’ll be doing an entire blog post on Nanaimo waterfalls soon which I’m very excited about!

Part of the park includes off-leash dog trails which are located at the upper lake or “Middle Colliery Dam”. If you haven’t figured it out by now, this is something I immediately needed to explore with my two dogs, Tika and Scout! I found out just before departing, that the area is only designated as off-leash between the hours of 6am-10am and 4pm-dusk. I rushed over just after 9am and was still able to do a nice 25-minute loop with my dogs. I accidentally parked at the lower lake, but next time will park at 703 Nanaimo Lakes Road, which is the entrance to the off-leash area! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

I’ve had lots of questions recently from soon-to-be Nanaimo college students so I thought it was time for me to do a bit of research on this topic. I did not attend school in Nanaimo so I’ll be going based on what I know and imagine to be true about college life here. 

Firstly- Nanaimo’s largest industry currently is construction and was forestry for many years before that. Nanaimo’s colleges have excellent trades programs that people from all over the world come to attend.

If you are an international student or coming from out of province, Nanaimo is a city located on the east coast of Vancouver Island, about 60 km east of the city of Vancouver. The easiest path is to fly to Vancouver or Calgary and connect by another flight to Nanaimo. Option for BC ferries or float plane. 

Internationally, you can also fly to Seattle which isn’t far from Vancouver Island and connect to B.C.’s capital, Victoria, by either flight or ferry and drive about 2 hours north to get to Nanaimo. You can also drive from Seattle to B.C. , crossing at the Peace Arch border crossing which is just over a 2-hour drive. Don’t forget your passport!!

One thing I want to quickly mention is the application process for international students is different than for domestic students so make sure you check out your respective college’s admissions page for details and links on how to apply!

Now onto your Nanaimo Colleges:

Sprott Shaw Community College is a BC-based college with campuses throughout the province. The Nanaimo campus is located downtown on Terminal avenue. This college offers no waitlists with monthly start times. They provide accelerated programs which earn you a diploma in under 2 years with programs ranging from health care assistant, business and administration, early childhood education and, trades and design.

If you're a brand new student in the city you will be happy to hear that according to their website, The Nanaimo campus is known for an engaging student lifestyle with events and holiday celebrations throughout the year. 

The Nanaimo Campus does not offer residential living but later in this post, I will summarize the rental costs in Nanaimo.

Discovery Community College is a career training college located on Dunsmuir street in downtown Nanaimo. Their mission statement reads

 “Discovery Community College is committed to hands-on training and to graduating work-ready students who are sought after by employers.”

They use a hands-on “work by doing Philosophy” in fields such as business and finance, healthcare such as medical and dental, community support work and justice and community safety work.

Vancouver Island University

VIU was founded in 1969 as Malaspina College, they formally became Vancouver Island University in April 2008. The main campus is in Nanaimo, University district or Harewood. VIU’s core programs range from master’s degrees, to one-year diplomas and there are 120 to choose from. From business to science, arts, trades and social work you can learn a skill in almost any field here. Additionally, VIU offers English language certificate programs for English as a second language (ESL) students for the thousands of international students Nanaimo welcomes each year.

They also have really great exchange programs, co-ops, and practicum programs for schools all around the world and sister school agreements in Japan, Korea and Thailand.

Vancouver Island University has an acceptance rate of 60-70%.

VIU gives you the opportunity to live on-campus in one of their 10 residence buildings, housing up to 500 students. I’ll provide a link to the VIU res site in the description of this video.

Renting in Nanaimo

VIU provides Tenancy information for Nanaimo provided by VIU - because rents are high here you can find information on boarding and finding roomates. https://services.viu.ca/housing/off-campus-housing

These options are worth taking a look at If plan on studying in Nanaimo as rents here are not the most affordable. Over the past month, the average rent for a studio apartment in Nanaimo is $1,495. The average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment is $1,653, and the average rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $1,995.

Transportation

If you’re off campus and do not own a vehicle, you have a few options to get around if you aren’t within walking distance of your destination. 

The obvious is the Regional District of Nanaimo transit system. You’ll be happy to hear that VIU has a bus exchange, and if you’re at another campus the bus system seems pretty thorough and spreads across the city of Nanaimo. I’m not so sure about their schedules but if you have personal experience with BC Transit in Nanaimo I’d love to hear about it!

They also offer students a semester pass for $170 for 4 months. This equates to only $42.50 a month- saving you money compared to if you were to just buy a $50/monthly pass.

Although Nanaimo as a city has been extremely slow at introducing larger ride-share companies as a transportation option, a new Canadian owned and operated company called U-Ride launched on Dec 2nd of 2022. And from what I can tell people are loving it!

Jobs

If you’re student workload allows you the time for a part-time job, there are plenty in Nanaimo. Just scroll any job posting board and you’ll see many services industry jobs here as just like everywhere else in the province it seems, they are severely understaffed at the moment. Of course, if this isn’t what you want to do then there are other options out there too!

Food

Nanaimo’s got anything you’re looking for in terms of yummy food, from my personal favourite, poke, to ramen, sushi, fast food and big chain restaurants. Eating out can obviously be expensive but so can groceries here. My recommendation for groceries at a low cost is Superstore or hit up Costco. I always find their fresh berries and salads to be less expensive and you get so much more for your money! You will need a membership to shop here though.

As always I hope this video has helped you if you plan on studying in Nanaimo. There’s so much to do here in the outdoors and if you like road trips, check out my most recent trip to nearby Hornby Island! 

I relocated to Nanaimo in the summer of 2021 and spent a hectic and enormous amount of time house-hunting here. In our home search, I’ve come to be familiar with which neighbourhoods are a little more affordable than others. Some of the more expensive places to live here tend to have some proximity to the water with ocean or mountain views and are located near to amenities. Hopefully, that isn’t a surprise to you. But I know you’re here to find the most affordable spots to find a home, so here we go!

Old City

Old City is the area downtown Nanaimo which has so much charm. There are many small businesses downtown like boutique shopping, restaurants, and cafes. Just like most downtown core areas, there isn’t a lot of extra space for large parcels of land to build homes onto. The average price according to my MLS system for a single-family detached is $614,913…. But that’s if you can even find one. There's a very small number of detached homes for sale in this area which comes as no surprise because of the location. Condos for sale and apartments in Old City average $652,949 and outnumber detached homes by almost triple.

While you might want to avoid certain areas due to crime. And yes- Nanaimo just like any city has crime, the Old City Quarters is a really charming and well-maintained part of downtown Nanaimo. Living here also has you living close to Maffeo Sutton park (a community favourite) as well as the seaplane terminal and soon-to-be high-speed ferry service between Nanaimo and Downtown Vancouver. Hello Canucks games!

South Nanaimo

South Nanaimo encompasses the area just above Old City, south of The University District and Westwood Lake.

The average-priced home here (today) is $682,956 which is well below the city of Nanaimo’s Median price of $919,900. Unlike Old City, there are many more detached homes in this area. 

Being more removed from the downtown area makes it a more appealing spot for a family home. And with the prices the way they are and proximity to the University, is somewhere to consider buying an investment property as well! South Nanaimo is where you will find Colliery Dam park which I will highlight in an upcoming blog post. You’re also only about a 7-8 minute drive to the Aquatic and Ice centers. 

Chase River!

Coming in at $753,016 for a single-family detached home, this area of Nanaimo makes it our third most affordable neighbourhood in Nanaimo. You’re about a 10ish minute drive south of Downtown and about a 25-minute drive from the North end of the City, just off of the “new Highway”, so it’s an easy place to get to and from. Chase River is a mix of older but well-built homes and some new developments, which has caused prices to rise slightly in this area. If your looking for a quieter lifestyle this is a nice balance of outdoor space, parks and shopping with lots of amenities right in the neighbourhood. If you need to get to the airport you’re a 10-minute drive away. Chase River is also situated at an even distance from both Departure bay and Duke Point ferry terminals.

I’m extremely happy we made the move from North Vancouver to Vancouver Island as it was much more attainable to afford a detached home here. I’m going to finish this video by saying I KNOW I’m going to get comments about these prices not seeming very affordable by most standards. B.C.’s home prices are some of the most expensive in the world, we are well aware of this but for some of us, we just can’t imagine living anywhere else! If you want to live the island life make sure you get in touch!