Interested in knowing why Nannaimorites are so protective of the Island Life? I’m going to let you in on all our secrets which make living in Nanaimo the best!

I help people relocate in and around Nanaimo, just like I did… even though we really don’t want you to. JUST KIDDING. Although it can definitely feel that way sometimes. If you read any social media threads you're sure to come across comments like "Don't move here, stay away!" or "The Island is full!". Nanaimo’s population growth shows no sign of slowing down and here are a few things they don’t want you to know to keep you away! The things that make us want to stay in Nanaimo, not necessarily what brought us here in the first place.

The Malls Don't Suck!

Before online shopping being able to access the shops you loved was a pretty big deal. So with the magic of the internet aside, our malls are actually really good. Nanaimo is home to Vancouver Island’s largest shopping mall- Woodgrove Center. This mall has over 150 stores including The Bay, Walmart, Toys’r ‘us, Sports Chek… all the staples. But then it has all the extra stores like Lush, Sephora, Lululemon and even opened a location for the trendy boutique store, The Latest Scoop recently. Besides this mall, there are numerous other large and small shopping malls throughout Nanaimo where you can find almost anything you need!

Getting from Nanaimo to Downtown Vancouver is About to Get a Whole Lot Easier

In Summer 2023… like this summer, the long-awaited high-speed passenger ferry service will launch. What does this mean? It means if you want to live the island life but are committed to working on the mainland, you have a much faster commuting option. Even considering it for day trips and downtown events like sports games and concerts makes it such a convenient way to travel.  The 70 minute trip will take you directly to Vancouver Harbour Flight Center, letting you avoid the added trip to either Horseshoe Bay or Tsawwassen, then taking a 1:40+ ferry ride home.

Nanaimo is an Outdoor Playground

There’s so much to do here and so many hidden treasures locals don't want you to know about. Buuuut because all it really takes is a quick google search on the topic, I don’t mind sharing a few of them here ;)

From scuba diving one of THREE sunken shipwrecks to the Hole in the Wall which is a short drive to Port Alberni from Nanaimo:

photo credit: Sandra Hurst Fisher

The Abyss in Extension which is a 16” fissure (or crack) in the earth:

photo credit: Mick Bailey

Petroglyph park, which is just a short drive from downtown Nanaimo and beachcombing for beach glass and exploring hidden waterfalls… There's so much to do!

photo credit: Shari Lemieux

Fun, Quirky Events!

Bathtub racing, which began in 1967, is an annual race where participants use bathtubs to race from Departure Bay around the Winchelsea Islands and back. The race used to be across the Georgia Straight to Nanaimo until 1997. The Mayor of Nanaimo from 1968-1984 was a huge promoter of this annual event and would dress as a pirate. A statue captures this image in Maffeo Sutton Park. 

Nanaimo also has some “Haunted History” and the Museum holds a Haunted lantern tour. This 90-minute walking tour of downtown takes you on a historical and spooky journey through the landmarks of Nanaimo. This event seems to sell out for every single night from October 1-29th even with added nights, so get your tickets early for this one.

People Are Really NICE!

Living on an island in the Pacific, people are just more relaxed. I was super nervous about coming here and relying on people visiting me for my social life. I’ve quickly found that with most people I come across, from the dog park to my volunteer position with Scouts Canada, I’ve been able to make friends easier than I did on the mainland. 

So there you have it, I hope leaving it on that note shows you that I don’t actually mean to say people don’t want you to move here because I’d certainly love to have you. And if I can help in any way make sure you shoot me a message!

There were a few things that caught me by surprise when I moved to Nanaimo. I’m about to give you a heads-up on 5 things I wish I knew before moving to Nanaimo!

Population Growth

We weren’t the only ones with the bright idea to ditch the Mainland and head to the Island. Population growth on Vancouver Island has been steady since the 80’s, with a 10.3% population increase between 2016-2021. According to Chek news, Nanaimo saw the second largest population increase between July 2020 and July 2021 which is when we moved here, at 1,177 people with 1116 of those people migrating from other parts of B.C. 

The Regional District of Nanaimo which includes places like Nanaimo, Lantzville, Parksville and Qualicum Beach, is predicted to see an increase of 12, 025 people by 2026. The largest growth is also predicted to be in the  “early working years” category which is the ages of 25-44. We definitely noticed the increase in families moving when we did as it was a bit of a squeeze to get Simon into his catchment school and classes that year took a while to become established. If you’d like to know more about the process of relocating here, you can always reach out to me directly or check out some of my other blog posts on this topic!

Authorized Campsites for our Homeless Population

Because of its generally warmer climate, many people experiencing homelessness come to B.C. and particularly Vancouver and Vancouver Island. The Homeless population increased in 2020, with about 433-600 unsheltered which at minimum is a 29% increase from 2020 and current numbers on the rise.

A Nanaimo bylaw states that a person experiencing homelessness can sleep in parks from 7pm to 9am the following day. According to the city of Nanaimo website, the shelter has to be completely removed from the park by 9am and there is a list of parks that are prohibited for overnight use. These more open-spaced parks mainly downtown were deemed to be busier with tourism, and events and could potentially cause conflicts with park users. Victoria has a similar by-law except there, the shelters must be removed by 7am.

The Homeless population increased in 2020, with about 433-600 unsheltered which at minimum is a 29% increase from 2020 and current numbers are on the rise.

Early School Dismissal

School is out at 2pm! Elementary schools in District 68 which is Nanaimo-Ladymith have an end bell as early as 2:06pm or 2:10pm which is the case at my son’s school. The latest elementary school’s let out is 2:25pm which to me, is way too early! In Vancouver and growing up in Nova Scotia I recall the bell always being around 3pm. Even though it’s not that big of a time difference, 2pm just feels way too in the middle of the work day and I’m sure I can’t be the only one who’s moved here to have been surprised- and annoyed- by this!

Highway with Traffic Lights?!

The Nanaimo Parkway has a very interesting design in that it has many sets of traffic lights throughout its stretch through the city. By Interesting I mean, super annoying. The highway is known to locals as the “new highway” even though it was completed in 2001. With the population on the rise, accidents are already significantly higher than anywhere else in the province and there have been many recommendations to change the design. So far none have been approved. Although I am grateful to have this highway, as Vancouver is the only Major North American city without an inner-city freeway. And they have traffic light warning systems so you have enough time to slow down and make the appropriate lane switch if you need to make an exit.

No Roaming Cats

This last topic may or may not interest you but Nanaimo adopted a new bylaw in September of 2021, called the Animal responsibility by-law. Cats are a subject of this by law and they are now required to have identification and be sterilized if allowed outside. They are now not allowed to roam at large or on another person’s property which, if you’ve owned a cat, means they’d pretty much have to be leashed while outdoors.

So hopefully none of these are deal breakers for you and will give you a bit of a heads-up on what to expect before you move to Nanaimo! And again if you have any questions you’d like to ask me directly leave a comment below or contact me directly by going to my website ritafraser.com

If you’ve never bought or sold Real property, or it’s been a while, then this topic is for you. What the heck is the difference between a buying agent and a listing agent?

I get asked questions all the time regarding how my role changes when representing a buyer or a seller. There are key differences with each role but let me begin with the similarities when representing a client in a real estate transaction!

Firstly, we are all able to do both. Help people sell, and help people buy. Because of this, we owe the public certain fiduciary duties which we disclose very early on in relationships with clients and potential clients, like at an open house.

These duties are:

Loyalty (we will only act in your best interest)

Full disclosure (we must tell you everything we know which might influence your decision-making)

Confidentiality (what you say to me remains private… forever!)

Avoid conflicts of interest (for example if I’m selling your home, and a buyer of mine wants to purchase your home). This is especially important as dual agency (representing both sides of the transaction) isn’t allowed in B.C. unless you meet very narrow exceptions criteria.

We all have the same process for getting licensed and are required to work under a brokerage and maintain educational requirements to stay licensed in B.C. So although some agents prefer to work with buyers and others with sellers, we have the ability to help you with either. 

Your Buying Agent

Your buying agent is the person who will walk you through purchasing a home. Sometimes, after a sale, you will hear them referred to as the “selling agent”. One major difference with a buying agent relationship is it’s not always contractual. This will depend on how your realtor conducts their business. You may meet and agree to work together and go through the entire process without a signed contract to work together. Others will include this as part of their business model and you will sign what’s called a “Buyer’s Agency Exclusive contract”. This is simply an agreement that you (the client) will only work with that agent for the purchase of your home.

Remember that these are all relevant factors when deciding who you’d like to team up with so make sure you’re asking all of the right questions. (Hint: find a free download on the main page of this website called "Questions to Ask Your REALTOR® When Buying Your First Home")

Something to remember is that the commission is paid to a buying agent from the seller’s side of the transaction. So, though usually you aren’t paying them directly, this is important to know if you are looking to buy a for sale by owner home or a home being represented by a discount brokerage. The commission or the difference of commission your agent charges (there are no set standards) will still need to be paid… which probably means you’ll be responsible. 

Your buying agent will be the person you go to when you want to view homes, as they will organize the showings and go with you, and subsequently negotiate on your behalf once you’ve found the home you want to offer on. They’ll walk you through the writing of your contract, to the steps you take after your offer is accepted, all the way to completion and ultimately possession day!

Your Listing Agent

The agent you chose to represent you and your best interests in the sale of your home is called the listing or “seller’s” agent. Contrary to a buyer’s agency relationship, once you’ve found the agent you want to work with you will be presented with a listing agreement, which is a contract. This contract is between you and your agent’s brokerage, where your realtor is assigned as the “designated agent”. The agreement will not only outline all aspects of the sale of your home such as price, commission, and terms but also what’s called a “schedule A” which are the services your realtor commits to providing to you.

Services your REALTOR® will offer you are marketing your home for sale, coordinating showings and representing you in the negotiation process. They’ll also arrange open houses to present your home to potential buyers. Which leads me to another way buying agents and listing agents differ during an open house:

If the agent holding the home open represents the seller, it can be quite challenging as remember, they have agency with the seller and all the fiduciary duties that come with that. If they hear any information from a potential buyer they must disclose it to their client. For this reason, listing agents will often have another agent hold the Open. This agent will be able to assist any unrepresented buyer who shows interest in the home, as they aren’t obligated to disclose information to the sellers. But, they must still make full disclosures to the public entering the open house regarding their duties as an agent so expect to see a disclosure document. 

Hopefully this helped clarify your real estate agent’s role, whatever side of the transaction you are on! 

One of my favorite activities is dining out! I tried out one of Nanaimo's Dine Out Festival restaurants, Beefeaters Seafood and Steakhouse.

This is Nanaimo's first annual Dine Out Festival which ran this year from January 20th to February 5th, so I made it in just under the wire if you're from Vancouver you'll be familiar with the concept as they've had their dine out experience for 21 years and in Toronto, they have what's called “Dine TOgether”. The idea is simple, to promote local restaurants for tourists and locals to enjoy their menus at a discounted price. Usually, this consists of a set menu and a three-course meal but other variations exist such as take out only options. In Nanaimo this year the price range is $20 to $65 per person. We went out with two other couples so for this reason we chose Beefeaters Seafood and Steakhouse as it had the most variety for more people. From chicken to beef to fish, at only $49 a person for a three-course meal-you can't go wrong with that! The location is also ideal for our visiting friends, as it's located on Nanaimo's Waterfront walkway next to Newcastle Island and has amazing mountainscape and waterfront views. This is the waterfront dining experience I've been waiting for!

Beefeaters was recently acquired by two new owners, Josh and Erralyn Joseph, who have a genuine desire to run the restaurant with the same Integrity as its original owners of 35 years, Petros and Helen Mihilatoes. You can read their full and thoughtful bio on their website where they also give thanks to the legacy of everyone who's made the restaurant a success over the years. What I was most excited about was trying their new menu, which is an integration of Josh and Erralyn’s First Nations culinary background with the original Mediterranean and Canadian-style cuisine that the restaurant is known for. 

When we arrived at the restaurant I realized it’s located very near the Departure Bay Ferry terminal. In fact, you drive just past it and can walk to Beefeaters from the terminal if you had a delayed sailing. Unfortunately it was also dark, so the views I was anticipating weren’t visible. From a short stroll around though you can still tell this would be a beautiful spot on a sunny day!

To begin, the menu had cocktail options that they don’t normally offer and I was immediately drawn to their “Beefeater’s Martini” featuring blue cheese stuffed olives. This isn’t my typical choice however I was craving something a bit more savory and this definitely hit the spot!

The Dine Out menu consisted of quite a few options for appetizers and I had a hard time choosing between the french onion soups or the seared scallops with the citrus pork belly. In the end my decision to choose the scallops was a sound one and was the perfect starter to my main choice- The Bison short ribs. 

Our food arrived quickly and everyone’s dishes looked amazing. Those of us who had mashed potatoes with our meals found out quickly that they weren’t served as hot as the rest of the food but without missing a beat our server brought a fresh bowl of steaming hot potatoes. Delish!

The final course was a Vanilla creme brulee served with the perfect hard shell and was an amazing way to end the meal. I walked away with a VERY full belly!

Everyone was super attentive which is good, because the restaurant wasn’t very busy. In fact by 8:30pm we were the only diners left. Turns out it’s been a slow return back to normal for this lovely restaurant after Covid - both staffing-wise and patron-wise. If you’re in Nanaimo I would highly recommend you come here for a bite- I’ll certainly be back!

It's one of Nanaimo's most loved and visited parks, and I'd never been… until today! The sun was out so I decided to take my first stroll around Westwood Lake Park.

My first experience with Westwood Lake Park was during our home search. We absolutely loved this neighbourhood and found ourselves comparing so many others to it! The homes near the lake are beautiful and what a cool spot to come home to. Westwood Lake Park is located in the South Jinglepot neighbourhood, near Mount Benson. Considering so many Nanaimo residents come here for outdoor activities, I figured it was about time for me to check it out for myself! 

The main reason I have yet to explore this area is that it's about a 15-minute drive from my house… my purpose for today was to explore with my dogs which usually for me means a walk to Pioneer Park or to Invermere Beach. Westwood Lake offers an almost 6km loop trail around it, with many others to explore! These trails are on-leash only until you reach the off-leash area if you're with your dog. Today was an absolutely beautiful day and I'm so disappointed I was short on time because I didn't even make it to the off-leash area! it's located on the opposite side of the parking lots, halfway around the trail and I just didn't have time. Regardless, we did enjoy our time walking around. 

Many people use the trails here for running which I quickly learned when trying to wrangle my leashed dogs out of the way of passing runners! 

Speaking of Runners!

The park has hosted the Westwood Lake Triathlon for coming up on 6 years, with the next one taking place on May 14, 2023. The triathlon begins with a swim on the lake, followed by a cycle around the rural neighbourhoods of Jinglepot, Brennan Lake and Dumont Road. The run to the finish line is through the trails surrounding Westwood Lake! 

Family Recreation

I mentioned in my Blog “Things to do in Nanaimo” that Westwood Lake is a popular swim destination in the summer, and I can see why! It's the city's only lifeguard-patrolled Freshwater Beach and is a great spot to hang out for the day, as there are washrooms and change rooms available on location. Their Campground is also open year-round for RV and tent camping, making it the perfect Vancouver Island staycation with the family. Rates are about ~$40 a night to tent, ~$50 a night for an RV and their cabins and cottage range from ~$90 to $170 a night.

Community Events

Westwood Lake hosts so many community activities! One of the more fun ones occurs at Halloween which is the Westwood Lake Witch Paddle! This is hosted by the VIU Student Union and is a free event which began in 2021, where people show up dressed as witches and paddle board around the lake. There are also extra activities like bouncy castles, a food truck and a bonfire to roast marshmallows! They've also set up fun treasure hunts on the trails. They do collect donations for this event but it always is for a good cause! 

Fishing on the Lake!

Westwood Lake is a very popular spot for fishermen in Nanaimo. Freshwater Fisheries Society of B.C. releases catchable-sized rainbow trout in the lake each year. You can also find cutthroat trout and smallmouth bass. One interesting article I found was from 2019, where Anglers actually caught piranhas in the lake!! The belief is that some locals thought it was a good place to release their aquarium fish… which obviously was a not-so-great idea! 

On Father's Day every year, the lake hosts a “Family Fishing Day” which coincides with B.C.'s Family Fishing Weekend. This is where the B.C. government waives the requirement for a fishing license for a three-day period. 

I have to admit my time spent here today was very minimal. But, the good news is I live here now! And you know what? I think you should too! so if you want to know more about relocating to Nanaimo on Vancouver Island, contact me here! 

As much as I love living in Nanaimo, no city is perfect. I surveyed the neighbours to find out our top downsides to living in Nanaimo!

I took a spin around my North Nanaimo neighbourhood and asked my community what they disliked about living in Nanaimo. 

Where Are All of the Doctors?!

It's nearly impossible to find a doctor in Nanaimo! BC already has a shortage of physicians, but finding one on Vancouver Island, particularly North, can take years. A lot of people have added themselves to waitlists but even then it can take a really long time to be seen by a family doctor. Adding to this frustration, a lot of clinics have even closed their wait lists. Luckily, I was given a heads-up to this and I kept my family doctor on the mainland. I mostly do phone consultations with him and there's also the Telus Health app that a lot of Islanders use. There are only a few walk-in clinics in Nanaimo as well, so when I found myself severely ill, I had to drive up to Parksville to their urgent care. One of my neighbours also mentioned the difficulty of not having a cardiac unit in Nanaimo and having to drive about two hours to Victoria to be seen. Another neighbour mentioned that they received excellent care at the Nanaimo Regional hospital, so I don't want to discourage you completely! Just make sure that if you intend to move to Nanaimo you have a health care plan in place.

Litter Bugs

Even in some of the nicer areas in Nanaimo, it seems impossible to avoid litter. I'm convinced that a lot of this garbage is from people passing through, but I'd love to see more of a community effort to keep our parks and sidewalks clear of garbage. Sadly there's also been an increase in discarded needles. What's more concerning, is one of my neighbours shared with me that they found some of these needles in a school zone. I personally haven't experienced this. I did experience it a little bit in Vancouver, which is to be expected a little bit more in larger cities, I just didn't expect to hear of that happening in Nanaimo. 

Lack of Waterfront Dining

In contrast to nearby Parksville and Qualicum, Nanaimo is seriously lacking some good Oceanfront dining! Which is a shame- because it's something that I truly enjoy! I'm not sure if this has to do with maintaining the integrity of our beaches but I'd love to see more options for waterfront patios. If you're from Nanaimo and would like to leave your best patio recommendation please let me know at ritafraserrealty@gmail.com 

Stranded on the Island?

I've mentioned this one a few times… but when you live on an island, there's that extra obstacle of having to leave! It's not a total drag and I've covered a lot of the details in some of my previous blog posts. If you'd like to know more about my experience commuting using BC Ferries I'd recommend you check out that blog post next! My Experience Using BC Ferries!

More Hockey!

People in Nanaimo want more Hockey rinks! I actually received this feedback from two separate neighbours! As my family is no longer involved in this sport, I didn't even realize this was an issue!

This feedback came from one of my neighbours who is a women's hockey coach. He expressed difficulty competing with youth to find his player's ice time. 

As an aside (just keeping with the winter sports theme) If you’re a skier, you’re still in luck! I researched how many ski mountains there are on Vancouver Island and found three. The most popular one is Mount Washington which is in the Comox Valley. Further up in Port McNeil there's also Mount Cain and in Port Alberni there's Aerosmith Mountain. I wasn't able to find a ton of information on this mountain online, so that's something that you'd want to check out if you're planning to visit. 

I try to be as transparent as possible about my relocation to Nanaimo which is why I like discussing things that might help you decide if living in Nanaimo is the best move for you so if there's a topic you'd like for me to cover make sure you let me know!