Sometimes it’s nice to leave the car at home! But what areas of Nanaimo make that possible and what areas will have you wishing gas prices were cheaper? 

Old City Quarter

Downtown Nanaimo is not surprisingly considered to be the most walkable neighbourhood in Nanaimo. The vibe in the Old City Quarter area is more quaint, and you will be walking to more local shops and smaller cafes but it’s perfect for anyone looking to be steps away from grabbing a bite or a meetup with friends. You can walk further into downtown to the shops along Commercial Street and even enjoy Nanaimo’s seawall and Maffeo Sutton Park! And because you’re downtown, you can walk to some of the transit the city has like seaplanes and ferries. Some may argue that it may be a little more dangerous to walk in a lot of these areas but I have never felt unsafe and I also believe perspective plays a huge part in this.

University District

I recently featured this neighbourhood in this video and am happy to be able to share a little more about what makes this neighbourhood so great, you can walk to just about anything you need!

Perfect for those attending school, the University district has a lot of convenient shops that any student would be happy to have nearby: Grocery stores, Tim Hortons, Subway, Shoppers Drug Mart and more! And for after-hours and weekend fun, Sip Neighbourhood pub is located on the corner of Fifth Street and Bruce Ave. The landscape is pretty flat too, so you won’t break your back hauling your backpack to and from school or bringing your groceries back home.

Dover Bay

Dover Bay in North Nanaimo is an area perfectly situated for walking. While some areas could do with more sidewalks, you’re located in between some of the most diverse shopping in Nanaimo and the most stunning beaches. From Woodgrove center to all of the shopping that surrounds it like Winners, Cabella’s and Michaels’s. And with lots of food choices like Save on Foods and so many restaurants, you’ve really got everything right outside your door! Dover Road is long and flat, spanning from Lantzville Road to McGirr Elementary so you won’t be battling any hills to get to where you need to be. It does get steep as you head towards the water but distance-wise it’s completely doable and worth it once you reach the water! Also located in Dover Bay is an off-leash dog park called May Richards Bennett Pioneer Park, or you can walk to Invermere dog beach at the bottom of Invermere Road. If you’re really feeling like a stroll, it doesn’t take very long from Dover Bay to walk to the Lantzville town core.

Least Walkable

Hammond Bay

Although considered to be one of the most desirable neighbourhoods due to its real estate and views, Hammond Bay is definitely an area to avoid if you plan to walk or don’t own a vehicle. Not only are the roads quite hilly, there’s just not enough nearby. Even if you are planning to walk to the beach or park, you’re still going to be battling those hills and vehicle traffic along Hammond Bay Road. This busy road spans from Departure Bay Road all the way to North Nanaimo, making it a major route to navigate the city and ideal to have nearby if you have a car. And if you are out walking in Hammond Bay, keep in mind that there is very limited cell service in much of the neighbourhood which can be quite dangerous if you’re on foot and something happens.

South Jinglepot

Unless you’re walking to Westwood Lake, which actually can be quite nice to have nearby in the summertime, you’re very limited with where you can get to by foot in the South JinglePot neighbourhood of Nanaimo. It’s just much more suburban, so while it’s a nice neighborhood to take a stroll with your dog you won’t be walking them to get groceries or anything like that. There is a corner in which a Liquor store, Jinglepot Pub and a bowling alley are located, which each can give you a reason to leave your car at home, but that’s about it!

Cinnabar Valley

Located in Chase River, Cinnabar Valley is a residential subdivision made up of tree-lined streets with sidewalks but you’ll be walking a while before you reach anything besides school or a corner store. Additionally, I wouldn’t recommend this area to anyone without a car because being so south it’s just much harder to access the other parts of town you might need to get to without one. There are many other reasons you might love this neighbourhood, some of which I will cover in a future video, but walkability isn’t one of them.

And there you have it, My list of the the most and least walkable neighbourhoods in Nanaimo. If there’s more you’d like to know make sure you get in touch, I’d be happy to help answer any questions about the neighbourhoods in this video or any others in Nanaimo and the surrounding areas!

Have you ever heard of a place called Campbell River and wondered how it compares?

Knowing from experience, location can sometimes be one of the trickier parts of the equation of moving to Vancouver Island. I for one came when the market was hot and finding a house was a matter of timing and luck, and when we were exploring the island and Campbell River came up in our searches I had no idea what it was like. Hopefully, I’ll answer some of those questions for you here!

Campbell River is located on the east coast, mid-way up Vancouver Island, 155km north of Nanaimo. The drive from Nanaimo takes about 1h30m along Highway 19 passing the Comox Valley on your way.

Campbell River was incorporated into a city in 2005, but its history dates way back to 1792 when Vancouver Island was first charted. In 1860, many Europeans began settling in the area to set up logging camps. Between 1952-2010 it also had its own Paper Mill called Elk Falls Pulp and Paper Mill. But Campbell River is most famous for its fishing and hunting and is known as the “Salmon Capital of the World”. In 1924 it became home to the Tyee Club, which is Campbell River’s oldest organization and the world’s most exclusive fishing club due to its strict set of fishing rules to earn a membership.

The population is around 35,000 people with a density of 225.7 per km2, compared to Nanaimo’s estimated 2024 population of 108,000 people. Density-wise, Nanaimo’s is much higher at 1,147 per km2. So, Campbell River's smaller size offers tranquillity, while Nanaimo's urban setting provides a dynamic lifestyle.

Both cities have a median age of between 44-46 but with more and more young families finding their way to Vancouver Island I am expecting this to change in the coming years.

Amenities

After talking about population, it will come as no surprise to hear that if you’re looking for a wider array of shopping options, then Nanaimo is your best bet. It’s got the largest mall on Vancouver Island, Woodgrove Center, and other popular chains and a Costco. Campbell River does have some larger big-box stores such as Canadian Tire, however, you’re better off checking out the stores along Shopper’s Row along the waterfront. 

As for sports and recreation, both cities offer many community and rec centers to enjoy various activities such as swimming, skating and local events. 

I hate to admit that Nanaimo is not known for having amazing health care. The hospital is 60 years old and with only 340 beds, the city has a huge need for a hospital with greater capacity. 

Campbell River’s campus of the North Island Hospital opened in 2017. It has a 95-bed capacity and citizens seem to be quite happy with the addition to the city.

Housing Costs and Taxes

If you’re house hunting in Campbell River, you’ll be pleased to hear that purchasing a home here is more affordable than in Nanaimo. Over the last 90 days, compared to Nanaimo’s current median sale price for a 3-bedroom home of $695k, that price is only $640k in Campbell River. Considering you can find lots of homes with breathtaking ocean views, (at a higher price point mind you) it’s definitely worth checking this city out if it will save you money.

Now let’s talk about property taxes. By now, you know that Nanaimo’s are quite high. In 2023 the final property tax rate for Nanaimo was 0.583635%.

In 2023, Campbell River’s property tax rate was 0.558529 %.

So, for a $650,000 home in Nanaimo, your property taxes will cost you $3,794 and in Campbell River, they aren’t much lower at $3,630.

Considering what your property taxes are being used for which are things like municipal services, community development and public infrastructure it’s important to factor in what you’re getting back from your city and in my opinion, Nanaimo just has more to offer.

Outdoor Rec

If you’re moving to Vancouver Island, I’m sure that outdoor recreation is something you value as much as I do. In Nanaimo, you’re centrally located making it an easy starting point to travel and experience all that the Island has to offer in terms of hiking, fishing, camping and beaches. While Campbell River is a little further up-island from the busier areas around Nanaimo, you can still access so many amazing Vancouver Island outdoor destinations that you may not feel the need to venture far very often. 

Strathcona Provincial Park is located 48km West of Campbell River and is BC’s oldest, and largest, provincial park. From camping at Buttle Lake, visiting one of its many waterfalls and even grizzly bear sightseeing tours, it’s the perfect destination if you love nature. Another must-see is a visit to Elk Falls Provincial Park, which is a mere 3km north of Campbell River.

Travel

Most people get to Campbell River via Nanaimo and take the drive North. There aren’t many other options but if you don’t have a car, you can hop on the Island Link shuttle bus from as far down as Victoria up to your destination. By air, you can arrive from Vancouver or Washington via Pacific Coastal and Central Mountain Air.

Travel was one of the main reasons we decided to plant our roots in Nanaimo as Campbell River just felt too out of reach and inconvenient for our family. If this doesn’t bother you, and you like the idea of a slightly more remote location then Campbell River could be the place for you!

Weather

I won’t spend a ton of time on this topic, as both locations are very similar in terms of weather and if you’re really curious about what this looks like month to month, I did an entire post on this! However, it’s important to note that the higher up-island you go, the slightly colder it is in the winter with more snow, and it’s a couple of degrees warmer in the summer as well. And of course, your chances of rain on Vancouver Island increase as well as you head north and Campbell River gets about the same level and amount of rainy days as Nanaimo.

I hope that has helped answer some of your questions surrounding which area on Vancouver Island might suit your needs most. Thanks again for being here and learning a little more about this beautiful island I call home!

If you've considered moving into a townhouse in Nanaimo but aren't quite sure what you're getting into you've come to the right place. Today I'm sharing the pros and cons of choosing a townhouse over a detached home in Nanaimo.

What’s a Townhouse?

Before we begin if you don't know what a townhouse is, a townhouse is part of a connected complex sharing walls with adjacent units they're often arranged in rows and individual units can be side by side or stacked. For this reason, a townhouse has slightly less privacy than a detached home but a bit more than an apartment or a condo since you most likely will have your own private outdoor space.

Townhouse ownership is typically limited to the interior space, with common areas like parking or parts of the building that are shared, like the roof, being owned by the strata Corporation as tenants in common.

Pros

1. Affordability

   While most of the home resale Market in Nanaimo is with detached homes, Nanaimo offers a wide variety of housing options to meet any budget such, as townhomes. In Nanaimo, over the last 3 months, the median sale price for a townhome was around $613,000 for a 2 to 3-bedroom unit. At this price, you're more likely looking at a newer home compared to a 2 to 3-bedroom detached home in this price range, which most likely will require a little bit more TLC. This makes Townhomes a great entry point into homeownership for first-time homebuyers.

2. Community Living

   townhouses often foster a strong sense of community. This is due to a lot of shared spaces and close proximity to neighbours, creating lots of opportunities for social interactions. If you're a member of your Strata Council, which is the governing body of the strata Corporation, you'll be participating in how the strata is run and forming relationships with other caring townhouse owners in your complex.

3. Low Maintenance

   Contrary to owning a detached home, with a townhouse, the exterior maintenance is typically taken care of by the strata. This allows residents to enjoy a more relaxed lifestyle and is perfect for those who want home ownership without the hassle of extensive upkeep. Imagine not having to worry about cleaning your gutters or mowing the lawn.

4. Amenities

   Many townhouse complexes in Nanaimo come with communal amenities such as gyms, parks and even pools and as a resident, you get to enjoy these facilities without the responsibility of personal maintenance.

Cons

1. Limited Privacy

   As I mentioned, just as townhouse living can foster a strong sense of community, the proximity to neighbours might mean you're sacrificing a bit of your privacy. Even with a private outdoor space, you'll still most likely be in very close proximity to the people living next to you, so noise and visual disturbances can be a consideration here.

2. Strata Fees

   Almost any townhouse complex you will encounter will have strata fees, which are to cover shared expenses and maintenance. The amount you pay will be determined by something called your "unit entitlement”, which is the share of the common property that you own. This is usually determined by a formula that takes into account the size of your home. As mentioned, the strata of fees that you'll be paying will go towards the maintenance of your townhouse complex and go towards either an operating fund, which are the more frequent upkeep items such as gardening, insurance and garbage removal; or towards the contingency reserve fund for things that occur less than once a year; generally larger repairs. If you're purchasing a townhouse you must budget for this additional cost.

3. Less Freedom of Design

   If you want to find a home that you can customize you may find townhouse living a bit restrictive. This is because certain bylaws may determine what changes you can make to your Strata lot such as flooring, knocking down a wall or even remodeling your kitchen. You may need to get written permission before personalizing your space.

4. Parking Challenges

   Most people will find that parking and guest parking is much more limited in a townhouse complex. If you're lucky you could score a unit with a garage and a driveway but this isn't always the case. And, referring back to bylaws, you may also be restricted on the type of vehicles you park in your driveway, such as recreational vehicles.

   For all the reasons I just mentioned above make sure to read and understand all of the bylaws and rules that will apply to your future townhouse complex!

There are so many ways to get around in Nanaimo! Don’t have a car? No problem.

Today’s topic is something I get asked a fair bit and that is, Do I need a car in Nanaimo and what is the transit system like? I’ll go beyond this and explain some other methods of transportation you’ll want to know if you’re going to be living in Nanaimo.

Driving

Let’s start with the first question and that is do you need a vehicle here? My answer to this question is always… if you can afford one these days (gas prices) then yes, I highly recommend one. This is due to the fact that it provides you the ability to get to other destinations Vancouver Island has to offer much easily. Once you move here, you’ll want to explore and you can be in beautiful destinations in a matter of hours, like in this video of my trip to Hornby Island. 

If you’re in the city, having a car makes it so you’re no more than 20-25 minutes from most points. Nanaimo is a long city North to South, with two highways that run in this direction so you can get anywhere fairly quickly. Nanaimo is great at providing lots of shopping opportunities in all segments of this city though, so if you’re fine with sticking to your neighbourhood then transit or biking is probably fine.

By car, according to Google Maps, from central Nanaimo you are 1h36mins to Victoria.

2h57 mins to Tofino

1h34 mins to Campbell River

32 mins to Parksville

2 hours to Port Renfrew

1h10 mins to Port Alberni

And 1h14 minutes to the Comox Valley

If you have an electric vehicle, Nanaimo currently has 81 charging stations around the city! If not, gas prices in Nanaimo today hover around 1.58…

As far as ride sharing is concerned, Nanaimo is lucky to have U-ride which started last November! Simply download the app and request a pick-up. It functions just like Uber and Lyft in bigger cities and is an excellent alternative to Taxis. I recently used this service to get from the Departure Bay ferry terminal to the Nanaimo Airport and it was a $45 fare.

Public Parking

Parking in Nanaimo is also very affordable compared to big cities and finding parking is usually pretty easy! There are a number of parking apps to make payment and extending your parking hastle-free.

Public Transit

Now onto Bus Transit. Nanaimo does have a very thorough bus route network throughout the city which covers down to Cassidy where the airport is located and up to Lantzville in the North, as well as the intercity bus route 91 which goes to Parksville and QB. The three large exchanges are located at Woodgrove Center, Country Club Mall and at VIU.

Cycling

On top of the bus transit system in Nanaimo, the city also has a healthy network of bike lanes. Active transportation is something Nanaimo is working on, as the population grows and people need more and more cost-effective ways to get around town. There have been major bike lane improvements along Metral Drive and Bowen road, however there has been some resistance with seeing improvements downtown on Front street with the major argument being congestion issues for cars and according to one article on Nanaimo News Now “ A lengthy project to include bike lanes on Wakesiah Ave. between Bowen Rd. and Colliery Dam Park is awaiting funding and direction from council.”

There’s also a Nanaimo Cycling App, but I didn’t find this very useful other than providing a map of the city with coloured routes. 

Extended Travel

Now besides ways to get around within the city, what about ways to get off the island, to and from Nanaimo?

Most people’s immediate plan of action here is BC Ferries. After this video is done, check this one out where I describe my experience using BC ferries to commute to and from West Vancouver for a year for work. As travel to and from Vancouver Island has increased, particularly during the summer months, it’s recommended you always reserve a sailing if you’re travelling with your car! Otherwise, you will risk having to wait for a sailing or more. Nanaimo has two large BC ferry terminals, one in Departure Bay which connects you to West Vancouver and one in Duke Point which brings you into Twawassen. There’s also a 20-minute sailing from the Nanaimo Harbour to Gabriola island. These smaller ferry services will take you to all the smaller islands off the coast of Vancouver Island called the Gulf Islands, like Salt Spring, Denman and Hornby. They’re well worth exploring

Of course, if you’re looking for a direct and easy way to get from downtown Nanaimo to downtown Vancouver, Nanaimo’s new high-speed passenger ferry called Hullo began service this summer. I’ve taken it twice so far and it’s been super easy, albeit a little pricier than walking on with BC ferries. A base fare for Hullo is $39, compared to $19 with BC ferries.

If you’re not into travelling by boat, then one of the smaller seaplanes from Nanaimo Harbour could be the answer. Seair offers service from downtown Nanaimo to downtown Vancouver for around $116(when booked online**) and Harbour Air, which I found fares this week for as low as $79.

Located in the same area as Hullo Ferries, Helijet offers flights to downtown Vancouver on their twin-engine 12-seater helicopter and will get you there in just 18 minutes! Flights this week were as low as $129.

Then if you really have places to go, Nanaimo’s Airport offers service to connect you to international airports through airlines such as Air Canada, West Jet and Pacific Coastal. 

I hope this has answered your questions about how to get around the city of Nanaimo! If there’s something you’d like to know that I did not cover, get in touch! ritafraserrealty@gmail.com