I’ve had a few requests recently about making this post to highlight the differences between living in two of Vancouver Island’s largest cities, Victoria and Nanaimo. I’m not surprised at all because I know firsthand how choosing the perfect city to call home is a huge decision and if you’ve never been here you often don’t know where to start! Both Victoria and Nanaimo are popular tourist destinations, but which is best suited for your relocation? Depending on the kind of person you are and your needs, each city will offer its own unique pros and cons. Let’s explore.

Let's talk numbers!

Victoria, the capital of British Columbia, is the larger city of the two, with a population of the greater region, of around 415,000 people and a density of 4,406/(km²). On the other hand, Nanaimo, a gem nestled on the east coast of the island, has a more intimate community with around 100,000 residents and has a density of Density 997.2 (km²). With its smaller size, Nanaimo offers a close-knit atmosphere that many people including myself find appealing. I find it to be the perfect balance of city living and having some breathing room however it’s your call if you like a busier atmosphere, then Victoria is for you!

Amenities and Driving Times

Both cities boast fantastic amenities, but the bigger population in Victoria means a wider variety of shopping, dining, and cultural experiences like concert events. However, Nanaimo is no slouch when it comes to amenities! It's got everything you need, and often with shorter driving times to access them. Also Keep in mind that Victoria might experience more traffic, especially during rush hours.

Cost of Homes and Living

Now, let's talk about everyone's favourite topic it seems: home prices! Victoria does come with a higher price tag for both homes and general living expenses. In the last 90 days, the median sale price for a 3-bedroom detached home in the greater region was $1,118,000. On the other hand, Nanaimo offers more affordable housing options, with a 90-day median sale price of $749,950 making it an attractive choice for those looking to get more bang for their buck. When it comes to property taxes, Nanaimo is one of the highest in the province behind Powell River and Kamloops with a rate of 0.600870%. So, for a $750,000 home, you’d be paying $4506. In Victoria, where the property tax rate is lower at 0.449150%, that 1,118,000 home will still cost you $5021 in property taxes.

Rental Costs

If you're considering renting, Nanaimo tends to have slightly lower rental costs compared to Victoria, making it an excellent option for those starting on the island or seeking temporary accommodations. Victoria has a rental vacancy rate of just 1.5% and the average rental cost for a 1 bedroom apartment last month was $2,049, which has remained stable since last year. Nanaimo’s rental vacancy rate is 2.2% and the average for a 1 bedroom apartment is $1,606 which has actually decreased by 6% since last year. 

Proximity to Outdoor Activities

One of the major draws to Vancouver Island is its’ breathtaking natural beauty. Victoria and Nanaimo both offer fantastic access to hiking trails, mountain ranges, and nearby beaches. Victoria's proximity to the Juan de Fuca trail and Sooke Potholes is a hiker's paradise. Meanwhile, Nanaimo offers easy access to the Mount Benson trail, Nanaimo River and not to mention is centrally located on Vancouver Island making it the perfect starting point for nature lovers and water enthusiasts.

Airport Access

For frequent travellers, Victoria's International Airport offers a broader range of flights. However, Nanaimo Airport provides convenient regional connections and is just a short drive away. Also, both cities have BC ferry terminals offering another option to leave the Island, although why would you ever want to? 

Weather

A hot topic for anyone moving to BC is the weather. You may have heard that we get a lot of rain but that isn’t true when speaking about Vancouver Island. In fact, Victoria is one of the sunniest cities in BC with an average of 317 days of sunshine per year and gets more sunshine than 82% of Canada’s urban population. Nanaimo also sees a fair bit of sun, with an average of around 300 days but for this particular category, if you’re looking to avoid the rain Victoria is the safest bet.

In the end, choosing between Victoria and Nanaimo comes down to your unique lifestyle preferences and needs. Victoria dazzles with its big-city amenities, while Nanaimo provides a more intimate community experience. Both cities offer an incredible quality of life, surrounded by the island's stunning beauty.

Whichever you choose, you'll be embraced by friendly locals, gorgeous landscapes, and the quintessential West Coast charm. I hope this comparison helped you gain some clarity on what each city has to offer. And make sure you get in touch if you have any specific questions about relocating to either Victoria or Nanaimo.

What have you heard about the process of moving to Vancouver Island that has you apprehensive about what the process is like, and is it worth it? I’ll be busting the top 5 myths about moving to Vancouver Island. 

Starting with…

You Need to be Here to Buy

I want to start off by saying that in an ideal situation, being present on Vancouver Island for your home search is highly recommended. A home purchase is likely the biggest you will make in your life and you want to make sure you’re as certain as possible that not only are you in the right home but also the right location. For this reason, I think making an exploratory visit if you’ve never been here is a great plan. That’s what we did, and I was glad because we were able to narrow down that we really only wanted to live in Nanaimo vs other areas. With all that in mind however, it’s entirely possible that although you aren’t physically present, a property you like can come on the market and you don’t have time to visit, especially if you’re from further away or out of province. In this case, having a realtor do a virtual showing for you is a great way to get into the home for a viewing. Should you decide to write an offer on a home you haven’t seen in person you and your realtor can decide if you need to negotiate a second viewing so that you can physically see the home. It’s possible that this strategy might make your offer less appealing but it’s important that you know the risks involved in buying a home sight unseen and you and your realtor will need to have a serious discussion about this. Whether you see the home in person or not, so much of what we do these days can be done remotely such as signing contracts virtually, wire transferring of funds for deposits etc etc. 

You Don’t Need a Real Estate Agent

While this might be true in theory- you don’t need to have representation when purchasing a home- that also comes with a laundry list of risks- I would argue that it’s especially important that you have a real estate agent with local knowledge and community ties that can act as your buying agent, especially if you’re from out of province. If you don’t know where to start but have someone near you that you like and trust, they can always refer you to an agent on Vancouver Island that will take care of you.

Getting set up with an agent early can be beneficial for a few reasons. You can be set up right away with a home search on the MLS which will prepare you for a possible visit and home tour. What you don’t want to do is show up in a town on Vancouver Island and see homes for sale and expect someone to just let you in to see them. Have someone who can set these appointments up beforehand as homeowners need notice to prepare their homes for viewings. While you can also go to Open Houses while here it’s always nice to have a skilled professional with you to help guide you on these viewings. 

Another benefit to having a realtor on Vancouver Island when you’re buying from out of province is that they most likely already have relationships with professionals you will need during your home purchase process, such as a home inspector, and will be able to recommend their services and facilitate appointments. This can be especially beneficial when you are on a tight time frame and can expedite the process.

Having someone who works locally can work out in your favour if they have good relationships with other realtors in the area. Realtors will always act in your best interest as part of their fiduciary duties. However, when it comes time to negotiate that process can be so much smoother communication wise etc when both parties have a pre-existing relationship or have worked together in the past. 

It’s Too Expensive

I’m talking housing here. We all know BC is one of the most expensive provinces to live in Canada. Even still, cities in BC are amongst some of the fastest growing populations including Nanaimo, which is the 5th and also located on Vancouver Island. While the median home price in Vancouver is $1,188,000, Nanaimo is lower at $738,250. Think this is still high? There are many other places on Vancouver Island that deliver the quality of life and the beauty you expect here for less. In Port Alberni, a small city about an hour outside of Nanaimo on the way to Tofino, homes sold a median price of $535,000 over the last 90 days. It’s considered the most affordable city on Vancouver Island but has great outdoor living and many amenities. Some other areas have lower home prices, some of which I spoke about in my video “Small Towns on Vancouver Island you can move to”. My point is you can work with a realtor to find something that works within your budget, you may just not end up in larger cities like Victoria if you want a cheap single-family detached home. 

You Will Be Isolated

No doubt you will have some apprehension about moving to an Island. How remote! How Isolating! Well, it’s not actually like that at all. Vancouver Island is about 460 km’s long and has plenty to offer in and of itself. Many Islanders don’t have the need to leave the island often as you can find almost anything you need right here. 

If, however, you do need to take a trip to the mainland you have many options for travel. You heard about my personal experience using BC ferries to commute to work in West Vancouver for an entire year and BC ferries terminals can be found all over the west coast of the Island. 

Additionally, and you may have already heard, a new passenger ferry service called Hullo connecting downtown Nanaimo to downtown Vancouver in 70 minutes is coming in late August! 

If you’re not into taking a boat you can hop on a float plane via a few different services like Harbour Air. There are also airports all over Vancouver Island, some with commercial services like Nanaimo and Comox. 

However, if you choose to travel I have no doubt you won’t feel as cut off from the world as you might imagine. This place offers so much and it’s hard ever to want to leave at all!

You Won’t be Welcomed

I admit that I was weary of our reception to moving to Nanaimo. It’s common to hear people comment that the Island is overpopulated and that they don’t want any more people moving here. It’s true that the island is seeing a lot of growth… Nanaimo itself grew by 10% between 2016 and 2021. Every time I would meet new people I would hesitate to tell them we had recently relocated from the mainland but when I finally did I found that the other person was either a transplant themselves or they were happy to have us! Honestly, what you see online are usually just cranky people hiding behind their keyboards and wouldn’t say the things they do to you in person. I can only speak from my own experience but I have found people in Nanaimo to be some of the friendliest and my friend circle has grown tremendously since relocating here.

So there are my top 5 myths about moving to Vancouver Island and why it can be one of the best decisions you will make! I hope to see you soon on Vancouver Island!

Today’s neighbourhood feature is an area called Uplands, located in the northern central part of Nanaimo just above Long Lake. You will drive by Long Lake if you’re taking Island Highway north and the homes on the ridge are what is considered Long Lake Heights. More on this later!

The Uplands location is really great for a few reasons! It runs parallel to the highway so you can easily get to areas like downtown in no time, but the highway is on the other side of Long Lake so it’s not noisy. It’s the location for two of Nanaimo’s larger shopping centers, North Town Center and Country Club Center. Both of which have everything you need- from groceries to liquor stores, fashion and a movie theatre and each one is just a 5-minute drive from the other. Woodgrove Center, the largest shopping mall on Vancouver Island, is also very close.

Homes in Uplands were mostly constructed between 1961-1980, many on tree-lined and flat residential streets but also some interesting cliffside and rocky terrain, mainly in Long Lake Heights. Long Lake Heights is a Bareland Strata community located on Long Lake. This freshwater lake is a hot spot for kayaking, swimming on a sandy beach and fishing! The views of the lake and beyond Mount Benson are really great as you feel perched up above the city taking everything in! A downside to this is the hilly landscape makes the roads in the neighbourhood very steep and dangerous in the wintertime. If you’re not familiar with what strata living entails, make sure you get in touch with a real estate professional like me. We looked at a few homes in Long Lake Heights before realizing they were strata and ultimately decided it wasn’t for us. The Knowledge I’ve gathered from those I’ve met is that it’s a well-run strata and a well-maintained area, including frequent snow removal for the steep roads I spoke about.

Single-family detached homes in the Uplands community over the last 30 days were sold at a median price of $672,500. There are also many condominium and townhouse complexes, making it a great starter neighbourhood for families. 

There are other great reasons that make Uplands a great neighbourhood for families! It’s rated highly for being quiet and safe, and the school here is called Uplands Park Elementary which is a feeder school for Wellington Secondary not too far away in Departure Bay. Both schools are highly regarded in the city of Nanaimo. Uplands is home to one of the city's best recreation centers, Oliver Woods Community Center. So many of Simon’s summer and school break camps take place here and he’s always enjoyed them and the camp staff are amazing with kids! It doesn’t have a pool but facilities can be rented out for birthday parties and events. 

There are some great local parks in Uplands that you can walk to and the neighbourhood is home to a smaller hike called Rutherford and Radar Ridge, a 3.5 km loop up Cottle Hill where you can take in views of the Valley below from the top. 

If you’re looking for somewhere to eat on date night, consider Eve Olive. This is the best plant-based restaurant in Nanaimo with a cozy vibe you’ll really love!

If this sounds like somewhere you’d like to be and are considering a move to Nanaimo or Vancouver Island, be sure to get in touch with me soon!

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!