Nanaimo

Nanaimo stretches roughly 23 kilometres along the central east coast of Vancouver Island, facing the Strait of Georgia and the mainland mountains beyond. Incorporated in 1874, it's home to just under 100,000 residents across about 91 square kilometres ([Statistics Canada Census 2021](https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/)), making it the second-largest city on the island and the natural mid-island hub for everything from ferry traffic to regional health care. The city is shaped by water and topography. Two BC Ferries terminals — Departure Bay sailing to Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver, and Duke Point sailing to Tsawwassen — sit within municipal boundaries, and foot-passenger float plane and catamaran services connect the downtown harbour directly to Vancouver. Newcastle Island Marine Provincial Park floats in that same harbour, a short passenger-ferry ride from Maffeo Sutton Park. To the west, Mount Benson rises to 1,019 metres and provides the backdrop to almost every neighbourhood view. Vancouver Island University, founded as Malaspina College in 1969, brings more than 10,000 students into the city each year, while the [Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools district](https://www.sd68.bc.ca/) operates 28 schools across the area. The neighbourhoods that follow reflect that range. Downtown wraps around the working harbour and the Old City Quarter. North Nanaimo centres on Woodgrove and newer suburban streets. Departure Bay carries the established, leafy character of a long-settled ferry community. Each pocket has its own rhythm, and the guides below are written to help you understand how daily life actually feels in each one — schools, transit, walkability, and community character included. Visit the [City of Nanaimo](https://www.nanaimo.ca/) for municipal services and planning information.