The word “Nanaimo” is derived from the Coast Salish word “Sney-Ny-Mous” meaning “meeting place.” Mining brought white settlers to this area more than 150 years ago, when the Hudson’s Bay Company established a trading post and fort. The year 1874 marked the incorporation of Nanaimo as a town with a population of 1,400. In 1975, the city amalgamated with a number of improvement districts, forming a new city.
Today, Nanaimo is Vancouver Island’s second largest city and is known as the Harbour City for its picturesque harbour. Nanaimo is easy to get to, and its central location makes it an excellent base for tours of Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands.
Nanaimo is a great destination for conventions and business meetings, sporting events and activities, year-round golf getaways, romantic weekends, and a wide range of exhilarating adventures. Famous for its varied landscapes and more than two dozen parks, the city boasts one of the most beautiful waterfronts in Canada.
