Nanaimo is Vancouver Island's second largest city, having a population of 77,000. The first inhabitants of this area were the Snuneneymuxw, a Coast Salish people, who found food, fresh water and shelter in the many islands and inlets that abound. The first European settlers arrived with the discovery of coal in the 1850's, when the community became known as Colville. In 1874, the Town of Nanaimo was incorporated and developed as a coal mining, forestry and fishing community. Today, Nanaimo serves as the regional centre for Central and North Vancouver Island. Coal mining has long since ended, and the economy is increasingly commercial and service based. Nanaimo has enjoyed the reputation of having more retail space per capita than any other city in Canada. It is for this reason that many residents of other Island communities come to Nanaimo to do their shopping. The population of Nanaimo and other communities in Central Vancouver Island is projected to grow faster than the province generally, with a heavy influx of baby-boomers anticipated as this population group reaches retirement age. This trend is already evident in the real estate market as we witness more and more senior buyers from other provinces and countries lining up to buy our great property deals. Nanaimo has a large regional hospital with a full spectrum of diagnostic and treatment services, and a highly-regarded university, Malaspina University-College. For more information on Nanaimo, visit some of the website links in our resource page in the top menu. Nanaimo Weather Comparisons with Other Canadian Cities One reason for moving to Nanaimo is our great weather. Click here for the current 5 day forecast. MILD WINTERS, WARM SUMMERS Average daily maximum temp. for (Celsius) | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | Nanaimo | 6.2 | 8.2 | 10.9 | 14.1 | 17.8 | 20.5 | 24 | 24.2 | 20.9 | 14.6 | 9.1 | 6.1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Victoria | 6.9 | 8.4 | 10.5 | 13.4 | 16.6 | 19.3 | 21.9 | 22 | 19.4 | 14.2 | 9.5 | 6.9 | Vancouver | 6.1 | 8 | 10.1 | 13.1 | 16.5 | 19.2 | 21.7 | 21.9 | 18.7 | 13.5 | 9 | 6.2 | Calgary | -2.8 | -.1 | 4 | 11.3 | 16.4 | 20.2 | 22.9 | 22.5 | 17.6 | 12.1 | 2.8 | -1.3 | Edmonton | -7.3 | -3.6 | 2.1 | 11.3 | 17.6 | 21 | 22.8 | 22.1 | 16.8 | 10.9 | 0 | -5.4 | Regina | -10.7 | -6.7 | .3 | 10.9 | 18.8 | 23.2 | 25.7 | 25.3 | 18.7 | 11.5 | -.2 | -7.9 | Winnipeg | -12.7 | -8.5 | -1.1 | 10.3 | 19.2 | 23.3 | 25.8 | 25 | 18.6 | 10.8 | -.9 | -9.7 | Toronto | -1.1 | -.2 | 4.6 | 11.3 | 18.5 | 23.5 | 26.4 | 25.3 | 20.7 | 13.8 | 7.4 | 1.8 | Ottawa | -6.1 | -4.1 | 2.2 | 10.8 | 19.1 | 23.8 | 26.5 | 24.9 | 19.5 | 12.5 | 4.8 | -3 | Montreal | -5.8 | -4.3 | 2.1 | 10.7 | 18.9 | 23.3 | 26.3 | 24.7 | 19.5 | 12.5 | 5.3 | -2.4 | Quebec | -7.9 | -6.1 | .1 | 7.8 | 17.1 | 22.2 | 25 | 23.4 | 17.7 | 10.7 | 2.9 | -4.8 | Halifax | -.2 | -.1 | 3.5 | 8.4 | 14.1 | 19.4 | 22.9 | 23 | 19 | 13.1 | 7.9 | 2.6 |
UP TO 40 DAYS WITHOUT RAIN IN SUMMER Average monthly total precip. in mm. | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | Nanaimo | 169 | 140 | 112 | 63 | 49 | 44 | 25 | 31 | 38 | 97 | 198 | 190 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Victoria | 136 | 107 | 78 | 44 | 36 | 32 | 19 | 23 | 30 | 75 | 147 | 151 | Vancouver | 153 | 123 | 114 | 84 | 67 | 54 | 39 | 39 | 53 | 112 | 181 | 175 | Calgary | 11 | 8 | 17 | 23 | 60 | 79 | 67 | 58 | 45 | 13 | 12 | 12 | Edmonton | 22 | 14 | 16 | 26 | 49 | 87 | 91 | 69 | 43 | 17 | 17 | 20 | Regina | 14 | 11 | 19 | 23 | 52 | 75 | 64 | 43 | 32 | 21 | 12 | 16 | Winnipeg | 19 | 14 | 21 | 31 | 58 | 89 | 70 | 75 | 52 | 36 | 25 | 18 | Toronto | 61 | 50 | 66 | 69 | 73 | 71 | 67 | 79 | 83 | 64 | 75 | 71 | Ottawa | 64 | 51 | 64 | 67 | 81 | 91 | 88 | 87 | 86 | 79 | 77 | 74 | Montreal | 70 | 59 | 72 | 76 | 75 | 84 | 90 | 94 | 91 | 77 | 93 | 82 | Quebec | 89 | 70 | 90 | 81 | 106 | 114 | 127 | 116 | 125 | 101 | 102 | 104 | Halifax | 150 | 113 | 134 | 121 | 119 | 108 | 105 | 98 | 107 | 135 | 153 | 160 |
IT RARELY SNOWS (don't worry skiers, you are within an hour and a half of Mount Washington) Average monthly total snowfall in cm. | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | Nanaimo | 27.2 | 16.3 | 5.6 | .2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.1 | 7.8 | 22.8 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Victoria | 15.2 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .2 | 3.3 | 13.8 | Vancouver | 16.6 | 9.6 | 2.6 | .4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .1 | 2.5 | 16.3 | Calgary | 17.7 | 13.4 | 21.9 | 15.4 | 9.7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.8 | 9.9 | 16.4 | 17.6 | Edmonton | 24.9 | 14.9 | 17.1 | 13.3 | 4.5 | 0 | 0 | .1 | 1.8 | 8 | 17.7 | 19.1 | Regina | 19.6 | 14.1 | 18.3 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.1 | 7.1 | 13.8 | 20.9 | Winnipeg | 23.1 | 14.2 | 15.8 | 10.1 | .8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .4 | 5 | 21.4 | 19.8 | Toronto | 31.1 | 22.1 | 19.2 | 5.7 | .1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .5 | 7.6 | 29.2 | Ottawa | 55.2 | 46 | 39.8 | 11 | .6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.1 | 21.9 | 57.2 | Montreal | 49.6 | 43.8 | 35 | 12.4 | .3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 22.6 | 48.5 | Quebec | 72.9 | 63.2 | 49 | 17.6 | .4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.9 | 33.2 | 77.7 | Halifax | 38.4 | 37.7 | 28.4 | 9.8 | 1.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6.9 | 28.5 |
|