Nanaimo is so much more than a dessert city, and while there are more than three dozen different versions of the delight that can be found on the Nanaimo Bar Trail, the true equation that makes up our City is simply this: stunning setting + enriching amenities + vibrant economy + welcoming people = an incredible island lifestyle.

Built on the traditional lands of the Snuneymuxw First Nations, our community is over 100,000 people and growing; people who live, work, play and thrive here. Since Nanaimo incorporated in 1874, we’ve been a coal town, a timber town, a mill town and a tourist destination. Today, our leading sectors are in health care, technology and construction.

Our rich history is captured and preserved through the Nanaimo Museum and the Nanaimo Archives, and you can catch a glimpse into our past at various historical locations around town. Whether you're interested in our cultural roots, curious about the origins of the Nanaimo Bar, or interested in learning about the Nanaimo Marine Festival and the World Championship Bathtub Race (yes, bathtub - we've raced those since 1967, and its as quirky as it sounds), the displays in the Nanaimo Museum capture many snapshots of our past.

For visitors, one glimpse from the deck of an approaching BC Ferries vessel and Nanaimo stands out as a community built on a hill. To some extent that’s true, and we may have more ups and downs on our winding roadways than all of the prairies combined. Dramatic exaggeration aside though, the elevation does change throughout our city. Our sunrises are blindingly brilliant. The sun appears from just behind the distant coastal mountains across the Salish Sea, while our gentle sunsets settle higher up behind Mount Benson.