Nanaimo, city on Vancouver Island, southwestern British Columbia, Canada. It is situated on the Strait of Georgia across from the city of Vancouver. Nanaimo is a seaport, distribution center, and industrial center located in an agricultural, forestry, and tourist region. Major manufactures include forest products, processed fish, and building materials. Tourism was a growing industry at the end of the 20th century. The city is served by Nanaimo Regional Airport and is also serviced by ferry at three terminals.
In the city are Malaspina University-College, site of the Nanaimo Art Gallery, and the Pacific Biological Station, a fisheries research laboratory. Additional points of interest are the Bastion, an 1853 Hudson's Bay Company fort; the Nanaimo District Museum, which houses exhibits on coal mining and artifacts from indigenous peoples; and Harbourside Walkway, a promenade along the waterfront. Petroglyph Park, which contains ancient carvings in sandstone, is nearby. Newcastle Island Provincial Marine Park is accessible by ferry from Maffeo-Sutton Park. Annual events include the International Bathtub Race and Marine Festival, during which participants race in motorized bathtubs along the smaller islands surrounding Nanaimo.
