The Vision

The main focus of Nanaimo's downtown revitalization efforts has been to showcase the history of Nanaimo, attract new residents and draw business to the central area.

Over that last few years, much time and effort has been invested into the revitalization of Nanaimo's downtown and waterfront. In January 2001, stakeholders met to decide how to move toward the inclusive and vibrant vision of the city.

City of Nanaimo

Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce

City of Nanaimo Community Profile (PDF), produced by the City of Nanimo Economic Development Office.

Nanaimo City Centre Association

Currently Nanaimo has contracted The National Main Street Centre, an American downtown revitalization firm, to develop and downtown revitalization model to use as a framework for action.

At the January 2001 meeting, actions were grouped under three Downtown strategies:

1. Develop the Downtown as centre of culture and entertainment;
2. Increase the amount of residential development in the Downtown area, and
3. Establish a stable economic climate for attracting businesses into the Downtown.

Following suit with other community revitalization schemes, a downtown public/private partnership has been created between the Nanaimo City Centre Association (NCCA), the Old City Quarter Association (OCQA) and the City of Nanaimo to implement the three strategies using the prioritized Action Plan.

Even now, when walking along the Nainamo waterfront you will notice new park developments, extensive playgrounds, benches and recreational spaces for skateboarding, oversize sidewalk chess, basketball and the like. The names of the various park amentities now reflect the surrounding area, historical names,and references to the nearby islands: Newcastle Island, Gabriola Island and Protection Island.

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Contact the Community:

City of Nanaimo
455 Wallace,
Nanaimo BC V9R 5J6