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Nanaimo is an outstanding place to live, work and invest. With its spectacular location, attractive home prices, expanding economy, great facilities and temperate climate, Nanaimo truly lives up to its billing as “the most desirable, liveable small city in North America.”

It’s true. Nanaimo has it all. Vancouver Island’s second-biggest city, after Victoria, Nanaimo is home to about 78,000 residents -- and the population is on the rise as more and more people discover everything the city has to offer.

Located on the east side of the Island, along beautiful Georgia Strait, Nanaimo is famous for its magnificent harbour, heritage architecture and strong maritime heritage. Its proximity to the sea makes Nanaimo a great setting-off spot for marine adventures of all kinds. In addition to terrific boating, fishing and kayaking, the waters around Nanaimo offer some of the world’s best scuba diving.

Long a business and transportation hub for the Island, Nanaimo is experiencing the benefits of a fast-diversifying economy, which is opening up many opportunities for new and existing businesses involved in sectors ranging from tourism to light industry. In line with economic growth, the local real estate market has been active over recent years, although Nanaimo home prices remain significantly lower than those in Vancouver, Victoria or Kelowna. Looking ahead, the prospects for Nanaimo real estate are exceptional as interest in this unique city increases. The completion in 2008 of a trade and convention centre in the city’s trendy downtown core is expected to significantly raise Nanaimo’s profile nationally and around the world.

Nanaimo’s recreational, cultural and educational facilities are first-rate. As well as its recently built aquatic and ice centres, Nanaimo boasts more than 1,100 hectares of parkland and protected open space. Recent additions such as the Parkway Trail, Cable Bay Trail and the E&N Trail, have made the city the envy of other communities and have won awards for their development and unique construction.

Nanaimo’s 800-seat performing arts theatre has also contributed to growth of its vibrant arts, culture and entertainment community. And as the home of the highly regarded Malaspina College and many other public and private schools, Nanaimo has an excellent reputation for the quality of its educational opportunities for students of all ages.

Weather-wise, Nanaimo has one of the most temperate climates in BC. The average temperature for July is 18ºC (64ºF) and for January 2ºC (36ºF). Average annual rainfall is 105 cm (41 in.) and snowfall 93 cm (37 in.)

For more information on Nanaimo, visit:

www.nanaimo.ca
www.tourismnanaimo.com