Central Vancouver Island Communities
Here's a bit of information and some links for each of the main communities located along the eastern coastline of Central Vancouver Island - I would be happy to provide additional details so please let me know what you need.
Central Vancouver Island
Ladysmith
West of Vancouver, across Georgia Strait, and 23 km (14 miles) south of Nanaimo on Highway #1 lies the town of Ladysmith, with a population of approximately 7,000 residents. This is a quaint little town that overlooks Ladysmith Harbour. Founded at the turn of the century, Ladysmith is one of the oldest communities on Vancouver Island, and its history is evident in the many restored heritage buildings.
Gabriola Island
Gabriola is an island on the West coast of British Columbia, Canada between the Mainland and Vancouver Island. It's about 14 km long by 4.2 km wide with an estimated population of 4,500. A vehicle and passenger ferry operates regularly from Nanaimo -- the crossing time is about 20 minutes and is considered a commuter ferry as most Gabriolans work in Nanaimo and the high school students travel to school there. You can also arrive by floatplane from Vancouver (15 miles/24 km).
Nanaimo
With a population of approximately 80,000 residents and one of the prettiest waterfronts in Canada, the city of Nanaimo serves as a home base for exploring Vancouver Island. We're centrally located on the east coast of Vancouver Island, about 1 1/2 hours (driving) north of Victoria and under two hours (ferry) to Vancouver.
Nanaimo serves as a major ferry terminal linking Vancouver Island with the B.C. mainland. BC Ferries operates a scheduled ferry service between Departure Bay in Nanaimo and Horseshoe Bay on the north shore of Vancouver, and from Duke Point in Nanaimo to the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal, south of Vancouver. Regular ferry services are also available from downtown Nanaimo to nearby Gabriola Island and Newcastle Island in Nanaimo Harbour.
Nanaimo Airport is located just 15 minutes south of downtown and serves an average of 20 flights daily between Nanaimo and Vancouver, Abbotsford and Langley. An airport shuttle service, taxis, and car rentals are available at the airport. You can also opt to fly into Nanaimo harbour's seaplane terminal in the heart of downtown. Service is frequent and offers spectacular scenery en route.
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Lantzville
Located on the northern border of the City of Nanaimo, Lantzville is a charming community that offers large lots, mature landscaping and public beaches. There's a small-town flavour in the Village, which offers an elementary school, medical centre, post office and various shops and services. Lantzville offers a wide range of housing styles and prices, low rural property taxes, and close proximity to shopping, schools and services in Nanaimo. Waterfront properties and some great ocean views here! New developments are underway - Call me if you'd like me to keep you informed.
Nanoose Bay
Nanoose Bay is a rural community situated in the Nanaimo Regional District - it's located between Lantzville and Parksville. It's highly valued by golfers, clam diggers and water sports enthusiasts and residents enjoy the country atmosphere while being close to the city amenities of Parksville and Nanaimo. The peninsula's large, protected harbour is a popular destination for visiting boats from around the world, and is home to an assortment of marinas, one as large as 400 berths.
Parksville
The City of Parksville is located 37 km (23 miles) north of Nanaimo and has a population of approximately 10,323 residents. (2001 Census). Parksville's popularity as a destination for retirees from across Canada contributes to an older population profile than the BC average.
Qualicum Beach
Qualicum Beach is a town located in the Regional District of Nanaimo, British Columbia. It's just north of Parksville and has a population of 6,921 (2001 census), with the oldest average population in Canada. Which explains why it's referred to as the Retirement Capital of Canada. This community is a popular tourist destination and has some wonderful unique little specialty shops.
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