Nanaimo / Vancouver Island, BC

MARKET PROFILE

REGION DESCRIPTION:

The city of Nanaimo is located on the east coast of Vancouver Island, the largest North American Island in the Pacific Ocean at approximately 500 kilometres long and 200 kilometres wide, with 3,440 kilometres of coastline. It lies just off the west coast of mainland British Columbia.

Nanaimo is the second largest urban centre on Vancouver Island, behind only the Provincial Capital, Victoria, located 113 kilometres south. The City of Nanaimo covers an area of 88.19 square kilometres, within the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN). The RDN stretches north to Bowser, south to Cedar, and west to Errington, a total area of 2041.32 square kilometres. While the city limits account for only 4.3% of the RDN, its population makes up 57.5%, as well as serving as the main region of economy and employment.

Nanaimo enjoys a fairly moderate climate. In the summer months, the average daily high is 21 C (70 F), and during the winter months the temperature generally keeps above freezing.

TRANSIT DISTRICT FACTS: (include route maps here)

Nanaimo Regional Transit System is the public transit provider in the RDN. Service runs from 6:00 am until 11:00 pm serving nearly 5,500 people per day.

FLEET SIZE:

Buses = 31
Custom/Paratransit =10

RIDERSHIP STATISTICS: (2008)

Conventional Buses Custom/Paratransit
Total Passengers – 2,340,129 65,902
Total Service Hours – 93,769 19,118

AREAS SERVED:

Nanaimo, Parksville, Qualicum Beach, Lantzville

SHOPPING CENTER/RESTAURANT COVERAGE:

Woodgrove Mall, Longwood Station, Nanaimo North Town Centre, Country Club Mall, Terminal Park Shopping Centre, Harbour Park Mall, Harewood Mall, Southgate Shopping Centre, all major restaurants

INDUSTRIAL/BUSINESS COVERAGE:

Tourism, Forestry, Retail

RECREATION/ENTERTAINMENT COVERAGE:

Nanaimo Clippers (BCHL), Nanaimo Pirates (BCPBL), 3 pools, 4 indoor ice rinks, Nanaimo Golf Club, Pryde Vista Golf Course, Eaglequest Golf Courses, 200+ parks, 4 beaches, 2 movie theatres,

COLLEGES/UNIVERSITY COVERAGE:

Vancouver Island University (Formerly Malispina), Sprott-Shaw Community College, Discovery Community College

HOSPITAL COVERAGE:

Nanaimo Regional Hospital

TOP TEN AREA LIFESTYLES:

N/A

DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE: (as per 2006 Census)

Population, City of Nanaimo 78,692
Average Annual Growth Rate 1.56%

Population, RDN 138,631
Average Annual Growth Rate 2.48%

Age Distribution RDN Nanaimo
0 – 19 20.7% 22.0%
20 – 29 9.8% 12.3%
30 – 44 17.0% 18.5%
45 – 64 31.67% 29.2%
65 – 79 15.3% 12.6%
80+ 5.6% 5.4%

Income Distribution Average Income $34,508
<5K 9%
5K – 15k 21%
15K – 25K 19%
25K – 40K 20%
40K+ 31%

Average Estimated Household Expenditures 2008
Food 7,281
Shelter 13,311
Transportation 8,654
Clothing 2,481
Health & Personal Care 2,870
Recreation & Education 5,125
Taxes & Securities 15,263
Other 9,796
Total $64,781

Permitted Products:

All Products

Restrictions:

No Restrictions