I recently volunteered with the Nanaimo Daybreak Rotary Club for their annual Earth Day garbage cleanup. It’s my second year attending this event, and it’s become one of my favorite volunteer activities. The inspiring people I meet there always bring great energy and a positive attitude, which lifts my spirits and makes me love contributing to such an important cause in our community.
Nanaimo Parkway
This year, my team was assigned to clean the area along the Nanaimo Parkway opposite the information center. As I picked up numerous cigarette butts and various pieces of litter, I discovered a trail that reminded me of the convenience of biking or walking along the parkway, and driving around the area. This highway significantly helped me understand Nanaimo’s layout when I first moved here. I want to share what I’ve learned in case it’s useful to you one day. Starting from the south of Nanaimo, the Parkway connects with the Trans-Canada Highway, which leads to Victoria and, on the mainland, stretches from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean, crossing all ten provinces. It’s quite astonishing, really.
University District
If you’re entering Nanaimo southbound and take the Nanaimo Parkway, the first exit is Fifth St. It leads to Vancouver Island University and lovely parks like Colliery Dam and Harewood Centennial Park, which I think is one of the best parks for children in town. It has three different playgrounds, a skatepark, lacrosse box, two football fields, and even a bike park. I enjoy taking my kids there. The main neighborhood in this area is Harewood, where you’ll find schools like John Barsby Secondary School, Park Avenue Elementary, Georgia Avenue Community School, and Bayview Elementary.
The next exit is Jingle Pot Rd., accessible from both ends of the parkway. Exiting right, you enter the University District, home to landmarks such as the Serauxmen Sports Fields and the Serauxmen Stadium, where the local baseball team, the Nanaimo Night Owls/Nanaimo Bars, play their seasonal games. These events are a real community gathering. Across from the stadium is the Nanaimo Ice Center, where you can watch minor league hockey games. This exit also provides access to VIU via Wakesiah Ave., and nearby schools include Nanaimo District Secondary School, a French Immersion high school, and Fairview Elementary School. Buttertubs Marsh, a park with a 2km loop great for running or strolling, is also nearby. This road is convenient as it leads straight to Downtown Nanaimo.
On the left side of the parkway at the same exit, you can turn onto Jingle Pot Rd., which leads to the Westwood area, named for the scenic Westwood Lake—a community favorite. In the summer, you can enjoy the lake’s two beaches, kayak, paddle, or swim. Throughout the year, the 5.7km loop around the lake is perfect for running, mostly flat. Schools in this area include Nanaimo Christian School and Mountain View Elementary School.
Central Nanaimo
The following exit is Northfield Rd. To the left is the information center where I did my volunteer cleanup. To the right, Northfield Rd. connects North and South Nanaimo, making it a key exit if you’re unsure whether your destination is to the north or south. It provides access to Bowen Rd., which leads directly to Downtown and north to the Island Highway, known locally as “the old highway,” reaching the Uplands area and further to Departure Bay and Hammond Bay. Notable in the Northfield area are the Nanaimo Golf Club, Beban Park with its seasonal ice rink, Cliff McNabb Arena, and Bowen Park, which features the only outdoor public pool in Nanaimo, a lawn bowling area, the only Disc Golf Course, and numerous trails. Significantly, this area is also home to the Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, an essential location to know.
Local schools include Woodlands Secondary School and École Quarterway Elementary, a French immersion school.
The second-to-last exit is Mostar Road which leads to all North end communities.
For more information about Nanaimo neighbourhoods and real estate call or text Michelle at 778.744.0372 today!
Para más información sobre bienes raíces en Nanaimo, ¡llama o envía un mensaje de texto a Michelle al 778.744.0372 hoy mismo!