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Nanaimo (2004 pop. 77,000) is the second largest city on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. It is about 55 km west of Vancouver, separated by the Strait of Georgia, but directly linked to Vancouver via BC Ferries. It is the seat of the Nanaimo Regional District .

By virtue of its proximity to Vancouver, Nanaimo is the gateway to many other destinations both on the island - Tofino, Rathtrevor Provincial Park - and off its coast - Newcastle Island, Gabriola Island, Valdes Island , and many other of the Gulf Islands.

Nanaimo began as a trading post in the early 1800s; in 1849 the Sneneymuxw chief Ki-et-sa-kun ("Coal Tyee") informed the Hudson's Bay Company of the presence of coalCoal is a fossil fuel extracted from the ground by mining. It is a readily combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock. It is composed primarily of carbon and hydrocarbons, along with assorted other elements, including sulfur. Often associated wi in the area, and 1853Events January 19 Giuseppe Verdi's opera Il Trovatore premieres in Rome January 21 Russell L. Hawes patents the envelope folding machine January 29 Napoleon III marries the Spanish Countess Eugenie at the Tuileries March 4 Inauguration of US president Fra the company built a fort known as the Nanaimo Bastion (still preserved). Subsequently the town was chiefly known for the export of coal. In the 1940sCenturies: 19th century 20th century 21st century Decades: 1890s 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s Years: 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 Events and trends Technology First nuclear bomb First cruise missile, the lumberLumber is wood that has been cut into boards or other shapes for the purpose of woodworking or construction. Lumber is supplied either rough or finished. Rough lumber is the raw material for furniture making and other items requiring additional cutting an supplanted coal as the main business, although Minetown Days are still celebrated in the now independent township of Lantzville .

Nanaimo is home to the Nanaimo NavigatorsMinor league baseball teams The Nanaimo Navigators are a minor league baseball team which plays in Nanaimo, British Columbia. The team is a member of the Canadian Baseball League and is not affiliated with any Major League Baseball team., a minor league baseballBaseball Part of the History of baseball series. Minor leagues are baseball leagues which are at a lower pay level and play in smaller cities and towns than do Major League Baseball. In North America, most but not all of the minor leagues are under the co team, the Nanaimo Clippers , a Junior A hockey club in the BCHL , the poetPoets are authors of poems. Poets are often regarded as imaginative thinkers or writers. List of poets Apocalypse poets Georgian poets List of romantic poets List of surrealist poets Symbolist Poets List of Albanian language poets List of Arabic language Tim LanderTim Lander is a Canadian poet who lives in Nanaimo, British Columbia. Works: Street Heart Poems 1993 The Glass Book: Poems 1999 The Book of Prejudices 2002 Lander, Tim., musician Diana Krall, actress Kim Catrall, and author Kevin Patterson. Nanaimo is also known for its bathtub race during the annual marine festival, and for firing a cannon (blank) on the parapet next to the Bastion , (a bastion or fort), everyday at noon and for special events.

Nanaimo is home to Petroglyph Provincial Park , where visitors can view ancient petroglyph rock carvings and runes.

Nanaimo is named for the Sneneymuxw people.