History of Nanaimo, BC
History of First Nations in Nanaimo
The Nanaimo area was originally inhabited by the Coast Salish Snuneymuxw tribe, who had several villages where the city is now located. Early European and Canadian settlers referred to their small community on First Nations territory as Colville Town, but the name was soon changed to Nanaimo, after Snuneymuxw, which translates as "a great and mighty people."
Nanaimo Coal Mining History
Nanaimo became a coal mining town in the mid-1800s, when the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC), better known for its fur trading operations, began to explore the rich coal deposits near the harbour. Many local neighbourhoods commemorate Nanaimo's coal mining history: Northfield, Newcastle, Extension, Wellington, and South Wellington are all former mining communities. In spring of 1854, the HBC ran a series of advertisements in British newspapers aimed at attracting skilled workers to the Nanaimo coal mines. The ads were a success, and in June of that year 24 British miners and their families set sail from London aboard the HBC's sailing ship Princess Royal. They finally arrived in Nanaimo on November 27, 1854 after a long journey around Cape Horn.
The Bastion
Nanaimo was protected from potential attack by the Bastion, an eight-sided armed building, which holds a commanding position over the harbour. Built in 1853, the Bastion served as a warehouse, defensive structure, and the HBC clerk's office. The clerk was responsible for the operation of the mine and the well-being of the settlement. While the cannons were never fired in defense, they were frequently fired to celebrate community events. Three floors of the Bastion are now open to visitors, with exhibits providing insight into what life was like in Nanaimo more than 150 years ago. Be sure to visit the Bastion at noon in the summer for the daily cannon firing.
History of Asian Communities in Nanaimo
No mention of the area's history is is complete without mentioning the history of Asian communities in Nanaimo. The Chinese first arrived here in the 1860s, and played an important role in the mining, service, and retail industries. Nanaimo has had a few different Chinatowns in its time, but the last was destroyed by a dramatic fire in September of 1960 .
Nanaimo was also home to a thriving Japanese community, which operated herring and salmon salteries on Newcastle Island, where fish was packed into fir boxes and shipped to the Orient. There was also a small Japanese shipyard in the area. Unfortunately, the Japanese community was dismantled in 1942, during the Second World War.
History of Sawmills in Nanaimo
Nanaimo's small logging and sawmill industry became more prevalent after the coal mines closed. In the early 1940s large scale forestry operations began to employ many local workers, and in 1950 the Harmac Pulp Mill opened near Duke Point. Harmac, still one of the city's major employers, uses wood chip waste from Vancouver Island sawmills to produce kraft pulp.
In recent decades Nanaimo's economy has diversified from resource extraction into regional service, technology, and science. The city is a center for fisheries research, as well as a variety of high-tech and Internet operations. Malaspina University-College in Nanaimo's south end offers a wide variety of excellent degree and trades programs, and is a big contributor to the city's skilled workforce.
Nanaimo Museum and Historical Attractions in Nanaimo
History buffs will delight in exploring Nanaimo's colourful history. Several Nanaimo heritage walking tours wind their way through older neighbourhoods, where you can learn about noteworthy buildings, people, and events. Markers and plaques provide directions and descriptions of the stops along the route.
To explore more of our community's heritage, visit the Nanaimo District Museum. The museum's exhibits feature the history of First Nations people in Nanaimo, the rise and fall of the coal mining industry, the forest industry, Chinatown, and the rich and diverse social life of the community. In the park next to the museum you can visit an authentic miner's cottage, and an 1889 Baldwin steam locomotive, which ran on Nanaimo's railway, the first in Western Canada.
Other historical attractions in Nanaimo include the Garden Memorial to Chinese Pioneers on Stewart Avenue, and the Vancouver Island Military Museum located at Rutherford Mall.