Regional District of Nanaimo

The Regional District of Nanaimo is a regional district located on the eastern coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. It is bordered to the south by the Cowichan Valley Regional District, to the west by the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District, and to the northwest by the Comox Valley Regional District. Its administration offices are located in Nanaimo. During the 2011 census, its population was established at 146,567.

Nanaimo
Regional district
Regional District of Nanaimo
Nanaimo Bastion
Logo
Location in British Columbia
Country	Canada
Province	British Columbia
Office location	Nanaimo
Government [1]
• Type	Regional district
• Body	Board of Directors
• Chair	Ian Thorpe (Nanaimo)
• Vice Chair	Vanessa Craig (B)
• Electoral Areas	A B C E F G H
Area
• Land	2,038.04 km^2 (786.89 sq mi)
Population  (2016)[2]
• Total	155,698
• Density	76.4/km^2 (198/sq mi)
Website	rdn.bc.ca

The Regional District of Nanaimo was incorporated on August 24, 1967. It has members that are cities, towns, districts, and seven electoral areas that contain unincorporated communities.

The region owns and operates the Nanaimo Regional Transit System, which provides conventional local bus routes and special needs paratransit services.

Incorporated municipalities

Municipality	Government Type	Population
Nanaimo	city	90,504
Parksville	city	12,514
Qualicum Beach	town	8,687
Lantzville	district municipality	3,601

Electoral areas

Electoral areas have no administrative or governmental function, and are used only to select rural representatives to the Regional District board.

Area A (Cassidy/Cedar)

This electoral area is located on Vancouver Island, on the Stuart Channel southeast of Nanaimo.

According to the Canada 2016 Census:

• Population: 7,058 (exclusive of any residents of Indian Reserves)
• % Change (2011-2016): 2.2
• Dwellings: 3,116
• Area (km²): 60.31
• Density (persons per km²): 117.0

Contains the communities of Cassidy, Cedar, and South Wellington. Nanaimo Airport is also located here.

Area B (Gabriola Island)

This electoral area contains DeCourcy Island, Gabriola Island and Mudge Island.

According to the Canada 2016 Census:

• Population: 4,033 (exclusive of any residents of Indian Reserves)
• % Change (2011-2016): -0.3
• Dwellings: 2,987
• Area (km²): 57.76
• Density (persons per km²): 69.8

Area C (Arrowsmith/Benson)

This electoral area is located on Vancouver Island, to the southwest of Nanaimo. It contains the upper Nanaimo River, the Nanaimo Lakes, Mount Benson and Mount Arrowsmith.

According to the Canada 2016 Census:

• Population: 2,808 (exclusive of any residents of Indian Reserves)
• % Change (2011-2016): -0.9
• Dwellings: 1,097
• Area (km²): 1,098.94
• Density (persons per km²): 2.6

Contains the community of Extension.

Area E (Nanoose Bay)

This electoral area is located on Vancouver Island, on the shore of the Strait of Georgia, between Lantzville and Parksville. It is co-extensive with the community of Nanoose Bay.

According to the Canada 2016 Census:

• Population: 6,125 (exclusive of any residents of Indian Reserves)
• % Change (2011-2016): 7.9
• Dwellings: 3,066
• Area (km²): 75.08
• Density (persons per km²): 81.6

Area F (Alberni Highway)

This electoral area is located on Vancouver Island, to the west of Qualicum Beach and Parksville. British Columbia Highway 4 runs the length of the area.

According to the Canada 2016 Census:

• Population: 7,724 (exclusive of any residents of Indian Reserves)
• % Change (2011-2016): 4.1
• Dwellings: 3,530
• Area (km²): 264.36
• Density (persons per km²): 29.2

Includes the communities of Coombs, Errington, Hilliers, Meadowood and Whiskey Creek, as well as Cameron Lake and Cathedral Grove.

Area G (Mid-Oceanside)

This electoral area is located on Vancouver Island, on the shore of the Strait of Georgia, surrounding Qualicum Beach and almost surrounding Parksville.

According to the Canada 2016 Census:

• Population: 7,465 (exclusive of any residents of Indian Reserves)
• % Change (1996-2001): 4.3
• Dwellings: 3,553
• Area (km²): 49.32
• Density (persons per km²): 151.4

Contains the communities of Dashwood and French Creek.

Area H (Lighthouse Country)

This electoral area is located on Vancouver Island, on the shore of the Strait of Georgia at the southern entrance to Baynes Sound, northwest of Qualicum Beach.

According to the Canada 2016 Census:

• Population: 3,884 (exclusive of any residents of Indian Reserves)
• % Change (1996-2001): 10.7
• Dwellings: 2,436
• Area (km²): 277.41
• Density (persons per km²): 14.0

Contains the communities of Bowser, Deep Bay, Dunsmuir and Horne Lake, as well as the Shaw Hill area in its southeastern part.

Demographics

Ethnic groups in Nanaimo RD (2016) Source:		Population	%
Ethnic group	European	124,015	81.8%
	Aboriginal	12,290	8.1%
	Chinese	2,695	1.8%
	South Asian	2,255	1.5%
	Filipino	1,290	0.9%
	Southeast Asian	985	0.6%
	Black	950	0.6%
	Japanese	725	0.5%
	Latin American	565	0.4%
	Korean	465	0.3%
	Arab	270	0.2%
	West Asian	195	0.1%
	Multiple minorities	345	0.2%
	Visible minority, n.i.e.	110	0.1%
Total population		155,698	100%

Administrative role

The Regional District of Nanaimo categorizes its responsibilities into five "action areas":[3]

• The Regional Federation
• Strategic and Community Development
• Transportation and Solid Waste
• Regional and Community Utilities
• Recreation and Parks

References

• Statistics Canada Community Profile: Nanaimo (regional district)

Notes

1. "Regional Board". Retrieved 2019-07-09.
3. "2013-15 Board Strategic Plan" (PDF). Regional District of Nanaimo. 4 October 2012. Retrieved 28 February 2013.

External links

• Regional District of Nanaimo
• "Regional District of Nanaimo". BC Geographical Names.