The DOWNSIDES of Living in Nanaimo

What could possibly be the downsides to living in beautiful Nanaimo on Vancouver Island? The people have spoken! I surveyed my neighbours to ask them what their dislikes are about living in Nanaimo.
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[@explorerryan]

Thanks Rita this is very insightful ❤ we definitely do need to improve the hospital and other key infrastructure to sustain our growth.

[@GrowingonVancouverIsland]

Nanaimo hospital is hugely inadequate for our population. It often has 400 plus patients and only has a capacity for 365 patients. I can only hope one day we will gets new hospital. We are long overdue

[@ManianilouRPG]

I would just add that homelessness is rampant here in Nanaimo and open drug use is a HUGE issue, especially in Harewood and on Old Victoria St. It's really a no brainer on why there is so much litter here when the population of people experiencing homelessness tripled when the tent city came about in the down town core. Tent city is gone now but the issues persist.

[@manscape777]

I would like to see more citizen reporters like you share their perspectives of our town because a view from street level, so to speak, is valuable and useful. As far as general littering goes (including needles) there are volunteers and some paid groups that look for and pick up needles regularly, particularly in the downtown core. I myself will dispose of litter, like pop cans, coffee cups, and discarded plastic in the next bin along my walking trail. I've also met with other individuals and couples that do this in their own neighbourhoods. I have notified the City (Public Works) of large quantities of garbage left in our local parks (eg Bowen Pk) and they have always responded positively and have dealt with it. If each walker carried a compostable bag in their pocket and picked up along their trail walk it would keep the neighbourhoods relatively clear of litter. You can't rely on the city to always pick the small stuff up. We have to play our part. My thoughts for what its worth.

[@Ritaisrelocating]

There is a wonderful lady I just encountered in my neighbourhood who cleans up liter in our park every Saturday. One thing I should have (wished I had) mentioned was the city provides so many waste bins, way more than I remember seeing in North Vancouver.

[@rachelk8368]

Need to start a "Tidy Islander" campaign like they do in NZ- (Tidy Kiwi) there is no litter ANY WHERE in NZ.

[@GrowingonVancouverIsland]

Our traffic is also out of control particularly in the summer, we are in need of some serious hiway upgrading

[@Ritaisrelocating]

When you’re from Vancouver traffic here is a breeze! But I definitely agree re: highway upgrades!

[@GrowingonVancouverIsland]

Our homeless population is out of control and there are little to no supports for homeless people substance users and people trying to get off substances

[@Ritaisrelocating]

Very sad indeed.

[@manscape777]

Sorry, but if you watch the news and read the local paper you will find a lot of resources both human and financial have been invested in trying to resolve the homelessness/mental health issues that face this community. Its not just being ignored. Its a complex issue that has no simple solutions.

[@phoenixman8569]

not completely true, there are quite a few low barrier wet houses that seem to pop up every 18 month or so, the last one opened up in the fall of 2021 by the south end native reserve and yet another one on Fitzwilliam street right across the street from the police station will be ready to open up by summer by the looks of it, and it could be the 7th 8th or 9th wet house to open up here, there are so many of these places I've lost count how many there are.. not including the two temp shelters and the state of the art detox wing added to the hospital 8 or so years ago...

[@Ritaisrelocating]

@@phoenixman8569 thanks for the info!!

[@phoenixman8569]

@@Ritaisrelocating you welcome, I've lived here all my adult life, and seen many changes here including the steady decline of down town from transients and drug abuse...

[@CoryParish85]

The view Oceanside Grill. I used to live in Nanaimo in 2017 and have been back numerous times since. The Dinghy Dock Pub is another good one, however for the more nauseous people, The View Oceanside Grill is worth a try! 👍 thanks Rita for your excellent knowledge and advice as always 🤘

[@Ritaisrelocating]

Thanks for the tip Cory!

[@CoryParish85]

@@Ritaisrelocating Absolutely! Looking forward to being back in Nanaimo for awhile 3rd week of August! Miss the island!! 🏝️ 😎

[@chrisbaitz]

We were trying to convince some friends to move over a few years ago and they asked for downsides of Nanaimo since we were only talking it up. The only two things we could come up with were fewer food options (there are still good ones but fewer) and apparently a lack of things for young adults to do (not a problem for us currently but perhaps a few more years when our kids are older).

[@Ritaisrelocating]

100% agree on the food front. I’d say for us it’s less options for a particular type of food that we actually love. For example we have one amazing Indian restaurant we like vs 3 options! These days I’m not even sure what young adults do… I’d almost think sneaking off to the beaches here would be the MOST fun! 🤪

[@mikem9536]

Nanaimo has zero city life, it's simply to dangerous.

[@ErinSetch]

@@Ritaisrelocating It's odd you've listed the food category with the single largest amount of good options as the one you only have one good option for. Am I right in guessing that Heritage is the "one amazing indian option" in your opinion?

[@Ritaisrelocating]

@@ErinSetch When this video was made I was struggling to find food options I enjoyed here to be honest. Curry Culture on Dover is still one of my favourites but so many new places have opened that I love!

[@jubeedoobie1988]

Black bear pub, the view is so beautiful

[@Ritaisrelocating]

I have yet to go there! Thank you!

[@rachelk8368]

My partner and I are both in healthcare and are looking to move here or Duncan. It's hard to hear there are no doctors as we are a young family. What is family life and community like?

[@Ritaisrelocating]

I'm biased in that I prefer living in Nanaimo vs Duncan (we looked there as well). Family life and community is amazing here. Shoot me an email, I'm happy to answer any questions you have! [e-mail]

[@explorerryan]

Cain Sucks Jks 😂 Great video 🎉

[@CrapKerouac]

Nanaimo's weird. I've never met so many people with so little curiosity about people, places, or things. The people are kind of dreamless, really. Very complacent and dull. If that sounds like you, then Nanaimo is the place for you, but if you want more from life, you will find Nanaimo suffocating.

[@Ritaisrelocating]

You’re meeting the wrong people.

[@Dbodell8000]

There not our homeless. They’ve been dumped here.

[@Ritaisrelocating]

I’d rather not de-humanize.

[@lhenry1693]

Rain, rain,rain rain, rain rain and more rain. Just when ya get sick and tired of dark gray dismal days of rain, it rains more!!! Start later in the fall right until late spring!!! Oh…try to live to good, it’s expensive as hell. Im traumatized from living there due to the expensive everything and rain. My wife and i are both MSWs so we have decent paying jobs and could only live pay cheque to pay cheque. Anywhere else in Canada is much sunnier and less expensive

[@Ritaisrelocating]

If you try, you can find the negative anywhere.

[@alexgudino6573]

Whinner! You must be the joy of the parties...🤦🤦‍♂️