June 2018

156 157 “We’re also hoping that the proponents of a high-speed passenger ferry service will com- mence service this summer,” says McKay. “They’re just going through the final environmental reviews in Vancouver for their terminal there–that could easilybe amillion passengers a year.And I’mhearing rumblings of some other transportation options to Nanaimo,as well.So transportation is one of the big activities we have here.” Air travel is another transportation activity that is becoming increasingly important inNanaimo.“We also have two airports,”McKaycontinues.“One’s a water-based aerodrome,wherewe have frequent flights of seaplanes and helicopters running scheduled flights; those carryabout 150,000 a year.In 2009,our regional airport went in an aggressive,newdirection to improve reliability.Theyput in a newnavigation system,and they’ve increased their reliabilityup to about 98 percent up-time,with only a two percent down-time due to weather. It used to be when peo- ple wanted to make a cross-country trip, they’d go to Vancouver the night before, to make their flight. Now, they don’t have to worry about that. So, our airport, from 2009, has gone from less than 150,000 passengers a year to 358,000 in 2017.And they’re expecting this year, because they’ll now be having direct flights from Nanaimo to Toronto for a six- month period during the summer,we’re going to be going over 400,000.” Nanaimo is a growing community– its popula- tion has been increasing 1.5 to 2 percent a year, over the past decade. “In 2017, there was over $200 million in construction in the community,” states Lindsay. “That’s the fourth year in a row that we were over that $200 million mark.”And with all the economic activity, people are moving to Nanaimo from other parts of Canada. “Last year there were 309 new, single family homes built in the community, which is above our ten-year average of 275 per year,” Lindsay reports. “The community currently has a fairly low vacancy rate –1.6 percent.We’ve seen a number of projects NANAIMO, BRITISH COLUMBIA Together, Linking You to a World of Opportunity. Shipping 18 different products from Vancouver Island to 25 ports in 14 countries. Vancouver Island’s Logistic and Transport Hub offers the following services: l Short-sea shipping l Project cargo l Cruise ships l Break Bulk dpworld.ca npa.ca Nanaimo’s 150 year history of shipping commodi- ties to global connections prepared this Vancouver Island port for diverse opportunities in its future. Thriving for 100 years since 1852 as a coal town gave way to forestry for 70 years and the designa- tion of Nanaimo as one of 18 federal ports. Recent changes in the forestry sector broadened Nanaimo’s focus to a more diverse and economically flexible heading to meet with continuous global de- mands. A skilled labour force once again embraced change to build on the Port of Nanaimo’s success- ful experience with two well-developed deep sea terminals. A port with key global partners, DP World for ex- ample, and a surprising reach this eastern facing Vancouver Island port currently ships 18 different products from the Island to 25 ports in 14 countries. Ports include the UK, Netherlands, Germany, Japan, China, North and South Korean, Thailand, Taiwan, Hong Kong, South and Central America, the USA and Russia. When you add the imports transferred from Nanaimo to Vancouver via short-sea shipping, a mere 30 miles to the east, a vast array of oppor- tunities within Canada and for many parts of North America are realized. Nanaimo’s deep shipping history - served many cli- ents for over 150 years – a link to a world of service and to new opportunity. Linking a History of Shipping to New Opportunity.