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Nanaimo itineraries

Heritage Walking Tour

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Feel like stretching your legs and learning more about the city? Then this is the Nanaimo walking tour for you. It’s of course weather dependent. Enjoy it on a dry day and learn about historical tales on how the people and events have shaped the history of Nanaimo and made the City what it is today. You will discover many aspects...from the story of coal and the growth of industry to the fashionable social life of this bustling early settlement. Many of the buildings have additional interpretive signs to revel more of Nanaimo, British Columbia’s colourful past.

The first section of this Downtown Heritage Walk is all about the “The Railroad Connection”. Even though Fitzwilliam Street was named after the son of an Earl, it wasn’t much of a street until the bridge was built across the ravine in 1875.

10:00 a.m.
B.C. Telephone Exchange 70-76 Bastion Street When leaving the Best Western Dorchester, go SOUTH on CHURCH ST toward CHAPEL ST. - CHURCH ST becomes COMMERCIAL ST. - Turn LEFT onto BASTION ST. "Built prior to 1980, this Edwardian era commercial building housed the Telephone Exchange from 1908 until 1960"

10:05 a.m.
Commercial Hotel 121 Bastion Street Start out going SOUTHWEST on BASTION ST toward COMMERCIAL ST "This Edwardian era commercial building was constructed in 1013 to replace an earlier version of the Commercial Hotel licensed in 1875"

10:10 a.m.
Eagle’s Hall 141 Bastion Street Continue SOUTHWEST on BASTION ST. "This Art Deco building was constructed in 1930 and was home to the Fraternal Order of the Eagles for many years"

10:20 a.m.

St. Andrew’s United Church
315 Fitzwilliam Street

Start out going WEST on BASTION ST toward SKINNER ST. - BASTION ST becomes FITZWILLIAM ST.

On FITZWILLIAM ST. you will find 7 Heritage buildings to explore…Here is the first one:

"The tall bell tower and picturesque roofline of St. Andrew’s United Church make this a prominent landmark. Built in the Victorian Picturesque style, with Romanesque influence, the cornerstone for this imposing building was laid on July 18, 1893"

10:25 a.m.

Before continuing up FITZWILLIAM ST. turn left onto WESLEY ST. and experience Nanaimo’s “Old City Quarter”.

This area is part of the original economic core of the city and buildings date from the late 1800s to early 1900s. See how new and old mingle together in the heart of the city. While you walk the street you will also be able to enjoy the many boutique and specialty shops. Maybe even sample some of the international cuisine along the way. There is something for everyone here!

11:30 a.m.
S&W Apartments 403-409 Fitzwilliam Street Make your way back to FITZWILLIAM ST. to continue your Heritage Walk - Turn LEFT “Built in 1910, this building set the tone for the development of Fitzwilliam Street as a commercial strip prior to the first World War"

11:35 a.m.
Mitchell’s Market 411 Fitzwilliam Street “Thomas B. Mitchell built this one-storey brick store to house his market and meat shop in 1922"

11:40 a.m.
T&B Apartments 413-417 Fitzwilliam Street "Very similar in appearance to the nearby S&W Apartments, this striking apartment was built by Janet Taylor in 1920"

11:45 a.m.
Angell’s Trading 426 Fitzwilliam Street “Hyman Angell, a second hand dealer, built this structure in 1926 for the business he ran with his brother Gordon"

11:50 a.m.
Occident Hotel 432 Fitzwilliam Street “The opening of the E&N Railway Station in 1886 prompted residential and commercial development of Fitzwilliam Street. The hotel, opened in 1887 by Samuel Fiddick, is the oldest remaining building in the area. The building design is a good example of the Victorian Italianate style then popular for commercial buildings"

11:55 a.m.
Rawlinson & Glaholm Grocers 437 Fitzwilliam Street “This small but elegant brick structure was built for Rawlinson and Glaholm Grocers in 1916"

12:00 p.m.
Esquimalt & Nanaimo Railway Station 321 Selby Street Start out going SOUTHWEST on FITZWILLIAM ST toward SELBY ST. Turn LEFT onto SELBY ST. to: “Built in 1920, this is the second station to be constructed on this site since the opening of the E&N line in 1886"

12:25 p.m.
Brumpton Block 481-489 Wallace Street Continue going SOUTHEAST on WALLACE ST. to: “This Edwardian era commercial building was built for R>C Brumpton in 1912. The ground floor was later converted for use as the “Diner’s Rendezvous”. The restaurant opened on April 24, 1956"

12:25 p.m.
Merchant’s Bank of Canada 499 Wallace Street “This Edwardian era bank was a highly elegant structure constructed in 1912 and designed by British Columbia’s nest know institutional architect, Francis Rattenbury"

12:10 p.m.
Franklyn Street Gymnasium 421 Franklyn Street Start out going SOUTHEAST on SELBY ST. toward FRANKLYN ST. Turn LEFT onto FRANKLYN ST. Continue down NORTH WEST to: "This gymnasium and auditorium was built for the Nanaimo Board of School Trustees in 1922"

12:15 p.m.
Harris Residence 375 Franklyn Street Start out going NORTHEAST on FRANKLYN ST toward WESLEY ST. - End at: "This handsome Queen Anne Revival house was built for Morgan and Harriet Harris around 1898. Morgan Harris was a miner"

12:20 p.m.
Nanaimo City Hall 455 Wallace Street Start out going NORTHEAST on FRANKLYN ST toward ROBSON ST. Turn RIGHT onto WALLACE ST. to: "Constructed in 1950-1951, this sophisticated and dignified structure represented Nanaimo’s earliest venture into the new international style which became popular after the end of the Second World War"

12:25 p.m.
Merchant’s Bank of Canada 499 Wallace Street “This Edwardian era bank was a highly elegant structure constructed in 1912 and designed by British Columbia’s nest know institutional architect, Francis Rattenbury"

12:30 p.m.

Nanaimo-Duncan Utilities Building
End at 13 Commercial Street

The second section of this Downtown Heritage Walk is all about the “The Coal Connection” on Commercial Street. Commercial Street began as a trail that followed the contours of Commercial Inlet past mines and miners’ cottages.

Head SOUTHWEST to ALBERT ST.
Turn LEFT down COMMERCIAL ST.
Pass TERMINAL ST. to:

"Built in 1941 for the Nanaimo-Duncan Utilities Company, this striking Art Deco structure is unusual for its wartime construction and triangular shape"

12:35 p.m.
Nash Hardware 19 Commercial Street Start out going NORTH on COMMERCIAL ST. to: "Built prior to 1909, this building was remodeled in 1945 for Nash Hardware in the Art Deco style. At the time, the building was considered one of the most up-to-date hardware stores on the Island"

12:40 p.m.
The Hall Block 37-45 Commercial Street “This building was constructed in 1925 by Dr. G.A.B Hall to house his office and surgery. This is a simple but well-proportioned example of the type of commercial structure built in Nanaimo during the inter-war period"

12:45 p.m.
The Rogers Block 83-87 Commercial Street “Built in 1913, this building is another good example of an Edwardian era commercial structure"

12:50 p.m.
The Hirst Block 93-99 Commercial Street “This two-storey commercial building was built for grocer James Hirst in 1911"

12:55 p.m.
Ashlar Lodge Masonic Temple 101 Commercial Street “This interwar commercial building has been home to the Freemasons since its construction in 1923"

1:00 p.m.
The Parkin Block 143-155 Commercial Street "Built in 1922, the Parkin Block is a good example of the type of building constructed just after the First World War in downtown Nanaimo"

1:05 p.m.
A.R. Johnston & Co. Grocers 172-174 Commercial Street (rear) “This Edwardian era commercial building was constructed in 1908 for A.R. Johnston & Co., who also managed Hirst’s Wharf, Johnston’s Wharf and the Nanaimo Wharf Co."

1:10 p.m.
The Halse Block 200-206 Commercial Street “This Edwardian era commercial building was constructed in 1909 and has seen a variety of tenants over the years including the Bank of British Columbia and Mayers Red House Store"

1:15 p.m.
The Earl Block 2 Church Street Start out going NORTH on COMMERCIAL ST toward CHAPEL ST. COMMERCIAL ST becomes CHURCH ST. End at: "Built around 1888, this building is a proud surviving example of the brick-faced commercial buildings of downtown Nanaimo’s Victorian era"

1:20 p.m.
The Great National Land Building 17 Church Street Continue NORTH on CHURCH ST to: “The Great National Land Building, originally built as the Bank of Commerce in 1914, provides a striking symbol of the prosperity that the city enjoyed during the First World War. The building design is a fine example of the Classical Revival Style"

1:30 p.m.
Time for a bite to eat? Head back to the Best Western Dorchester Hotel and have lunch that the award winning “Deep Blue Restaurant”. Here you will enjoy the panoramic view of Nanaimo's Inner Harbour and its International cuisine...Remember Seafood is their specialty.

2:30 p.m.

The Bastion
98 Front Street

The last section of this Downtown Heritage Walk is all about the “The Harbour Connection”. Front Street was where the city of Nanaimo began. The discovery of coal n the beach by a native man led to settlement by the Hudson’s Bay Company.

Leave the Hotel from its FRONT ST. Exit
Walk across the street - Here you will be at "The Bastion"...

"Built in 1853, the Hudson’s Bay Company Bastion is Nanaimo’s oldest structure and its most historic landmark. It is the last surviving structure from the Hudson’s Bay Company colonization of the Nanaimo area and the last remaining fortified tower of the many that the Company built on the West Coast. During the settlement’s early history, the Bastion represented a beacon of civilization in the wilderness and provided the focus for social and economic growth in the new community. Now used as a museum, it has been a continuous part of Nanaimo’s history and remains a source of pride to the city"

Take time to check out and enjoy and learn and be entertained at The Bastion museum.

3:00 p.m.

Post Office and Federal Building
54-66 Front Street

Now it’s time to see the remaining “Harbour Connection” Heritage walk buildings.

Start out going NORTH on FRONT ST. - End at:

“Nanaimo’s original stone post office was constructed on this site and replaced in 1956 with the present Federal Building. The building is an excellent example of the International Style which was in vogue at the time"

3:05 p.m.
Nanaimo Court House 31-35 Front Street “Built between 1895 and 1896, the Court House remains one of Nanaimo’s most impressive buildings. The Court House was designed in the Richardsonian Romanesque style by noted B.C. architect, Francis Rattenbury"

3:10 p.m.
Tom Brown’s Auto Body 28 Front Street “G.H. Johnstone built this structure as a garage and service station in 1937. Designed in the Streamline Modern style, this modest structure shows the influence of the new discipline of Industrial Design which emerged as the automobile became increasingly important in North America"

3:15 p.m.
Post Office and Federal Building 25 Front Street “Standing proudly on Front Street is the landmark Globe Hotel. One of the city’s oldest brick buildings, it was constructed in 1887 in a Victorian Italianate influence style. It has been an important part of Nanaimo’s social history for a full century and has operated continuously as the Globe since 1889"

3:25 p.m.
Continue going NORTH on FRONT ST toward CHAPEL ST. Once at COMOX RD., cross the street and take one of the several paved paths to the Waterfront and enjoy the views as you stroll back to the hotel. It’s now time to get ready to have dinner on Canada’s Only Floating Pub & Restaurant!

5:00 p.m.

Dinghy Dock Pub & Restaurant
Protection Island

Leave the Hotel from its FRONT ST. exit
Turn RIGHT and head down to the Harbour-side
Stroll along the Waterfront until your reach the Protection Island Ferry dock. The ferry leaves the Nanaimo side 10 past the hour, every hour.
After a 10-minute ride you will be at the Dinghy Dock Pub & Restaurant. Here you will enjoy full menu, good times, entertainment and the most spectacular view of Nanaimo and its harbour, and charming Newcastle Island.