​NANAIMO, a city of British Columbia, on the east coast of Vancouver Island. Pop. (1906) about 6500. It is connected with Victoria by the Esquimalt and Nanaimo railway, and has a daily steamer service to Vancouver, as well as to Comox, Sydney and other points on the coast. It is favourably situated for growing fruit, and mixed farming is carried on to a considerable extent. There is a large export trade in coal from the neighbouring mines, which is sent chiefly to San Francisco.