Nanaimo Archives

06/02/2026

NEW HISTORIC MAPPING PROJECT
We were delighted to attend the launch of the Nanaimo Family History Society's 1921 City of Nanaimo Mapping Project. The project used the 1921 Canada Census, 1909-16 Fire Insurance Maps, 1921 City of Nanaimo Tax Assessments (both available at the Archives) and other sources to create a map that shows who lived where in the original City of Nanaimo. Susan Bates led the project with determination and a keen sense of "getting it right." The project will be available on the NFHS website soon.
Kudos to a job well done and we hope we can collaborate again in the future!

05/25/2026

You can see the remaining Dickinson dairy farm buildings in what is now the fabulous Harewood Centennial Park. In 1908, J.J. Dickinson purchased 20 acres and established the Nanaimo Dairy. By the
early 1930s, Dickinson could claim the largest and most efficient dairy in the district. By this time, his herd of 39 Holstein cows produced 80 gallons of milk daily, most of which was distributed to families living in Nanaimo. He also supplied numerous hotels and restaurants. Dickinson, who initially worked as a coal miner, was one of many Harewood residents who fulfilled Mine Superintendant Samuel Robins vision for Five Acres. Here, Robins believed, mining families could buy property on easy terms and develop other means to sustain themselves during downturns in the coal economy. Like Dickinson, enterprising residents established dairies, greenhouses, market gardens and other commercial ventures. For many years, these agricultural
businesses defined the look and feel of Harewood.

05/15/2026

Wow! Nanaimoites won 2 out 3 Lifetime Achievement Awards from Heritage BC .
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05/08/2026

Wow, big, big changes!

05/02/2026

Check out this fun event! Registration Deadline coming up soon!
Join us for a fun field trip in May! Playing on Nanaimo's long history of brewing beer, the trip includes a guided tour of Wolf Brewery. Our second stop is Calico Cat Teahouse where you will enjoy a delicious "high tea", learn about the house and play a Nanaimo history themed quiz. Great way to spend a spring afternoon and learn a little bit about Nanaimo.

04/25/2026

04/11/2026

Check out our video to complement the Nanaimo Museum's Grow Nanaimo exhibit.

04/02/2026

Learn more at https://www.nanaimoarchives.ca/online-resources/finding-aids/canadian-collieries-dunsmuir-fonds

03/05/2026

Celebrating Nanaimo's Great Women, Now and Then!

1. 2016 012 A-P31 : Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire (IODE) parade float with members: Jackie Stannard (Clavora), Sonja Sundquist (Ellis), Isabel Ward (Pearson), Dorothy Dorman (Eusanio), Pat LeCren (Endel), Marg Dorman (Smith) and Gwen Spencer (Goodwin), ca. 1946

2.. 1998 013 A-P1 : Unidentified winning women's curling team, ca. 1955

3. 2018 010 A-P265 : Odeon Cubs women`s softball team, 1947

4. 1997 031 A-P9 : Miss Stockett, Mrs. T.W. Glaholm, Mrs. Fred Peto, Mrs. Will Lewis, Mrs. Judge Young (Mary), Mrs. Will Sloan (Florie), Jack Egdell and "Aggie" Egdell in the garden of "Eldovilla", the Sloan house on Stewart Avenue, 1914.

5. 2024 014 A-P39 : Olive Green at Nanaimo Nurses Training School, ca , ca. 1920

03/04/2026

Another area that has seen significant change.