Living in Nanaimo

The practicalities

Getting around

Nanaimo has a straightforward bus network, and CTC-arranged accommodation is chosen to be walkable to campus or on a direct route. Most learners do not need a car. Ferries connect Nanaimo to Vancouver twice an hour at peak times, and floatplanes reach downtown Vancouver in about twenty minutes.

Weather and what to pack

Winters are mild by Canadian standards — rarely below freezing — but wet, so a good waterproof jacket matters more than a heavy coat. Summers are warm and dry. Bring layers, sturdy shoes, and safety boots if your program is a trades one; your pre-arrival pack lists exactly what your course requires.

Healthcare and insurance

As a visitor you are not covered by British Columbia's public health insurance. Travel and medical insurance covering the full twelve weeks is a condition of enrolment. Nanaimo Regional General Hospital and several walk-in clinics are within a short drive of campus.

Money and connectivity

Cards are accepted almost everywhere, and prepaid SIM cards are easy to buy on arrival. Opening a Canadian bank account as a visitor is possible but not necessary for a twelve-week stay; we cover the options in week one.

Outside class

The island is the point. Within an hour of campus you have Pacific beaches, old-growth forest, mountain biking, kayaking and hiking. Nanaimo itself has a harbourfront walkway, a weekly farmers market, and a food scene that punches well above the city's size.