Plan Your Trip
Nanaimo, BC is a city on the east coast of Vancouver Island, located on the traditional territories of Snuneymuxw Nation and peoples. “The Harbour City” is a vibrant urban centre with an abundance of recreation and cultural opportunities.
Flying to Nanaimo
CHPCA has arranged promotional fares with Air Canada and West Jet for our conference attendees, sponsors, and exhibitors.
Nanaimo Courtyard by Marriott
Directly across from the Vancouver Island Conference Center, the Nanaimo Courtyard by Marriott features gorgeous city views and is the official hotel of the 2025 conference. Promotional rate for single and double rooms is $249+ tax
Rooms must be booked by September 21, 2025.
The Coast Bastian Hotel
Perched right on the scenic waterfront, the Coast Bastian hotel offers awe-inspiring harbour and ocean views.
Promotional room rates for the CHPCA 2025 conference are
$229 for Coast Kings and Coast Doubles or $279 for Coast Premium with Ocean View +tax.
Rooms must be booked by September 21, 2025.
Things to Do
Sightseeing
Available online or as apps for Android and IOS, Ahoy British Columbia offers free historic walking tours of Nanimo including Nanaimo Harbor, Departure Bay and more.
Have a sweet tooth? Follow this self-guided tasting trail to discover all the secret variations of the legendary Nanaimo Bar dessert. Your taste buds will love you!
Museums
The Nanaimo Museum explores the history and heritage of Nanaimo with award winning exhibits including a replica of a coal mine shaft you can walk through!
Uncover Nanaimo’s proud military history at the Vancouver Island Military Museum.
Shopping
The Old City Quarter is nestled in the heart of Nanaimo, just steps from the downtown core. A charming mix of revitalized heritage buildings and thoughtful new development, it has become the number one destination for shopping in Nanaimo.
For the ultimate artisan experience, we recommend driving along the Cedar Yellow Point Artisan Trail loop. There are plenty of beautiful stops along the way, providing a chance to visit farms, meet local growers, and chat with artists who are famous for crafting one-of-a-kind creations!
Natural Wonders
Not far from downtown Nanaimo is Pipers Lagoon Park, which beautifully juts out into the ocean, offering stunning views of the Salish Sea.
Westwood Lake Park is nestled in the foothills of Mt. Benson. There is a 5.51km trail around the lake, popular with walkers and runners. with shorter loops available towards the south end of the trail.
Horne Lake Caves has cool underground passageways, chambers, and crystal formations that you can explore.
For more things to do, visit the Tourism Nanaimo website.
