Nanaimo River
Why Spread the Word?
Many of my friends have questioned me on the value of promoting the river, because the numbers of people who go there is increasing dramatically enough WITHOUT it being promoted in the media and tourism websites. And it's natural that we should want the place to ourselves.
Personally, I want the place to be known to the tourists. I want them to commodify that river, and get it protected from private interests and harmful development. I want the tourists to displace the morons who go to the historic and beautiful "Trestle" and smash bottles and leave their cigarette butts.
I propose a poll. If you have an opinion on whether these Nanaimo River pages should be removed or not, please send me an email at info@nanaimoinformation.com and say what you think. Please say why, or your vote won't count.
Results of poll so far:
no results
Here's my old explanation:
I might get trouble for mentioning one of Nanaimo's best-kept secrets, but it's my hope that the Nanaimo River will become recognized for the recreational treasure it is. Then maybe it will be protected, especially from all the idiots who presently flock there to throw bottles and cigarette butts.
Mostly, however, I promote the Nanaimo River because I want our visitors to leave with the VERY BEST impression of our city, and our island. Let everybody know that paradise is not a funky street in the middle of a hip metropolis; it's not an upscale resort on a riviera or in the Caribbean; no, paradise is a lukewarm river cutting a deep trench through old sedimentary bedrock, in a part of the world where there are no weird animals that want to hurt you (except the horseflies, which ARE bad at the river).
The Nanaimo River should be protected because its sport potential is nearly unequaled amongst rivers in BC. First, it is relatively warm for swimming, because it winds a long way from its source, warming in several Nanaimo Lakes before coming down the valley to the Nanaimo, Cassidy, and Cedar areas. Second, it is a mighty river that has carved an interesting playground into the sedimentary rock. Massive green pools are connected by swift channels, and huge fallen boulders can be leapt from or swum under.
