Extension

Originally a busy bustling mining community, Extension is now a rural neighbourhood on the outskirts of Nanaimo. The main access is from Extension Road at the south end of the city. It's a great place to find large lots or acreages. You can find original post-war homes, get a recently built home in an affordable subdivision, or you can find a property to build on. For the environmentally conscious, there are even some ultra-green homes made entirely from repurposed materials.

For recreation, Extension Ridge is a unique nature park in the area. Here you can find a huge fissure in the earth called "The Abyss", and there are petroglyphs thought to be over 1000 years old. The park is a well-known destination for mountain bikers because of the elevated wooden trails and ground trails for riding. Most notably, Extension is the nearest community to the Nanaimo River. The river is a much loved summer destination for the young and old. You will find calm crystal clear pools for relaxing, and spots for cliff jumping.

As for schools, Cinnabar Valley Elementary and Chase River Elementary are located close by, but the high school John Barseby is in South Nanaimo. This means high school students will have a long commute to the worst rated school in the city.

The area does get bus service, but there is only one bus route connecting Extension and Cedar to downtown, and it’s not that frequent. The amenities of the south end are a 15 minute drive, and Woodgrove Mall is approximately 20 minutes to the north along the Nanaimo Parkway. Servicing the area are two strip malls featuring a major grocery store, and fast food outlets. What the Extension area lacks in amenities it makes up for with natural features and peaceful lifestyle.