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There are some symbols of a community that truly stand the test of time. The Nanaimo Bastion is one of those icons that have endured since the inception of what we now know as Nanaimo, the third oldest city in British Columbia.
Built in 1853, the Nanaimo Bastion has come to mean many things to many people. To our earliest pioneers it was a place of commerce, protection, and a beacon of civility in a wild and untamed land. It has been a refuge, general store, jailhouse, arsenal, museum, club house, information centre, and a staging ground for ceremonial demonstrations.
Using local lumber, the three floors of the Bastion were crafted without nails by two French Canadian axe men. Over the years, politics and land deals saw this sturdy wooden fort moved twice. Today, along with two 19th century cannons, it now rests in its permanent location on Pioneer Waterfront Plaza in the heart of downtown Nanaimo. While the timbers of the Bastion are original, the interior has been recreated to look as it did in 1853. Volunteers in period costume give tours of each of the floors, provide tourist information, and, most exciting of all, staff perform a ceremonial cannon firing ceremony every day at noon throughout the summer. Today, this former Hudson's Bay Company outpost is a symbol of our city's humble beginnings and a testament to our rich West Coast heritage. The Bastion is definitely one of those "must see" destinations for any visitor to Nanaimo.
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