The Community
of
Chase River
Vancouver Island, BC, Canada.

Chase River is a five minute drive south from Nanaimo located beside the "Nanaimo River Estuary".

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Population: 2400
Location: Latitude:
49°08'00" Longitude: 123°55'00"
Native Bands: Snuneymuxw First Nation
Name Place and History:
• Chase (Settlement) 1914.
• Form of name changed to Chase River (Settlement) 3 May 1951
• Form of name changed to Chase River (Community) 15 February 1983
•In November 1852 Peter Brown, a young Orkneyman employed as a shepherd in the Saanich are, was murdered by two Indians. One of them, a Cowichan, was soon captured. The other belonging to the Nanaimo band, was pursued up this stream by nine of the HBC's French-Canadian scouts, the Nanaimo native tried to shoot it out on the banks of the river. However, his powder was wet, and he was soon captured. With his accomplice he was hanged on Gallows Point near Nanaimo, their chase and death adding two more items to our list of British Columbia place names. • Also know name as "New Douglas" in the year 1835. Given at the time after James Douglas who was the Governor of the colony on Vancouver Island from 1851 to 1864.

Community:
•Chase River [Map] is the first district south of Nanaimo on Hwy 1 heading for Victoria, Vancouver Island, B.C. Canada.
•Sometimes Chase River is incorrectly called "Nanaimo South" because of its close proximity to Nanaimo a short five minutes away.
•The first post office in Chase River was opened in June 1, 1910 and was closed on February 1, 1924.

Attractions
• This is a quiet semi-rural community. The area attracts families and couples looking for lower real estate prices. There are a number of older model homes in the area with acreage.
• A quick five minute drive from quiet country side to busy downtown Nanaimo.
• Chase River has a couple of small malls, gas bar and supply stores plus Chase River Elementary School, newly located next to Trofton Park now renamed "Elaine Hamilton Park".
•Country Grocer opened a new supermarket in the South Parkway Mall. It replaces the Food Country in Southgate Plaza. Also attracting shoppers is a proposed Cable Bay development in the area. Rona is building a large new retail outlet at 10th Street and the Island Highway and the Co-op is constructing a new gas bar and convenience store adjacent to the Moose Lodge in Chase River.

Parks
Chase River Estuary Park (dog walk) – Trails, viewing platforms and boardwalks for bird watching, estuary views. 1150 Island Highway, south of Haliburton Street.

Richards Creek and Wetlands – There are Coho salmon in Richards Creek. In the Cinnabar Valley, the community of Chase River and a group of neighbors called the Friends of Richards Creek are working together to protect Richards Creek, the Wetlands and all living habitat.
Richards Creek is about 2.1 km long. Originating in Richards Lake, the creek drains the southeast slopes of Cinnabar Valley, widening into an expansive wetland area after it crosses Porter Road. Many small springs and streams on the hillsides also flow into the creek. Past Trofton Park now renamed "Elaine Hamilton Park", Richards Creek once again narrows and then joins Beck Creek, which flows north and empties into the Nanaimo River Estuary.

The Nanaimo River Estuary - is adjacent to the City of Nanaimo, just west of Duke Point. There is access off Raines Road in the community of Cedar and off Gordon Road via Duke Point Hwy .
• There have been 238 bird species found in the Nanaimo River Estuary.
• The Nanaimo River estuary is the largest estuary on Vancouver Island, BC, Canada.
Chase River Tunnel - A Culvert under the Parkway built in the 1990's.
Location is underneath the parkway near the Colliery (Harewood) Dams park. Walk to the southern end of the bridge staying right. Follow the trail down to the river and you will see the culvert.



Richards Creek and Wetlands Voluntary Stewardship
Contact: Nanaimo Area Land Trust.
City of Nanaimo
Environmental Planner,
455 Wallace St.
Nanaimo, B.C. V9R 5J6
Phone 755-4483
or
Friends of Richards Creek
1925 Kells Bay,
Nanaimo, B.C. V9X 1H1
Phone: 754-5999
2948 Hammond Bay Rd.
Nanaimo, B.C. V9T 1E2

Communities near Chase River:
Cassidy, BC
Cedar, BC
•Gabriola, BC
•Ladysmith, BC
•Nanaimo, BC
•Thetis Island, BC
•Westholme, BC
•Yellow Point, BC

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