The latest raw data from Statistics Canada's 2011 census pegs Nanaimo's population at 83,810, a gain of 6.5 per cent or 5,118 people.
The total population for the Nanaimo census agglomeration – Nanaimo and its outlying districts – also rose to 98,021, representing a 6.1-per cent jump or 5,660 more people than were living here during the last census.
Canada's population rose 5.9 per cent and people have been moving west in the past few years, which partly accounts for B.C.'s population rising seven per cent from 2006 to 2011 and showing accelerated growth compared to the 5.3-per cent increase between 2001 and 2006.
But what does having several thousand more people move to the area really mean?
Nanaimo mayor John Ruttan said a rising population is positive, but a 6.5-per cent increase is slightly lower than was predicted.
"I think the city had predicted 1.5 per cent per annum and it effectively came out at about 1.25 per cent, so it's very close to projection of what we expected to get," Ruttan said.
Had the economy been stronger in recent years, Ruttan said, there might have been more migration to Nanaimo with a potentially greater long-term effect.
"I don't think a six-per cent increase will necessarily in itself result in any additional people sitting on the [Regional District of Nanaimo board] and so on," Ruttan said. "I don't see that the outcome will have a major impact on the city."
Wally Wells, chairman of the Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce, has seen a major rise in chamber membership, much of which has come from new small business owners moving into the region.
"Some are semi-retired, but others have, for whatever reason decided to relocate their businesses here," Wells said. "The good news is there are a lot of new people and a lot of new businesses. I wouldn't call it bad news, but at this point they're relatively small businesses, but a lot of them have the potential to grow."
Many of the businesses relocating here are small, Internet-based technology firms, which avoid added costs of shipping manufactured goods to and from the Island.
Wells, an engineering consultant, migrated to Nanaimo from Toronto and brought his business with him in 2006.
An important aspect of Nanaimo's long-term economic strategic planning will be to continue attracting a population with a balanced age range to foster the region's economic growth, he said.
"How do we take advantage of the resources of things like the university? How do we keep people who want to stay here, get educated here, buy their property, raise their families here?" Wells said. "I think if you look at an organization like the Young Professionals of Nanaimo, that didn't exist two years ago and now has 150 members, it's pretty encouraging that we're getting that distribution – and those are the ones who will create the jobs."
Susan Cudahy, Nanaimo Economic Development Corporation chief executive officer, said if a population growth rate spikes, a municipality might not have the revenue to quickly catch up with sudden rising demands for more land and infrastructure, but Nanaimo's recent growth rate is healthy and sustainable.
"It's exactly what you want to see," Cudahy said. "What you want to see is people constantly moving into an area, because along with the people moving in and the need for them to take advantage of the services, a lot of those people will also start small businesses, become involved in the community, be part of the expansion of local business and provide revenue to grocery stores, retail and restaurants. So it does drive business."