Origin of Our Name

We often get asked about the name ‘Painted Turtle Guesthouse.’

Our original ideas of ‘Harbour City Guesthouse’ or ‘Barnacles Inn’ did not match the flair we were expecting to offer our guests, so we brainstormed for hours on a suitable name that reflected our accommodation style, location, and character. We researched animals native to Vancouver Island and discovered the ‘painted turtle’ (Chrysemys Pictas), who makes its home here in fresh-water lakes. If you are patient, you can see a real Painted Turtle in Buttertubs Marsh, right here in the city of Nanaimo. And so our name was born!

Also, the ‘Painted’ Turtle Guesthouse is located in the ‘Arts District’ of Nanaimo; turtles live in water, and the Guesthouse is only 1 block to the ocean; turtles’ homes are their shells on their back, so like the Guesthouse there is always a home-away-from-home; and, almost everyone loves turtles!