If you are arriving at YVR, you can take a ferry from
Tsawwaasen to Duke Points (Nanaimo), which cuts off the
drive from Victoria to Nanaimo, about an hour and a half
drive.
Ferry time is about the same as to Victoria but you save
1/2 hour from ferry to Victoria. Look at:
http://www.bcferries.com/schedules/m...-mainland.html

for the ferry map.