Courtenay, British Columbia

Courtenay is the fourth largest city on Vancouver Island in British Columbia. Only Victoria, Nanaimo and Campbell River are larger. It is the largest city in the region of Vancouver Island known as the Comox Valley. It is conveniently located mid way up the island and it is centrally located in the valley. This area was home to the K'omoks First Nations people for thousands of years before first contact with European explorers.

Early History

Captain George Vancouver anchored his ship in what is now known as the Comox Harbour located across Comox Bay from Courtenay in 1792. While this date is often cited as the official first contact in this area there continues to be debate on whether or not earlier contact was made by Sir Francis Drake in 1579. This assertion is made based on research by Canadian Samuel Bawlf. Bawlf suggested, in his 2003 book The Secret Voyage of Sir Francis Drake, 1577-1580 (ISBN 1-55054-977-4)

Early settlers to the area were drawn to it because of the easy access to fishing and the tremendous fertile land for farming. Coal deposits were discovered nearby in 1864 in the area now known as the Village of Cumberland. A mine was built in this area in 1888 by Robert Dunsmuir and the opening of the mine brought an influx of settlers to the area long with a number of Chinese and Japanese immigrants.

The downtown area of Courtenay was developed throughout the settlement expansion period and a bridge was built across the Courtenay River in 1874 to join the East and West sides of the developed areas. Courtenay was incorporated as a town in 1915 and later its status was elevated to that of a city in 1953. During these early days the downtown area was hit hard by two fires in 1915 and a nearby earthquake of 7.3 magnitude in 1946.

Demographics

The City of Courtenay grew at a rate of about 9.4% between 2006 and 2011 making it the fourth fastest growing area of the province in that time period. As of the 2011 Census, Courtenay had grown to 23,575 people. Of these, 5% of the population reported an Aboriginal identity. When the surrounding regional areas encompassing 625 square miles are included, the number of people rises to over 55,000. The area continues to grow and the numbers for the 2016 census will be made known and distributed by Feb 2017.

All age groups of the population are well represented. Ages 0 to 14 account for 14% of the population, ages 15 to 64 accounts for 63% and those over 65 account for 22%. The median age of these city dwellers is 48.3. Approximately 1/3 of the population are couples with children aged 24 and under staying at home.

Climate

The climate in Courtenay is a marine west coast ocean climate and it is very temperate when compared to the rest of the country. Comfortable and fairly dry summers accompany mild and wet winters.

Economy

Courtenay was reliant on natural resources as the economic engine of the area for many years. Fishing, logging and the extraction of coal were the main staples of its economic growth. CFB Comox was built nearby in 1942 and while it has undergone changes in mission over the course of its history it continues to provide a significant stimulus to the local economy as an employer of about 3000 people.The economy is now much more diverse and it relies on small business, tourism, and more recently the real estate boom to continue its growth as people are increasingly relocating to the area for quality of life and retirement.

Activities

Courtenay is a hub of activity year round and it was named a cultural capital of Canada in 2007 because the breadth and depth of arts and cultural activities that can be found in the area. Every summer the Vancouver Island Music Festival takes places just outside of Courtenay and the renowned Filberg Festival takes place in the nearby Town of Comox. Other festivals and events include the North Island Festival of the performing arts, Highland games, Fiddlefest and many other events. The area that surrounds Courtenay is full of recreational and other outdoor opportunities, events, sports and leisure activities. A person can literally go fishing, skiing and golfing in the same day. The area is replete with walking and hiking trails and nearby parks.

Area Access

The City of Courtenay can be accessed by air through the Comox Valley Airport, by Ferry via BC Ferries connections to Vancouver Island and by road once on island. Both Highway 19 (a modern 4 lane highway) and Highway 19A connect the City to the rest of the island. Once in the City, the BC Transit Commission offers bus services throughout the area and it connects to other local areas as well.

Local Government

The City of Courtenay is governed by a mayor and a six person council.

Health Care and education

The nearby town of Comox currently houses the regional hospital but a new one is being built in East Courtenay at the top of Ryan Road and the nearby Aquatic Centre. There are a good variety of schools in the area all administered by School District 71 along with North Island College in Courtenay.

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