Moving To / From Courtenay
In the nearby Forbidden Plateau a legend of large, hairy giants existed, sending fear through early First Nations tribes. However, the large abundance of berries, fish, and game brought a community of First Nations from the Comox area. The first European explorers were Spanish navigators (1791).
In 1846-49 Rear-Adm. George William Courtenay surveyed the area. With the establishment of an HBC store in the 1850’s, settlement began in the 1860’s. Reginald Pidcock, who owned the site and built a mill, and Joseph McPhee, who began the first store and later bought most of Pidcock’s land, helped to develop the community. In 1910 a road from Victoria was completed and 4 years later the arrival of the Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railroads ignited Courtenay’s growth. Adding to Courtenay’s development, immigration from England, Scotland and the Maritimes followed World War I.
Today, Courtenay is the commercial and service centre for the area. The local economy is based primarily on the forestry, fishing, mining, and agriculture industries. One of the prominent industries for this region is tourism with recreation facilities open year-round.
The City of Courtenay is located on Highway #19, with Comox only 6 km to the southeast. Courtenay is situated in the Comox Valley, in the Regional District of Comox - Strathcona.
The Comox Valley is located midway up the East Coast of Vancouver Island. The area consists of the City of Courtenay, the Town of Comox, the Village of Cumberland, CFB Comox Airbase and the Hamlet of Merville. The west it is bordered by the Vancouver Island Mountain Range with its beautiful Comox Glacier and Strathcona Park, and the east by the Strait of Georgia, Baynes Sound, and Comox Harbour. The waters of three major rivers, the Tsolum, the Puntledge, and the Browns, combine to form the Courtenay River, which flows across the broad alluvial lowland into the head of Comox Harbour.
The population of Courtenay numbers approximately 21,940.
For more information about Courtenay:
City of Courtenay
830 Cliffe Ave.
Courtenay, BC
V9N 2J7
250-334-4441
https://www.courtenay.ca/
Courtenay has an average July temperature of 17.3°C and an average January temperature of 3.3°C. The average annual precipitation is 1449 mm.
For daily or historical weather conditions, visit:https://www.theweathernetwork.com/ca
One of the best ways to learn about your new community is to subscribe to the local newspaper:
Comox Valley Echo
250-334-4722
https://o.canada.com/
Comox Valley Record
250-338-5811
https://www.bclocalnews.com/
For information regarding curriculum and enrolment procedures, please contact:
School District #71 (Comox Valley)
Conseil Scolaire Francophone de la Columbie-Britannique (School District 93)
North Island Hospital Comox Valley
101 Lerwick Rd
Courtenay, B.C.
V9N 0B9
Cable TV
Hydro
Gas
Water
Garbage/Recycling
Telephone
Motor Vehicle & Driver Licencing
Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC)
1-800-950-1498
https://www.icbc.com/Pages/default.aspx
Public Transit
Comox Valley Transit Information
250-339-5453
https://www.bctransit.com/comox-valley/home
BC Ferries
1-888-223-3779
https://www.bcferries.com/
For more information about transportation in Courtenay, visit: https://www.bctransit.com/comox-valley/home
Community Services
250-334-4441
https://www.courtenay.ca/EN/main/community.html
Courtenay Branch Library
250-334-3369
https://virl.bc.ca/
Lewis Recreation Centre
250-338-5371
https://www.courtenay.ca/EN/main/community/recreation/facilities/lewis-centre.html
For information about upcoming events in Courtenay, visit: https://downtowncourtenay.com/
Community Services
250-334-4441
https://www.courtenay.ca/EN/main/community/recreation.html
Golf Courses
Crown Isle Resort & Golf Community
250-703-5000
https://www.crownisle.com/
Sunnydale Golf Club
250-334-3342
https://www.sunnydalegolf.ca/
Courtenay and District Museum
The museum includes interactive displays and exhibits tracing the history of the Comox Valley.
Courtenay Riverway & Puntledge Greenway
Both these trail ways offer paved pathways that follow the Puntledge and Courtenay Rivers. Ideal for walking, jogging and biking.
Lewis Park
A sports park that includes a recreation centre along with a water park and tennis courts.
Simms Millennium Park
A popular community park, with walking trails and live music during the summer months.
To find a grocery store in the Courtenay area, visit:
Safeway
https://www.safeway.ca/
Thrifty Foods
https://www.thriftyfoods.com/
Movie Theatres
To find a movie theatre near you, visit:https://www.tribute.ca/
Restaurants
To find local restaurants, visit:https://www.restaurantica.com/
Live Theatre
For production information, visit:https://www.sidwilliamstheatre.com/
Nightlife
For information on bars and nightclubs, visit:https://www.clubplanet.com/
Call at 1-888-708-7700 to order the following brochures:
Protecting your goods in transit
Handling dangerous goods
Do-it-yourself packing guide