Close to Home: Comox Valley

The Comox Valley is Vancouver Island’s adventure destination. Where else can you ski, scuba dive, mountain bike and kayak all in the same day? If festivals are the kind of fun you are looking for, the local Comox Valley festivals take place throughout the year (check for

COVID-19 health order updates), and celebrate everything from music and shellfish, to fine art and aviation. The Comox Valley offers four seasons of experiences for visitors to enjoy— when it’s safe to do so. Here is just a sampling...

For more information on things to do, what’s happenning, and where to stay in the Comox Valley, visit discovercomoxvalley.com. Hiking Trails & Parks Strathcona Provincial Park (bcparks.ca) Seal Bay Nature Park (comoxvalleyrd.ca) Nymph Falls Nature Park (comoxvalleyrd.ca) Wildwood Interpretive Forest (comoxvalleyrd.ca) Royston Seaside Trail (comoxvalleyrd.ca) Comox Marina Park (comox.ca)

Beaches & Outdoor Water Activities Goose Spit Beach Kye Bay Beach Saratoga Beach Miracle Beach Provincial Park

Tours & Activities • Charter a fishing or sightseeing tour • Tour local art studios and galleries • Take a Mount Washington ZipTour and see 2.3 km of stunning alpineocean scenery • Travel 80 million years back in time by taking fossil tours with the Courtenay Museum • Taste your way through the Comox

Valley by taking culinary tours • Discover Aboriginal heritage and learn about the K’òmoks First Nation (komoks.ca) • Go golfing. Comox Valley has nine golf courses that is suitable for golfers of all skill levels.

Local Farmers’ Market, Food Producers • Enjoy local produce at the year round

Comox Valley Farmers’ Market • Buy off-the-boat salmon, tuna, and halibut at the Fisherman’s Wharf • Buy fresh food from various food trucks at Comox Marina Park • Download the Taste Comox Valley

App for a full list of Farm Stands,

Food and Beverage Producers and then you can make your own farm tour to taste the best of the Comox Valley

Other Outdoor Highlights of the Comox Valley:

Comox Valley Disc Golf

Village Park Disc Golf Course. This is the place to start if you are just beginning your journey into disc golf. Completing the vision of the original builders of this course, the long version of the tee pads are now available to play.

Lake Trail Disc Golf Course. This collaboration between the Lake Trail School and the CVDGC is still a work in progress with some additions and adjustments to come. This course has been designed as beginner friendly but accomodates all levels.

Coal Creek Disc Golf Course and Coal Shoots Disc Golf Course are in Cumberland.

Miracle Beach Mini Golf

Enjoy 18 holes of exciting Mini Golf. A hole-in-one at the 18th hole wins you a free Mini-GolfPass. Located just north of Hamm Rd on the Old Island Highway, roughly 25 kilometres north of Courtney.

Quad Bungee Trampoline Mount Washington High Flying Adventure

Bounce high into the air with little effort while you flip in complete safety. Quad Bungee Trampoline may not be in operation during the summer of 2021, depending upon COVID-19 restrictions. Rotary Water Park at Lewis Park

The water park is located at Lewis Park, next to the Lewis Centre parking lot at 489 Old Island Highway. Other nearby features include the outdoor pool, wading pool, and playground area at Lewis Park. Rotary Water Park 2021, may not be in operation depending upon COVID-19 restrictions.

Outdoor Skateboard Park

The Comox-Courtenay Outdoor Skateboard Park measures approximately 24,000 square feet, making it one of the biggest skate parks in B.C. The bowl is the biggest on Vancouver Island, varying from 5 to 11 feet in height with a large hip in the shallow end, a vert wall and an over-vert capsule. The site also includes a huge street area and flow area. Other features include brick and rock gaps and various sized ledges, rails and stairs.

Riverside Fit Park

Riverside Fit Park features 16 pieces of outdoor fitness equipment with 32 individual stations that include equipment for cardio, upper body and lower body workouts. This durable equipment is available year-round for both informal drop-in use as well as scheduled classes.

Bear Creek Ranch

Set in the heart of the Black Creek countryside, Bear Creek Ranch is one of the best-loved training and trail riding centres on Vancouver Island. Whether you’re a casual trail rider or a professional horse person, Bear Creek Ranch has something to offer everyone.

Healthy Families, Happy Families Child, Youth & Family Public Health

South Island Health Units

Esquimalt 250-519-5311 Gulf Islands 250-539-3099

(toll-free number for office in Saanichton) Peninsula 250-544-2400 Saanich 250-519-5100 Saltspring Island 250-538-4880 Sooke 250-519-3487 Victoria 250-388-2200 West Shore 250-519-3490 Central Island Health Units

Duncan 250-709-3050 Ladysmith 250-755-3342 Lake Cowichan 250-749-6878 Nanaimo 250-755-3342 Nanaimo 250-739-5845

Princess Royal Parksville/Qualicum 250-947-8242 Port Alberni 250-731-1315 Tofino 250-725-4020

North Island Health Units

Campbell River 250-850-2110 Courtenay 250-331-8520 Kyuquot Health Ctr 250-332-5289 ‘Namgis Health Ctr 250-974-5522 Port Hardy 250-902-6071 islandhealth.ca/our-locations/ health-unit-locations

Changes with BC Medical Services Plan premiums mean that families eligible for partial payment of some medical services and access to some income-based programs now must apply for Supplementary Benefits through the Government of BC. Applications can be done online and take approximately 15 minutes. Families who previously qualified for MSP Premium Assistance should not need to re-apply if taxes are completed yearly. It is advised to confirm coverage before proceeding with treatment to avoid paying out of pocket. For more information, visit gov.bc.ca/gov/ content/health/health-drug-coverage/msp/ bc-residents/benefits/services-covered-bymsp/supplementary-benefits