Courtenay
Courtenay BC Real Estate Comox Valley
By NanaimoRealEstateTeam.com

Courtenay real estate is at the centre of Vancouver Island’s Comox Valley in British Columbia.   With over 22,000 residents, Courtenay is one of Canada’s fastest-growing urban communities and features excellent shopping, accommodations, restaurants, and recreational and cultural amenities.   As the seat of the Regional District of Comox-Strathcona, Courtenay is centrally located only 4 km west of sister city Comox real estate, 7 km northeast of the Village of Cumberland real estate, and 5 km northwest of the unincorporated settlement of Royston real estate. 

Located in the heart of some of the most beautiful farming landscape in Vancouver Island real estate, Courtenay BC real estate rivals the better-known areas of Victoria BC real estate and Nanaimo real estate that are located further south along the magnificent shores of Vancouver Island real estate.  Midst a kaleidoscope of natural environs, Courtenay BC homes and neighborhoods are accessible to golf at Crown Isle Golf Club and eight other nearby courses, the Courtenay River with its marina and airpark, and the Punteledge River with parks and hatcheries.   A rich tidal estuary teaming with wildlife surrounds Courtenay’s homes.

In 1891, Comox named her sister city after the Courtenay River, which had been named after Captain George William Courtenay of HMS Constance that was stationed the Pacific Station.  It officially became a town in 1915 and then a city in 1953.  After the discovery of elasmosaur dinosaur fossils in the nearby Trent and the Puntledge River seabed, the area became the first stop on the Great Canadian Fossil Trail.  For more information on the rich history of the area, The Courtenay Museum located in Canada’s largest free span log building is a wealth of geological, natural, and human history. 

Some of the best saltwater fishing, particularly for salmon, on the Strait of Georgia is north of the Puntledge River Estuary southeast of town.  The sheltered location and absence of dangerous currents makes it well suited for rod fishing in a small boat.  Windsurfers choose another spot, the Goose Spit Regional Park, to test their wings.  The calm, sheltered waters of the Courtenay River Estuary are highly regarded by protected Trumpeter Swan from around the world who winter in the area.  California and Steller sea lions, seals, and other migratory birds also linger at this sunny stretch of coastline.  

Seasonal sports such as skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, snow tubing, snow shoeing, and sledding as well as mountain bike riding and hiking are found at the Mount Washington Alpine Resort, the only commercial ski area on the Island.  Forbidden Plateau in Strathcona Provincial Park provides extensive cross-country tracks for intermediate and experienced skiers as well as great hiking and camping, and fly-fishing.  A network of nine moderate-to-difficult multi-use and mountain biking trails—known collectively as the Comox Lake-Puntledge River Trails—starts at the dam on Comox Lake.

The children attend the Comox Valley School District, which offers elementary, middle, high, and alternative schools in “A Learning Community.”  With a broad base of cultural activities such as the Contemporary Art Gallery, the Sid Williams Civic Theatre, and large music festivals, there are also abundant opportunities to take up art, music, and acting.   The area’s economy that weaves tourism with service industries, fishing, forestry and now aerospace is diversifying rapidly as it welcomes a new surge of retirees and young families into its gills.
For an inbreathe of the ozone-plumped air, stroll the tranquil forested acreage of The Kitty Coleman Woodland Gardens where over 3,500 rhododendrons, plants, and water features thrive.