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Comox is a town located on the eastern side of Vancouver Island, British Columbia in the Comox Valley. Comox has a population of approximately 12,200 people[1] and is home to the Canadian air force base CFB Comox and HMCS Quadra. The town shares the Comox Valley with the City of Courtenay, the Village of Cumberland, and the unincorporated settlements of Royston, Union Bay, Fanny Bay, Black Creek and Merville. The valley's population is currently well past the 30,000 mark, and has experienced a recent period of sustained growth.
Comox is one of the past hometowns of actress Pamela Anderson-Lee, previously of Baywatch fame. The town is also the hometown of many National Hockey League stars, including Cam Neely, Ty Wishart, Brett McLean. Actress Kim Catrall (sex in the city), Kirsten Hatfield, and Rashell Millsap (of youtube fame) and 2004 Athens silver medalist Thomas Herschmiller, and of locally-known radio host Red Robinson, as well as the birthplace of squash legend Jonathon Power.
HistoryComox has long been home to the Comox Salish nation, who fished in the Puntledge River and estuary. It is proposed by Bawlf that the Elizabethan Explorer Sir Francis Drake perhaps visited the area in 1579, and claimed it as Nova Albion. Continued Royal Navy visits have left a long history, with the Comox Valley: Captain Vancouver, and nineteenth century ships called in. The fertile soils of the Valley, and abundant fish and timber meant that European settlers arrived in the 1860s. Farms, wharves and houses were built. Coal was discovered at Cumberland, and it and the wharf city of Union Bay became thriving ports in the 1880s. With all this activity, the trefoil townships of Comox, Courtenay and Cumberland started to grow. Hotels, creameries, logging companies, and the E and N Railway arrived. A dam was built across the Puntledge River to raise Comox Lake. The vast industrial concern of Comox Logging set up shop and proceeded to denude the valley of its timber. Comox became a vibrant community and participated in the First World War. The nearby town of Merville is a returned serviceman's settlement, taking the name from a battlefield in France. Great War hero Captain Geoffrey Spicer-Simson retired to the valley. The Campbell River Fire of 1938 caused much concern as did an earthquake a decade later. An airbase was established during the Second World War, now 19 Wing Comox. See also Comox Valley Culture
Outside of the native population, Comox is a center of culture and multi cultural celebrations. Perhaps the most famous festival is the Filberg Festival, held annually within the first week of August. This attraction is one of the largest tourist events within the Valley (next to the skiing attraction of the nearby Mount Washington Alpine Resort). Other than events based on history, nationality, etc, the Comox Valley is alive with events in the theatre. The Sid Williams Theatre located in downtown Courtenay always has something to offer from the local talent, from the Courtenay Little Theatre to Rainbow Youth Theatre, as well as travelling acts. LanguageThe area's language is primarily English, though many local schools offer French immersion programs. All other languages comprise less than 1% of the spoken language. EducationComox is home to multiple elementary and secondary schools offering both English and French immersion programs. The following is a list of Comox's public schools School District 71 Comox Valley Elementary Schools:
Huband Park Elementary Middle Schools
Secondary School:
Post-Secondary Education:The Comox Valley is also home to the primary campus of North Island College, which offers a variety of courses to those wishing to further their education, but stay close to home. There are also branches of Excel Career College and Sprott-Shaw Community College for those who wish to pursue distance education. Communication
Radio
Television
Internet Service ProvidersInternet Service Providers in Commox[5]
Notable People
See also
References
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