Villages of the Comox Valley | Vancouver Island BC

Real Estate for Sale ˃ Comox Valley ˃ Villages

Village of Cumberland

Cumberland BC is currently home to about 3753 people according to the 2016 census and it is located approximately 6 miles West of Courtenay and about 1 mile West of the highway 19. Comox Lake is located about 2 miles West of Cumberland. Mount Washington ski resort is 19 miles West of Cumberland while Strathcona Provincial Park lies further West. The village is nestled in the foothills of the Beaufort Mountain Range and near Comox Lake, a large glacier-fed, dammed lake accessed via Comox Lake road.Cumberland, BC was founded in 1888 by coal baron Robert Dunsmuir. The settlement was originally named Union after the Union Bay Coal Company but changed to Cumberland in 1898. Many of the streets were named after the English coal-mining district of Cumberland. Cumberland housed an international force of coal miners, including one of the largest Chinese populations in the province. Coal mining ceased in 1966.

Seaside Village of Royston

Royston, BC is a rural seaside village of 1616 people according to the 2016 census and it is located across the bay from Comox and approximately 3.5 miles South of Courtenay along highway 19A (also referred to as the Old Island Highway and Oceanside Route) towards Nanaimo. There is a sign erected on the Royston waterfront entitled the Ghost Ships of Royston. According to the Unerwater Archaeological Society of British Columbia, there are at least 14 ships that were sunk, starting in 1936 (and continuing for 25 years) to act as breakwaters for log-booming operations in the Comox Bay across from Royston and the Town of Comox. The ships located near Royston are protected under the provincial Heritage Conservation Act.

Community of Union Bay

Union Bay, BC is a small community of 1185 people according to the 2016 census and it is located approximately 9 miles south of Courtenay along Highway 19A and across from the North end of Denman Island and Sandy Island Marine Provincial Park. This unincorporated site is connected with the Union Bay Improvement District.

Hamlet of Fanny Bay

Fanny Bay, BC is a seaside community of 893 people according to the 2016 census and it is located approximately 17 miles south of Courtenay along highway 19A and across the strait separating Vancouver Island from Denman Island. Fanny Bay is known for its Fanny Bay Oysters and it is located just north of Rosewall Creek Provincial Park. Mud Bay is a shallow tidal bay south of Fanny Bay and it bounds the south end of the Comox Valley. There are about 125 people living in the area around Mud Bay.

Hamlets of Merville and Black Creek and the Saratogo Beach Area

Head north of Courtenay along highway 19A and you will encounter the hamlet of Merville followed by the Hamlet of Black Creek. These rural communities have a rich history of farming and agricultural land reserve areas continue to encompass the communities today. Merville, BC is a hamlet of about 2240 people according to the 2016 census of the three unincorporated parts of the area. It is located approximately 9 miles north of Courtenay along Highway 19A. Black Creek is a rural farming community another 4.5 miles further north. Saratoga Beach (just south of the Oyster River) marks the northern part of the Comox Valley. Miracle Beach provincial park is further south and it is a popular park on Vancouver Island. There are about 1600 people living in the Saratoga Beach-Miracle Beach area

Community of Bowser

The community of Bowser is located at the extreme southern end of the Comox Valley next to the Strait of Georgia.