Comox, British Columbia
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| Town of Comox (Comox) |
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| Coordinates: | |||
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| Country | Canada | ||
| Province | British Columbia | ||
| Regional District | Comox-Strathcona | ||
| Incorporated | 1953 | ||
| Government | |||
| - Mayor | Jim Brass | ||
| Area | |||
| - City | 26.68 km² (10.3 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 84 m (275.6 ft) | ||
| Population (2006) | |||
| - City | 12,136 | ||
| - Density | 800.5/km² (2,073.3/sq mi) | ||
| Time zone | PST (UTC-8) (UTC) | ||
| Area code(s) | 250 | ||
| Website: Comox.ca | |||
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 known for being home of the Lorne Hotel, the oldest licensed establishment in British Columbia, and for the Filberg Festival, an annual summertime arts and crafts extravaganza named for the residential park where it's held. Coinciding with the Filberg Festival in early August are the 'Nautical Days' celebrations in Comox Marina Park (a landfill waterfront park), boasting a parade, a classic car show, an amateur boatbuilding competition and live music performances.
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, Kim Catrall, Kirsten Hatfield, and Brett McLean, 2004 Athens silver medalist Thomas Herschmiller, and of locally-known radio host Red Robinson, as well as the birthplace of squash legend Jonathon Power.
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[edit] History
Comox 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
[edit] Culture
The native culture of the Comox people is still very active. Descendants of the original native people still live on the local Reservation, and hold many events that are reflective of their culture. For the most part, non-native locals are welcome to come and reflect on the culture of the peoples who originally inhabited Comox many years ago.
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.
[edit] Language
The 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.
[edit] Education
Comox 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
[edit] Elementary Schools:
- Village Park Elementary
- Brooklyn Elementary
- Comox Elementary
- Airport Elementary
- Ecole Robb Road Elementary (French+Francophone)
Huband Park Elementary
[edit] Middle Schools
- Ecole Aspen Park Middle School (English+French)
- Cape Lazo Middle School
- Courtenay Middle School
[edit] Secondary School:
- École Highland Secondary School (English+French)
- George P. Vanier Secondary School
- Mark R. Isfeld Secondary School
[edit] 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.
[edit] Communication
[edit] Print
- Comox Valley Record [2]
- Comox Valley Echo
- Totem Times
[edit] Radio
[edit] Television
- Shaw Communications Cable 10
[edit] Internet Service Providers
Internet Service Providers in Commox[5]
- Shaw Internet
- Telus Internet Services
- Island Internet, now owned by Uniserve.com
- Uniserve
[edit] Notable People
- Pamela Anderson
- Brett McLean - NHL defenseman for the Colorado Avalanche
- Cam Neely - former NHL player - inducted in the Hockey Hall of Fame
- Ty Wishart - NHL defenseman for the San Jose Sharks organization.
[edit] See also
- Comox people - the Comox native people
[edit] References
- ^ Comox Community Profile - Statistics Canada. 2002. 2001 Community Profiles. Released June 27, 2002. Last modified: 2005-11-30. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 93F0053XIE.
- ^ Comox Valley Record
- ^ Coast Radio
- ^ Eagle FM
- ^ ISP in Commox: Shaw, Telus, Island Internet, Uniserve
[edit] External links
- Official Town Website
- Vancouver Island Live
- Comox Valley Events
- Comox Valley Business and Community Directory
- Comox Valley Wildlife
- Comox Valleylinks
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