The Town of Comox is a beautiful oceanside community on the east coast of Vancouver Island.

Comox has a population of just under 15,000, boasting a vibrant downtown core, stunning marina, and extensive greenways, parks, and beaches. Thanks to its central location, Comox is ideally situated for experiencing the many outdoor, marine, and culinary activities available in the region. The nearby Comox Glacier is visible from many parts of the town and is the area’s signature landmark, and the mild climate has attracted many retirees.

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Campbell River is a city in British Columbia on the east coast of Vancouver Island at the south end of Discovery Passage. The community is situated on the traditional territories of the Ligwiłda’xw people: the We Wai Kai, Wei Wai Kum, and Kwiakah First Nations. Surrounded by five provincial parks, Campbell River has a population of around 35,000 and has long been touted as the Salmon Capital of the World, competing with Port Alberni for that coveted title.

Campbell River has a variety of growing industries and small businesses suitable to an oceanside community. As of 2012, Campbell River’s business focus has been on aquaculture, agrifoods, clean energy development, construction, creative industries, forestry, fishing, health care, international education, mining, technology, and tourism.

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The City of Courtenay is the Comox Valley’s largest urban centre, where you’ll find big-city amenities wrapped in small-town charm and character. The community is situated on the east coast of central Vancouver Island and is accessible by land, sea, or air.

With a population of approximately 28,000, Courtenay is a culturally diverse community that offers supernatural beauty at its doorstep. With many beaches, rivers, and lakes; Mount Washington Ski and Alpine Resort; and world-class golfing, the Comox Valley is known for year-round recreation and sports opportunities.

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The Village of Cumberland celebrates its coal mining past while embracing the hip and contemporary. Cumberland is just as renowned for its history as it is for its mountain biking culture, abundant recreational trails, craft beer, and eclectic artisan shops.

Founded in 1888 by Scottish businessman Robert Dunsmuir, Cumberland (originally known as Union) was one of BC’s busiest mining communities until 1966. Time-worn cemeteries and heritage buildings pay tribute to that era, and colourful stories of miners, immigrants, and the frontier continue to echo through this flourishing community. Today, Cumberland is a popular hub for young families, artists, and outdoor enthusiasts.

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Located within the traditional territory of the Qualicum First Nation, the Town of Qualicum Beach is situated at the foot of Mount Arrowsmith along the Strait of Georgia on Vancouver Island’s northeastern coast.

Qualicum Beach’s natural environment and proximity to Victoria and Vancouver have made it a tourist destination, with cottages along the coast. Qualicum Beach is a popular spot for retirees, boasting the oldest average population in Canada, with an average median age of 65.9 in 2016.

Peace, quiet, and community life reign in this pretty seaside village, a repeat winner in the Canada-wide Communities in Bloom competition.

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The City of Port Alberni lies at the head of the rich salmon fishing grounds of the Alberni Inlet, Vancouver Island’s longest inlet.

With adjacent waters boasting all five species of Pacific salmon, Port Alberni competes with Campbell River for the title of Salmon Capital of the World. For decades, the primary industries of Port Alberni were mining and logging. Today, the town is considered a major tourist hub.

The city is the location of the head offices of the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District and sits on the traditional territory of the Tseshaht and Hupacasath First Nations of the Nuu-Chah-Nulth Tribal Council. Around 18,000 people live in Port Alberni.

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The City of Parksville is located on the traditional territory of the Coast Salish Nations, home to the Snaw-Naw-As First Nation and the Qualicum First Nation.

In the heart of Oceanside, Parksville lies on the sheltered east coast of Vancouver Island. With a population of around 13,600, Parksville is an active community of urban professionals, families with young children, and retirees who have chosen it for the great quality of life and the region’s natural environment.

The city’s best-known annual event since 1982 is a sandcastle-building competition held from mid-July to mid-August, dubbed Parksville Beachfest. Beachfest is the only World Championship Sand Sculpting official qualification event in Canada.

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Situated on the traditional lands of the Snuneymuxw First Nation, Nanaimo is a city of about 100,000 on the east coast of Vancouver Island. It’s a vibrant urban centre where abundant recreation and cultural opportunities give residents a lifestyle second to none for living, working, and playing.

Now called the Harbour City, Nanaimo was previously known as the Hub City, attributed to its original layout design with streets radiating from the shoreline like the spokes of a wagon wheel and its relatively central location on Vancouver Island. However, some might say that Nanaimo’s true claim to fame is the beloved Nanaimo Bar, a creamy concoction enjoyed by many.

As the site of the main ferry terminal, Nanaimo is the gateway to many other destinations, both on the northern part of Vancouver Island and off its coast. Like much of coastal British Columbia, Nanaimo experiences a temperate climate with mild, rainy winters and warm, dry summers.

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Ladysmith is a charming small town with a thriving economy, vibrant downtown, and picturesque waterfront. One of the oldest settlements on Vancouver Island, the community formerly known as Oyster Harbour was established in 1899 by James Dunsmuir, son of Vancouver Island’s prosperous coal-mining family.

Ladysmith was designed as a recreation and dormitory complex for miners, serving as a shipping port for coal from Nanaimo, and Dunsmuir moved many buildings by rail to this peaceful spot he had chosen. Today, the town has a charming Edwardian setting, with many of its original buildings under restoration. Ladysmith is located on the Traditional Territory of Stz’uminus First Nation, and approximately 7,200 call the community home.

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Duncan is the traditional home of the Coast Salish First Nations. A whistle-stop at William Duncan’s farm in the 1880s, Duncan is now the commercial centre of the Cowichan Valley region, serving over 80,000 people.

Since 1985, Duncan has transformed into the City of Totems, a unique urban forest with distinctive hand-carved cedar poles from local native artisans on public display in parks and downtown streets. Duncan’s cityscape is a fine example of an old tradition infused with contemporary relevance and life. This vibrant community features all modern amenities and services while retaining its historic charm.

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Port Renfrew is a small unincorporated community located on the south shore of Port San Juan, an inlet on the west coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. Port Renfrew has a population of 262 and has been touted as "the Tall Tree Capital of Canada".

Ucluelet (colloquially known as Ukee) is a district municipality on the Ucluelet Peninsula on the west coast of Vancouver Island, residing on the traditional territory of the Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ.

Ucluelet sits at the western edge of Barkley Sound, a marine area featuring the Broken Islands Group unit of the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. Between Tofino and Ucluelet is Long Beach, an unbelievably beautiful expanse of sand and surf. The fishing and scientific research community of Bamfield lies on its farther shore.

Ucluelet has an oceanic climate similar to Ireland, with mild, rainy winters and cool summers owing to its coastal location. Acclaimed Canadian artist Emily Carr spent time on First Nations territories in and around Ucluelet in the late 1890s, creating a series of drawings documenting life in the village.

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Breathtaking Tofino lies at the tip of the Esowista Peninsula in Clayoquot Sound on Vancouver Island’s west coast. The region takes its name from the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations.

Tofino’s beaches and old-growth rainforests attract surfers, nature lovers, campers, whale watchers, fishermen, and anyone seeking to get close to nature. Tofino is a world-class surfing destination, and in the winter, many people visit the area to storm-watch.

The District of Tofino has experienced significant change and growth from a predominantly resource-based economy to an increasing profile as an international destination. The area is part of the UNESCO Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Region, cherished for its profound biodiversity.

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Carved from the wilderness in the 1960s, Gold River is a resource-based community 90 kilometres west of Campbell River.

The community is nestled among snow-capped mountain peaks, surrounded by the Pacific Rain Forest, and opens to the waters of the historic Nootka Sound. Initially established to support the logging industry, this relatively new community is now better known as a natural recreational paradise. Gold River sits on the traditional territory of the Mowachaht and Muchalaht people of the Nuu-chah-nulth First Nation.

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Situated on the traditional territory of the Kwakiutl people, Gilakas’la, Port Hardy is a district municipality located on the northeast end of Vancouver Island. If you’ve arrived in Port Hardy via Island Highway 19, you’ve gone as far north as you go – by car, at least.

Port Hardy is the gateway to Cape Scott Provincial Park, the North Coast Trail, and the BC Marine Trail. The community has access to many outdoor activities, such as kayaking, caving, scuba diving, nature viewing, surfing, saltwater rapids, fishing, and camping. With a population of approximately 4,500, Port Hardy is now the largest community in the region.

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The Town of Chemainus lies within the municipality of North Cowichan in the Chemainus Valley on the east coast of southern Vancouver Island.

Founded as an unincorporated logging town in 1858, Chemainus is now famous for its 53 outdoor murals. This outdoor gallery has given birth to many businesses, including a theatre, antique dealers, and eateries. The tourist industry stemming from the murals helped rejuvenate the town after its large sawmill closed in the early 1980s and was replaced by a smaller, more efficient mill. As of 2021, approximately 4,000 people called Chemainus home.

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Originally called Port Kusum, the Village of Sayward is a relatively old community by Vancouver Island standards. It’s located in the Sayward Valley on the northeast coast of Vancouver Island, perched at Newcastle Ridge’s base and the Salmon River’s mouth at Kelsey Bay, one of British Columbia’s most important estuaries.

Sayward lies in the unceded Traditional Territory of the K’omoks, We Wai Kai, and Wei Wai Kum First Nations. Approximately 350 people call Sayward home, and residents are happy to share the spectacular natural environment of northern Vancouver Island with visitors.

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Sointula, a Finnish word meaning harmony, is a small, picturesque fishing village on Malcolm Island with a fascinating history. Beginning as a Utopian colony in the early 1900s, Sointula was founded by a Finnish playwright named Matti Kurikka, who led disgruntled Finnish coal miners from Nanaimo out of their pits and into the northern wilderness. This charmingly rustic harbour town is a 25-minute ferry ride from Port McNeill. Around 500 people live in Sointula year-round. For information about Sointula, contact your REALTOR, or visit www.bcparks.ca/read-island-park.

Alert Bay is a village on Cormorant Island, near Port McNeill on northeast Vancouver Island. This harbourside community was the traditional summer village home for the ‘Namgis First Nation before European settlers arrived in the 1860s to establish a salmon saltery and regional trading centre. Today, Alert Bay is a well-known centre for the powerful resurgence of Native culture. It hosts some of the region’s finest historical and cultural artifacts, First Nations paintings, and totem poles. Cormorant Island has a diverse population of approximately 1,300, while Alert Bay is home to about 475 people. For information about Alert Bay, contact your REALTOR, or visit www.alertbay.ca.

Gabriola Island is about five kilometres east of Nanaimo on Vancouver Island, linked by a 20-minute ferry service. This rural Gulf Island has a diverse creative culture, vibrant community, and abundant natural beauty comprising dense forests, sandstone bluffs, and an iconic West Coast shoreline. With a resident population of 4,500, Gabriola is home to over 200 artists and artisans and over 70 art galleries and studios. While many of Gabriola’s residents are retired, many also commute daily to Nanaimo for work. Part of the Islands Trust, Gabriola is situated on the traditional and unceded territory of the Snuneymuxw First Nation. For information about Gabriola Island, contact your REALTOR, or visit www.hellogabriola.ca.

Known as the gateway to the waterways of the Broughton Archipelago, Port McNeill is a grade-A stepping stone to outdoor adventure in the land of the Kwakiutl people.

Vancouver Island North’s second-largest community co-exists with the rich natural resources of land and sea. Originally a base camp for loggers, Port McNeill became a settlement in 1936. Its location and proximity to the finest island gems on the east side of Vancouver Island make it a regional centre for ecotourism. Wildlife viewing, whale watching, grizzly-bear safaris, diving, sea kayaking, and fresh and saltwater fishing are some activities enjoyed by residents and tourists alike.

An interesting tidbit of trivia is that the first, second, and fourth seasons of the History Channel television show Alone were filmed in the forest outside Port McNeill.

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The Cowichan Valley Regional District is located on the southern part of Vancouver Island. Cowichan takes its name from “Quw’utsun,” the name given to the valley by its original inhabitants, the Quw’utsun people. The region boasts Canada’s only maritime Mediterranean climatic zone and is home to the warmest year-round temperatures in the country. The moderate climate has given birth to excellent artisanal food and drink from the region’s many farms, wineries, cideries and distilleries. The Cowichan Valley is home to many beautiful communities, including Chemainus, Duncan, and Ladysmith.

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Salt Spring Island is known for its stunning natural beauty with rugged coastlines and dense forests. Take a hike on one of the islands many trails such as the Mount Maxwell Provincial Park, which offers several hiking trails and an impressive viewpoint that overlooks the surrounding Southern Gulf Islands.

Lake Cowichan is a town located on the east end of Cowichan Lake and, by highway, is 27 kilometres west of Duncan, British Columbia. The town of Lake Cowichan was incorporated in 1944. The Cowichan River flows through the middle of the town. Cowichan River is designated as a Heritage River. 

Known as the Gateway to the Wild West Coast, Port Alice provides crowd-free access to prime fishing and recreation areas such as Alice Lake, Spruce Bay, Side Bay, and Gooding Cove.

Thirty minutes off Highway 19, this seaside community at the end of Neroutsos Inlet is situated in a pristine wilderness setting. The sheltered waters of Neroutsos Inlet are perfect for kayaking, scuba diving, wildlife viewing, fishing and prawning. Witness the abundance of wildlife: eagles, bears, sea otters, sea lions, orca and humpback whales.

The Village of Port Alice offers overnight accommodations, a full-service campground with RV sites, a golf course, soccer and baseball fields, coffee shop, grocery store, pizza parlor, gas station, liquor store, Royal Canadian Legion, post office, RCMP and a medical clinic.

Nestled amidst the rugged beauty of Vancouver Island’s west coast, the Village of Zeballos beckons with its unspoiled charm and tranquil allure. Surrounded by lush temperate rainforest and embraced by the waters of the Zeballos Inlet, our quaint coastal community offers a haven for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. Zeballos provides endless opportunities to explore the pristine wilderness of British Columbia. Discover a welcoming community rich in history, culture, and natural wonders in the heart of Vancouver Island’s wild coastline! 

Located on the West Coast of Vancouver Island, Tahsis is a premier ecotourism destination with unparalleled outdoor recreation, stunning coastal scenery and a walkable village.

Tahsis offers an abundance of nature activities for tourists and residents alike such as sport fishing, hiking, caving, wildlife viewing, diving and all manner of water sports. Tahsis is located within the traditional territory of the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation whose people have lived here and in Nootka Sound for over two thousand years.

Whether you like oceans, alpine, old growth forests or the underground, we have it all. We invite you to come and visit our beautiful coastal community, nestled in the heart of Nootka Sound!

Lantzville, now a community of 3,817 (2021 Census) was British Columbia’s first incorporation of the new millennium and the 155th municipality in B.C. Lantzville’s official date of incorporation was June 25, 2003. Council and staff have created this site to provide both residents and visitors with access to District information and services.

All documents contained on this site are for information purposes only. To verify the accuracy and currency of this information please contact the Director of Corporate Administration at the Municipal Hall.

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The City of Victoria has a population of approximately 86,000 – with another 300,000 of us living in Greater Victoria in the municipalities of Saanich, Central Saanich, North Saanich, Sidney, Oak Bay, Esquimalt, View Royal, Langford, Colwood, Metchosin, Sooke and The Highlands. The bulk of those not living in the City of Victoria are located in Saanich or "on the Westshore" which is comprised of Langford, Colwood, Metchosin and View Royal. Some argue that Sooke and The Highlands are also part of the Westshore, but mostly they prefer not being lumped together.