Qualicum Beach | |
|---|---|
| Town of Qualicum Beach[1] | |
 Aerial view of Qualicum Beach | |
 | |
  Qualicum Beach Qualicum Beach (British Columbia) Show map of British Columbia | |
| Coordinates:49°21′N124°26′W / 49.350°N 124.433°W /49.350; -124.433 | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | British Columbia |
| Regional district | Nanaimo |
| Established | As a village: 1943 |
| As a town: 1983 | |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Teunis Westbroek |
| • Governing body | Qualicum Beach Town Council |
| Area | |
• Total | 17.98 km2 (6.94 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 8 m (26 ft) |
| Population (2021) | |
• Total | 9,303 |
| • Density | 517.5/km2 (1,340/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific Standard (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| Forward sortation area | |
| Area code | 250 |
| Website | www |
Qualicum Beach (/ˈkwɒlɪkəm/) is a town located on Vancouver Island,British Columbia, Canada. In the2021 census, it had a population of 9,303.[2] It is situated at the foot ofMount Arrowsmith, along theStrait of Georgia onVancouver Island's northeastern coast.
Qualicum Beach's natural environment and proximity toVictoria andVancouver have made it a tourist destination, withcottages along the coast. The community is mostly ofretirement age, with the oldest average population inCanada with a median age of 65.9 in 2016.[3]
Qualicum Beach is served by the coast-spanningIsland Highway, theIsland Rail Corridor, a local airport, and a nearby ferry toLasqueti Island.
The name "Qualicum" comes from aPentlatch term that means "Where the dog salmon (chum salmon) run."[4]
Qualicum Beach is located within the traditional territory of theQualicum First Nation.
People from all over would come to the Qualicum area to gathercamas flowers in the spring andchum salmon in the fall.[5] Camas bulbs are sweet tasting and were traded as a delicacy.[6] The traditional diet of the Qualicum First Nation includes clams, includinggeoducks,butter clams, andhorse clams.[5]Pentlatch is the language that was spoken in this area.[5] A large portion of the Qualicum First Nation population was lost due tosmall pox and war, leading to a loss of the Pentlatch language. Small pox was brought to what is now Canada by French settlers in the 17th century.[7] Additionally, the loss of the Pentlatch language may also be attributed to theresidential school system.[5]
In May 1856,Hudson's Bay Company explorerAdam Grant Horne, with a group of aboriginal guides, found a route across Vancouver Island from theQualicum River to theAlberni Inlet.[8] Horne Lake is named after him.[9]
In 1864, the botanist and explorerRobert Brown led theVancouver Island Exploring Expedition through the area. He found the area deserted as a result of thesmall poxepidemic of 1862.[10]: 47 The first settlers arrived in the 1880s.[4]
A road was built from Nanaimo to Parksville in 1886 and extended to Qualicum in 1894.[4]
A school house was built in 1912.[11] The school served as an elementary and secondary school until 1952. The school house was later converted into an arts centre.
Atrain station was built in 1913.[12] TheE&N Railway reached Qualicum in 1914.[4]
H.E. Beasley, a railway official, sponsored the creation of The Merchants Trust and Trading Company which organised the original layout of the town and built the golf links and the Qualicum Beach Hotel in 1913.[13] The Qualicum Beach Hotel was managed byNoel Money.[12] DuringWorld War 1 the hotel was used as a hospital, which was visited by thePrince of Wales in 1918. Visitors to the hotel includedShirley Temple,Bing Crosby, and theKing of Thailand. The hotel was eventually torn down in 1969. The golf course (Memorial Golf Course) remains and is preserved by the Town of Qualicum Beach.[14]
In 1914, the residence ofNoel Money, the Crown Mansion, was built.[15] The Crown Mansion overlooks the town's first golf course, the Memorial Golf Course, and is built in a Georgian Revival style. The Crown Mansion is now protected by the Brown Preservation Society and operates as a hotel.[16]
In the 1920s, Giuseppe Roat, also known as the Hermit of Qualicum Beach, moved to the area.[17] He opened the first museum in Qualicum Beach, called the Crystal Springs Museum of Nature Art. Alongside the museum, Roat also had a spring called Crystal Spring. Visitors could drink from the spring for 25 cents. Roat purchased 75 lots in the area of Qualicum Beach, totalling 44 acres. This land is now what is known as the Hermitage Park subdivision.
In the 1930s,Alexander Duncan McRae and his wife Blaunche built an upscale family retreat, known as Eaglecrest, in Qualicum Beach.[14] Visitors includedPrincess Elizabeth and theDuke of Edinburgh in 1951. In the late 1960s, Eaglecrest was converted into a resort. A fire in 1969 burnt down the main house. In 1972, the new owners replicated the original house and opened a golf course. In 1981 a fire once again destroyed Eaglecrest.
A private boys' residential school, theQualicum College, was established in 1935 by Robert Ivan Knight.[18] The school grew through the 1960s, however, attendance diminished with the school closing in 1970. The structure was operated as a hotel for a number of years, however, the college has now been demolished. Its playing fields have been turned into a housing subdivision.[19]
St. Andrews Lodge, a hotel built in a Tudor style, was built in 1938 by Sam Little. The Lodge was especially popular during World War 2 with members of the Canadian armed forces.[20]
Qualicum Beach was officially incorporated as avillage on May 5, 1942, and was changed totown status on January 7, 1983.
In 2002, the town's primary grocery store, Qualicum Foods, was destroyed by a fire.[21] In 2003 a new Qualicum Foods was built. In 2021, Qualicum Beach councillor Teunis Westbroek was sued for allegedly suggesting that the owners of Qualicum Foods burnt down their own store in 2002.[22] In 2023 Westbroek agreed to pay $130,000 to settle the defamation suit and issued a public apology in the local newspaper.[23] Ultimately, Westbroek only paid $2,839 personally.[24] The rest of the settlement was covered by the Town's liability insurance and the Town paid a $10,000 deductible.
In 2007, the Gardens, a long-term care facility, was built in Qualicum Beach.[25] Another retirement home, Berwick, opened in 2019.[26] There are currently 5 retirement homes in Qualicum Beach.
Trains stopped operating in 2011.[12] The station is now used as an office space.
St. Andrews Lodge was purchased by the Town of Qualicum Beach in 2018 with hopes to transform the land into a waterfront park.[27] The Town considered demolishing the Lodge. In late 2020 The St. Andrew Lodge Cultural and Historical Society was formed by local residents, with the goal of saving the Lodge from demolition.[28] They succeeded in this goal, and the Lodge and park is currently being renovated. Qualicum First Nation gifted the new name of "Saahtlam" for the park.[29]
In the2021 Census of Population conducted byStatistics Canada, Qualicum Beach had a population of 9,303 living in 4,435 of its 4,763 total private dwellings, a change of4% from its 2016 population of 8,943. With a land area of 17.98 km2 (6.94 sq mi), it had apopulation density of517.4/km2 (1,340.1/sq mi) in 2021.[30]
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The majority (56.3% in 2021) of residents are 65 years of age or older.[31] Themedian age in 2021 was 67.5 and theaverage age was 61.2.
The majority (92.8% in 2021) of citizens aged 25 to 64 have obtained a high school diploma or equivalency certificate.[31] 64% of citizens have obtained a postsecondary certificate, diploma, or degree.
According to the2021 census, the most common major fields of study of citizens in Qualicum Beach included:[31]
The median total income of households in 2020 was $76,500.[31]
Of the labour force, 55% work as permanent employees and 32% are self-employed.[31] The remaining hold casual, seasonal, temporary, short-term, or fixed (1 year or more) term positions. As of 2021, 7.7% of the population is unemployed. The majority (65.5% in 2021) of the population is not in the labour force.
According to the2021 census, the most common occupational categories in Qualicum Beach included:[31]
According to the2021 census, the ethnic or cultural origin of citizens in Qualicum Beach included:[31]
| Panethnic group | 2021[32] | 2016[33] | 2011[34] | 2006[35] | 2001[36] | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | |||||
| European[a] | 8,205 | 93.5% | 8,030 | 94.42% | 7,810 | 95.07% | 7,945 | 94.87% | 6,665 | 96.32% | ||||
| Indigenous | 280 | 3.19% | 290 | 3.41% | 205 | 2.5% | 155 | 1.85% | 75 | 1.08% | ||||
| East Asian[b] | 105 | 1.2% | 70 | 0.82% | 75 | 0.91% | 165 | 1.97% | 50 | 0.72% | ||||
| Southeast Asian[c] | 80 | 0.91% | 65 | 0.76% | 35 | 0.43% | 35 | 0.42% | 65 | 0.94% | ||||
| South Asian | 50 | 0.57% | 20 | 0.24% | 30 | 0.37% | 55 | 0.66% | 55 | 0.79% | ||||
| African | 20 | 0.23% | 20 | 0.24% | 10 | 0.12% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | ||||
| Middle Eastern[d] | 10 | 0.11% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 10 | 0.14% | ||||
| Latin American | 0 | 0% | 10 | 0.12% | 25 | 0.3% | 10 | 0.12% | 0 | 0% | ||||
| Other/Multiracial[e] | 0 | 0% | 20 | 0.24% | 0 | 0% | 15 | 0.18% | 0 | 0% | ||||
| Total responses | 8,775 | 94.32% | 8,505 | 95.1% | 8,215 | 94.57% | 8,375 | 98.51% | 6,920 | 99.99% | ||||
| Total population | 9,303 | 100% | 8,943 | 100% | 8,687 | 100% | 8,502 | 100% | 6,921 | 100% | ||||
| Note: Totals greater than 100% due to multiple origin responses | ||||||||||||||
According to the2021 census, religious groups in Qualicum Beach included:[32]
Municipal government of the Town of Qualicum Beach has acouncil-manager form of government. It is headed by a mayor (who also represents Qualicum Beach on the governing board of theRegional District of Nanaimo) and a four-member council. These positions are filled byat-large elections every four years, as provided byBritish Columbia law.[37] As of October 2022, the current mayor of Qualicum Beach is Teunis Westbroek. Voter turnout in the 2022 election was 52.53%.[38]
School board trustees, for representation onSchool District 69 Qualicum, are also elected by residents of the town, the City ofParksville and the surrounding area. The town funds a volunteer fire department, which serves the town and nearby rural communities. The town has a local ambulance station. The nearest full hospital is Nanaimo Regional General Hospital inNanaimo.[39]
Qualicum Beach is part of theParksville-Qualicum provincial electoral district. Qualicum Beach is represented by IndependentAdam Walker. Walker was dismissed from his position as a parliamentary secretary and removed from theBC NDP caucus following an internal investigation.[40] Federally, Qualicum Beach, in theCourtenay—Alberni riding, is represented in theHouse of Commons of Canada byNDPMember of ParliamentGord Johns, who was first elected in2015.
| From | To | Mayor |
|---|---|---|
| 1942 | 1948 | Herbert J. Welch |
| 1949 | 1949 | Gerald (Gerry) T. Kincade |
| 1950 | 1952 | Frank H. Parker |
| 1952 | 1953 | Harry Clarke |
| 1953 | 1954 | Frank H. Parker |
| 1955 | 1959 | James (Craig) Reid |
| 1960 | 1965 | Donald M. Beaton |
| 1966 | 1973 | Charles M. Darkis |
| 1974 | 1975 | Arthur (Bruce) Brown |
| 1976 | 1977 | Orlan H. Rye |
| 1977 | 1990 | Arthur N. Skipsey |
| 1990 | 1996 | John (Jack) E. Collins |
| 1996 | 1999 | W. (Bill) Luchtmeijer |
| 1999 | 2018 | Teunis Westbroek[41] |
| 2018 | 2022 | Brian Wiese |
| 2022 | Teunis Westbroek |
Highway 19A, runs the length of the town along the shoreline of theStrait of Georgia. Highway 19 includes a junction withHighway 4, which runs throughCathedral Grove toPort Alberni andTofino,Ucluelet,Bamfield and thePacific Rim National Park Reserve on the south-west coast of theIsland. Scenic, flight training and charter flights are offered by Qualicum Flight Center. The town has no marina or harbour, however, there is a boat launch for trailered boats. French Creek Harbour is 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) south-east on Highway 19A.
Via Rail'sMalahat service served Qualicum Beach station from 1979 until 2011.[42] In 2011, service was suspended indefinitely due to track replacement work.[43] As of 2015, service has not yet resumed.[44]
The town has an approximate area of 12.45 square kilometres (4.81 sq mi).
Qualicum Beach is on the Nanaimo lowlands, a narrow plain which lies between the Georgia Basin to the northeast and theBeaufort Range (one of theVancouver Island Ranges) to the south-west. Landforms were significantly changed by the most recent advance of glacial ice about 18,000 to 19,000 years ago.
Marshall-Stevenson Wildlife Sanctuary, in the west end of Qualicum Beach, is a tidal wetlands at the mouth of the Little Qualicum River.
Wildlife include:black-tailed deer,Roosevelt elk,black bear, andcougar. With the presence of human population, deer,raccoons and rodents persist.
Soil types in the area, mostly classified as Orthic Dystric Brunisols and Duric Dystric Brunisols, vary from marginal to unsuitable for agriculture. They tend to be loamy sand or gravelly loamy sand. Their fertility is low and they are strongly acidic except in near-shore areas where Native American shell middens provide abundant calcium and organic matter. However, they are suitable for development.[45][46][47]
The climate is aMediterranean Climate. The town has cool, wet winters with 80 to 85% of the year's precipitation between October and April. The average annual precipitation is 131 centimetres (52 in). Mean daily temperature ranges from 1 to 3 °C (34 to 37 °F) in January, with cloud and rain from north Pacific air masses dominating the winter weather.High pressure ridges over the mainland can produce easterly air flows, bringing snow and freezing temperatures during winter but do not persist, as moist westerly winds bring above-freezing temperatures. North Pacific high pressure cells influence summer weather, making it warm and dry. July and August have an average precipitation of 27 millimetres (1.1 in) and average maximum temperatures of 23 °C (73 °F).
With the longest freeze-free period in Canada, at 180 days per year, the Nanaimo lowlands area is favourable for agriculture. The area is within the small Coastal Douglas Fir bio-geographic zone, which is considered the mildest climate in Canada. TheVancouver Island Ranges, which includes nearbyMount Arrowsmith,shadows rainfall. This bio-geographic area can also supportGarry Oak andArbutus.
| Climate data for Little Qualicum Hatchery | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 15.5 (59.9) | 18.5 (65.3) | 22.5 (72.5) | 25.5 (77.9) | 31.5 (88.7) | 32.0 (89.6) | 34.5 (94.1) | 34.0 (93.2) | 33.0 (91.4) | 23.5 (74.3) | 18.5 (65.3) | 14.5 (58.1) | 34.5 (94.1) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 6.4 (43.5) | 7.8 (46.0) | 10.3 (50.5) | 13.3 (55.9) | 17.1 (62.8) | 19.9 (67.8) | 22.9 (73.2) | 22.9 (73.2) | 19.6 (67.3) | 13.6 (56.5) | 8.7 (47.7) | 5.9 (42.6) | 14.0 (57.2) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 0.0 (32.0) | −0.4 (31.3) | 0.8 (33.4) | 2.6 (36.7) | 5.8 (42.4) | 8.5 (47.3) | 10.4 (50.7) | 9.7 (49.5) | 6.7 (44.1) | 4.0 (39.2) | 1.6 (34.9) | 0.0 (32.0) | 4.2 (39.6) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −14.0 (6.8) | −17.5 (0.5) | −9 (16) | −3.5 (25.7) | −2.0 (28.4) | 2.5 (36.5) | 4.0 (39.2) | 3.0 (37.4) | −2.5 (27.5) | −8.0 (17.6) | −18.0 (−0.4) | −17.5 (0.5) | −18.0 (−0.4) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 167.1 (6.58) | 114.0 (4.49) | 99.1 (3.90) | 64.2 (2.53) | 49.1 (1.93) | 42.4 (1.67) | 22.7 (0.89) | 31.8 (1.25) | 40.7 (1.60) | 113.4 (4.46) | 182.3 (7.18) | 156.2 (6.15) | 1,082.9 (42.63) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 155.5 (6.12) | 106.8 (4.20) | 94.9 (3.74) | 64.2 (2.53) | 49.1 (1.93) | 42.4 (1.67) | 22.7 (0.89) | 31.8 (1.25) | 40.7 (1.60) | 112.9 (4.44) | 177.0 (6.97) | 149.7 (5.89) | 1,047.8 (41.25) |
| Average snowfall cm (inches) | 11.6 (4.6) | 7.1 (2.8) | 4.2 (1.7) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.5 (0.2) | 5.2 (2.0) | 6.5 (2.6) | 35.2 (13.9) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.2 mm) | 20.5 | 16.1 | 18.3 | 16.1 | 13.8 | 12.1 | 7.2 | 7.1 | 8.8 | 16.6 | 21.1 | 19.1 | 176.6 |
| Average rainy days(≥ 0.2 mm) | 19.3 | 15.1 | 17.9 | 16.1 | 13.8 | 12.1 | 7.2 | 7.1 | 8.8 | 16.5 | 20.4 | 18.2 | 172.4 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.2 cm) | 2.3 | 1.7 | 0.96 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.08 | 1.4 | 1.5 | 7.9 |
| Source:Environment Canada[48] | |||||||||||||
Qualicum Beach is part ofSchool District 69. There are two elementary schools in Qualicum Beach and one high school. Students in the district can also enroll in distance education through CEAP (Collaborative Education Alternative Program).[49]
Kwalikum Secondary School (KSS) is the only high school located in Qualicum Beach. Approximately 700 students are enrolled.[50] The school offers programmes such as ROAMS, a leadership programme featuring outdoor guide training; Golf Academy, a year long training programme that covers golf swing instruction, golf etiquette, and course management; a music programme, and athletics.[51] In the past, the school has faced potential closure due to fears of decreasing enrolment.[52]
Qualicum Beach Elementary School is one of two elementary school in Qualicum Beach and has approximately 400 students enrolled.[53] The school offers programmes such as the Mountain Bike Club, featuring weekly treks through woodlands; a Musical Theatre Club, putting on several performances each year; and the STREAM programme, a programme focused on technology and innovation.
Arrowview Elementary School is an elementary school in Qualicum Beach. The school has approximately 300 students.[54]
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The Farmers Market takes place every Saturday and is year round.[55] All products must adhere to a "Make it, Bake it, Grow it" policy, meaning that all products are locally made, grown, or baked by the vendors. The first Qualicum Beach Farmers Market took place in 1997, with approximately 20 regular vendors in its first year. The market currently takes place on Veterans Way and features approximately 100 vendors and sees approximately 2,500 visitors each Saturday.[56]
Each year on July 1, the town of Qualicum Beach and theRoyal Canadian Legion hold aPancake Breakfast, parade, and activities around town. The parade usually starts at the Civic Centre goes down Second Avenue. The event was cancelled for two years during theCOVID-19 pandemic.
Family Day is an annual event taking place on the last Sunday of May in Qualicum Beach, with each year featuring a unique theme.[57] Activities include a pancake breakfast, a parade, music and other live entertainment.
The Brant Wildlife Festival is an annual 4 week long event that celebrates nature, in particular theBrant goose.[58] Activities include counting Brant geese, estuary and field station tours, and a film festival.
The Seaside Cruizers Car Club hosts an annual Father's day Show 'n Shine day, where vintage and collectible cars are featured.[59] Over 30,000 spectators come to Qualicum Beach per year for the event.[60] Trophies and prizes are handed out, such as "Best Truck", "Best Import", and "People's Choice".[59]
Seedy Saturday is an annual gardening event in Qualicum Beach run by volunteers.[61] Visitors may swap or purchase seeds and plants, receive gardening advice, and socialise at the Seedy Cafe. The first Seedy Saturday in Qualicum Beach was organised by Joy Smith in 2002.[62] In 2018, the event saw approximately 2700 visitors.
Moonlight Madness is an annual event that takes place in November.[63] The event features late-night shopping, live music, photos with Santa Claus, and carolers. The event promotes shopping local.
The Ocean Mile Swim is an annual swimming event that has taken place for over 60 years.[64] Prizes are awarded under varying categories such as fastest swimmer and youngest swimmer.
The Fire and Ice Festival was an annual event that took place each year in Qualicum Beach.[65] The event featured, concurrently, a chili cook-off contest (the fire) and an ice sculpture contest (the ice). The event took place for 25 years, but was cancelled in 2018 due to a lack of volunteers.[66]
The Old School House (TOSH) is an arts centre located centrally in Qualicum Beach.[67] Originally built as a school in 1912, the school served as an elementary and secondary school until 1952.[11] The building was then used by the Board of Education until 1985. Threatened by demolition, a group of citizens formed a non-profit cultural association to save the building. The building was restored and re-opened in February 1988 as an arts centre. The mission of TOSH Arts Centre is to "foster a vibrants arts centre that promotes and encourages the development of multi-dimensional artists and musicians for the enjoyment of all ages, residents and visitors alike, in Qualicum Beach and throughout central Vancouver Island".[68] TOSH offers workshops, classes, and features several galleries and resident artists.[69][70]
The Village Theatre was originally built in 1948 as a movie house, but is currently used for live theatre performances.[71] ECHO Players is a non-profit society that was founded in 1934 and has been active for over 45 years in the Village Theatre.[72] ECHO Players is composed of more than 240 members and produces four main stage shows per season.
The Qualicum Beach Museum was founded in 1982 by Elizabeth Little and is located in a former power generating station.[12] The museum features both permanent as well as temporary exhibits, documenting the history of the town of Qualicum Beach.
Milner Gardens is a 70-acre estate that was previously owned byH.R. Milner.[73] Member of the royal family have visited twice;Prince Charles andPrincess Diana visited the gardens in 1986.Prince Philip andQueen Elizabeth stayed in 1987. Vancouver Island University acquired the estate in 1996 and converted the private gardens to a public garden. The gardens feature old growthDouglas firs, cedar trees, and rarerhododendrons.[74]
Memorial Golf Course is a public golf course that was opened in 1913.[75] It is the fourth oldest golf course in British Columbia. The course is open year-round.
Little Qualicum Falls is a provincial park and campground near Qualicum Beach.[76] The falls are surrounded by old growth forests. Visitors can walk the trails, swim, and camp at this provincial park.
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Qualicum Beach has 280 hectares (15% of the town) of Town-owned green spaces and parks:[77]
The park is located along Island Highway 19A and is popular for walking and sunbathing.[77] The park has picnic tables, benches, shade trees, public washrooms, a public boat ramp, and a concession stand.
The park is located along Island Highway 19A, in the west end of Qualicum Beach.[77] There is a viewing platform that is popular with birdwatchers and photographers. The park has picnic tables and benches.
The park is located in the Qualicum Woods neighbourhood.[77] The park has mature native trees, benches, and a children's playground.
The park is located in the west side of downtown Qualicum Beach, by the Ravensong Aquatic Centre and the Civic Centre.[77] The park is over 38 hectares and has a skateboard park, 7 baseball diamonds, a cricket pitch, a children's playground, aBMX track, soccer pitches, an off-leash dog park, walking trails, and public washrooms.
The trail is located inside Eagle Ridge Place.[77] There are benches and a nature trail.
The park is located between Harlech Road and Sunningdale Road West.[77] The Qualicum Beach Train Station is located within the park, as well as a church and steam locomotive. There are benches, flower gardens, a community garden, and fruit trees.
The square is located centrally in the town, next to the Public Library and Town Hall.[77] The square features an artisan sculpted marble fountain, benches, and an information kiosk.
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The park is located in the west part of Qualicum Beach.[77] The park is heavily forested and features a ravine with fish ladders. There are nature trails and benches. The Qualicum Beach Streamkeepers countsmolt annually in Grandon Creek and work to improve the habitat.[78]
Heritage Forest is a 50-acre forest in Qualicum Beach that features pockets of old growth coastalDouglas fir,western red cedar,grand fir,Sitka spruce, andhemlock.[79] Heritage Forest is situated within the Coastal Douglas fir biogeoclimatic zone.[80] This zone is the most biologically diverse forest type in British Columbia. The land was previously owned byGeneral Noel Money and later the Brown Family Trust.
In 1996, plans were in place to subdivide the land into 110 building lots.[80] Anne and Leo Klees and others formed the Brown Property Preservation Society to raise funds to purchase the land and save it from development. In 2004, the group was able to purchase the forest with help from the town of Qualicum Beach. The Heritage Forest represents 20% of all coastal Douglas fir protected forest in British Columbia.
The park is located on Island Highway 19A, along the waterfront.[77] The park features benches and picnic tables.
The park is located on Bennett Road.[77] The park is a third of a hectare and features nature trails.
The park is located on Seacrest Place.[77] It functions as a beach access and has benches.
The square is located on Memorial Avenue.[77] The square is next to the Community Hall and has sitting areas. The square is often used for events.
The park is located on Yambury Road.[77] The park is partially forested and has nature trails. It is a popular spot for dog walking.
Qualicum Beach has a number of places on theCanadian Register of Historic Places.[81]
| Name of Heritage Site | Date Constructed | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Kinkade Farmstead[82] | 1882 to 1884 | 3567 Island Highway West, Qualicum Beach |
| Qualicum Beach Train Station[83] | 1914 | 600 Beach Road |
| Qualicum Beach Community Hall[84] | 1933 | 644 Memorial Avenue, Qualicum Beach |
| The Old School House [TOSH][85] | 1914 | 122 Fern Road West, Qualicum Beach |
| Crown Mansion[86] | 1914 | 292 Crescent Road East, Qualicum Beach |
| Village Theatre[87] | 1948 | 110 2nd Avenue West, Qualicum Beach |
| Thrall Residence[88] | 1915 | 124 2nd Avenue West, Qualicum Beach |
| Qualicum Beach Museum[89] | 1930 | 587 Beach Road, Qualicum Beach |
| The White House[90] | 1913 | 210 Crescent Road West, Qualicum Beach |
| St. Mark's Anglican Church[91] | 1926 | 138 Hoylake Road West, Qualicum Beach |
| Burnham Road Residence[92] | 1920s | 394 Burnham Road, Qualicum Beach |
| Site | Location | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Qualicum College | 49°21′27″N124°25′37″W / 49.357494°N 124.426968°W /49.357494; -124.426968 (Qualicum College) | Built in 1935 |
| Public Library and Town Hall Tower | 49°20′53″N124°26′38″W / 49.347948°N 124.444027°W /49.347948; -124.444027 (Qualicum Beach Town Hall) | Can be seen from around town. |
| Site of former Eaglecrest Lodge | 49°21′29″N124°24′09″W / 49.357935°N 124.402506°W /49.357935; -124.402506 (Eaglecrest Lodge) | Built byGeneral MacRae. |
| Heritage Forest | 49°21′07″N124°25′55″W / 49.35205°N 124.432°W /49.35205; -124.432 (Heritage Forest) | Brown Property Preservation Society. |
| Kwalikum Secondary School | 49°20′54″N124°26′01″W / 49.348444°N 124.433641°W /49.348444; -124.433641 (Kwalkum Secondary School) | |
| Qualicum Beach Airport | 49°20′14″N124°23′38″W / 49.33722°N 124.39389°W /49.33722; -124.39389 (Qualicum Beach Airport) | |
| E and N Railway station | 49°20′58″N124°26′48″W / 49.349559°N 124.446784°W /49.349559; -124.446784 (E and N Railway Station) |
The Hallmark TV seriesChesapeake Shores was primarily filmed in Qualicum Beach.[93] The Thrall Residence (also known as the Leigh House) was used as Sally's Café, a frequent filming location throughout the series.
The following people and military units have received theFreedom of the Town of Qualicum Beach.
HMS Qualicum was a ship in the Royal Navy named for the community.[96]
On October 2, 2022, a pair ofServals escaped from a private residence in Qualicum Beach. A neighbour's pet cat was killed by one of the escaped servals. The first serval was found on October 3, while the second roamed free, killing several ducks, until it was captured on October 9.[97] The incident, among others, prompted theBC SPCA to request a provincial ban on serval cats as pets.[98]
Since 1999, the town's officialTown crier is Leonard Mustard.[99][100][101]
Qualicum Beach travel guide from WikivoyageSubdivisions ofBritish Columbia | |
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