Qualicum Beach has long been known as a young family and retirement community that centres much of its lifestyle around its parks, schools, community centres, long beaches, golf courses, lakes and charming village core. Visitors are remembered as long standing patrons that return every year to enjoy the warm community, the sense of peace, great relaxing activities, train rides, shore walks, and lovely forest trails.
Artists in the area participate in many community events and fundraisers. Their studios are marked along the road side and many are open year round. The wilderness and wildlife have influenced all of them in some way.
Simple life pleasures are reflected in the faces, the town, and the daily work conducted by all members of the Qualicum Beach community. A wonderful sense of pride and leisure living is evident. People love living here. Even more so, they are helpful and are certain that visitors will come to enjoy Qualicum Beach as much as they do.
Population: 6,920
Highlights:
Miles of Beaches
Rathtrevor Beach
Englishman River Falls
Coombs Coutnry Market
Horne Lake Caves
Bird Estuary
Forest trails
Salmon Hatchery
Qualicum Museum
History:
The rivers and oceans on the west coast of Vancouver Island were the perfect source of salmon for thousands of First Nations Salish who had been living along the coastal shores of British Columbia for over 5,000 years. Strangely enough, Qualicum is native tongue for a Salish legend of “Where the Dog Salmon Run”. Local hatcheries still help manage the salmon population in the area.
The area first became populate by white settlers around the 1914 when the island railway had been extended from Parksville, which is approximately a fifteen minute drive south today. The railway had been extended with a stop in Qualicum when a railway official, Mr. Beasley who visited in 1906 was taken back by the area and decided to develop “The Merchants Trust and Trading Company.”
The town has been growing ever since. But has always remained small and charming, decorated with lovely floral garden patches, town signage, and memorable buildings.
Climate:
Summer average 19 degrees Celsius
Winter average 6 degrees Celsius
For more information please visit
www.qualicumbeach.com/ 
= Accommodation, 
= Free wireless HOTSPOT, 
= Artist
