BCO Coastal Gems: Campbell River

The BC Oceanfront Real Estate Team services a large area of Vancouver Island and the coastal region of BC, and we know that every village, town and city on Vancouver Island offers its own beauty and sense of community.

The BCO office is in Campbell River, which is located almost exactly at the centre of the east coast of Vancouver Island. We all chose to live here, some of us from different communities on Vancouver Island and some from the mainland. Why did we all end up here in Campbell River?

"More access to nature - forest, mountain, lake, river, ocean - than anywhere else on the island." 

We all chose Campbell River because it offered the best of both worlds - the amenities and services of a city with the abundance of natural beauty surrounding it being easily accessible for recreation. Whether we want to fish on the ocean, explore the local forests, ski or hike in the mountains, relax on a beach, or swim at a lake, we can access it all within 30 minutes of Campbell River.

"Campbell River runs entirely along the ocean, yet mountains and Strathcona Park are pretty much in your back yard. There is an abundance of ocean wildlife to view; whales, sealions, birds, dolphins. You can throw a kayak or paddleboard easily into the water or go for a quick dip yourself. There is accessible and incredible hiking, along with some of the most beautiful camping spots. Everything an outdoor enthusiast could hope for."

Campbell River continues to grow as a city, with a new hospital built six years ago and new construction happening regularly. North Island College campus provides post secondary opportunities. While the city has long been and continues to be a central hub for the coastal resource sector it is also diversifying in its economic base.

Along with a diversifying economy comes a diversifying population. Traditionally the population base came mainly from the resource sector and service sector, but in recent years retirees have discovered the beauty of the area and there has also been a growth in the immigrant community. 

The BC Oceanfront slogan is "It's a Coastal Lifestyle ... Live It" and it's no coincidence that we all experience that living in Campbell River. We love to explore and have fun in all the communities on Vancouver Island as well as all the different types of natural surroundings offered, and Campbell River allows us the ease of access to do so.

"You can venture out to the local ocean waters and islands by boat, ride a mountain bike in the Snowden Demonstration Forest, hike the popular Canyon View Trail along the Campbell River, swim at McIvor Lake, or explore miles of beach along Georgia Strait looking at the views across to the mainland."

Perhaps the best example of the access to the outdoors that Campbell River prides itself on is the ability to walk from one end of the city to the other along the oceanfront. With either paved trail or sidewalks running from Tyee Spit to the far end of the Rotary Seawalk, one can walk over 10kms (one way) able to view the water almost the entire way, and most of it provides access to the beachfront itself. There are few communities that provide this type of open access to its shoreline, as many communities have allowed private properties to build up along the shore, blocking access. You don't need a car, or to even leave the city, to experience the natural wonder and beauty that surrounds Campbell River. 

It's a Coastal Lifestyle ... Live It!

Making Room for Your Coastal Lifestyle

Lots of people move to Campbell River, and the central/north Vancouver Island region, because of the wonderful outdoor lifestyle opportunities. Camping, boating, kayaking, hiking, atv-ing, mountain biking, skiing, hunting, fishing - the list goes on; as a home base, this region offers some of the most accessible outdoor activity area anywhere. Within 45 minutes of town one can be on a ski hill, at a beach, enjoying a lake, fishing a river, camping in a forest, or exploring the ocean and islands off shore.

With all that recreation, however, comes equipment. And if you are moving here to take advantage of the great outdoors, thinking about where you are going to keep your equipment is important.

Are you thinking of downsizing so you can spend time RVing? Then you need to have somewhere to store your RV. Coming here to fish on the ocean or lakes? Will you have a boat and if so, where will you keep it? Skis, ATVs, mountain bikes, kayaks - all need a place to sit when not in use.

Listings in this region should tell you if RV parking, extra outdoor space and good storage space is available. Most properties allow these types of outdoor items, although there are still some neighbourhoods that do not, so check if there are any covenants on the title restricting property use.

When you come to the area, come prepared to take advantage of all it offers and make sure your home allows you to easily access what you need. Whether that means a sturdy pair of walking shoes or a state-of-the-art RV beside the house is completely up to you!

It's a Coastal Lifestyle ... Live It!

Navigating the Local Waters

Looking at the land from the water offers a different perspective. One of the things people who are out sight seeing or fishing for the first time may have questions about are some of the markings and posts you can see on apparently unoccupied land. These can appear to be art work or secret messages, but actually they are for the benefit of everyone.

There are markers for navigation and also markers for fishing regulations.

Warning navigation markers can be in place to mark rocks or hazards that may not be readily visible at all tides, sitting just under shallow water. These markers may have a light on them as well.

In a narrow channel or shallow waters, navigation markers are set up to assist boats in safely getting through the waters. These generally consist of two large, flat pieces set apart from each other, each with a vertical stripe up the centre. When boats are moving through the channel, by sighting these markers so that the vertical lines are perfectly stacked they will be in the optimal spot for moving through the channel. These are known as range markers.

When fishing in amongst the islands and just off the coast, it is the responsibility of the person fishing to know and follow the regulations set out by the Department of Fisheries. These regulations include closures, places in the water where fishing is not allowed, or is only allowed to certain sectors of the fishing community (commercial, sport, etc). These areas are marked by boundary markers visible from the water, some newer than others, some faded with time (many boundaries have been in place for years). 

The markers are generally a triangle and a square, although there is no clear definition on the DFO website as to which is used when and generally the regulations will simply say "between the boundary markers at ..." Whenever you see one of these markers, search the shore opposite (often in a bay) for its mate. Line the two markers up, and the "invisible line" between the two markers is your boundary. You don't want to get caught on the wrong side of the line, as there can be hefty fines!

The waters around Vancouver Island are busy, and these signs and markers can be considered the traffic and information signs of the water highway. If you are going to be spending time on the water, knowing what these signs mean will keep you safe (and out of trouble).

It's a Coastal Lifestyle ... Live It!

Selling Properties in Covid Times

As we move into the "new normal" of a world operating with Covid, real estate practices are adapting. We know people still need/want to sell or buy properties, for numerous reasons, and we want to facilitate that in a respectful, safe and sanitary way.

For now, the BC Oceanfront Real Estate Team is still working from our home offices. We do have access to our business office at Royal LePage Advance however at this time the public does not have access to the office. So we are continuing to practice best social distancing by working from home with lots of texting, online chatting and video conferences between the team. We are working towards a plan moving forward that may see some or all of us spending more time in the business office as we move into summer.

Shelley and Ed are showing properties, when the seller is ok with it and with many protocols in place. Gloves are worn by all parties, and sanitizer wipes are used to clean any touched surfaces. Sellers are leaving lights on and doors open so as few things need to be touched as can be. Virtual tours are possible, where Shelley or Ed can visit a property with their phone and do a video walk-through with the client. Vacant properties are easier to show, but safety protocols are still being followed even there. For raw land properties, Ed or Shelley can meet the client at the property or the client in some cases can walk the property by themselves. 

Our team has worked with remote clients for years, and have all systems in place to process paperwork and documents remotely. Ed and Shelley are comfortable doing business over the phone, working with clients to finalize plans, work through contracts and arrive at a successful and satisfying completion. 

If you are in the market for some real estate assistance - whether selling or buying - the BC Oceanfront Real Estate Team is here to help.

It's a Coastal Lifestyle ... Live It!

Vancouver Island City Living

Living on Vancouver Island you have easy access to lots of rugged wilderness, large trees, amazing beaches and vast spaces. While these are definitely a big part of the appeal of island living, what people don't realize are just how many amenities Vancouver Island offers as well, making it an ideal place to live with the best of both worlds at your doorstep.

looking at downtown Victoria

The four main urban areas on Vancouver Island are (in order of population) Victoria (the Capital Regional District includes a number of smaller cities and municipalities which most visitors refer to collectively as Victoria), Nanaimo, the Comox Valley (including Courtenay and Comox) and Campbell River. All of these centres have major hospitals (Victoria has two), including new hospitals in both the Comox Valley and Campbell River, and vibrant downtown districts.

Vancouver Island has two universities and numerous colleges. The University of Victoria has been around for over 50 years and attracts students from across Canada as well as many international students. It is also a popular choice for students on Vancouver Island.  Vancouver Island University is based in Nanaimo. It was originally Malaspina College, and in 2008 was granted full university status under its new name. All the urban centres have local colleges as well as private colleges.

The Save On Foods Memorial Center in Victoria regularly features high profile music acts. The MacPherson and Royal Theatres in Victoria and Port Theatre in Nanaimo attract major stage and dance productions, while the Sid Williams Theatre in Courtenay and the Tidemark Theatre in Campbell River provide a nice variety of live entertainment for those communities. Victoria also boasts the world-class Royal BC Museum as well as an art gallery. There are many other places of culture, history and creativity throughout the urban centres and even on the smaller islands near Vancouver Island.

Empress Hotel, Victoria Inner Harbour

Both Victoria and Nanaimo have a number of indoor shopping malls, including The Bay Centre and Mayfair Mall in Victoria, and Woodgrove Centre in Nanaimo - all very popular with island residents. All the urban centres have a wide variety of shopping available.

Thanks to the mild climate, world-class sporting facilities and excellent recreation centres can be found on the island. Golfing is almost a year-round sport here, with a PGA tour stop in Victoria every year.

Westbay Marina across to Victoria's Inner Harbour

One of the appeals of living on Vancouver Island is that you really can have it all. Anywhere you live on the island offers amazing coastal beauty, while all the amenities needed or wanted are also available.

It's a Coastal Lifestyle ... Live It!

Campbell River Estuary and Tyee Spit

For decades the Campbell River was used as an exchange and holding area for many logging operations. In recent years efforts have been made to repair and restore the area, transforming the shoreline back to healthy, indigenous vegetation.

The Tyee Spit itself has been transformed into a wonderful park (Dick Murphy Park), complete with walking paths and beach access, a great place to look out over Discovery Passage and across to Quadra Island. It is popular with families as it is a convenient and safe place for bikes, scooters and kites and also popular with dog walkers. The centre lawn is perfect for playing on and the numerous benches provide comfortable spots to rest and look out at the water and marine traffic. The beach along the edge of the park is a nice place to sit and explore.

The park has also become a popular spot for photos!

The estuary and Baikie Island are quickly becoming naturalized once again thanks to hard work by a number of groups.

On both sides the estuary and spit are perfect places to take some time out of a day around town to reconnect with nature and recharge with a little break.

It's a Coastal Lifestyle ... Live It!

Transformations on the Shore 2019

Every year on the shores of Campbell River chainsaw carvers gather for a four day competition. Spectators are welcome and there is always a good crowd. Between the location - Frank James Park in Willow Point - and the time of year - late June - this event is a great one to attend.

If you visit more than one day you can really see the artists' visions come to life. Going from a rough piece of wood to a finished carving in just four days is an impressive feat! There are a number of categories and prizes are awarded in each.

While some of the carvings are already spoken for and so leave right after the competition ends, a number of them remain in Frank James Park for a good part of the summer, allowing locals and tourists to get a good look at them.

Transformations on the Shore is definitely one of the things that heralds the start of summer in Campbell River!

It's a Coastal Lifestyle ... Live It!

Room for Recreation

Lots of people move to Campbell River, and the central/north Vancouver Island region, because of the wonderful outdoor lifestyle opportunities. Camping, boating, kayaking, hiking, atv-ing, mountain biking, skiing, hunting, fishing - the list goes on; as a home base, this region offers some of the most accessible outdoor activity area anywhere. Within 45 minutes of town one can be on a ski hill, at a beach, enjoying a lake, fishing a river, camping in a forest, or exploring the ocean and islands off shore.

With all that recreation, however, comes equipment. And if you are moving here to take advantage of the great outdoors, thinking about where you are going to keep your equipment is important.

Are you thinking of downsizing so you can spend time RVing? Then you need to have somewhere to store your RV. Coming here to fish on the ocean or lakes? Will you have a boat and if so, where will you keep it? Skis, ATVs, mountain bikes, kayaks - all need a place to sit when not in use.

Listings in this region should tell you if RV parking, extra outdoor space and good storage space is available. Most properties allow these types of outdoor items, although there are still some neighbourhoods that do not, so check if there are any covenants on the title restricting property use.

When you come to the area, come prepared to take advantage of all it offers and make sure your home allows you to easily access what you need. Whether that means a sturdy pair of walking shoes or a state-of-the-art RV beside the house is completely up to you!

It's a Coastal Lifestyle ... Live It!

Vancouver Island City Life

Living on Vancouver Island you have easy access to lots of rugged wilderness, large trees, amazing beaches and vast spaces. While these are definitely a big part of the appeal of island living, what people don't realize are just how many amenities Vancouver Island offers as well, making it an ideal place to live with the best of both worlds at your doorstep.

looking across the water to Victoria, from Esquimalt

The four main urban areas on Vancouver Island are (in order of population) Victoria, Nanaimo, the Comox Valley (including Courtenay and Comox) and Campbell River. All of these centres have major hospitals (Victoria has two) and vibrant downtown districts.

Vancouver Island has two universities. The University of Victoria has been around for 50 years and attracts students from across Canada as well as many international students. It is also a popular choice for students on Vancouver Island. The second university is Vancouver Island University, which is based in Nanaimo. It was originally Malaspina College, and in 2008 was granted full university status under its new name. All the urban centres have local colleges as well as private colleges.

The Save On Foods Memorial Center in Victoria regularly features high profile music acts. The MacPherson and Royal Theatres in Victoria and Port Theatre in Nanaimo attract major stage and dance productions, while the Sid Williams Theatre in Courtenay and the Tidemark Theatre in Campbell River provide a nice variety of live entertainment for those communities. Victoria also boasts the world-class Royal BC Museum as well as an art gallery. There are many other places of culture, history and creativity throughout the urban centres and even on the smaller islands near Vancouver Island.

Empress Hotel, Victoria Inner Harbour

Both Victoria and Nanaimo have a number of indoor shopping malls, including The Bay Centre and Mayfair Mall in Victoria, and Woodgrove Centre in Nanaimo - all very popular with island residents. All the urban centres have a wide variety of shopping available.

One of the appeals of living on Vancouver Island is that you really can have it all. Anywhere you live on the island offers amazing coastal beauty, while all the amenities needed or wanted are also available.

It's a Coastal Lifestyle ... Live It!

BCO Website Slideshow

Between us all in the office, we take thousands of photos a year. Not only property-specific photos, but area photos and landscape photos. We don't let these photos languish - not only do we feature them on our social media channels but we also use them for print material and for the website. If you have visited our office you may have even seen our slideshows of photos running on the big TV!

Our calendar is always a custom print made up of photos taken by the BCO Team (with a few rare exceptions). If you have received a card or magnet from our office, those were all photos taken by team members.

The place we really love to feature the photos is on the BC Oceanfront website slideshow. The home page slideshow is changed up 3-4 times a year and is a showcase of the variety of locations BCO represents as well as the natural beauty of the regions.

Vancouver Island and the surrounding islands and waterways are a natural paradise unlike any other, and we hope to convey that with the photos we share.

The BCO website slideshow was updated today - check it out!

It's a Coastal Lifestyle ... Live It!

Elk Falls and the Suspension Bridge

Elk Falls, and the surrounding Provincial Park, has long been an attraction for people visiting the Campbell River area. Three years ago, the local Rotary Club funded a suspension bridge and new trail to view the falls and it is proving to be a popular spot with locals and tourists. It provides clear views of the Falls as well as a look down the narrow canyon that follows from the Falls.

The walk to the bridge from the parking lot takes you through a forested area, along easy trails. You can also access the old viewing area and trails from this trail system.

To get to the bridge itself be prepared for some steep stairs. The stairs take you down further to a viewing platform (almost directly across from the old platform) which gives an amazing view of the Falls and the river before it. 

Of course, the star of the show is Elk Falls, on the Campbell River, the third and largest of a series of falls (Deer and Moose being the other two).

 

It's a Coastal Lifestyle ... Live It!