BCO Coastal Gems: Cortes Island

Cortes Island is one of the Discovery Islands between the mainland of BC and the east coast of Vancouver Island. It has ferry service via Campbell River and Quadra Island, which makes it appealing to summer travellers as well as people looking for an island to call home.

Like many islands in this area, Cortes boasts an assortment of rugged rocky coastline, sandy white beaches and warm summer ocean water. With all amenities and services, including a school for up to Grade 9, and Cortes really does offer the best of both worlds - services when needed but the charm and appeal of a small island.

There is a population of approx 1000 on the island, from hippies to retirees and from loggers to fishermen to back-to-the-land farmers. It is this mix of people that gives Cortes its charm.

Lakefront, farm land, residential, rural and spectacular oceanfront are all available on Cortes. There are parks to explore, beaches to walk and community events to participate in. The climate of Cortes is slightly milder and drier than Vancouver Island or the mainland coast, as it is in the rain shadow of Vancouver Island, although it still fosters lush rain forest with its winter rains.

Cortes is a great choice for a summer vacation home or for a year-round residence. Ed and Shelley have been spending a fair bit of time there this spring and summer, with both listings and buyers. They are always impressed with the beauty of the island!

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

Summer Fire Bans and the Fog Zone

Coastal BC, including Vancouver Island, is known for its rainfall. Those rains feed the amazing temperate rainforest that blankets much of the coastline, and is the cause of the nickname The Wet Coast. However, while much of the year can be wet it isn't wet all year. The beauty of the west coast is that summers are often warm and dry.

Warm and dry summers are wonderful for those who live here, making the trade off of warm, wet winters a good one. However, dry conditions are not always a good mix with people and forests. Wildfires happen naturally enough with lightening strikes during dry weather. Wildfires from human causes are a problem. 

Most summers, if the conditions are typical, the province implements a fire ban. This year the ban went into effect yesterday at noon (July 18) for all of the coast. No campfires, no backyard fires, no beach fires.

Unless, that is, you are in the fog zone. This is something else particular to the coast, a slim stretch of coast along the open ocean that gets a lot of fog and damp air, even when the rest of the coast is experiencing warm, dry summers. The fog zone is exempt from the fire ban.

The dry weather also greatly impacts our forestry and reforestation workers, as work can be shut down in the summer if it is felt that the dry conditions cause danger with the machinery or risk from fires. Salmon bearing rivers are impacted as well, and rivers with dams are carefully controlled to make sure there is still enough water in the system for salmon habitat not to be damaged.

As true islanders and west coasters, we here at the BCO office will make the most of our warm, dry summer - even if it means no campfires for a while.

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!

Transformations on the Shore 2018

Once again Frank James Park is home to a collection of amazing chainsaw carvings, from the 2018 Transformations on the Shore competition.

This competition has been running since 1997, and brings carvers and admirers to Campbell River. The last two years the competition has been run the week-end before Canada Day (it used to run with the Canada Day long week-end), which means the carvings are ready for viewing for Canada Day visitors.

The competition has several categories and encourages everyone from amateurs to professionals to take part. It is amazing to see the new ideas and creations every year!

Transformations on the Shore is so quintessentially Campbell River - a combination of arts and resources that is typical of northern Vancouver Island communities.

Definitely worth a visit!

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

BCO Coastal Gems: Quatsino

If you have spent any time talking with Ed, or looking at our website/facebook page, you know that we have an affinity here in the BCO office for Quatsino. This water access community on the north-west coast of Vancouver Island embodies much of what makes great island living.

Quatsino is inside Quatsino Sound, about a 40 minute boat ride to the open west coast waters off Vancouver Island. It is most commonly accessed by boat from Coal Harbour, although you can also launch at Port Alice and even Winter Harbour.

Quatsino was at one time part of a large coastal network in the region, when canneries, mines and logging were extremely active. With its protected waters and easy access, it is still a chosen spot for many outdoor enthusiasts.

There is an active community there, with approx, 20 year-round homes and a higher number of seasonal residents. A road connects the community from one end to the other, and there is power to the community - an unusual bonus in water access communities.

Add to the convenience and amenities the beauty of the region and you have a magical coastal place.

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

Federal Identification Requirements

You may hear realtors or their staff use the term FINTRAC when talking about identification requirements as FINTRAC forms have become a standard part of the Real Estate paperwork.

FINTRAC stands for Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada. The completion of these documents by realtors and the brokerages they work for is a federal requirement.

According to the government's FINTRAC website: FINTRAC is part of Canada's national initiative to combat money laundering and terrorist activity financing. It is a specialized agency created to collect, analyze and disclose financial information and intelligence on suspected money laundering and terrorist activities financing.

Not only is filling out the documents required for every transaction, the documents need to be witnessed by a professional, such as a licensed real estate agent or a notary/lawyer. A real estate agent in a cooperating office generally will not charge for this service (so if you are a Royal LePage client and can't come in to the office where your listing is you should be able go to any RLP office to fill out the paperwork after your real estate agent arranges it) but a notary/lawyer generally will.

The information collected is kept locked away and confidential.

For more information on this, please visit the website: http://www.fintrac.gc.ca/intro-eng.asp

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

Insuring Room for your 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!