Trilogy at Cumberland: Listening to the Village, Learning from the Land

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THE LAND SECTION

The Comox Valley is growing fast

Stretching 50 kilometres along Vancouver Island’s north central coast, the Comox Valley is one of the last “undiscovered’ and yet totally accessible recreational paradises left in British Columbia.

Until recently, getting to the Comox Valley took some time, so few Island visitors ventured much past the Nanaimo/ Parksville/ Qualicum Beach area. The economy was largely resource-based until the late ‘90’s, so jobs came and went with the market. Low lumber prices and reduced commercial fishing opportunities hit the Valley particularly hard from 1995 through 2001.

Since 2001 however, two major “growth contributors” have collided to change the Comox Valley from a resource-dependant economy to an “amenity-based” one. Simply put: improved transportation links to and throughout the north central Island coincided with the timing of the first of Canada’s baby-boomers starting to retire.

Unlike the unpredictability of the resource market, both these growth factors are expected to have a positive influence on the Comox Valley for some time to come. Tourism is blossoming in response to easier access, and the baby-boomers (who Statistics Canada estimates represent 30% of the nation’s population today) will continue to retire through 2031.

A winning combination: Amenities, Accessibility and Affordability

As more people visit the Valley, an increasing number of them choose to stay. B.C. Stats reported that from July 1, 2005 to June 30, 2006, the population of the Comox Valley grew by an average of 1.9%, which is slightly higher than the B.C. average of 1.2%.

The largest percentage increase was reported in Courtenay (+3.37%), and the second-largest in Cumberland (+2.27%). It further found that 79% of the net population growth in throughout B.C. was attributable to people “migrating in”, rather than to the difference between the number of births and deaths in the existing population.

Increased accessibility and discovery of the Comox Valley as an “amenity lifestyle” destination has resulted in huge growth in employment, commercial development, residential development, and construction. Residential real estate, while 76% higher-priced than it was in 2001, is still among the most affordable in B.C. given the area’s climate, accessibility and natural amenities.

Bringing young families back to the Valley

The population in the Comox Valley is typically older than throughout the rest of B.C., due to many of its young families moving away during the “lean years” to seek better employment opportunities elsewhere. The dominance of the “over 40’s” that is evident now is expected to continue through the next decade; with the most rapid growth likely to occur in the 55+ age group.

In addition to the “greying” of the Valley population overall, B.C. Stats also project a surprising increase in the number of 20- 40 year olds expected to be living in the Comox Valley in 2015. This is as a result of the increased employment opportunities that new residents, new retail and commercial expansion, and new residential developments are bringing today.

"The resulting growth opportunities created by the improved economy and future retirements of older workers combined could create almost 18,000 job openings for workers in the Comox Valley labour market – a change on a scale unlike any the community has ever seen before. About 55% of the opportunities will come from retirements, the other 45% through growth in the economy."
The Comox Valley Labour Futures Project, 2005

TRILOGY

Suite 2180, 650 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6B 4N9
PO Box 11607 Vancouver Centre, 650 West Georgia Street, Vancouver B.C V6B 4N9
Telephone 604-684-5858. Fax 604-684-5859

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