Comox is a town on the eastern coast of Vancouver Island, a little further north from Qualicum Beach. It has a population of over 12,000 people and shares the Comox Valley with Courtenay and Cumberland. The town is famous for being the home of British Columbia’s oldest licensed establishment, the Lorne Hotel.
Comox has long been the established home of the Comox Salish natives who have fished the Puntledge River for years. The first European to discover the region was Captain George Vancouver in the 19th century. European settlers soon arrived afterwards settling the fertile soils of the valley. Comox became a thriving port in the 1880s, and logging became an important industry for the town.
Attractions
Today, Comox finds itself attracting many tourists. In the winter, skiiers are drawn to the nearby Mount Washington Alpine Resort. In the summer months, people from all over the province flock to Comox to join in on the many cultural festivals and celebrations the town is famous for. The Filberg Festival is perhaps its most prominent one – it is an annual summer fest of handmade arts and crafts, held in early August. It is widely considered the best outdoor arts festival in the Pacific Northwest.
There are also several other events in early August, including the Comox Nautical Days held during the BC Day long weekend. This event takes place at the Comox Marina Park and features a parade, car show, boatbuilding competition, and live music performances to celebrate the town’s long time affiliation with the sea. Shellfish lovers who enjoy sampling various seafood dishes should visit in early June when the Comox Valley Shellfish Festival is held at the Comox Marina Park. This event is participated by a number of local restaurants and businesses.
Comox has two museums, the Comox Air Force Museum and the Comox Museum and Archives. The Comox Air Force Museum is the more notable of the two and exhibits the heritage and history of military aviation on the west coast of Canada. There are various aviation artifacts from WWI, WWII, and Canada’s involvement in UN Peacekeeping and with NORAD. | 
