Qualicum Beach

History

The term 'Qualicum' is derived from the word 'Quallchum', a Coast Salish term meaning 'where the dog salmon run'. Qualicum Beach was officially incorporated as a village on May 5th, 1942, and received town status on January 7th, 1983. It has traditionally been a popular retirement and golfing community, but the number of families in the area is increasing.

Location

Qualicum Beach is located on the eastern coast of Vancouver Island in the shadow of Mount Arrowsmith. It is 12 kilometres west of Parksville on Highway 19A.

Places to See

• Vancouver Island Paleontology Museum
  
  The Paleontology Museum features a world-class collection of fossils from Vancouver Island, with many important invertebrate and vertebrate species. The highlight of the museum is 'Rambling Rosie", the most complete Ice Age walrus found on this coast of North America. Estimated to be 70,000 years old, the fossil was discovered just 10 kilometres north of Qualicum Beach in 1979.
  
  
• The Powerhouse Museum
  
  Highlights of the Powerhouse Museum include: an operational Vivian diesel engine, an early hydro power exhibit, an E&N Railway exhibit, a map of historic Qualicum Beach buildings, and displays of early black smithing, logging and carpentry tools.
  
  
• The Old School House
  
  Whimsically described by one 80s brat packer as a place where residents can "kick it old-school style", this 80-year old schoolhouse serves as Qualicum Beach's centre of arts, showcasing painting, sculptures, carvings, pottery, and music year-round. There are hands-on workshops, studio tours of artists-in-residence, and a well-stocked gift shop.
  
  
• Village Theatre
  
  For live theatre fans, the Village Theatre offers shows during the summer and the winter. Many of these productions are put on by the resident ECHO Players who specialize in musicals and lighter fare.
  
  
• Milner Gardens and Woodland
  
  Welcome to Milner Gardens & Woodland, a seaside garden set in a natural coastal Douglas-fir woodland in Qualicum Beach. Visited by Queen Elizabeth, Prince Phillip, Prince Charles and Princess Diana, the 60 acres of woodland, ten acres of garden surrounding a heritage house was the dream of one woman, Veronica Milner.
  
  Veronica gathered plants from the temperate zones of the world, including a significant collection of Rhododendrons. It was her vision that created this incredible combination of garden and old growth forest.
  
  Afternoon tea service is held in historic Milner House from 1 to 4 pm, or you can visit the gift shop, have some refreshments or buy a special plant from the nursery.
  
  
• The Brown Property Forest
  
  The Brown Property Forest comprises approximately 50 acres of Coastal Douglas Fir forest, including a significant stand of over 300 year old trees. It has been assessed as being of outstanding ecological significance because it is relatively undisturbed by human activity and contains many species of endangered and rare plants. There are forest trails and a salmon-bearing stream.
  
  
• Hamilton Marsh
  
  Hamilton Marsh is a natural habitat for red-winged blackbirds, jays and swallows, and is particularly active in spring and fall with migrations of ducks and geese.
  
  
• Butterfly World and Gardens
  
  Stroll among hundreds of free-flying exotic butterflies and visit the Bird Aviary and Water Gardens. Butterflies from five continents compete with orchids, passion flowers and jasmine for your senses, armed with fragrant aromas and flashes of colour. In the two large outdoor ponds you can witness the Japanese Koi fish at feeding times as they boil to the surface. This tropical paradise is conveniently located in the community of Coombs on the Alberni Highway, only minutes from Qualicum Beach and Parksville. Open April through October.

Things to Do

• Golf
  
  Golfers choose Qualicum Beach as their Vancouver Island golf getaway to play the Qualicum Beach Memorial and Pheasant Glen golf courses. Qualicum Beach Memorial is one of oldest BC golf courses with spectacular views of Georgia Strait and Pheasant Glen has some of the best views of Mount Arrowsmith to be found in the region.
  
  
• Horseback Riding
  
  The area offers many opportunities to explore the backcountry of Vancouver Island on horseback. Outfitters in the area offer instruction as well as short trail rides and overnight excursions. From alpine meadows to wooded trails, horseback riding will give you a unique perspective of this beautiful region.
  
  
• Fishing
  
  Teeming with halibut, cod and salmon, the Strait of Georgia is a haven for salt water anglers, while trout fishing is popular at several nearby lakes and rivers. Fishing charters are available in the area.
  
  
• Aerial Tours
  
  For a bird's-eye view of the Oceanside area, consider a "flightseeing" tour from the Qualicum Beach Airport. For 25 minutes or for as long as 2 hours, you can soar like an eagle over towns, beaches, islands and mountains.
  
  
• Discover Qualicum's First Nations Culture
  
  Visit a traditional wood smoke house to choose your own piece of local salmon or admire Salish, Westcoast and Kwakiutl arts and crafts.
  
  
• Diving
  
  If diving is your passion, local guides can outfit you and introduce you to the waters of the Northern Gulf Islands. Here you can find walls and passes festooned with congregations of anemones, large cloud sponges, and dwarf gorgonian corals. During the summer months off the southeast corner of Hornby Island the rare and elusive six-gill shark makes its appearance. In Nanaimo, just to the south and 22 fathoms underwater, lies HMCS Saskatchewan, British Columbia's newest artificial reef.

Events

• Fire and Ice
  
  Fire and Ice is the premier May event in Qualicum Beach, attracting more than 6,000 local and out-of-town visitors. Over 30 teams compete to prepare and serve up the Ultimate Chili. At the same time, some 20 ice-carvers compete to create block ice sculptures, while enthusiastic kids display their carving prowess in jello! Festivities include street entertainment, a firewalking display and the awards ceremony.
  
  
• The Brant Wildlife Festival
  
  The Brant Wildlife Festival began because of a small goose called the Black Brant. It migrates from California and Mexico to Alaska and stops off in Parskville/Qualicum Beach to rest and feed. As many as 20,000 Brant may be found along the shore at peak times at the end of March.
  
  The Brant geese, however, are not the only show in town during the festival. Pacific herring spawn and attract thousands of waterbirds, eagles, sea lions, and harbour seals. Spring also comes to the forest and migrant songbirds, raptors and wildlflowers can all be enjoyed in the many natural areas around Parksville and Qualicum Beach.
  
  Guided tours of the feeding areas take visitors to special viewing locations, or you can simply walk out on the beach with a pair of binoculars and observe them.

Contact Information

Official Parksville and Qualicum Beach Regional Tourism Website

Oceanside Tourism Association
PO Box 239
Parksville, BC V9P 2G4
Canada

Telephone: 250.248.6300
Toll-Free: 1.888.799.3222
Fax: 250.248.6308
Website: www.visitparksvillequalicumbeach.com

Town of Qualicum Beach

#201 - 660 Primrose Street
Box 130
Qualicum Beach, B.C.
V9K 1S7

Phone: 250-752-6921
Fax: 250-752-1243
E-mail: qbtown@qualicumbeach.com Website: www.qualicumbeach.com

Qualicum Beach Chamber of Commerce

The Chamber Business Office
124 West 2nd Avenue
PO Box 159
Qualicum Beach, B.C.
V9K 1S7

Telephone: 250-752-0960
Fax: 250-752-2923
Email: chamber@qualicum.bc.ca
Website: www.qualicum.bc.ca