ADVENTURE IN CUMBERLAND
B.C. community a hidden gem
It is a small Vancouver Island community with a very large history.
Cumberland, in the Comox Valley, is called home by about 3,750 full-time residents and is part of the entire island’s growing reputation for both outdoor and culinary adventure.
This hidden gem of a village — a booming coal mining town of 3,000 in 1897 that almost became a ghost town when the mines closed in the 1960s — sits down the road from its better-known big sisters Courtenay (10 minutes), and Comox (20 minutes), and just 15 minutes from the Strait of Georgia.
Five kilometres from the sandy beaches of Comox Lake (and Cumberland Lake Park campground), Cumberland is known as a worldclass mecca for mountain biking, hosting top-tier races on 80-plus kilometres of trails. But it also celebrates its history, including devastating mine explosions, contentious labour disputes, and early Chinese and Japanese worker settlements.
And while becoming a hub for entrepreneurs — video game developers, graphic designers and local businesses including Cumberland Brewing Co., Dark Side Chocolates, and locally sourced cafes and restaurants — increasing tourism may be its future.
“When people come into the recreation centre, we ask, ‘are you visiting or new to the area?’ ” says Leah Knutson, Cumberland’s manager of recreation. “Fifty per cent are visitors, and we say, ‘watch out, you are going to end up living here.’ ”
Knutson and her husband both lived in Calgary — like about 75 per cent of her village friends.
They were attracted to Cumberland because of the active, outdoor lifestyle, including surfing, paddleboarding or fishing on the lake or ocean, rock climbing, or skiing at Mount Washington, and, in particular, mountain biking.
The village, Knutson says, is also becoming known for spirited fundraising, buying forest from logging companies to create the 110-hectare Cumberland Community Forest. There are walking tours of historic mine sites and Chinese and Japanese settlements, with the community forest bordering the 16-hectare (40-acre) Coal Creek Historic Park.
Heather McEachen, of Tourism Vancouver Island, says the island continues to draw Alberta tourists, despite the province’s recent downturn. In a 2016 survey, 81 per cent of Alberta respondents saw the island region as a desirable des- tination, growing to 86 per cent in 2017.
Vancouver Island’s top markets are Alberta and the rest of B.C., and while tourists come for wildlife (from whales to grizzly bears), beach vacations and outdoor hiking and adventure, and a burgeoning culinary and food scene (top restaurants, craft breweries and wineries to locally-grown honey and tea), McEachen says a large number will be visiting family and friends.
During boom years, Albertans bought island vacation/retirement properties, particularly as WestJet introduced service into Comox.
This year, island single-family home prices (outside Victoria), jumped 18 per cent overall (to an average of $444,500), apartments by 28 per cent and townhomes 24 per cent over last June due, in part, to a lack of supply.
Primary buyers are islanders, Vancouverites and other B. C. residents, with Alberta ranking second in 2014 (14.8 per cent), third in 2015 (9.7) and fourth in 2016 (10.4).
Brendon Ogmundson, B.C. Real Estate Association economist, says Alberta’s interest in island real estate this year isn’t known (the survey is underway) but “my guess is it’s either moderating slightly lower or ( has) remained constant.”
FIVE THINGS TO DO ON VANCOUVER ISLAND
1. Tired of long ferry lines? New this year is V2V, a luxury liner travelling from downtown Vancouver to Victoria’s inner harbour in 3.5 hours. Luxury seating; onboard B.C. cuisine; and alcoholic/ non-alcoholic beverage services. v2vvacations.com/cruise
2. Port Hardy’s 85-room First Nations Kwa’lilas Hotel features local Indigenous arts and culture, and West Coast cuisine. Kwa’lilas in the Gwa’sala Nakwaxda’xw language means a place to sleep. Traditional big house-style design with a smoke hole at the top — smoke from a big house means welcome. kwalilashotel.ca
3. Mike Willie of the remote village of Kingcome Inlet introduces visitors to the beauty of the Musgamakw Dzawada’enuxw First Nation through Sea Wolf Adventures tours. Visit Great Bear Rainforest and view grizzly bears on local culture tours. seawolfadventures.ca
4. B.C. has a stellar wine industry and Vancouver Island has more than 30 wineries. www.winebc. com/discover-bc/vancouver-island
5. An exploding craft beer scene means there are 30 breweries on the island, more than half outside Victoria. beermebc.com/ bc-breweries