Building on from the 2020 Conceptual Plan, the Town is now developing a Detailed Park Plan for Saahtlam Park (formerly known as St. Andrews Waterfront Park).

While the Conceptual Park Plan provided a preliminary plan with a general overview of the proposed park design, this Detailed Park Plan will now provide a more comprehensive and detailed roadmap for the park project, with specific information about the site, facilities, amenities, landscaping, and programming. 

Lanarc Consultants have been hired to facilitate this process and conduct public input to help inform the decision-making process. Public engagement opportunities are anticipated to commence in September 2023.

For more information on the project visit qualicumbeach.com/_standrews

The land located at the corner of Fern Road and Memorial Avenue, commonly known as the “Bus Garage” property, has been a topic of discussion since the Town purchased it from the School District in 2012.

In 2021, approximately 0.4 hectares (1 acre) of land was sold to Naked Naturals Whole Foods Ltd. (Naked Naturals) for a grocery store and residential rentals.

The Town retains ownership of 0.63 hectares of land and has dedicated it to public use. In 2022, the Town engaged an urban designer to come up with several concepts for the public space, including options for parking, amenities, and community space. Consultation with key stakeholders was held, and a working group was formed. Outcomes from this consultation will build onto this next phase.

The next phase of the project is to conduct public engagement on the results design, as well as a supporting Mobility Study. This work has been awarded to PWL Partnership Landscape Architects Inc., at a total cost of $64,740. 

Public consultation opportunities are anticipated to commence in Fall 2023.

For more information on the project visit qualicumbeach.com/_commons

The Town is conducting a multi-phase consultation and assessment/strategy to consider challenges and opportunities for the municipally owned and operated Qualicum Beach Airport.  

The intent of this 2023 Council initiative is to better understand how the Airport is used, how it is viewed by the local and regional community, and to identify Council decision making opportunities beyond the regulations of Transport Canada and the guidance of NAVCANADA.

To assist with this undertaking, the Town has retained Operations Economics Inc., a team with extensive experience in master planning for small, medium, and large airports across Canada and overseas.  

Process Overview: 

• July - Stakeholder Engagement: Consultation and interviews with key stakeholder, including Airport users, leaseholders, aviation organizations, regional partners, and regulatory bodies.
• September - Situation Briefing: Council will be presented with a Situation Briefing at an open Council meeting.
• Fall - Public Engagement: A public engagement program will invite the public to discuss the Situation Briefing and to present their opinions on opportunities and challenges associated with the Airport (dates to be determined). 
• Winter – Final Report: All the information collected will be provided to Council as a Final Report for consideration.

Revitalization of the Town's "East Village" continues, with streetscaping along Second Avenue nearing completion.

This transformative initiative encompasses a range of improvements aimed at enhancing the overall appeal, accessibility, and sustainability of the area.

Improvements include roadwork, paving, curbs, gutters, catch basins, street lighting, street trees, and irrigation. The visual appeal has also been enhanced by the conversion of overhead utilities to underground servicing.

One of the key elements of the revitalization is the prioritization of pedestrians. A variety of traffic calming measures have been implemented to create a pedestrian-friendly environment, making it safe and enjoyable to walk around the neighborhood. While some street parking will be available, the long-term vision of the project includes the creation of a parking lot at the corner of Berwick Road and Fern Road East.

The project further promotes sustainability by incorporating the planting of street trees, carefully selected to suite the space. The use of innovative technology, such as Silvacell and Permavoid tree pits, ensures the trees' long-term health using advanced materials and design to allow for water retention and root growth.

This phase of work will set the stage for residential/commercial constructions that will transform the area into a unique and thriving neighborhood for both businesses and residents.

For more information, visit the project qualicumbeach.com/_eastvillage.

Work is now underway on the Kiwanis Housing Project to create 56-unit new affordable apartments and townhomes for families, seniors and individuals with low to moderate incomes.

Located at 136 Village Way West, "The Residences at Qualicum Station" is a four-storey wood-frame building that will have a mix of studio and one, two and three bedroom apartments, as well as seven three bedroom townhomes. The building is next to a community garden and within walking distance of schools, medical facilities and public transit.

Qualicum Parksville Kiwanis Housing Society will own and operate the new homes, which were designed to foster a sense of community. Residents are expected to start moving into their new homes in early 2025.

The project is part of a $19-billion housing investment by the B.C. government. Since 2017, the Province has delivered more than 76,000 new homes that have been delivered or are underway.

For more information visit www.qualicumbeach.com/housing

The Town has been awarded $20,000 to develop a Road Safety Plan for the Highway 19A corridor.  The Vision Zero Grant Program, funded by BC Ministry of Health and Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, aims to generate immediate and long-term injury reduction for vulnerable road users.

The Road Safety Plan will help reduce traffic speeds and improve safety for all road users along Highway 19A, with a focus on the waterfront in Qualicum Beach. The plan will include new traffic calming measures and upgraded active transportation facilities.

The results of the Plan will feed into the upcoming Age-Friendly Transportation Plan, and be used to make recommendations to Council on ways the Town can further enhance road safety and accessibility.

Richard Drdul is the transportation consultant that will lead the project to identify options, complete data analysis and conduct public engagement.

The official opening ceremony for Into Woods Early Learning Child Care Studio celebrated the efforts of dedicated stakeholders who worked tirelessly to make this child care centre a reality.

Located at 330 Dorset Rd within a beautiful and serene community park, the studio offers a nurturing environment for 37 children under the age of five, nestled amid a mature stand of native forest.

The Town of Qualicum received nearly $1.5 million through the Province’s ChildCareBC New Spaces Fund and nearly $1 million through the Union of British Columbia Municipalities’ Community Child Care Space Creation Program. The Town of Qualicum Beach also contributed land, and more than $218,000 to build this new centre.

Families interested in applying for a space in the Into the Woods Early Learning Studio can register at intothewoodsqualicum.ca

For more information on this project visit qualicumbeach.com/childcare

With generous assistance from the B.C. Air Access Program (BCAAP), the Town has secured funding to replace the existing AvGas jet fuel system, ensuring safer operations and expanding storage capacity to meet the growing demands of the aviation community.

The new storage system is an above-ground double-walled containment tank that provides a safe and reliable storage option that safeguards against leakage and environmental damage and expands storage capacity to meet growing needs.

The replacement of the tank was increasingly urgent when the dispensing system became problematic and was unable to be replaced. The capacity was also grossly underperforming to meet the demand, which had tripled since its installation 40 years earlier.

The Town gratefully received $28,9294 in funding from B.C. Air Access Program (BCAAP) to help cover the $340,346 cost of replacement for the storage system and dispensing unit.

AvGas fuel is essential for scheduled airlines, regular users, wildfire support crews, and medevac backup operations, and is essential in providing safe and sustainable air access for the region.

The Town's Age-Friendly Transportation Plan is set for its next review, with public engagement scheduled for November 15, 2023.

The Town's Age-Friendly Transportation Plan is an over-arching guide that seeks to improve all aspects of the transportation network for persons of all ages and abilities. This can include nature trails, sidewalks and crossings, cycling paths, traffic speeds, public transit, and much more...

This plan is reviewed and updated every two to three years to account for completed projects, new projects, and changing conditions. This review has been delayed due to COVID-19. In the time since the Age-Friendly Transportation Plan and the Cycling Plan were adopted, the Town has implemented several of the priority projects in each plan.

A key component of the Plan is a prioritized list of transportation projects throughout Qualicum Beach. Projects ranked as the highest priority are those that will best achieve the Town’s objectives for mobility and safety, and provide the greatest “return on investment.” These priorities provide a basis for Town staff, decision-makers, stakeholders and others to plan, budget, and implement transportation projects.

For more information visit qualicumbeach.com/transport

In keeping with the Town's commitment to public consultation and transparency with regard to its Financial Plan, a Second Quarter Update was released at the July 19, 2023, Regular Council Meeting.

Updates are available on the following: Council & Operating Initiatives; Capital Programs; and Operating Budget.

To read more go to qualicumbeach.com/finance_process

Want to get all the latest information on all the Town's major projects and initiatives? Look no further than qualicumbeach.com/_projects, updated regularly with milestones and photos.

The Town works hard to secure grant funding to strengthen the Town economically, culturally, and socially. View the latest updates on our Grant Summary page.