While best known for the annual Beachfest and Sandcastle completion in August which attracts thousands of visitors from all over the world to the City of Parksville, the city is much more than just a gorgeous strip of sand. While home to some world class golf courses such as Pheasant Glenn and Morning Star, the City of Parksville is a thriving community all year round.

Hikers can now walk from Raththrevor Provincial Park up to the highway, along the fabulous and well marked trail system which skirts the Englishmen River, over the suspension bridge at Top Bridge, and all the way to Englishmen River Falls. The rapids gurgle and roll over rocks worn smooth. The air is crisp and clean. The seasons make for an ever changing vista along the trails whether a clear summer’s day, a misty fall morning, or the occasional romp in the snow.

Just ask the new Mayor of Parksville, Ed Mayne. “I love to hike the Top Bridge trial with my wife, Lilian, and our pups. It’s a wonderful place to unwind and enjoy the beauty of the region. ”

Adds the Mayor, “We moved here from Oakville, Ontario, a few years ago because of Parksville’s inherent charm and the residents ‘friendliness; after all, most people in the area are from somewhere else. They moved here because of the beach, the mountains, and the amenities.

There is a tremendous amount for families to enjoy. Fishermen can drop their boats in at Schooner Cove or French Creek marinas. One can kayak around the bay or enjoy the sound of wind and sails fluttering above. There are lots of local charter and adventure companies to choose from. The Quality Foods Festival of Lights is a hugely popular event and a great excuse to snuggle on the beach under a blanket and watch the fireworks. Oceanside Place hosts hockey and lacrosse for all ages, plus is filled to capacity during special events such as the home and garden show. Curling and lawn bowling, indoor and out, are also popular pass times in the community.

From fine dining to a robust arts community, French cuisine to Carmen, Greek to Oscar Wilde, the restaurants and theatre groups in Parksville have something for every palette.  Bard to Broadway, Echo Players, the Vancouver Island Opera, and the local middle school drama academies, present entertaining plays, musicals, and operas, routinely sell out their performances.  One doesn’t have to break the bank to enjoy the Arts scene.

The business community, while spread out from the Industrial Park to Wembley Mall and French Creek, is active and successful. The downtown business association and local chamber of commerce are actively involved in the community. The size and type of some of the businesses are surprising like the company that builds airplane simulators in the Industrial Park and Gold in the Net Hockey School.

According to Ed Galenzoski, President of the Chamber of Commerce, “Parksville is poised to break out of its shell. Over the course of the next five years, as baby boomers discover the area, it will be the ultimate place to live and work. The first wave is already here and the area is growing.  Tourism is only a small part of our vibrant business community as expanding links to service based businesses and entrepreneurs embrace the area, re-energizing Parksville by bringing their ideas and their families here to stay. All you have to do is look at developments and the new businesses entering the Chamber to see the positive growth. It’s very exciting to see the downtown business core active and the confidence shown by the local community. It’s wonderful to live in a city with such personalized service as shown by local business owners and their staff. The mom-and-pop type of business is strong here. Overall, Parksville is just a great place to live and work.”

Homes & Living recommends you try something different, whether you live in Parksville or a neighbouring town or city:  visit a shop that you’ve never been in, try out a new restaurant or order something different at your favorite eatery, get your hair and nails done and take in a local theatre production, book a room at any one of the fabulous resorts and pamper yourself with a spa treatment, or strap on some skates for a family skate at the arena. There is a wealth of funky boutiques all within walking distance of each other in downtown Parksville:  A Touch of Class has a superb array of up-scale clothing; A to Zebra has just that, everything from A to Z; Craig Street Shops include The Pacific Brimm, a scrumptious place to have breakfast (just try their Benny), Mercedes Lane, which offers a fashionable array of vintage type clothing, Blasting Impressions, where one can find fantastic gifts for any occasion and Close To You, presenting a selection of fabulous lingerie… go ahead shop ‘til you drop’!

In the City of Parksville, you don’t have to go very far to try something new.  The businesses have lots to offer and the owners have lots of heart, but it is the people who make it a community. I, for one, am proud to call Parksville home.

Written by Laura Hesse