Courtenay is a single city in the Comox Valley on the east coast of Vancouver Island. Courtenay is the biggest community in the area and the seat of the Comox Valley Regional District, previously known as the Comox-Strathcona Regional District.
Courtenay is the residence of The Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's), an infantry regiment of the Canadian Armed Forces. Based on archaeological evidence, a Coast Salish fishing settlement has been living on the shores of the Courtenay River Estuary for at least 4,000 years. The Coast Salish residents called the area kw'umuxws (Li'kwala for plentiful) due to the gentle climate, fertile soil, and plentiful sea life. The word was anglicized to Komoux and later on to Comox. Courtenay's economy depended on natural resources like coal, logging, fishing, and agriculture. Now it is focused on providing services to the large retiree community and the military families at CFB Comox; of course, tourism is also a vital part of Courtenay's economy.
Courtenay has a Mediterranean climate with dry summer and cool and wet spring and fall. The average temperature is between 0°C (32°F) in February and 23° (73.4°F) in August.
The best time to visit Courtenay is from mid-July to mid-August when the warm-weather activities are available.