The Canadian Mediterranean is a thriving beachside community situated on the idyllic shores of the Salish Sea, nestled in the rain shadow of Mt. Arrowsmith on the east coast of central Vancouver Island. The Canadian Mediterranean has the mildest weather in Canada. This is a true Mediterranean climate (Csb type) with weather characterized by mild rainy winters and dry warm summers.

It’s been known by many names: ‘Where the dog salmon run,’ Oceanside, District 69, but officially it’s called Parksville-Qualicum Beach.

The Salishan natives hunted and gathered in the area for thousands of years before it was explored and mapped by the Spanish and then the English in the 1700s.

The area became known for its abundant resources namely salmon and wood – think huge salmon and gargantuan 800-year-old Douglas fir and Cedar trees.

Since being settled in the early 1900s, the area became internationally known as a resort destination with luminaries such as Errol Flynn, Bob Hope, the Queen of England, the king of Siam, and more, visiting to fish, hunt, hike and take in the natural splendour of the area. As word got out, a small retirement community began developing in the area until it was mostly a resort destination. That small retirement community began to grow significantly in the ’70s and ’80s making the area today a premiere Canadian retirement community with resort amenities.

Life is short. Spend it on Vancouver Island in the Canadian Mediterranean. Enjoy the fresh seafood, organic locally grown vegetables, artisan bread and cheeses, restaurants perched on the ocean, beachcombing, car shows and car culture, family festivals, a treehouse sphere hotel, lawn bowling, pickleball, tennis, a salt-water community pool.

We’ve got curling, multi-level seniors hockey, skydiving, private airplane facilities, an extensive art community including; painting, pottery, glassblowing and glass art, dance programs, theatre productions, metalwork, carving and photography. The Canadian Mediterranean is a place to pursue your passions.

Hiking for all levels of fitness from groomed town trails to the Trans-Canada trail, to the top of Mount Arrowsmith, there’s a hike for everyone. There’s mountain bike trails, bike paths, bike lanes and of course road biking.

There’s year-round golf, wilderness camping, glamping, sports fishing, sailing, kayaking, birdwatching, sea-creatures, windsurfing, beach picnics, walks on the beach, looking at the beach and combing the beach.