Parksville/Qualicum

Zone 5 of the Vancouver Island Real Estate Board includes Nanoose Bay, Parksville and Qualicum Beach, all located north of Nanaimo along the East Coast of Vancouver Island.

Nanoose Bay (pop.4,820) is approximately 26 km (16 miles) north of Nanaimo just off Highway 19. The rural community features the Fairwinds Golf and Country Club, and Schooner Cove.

The peninsula's large, protected harbour is a popular destination for visiting boats from around the world. Nanoose Bay is named after a First Nations band related to the Nanaimo Indians. It is also the site of Canadian Forces Maritime Experimental Test Range.

Parksville (pop. 11,245), located on the sheltered eastern shores of Vancouver Island, 37 km (23 miles) north of Nanaimo.

It boasts one of the finest climates in Canada and is favoured as one of the most popular summer family vacations destinations of Vancouver Island and BC.

Parksville was established in 1910, when the E & N Railroad first stopped at McBride Junction, as it was then known. The town was named in honour of Nelson Parks, its first settler.

The endless expanse of sand is home to the Canadian Open Sand Sculpture Competition and a month long beach festival.

The seaside community of Qualicum Beach (pop.7,383) is located on the eastern shores of Vancouver Island, 12 km (7.5 miles) north of Parksville.

The original Coast Salish settlers of this area knew it as "where the dog salmon run". The name Qualicum Beach is derived from Quallchum, an early variation of this term.