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Living in Central Island

The Central Island Community

Learn more about Port Alberni:

Learn more about Parksville/Qualicum Beach:

With on average 2,047 hours of brilliant sunshine every year, it's one of the best places in Canada to live, work and play!  As part of the central island region, Central Island enjoys the benefit of airport and ferry services both to the north and south, within a 30-minute drive in each direction. City shopping conveniences are even closer. Central Island residents enjoy the safety and security of quieter, quaint community living, mountain vistas and warm, calm beaches facing the Georgia Strait.

Local Amenities

Here are some short sections of information on amenities in the Central Island area, but we have so much!  

Schools

School District 69 (Parksville/Qualicum Beach)
(250) 334-5500 | https://www.sd69.bc.ca/Pages/default.aspx#/=
The Qualicum School District is centrally situated on east Vancouver Island and serves a student population of approximately 4000 students. There are eight elementary schools (Grades K-7), two secondary schools (Grades 8-12), an alternate school (PASS/Woodwinds) and a Distributed Learning program to support home-learning families called the Collaborative Education Alternative Program (CEAP). The district French Immersion program is available at Oceanside Elementary and Ballenas Secondary Schools.

School District 70 (Port Alberni)
(250) 723-3565 | https://www.sd70.bc.ca/Pages/default.aspx#/=
The Alberni School District is located on Vancouver Island's central west coast and serves approximately 3800 learners in the communities of Port Alberni, Tofino, Ucluelet and Bamfield.  There are eight elementary schools (Grades K-7), two secondary schools (Grades 8-12), one elementary-junior secondary school (Grades K-9), one alternate school (Eighth Avenue Learning Centre), and the CHOICES Distributed Learning program to support home-schooling families.  As a Program of Choice, early French Immersion is offered at Alberni Elementary and Alberni District Secondary schools. 

The Alberni School District is situated on the traditional territories of the Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations and approximately one third of all students registered are of aboriginal ancestry.  The district strives to increase awareness, understanding and integration of Nuu-chah-nulth culture, history and language in all SD70 schools.

Private Schools

Aspengrove School

 (250) 390-2201 | www.aspengroveschool.ca/
Aspengrove School is a pre-high school in Nanaimo. The school is an independent, non-denominational, co-educational, and university-preparatory school.  The school is accredited as an International Baccalaureate World School and offers the IB Primary Year , IB Middle Years and IB Diploma programme and received a 10 out of 10 by the IB Organization (IBO) in 2011.

Arrowsmith Independent School
(250) 752-2722 | www.arrowsmithindependentschool.ca/
Arrowsmith Independent School is a new education option in District 69 for Preschool to grade 7. They offer quality Academic programs based on the BC Curriculum guidelines with a focus on practical life skills such as Agriculture, Cooking, Outdoor Regional Studies and Sustainability, Music, Drama, and Art.

St John Paul II Catholic School
(250) 723-0637 | https://www.jp2nd.ca/index.php
St. John Paul II is a Catholic school located in Port Alberni. We offer Kindergarten to Grade Seven. We have Mini-Miracles Family Centre on site which offers morning and afternoon Preschool and Afterschool Care, Group daycare and Infant/Toddler care.

Higher Education

VIU (Vancouver Island University)
1-888-920-2221 | www.viu.ca/
Vancouver Island University (formerly known as Malaspina University-College and before that as Malaspina College) is a Canadian public university serving in Vancouver Island and coastal British Columbia. Established in 1969 as Malaspina College, it has grown into a university that plays an important role in the educational, cultural, and economic life of the region. The main campus is located in Nanaimo, and there are regional campuses in Duncan and Powell River, and a campus centre in Parksville.

North Island College 
1-800-715-0914 | https://www.nic.bc.ca/

University of Victoria
(250) 721 7211|https://www.uvic.ca

Royal Roads University
877-778-6227 https://www.royalroads.ca/

Travel

BC Ferries, www.bcferries.com/Harbour
Floatplanes, www.harbourair.com/KD
Air, Qualicum, www.kdair.com/Tofino 
Air, Tofino www.tofinoair.ca/index.asp
Port Alberni Regional Airport, https://www.acrd.bc.ca/avra
Nanaimo Airport, www.nanaimoairport.com
Comox Airport, www.comoxairport.com/

Recreation

For information about facilities, clubs and sports leagues in your area,
please contact:
Ravensong Aquatic Centre
(250) 752-5014 | rdn.bc.ca/cms.asp?wpID=1054
Oceanside Place (Arenas)
(250) 248-3252 | rdn.bc.ca/cms.asp?wpID=607

Port Alberni Parks and Rec
Echo Centre Front Desk
(250) 723-2181 | https://www.portalberni.ca/programs

Vancouver Island Regional Library
virl.bc.ca/
Parksville: (250) 248-0170
Qualicum Beach: (250) 752-6121

Faith

Listing of all Parksville Places of Worship
Listing of all ​Qualicum Beach Places of Worship
Listing of all Port Alberni Places of Worship

Tourism/Dining/Shopping

There are SO many great restaurants in the Central Island Area , and if outside is where you like to spend your free time, Central Island has everything from mountains to beaches - on the same day!   Visit the Parksville Qualicum Beach Tourism website to read all about the amazing options in Parksville and Qualicum Beach, and the Alberni Valley Tourism website to find out the endless list of things to do in the Central Island area!