Project Title:

Qualicum Beach East Village Revitalization

Project Organization:

Town of Qualicum Beach

Project Investment:

  • Island Coastal Economic Trust: $250,000
  • Community/Local Government: $903,458
  • Total Budget: $1,153,458

Project Highlight:

The number of people employed in Qualicum Beach’s tech sector is expected to almost double in the next three to five years.  

Located in the uptown area, east of the main commercial streets, the Qualicum Beach uptown is an architecturally distinct area offering a unique experience for visitors and locals. It consists of a Town-owned public parking lot, unused buildings, vacant lots and some industrial businesses. The area is largely underutilized due to its currently disconnection from the uptown.

As part of its desire to build a thriving and vibrant neighbourhood for both businesses and residents, the Town of Qualicum Beach is redesigning the East Village area. The Revitalization project will connect the East Village area to the rest of the uptown and will also allow for densification and residential development adjacent to uptown, which helps support local businesses. Consultation with the Town’s technology sector indicates that the limited size and number of commercial spaces is a barrier for growth of this sector. This new neighborhood will create the type of space and “vibe” attractive to this industry.

This project is a partnership between the Town and property owners and involves the activation of town-owned land, including an innovation hub and brew pub.  A community square, serving as a public space with a stage for formal community events, will also be added. Streetscape enhancements, including updated lighting, new seating areas and landscaping, will encourage business development and investment, as well as guide visitors and residents to explore additional areas, while accommodating a range of users and abilities.

The East Village Revitalization project includes a newly featured public gathering space, fitted with electrical outlets and water fountains; the reconfiguring and repaving of streets to emphasize pedestrians with a focus on accessibility; and activating the public realm with street trees, lighting and seating.

Island Coastal Economic Trust funded this project on 2022 through the Capital and Innovation program.